By Sherjeel Amir

Consumption of food rich in fiber highly reduces the chances of strokes in a person. An international study covering over 250,000 people reported that people who consume diets rich in magnesium such as beans and vegetables have a highly reduced rate of having strokes.

The authors of the research have stopped short of recommending a daily intake of diets that are rich in magnesium because they think that there is a possibility that some aspect of the food other than magnesium might be responsible for the findings.

Susanna Larsson, a professor at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm and the lead author of the report, concluded that people should eat foods which are rich in magnesium like nuts, whole grains, beans and leafy vegetables.

The research team has basically researched and considered the results of all the major surveys conducted in the past 45 years to get the mean figures of magnesium intake and stroke incidents. The main source of data is the combination of seven studies published in the last 14 years covering around 250,000 Americans with around 6,500 people having a stroke at the time they were followed.

The most common type of stroke is ischemic stroke which is typically caused by blood clot. According to the statistics, the risk of ischemic stroke falls by 9 percent for every hundred milligrams intake of magnesium per day.

Nutritionists have suggested in the past that one of the major reasons for health problems is a lack of fiber in the diets taken by a person. Introducing changes in the diet like addition of nutraceuticals, functional foods and supplements can reduce the risk and improve the health of a person.

Lack of intake of fiber rich diets and an excessive intake of modern fast food diets lead to an increased chance of obesity. Obesity is the main root of a number of very serious diseases of the heart and intestine. A high risk of developing cardiovascular diseases and diabetes arrive due to intake of modern fast food diets which are rich in fats.

The findings of the report made by Larsson and his colleagues are limited but according to nutritionists, the findings are very much consistent with the typical recommendations by the doctors. Dr. Larry Goldstein, director of stroke centre in Durham, North Carolina also said that the research is consistent with the view of the doctors and medical researchers.

You need to reconsider your eating habits if your daily diet intake has an excess of fats and a lack of fiber like magnesium. Changing your eating habits according to the findings of this survey will ensure you a more than healthy life style and a largely reduced risk of being affected by strokes.

The study has been published in the American journal of clinical nutrition and the International journal of Food Safety, Nutrition and Public health.

By Larry Marragay

Organic and natural food consumers are bombarded with assorted food claiming it is their healthiest option. These days, we are too health conscious and we do not want to subject ourselves on foods exposed and processed on to too much chemicals or pesticides.Usually, if you ask someone to define what a natural food is they would say “um..Natural food is somewhat that does not have lots of chemicals or pesticides in it and just grown naturally,” while on organic side would say,” it is when they are being manufactured or processed without the use of pesticides”.Well they are somehow on the right path as natural and organic term has been used interchangeably. By knowing and understanding them, you have a better control of your health and make you commit to a healthier life as the saying goes,” You are what you eat.” In this article, I will be talking about the benefits of organic food items over the conventional one and will answer the tricky question between the difference of organic and natural foods.

If you are into healthy eating practice adding up some spice of organic foods will make you more successful towards optimum level of health. Organic foods are foods that are developed and manufactured without the use of pesticides, chemical, fertilizers, antibiotic and growth hormone by using natural resources while avoiding pollution, conserving oil and water. There is variety of benefits an organic food has to offer because of the natural environment and the process in which they are grown. While the conventional foods make us prone to disease as we may get possible toxins and chemicals in our body through them. Conventional foods used fertilizer and pesticide, s and all we know pesticides are dangerous to our health. A pesticide used, by conventional means disrupts the human health and the environment. Long term exposure to pesticides will make a gradually make an individual prone to catching up disease and infection such as cancer that will definitely boost down our immune system in the long term.

Every company must pass strict regulation before a product will be out of the market. Only foods that are sealed and labeled ‘’certified 100% organic” by the United States Department of Agriculture or USDA are approved and would definitely worth to buying  for.  Organic food contains a greater amount of vitamins and minerals. In the year 2005, a Social Association study shows that organic cow’s milk contain more nutrients than conventional milk including Omega 3, folic acid, Vitamin A and the antioxidant beta carotene. Experts believe that if the more your children eat organic foods they are less likely expose to pesticides. Due to the rapid demand, conventional method uses chemical fertilizers, farming sprays and chemical herbicides to promote plant growth hence destroying the vitamins and minerals we need. In terms of animal racing, conventional methods use additional hormone and antibiotics for disease prevention and growth. For instance, they use additional hormone to cow to increase its milk production which will never be allowed in organic food. Imagine yourself, if you prefer to eat organic food you are most likely being passed out on eating those antibiotic and growth hormone. If you are planning to have an organic diet by now, this will give you immediate and  protective  measure  to those harsh chemical and toxin exposure. Organic methods, also aims to conserve energy by minimizing the impact on our ecosystem and improving the quality of the soil. If you start eating, organic, whole and unprocessed food items you just do not promote your overall wellness but as well with the environmental sustainability.

