Best Food for the Brain

It is true that as people mature, the physical body also ages. But some scientific studies show that people can actually increase the chances of maintaining optimal brain health, even in old age.

This is done by adding the best brain food possible to our diet.  First on the  list of excellent brain food is blueberries.

Blueberries protect the brain from oxidizing, which usually develops due to stress and conditions associated with aging.

This fruit is a good source for preventive measures for the development of Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, and other neurological disorders.  They can also provide increased learning and understanding because of the motor neurons enrichment.  Wild salmon is considered among the best brain foods.

In fact, not only wild salmon, but most of the fish from cold, deep waters is considered great brain food. Cold-water fish are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which are important for brain function. Salmon is especially preferred for its availability and cleanliness.

Other fish high in omega-3 fatty acids are sardines and herring. The recommended amount of salmon to supply the brain is four ounces two to three times per week.  In addition, nuts and seeds are food for thought because of its content, vitamin E. Vitamin E improves the cognitive level of the brain.

Example of nuts and seeds that are known to be good sources of vitamin E are almonds, hazelnuts, peanuts, walnuts, flax seeds, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, and more. If it is advised that you maintain a low salt diet, it is important to stay away from nuts that are salted or roasted.

Avocados are also considered food for the mind and is almost as good as blueberries for improvement of brain health. Although avocado is known as a food high in fat, it actually contains unsaturated fats, which add up to a healthy blood flow, which greatly affects the brain’s health, because of the increased supply of oxygen. Avocados are high in calories, but so it is recommended to be ingested in small amounts as a side dish.


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Is Protein Powder Safe to Use as a Supplement?

Athletes are often nervous about trying something like a protein supplement for the first time. Most of this is due to all the negative publicity that professional athletes have brought to illegal and harmful substances to try to gain an edge in their sport. Supplements like whey protein powder don’t have any known side effects that could cause you harm. Pretty much the worst thing that could happen is you could gain unwanted weight, but this would just be due to error in your consumption.

If you are exercising enough to warrant a protein supplement, then weight gain should not be a serious concern for you. The potential weight addition is simply caused by eating more calories than you burn each day. If you’re on a bodybuilder or distance runner’s training schedule, then this is almost impossible. However, if you’re just a regular guy who goes to the gym twice a week, then it could definitely affect you.

Other than weight gain, there is the potential that you could eat far too much protein. Most Americans in today’s society eat nearly double the amount of protein that they need each and every day. If you add protein on top of that already incorrect diet, then you could be eating more than your body can safely process and digest. Some side effects of eating too much protein include kidney problems, diarrhea, stomach cramping. To avoid this, you simply need to take stock of your current diet before adding any kind of supplement to it.

Even the best protein powder mixed in with the healthiest fruits in a smoothie can cause these problems. As long as you are an athlete in training you probably don’t have to worry about either one, but a sedentary person who is looking for some magic supplement to help them look better probably won’t be impressed by the results they get from taking extra protein in their diet.



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How to Lose Weight with these Juicing Recipes

One way to lose weight yet still maintain the needed nutrition in the body is to eat many fruits. These are especially rich in antioxidants and vitamins, which helps the body to boost its system even in the midst of shedding pounds. However, not all people love eating fruits. But then again, one could still have these much needed nutrients through fruit juices.

Fruit juice recipes, are able to provide all the nutrients from fruits as if they are eaten in raw. In fact, it is easier to digest fruit juices because the tough fibers from the fruits are broken down, releasing the many antioxidant properties of the fruit. Even though in this process, we sacrifice the potent fibers within the fruit. Instead, we achieve higher amounts of nutrients.

It is good to know that the many colors of each fruit indicate the type of antioxidants they contain. Antioxidants actually create the particular plant hues. It is a great idea then, to eat a large variety of fruits with different colors, therfore providing ourselves with many types of antioxidants. This has many benefits, and will surely show within one’s diet.

The antioxidants within red fruits is called lycopene. This is one of the better studied antioxidants which is said to prevent many risks of cancer, particularly prostate cancer in men. Lycopene antioxidants congregate within the prostate glands in order to protect it from any oxidative damage that may result in cancer.

The blue and purple colored fruits such as blueberries, blackberries, acai berries and plums are a great source of anthocyanins. This type of antioxidant is able to create different pigments of blue an purple hues, depending on its concentrations and PH levels. Anthocyanins keep one’s arteries strong and elastic, giving them much strength to ward off heart disease. This is also great for preventing high blood pressure as well as risks of cancer.

The yellow-hued fruits are rich in hydroxyl carotenoid. This antioxidant is the cause of the yellow color in the lemons and varieties of plums. Like all other antioxidants, this helps one prevent cancer risks and other diseases.

