27 Easy Ways To Eat Healthier

27 Easy Ways
Don’t punish yourself with a cleanse or something equally awful. Just make real food better for you with these yummy substitutions. Here are the 27 most awesome ways to eat healthier.

1.

.

.

.

2.

.

.

.

3.

.

.

.

4.

.

.

.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

16.

17.

18.

19.

20.

21.

22.

23.

24.

25.

26.

27.

http://crazyfood.net/27-easy-ways-to-eat-healthier/

 

11 Super Health Benefits in Just One Celery Stalk

Apples walk away with most health accolades, and spinach leads the healthy veggie brigade. Compared to them, celery is somewhat unsung, but once you read its incredible–and nearly endless–list of health benefits, you will quickly join its growing list of lovers.

1.)Celery is a great choice if you are watching your weight. One large stalk contains only 10 calories! So, add celery to your shopping list and enjoy it in your salads, soups and stir-fries.

2.)Celery reduces inflammation. If you are suffering from joint pains, lung infections, asthma, or acne, eating more celery will bring much-needed relief.

3.)It helps you calm down: Celery for stress-relief? Oh yes! The minerals in celery, especially magnesium, and the essential oil in it, soothe the nervous system. If you enjoy a celery-based snack in the evening, you will sleep better.

4.)It regulates the body’s alkaline balance, thus protecting you from problems such as acidity.

5.)Celery aids digestion: some say celery tastes like “crunchy water,” and that is the reason it is so good for your digestive system. The high water content of celery, combined with the insoluble fiber in it, makes it a great tool for easy passage of stool. Note: because celery has diuretic and cleansing properties, those with diarrhea should avoid eating it.

6.)It contains “good” salts. Yes, celery does contain sodium, but it is not the same thing as table salt. The salt in celery is organic, natural and essential for your health.

7.)It cares for your eyes. One large stalk of celery can deliver up to 10 percent of your daily need for Vitamin A, a group of nutrients that protects the eyes and prevents age-related degeneration of vision.

8.) Celery reduces “bad” cholesterol: There is a component in celery called butylphthalide. It gives the vegetable its flavor and scent. Guess what: this component also reduces bad cholesterol! A Chicago University research shows that just two stalks of celery a day can reduce bad cholesterol (LDL) by up to 7 points!

9.)It lowers blood pressure: An active compound called phthalides in celery has been proven to boost circulatory health. Raw, whole celery reduces high blood pressure.

10.) It can amp up your sex life: and this is not just hearsay. Dr. Alan R. Hirsch, Director of the Smeel and Taste Treatment and Research Foundation, says two pheromones in celery–androstenone and androstenol–boost your arousal levels. They are released when you chew on a celery stalk.

11.) Celery can combat cancer: Two studies at the University of Illinois show that a powerful flavonoid in celery, called luteolin, inhibits the growth of cancer cells, especially in the pancreas. Another study suggests that the regular intake of celery could significantly delay the formation of breast cancer cells.

Useful Tips:

Choose celery with upright stalks that snap when bent. The leaves should be fresh and crisp. When selecting celery, remember this rule of thumb: The darker the color, the stronger the flavor.

Freshly chopped celery retains its nutrients much better than if you chop and store it even for a few hours.

Steamed celery not only retains its flavor, but also most of its nutrients–up to 99 percent of them, in fact!

http://www.healthdigezt.com/11-super-health-benefits-in-just-one-celery-stalk/

Your Brain on Food

Rachel Tepper



There’s still so much we don’t know about the mass of gray stuff in our skulls and how it relates to what we eat. But two new pieces of research support the notion that our brains and appetites are intrinsically intertwined—and that it’s a two-way street.

New findings presented last week at the Society for the Study of Ingestive Behavior's annual conference in Seattle, Washington suggest that brain chemistry may cause some people — even those who aren't overweight — to be more easily tempted by that plate of chocolate chip cookies sitting on the kitchen counter.

The researchers found that men with higher levels of dopamine activity in the striatum, an area of the brain that lights up when food is given as a reward, responded more quickly to pictures of food. This phenomenon could lead to overeating, they concluded.

