Top 10 Worst Fast & Restaurant Foods in America

Would You Like Some Sugar to Help Make You Sicker?

sugar

The impact sugar has on our health is huge but is given very little thought towards. We talk mostly about diet sugar and the impact that can have on health and forget about white sugar and its impact on our health.

We use it in everything from our morning coffee to our dessert after supper. It is listed as an ingredient in food we would not expect to have sugar. It is almost a hidden ingredient that we just do not think about but if you start to look around at how much you are eating you would be surprised.

We consume a lot of sugar.

Obviously are ancestors did not need to sugar to survive except for the sugar that came naturally from fruits and berries the gathered. It is now a staple. It's one of those things you always have stocked up in your cupboard and it's one of the most commonly used ingredients to sweeten and balance out flavour.

All of your calories that you get from sugar are empty calories which mean they contain pretty much none of the nutrients you need to keep your cells healthy.

Raw sugarcane contains various nutrients that our white sugar is lacking. These nutrients help you metabolize the sugar that you consume. If you are eating white sugar then your body must acquire these nutrients from somewhere so they end up stealing it from your own tissues.

Sugar is a factor in tooth decay, obesity, diabetes, yeast infections, heart disease, osteoporosis and immune dysfunction.

Since it can affect your immune system try eliminating it from your diet if you feel a cold coming on and see what happens.

Sugar is an antinutrient. Antinutrients are compounds, that are either natural or artificial, and they interfere with the proper absorption of nutrients.

This means that among other things calcium is lost in the urine from sugar which then forces the body to remove calcium from the bones in order to keep calcium levels normal. So if you are concerned about osteoporosis you can see where eliminating sugar comes in.

Other minerals that become deficient are chromium, magnesium, and zinc. With a lack of minerals your body has a hard time producing digestive enzymes need for good digestion. Undigested food particles can get into your bloodstream with can cause problems like allergies and immune deficiency diseases. So you can see why food that is commonly put together with sugar can cause allergens.

These are just a few of the things that sugar does to our health. To find out more about sugars negative health effects visit The Healthy Vegetarian.

Is Soy Milk Healthy Or Not?

By Isabelle Ganevy


We have heard that it's extremely bad for you and we have heard that it's extremely good for you and I started this whole process of learning about it exactly in the middle of those thoughts now knowing which one was correct.

Long has soy been a part of different Asian countries such as China, Indonesia, Japan and so on. And we all know that they are healthier than their western counterparts by a long shot. I have heard that they don't go crazy on soy and use as much as it as we are beginning to do now though.

That is part of our problem. We take something that we deem healthy or have heard is healthy and we overindulge. We need to learn to stop overeating and start eating what we need and in moderation.

But getting back to soy milk, I found many pages of advantages and dis-advantages that said the same things over and over again. I did not find many studies on the subject to back up some of the claims while of course other points are obvious such as low calcium or high fiber.

Keep in mind that most of the benefits and negatives I found could be argued either way and while some did have studies to back it up, the studies that I found had factors that could change the reasoning for such conclusions, such as in one study that looked at older Japanese men and their lifetime diet of soy and it was found that the men who consumed more soy were at a higher risk of low cognitive skills than men who did not. Although it was not taken into factor other parts of their diet as well, and the study took place in Hawaii instead of in Japan where more soy is consumed and with different growing conditions and other variables.

There are benefits to soy milk such as:

• Soy milk is high in proteins and contains more fiber than cows milk due to the fact it's made from beans

• Soybeans have all of the essential amino acids our body requires which makes it a complete protein. They are the only plant food that can claim that.

• Soy milk is an aid in reducing high cholesterol.

• Soy milk can help to prevent and treat menopausal symptoms.

• Isoflavones are found in soy milk. They are quite similar to the hormone that we call estrogen. They are associated to the prevention of many cancers, heart disease, osteoporosis and more. They are also antioxidants which protect our cells and DNA against oxidation.

• Some studies have shown that cows milk can result in insulin dependent diabetes over time whereas consuming soy milk has not reflected this outcome.

• Only 0.5 percent of the children are allergic to soy milk, whereas 2.5 percent are allergic to cows milk.

The negatives of soy milk are:

• Calcium levels are not the greatest. Even though they do add calcium to soymilk it is still not as healthy as natural occurring calcium but calcium can be obtained from other sources like green leafy vegetables and almonds to name a couple.

• Soy food contains goitrogens. Goitrogens are compounds that interfere with thyroid function and in extreme cases can cause an enlarge thyroid. It is also contained in other foods as well. To rectify this eat a well balanced diet. If you are a vegan you should make an effort to include adequate sources of iodine in your diet.

• Estrogen is found is soy. Testosterone in males, including young boys, can be suppressed by ingesting soy products.

• Soy milk and infertility have been linked together and from the information I found, giving an baby soy formula is comparable to giving a baby up to five birth control pills per day but I also found that that research has been very limited in regards to the advantages and disadvantages to babies drinking soy formula.

• The increased level of estrogen can manipulate the menstrual cycle in women.

The other thing I want to state here is that most of the information that I have found about soy milk and soy products is not listed in benefits or cons but mostly as only one or the other. People seem very adamant about the way they feel about soy and because of their intensity I have started to question what is true and what is not true now.

For me, there is too little actual evidence that supports the health dangers to humans from soy; although, I don't think I would take a chance with the claims about giving babies soy milk. There needs to be more research done.

The best statement I found was that 'moderate amounts of soy foods have been eaten happily by entire civilizations for thousands of years'. And to me the key word is moderate. And what comes with moderate? Diversity. The two best things, I believe, you can do for your diet and health.


