Posted January 15, 2012 at 5:33pm in sweater grey soft simple simple fashion simple style fashion core steps organic ecofriendly made in the usa knit knit sweater healthy living healthy lifestyle ecofriendly fashion earthy earthy fashion
Posted September 30, 2011 at 3:06pm in flowers whole foods tarzana whole foods tarzana california southern california sun flowers sunflowers sunflower healthy health healthy living healthy lifestyle lifestyle organic natural vegan vegetarian food eat delicious raw vegetables fruit core steps
The glamorous health benefits of Mushrooms.
Mushrooms contain about 80 to 90 percent water, and are very low in calories (only 100 cal/oz). They have very little sodium and fat, and 8 to 10 percent of the dry weight is fiber. Hence, they are an ideal food for persons following a weight management program or a diet for hypertensives.
Mushrooms are an excellent source of potassium, a mineral that helps lower elevated blood pressure and reduces the risk of stroke. One medium portabella mushroom has even more potassium than a banana or a glass of orange juice. One serving of mushrooms also provides about 20 to 40 percent of the daily value of copper, a mineral that has cardioprotective properties.
Mushrooms are a rich source of riboflavin, niacin, and selenium. Selenium is an antioxidant that works with vitamin E to protect cells from the damaging effects of free radicals. Male health professionals who consumed twice the recommended daily intake of selenium cut their risk of prostate cancer by 65 percent. In the Baltimore study on Aging, men with the lowest blood selenium levels were 4 to 5 times more likely to have prostate cancer compared to those with the highest selenium levels.
The most commonly consumed mushroom in the United States is Agaricus bisporus or the white button mushroom. A. bisporus has two other forms -Crimini or brown mushrooms with a more earthy flavor and firmer texture, and Portabella mushrooms with a large umbrella-shaped cap and meaty flavor.
All three mushrooms, but especially the fresh button mushrooms, possess substances that inhibit the activity of aromatase (an enzyme involved in estrogen production), and 5-alpha-reductase (an enzyme that converts testosterone to DHT). The latest findings show that white button mushrooms can reduce the risk of breast cancer and prostate cancer. An extract of white button mushrooms decreased cell proliferation and decreased tumor size in a dose-dependent manner.
Shiitake mushrooms have been used for centuries by the Chinese and Japanese to treat colds and flu. Lentinan, a beta-glucan isolated from the fruiting body of shiitake mushrooms, appears to stimulate the immune system, help fight infection, and demonstrates anti-tumor activity. (source here)
(Source: a-musing-munkee)
Posted September 28, 2011 at 7:06pm in Earthy Food Fresh Mushrooms Nature eat healthy eat well eating foods fungi health healthy healthy lifestyle healthy living lifestyle mushroom organic organic food plants salad vegan vegetarian weight loss weightloss whole food whole foods cancer fiber fight cancer
Getting to Know the Package
Getting to Know the Package.
There is a lot of BULLS#!T on packaged foods these days. Food isn’t just sold to us as “food,” but it is marketed to us in crazy-assed ways in hopes for us to spend our hard-earned cash on sh!tty, over-processed food-like substances that make us feel good about getting fat. Do not fear the clusters of pretty icons & flashy descriptions. Know what they represent, use them to your benefit, and tell the rest to suck-off.
This guide isn’t meant to scare you, or convince you that “nothing is safe anymore.” Hopefully it will open your eyes to the marketing companies use & make you think a little bit differently next time you are shopping for your health.
All Natural.Sh!t is natural. So is lead. Arsenic too. That doesn’t mean that it is safe to eat or good for you and your heath. So screw this overused terminology all together. This clam has no nutritional meaning and is barely regulated by the food and drug administration. Companies can clam that their products are “all natural” even if they contain chemical modifications to ingredients that are naturally occurring. For example, high-fructose corn syrup is considered “natural,” because it comes from corn.
Reduced-Fat.Fat is often (not always) replaced with refined sugars and/or starches when a product “reduces” its fat content. Replacing fat with sugars or starches has been shown to lower HDL (good cholesterol) and raise triglycerides. To put it simply, it increases the risk of heart disease. If you are worried about fat, focus on replacing saturated fats with unsaturated fats. Oh, and tell trans fat to eat poop all together.
Sugar-Free.
First off, flip that package over and look at the ingredient list! If there are any artificial sweeteners used, put that S#!T back! Most products that proudly gloat the “sugar-free” label use artificial sweeteners instead. For starters, artificial sweeteners are chemical cocktails that are scientifically made to produce a “sweet” taste. These science experiments have shown to be crazy harmful to your health. Some side effects include (but are not limited to): enlarging the liver & kidneys, shrinking the thymus glands, skin rashes, panic, diarrhea, headaches, bladder issues, stomach pain, cancer and overeating. Who gives a flying fart if artificial sweeteners are lower in calories. I’d rather be cutting my calories elsewhere, than dying to be skinny. Instead, look for products that don’t use refined sugars, or advertise “no added sugars.”
Low-Calorie.
Products that claim to be ‘light’ or “low-calorie” (often) take out the good ingredients and substitute them with not-so-great ones. For example, an article I read on forbes.com highlighted how a popular brand of “light” grape juice contains 50% less calories, & less sugar (yaaay!), but 60% less juice & more artificial sweeteners (boooo!). You are giving up juice and substituting it with chemicals… not such a great compromise if you ask me. You are better off buying 100% juice and cutting it with some water yourself. Instead, look for foods that are naturally low in calories, not ones that modified to be that way.
