We all know that eating junk food can hurt us in the battle of the bulge. But now there’s a new reason to control our intake of these highly processed foods: They may cause eye problems. According to a study by Harvard Medical School’s Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, fatty snack foods may lead to macular degeneration, the leading cause of vision impairment for Americans over 55.

The key to eliminating junk food from your diet is to replace them with healthier alternatives. The good news is there are plenty of healthy foods that contain vitamins that actually promote eye health. Carrots, beef, chicken, cantaloupe, mangos and sweet potatoes all contain beta-carotene (vitamin A), which has been proven to positively affect both night vision and day-to-day eyesight. It also aids in cataract and macular degeneration prevention. Pork, liver, whole-grain cereals and breads, wheat germ, potatoes and legumes contain thiamine (vitamin B1), which prevents lens deterioration. Vegetable oils, egg yolks, milk fat, green leafy vegetables and nuts contain vitamin E, which also aids in lens deterioration prevention. And tomatoes, citrus fruit, strawberries, cabbage, green leafy vegetables and sweet bell peppers contain vitamin C, an antioxidant that helps prevent glaucoma.

There also are other nutrients that support your eyesight. The National Eye Institute states there may be evidence that lutein — a carotenoid antioxidant available in spinach, kale, collards, mustard greens, amaranth, spirulina and red paprika — could reduce eye problems. The Institute states definitively that zinc, found in shellfish, eggs, legumes, herring, liver and milk reduces the risk of advanced age-related macular degeneration and associated vision loss. Additionally, fish, such as salmon and sardines, contains omega-3 fatty acids that are known to promote healthy retinas.

It’s easy to incorporate foods that protect your eyesight into your diet. Carrot sticks, citrus fruit, mangoes, and even sweet peppers and tomatoes make great portable snacks. Fresh carrot juice packs a concentrated dose of vitamin A in every glass and is easy to make if you have a juicer. Or you can try the healthy recipe below, which is designed to taste good while giving your eyes a boost:

Visionary Coleslaw

Makes 8 servings

• 2 6-oz. containers of low- or non-fat pineapple yogurt
• 2 T. low-fat mayonnaise
• 3/4 tsp. salt
• 1 head of cabbage, thinly sliced
• 4 carrots, shredded *
• 1 small sweet bell pepper, finely chopped
• 1 small onion, finely chopped

1. Whisk yogurt, mayonnaise and salt together in a large bowl.

2. Chop cabbage, sweet bell pepper and onion; shred carrots. Add to the bowl with the yogurt mixture and toss well. If not serving right away, cover and refrigerate.

* It’s best to scrub carrots instead of peeling them. Some of the vitamins and minerals lie near the surface and can be whisked away with the peels.

For another healthy recipe to help protect your eyesight and for a full spectrum of other natural health articles, visit Melinda Banks’ blog at MyOnlineHealthArticles.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Melinda_Banks

Still Confused About The Advantages Of Buying Organic?

Buying organic food is quickly becoming wildly popular to such a degree even industries that never would have considered organic farming are flocking to it in droves. And yet, even today, there are men and women, each a consumer, who is still confused about what buying organic really means, why they should do it and why.

There are certainly those in our country who believe and have done their best to convince others that buying organic is simply a waste of money. A couple of years ago, there was little scientific proof that buying organic food was actually - scientifically - better for you. By now it’s 2008; constant research is surfacing reversing known skeptics beliefs.

When you make the conscious decision to buy organic, packaged foods, meat, dairy or fresh produce, you are choosing to consume food that damages the environment far less than its conventional counterparts, and you are decreasing your exposure to potentially harmful or fatal ingredients such as: antibiotics, chemicals, fertilizers, pesticides, and hormones.

