Happy Foods That Won’t Make You Gain

"Bad day? Fight the blues without blowing your diet by picking foods that boost happy brain chemicals while helping you stay slim."

My answer for a hot summer day: A banana split! Not just any banana split, but an ultra healthy mood enhancing refreshing treat! Using several "happy" ingredients from the article below place banana halves in a shallow dish, scoop on 1% cottage cheese, add grape halves, citris slices, strawberries, pineapple and top with honey, cocoa powder & chopped walnuts... yum!

 Ingredients1 banana
½ c. cottage cheese
¼ c. grapes, halved, 1 kiwi, diced & orange slices
1 Tbsp. pure maple syrup or honey
½ c. strawberries, sliced & pineapple chunks
1-3 Tbsp. raspberry yogurt mixed with 1 tsp. cinnamon or cocoa powder
1 Tbsp. chopped walnuts

Directions
1. Cut banana lengthwise and place in a shallow bowl.
2. Combine cottage cheese with grapes/kiwi wheat and honey. Form into a “scoop” and set in the middle of the banana.
3. Top with strawberries, orange slices, pineapple and yogurt.
4. Sprinkle with cocoa powder & walnuts.

Or be creative and try your fruit variety...

http://fitbie.msn.com/slideshow/happy-foods-won-t-make-you-gain?gt1=50002

By Hollis Templeton

When you’re in a funk, your first instinct isn’t to whip up a bowl of lentil soup or pour yourself a glass of milk. But compounds in these foods may help ward off depression, fight fatigue, and reduce anxiety by increasing levels of mood-boosting brain chemicals such as serotonin and dopamine. Traditional comfort foods, like those loaded with sugar, saturated fat, alcohol, and caffeine, on the other hand, can actually amplify edginess—not to mention blow your diet. To perk up without packing on the pounds, pick one of these nine healthy eats next time you’re feeling down.

Cottage Cheese

The mood booster: Tyrosine

Low-fat sources of protein, like egg whites and low-fat cottage cheese, are packed with tyrosine, an amino acid that aids the brain’s production of norepinephrine and dopamine, two chemicals that influence motivation and reaction time. Early studies showed that tyrosine could be used to alleviate symptoms of depression, as it is an essential building block for the mood-regulating brain chemicals norepinephrine, dopamine, and serotonin. Enjoy half a cup for only 90 calories and stock up on 14 g of filling protein.

Bananas

The mood booster: Magnesium

This portable treat makes a great 100-calorie snack when you’re craving something sweet. Bananas are a good source of magnesium, a mineral that helps the brain deal with stress and may help boost mood, too. In a study of 5,700 adults published in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, researchers linked higher levels of anxiety and depression to study participants with lower magnesium intake. Bananas are also packed with potassium, which helps boost alertness, tryptophan, an amino acid that aids the body in producing mood-boosting serotonin, and mood-stabilizing vitamin B6.

Citrus Fruit

The mood booster: Vitamin C

For only 60 calories a pop, it’s easy to get nearly 100% of your daily recommended vitamin C in one place. Skip your orange and you might end up feeling bitter. In a study conducted by doctors at Jewish General Hospital in Montreal and published in the journal Nutrition, researchers found that when vitamin C-deficient hospital patients were supplemented with 500 mg of vitamin C twice daily for 1 week they experienced a 34% reduction in mood disturbance. Even the smell of citrus can put you in a better state of mind. When participants in an Ohio State University study smelled lemons, they reported greater improvements in mood and had higher levels of norepinephrine compared with when they sniffed lavender or unscented water.

Walnuts

The mood booster: Alpha-linolenic acid

While EPA and DHA, two omega-3 fatty acids found in salmon, tuna, and fish oil supplements, have been touted to help depression sufferers beat the blues, a new study of 55,000 women published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition suggests that alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), an omega-3 fatty acid in plant foods like walnuts, soybeans, and flaxseed, is the real star in alleviating depression symptoms. In the 10-year study, Harvard University researchers found that the risk of depression was lower among women who consumed more ALA, a compound previously thought to have few health benefits.

