Food and Fruit healthy

Four Food Groups

2010-01-24T09:48:00.000+08:00

Now that you understand a little of the what, why, and how of nutrients, how do you apply that information to daily eating patterns?
The "Basic Four" classification is now the basis of most nutrition education in the United States. In this classification, foods are divided into four categories according to their similarity in nutrient content. The groups are the Milk Group, the Meat Group, the Fruit and Vegetable Group, and the Bread and Cereal Group. Other foods that fall outside these four categories are included in an additional or Other Group.

Milk Group

The Milk Group includes all types of milk and milk products except butter and cream. These milk products are ice cream, cheese, and yogurt.

Milk is our main source of calcium. It also supplies phosphorus, protein, riboflavin, and vitamins A and D. Lowfat milks are fortified with vitamin A, and all milk you buy should be fortified with vitamin D. Foods from the milk group help promote the development of strong bones and teeth, healthy skin and tissue, good night vision, and a well-running nervous system.

Cheese, ice cream, and milk used in cream soups, sauces, puddings, or in other cooking all count towards the daily number of servings of milk. Cream and butter should be considered part of the Other Group.

Meat Group

The Meat Group includes beef, lamb, veal, pork, variety meats (liver, kidney, brains, and heart), poultry, eggs, fish, and shellfish. Meat alternates or substitutes are dried beans and peas (soy, pinto, navy, lima, kidney beans, chickpeas, split or black-eye peas), lentils, nuts, and peanut butter.

Foods from the Meat Group supply protein, iron, and the B vitamins (especially thiamine, niacin, and riboflavin). Two or more servings of meat a day are recommended. Preferably, something from the meat group should be included at each meal.

Fruit And Vegetable Group

All fruits and vegetables fall in this group, but special emphasis goes to those that are good sources of vitamins C and A. Fruits and vegetables also supply other vitamins, minerals, and carbohydrates _all at little calorie cost. In addition, they add bulk.

Meals and snacks should include four or more servings from this group every day. One of those four must be a good source of vitamin C (or two servings of foods containing lesser amounts of C). One serving every other day should be a good source of vitamin A. A serving is usually one-half cup of the fruit or vegetable or an equivalent amount.

Bread And Cereal Group

Enriched, whole grain, or restored breads, cooked or dry cereals, cornmeal, crackers, flour, grits, macaroni, spaghetti, noodles, rice, rolled oats, baked goods, bulgur, or parboiled rice or wheat are all members of the Bread and Cereal Group.

Breads and cereals are an excellent source of carbohydrates, iron, and those important B vitamins. Three to four servings should be eaten daily. Check the labels-products that are not enriched, not whole grain, nor restored don't count! If one of the servings is not a cereal, have an extra serving of enriched or whole grain bread or baked goods. A serving is one slice bread, one ounce (about a cup) ready-to-eat cereal, or its equivalent in other cereals.

Other Group

Many of the foods in the Other Group are fun foods. Examples are sugars (candy, soft drinks, gelatin desserts, alcoholic beverages, and syrup), salad dressings, cream, butter, margarine, oils, and other fats.

These foods contribute fat, sugar, seasoning, and calories to our diets. They add flavor to other foods and help us meet our energy needs. Except for the recommended amounts of fat, they are not essential to a healthy diet.

Special Needs For Special People

Everybody needs the same nutrients, but some people need more than others because of special demands on their bodies at various times in their lives.

Prenatal care obviously depends on the kind of nutrition the mother gets. Nursing infants and preschool children also have special nutritional needs. For young school children, a good break fast has been shown to be essential to success in school. The poor eating habits of teenagers, especially girls, are legendary and must be avoided.

Senior citizens need fewer calories, but not less nutrition. Careful food selection can help prolong a healthy, happy life _even on a restricted budget. Special diets, such as for diabetes, are by definition "special." There is only one safe way to approach them: consult your physician and follow his advice.

History of the Noni Fruit

2010-01-23T20:45:00.001+08:00

Traditional cultures have long used the fruit, bark, leaves, and roots of noni fruit. They have used it as food, medicine, and dye. The noni tree is native to Southeast Asia, but also grows in neighboring India and the Pacific Islands, and as far as New Zealand, Australia, and South America.

It is said that Polynesian Islanders first cultivated and domesticated the noni tree over 2,000 years ago. They used the leaves and fruit as a topical medicine, applying it to boils, lesions, and other skin maladies.

Various other cultures have used the fruit as famine food, livestock feed, topical and internal medicine, and dye. People in China, Japan, and Hawaii have used noni to treat fever, as well as problems with eyes, skin, gums, throat, stomach, digestion, and respiration. In Malaysia and the Philippines, the leaves have been used to relieve cough, nausea, colic, and arthritis. In Indonesia, the fruit has been eaten for asthma, lumbago, and dysentery.

The noni tree, and more specifically its fruit, has been scientifically studied for decades. In 1972, a scientist named Maria Stewart reported that native Hawaiians solve many of their medical problems by drinking noni fruit juice. A University of Hawaii professor named R.M. Heinicke latched on to this idea and began a 20-year study into the properties of noni fruit. In the 1990’s, when he pronounced the existence of an unknown molecule responsible for noni’s health value, people began paying more attention to the fruit. A multi-level marketing company called Morinda began marketing products made from noni fruit. Since then, demand for the fruit has increased dramatically.

Diabetes Diet, What Are The 10 Best Fruits And Vegetables For Diabetic Patients

2010-01-22T20:38:00.001+08:00

This is the question my diabetic patients always ask. Hopefully this article will enhance your knowledge about diet for a diabetic patient.

AVOID THESE FOODS

If you are a diabetic patient try to avoid following list of foods.

1-Sugar, artificial sweeteners and honey. However you may take sweetner like stevia. It is difficult to omit sugar from your diet at-once, I will recommend you to decrease sugar in your diet gradually.

2-You should stop taking sweets and chocolates. If you are in a party and want to take chocolate, then preferably try to take Continental dark chocolate with at-least 70% or more cocoa solids, and try to avoid chocolates where sugar is the first named ingredient

3-Try to avoid foods containing ingredients end in (ol) or (ose) as these are mainly different forms of carbohydrates like fructose, glucose, dextrose.

4-Avoid grains like cakes, biscuits, pies, tarts, breakfast cereals, wheat, rye, barley, corn, rice, bread, pasta, pastry,

5-Avoid vegetables which contain larger amount of starch and carbohydrates like potatoes,carrots, peas, beans, parsnips, beet.

6-Also avoid fruits like water mallon, mangoes, banana, Chikoos(Pakistani), jackfruit, grapes, Strawberry, Sugarcane.

7-You may take milk but in small quantity. Avoid fat yogurts and cheeze. Also be careful not to drink too much coffee or tea and add only as much sugar as in needed for taste.

8-Avoid commercially packaged foods like TV dinners, "lean" or "light" in particular, and snack foods, fast foods.

9-Avoid fresh fruit juices as these are highly concentrated carbohydrates. If you like fruit juices you may dilute one part of juice with 3 or 4 parts of water.

10-Always avoid saturated fats like fatty meat, full fat dairy products, butter, lard. Try to prefer unsaturated fats like olive oil, corn oil, canula oil, sunflower oil,soya oil.Avoid cottage cheese as it has a high carbohydrate content and very little fat

You must be thinking that I have mentioned here all the stuff, and nothing is left to eat, these are foods you can eat:

1-You may take fruits like apple, Grapefruit, Lime, Peaches. You must divide your fruit and vegetable diet in five portions through all the day, by Spreading the fruit you eat through the day helps to avoid a sudden rise in blood sugar levels.

