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It’s a well-known fact that blueberries are a very rich in antioxidants, nutrients and vitamins. Adding them to your diet is a tasty way to get these important nutrients, as well as provide many other important health benefits. Now, there is new research coming out of Sweden that indicates blueberries can help fight off the negative effects of many intestinal diseases.

According to researchers from the Lund University Faculty of Engineering in Sweden, the fiber from blueberries can help alleviate and protect against intestinal inflammations, such as ulcerative colitis, crohn’s disease and irritable bowel syndrome. The benefits are even greater when blueberries are mixed with the beneficial bacteria found in probiotics, such as yogurt.

The researchers on the project tested many types of fiber, such as rye bran and oat bran, as well as testing them all with and without a mixture of beneficial bacteria. Blueberries are rich in polyphenols, which have an antimicrobial effect on your body.

When these polyphenols are combined with the beneficial bacteria found in probiotics, they help reduce inflamation-inducing bacteria in the intestinal tract, while simulatenously increasing the amount of healthy bacteria. This is the effect that is so beneficial for protecting and alleviating from inflammation in the intestinal tract.

The following quote is from Åsa Håkansson, researcher on the team:

“In recent years the research world has been realizing that our health is governed to a great extent by what happens in our large intestine. The probiotics (in our research) proved to have a protective effect on the liver, an organ that is often negatively impacted by intestinal inflammations.”

Camilla Bränning, another researcher on the team, added the following:

“A further explanation for the extremely positive effect of blueberries may be that the blueberry fibre are not degraded to such a high degree in the large intestine. This means that inflammation-inducing substances do not come into contact with the mucous lining of the intestine but are embedded in the fibre instead. Then these substances are transported out of body together with the faeces”

The Bottomline on this Study

Blueberries are healthy for you. We’ve known this for a very long time, but with this new research, if you suffer from an intestinal disorders, there is no better time to add blueberries to your diet than right now. If you’re not a fan of blueberries or are looking for a little diversity, there are many other healthy berries out there that you could easily add to your diet.

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You eat when you are happy and you also eat when you are feeling low. Food seems like the most obvious distraction from the daily woes. Most of us have almost lost our ability to tell when we are hungry and when we are content. Overeating has become a phenomenal problem, especially in America where the portion sizes grow faster than our waistlines.

Needless to say, all those calories that you unnecessarily intake, manifest into pounds of fat and get stored around your belly. Although, the causes of overeating are myriad, the binging pattern is the same.

If you suffer from the problem of compulsive overeating disorder and wish to know about how to control overeating, then this article is for you. Given below are some tips on how to stop overeating.

5 Tips to Help You Stop Overeating

1. Know When to Stop

The temptation or craving for food often urges you to eat more than required. You fail to notice the signals that your stomach send to indicate that it is full. Normally, it takes about 12 minutes for the brain to receive the signals of food satisfaction. However, in an obese person, this time is about 20 minutes. As a result, you keep on gorging even when your stomach has long before attained its capacity. The feeling of stuffiness in your stomach is very uncomfortable. However, if you keep on hogging, you eventually become used to this feeling. Hence, it is important to know when your stomach has reached its capacity.

2. Eat Slowly & Chew More

When you eat really fast, you clear your plate within a few minutes, only to be replenished again. You don’t realize the amount of food that you consume within short duration. Hence, it is always best to eat slowly and chew your food throughly. Eating at a slower pace helps you to realize when you are full and content with not eating any more food. Also, chewing your food throughly can help improve the digestion process.

3. Do Not Get Distracted

Eating while watching television or driving does not allow you to focus solely on your food. As a result, you don’t realize the amount of food that you are stuffing your stomach with. Similarly, do not use food as a distraction while staying up at night or while working at a computer. When you eat, you need to concentrate on your food alone. Not only does it help in cutting down on your excess intake, but also results in better assimilation of food. If you want to know how to stop overeating at night or any other time in the day, then reading this article on suppress hunger might help you.

4. Drink Lost of Purified Water

Often, your body fails to distinguish between the signals of thirst and hunger pangs. As a result, you are likely to take thirst signals for hunger pangs and eat immodestly. Hence, it is necessary to regularly drink water, so that you keep your body well hydrated which prevents it form sending mixed signals. Drinking sips of water between meals is a great solution, if you want to know ‘how to stop overeating at dinner.’

