Health Food Fitness Gardening

Growing vegetables on film

2011-08-18T06:10:00.001-07:00

Grow crops on film

Yes you heard right!! the japanese have come out with new technology that grows all kinds of vegetables and possibly trees as well in the future on film. So pretty much no soil is needed as the plants get their nutrients supplied from the film.

Plant growing without soil

This method has been tried by the Japanese in the middle east desert with success and they say the chances of the plans or vegetables catching disease is also low due to no soil. Here si a video showing the japanese growing plants on film

Who needs soil when you can grow crops on film? Japan's Mebiol is growing a Garden of Eden of sorts on its thin hydro-membranes, which are only microns thick.

The greens can grow considerably if liquid nutrients are given to them from above and below, through the film

How to get rid of that beer belly !!

2011-04-25T18:41:00.001-07:00

How to avoid a beer belly or beer stomach

Men cant stay away from beer and so they have to make Health plans to either get their beer belly in shape or then abstain from beer. Many men actually do think that the beer belly is attractive to the opposite sex , when in most cases it isn't.

You have seen others (dad, uncle, boss, a politician, some police guys or a pedestrian on the street) sporting it and probably also might have giggled at the sight of it. A Beer or a pot belly is not only an unflattering sight but also looks like an unhealthy asset not just restricted to many ageing celebrities but also the masses. It can often been seen as a put off by women, who can find a beer beer stomach unattractive.

These days, even young people in their 20s to 30’s have become a victim to this pot belly, which is certainly a bad sign.

What is a beer belly?

A round, pot-shaped belly that is caused by frequent beer drinking ore fat accumulation is often called a Beer Belly. This is more prevalent amongst males compared to females and sometimes also caused by excessive eating. It is caused by excessive accumulation of fat in abdominal area.

If a person's Body Mass Index (BMI) is more than 30 and he has a beer belly, then the beer belly could be responsible for many chronic life-threatening diseases.

How does a person get a beer belly ?

Studies indicate that beer belly is highly co-related with insulin resistance, glucose intolerance, and hypertension. But the most important and risky cause is the metabolic syndrome which due to all of the above conditions and disorders mentioned above are together in the same person.

If you drink beer very often, you consume more calories and more fluid is retained in the stomach until filtered and excreted by kidney through urine, this causes stomach to bulge for prolonged time and to loose its elasticity thus creating a beer belly

Get the right Exercise program to turn your beer belly into a six pack body or a flat stomach!!

High-carbohydrate intake via food and a diet which includes fatty foods and oils in food preparations contribute to making a beer belly.

Here are some Precautions you can take to avoid a beer belly

- Avoid excessive eating.

- Avoid high calorie and high fat foods especially animal meat.

- Avoid foods made of refined products made up of maida and consume high-fibre foods.

- Avoid aerated drinks and sweets

- Eat small but frequent meals to help proper digestion.

- Leave a gap of two hours between your dinner and sleep time.

- Do not combine eating with other activities like reading or watching television.

- If you have digestive disorders or gastric problem consult a nutritionist to enhance your digestive system.

Here are some belly reducing programs available on the internet that you can check out

The belly fat solution

The Flat Stomach Solution

The Flat Tummy Makeover - Female Focused Fat Loss & Sexy Tummy System!

Lose Stomach Fat And Get Flat, Sexy Abs

Mobile phones and radiation

2011-02-24T05:48:00.001-08:00

Mobile phones or Cellphones cause brain cancer, dementia and have other side effects, these are the results of many studies conducted. However, most of such studies have remained largely inconclusive.

Recently a panel findings highlighted the health hazards posed by mobile phones radiation. The committee named loss of memory, lack of concentration, digestive and sleep disturbances as some of the ill-effects caused by mobile phone radiation.

List of mobile phones with high levels of RF radiation

CNET recently published a “list of phones with high levels of RF radiation”. The list includes some of the popular smartphone models from companies like LG, Motorola and Sony Ericsson.The study is based on SAR or Specific Absorption Rate. SAR is a way to measure the amount of radio frequency (RF) energy absorbed by the body when using the handset.

A cell phone's SAR, or its Specific Absorption Rate, is a measure of the amount of radio frequency (RF) energy absorbed by the body when using the handset. All cell phones emit RF energy and the SAR varies by handset model.

1. Motorola Bravo has a 3 megapixel autofocus camera, 512 MB RAM, aGPS, accelerometer and Bluetooth.The phone's Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) is 1.59

2.Motorola Droid whihc is Android-powered is number 2. The phone's Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) is 1.58

3.Sony Ericsson's 12 megapixel shooter Satio too figures among the phone's with highest level of radiation. The phone's Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) is 1.56.

4.Sony Ericsson's Xperia X10 Mini Pro, is at No. 4 on the list. The Android-based phone's Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) is 1.55.

5.Kyocera Jax S1300 with a 1.8-inch display. The phone's Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) is 1.55

6.Motorola i335 sports a 1.5-inch display. The phone's Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) is 1.53.

7.Android-based 3G smartphone “Defy”. The phone's Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) is 1.52.

8.The candybar Motorola Grasp features a 2.2-inch display, 1.3 megapixel camera with digital zoom. Grasp's Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) is 1.52.

9.ZTE Salute's Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) is 1.52.

10.No. 10 is LG Rumor 2 with 1.51 Specific Absorption Rate (SAR).

Here is a device that can protect you from cellphone radiation, its a bit quirky but says will do the job.

A randomized study was conducted between January 1 and December 31, 2009 at a single U.S. laboratory among 47 healthy participants recruited from the community. Cell phones were placed on their left and right ears and brain imaging was performed with positron emission tomography, PET, scans. This study's authors say more research is needed to answer that question."Results of this study provide evidence that acute cell phone exposure affects brain metabolic activity," the authors state. "However, these results provide no information as to their relevance regarding potential carcinogenic effects, or lack of such effects, from chronic cell phone use.”

Get the book Disconnect: The Truth About Cell Phone Radiation, What the Industry Has Done to Hide It, and How to Protect Your Family if you want to read more about mobile phone radiation.

Vitamins and the body Health

2011-02-17T04:19:00.001-08:00

The human body is an incredibly complex organism that requires dozens of different vitamins, minerals, and nutrients so it can operate efficiently.

Nutritional requirements are often slightly different for young children, adolescents, and during pregnancy and breastfeeding.Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you are concerned about your vitamin intake.

Every bodily function, from digestion to growth, to muscle movement, to memories, requires the right vitamins to function properly. Different vitamins provide different benefits, but together a diet rich in appropriate vitamins and minerals keeps you strong, energetic, and healthy.

Vitamin Deficiencies

Not getting enough vitamins can create a wide range of health problems, including:

Lethargy and fatigue
Dry skin
Poor eyesight
Higher cholesterol levels
Raised blood pressure
Slow wound healing
Sore gums
Increased cancer and heart disease risks
Asthma
Diabetes
Infertility

The best sources of vitamins are fresh fruits and vegetables, lean meats, dairy, and other wholesome foods. Unfortunately, heavily processed foods such as those that come in boxes and bags on store shelves or in the freezer section often lack essential vitamins because the chemicals required to process and preserve the foods strips them of their healthiest nutrients. Because of this, many people may be vitamin deficient without realizing it.

Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you are concerned about your vitamin intake or then browse on of the Vitamins shop online for a good deal if you know what you want

Currently there is offer –> 10% OFF one product only by using code 10AFF. Offer valid through 2/28/2011.

Is 3D tv harmful for health ?

2010-12-17T20:21:00.001-08:00

Scientists and researchers say Avoid 3D TV as it can disorient the brain, causing eye strain, headaches, nausea and sickness, scientists warn.

