Perils of sugar-free food (1 of 2)

Good morning everyone. Most of us people love to eat. Even we are not hungry we just eat life that. As it is our hobbies. Many love to eat sweets but they don’t want to get fat with it. So sometimes when they buy sweets foods they are looking to the tag that says it is sugar-free. But there is a danger of sugar-free foods.

ACCORDING TO DR. EARL MINDELL’S “Vitamin Bible For The 21st Century,” people who drink diet sodas or eat food with sugar substitutes end up eating an average of 11 percent more fat. Dr. Mindell says the body has a tendency to make up for the loss of sugar by having more appetite for fat. Vitamin CAccording to the USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University, daily Vitamin C supplements reduce the risk of developing cataracts. There are many forms of Vitamin C—from ascorbic acid to ester C to sodium ascorbate to calcium ascorbate. A new arrival in town is the US-manufactured Miracle C, which is calcium ascorbate (not derived from sodium). It’s safe enough to consume on an empty stomach (unlike ascorbic acid).

Moreover, innumerable testimonies on the regular intake of 1,500-3,000 mg of Vitamin C say it can help prevent cold or flu. Call the Miracle C hotline, 7233878. Sources of carotenoidOkra, spinach and watercress are natural sources of zeaxanthin, a carotenoid (phytochemical and antioxidant in plant-based food). It helps protect the eyes from free-radical damage and loss of vision. –Cory Quirino

Common-sense solution: Virgin coconut oil (2 of 2)

The story of Karen, a 50-year-old homemaker whose husband was a chain smoker. He had the nasty habit of smoking before bedtime and for 25 years, she was a victim of second-hand smoke. Fearful that she may contract cancer, since second-hand smoke is more toxic for non-smokers, Karen went for an executive check-up with her husband.

Doctors were surprised to find her in good health. But her husband had stage 2 lung cancer. When asked what her regimen was, she replied that her strictest regimen was two tablespoons of VCO daily before breakfast. This, plus mega doses of Vitamin C.

George, a 35-year-old businessman, was born asthmatic. All his life he survived on antihistamines, steroids and antibiotics. Three years ago, he discovered VCO through a friend who swore he never caught a cold or the flu since consuming it. After a month of taking three tablespoons of VCO a day, he noticed he had not had a single asthma attack. He is now a VCO advocate.

There are many other success stories of people with chronic fatigue, yeast infections, hemorrhoids and skin problems who not only drank VCO but used it as topical treatment. All of them, including myself, are proponents of a healthier life through virgin coconut oil.

Take one to three tablespoons of VCO on an empty stomach before breakfast. Or mix it in your juice or oatmeal. Great as a drizzle over salads too.

Beauty oil

For scalp: Rub a few drops of VCO on your scalp for dandruff problems, just before bedtime. The itchiness and flakiness will disappear in 24-48 hours. Falling hair will stop within one week with Nubo Hair, available at Mercury and World of Wellness.

For face and body: After a shower, massage into the skin a few drops or a mist of cocogen VCO. Get more supple skin within minutes. Call World of Wellness. –Cory Quirino

Common-sense solution: Virgin coconut oil (1 of 2)

Good morning everybody. Maybe you will wonder how virgin coconut oil be the solution for the common-sense. Others may not believe on that.

The World Health Organization (WHO) raised the worldwide disease alert to phase 5—a strong signal that a pandemic or a worldwide epidemic was imminent. Countries such as the United States and Mexico have set up extensive measures to control the spread of the Influenza A(H1N1) virus.

Already, a public health emergency has been declared in the US and many countries. There have been measures to produce the prescription anti-viral drugs oseltamivir and zanamivir. And the world’s medical scientists are urgently working on a new vaccine against the virus, but this mission could take five to six months.

Common sense

In the meantime, what else is to be done besides waiting? There is no known drug today that can effectively combat the swine flu virus. Anti-viral drugs are expensive, not everyone can afford them. There is not enough supply of these drugs.

Simple as it may seem, there is a food supplement that can quickly boost the immune system—virgin coconut oil (VCO). There are scientific studies validating that the major component of VCO, lauric acid, is an effective anti-viral, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal compound. A natural derivative of lauric acid, monolaurin, has been shown to be a potent disease fighter.

Coconut oil is made up of 60-percent medium-chain triglycerides, which is an efficient source of energy for the body. This non-fattening oil is converted by the liver into energy (and not fat) within 20 minutes of ingesting it.

While there is no direct proof of VCO’s effectiveness against the A(H1N1) virus, there is, however, evidence of its success against regular influenza, cold, bronchitis, chronic fatigue, etc.

There is more to virgin coconut oil than meets the eye or stimulates the palate. Countless testimonials of users from across generations support several health claims: –Cory Quirino

The Best of the Snack Aisle (4 of 4)

11. Best Cookie

Nutter Butter These deliver healthy unsaturated fats and a creamy center. Per 2-cookie serving: 130 calories, 2 g protein, 19 g carbohydrates, 6 g fat (1 g saturated), 1 g fiber, 80 mg sodium.

12. Best Candy Bar

Snickers Almond These deliver healthy unsaturated fats and a creamy center. Per bar: 240 calories, 3 g protein, 32 g carbohydrates, 11 g fat (4.5 g saturated), 1 g fiber, 80 mg sodium.

13. Best Energy Bar

Clif Bar Chocolate Almond Fudge None of the HFCS, trans fats, or heart-stopping palm-kernel oil that clog up other energy bars. And it still tastes better than many candy bars. Per bar: 250 calories, 10 g protein, 44 g carbohydrates, 5 g fats (1.5 g saturated), 5 g fiber, 140 mg sodium. – Philip Rhodes

The Best of the Snack Aisle (3 of 4)

7. Best Sweet-Potato Chip

Terra Spiced Sweet-Potato Chips The perfect balance of sweet and salty. Per 1-ounce serving: 160 calories, 1 g protein, 14 g carbohydrates, 11 g fat (1 g saturated), 3 g fiber, 95 mg sodium.