July is National Blueberry Month

Blueberry History in the United States

July was proclaimed National Blueberry Month by the United States Department of Agriculture on May 8th, 1999. Blueberries are grown in 35 states in the US, and the United States produces over 90% of all of the blueberries in the world. They have been used in soups, stews and more, for centuries. According to Ark-LA-Tex, the Native Americans taught the pilgrims to use blueberries in many ways. Blueberries were dried in the sun and ground into a powder. The powder was used to make a pudding called Sautauthig, and it was used to season meat as a “spice rub.”

Blueberries And Your Health
The Native Americans also believed that these little blue berries were good for your health. Blueberry tea is supposed to help relax women during childbirth, leaves from the blueberry bush were used to make a blood purifier that was good for the kidneys, and blueberry juice was supposed to be good for coughs. Modern medicine also identifies the health benefits of blueberries. According to the New England Journal of Medicine, the Rutgers Blueberry Cranberry Research Center in Chatsworth, N.J. found that blueberries help prevent infections in the urinary tract in much the same way that cranberries do. They may also help to prevent macular degeneration according to Ronald L. Prior, Ph.D., director of the USDA.

Did you know that eating blueberries could also be one of the keys to living to a ripe old age? Well, if you take a look at the research, foods that are rich in antioxidants are supposed to help reduce your chance of getting cancer and heart disease, and blueberries are loaded with them. Blueberries are among the fruits with the highest amounts of antioxidants, which may help fight aging, cancer and heart disease. Blueberries are also loaded with dietary fiber and vitamins A and C. Out of 40 different fruits, juices and vegetables, the blueberry comes in with the highest antioxidant level, according to the North american Blueberry Council. Just three and a half ounces of blueberries are equivalent to over 1700 International Units of vitamin E.

In a landmark study published in 1999, researchers at Tufts University’s Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging fed rats blueberry extract for a period of time that in “rat lives” is equivalent to 10 human years. These rats outperformed rats fed regular chow on tests of balance and coordination when they reached old age. Compounds in blueberries (and other berries) mitigate inflammation and oxidative damage, which are associated with age-related deficits in memory and motor function.

Freezing Blueberries
According to the North American Blueberry Council, you should not wash your blueberries before you freeze them. If you buy the berries in a pint box, simply wrap the box tightly in cellophane to make it airtight, or slip it into a resealable plastic bag (squeeze out as much air as possible). Then freeze. If you buy the berries in bulk, freeze them on a cookie sheet first and then transfer them into a freezer container. Keep frozen until ready to use.

Substitute Fresh Blueberries For Canned Blueberries
According to Texas Blueberries, “If a recipe calls for a can of blueberries, you may make your own by using 2-1/2 cups of fresh blueberries, 1 tablespoon of corn starch, 1-1/2 teaspoons of lemon juice, 1/8 cup of water. Cook until thickened and clear. Cool before using as a substitute.”
National Blueberry Month By Cynthia Kirkeby & Healthy Living. Pictures: Tumblr Tissah

Eat better........... more fruit!

People (and my friends) are spending a fortune on weight loss programs........... FORGET IT!!!
Save your money. Just change what you eat. More fruit.

http://fitbie.msn.com/lose-weight/blogging-keeps-her-motivated?gt1=50002

One girl's success story... 

Blogging Keeps Her Motivated

Krista Berg loved reading healthy living blogs so much, she started her own to document her weight loss journey. She’s lost 112 pounds and has no plans to slow down anytime soon

After | Before
Image: Courtesy of Krista Berg

                                                  Before: 281 pounds  After: 169 pounds
                                                             Height: 5'6"  Age: 22

 

Krista Berg, a pharmacy student from Traverse City, MI, battled weight problems throughout her adolescent and teen years. She led a sedentary lifestyle, avoided the scale, and ate anything she wanted. “My favorite foods were loaded with calories and fat. I was aware of it, but I didn’t care,” she says.

The Turning Point
Fed up with a frumpy clothes selection and tired of going unnoticed by boys, Krista decided to take control of her life at age 20. Once the pounds started coming off, she realized how much better she felt. That’s when health and well-being became her motivation to continue losing weight.