2-You must take high fibre diet. Fibrous diet is Cereals, Fruits, Nuts, Pulses, Seeds, Vegetables. Fibrous diet not only lowers your glucose level but also decreases blood cholesterol.

3-Always try to take whole grain rather than processed food and take things like whole-wheat spaghetti and brown rather than white rice(Indian Pakistani). Pakistani and Indian people do like white rice very much, but if you are diabetic, please avoid these.

4-You may take meat of lamb, beef once or twice a week. Organ meats can also be taken like liver kidneys and heart to meat your vitamin needs.

5-Try to take white meat like poultry chicken fish meat duck etc.

6-You may take Fish and seafood of all types. It is recommended to boil, steam, bake or grill fish rather than frying it.

7-Always prefer non-fatty dairy products such as "skimmed milk", non-fat cheese and yoghurt.

8-You may take eggs as well but try to take whitish part not the yellow one as it may increase your cholesterol level.

9-All cheeses can be taken except cottage cheese.

10-You may take all vegetables, onion and garlic are known for decreasing blood glucose level.

Generally Type 2 diabetic patients need 1500-1800 calorie diet per day to promote weight loss, however calories requirement may vary depending upon patients age, sex, activity level and body weight. 50% of total daily required calories should come from carbohydrates.One gram of carbohydrate is about 4 calories. A diabetic patient on a 1600 calorie diet should get 50% of these calories from carbohydrate. In other words it will be equal to 800 Calories from Carbohydrates, it means you have to take 200gms of carbohydrates everyday.It is better that you buy food tables with calories measurements to know more about your daily required food.

Raw Juice Feast - 4 Ways to Get Your Kids to Consume Fruit and Vegetables

2010-01-21T08:32:00.002+08:00

Most parents have a real battle getting kids to eat any fruit or vegetables. The recommended intake is 5 a day which often feels a world away. Coupled with which if the vegetables are cooked, you are killing off many of the nutrients beneficial to your kids' health. One method which works well is to create a raw juice feast by adding a combination of fruit and vegetables to a juicer to make a delicious drink.

Here are 4 delicious raw juice feasts made from everyday fruit and vegetables

1. Apple and Carrot Juice
8 carrots - scrubbed and washed
4 large apples - washed
Juice the carrots, then the apples.
Stir and serve it immediately

2. Tropical Cocktail
400g watermelon
400g pineapple
Remove the hard skin of the watermelon and pineapple and reserve the watermelon seeds. Chop the flesh into chunks and mix together in the juicer.
Drink it straight away or turn it into a fizzy drink by adding sparkling water.

3. Grape and Plum Juice
1 large bunch of red grapes, destalked
7 or 8 plums, washed and stoned
Juice the fruit in a juicer.
Stir and drink it immediately.

4. Celery Juice
2 small bunches of watercress
Head of celery
2 yellow peppers, deseeded
Wash all the vegetables and cut them into juicer-size pieces then add to the juicer.
Stir and drink it immediately.

An alternative to juicing the fruit and vegetables is to create a smoothie. This involves adding fruit and vegetables to a food processor. You can also add fresh greens to your fruit smoothies (such as Romaine lettuce, celery, kale, or parsley) for a healthy, blood sugar-balancing smoothie.

One other big issue with kids is getting them to drink enough water. Cola and fizzy drinks are actually dehydrating, However the raw juices and smoothies are high in water content and very hydrating to the body helping with digestion. Fruit is also very satiating because it raises blood sugar and reduces appetite. Not to mention they're excellent for overall health because of having such a high vitamin content.

The recipes mentioned are only initial ideas to get started. Think of all the different fruit you could choose - pears, peaches, apricots, kiwi fruit, mango, bananas, citrus fruits, cherries & the many different berries.

Diabetes – Foods To Eat And Avoid

2010-01-20T08:24:00.001+08:00

What one eats is very important from the point of view of his health.
The chief concern while monitoring and controlling diabetes is to see that the sugar level does not cross the normal range. This means that one needs to cut down on certain types of food and consume regularly those foods, which are good at regulating diabetes.
People with diabetes should try to maintain a healthy weight and eat a diet that is:

« low in fat

« low in sugar

« low in salt

« high in fruit and vegetables (at least five portions a day)

« high in starchy carbohydrate foods, such as bread, chapatti, rice.

There is no such food that people with diabetes should never eat. In addition, there is no need to cut out all sugar. But, people with diabetes should try and eat only small amounts of foods that are high in sugar, fat. So, if you have diabetes you can treat yourself to cakes and biscuits once a blue moon, as part of a balanced diet.

What foods to eat?

« A diabetic patient must eat lots of fruits and vegetables in which fibre content is very high. Such type of food lowers the requirement for insulin, the reason being it releases energy into the body cells slowly. A high fibre diet means more chromium, which is very helpful in the treatment of diabetes.

« As for vegetables, onion, garlic, ginger, radish, spinach, kale, cucumber, carrot, tomato, cabbage and cucumber are excellent in the treatment of diabetes. Moong, kidney beans which have been sprouted, and unripe banana which is cooked, are also recommended.

« Fenugreek seeds which have been soaked in water are good for diabetic patients.

« For fruits, take guava, Indian blackberry (jamun), fig, kiwi fruit, apples, citrus fruits and pomegranate juice. Let these things be a part of your morning breakfast. Since, fruit juice is high in fructose (fruit sugar) and can cause blood sugar levels to rise quickly, it’s best for diabetics to drink fruit juice with a meal and avoid having more than one small glass a day.

« Replace white sugar with palm sugar, dates and honey, if you want to have something sweet.

« Unpolished rice, sprouted grain should be taken in moderate quantity.

« Fats like olive oil and peanut oil are good in diabetes.

« Drink plenty of water, at least 8 to 10 glasses per day.

« Single helping of fish or seafood, as it provides omega 3 fatty acids.

« Condiments such as pepper, chilli, mustard, herbs and spices.

« Raw vegetables need to be taken in large quantity, as cooked food raises the level of blood sugar fast.

« Eat non-fat dairy such as skim milk, non-fat yogurt and non-fat cheese, plain yoghurt, avoid cottage cheese a sit is high in carbohydrates.

« Some herbs and vegetables are specifically prescribed for diabetes, like Bitter Gourd and bitter melon juice.
What to avoid?

« Processed foods, white sugar, white flour and junk food, must be totally given up. Avoid sweets, glucose, fruit sugar, cakes, ice cream, chocolates, soft drinks, cream and fried foods.

« Anything that contains harmful preservatives and too much salt should be avoided.

« Avoid smoking and alcohol.

« Try and abstain from sweets, ice-creams and chocolates, including the so-called sugar-free types.

« Foods made from white flour, rye, corn, polished rice, bread, pasta, pastry, cakes, biscuits, pies.

« Starchy vegetables such as potatoes in particular; and go easy with beet, carrots, peas, beans.

« Avoid concentrated dairy products, such as khoya, kheer, cheese, cottage cheese.

« Fruits such as bananas, mango, grapes, strawberry, custard apple, date.

« Cottage cheese (except in small amounts)

« Avoid commercially packaged foods such as fast foods, chips, ready-to-eat foods, snack foods and "health foods."

« Fruit juices, as these are much higher in carbohydrates than fresh fruit. Moreover, they also lack in dietary fibre.

A few helpful tips if eating out -

· Avoid items called jumbo, combo, giant, deluxe, as they tend to have more calories.

