Turnip Juice: A Toast to Health

A lot of people have an aversion to turnips. But the truth is, aside from being a nutritious vegetable, it is also a delicious one. You can even make it into a juice which can quench your thirst and keep you healthy, too.

Turnip juice is not new, especially in Turkey, where it has been a national drink for hundreds of years. Locally called Salgam Suyu, turnip aversion has never been heard of in this part of the world as drinking this juice is done everywhere in Turkey.

Turnips have a strong taste and drinking it even as a juice is an acquired taste. To dilute its flavor, the juice of other fruits and vegetables such as carrots and collards are mixed with it.

Looking beyond the taste, turnips provide a long list of nutrients that help maintain health and even fight diseases. Some of the affliction it cures includes rheumatoid arthritis, bladder and liver-related problems.

Because turnips contain high amounts of vitamin C, higher in fact than an orange juice, it is beneficial for people with cold and cough to drink it. It aids in clearing congestion in the lungs and bronchus, improving blood circulation and boosts the immune the system.

Also found in turnips include power antioxidants, beta-carotene and phyto-chemicals that help prevent the development of cancer by immediately removing toxins and carcinogens in the body.

Got body odor? Drink turnip juice. How does drinking it prevent this embarrassing affliction?

Well, perspiration is not exactly the reason why people get body odor as what people normally assume. The bacteria and toxins found in the environment are the cause. When these harmful substances accumulate in the body to the point where we find it difficult to get rid of them, body odor manifests itself.

To prevent body odor using turnips, extract its juice and rub it on your underarm. This should keep the bad odor away for at least ten hours.

Summer Barbecues With Healthy Smoothies

When it's that time of year, and you are ready to take the cover off the barbecue, picnic food comes to mind. The perfect hamburger or hot dog, potato chips, and just in case there's just too much stodge on the table, plates of assorted delicious salads.

I love creating colorful plates of vegetables and cheese as well as adding some home made dressings, usually made from crumbled goats cheese, fresh herbs and a touch of olive oil and wine vinegar. In the past, we've stopped there, but this year we've taken our picnic menu one stage further and incorporated drinks. Not corn syrup fueled, canned concoctions, but wholesome fruits and vegetables but together in a smoothie.

Frozen bananas make a great base, providing a creamy texture that's unbeatable. Then it's simply a case of collecting and combining what's available in the shops at a reasonable price.Strawberries make fabulous smoothies, combine them with the frozen banana, a little apple juice and some yogurt for a creamy drink, or perhaps a little ice cream. Best of all you can really brighten any picnic by having a strawberry theme. Add strawberries to your green salads, or join the celebrities by enjoying them Wimbledon style, served with real whipped cream, after all if you have a blender it can probably whip cream too, and the real thing is so much nicer than the aerosol can!

Best of all are strawberries with cream cheese, or strawberries with champagne. Eat a strawberry, take a sip, or use your blender to create a fabulous strawberry champagne sorbet to finish off your summer barbecue in style.Another wonderful thing about strawberries is that they are easy to grow. Even if all you have is a balcony or small patio you can grow strawberries in towers, and be certain that what you are eating has not been contaminated in any way. If there is anyone in your family who suffers from a strawberry allergy, grow the white variety as the allergic reaction is linked to the red pigment.

Bananas make an excellent base for smoothies, especially when frozen, but some people really hate the texture. What's more it can take searching to find good organic juices without extra sugar or flavorings to add to your blended creations. One way to solve that problem is to buy a juicer. A lot of people get confused about juicers thinking they are just the same as blenders, but no. Blenders work by chopping things up into really fine pieces. Juicers actually separate the juice from the pulp, so if you are looking for the best option, use a juicer to extract the juice from your apples, pears etc (or green vegetables) and mix that juice in your blender to build a smoothie you can be confident has no additives at all.

So many people think only of canned drinks when planning a picnic. They seem so convenient, but there is very little effort in preparing a pitcher of cold, delicious smoothie, the ideal healthy drink for spending time in the sun.

Why Healthy Food is Important

Your body uses good healthy food to create the energy needed for you to move around, work and enjoy life. The fruits, vegetables, meats and fish that you eat on a regular basis all provide your body with what it needs through the nutrients they contain. Energy by definition is the ability to do work. Your body takes the foods you eat and breaks them down so that their stored energy can be used on a daily basis. The amount of energy that a food provides is measured in the number of calories that it contains. The more calories means the more energy available.

In addition to a certain amount of calories each day your body also requires a balanced variety of six different kinds of nutrients in order to function well. These provide the necessary energy and materials to help repair your body after an exercise session. You may have heard the term essential nutrients, but what are they? Basically these are the nutrients that your body cannot make for itself and need to come from eating good healthy food.

Water

We are made up of about 80% water. You can live a few days without eating, but you need water on a daily basis. Did you know that you continually lose water from your body when you breathe and sweat? Many people don't realize that they lose water when they are sleeping at night. Here is a good health tip, drink one to two 8oz. glasses of water as soon as you wake up. You will start hydrating your body and give what it continually needs, water. Then spread out another six to eight glasses throughout the day to maintain a good water balance in your body.