It does usually cost more to buy organic, than not. Mainly because of the increased labor involved with its production. In short, keeping said food from harm’s way still requires labor to ensure bugs, disease, weeds and other ailments of similar ilk, don’t contaminate or affect the food. But, conventional farming that controls such possibility, using harsh and cheap (sometimes inferior to the point of being a danger to your own health) “chemical warfare” in mass to win the battle. Their cost is less than $50.00 per acre depending on the crop, season and needed pest and weed control.

Whereas, controlling the same conditions, to the point of elimination can be done one hundred percent naturally, requires much more manual labor, as automation is usually not a viable option, because of the individual care needed. But such necessary labor comes at a price. Compared to conventional farming’s $50 per acre cost, organic farming can cost as much as ten to thirty times as much per acre.

In other words, if it costs over $1,000 per acre to ensure a healthy crop, versus just $50 per acre for conventional farming, of course organic food is going to cost more. But the question still remains: is organic food worth the price, even if it is a much higher price?

While there are still verdicts about some nutritional benefit, the most recent findings as of January 2008, have found that - hands down - buying organic produce gives you more mineral and antioxidants than you can get with conventional options. And to buy organic or not, often comes down to your lifestyle priorities.

Something you don’t hear reported about when such discussions are brought to light, but for every positive report in favor of buying organic food, one might reason that because of contradicting reports all positive findings are less worthy. Your decision ultimately comes down to if your health, legacy, longevity and care for those you love matters to you, now. Proof of how one really feels about each can be clearly defined by your daily actions, diets, and education today.

See, scientific findings and their reporting are only one part of the picture. It is for example, a known fact that even in the “best scenario” cases, trace quantities of hormones, pesticides and chemicals - - not meant for human consumption at all - - are found in conventional produce, dairy and meat supplies. That’s a fact.

And yet, mere logic that humans should not consume hormones injected into cows, is not enough of an argument to convince the unconcerned, or those whose health is in jeopardy, to change their ways. You could argue that second hand smoke is similar to “trace quantities” of hormones, pesticides and chemicals. You know it’s bad for you, and the people exposed to it. If you allow yourself or your family to be around second hand smoke, despite the risks, obviously, you have lifestyle priorities that outweigh your health priorities.

The same argument is true with buying organic. Those who don’t, may be aware of the dangers they are consuming and exposing themselves to but opt to do nothing, as their lifestyle dictates it’s not of importance to them. Good luck, convincing someone who exercises, eats right, and leads a proactively healthy lifestyle, that buying organic does not have its benefits. (We know it does, but do you)?

Having a healthy body is very important for most people, and one way for women especially to stay in good health is to take advantage of all the health nutrition supplements that grace the retail market today. With so many products on the market a person may have a difficult time deciding on the best items for one’s body. As well, by taking advantage of all the information on the internet, a person can become very knowledgeable about supplements that one would use in conjunction with a healthy diet.

If a woman is serious about exercising and finding the best health nutrition supplements on the market, then perhaps a good place to start is at the gym. To begin that journey, a woman should first look at Industry Health Club. From this Australian site, a woman can learn how to increase her supplemental intake and health. Protein is usually thought of as a man’s supplement, but women usually lack this in their diet.

Another great website that can help women is Women To Women. This site is made especially for women who are looking for answers on a variety of topics including herbal nutrition supplements, healthy diets, and other items that can help to keep a woman healthy and happy for years to come. One can look up a variety of items here and the majority of the information comes from medically certified women who specialize in helping females to better themselves.

Women are a forgotten clan when it comes to health nutrition supplements. Usually, if a woman is not in menopause, exercising at a gym or pregnant, then her needs are forgotten. However, a few websites are available that can help them to become healthier by taking the best vitamin supplements on the market. Finding a site that provides enough information to help choose the best supplements is a proverbial gold mine.