· Choose grilled, baked roasted or steamed food.

· Choose water and calorie-free "diet" drinks instead of regular soda, fruit mock tails, sweet tea and other sugar-sweetened drinks

· Avoid creamy toppings, like mayonnaise. Add flavour with pepper, tomato, and onion.

· Watch out for high-fat topping salads, dressings, cheeses, and croutons.

· Choose a thin-crust pizza with extra vegetable toppings. Limit yourself to one or two slices. Keep off the extra cheese, which add calories, fat, and sodium.

· End your meal with sugar-free, fat-free frozen simple yogurt or a small cone of fat-free yogurt. Better still, go for a platter of fresh fruit salad.

· Check out on your portion size.

SO, EAT WELL AND BE WELL.

How to Avoid Fruit Digestion Problems

2010-01-19T08:17:00.000+08:00

Don't you make another mistake of reaching for that fruit salad in the fridge! And for that matter, even the fruit set that's sitting pretty in your dining table! I know it's better than junk food and a can of beer, but not until you have finished reading every word in this article and ensure that you can avoid fruit digestion problems.

Researchers and nutritionists are being alarmed of the growing number of people who are experiencing fruit digestion problems. What they don't understand is why conventional medicine hasn't been of much help. Doctors and their assistants seem to be prescribing more "band-aid solutions" for the symptoms, when the root cause is surprisingly simple.

As you know, fruit is the most perfect food in existence. It is often dubbed as "nature's candy", a reason why so many people have it for dessert. Its health benefits range from providing needed nutrients to getting rid of harmful toxins in the body.

Even so, many people admit having fruit digestion problems. They can't eat fruit, or have a tough time with it because they say it "doesn't agree with them".

Here's the real deal. In most cases, it's a certainty that the problem is not in eating fruit, but in when and how it is eaten.

Ask any nutritionist and you'll get the same answer. Fruit is a food mainly made up of water and natural sugars. Because of this, one's not supposed to have too much effort to digest it. There are exceptions to this in the case of more dense fruits (e.g. bananas and avocados), but in most cases when fresh fruit is eaten, it passes right through the stomach and into the intestines where it's digested.

No worries... when your stomach is empty. The problem occurs when your stomach is full of other foods and is working hard to digest them, and you reach for that fruit salad in the fridge or the apples and oranges sitting idly in your dining table! A perfect set-up for fruit digestion problems!

What happens is the fruit wants to head straight to the intestines, but its passage is blocked by other food. You obviously know what's coming next. The fruit gets stuck sitting on top of those other foods you took before (picture whole breasted turkey, mashed potatoes, and java rice) and quickly starts to ferment and putrefy.

And you don't have to be a rocket scientist to know what's coming next - stomach aches, bloating, gas, diarrhea and cramps.

The next time that happens, don't head for the medicine cabinet like crazy and grab those antacids. Remember, you can eat fruit - but eat it on an empty stomach. Take it alone for breakfast, as a snack at least 3 hours after a properly combined meal, or as a first course of a meal, making sure that you allow at least 30 minutes before other foods are eaten.

Doing so will not only help you avoid fruit digestion problems but get you all those nutrients you haven't been benefiting from in a long time.

A High Carb Diet For Raw Food Success

2010-01-18T09:17:00.000+08:00

Anyone who has ever eaten a meal of raw fruit knows how intensely pleasurable this can be. Fruit requires little to no preparation (all you need to eat a banana is opposable thumbs). It is easy to eat and digests quickly, usually in just 30 minutes.

Best of all, fruit tastes great and completely satisfies the sweet tooth in the most healthy way possible.

Just like avocado and nuts, fruit is calorically dense. However, fruit is also high in volume, like vegetables. This means that a meal of fruit both provides enough calories AND enough volume to leave you completely satiated until the next meal.

Just Fruit?!?

The idea of eating only fruit for a meal is very strange to people. Much of this confusion stems from the fact that we grow up thinking of raw fruit as a snack or part of a dessert. The idea of eating more than a couple pieces of fruit in one sitting is completely foreign to us.

As a result, people who are new to a low fat, high fruit raw food diet often under eat on calories at first.

To make the transition easier for you, here is a simple example of a sufficient fruit meal...

*Fruit Meal*

Let's say you need 2000 calories a day and you like to eat 3 meals a day. If each meal is divided equally, one meal would be between 600-700 calories.

One medium banana contains about 100 calories. In order to consume 600-700 calories in one meal from bananas alone, you would have to consume 6 to 7 bananas.

And that's it! It really is that simple.

Of course, if eating a meal of only one type of fruit seems much too boring to you, there are many alternatives. You can combine your favorite fruits into a nice fruit salad. A popular choice for beginners is to blend fruits into a smoothie. This is an easy way to get enough calories from fruit.

Here is a delicious smoothie you can make in just a few minutes...

*Two Pears in a Peel*

* 5 bananas
* 2 pears
* 1 cup of water

Blend ingredients together and enjoy!

There are many different combinations you can make. You can also add greens, which will add some nice variety and counterbalance some of the sweetness.

Problems with Fruit

Many raw foodists believe that fruits should be severely limited, or even eliminated, because they contain simple sugars like fructose and glucose. These simple sugars are believed to lead to such ailments as diabetes and Candida.

First, I want to clarify that the sugar in fruit does not cause sugar metabolic disorders. It is an excess of fat in the body that coats the insulin, blocking it from reaching the sugar molecules. The excess sugar in the blood leads to a high blood-sugar level.

Without the excess fat, the insulin will reach the sugar molecules and transport them out of the blood and into the cells.

Second, there is a huge difference between the simple sugars found in fruit and the simple sugars found in processed foods. These refined sugars have been removed from whole foods (i.e. fruit, sugar cane) and further processed. They no longer contain any nutritional value whatsoever.

On the contrary, the sugars in whole fruit have not been processed and are accompanied by necessary water, fiber, Vitamin C, Vitamin A, phytonutrients, etc.

How Much Fruit?

I recommend that the majority of your calories come from fruit. The best way to determine how much is to simply eat sweet fruit until you are full. As a general guideline, our closest relatives the bonobos consume 95% of their calories from sweet fruit. The other great apes consume between 70-90% of their calories from fruit.

Dr. Douglas Graham, a well-known leader in the raw food movement, recommends in The 80/10/10 Diet that 80% of our calories come from simple carbohydrates in the form of fruit. You can check out this excellent book and the rest of Dr. Graham's top-quality catalog at FoodnSport.

On average, I consume between 85-90% of my calories from sweet fruit.

Take Action

You can get started today by simply eating all fruit for your next meal. Many people prefer to wait until breakfast, as it is the easiest meal to transition.

You could also begin your next meal with as much fruit as you can eat, and then finish the meal with your regular fare. Just be sure to wait at least 30 minutes between your two meals so that your body has time to fully digest the fruit.

