Health Benefits of Nuts

Nuts are a huge hit when it comes to snacking! We’ve been told that they are healthy for us, we know that the contain protein, but what else is in there? There’s a whole lot more to nuts than most people realize!

Here’s a list of some common nuts and their nutritional benefits:

Almonds

• Help aids weight loss

• Rich in heart healthy fat which helps lowers cholesterol.

• In every ounce, almonds contain 6 grams of protein, 3 grams of dietary fiber, and 80 micro grams of calcium, and phosphorus and vitamin E.

• Almonds have almost no carbohydrates, which makes them a great snake for diabetics.

Brazil Nuts

• Contain large amounts of selenium, which research has shown has a protective effect fights against many different kinds of cancers, helps with thyroid function, and may even help with men’s fertility.

Cashews

• Contains high amounts of heart healthy (monounsaturated) fat, which has been shown to help lower cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart disease.

• Very mineral rich, including potassium, magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, selenium, and copper.

• Compared to other nuts, cashews are slightly less amount of calories, while containing a slightly higher amount of carbohydrates.

Hazelnuts

• Rich in beta-sitosterol which lowers cholesterol and lessens the symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (something men over 40 commonly experience: going to the bathroom multiple times throughout the night).

• Contain vitamin E, phosphorus, magnesium and omega-3 fatty acids.

Macadamia Nuts

• Boasts the highest amount of monounsaturated fat (about 80% – more than olive oil!) than the other nuts. Monounsaturated fat is great for your heart health and has been associated with lower levels of heart disease and cancer.

• Contains calcium, potassium, phosphorus, selenium, magnesium, and fiber.

• Very high in calories, so eat in moderation.

Pecans

• Loaded with monounsaturated fat, vitamin E, potassium, phytosterols, and beta-sitosterol.

• May help lower the risk for type 2 Diabetes.

Pistachios

• Improves lipid profiles, decreases coronary risk, decreases oxidative stress and improves both HDL and LDL cholesterol levels.

• Unsalted pistachio nuts have a favorable potassium-to-sodium ratio which is very helpful with normalizing blood pressure and maintaining a healthy water balance in the body.

• Contain magnesium, phosphorus, phytosterols as well as other vitamins and minerals.

Walnuts

• Contains the highest amount of omega-3 fat, compared to other nuts. Omega-3′s are a remarkable brain food, which supports brain function, improves mood, and helps lower triglycerides and reduce plaque.

• Rich in manganese, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, and potassium.

It’s no surprise that studies show that those who eat nuts consistently have significantly lower risks of having a heart attack or heart disease.

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Tags: Health, health benefits, Nutrition, Nuts

Health Benefits of a Pomegranates

You would have to live under a rock to not notice all of the products on the market today touting the health benefits of one of their coveted ingredients: Pomegranate!Why Pomegranates?

Pomegranates are full of nutrients that are extremely beneficial for your body. The best part? We’re just scratching the surface…

• Studies have shown an increase of blood flow to the heart, which increases oxygen efficiency to the heart during exercise.

• Rich in Vitamin C and Potassium

• Pomegranates have been shown to help prevent fatty deposits from collecting on the arteries, which prevents heart attacks, stroke, cancer, Alzheimers disease and even premature aging.

• May help lower cholesterol levels

• Study showed that participants had reduced arterial plaque by 30 percent!

• Contains flavonoids. How much? More concentrated amount than what’s found in grapes!

• Full of antioxidants - three times as many antioxidants found in green tea and red wine (but without the caffeine and alcohol!)

Pomegranate Products

Pomegranates are the new cranberry. It’s everywhere! Once all of the research comes out listing all of the health benefits, companies take notice and start providing product to profit from the new health hype. What does that mean for you? Products with Pomegranates are going to be bountiful, but it also means that you will need to do your due diligence to make sure you buy a quality product and get your money’s worth.

If you want to buy Pomegranate juice, for example, be sure to find a product that is 100% Pomegranate juice like this product, rather than have a product that is either watered down like this product or mixed with cheaper juices like this product. If you are going to pay for pomegranate juice, get the good stuff and know what you are paying for!

If you want to benefit from everything Pomegranates have to offer, I suggest buying the fruit itself, and eating it plain or adding it to your recipes. It may take additional time (and perhaps get a little messy!), but it’s the best source of all of the nutrients – no processing required!

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Tags: health benefits, Nutrition, pomegranate

Skinny Tip #8

When life gives you lemons, just add water!

Skinny Tip: 

If you are looking for a healthy cleanse, a way to boost your metabolism, and a great afternoon “pick me up”, then just squeeze a little bit of fresh lemon juice into a cup of water and enjoy!

Not only does water with a bit of lemon taste great, but did you also know that lemons are known for a plethora of health benefits?

I suggest that you take advantage of them.

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Tags: boost metabolism, health benefits, lemon, skinny tip, Twinkie, Weight Loss

Peppermint

Peppermint is more than just a delicious herb or fresh scent.  Did you know that there are plenty of health benefits and nutrients that come from Peppermint?

If you would like to experience the full health benefits of Peppermint, be sure to avoid the Peppermint Candies that are just full of sugar. Sadly, the sugar defeats the purpose of the Peppermint. Good thing there is plenty of ways to enjoy the health benefits of Peppermint without the unnecessary sugar.

Benefits

• Contains calcium, copper, iron, potassium, manganese, Vitamins C, B2, and A.