Enrich your knowledge further about health nutrition supplements from Mike Selvon portal. We appreciate your feedback at our vitamins and supplements blog where a free gift awaits you.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mike_Selvon

The Omega 3 fatty acids protect the body from numerous health disorders so it’s no surprise there is a wide reaching list of Omega 3 benefits. They are a class of polyunsaturated essential fatty acids that must be supplied to the body through diet, as the body itself cannot manufacture them. These fatty acids play a crucial role in building healthy cells which, of course, builds a healthier body. Cell membranes that do not form properly can result in many harmful changes in cell chemistry, causing various organs to malfunction.

For those people suffering from the inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, they may find relief from the painful symptoms by simply adding Omega 3 fatty acids to their diet. They also facilitate the production of prostaglandins, a hormone-like chemical which plays a vital role in regulating bodily processes such as blood clotting, blood pressure, inflammatory and allergic response as well as nerve transmission.

One of the important Omega 3 benefits is a greater likelihood of cardiovascular disease prevention. That’s because they aid in lowering blood pressure along with reducing levels of triglycerides and LDL cholesterol in the blood. They also help raise the good cholesterol level (HDL), prevent thickening of the arterial walls, and inhibit platelet segregation (and hence prevent blood clots).

If your diet consists of regular consumption of Omega 3 fatty acids, your blood insulin levels will be more likely to stabilize, and you will be less likely to become obese or diabetic.

Omega 3 gives the brain a boost, and also, slightly reduces hypertension, thus it is sometimes referred to as ‘brain food’. Evaluation tests reveal that Omega 3 fatty acids are of considerable help in treating many mental disorders like dyslexia, migraine, depression, Alzheimer’s, psychosis, and ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder).

Omega 3 promotes healthy cell walls and provides protection against commonly occurring cancers like colon, prostate and breast cancer. They will increase your resistance to common colds and other respiratory ailments because they also give your immune system a boost

There are so many Omega 3 benefits, itwould be wise to make sure you get enough daily. As healthier breakfast cereals continue to appear in large chain markets note many contain puffed flaxseeds along with seeds like walnuts and almonds - all three are major sources of omega-3 fatty acids (and just a tad tastier than tofu). Be sure to discuss adding supplements of omega-3 fatty acids with your physician if you are prescribed blood-thinners.

If you want to find out more about the health benefits of Omega 3, visit http://www.naturalhealthbuzz.com where you can find out how the foods you eat affect your health.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lee_Dobbins

This top secret fat loss secret is all you will need to loss those countless pounds and stay healthy and live longer.

Do you struggle with weight loss? You’ve tried everything you can think of and get your hands on and still no luck.

There is an amazing method that is making the weight loss industry mad!

Let me tell you a bit about this great woman doctor from Arizona that has come up with a new method for lossing weight, her name is Dr Suzanne Gudakunst.

She has accurately determine a definitive correlation between harmful plague and parasitic infestations of the human bowel tract, and people suffering chronic obesity — and who despite intense diet and exercise appeared to be unable to lose any weight whatsoever.

Her new treatment has been proven to help the most severe cases of obese patients, some of them which were on the verge of dying and see outstanding results.

Her treatment is not unnatural or requires someone to do any major action or modification in their lives.

In fact, her entire treatment is based completely on built-into-nature ‘protection agents’ scattered throughout the world in the form of select herbs, extracts, and organic constituents, and which can be found in a variety of plants.

Now to everyone else’s great gain, this new treatment is being released the general public her secret for forever destroying the tight unrelenting closed-fist of obesity’s stronghold over the now more than 40% of Americans labeled obese, and others worldwide.

But she’s not promising any of us for how long.

With the information provided above, isn’t it time you too found out what this new treatment is and help yourself or someone you know that is overweight or just not healthy. This treatment will help them be healthier and happier.

Find out how Dr Suzanne Gudakunst discovered how calories, carbs, and such have far less to do with the real reason you’re fat and can’t seem to lose weight regardless of what you do!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Laura_J_Miller

People make a big deal about fat. But the thing that I really feel is important to watch is the simple carbs. We often hear terms like “empty calories” or “empty carbs” those would be hollow foods right? I don’t like those terms. When was the last time that you looked at the nutrition facts on the back of a box of something and seen the “empty calories” listed?