The Best Foods For Hiking, Camping, Hunting and Other Outdoor Activities

2010-01-17T10:18:00.000+08:00

Hikers, campers, canoers, kayakers, cyclists, hunters or other outdoors men and women, that are on extended trips or outings, have two basic food requirements: 1) to be able to easily transport food and 2) to replace spent energy, hopefully with satisfying and tasty foods. Dehydrated meats or jerky and dried fruits and dried vegetables can provide the protein, carbohydrates and vitamins needed by active sportspeople on the go. Dehydrated food is lightweight and calorie dense and thus meets the two basic food needs of outdoors and sports people.
Use a food dehydrator to make your own dehydrated food at home. A food dehydrator is specifically designed to remove significant amounts of water from food. The water content of food is typically very high, usually between 80% to 95% for various fruits and vegetables and 50% to 75% for different meats. Removing the moisture from food inhibits various bacteria from growing and spoiling it while also reducing the weight of the dehydrated food. Thus, food dehydrators are ideal tools for the preservation and storage of food and an ideal tool for making lightweight, shelf stable, easily transportable food.
Great dehydrated food that is easy to transport and provides great tasting, nutritious meals include:
- Dried fruit like apples, apricots, bananas and berries. Dried fruit is great for replacing energy and providing nutrient dense food. Removing a fruit's water also decreases the its volume, thus, once dried, the fruit's nutrient, calorie, and sugar content becomes more concentrated per each serving.
- Fruit leather made from apples, applesauce, bananas, pears, plums and or strawberries. Homemade fruit leather is naturally delicious and does not contain the extra sugars or preservatives that many store bought varieties do.
- Dried vegetables and veggie chips made from eggplant, sweet potato or zucchini.
- Beef jerky or other types of jerky. Jerky is a great choice for excellent protein and caloric intake.
- Trail mix. Make homemade trail mix with dried fruits and nuts and avoid the unhealthy additives, extra non-natural sugars and saturated fats that can be in store bought trail mix.

Fruits and Vegetables - Easy Way to Get 5-9 Servings Per Day

2010-01-16T09:01:00.000+08:00

Eating 5 to 9 servings of fruits and vegetables everyday is a difficult chore at best. The USDA now recommends we eat 3 to 5 servings of vegetables and 2 to 4 servings of fruit depending on your age, weight and height. Some researchers have raised this to 12 servings a day.
According to the government websites, USDA and the CDC , only 10-12% of the American population even comes close to consuming the recommended amounts. Another large number of us eat no fruits and vegetables at all. The CDC has said" we recommend supplementation for those people who cannot or do not eat enough plant-based food"

Fruits and vegetables are the source of the nutrition our bodies require to function. The more of these foods you eat the better your health and the less disease you are likely to attract. There is no nutrition in a bag of potato chips for example and there are quantities of elements like salt that are actually harmful. There is little or no nutrition in a happy meal but there are over a million served everyday.

So what is this fast and easy way to get 5-9 servings of fruits and vegetables a day?

Technology is able to reduce all the nutritious fruits and vegetables no one seems to like down to a powder which can be quickly mixed and consumed. The process is called essences or extracts. This process reduces fruits and vegetables down to a fine powder while at the same time maintaining all of the nutrition, phytochemicals, vitamins, minerals and other essentials of the original fruits and vegetables. In this manner these whole food supplements keep all the synergistic attributes of the original plant.

Vegetables that are high in nutrients seem to be the least favorite to eat especially for children and young adults. Fruits are more popular but are still not consumed in the required amounts. By drinking your nutrition you will get the vegetables like spinach, swiss chard, kale leaf, broccoli and beets. These are the vegetables with the highest amounts of phytonutrients and the ones least liked. Most of these supplements have a chocolate flavor so they are easy to drink.

Add supplements to two meals a day, fast and easy

Breakfast: Have at least one fruit preferably two. Fruits like bananas or berries on good cereals, try oatmeal or 8 grain hot cereal or cheerios. Drink one antioxidant drink with a mixture of 26 fruits that gives 2 to 3 servings of fruit in one small scoop. If you can find one with energy foods and herbs all the better. Another suggestion have a smoothie with 2 cups orange juice, 1cup blueberries or blackberries and a few strawberries plus a scoop of Super Fruit and Berry. This is a super berry antioxidant energy drink which gives you a total of 7 servings of fruits plus the antioxidant and energy power for a whole day.

Lunch: Eat one vegetable or salad. At this time you can have a scoop of Super Veggies and Greens called Super Food Premier (search engine) It has 3 to 4 servings of vegetables and greens plus a lot of other nutrition which is excellent for your health.

Snack: Eat an organic apple.

Dinner: 4 oz of your favorite fish, beef or chicken. Have two vegetables like corn, asparagus, green beans etc. For dessert have fruit. Super Food Premier or similar supplement can be taken at dinner instead of lunch.

That is 12 servings or more of fruits and vegetables. The two supplements provide from five to seven servings and the Super Food Premier can be a substitute for an entire meal up to twice a day if weight loss is desired. The supplements alone give the minimum daily recommended portions of fruits and vegetables. Using this new technology of extracts gives you all the nutrition originally in the fruits and vegetables.

How to Get Rid of Fruit Flies

2010-01-15T08:55:00.000+08:00

Of all tiny insects, fruit flies have to be one of the most annoying. When they come, they come en masse and before you know it your entire kitchen is buzzing with these tiny, clumsy little bugs. Thankfully, the process for getting rid of them is pretty straightforward and easy, it's just a matter of being thorough.
1. Are you sure they're fruit flies?
Mexican fruit flies
Mexican fruit fly
Common household fruit fly
Common fruit fly

Catch one of the bugs and examine it closely. If this proves to be a challenge, hang some fly paper for an hour or so to capture a few of the little buggers. Common household fruit flies (aka Drosophila) grow to a maximum size of 1/8th inch (3mm) long and typically have brownish or yellowish bodies and red eyes. They are also known to be clumsy fliers - a common experience in infested areas is to feel these little bugs kamikaze into your bare skin and face out of nowhere.
2. Eliminate the sources of the fruit fly infestation

Ok, so you're sure you've got fruit flies, now what? Now it's time to cut off their supplies - food, shelter and breeding ability.
Destroy food sources and breeding grounds

fruit fly food.... yum!One good thing about these insects is that their food and their breeding grounds are one in the same. They 'inject' their eggs into their food, and they tend to gather in the areas of your home where they're finding food - so it's pretty easy to cut off their supply lines. You must however, go through your entire house in these steps, even if they do not occur in every room. Once you remove one source of food, they will search for more - and if they find it somewhere else then you will be starting over again from square one. Fruit flies eat and breed in moist, organic materials. This means fruits and vegetables (especially when over ripe or rotting), dirty sponges and wash-cloths, juices, spills and messes. If your infestation is typical, they are centering around your kitchen, so that's where we'll start.
Kitchens:

* Remove standing liquids and any soft materials or fabrics that are wet.

* Flush your drains and garbage disposals with ammonia or drain cleaners. Do this once every few hours for a while or partially plug the drain and fill the sink so the cleaners trickle down slowly and stay present in the pipes.

* Empty your trash before it overflows and invest in trash containers with tight-fitting lids, make sure they close securely.

* Check your dishwasher for grime collecting in the bottom and the filter. Refrain from storing dirty dishes in there until you've eliminated the incursion.

* Scour your cabinets and pantries for exposed and forgotten foods - sacks of potatoes are common culprits, so are bags of grains and legumes that have become moist (These will breed moths as well). Store fresh fruits and vegetables in the fridge until the fruit flies are eradicated.

* Check under your refrigerator and other movable appliances and furniture for hidden spills and messes.

* If you have an electric stove, lift up the burners as well as the entire top surface and check for spills inside.

* Dry the surfaces in the sink when you are not using it.

* Relocate any potted plants or herbs outside (if the weather allows) and / or apply an insecticide that is safe to use on houseplants and edibles.

* Clean underneath your sink, look for leaks and soft, moist or rotting wood

* Dispose of or clean old towels and sponges.

* Use your nose! Sniff around for anything rotten or out of place.

