1. Cranky Fitness
- You have to love a blog with a host that calls herself Crabby McSlacker. From the About Page:

Blog topics at Cranky Fitness include general health, fitness, nutrition, personal development, disease prevention, aging, and whatever else the authors happened to feel like whining about on a given day. You can browse the archive by topics, located on the sidebar if there’s anything in particular you’re looking for.

Nobody on CF is a doctor or a health professional, but a lot of us struggling with motivation or any part of the “get fit” process can definitely relate to a lot of the material on this residence. Even though regular publishing of the blog ended in March, the archives are great, and there is yet to be another blog that captures the mood of Cranky Fitness and is equally realate-able.

2. The FatMan Walking

- Another inspirational fitness blog, this is about a man that decided to walk across America and change his life along the way. From the About Page:

Why I walked from San Diego to NYC

My name is Steve Vaught, and this is my website, TheFatmanwalking. It is a anecdote of my life over the last couple of years, beginning with my fateful decision to walk across America to lose weight and regain control of my life, the fallout of that decision, and my life since.

Like Cranky Fitness, Steve’s blog isn’t updated every day, but just sitting down and reading about his incredible journey will surely inspire you to do fair your 45 minutes on the treadmill.

3. Laurel on Health Food

- As a certified Holistic Health Counselor, Laurel talks about nutrition, healthy eating, and educational facts about health food. From the site:

Laurel on Health Food is a blog about nutrition, healthy eating, and health food. It summarizes articles in the news, lists healthy recipes, offers tips and personal feedback on healthy eating, and reports on nutritional research.

Her research is handy, and takes the guess work out of a lot of the terms you might hear thrown around. Especially sizable if you’re ready to walk into a Health Food store for the first time and want to be armed with a little knowledge.

4. Gardening Nude

- My fellow Chicago Now compatriot, wins for best title. Of course people are going to click on something called ‘Gardening Nude’! But Shawna’s talking about being ‘metaphorically naked’. Sorry, dudes. From the blog:

Stripping away the excuses, the emotional baggage, the stress, and tending the garden which is your life is just the beginning of what gardening nude is about. It is also living greener and healthier, both mentally and physically, by practicing positive lifestyle choices. An significant component of the gardening nude lifestyle is building community – both personally and in the business world – which focuses on doing righteous for humanity.

Great gardening tips, and going green ideas. Updated regularly, so definitely one for the bookmark page.

5. Live Lighter

- Another inspirational blog, this one is about a woman’s journey of living an unhealthy lifestyle and turning it all around. Losing 43lbs and 43 inches in a year. From the about page:

Live Lighter is a holistic health blog for women (and the men who adore them…), who survey the benefits of health and want the freedom that comes from achieving total balance of body, mind and soul.

This blog reads very conversationally, and can be a great tool for you to turn your lifestyle around too.

6. Jungle of Life

- Written by Lance Ekum, this blog navigates your way through the “animals” of life and helps you balance it all. From the about page:

So what is “The Jungle of Life”? Good seek information from… Life can seem like a jungle sometimes, overgrown with all the “things” that are in our life. The animals that bewitch us (debt, busy-ness, work, family, etc) lurking around every corner. Here at “The Jungle of Life” I’m looking for you to walk through this jungle with me as I inspect at ways to tame this jungle we call our lives. Join me on the journey as we survey more about who we are and what makes us each unique.

This blog is fun, updated often, and not at all preachy and acting like he’s got it all figured out and you should elect him supreme guru. A lot of people can relate to a busy father of three in the Midwest trying to balance it all.

7. The Inner Peace Project

- My newest most approved healthy living blog comes from lifelong friends Ashley and Megan as they take us on a journey to inner peace and true balance in an environmentally friendly way. From Their Story:

Greetings, Peace Seekers! Hello and how do you do? We are Ashley and Megan, full-time friends (since the fifth grade!) and part-time child wranglers (actually Ashley is a professional momma and wife, while Megan represents the single women). We are two urban cowgirls on a mission to search and part the not-so secrets behind accurate balance of the mind, body, and spirit, while trying to relieve our planet in our free time.

It’s great because married, mothers, and single women are both represented, and no one feels left out. Well, except maybe the dudes, but it wouldn’t hurt them to read it either. Some really great info and quips on this blog, that you really don’t see anywhere else. A great read.

There you have it, the lucky seven of Healthy Living blogs. Whether you’re looking for fitness, food, lifestyle, balance, or just a little inspiration along the way, these are some great tools for the arsenal!