Simple carbs are good and very important, sometimes. But often they are just turned to fat. Not only are they turned into fat much of the time. But we consume a lot of simple carbs. And another kicker is that simple carbs are found in a lot of are drinks. And it is a lot easier to drink your calories then it is to eat them. So many people that have too much fat actual aren’t getting killed by what they eat (literal) but rather by what they drink. Sometimes even by things that they thought were ok or actual good for them.

Let’s take a look a minute at “Bob” and see how many simple carbs he drinks.

Breakfast Orange Juice 30 grams of simple carbs

Lunch can of pop 40 grams

Supper a couple servings of pop 60-80 grams

During and after workout Gatorade 60 grams

Watching tv more pop 40-80 grams

That’s just an estimate. And maybe some of you don’t ever drink that much. But I can guarantee that there are people out there that easily drink like that. And that’s just drinking, not including what they eat! By the way the total there was 230 grams or more. I also didn’t include all the sugar that many people include with their coffee. I know people that drink a lot more simple carbs then that. But I thought that ” Bob” still drank enough to be a good example.

You probably thought that Orange Juice was good for you. And it is. But you still need to be aware that it has simple carbs that can become fat. You probably knew that pop wasn’t good for you but you may not have realized just what a huge difference it could make. Let me say something a minute. I believe in hard work. I don’t necessarily think that harder means better but when I hear something like “people used to think that they really needed to train hard to see results. They believed in turning up the Rocky music and pushing through. But now we know that we shouldn’t train like that and if you buy my product I will show you the proper way to train and it doesn’t involve hard work.” Then I figure it’s probably a marketing scam to sell products to people that want to get results without putting in the work. Point is usually if something sounds really easy and simple it’s probably not true.

But there are times when the simple solution really is best. And cutting pop is one of them. I know people that drink so much pop that if they even cut their intake in halve they could see great results. If they total eliminated it they would probably not halve to make any diet or exercise changes and still be in great shape. Keep in mind hear that I am not talking about people that are already in good shape. I am talking about people that are overweight. Some of these people could go from overweight to downright ripped just by making one diet change. Eliminate pop.

Let’s get one thing straight, you can turn any calorie into fat. You can get fat off of protein shakes. But there are things that are beneficial in large quantities, things that are beneficial in moderate quantities, and things that are only beneficial in very small quantities. And soft drinks, candy, doughnuts and similar sweets are only beneficial in small quantities once in a while. In fact I do believe there are times that it’s actual good to eat the things contained in these products, but these times just don’t come around very often so I advise cutting them from your diet as much as you can and you may start to see your body get cut as well.

Shane works with several websites, and so his writings are scattered over the internet. He is currently working on a few sports and fitness websites of his own and keeping a blog so that you can find all of his work http://shane-edwards.blogspot.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Shane_Edwards

There is no question that the high prices we all pay for the goods and services we use no doubt compel us to be consumer savvy when it comes to finding the best deal. This is true even when it comes to the food we purchase for our families. Sadly, most Americans are not always sure where their food products are coming from. Are you?

Too often we are quick to purchase goods from foreign countries with little or no knowledge as to what it is we are actually getting in order to save a few bucks. Will we all become dependent on imported goods in the near future simply because of lower costs? Is that a safe situation for us to be in?

Consumers are concerned with e-coli that has come from large meat processing plants across the U.S. and in foreign countries. They are also frustrated with inadequate labeling issues by milk producers here is the U.S. And they have every reason to be concerned.

Many Americans are now making informed decisions when it comes to the food they eat.

More and more consumers are taking the time to educate themselves about naturally raised food products and the healthy benefits that can be obtained by making right choices. They are learning how the animals are raised, their diet and exercise levels, what chemicals are used, processing and packaging practices as well as the economic benefits of buying local.