* Check the cracks between your kitchen appliances and the cabinets for anything that may have fallen between them.

Hiding places for messiness
Living areas:

* Check behind furniture for spills and messes.

* Walk around barefoot and thoroughly inspect the entire carpet for spills and moisture.

* Clean up any leftover food, plates, or drink ware.

Bathrooms:

* Flush your sink and bathtub drains with ammonia or drain cleaner (just in case).

* Inspect the cabinets underneath the sink for leaks.

Other fruit fly attractants

Fruit flies are attracted to light as well as foods - so a portable bug light can really help cut down on the population while you are working to eliminate their breeding grounds.

Super Fruits - The Amazing World of Super Fruits

2010-01-14T10:16:00.001+08:00

Super fruits have caught the attention of the general public within the last several years. Although these same fruits have been around since the beginning time, many are turning to them to ease gout pain, improve eyesight and even enjoy a healthier heart naturally.
The super fruit fascination started back in 2004 when a book was published explaining the natural health benefits of the fruits categorized under this term. The term of super fruit refers to the antioxidant capacity of the underlying fruit. In addition to the antioxidant value, the fruits on this list also offer natural health benefits and taste good.
So for a fruit to be included on this list it must meet three criteria:
• High in antioxidants
• Offering natural health benefits
• An appealing taste
One area of importance to many seeking natural health remedies is the fruit's ability to offer a natural health benefit. (reduce joint pain, improve eye sight, etc.). Also, since many fruits offer similar compounds (vitamins and minerals) the health benefits of the underlying super fruit may not be attributed to just one compound. So it may be the synergistic benefits of all of the compounds naturally present in the underlying fruit that gives it natural health benefits.
For example, the tart cherry helps to reduce joint pain and inflammation in the body. Although the tart cherry is a natural source of Anthocyanins, research suggests it may be all of the compounds in the cherry working together in a synergistic relationship rather than the sole responsibility of the Anthocyanins.
According to emerging research there is actually two lists. First is the list of actual super fruits, while the second is a list of emerging super fruits. The biggest difference between the two lists is the fruits on the emerging list are not officially classified as super fruits. However, they do offer medical research evidence they offer significant antioxidant properties and/or harmful disease fighting properties.
I have included to two list for your review. The first is the current super fruit list, while the second is an example of emerging super fruits:
• Acai
• Blueberry
• Cranberry
• Grape
• Guarana
• Mangosteen
• Noni
• Pomegranate
• Seabuck Thorn
• Wolfberry (Goji)
Here is a list of some of the up-and-coming super fruits:
• Cherry
• Black Raspberry
• Black Currant
• Elderberry
• Kiwi Fruit
The world of the super fruit is broad and to learn more about the natural health benefits of the super fruit you can download a free book entitled Super Fruit Handbook. This is a complete book explaining the natural health benefits of select super fruit and select emerging super fruits.

Miracle Fruit Berry - The Latest Culinary Discovery Makes Sour Food Sweet

2010-01-13T10:14:00.003+08:00

Miracle Fruit Berry contains a harmless glycoprotein which temporarily gently binds to the tongue's taste buds, causing bitter and sour foods (such as lemons and limes) consumed later to taste sweet. It can also be used to prepare sugar free desserts.
The Miracle Fruit Plant (Synsepalum dulcificum) is a plant first documented in 1725 during an excursion to its native West Africa.
Local tribes picked the berry from shrubs and chewed it before meals. Miracle Fruit berries contain a harmless active glycoprotein which temporarily gently binds to the tongue's taste buds, causing bitter and sour foods, such as lemons and rhubarb, consumed after eating miracle fruit, to taste sweet. It is extremely simple to use: just chew the fruit or dissolve one "tablet" on your tongue and the effect will last from 10 minutes to 2 hours, depending mostly on what you eat. When the effect wears off, everything tastes as before (lemons are sour again).
Miracle fruit is safe and has no known side effects (well, lemons taste sweet!). It has been used for centuries (in Africa) and for decades in the US and Asia. Miracle Fruit is available as fresh fruits or freeze dried extract which can be stored for a much longer period of time. Miracle Fruit berries can be chewed before eating sour fruit (grapefruit, rhubarb, lemons, strawberries and similar) or used in combination with special recipes to make sugar free desserts. The desserts can be made without sugar and artificial sweeteners, pure freshly squeezed natural fruit juices are more than enough to make any dessert extremely sweet. Besides desserts, Miracle Fruit can also be used to prepare sugar free cocktails, 100% natural lemonades and other delicious drinks. Innovative chefs like Ian Kleinman of Westin, Colorado, are using Miracle Fruit powder and tablets to make innovative foods like Miracle Fruit gum and miracle fruit popsicles.
Miracle Fruit first caught attention of party goers. Numerous Miracle Fruit parties have been organized worldwide, some of which received wide media coverage in newspapers like New York Times and The Guardian. Foods served at a typical Miracle Fruit Party include all sorts of citrus fruits, dark chocolate, wine, beer, cocktails, and essential fresh strawberries, kiwi and rhubarb. Miracle Fruit can also improve the taste after chemotherapy. Results are inconclusive but it seems to work in around 50% of all cases. It also has endless possibilities as a sugar substitute for diabetes patients. They can finally enjoy in desserts without sugar and controversial artificial sweeteners, some of which have been rumored to cause health problems.
In Japan, Miracle Fruit tablets have been on sale since 2006. Miracle Fruit Café's, serving sugar free desserts and Miracle Fruit berries have become very popular in Japan in the past two years. Tablets are of medicinal quality and produced in a pharmaceutical clean room. They contain no artificial additives (such as colorants or preservatives).
Miracle Fruit is also known as Synsepalum dulcificum, Frutto dei miracoli, Fruta maravillosa, Fruto milagro, Fruta de milagro, Frutamilagrosa, Sideroxylon dulcificum, Mirakelfrukten, Mirakelfrukt, Mirakelbær, Mirakelbaer, Wunderbeere, Mirakelbes and Le Fruit Miraculeux.

The Link Between Fruit, Vegetables and Cancer

2010-01-12T10:13:00.002+08:00

Fruit, Vegetables & Cancer
Despite the fact that no causality can be found that any single food is capable of causing cancer, there is a great deal of evidence that certain types of food protect against cancer. As a generic food group fruit and vegetables should be eaten at least five times a day. Whilst many American and European doctors recommend five, they do so because they feel that five is a manageable number, yet eight is more realistic and some doctors even recommend eight vegetables and three fruits.
However, whatever the number of fruit and vegetables that should be eaten a day, most of the cancer studies seem to agree that the level or incidence of cancer is low when the intake of fruit and vegetables is high in a society. Equally important is the fact that there is no recorded study any where in the world that has blamed a single case of cancer on a fruit or a vegetable.
Initially it was thought that the antioxidant effect was responsible for the protection that fruit and vegetables seem to confer on vegetarians. The antioxidant nutrients in fruits and vegetables prevent oxidative damage to the cells and DNA by free radicals, and they prevent the initiation of damage that starts the cancer in the first place.
There is a strong suggestion that these nutrients also protect the lipids which are present in the cellular membranes, and may contribute to the stabilization of cells. Also they may have a wide variety of chemical components that play a very active part in the overall protection against cancer, but research into this area is relatively new. The promotion of certain types of food that have been called super foods has arisen because of a marketing technique, rather than science. The growth of the use of food to promote health and reduce the risk of disease has led to the rapid development of food that possesses these capabilities.
Blueberries and bilberries or Vaccinium myrtillus, contains anthocyanin. These nutrients make up the dark blue purple color and they are found in many foods of a similar color. Nutrients in bilberry, protect against free radical damage and they also prevent damage from certain toxins especially potassium bromate, a fairly common food additive. Bilberry can protect against damage from radiation and it strengthens the capillaries.
However, bilberries or any other berry is not a super food and no amount of eating bilberries will give more protection than eating a wide range of fruit and vegetables. Even if you eat a kilo of bilberries it is still only one fruit from a nutrition point of view. In general increasing the amount of unprocessed food such as fruit and vegetables, wholegrain cereals nuts and seeds will confer a greater health benefit than concentrating on the miracle qualities of Tropical rain forest berries.
There is moderately strong evidence that stomach and colorectal cancers occur less in communities that routinely eat over 500g of fruit and vegetables a day. There is less strong evidence that the same levels of fruit and vegetables protect against esophagus breast and lung cancers. There is a possible preventative factor in the case of prostrate, pancreatic, bladder and cervical cancers.