3D TV can be harmful

When buying a 3 DTV , Viewers will have a choice between two types of 3D TVs - active and passive - which show the 3D images in different ways.
An active TV normally will cost less that a passive 3d tv, but will require special 'shutter' glasses. The basic idea is that the TV displays the 3D programme or movie in a series of rapidly alternating frames - left eye, right eye, left eye, right eye - changing at such a speed that the viewer cannot even detect it is happening. The shutter glasses, which cost 20 to 40 USD a pair and are powered by a small battery, block out one eye or the other on alternate frames at the same high speed, synchronizing with the image being displayed on TV via a wireless connection to the set. The brain is thus fooled into creating a 3D image in the mind's eye.

3D Tv warnings for health

The 3d tv passive technology relies on a special polarising filter on the TV set to split the image into its left eye - right eye components. The split picture is then watched using a simple pair of polarising glasses - similar to the ones handed out in modern 3D cinemas - to create the 3D image.

The closer the viewer is to the screen, the worse it feels, making 3D TVs more problematic than cinema screens. Researchers at Eindhoven University in the Netherlands asked 39 people who could see 3D to read some text on a screen 10 feet away. Seven of the group suffered symptoms that can lead to nausea, including double vision and eye.

Are You 3-D Fit?
Your Whole Life: The 3D Plan for Eating Right, Living Well, and Loving God
NXG Technology NX-3DG Active Shutter Type 3D Glasses

Are mobile phones bad for babies ?

2010-12-08T04:38:00.001-08:00

Scientists in America reported that foetuses regularly exposed to mobile phones in the womb had a 30 per cent greater chance of behavioural difficulties at the age of seven. The findings, published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, were based on a study of 28,000 seven-year-olds and their mothers, who were part of the Danish National Birth Cohort study.

The study enrolled 100,000 pregnant women between 1996 and 2002 and monitored their behaviour and their children's health over eight years.

The report sugests that pregnant women who regularly use mobile phones may be more likely to have children with behavioural problems, particularly if their children start using mobile phones in their first seven years. The researchers from the University of Southern California said the results showed an obvious association between mobile phone exposure and abnormal behaviour in children.

The Australian Centre for Radio Frequency Bioeffects Research, said the data was not strong enough to indicate a link between mobile phone exposure and behavioural problems.

Bra made up of Nasa space technology

2010-11-28T05:21:00.001-08:00

There is no limits to technology today , as we can see from the new Nasa technology used in “Womens BRA”. A new technologically advanced BRA has been launched using NASA technology.

Technologically improved womes BRA

"For example, if you're exercising and the BRA detects a rise in body temperature, it can expand to offer more support when you need it."

"It can boost the cleavage when it detects a rise in body temperature," Dr Nielsen said.

The bra, according to Dr Nielsen, can also adapt to a woman's changing shape and size, meaning you're less likely to have to shop for another bra down the line.

NASA - Home

NASA.gov brings you images, videos and interactive features from the unique perspective of America's space agency. Get the latest updates on NASA missions, ...
www.nasa.gov

The NEW NASA inspired BRA

NASA developed its intelligent memory foam in the '60s to make its aircraft seating safer and more comfortable. The "smart" foam, which has the unique quality of retaining or remembering its shape after pressure is applied, is the key ingredient in a new kind of bra being distributed in Australia. "A derivation of the foam is used in the memory foam mattresses. It's also used in the safety lining of racing car helmets, and so I realised it could have a lot of practical uses, and this softening and expansion could have a lot of benefits."

So what is kangaroo care and its benefits ?

2010-09-09T04:10:00.001-07:00

Kangaroo care saves australian baby

A mom in Australia says a doctor declared her newborn son "dead," but she helped bring him back to life by holding the premature baby against her body using a method known as "kangaroo care."

"I thought, 'Oh my God, what's going on?' " Kate Ogg said on the Australian television show, Today Tonight when she saw her baby come back to life thanks to kangaroo care. Kate Ogg says a practice known as 'kangaroo care' helped revive her 'dead' baby, Jamie, who was born premature. Saved by a mother's touch

The child, named Jamie, was born after only 27 weeks with his twin sister, Emily, at a hospital in Sydney. Her birth went well, but his was a different story. The doctor struggled for 20 minutes to save him before declaring him dead. "His little arms and legs were just falling down away from his body," Ogg said. "I took my gown off and arranged him on my chest with his head over my arm and just held him."

Kangaroo care saves baby’s life in australia

She and her husband, David, spoke to the child as she continued to embrace him for nearly two hours. During that time, she said, the two-pound infant showed signs of life. "I told my mum, who was there, that he was still alive. Then he held out his hand and grabbed my finger," Ogg said.

Origins of kangaroo care In bogota

Most studies have proven that Kangaroo Care has a major, positive impact on babies and their parents; some studies have proven there is no change; but no study has proven that Kangaroo Care has hurt either parent or baby.

in 1998, Gay Gale and Kathleen Vandenburg (Neonatal Network, 12 (6): 49-57) found an increased intimacy and attachment between baby and parent. Kangaroo Care was found to help a parent feel connected. Eye contact led to an experience of "knowing" infant.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Kangaroo care is a technique practiced on newborn, usually preterm, infants wherein the infant is held, skin-to-skin, with an adult. Kangaroo care for pre-term infants may be restricted to a few hours per day, but if they are medically stable that time may be extended. Some parents may keep their babies in-arms for many hours per day. Kangaroo care, named for the similarity to how certain marsupials carry their young, was initially developed to care for preterm infants in areas where incubators are either unavailable or unreliable.

Home remedies for the seasonal Australian Cold and Flu – part 1

2010-08-26T19:13:00.001-07:00

Millions of “Australians suffer the cold and flu” when the colder months of June july and august come very year. it is around this time that the chemists and pharmaceuticals companies for cold and flu medicine make a killing.

Luckily for some who are willing to try some natural medicines and deny these capitalist medicine mongers some of their revenue, i am providing a alternative natural solution.

Simple home remedies for cold and flu

All you need is Patience , eucalyptus oil and hot water and a towel and a inclination to believe or try natural remedies. As you know eucalyptus is known for its medicinal values and it definitely helps remedy cold and flu and unclog all that gunk and stuff you have in your nasal system

What you need to do ?

Eucalyptus oil and Hot water

Heat a couple ( 3 to 4 ) of glasses of water and place it in a wide bowl on the kitchen table which should be off appropriate height ( normally). Drop 2 drops of the eucalyptus oil in the water , place a towel over your head and bring you head down( as close as you can to the bowl without getting burnt with the steam) , so that the large towel encloses the bowl and the area aorund it , while it is over your head and not letting any air in or out ( maybe a small gap will do )

Now start taking deep breaths ( you will get the hot steam air with eucalyptus flavor going up your nose), you can alternate the intensity of the deep breaths as per the heat affecting you you can also add one or 2 more drops ( after a 5 minute session ) if you feel the eucalyptus oil steam has become a bit weaker in the water.

Inhalation with Eucalyptus oil and Hot water

Do this at least 2 times a day for 2 to 3 days and you will be soon on your road to recovery in 2 days or the next couple of days.

Do consult your GP if you have cold and flu as this is only a alternative natural home remedy and may not work for all or in all situations.

Next : the Sure fire “Stopping that annoying cough Home Remedy”

Technorati Tags: ailment,airborne allergies,child cold color contagious,coughing ethnicity," female flu germs,ill illness,infectious,influenza interior

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Cure for blood cancer !!

2010-08-03T07:37:00.001-07:00

I know people are a sucker for remedies when they are desperate !! but i am not writing this post because of that , sometimes you never know if there is truth in it until u try it .. I have no idea if this cure or remedy works if at all. I just received this information in an email , here it is.

A cure for blood cancer ?