Organic food caught a lot of attention these days and organic shopping are getting more and more popular to people who wants to safeguard their health as well the health of their family.  There is even a store exclusive only for organic foods. Now, you can find organic food in every aisle of the store. As I said above, if you want to make sure the product is organic look for a USDA certified label, quality will assure you. These days, you can find organic foods from snacks, juices, data, cheese, dairy products and many more. However, the main concern of the consumer is the price for organic foods are usually ten to fifty percent higher than conventional food items. In case you are in a tight budget there are other cheaper organic alternatives you can find in the market. You can store organic foods longer while inorganic methods or minimally processed foods have shorter duration because of increase water content. Even though organic foods are pricey it is cost effective. Why? Because it maintains our wellness and helps us protect us from disease brought about by chemicals from inorganic food. Imagine spending your money through medical checkup and expensive medicine so never be reluctant investing yourselves on organic foods as all we know “Prevention is better than Cure”

On the other hand natural foods should not be compared to organic foods because “natural food items” refers to the overall product, not on how it was produced. According to The Food Marketing Institute or FMI to be to be labeled as natural foods it should be minimally processed and be free of colors, flavors like stabilizers and emulsifiers. It has nothing to do with how the food was produced. It may have undergone conventional method which exposes it to chemicals or it may be processed through organic method too. In reality, the term natural is misleading us because it is being used to attract consumers. So, if you are still confused between the main difference between them is that organic foods passed the United States Department of Agriculture or USDA in which it should be produced without any means of synthetic fertilizers, chemicals, pesticides, bioengineered genes and growth hormone. The term natural is not yes USDA approved, so natural foods are only reliable if you entrust the company producing it, just beware and do a little research.

By Larry Marraggay

Organic beef can only be classified as organic if it came from a verified meat production system.  A cattle should have certification that it was raised from a certified organic pasture that is supported by US Department of Agriculture. There are standards that should be met to gain the support of USDA.  The cattle all throughout its life should have not been given any antibiotic and any formula that promotes growth of hormones. When it comes to the food that the cattle should have eaten, it should be foods that are certified organic such as grasses and grains. It is also important that the cattle has no restriction to have outdoor access while it was alive. Muscle movement of the cattle should be increased while it si being raised. If all of these are certifiable to the cattle, the it should be classified and  passed  as organic beef.

If you are thinking that organic beef is just the same as natural beef, you should understand that those are two different things.  Natural beef can be considered natural based on the way the cattle were raised. The cattle should not be given any additives on its food intake and it should have minimal consumption of processed food. While organic beef raisers are totally restricted to give antibiotic to the cattle, natural beef producers is not restricted to any rules such as this, as long as the cattle have a 120 clearance or free from any antibiotic, it should be allowed. Natural beef producers may choose not to give antibiotic or any formula that promotes growth but they are not restricted to any rules about it as well. There is also no third party that will verify if natural beef were raised by following such rules.  This is where demarcation line between organic beef  and natural beef is drawn. It is important that this is understood so we that we will go wrong with the choice of food that we will have.

According to the US Department of Agriculture, natural meat should not have any artificial coloring or flavoring, preservative should not be added nor any artificial ingredients. In general, processed meat can be considered as organic also.

There are two kinds of feeding program that is being followed to raise organic beef. First is the grass fed cattle. A grass fed cattle can only eat certified organic grass until the cattle is slaughter. According to experts,  the cattle feed on plainly certified organic grass produce a leaner meat and the fat is less.  On the other hand, grain fed cattle are more common in the market. This type of meat is easier to find. Cattle fed in certified organic grain produces a more flavorful meat but a higher percentage of fat.   Both of this process would pass as organic beef, however, it is still best if you are able to classify the difference. There will still be instances that its best if you understand both so you can explain better when asked.