Locally grown and naturally raised products will cost you a little bit more; however, the quality of these products far surpasses that which you would find at any grocery store.

It is like comparing a Cadillac to a Yugo.

Take a look at the general health of our country. Adults AND children are over-weight and suffer from such serious conditions as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes etc. It is no secret that most often these conditions stem from the type diet we consume.

I guess it is the old saying You Are What You Eat. If you eat poor quality food, (processed, chemically laden, mishandled) your health and your wallet will suffer in many ways. Garbage in, garbage out.

The solution to these problems is to stay away from processed foods that come from factory farms and make the switch to healthy, naturally raised foods. Within 6 months a noticeable difference in overall health will be realized and you will never want to go back to your old ways of eating!

I can no longer tolerate fast foods or restaurants. Not only do they not taste as good, but they also give me nausea, stomach pain, etc.. I guess it is my bodyies way of telling me that it is just not good for me! I have lost 40 pounds. I do not take any medications and I enjoy a primary meat and dairy diet from our farm, so I am living proof that this is most definitely the better way to live. I made the switch and so can you!

The milk industry has created several reasons why we need our daily dose of milk. We’ve heard some of these for so many years now that they have become part of our thinking. It’s time to examine the myths, lies and propaganda about cow’s milk.

1. Cow’s milk is pasteurized to make it safer.

Milk is pasteurized at over 170 degrees. All of the enzymes and anything of value in the milk are killed at 130 degrees. So, it’s fortified, value has to be added back in. What pasteurization really did for the business was give milk a longer shelf life. But beware. Raw milk sours when it goes bad, so you know it immediately. With pasteurized milk you can’t tell when it has started to spoil. It’s already rancid long before the bad odor develops.

2. Cow’s milk is a good substitute for mother’s breast milk.

A new born calf weighs around 90 pounds and in two years it will weigh 2000 pounds. A human infant is born at 6 to 8 pounds and it takes 18 years to reach 100 to 200 pounds. I say let nature be your guide. The structure of the milk for each species is designed to meet the specific needs of that species. Humans do not need to put on weight as fast as cows. The high fat and cholesterol content of cow’s milk should be on everyone’s list of things to avoid. As I’m writing this, I see the dairy industry is running commercials encouraging the use of milk as part of a weight loss program. What an advertising spin!

3. Our children need milk to make them strong and healthy.

Humans are the only species on this planet that refuse to wean their young. Again, we’ve set ourselves above nature. How wise is this? Studies are showing that dairy products are the leading cause of allergies. (1) (2) Since cow’s milk causes a build up of mucus in our bodies, dairy can be linked as a primary cause for runny noses, colds, ear infections, bronchitis, sinusitis, asthma, and even hay fever.

4. Milk is essential for good teeth.

This is still being touted today even though it was brought into great question back in the 1960s. A study was done using rats because their tooth decay process is biologically identical to human teeth. The end result was that the group fed pasteurized milk got twice as many cavities as the group on the sugar-fed diet. (3)

5. We need milk and dairy products for protein.

The protein component in cow’s milk is casein. This substance is so thick and coarse that it’s used to make some of the strongest wood glues you can buy. Cow’s milk contains 300 times more casein than human milk. But then, cows also have four stomachs for digestion. Human bodies lack the digestive ability to break down the casein protein. So what can we do? What has nature given us? Protein is built from amino acids. Every amino acid needed to build human protein can be found in fruits and vegetables.

6. Milk builds strong bones. We need it to fight osteoporosis.

In reality, dairy products are the number one cause of osteoporosis. Yes, other contributors are tobacco, alcohol, caffeine, soft drinks, salt, antacids, and lack of exercise, but the major cause is dairy products. And yes, cow’s milk does have calcium, but it also has casein protein, which is impossible for our digestive systems to handle, so we end up with excess. Amino acids try to break down the casein protein. It gets metabolized in the liver, and travels through the kidneys. If that excess protein would just leave our bodies via the urine, I suppose all would be well, but it doesn’t do that. Clinging to it on its way out are large amounts of minerals, among them being calcium. Here’s the catch; the more animal protein you consume, the more calcium you lose. Osteoporosis has been studied worldwide and the correlation holds true that countries with higher consumption of dairy products also have higher reports of osteoporosis.