And since you’re thinking about how your head is linked to what you’ve got in front of you for dinner, consider seafood: A study recently published online by the American Journal of Preventive Medicine suggests that eating baked or broiled fish at least once a week—regardless of the level of beneficial omega-3 fatty acids they contain—boosts brain health.

Subjects who chowed down on fish had larger brain volumes in areas that are associated with memory and cognition, but only if it wasn’t fried. (Sorry, fish and chips fans!)

"This suggests that lifestyle factors, in this case eating fish, rather than biological factors contribute to structural changes in the brain," said the study’s senior investigator, James T. Becker, in a press release. “A confluence of lifestyle factors likely are responsible for better brain health, and this reserve might prevent or delay cognitive problems that can develop later in life.”
https://www.yahoo.com/health/your-brain-on-food-93985208582.html



Moringa Leaf Powder For Mental Clarity

Retaining mental clarity is something that may be a concern in later life, but if you take Moringa leaf powder, you may be able to stave off the effects of age. The iron content of the supplement is key here – Moringa has about 25 times the amount of iron that you'll find in spinach and that helps form the hemoglobin that you get in red blood cells. This helps with oxygen delivery to the body, particularly the brain which needs a lot of the gas to aid mental function. There's plenty of zinc in Moringa leaf powder too, and that boosts the interaction between the two sides of the brain. The best part is, because it's a natural supplement, it's safe for anyone to take, unlike artificial ones which may have side effects. Help yourself to stay mentally sharp in older age by visiting www.ankhrah.com and ordering your Moringa leaf powder today.

Why You Should Eat Avocado Seeds

Why You Should Eat Avocado Seeds

Did you know that avocado seeds are full of great health benefits?

Avocado seeds have more antioxidants than most fruits and veggies and contain polyphenols similar to those found in green tea. They are full of more soluble fiber than most foods, which aids in digestion and circulation. In South America, avocado seeds are used to treat dysentery and other GI tract problems. The seeds contain lots of phenolic compounds that can prevent bacterial and viral diseases as well as gastric ulcers.

Eating the seeds may also aid in the prevention of cardiovascular disease and strokes. Avocado seed lowered cholesterol levels and may protect against arterial plaque formation, according to a study published in the March 2012 journal Plant Foods in Human Nutrition. Researchers credited the seed’s high content of dietary fiber in lowering cholesterol levels by binding to cholesterol in the intestinal tract and preventing absorption.

Antioxidant activity of avocado seed might also stop cardiovascular disease by preventing lipid oxidation, a process that leads to arterial plaque formation.

Avocado seeds contain a range of antioxidant phytochemicals, including flavanols and proanthocyanidins. These important antioxidants protect your body from free radicals associated with aging and disease. A 2003 study found that the seed of an avocado is much higher in antioxidants, as much as 70 percent greater, than the fruit itself.

Avocado seeds also have natural antibiotic and anti-fungal benefits. According to one study, avocado seed extracts inhibited an assortment of pathogens, including Candida and the mosquito that carries the tropical disease, yellow fever.

Reap the health benefits of avocado seeds today:

Step 1
Cut the avocado and remove the pit. To do this, slice into the avocado and cut it around the pit to remove the halves cleanly. Then insert the tip of your knife into the pit, twist and remove carefully, removing from the end of the knife. Use the avocado on sandwiches or in dips, remembering to save the pit.

Step 2
Grind the pit into a find powder using a very powerful food processor. The pit is very dense and hard and can damage a weaker food processor. It should have very sharp blades and be contained completely.

The seeds can also be dried in a plastic bag. Once dried, crush them with a hammer and grind in a heavy duty blender. The seeds can also be sliced and roasted in the oven. Avocado seeds are bitter, so the best way to eat them is to add them to smoothies or juices.