Protecting the bedding and clothing from mites and bacteria

Buy the synthetic allergen proof covers for your bedding. The allergens and mites cannot survive on these covers. Lock in your mattresses and pillows in them to minimize the chance of skin exposure to them. Wash the towels, bed sheets, and undergarments with hot water.

Lowering the bathroom bacteria and mite threats

Never forget to keep the toilet seat lids down. If you do not glean time regularly to scrub clean the toilet seat, spray with a disinfectant regularly. Make a solution of water and white vinegar and attach it in a spray bottle. Spray it on the sink and the bowl after each use. Soak the sponges, poufs, and tooth brushes in a disinfectant solution once every week.

Keeping the kitchen from being a bacteria or mite nursery

Keep a spray bottle of water and white vinegar in the kitchen too. This solution is extremely useful to be customary in the kitchen even if your countertops have exposed raw food items. For my kitchen, I make an even safer and more powerful cleaner. I use lemon juice instead of vinegar and add in some salt. However, if you do not have a home grown lemon plant, this solution is going to be very expensive. The cutting boards should be immediately washed and immersed in vinegar solution after use. Do this religiously because the cracks and crevices of these boards are bacteria’s celebrated breeding places. The sink and the kitchen drain can also be disinfected by pouring a cup of vinegar in them. If you want a cheaper alternative, just put boiling hot water down the drain. I eat a hardboiled egg every day, so after the egg is being boiled, I throw the water (when it is level-headed boiling) in the sink every morning. In addition, make sure that your refrigerator does not impose any health risks.

Keeping the flooring bacteria and mites free

If you have, bare floors unbiased wipe them with a disinfectant solution once in a day. Keeping the carpets free of bacteria and dust mites is one of the hardest things in the world. However, vacuuming twice in a week can help. If you live in a high traffic area, design sure that you vacuum even thrice in a single week. Use a vacuum cleaner with a powerful motor to design sure it sucks all the dust into it.

Along with practicing, the above mentioned tips allow the sunlight and fresh air in the home regularly. Also, make sure that you are wiping the toys, telephone, computer keyboards, and other frequently used items with a disinfectant regularly. Put the stuff toys and cushions in the freezer overnight to kill the bacteria and mites accumulated in them.

Remember most of the bacteria love moist surfaces. So perform sure that your sponges, dusters, and wipe clothes are allowed to dry between uses. Wiping a surface in the morning with a sponge that has remained wet or moist overnight will only spread the germs instead of cleaning.

So have a home free of bacteria and mites; ensure the health of the whole family.

Click here to read more articles by the same author.

HCG helped them lose weight. Jennifer lost 50 pounds and Ed lost 60 pounds. They got the hormone from a clinic in Utah. Along with a 500-calorie a day diet they have lost weight without exercise. Jennifer said that exercise made her tired. They are ecstatic with their new bodies.

They are now receiving their HCG hormone from online from unknown places. You can bewitch HCG orally or by injection. I might add that they paid $800.00 a month for the HCG hormone initially.

Dr. Margaret Bedde says that the diet is very safe and promotes it gleefully. She says that when pregnant women do not have enough food for their health, the fetus will accept the nutrition that they need. When a non-pregnant person uses HCG for weight loss the body opens locks on stored up body fat. This is what causes a person using this hormone to lose weight. They will not having flabby fat hanging off of their body after this loss.

Dr. Cathleen London says that this diet is extremely dangerous. Keri Gans of the American Dietetic Association agrees that this diet is dangerous. Considering that this hormone can be obtained online from sources unknown makes it even more suspect.

Shalom Shick loves the diet and has lost 55 pounds. She now helps other people lose weight with her HCG hormone diet. According to her she is not ever hungry even though she is restricted to a 500- calorie a day diet.

The HCG hormone is used in males who are developmentally delayed. It feeds testosterone which helps young men develop properly. The argument is that the HCG hormone is used in small doses for weight loss and is completely harmless.

I am inclined to agree with the experts who have this diet is dangerous. Dr. London says that healthy weight loss should be done with a 1 to 2 pound a week loss with a healthy diet and exercise. Anything that is worth achieving is going to be slow and usually not easy.

This is honest another fad diet as far as I am concerned. I think that HCG hormones should be in pregnant women not in men and women who are not pregnant. If I could eat 500 calories a day I would be skinny too. I would also be very sickly and unhealthy. If losing weight were easy there would be a lot of skinny people in America.

