Archive for May, 2011

Organic Food Part1

Friday, May 27th, 2011

Like other smart shoppers, you’ve probably asked yourself if organic food is better for your health, or if the so-called advantages are just a bunch of hype.

Firstly, let’s evaluate the word organic and how it is applied Organic farming must meet certain standards when it comes to animal, environmental, and human concerns. Organic farming forgoes the use of chemical products in growing food. This is just one aspect of a larger concern for doing less harm to the environment, human beings that consume the food, and wildlife. The worth of the global organic market is over $27 billion. The approximate size of land devoted to it is as big as Italy.

The Meaning of Organic Labels
An organic label means two things: that any processors or importers used in association with this food product have been approved, and that it comes from a farm. Ninety-five percent of the ingredients in processed foods have to be certified organic, and the remainder of ingredients is subject to approval.

To receive certification that their food is organic, food producers have follow these rules: Chemical fertilizers cannot be used, as they contain nitrous oxide. One has to employ natural methods like manure, as well as crop rotation, the act of alternating planted crops so that more natural nutrients are left behind. Pesticides must also not be used. In the alternative, bugs are kept at bay by other insects, as well as by weeding and planting other crops next to each other in order to deal with each one’s pests.

Colorings, preservatives, and most other additives cannot be used. Humane treatment of animals is a priority. They must be given space to roam, be fed organic food, and farmers must follow minimum slaughter age rules. There are many other humane treatment guidelines for animals.

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Hearth Health Part1

Monday, May 16th, 2011

If your family has a history of heart disease, you may be worried that you will inherit it. It’s reasonable to feel concerned, as yearly there are nearly 1 million heart-linked deaths in America. Even so, there’s no reason to fret. Genetic predisposition is not the only factor that can play a part in your getting heart disease. There are many other factors that can counteract genetic predisposition, and these measures can have a greater impact on the lifelong health of your heart. There are a few tips that will help you care for and protect your heart health.

How You Can Have a Healthy Heart
A sedentary lifestyle and poor diet are a dangerous combination, leading to all kinds of health problems, including coronary artery disease. Make lifestyle changes now, and you’ll keep heart trouble at bay. Here follows some workable tips that can significantly impact your heart.
* Make sure to eat plenty of heart-healthy fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and foods rich in fiber.
* Eat at least two portions of fish per week, and make sure seafood is part of your diet.
* Take inventory of your consumption of saturated and trans fat, and keep track of your cholesterol. 30% of your daily caloric requirements can come from fat; that’s it. One of the ways to lower your intake of saturated fat is to eat less animal fat. And refrain from eating hydrogenated vegetable oils to lower trans fat from your diet.
* Reduce or sodium intake. Cutting back on salt will boost your heart health.
* Select reduced fat options of dairy products.
* Attempt to receive nutrients from food instead of just relying on vitamins. Beans, for example, taste good and provide many benefits with its vitamins and minerals.
* If you don’t exercise, start. Exercise is instrumental in keeping your heart strong. Exercising helps control blood pressure and cholesterol, as well as helping to prevent diabetes. Exercising for 30 minutes a day, five times a week, will provide lifelong benefits. These 30 minutes can be broken up in 15-minute increments, such as walking in the morning and early evening. If you’re overweight, steer clear from fad diets that promise miracles but delivers only short-term results at best. These diets can put a lot of strain on your body and your heart.
* Give tai chi a try. Appropriate for a wide range of people and conditions, it works on balance and posture, and it boosts your heart’s health.
* Do not smoke. This is crucial for safe guarding the health of your heart.

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