http://www.naturalcuresnotmedicine.com/2014/04/eat-avocado-seeds.html

The Horrifying Truth About Avocados

Avocados are a truly spectacular food. Packed full of good fats, carotenoids, folate, and yes, even cancer-fighting nutrients, some have argued that the avocado could be the world’s most perfect food. Just a single bite of this creamy, earthy fruit (yes, it’s a fruit) and you’ll find it difficult to argue with this superlative.
If it seems too good to be true, you might just be right. I recently learned that like diamonds, avocados have a dark and bloody side that almost no one knows about.
The avocado tree is native to Mexico and Central America, so it comes as no surprise that this region still produces most of the world’s supply. In Western Mexico, “avocado farms occupy vast stretches of land, and the rows of low-growing trees resemble the olive gardens of southern Europe,” writes Jan-Albert Hootsen for Vocativ.com. This idyllic setting indicates nothing of the sinister side of the avocado trade, however.
In Michoacán, a state in western Mexico, the avocado is commonly referred to as oro verde, green gold, because it yields more cash than any other crop—including marijuana. And anytime there’s money to be made, corruption isn’t far behind.
“A drug cartel known as the Caballeros Templarios, the Knights Templar, has infiltrated the avocado sector, and now controls the local trade, from production to distribution,” writes Hootsen. “The cartel derived from an earlier group of drug traffickers known as La Familia Michoacana…Not content to traffic marijuana, cocaine and heroin, La Familia set up a variety of extortion rackets in Michoacán. The avocado business was one of them.” Now, farmers must deal with constant extortion, and the reality that The Templarios could take over their plantations and packing plants whenever they want.
The cartel always gets what it wants, both from the avocado farmers and the government bodies that are supposed to regulate them. Through bribes and the threat of violence, Templarios have gained access to official lists of farmers, how much land they cultivate, and how much they produce. This way, the criminals know exactly how much money to demand from the farmers.
“Every link in the avocado production chain is a cash cow for the cartel, from the quadrilleros, or pickers (whose employment agencies are forced to pay $3.50 per worker per day), to those who buy, develop and sell plantations,” writes Hootsen. “The extortion racket is lucrative. In some municipalities, the estimated proceeds come to $3 million per year.”
The truly horrifying part is that unlike drugs and human trafficking (the other favorite pastimes of the cartel) we are all culpable. More than 80 percent of Michoacán’s avocados are exported to the United States. That means every time we crack open one of these precious green fruits, every time we dip a chip into a bowl of guacamole, we’re helping to fuel the cartel’s violent takeover of the avocado industry in Mexico.
The only way to avoid being part of this vicious cycle is to seek out domestically grown avocados, such as those from California, and to support farmers’ rights around the world.
• Beth Buczynski 
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• http://www.care2.com/greenliving/the-horrifying-truth-about-avocados.html
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  

How Veganism Changed These 58 People

• Angel Flinn

Although I’m not much of a Facebook person, I must admit that there are a few things I love about it. One of those is the way it connects activists with each other, so that we can feel a sense of community and share in each other’s successes and struggles.

A while ago, Gentle World volunteer Butterflies Katz did an experiment on her Facebook page where she simply asked her friends to complete the following statement: “Since I became vegan, I’ve noticed…”

What a response she received! The following excerpts are some of the highlights, and they indicate (contrary to popular opinion) how overwhelmingly positive the transition to veganism can be for the individual. Far from feelings of deprivation or sacrifice!

 

I’ve noticed that going vegan is easy – take it from a ‘newbie’. And I didn’t think it would be easy! I have not once been sorry. I have not missed anything I used to eat. I can’t even begin to tell you the wondrous ways my life and views have changed. ~ Bridget

I’ve noticed how much happier I am. ~ Batty

I’ve noticed life become grander in so many ways. I feel healthier than ever, my skin is clearer and younger, I think clearer. I love feeling love for all of life. ~ Claire

I’ve noticed how good it feels to have my actions in line with my values. ~ Diane

I’ve noticed that I have more passion for life. I have a purpose. I am a vegan superhero. ~ John

I’ve noticed the beauty, complexity, and inherent value of all sentient beings. ~ Gary

I have noticed that I feel so much more inner peace, and a sense of connection with other beings. It is quite liberating. ~ Peter

I have noticed how wonderfully connected I feel to Mother Earth and all her creatures. My soul is at peace. ~ Kerry

I’ve noticed I feel lighter. ~ June

I’ve noticed my energy levels went through the roof. ~ Coileán

I have noticed I am sexier. ~ Justina

I’ve noticed I’ve become a better person. ~ Madhur

I’ve noticed how much I didn’t see or know before! ~ Rose

I’ve noticed how much happier I am, the weight has been lifted from my shoulders – I feel clarity and I’m able to show people this so they too see the right path. ~ Alta

