Apple Cider Vinegar Part 2: WHAT IS SO GOOD ABOUT APPLE CIDER VINEGAR?

 

Acetic acid is the main component of apple cider vinegar, as in all vinegars. It composes roughly 5 percent of the vinegar’s content, although this number can vary between 3 and 9 percent. Many of the therapeutic claims stem from the antibacterial and antifungal properties of acetic acid, which protect the body from invasion and infection by a multitude of microbes. The phenolic acids in apple cider vinegar contain these properties, too, and are also known antivirals, antioxidants, antihistamines, and astringents. Some, like Gallic acid, have even been shown to be cytotoxic and destroy cancer cells. Malic acid has many uses in enhancing the skin’s natural beauty, and it—like the other acids present in apple cider vinegar— protects against pathogens.

 The healing properties of apple cider vinegar do not come from its abundant nutrients, as many claims argue. Minerals like potassium, calcium, and the soluble fibre pectin are touted as the source of many of apple cider vinegar’s therapeutic benefits. A few nutritional labels report between 11 milligrams and 15 milligrams of potassium in 1 tablespoon (the recommended dietary allowance of potassium is 4700 milligrams per day for adults), but most brands do not report any measurable levels. One study analyzed the mineral content of raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar and found trace amounts of some minerals but absolutely no potassium. The minerals present were in such small amounts that they were practically negligible in terms of nutritional or therapeutic value. The study also detected small amounts of carbohydrates, which could conceivably be pectin, but again, the amounts range from 0.022 grams to 0.103 grams per tablespoon. Doses in the range of 6 grams (7/10 tablespoon) to 30 grams (3 3/5 tablespoons) of powdered pectin a day are recommended to see the benefits on digestion and blood cholesterol. The standard nutritional analysis of organic, unfiltered, unpasteurized apple cider vinegar with naturally occurring Mother of vinegar shows that it has only 5 calories per tablespoon, making it wonderful as a low-calorie substitute for flavour. However, there are no measurable minerals, vitamins, or protein.

 This does not support claims that the Mother is rich in enzymes and amino acids, which are proteins. Even in 100 grams of apple cider vinegar, no measurable amounts of minerals, vitamins, or protein were detected.

 Another theory about the effectiveness of apple cider vinegar is that it works by changing the pH of the body. When apple cider vinegar is ingested, it creates an alkaline ash in the stomach as it is digested. Some believe that this alkaline ash shifts the pH of the body into a more alkaline state. This is desirable because an acidic state makes the body more open to infection and disease. It is interesting to note that there is also an opposing notion that apple cider vinegar shifts the body into a more acidic state. Foods can change the pH level of the urine; however, the pH level of the blood is strictly controlled by the kidneys and is always maintained at 7.385. Any variations can only happen with certain diseases and can be life threatening if not restored to pH 7.385. Foods cannot change the acidity or alkalinity of the body.

Acknowledgement: Susan Branson

Super Foods for Women

Everyone, including women, need to eat nutrient-rich foods to maintain their health. One area in your budget you should probably try to increase is your food budget. We all spend money on our health. It is a toxic, crowded world and there is no escape from that expense. You can choose if you spend less money on food and more on medicine, or more on better food and supplements and less on medicine. With the latter, you'll have a better quality of life, but it does take more time and effort.

The nutrients we need our food to be rich in include:

• Protein for muscle and strength

• Iron for our blood

• Folic acid for the formation of both red and white blood cells

• Chromium for healthy blood sugar

• Calcium for bones and teeth

• Magnesium for many things including healthy organs

• Vitamin D for heart and bone health

• Vitamin C for immunity and antioxidants

• B vitamins for adrenal health and to fight stress

• Enzymes for digestion and nutrient absorption

• Fiber to get the most out of your food and help fight disease

• Essential fatty acids to nourish your brain and vascular system

• Lots of good, clean water

The best way to get all of these nutrients every day is to incorporate super foods foods into your diet that will do double duty. Super foods usually provide more than just a few vitamins and minerals. They nourish your body with essential vitamins and minerals, while also helping to fight disease, providing you with balanced health.

The top 10 super foods for women:

1. Dark green leafy vegetables. This is what humans were designed to eat as the main portion of our diet, and what Americans don't get enough of - things like kale and Swiss chard. The nutrients are too numerous to list, but include lots of vitamins, minerals, amino acids, antioxidants, powerful phytochemicals, and more that will ensure optimum functioning for your body. This is where you'll get your folic acid, hormone support, liver support, disease prevention, proper pH, and even some iron and protein. Cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli and Brussels sprouts are invaluable as well.