'Imitinef Mercilet'

“Imitinef Mercilet” is a medicine which cures a type of blood cancer,
Its available at free of cost in following hospitals
Adyar cancer institute in Chennai, Bangalore, Trivandrum.
Kovai-Sri Ramakrishna hospital

The human body is at all times prone to dissimilar types of diseases. But, there are a number of diseases, which cause entire dejection into the patients, because these incurable diseases do not have any cure. Blood cancer, scientifically well-known as leukaemia is one such disease, which in anticipation of now did not have any kind of treatment that can provide entire relief without any type of adverse side effects. However, researchers each and every one over the world put in their most excellent efforts and discovered Imitinef Mercilet, the miracle drug for curing blood cancer. Furthermore, Imitinef Mercilet acts only through the cancerous cells and does not harm some other vital organ in your body.

Imitinef Mercilet

Administration of Imitinef Mercilet verbally at Adyar Cancer Institute has provided optimistic results to people suffering on or after blood cancer. Eminent cancer specialists working in Adyar Cancer Institute have exposed that the body rapidly absorbsImitinef Mercilet particularly when the patient take the drug orally as nearly ninety-eight percent of the drug, straight away goes into the bloodstream and starts its remedial effect. Though liver is the organ, where the metabolism of the drug takes position but to hand is no adverse effect on this vital organ. Consequently, patients because of all over the world can avail this free treatment and live a healthy as well as carefree life.

Imitinef Mercilet works in a miraculous way as it creates a blockade in the improvement of the irregular enzyme that causes leukaemia. This obstruction developed by Imitinef Mercilet not only restricts the abnormal growth of the blood cells but also switches off the production of the protein that aids in the enlargement of the cancerous cells. It is a well-known fact all the way through the world that cancer treatment is a costly concern, which most of the people are not capable to bear. Keeping this in mind, Adyar Cancer Institute in Chennai has taken the inventiveness step of providing free treatment forleukaemia patients.

Begone !! The awful flu season – Home made remedies for Flu and cold

2010-06-17T04:10:00.001-07:00

Get home made remedies for flu

Sure, the best way to avoid a king hit from influenza this winter or cold is to get a flu vax, but what about the mild seasonal cold?
You may be surrounded by sniffling, sneezing colleagues, but that doesn't have to mean you're next in line. As well as staying hydrated and steering clear of immune-system saboteurs like sugar, fatty foods and alcohol, you can ward off winter bugs with a balanced diet including these power-packed foods.

I got the flu !! – get a home remedy for Cold and flu

As is usual i got the flu this winter again , and i decided to toss the usual cold and flu tablets in the bin and try a natural remedy .The most important thin to do is attack the flu right when it starts and not let the bad bacteria get stronger.

Here is the magic remedy that gave the cold and flu a beating and made it disappear in 2 days
chop ginger to fill 1/4 a table spoon

Fill the tablespoon with the chopped ginger and honey and drink a glass of warm water immediately after having this tablespoon . repeat this at least twice a day . do not have any cold drinks or cold foods and remain warm wearing warm clothes and you shall see this disappear. It it still persists then its time to go get that flu medicine that you dumped in the bin.
Some preventions you can take to avoid flu !!
Yes, your kindy teacher was onto something about the flu and cold. The germs that cause colds can live for hours – even weeks – on objects like doorknobs, tap handles and phones. So, hit the soap and water often, avoid touching your mouth and nose, and cover mouth with a tissue when you sneeze.
When you’re stressed, your body produces cortisol, a hormone that messes with your immune system. However, when you’re relaxed, cortisol levels go down – especially when you’re physically active at the same time. Signing up for yoga
this winter will do the trick.

Australian weight loss programs costing $0

2010-06-09T05:18:00.001-07:00

ustralian miracle weight loss program costing Zilch

Today i saw this programme on TV about weight loss . This australian girl Adele ( not not the British singer Adele) from australia apparently lost 64 kilos just using a music cd and dancing away her fat.
She started and managed to just move her legs around a bit and did one song the first day , but her legs got fitter and before she knew it with her prsuasion and hard work she put into her dancing she was 64 kilos slimmer and looks a beauty now.This was the miracle weight loss programme that she invented and worked for her.

So what did it take this brave ausssie lasss to loss 64 kilos ?

One funky music CD probably around $15
And a whole lotta dancing
so what are you waiting for , crank up the music and put on those dancing shoes ( make sure you dont overdo and hurt yourself)

"I think that weight loss methods are a very complex and cluttered category, the weight loss category, and there are certainly some reputable programs and there are less reputable ways of losing weight."

Some of the popular weight loss diets and program’s in australia are

A few of the thousands of options available to the Australian market are:

Tony Ferguson Diet
Soup diet
The low GI diet
Atkins diet
Salmon diet
Weight Watches
Milk shake diet
Lemon detox diet
Jenny Craig
CSIRO diet
Clothesline diet
Raw food diet
Slimfast diet
Protein powder diet
Liquid diet
Macrobiotic diet
Low carb diet

so if you are willing to try something cheap and free just go with what adelle did and try it out before you spend your hard earned money on some weigh loss programme

Japanese "Hana Sukkiri Melody” Ringtones good for Your health

2010-05-19T19:12:00.001-07:00

Ringtones has since their inception got quite innovative and quite frankly now some can be quite annoying , Luckily Now one Japanese company has actually made one ringtone that which literally make you healthier , they claim.
Index Corporation announced that its cellphone ringtone site Sokuho Music Search (Sokuho = breaking news) provides a new version of ringtone collections “Hana Sukkiri Melody” (Hana Sukkiri = cleared up nostril).

Index Corporation of Japan introducing a new range of ringtone collections known as "Hana Sukkiri Melody”, or "Cleared up nostril" melody after translation. Apparently, this ringtone is able to make a nose resonate at the same frequency with pollens adherent inside your nasal cavity, letting them fall down eventually thanks to the use of 27 variations of frequency from420Hz to 1070Hz.
“The ringtone will make a nose has resonant frequency with pollens adherent inside your nasal cavity, so eventually pollens fall down. ”
Luckily, JRTL has some much more sensible-sounding ringtones in the pipeline, including "sleep-promoting ringtone," "ringtone makes your date," "crow scarer ringtone," "ringtone makes your skin beautiful," and more.

The application is developed by Japan Ringing Tone Laboratory (JRTL), who “develops scientific approach on ringtones”, led by Dr. Matsumi Suzuki [J] who is a professor of Adam Smith University .

Does your meat have sulphur Dioxide ??

2010-04-27T04:50:00.001-07:00

Yes !! it probably does !!

Banned chemicals in meats

Dodgy Butchers and small supermarkets often have been indulging in this malpractice to make their meats sell , by putting sulphur dioxide in their meats for it to look more red and fresh and entice their customers to buy the meat.

What is sulphur dioxide?

Sulphur dioxide is a chemical used as a preservative in some foods.The use of sulphur dioxide is strictly controlled by the Food Standards Code as some people might have serious allergic reaction when it is used in foods where they do not expect to encounter it.

Sulphur dioxide as a preservative in meats

Suprisingly , sulphur dioxide has been approved to be used in certain meat products like sausages , salami , and meat patties as these meats have tradionally been treated with sulphur dioxide to stay looking fresh longer. There are prohibitions though on how much you can use on these products , you can use less than 500mg/kg of the finished product.