5. Choose the Right Food

This is your ultimate solution to overeating. You are less likely to face health hazards due to overeating carrot sticks than due to overeating potato chips. Hence, whenever you feel an irresistible urge to eat, you may try switching to healthier versions of food. This is particularly true when your overeating is due to boredom or easy access to food.

If your overeating is due to some psychological condition, then addressing that issue first can eventually cure the problem of overeating. Treating the cause of overeating is your answer to ‘how to stop overeating’.

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Article written by: A. Kulkarni

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Blueberries are one of the most popular and delicious fruits available. Their unique flavor and the healthy advantages it offers are aplenty which is why these are often used for lip smacking sweet fruit pies and jams. Personally, I love to use the blueberries I grow in yogurt and muffins. These can be eaten fresh and are also low in calories.

Blueberries are related to the huckleberries, the azaleas and the rhododendrons. These shrubs grow at least 7 to 8 feet in height and flourish in those areas that have the specific soil required. Most of the time, they require around 3-4 years to start bearing fruit, however this is not always true. There are many advantages to growing blueberries instead of buying them off the shelf. Not only do they taste fresher, but because they are locally-grown, they are better for the environment. All it needs is proper attention and care.

How To Grow Blueberries

Before growing blueberries at your home, you should consider the composition of the soil and the climate in which you live. Also, you can grow 2 or more varieties for the pollination. I have listed a few steps below that you can follow in growing blueberries.

• You need to contact the local store to know the variety you may need to pick before growing blueberries. Planting the blueberries bushes is quite a similar task to planting most shrubs. The variety of the bush matters, as some are quite drought resistant. This would suit a climate that is on the dry side.
• Once you have decided on the kind of blueberry you wish to grow, you need to select the appropriate location in your garden. The bushes require ample sunlight.
• You also need to check the pH level of the soil. This is because the soil used should be suitable for growing blueberries. The most favorable level for the blueberries is 4.5. The soil mixture should at least have an organic mixture of 5%. You can add leaves and manure to the soil.
• The time of the year also matters when you are growing blueberries. This needs to be planted in the spring or during the fall. This is because the soil tends to be more workable during this period. When you plant blueberry bushes, you also need to keep in mind that they should stand at least 4 feet apart. The lowbush varieties can be planted 1-3 feet apart.
• You also need to keep the depth of the mulch at 4″. This will help to retain the moisture for the weeds of the blueberry bushes and also prevent the growth of weeds.
• Adding the fertilizers is also important for growing blueberries. You can fertilize it in the late winter season or the early spring season. You can try an ammonium sulfate fertilizer at least twice in a year.
• Pruning the blueberry bushes may not be required for the initial few years. You may have to cut the oldest shoots so that it promotes the growth of a new shoot. You have to also remove the stalks that have dried up. Also, sometimes, you may need to take care that the branches are not over laden with fruits. You will need to prune the shoots so that they have the right amount of buds on them. There are certain people who believe in removing the flowers in the first year. This is because; it is firmly believed that this would help in the total development of the plant.

There are various categories of blueberries available, and within each category are many types of blueberries. These categories are as follows:

• Highbush Blueberries: These are the ones that are usually available in the local grocery store.
• Lowbush Blueberries: These are also known as the wild blueberries and generally do not grow beyond 18-inches of height.
• Half-high Blueberries: These can withstand heavy snowfall and are a hybrid combination of the two mentioned above.
• Rabbiteye Blueberries: These can face the full sun and are the tallest of the various kinds of blueberries available.

Growing Blueberries in Containers

Blueberries can be grown in containers as well. Due to their shallow root systems, these are suitable for growing in raised bed gardens or flower pots. Of course, it would be wise to plan ahead and grow your blueberry plant in a large pot. The larger the pot, the better chance you have at your plant bearing fruit for years to come. Once you have followed the steps above, the blueberry bush will require minimal care.