7. We need milk and dairy for calcium.

Well, number six blew this out of the water. So where do we get our calcium? Calcium is in the soil. Plants absorb it and make it part of their structure. Animals eat the plants. Their bodies absorb the calcium. Cows don’t drink milk for their calcium, they eat plant life. So should we. Fruits, vegetables, raw nuts, grains, seeds and beans all have calcium in them.

8. Pregnant woman need to drink more milk.

Actually, the more cow’s milk a pregnant woman drinks, the more likely the infant will need that suction tube hospitals always have on hand. It sucks out the thick mucus from the baby’s nose and throat at delivery so it can breathe. It’s called “muco-protein” and mothers-to-be may want to learn more about this. Remember, your unborn is eating what you’re eating. The high mucus content of milk passes into your baby. You may want to consider cutting back on dairy products during pregnancy and look at other calcium and protein alternatives.

9. Breast feeding mothers need to drink more milk.

Have you ever heard of a cow drinking milk so that it has better and more nutritious milk for its calf? No adult mammal on this planet drinks milk except for the human. For some reason we’ve put ourselves above the laws of nature. If we look at nature we’ll find the plant life foods to make nutritious breast milk for our species’ young.

10. Milk helps coat the stomach and ease the pain of ulcers.

This idea has been passed down through the last few generations and seems to still be floating around. Dairy products are acid-forming foods. Milk will aggravate an ulcer. You’ll want to talk to your doctor for help in dealing with an ulcer.

If milk is a major part of your life style and you are looking for an alternative, you should consider soymilk. It’s high in calcium and its protein is easy to digest.

(1) Tommori, J., and Pal Osvath, Hajnalka Marton, and Helga Lehotzky. “Study of the Frequency of Cow’s Milk Sensitivity in the Families of Milk-Allergic and Asthmatic Children.” Acta Allergol, Vol.28, July 1973, p.107.

(2) Bahna, Sami L., M.D. Allergies to Milk. New York: Grune & Stratton, 1980.

(3) Southern California Dental Association Journal, Vol. 31, No.9, Sept. 1963.

Dee Overly is an artist who discovered the health benefits of soy milk and now sells a Soymilk Maker at http://www.SoymilkCrossroads.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dee_Overly

Most people are always trying to eat healthier - I know I am. And this includes adding more vegetables into my daily meals. Some people simply adore green beans. Me, well I have learned to enjoy them more year after year.

After I found this recipe, I did some research and was truly amazed and super surprised to learn how much good these green beans are and what they can do for us, in fact I was only going to share the recipe, but after my research, I knew I had to share the importance and nutrients available to us in the affordable green bean.

My mother used to sauté slivered almonds in butter then sprinkle them over the green beans for me to be enticed to eat my veggies when I was a kid. Well this mother’s trick actually worked, and I would eat up my green beans; she also did this little trick with the almonds over steamed broccoli - though despite all her efforts, the same trick just wouldn’t work for me on Brussels Sprouts which I still have issues with - to me they are baby cabbages - and you would think a gal my age would have gotten over this issue, but I digress.

For years, I would make my green beans with the sauteed almonds for years until recently when I had them with sauteed mushrooms and onions. I was converted!

Now as a kid, eating vegetables was not my main priority and I am sure it is not your child’s main gig either. And I do not blame them to bat. We eat with our eyes, as do your kids, a big point to remember. So to assist in getting them to see eating vegetables as simply as part of their meal and not some trick for them to have to eat so they can have their dessert, you need to be a little creative.

Getting you kids to eat the greens might take being a little creative but it is easier than you think.