Butchers are putting sulphur dioxide in the meat — a tasteless preservative found in dried food, sausages and wine. It is used to mask meat that may be going off, by making it appear redder. "They'll use it to enhance the colour — get the red out, the pink colour, to make it look more attractive”. If you're sensitive to sulphur dioxide, it could be an asthma reaction, could be eczema, irritable bowel, headaches and behavioural issues in children

Last week in nsw Australia a few butchers were caught up in a raid doing this dodgy practices to sell their meat . check the list of these butchers --- > Dodgy butchers fined using a banned chemical

Related Food Chemicals' Link :

NSW AUSTRALIA FOOD authority Sulphur dioxide in meat pdf file

Using preservative in processed meats

Top 20 Food Additives to Avoid

Why onions are bad for you !!

2010-03-18T04:15:00.001-07:00

I got this information from a chain email regarding onions and bacteria( thanks vinita) saying Please pass on the information. so i am passing the info on to you. well in regards to the veracity of this story its up to you to find out more , but some of the stuff written down here does make sense.

Check out this article “ Why onions are bad for you !!”

I have used an onion which has been left in the fridge, and sometimes I don't use a whole one at one time, so save the other half for later. Now with this info, I have changed my mind....will buy smaller onions in the future.
I had the wonderful privilege of touring Mullins Food Products, Makers of mayonnaise. Mullins is huge, and is owned by 11 brothers and sisters in the Mullins family. My friend, Jeanne, is the CEO.

LEFT OVER uncooked ONIONS IS POISONOUS

Questions about food poisoning came up, and I wanted to share what I learned from a chemist.
The guy who gave us our tour is named Ed. He's one of the brothers Ed is a chemistry expert and is involved in developing most of the sauce formula. He's even developed sauce formula for McDonald's. Keep in mind that Ed is a food chemistry whiz. During the tour, someone asked if we really needed to worry about mayonnaise. People are always worried that mayonnaise will spoil. Ed's answer will surprise you. Ed said that all commercially-made Mayo is completely safe.
"It doesn't even have to be refrigerated. No harm in refrigerating it, but it's not really necessary." He explained that the pH in mayonnaise is set at a point that bacteria could not survive in that environment.. He then talked about the quaint essential picnic, with the bowl of potato salad sitting on the table and how everyone blames the mayonnaise when someone gets sick.

He explained, onions are a huge magnet for bacteria, especially uncooked onions. You should never plan to keep a portion of a sliced onion. He says it's not even safe if you put it in a zip-lock bag and put it in your refrigerator.

Dangerous Contamination and Onions

It's already contaminated enough just by being cut open and out for a bit, that it can be a danger to you (and doubly watch out for those onions you put in your hotdogs at the baseball park!)
Ed says if you take the leftover onion and cook it like crazy you'll probably be okay, but if you slice that leftover onion and put on your sandwich, you're asking for trouble. Both the onions and the moist potato in a potato salad, will attract and grow bacteria faster than any commercial mayonnaise will even begin to break down.'

Also, dogs should never eat onions. Their stomachs cannot metabolize onions .Please remember it is dangerous to cut onions and try to use it to cook the next day ,it becomes highly poisonous for even a single night and creates Toxic bacteria which may cause Adverse Stomach infections because of excess Bile secretions and even Food poisoning.

well this does sound like scare mongering .. but yeah any vegetable or meat can be dangerous if not handles hygienically and properly

Satay cut crocodile anyone!!

2010-03-16T06:55:00.001-07:00

Crocodile meat anyone !! Now we know why crocodile dundee used to catch crocodiles!!

Crocodile meat facts

Crocodile meat is low in fat and high in protein and is best cooked in the same manner as lean pork or chicken. It can be prepared into a variety of dishes using wet and dry cooking methods and is ideal in marinade or sauce. The meat is supplied trimmed of fat, vacuum packed on freezer trays and frozen. On average the gross weight per carton is 15kg.

As i do not endorse crocodile meat myself , i will just give links' to more info below

Meats – Australian Crocodile Traders

Crocodile has become a very popular meat both in Australia and overseas and ... Crocodile meat is low in fat and high in protein and is best cooked in the ...
www.australiancrocodile.com.au/meats.html - [PDF]
Recipes and tips for cooking crocodile meat

File Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat - Quick View
It is perfectly legal to buy crocodile meat and products from animals raised ... The slaughtering and processing of crocodile meat is done humanely and ...
www.australiancrocodile.com.au/.../Recipesandtipsforcookingcrocodilemeat_.pdf
Australian Exporters: Crocodile Farms Pty Ltd - Crocodile meat and ...

Crocodile Farms Pty Ltd are a company based in Noonamah in the Australian state of NT. Their main business areas are crocodile meat and skins. ...
www.australianexporters.net/companyID1885.htm -

Dr. Mao's Honey-Glazed Masala Chicken with Apricots

2010-03-14T00:01:00.001-08:00

Masala chicken is a popular Indian dish. People not used to the spiciness of masala may find it a little strong. Adding apricots gives it a mild sweet-and-sour taste, balancing the spiciness of the masala.

Honey-Glazed Masala Chicken with Apricots

Ingredients

3 lbs boneless chicken pieces (thigh and breast)
2 tbsp olive oil
2 medium onions, sliced
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 inch piece of peeled fresh ginger, finely chopped
1 1/2 tsp masala spice (ground cumin, cinnamon, clove, bay leaf, peppercorn, coriander, cardamom)
2 tbsp tomato puree
1 tsp fine sea salt
2 tbsp rice vinegar
10 dried apricots
2 tbsp honey
Parsley, for garnish

Directions

Cut chicken into 2-inch pieces. Heat oil over medium heat in a deep skillet. Add onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened.
Stir in garlic, ginger and masala. Add chicken and stir-fry until cooked through, about 5 minutes.
Add tomato puree, salt and 1 cup water; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer 20 minutes.
Add vinegar and apricots to skillet, cover and simmer 15 minutes more. Transfer to a serving platter, drizzle honey over top and garnish with parsley, if desired.

I hope you incorporate apricots into your diet as your own anti-aging secret weapon. I invite you to visit often and share your own personal health and longevity tips with me.

May you live long, live strong, and live happy!

- Dr. Mao

St. Ives Apricot Scrub, Gentle, Sensitive Skin, 6-Ounce Tubes (Pack of 6) Burt's Bees Baby Bee Apricot Baby Oil, 4-Ounce Bottles (Pack of 2)

REF:

http://health.yahoo.com/experts/drmao/198/apricots-the-secret-anti-aging-weapon/

http://healthfoodfitnessgardening.blogspot.com/2010/03/shine-and-glow-like-apricot.html

Shine and Glow like a Apricot

2010-03-13T23:59:00.001-08:00

Researchers are saying that apricot is the wonder drug for women

The apricot is a stone fruit and has a nut within it. It is a good source of vitamin, ie, B complex, riboflavin, niacin as well as vitamin C. The nut of the fruit is rich in protein and fat and is considered as valuable as any other nut. It contains 40 to 45 percent of an oil which is practically identical with almond oil in its physical as well as chemical properties.

Benefits of Apricot Oil Beauty Products:

It is best suited for dry and sensitive skin.
Softens your skin and gives it a natural glow.
- It is used along with other ingredients to make lotions, creams, balms and other cosmetic products.
- In Chinese medicine, apricot oil is used for treatment of tumor.

Apricots: the Secret Anti-Aging Weapon

Research shows that of any food, apricots possess the highest levels and widest variety of carotenoids. Carotenoids are antioxidants that help prevent heart disease, reduce "bad cholesterol" levels, and protect against cancer. In traditional Chinese medicine, apricots are considered helpful in regenerating body fluids, detoxifying, and quenching thirst.

Apricot Kernel oil is a popular choice amongst massage oils. In Aromatherapy, it is used in the form of carrier oil in combination with one of the essential oils. It is also extensively used in the making of varied kinds of cosmetic products. It is suitable for all types of skin. It also aids in slowing down the aging process. It is of great use in treating inflamed skin. Being an emollient, it provides complete relaxation to the body and mind.