• Relieves Stress and Anxiety

• May lower blood pressure levels

• Helps relieve Nausea

• Muscle relaxer, which may reduce any Menstrual Pain

• Anti-Inflamatory effects

• Known to have Antiseptic and Antibacterial properties

• Natural Decongestant

• Helps aide digestion, including helping  with Irritable Bowl Syndrome (IBS)

• Relieves Migraines or Headaches (if constricted blood vessels is the cause of the pain)

• Natural Pest Control (repels ants, rodents, fleas, and even lice)

Intake

Dried – The dried Peppermint leaves are commonly used in teas.

Oil- Peppermint Oil can be used for culinary as well as medicinal purposes.

Precautions

Peppermint should be avoided if you suffer from acid reflux disease, heart burn,  GERD, or gallstones. Peppermint does not go well with cyclosporine or any other medication that has the purpose of preventing the rejection of transplants. Peppermint is not recommended for infants, and peppermint in high doses is not recommended for women who are pregnant or nursing.

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Tags: health benefits, Herbs, medicinal, peppermint, Spices

Virgin Coconut Oil

I recently had a poll on my site asking others what they thought was the healthiest oil for them. To my shock, Coconut Oil was quite underrated for it’s many health benefits. Apparently The marketers of Olive Oil are doing a better job, but still, I must set the record straight.

Let’s first begin with going over the different types of coconut oil. I want to be sure when you are using Coconut Oil, you are getting only the good stuff, and using only the best.

Refined Coconut Oil

This is the most common way to mass-produce Coconut Oil. Refined Coconut Oil is RBD, which means it is Refined, Bleached, and Deodorized. When you deodorize the oil, very high heat is used to do so. Sometimes the RBD oil is hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated.  Sodium hydroxide is usually used to get rid of the free fatty acids, which helps prolong it’s shelf life. Due to the refinement process, the taste and smell is bland, and does not keep to the taste and smell of an actual coconut. You may think you want a bland taste rather than a coconut flavored oil…but trust me, you don’t want the refined oil. Please read on..

Virgin Coconut Oil

The only way to extract Virgin Coconut Oil is by using fresh coconut meat. No chemicals or high heating is used in further refining since it’s natural pure coconut oil is naturally able to have a long shelf life (why the processing is done in the first place, I will never know). Virgin Coconut Oil retains the taste and smell of coconuts.

Extra Virgin Coconut Oil

Unlike the Olive Oil Industry, there is actually no difference between “Virgin” and “Extra Virgin” Coconut Oil. When it comes to Coconut Oil, “Virgin” is just as good as “Extra Virgin”.

Coconut Oil Heated

One of the wonderful benefits of Coconut Oil, is that it isn’t damaged by heat. Because Coconut Oil can be cooked without worrying the nutritional benefits will be cooked out, Coconut Oil is great for cooking and baking. Not only is it still good for you, but it taste great too.

Health Benefits of Coconut Oil

Coconut Oil is the richest form of Medium Chain Triglycerides (MCT), which the body burns for energy (unlike other oils which have Long Chained Triglycerides which actually store as fat – Not good!). Coconut Oil contains Lauric Acid (form of MCT), which is a predominant fatty acid that has anti-microbial and anti-viral properties. The medium chain fats in Coconut Oil is similar to the fats found in breast milk, and even have some of the same health effects, and have a great healing power.

Coconut Oil shows evidence of killing yeast infections (think Candida), increased energy, better immune system, helps with memory, protects the liver, reduced risk of heart disease, normalizes blood sugar levels (also reduces cravings of foods that would raise blood sugar levels), aids digestion, helps with the absorption of nutrients into the body, lowers cholesterol levels, and even helps with Weight Loss.

There are many health benefits of Coconut Oil – even more than what I have already mentioned! Nice.

How Coconut Oil effects Weight Loss

Just as I already mentioned, Coconut Oil has MCT, which helps your body burn fat, thus helping you lose weight. Coconut Oil also helps your body have the ability to control hungry and cravings, which again, helps you lose weight. Does everyone who consumes Coconut Oil lose weight? No, not always. There have been reports of people not losing weight, but they noticed their pants fit better. Apparently Coconut Oil also helps with muscle mass while trimming fat.

Research shows that an under active Thyroid may be to blame for weight problems. That is a pretty intense claim considering that 65% of the US population is overweight, and 27% is clinically obese. Wow. Good news, Coconut Oil is also known to help with an under active Thyroid. Diet seems to play a major role in Thyroid health (for good or bad), and considering their is a choice in the matter, I would do what I can to naturally have great thyroid health.

Cooking with Coconut Oil

Personally, I have thrown out all of my oils (Shortening, Vegetable Oil or any other “cooking oils”), and I have replaced them all with Virgin Coconut Oil (USDA Organic). I have to admit, I was a little worried how the Coconut Oil would effect the taste of my food. Come to find out, it has only made the flavor of whatever I was cooking- even better! You can use Coconut Oil as a replacement for all other oils whether it be for baking desserts, adding to smoothies, or to cook with your meats- you won’t be disappointed.

Coconut Oil has a melting point of 76 degrees, so if it is colder than 76 degrees, the Coconut Oil is going to be more of a solid texture. For measuring purposes, you might want to warm up the Coconut Oil by either running warm or hot water on the jar, or just taking a couple of spoonfuls and baking them for a couple of a minute or two. At this point, it will be a liquid, and easy to measure for recipes.

I love this wonderful oil, and believe you will too!

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