Archive for the ‘Food’ Category

November 20th, 2011  Posted at   Food
, , , ,    |   Comments Off

The acai berries are the produce of palm trees in Brazil. They are grape-like berries nearly the same size as the blueberry and purple in color. Acai berries are characterized by large seeds as the pomegranate and a thin layer of pulp. The juice of the acai fruit is called ‘the milk of Amazon’ by the Brazilians and is known to treat digestive and skin related problems.

The potency of antioxidants in acai berries is ten times more than that of grapes and twice the number in blueberries. Thus it is not a wonder that acai has gained so much popularity and is available in stores across the United States.

Not only are the acai berries a good source of antioxidants, they are packed with omega-6 and omega-9 fatty acids, vitamins A, C and E and several other nutrients. As per the acai berry research, it has been found that acai berry is helpful in maintaining healthy cholesterol levels as it has high anti-inflammatory and high anti bacterial properties. Recent studies have shown that the acai berry extract has high anticancer properties.

Freeze-drying and spray drying are the two processes that are used to preserve the nutritional properties of the acai fruit. Although the freeze-dried form is more nutritious than its spray dried counterpart, freeze-drying is ten times more costly than spray drying. Although not an uncommon attitude, the companies promoting the sales of the frozen acai rely mainly on hearsay rather than performing tests for verifying the findings.

In recent years, the demand and supply of acai berry has increased manifold. It has caught the attention of health care professionals and nutrition experts all around the globe as being a super food and a super health supplement. Constant researches are being carried out to find ways to preserve the nutritional qualities of this fruit which are compromised due to the preservation techniques. The constant findings are further leading to extensive demand of the acai fruit in the health care market.

November 20th, 2011  Posted at   Food
, , , ,    |   Comments Off

You asked for it! You got it…at least part of it. New research is being updated constantly on the benefits of the cacao bean. Raw Cacao, or Chocolate, dates back to the Olmec Indians in 1500 BC. The Mayans and Aztecs used it in a drink they called Xocolatl to build resistance and fight fatigue.

Lets take a look at some of the key components of the Cacao bean. We’ll see why researchers are calling cacao one of the world’s greatest super foods and how it can benefit us.

  • Nutritional Content: The Cacao bean contains protein, fat, carbohydrate, fiber, iron, calcium, magnesium, B vitamins, vitamin C and E. In addition, the cacao bean contains over 300 chemically identifiable compounds which makes if one of the most complex food substances available to man. The Cacao bean is an ideal high-quality functional food that can help counter the daily stress from the fast paced lifestyles of most people.
  • Antioxidants: Cacao is the highest source of antioxidants known in the world (500 times higher in antioxidants than blueberries). Unprocessed, raw cacao is packed with potent antioxidants called flavonoids. Flavanoids improve health by protecting cells from the damaging effects of free radicals This damage is called oxidation. Examples of oxidation are the rusting of iron or the ripening of fruit left on the counter or the aging of the human body. This aging or “rusting” process is slowed way down when the right amount of antioxidants are present in the body. It is estimated that 99% of Americans do not consume enough antioxidants in a day to fight off the damage caused by free radicals.
  • Disease Prevention: Researchers have identified a compound called epicatechin found in cocoa. Reports tell us that the benefits of epicatechin are so striking that it may rival penicillin and anesthesia in importance to individual health. Studies have indicated that 4 major killer diseases (stroke, heart failure, cancer and diabetes) may be reduced to less than 10% when enough epicatechin is present in the diet. Natural cocoa is very high in epicatechin.
  • Brain Power: Cacao contains Serotonin, Tryptophan, Anandamide, Dopamine, PEA and MAO inhibitors which all have a positive effect on brain chemistry. These powerful components are attributed to increased mental focus and awareness.
  • Beauty: Sulfur is the secret beauty mineral found in the cacao bean. It helps build strong nails and hair and beautiful skin. Sulfur aids in healthy pancreas function and helps detoxify the liver. A toxic free, healthy body is a happy body.
  • Feeling Happy: Cacao is one of the highest sources of magnesium of any food. This may be one reason women crave chocolate during their period. Magnesium not only builds strong bones, but helps to balance the brain’s chemistry and promotes feelings of happiness. The Anandamide and Phenylethlamine found in the cacao bean also help with the happy feelings. (more…)
September 20th, 2011  Posted at   Food, Nutrition
, , , ,    |   Comments Off

Everyone knows that eating healthily should be at the top of their list if they want to lose weight. Controlling your diet is very important when it comes to managing your weight for life. Not to say that exercise isn’t important, it is. My hope is that this information will provide you with some easy, yet effective ways for you to make the necessary changes in how you eat on a day to day basis. Here are three tips to eat nutrient-rich foods for fast weight loss results:

1. It is good practice to include some healthy fats in almost all of your meals. Eating foods containing enough healthy fats is necessary for providing the energy needed to burn off fat.

Try eating avocados. I know that sounds counter intuitive because of the high fat content, but they consist of healthy fat (monounsaturated fat). You can also try cooking or eating foods with coconut oil; it’s a good option because the saturated fats burn unwanted fat off your body and accelerate your metabolism. Consume organic free-range eggs. Another type of oil to cook with or put on your salads and such is extra virgin olive oil. It contains stronger concentrations of phytonutrients, especially polyphenols (which are well-known for their anti-inflammatory properties). Last, but certainly not least, eat grass-fed meats. Grass-fed meat is lower in fat as well as calories than grain-fed meats. The above mentioned foods contain the healthiest sources of dietary fats.

Eat 1 to 1 and 1/2 ounces of nuts, such as almonds 3 times daily – approximately 30 minutes before eating full-course meals. Nuts will help curb your appetite and give your body some fiber, healthy fats, and some protein; your caloric consumption would be way less when it comes time for you to eat your full-course meals. Not to mention, you will also get more nutrition simultaneously due to the high nutrient density of most nuts.

2. Eat high quality protein meals and snacks. Getting high quality proteins from grass-fed meats and plant sources are excellent options. These foods curb the appetite really well so that you can control your caloric intake a whole lot easier.

Getting enough quality proteins also helps you to build muscle if you’re on an exercise regimen; your metabolism can increase at a higher rate which is a direct result from increased lean muscle on your body.

Diabetics and non-diabetics alike can also help their body control blood glucose levels by helping slow down the breakdown of carbs they’ve consumed by getting enough protein in their diets.

3. So many individuals struggle to lose weight almost their entire lives due to eating so much processed foods on a daily basis. Eating excessive amounts of processed foods is a sure way to hinder your weight loss efforts. (more…)


Copyright 2011 Health Research | Designed by Rebecca Ring
Powered by WordPress