2. Lean meat, beans, and legumes. You must have a clean, healthy source of protein and iron. Grass-fed beef or lamb is good choices, as are many beans and lentils. Low in fat, high in fibre beans are very nutritious and a staple in vegetarian diets.

3. Whole grains. Important for fiber and energy, carbohydrates are downright dangerous to your health when they are over-processed and from GMO sources. Whole wheat does not mean whole grain. Consider some of the less used (and processed) ancient grains such as quinoa, spelt, and amaranth.

fruit,

4. Fresh organic fruit. Full of flavonoids, antioxidants, enzymes, fiber (eat the peel!), and vitamins, fruit is the 'sweets' you were designed to eat (not sugar). On the super food list: blueberries, goji berries, cranberries, cherries, kiwis, etc.

5. Nuts and seeds. EFAs, ALAs, fiber, good fats, and these super foods are disease fighters. Chia seeds and flax seeds (and meal) have lignans that fight breast cancer by inhibiting the growth and development of tumors. Almonds, walnuts, pistachios, and other nuts provide healthy fats necessary for everything from a healthy heart to healthy joints.

6. Avocado. Full of healthy fats, antioxidants, and phytonutrients, avocados will lower triglycerides, nourish your brain, and prevent wrinkles. One of the best anti-aging foods you can consume, avocados is versatile - add to a smoothie, spread on a sandwich, or top a wrap with slices.

7. Fish. The essential fatty acids (EFAs) found in fish such as wild-caught salmon and sardines are essential to your health. They are also a good source of low-fat protein. If you are concerned about the health of our oceans, you can get your EFAs from things like flax and walnuts.

8. Chocolate. That's right. If you stick to this list, you'll need a reward. Why not some antioxidant-rich dark chocolate? A good-for-you treat, a little goes a long way and will help satisfy your sweet tooth.

9. Spice it up. Cooking at home allows you control over the ingredients you consume, and the opportunity to make your food extra nutritious by adding some time-honored flavorings known for their health benefits. Cook with garlic, onion, mushrooms, cinnamon, turmeric, rosemary, and others. All have wonderful flavors and immune-boosting properties.

10. Spirulina and chlorella. Not necessarily easy to eat, these amazing super foods are worth their weight in gold to your health. Add to smoothies or take as a supplement to fight and prevent disease and maintain optimum health. For more information, check out the links below.

Ask yourself before you eat if the food you are looking at is nutrient-rich or nutrient-poor, and eat accordingly. Try to eat at least eight different colored foods each day. Raw foods are the only way to get enzymes, which are the key to good digestion and fewer allergies. You must grow your own food or buy organic food to get enzymes, or take supplements, as all other foods are irradiated which kills them. You also need probiotics for good gut health. Eat fermented foods such as sauerkraut or yogurt, especially after taking pharmaceutical antibiotics. Make and take your food rather than eating out; that's the best way to know what you're getting and to avoid the time crunch that ends up with you at the drive-thru window. Don't forget to address underlying emotional issues because they will affect your health in the long-run. Lastly, do invest some time in top quality whole-food based vitamins and supplements for those days when you don't get enough super foods.

Source: www.naturalnews.com

How to Nourish Your Hair

Dry hair does not produce much sebum and consequently tends to be coarse and brittle - a condition that worsens with age. Sun, sea water, chemical dyes and perms cause further damage and result in split ends. Trimming the damaged hair is sometimes the only remedy. 

But hair need not become too dry. With the right conditioning treatment, even dry, straw-like hair can become manageable again. 

Apply repair treatments regularly to tone your hair and prevent the strands from becoming brittle and tangled. The weaker the hair, the more important this is. 

You can make your own natural products based on traditional recipes, of which the following one is shared with you:

Egg Shampoo

This shampoo will protect dry hair. Products containing eggs are most effective when used immediately.

Ingredients

1 egg white

2 egg yolks

1 teaspoon honey

1 tablespoon olive oil

Juice of one lemon

2 tablespoons freshly squeezed Bulbine juice

Whisk the egg white and fold in the yolks. Stir in the honey, olive oil, lemon juice and Bulbine juice.

Massage the shampoo into the scalp and thoroughly coat the hair. Leave for a few minutes and rinse the hair, using plenty of water until all the shampoo has gone.

Calcium Facts

Women and Calcium

Calcium is a mineral that strengthens your bones and teeth, and ensures everything runs smoothly with your muscles and nerves. It's especially important for growth. Calcium can continue to add to the strength of your bones until you reach the age of 30 to 35, when peak bone mass is reached.

After this point, as a natural part of the ageing process, your bones lose their density and grow weaker. If you haven't had enough calcium in your diet prior to this, there's an increased risk that your bones won't be strong enough to cope with any weakening, which can result in the brittle bone disease, osteoporosis.