Since production of organic beef is a bit hard, some beef producers exports beef from other country. However, there are instances that the beef being supplied does not completely meet the standards in raising beef in an organic way.

There are also advantages and disadvantages of having organic beef.  We have already presented that an organic beef can only be fed on organic grains or pasture therefore the chance of having a mad cow disease is less.  By the way, mad cow disease is due to the byproducts that are given to the cattle while they are being raised.  You will be able to identify meat as conventional if its meat is not lean and they are fatter.  For meat raiser, raising natural beef is much easier because they can opt to give antibiotics or formula that promotes hormones when needed. Natural meat does not also need a certification from a third party verified such as USDA.

Organic beef also has a reputable tag price and is always the choice of health enthusiasts. There is actually no proof that there is a big difference in nutritional content between organic and natural beef, but heath enthusiast still prefers traditionally grown beef due to the fact that it’s less exposed in pesticides and hormone enhancer. In fact there is a recommendation from American Heart Association that having a moderate consumption of beef, be it organic or natural, helps decrease heart illness.  Cattle fed in the traditional way also have more percentage of omega 3 fats compared to the others that were fed the conventional way.

According to experts, organic beef does not guarantee to give more protein, iron or even vitamins to food consumers compared to those that are raised in a conventional way.  Beef raised in traditional way may have less fat and slow in gaining weight because of the fact that these cattle are vegetarian and they have more muscle movement.  But in general, organic and natural beef both have fat content, to be specific these are saturated and trans fat. These kinds of fat are the leading cause of high cholesterol. Therefore, consumption of meat products should be in moderation at all times irregardless if its organic beef or natural beef.

When it comes to exposure to pesticides, organic beef does not have 100 percent protection from it. Even if farmers does not spray pesticides where the cattle are being raised, cattle are still affected by the neighboring farms, there is a possibility that farms nearby have sprayed some chemical to protect their plants and animals and these chemicals may have reached the cattle that that are in the other farm. On the side, scholars have confirmed that exposure to pesticides may have affect endocrine and nervous systems of the animals and if these chemicals are passed on to human can give a great in having cancerous diseases.

In general, it is far better if choose cattle that are raised the natural way. Just that choosing organic beef may cost us a little more than natural beef.  However, it’s still best that we practice moderation in anything we do especially with our food consumption. This is only way we can help ourselves to become healthy and live longer.

By Donna Ryan

Commercial Products and Foods are Designed for Making Money – Not for Healthy Living

Unhealthy ingredients are regularly added to the foods, cosmetics, household products, and in the clothes we wear. Even dogs and cats regularly consume unhealthy ingredients in their foods, often which contain chemical preservatives and fillers that have been proven to be questionable for use.

Unhealthy Ingredients and Human Nutrition – Hidden Additives that Save on Manufacturing Costs

However, when you think of unhealthy ingredients per se, you most often think about human nutrition. After all, eating, for most of us, is a regular, daily activity. Therefore, the majority of us are regularly consuming food that is considered by nutritionists and holistic practitionrs to be, for the most part, nutritionally unsound.

Junk Food Containing Unhealthy Ingredients is Everywhere

A lot of what we eat is considered junk food – typically sustenance that contains little nutritional value but a significant amount of calories or fat. What’s more, junk food is everywhere – in our cabinets or refrigerator, as the main fare in restaurants, and abundantly displayed in the grocery store. It’s no wonder then that the major illnesses in the U.S. are heart disease and cancer and that a large percentage of the populace is overweight.

However, you can’t blame people entirely for making unhealthy choices. After all, unhealthy food is about all that is offered in fast food restaurants and is regularly advertised in the media. Processed food, too, which seems innocuous to many, is laced with hidden unhealthy ingredients such as salt, sugar, and fat.

Eating Unhealthily Starts at a Very Young Age

What’s more, people are weaned early on junk food. Advertisers target children as young as two years old. For instance, offering free toys to kids at fast food restaurants or in boxes of sugar-laden cereal is one sure-fire method to gain brand loyalty for a product which is, basically, nutritionally worthless.