I’ve noticed I’ve found Peace within myself. ~ Helen

I’ve noticed how animal exploitation is virtually a part of every aspect of society. ~ Jody

I’ve noticed cruelty is everywhere and most people are oblivious to it. ~ Shelley

I’ve noticed how every other commercial on TV has some kind of animal product in it. ~ Diane

I’ve noticed how good fruits and vegetables taste. ~ Elizabeth

I’ve noticed how differently I perceive the world. ~ Urosh

I’ve noticed that vegans come in all sizes, shapes, colors, races, religions, political parties. ~ Michael

I’ve noticed that I still have a LOT to learn. ~ Barbara

I’ve noticed I feel so much more peaceful and connected to everyone, and that brought me a new found sense of spirituality. ~ Don

I’ve noticed how much goodness I can help bring into this world. ~ Alan

I’ve noticed my conscience is clearer. ~ Paul

I’ve noticed food tastes better!  ~ Molly

I notice ALL forms of oppression more easily. ~ Danny

I’ve noticed I feel better about myself and living up to my values. ~ Nan

I’ve noticed that I am also kinder to myself. ~ Luis

I’ve noticed that other animals can feel my veganism and I’ve formed very close bonds with other species of animals. ~  Butterflies

I’ve noticed that I actually feel like “me” more than I ever have before. Sometimes it’s lonely – But it’s also REAL – I can live with that. ~ Bea

I’ve noticed that I feel lighter, happier and more at peace inside. People say I look younger than ever. It is the best thing that ever happened to me. ~ Kathy

I’ve noticed that it improves mental health. ~ Tharan

I have noticed that I began to understand the meaning of speciesism. ~ Wendy

I have noticed how deeply rooted suffering, cruelty and injustice is and how it’s so completely normalized. ~ Sarah

I have noticed I sleep better! ~ Nerida

I have noticed that I’m happier! At the end of the day having compassion for animals has made me a better person and has enabled me to enjoy a richer life. ~ Andres

I have noticed I have more energy, less to no aches, clear skin and better mood. Now I notice all the time how much our society relies on animal exploitation, how dairy is everywhere, how apathetic people are to violence against animals. ~ Martina

I have noticed that I feel a true kinship with all life. ~ Donna

I have noticed that although the world seems a much weirder place now, I am much happier and I am extremely glad to have had the opportunity to encounter veganism. ~ Vera

I have noticed how deep in denial most of the world is about the production of dairy products. Dairy is still seen by most people as something good, nourishing – something to nourish and reward children with. I’ve also noticed how unaware most people are of what it actually means to be vegan, and that it’s widely seen as a mere diet. ~ Flavia

I have noticed that there are a lot of different vegan foods out there that I had never tried before. That we are all animals and all persons – and that forcing others to do our bidding is just plain and simply, wrong. And-that we can live without using nonhuman animals. ~ Michaela Österlund

Since I became vegan I’ve had an overwhelming sense that I finally have found my purpose in life. ~ Jeffrey

I’ve noticed a whole weight of guilt was lifted from me when I thought I had to eat animal products to survive. I have since found so many other options for what I eat and consume in other ways. ~ Maida

I have noticed that I feel so liberated in mind, body and spirit. I have also gained clarity of mind and am so healthy. I love knowing that the choices I make do not harm other sentient beings. ~ Melissa

I’ve noticed for the first time that I am living a clean life – clean physically, spiritually, emotionally and morally. ~ Christine

I have noticed that a layer of gloom was lifted from my mind and soul. I began to realize that 1. I don’t need animal protein to survive, 2. I can think more clearly and rational about things in general than before, 3. My allergies improved tremendously, 4. I continue to grow spiritually and easier now as to where I was before was like pulling the ball and chain. 5. I can eat a lot more now and stay at a healthy weight. ~ Clara

I’ve noticed so many things: Mental clarity, a heightened appreciation for life, a greater love for animals… even for humans, a need for more knowledge…and on and on and on. ~ Shelly

I notice I can relate to the world better. Veganism has allowed me to transcend my habitual thoughts and actions, obviously in regards to animals, but also humans and the natural world. It encourages me to be compassionate and it motivates free thinking. ~ Steven

