TOP 7 -SUPER ALKALINE FOODS :

TOP 7 -SUPER ALKALINE FOODS :

 >1. SPINACH -All leafy greens should be eaten in abundance but spinach is my absolute favourite because it’s easy to buy, easy to use in recipes and salads and is delicious. Baby spinach or fully grown spinach are Nutritional powerhouses and are incredibly alkaline. As with all green foods, spinach is rich in chlorophyll (see more about the health benefits of chlorophyll here), a potent alkaliser and blood builder. It is also super high in vitamin K, vitamin A, manganese, folate, magnesium, iron, vitamin c, vitamin b2, calcium, potassium, vitamin e, dietary fiber…I doubt there is a more all round healthy food on earth and I highly encourage you to eat spinach throughout the day, every day. 

>2. KALE -Kale is another leafy green beauty that is widely known for its Cancer-Fighting, Cholesterol-Lowering, Antioxidant-rich, Detoxifying goodness. Less popular than spinach, but only because it has a history of being cooked poorly (like cabbage) – when done right it is absolutely delicious (see recipes below, you’ll thank me). If you eat kale 2-3 times per week you’ll know it. Like spinach it is massively high in vitamin K, vitamin A and vitamin C and being Leafy Green it also has a huge Chlorophyll content. The reason it is so powerful against the Cancer Fight is that kale contains at least four Glucosinolates. I don’t want to lose you here by using words like glucosinolates – all you need to know is that as soon as you eat and digest kale, these glucosinolates are really easily converted by the body into cancer fighting compounds. Also quite amazing for Lowering Cholesterol, it should be noted that steamed kale is more effective for cholesterol lowering than raw.

 >3. CUCUMBER The beauty of cucumber is it’s water content – 95%. That is phenomenal and you won’t find that anywhere else. It’s the daddy of water-content. This of course makes it an incredibly hydrating food to consume, that ALSO contains superb amounts of antioxidants, including the super-important lignans. These highly beneficial polyphenols have more commonly been associated with the cruciferous vegetables, but their content in other veggies such as cucumbers is gaining more and more attention. Cucumbers contain a right load of lariciresinol, pinoresinol, and secoisolariciresinol , three lignans that have a huge and very strong history of research in connection with Reduced Risk of Cardiovascular disease as well as several cancer types, including Breast, Uterine, Ovarian, and Prostate Cancers. The best thing about cucumber is that they provide the base for practically every alkaline soup, smoothie and juice – giving you a very alkaline, very nutritious base that also tastes great. In terms of the actual nutrient RDA per serve, cucumbers contain fair amounts of vitamins K and C, and slightly less of vitamin A and the B vitamins. Cucumbers also contain the following alkaline minerals: calcium, iron, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, selenium, copper, manganese, iron and zinc. 

4. BROCCOLI - Broccoli is just a must. If you are serious about living with health, energy and vitality you simply have to eat broccoli, if not on a daily basis, then at least 4 times per week. Broccoli has been proven over and over and over again to be incredibly powerful in inhibiting Cancers, supporting the Digestive System, the Cardiovascular System, the Detoxification processes in the body and also supporting the Skin, metabolism, İmmune system, being an Anti-İnflammatory and providing ample Antioxidants. Eaten steamed or raw its a Hugely Alkaline, Hugely Nutritious food. Please, please, please eat lots and lots of it. Put it in salads, juices, smoothies, soups…steam it with other veggies – you can even roast

 >5. AVOCADO -I eat a LOT of avocado. Not a salad, smoothie or soup goes by without me adding at least 1/2 an avocado per person. I probably eat at least five-seven per week, myself. Now, I know a lot of people give avocado a bad rep because it is a high-fat food (85% of it’s calories come from fats) – but this is totally insane. These are good fats that will not make you gain weight. If anything, due to the high content of oleic acid (making it an Omega 9 fat and very similar to olive oil), it can lower total cholesterol level and raise levels of high-density lipoproteins (HDLs) while lowering low-density lipoproteins (LDLs), also known as the “bad” cholesterol. Oleic Acid also slows the development of heart disease, and promotes the production of Antioxidants. These beneficial omega oils also help speed the metabolism, actually leading to weight loss rather than gain. So now we’re over the fat issue, avocado also contains a wide range of other nutrients that have serious Anti-İnflammatory, Heart Health, Cardiovascular Health, Anti-Cancer, and Blood Sugar Benefits. Containing key Antioxidants such as alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, lutein, selenium and more – it is a powerful, alkaline, nutrient-dense superfood.