Therefore, as time progresses, children become accustomed to the artificial flavors and excess sugars found in processed foods and cereals. Not only that, these foods can contain unhealthy saturated and trans fats, both which lead adults to later seek medical attention for heart and circulatory problems.

Even Baby Foods Contain Unhealthy Ingredients

In addition, baby foods are often made with modified food starches and artificial flavors and colors that replicate the taste or texture of vegetables or fruits. Naturally, these ingredients are used so manufacturers can cut costs but the practice also eventually affects people’s health as well.

Hyperactivity in Kids – The Result of Unhealthy Ingredients

Unfortunately, manmade foods containing artificial colors and flavors are responsible for illnesses in children, such as rashes, hyperactivity, and asthma. Plus, once kids become accustomed to eating junk, it can be quite difficult to steer them towards nutritious substitutes such as fruits, vegetables, grains, and low-fat dairy.

More Unhealthy Ingredients

People regularly drink soft drinks too, which contain unhealthy ingredients as well. For example, a can of soda is usually made up of water combined with sweetener, sugar, or caffeine. You see this product sold every day in fast food restaurants, the supermarket, in vending machines at work – just about wherever you go. Not only that, almost a quarter of the children under the age of two are given a soda on a regular basis.

Chicken Nuggets – Not as Good as they Appear

Unhealthy ingredients can also be found in canned foods, such as canned spaghetti – often eaten, again, by children. This type of fare is loaded with sugar and salt and is devoid of any kind of fiber. People, too, enjoy chicken nuggets regularly – a product that contains leftover chicken scraps and large quantities of artificial additives, sugar, and salt

Bakery Products – Loaded with Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil

In addition, bad ingredients are found in processed and fresh bakery products, such as cupcakes or packaged cookies. Usually made with hydrogenated vegetable oil and full of sugar, they are a prelude to health issues down the road, such as stroke or heart disease.

A Strawberry Milkshake only Mimics the Taste of Strawberry

Also, stay away from strawberry milkshakes, whose artificial strawberry flavor is made up of about 50 chemicals. Not even the slightest amount of strawberry is included in the mix.

Choose Organic Foods and Products to Play it Safe

So, if you want to improve your health, you have to get rid of the junk in your life and make the switch to organic fruits, vegetables, dairy, and grains. In fact, choosing organic cleaners and materials is also important if you want to live without fewer health concerns or complaints.

_ By Shazad Nabeel
High Fructose Corn syrup is an artificial organic sweetener, used worldwide to enhance the taste of all types of drinks. The moderate sweetness of this syrup is the main reason for its popularity. It makes drinks go down the throat more easily, giving a more pleasant treat to the taste buds. But, like all other famous things, it is a matter of serious debate all over the globe. There is a serious battle going on between the health experts and the drink industry authorities. Experts believe that this artificially made syrup is hazardous to health due to various reasons. They say that continuous, heavy use of this syrup can cause obesity, diabetes and cardio diseases.

Sugar and obesity are time old and world famous rivals. The drink industry experts believe that drinks rich in fructose are a good alternative for sucrose for a healthy lifestyle. They move a step ahead very confidently and claim that these drinks help lose weight. But, the scientific research from the authentic sources says the inverse. Carefully conducted scientific research says that when taken in even a little more than the optimum amount, fructose syrups can cause double damage to the body weight and fitness than sucrose. They also say that fructose-syrup driven obesity is very difficult to manage and treat.

Diabetes and sugar are like best ‘friendly-enemies’ to each other. There lies a very delicate inverse relationship between the two, in order to keep the lifestyle promising. Research has revealed that consuming fructose-corn syrup for even a few weeks reduces insulin efficiency. Insulin fails to bind the molecules properly in order to be moved towards the breakdown sites. It means that we have enough insulin in our body but, it cannot perform its function properly. Research also says that some isomers of this organic compound can block insulin molecules permanently. To our great surprise we still found some selfish drink manufacturers promoting fructose-corn syrup for diabetes controlling ability.

Heart and sugar might not be as close to each other as the heart and sweetness. Fructose corn syrup has been reported to increase the chances of heart attack. They have also proved that this syrup can be a potential cause of cardio-vascular diseases. Its high concentration in blood not only increases blood pressure but also, affects the elasticity of coronary and other veins. So, we must better avoid over-use of this syrup for the sake of our heart’s health and go with the chemical-free drinks.