The Lifestyle
Krista started doing 30 to 60 minutes of cardio 5 days a week and eventually incorporated weight training into her regimen. About a year into her weight loss plan, she thought she was reaching a plateau. A friend convinced her to give running a try, since she was looking for a way to increase her cardio intensity. With him by her side, she ran her first mile at her university’s rec center. Since then, she’s completed six 5-Ks and recently finished a 10-K. Exercise helped her lose 112 pounds, but her diet plays a bigger role in effectively slimming down. “It’s possible for me to skip the gym but still lose weight if I stay within my calorie budget [typically around 1,500]. But I can—and do—easily gain weight when I start eating too much, despite how much I am working out,” she says.

She used to monitor her food intake with Weight Watchers points but switched to Tap & Track, a mobile application, because it was more convenient to use on her iPod. It’s difficult for her to eliminate foods because she feels deprived, so instead she focuses on scaling back portions. She makes an effort to eat lots of fruits, whole grains, yogurt, and organic foods. And though she’s not a huge fan of vegetables, she makes herself a spinach salad almost every day. She doesn’t eat out as much anymore, and when she does she’s more conscious of what she orders.

The MotivationKrista has weighed about 170 pounds for 6 months, and she plans to lose 35 more pounds. She shares her struggles through her blog “My Journey to a Healthy Berg” and considers it a success if she can motivate just one person to make a healthy change. Several readers have sent Krista emails telling her how much she inspires them. What her readers may not know is the impact their positive feedback has on her. “Sometimes I'll be feeling really bad about myself after eating too much dessert or skipping a workout. Then I'll get a comment, and it makes me feel so good and completely turns my attitude around,” she says.

The Reward
Fitting into every roller coaster seat at Cedar Point was one of the happiest days of her life.

Krista’s Tips
Shake it off. “Make a promise to yourself that when the initial motivation starts to fade and those bad days happen, you’re going to shrug it off and keep going.”

Spread the word. “It’s really easy to start a ‘secret diet.’ When you do that, nobody knows when you screw up. If you start gaining weight again, it’s not a big deal because no one is asking about your progress,” she says. Share your progress to help solidify your commitment to weight loss.

http://health.msn.com/healthy-living/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100275061&GT1=31036

U.S. Obesity Epidemic Continues to Spread

Report finds South with highest rates, but no state showed a decline over the last year

By Steven ReinbergHealthDay Reporter

THURSDAY, July 7 (HealthDay News) -- A new report outlining how obesity threatens America's future reveals that obesity rates climbed over the past year in 16 states, and not a single state reported a decline in the proportion of excessively overweight residents.

The report, released Thursday, also found that more than 30 percent of the people in 12 states are obese. Four years ago, only one state could make that claim.

Twenty years ago, "there wasn't a single state that had an obesity rate above 15 percent, and now every state is above that," said Jeff Levi, executive director of Trust for America's Health, which compiled the report.

"We have seen a dramatic shift over a generation," he added. "This isn't just about how much people weigh, but it has to do with serious health problems like diabetes and hypertension. These are the things that are driving health care costs."

With the exception of Michigan, the 10 most obese states are in the South. The Northeast and West reported the lowest obesity rates. In addition, in eight states, more than 10 percent of adults suffer from type 2 diabetes, according to the report.

Mississippi, where 34.4 percent of the people are obese, has the highest obesity rate. Other states with obesity rates above 30 percent include: Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and West Virginia. Thirty-eight other states have obesity rates above 25 percent.

For the second year in a row, obesity rates rose in Illinois, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Missouri, Rhode Island and Texas.

And, for the third year straight, more residents of Florida, Kansas, Maine, Oklahoma and Vermont tipped the scale toward obesity.

Colorado, with an obesity rate of 19.8 percent, is the only state where the rate is less than 20 percent, the investigators found.

Other highlights of the report include:

• The number of adults who do not exercise rose across 14 states.
• Obesity among men is up in nine states, but dropped for women in Nevada.
• Obesity prevalence varies with education and income. The least educated and the poorest had the highest rates of obesity; college graduates had the lowest.

More than one-third of children and adolescents are obese or overweight, with the highest prevalence in the South. However, the new data indicate that obesity among children and adolescents may have leveled off, except among the heaviest boys.

"This generation of kids could have shorter life spans, because people are getting diabetes and hypertension much earlier," Levi said.

The solution is simple, he added: Eat less, exercise more. "We have reconstructed our lives so that we don't build in physical activity. We have neighborhoods and communities that are food deserts, where the only food you can find is unhealthy fast food," he said.