It would be interesting to see what the long term affects of this diet would be. Maybe they will even get a baby out of the deal. Ed could be the second “man” to give birth to a baby in the world!

First step to remaining healthy is to take care of you. Gracious hygiene is a must. Brush your teeth, floss, wash your hair, and shower regularly. All these things should have been a part of your daily routines before going away to college but this is a reminder just in case. Showering may be a limited different than you may be use to at home. Be sure to bring slippers to wear in the shower and try to prevent your body or rag from touching any part of the shower stall. Liquid soap is better than bar soap so there are no worries about it slipping and falling in the stall. Often these stalls are shared by numerous students and though they should be cleaned regularly, all types of bacteria can build up within them.

Washing your hands is another way to eliminate germs and bacteria. You may not notice but there is bacteria everywhere, when we touch door knobs, your dorm room phone, on the keyboards in the computer lab, and just about anywhere else especially if it is something touched by many throughout the day. For this reason be sure to wash your hands before and after eating. If for some reason you are unable to wash your hands, use hand sanitizer. I would recommend keeping a enormous bottle of sanitizer in your dorm room and a small/mini bottle in your backpack, purse, or even pocket to have with you wherever you go.

Try to maintain a good sleeping habit. Get enough rest as possible. This can be difficult when attending college but it is possible. Manage your time with a schedule to organized when assignments will be done, meeting times for clubs or sports, etc. and try to stick with it in order to give yourself enough resting time. Anytime you can squeeze in a nap, do so. Be sure to communicate with your roommate to discuss appropriate times to have visitors and about maintaining noise levels within your dorm room. There is nothing fun about trying to sleep with five other people talking and blasting music a couple feet away from your bed. If need be you can always make a noise complaint to your RA or buy some ear plugs.

Dress appropriately according to the temperature inside the room. Your may be cold all the time and your roommate is hot all the time or vice versa. This can cause windows to be open during the winter or having the heat on so high your room feels like a sauna. No one wants to catch a cold or pass out from heat exhaustion. If it is cold, sleep with a warm blanket.

Diet and employ is another way to maintain healthiness. Keep a balanced diet. Though tempting and widely available around college campuses, reduce fatty and sugary foods. For snacks try fruits and vegetables. Buy a mini refrigerator if not already available in your dorm room and stock with healthy foods to have close by. Employ at least a few times a week. You may choose to go to the gym or follow a work out video but I would recommend getting involved in a sports team such as football, basketball, track, swimming, baseball, etc. If sports are not your thing try a club that is active. I was in a club that was a dance team. I think it may have helped me keep off the so called freshmen fifteen.

You might exercise most of your daily hours inside your dorm room so it is a splendid idea to keep it clean. For those of you who hated cleaning your room at home or had the luxury of mom to clean it for you, this next tip may seem difficult for you to do. Retain the floor in your room clear to prevent the hazard of tripping. Use a hamper for dirty clothes and a closet and or dresser drawers for clean clothes. I remember my dorm room days and stepping onto my roommates dirty clothes while I got out of bed was not something I enjoyed. Throw away or refrigerate leftover food instead of leaving it out in your room. Check the expiration date on foods regularly and discard them also. Take the garbage out frequently, at least once a day. This helps to eliminate bacteria build up and odors. Try washing your bed sheets at least twice a week. Exhaust disposable plates, cups and utensils to build clean up easier. If using non disposable dishes, wash them with dishwashing liquid and a sponge. You may have to wash your dishes in the bathroom sink, because there is usually no kitchen within the dorms or other sinks you can consume. Dust surfaces and sweep and mop your floor. Disinfectant sprays and or wipes are helpful to exercise. I recommend using Lysol disinfectant spray.

To obtain living in the dorm a little easier, talk with your roommate. Discuss sharing cleaning duties in the room so you are not the only person doing everything. Encourage your roommate to keep a healthy lifestyle. If your roommate is healthy that is less of a chance that you can catch an illness from them. It’s also helpful in keeping yourself on the healthy path when you have someone else to do it with.

Lastly is the dreaded sex talk. You may have heard if from your parents already but sex plays a big portion in your health. Abstinence is the best plan to protect you from STD’s and pregnancy. Of course not everybody chooses abstinence, so if you choose to have sex be sure to use protection such and condoms and dental dams. Look out for bumps and sores on lips and genitals of your partner. Limit the number of sex partners you have. Talk with your partner about yours and their sexual history. Do not be afraid to discuss what feels comfortable and what does not during any sexual act.

