Sunday, September 27, 2009

Superfoods That Prevent Disease

What if the secret to a longer and healthier life lay in the foods that we consume on a regular basis? The old adage, 'You are what you eat,' held more truth to it than what many previously thought. More and more studies have confirmed that superfoods, such as the goji berry, blueberry, mangosteen, soy, broccoli, spinach and acai berry, are packed with vital nutrients that can help us decrease various risk factors such as high cholesterol and even cut our risk of cancer.

Most of the basic fruits and vegetables that we consume on a daily basis contain small amounts of phytonutrients that can help aide in the prevention of some ailments. There are some fruits and vegetables available that are chalked full of a wide array of these phytonutrients, making the food a superfood. Fruits such as blueberries that are rich in vitamin C and potassium, making them excellent for your heart. If you suffer with high cholesterol, it is often recommended to get more soy into your diet as it is a know cholesterol buster. EGCG, a chemical found in green tea, has been proven in several laboratories to both lower cholesterol and retard the growth of cancer cells.

Other common superfoods include buckwheat, a plant derived seed that is used like a grain in cooking. Buckwheat is very low on the glycemic scale, making them a great food for diabetics and those with inflammatory problems. Buckwheat is gentle on the body and can help to stabilize blood sugar and reduce high blood pressure. Perhaps one of the most overlooked superfood is the acai berry from South American palm tree. This potent little berry contains remarkably high amounts of dietary fiber, antioxidants, fatty acids, and phytosterols, making it one of the most powerful superfoods available today. Nuts and seeds are also high on the list of superfoods with powerful cancer fighting fatty acids and heart healthy antioxidants.

Getting these foods into your daily diet is no longer a challenge as world wide trade has brought with it the fruits and vegetables from far away places to our local supermarket shelves. Knowing that by incorporating these fruits and vegetables into your daily diet can pay off in terms of a healthy life in the long run should be more than enough encouragement to begin eating a more varied and broad diet consisting of superfoods. Other reasons that people incorporate more superfoods into their diet is for more energy and vitality, better mental clarity, and reducing premature aging.

Monday, September 21, 2009

Drinking Goji Mangosteen juice for high energy

Drinking Goji Mangosteen juice can boost energy to improve performance today and in the future. The juice is an excellent energy drink and with its antioxidants and anti-aging properties it helps prevent physical deterioration to assure maintaining high energy in the future.

Glucose is necessary for energy. The body stores glucose until it is required for physical activities like participating in sports. To perform at optimal levels and with maximum energy levels, sufficient fuel must be readily available. Once the glucose is created it is then stored in the muscles and liver as glycogen. The body produces glucose from sugar and starch sources like those listed below:

· Fruit
· Juices
· Bread
· Rice
· Potatoes
· Pasta

Whole grain and whole fruits options are the best carbohydrate choices.

Men and women participating in sports will not be able to live on carbohydrates alone and will need adequate protein for high energy levels. Lean meats like fish, poultry, and lean beef are some of the common choices for protein sources. Other sources of protein include cheese, eggs, beans, and seeds. High energy while participating in sports is also achieved by making sure that the body has sufficient vitamins, minerals, and essential fatty acids.

When working out and participating in sports it is important that before physical activity begins that the body is fully hydrated. Replenishing fluids (when possible) while participating in a sport or working out and after exercising is vital.

It is the consistent attention that is paid to diet that gives energy today to an athlete and will assure that the athlete will be healthy with high energy in the future. A consistent healthy diet that is varied will provide what the body needs to perform at its best. Drinking Goji Mangosteen juice for high energy is an excellent and healthy addition to any diet. Every diet should include the following:

· Carbohydrates
· Protein
· Vitamins
· Minerals
· Essential fatty acids
· Fluids

When a sporting event is being participated in, the morning of the event many athletes choose a large and highly nutritious breakfast. The breakfast can include drinking Goji Mangosteen juice. The breakfast should be eaten well in advance of the start of the event.

High energy today and in the future is attained by a consistent diet of healthy and nutritious foods like drinking Goji Mangosteen juice.

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Can Mangosteen Phytonutrients prevent disease? - Indirectly, yes

Phytonutrients, also known as phytochemicals, are naturally occurring bioactive compounds found in plant foods. Scientists have discovered more than 900 different phytonutrients in plant foods, and more are being discovered each day. Most of these compounds work in combination and reinforce each other.

Along with the other positive attributes of plant foods, such as fiber, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals, some the newly isolated phytonutrients, such as xanthone, are also beneficial. Among the benefits of xanthone, are support of immune system health, and supplying of antioxidants. Antioxidants are important because they inhibit the production of free radicals in the body which attack the cell structures and cause some of the negative effects of aging.

Many fruits and vegetables are rich in phytonutrients, and in particular, the mangosteen, a tropical fruit native to Southeast Asia. The mangosteen, with its soft, white, moist flesh, and delicate taste, is one of the most prized fruits in Asia. Cultivated by Southeast Asians for thousands of years, the mangosteen is known as the “Queen of Fruits.” The fruit of the mangosteen tree ripens twice a year, and is about the size of a tangerine. It has a dark purple rind that encases a milky white pulp. Unlike many of the more exotic fruits of Southeast Asia, which are for many westerners is an acquired taste, the sweet and slightly tart flavor of the mangosteen appeals to western palates.

Mangosteens are extremely rich in the antioxidant xanthone, and many other minerals and phytonutrients that are traditionally thought to promote good health.

While there is no scientific evidence that links mangosteen phytonutrients directly to preventing disease, it is widely accepted that antioxidants are essential for promoting good health. Their control of the development of free radicals in the body helps to prevent some of the negative impacts of aging and the destruction of the body’s cellular structure, which is one of the causes of many debilitating diseases. Lack of scientific proof notwithstanding, one must conclude from this that a healthy diet containing mangosteen phytonutrients, when combined with adequate exercise, rest, and reduction of stress, can in fact be an indirect way to prevent disease and live a longer, healthier life.