Samantha Heller, a dietitian in Fairfield, Conn., called childhood obesity "a complex, multi-faceted problem that needs to be tackled from many different angles." She said she wished the report offered ways to educate parents and caregivers about healthy eating for children.

Parents and caregivers make approximately 75 percent of the food decisions for children, Heller said, so it is essential that they learn about healthy, affordable foods and meals for children that make sense to them.

"Overall, I am hopeful that the report will help motivate food companies, local and state governments, schools and communities to generate a good head of steam to help stem the tide of childhood obesity," she added.

Obesity expert Dr. David L. Katz, director of the Prevention Research Center at Yale University School of Medicine in New Haven, Conn., called the report "a reminder that obesity ranks among the most urgent public health problems of our time. While efforts to reverse obesity trends are proliferating, the tide has not yet turned, and more needs to be done."

The report makes it clear that interventions need to be tailored to diverse settings, Katz added. "I support the view that the root cause of epidemic obesity is everything about modern living, and that it will take the aggregation of a lot of effective programming to change our course," he said.

Levi noted that the federal government was introducing programs to stem the obesity crisis, but "we need to fund these programs adequately," he said.

"We now know the pieces that need to be put into place [to reduce obesity]," he added. "Some of them are about what we as individuals do, but a lot of it is also about what we as a community come together to do," Levi stated.

More information

For more information on obesity, visit the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

The list below, from the Report F as in Fat: How Obesity Threatens America's Future, shows the percentage of obese adults in all 50 states:

State	%		State	%
Mississippi	34.4		Maine	26.5
Alabama	32.3		Washington	26.4
West Virginia	32.2		Florida	26.1
Tennessee	31.9		Alaska	25.9
Louisiana	31.6		Virginia	25.9
Kentucky	31.5		Idaho	25.7
Oklahoma	31.4		New Hampshire	25.6
South Carolina	30.9		New Mexico	25.6
Arkansas	30.6		Arizona	25.4
Michigan	30.5		Oregon	25.4
Missouri	30.3		Wyoming	25.4
Texas	30.1		Minnesota	25.3
Ohio	29.6		Nevada	25.0
North Carolina	29.4		California	24.8
Indiana	29.1		New York	24.7
Kansas	29.0		Rhode Island	24.3
Georgia	28.7		New Jersey	24.1
South Dakota	28.7		Montana	23.8
Pennsylvania	28.5		Vermont	23.5
Iowa	28.1		Utah	23.4
Delaware	28.0		Hawaii	23.1
North Dakota	28.0		Massachusetts	22.3
Illinois	27.7		Connecticut	21.8
Nebraska	27.6		District of Columbia	21.7
Wisconsin	27.4		Colorado	19.8
Maryland	27.1

Just say no to fast food, the reason we are nutritionally starving. Eat more fruits and vegetables. You will lose weight without any expensive diet program.

Pictures from: tumblr_lkveyhQsrh1qibd79o1, tumblr Summer, Summer+11+1833

Seared Tuna Dinner

Linguine with Seared Tuna and Green-Olive Tapenade

Tuna is one of my favorite dishes and so good for you.

From Food & Wine

Small pitted green olives, the bottled martini type, are transformed into a savory sauce in next to no time. We like the tuna rare, but if you prefer it well done, cook it a few minutes longer.

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Nutritional Information
(per serving)

Calories	0
Total Fat	0
Saturated Fat	0
Cholesterol	0
Sodium	0
Total Carbohydrate	0
Dietary Fiber	--
Sugars	--
Protein	26g
Calcium	0

Serves: 4

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Ingredients

• 1/2 cup(s) pitted green olives
• 1/3 cup(s) lightly packed flat-leaf parsley, with thick stems removed
• 1 clove garlic, smashed
• 1/2 teaspoon(s) anchovy paste
• 7 tablespoon(s) olive oil
• 1 1/2 teaspoon(s) lemon juice
• 1/2 teaspoon(s) salt
• 1/2 teaspoon(s) fresh-ground black pepper
• 1 pound(s) tuna steak, about 2 inches thick cut into 3-inch squares
• 3/4 pound(s) linguine