The kernels also have several healthy properties, including toning the respiratory system and alleviating a cough. However, be cautioned that the tip of the apricot holds a concentrated amount of the chemical laetrile, which can be upsetting to the system. To safely reap the benefits of apricot kernels, remove the tips of the seeds and do not eat more than five a day.

Apricot Oil

Apricot oil, extracted from the kernels of Apricot is a colorless oil and has a nutty odor. It is the most preferred oil as it has the ability to penetrate deep into the skin without giving your skin an oily look. It soothes as well as moisturizes the skin. This oil is well suited for all skin types.

Apricot Oil Ingredients:

It is rich in essential fatty acids, which are linoleic acid (20% to 34 %), oleic acid (58 % to 74%) and palmitic acid (4 % to 7 percent). It is also high in content as far as Vitamin E and Vitamin A is concerned.

Apricot kernel carrier oil is of great value for giving a face massage. The oil is extracted from Apricot, the botanical name of which is Prunus armeniaca. It is easily absorbed by the skin and the best part is that it doesn't lend any kind of oily feel to the skin. Rich in poly-unsaturated fatty acids, its application works wonders in nourishing the skin. It is usually colorless, but, at times, has a tinge of yellow

The fruit is highly valued as a gentle laxative and it has been widely used as a sedative and antispasmodic.

Apricot health and beauty properties

Apricot Kernel oil provides numerous health benefits for which it is preferred. It prevents the body from being dehydrated. It is especially useful for sensitive skin. It is also quite beneficial in soothing the body parts victimized by boils and burns.

Texture wise, the oil is very fine and contains high content of oleic acid and linoleic acid. Apricot Kernel oil is known for its moisturizing and revitalizing properties. It is owing to this reason that it is increasingly finding its way in facial massages.

St. Ives Apricot Scrub, Gentle, Sensitive Skin, 6-Ounce Tubes (Pack of 6)

Apricots in food recipes

Dr. Mao's Honey-Glazed Masala Chicken with Apricots

World’s Longest lunch at Melbourne australia

2010-03-12T17:26:00.001-08:00

‘World’s Longest Lunch’

The australian’s had a picnic ont he road recently cebrating the worlds lOngest lunch. Meals are served at the ‘World’s Longest Lunch’ during the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival. Nearly 900 patrons dined on the 400m-long table. Over 5,000 people ate at 18 ‘Longest Lunches’ across the city

Melbourne Food and Wine Festival

Melbourne Food and Wine Festival -Annual festival showcasing produce, talent, and lifestyle of Melbourne. Organisation profile, industry and supplier details, and event photographs provided.
www.melbournefoodandwine.com.au/

Corguette Pachadi

2010-02-26T09:25:00.000-08:00

What is pachadi ?

Pachadi (పచ్చడి) refers to a traditional South Indian side-dish. Broadly translated, it refers to food which has been pounded. ...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pachadi

Ingredients:
3 medium size Courgettes (grated rough)
3/4 cup grated coconut
3 green chillies
few curry leaves (optional)
1 tsp cummin seeds
1/2 tsp mustard seeds
2 tbsp cooking oil
1.5 cups yoghurt
salt to taste

What is Corguette ?

Courgette is the British, and particularly the New Zealand name for zucchinis. People in the UK may refer to courgettes as vegetable marrows. Zucchinis come in many shapes, and a few different colors. People are likely most familiar with courgettes that are long green oblongs, resembling a cucumber. Actually you can find round shapes, and yellow zucchini in many stores. Zucchini is perhaps the best known and most popular of the summer squashes.

Method for Corgutte Pachadi :

Blend together coconut, green chillies, curry leaves and cummin seeds
In a vessel heat up oil and splutter mustard seeds
Add the blended mix and fry for a little while
Add in grated corguette, fry a little more
Turn off flame and let it cool a bit
Add yoghurt and salt and mix well
Serve and enjoy

Serving suggestion: This dish could be part of the salad family and hence can be had either with rice and curry, with rice alone or with rotis...
Pachadi is a vegetarian preparation of Kerala origin and forms part of the 22-dish festive Onam meal

QUICKEST WAY TO STOP DIARRHEA

2010-01-27T06:31:00.001-08:00

Recently i got this email and i want to share it

Home Remedy for Diarrhea

As some of you know Mr.Mithu recently suffered for 12 days with diarrhea and no medication seemed to be working.Then his cousin sent me this simple remedy and it worked almost immediately. Please read thru for know-how... and pass on to people who would value it...

How to cure diarrhea the simple home remedy way

When someone gets diarrhea, sometimes the solution is so easy, we wonder why anyone has to suffer.
Of all the ingredients here, the most potent is Rice, but not in the usual form we eat it in, and neither would rice porridge work too well.

The secret is in rice water.

My mother knew about it. When Dr Albert Winsemius came to Singapore for a farewell and thank you dinner in his honor, he brought along his wife Aly and his granddaughter, Jolijn. Both women came down with very bad gastroenteritis. They saw the doctor who gave them medication. It was slow to work. Mother boiled some rice in lots of water and went to their hotel with two 1.5L bottles of rice water. I cringed in shame at the offer of this folk remedy, which seemed so primitive to me. To my surprise, it worked, and they were even able to go out for dinner the next day. Both were exclaiming how the rice water did the trick of making them well again. Well, lucky it worked, I thought to myself.

I was discussing this some years back with Kim Ng, the ex-matron of KK Hospital. She said, yes, that is what Professor Wong Hock Boon, the notable pediatrician teaches. I was shocked and made some comment how could he? It was common knowledge so what had he to do with it?
Many months later, I regretted laughing at it. Dr Christina Shanta Emmanuel, who is the CEO of...uh, which group I have forgotten, either National Health Group, or Polyclinics, or whatever.. regarded me seriously when I brought up the topic like it was good fun. She said that Prof Wong Hock Boon had presented a paper on it at some conference after he had done clinical trials.
Then his results were published in the Lancet, the Medical Journal all doctors read. In fact, said Shanta, he was credited for saving the lives of 2 million African babies by this simple method.
I am impressed.

Rice water cures Diarrhea

It is rice water and not rice, that does the trick. I have found it effective again and again.
THE EXACT RECIPE
You take a handful of rice and boil it in a large saucepan with lots of water. Like three or four large glasses. Then you cool that and drink the water. If you are in a hurry to relieve the ailing person, take the saucepan off the fire and dunk it in a frying pan or basin of cool water with ice cubes if necessary. This gives the patient a chance to drink the rice water sooner and cure himself or herself sooner.

When drinking the rice water, make sure there is lots of it. You have to tell the patient that enough water must go in to line your guts from throat to other end, all 10 to 12 meters of it. If you take rice, it stays in the stomach. If you take broth, some of it may go into the small intestine. But if you take rice water, it will carry rice grains to every inch of your small and large intestine to the end where the problem is.

How does it work? Read the article by going to this site:
http://rehydrate.org/dd/dd06.htm#page2

Good Weight watchers recipes

2010-01-15T04:28:00.001-08:00

if you know the brand weight watchers , then you will like these recipes.

These recipes are specifically made to compliment a plan to reduce weight.