All of the things I have discussed are huge ways to keep healthy while living in a dorm away at college. They can reduce injuries and illness like the common cold or the flu. They can lower stress. They can also prevent or lower your risk of catching STD’s or other infections. This may all seem like a lot but your life is worth it.

1. It all starts while you are pregnant. When you are pregnant with your little bundle of joy, you need to think about eating healthier and don’t listen to the myth that you are eating for two. This is where most women earn the mistake of thinking that they need to eat more because they are pregnant and make the mistake of doing so. Eating healthier and incorporating more fruits and vegetables into your diet will help you obtain a healthy weight accumulate during your pregnancy that will be easier to shed after delivery.

2. While you are pregnant continue your level of activity. Don’t just become a couch potato. Don’t run any marathons but take walks around the block. If you have other children then take them with you. Or if you need fresh air then the dash will do you good. No matter what, the small bit of spend will help invent you and your body feel better about themselves.

3. Breastfeeding helps you to shed your baby weight faster. I didn’t breastfeed with my first child but I did with my second. Breastfeeding helps your uterus to contract back to its normal size faster and you experience less bleeding. While you are breastfeeding, your body loses more calories to produce milk for your baby. Think about giving breastfeeding a try if you haven’t understanding about it.

4. If you can’t breastfeed due to medical reasons or just by choice then get clear you stick to a healthy diet. For my third child, I was unable to breastfeed because of health issues. However, to help me lose weight I stuck to a low sodium diet. I watched my sodium intake and ate less meat and sweets. I practiced portion control and substituted fruits instead of candies.

5. For light exercise during my immediate postpartum period, I took walks with my new baby in her stroller during the day. I would walk a couple of blocks and even to the nearby Wal-Mart which is a few blocks away. The fresh air did me and the baby some good.

6. I have enrolled with my toddler daughter in a mommy and me dance class. Every Wednesday for an hour we both learn tap and ballet moves. This gets me moving and I get to spend time with my older child so she doesn’t feel left out.

7. Low impact aerobic exercise is great to launch off with. My husband bought me an elliptical for indoor use. I get on the elliptical for about 30 minutes at a time on various levels of difficulty. This is great for when the weather is bad or you have extra time while the baby is sleeping and you are watching television.

8. Bike riding is another wonderful consume to help you shed that baby weight. My toddler daughter is learning how to ride a tremendous girl bike and sometimes I take her on rides with me on my bicycle. We both enjoy the time together.

9. Being prior military, I enjoyed running. Once you are cleared for more activities after your 5 week checkup, then you are free to do more high impact exercises. Everyone is different but running 2 miles in the morning helped me to lose weight. It was definitely hard to pick up back into it but once you are in the zone then running and getting succor into shape is easy.

10. Swimming is a good exercise to lose weight. You can retract the whole family to the pool. Swimming can be done inside when the weather is terrible or outside when it is sunny. Either way swimming a few laps will firm parts of your body up.

I certainly hope that these tips helped you get a grasp on losing weight after giving birth. I believe that the most important thing that you have to do is settle a program and stick with it. The above are tips to get you started. No one tip is going to work alone. For example, breastfeeding is not going to shed all your excess baby fat. You have to consume a combination of breastfeeding, eating healthier and implementing consume into your daily life. I know that it sounds like a lot but if you have the will power to stick to a program that fits your lifestyle then you should see the weight slowly but surely come off.

When you have diabetes and you are overweight, your risk for certain health ailments may double. You can lessen your chances of developing one of these potentially deadly health ailments by

1. Helping your body to effectively metabolize sugar
2. Limiting your sugar intake
3. Replacing your depleted essential nutrients
4. Losing weight

You can tell if you are dangerously overweight by calculating your BMI (Body Mass Index).

Your BMI is obtained by looking at three different factors:

- Age (child, teen, or adult)
- Height
- Weight

The easiest way to calculate your BMI is by using a BMI calculator (easily found online), which will also have a chart so that you can look to see what category your number falls in.

Those with a high BMI are at risk for different health ailments and need to work on lowering their number immediately. Health effects may include:

- Diabetes (if not already diagnosed)
- Heart disease
- Heart attack
- Stroke
- High cholesterol

Becoming active on a daily basis is a vital piece of improving your immediate and long-term health. Being active will work together with a lowered calorie intake to help you lose weight and lower your BMI. It may also help you feel better about yourself and allow you to have a positive outlook on how your condition is progressing.