---

Directions

1. In a food processor or blender, pulse the olives, parsley, and garlic to a coarse puree with the anchovy paste, 6 tablespoons of the olive oil, the lemon juice, and 1/4 teaspoon each of the salt and pepper. Put three-quarters of the mixture in a large bowl.
2. Heat a grill pan or heavy frying pan over moderate heat. Coat the tuna with the remaining 1 tablespoon oil and season with the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Cook about 1 1/2 minutes per side. Remove the tuna. Let sit for 3 minutes. The fish will be rare. Cut it into 1/4-inch slices.
3. In a large pot of boiling, salted water, cook the linguine until just done, about 12 minutes. Reserve about 1/2 cup of the pasta water. Drain the linguine, add it and 1/4 cup of the reserved pasta water to the bowl with the olive mixture, and toss. If the sauce seems too thick, add more of the reserved pasta water. Mound the pasta on plates and top with the tuna. Spoon the remaining olive mixture on top.
4. Wine Recommendation: The richness of the tuna and the saltiness of the tapenade are delightful accompanied by a light, fruity red like a Côtes du Rhône from Southern France or a barbera from Italy.

June is National Fruits and Vegetables Month

Every single month of the year has a "National _______ Month" designation. I think every day celebrates something. June has a few celebrations, and National Fruit and Vegetable Month is one of them.
Of course, you should eat a lot of fruit and vegetables all year round, but if one month can get you going, then it's a good thing. June is usually the month when I start to eat more salads and apples and oranges anyway, as I'm sure it is with a lot of people, so it's good timing.
And if you insist on eating a whole pizza tonight, at least put some mushrooms and onions.

Super Foods: The Health Benefits Of Bananas

14 Banana Health Benefits You Might Not Know About

A professor at CCNY for a physiological psych class told his class about bananas. He said the expression 'going bananas' is from the effects of bananas on the brain. Read on:

Never, put your banana in the refrigerator or take on a fishing boat!!!

This is interesting.
After reading this, you'll never look at a banana in the same way again.

The Health Benefits Of Bananas Are NumerousBy Chad Hagy

Banana health benefits are comparable to any other type of fruit. In fact, bananas have several positive benefits that many other fruits do not have. These yellow-skinned fruits are ideal for health because they have a sweet taste that most people enjoy. Because of this, it is easy to implement bananas into a daily diet.

Bananas are also convenient because you can carry them with you whenever you are in a hurry. Knowing the banana health benefits and the other positive things that bananas can be used for will likely give you a new appreciation for this popular fruit.

A Banana a Day…
Instead of eating an apple each day for optimum health, the adage should state that a banana each day keeps the doctor away. The banana health benefits far outweigh those of the apple because it has many more vitamins and nutrients than their round counterparts.

Bananas have two times as many carbohydrates as an apple, five times as much Vitamin A and iron and three times as much phosphorus. In addition, bananas are also rich in potassium and natural sugars. All of these factors combined make the banana a “super food” that is an integral part of a healthy daily regimen.

Bananas Provide Energy
Because of the abundance of vitamins and minerals, bananas are a great source of natural energy.

Bananas contain three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fiber. A banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy.

Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with the world's leading athletes.

Bananas are also ideal for eating during that midday lull when you feel tired and sluggish.

Instead of drinking caffeine or having a sugary snack, bananas provide a level of energy that lasts longer without the dramatic crash caused by caffeine.

Potassium is Vital for Performance
Because they are rich in potassium, bananas help the body’s circulatory system deliver oxygen to the brain. This also helps maintain a regular heartbeat and a proper balance of water in the body. Potassium is also helpful for reducing strokes and regulating blood pressure because of the way it promotes circulatory health.

Bananas Promote Bowel Health
One of the banana health benefits is that they can help stop constipation. Bananas have a certain type of fiber that helps to restore and maintain regular functions. Instead of using laxatives that might have chemicals or other synthetic substances, bananas are a natural source for lessening the effects of constipation without causing other bowel problems such as diarrhea.

Bananas Can Lift Your Spirits
Bananas have a chemical called tryptophan – the same chemical that turkey contains. This mood regulating substance contains a level of protein that helps the mind relax so you feel happier. According to Bananasaver.com, people suffering from depression often report feeling better after eating a banana.

