Vegetables and Vegetarians

Dietary experts recommend that every person should eat at least five servings of fruits and vegetables every day. The importance of fruits and vegetables to a healthy diet has been known for quite some time, but studies have shown that very few people eat the amount of fruits and vegetables recommended for a healthy diet.

That’s a shame, since eating a sufficient number of fruits and vegetables just may be the single most effective thing you can do to improve your overall health. The five a day approach to healthy eating may be the single most important strategy you can adopt for a healthier lifestyle.

The many health benefits of eating fruits and vegetables have been established for quite some time now. Study after study has shown that a diet rich in fruits and vegetables lowers the risk of certain cancers, heart disease and other chronic diseases and conditions. Some studies have suggested that as many as 35% of cancer deaths can be attributed to diet, and that diets high in fats and low in fruits and vegetables contributes to unnecessary cancer deaths.

Fruits and vegetables have a lot of advantages besides just their nutritional importance. For one thing, they taste great and add a great deal of variety to everyday meals. Fruits and vegetables come in such a wide variety of colours, textures and flavours that they can be used in virtually every meal. Those seeking to maximize their consumption of fruits and vegetables should get into the habit of using fruits in salads, as toppings and as garnishes.

In addition to their great taste, fruits and vegetables are packed full of many essential vitamins and minerals, including many micronutrients that are not included in packaged vitamin supplements. For instance, foods like butternut squash, pumpkins, carrots, mangoes, peaches, pawpaws and green leafy vegetables are rich in beta carotene. Beta carotene is vital for healthy skin and eyes.

In addition, most varieties of fruits and vegetables contain vitamin C, another important vitamin and a strong antioxidant. Good sources of vitamin C include Brussels sprouts, citrus fruits, strawberries, broccoli, nectarines and kiwi fruit. Many fruits and vegetables, including spinach, broccoli and avocadoes, are also good sources of vitamin E, another excellent antioxidant.

Men and women alike should always strive to eat a healthy diet, but women have an extra incentive to get all the nutrition they need. Proper nutrition is essential to a healthy pregnancy, and some of the baby’s biggest nutritional needs happen before the pregnancy is discovered. Folic acid is perhaps the best known essential nutrient for pregnant women. Folic acid has been proven effective at preventing a variety of birth defects, including Spina Bifida. Good dietary sources of folic acid include Brussels sprouts, broccoli, spinach and oranges. In addition, due to its importance to women of child bearing years, many common foods such as cereals and breads, are supplemented with folic acid.

In addition to their importance as source of vitamins and minerals, fruits and vegetables also provide essential dietary fibre. Adequate fibre in the diet is important in preventing heart disease and some kinds of cancer.

Another great feature of fruits and vegetables, especially to those watching their weight, is the high nutrition, low fat, low calorie nature of these foods. Fruits and vegetables contain very low levels of fats, and a diet low in fat can be quite effective for long term weight loss. In addition, fruits and vegetables contain no cholesterol, and they are lower in calories than many other types of foods.

With all these things going for them, it is no wonder so many dietary experts recommend eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables. Not only are fruits and vegetables delicious and nutritious, but they can be quite inexpensive as well. Buying fruits and vegetables that are locally grown, and that are in season, is usually the most cost effective way to get the freshest fruits and veggies at the lowest possible cost.

This buying strategy also helps to ensure a steady stream of new fruits and vegetables every month, as some go out of season while others are just coming in. Trying a variety of different fruits and vegetables, including some you may not be familiar with, is also a great way to create exciting new dishes and prevent you from becoming bored with the same old diet. Whether your goal is to lose weight or just increase your level of fitness, it is hard to go wrong with a diet rich in fruits and vegetables.

Uchenna Ani-Okoye is an internet marketing advisor and co founder of Free Affiliate Programs For more information and resource links on healthy eating visit: Atkins Diet Induction

Article Source: articlestreet

When you were growing up, you proberbly thought your parents and teachers was being a pain for insisting that you eat your fruits and vegetables. You may not have realized it then, but they were doing you a great favor. It turned out that fruits and vegetables are an essential part of our diet, providing a wide range of vitamins and minerals that serve numerous important functions in the body.