If you have a strong family history of diabetes, but have not yet developed the disease yourself, starting this plan early on may keep you from having to suffer from the condition at all.

I was surprised to learn that grapefruit can be awful for your health. This healthy food can actually do more wound than good if you eat it while taking certain prescription drugs. Grapefruit is an excellent source of vitamin C, fiber, potassium and lycopene; however, if you take certain prescription medications this healthy food will take a very unhealthy course. Grapefruit can react with certain medications causing side effects and can prevent medications from being processed by your liver. Before including this healthy food in your diet, check with your physician if you are taking prescription medications.

My mother loves tomatoes, potatoes, peppers & eggplant (sometimes sautéed all together); however, she has arthritis and has had to limit her intake of these healthy vegetables. According to an article appearing online at FitnessMagazine.com, these vegetables contain a chemical and increases inflammation and arthritis injure. While these healthy vegetables have protective antioxidants, they may also cause you more pain than the benefit is worth. Look to other sources for antioxidants if you have arthritis.

My daughter loves yogurt; however, she loves only the ones that are filled with sugar and empty calories. Yogurt is milk fermented with certain bacteria that is high in protein, calcium and vitamins. However, if you take the time to read the labels on yogurt you will find that most of what is sold as a “healthy” snack is actually filled with sugar, plump, preservatives, artificial flavors and carbohydrates. Sustain yogurt a healthy snack by purchasing plain, fat-free yogurt and add some fruit or granola.

Many of us reach for fat-free or reduced fat salad dressing because we believe we are making a healthier choice. However, Projectswole.com reports that a study at Ohio State University confirmed that using a fat-free or low-fat salad dressing blocks the good nutrients in the salad vegetables. Many vegetables are fat-soluble so when you take away the bulky from the dressing your body does not absorb the nutrients from the vegetables. Opt for a dressing made with olive oil rather than a fat-free dressing for a healthier alternative.

Dried fruit is a healthy snack, right? The answer is actually no – - dried fruit is not a healthy snack and should be treated as a dessert more than a fruit. Fruit is healthy because it is a source of vitamins, mineral and antioxidants; however, fruit is also full of sugar. When you dry fruit, you remove the moisture, shrink it down to bit-size pieces and leave all of the sugar. Healthy fresh fruit then becomes sugar-loaded candy pieces that are easy to overeat. Opt for fresh fruit with the skin if possible and stay away from the dried varieties.

Sources:

FitinessMagazine.com

LiveScience.com

Projectswole.com

Published studies have shown (Harvard Medical Journal, the American Institute for Cancer Research, Journal of the American Medical Association, the American Heart Association, American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, the Journal of Clinical Pathology, National Institutes of Health associated with National Library of Medicine and National Center for Biotechnology Information, University of Maryland School of Medicine as reported by Journal of American College of Cardiology, American Diabetes Association, American Kidney Association, CBS News, BBC News, and more) a lifestyle with regular exercise and a plant-based diet can reduce cancer risk, aid in preventing obesity, lowering blood pressure, reduce the chance of heart disease and stroke, assist in reducing the risk of diabetes and is far healthier in other ways than the typical American diet. Medical professionals advise a change in lifestyle rather than going on fad diets. Food combining (Fit For Life) and the alkaline diet are among a couple schools of thought based on healthy lifestyle rather than a fad diet. It is up to the individual whether to reduce or eliminate meat portions in their diet, depending on what works best for each person. The following are key elements that are advised from research studies:

1.a diet lower in cholesterol (only found in animal foods) as our bodies already compose more than we need
2.a diet lower in saturated fat (primarily from meats and dairy products) limited to no more than 30% overall fleshy (10% saturated fat, and
for recovering heart attack patients, those with diabetes or high LDL cholesterol 7% saturated paunchy)
3.a diet lower in homocysteine (an amino acid derived from methionine, another amino acid from animal foods)
4.lowering alcohol consumption to 0-1 drinks per day for women and 0-2 drinks per day for men
5.limiting sodium intake
6.regular exercise such as walking
7.stop smoking
8.stress management through many different avenues such as yoga, meditation, getting together with friends, taking up a cheerful
hobby, etc.
9.a diet incorporating tea, especially green tea (preferably decaffeinated) which contains flavonoids, antioxidants and more
10.increased farm original vegetables, fruit, grains, and legume consumption
11.carve or eliminate colas whether diet or sugar