Eat a Banana during Your Monthly Visitor
Instead of taking pills designed to reduce your menstrual pains, bananas can be a great help. As stated on Bananasaver.com, bananas have a level of vitamin B6 that helps to regulate blood glucose level and help your overall mood.

Increase Your Brain Power with Bananas In addition to banana health benefits, they can also help you with your mind. Bananasaver.com discusses a study with 200 students who were asked to eat one banana three times a day - breakfast, recess and lunchtime – along with their normal meals. What they found was that the potassium in the bananas boosted their brainpower and made them more alert during their classes while they followed the regimen.

Eat Bananas after a Night of Partying
The natural ingredients in bananas and their ability to replenish the body’s vitamins make them an ideal way to reduce the effects of a hangover. Put a couple bananas in the blender with some plain yogurt and add some honey to sweeten the taste. The fruit tends to calm the stomach and the honey helps to restore the blood sugar levels to normal.

Similarly, bananas can help people who are trying to quit smoking. The B vitamins and other minerals that they contain reduce the physical and psychological effects of nicotine withdrawal.

Bananas are Great for Pregnant Women
Because of their calming properties, pregnant women often eat bananas to combat their morning sickness. In addition, they also help to replenish the body and restore a healthy blood glucose level. In addition, they also help regulate a pregnant woman’s temperature, although this is mostly used in other cultures that rely more heavily on natural cures.

Rub the Peel on Mosquito Bites
Before you throw those peels away, rubbing the inside of it along a mosquito bite will help reduce the itching and swelling that is normally associated with these types of bites. You might even find that it works better than the creams or medications you find at the drugstore.

Bananas Help Soothe Ulcers
As a way to prevent and treat ulcers, bananas help to reduce the acidity that some foods can leave in the stomach. They help reduce the irritation of the digestive system by leaving a protective coating around the inner walls, making it a natural way to promote intestinal health as well.

Since they help to neutralize acidity, they are also a great way to get rid of heartburn. They act as a natural antacid and they quickly soothe the burn.

Bananas are Rich in Iron
For people suffering from a deficiency in iron, bananas help to give your body the iron that it needs. As a result, they help promote hemoglobin production so your blood can clot faster in case of a cut or serious injury.

Banana Peels are Good Fertilizer
Bananas can also benefit your garden. Instead of throwing the peels away, banana peels are ideal fertilizer for gardens and soils. Rose bushes benefit a great deal from the peels. If you have a certain plant that you want to blossom, simply bury a few peels next to it by the roots. In a few weeks, the plant will be huge.

Peels Can Be Used to Treat Warts
The outside of the banana peel also has healing and beneficial properties for the human body. If you have a wart on your foot, wrapping a banana peel around your foot so that the exterior of the peel rubs against the wart will help it go away in a matter of time. To keep the peel in place, you can wrap tape around it for better results.

With all of the banana health benefits, it is easy to see why they are such a popular fruit. In many ways, their benefits are far greater than that of other fruits. They not only have more vitamins and minerals than some other choices, they also taste great and are easy to eat.

However, having a diet that consists of only bananas as your fruit each day is not healthy and it can even be harmful to your health. Try to include several of your favorite fruits throughout the week because each of them has different advantages for your body. If you do not normally include bananas or any other fruit in your daily routine, find some ways to include fruit in your diet in order to improve your health and overall well-being.

What's Your Food Cures IQ?
Food is medicine. That's the message from renowned nutritionist Joy Bauer. In her groundbreaking new book “Food Cures”, she reveals the foods that manage, treat and even cure common health concerns such as arthritis, heart disease, diabetes and more. Do you have the prescription for better health?

So, a banana really is a natural remedy for many ills. When you compare it to an apple, it has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrate, three times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals. It is also rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods around. So maybe it’s time to change that well-known phrase so that we say, 'A banana a day keeps the doctor away!'

PASS IT ON TO YOUR FRIENDS
PS: Bananas must be the reason monkeys are so happy all the time! I will add one here; want a quick shine on our shoes?? Take the INSIDE of the banana skin, and rub directly on the shoe....polish with dry cloth. Amazing fruit !!!

Jovene Age Management

Reprinted in part:

Picture: Bananas.areawesome.com & We Heart It

The #1 super food

You are what you eat!