For years U.S. Department of Health has recommended including at least five portions of fruits and vegetables in our daily diet.

Many people, however, are still not getting the message they remain delinquent in their fruit and vegetable intake. Regretfully only one in seven does achieve this quota. In fact, a full 33% of American adults eats only two servings of fruits and vegetables a day and are more likely to opt for an unhealthy snack instead. On a daily basis, about half the population eats no fruit at all.

A Ton of Reasons: There are a tons of reasons to eat a variety of colors from the produce dept. Fruits and vegetables are basically fat free, low in salt and an excellent source of fiber.

Some fruits and vegetables, such as bananas and spinach, contain potassium, which supports proper nerve and muscle functioning. Other fruits and vegetables, such as carrots and cantaloupe, supply Vitamin A, which maintains eye health and immunity. Green vegetables such as broccoli and asparagus provides Vitamin B, which is necessary for converting food into energy.

All fruits and vegetables are loaded with phytonutrients, the health-promoting components of plants. Studies have shown that phytonutrients can help protect seven key organs, including the heart, liver, eyes and skin.

Antioxidant Properties: Researches that measured the total antioxidant power of various foods, placed fruits and vegetables at the top of the list.

Antioxidants are known to protect our bodies from free radicals that can cause damage to cellular membranes. Antioxidants also help to make our muscles stronger, boost our immunity, and support bone and skin health.

Colorful fruits and vegetables derive their antioxidant properties from the chemical that causes their various colors. As you can see there are numerous health benefits to gain from consuming fruits and vegetables from the different color groups.

The seven food color groups and their properties.

1.Red.

Tomato, tomato juices, watermelon, pink grapefruit, red plum: Produces Lycopene which has shown to inhibit cancer cell growth in laboratory test.

2.Red/Purple

Grapes, strawberries, cranberries, raspberries, blueberries, prunes, red apples. Proanthocyanidins protect against urine infections.ellagic acid inhibits cancer cell growth.

3.Green

Broccoli, Brussel Sprouts, Cabbage, Bok Choy. Produces Isothio-cyanates which increases liver proteins for defending against carcinogens.

4.Green/Yellow

Spinach, corn, collard greens, kale, avocado, mustard greens. Lutein protects vision, the heart, and inhibits cancer cell growth.

5. Orange

Carrots, cantaloupe, pumpkin, mangos, apricots. Beta carotene protects vision and immune function.

6.Orange/Yellow

Oranges, lemons, papaya, peaches, nectarines, pineapple. Flavonoids inhibit tumor growth and repair DNA. Limonoids in the skin of oranges and lemon inhibit tumor growth.

7.Green/White

Garlic, onion, celery, chives, pears, leeks. Allyl sulfides inhibit tumor cell growth.

A study by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute’s, suggest that: Eating more fruits and vegetables can also help lower cholesterol. In the study, the 4466 subjects consumed on average a shade over 3 servings of fruits and vegetables a day. Men and women with the highest daily consumption (more than 4 servings a day) had significantly lower levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol than those with lower consumption

Exactly how fruits and vegetables lower cholesterol is still something of a mystery. It just may be that eating more fruits and vegetables result in eating less meat and dairy products, and thus less cholesterol-boosting saturated fat. Soluble fiber in fruits and vegetables may also block the absorption of cholesterol from food.

The next time you feel the urge for a snack why not try a half a cup of fresh or frozen blueberries. Blueberries are one of the best antioxidant-rich foods, they have been so effective in retarding aging in laboratory animals that they can block brain changes leading to decline and even reverse failing memory.

If you are having difficulty eating the recommended daily servings of antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables, you may want to add dietary supplements to your diet. Dietary supplements can provide you with the powerful phytonutrients and antioxidant benefits found in seven servings of colorful fruits and vegetables. It also supports your body’s vital organs by providing them with key nutrients.

By making the effort to follow your mom’s advice by eating plenty of fruits and vegetables each day, you may be doing your body one of the biggest favors ever.