8. Best Cheese Cracker

Kraft Cheese Nips, Reduced Fat Cheddar Lower-fat and –sodium entries have hit the market, but these still have hit the market, but these still have the best Cheddar-cheese flavor. Per 30-g serving: 130 calories, 3 g protein, 21 g carbohydrates, 3.5 g fat (1 g saturated), less than 1 g fiber, 310 mg sodium

9. Best Cracker

Pepper Farm Hearty Wheat Dense and crunchy. And not in the Swedish-cardboard-cracker kind of way, either. Per 16-g serving: 80 calories, 2 g protein, 10 g carbohydrates, 3.5 g fat (0 g saturated), 1 g fiber, 100 mg sodium.

10. Best Wheat Pretzel

Rold Gold Honey Wheat Pretzels Crunchy, sweet wheat with a touch of salt. Per 1-ounce serving: 110 calories, 2 g protein, 23 g carbohydrates, 1 g fat (0 g saturated), 1 g fiber, 230 mg sodium – Philip Rhodes

The Best of the Snack Aisle (2 of 4)

3. Best Trail Mix

Woodstock Frams Gourmet Tart dried blueberries and cherries elevate this one above more pedestrian mixes. Per ¼-cup serving: 120 calories, 2 g protein, 19 g carbohydrates, 4 g fat (0.5 g saturated), 2 g fiber, 10 mg sodium.

4. Best Dried-Fruit Mix

Woodstock Farms Tropical Fruit Mix Big chunks of sweet fruit that you can really sink you teeth into. No metallic, sulfurous aftertaste. Per ¼-cup serving: 90 calories, 0 g protein, 22 g carbohydrates, 0 g fat, 2 g fiber, 10 mg sodium.

5. Best Jerky

SnackMaster's Natural Turkey Jerky, Original Flavor None of our testers guessed it was turkey instead of beef. Per 1-ounce serving: 80 calories, 14 g protein, 3 g carbohydrates, 1 g fat (0 g saturated), - g fiber, 550 mg sodium

6. Best Potato Chip

Low Fat Kettle Krisp Guiltless snacking at its finest, with no heart-stopping trans fats to spoil the party. Per 1-ounce serving: 110 calories, 3 g protein, 22 g carbohudrates, 1.5 g fat (0 g saturated), 2 g fiber, 160 mg sodium – Philip Rhodes

The Best of the Snack Aisle (1 of 4)

A man cannot live by bread alone—it doesn’t have enough protein. So what’s a guy to eat?

The answers are here. There are more than 50,000 prepared foods for sale in U.S. supermarkets, and with the help of our panel of nutritionist and ravenous taste-tasters, we found the 125 best ones. Out with the trans fats, high-fructose corn syrup, and carb hype. In with the good fats, protein, and complex carbohydrates.

Gentlemen, start your grocery carts. This is a race of you win.

The Best of the Snack Aisle

“Protein and fiber are nutrients that regulate insulin and therefore are longer-lasting sources of energy, they also help make snack foods more satisfying, so you’ll put the bag back in the cabinet rather than tossing it cause it’s empty.

1. Best Crunchy Granola Bar
Nature Valley Peanut Butter Granola Bar Pure peanut-buttery goodness. Per package (2 bars): 180 calories, 5 grams (g) protein, 30 g carbohydrates, 7 g fat (1 g saturated), 2 g fiber, 190 milligrams (mg) sodium.

2. Best Chewy Granola Bar Health Valley Wild Berry Chewy and dense, and not high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS). Per bar: 100 calories, 2 g protein, 22 g carbohydrate, 1 g fat (0 g saturated), 2 g fiber, 5 mg sodium – Philip Rhodes

Don't Get Cheated Out of Calcium

If you drink calcium-fortefied beverage such as soy or rice milk, be sure to give the carton a good shake before you pour. Unlike the calcium that naturally occurs in cow’s milk, the mineral must be added to these drinks in the form of finely ground powders. These particles can settle, Creighton University researchers recently found, as the beverage sits on a shelf, forming a calcium sludge at the bottom of the container. As a result, the actual calcium you get from soy or rice drinks may be as much as 85 percent less than what the label says. –Kimberly Papa

Some Good Tips

Q: Certain fruits and vegetables make my throat itch. What does this mean and is it dangerous?

A: Some foods and plats have molecular sililarities, such as apples and birch tree pollen. So someone allergic to birch may experience an itchy mouth when eating an apple. It’s unusual for this type of reaction to be dangerous, and the problem can be avoided by not eating certain fruits and vegetables, such as apples, peaches, cherries, cantaloupe, celery and carrots. But if you feel like your throat is closing, get to the emergency room right away. A shot of epinephrine (EpiPen) may be necessary. – Gail G. Shaprito, M.D. clinical professon of pediatrics at the Univesity of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle

Help for the nearsighted
Good news for people with severe myopia (nearsightedness): A new FDA-approved lens call Verisyse may help you see more clearly, permanently. The thin lens is implanted in the eye allowing the patient to retain the ability to focus on nearby objects. The procedure is laser-free and reversible. Visit www.visioninfocus.com.

Chewy Choice for Vitamins
Do you avoid taking your multivitamin because of its size and chalky taste? Try Viactiv’s new multivitamin chew in milk chocolate or tropical fruit splash, each with 12 essential vitamins and 20 percent of the daily value of calcium. Visit www.viactiv.com.

Photo courtesy: viactiv