Fast Breakfasts for Families On The Go

Author: Julie

Are your mornings a whirlwind as you try to get everyone out the door to get to work and school on time? Do you have time for a nutritious breakfast or is breakfast a meal that is reserved for weekends? Studies have shown that the benefits of eating a nutritious breakfast give you a great start that lasts all day. Eating breakfast gives your metabolism a boost, keeps you feeling full so you don’t overeat later in the day, gives you energy to improve your mood and sharpens your focus so you do better at work and school. What’s more, people who eat breakfast tend to be slimmer than breakfast skippers.

With all of the good things breakfast does for your body and mind, it’s worth finding some ways to make time for it every morning. Here are some easy ways to make sure that your family is getting the nutritious start they need.

Cereal

Breakfast cereal is the easiest way to start your morning, but the cereal you choose matters. Highly sweetened cereals give you a sugar rush that’s followed by an energy crash that leaves you tired, lethargic and hungry well before lunch. So by-pass the sweet, multi-colored rounds and puffs and pick up something more substantial. Look for whole grains, like shredded wheat, bran cereals, granola and muesli. For an extra boost, sprinkle some dried or fresh fruit and nuts on your cereal for a nutritious and fiber-rich breakfast that will keep you feeling full until lunchtime.

Protein

Studies have shown that people who start their day with eggs and bacon weigh less than people who eat bagels and cream cheese, because your body works harder to digest protein, burning more calories and fat. For a fast and portable breakfast, scramble some eggs, sprinkle on a little bit of cheese and fill a pita pocket. You could also boil 6 or 8 eggs while you are making dinner, so they will be ready to peel and eat during the morning rush. When you are boiling the eggs, add a teaspoon of vinegar and a few drops of food coloring to the water. This colors the boiled eggs, so they are easy to find in the fridge.

Smoothies

Fill your blender with a half a cup of yogurt, a cup of milk, a frozen banana, some frozen berries and a scoop of protein powder. Mix it up and take it to go. Smoothies are a protein rich, delicious way to start your morning. For a cold, creamy kick to your morning smoothie, try this trick: When bananas turn brown on the counter, freeze them whole in their peels. To use them in your smoothie, peel them with a knife and add the frozen chunks directly into the blender.

About the Author:

Want more tips on saving your waistline along with your budget? Check out The Deceptive Diet for great results!

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Diabetes treatment tea - A Naturally Wonderful Remedy

Diabetes, the dreaded disease, has been spreading at a rapid pace all over the world. Apart from opting for allopathic courses of treatment, you could also approach alternative and herbal remedies in keeping the disease under control. Chinese Tea is proven to be very useful in controlling and preventing diabetes from affecting your life.


Okinawan Tea from Japan is a special tea which is full of remedial properties. Those who have been drinking Okinawa Tea for some time have enjoyed a relatively problem free health and lifestyle without compromising on food habits. All you need to do is drink 2 cups of Okinawa Tea per day and enjoy a normal life. Okinawa Tea is full of anti oxidants which well work against ageing skin and cancerous cells in the body. The tea also effectively prevents heart disease, manages a high cholesterol level, and lowers blood pressure while boosting immunity and energy levels in the body.


Diabetes Treatment Tea is mostly associated with Green Tea which is one of the best natural diabetes solutions. The green tea is very effective in keeping sugar levels under control with a rich source of anti oxidants along with minerals, polyphenols and catechins which work to regulate the blood sugar. Consuming Diabetes treatment tea can help you to reduce weight and burn excess body fat as well. This ensures your stay trim and in shape most of the time.


Consuming green tea is proven to be a time tested natural Diabetes solution which keeps the sugar level and hence diabetes under control. Green Tea has a natural property of burning body fat and converting it into energy which leaves you feeling active all day long. Apart from that, wrinkles and blemishes on your skin will soon disappear leaving you looking radiant and glowing.


To stay healthy, young and to maintain a normal and healthy lifestyle, all you need to do is consume 2 cups of green tea or Okinawa tea per day. For those suffering from Diabetes, why not try a Diabetes treatment tea everyday and remain healthy and active. A well as taking regular medicines which keep your sugar levels contanst, with a natural diabetes solution there is no harm in opting for diabetes tea regularly to stay fit and fine.