GARLIC MASHED POTATOES ( weight watcher recipe)

2 lbs. baking potatoes, peeled and cubed
4 large garlic cloves, peeled and halved
1/4 cup fat-free sour cream
2 Tbsp. Skim milk
1 Tbsp. Reduced-calorie stick margarine
1/2 tsp. Salt
dash of ground pepper

Put potatoes and garlic in a large saucepan. Add water to cover. Bring to a boil. Cover and reduce heat. Simmer for 20 minutes or until potatoes are tender. Drain and return potatoes and garlic to pan. Using a mixer, beat at medium speed for 1 minute or until smooth. Add source cream and remaining ingredients. Beat until well blended.
4 servings, 3 POINTS each

weight watchers PUMPKIN "PIE"

1 15oz can pumpkin (not the pumpkin pie mix)
5 oz evaporated milk
3/4 cup Splenda
1 tsp. Cinnamon
1/4 tsp. cloves
1/2 tsp. ground ginger
2 eggs

Combine all the ingredients. Spray a pie pan with a little cooking spray. Pour the pumpkin mixture directly into the pan. Bake at 375 for about 35 minutes or until firmly set.
8 servings, 1 POINT each

This was the first dessert I made when I started the program, and it gave me the courage to try others. You won't miss the crust. Add a big dollop of fat free Cool Whip!

Recipe for CAULIFLOWER mix MEDLEY

A zip-top plastic bag works great for marinating because once the air is squeezed out of the bag, the marinade coats the food and no stirring is required. You may use a large bowl instead, but remember to stir frequently so the food gets evenly marinated.

1 cups fresh cauliflower, broken into florets
1/2 cup fat-free Italian dressing
2 Tbsp. Sliced ripe olives
2 Tbsp. Capers
1/4 tsp. Cracked pepper
1 4oz jar diced pimiento, drained

Steam the cauliflower, covered, for 10 minutes or until crisp-tender. (Don't let it get mushy. I usually rinse the hot cauliflower in cold water to stop it cooking.) Place cauliflower, dressing olives, capers, pepper, and pimiento into a large zip-top plastic bag. Seal and shake gently to coat the cauliflower with the dressing mixture. Marinate in the refrigerator at least 8 hours. Serve cauliflower with a slotted spoon.
8 servings, 0 POINTS each
My thoughts: This is tangy and pretty and would be a great take-it dish for a picnic.

How to make MEATBALLS

1 pound 93% lean ground beef
1 cup uncooked oats (I used the quick cooking kind)
1 egg
1 pkg onion soup mix
Mix and form into 42 one inch balls (about a tablespoon each). Bake at 350
for 15 minutes or until no longer pink in the middle.
2 meatballs are 1 POINT

These are great little meatballs, and they freeze well. Now I don't feel deprived when I make spaghetti!

Gardening tips- get rid of nasty garden bugs organically with herbs

2010-01-10T20:10:00.001-08:00

Good Companion for your veggie

patch – just plant HERBS

Herbs are good companions for vegetables in the garden. They can even assist in keeping some pests ( didn’t mean you.. did i .. ? ) away.

BASIL is loved by bees but aphids and fruit fly don’t like it. It can be used as an ornamental border around the tomato patch. Though not a total deterrent to fruit fly it can help.
CHIVES are almost never attacked by disease or insects. Chives and parsley grow well together

CORIANDER grows well with dill and anise but not with fennel

DILL benefits carrots and tomatoes as it lures pests. Dill attracts bees and repels white cabbage butterfly.

FENNELL is not good for beans, tomatoes and coriander.

PARSLEY is good near tomatoes and roses. Parsley and chives make good companions.

SAGE protects carrots against carrot-fly and cabbage against the white cabbage butterfly.

You can make your own safe spray for deterring insects from your crops by the following method:

Select suitable herbs such as crushed garlic, tansy leaves or wormwood leaves.
Younger leaves of a plant are the best to use. Place into a saucepan and cover with water and bring to the boil, for several minutes. Take away from the heat and strain the water off. Dilute this mixture with four times the amount of water and use at once. Pour into a spray bottle and spray your crops.

The sludgy mess left can be added to the compost heap.

Previous related posts

HERBS that are also EDIBLE FLOWERS

Genetically Contaminated FOOD

About Health Food Fitness And Gardening Blog

This spray is fully safe to humans and animals but repels some pests.
LADYBIRDS are the gardeners’ most useful insect friend. They will eat aphids and also scale insects and mites and the bean beetle.

Plant marigolds throughout your garden as the roots give off a substance which drives away the eel-worm. They are good to plant near potatoes, tomatoes and roses.

HANDY GARDENING HINT

- Pepper sprinkled on wet leaves will protect them from caterpillars. You can spray a mixture of garlic “tea” and pepper to discourage caterpillars.

To make your own capers- soak nasturtium seeds is salt water for several hours. Rinse and pack in small glass jars. Boil a white wine vinegar and fill jars while still hot. Seal tightly and leave for one month before using.

HERBS that are also EDIBLE FLOWERS

2010-01-06T04:58:00.001-08:00

Flowers could be part of your cuisine. They offer another alternative to salt and sugar as seasonings. All sorts of plants can produce edible flowers, though most people would be familiar with nasturtiums.

Please consult your doctor or local physician before consuming any herbs

HERBS that are also EDIBLE FLOWERS

All herb flowers are edible.

WARNING – Only eat flowers grown in your own organic garden. If you pick flowers from other gardens they may have been sprayed with poisons.

	BORAGE is an annual herb with a slight cucumber flavour. The blue star shaped flowers add a nice decoration to salads and in cold drinks. Mix the flowers in vegetables and fruit salads. Freeze them in ice cubes to float in iced teas. To make these flowers edible use the petals only not the hairy stems.
	CALENDULA also known as MARIGOLD is an annual that is popular in gardens. The petals have a slight tangy, bitter taste. Chop the petals and add to soups and rice dishes. They are often used more for their colour than taste. For centuries they have been an integral part of many of the world's great cuisines. Today we take for granted black pepper and the other spices over which wars where once fought. At one time only kings and other wealthy people could afford such a delicacy as cinnamon. Today all supermarkets and most small grocery stores have well-stocked spice shelves offering a wonderful selection of herbs and spices. The term "spices" is often used broadly to include all seasonings. Spices come from the bark, roots, leaves, stems, buds, seeds, or fruit of aromatic plants and trees which usually grow only in tropical countries. Pepper, allspice, cloves, nutmeg, mace, cinnamon, ginger, saffron, and turmeric are spices. Herbs are soft, succulent plants which usually grow in the temperate zone. Until recently cooks have had to make do with very few fresh herbs, such as sage, parsley, and thyme. Nowadays you can also find fresh basil, coriander, chervil, tarragon, rosemary, and dill. Since herbs are at their best when they are young and freshly picked, it is well worth growing your own. Use very sparingly as too much will give a strong bitter taste.
	CHIVES produce heads of either purple flowers if they are onion variety or white flowers if they are garlic variety. As chives are perennial they can be used as a border for your vegetable or herb garden. Pull apart the chive flowers and use in salads.
	CITRUS BLOSSOMS come from lemon and orange trees. Use the petals sprinkled on fruit salads and in soups.
	DILL is an annual with yellow flowers. Break up the flower heads and use them in salads. You can also sprinkle them over vegetable dishes. Very popular in a bottle of herb flavoured vinegar.
	FENNEL is a perennial herb that closely resembles dill. Use the chopped flowers over potato or tomato dishes.
	LAVENDER is a very popular herb well known for its fragrant purple flowers. The flowers can be used fresh or dried. Can be used in flavoured vinegars and cooked in scones and in homemade ice-cream.
	MUSTARD flowers have a strong taste so use sparingly in salads or sprinkle on cream soups.
	NASTURTIUM flowers range from yellow to orange to reds. The flowers, leaves and seed pods of nasturtiums are all edible. The tangy flavour is peppery. The petals can be sprinkled or sliced into strips over salads. The seed heads can be pickled and used as capers.
	ROSEMARY is a perennial herb with small blue flowers. Sprinkle these flowers over salads and vegetable dishes. Use sprigs of rosemary on top of lamb when cooking. The flowers can also be added to herb vinegars.
	SAGE is a perennial herb of purple flowers. Sprinkle the flowers over a green salad.