1. First and super important to note, kids will generally eat the food they helped prepared. Why is that? They are curious to see their creations come to fruition. Just like a piece of art clay they may have made in class, should their school still be fortunate to have art classes.

2. Have the kids help you in picking the best looking green beans at the store.

3. Get the kids to use their kid-friendly scissors to cut off the ends of the greens and rinse them under water.

4. Using a kid-friendly knife - even a plastic knife, have them slice up the mushrooms for the recipe I share below.

5. Try growing green beans this spring, they are fast growing, kids can easily plant the large seeds in a circle with several tall bamboo rods sticking up out of the ground and tied towards each other like a ‘tee pee’ shape. With normal conditions, you should see sprouts starting in as little as 5 days. Kids love to eat what they grow. Easy to pick, the green beans will grow up the bamboo ’stalks’ you planted - a good time to share the jack and the bean stalk story, huh?!?

Trying several of these techniques will surely get your kid a little more interested in trying out their vegetables. So now that you have learned a few tricks of the trade, let me share with you just how great these green beans are for you.

Health Benefits of Green Beans:

Did you know that one serving of fresh green beans provides a whopping 25% of your vitamin K needs and is super important for maintaining strong bones? Vitamin K1 activates osteocalcin, the major non-collagen protein in bone. Osteocalcin anchors calcium molecules inside of the bone. Therefore, without enough vitamin K1, osteocalcin levels are inadequate, and bone mineralization is impaired. So if you are worried about Osteoporosis and Alzheimer’s disease, green beans are a great natural helper in prevention. Vitamin K is also essential for blood to clot and it is a super green to eat for your heart - it really helps prevent plaque from building up on the walls of your arteries.

Green beans, while quite low in calories (just 43.75 calories in a whole cup), are loaded with enough nutrients to not only power up the Jolly Green Giant, but to put a big smile on his face. Green beans are an excellent source of vitamin C, vitamin K as mentioned and manganese.

Plus green beans are very good source of vitamin A (notably through their concentration of carotenoids including beta-carotene), dietary fiber, potassium, foliate, and iron. And, green beans are a good source of magnesium, thiamine, riboflavin, copper, calcium, phosphorous, protein, omega-3 fatty acids and niacin. So eat ‘em up and help yourself and your family to stay healthy!

Selecting the right kind of green bean:

Available all year long at your grocery store, select only fresh green beans that are deep green and crunchy - pass up on them if they look dull, bruised and limp. Green beens are in season from summer through early fall when they are at their best and the least expensive.

Maybe you remember when you were a kid of having to pull the ’string’ off of them while helping out your parent in preparing the dinner meal, most fresh green beans have now been grown so that this so-called ’string’ is so thin you can now eat it, you do not have to pull the string (if you could find it), and in fact have been grown so that you may only have to snip off the ends if you want to before eating them up!

The recipe I share here is a nice twist on serving up green beans which will create a quick and easy side dish that will have people asking for seconds. The baby bella mushrooms help lower cholesterol while the onions are super good for your colon - just in case you wanted to know. One nice and easy thing also important to note in this recipe is that the green beans will keep their color, crispness and most importantly their vegetable nutrients.

Ingredients:

* 1 box of baby bella mushrooms

* 1 onion - minced/chopped fine (you may substitute with shallots)

* Green Beans, rinsed and tips removed

* Kosher salt and fresh cracked pepper.

* Olive oil and butter

* 1 clove garlic minced

* Skillet with lid

* 1 working stove top

* 2-3 tablespoons water

* 1 cup boiling water

* 1 bowl

Directions:

1. Boil water.

2. Place cleaned green beans into heat-safe bowl.

3. In skillet, place a little of the olive oil and add onions.

4. Let sweat for five minutes and add sliced mushrooms to skillet - and add 1 tablespoon butter to skillet.

5. Pour boiling water over green beans and let blanch for 4 minutes.

6. Strain all water off of green beans.

7. Add strained green beans and minced garlic to skillet and add salt and pepper to taste.

8. Add lid on top of skillet - checking in on it every so often, stirring it up a little bit.

9. Let sauté a few minutes more - and add a fresh little dab of olive oil or butter and serve it up as your fave side dish.