MALNOURISHED... While Eating A Full Plate Of Food?

2010-01-11T09:00:00.002+08:00

This is a concept that you may have difficulty in accepting. Nonetheless it is one that I have been ‘preaching’ for years and has now been confirmed by studies showing people in the US, Canada and the UK are amongst the most malnourished in the world. This is the case in spite of obesity reaching epidemic proportions in the US. Malnourishment is without doubt a leading factor in a wide variety of health problems including cancers.
Does this mean that overweight people are eating all the food to the detriment of the rest of the population? Not at all! In fact, obese people figure prominently amongst those people who are malnourished.
I can sense you thinking... "That’s a crazy statement". After all, when you think of someone being malnourished your mind flashes to pictures which you have seen on TV of starving children in Africa.
How can an overweight person be malnourished?
Much easier than you think... please read on and I will explain.
The Problem is in the Food!
A recent analysis of a range of staple foods in Canada including potatoes, tomatoes, bananas, apples, onion, broccoli etc, was commissioned by The Globe and Mail and CTV news.
The results were predictable to some and a shock to others. Let’s use potatoes as an example. This is what the analysis found:
Over the last 50 years the potato has lost:

100% of its Vitamin A

57% of its Vitamin C and iron.

28% of its Calcium.

50% of its riboflavin

18% of its thiamine

Of the seven nutrients analyzed only niacin levels had increased. The results were similar for all the 25 fruits and vegetables tested. One of the worst results was from broccoli in which ALL nutrients had declined measurably including niacin with Calcium down 63%.
The Globe and Mail and CTV used comparative figures from government researchers for the years 1951, 1972 and 1999. These earlier figures had been published in various scientific journals in the UK including the British Food journal. Release of this data in the US has been limited to a few alternative health journals.
Tim Lang a professor at the centre for Food Policy in England says as a further example of how our food has been degraded is that you would now have to eat eight oranges today to get the same amount of Vitamin A that your grandparents got from eating just one orange.
Do foods that have low nutritional values play a part in obesity?
Absolutely! I believe this is a major factor in the current epidemic of obesity. If you are lacking in essential nutrients it will have a serious flow-on effect in your body. First of all you will never really feel ‘well’, you will lack energy which means you exercise less, and you will have a tendency to seek out ‘comfort’ foods which generally contain sugars and thus the cycle continues and it gets worse and worse and ultimately ends up in obesity and ill health.
What can be done about this problem?

Try to eat organic fruit and vegetables wherever possible.

Avoid processed foods! If you think the loss of nutrient value in fresh fruit and vegetables is bad enough, I can assure you that it is nothing compared to the nutritional emptiness of processed foods... and to add insult to injury they are full of transfats due to the hydrogenated processing methods that are used.

Take a QUALITY multi NUTRIENT supplement. A multi vitamin/mineral tablet is not adequate for a number of reasons. The prime one is that most ‘multi vitamin’ supplements use synthetic ingredients with both questionable efficacy and bio-availability and they lack other important nutrients. Unfortunately this is an area in which many consumers are being mislead. It’s a complex subject and as such I may devote a newsletter to this very important subject in the not to distant future.

It was interesting to see that even some mainstream physicians are beginning to recognize this problem as evidenced by a recent article in JAMA which advocated people take quality supplements for preventative measures.

Food - Fruit

2010-01-10T09:00:00.002+08:00

Unless you're living in a warm climate it's really hard to get good fruit all year round. If you're out in the frost district you pretty much have to depend in imports and by the time it gets to you you're pretty much eating stuff that you wouldn't give to your worst enemy. That's why people who can get really good fruit should be very thankful for it, not only because of how good it tastes but because of how good it is for you.
Nutritionists say that most people do not get enough fresh fruit in their diet. If they did they wouldn't have all the health problems that they have. Still there are some of us who know the benefit of good fruit and get it whenever they can. Because all fruits are not available all year round, unless you are in an ideal climate, you have to pick your fruits pretty carefully. There are fruits that are pretty good most of the year even if it has to be imported from other places.
Bananas are a perfect example of a fruit that you can pretty much get year round. Because they are picked when they're green, by the time they get to the supermarket or local fruit stand, they're still not too ripe. Some bananas are even still green by the time they get to your store and need a day or two before you'll want to eat them, even though green bananas will not hurt you in spite of what most people think. Plus, bananas are really convenient. You don't have to wash them and you can just pop one in your handbag or lunch box and when you're ready to eat it, just peal and enjoy.
Apples on the other hand are not so convenient and not as easy to eat. For one thing they do have to be washed since most people eat the skin of an apple. Then, unless you've got really strong teeth, you're probably going to want to cut the apple up into slices. Eating a whole apple, especially one that's very crisp, takes a good set of choppers. Also, apples in the winter time are not very good. Many are soft and soggy and don't taste very good.
If you want a fruit that you can throw into a little baggy and take with you there's always grapes. Grapes are really good for snacks. They're small easy to eat. Of course it's really easy to lose track of how many of these you've eaten and they can sneak up on you really fast. Just make sure you have a bathroom close by if you go overboard on these.
Strawberries are a little harder to go nuts on because they're substantially bigger than grapes. If you ate as many strawberries as you did grapes you'd probably end up pretty sick. And a good thing about strawberries is that they go great with cream, either whipped, sweat or heavy. And nothing beats a good piece of strawberry shortcake.
Which of course brings up the use of fruit in and as desserts. Blueberry, cherry, peach and apple pies are just a few of the many examples of fruits found in very yummy desserts.
Fruit is good for you, it tastes good and you should get plenty of it in your diet.
Your body will thank you for it.

Christmas Foods - Why is Fruit Cake So Popular?