Genetically Contaminated FOOD

2010-01-03T01:10:00.001-08:00

Genetic Contamination. The term was popularized by environmentalist Jeremy Rifkin in his 1998 book The Biotech Century. One more term added to the dictionary of pollutions, The Genetic Pollution or Genetic Contamination.

Genetic Contamination or Pollution can be described as the serious side effects that may occur due the unintentional process of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) dispersing their genes into the natural environment by cross breeding with wild plants or animals in the nature.

Dangers of Genetic Contamination:

Genetic engineering helps institutions or scientists to create plants, animals and micro-organisms by manipulating genes in an artificial way.These genetically modified organisms (GMOs) can spread through nature and interbreed with natural organisms, thereby contaminating naturally occurring animals and plants .

The dangers behind Genetic contamination cannot be explained with one or two posts. I feel that it need minimum ten big posts to give a clear idea about that. Anyway I will explain few aspects.

This alteration can create new species whose reproduction, health safety, natural good effects are altered in an unpredictable way. Once the natural environment is contaminated with such modified organisms then this cannot be recalled or rectify back to older condition.

if a crop is Genetically Modified?

There are some good effects for Genetically Modified like controlling weeds, increasing output etc. But the hidden danger is that these GM crops will be mingled with natural breeds and outcome cannot be determined.

An Example:

Bayer CropScience AG, a subsidiary company of the German chemical giant Bayer AG developed a Genetically Modified rice, – technical name LL62 – has been genetically-engineered to withstand high doses of glufosinate, sprayed on rice fields by farmers to control a wide range of weeds. The weeds will die, the GE rice will survive.

Moreover, using such Genetically Modified crops will give a monopoly to seed producing Multinational companies. Farmers will have to pay some money to such companies for using the seeds again. Or most of the times, Genetically Modified crops will not produce seeds that can generate next generations, we say it as “KILLER CROPS”

Health Dangers of Genetically Modified crop foods

Lack of Safety Testing—Genetically Modified crops produces food that never tested for its long term safety.Toxins and Allergic Reactions or Side effects—Genetically Modified crops are mutated and may create new and higher levels of toxins in foods. This can create some Allergic reactions or even can turn deadly.
37 people died, 1500 were partially paralyzed, and 5000 more were temporarily disabled by a syndrome that was finally linked to tryptophan made by genetically-engineered bacteria.
Decreased Nutritional Value—Transgenic foods may mislead consumers with counterfeit freshness. A luscious-looking, bright red genetically engineered tomato could be several weeks old and of little nutritional worth.
Presence of Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria—Genetic engineers use antibiotic-resistance genes to mark genetically engineered cells. These genes may be picked up by bacteria which may infect us.

Where to find details of a Genetically Contaminated Material

Here is a Genetic Contaminated Material Register which will help you to find details of a crop or anything of your choice.This GM register contains details of:

*contamination incidents – where food, feed or a related wild species have been found to contain unintended GM material from a GM crop or other organism

About Health Food Fitness And Gardening Blog

2009-12-24T19:11:00.001-08:00

Welcome and we hope you Enjoy passing through or becoming a member of our blog. we are trying to build community of like minded people interested in fitness , health , food and gardening and inviting you to participate by posting articles or then just visiting us to check out the latest articles and psots by our members.

Healthy Eating

A diet consistent with the Healthy Eating recommends people consume a variety of foods across and within the five food groups and avoid foods that contain too much added fat, salt and sugar. The Guide aims to promote healthy eating habits throughout life, which will assist in reducing the risk of health problems in later life, such as heart disease, obesity and Type 2 Diabetes.

After studying two years’ worth of consumers’ eating behavior, professors found that the quality (“This homemade fudge is fantastic!”) and quantity (“I’ll have some more homemade fudge, please!) of foods consumed during weekend and holiday meals is considerably different from regular weekdays. The Guide aims to encourage the consumption of a variety of foods from each of the five food groups every day in proportions that are consistent with the Dietary Guidelines for Australians. The five foods groups are:

Bread, cereals, rice, pasta, noodles
Vegetables, legumes
Fruit
Milk, yoghurt, cheese
Meat, fish, poultry, eggs, nuts, legumes.

It is expected that small amounts of unsaturated fats and oils will be consumed with breads and cereals but additional fats and foods such as cakes, biscuits, hot chips and sugary drinks should be consumed only occasionally.

Healthy eating is not about strict nutrition philosophies, staying unrealistically thin, or depriving yourself of the foods you love. Rather, it’s about feeling great, having more energy, and keeping yourself as healthy as possible – all which can be achieved by learning some nutrition basics and incorporating them in a way that works for you.

The Dietary Guidelines for Adults (2009) are:

Enjoy a wide variety of nutritious foods
- Eat plenty of vegetables, legumes and fruits
- Eat plenty of cereals (including breads, rice, pasta and noodles), preferably wholegrain
- Include lean meat, fish, poultry and/or alternatives
- Include milks, yoghurts, cheeses and/or alternatives
  reduced-fat varieties should be chosen, where possible
- Drink plenty of water

and take care to:

Limit saturated fat and moderate total fat intake
Choose foods low in salt
Limit your alcohol intake if you choose to drink
Consume only moderate amounts of sugars and foods containing added sugars
Prevent weight gain: be physically active and eat according to your energy needs

“Eating healthfully is a lifestyle, which includes permission to step outside of the ‘healthy food box.’ Coming prepared to holiday events is your key to success. Never show up starving; eat a small, healthful snack prior to dining out. Peruse the offerings and after waiting a minute or two if you still really want it, then it is more than an impulsive selection. … Feeling that you are controlling your choices will help you feel good during and after the meal.”

FITNESS AND FOOD

For fitness and food both to impact, Choose the types of foods that improve your health and avoid the types of foods that raise your risk for such illnesses as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes. Expand your range of healthy choices to include a wide variety of delicious foods. Learn to use guidelines and tips for creating and maintaining a satisfying, healthy diet.

What exactly does 'fit' mean?

Different authorities have differing opinions on what makes someone 'fit'. The bottom line is this: if you're physically fit, you can do your chosen form of exercise without ending up completely exhausted. To do this you need: strength, endurance, speed, flexibility, and so on (see our glossary at the bottom for more details). To be good at a particular sport (also called motor fitness), you might also need quick reaction times, agility, balance, co-ordination, and power.

What do the numbers mean?

Body Mass Index (BMI) - The BMI is the ratio of your weight to the square of your height. The number is proportional to your body shape. Generally, the number is small for thin people and large for fat people. People with a BMI 25 or greater are considered overweight, unless they have a very muscular body. The BMI does not consider the fat/muscle ratio, and a healthy, muscular individual with a low percentage of body fat may be classified obese using the BMI formula. This is a well-known deficiency of the BMI formula. If your BMI is 25 or greater, and your Waist-to-Height ratio is less than 0.5 and your Percent Body Fat is in the "athlete" or "fitness" category, you are probably muscular and not fat.

Waist-to-Height Ratio - The Waist-to-Height ratio is determined by dividing the waist circumference by the height. Waist-to-Height ratios of 0.5 or greater are indicative of intra-abdominal fat for both men and women and are associated with a greater risk of cardiovascular disease. A study found that persons with a normal BMI but a large waist circumference, corresponding approximately to a Waist-to-Height ratio of 0.55, had a 20% higher mortality risk than persons with a normal waist size.[7]

Percent Body Fat - The percent body fat is calculated using the formulas developed by Hodgdon and Beckett at the Naval Health Research Center in 1984. The formulas require the measurements to be in centimeters with an accuracy of 0.5 cm. However, the form above has been adjusted to accept measurements in inches. Men and women require different methods for measuring because men accumulate fat mostly in the abdomen (the "apple" body shape or "beer belly"), while women accumulate fat in their abdomen and hips (the "pear" body shape). The equations take this into consideration.