For more information visit here - http://www.jingteahc.com

The Real Truth About Fish Oil vs Flax Seed Oil

Author: Rich Hawkins

To find out the truth in the ongoing fish oil vs flax seed oil debate, it is necessary to understand how they both work in the body, and which gives the greater health benefits as a result.

While both provide good levels of omega-3 fatty acids, the most beneficial of these fats are DHA and EPA, both of which come from a high quality fish oil. The type of omega-3 that is derived from flaxseed oil is called ALA and is used differently by the body.

Most of the research, especially for heart health and blood pressure lowering, concludes that DHA and to a lesser extent EPA are the most beneficial. When you consider a large proportion of our brains are made up of DHA omega-3 fats it's easy to see why.

Although flaxseed is good, especially for vegetarians who cannot use fish oil, the body must work harder to use it. To be beneficial the ALA needs to be converted to DHA or EPA and this sometimes doesn’t happen, especially in the elderly or for those not in optimal health.

So the fish oil vs flax seed oil debate seems to come out heavily in favor of the fish oil as it has more bio-availability for immediate absorption by the body.

Recent research points to the importance of DHA and EPA for maintaining brain health and proper functioning, and is looking at possible treatment for diseases like Alzheimer's. Again this is where flax seed oil falls short in delivering the proper benefits.

In conclusion it seems the outright winner of the fish oil vs flax seed oil debate, if you're not a vegetarian, is fish oil.

For a wide range of treating ailments from preventing strokes to helping with the symptoms of arthritis the omega-3's from this are far more beneficial.

If you would like to learn more about the high quality fish oil supplements I personally take, please visit my website.

About the Author:

Discover the best omega-3 fish oil today.


Rich Hawkins is a dedicated researcher of nutrition, diet and the amazing health benefits of high-quality fish oil. Discover the very latest and effective omega-3 fish oil supplements Rich recommends after extensive research.

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When Buying Health Drinks, Alkaline Drinks Are the Better Choice

Author: Cliff Smith

With so many health drinks on the market, it can be difficult to know the difference between alkaline drinks and other unhealthy choices. While many of the health drinks you find are useful in some ways, alkaline drinks have added benefits that their counterparts do not.



Alkaline drinks are special health drinks that utilize natural ingredients registering a pH higher than 7.0, after consumption. The various benefits in these alkaline drinks are reached through the inclusion of specific ingredients that are processed very carefully. Ingredients may include real fruits and herbs, which are naturally alkaline. These ingredients must not be overheated in the packaging process, thereby maintaining the completely natural structure of the plants.



Because there are so many health drinks available, it can be helpful to determine just what effect you're looking for with your purchase. For example, some health drinks are high in antioxidants and Vitamin C and are therefore geared toward improving the immune system. Other health drinks contain a high protein content in an effort to help an individual build lean muscle mass. Unfortunately, most protein drinks are highly acidic.



Why Choose Alkaline Drinks?



The importance of maintaining an alkaline state in the body is becoming more widely accepted as research points to the benefits. Generally speaking, the body has a pH of about 7.4, or slightly alkaline. Many of the bacteria and other organisms that would harm the body are unable to survive in this alkaline environment. This is why health drinks with naturally alkaline ingredients are helpful in assisting the body to maintain that delicate pH balance. If human blood changes just two tenths in pH level, death is imminent. The body will do whatever is necessary to stay in balance, even if that means extracting calcium from bones to alkalize the acid forming foods and drinks consumed.



Unfortunately, much of the typical twenty-first century diet is made up of acid forming foods. By utilizing alkaline drinks, we are able to help the body maintain its natural balance. The result is better overall health, as well as more energy. With the consumption of alkaline health drinks, the body won't have to work as hard in order to manage a proper pH balance.



Alkaline drinks are almost always made with whole food ingredients. Fruits, such as lemons and peaches and herbs like jasmine or cinnamon are alkaline ingredients that you might find in these types of health drinks. Keep in mind that many convenience store sport drinks and enhanced waters are made with acid forming ingredients, which are just the opposite.



In most cases, alkaline health drinks also offer a more natural energy boost without a sugar crash or a caffeine buzz. This is because the whole food ingredients provide elements such as antioxidants, live enzymes, and chlorophyll for enhanced oxygen flow.



When you take the time to find out how your health drinks are processed and what they are made with you can make a huge difference in how effective they are for your body. By shopping for naturally alkaline drinks, you are able to support your life support systems in a way that most so-called health drinks can't possibly equal.

