7 surprisingly affordable superfoods!

Looking to stretch your food budget -- but eat a little healthier? Registered dietitian Lisa Grudzielanek with Your Tasty Life joins Real Milwaukee with seven surprisingly affordable superfoods.

For literal pennies, you can feed your family a food that rivals blueberries in its levels of disease-fighting antioxidants. A diet rich in fruits and vegetables may reduce the risk of cancers and other chronic diseases. How much? Between 2 1/2 to 6 1/2 cups of fruits and vegetables each day. This varies depending on the number of calories you need to consume for your weight and level of activity.

#1 Black Rice
Black rice bran contains more health-promoting antioxidants that are found in blueberries, but with less sugar and more fiber and vitamin E antioxidants.

#2 Sweet Potato
• What`s not to love about their shelf life? Sweet potatoes last about 3-5 weeks in the pantry and about 2-3 months in the fridge.
• Sweet potatoes are among the richest sources of beta-carotene, a nutrient your body converts to vitamin A after consumption.

#3 Apples
• Enjoy local apples & they`re in season right now!
• Eat the peel & it boosts antioxidant levels up to 6 times higher than the apples' flesh.
• The phytonutrients and antioxidants in apples may help reduce the risk of developing cancer, hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease.

#4 Beans
• Kidney, pinto, black, and navy beans stand out for being packed with fiber, folic acid, iron, potassium, and zinc.
• Zinc is required for a healthy immune system and proper action of many hormones.
• Bags of dried bean can be purchased for $1
• Pressure cooking is all the rage and can cut down cooking time drastically.

#5 Cranberries
• Beat out coffee, blueberries, and even red wine for most antioxidant-rich foods.
• Cranberries are a rock star superfood with a very good source of vitamin C, dietary fiber, and manganese, as well as a good source of vitamin E, vitamin K, copper and pantothenic acid.

#6 Coffee
• The combination of caffeine and antioxidants may be significantly reducing heart disease.
• There is considerable evidence that caffeine may protect against Alzheimer`s and Parkinson`s disease
• Do we need any more reasons?

#7 Green Tea
• Ranks high in antioxidants just behind coffee.
• Japanese researchers have also shown that women who drink 5 or more cups of green tea a day slash their risk of dying from heart disease by about 30%.
• Contain catechins, one of the most effective compounds for preventing sun damage.

http://fox6now.com/2017/10/04/bargain-buys-loaded-with-health-benefits-7-surprisingly-affordable-superfoods/

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9 Reasons You Should Drink Tea Every Day

While everyone continues to go crazy for coffee, we'd like to point your attention toward tea. Yes, tea, the beverage that can soothe you when you want to relax or wake you up when you need an extra push. Basically, tea is great and you should consume it just as much as your beloved java.

Without further ado, here are nine reasons you should drink tea every single day. (We still love you, coffee.)

1. First things first, tea is way easier to make than coffee.

Most of the time, you need a whole machine to make coffee, and you may even have to grind some beans. To make tea, all you need is boiling water, tea and a cup. It's that simple.

2. Green tea could have the power to help keep your bones healthy.

For elderly folks, studies have shown that drinking green tea may help lessen the risk of osteoporotic bone fractures.

3. Drinking unsweetened black tea could help fix bad breath.

If you have a case of halitosis, you may want to start drinking black tea. Researchers at the University of Chicago College of Dentistry found that black tea contains chemical components called polyphenols that slow down the formation of plaque-causing bacteria. The polyphenols also reduce "acid production levels," helping to prevent periodontal disease.

4. It's considered a "necessity of life" in China, so maybe it should be for you, too.

Credit: imgarcade

Along with firewood, rice, oil, "chiang," salt and vinegar, tea is considered one of the things "people cannot do without every day," according to the proverbial "seven necessities of life" created by the Sung Chinese people.

5. Tea has the power to calm you down.

Some research has suggested that valerian root tea could act as a safe and effective mild natural sleep aid. In a German study, 202 adults either took valerian extract or a prescription anti-anxiety drug. The people who took valerian extract reported "equal improvement in sleep quality, feeling rested and how long they slept as those taking the prescription drug."

6. It's kind of a presidential order.

Credit: sprudge.com

If the President of the United States is obsessed with tea, then you should be too. A 2009 New York Times article that details the changes Obama made to the White House stated that the fridges were stocked with his favorite brand of organic tea: Honest Tea. Apparently, his favorite flavors are "Black Forest Berry" and "Green Dragon."

7. It could relieve your seasonal allergies before you even get them.

If you're suffering from seasonal allergies you may want to start your day with a cup of nettle leaf tea. While more research still needs to be done, a preliminary study followed 69 people and found that freeze-dried nettle leaf could "slightly improve allergy symptoms."

8. Some experts believe that drinking tea can sometimes be better than drinking water.

Credit: happinessisntskindeep.blogspot.com

Researchers at the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that tea rehydrates you just as much as water does by replacing fluids in your body. And because tea has antioxidants, there's an added bonus. "Water is essentially replacing fluid. Tea replaces fluids and contains antioxidants so it's got two things going for it," public health nutritionist Dr. Carrie Ruxton said in an interview with BBC.

9. Afternoon tea. Need we say more?

There are parties dedicated to drinking tea, which include sandwiches that are delicious. Here's a little history: In 1840, Anna Maria Stanhope, the seventh Duchess of Bedford, thought of the genius idea of having afternoon tea "to bridge the lengthy gap between luncheon and dinner." In order to retain a good (but restrained) appetite for the sweet scones and iced cakes that accompany such an event, the preceding sandwiches that were eaten at this event needed to be filling but too filling. Thus came dainty mini crustless sandwiches that have lighter fillings like cucumber and eggs for a tasty, quick snack.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/12/11/reasons-to-drink-tea_n_6276862.html

7 Simple Scientifically Proven Methods To Make You A Happier Person

Ever noticed you’re in a slump that’s lasting weeks, months or even years? Moodiness is common to the 20-something’s life. With all the life changes, long work hours, lack of sleep, poor eating habits and stress, it’s pretty easy to feel out of whack.