Fit me up, then!

If you've decided to get fit, don't keep putting it off: procrastination is deadly. Then again, a little thought is needed first, rather than going at it hell for leather. People who go straight in without any knowledge or the right gear can earn some serious chafing and blisters, making them more likely to give up.

Most trainers suggest that you should start gradually and build up from there. If you're completely unfit or have had any illness or ongoing health problem, consult your doctor before starting an exercise regime. Exercise can improve many health conditions, but check first, in case you have something that needs temporary rest. Make sure you're wearing the right clothing and have the correct safety equipment if required.

Pick a form of exercise that you can do frequently and will enjoy. You can also mix up the types of exercise that you do, for all round body conditioning. Remember that getting fit can take several weeks or months. It's easy to get frustrated or give up, but hang in there. You should see some obvious results within six to eight weeks.

Eat enough calories but not too many. Maintain a balance between your calorie intake and calorie expenditure—that is, don't eat more food than your body uses. The average recommended daily allowance is 2,000 calories, but this depends on your age, sex, height, weight, and physical activity.

Keep portions moderate, especially high-calorie foods. In recent years serving sizes have ballooned, particularly in restaurants. Choose a starter instead of an entrée, split a dish with a friend, and don’t order supersized anything.

Limit sugary foods, salt, and refined-grain products. Sugar is added to a vast array of foods. In a year, just one daily 12-ounce can of soda (160 calories) can increase your weight by 16 pounds. See suggestions below for limiting salt and substituting whole grains for refined grains.

A simple Fitness plan

The first phase: get your body used to frequent moderate levels of activity for the first four to six weeks. Your exercise should include stretching and a warm up, continuous aerobic activity, some toning exercises, and a warm down afterwards. To see benefits you need to do enough to increase your heart rate (to between 60 and 70% of its maximum) and make you breathe deeper.

Improvers: increase your levels of activity slightly every couple of weeks. Your body is adapting to the exercise, so you need to push it slightly harder to keep getting results. Increase the length of your exercise sessions, or the intensity of them.

Maintenance: after about six months, the average person has reached a level of fitness that they're happy with, and decides to stick with their current level of exercise to maintain their fitness. If you're training for sport or competitions, you will probably need to push yourself for longer.

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Fiber

Dietary fiber is found in plant foods (fruit, vegetables and whole grains) and is essential for maintaining a healthy digestive system. Fiber helps support a healthy diet by:

Helping you feel fuller faster and longer, which can help prevent overeating.
Keeping blood sugar levels even, by slowing digestion and absorption so that glucose (sugar) enters the bloodstream slowly and steadily.
Maintaining a healthy colon - the simple organic acids produced when fiber is broken down in the digestive process helps to nourish the lining of the colon.

The two types of fiber are soluble and insoluble:

Soluble fiber can dissolve in water and can also help to lower blood fats and maintain blood sugar. Primary sources are beans, fruit and oat products.
Insoluble fiber cannot dissolve in water, so it passes directly through the digestive system. It’s found in whole grain products and vegetables.

A healthy diet should contain approximately 20 to 30 grams of fiber a day, but most of us only get about half of that amount.

Diet and Fitness

The Best ABS diet

If you've been on a quest for flat abs, the male-centric Abs Diet may be the solution. This diet promises to flatten your stomach in six weeks, allowing you to lose 20 pounds of fat on average. While having an enviable midsection is the most obvious pay-off, creator and editor-in-chief of Men's Health David Zinczenko says that by reducing your waist circumference, you'll also decrease your risk of heart disease and diabetes, boost your longevity and improve your sex life.

To help you achieve these goals, you're required to follow six guidelines: Eat six meals a day (three meals and three snacks), make 12 "powerfoods" the focus of your diet, drink smoothies regularly, stop counting calories, watch what you drink and best yet, forget all of these guidelines for one meal a week.

So what are these 12 foods? They include almonds and other nuts; beans and legumes; spinach and other green vegetables; dairy (like fat-free or low-fat milk, yogurt and cheese); instant oatmeal; eggs; turkey and other lean meats; peanut butter; olive oil; whole-grain breads and cereals; extra protein (whey) powder; and raspberries and other berries.

Exercise is also a crucial part of this program, and although one interval workout and two optional cardiovascular workouts are recommended, the focus is on strength training. Zinczenko's philosophy, after all, is that you should minimize your exercise time while maximizing your results, and in his opinion, strength training gives you the most bang for your buck.

Bead Fitness diet
What is it? A calorie-counting plan that uses a beaded bracelet to help you diet. Each bead equals 100 calories, so if you want to eat 12,000 calories per day, slide 12 beads onto one string of the bracelet. Then when you eat 100 calories, slide a bead onto the other string.
What can I eat? Anything! As long as you know the calorie content.
How much weight will I lose? It depends, but if you stick to 1300 cals a day, you could lose six kilos in six weeks.
Why is it hot right now? Delta Goodrem is rumoured to be a fan and actress Kate Beckinsale makes her own diet bracelets for friends. Forget those red Kabbalah bracelets, you'll be seeing Hollywood's elite wearing diet beads in 2008.
How can I do it? Buy a bracelet at www.ilovethiscolor.com/dietbracelets or make one. Take a piece of wool long enough to wrap around your wrist twice and then thread enough beads onto one strand of the wool. When you've eaten, just slide the bead to the other strand.

Super-fruit: The pomegranate
What is it? It's a wonder fruit! With about 105 calories, pomegranates are a great source of potassium. Pomegranate juice contains antioxidants which can help fight cell damage and so protect against heart disease, cancer and other diseases. It can even help lower cholesterol.
Why are they so hot right now? The lowly pomegranate was just named by Oprah Winfrey as being in her food hall of fame and sales in America have more than doubled — Oprah even drinks pomegranate martinis.

Gardening your way to fitness

Gardening can be a great workout and boost for body and soul -- if you do it right.

As a gardening enthusiast, you've probably spent many hours reading and researching about how to produce a healthier, more beautiful garden. But have you ever thought about how gardening can produce a healthier you?

At a time when fitness professionals are touting the advantages of regular, moderate exercise, gardening is being recognized as a healthy lifestyle habit that can provide significant benefits to people of all ages. Studies show that 30 minutes a day of moderate activity, such as gardening, may decrease the risk of numerous chronic ailments including heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes. And in addition to gardening's physical benefits, proponents point to the psychological boost conferred by accomplishing a task and literally taking time to smell the roses.

The key, Lovejoy says, is to see gardening not as a punishment but a joy. "You should feel lucky to be outside in the garden," she says.

Gardening is a great alternative to traditional exercise because it incorporates elements of accepted exercise routines while enabling you to engage in an enjoyable activity in the privacy of your own surroundings.

Research shows that gardening for 30-45 minutes most days of the week has significant health benefits, such as decreasing the risk of high blood pressure and diabetes, as well as contributing to healthier bones, muscles and joints. Elements of gardening such as digging, weeding, trimming shrubs and mowing the lawn can require the same energy requirements as other physical exercise activities such as walking, cycling, swimming and aerobics.

We're not saying that going to the gym is bad, or that you shouldn't jog around the block or walk on a treadmill. If that's what you enjoy, then by all means, keep doing it! But if you're the type of person who dreads going to the gym, or who can't seem to find enough time to work out, then adding fitness activities into your everyday routine will make you happier and healthier with no extra time spent. Even if you're already a fitness junkie, converting to a more active daily routine can only help.