Carbohydrates

Carbs as they are commonly called, along with fats are needed by your body to produce energy. One (1) gram of carbohydrates contain about four (4) calories. So if you are feeling tired, listless or irritable, it may be because you aren't getting enough good healthy energy producing carbohydrates. Add some good vegetables and fruits to your daily diet plan and avoid the sugary drinks and candies. Yes they have carbohydrates in them, but in the form of sugars and they are not as good for your body as the fruits and vegetables are.

Fats

Fats are shunned by many people especially when they start dieting and are trying to lose weight. However, your body needs a certain amount of fats to function properly and maintain healthy skin, nails and hair. Also, one (1) gram of fat contains a whopping nine (9) calories. So don't cut out all the fat in your diet, instead, switch from eating bad fat sources to good fat sources.

Proteins

Protein is a very important nutrient that many people do not get enough of. Protein can be used by the body as energy, one (1) gram of protein has four (4) calories. However, it serves a much more needed function by providing the necessary materials that your body needs to repair and heal itself, especially after a grueling workout. It is well known that if you are exercising regularly you need to take in good quality sources of protein to help recover from your workouts.

Here is something that most people don't realize:

Your body uses fats to help properly breakdown proteins so they can be absorbed better. That is one of the reasons that low carb, high fat and protein diets are used by people trying to reduce their body fat. These type of diets work in the short term, but after a while those people become irritable and cranky because they cut out all carbohydrates. I know when I cut my carbs when I prepared for a bodybuilding contest, I would be moody and grumpy, but then on my cheat day my attitude improved.

Vitamins & Minerals

Your body needs an adequate amount of vitamins and minerals on a daily basis. These two nutrients work in your body to help in all its functions. Everyday functions such as moving around, thinking, healing sore muscles and injuries as well as helping to break down the carbs, fats and proteins you eat for energy all require vitamins and minerals. One of the best ways to make sure you get enough is to take a good multivitamin everyday.

So, in order to build and maintain a strong healthy energetic body, you need to eat good healthy food and drink water. Avoiding any one form of nutrients will through your body out of balance as well as affect your energy levels. Make sure you add enough water to your diet and balance out the amount of fats, carbohydrates and proteins so you can live healthy, well and enjoy life.

Staying Healthy With an Asian Food Diet

If you are looking for a healthy form of diet to stick with, why not try the Asian food diet plan? The food, when well-planned and eaten moderately, is one of the healthiest types of food you can find. Some Asian foods are found to decrease the chances of getting heart diseases, cancer, and other types of diseases.

The foods that are emphasized in the Asian culture are different from the Western food diet. While the Western diet mainly seek for protein from milk and meat, the Asian diet have a variety of sources for protein, like rice, beans, fish, grains and nuts, which allows them to attain other nutrients that come with such ingredients. Food like meat, poultry and eggs are taken sparingly, which happens to be a good thing as research has found that meat and meat products are associated with heart diseases and cancer.

The foods that are eaten in every meal would usually consist of rice, noodle, bread, or grains, which would then be complemented with meat, vegetable, and fruit dishes. Fruits and vegetables are high in fiber, so it provides the antioxidants needed to dispel free radicals in the body that can cause cancer. They are also a good source of vitamins to help with the bodily functions.

Soy is also a popular component in the Asian diet. You can especially find them in Japanese food, where soy is made into a variety of products like beverage, soup, food, or even snack, and can be easily found in supermarkets, making it an accessible choice of food. People with lactose intolerance often choose soy products for their source of protein and calcium. It also helps lower cholesterol, apart from many other of its goodness. When it comes to dairy products, except for India, they are not taken as often as in Western countries. Many Asian women suffer from osteoporosis, thus, you will need to include calcium in the diet as well to make perfect your diet.

To complete the Asian diet would be the beverage. The traditional drinks consist of tea, which helps lower cholesterol while flushing out free radicals that causes cancer and heart diseases. If you are looking for healthy Asian recipes, Japanese food is one of the best examples around, as their population is one with the longest life expectanc

Vegetable Fiber For Better Health

Vegetables have been a bone of contention in the child rearing process for centuries. While many parents have told their children to eat their vegetables, they often omitted the reasons why they should. One big reason is that fiber vegetables perform quite a task for the human body.

Vegetable fiber is classified as soluble and insoluble. Neither form is digested but rather both pass from the body. The soluble mixes with bile acids to prevent their appearance in the bloodstream; this has a beneficial effect on cholesterol levels. The insoluble adds bulk to aid passage of digested food through the intestinal system.

Government dietary guidelines suggest daily consumption of twenty-five grams of fiber. Avocados are rated at fourteen grams in a typical serving. Technically avocados are fruit since they come from a tree but this rating is so high and it is so popular as a snack, it deserves mention. It is also a redemption of the avocado's reputation.