Isabelle is the owner of The Healthy Vegetarian. For all your vegetarian information, news, articles, and recipes visit us at http://www.thehealthyvegetarian.net.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Isabelle_Ganevy


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Plant Based Diet - The China Study Tells All

The China Study: The Most Comprehensive Study of Nutrition Ever Conducted and the Startling Implications for Diet, Weight Loss and Long-term Health

If you have never heard of The China Study and you are interested in health awareness and how nutrition plays a part in it then you need to read this.

We first saw this guy on a health cruise we attended and he had us captivated from the beginning of his lecture to the end. His is the only book we bought, which was the china study, and we were glad we did in the end.

I think he was in his middle 70's at that time and he was amazingly healthy and young looking. Everything he said just made sense.

He's one of those guys where your head is constantly nodding up and down in agreement.

Our health cruise was full of vegan people and while I'm vegetarian and do eat and drink some milk products I know the implications of doing so which is why I'm striving to a vegan lifestyle.

His book is made up of researched facts and statistics that you and no one else will be able to argue.

He talks about cancer, obesity, diabetes, autoimmune diseases, and a whole host of other diseases and how nutrition plays the biggest part.

He talks about the right way to eat and what to eat and why a plant based diet is so good for you.

You need to read his book even if you are questionable about it because it provides many answers and solutions that are invaluable.

If you are concerned about your health or the health of someone else you will be in awe of The China Study.

Why Raw Food? Is a Raw Food Diet Healthy?

This past year we've been moving more and more towards a raw lifestyle. I think at first it may have been just because it would be a good way to lose weight but now it's because we've learned so much about the benefits of raw food. If you haven't read Never be sick again by Raymond Francis I strongly suggest it.

He was a sick man who discovered how food plays the biggest part in our sickness.


I know you may think that raw food is just vegetables and fruit - I know that's what I thought. But actually raw food is anything that is not cooked over 118 degrees Fahrenheit although I've also seen it at 105.


The benefits of a raw lifestyle are many. To summarize raw, or living food, offers your body nutrients that would be 'cooked out' of cooked food. The food is 'live' so it's essentially going into your body alive and adding to it's health. You have more energy, it's easy to maintain a healthy weight, you body can utilize everything that get's put in - basically everything in your body starts working the way it should.

(By the way a raw food diet for dogs is also great!)

So what can you eat on a raw food diet and does it lack taste?

There is tons to eat and it doesn't lack any taste at all. The only thing that changes is your perception on food. And believe me you will look at food in a whole new (but good) way. There are even raw desserts that will blow your mind. I personally like Ani's Raw Food Desserts: 85 Easy, Delectable Sweets and Treats. We have that at home and made cookies for Christmas that didn't last until Christmas.

If you want to learn the how, when, why, what of raw food then check out this really good resource on raw food:  Eating For Energy. 

This is just a small post on raw food and there is much too learn about it, how it can benefit you, and will you really survive without the overcooked and processed food you eat now...my Italian Mother in Law would have to say you can't but we know that you not only can - you thrive.

Top 5 Food Products To Pass Up For Healthier Eating

There are a lot of foods that we eat that have no benefit or value to us whatsoever. Most of these products we are learning about but some truths are still being kept in the dark from us and advertised as healthy. Try taking out these foods from your diet just for one week and see how much better you feel when the weeks is done.


1. Sugar – If you only make one change then let it be to get rid of sugar. Just a few teaspoons can have a significant hormonal and dietary impact for quite a few hours, which throws the body out of balance and into a state of biochemical confusion.

Calories from sugar are empty calories and sugar is in reality an anti-nutrient which means it interferes with the absorption of nutrients, so eating sugar takes essential nutrients away from your body. Because it’s an anti-nutrient it also causes calcium to be lost in the urine, forcing the body to remove calcium from the bones in order to keep the blood calcium levels normal.




2. White Flour – It contains almost no nutrition, is toxic and is an anti-nutrient just like sugar. In the process of creating white flour most of the nutrients are lost. That includes fiber which affects our bowel movements that would normally remove toxins from our body. So Therefore leaving toxins inside of us longer. Just to metabolize the flour many nutrients are stolen for your body to do so. Instead select whole grains like millet, oats, quinoa, spelt, barley, kamut and brown rice.



3. Processed Oils – When oils are heated at an extremely high temperature the Cis-fatty acid molecules change their shape, turning into a deadly class of fats called trans fats. The shape of trans-fats does not work properly for building cell membranes. These improperly shaped structures build a cell wall with holes in it. The cell membranes become leaky and brittle. Because of the way oils are processed, trans-fats are seen in pretty much in all oils sold in grocery stores including but not limited to, canola, corn, safflower, sunflower, cottonseed, and soybean oils like margarine and vegetable shortenings. Salad dressings, breakfast cereals (which also have BHT and BHA preservatives), chips, and fried foods all contain these oils. So keep your eyes open and read your packages.




4. Coffee – It’s another calcium thief. Coffee is acidic and contributes to over acidity in our diet. It changes the pH of our cells and requires calcium to be taken from tissues to neutralize the acidity. I know most people think they can’t get through the day without a coffee but If you’re already feeling better from drinking no coffee then you’ll have the extra energy to get through the day without it.





5. Milk – This one may be a shocker to most. Cow’s milk was meant for calves not humans. Cow’s milk has proteins and fats that are hard for people to digest. Metabolizing some of the fats in milk uses up essential fatty acids which can cause deficiencies. Yet another reason is that pasteurizing destroys nutrients and creates toxins. And as far as calcium goes cow’s milk does not supply nearly the amount that we’ve been told it does. The phosphorus in the milk prevents calcium absorption and it’s also low in magnesium which we need in order to utilize calcium. Are you stuffed up a lot? Try eliminating milk from your diet and see if you feel better. A lot of people are allergic to milk and don’t even know it.