It is estimated by the American Heart Association every 29 seconds someone suffers a heart attack in the US, being the #1 cause of death in our country. The #3 cause of death in the US is by stroke. Every 53 seconds someone in the US suffers a stroke. New age medical professionals say that bypass surgery bypasses the problem without solving the issue of a changed lifestyle for better health. Persistence in unhealthy living habits can be a significant risk for heart disease. In April of 2002, Dr. Robert Atkins, creator of the Atkins Diet, suffered a heart attack. He died a year later in April of 2003 from a slip and fall where the surgeons about a week before he died attempted to save his life by removing a blood clot to relieve pressure in his brain. His high profile diet suggested high protein with low carbohydrates consequently grievous fiber, high fat and high cholesterol.

The important issue is a healthy diet which will vary from person to person. Another intention we can attain this is by incorporating more fresh picked vegetables and fruits from our local farmer’s market in our diets. The most alarming invention by man for feeding the earth is with the GMO (Genetically Modified Organism) found in some grocery stores, but not found in local farmer’s markets (held by the limited farmers in the position) or in health food stores. We would be wise to take effect from the 6 countries around the world that have banned GMO’s and the additional 24 countries who propose to ban GMO crops. By eliminating GMO foods in our diet we don’t have to peril about the consequences down the road by ingesting what the genetic engineers have been creating: injecting human genes in corn or rice, mouse and human genes in potatoes, fish genes in tomatoes, and more.

Concerning the benefits of green tea, the anti-oxidants it contains have been found to block cancer. The researchers at Rochester University as reported on BBC News showed that the chemicals found in green tea shut down the AH receptor in cancerous mouse cells and early results present the same is proper for human cells. Medical researchers in the UK have found that green tea may help to lower cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of rheumatoid arthritis. Researchers in Sheffield as reported on BBC News have found that EGCG (epigallocatchin gallate) and ECG (epicatechin gallate) which are two compounds found in green tea to block the enzyme that destroys cartilage and can encourage prevent osteoarthritis (the most common form of arthritis). British Journal of Nutrition has had a research conclusion that animal foods may be a major factor contributing to the inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis. National Cheng Kung University Hospital in Taiwan, conducted studies that found regular tea drinking, especially green tea when used over several years preserves bone density in both men and women and particularly noticeable after drinking tea for over 10 years. They believe the high fluoride command as well as the flavonoids and phyto-estrogen may also succor preserve bone density. Their recent studies also indicate tea can help to reduce the risk of cancer, heart attack and Parkinson’s disease. The American Medical Association also states that drinking tea (especially decaffeinated) is linked to protecting against heart disease and protective against bone mineral loss shown in a study of older women. Decaffeinated drinks are best as caffeine has been linked in studies to increase blood pressure. Depending on a person’s genetic makeup, caffeinated coffee has been linked to increased risk of heart attack. If in conjunction with other terrible dietary habits, we can only imagine the even greater risk. The study found individuals that metabolize caffeine slower due to genetics, causes the caffeine to stay in the body for longer period. For those who metabolize caffeine rapidly, the study appeared to show the opposite in reducing the risk. No conclusive studies have yet determined caffeinated coffee to pose a heart attack risk, however, the study has found a link between cola sodas and the increased risk of hypertension regardless of whether it has sugar or is diet soda.

It is important to visit a medical professional for advice on what works best for each individual. By following these wise words from medical research and having a plant-based diet increases our intake of fiber, vitamins, minerals, enzymes, antioxidants and phytochemicals, etc., all of which have shown though studies to reduce the risk of diseases. More specifically eating lycopene in tomatoes and cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cabbage, brussels sprouts, kale, bok choy and cauliflower) studies have shown to sever the risk of prostate cancer, while a plant-based diet incorporating cruciferous vegetables showed a link to reducing heart disease and stroke as well. Research has also found cooking animal proteins (specifically muscle meats) produces cancer-causing chemicals called heterocyclic amines. New research in the UK has shown that diets high in animal food have significantly lower levels of salicylic acid in their blood than herbivores. Fruits and vegetables have high levels of salicylic acid which assist in reducing the inflammation that causes most cardiovascular illness. Both natural and synthetic salicylic acid, nick inflammation in the arteries to help prevent narrowing and hardening of the arteries. Eating cruciferous and/or green leafy vegetables was also significantly associated with less cognitive decline among aging women in a Harvard Medical School study.