About the Author:
Cliff Smith is a professional actor, voice artist and co-owner of an online health food store. After achieving natural weight loss and other fitness milestones by incorporating alkaline health drinks in his diet, he created the Alkaline Food Test. This simple test helps others understand the benefits of maintaining proper pH balance with the right choices.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/when-buying-health-drinks-alkaline-drinks-are-the-better-choice-811180.html

Make The Best Coffee You Can

Author: Fenton Wayne
When you taste a really fabulous cup of coffee you can be sure that a lot of care and effort has gone into its preparation. Great tasting coffee does not happen by accident, but represents the culmination of preparation, cleanliness and meticulous brewing methods. The starting point for great tasting coffee does not come from choosing the right blend of coffee or even the type of brewing equipment to be used, but in the quality of the water used and the cleanliness of the equipment! As coffee is more than 98% water is should come as no surprise that the quality of the water has a dramatic impact of the quality of the finished beverage. Freshly filtered water should be used when making coffee. Many domestic and commercial water filters and calcium treatment units are available and most do an excellent job in removing heavy elements, impurities and odours from water. Be sure to draw a little water from the system first, and pour it away. Use fresh clean cold water for starting off the process of brewing your favourite beverage. The equipment used to brew the coffee should be clean and free of coffee stains and grounds. Coffee contains many complex compounds that can go rancid when left on equipment for a while and will adversely effect the quality of the coffee produced. Choose a good quality roast coffee bean to suit your taste and make sure you buy it in a sealed bag or container. Avoid buying pre-ground coffee - it may be more convenient but it will start to oxidise the moment you open the packet and even if subsequently kept in an air-tight container much of the damage will have been done. The flavour of freshly roasted coffee can deteriorate remarkably fast and within a week or so much of the flavour will be lost. Whole roast coffee beans will also begin to lose some of their flavour once the seal has been broken on the coffee bag, but so long as you keep them in a cool dry place, out direct sunlight and not open to the atmosphere they will stay fresh for quite a while. For these reasons you should only grind as much coffee you need for the brew in question and not be tempted to grind more than what it going to be used immediately. Storing your ground coffee in the refrigerator is not a good idea as other goods may taint its flavour. The grind of the coffee is very important to the taste of the final coffee brew. Always follow the guidelines of the brewing equipment used and grind your coffee beans to their specification. Grind too large and the final beverage will be too weak, grind too fine and it may clog up the system. Typically a standard pour and serve drip method coffee brewer should take between four and six munutes to complete the brew. Keep your grinder clean. Grind a little coffee and then discard it, this should get rid of any old stale coffee within the grinder that you cannot see or reach after cleaning. Wait until the full pot has brewed from your machine before pouring. Typically a drip filter machine will produce slightly weaker coffee at the start of its cycle as it comes up to temperature and slightly stronger towards the end. All good things come to those who wait!
About the Author:

Take at look at our Coffee Resource Centre on our web site to learn more about coffee and coffee machines.

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The Composition Of Cereals

Author: Justin Skinner

The composition of all cereals is similar, yet each one has its distinguishing feature. While all the five food substances--water, mineral matter, protein, fat, and carbohydrate--are to be found in cereals, they occur in different quantities in the various kinds. Some contain large quantities of protein and others practically none, and while certain ones have considerable fat others possess comparatively small quantities. A characteristic of all cereals, however, is that they contain a large amount of carbohydrate and a small amount of water. It is well to remember, though, that while the food substances of cereals are found in sufficient quantities to sustain life, they will not permit a person to live for long periods of time exclusively on this form of food. Likewise, it will be well to observe that the foods made from a certain grain will be quite similar in composition to the grain itself; that is, any change in the composition of the foods must be brought about by the addition of other substances.

All grains are similar in general structure, too. The largest proportion of carbohydrate lies in the center, this substance growing less toward the outside of the grain. The protein lies near the outside, and grows less toward the center. Fat is found in small amounts scattered through the entire grain, but most of it is found in the germ, which is a tiny portion of the grain from which the new plant sprouts. The mineral matter of cereals is found chiefly just inside the bran, or outer covering, so that when this covering is removed, as in the process of preparation for food, a certain amount of mineral matter is generally lost.