At one point it was castigated for high levels of cholesterol; true enough but the naysayers omitted the fact that the HDL/LDL (good cholesterol/bad cholesterol)ratio was off-the-charts positive. Split peas, lentils, black beans and lima beans all are rated at 13 grams or higher per serving, while artichokes check in 10.3.

These are some of the stars in the vegetable world where fiber is concerned. In some cases, for instance potatoes, much of the beneficial content is found in the skin. In most cases, the vegetables are best eaten raw rather than cooked although that generally has no effect on the fiber content. Most important is that all vegetables have fiber, some more than others and while nobody has to become a vegetarian to realize the positive benefits, all these fiber vegetables can be prepared to be tasty, much anticipated side dishes rather than the source of generational disputes.

Five Kinds of Healthy Drinks at Dinner Party

At the end of the year, different holidays come one after another. After having been busy for a whole year, everyone wants to have a good rest, so there will be a lot of gatherings and dinner parties among friends. At the dinner party, people always drink too much alcohol, which may easily harm the body. Then what kinds of drinks should we choose at the dinner party, so as to protect our health? The following section will recommend five healthy drinks for everyone.

First, yoghurt
Yoghurt contains a large number of active lactic acid bacteria, which can regulate the flora balance in the intestinal tract. If you have to drink alcohol at the party, it is best to drink a glass of yogurt first, which can play a good buffering function in the stomach. What's more, yoghurt has a certain feeling of fullness, so it can make you eat less oil and fatty food after drinking.

Second, fruit juice
Fruit juice contains a large number of vitamins, minerals, and a certain amount of biologically active substances and dietary fiber, so it can make up for the lack of nutrition when you drink alcohol. It is best to drink freshly squeezed juice, which has the best nutrition. If the juice has been placed for a long time, it is easy to be oxidized.

Third, tomato juice
Tomato juice contains a lot of nutrients, such as vitamin C, minerals, lycopene, and so on. Especially lycopene, it has the most prominent health benefits on human body, and has strong antioxidant activity. What's more, lycopene has a good effect of clearing away the free radicals in the body, which is far better than that of other carotenoids and vitamin E. As a result, it is also known as "plant gold".

Fourth, soybean milk
Soybean milk contains various kinds of nutrients, including unsaturated fatty acids. It is low in saturated fatty acids and contains no cholesterol. What's more, soybean milk also contains a small amount of soluble dietary fiber, which can help to promote the peristalsis of the gastrointestinal tract and prevent constipation. Sugar-free or low-sugar soybean milk has much better effect.

Fifth, tea
The tea polyphenol and caffeine contained in tea have the effect of preventing cancer, cardiovascular diseases and so on. Green tea, Oolong tea, Pu'er tea, black tea, and scented tea are all good choices. During the winter, it is best not to drink the tea which has become cold, because it is easy to cause diarrhea, which is very bad for the health of the body.

Daily Foods Give You a Healthy Life

Do you want to maintain a healthy life? You can achieve this purpose by taking in appropriate nutrients. Following are eight kinds of best and nutritious food, which not only can meet the essential needs of modern people, but also have a lot of health-care effects on human body.

Firstly, spinach:
Spinach contains a large number of iron and vitamin B, which can effectively prevent and treat cardiovascular diseases. What's more, spinach contains little calories, so it is very suitable for the women who want to lose weight.

Secondly, nuts:
Nuts not only can increase the level of "beneficial" cholesterol in human body, but also can reduce the triglycerides in the blood, so it is the best food to prevent heart diseases. No matter peanut or almond, they are all good choice.

Thirdly, cauliflower:
A large number of studies have pointed out that cauliflower is rich in carotene and vitamin C. Long-term eating cauliflower can reduce the rate of suffering from breast cancer, rectum cancer, and gastric cancer.

Fourthly, oats:
Eating oats every day can reduce the level of cholesterol in the body. Research has found out that oats can also reduce the blood pressure. The high content of fibers contained in oats can bring people a satiety feeling in a short time. In such a case, this can reduce the intake of other oil and fatty food, so as to achieve the purpose of controlling the weight.

Fifthly, strawberry:
Strawberry contains the most abundant antioxidants in all the fruits and vegetables. Apart from preventing heart disease and cancer, it can also promote the development of intelligence.

Sixthly, tomato:
Many researches have found out that the lycopene contained in tomato can greatly reduce the probability of suffering from cancer. During the cooking process, lycopene can release naturally. What's more, tomato is also the best source of vitamin C.

Seventhly, green tea:
Study has found out that drinking green tea can prevent cancer. People who drink green tea every day are less likely to suffer from stomach cancer, esophagus cancer, and liver cancer. In addition, Japanese researchers also find out that drinking ten cups of green tea every day can reduce the risk of suffering from heart disease.

Eighthly, red wine:
Red wine contains a great amount of antioxidants, which can increase the level of "beneficial" cholesterol in the body, and reduce angiosclerosis. But you should pay attention not to drink too much red wine each time. Otherwise, it will make you easily suffer from breast cancer and may even induce stroke.