2010-01-09T09:00:00.002+08:00

Who hasn't tasted a fruitcake? They are visible at every checkout counter at every store, and are prominently featured in every holiday gift catalog. The requisite fruitcake is tucked in the corner of every holiday dessert buffet and makes an appearance at every holiday office party. It is impossible to pass the holidays without giving or receiving this Christmas staple. But what makes the hearty sweet cake so popular?
The history of the fruitcake dates back to medieval times when sweet breads were first developed. Cooks all over the Old World saved their most expensive ingredients, then baked them together for a special holiday treat. The basic ingredients include the finest wheat flour, white sugar, eggs, sweet butter, and exotic dried fruits. But variations of the bread might include rich filling such as marzipan (almond paste).
In Germany, the fruitcake is known as Stollen, and is credited to the city of Dresden. A traditional Stollen is oblong in shape, with each end tapered and a ridge running down the middle. It contains raisins, currants, rum or brandy, candied peels and almonds. After it is baked, the Stollen is painted with butter and sprinkled with sugar and more candied fruits are added to the top.
A variation of the fruitcake is known as three kings cake (or King Cake in New Orleans) and is associated with Mardi Gras and Twelfth Night. Although similar in its ingredients to the traditional Christmas fruitcake, the Twelfth Night cake originated before Christian times and was developed from ancient Arab recipes. It contains a basic yeast-based brioche and fruits and nuts. It often contains a bean or token hidden inside the cake.
Called by any name, the fruitcake remains a hearty symbol of Christmas tradition. It has been said that the fruitcake lives forever, and there are a number of anecdotal stories of fruit cakes being passed on from one generation to the next. A story published in the New York Times, 1983, tells of a man who received the family fruitcake that had been baked in 1794 as a Christmas gift for George Washington, but the President sent it back with a note of refusal. Some families have a "traveling fruitcake" that is passed from one family member to another each season.
With such a rich and varied history, it is apparent that the fruitcake will be a part of the holiday tradition for many generations to come.

Kiwi Fruit is a Tremendously Valuable Health Food to Have in Your Kitchen

2010-01-08T09:00:00.003+08:00

Kiwi Fruit is relatively low in sugar compared to most fruits, being packed with curative vitamins, minerals, and enzymes. One large Kiwi fruit contains more vitamin c than a cup of strawberries, an orange or half a grapefruit.If you are wanting to add more vitamin c to your diet then try this awesome fruit, a small kiwi fruit has more vitamin c than a medium sized orange. It is also a top source of folic acid and beta carotene.
This great fruit is also a excellent source of fiber. There is a greater amount of fiber in three of these fruits than a bowl of bran flakes, and the fiber content is increased even further if eaten with the skin on. Just give them a scrub and eat skin and all. Constipation has met its match with this fruit.
Kiwi fruit are also a highly effective digestion aid. In fact they make an excellent meat tenderizer. The enzyme in this fruit is called actinidin, it is so powerful that simply rubbing a half of it on meat will tenderize it. They are also a rich source of potassium, which is needed to stimulate the flow of digestive juices.
If you suffer from inflammation of the joints and muscles you should consume kiwi fruit regularly. The enzymes found in this fruit could benefit anyone that suffers with arthritis or fibromyalgia. These enzymes are also very valuable for anyone dealing with low back pain, hip pain and sciatica. Try to eat two firm fruit daily, preferably on a empty stomach. This will optimize the absorption of the fruits enzymes.
They are an ideal fruit to have for breakfast, they are very easy to digest which is important for people who find it difficult to eat breakfast. Whenever eating foods such as nuts or meat, eat a kiwi fruit for desert they will really help to digest the protein rich meal.
Always try to buy them when they are still hard, because once they become soft they have lost much of there nutritional value. We are lucky because you can get kiwi fruit anywhere these days, so go ahead and add them to your shopping list and reap the benefits today.

Allergies - Why Are Fruit and Vegetable Allergies Increasing Due to Food Sensitivities

2010-01-07T09:00:00.005+08:00

You would think that fruit and vegetables are good for you but what do people do that are allergic to them. It is a strange phenomena to see that fruit and vegetable allergies are on the rise.
We were always told that it is important to eat your fruit and vegetables everyday because they were good for you. If this is true, why is this happening is the question? The answer is easy but also complicated at the same time. We need to remember that these foods are healthy foods and are important to maintain our health.
If you listen to all the Allergy experts, they will tell you that fruit and vegetable allergies are on the rise. It is even worse for the younger generation. Children can have the following symptoms of swelling of the mouth, throat and breathing problems which make you think it is Asthma. The thing is, these children do not have Asthma but are allergic to fruits and vegetables. My neighbor next door cannot eat carrots because she gets hives from them. If she drinks organic carrot juice, she does not react so it must be some form of pesticide or something that is affecting her allergy.
In my business, I run across a lot of people who have allergenic symptoms to many things such as mold, chemicals, food, grass and dust mites. The worst of all them is food allergies from fruits. It seems that something is being sprayed on them to cause all these food sensitivities. I personally am allergic to bananas. They give me an upset stomach, swelling of my airways and the sinusis get stuffed up. The funny thing is if I eat organic bananas from Whole Foods, they do not upset my stomach or my throat does not swell up. This only confirms my suspicions that it is something being sprayed on the bananas that I am allergic to.
In conclusion, some chemical is being sprayed on fruits and vegetables that people are food sensitive to. It could also be Genetically Modified Foods. These foods are not natural and our bodies do not like them. Very few people have allergies to organic foods so this says something about the Genetically Modified Foods. I personally will never eat Genetically Modified Foods because of this reason. Next time you go to Whole Foods, buy a organic fruit banana and buy a Genetically Modified Fruit from the grocery store. Try the test yourself and you will know the answer. If you find that Fruits and Vegetables are making you sick, consult with your Doctor.

Keep Your Fruit Fresh With a Vacuum Food Sealer

2010-01-06T09:00:00.004+08:00

When you are paying so much for fruit, you want to keep them as fresh as possible. You may not know how to do that or what kinds of equipment you may need for it. Why not try a vacuum food sealer.
When you want your veggies or fruit, you may not think about keeping them good for a longer period of time. This is because you are just thinking about what you want to eat right now and not about what you could be in for later. If you don't think about this, you could be in for a lot of money going down the drain in the end.
A good way to start is to put your vegetables in their own bags for vacuum sealing, this way they will stay fresher better and you will have some kind of system. Once you have each different kind of vegetable in its own bag, you are free to use them without hurting any other kind of veggie in the bunch. You will be able to keep the nasty stuff out of your vegetables and that will help them to stay good.
If you want to keep your fruit tasting good, then a vacuum sealed bag is going to be a great idea as well. This is because you are keeping all of the air out of the bag so that your fruit stays good and you will be able to eat them later on down the road. You may want to think about keeping your fruits separate from each other so that you are not letting them all get into the air and getting bad at the same time. A vacuum sealing system is a great way to keep your fruit and vegetables tasting good for the long haul.
A vacuum sealer is something that anyone can use for their fruits and vegetables keeping needs. You may not think that you are going to be able to use it for your fruit and things, but it really is easy and great to do. If you are not sure about these vacuum sealers, then you can try one that runs on a battery system instead of a plug in one. This way you will not be so intimidated by the process of vacuum sealing. Take some time and find the one that is good for your needs. That way, you will have fun even as you are keeping your food fresh.

Food Contamination - Should Thin-Skin Fruit Be Cleaned Well Before Consumption?

2010-01-05T09:00:00.002+08:00

Because these kinds of fruit orchards and vineyards are more-than-likely sprayed with insecticides or fungicides during their growing seasons, the residues of these chemicals could remain on these fruits to varying degrees.
My concern is with the thin-skin ones, like, grapes, apples, peaches, or pears. You might take a good look at your next batch of grapes. Do most of them have a cloudy film on their skins. Try to wipe that film from a single grape with a napkin or paper towel. You should now see a clean shiny grape.
The next question is - what was that film? The answer is - I don't know. But I do know what it could be, at least, in part. Since that film could contain chemical residues, I rinse my batch of grapes with water, and then carefully wipe off each one individually as I eat them. Another remedy for the grapes in question is to soak the batch in water for a long period to dilute any residues by diffusion. But, I prefer the rinse-and-wipe technique because I can watch the film disappear.
I do the same thing with the apples, peaches, and pears. I wipe them well. Yet, these fruit can be peeled instead of wiping them to remove any potential contamination from their skins. Additionally, I cut out the stem pit from these particular fruits. That pit is where the insecticidal or fungicidal sprays could pool as liquids, and thus, could soak into the fruit meats through the skins. Still, I sometimes wonder if these extra precautions are necessary?