Jerry Gunning is a Personal Wellness Coach who teaches clients that good nutrition is vital to wellness and support the overall quality of life. Site: http://www.weightlosstoachievewellness.com Contact:admin@weightlosstoachievewellness.com

Article Source: articlestreet

Going vegetarian is easy. Grocery stores are always stocked with colorful vegetables and plenty of other vegan foods. Almost all grocery stores now carry delicious faux meat products, too – from veggie burgers and veggie hot dogs to vegetarian chicken nuggets, ribs, steak strips, and more. With all these great products available, it’s easier than ever to whip up delicious meat-free meals at home. Going out to eat couldn’t be easier too! With more and more people becoming vegetarian these days, most restaurants now offer great-tasting, healthy vegetarian selections.

Vegetarian foods can be classified into several different types:

1. Traditional foods that have always been vegetarian (Cereals/grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts, etc.)
2. Soy products including Tofu and Tempeh are common protein sources.
3. Textured vegetable protein (TVP), made from defatted soy flour, is often included in chili and burger recipes in place of ground meat.
4. Meat analogues, which mimic the taste, texture, and appearance of meat and are often used in recipes that traditionally contained meat. Vegans may also use analogues for eggs and dairy products.
5. Food usually regarded as suitable for all types of the vegetarian cuisine usually include:
6. Cereals/grains: maize, corn, wheat, rice, barley, sorghum, millet, oats, rye, triticale, buckwheat, fonio, quinoa; derived products such as flour (dough, bread, pasta, baked goods) (assuming they have been made without dairy products, such as butter-crust bread).
7. Vegetables (fresh or pickled) and mushrooms (though some strict Indian vegetarians do not eat mushrooms); derived products such as vegetable fats and oils
8. Fruit (fresh or dried)
9. Legumes: beans (including soybeans and soy products such as tempeh, tofu, soy milk, and TVP), chickpeas, peas, lentils, peanuts)
10. Tree nuts and seeds
11. Spices and herbs

Food suitable for several types of the vegetarian cuisine:

Six Tips To Make The Transition
1. Make vegetarian versions of your favorite meals.
2. Explore thousands of delicious vegetarian recipes.
3. Try some tasty faux meats and dairy alternatives.
4. Sample vegetarian microwaveable meals and convenience foods.
5. Search online for the best vegetarian-friendly restaurants in your area.
6. Explore the amazing variety of meat-free ethnic

Cruelty To Animals

Animals on factory farms are treated like meat, milk, and egg machines. Chickens have their sensitive beaks seared off with a hot blade, and male cattle and pigs are castrated without any painkillers. All farmed chickens, turkeys, and pigs spend their brief lives in dark and crowded warehouses, many of them so cramped that they can’t even turn around or spread a single wing. They are mired in their own waste, and the stench of ammonia fills the air. Animals raised for food are bred and drugged to grow as large as possible as quickly as possible many are so heavy that they become crippled under their own weight and die within inches of their water supply.

Animals on factory farms do not see the sun or get a breath of fresh air until they are prodded and crammed onto trucks for a nightmarish ride to the slaughterhouse, often through weather extremes and always without food or water. Many die during transport, and others are too sick or weak to walk off the truck after they reach the slaughterhouse. The animals who survive this hellish ordeal are hung upside-down and their throats are slit, often while they’re completely conscious. Many are still alive while they are skinned, hacked into pieces, or scalded in the defeathering tanks.

Vegetarian Stars

Alicia Silverstone notes how much better vegetarian diets are for your health: "Since I’ve gone vegetarian, my body has never felt better and my taste buds have been opened up to a whole new world. It’s one of the most rewarding choices I’ve ever made and I invite you to join me in living a healthy, cruelty-free lifestyle." Indeed, studies show that a vegetarian diet promotes a healthy heart and that helps stars maintain a youthful vigor and boundless stamina while on stage, in the studio, and on the field.

Sir Paul McCartney sums it all up: "If anyone wants to save the planet, all they have to do is just stop eating meat. That’s the single most important thing you could do. It’s staggering when you think about it. Vegetarianism takes care of so many things in one shot: ecology, famine, cruelty."

Victor Epand is an expert consultant for Krishna art, religious gifts from India, and Hare Krishna books. You can find the best marketplace for Krishna art, religious gifts from India, and Hare Krishna books at these sites for Krishna art, vegetarian gifts , and vegetarian cuisine books .

Article Source: articlestreet