I’ve noticed I feel better, no guilt, and better tasting food! ~ Sarah

I have noticed how easy it is to be vegan, how much better I feel, both physically and mentally. I have also noticed that there is an enormous variety of different foods that I would never have tried… In fact, I wonder why more people have not embraced this lifestyle. ~ Carlos

I’ve noticed that my chronic and often terrifying asthma disappeared completely, that I had loads more energy, that bodily symptoms I’d attributed to age disappeared, and that I felt so much happier, having a clear conscience to go with the joy of the ‘clean’ food I was now consuming. ~ Sue

I noticed I have better skin, a cleaner conscience, and I’ve been effortlessly losing weight. ~ Justin

I’ve noticed how something so simple as respect for all, can be made so complicated and demeaned by social conditioning. ~ Lorraine

I realize that I can make a real difference in alleviating the suffering of other animals. I am not powerless to help them, therefore I no longer feel ashamed of being a human being. Relationships with my animal kin have become free of guilt and confusion. I have found a meaningful moral baseline. The missing piece of the puzzle has fitted into its rightful place. ~ Katia

To say it in a simple way: my eyes have been opened, finally!  ~ Janne

I have noticed that it changes your life in every way for the better. ~ Wendy

I’ve noticed all of the above and a sense of FREEDOM. ~ Ann

http://www.care2.com/greenliving/how-veganism-changed-these-58-people.html?cid=email_na

How to Combat Computer Eye Strain

• Dr. Michael Greger

What happens to our eyesight when we sit in front of a computer all day?

As researchers from the SUNY College of Optometry note, the rise in computer screens “has led to an increase in ocular and visual problems, including eye discomfort, blurring of distant objects, eye strain, and asthenopia (visual fatigue).” This has caused so-called “nearwork-induced transient myopia.” That’s when after staring at a computer screen for a while we look out the window and things start out all blurry. Our vision becomes blurred because our poor little ciliary muscles pulling at our lens are locked in this constant state of contraction to keep that near focus. Over time, this may have long-term adverse consequences.

How to Combat Computer Eye Strain

Experts in the field recommend taking 4-12 minute breaks staring out the window every hour.

We can also aid our vision with our diet. A double-blind placebo-controlled crossover study, for example, found a significant improvement in refractive values and eyestrain symptoms when subjects ate black currants compared to a placebo.

However, what passes for currants in the U.S. are usually champagne grape raisins, not actual black currants, which were banned in the U.S. a century ago at the behest of the lumber industry. The lumber industry feared that they might spread a plant disease that affects white pine (which we hardly even harvest any more). Black currants are, however, currently making a comeback (and the ban has been lifted in some states), though any anthocyanin-rich berry might have similar benefits (such as bilberries, blueberries, cranberries, black raspberries and red raspberries).

Foods vs. Supplements

Why bother with whole bilberries or black currants when we could just take powder capsules? Because, as we’ve seen over and over again, when we test supplements, we’re lucky if they actually contain what is listed on the label. Furthermore, even for products containing bilberries, one study found that labeling was often uninformative, misleading, or both, something or which the herbal supplement market is infamous. The largest study to date found that it appears most herbal supplement labels lie.

A Brief History of Bilberries

Bilberries gained notoriety during World War II when it was said that pilots in the British Royal Air Force “were eating bilberry jam to improve their night vision.” It turns out this may have been a story concocted to fool the Germans. The real reason the Brits were able to suddenly target Nazi bombers in the middle of the night before the bombers even made it to the English channel was likely not because of bilberries, but because of a top secret new invention the British needed to keep quiet: radar.

For best results when it comes to computer eye strain, stick to whole berries with blue and red pigments, and don’t forget to give your eyes a break each hour.

For other videos on protecting our vision, check out Greens vs. Glaucoma, where I listed the best foods to help prevent glaucoma; in Dietary Prevention of Age-Related Macular Degeneration I did the same for age-related macular degeneration. I’ve also addressed the Dietary Treatment of Glaucoma.

• http://www.care2.com/greenliving/dietary-treatments-for-computer-eye-strain.html?cid=email_na