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John 14:23
10 hours ago
Friday, July 23, 2010
Benefits of Eating Fruits and Vegetables
Benefits of Eating Fruits and Vegetables
Recent changes in food guidelines have meant an increase in the recommended daily consumption of fruits and vegetables. That is because eating nutrient rich, low calorie, low fat foods such as fruits and vegetables, has been shown to have a strong impact on overall health.
In addition, high levels of fruits and vegetables in the diet has even been shown to help provide protection from a number of diseases and chronic conditions. There are ongoing studies on the relationship between a diet rich in fruits and vegetables and prevention of cancer, diabetes, heart disease and other conditions. While there may not yet be conclusive proof of a link between fruits and vegetables and lower risk of disease, there is ample anecdotal evidence to suggest that a healthy diet leads to a healthy body.
One reason for the strong health benefits of fruits and vegetables is their strong antioxidant qualities. Many fruits and vegetables are high in important antioxidant vitamins like vitamin C, vitamin E and vitamin A. In addition, fruits and vegetables contain lots of other nutrients and trace elements that are important to the proper function of the body.
Choosing the best fruits and vegetables is important, both to your health and the health of your food budget. We all have limited food budgets, and getting the best in terms of both taste and nutrition, is very important.
One way to get maximum value and maximum nutrition is to choose fresh, in season fruits and vegetables. That is because fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables tend to be less expensive than their shipped counterparts.
If you have a farmers market or produce stand nearby, it can be an excellent source of the highest quality, lowest cost fruits and vegetables. Summer produce stands are excellent sources of delicious and nutritious fruits and vegetables.
In addition, buying fruits and vegetables as they come into season will instantly provide you with variety. There are literally hundreds of different varieties of fruits and vegetables at the average grocery store, and they all have different growing season. Buying the fresh in season fruits and vegetables is a great way to introduce yourself to some varieties you may never have tried before.
Of course there will be times when your favorite fruits and vegetables are not available locally. In those cases, frozen and canned varieties can do just fine. Just about every popular fruit and vegetable is available canned or frozen, and these can make wonderful, fast fruit salads or quick snacks.
It is important to choose fruits and vegetables in a variety of colors, and not only for ascetic reasons. Different colored fruits and vegetables contain different types of nutrients, and different levels of nutrients, so eating a good variety of green, gold, orange and purple is the best way to ensure adequate levels of nutrition.
How you cook the vegetables you buy is important as well. Over cooking can destroy many of the nutrients that make vegetables so healthy. Fortunately, most vegetables can be cooked by quickly steaming them in the microwave or on the stovetop.
How those cooked vegetables are served can also have a significant impact on their healthiness. Adding butter, margarine, oils or other fats to vegetables can quickly negate their health benefits. Better choices for seasoning cooked vegetables include fruit juices and low fat yogurt.
Most nutrition experts recommend that everyone eat from 5 to 9 servings of fruits or vegetables every day. While that may seem like an impossible goal, it is easier when you understand just what a serving consists of. One serving of a fruit or vegetable can be one medium sized piece of fruit, one slice of melon, two small pieces of fruit, one cup of strawberries, one cup of grapes, one half cup of canned fruit, one half cup of fruit salad, one side salad or one half cup of fresh fruit juice.
With all these choices to choose from, it is easy to see why fruits and vegetables are such a popular part of a healthy diet. No matter what your reason for pursuing healthy eating, fruits and vegetables are a healthy addition to any diet.
Eating fruits and vegetables should be your number one goal, but there is usually a gap between what we eat and what we should eat. Finding a WHOLE FOOD supplement with research to fill that gap can be a major part of your goal to get the fruits and vegetables your body needs.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Juice Plus News: University of South Carolina Study published
Juice Plus+ News: University of South Carolina Study published
The body of clinical research on Juice Plus+ continues to grow.
A clinical investigation of the impact of Juice Plus+ on systemic inflammation by researchers at the University of South Carolina was recently published online (ahead of print) in the journal Molecular Nutrition & Food Research.
Acute inflammation – the red skin around a cut, for example – is a normal protective response by tissues throughout the body to injury or destruction. However, chronic systemic inflammation is invisible, and can contribute to an increased risk for developing chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer. The South Carolina researchers hypothesized that added nutrition from fruits and vegetables – delivered in the form of Juice Plus+ – might positively impact biomarkers of inflammation in the blood.
The researchers studied the impact of Juice Plus+ Orchard and Garden Blend, taken alone and in conjunction with Juice Plus+Vineyard Blend: a) on levels of several important free radical-fighting antioxidants in the blood (as an indication of bioavailability); b) on levels of superoxide dismutase, an antioxidant enzyme that helps rid the body of free radicals; and c) on levels of several key biomarkers of systemic inflammation.
In their recently published paper, the USC researchers reported: a) significantly increased levels of all three antioxidants (vitamin C, vitamin E, and beta-carotene) in both groups of test subjects; b) significantly increased levels of superoxide dismutase in both groups; and c) significantly decreased levels of three key biomarkers of inflammation in both groups.
They concluded: “Data suggest a potential health benefit by consuming either formulation of the encapsulated juice concentrates through their anti-inflammatory properties.”
Molecular Nutrition & Food Research is a primary research journal devoted to all aspects of molecular nutrition – particularly the correlation between nutrition and health. You can find the online version of the Juice Plus+ study at PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine of the National Institutes of Health (ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20425759).
The study was also featured in the Miami Herald. Check it out here.http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/05/18/1634231/supplements-better-than-nothing.html
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Monday, July 19, 2010
Austin, TX-Building a Virtual Franchise-Curt Beavers-Aug 10, 2010
CurtBeaversFlyerVs4.doc (359 KB)
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