Taste Organic Food With A Fruit Salad

2010-01-04T09:00:00.002+08:00

Organic food has so much more flavor than conventional produce. Conventional peaches can be extremely mealy with little or no flavor. Caution: eating organic peaches can turn you into a peach snob! There are worlds of difference in flavor between organic and conventional peaches, not to mention other fruits.
Fruit is such a great dessert, because it curbs your sweet tooth and boosts your daily fresh fruit intake. We should eat at least five servings of fresh fruits and vegetables daily. Some doctors say eight.
Organic food not only has more flavor, but it is healthier for you and the planet. Organic fruits are cultivated using no pesticides, which decreases your risk of cancer and retains rich soil quality for generations to come.
Ingredients:
2 organic bananas

2 oz. organic strawberries

2 oz. organic blueberries

2 organic peaches
Slice bananas into medium-sized bowl. Rinse strawberries and blueberries, then pat them dry with a towel. Cut strawberries into quarters. Add strawberries and blueberries to bananas in bowl. Using a knife, carefully cut around the entire circumference of a peach. Twist the two halves in opposite directions until they come apart. Now use the knife in the same manner to slice each piece in half again. The peach pit may be easy to remove, or you may have to coax it out by cutting around it, depending on how ripe the peach is. Your mouth will water in direct proportion to how juicy the peach is! Cut each peach quarter into three chunks.
Add peaches to the mix and gently fold with a large spoon. This fruit salad serves two.
Blueberries are bursting with vitamin C, manganese and vitamin E. They are also packed with the antioxidant anthocyanidin, which neutralizes free radical damage to collagen cells and tissues, helping reduce your risk of cancer.
Bananas contain loads of potassium, which is very helpful in reducing blood pressure, heart attacks and leg cramps. Bananas are also chocked full of vitamin C, A1, B6, magnesium, iron and tryptophan. Vitamin B6 regulates blood glucose levels, and tryptophan is a natural mood-calming chemical. So bananas are terrific for dissipating PMS, depression and seasonal affective disorder!
And those little strawberries pack a lot of vitamins! They're brimming with 130 percent the daily requirement of vitamin C! And that's not to mention also containing vitamin K, potassium, folate, vitamin B2, vitamin B5, and even omega 3 fatty acids.
As for peaches, they not only drip with flavor, but they contain vitamin C, vitamin A, iron and even calcium. Vitamin A promotes healthy vision, skin and teeth--and even boosts the immune system.
With a mouth-watering fruit salad made from organic food ingredients that's just bursting with vitamins and flavor, who needs sugar?

Dried Fruit As a Junk Food Alternative?

2010-01-03T09:00:00.003+08:00

Do you not sometimes crave sugary foods? I know I do! It is difficult to lose or maintain weight when you have a sweet tooth. Did you know that dried fruit can make an excellent sweet snack alternative, while providing nutrition and fiber?
Do not get too excited. It will never be as healthy as its fresh fruit counterpart. When a fruit is dried it loses its water content, in addition to nutrients that come with fresh fruit, such as flavonoids, an antioxidant.
The other drawback is the concentrated sugar content. During production sugar is added to heighten sweetness, on top of the already sugary nature of fruit. Due to this high concentration of sugar, dried fruit should always be eaten in moderation, as a small snack.
If and when at all possible, opt for organic that is sulphate free, as a way to reduce the preservatives you consume.
However, dried fruits make a healthy alternative to other sweet snack food such a chocolate, gummy candy, and donuts, because they are still fruits, and contain vitamins and nutrients. I find they are just as satisfying, if not more.
One of the good things about dried fruit, is that is has a long shelf life, for up to a year. There is also no shortage of variety. Some examples of dried fruit can include: Raisins, cherries, cranberries, strawberries, mango slices, apples, and ginger.
Try it on its own, sprinkled on cereal, in trail mix, or find recipes that compliment their sweet taste. Raisins for example, taste great in many dishes and are amazing with fresh apples.
Dried fruit once in a while will keep your sweet tooth under control. So enjoy the unique, chewy goodness of nature's very own candy.
Try It!

Fruit is Just About the Perfect Food

2010-01-02T15:13:00.002+08:00

The experts tell us that a healthy diets will include 5 servings of fruit per day. While this is a lot of fruit, this article takes a very brief look why fruits are so important to our living a healthy life. Indeed some anthropologists claim the evidence is there to prove that our earliest ancestors ate only fruit until the onset of the ice age a million or so years ago forced the introduction of meat into their diets. In fact there are some folks today who refuse to eat anything other than fruit. The practice is known as "fruitarianism" and the adherents call themselves "fruitarians".
Whether or not the claim that earliest man ate only fruit is true, fruit is undeniably good for us. First, fruits have high concentrations of fiber, water, and vitamin C. Fiber (which you will also see spelled as "fibre") is a set of materials that have continuous filaments, much like a thread. Fiber is critically important to the make up of both plants and animals because they hold tissue together. Vitamin C is an essential nutrient for humans. Fruits are also an excellent source of "phytochemicals" which are chemical compounds that occur naturally in plants. The best known phytochemical is beta-carotene.
Regular and continued consumption of fruit is thought to reduce some forms of cancer, as well as reduce the risks of stroke and Alzheimer disease. Diets that are high in plant based foods of all types have been linked to general health and being long lived. Also, eating fruits will contribute to weight loss, lower cholesterol and perhaps even stress reduction. So now you know a little about why fruits are so good for us. An easy and tasty way to get fruit into your diet is through fruit smoothies.

Fruit Leather - Homemade Via a Food Dehydrator Versus Store Bought

2010-01-01T21:35:00.005+08:00

Fruit leathers or fruit roll ups are a great tasting, healthy snack that can be easily made with a food dehydrator. Homemade fruit leather's basic ingredients should consist of:
• ripe or slightly overripe fruit
• if desired, juices, spices, nuts, coconut or applesauce for flavoring and or different textures and
• if desired, honey, sugar or other sweeteners.
Fruits best suitable for fruit leather include apples, apricots, bananas, berries, cherries, grapes, oranges, pears, pineapples, plums, strawberries, tangerines, and tomatoes. Applesauce can be dried alone or added to any fresh fruit puree before dehydrating. Applesauce will add sweetness and make the fruit leather smoother and more pliable. Further, spices can be added to the pre-dehydrated fruit mixture including cinnamon, cloves, coriander, ginger, mace, mint, nutmeg or pumpkin pie spice. However, spices should be used sparingly.
Homemade fruit leathers are wholesome, 100% fruit snacks that are easy and fun to make. In contrast to homemade fruit leathers, store bought fruit roll ups are over processed, over priced, imitation fruit products that include extra sugars, extra corn syrups and trans fats as ingredients. Below is a listing of the major ingredients from a well known, branded fruit roll up product sold in a typical grocery store:
• Pears from concentrate
• Corn syrup
• Dried corn syrup
• Sugar
• Partially hydrogenated cottonseed oil
To recap:
- Homemade fruit leather or fruit roll up - 100% fruit, 100% natural ingredients that you control.
- Store bought fruit roll up - Fruit juice, corn syrups and trans fat.
- Go with the real thing - home made fruit leathers made with your food dehydrator.