10. Want to go all out? Add a little of toasted almonds to the dish on top.

So enjoy this different twist on making green beans which keeps them super green and crisped yet cooked and extra tasty with the sauteed mushrooms and onions. We all had seconds last night with this super side dish along with my backwards grilled shrimp and basmati rice oh so nice with shredded carrots. Divalisciously Yummy!

Leah Quinn is a writer specializing on food, health and entertainment and is a multi-media artist living in New York. Stop by her food site to learn many more healthy and interesting recipes at http://dinner-and-jam.blogspot.com and to find links to her many other sites and blogs.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Leah_Quinn

Parents regularly discuss their children’s health with their health care providers but rarely do they discuss bone health, even though it is a central part of a child’s overall health. Building strong bones by adopting nutritional and healthy lifestyle habits in childhood is very important and helps prevent bone loss and osteoporosis later in life.

Childhood, defined here as between infancy and adolescence, is a critical period for bone growth. During this period, bones are actively formed through a process called remodeling, which involves breaking down old bones and building new ones. During preteen and teen years, more bones are built than broken down and as a result, substantial bone growth occurs during these periods. This is why it is important for children and young teens to consume foods rich in calcium.

Most of the calcium (about 99%) in the body is found in the bone, and it is used to form bone tissue. The amount of bone tissue in a given bone is commonly referred to as bone mass. As more calcium is deposited, a child’s bones increase in strength and density. This process continues until bone mass peaks, meaning that the child’s bones have achieved their maximum strength and density.

Experts do not agree on the precise age when bone mass peaks but for most people, it peaks by age 30. However, 99% of peak bone mass is actually acquired by age 18 in girls and age 20 in boys, which makes youth the most important time to invest in children’s bone health. After this point, bone growth slows down considerably. By mid 30s, gradual bone loss begins to take place, and it accelerates as we age.

But, the question is what can parents do to help? Parents can do two important things. First, they should encourage their children to develop healthy eating habits. Encouraging children to adopt proper eating habit now can make all the difference in the world as they age. One way to accomplish this goal is to lead by example. Believe it or not, your children watch everything you do — good and bad and they are unlikely to do what you say rather than what you do.

The Academy of Sciences recommends that kids 4 - 8 years old should get 800 milligrams of calcium a day while children ages 9 - 18 years old should get 1300 milligrams a day. These intake levels can be easily met through balanced diet that includes dairy products, fruits, and vegetables as well as calcium fortified breakfast cereals and juice.

Also, children need vitamin D. Children and teens need about 5 micrograms of vitamin D a day, which helps them absorb calcium better in the intestines. The main sources of vitamin D are fortified foods and sunlight. Most active children do not have any trouble making enough vitamin D in their skin from sunlight. Exposure to sunlight for up to 15 minutes a day may be all they need to meet their vitamin D requirement.

The second thing parents can do to help their children build healthy bones is to encourage them to get regular physical activity. Any physical activity that puts stress on bones helps them increase in size and strength. There are many physical activities that are good for bone development. A few examples are running, walking, aerobics, softball, baseball, basketball, table and lawn tennis, dancing, skating, football, and weight lifting.

Bone health is an important part of children’s health, and parents can help their kids build strong bones. Encouraging them to eat foods rich in calcium and vitamin D is one way to achieve this goal; the other is getting them involved in regular physical activity. When it comes to bone health, there is such a thing as “too little, too late.” The healthy habits parents help their children form today can make, or literally break, their bones later in life.

Chima Njoku is a biochemist, freelance medical writer and publisher of free consumer friendly information on vitamins and minerals. Learn more about calcium and its benefits at http://healthsolutionsontheweb.com/Calcium.html

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