If you find yourself struggling with non-clinical moody slumps, it’s important to pinpoint an action plan so that you can turn your mood around.

The key is to remember that you are in active control over your life: It is up to you to make positive changes that will make you happier in your daily life. Here are seven ways to do it:

Smile

Try this: Smile in the mirror, first thing in the morning, then a couple more times during the day. Does your mood change? As it turns out, moving facial muscles in such a way that mimics smiling has been scientifically proven to boost your mood.

When you smile, there is a physiological response that influences areas of your brain that coincide with feeling happier sensations. So, certain facial expressions literally pinpoint specific portions of your brain. Get smiling, people.

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Herbal Supplements

There is much wisdom in eastern medicine, including its focus on treating the whole human body instead of targeting specific parts. The wonderful thing about herbal remedies is that they help your body function at its best so that it can naturally heal itself.

Try maca root or St. John’s wort. Maca root is wonderful for combating high stress levels known to throw our bodies out of whack and St. John’s wort has been shown to be just as effective as anti-depressants for mild and moderate levels of clinical depression.

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Drink Green Tea

Green tea, well known for its soothing and relaxing qualities, has also been shown to improve mood. 

A study conducted at Swinburne University investigated brain activity in relation to moods found that participants who consumed green tea showed greater relaxation, attention and higher mood levels.

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H20

As you heard from your high school sports coach, dehydration can compromise athletic performances. Not only that, but new studies now show that hydration — or lack thereof — also influences the mood.

In a study, a hydrated group was compared with a dehydrated group and athletes who were dehydrated not only performed worse on athletic activities, but also reported more negative moods.

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Exercise And Meditation

There is nothing quite like a runner’s high. Athletes have long noted the amazing benefits associated with working out, such as increased energy, relaxation and higher moods.

Recently, researchers began to investigate the correlation between exercise and mood; however, they are now finding that such a relation exists. Researchers have found that you can begin to feel a “mood-enhancement effect” after as few as five minutes of physical activity.

Similarly, meditation has also been shown to influence mood — studies have shown that meditation lowers cortisol levels, which is a primary instigator of anxiety. Whatever your method of choice may be, either option can be a fantastic tool to improve your mood.

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Eat Those Veggies

Take if from Popeye, who is famously known for chugging a can of spinach prior to exerting his physical strength: Eat those greens! Recent research suggests that diets high in fruits and vegetables make people calmer, more energetic and happier.

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Try Some Positive Thinking

Whether or not you agree with the positive thinking phenomenon, there is a lot of wisdom to be gained from focusing on your thoughts. As Henry Ford so wisely said,

The man who thinks he can and the man who thinks he can’t are both right. Which one are you?

If you focus all of your energy on negativity or what you can’t do, you won’t do it. But, if you instead focus on what you can do, you will find a way to do it.

http://elitedaily.com/life/scientifically-proven-ways-to-instantly-improve-your-mood/

Science Proves Hugging Trees Is Good for Health

It has now been confirmed by science that hugging trees can beneficially affect human health by altering vibrational frequency.

Hugging a tree may have gained popularity as a maligned hippy practice, but it has now been validated by science to be incredibly beneficial for both people and the planet. Contrary to popular belief, hugging – or even just being in the vicinity of – a tree can boost one’s health in several ways.

In a recently published book by author Matthew Silverstone, Blinded by Science, evidence confirming trees and their healthful benefits includes their effect on mental illnesses, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), concentration levels, reaction times, depression, and the ability to alleviate headaches.

According to countless studies cited within the book, children show extreme psychological and physiological effects in term of improved health and well-being when they interact with plants. It was recorded that children function better cognitively and emotionally in green environments and have more creative play in green areas.

A large public health report studying the association between green spaces and mental health also noted that “access to nature can significantly contribute to our mental capability and well being.”

What is it about nature that can cause significant alleviation of symptoms? Many might think it’s open green spaces that contribute to this effect, but Silverstone shows that it’s more than this theory; instead, he explains how it’s the vibrational properties of trees and plants that offer the health benefits – not just open spaces.

Because everything vibrates, different vibrations undoubtedly affect biological behaviors. According to Natural News, it has been proven that that if one were to drink a glass of water that has been treated with a 10Hz vibration, one’s blood coagulation rates will change immediately upon ingesting the treated water.

Similarly, trees affect human beings (and all other creatures) in the same way. When one touches a tree, its different vibrational pattern will affect various biological behaviors within the body.

Within Blinded by Science, such theory is backed up by hundreds of scientifically validated studies, providing overwhelming proof that tree hugging is not just for hippies, it’s for everyone.

Not only is clutching a giant, sturdy oak therapeutic and free, it could offer a plethora of benefits and save the populace a large amount in healthcare costs.

A similar report documenting the effects of nature and improving health reported that “safe, green spaces may be as effective as prescription drugs in treating some forms of mental illnesses.”

Human beings can only live outside of the laws of nature for so long before symptoms of disconnect be made manifest. With the increasing prevalence of lifestyle-related diseases, it’s clear more attention deserves to be given to holistic practices such as this one, so that the cause of imbalance be alleviated and lifestyle-related illnesses dissipate.
http://earthweareone.com/science-proves-hugging-trees-is-good-for-health/