26 Oct 09 The Health Importance Of Pumpkins

Now that Halloween is rolling around this weekend, you’ve probably got pumpkins on your mind. Whether because you see them all around, considering Autumn is pumpkin time, and North America is where pumpkins originated. Or because you’re gearing up for some pumpkin carving sessions, as part of the holiday fun. You may have overlooked just how nutritious pumpkins are to your health, opposed to just the fun they offer this season.

Pumpkins are actually another one of those foods that is spectacular for you health wise. You may not have even thought about it, but pumpkins offer a variety of healthy benefits. Most of those being antioxidants. The meaty part of a pumpkin contains a variety of antioxidants that do everything from eliminate free radicals to clear out your veins lowering your cholesterol.

Pumpkins also contain plenty of zinc which strengthens your bones by helping to fend off osteoporosis. Pumpkins also have plenty of fiber, which functions to clear out your entire system, from your intestines, to your veins. Fiber clears everything up, and pumpkins offer plenty of great healthy fiber.

But it’s not just the pumpkin meat that’s fantastically good for you, don’t discard how important the seeds are. Pumpkins are very high in lean healthy protein. Pumpkin seeds are also known to contain plenty of iron, magnesium, copper, and plenty of zinc. All of which are important for your body to soak up in the appropriate amounts.

Pumpkins seeds also are high in phytosterols, which are like a form of healthy cholesterol that can actually help to aid in reducing harmful cholesterol within the body. Pumpkin seed oil is actually full of these healthy fatty acids, and are a great place to turn for them. So don’t underestimate what that pumpkin can do for you. And when you’re carving one up with the family, save the seeds and try baking them for a tasty, and very healthy snack.

Tags: Autumn, Bones, Cholesterol, Copper, Entire System, Fatty Acids, Free Radicals, Healthy Snack, Holiday Fun, Intestines, Lowering Cholesterol, Lowering Your Cholesterol, Osteoporosis, Phytosterols, Pumpkin Seed Oil, Pumpkin Seeds, Pumpkin Time, Pumpkins, Veins, Zinc

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05 Oct 09 Lower Your Cholesterol Naturally

Keeping a good hold on your cholesterol throughout your life, is something that everyone should be doing. The importance of good cardiovascular health can’t be understated, and a large part of that beyond exercise, is doing what’s necessary diet wise. Keeping your cholesterol low organically, and as naturally as possible is incredibly healthy for your body, and avoids any of the negative side effects you could suffer from pills or bad health later in life.

One of the best ways to start that is by drinking a glass of water when you wake up in the morning. Not only does this kick start your metabolism, but it also works to remove toxins in your body. By getting your system circulating you get your blood flowing, and your body moving as quick as possible. All of which is great for your health in general.

-For breakfast oatmeal is your friend. Oatmeal is high in beta-glucan, which is a form of fiber that flows through your blood stream, soaking up the cholesterol that would otherwise be waiting around to clog your arteries.

-If you need a snack throughout the day try almonds. They contain very powerful antioxidants, including flavonoids which work to prevent the oxidation of harmful LDL cholesterol. To keep the healthy effects of almonds make sure to eat them with the skin intact, and unsalted. The skin contains most of the helpful flavonoids, and salt is bad for your heart, so putting salt on them negates the positive heart health effects.

-An apple a day keeps the doctor away, an incredibly true statement. Apples also contain a wealth of antioxidants that work to decrease the amount of plaque buildup in your body. Make sure you eat the outer skin as a part of the apple though, as most of the helpful antioxidants are located there. Red apples tend to be the source of the most antioxidants.

Finally, just make sure to exercise. Cardiovascular exercise is your friend, as it improves heart and body health. By improving how well your cardiovascular system works, you’ll improve how you feel now, and more importantly how you’ll feel ten years from now.

Tags: Almonds, Apple A Day, Arteries, Beta Glucan, Blood Stream, Body Health, Cardiovascular Exercise, Cardiovascular Health, Cholesterol, Flavonoids, Glass Of Water, Harmful Ldl Cholesterol, Health Effects, Heart Health, Oatmeal, Outer Skin, Oxidation, Plaque Buildup, Red Apples, True Statement

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29 Aug 09 Reinvigorate Your Diet

One of the most successful diet tactics, is simply knowing how to successfully cut calories from the foods that you already eat on a daily basis. By simply knowing where to cut calories from your daily routine, you can dodge all sorts of diet pitfalls that you may otherwise fall into headfirst. Part of this strategy is of course just being aware of what you are eating. But also, making small changes without wholly changing how you see or consume food is the real key to making changes to your diet stick. Remember, it takes about 21 days to form a new habit, so changing the way you eat should be a slow progression.

-Firstly, if you tend to eat out a lot, whether out of habit or your job forces you to, halve your portions so that you are only in taking half of what you normally would.

-If you drink and or use 2% whole milk on your cereal in the morning, try switching to skim. You’ll still get the familiar milk flavor in the mix, but you’ll be cutting the calories significantly, and more importantly cutting the amount of fat and cholesterol that you intake.

-Remember that even if you’re drinking juice that’s healthier for your body, on average it still packs as much sugar and calories as soda. That’s not a good thing. So try sticking to less juice, and try eating a piece of fruit to supplement when you’d be drinking a glass of juice otherwise.

-Try keeping a food journal, to track how much you eat and when. You may be surprised, and this will also help you formulate a strategy to curb how much you are eating. Thus helping you cut calories, and keep a better hold of how much food you are eating in the first place.

-Finally, make eating into a routine, in which you prepare all of your food, plate it, and then sit down to eat. By making your eating habits into a ritual like this every time, you’ll be less tempted to snack, as eating becomes a bit of a hassle. So it’s a worthwhile strategy in the long run.

Tags: All Sorts, Calories, Cereal, Cholesterol, Daily Basis, Daily Routine, Diet, Dodge, Eating Habits, Firstly, Food Journal, Food Plate, Habit, Hassle, Pitfalls, Slow Progression, Small Changes, Snack, Soda, Whole Milk

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26 Oct 09 The Health Importance Of Pumpkins

05 Oct 09 Lower Your Cholesterol Naturally

29 Aug 09 Reinvigorate Your Diet

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