As I mentioned my focus is on excellent nutrition, natural foods, foods that make you look better and feel better. The following article is from the "Acai Berry Review and Facts, Get the Truth." This may be the #1 super food on the planet.Acai Berry Antioxidants
Antioxidants
Apr062011

Acai Berry Antioxidants Attack Free Radicals
You are the protector of everything you hold dear with your family as your first priority. Unfortunately, we live in a toxic landscape.
Oxidation and free radicals are a constant threat to our families promoting illness, disease, and rapid deterioration of our bodies.
Mother Nature, in all of her wisdom, has provided us with a “super food” that is a free radical fighting machine!
The Acai Berry is that super food and making it a regular part of your diet can help you and your loved ones beat the odds by living longer and healthier lives.
Oxidation
Oxidation can be described in broad terms as “deterioration.” A freshly cut apple turns brown within minutes, a bike fender rusts over time and a penny turns green. In biological systems oxidation is the breakdown of healthy molecules. When a molecule loses an electron it has become oxidized. The oxidized molecule is broken, highly reactive, and unstable. It is this process that speeds up the aging process and is often an associated link to cancer.
Free Radicals
A molecule is a tiny particle made up of atoms. Molecules have unique shapes and interact like puzzle pieces with other molecules to form cells, the building blocks of all living things. Oxidation breaks the bonding of molecules by stripping away electrons leaving behind an imbalanced molecule that suddenly needs an electron to stabilize itself.
This broken molecule is called a “Free Radical” goes on a rampage and attacks other molecules trying to steal an electron and stabilize itself. If the attacked molecule loses its electron it becomes a free radical creating a chain reaction.
Once this destructive process has started, if not stopped can result in the disruption of a living cell and cause damage to your body.
Our Toxic Landscape
In an attempt to make our lives easier with convenience technologies, we have inadvertently created a toxic environment (a breeding ground for free radicals) with man made pollutions, chemicals, drugs, alcohol and processed foods filled with additives and preservatives.
No matter where we work, play, or live we are subjecting our body to poisons. The air we breathe is saturated with pollutants from cars, paints, and resins. Even everyday health products like soaps, shampoos, lotions, make-up and sunscreens contain chemicals that are toxic and in some cases, carcinogenic.
Studies have shown that many of these pollutants are directly associated with chronic degenerative diseases and cancer. We live in a toxic landscape but the Acai Berry can help us win in the battle against it!
Antioxidants
Fortunately, we can eat foods and take supplements with high concentrations of antioxidants to counterbalance the toxic landscape. Antioxidants are phytochemicals, vitamins and other nutrients that protect cells by scavenging free radicals. Antioxidants minimize the effects of aging by binding to free radicals and decreasing their path of destruction. They can even repair damage.

Antioxidants Fight Disease by Destroying Free Radicals
The Acai Berry’s high concentration of antioxidants plays an important role in fighting diseases. The berry is a natural way to help protect against macular degeneration, various cancers and brain cell loss.
In fact, research indicates antioxidants in the Acai have been found to kill leukemia cells without damage to healthy ones. It is the ability to fight free radicals that deserves attention and acts as a line of defense from disease.
The Acai Berry Difference
The Acai Berry is known as one of nature’s super foods; a fruit that actually improves how a person looks, feels and performs. The berry contains large amounts of antioxidants which are vitamins, minerals and enzymes known to fight cancer and slow the ageing process.
Acai contains massive doses of anti-oxidants and is considered one of nature’s richest resources in the battle against free radicals. In an independent ORAC study (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity is a unit of measurement for antioxidants developed by the National Institute of Ageing) the super-food outclassed it competition scoring a stunning 472 ORAC units/g of edible fruit. Its closest competitors were the cranberry (scoring 95), the blueberry (scoring a 62) and the blackberry (scoring a 53).
Acai is one of if not the healthiest food on the planet and well deserves its classification as a “super food“. In order to understand the benefits of antioxidants you must know a little about oxidation and free radicals.
Knowledge is power and understanding the threat of the toxic landscape is vital in our families living longer and healthier lives. Proper diet and supplementation is critical and the power of the Acai can be an important part of their daily nutrition.
Make sure you know exactly where to buy the highest premium Acai Berry.