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And here we are at the Food Oscars, waiting for the envelope (please!) What are the healthiest foods you can eat, and how do they help you to live better?

Like movie actors, there are a lot of foods out there with some good qualities. But only a few foods contribute Oscar-quality nutrition and improve our lives. Some of these foods are so nutritious that they deserve an award—an Oscar—and a place on your plate.

“And the Oscars for the five healthiest foods go to …

• Salmon
• Soy
• Greens
• Berries
• Whole Grains

This article will focus on the first three.

Salmon is an excellent source of protein and is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which lower the levels of LDL, or “bad” cholesterol in the blood, and increase the level of HDL, or “good” cholesterol in the blood. Salmon is a very versatile food that can easily be substituted for other types of meats such as beef or pork in many different recipes. The American Heart Association recommends that everyone eat at least two servings of fish on a weekly basis and it strongly recommends the consumption of fatty fish, like salmon. It is best to choose wild salmon, as it has more omega-3 fatty acids than farm-raised salmon. Most canned and frozen salmon is wild-caught, so they have the same benefits to your health.

Soy comes in many forms. Tofu is a soy product. It is full of all of the essential amino acids that the body requires. Soybeans are the only known vegetable sources that can make this claim. Soybeans are also very rich in the omega-3 fatty acids, the B vitamins, fiber, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, iron and zinc. A regular diet that includes soy is one that will lead to an overall low level of total cholesterol, as well as LDL cholesterol and triglycerides. Soy is beneficial in preventing heart disease, and can help to reduce the incidence of osteoporosis, breast cancer and prostate cancer.

All vegetables are healthy but greens are especially healthy. The best greens to eat include chard (or “Swiss Chard”), collard greens, kale, bok choy, broccoli, asparagus, and green beans. These greens are all rich in vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium, iron and phytonutrients. Broccoli, for example, is beneficial in preventing the onset of heart disease, diabetes and a variety of cancers. If, like George Bush Sr., you don’t like the taste of broccoli, then eat it in recipes such as Chinese beef and broccoli or in a stir-fry with soy sauce. Another option is to eat broccoli raw but with other vegetables such as on a vegetable platter with a zesty dip for added flavor. Green vegetables are low in calories and very high in fiber. Foods that are high in fiber are also filling so that means you do not need to eat too large a helping in order to feel that you have eaten enough.

Greens can be eaten raw or cooked. If you eat them raw, you get the maximum health benefit—just make sure to clean them before you use them. Add raw greens to a salad or simply just snack on them and munch away! One of the best ways to prepare greens is to steam them, as steaming maintains much of the nutritional content—except for Vitamin C, which is heat-labile. Stir-fries are another healthy way to toss together your greens.

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Scott Meyers is a staff writer for It’s Entirely Natural, a resource for helping you achieve a naturally healthy body, mind, and spirit. You may contact our writers through the web site. Follow this link for more information on Food Cures.

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Tags: asparagus, b vitamins, broccoli, cholesterol, Fiber, Food Cures, magnesium, nutrition, omega 3 fatty acids, vitamin C, whole grains

Beans and lentils are healthy foods. They are sometimes neglected as a good source for health and nutrition because they can be perceived as boring and flavorless. Beans and lentils are nevertheless extremely nutritious and should be included as a part of a healthy diet.

Both beans and lentils are packed full of fiber and protein and contain very little fat. Beans and lentils are rich in antioxidants and phytochemicals, which can be beneficial in fighting a number of chronic diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes, cancer, stroke, inflammatory diseases, osteoporosis and depression.

Black beans are a source of soluble fiber and are effective in lowering bad cholesterol by as much as 24 percent. A side-benefit of this decrease in LDL’s is to lower blood pressure. The fiber in black beans is able to sufficiently keep sugar levels to within a healthy zone, while damping hunger. Black beans are good for diabetics because they can level out their calorie consumption without elevating their glucose levels.

These same beneficial effects can be found in a number of different kinds of beans. The most popular kinds of beans and peas include chickpeas (or garbanzo beans), lima beans, fava beans, kidney beans, black-eyed peas, navy beans, pinto beans and great northern beans.

Lentils are rich in many nutrients, but are particularly rich when it comes to the B vitamins. These B vitamins can help to prevent heart attacks. Lentils are also very rich in protein, fiber and a variety of minerals such as ones that help support the strength of the immune system. Examples of these are copper, zinc and manganese and iron. Lentils are particularly rich in iron, which recommends them for people with certain kinds of iron-deficiency anemia.

Miso may not be found in many American households, but it should be considered as a healthy alternative, and a great way to increase the number of beans in your diet. Miso is a type of soybean paste that is often used as a seasoning for sauces and soups. Miso is rich in substances called isoflavones which are believed to help protect against the development and growth of breast cancer because they inhibit the growth of the blood vessels that are responsible fro the rapid growth of tumors.