Health professionals estimate that one in three women and one in 12 men over the age of 50 suffer from osteoporosis. There's also concern that the diets of teenage girls and young women, in particular, aren't high enough in calcium. Some experts predict the future could bring an osteoporosis epidemic in women.

Of course, if your diet excludes milk and dairy products or if you can't tolerate the milk sugar lactose, then you need to look for calcium alternatives. It is recommended that both men and women get 700mg of calcium every day to ensure good health.

The good news is, if you're concerned about your weight, getting the calcium you need doesn't have to mean eating or drinking full-fat foods. There's exactly the same amount of calcium in skimmed milk as there is in whole milk. The same goes for low-fat yoghurt and reduced-fat cheese. You don't have to buy their full-fat counterparts to look after your bones.

Healthy Food Especially for Woman

Carrots

Carrots are packed with carotenoids such as alpha-carotene and beta-carotene. Carotenes are essential to women's health, as a high-carotenoid diet has been linked to lowered risks of both breast and ovarian cancer. 

Tomatoes

Tomatoes are rich in lycopene, a pigment found in tomatoes. Lycopene may be effective in preventing breast cancer but as it is a powerful oxidant, it also can help to reduce risk of heart disease, as women are equally prone for heart disease.

 Spinach

Spinach is rich in magnesium, and this may be beneficial in reducing many of the physical symptoms of PMS; as well as a possible reduction in swelling, breast tenderness, bloating and gaining weight.

Milk

Milk is a great source of calcium, and therefore milk is not only good to counter osteoporosis, but a diet rich in calcium and vitamin D could also be beneficial in easing, or even prevent, symptoms of PMS.

Oats

Oats are rich in health-boosting nutrients. Oats are not only great for heart health, digestion and blood pressure levels, but they contain vitamin B6, which can help prevent PMS and mood swings. Another nutrient of oats is folic acid, which is important for women to consume before and during pregnancy to prevent birth defects in babies.

Health benefits of Liquorice

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Life as a mom can be hard, especially when it seems like no one notices everything you do.

Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a systemic skeletal disease characterised by bone loss and changes in the bone quality that could lead to loss of bone strength and fractures.

Osteoporosis is a ‘silent’ or asymptomatic disease as is often only diagnosed by means of a bone mineral density test when a person has had a fracture.

However, osteoporosis is a preventable disease. Here are some tips:

·         Make sure that you take in sufficient calcium. All young people from age 14 upwards need between 1000 and 1500 mg of calcium daily in order to build up maximum bone density. That means having between three and four cups of milk (skim milk if you tend to be overweight), yogurt or cottage cheese every day.

·         Postmenopausal women over 40 should take in about 1500 mg of elemental calcium per day. If it is difficult to make this part of your daily diet, a good calcium supplement, that contains at least 500 mg of elemental calcium per tablet, should be considered. Milk, cheese, sardines, tofu and green vegetables are all rich in calcium.

·         Men between the ages of 30 and 50 need 800 - 1000 mg of calcium daily and men over 50, 1200 mg of calcium per day.

·         Make sure that you get enough vitamin D. Generally, most people are exposed to sufficient sunlight in order to produce vitamin D. However, older people who spend a lot of time indoors often need additional vitamin D. Use a soft margarine that contains a vitamin D-supplement or take an oral vitamin D supplement – usual requirement 600 – 800 IU daily and contained in many calcium tablets.

·         Additional magnesium may be needed by diabetics, alcoholics and people who take diuretics. Nuts, seeds and grains are all rich in magnesium. Chicken, fish and red meat increase the absorption of magnesium and other minerals.

·         Lose the alcohol and the cigarettes. Reduce alcohol intake and stop smoking. Research has shown that between 20 and 25 percent of men who drink four or more units of alcohol per day, suffer some from of bone loss.

·         Exercise at least twice per week. Weight-bearing exercises such as running, and resistance training, where you have to push against your body weight or against weights, apparatus or elastic bands, are essential for building strong bone structure.

·         Exercise moderately three times a week. Walking is an excellent and easy means of exercise and provides the necessary skeletal protection and benefit. Brisk walking for 30-45 minutes three times a week is adequate. Resistance training may also enhance muscle and skeletal strength, but must be performed cautiously in the patient at high risk for osteoporosis.

Remember, although treatable, the prevention of osteoporosis is much more effective. This requires an understanding of predictive factors so that the likelihood of osteoporosis may be judged, an awareness of methods to measure bone mass, knowledge of lifestyle adaptations and drugs available to prevent further bone loss.

Do not hesitate to obtain professional medical advice.

Easy ways to reduce cholesterol