The orange colored fruit which includes oranges and honeydew melons contain much beta carotene. The beta carotene antioxidant is potent for preventing heart disorders. It is studied that an elderl person who takes at least a portion of beta carotene rich foods per day are half as likely to suffer a heart attack.

Be sure to check out TweakFit fitness blog to learn how to lose weight with more useful weight loss tips.


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Health Guide to the Aloe Vera Plant, Aloe Vera Gel & Aloe Vera Juice

Aloe vera or aloe is one of about 200 species and hybrids of perennial succulent plants that belong to the lily family, Liliaceous. They are commonly used as landscape plants in dry and frost-free areas and as sometimes cultivated as houseplants.

History of Aloe Vera
Most botanists agree to the historical evidences that the Aloe vera plant originated in the warm and dry climates of Africa. This plant has been in the records of early civilizations – from Persia and Egypt in the

Middle East, Greece and Italy in Europe, to India and African continents. The plant is also very popular in Asia and the Pacific, and is present in the folklore of the Japanese, the Philippines and the Hawaiians. Aloe

vera is also included in the history of medicine and medical thought. It was recorded that the Greek physician Dioscorides used it. Aloe vera was also used by the Spanish during their years of colonization and carried it
with them to their conquests in South America and the Caribbean.

In Egypt, the plant was used as a burial gift to dead pharaohs as is depicted on their drawings and illustrations. The Papyrus ebers, an Egyptian document which was written B.C.E 1550, is probably the first document that detailed the discussion of Aloe Vera’s medicinal value. The document contains 12 formulas for mixing aloe with other agents to treat both internal and external human disorders.

It was Dioscorides who gave the first detailed description of the plant we call Aloe Vera and attributed to its juices “the power of binding, of inducing sleep.” He also said that it “loosens the belly, cleansing the stomach.”

 He also added that this “bitter” aloe (the sap) was a treatment for boils; that it eased hemorrhoids; aided in healing bruising; that it was good for the tonsils, the gums and all general mouth irritations, and it worked as a medicine for the eyes. Also, he observed that the whole leaf is pulverized; it could stop the bleeding of many wounds.

Plant Description
The most common aloe vera that you see in landscapes and households is characterized with fleshy, stiff and spiny leaves around the edges and are often crowded together in a rosette. Their flowers are usually reddish, produced on snowy spikes that may extend 6 m (20 ft) above the ground. There are also species of aloe vera that produce yellow, orange, or whitish-green flowers. Aloe vera is also known as aloe barbadensis.
The word aloe vera comes from the Arabic word aloe, which means plant, vera, which means true or genuine.


Aloe Vera Barbadensis

This is the species of aloe known for its medicinal properties. It looks like a small agave plant, and when adult grows to about 60-70 cm. Small plants often have white dotted marks on the leaf, but will eventually disappear as the plant grows, making it give a shade of light to dark green in color. It is actually a succulent plant that has a fibrous root system producing long, tapering, stem less leaves.

Aloe vera plant may be grown from seed. It thrives in well-drained sunny locations, and prefers rough, gritty medium. It can also be grown in pots and needs little amount of water. When you want to grow them indoors, the offshoots of the plant can be removed and replanted in another pot.

Aloe vera is proven to be of great help in households. When this plant is present in your garden, you may cut the leaves, peel off the green skin and use the transparent aloe vera gel to aid burn skins, irritated skin and scalps.

In most Asian countries such as the Philippines, this plant is popular with the mothers as they apply it
to the hairs of their daughters along with coconut oil to prevent dandruff and lice infection of the hair. Another one of the many aloe vera uses is in removing lice eggs, when applied it makes the lice eggs easily slide off the hair.

Aloe vera gel and juices are extracted from the plant itself and is also known to aid various ailments. Its antifungal, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory properties make it a popular ingredient for making lotions; moisturizers and other skin care products. Aloe vera juice is also used as a laxative and is known to aid in weight loss while aloe vera gel benefits skin irritations, dry skin and other skin problems.

Other Names for Aloe Vera
In India, aloe vera is known as Korphad; in states of Rajasthan and Gujarat it is called as GwarPatha, and in Tamilnadu it is known as Katralai. In Pakistan, the aloe vera plant is known as Quargandal and is used in Unani (Greek-Islamic) medicine. In South America, it is known as Sabila, in Indonesia it is called Lidah Buaya and in Thailand, it is known as Crocodile Tail plant.

Aloe vera is widely distributed in the different continents, and for most people it is of great help when it comes to healing and first aid medicine applications.


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