It is attractive to note that The National Kidney Foundation has advised reducing the quantity of animal protein in assisting to prevent the formation of kidney stones and being watchful of taking too high of an intake of calcium supplements which has shown can increase the chances of stone formation in some individuals. In the early stages of kidney disease, the diet must not be too high in protein or phosphorus as well as sodium.

The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, published findings whereby the mineral bone loss on a typical meat-based diet was a lot more versus the alternative plant-based diet incorporating dairy products. In the Nurse’s Health Study at Harvard Medical School, found no promising data linking fracture risk to calcium rich foods such as drinking milk twice a day. Moreover they reported the importance of regular exercise, Vitamin K (found in foods such as broccoli and lettuce) as well as Vitamin D. The study found danger in consuming high amounts of inorganic forms of Vitamin A known as Retinol A which has been shown to increase risk of hip fracture. The form of Vitamin A to look for is Beta-carotene which is found in certain supplements and food sources. The Nurse’s Health Study at Harvard have found a higher intake of dairy products appear to be a contributing risk factor for Parkinson’s disease in men. So as far as diet, balance is the key; incorporating more vegetables, fruits, whole grains and legumes into our life together with all the elements mentioned above as suggested by medical research for a healthy lifestyle.

In summary, although I’ve been a lacto-vegetarian (incorporating dairy but not eggs) since birth, it is indispensable that each individual choose what works best for them. The American Institute for Cancer Research recommends a gradual progression into a plant-based diet if one is not aged to it. A lifestyle change that comprises of regular exercise along with healthy eating habits as advised through so many studies will help all of us live a long and quality life; Living a life with a higher immune system, recreational physical activity into our golden years, staying out of the hospitals, and leading into the retirement of our dreams.

You can begin to feed your children healthy foods starting at infancy. If it is within your budget, avoid the baby foods loaded with additives and preservatives and look for those containing only natural or organic ingredients. They can sometimes be more expensive, and you may need to go to a health food store for a wider selection, but there are plenty of brands out there promoting healthy baby food options.

Earth’s Best, at http://www.earthsbest.com/, produces a line of organic baby food fortified with iron and other essential nutrients, as well as formula and baby cereals, among other healthy foods for babies at various ages.

Sprouts, at http://www.sproutsbabyfood.com/ is another company that makes organic baby food and acts as a food catering service specifically for babies. Sprouts will deliver freshly made, healthy meals to your door, and will acquire a special menu plan for your children if desired. Be sure to visit their website for more information.

If you have the time, you can make your own natural baby food using fresh ingredients, and at very runt cost. Beginning at the age of six months, when it is recommended that your baby begin to eat solid foods, you can begin to feed your child a variety of fruits and vegetables. These include pears, applesauce, bananas, cooked yams and cooked carrots. Introducing these foods one at a time is recommended. This helps prevent the development of allergies.

At 9-12 months, you can add more foods to the menu, including peas, peaches, and mashed potatoes. Basically, anything you might typically purchase in the baby food section can be easily replicated at home with fresh, natural fruits and vegetables, containing none of the unnatural ingredients found in canned and jarred baby food.

Older children tend to consume tremendous quantities of food, and great of it is of the junk food variety if not strictly regulated. Keeping a large selection of healthier snacks around the home will help to curb your child’s appetite for less desirable foods. Be sure to always have plenty of fruit on hand, as well as vegetables that can be easily snacked on, like carrots, celery, and broccoli, with dip. Nuts are always a healthy snack at any time of day. Cheese and crackers is another option that may override the desire for chips and candy.

Remember, children often pick up bad eating habits from their parents. If they see you eating junk food, they’ll develop an appetite for it as well. The best way to ensure your kids eat healthy is to keep a very tiny amount of junk food in the house, or none at all. This wont preserve your children from enjoying junk food at friend’s houses or in school if its available, but if they have been raised on healthier foods, they may have less desire for junk food, and the willpower to make a conscious choice to eat healthier.

Organic snacks can be expensive sometimes, but there are a vast amount of organic cookies, chips, and other items for your children to enjoy that are healthier than the junk food alternative but will also satisfy children’s cravings for such foods.

Teaching your children about health and nutrition and letting them relieve in the kitchen during meal preparation with also relieve them understand why it is so important to eat healthy, as well as foster the desire to eat healthy throughout life.