PROTEIN IN CEREALS.--The cereals are essentially a carbohydrate food, but some also yield a large proportion of protein. In this respect they differ from the animal foods that produce the principal supply of protein for the diet, for these, with the exception of milk, do not yield carbohydrates. The grain that contains the most protein is wheat, and in the form in which protein occurs in this cereal it is called gluten, a substance that is responsible for the hardness of wheat. The gluten, when the wheat is mixed with water or some other liquid, becomes gummy and elastic, a fact that accounts for the rubbery consistency of bread dough. Cereals that contain no gluten do not make bread successfully. Next to wheat, rye contains protein in the greatest amount, and rice contains the least. Although protein is the most expensive of the food substances, the kind of protein found in cereals is one of the cheaper varieties.

FAT IN CEREALS.--The fat of cereals helps to contribute to their heat-and energy-producing qualities, and, besides, it is one of the cheaper sources of this food substance. Of the eight grains, or cereals, used as food, oats and corn contain the most fat, or heat-producing material. The oil of corn, because of its lack of flavor, is frequently used in the manufacture of salad oil, cooking oil, and pastry fat. The fat that occurs in cereals becomes rancid if they are not carefully stored. In the making of white flour, the germ of the wheat is removed, and since most of the fat is taken out with the germ, white flour keeps much better than graham flour, from which the germ is not abstracted in the milling process.

About the Author:

Want to find out about growing mushrooms and mushroom pictures? Get tips from the Fruits And Vegetables website.

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Turmeric Medical Benefits, The NIH Studies and Anti Aging Vitamins

Author: Valerie Rosenbaum

According to the Ayurvedic tradition, the turmeric medical benefits include improved healing and reduced infections. It is a readily available antiseptic for use on cuts, burns and bruises. Ayurvedic medicine is practiced primarily in India and other parts of Asia. Only recently have Western practitioners become interested in the plant.



Turmeric powder is used extensively in Indian cuisine. It makes a pleasant tea that is favored in some countries, including Japan. As a dietary supplement, it is used to improve digestion and help heal a variety of stomach problems. It is thought to be good for the teeth, as it has some fluoride content, although people in the US get plenty of fluoride from other sources.



Scientific research has shown that the plant is effective against some types of bacteria. Plants contain a variety of different compounds, each having different biological activity. The active compound in this particular plant is called curcumin.



So, the turmeric medical benefits are related to the curcumin content, but the content varies from plant to plant. Most supplement companies do not measure the active curcumin that is present in the extract, but the better ones do. An extract with a curcumin content of 98% is the highest that is currently available.



Supplement sales increased by 35% between 2004 and 2005, primarily due to an article published in the Wall Street Journal stating that there had been an explosion of research activity concerning curcumin. The National Institutes of Health currently has four different clinical trials underway to study the benefit of the compound in the treatment of cancer and Alzheimer's.



For a person that is ill, I would recommend seeking the advice of a doctor of naturopathic medicine. They are more familiar with the use of natural remedies, as well as modern treatments and how they may best be combined.



For someone that is looking for a good health supplement, you can get the turmeric medical benefits, along with your daily nutritional needs and a variety of other healthy extracts in a single supplement. There is no need to buy dozens of different supplements and take handfuls of pill every day. You could end up taking something that doesn't work well with something else, either countering its effect of causing an unwanted reaction. Good multi-nutritional supplements are carefully formulated to prevent that type of thing from occurring.



One of the turmeric medical benefits had to do with people suffering from arthritis or other inflammatory diseases. It seems to act like a COX-2 inhibitor. Prescription drugs that act as COX-2 inhibitors have been very effective pain relievers, but they are accompanied by a number of unwanted side effects.



Natural anti-inflammatories that inhibit COX-2 production are not accompanied by these side effects. Curcumin is only one of the known natural anti-inflammatories.



Researchers feel that these natural anti-inflammatories may reduce our risk of cancer and heart disease by countering the effects of inflammatory foods and toxins that we are exposed to on a daily basis. So, one, of the probable turmeric medical benefits, is to help prevent those life-threatening diseases and help us live longer healthier lives.

About the Author:
Valerie Rosenbaum has spent several years researching anti aging vitamin supplements and natural skincare products. As a result of that effort she has found what she believes to be the best anti aging supplement available on the market today. Learn about what she discovered at her website NaturalBalanceSupplements.com

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/anti-aging-articles/turmeric-medical-benefits-the-nih-studies-and-anti-aging-vitamins-779387.html