 >6. CELERY - Celery, like cucumber is a favourite because it’s alkaline AND really high water content, so is used very frequently as a base in juices and soups (not so much smoothies as you have to juice it first…and then you have double the washing up). One of celery’s big benefits is it’s vitamin C level, which has the well known benefits – but two of it’s lesser known nutrients are phthalides which have been shown to Lower Cholesterol and coumarins which have been shown to inhibit Several Cancers. The beauty of vitamin C rich foods are that they help with the most common and most challenging health concerns – they support the İmmune system, inflammation (so helps with Arthritis, Osteoporosis, Asthma etc), and vitamin C also helps significantly with Cardiovascular Health. If you are on a weight loss journey, you’ll also be happy to hear that this alkaline staple contains plenty of potassium and sodium and so is a diuretic – meaning it helps rid the body of excess fluids.

 7. CAPSICUM / BELL PEPPER / PEPPER - The antioxidant superpower, bell pepper is one of my all-time-favourites because it is sweet, crunchy and refreshingly delicious. You can use it in almost any meal raw, grilled, fried, roasted and it is always a winner. Impressively beneficial to our health cartenoids are highly researched and get a lot of attention in the health field and bell peppers contain over 30 different members of the carotenoid nutrient family. The only other food that is close to this is Tomato and all other foods are also-rans. Bell peppers have shown up in research relating to decreasing the risk of Cardiovascular Disease, type II Diabetes, Macular Degeneration, Cancer, inflammation and more. Alongside these lesser known or more complex-named antioxidants, bell pepper is one of, if not the best food source of the more common antioxidants: vitamin C, vitamin A and vitamin E. In fact, bell peppers contain twice as much vitamin C as oranges. Here are just SOME of the antioxidants bell pepper contains: - Flavonoids – luteolin – quercetin – hesperidin - Carotenoids – alpha-carotene – beta-carotene – cryptoxanthin – lutein – zeaxanthin - Hydroxycinnamic Acids - ferulic acid – cinnamic acid I want to credit the following link for this wonderful information>http://www.energiseforlife.com/wordpress/2012/01/24/the-7-most-alkaline-foods/

 

Raw Foods Diet

For all those interested in Raw Foods - THE RAW FOOD PYRAMID (designed by vegan-raw-diet.com)

What is Living - Raw Food Diet?

Most people think of raw food diet as a boring 'rabbit food' consisting of salads, raw vegetables and fruits. Far from it, raw foodists around the world have been eating gourmet healthy meals that are not only high in 'syntropy'(life force) but also are innovative with great variety and tastes. This plant based diet consists of uncooked and unprocessed, preferably organic fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, sprouted grains and beans and dried fruits. There are also some other foods that are included in this diet such as Young coconut milk, seaweeds, raw carob powder, cold pressed olive oil and certain spices and seasonings. These raw foods can be eaten whole or combined to make the healthiest, most delicious meals.

Raw ravioli image

Why Raw Food?

Heating food above 116 degrees F is believed to destroy enzymes in food that can assist in the digestion and absorption of food. Cooking is also thought to diminish the nutritional value and "life force" of food.

To replace cooking, Raw foodists used many other innovative food preparation techniques like soaking, sprouting, juicing, blending and dehydration. How about a fabulous pizza, ravioli, burger or cakes and pies? May be you would like to go ethnic and have samosa or mung masala. You don't even have to be 100% raw to reap the benefits of raw food. Typically if your diet consist of at least 75% raw food, you are a raw foodist.

Benefits of eating Raw Food

• Increased energy and vibrancy

• Improved skin appearance

• Better digestion

• Weight loss

• Reduced risk of heart disease

The raw food diet contains fewer trans fats and saturated fat than the typical Western diet. It is also low in sodium and high in potassium, magnesium, folate, fiber and health-promoting plant chemicals called phytochemicals.

These properties are associated with a reduced risk of diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. For example, a study published in the Journal of Nutrition found that consumption of a raw food diet lowered plasma total cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations.

(source: vegan-raw-diet.com)

Energy Boosters.

Energy Boosters.

 Try one, two, or all 10, and you're bound to see your energy levels soar.

1. Apple
You know the proverb: ‘An apple a day keeps the doctor away!’. This one seems really true. The apple provides the necessary fibers to maintain a healthy bowel, while the apple pectin retrieved from the apple’s peal, prevents cancer. Moreover, apples are an oasis of healthy energy. They also activatethe blood flow.

2. Eggplant
Eggplants are the perfect sedative. Including them regularly in your diet helps you to escape from stress. They are ideal to eat about 1 hour before your daily sports activity. Antioxidants provided by eggplants maintain the muscle tone. This vegetable also contains carotenoids which aid in cancer prevention.