Low-Carbs.
There is no standard or set definition for this label, so it can be used to sell almost anything. The missing carbs in these products are usually replaced with shitty ingredients like sugar alcohols, artificial sweeteners, and/or other high-in-fat ingredients. Also, there are good carbs (whole grains) & bad carbs (refined). This label has no way of differentiating between the two. Don’t fall into the strict eliminate all carb craze. It is, and always has been, about balance.
Organic.
Organic foods are awesome. Unfortunately, sometimes the “organic” label can be somewhat misleading. When buying fruits and veggies, having pesticide free produce makes me happier then a carnivore in a slaughter house, but it makes me a super sad panda when food packages misuse the claim to trick consumers. “Organic” on packaged foods does not mean the entire product is made with 100% organic ingredients. Look at the fine print… Sometimes only a few ingredients are actually certified organic. Just make sure to read the labels, and make be certain that the ingredients that you are expecting to be organic actually are.
Other Add-Ins.Beware of claims like, “added minerals,” “more fiber,” “calcium enriched,” etc. Companies love to add extra nutrients to make products more attractive to the health-conscious minded. Again, try to find foods that are naturally high in fiber, calcium, vitamins and minerals. Step back and think about it. Kellogg’s brand “Froot Loops” likes to gloat that it is a good source of fiber. Cauliflower, broccoli, collard greens, and raspberries are too. So what do you think is the better choice for your heath? Sugary cereal or fruits and veggies? It’s not rocket science.
Kick the grocery store’s ass next time you go, and remember: Health-food sells, so every company is going to try and market their products as “healthy.” If you are really wanting information, do some research! Never solely trust the company that wants your $$$, they are always going to tell you what you want to hear.
Good luck!
Posted August 30, 2011 at 5:01pm in health healthy healthy living healthy lifestyle vegan vegetarian organic truth public health stay healthy shopping grocery store money be smart smart learn educational
One orange contains all the daily requirements of Vitamin C. It is rich in fiber, folate, calcium and vitamin B6. So, we could say that oranges are packed with nutrients…but wait, there’s more:
- 1. Oranges are rich in fibres
The fibres in oranges are good for the digestive system and relieving constipation. Fibres also reduce cholesterol which is helpful in preventing atherosclerosis. Fibres are also good in keeping the blood sugar levels in control.
- 2. Cardiovascular health
The high content of Vitamin C, flavonoids and phytonutrients in citrus fruits reduce the risk of heart disease.
- 3. Blood pressure
Magnesium and a flavonoid called hesperidin in oranges help regulate high blood pressure.
- 4. Blood and oxygen
Oranges are rich in Iron and Vitamin B6, essential in the production of red cells in the blood, which carry oxygen from lungs to cells. Oranges also help prevent lung cancer.
- 5. Bones and teeth
Oranges are also rich in calcium, associated with a healthy bone structure and teeth.
- 6. Skin health
Antioxidants in oranges protect the skin from cell damage and free radicals, having anti-aging actions.
- 7. Lower cholesterol
Besides the fibre intake, oranges also help in reducing cholesterol through synephrine, an alkaloid found in orange’s peel. Antioxidants also contribute to the reduction of cholesterol.
- 8. Folate intake
One orange provides about 10% of the necessary daily folate intake. Folic acid is helpful in skin health and brain development.
- 9. Immune system
Vitamin C stimulates the production of white cells in our body, thus improving the immune system.
- 10. Kidney health
Regular consumption of oranges significantly can significantly reduce the risk of developing kidney stones.
- 11. Prevent ulcer
Vitamin C is efficient in preventing stomach ulcer.
- 12. Viral infections
Mostly due to the abundance of the flavonoid polyphenols, oranges protects against viral infections. So, try to eat as much oranges in the flu season (like now)!
- 13. Preventing other diseases
Oranges are helpful in preventing several other diseases, like: arthritis, asthma, bronchitis, tuberculosis, pneumonia, rheumatism and diabetes.
(Source: mochacafe, via veganfeast)
Posted June 22, 2011 at 4:39pm in color core steps delicious fruit health health food healthy healthy food healthy lifestyle healthy living life lifestyle nutrition orange oranges organic pretty sick vegan vegetarian weight loss food vitamin c c
Buy organic! Buy local! Two simple steps that can have huge affects not only on your life but on the environment and other wonderful human beings.
(Source: ffoodd, via veganfeast)
Posted May 22, 2011 at 11:24pm in environment health healthy healthy living lifestyle shopping grocery grocery store produce organic green artichoke artichokes radish radishes photography yum vegan vegetarian vegetables food vegan food local farmers market ecofriendly awesome core steps fitness weightloss personal
Posted May 13, 2011 at 7:31pm in berry berries blackberry blackberries fruit delicious vegan vegan food vegetarian health healthy organic healthy living healthy lifestyle lifestyle organic photography purple cool eat healthy healthy food
They’re in season! Go grab some, and buy California if you can!
Posted May 10, 2011 at 5:00pm in avocado avocados avocadoes fruit health health food healthy food healthy living season green vegan vegetarian organic vegan food vegetarian food california california produce produce natural