Also rich in both iron and calcium (when it is sufficiently processed with the salts of calcium) is soybean curd or tofu. Tempeh is another soy product that boasts high levels of vitaimin A, B6, magnesium and zinc. Tempeh has slightly lower levels of fat than does tofu. Other soy products are worth considering because of their nutritional value, including soymilk and other soy beverages such as chocolate soymilk, soy nuts, soy yogurt, tofu (as previously mentioned) and a variety of products made from tofu.

All soy products are derived from soybeans. This means that they all are high in protein content. Protein is made up of all of the essential amino acids that the body needs to function at its healthiest. Soybeans are also extremely rich in all of the B vitamins, as well as fiber, the omega 3 fatty acids, calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc and phosphorus.

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Scott Meyers is a staff writer for It’s Entirely Natural, a resource for helping you achieve a naturally healthy body, mind, and spirit. You may contact our writers through the web site. Follow this link for more information on Food Cures.

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Tags: antioxidants, beans, cholesterol, Depression, Fiber, Food Cures, immune system, lentils, magnesium, nutrition, nuts, omega 3 fatty acids

Many believe that nutritional supplements are a great way to improve back pain. Experts believe that by taking certain daily supplements you can help to relieve your back’s underlying problems and the pain they cause.

Nutritional supplements will strength the cartilage as well as your bones. It will diminish inflammation and help to loosen the muscles. As long as you understand that these supplements will not work overnight, they are an answer to back pain that means investing in a long-term solution, and then there is not a reason not to try them. As long as you understand that nutritional supplements are for those who have chronic back pain not for those who suffer the occasional pain problem.

Supplements are divided into two groups. One type of supplement works hard to strengthen different areas in your back. Strengthening back muscles helps to eliminate pain by giving your back a better defense system. The other group is pain relievers. If you have chronic, constant back pain these supplements can be useful to reduce pain as well.

When taking any of these supplements be careful to read the instructions. Some are hard on the stomach and so need to be taken with food, others must be taken on an empty stomach and some cannot be mixed with others. Read the labels and take them exactly as directed if you want them to work for you. Even nutritional products can be detrimental to your health if used in the wrong way.

Most of the supplements take a few months of use before you will see any improvements at all. If you are going to use a calcium and magnesium mix, often sold in one pill, you should also use boron. While calcium and magnesium strengthen bones, boron will help your body to better absorb the other two. Vitamins C and D as well as glucosamine sulfate are for building stronger cartilage, strengthening the bones and helping the muscles. Another supplement to help with muscles strength is S-Adenosylmethionine

Pain-reducing supplements relieve pain in a variety of ways. Some of them diminish the inflammation, such as Bromelain, Devil’s Claw, Turmeric, Flax Seed, Boswellia and White Willow Bark. Bromelain is often suggested for use in athletic injuries, following surgery or if the person suffers from any type of arthritis.

Some supplements achieve both purposes: reducing pain and strengthening the back. For example, Devil’s Claw also has the ability to make the effects of medications prescribed by your health care provider work better. Cayenne has the ability to improve blood flow. This is very important as improved blood flow promotes healing. Cayenne is taken by mouth to improve circulation, but it can also be used as a cream to help with the pain of strained muscles. White Willow Bark is a good pain reliever with all the same effects of aspirin–but without the potential side effects. Niacinamide is used to help promote the healing of cartilage.

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Scott Meyers is a staff writer for It’s Entirely Natural, a resource for helping you achieve a naturally healthy body, mind, and spirit. You may contact our writers through the web site. Follow this link for more information on Back Pain.

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Tags: Back Pain, boron, glucosamine, magnesium, nutrition, nutritional supplements, vitamins

Unlike western medicine, acupuncture has its origins in more than merely medical theories. There is much more to acupuncture than the teachings of science professors who explain why acupuncture points work the way they do. There is a whole philosophy to traditional Chinese medicine that goes beyond the scientific and explains why and how the body functions the way it does. The essence of this explanation centers on what is called Qi. (Pronounced by westerners as chee) This Chinese philosophy teaches that Qi is the body’s essence. Qi is the body’s energy. When this becomes unbalanced or the flow somehow gets blocked or disturbed, is when a person becomes ill.

When a person becomes ill there various ways to correct it. Some of which are chinese medicine uses herbal treatments, exercise patterns such as martial arts training, diet change, and acupuncture

Following with the philosophy of Qi, is yin and yang. When talking about a person’s body yin and yang represent blood and Qi. The body takes its energy from the food, fluids, and the air it breathes. The body further gets energy from the environment through meditation and various forms of exercise. If the body’s Qi becomes out of balance then it is unable to properly absorb the things it needs for energy. When the body is out of balance it has trouble dealing with temperature, fighting disease, and tiredness.