3. Apricot
The apricots have been considered a good aphrodisiac for hundreds of years. You can easily figure it out why I included it in this energy foods, top 10. Apricots contain lycopene and vitamin B which drive our hormones and give us the lust for life. It was also scientifically proved the apricots keep the prostate cancer away.

4. Grapefruit
Just try this out. Press a grapefruit in the morning and poor all the juice in an empty glass. Drink it, slowly, on an empty stomach. You will actually feel how your energy revels rise and you will be more than ready to start the new day. Grapefruits also aid in preventing Influenza viruses. Perhaps the most important thing is that grapefruits help us to get rid of excess calories, while providing the high energy.

5. Yogurt
Yogurt is not really a high energy food, but I added it to the list because it helps in preventing all bone problems that might occur in time, like osteoporosis or bone cancer. Moreover, yogurt increases our immunity and protects the stomach from germs.

6. Banana
This exotic fruit contains a lot of fibers. Fibers help us to get rid of the toxic substances contained in our body. The banana is a good doctor for the body because it rejects all impurities. Banana is a good energy food because it provides potassium. Potassium helps in maintaining normal muscle function and also aids the nervous system. Potassium is easily lost by our bodies during stress periods or during strenuous physical activities.

7. Green tea
Asians do not let the day pass without drinking a cup of green tea. They strongly claim that this drink, full of polyphenols, maintains the body strong and energized. They also claim that green tea prevents breast cancer and many researchers tend to agree with them.

8. Cheese
Cheese contains calcium and lactic germs. They act like a dressing for our stomach and strengthen its functions. Most of the scientist claim that if the stomach is healthy the body is healthy too. All you have to do is to eat cheese and you will be free from all disease.

9. Orange
Fresh natural orange juice provides extra energy along with a complete series of vitamins. Check the grapefruit section and use the same tip provided there. Orange also helps with colds and sore throat problems. This fruit increases the number of antibodies and helps you handle to low temperatures which occur during wintertime. Over time, oranges act as a shield against throat and stomach cancer.

10. Tuna
Tuna fish is great for anemic persons. If you need to tone your body, all you have to do is to eat tuna fish. Tuna is rich in Omega 3, a substance which helps both body and mind. Tuna also aids in muscle development, so don’t avoid it if you are performing regular sports activities.........from Eat your medicine facebook pagb

Seven foods that will naturally cleanse your liver

The primary way in which your body expels toxins is via the liver, which detoxifies and cleanses your body by continuously filtering the blood of poisons that enter it through the digestive tract, the skin, and the respiratory system. But when your liver becomes overworked as a result of stress or excessive exposure to toxins, your entire system can be thrown off balance, and your health severely compromised.

Since the liver is also responsible for producing bile, another form of detoxification that is metabolically necessary for the breakdown and assimilation of fats and proteins from your food, it is exceedingly important that your liver be properly maintained. Without a well-functioning liver, your body will be unable to cleanse itself and absorb nutrients, which is a recipe for a health disaster.


"The thousands of enzyme systems that are responsible for virtually every body activity are constructed in the liver," writes Dr. Karl Maret, M.D., about the importance of vibrant liver function. "The proper functioning of the eyes, the heart, the brain, the gonads, the joints, and the kidneys, are all dependent on good liver activity."

"If the liver is impaired from constructing even one of the thousands of enzyme systems the body requires, there is an impairment in overall body function and a resultant greater metabolic stress on the individual."

So here are seven important foods you may want to begin incorporating into your diet in order to maintain a healthy liver.

Garlic, grapefruit, green tea, and green vegetables

Garlic contains numerous sulfur-containing compounds that activate the liver enzymes responsible for flushing out toxins from the body. This bulbous relative of the onion also contains allicin and selenium, two powerful nutrients proven to help protect the liver from toxic damage, and aid it in the detoxification process.

Grapefruit is rich in natural vitamin C and antioxidants, two powerful liver cleansers. Like garlic, grapefruit contains compounds that boost the production of liver detoxification enzymes. It also contains a flavonoid compound known as naringenin that causes the liver to burn fat rather than store it (http://www.dailymail.co.uk).

Green tea is loaded with catechins, a type of plant antioxidant that has been shown in studies to eliminate liver fat accumulation and promote proper liver function (http://www.nature.com/ijo/journal/v26/n11/abs/0802141a.html). This powerful herbal beverage also protects the liver against toxins that would otherwise accumulate and cause serious damage.

Leafy green vegetables such as bitter gourd, arugula, dandelion greens, spinach, mustard greens, and chicory also contain numerous cleansing compounds that neutralize heavy metals, which can bear heavily on the liver. Leafy greens also eliminate pesticides and herbicides from the body, and spur the creation and flow of cleansing bile.