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Article written by: K. Lad

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Almond milk is a popular beverage in Medieval Europe and the Middle East. It has been proven to have many health benefits for those who are lactose intolerant. Here’s a simple guide to making your own almond milk at home.

Homemade Almond Milk Recipe

Ingredients Needed:

• Raw almonds, 1½ cups
• Filtered water, 4 cups

Soak almonds in water for minimum six to eight hours. Drain the water, and blend the almond with 4 cups of water, until it reaches a milk like consistency. Strain it to remove almond skin and granules. One can store almond milk in an air-tight jar in the refrigerator for four to five days. If you want it to be sweeter, then blend in a few soaked dates or add a small amount of agave nectar as well.

The Health Benefits of Almond Milk

Lactose Free — Lactose is the sugar found in cow’s milk. Many people are lactose intolerant, and consumption of milk causes abdominal discomfort, bloating and diarrhea. As almond milk is extracted from almonds, a nut, hence it’s plant derived and lactose free, and can be easily substituted everywhere where one might use cow’s milk which makes this one of the most important almond milk benefits. Soy milk and hemp milk are two more alternatives if you are lactose intolerant.

Homemade and Pure — As one can easily extract the milk at home without much effort, and also store it without using preservatives and additives, it would be right to say that consuming almond milk means to consume health, 100 percent!

It has already been proven that to increase milk production, cow’s are being injected with antibiotics and growth hormones. These unnatural additives can then lead to allergic reactions and toxic side effects in humans. In most extreme circumstances, these additives can even lead to the development of certain types of cancers.

Nutrition Packed — Almonds are protein rich, and full of vitamin E, magnesium, selenium, manganese, zinc, potassium, fiber, iron, phosphorus and calcium. Full of heart healthy flavonoids, almond milk helps lower LDL cholesterol and protect the heart. High levels of vitamin E, ensure powerful antioxidants in the body.

Antioxidants inhibit the growth of free radicals that are known to cause cancer. Almond milk contains many vital nutrients, unlike other milks, it doesn’t need to be fortified with vitamins and minerals. Almond milk is low in calories, contains no cholesterol and saturated fats, which helps make this nut milk very healthy and good for those trying to lose weight. Power packed with nutrients, almond milk will help you and your family stay fit and healthy.

A Word of Caution

Almond milk should not be substituted for breast milk. It does not provide the necessary adequate nourishment required for infant growth. For lactose intolerant babies, it would be best to consult your family doctor or a pediatrician on what would be best for your child.

Nuts like almonds also include goitrogens; this substance is known to suppress thyroid gland functioning by interfering with iodine uptake. The use of bitter almonds has also been cautioned against, as bitter almonds, when blended with water can release cyanide.

Buy good quality almonds, to not only extract its milk, but also for the many almond milk benefits. And if you don’t want to have it bland, add in some chocolate or vanilla flavor to create an instant yummy healthy drink!

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The succulent and fleshy aloe vera plant is a native of the African continent. The jelly extracted from its parts can be used to make aloe vera juice, which can be used as a nutrition supplement. Aloe vera’s wound healing properties were known to man, since the ancient days.

For its healing touch, the plant was honored with the titles like “the Miracle plant” and “the Natural healer”. The ancient people from the Greek, Chinese, Egyptian, Sumerian and Roman civilizations used aloe vera to cure minor skin injuries and similar conditions, because of its soothing properties.

The modern science attributes, the aloe vera juice benefits to its richness in nutrients. Researchers have identified vitamins such as vitamin C, vitamin B12 and vitamin E and minerals such as iron, copper and germanium in the aloe vera juice, which contributes to healing of many health conditions. Along with the essential fatty acids (amino acids), it also contains trace elements such as calcium, potassium, zinc and manganese. Here are some of the most common aloe vera juice benefits.

Digestion Benefits

Some experts advise to drink at least two glasses of aloe vera juice every day to get the maximum about of health benefits. One of the aloe vera juice benefits is that it can be used to initiate the process of loosening and discharging waste materials, such as undigested food waste, intestinal parasites, and harmful bacteria, which may be clinging to the inner lining of the colon and large intestine.