According to Chinese philosophy there are five separate purposes that Qi serves. To begin, there is the defense of the body. The job of Qi here is to protect the body from illness. Qi supposed to protect the body from allowing germs and illness to enter through the body’s defensive system. The next function is transformation. Qi is supposed to take those things the body consumes and transform them into the nutrition that the body requires. In this way it nourishes the body. By the process of transformation it makes more Qi and blood for the body. The next one is warmth. Qi is thought to be more yang than yin so it is naturally warm to begin with. But if something blocks the natural energy of the body the warmth will be affected as well. One of the most important jobs of Qi is to keep the body warm. The philosophy of Chinese medicine says that the blood congeals when it gets cold and so the flow is no longer good enough. Qi must also take care of the body’s organs. Keeping them in the proper places and ensuring they function properly. It is believed that if this job is not done it can cause incontinence or prolapse during pregnancy. The final function is movement. Every part of the body that must move is controlled by Qi.

Therefore, acupuncture can be used to correct disturbed or blocked energy flow and help keep the body in balance.

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Scott Meyers is a staff writer for It’s Entirely Natural, a resource for helping you achieve a naturally healthy body, mind, and spirit. You may contact our writers through the web site. Follow this link for more information on Traditional Chinese Medicine.

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Tags: acupuncture, herbal treatments, nutrition, Traditional Chinese Medicine, yin and yang

Many western health care providers do not agree with the potential advantages of alternative treatment methods. When there are natural treatment options where a person can stop using medications and try to use natural alternatives, these options should be explored. This is very true when it comes to eating disorders.

The two most common eating disorders are anorexia and bulimia. Anorexia is a condition characterized by a person believing themselves to be overweight no matter how thin they are. They are unable to keep their weight at what would be considered healthy. Bulimia is similar, but when a person suffers from this eating disorder they actually tend to overeat. Immediately after eating, they feel they must purge their body of all the food they have eaten. This is done by either throwing up the food or using excessive amounts of laxatives. These disorders are commonly seen among young women.

Another eating disorder, one not given as much publicity, is binge eating. With this disorder the person overeats, more then they feel comfortable eating, but do not purge their systems. People with this disorder just continue to gain excessive amounts of weight.

Before anyone can be treated, it must be understood that these are not medical issues alone. They are the behavior of a troubled person, unhappy with their picture of their own body. Acupuncturists will tell you that they can help. Acupuncturists claim they can rebalance the body’s energy and replace the harmony needed in a person to change their eating to a healthier happier place.

Most often people suffering from eating disorders are told to see councilors. After a full medical workup they are then given advice on how best to improve their health with better nutrition. They may even see a nutritionist to help work out eating plans. It must be remembered that these people are having problems coping in the world they are living in. Trying anything to help them seems the right thing. Acupuncture is a method that could make a difference. It can treat the stress the patient is feeling. If it does no more than that, it will be a benefit worth aiming for. People with eating disorders are unhappy and anything that can make them feel better should be considered.

Acupuncture can also relieve the physical discomforts that accompany eating disorders. The damage that the patient has been doing to their bodies can cause problems with their body’s normal systems. Acupuncture can help alleviate nausea, diarrhea, reflux, constipation, bloating and the pain that comes with these disorders. It can improve the overall health of the patient by restoring the body’s natural energy.

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Scott Meyers is a staff writer for It’s Entirely Natural, a resource for helping you achieve a naturally healthy body, mind, and spirit. You may contact our writers through the web site. Follow this link for more information on Traditional Chinese Medicine.

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Tags: acupuncture, constipation, Eating Disorders, nutrition, stress, Traditional Chinese Medicine

Hair is composed of 98 percent protein and for that reason it is imperative to eat a well-balanced, healthy diet each and every day. Also, be sure to consume plenty of protein as well as the vitamins A, B, C, E and K. In particular, eat foods such as eggs, meat and nuts to constantly replenish your hair.

Be aware that protein is made up of the amino acids and it is five in particular that hair needs for health. These include arginine, cystine, cysteine, lysine, methionine. When you do not take in enough protein on a regular basis this can cause hair to shed. Prevent this from happening by eating plenty of protein-rich foods such as fish, meats, chicken, dairy products, eggs, grains, nuts, and soy.

Hair requires plenty of carbohydrates as well. Carbohydrates are essential for both growth and energy and are an excellent source of many of the B vitamins. Always look for non-refined grains and flour. Fruits and vegetables as well as whole grains contain carbohydrates. You should try to obtain 55 to 60 percent of your carbohydrates on a daily basis from these healthy sources.