Avocados, walnuts, and turmeric

Rich in glutathione-producing compounds, avocados actively promote liver health by protecting it against toxic overload, and boosting its cleansing power (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2000/12/001219074822.htm). Some research has shown that eating one or two avocados a week for as little as 30 days can repair a damaged liver.

Walnuts, which contain high levels of l-arginine, an amino acid, glutathione, and omega-3 fatty acids, also help detoxify the liver of disease-causing ammonia. Walnuts also help oxygenate the blood, and extracts from their hulls are often used in liver-cleansing formulas.

Turmeric, one of the most powerful foods for maintaining a healthy liver, has been shown to actively protect the liver against toxic damage, and even regenerate damaged liver cells. Turmeric also boosts the natural production of bile, shrinks engorged hepatic ducts, and improves overall function of the gallbladder, another body-purifying organ.

Drinking Water

Drinking WATER at the correct time maximizes its effectiveness on the human body ❥➥❥

2 glasses of water, after waking up ❥ helps activate internal organs

1 glass of water, 30 minutes before a meal ❥ help digestion

1 glass of water, before taking a bath/shower ❥ helps lower blood pressure

1 glass of water, before going to bed ❥ avoids stroke or heart attack

WATERMELON

WATERMELON !! Must Read and Share

The more we study watermelon, the more we realize just how incredible this fruit really is.

It’s full of antioxidants shown to reduce the inflammation that contributes to diabetes, asthma, atherosclerosis, colon cancer, and arthritis - but that’s not all.

Other beneficial ingredients in watermelon are known as Phytonutrients - which are naturally occurring compounds that are bioactive and able to trigger healthy reactions within our body.

1. Asthma – The antioxidants, such as Citrulline in watermelon can reduce toxins in the body. Some of these toxins are believed to trigger asthma attacks.

2. Arthritis – Watermelon is rich in Vitamin C and Beta-Carotenes. Both have anti-inflammatory properties that can help relieve the symptoms of arthritis.

3. Bladder Problems – Containing 92% water, this melon acts as a natural diuretic that cleanses your kidney and bladder.

4. High Cholesterol – The cleansing properties of watermelon may also reduce the risk of clogged arteries. The fruit is also believed to increase HDL (good cholesterol levels).

5. Constipation – A glass of watermelon juice can naturally eliminate waste and promote proper digestion.

6. Bloating – Again, the diuretic effect of watermelon can eliminate water retention. It is especially recommended for women who retain fluids during menstruation or pregnancy.

7. Heart Disease – Watermelon contains Folic acid and Citrulline that works in tandem with other essential vitamins. Some research indicates that these vitamins may reduce the risk of a heart attack, stroke and colon cancer.

8. Itchy Skin – As the water from the melon cleanses your system, it can flush out the toxic waste that cause some forms of itchiness.

9. Prostate Cancer – The Lycopene in watermelon has been extensively reported to reduce the risk of prostate cancer.

10. Blemishes – Watermelon can also be used as a beauty aid to reduce skin blemishes. Simply rub your skin with a small piece of watermelon. Leave the juice on for 10 minutes before rinsing. 

Food Cravings

Those who don't have food cravings might say that such cravings are "all in your head," and new research suggests they are right. It is all in our heads: several specific areas of our brains, actually. Areas of the brain responsible for memory and sensing pleasure are partially to blame for keeping those food cravings coming.


Three regions of the brain -- the hippocampus, insula, and caudate - appear to be activated during food-craving episodes, according to new research from the Monell Chemical Senses Center. Their brain tests suggest that memory areas of the brain (which are responsible for associating a specific food with a reward) are actually more important to food cravings than the brain's reward center.


Further, blocking the opiate receptors in the brain, which sense pleasure, can blunt a person's desire to eat foods rich in fat and sugar, according to new research by Adam Drewnowski, PhD, of the University of Washington.


De-Stress to Discourage Cravings


Beyond the physiological reasons for food cravings, they often have something to do with emotion and desire.


"Food cravings arise to satisfy emotional needs, such as calming stress and reducing anxiety," says Drewnowski, a well-known researcher on taste and food preferences.


For many of us, cravings kick into high gear when we're stressed or anxious. Carbohydrates boost our levels of the hormone serotonin, which has a calming effect. And recent research suggests that the combination of fat and sugar may also have a calming effect.


Researchers from University of California at San Francisco put rats in a high-stress environment and discovered two key points: the stressed-out rats preferred to eat sugar and fat, and when the rats ate fat and sugar, their brains produced less of the stress-related hormones (the ones that trigger the fight-or-flight response).


http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/the-facts-about-food-cravings