These wastes materials cause clogging of the intestinal lining and prevent complete absorption of nutrients from the digested food. The harmful toxins produced by the bacterias are also washed out during this process, which improves the overall function of the digestive system.

Doing an aloe colon cleanse can help break down the plaque that may be forming an inner lining of the digestive tract. Other digestive benefits may also help the regulation of the production of gastric acids, which prevents ulcers like, gastric and duodenal ulcers, acid indigestion, inflammation of colon and irritable bowel syndrome. Aloe vera juice benefits include improved digestion, blood circulation.

One possible side effect of aloe may be diarrhea if you drink too much. Excessive intake of aloe vera juice should be avoided during pregnancy.

Anti-inflammatory & Pain Relief

The people suffering from rheumatoid arthritis can avail themselves, the analgesic and anti-inflammatory aloe vera juice benefits. The joint pains and stiffness of the muscles that a person experiences, at his joints while going about the daily business, can be greatly relieved, with the help of aloe vera juice. Improved joint flexibility and movements can be observed.

Mucopolysaccharides, which are amino sugars necessary in regeneration of body cells are present in the aloe vera juice. Drinking aloe vera juice may help the regenerated joint muscle tissues which aids in mobility. Aloe vera juice will also help strengthen joint muscles which results in reduction of friction among the bones, muscles and ligaments of the joints and surrounding body tissues and thus, alleviating pain and inflammation in the weakened or aged joints.

Cancer & Blood Disease Prevention

Acemannan, is a D-isomer mucopolysaccharide and acts as a immuno-stimulant. It is also present in this juice and is believed to boost the production of white blood cells. This helps in strengthening the immune system and boosts the body’s ability to fight bacterial and viral infections.

Because of this fact the United State’s Food and Drug Administration authorities have recommended it’s use in avoiding health problems due to the lowered immunity in the HIV patients. The aloe vera juice is currently being studied for its potential use in treating the cancers such as leukemia, ovarian and breast cancer, because it has been found to prevent the growth of tumors in laboratory rats.

Hair regrowth and skin rejuvenation are also among the other health benefits of aloe vera, which are widely popular and are derived respectively from the enzymes and the collagen present in the aloe vera juice. With the advances in technology, the scientists and the researchers are discovering new health benefits of aloe vera juice.

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There have been many recent studies circling around the debate of organic food, as many people have speculated that eating organic foods is not as healthy as they are advertised to be. Sales have doubled among organic food since the federal government began to deem foods as organic, which has therefore led to the increase of the products within many grocery stores among the nation. The fact that this trend has reached many urban city centers through venues like Whole Foods and other “trendy” grocery stores has led for an outcry that organic foods are equivalent to healthy eating overall.

Recently, people have jumped to the conclusion that food is better for you if you are organic. Eating “organic” has no guarantee of eating well or healthfully and as many healthcare professionals have discovered, the root to the unhealthy eating habits of Americans circle around their affinity for soda and sugary sweets. While organic food can be better for you in the long run, it is mostly because they are “real” ingredients, rather than those ingredients contained within many of the fatty foods we ingest every day. The health of many Americans may increase over time as we begin to shift away from a focus on fast-food meals and soda, instead focusing on this new form of organic food which contains little if any added preservatives. Additionally, producing organic food also aids the environment as much less land, water, and chemicals are used to produce this type of food and therefore less greenhouse gases are emitted.

Therefore, many debates have opened up as to whether eating organic has really been found to be better for you in the end. The decision to eat organic meals is one which slowly begins to edge out more calorie-ridden foods which may be the reason for the overall increase in healthy lifestyles after the switch, which actually has little to do with the manufacture of the food in general. However, since eating organically has become such a trend for 30-something-year old “yuppies”, it has since transpired to a whole new culture in which people are eating healthier and beginning to care about the stipulation that most Americans are overweight. By eating less of their favorite processed foods and drinks, instead looking to organic food as a switch in diet, it has been studied that more Americans will lose weight and concentrate on eating better in the long run. In the end, it is not organic food per say that has led to a healthier lifestyle, but the exclusion of food that has been processed in a different manner.

This post was contributed by Kelsey Allen, who writes about the organic food coupons. She welcomes your feedback at KelseyAllen1010 yahoo.com