Archive for April 24, 2011

24 Apr 2011
Organic Diet

Why You Should Eat Organic

Over the years, there has been a growing concern about how food products affect health. This is a valid one given the fact that the farming of fruits, vegetables and meat products is now vastly different than fifty or forty years ago. In order to meet the demands of a vast population, farmers employ a number of modern measures to increase yield. For example, so that green goods will be protected from insect attacks, it’s now very common for farm workers to use a concoction of pesticides and chemical fertilizers. These days, GMOs or genetically modified organisms are also widely used primarily since GMO products have high resistance against insects and diseases. It’s now also typical for food products to undergo varied processes, including irradiation and mixing food additives, to improve appearance, taste, and size, apart from increasing crop returns. The question here is, “Where do all these chemicals go after food has been consumed?” Because plants and animals retain a certain amount of these artificial substances in their systems, these substances are then passed on to the next living thing that consumes them. In other words, it’s highly probable for people to get a good dose of artificial elements.

It’s scary to think that the consumption of large amounts of foods, like fruits and vegetables, which we believe are healthy, may actually be detrimental to health. This is why more and more people are turning to organic food. Organic food products are those that have been grown without the use of pesticides or chemical fertilizers. These are products that aren’t genetically modified, nor are these foods added with artificial elements. So, although organic food may not look as “healthy” as others that are products of modern farms, the former actually contain more nutrients and are healthier alternatives.

Eating organic foods has a lot of benefits. As mentioned earlier, these types are better for health. The reason for this is that organic foods contain more essential elements and have less or no pesticide or chemical content. So, you’ll enjoy more nutritious food. Organically grown fruits and vegetables also taste better and fresher. There have been studies confirming that apples, cucumbers and tomatoes that have been grown naturally have more appealing taste. Apart from fruits and vegetables, it’s also better to consume meat products that have not been processed in any way. This way, you’ll be sure that the animal products that you eat are free from hormones, antibiotics and other chemicals. The accumulation of these types of unnatural substance inside the body can cause obesity and other serious illnesses, like cancer.

All in all, organic foods should be consumed as these are definitely safer and healthier options. Eating naturally farmed and raised foods is safer because this will help people to avoid taking in chemical compounds that may be harmful to the body in the long run. Moreover, even if organically grown greens, fruits and meats appear smaller than their genetically or chemically enhanced counterparts, natural products pack more essential vitamins and minerals that the body needs. Still, the decision to go organic depends on an individual. Just remember that you are what you eat, and going organic means that you’ll be giving your body more vital nutrients and less harmful substances.

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12 Apr 2011
Vegetarian Diet

Vegetarian Dieting and Weight Loss

The secret to weight loss is as elusive as ever. Some people claim that becoming a vegetarian will put you in the right track. But switching to vegetarianism will be fairly difficult, particularly for those who have been raised to eat meat. Moreover, the prevalence of processed and fast foods, as well as the ease on getting them makes these types more appealing, particularly for those who lead fast-paced lifestyles. But even though vegetarianism may not necessarily be the one answer to your weight loss concerns, being a vegetarian actually has a lot of benefits to health and to weight problems.

A vegetarian diet encourages the consumption of large amounts of fruits and vegetables. These types of foods possess a lot of essential nutrients and contain high amounts of fiber. Nutrients found in plant-based products contain certain substances that aid in weight loss. Apples and grapefruit, for example, have pectin. Pectin is a compound that inhibits the cells from taking in fat molecules. There are also vitamins which breakdown fat molecules, such as vitamins C and B12. Citrus fruits, like lemon, peaches, and oranges have high amounts of vitamin C, which makes fat deposits thinner so that the body can eliminate these faster. Carnitine amino acid is a compound that encourages the body to burn fat quickly, and this works better with vitamin C. As with vitamin B12, this stimulates the metabolic process. The faster the metabolism, the quicker our bodies burn calories; hence, these calories become energy and will not be stored as fat deposits. Many kinds of plant-based foods also contain elements that increase metabolism, such as chilies and green tea. Consuming foods with high amounts of fiber also helps a person to lose weight. By eating fibrous foods, our bodies work harder during the digestive process. So, in many ways, we burn calories as we eat. Vegetarians also eat a lot of legumes, such as beans and peas. These are high in protein, iron and fiber. The body processes plant proteins the same way it processes fiber; it exerts more energy during digestion in order to process and burn plant proteins.

A vegetarian diet is also a low fat diet. Food products included in a vegan’s diet are high in “good” fats and low in “bad” fats. “Good” fats are the monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. Both types of fats help in decreasing cholesterol levels in the blood, and the monounsaturated fat also helps in weight loss. The “bad” fats are the saturated fats and trans fats, which are mostly found in meat products and processed foods. These kinds of fats increase blood cholesterol levels and are difficult to lose once they become fat deposits.

Opting for a vegetarian diet has a lot of benefits, in terms of nutritional benefits and its role in weight loss. There have been scientific studies proving that vegetarians are healthier and thinner than meat-eaters, and the former are also able to maintain ideal body weight even without physical exercise. Some who have switched to vegetarianism for weight loss have even been known to experience shedding a pound a week even if no strict diet plans and exercise regimens are followed. However, becoming a vegetarian isn’t always the answer to weight problems. There are several things that you’ll need to consider first, which revolve around your habits and your choices. Just remember that being a vegetarian is a way of life and it’s not a means to an end.

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