Fat is important but too much is overdoing it and can lead to high cholesterol and heart disease. The body needs a certain amount of dietary fats to be healthy and fat is also important fro the production of energy. Get the dietary fats you need from plant sources as well as lean meats and fish. Approximately 25 to 30 percent of the fats you consume in your diet should come from these sources.

Always seek to achieve a nutritional balance, for the sake of your hair and fro your good health in general. Eat as rich a variety of foods as you can. Do not over cook your food since this can destroy the nutritional value of it. Always choose foods that are as organic and natural as possible and avoid processed foods as much as possible. If you suspect that you are not getting enough nutrients from your food then take a vitamin supplement on a daily basis. A multi vitamin is the best choice for most people.

It cannot be emphasized enough, for healthy, luscious hair, eat plenty of protein rich foods. Eggs are one such source but if you are have high cholesterol then forego the eggs, as the yolk of eggs is high in cholesterol, which will only add to your problem.

Consume plenty of whole grains, nuts, seeds and legumes and always make doubly sure that your daily diet is made up of 50 percent of both fruits and veggies. Hair, as well as fingernails requires foods that are rich in silicon and sulfur. This means eat lots of broccoli, fish, onions and sea vegetables. Biotin is also required for health hair and biotin can be found in soybeans, brown rice, not to mention brewer’s yeast, which can be found in the vitamin aisle in the grocery store or health food stores.

Flaxseed is good for the hair and flaxseed powder is the easiest form of flaxseed to digest. Sprinkle flaxseed powder or ground flax on your breakfast cereal, porridge and yogurt. Flaxseed is an excellent source of the essential fatty acids. Some teas are very good for hair health and these include tea that derives from alfalfa, dandelion, burdock root and yellow dock.

A healthy diet and good nutrition is vital not only for your hair but for your health as well. If you are going to begin a vitamin program, be sure to consult with your physician first.

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Scott Meyers is a staff writer for It’s Entirely Natural, a resource for helping you achieve a naturally healthy body, mind, and spirit. You may contact our writers through the web site. Follow this link for more informaton on Food Cures.

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Tags: diet, Food Cures, fruits and vegetables, nutrition, whole grains

When you wake up from a night of drinking with a pounding headache and your head in the toilet, the last thing you are thinking about is what’s for breakfast. Chances are, you would rather stay in bed with the covers pulled over you rather than risk putting something on your stomach only to have it make a return visit. However, since many of the side effects of a hangover are due to dehydration, lack of essential vitamins and nutrients, and low blood sugar, having something to eat may be a vital part of your hangover cure that you are missing out on.

Now, this does not mean that you should take advantage of the all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet at your local greasy diner. Instead, you should eat something light and healthy to see how your stomach reacts. You should avoid carbohydrates and fatty foods since these are only going to make you feel worse.

To drink, you can start out with a simple cocktail of tomato juice, Tabasco sauce, lemon juice, and a shot of vodka. This works well for a variety of reasons as a hangover cure. First of all, the tomato juice is packed with vitamins and antioxidants that will help your body to cleanse your blood from any leftover alcohol and impurities that are still lurking around.

Another reason that you feel terrible the next morning is the fact that you essentially overdosed on alcohol the night before - and now your body is going through withdrawal. Having the shot of vodka in your juice will help put some alcohol back into your system, and allow you to start some of your other hangover remedies before the hangover comes back. However, keep it to only a shot - any more and you are setting yourself on the road to alcoholism.

Once you have gotten the juice down, and are hopefully starting to feel a little better, you can make yourself a protein-packed breakfast. Try 3 pieces of back bacon, 3 canned tomatoes, 2 scrambled eggs, and an orange to start out with. The eggs have protein that will help build your strength back up, as well as a chemical that is known to fight some of the toxins that are still left in your system. Canned tomatoes, like the tomato juice, also have the vitamins and antioxidants that you need to revitalize your system. The bacon has fat that helps bind to the alcohol left in your blood, and the orange has citric acid to make that fat easier to digest - not to mention vitamin C, one of the essential vitamins that you lost through dehydration.

For best results, you should have a second breakfast with more of the same foods within four hours of your first one, and try to stay awake in between them instead of going back to bed, since going to sleep slows down your metabolism. If you need help staying awake, try taking a nice hot shower, followed by a cold rinse, to help wake you up.

Time is the best cure for a hangover but since you can’t hurry that up, a good healthy meal is the perfect alternative.

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Scott Meyers is a staff writer for It’s Entirely Natural, a resource for helping you achieve a naturally healthy body, mind, and spirit. You may contact our writers through the web site. Follow this link for more information on Hangover Cures.

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Tags: antioxidants, dehydration, Hangover Cures, nutrition