How To Get Easy Money - Instant PayPal and Bitcoin Payments





Do you want to earn $100+ daily ?



PLEASE WAIT !!! Do You Have $5 To Invest?



Then Come Along Let Me Show You



How To Earn $300 - $3000+ Per Month On Complete Autopilot.



You Get PAID Fast and instantly into your Paypal or Bitcoin wallet!



It's like license to print Easy Money!



- 100% Commissions Directly In To Your Account!

- No waiting on admin or admins fees.

- No waiting weekly, monthly or yearly to get paid.

- Instant payments in bitcoins or paypal.

- Direct member to member transactions.



Click Here To See How! http://bit.do/instant-payments-now

How I make use of a Bitcoin Donation Matrix to increase my Bitcoin from ...





EARN 16BTC WITH 0.002BTC INVESTMENT  IN ONE MONTH
BTCInvestment - Invest in the future by collecting one small bitcoin at a time.

https://goo.gl/iylQcn
Did you miss out on ZARFund Bitcoin matrix which has gone viral with about 250000 members in 4 months?
What are you still waiting FOR!!! ?? If you are not Earning in Bitcoin, you are just damn missing out!!
Get at least just 1 bitcoin, Just 1 bitcoin, I mean Just 1bitcoin; Massive Change is gonna occur in the cryptocurrency space in 2017 and you wouldnt want to miss out on this golden opportunity of joining BTCInvestment bitcoin matrix which can give you 16 bitcoins every 180 days.
How does BTCINVESTMENT work?* In a nutshell, you start with 0.002 bitcoin (around $1.55) which you pay to your upline (the person you registered under), then with the team's support two people get to register under you paying you 0.002BTC each, you upgrade to stage 2 with 0.003BTC and so forth.




NOTE: We work as a team to ensure that everyone gets to level 5 in less than a month, ONLY the admins can assign downlines to members, so don't worry about your two downliners. ( But make sure you collect referrer links from the admin)
No need to worry BTCInvestments is a newly launched 2 X 5 bitcoin matrix which is a direct peer to peer donation matrix with almost 9000 upgraded members in 6 days. Donations are automatically confirmed by Blockchain hence it is important to have a Blockchain bitcoin wallet.
The price of bitcoin is appreciating and as of today 1 bitcoin is almost $1020 so what are you waiting for to take advantage of the rise in bitcoin price.
A once off donation of 0.002 out of your bitcoin wallet can get you back 16 bitcoins every 180 days as you recycle.
The matrix has 5 levels which are as follows:-
LEVEL 1: Starter. Pay your referrer Level 1 - 0.002 Bitcoin
Get 2 x 0.002 Bitcoin = 0.004 Bitcoin – 0.002 Btc (move to 2) = 0.002 Btc profit
LEVEL 2: Runner. Pay your upline Level 2 - 0.003 Btc
Get 4 x 0.003 Btc = 0.012 Btc – 0.003 Btc (move to 3) = 0.009 Btc profit
LEVEL 3: Pacer. Pay your upline Level 3 - 0.01 Btc
Get 8 x 0.01 Bitcoins = 0.08 Btc – 0.01 Bicoins (move to 4) = 0.07 Btc profit
LEVEL 4: Finisher. Pay your upline Level 4 - 0.05 Bitcoin
Get 16 x 0.05 Bicoin = 0.8 Bitcoins – 0.05 Bitcoins (move to 5) = 0.75 Bitcoin profit
LEVEL 5: Winner, Pay your upline Level 5 - 0.5 Bitcoin
Get 32 x 0.5 Btc = 16 Btc
No More upgrades = 16.331 Bticoin total profit
All monies go to your cause
The Maximum you can Give each 180 days is: 0.565 Bitcoins.
The Maximum you can Receive each 180 days is: 16.896 Bitcoins.
Start new cycle every 180 days
This is the link feel free to register and start donating 0.002 bitcoins and get 2 other people to join under you and donate 0.002 bitcoins to you and help them get their 2 people each as this will benefit you in the long run as their downlines will donate to you in the other levels of the matrix.
To be part of this revolution Join here: https://goo.gl/iylQcn
It is not yet late to start being part of the bitcoin revolution as the price of bitcoin keeps rising so do not delay being a bitcoin millionaire. Do not miss out on this golden opportunity as you did miss out on others. Join BTCINVESTMENTS  here: https://goo.gl/iylQcn


See you on the inside as we crush it!!

Crowdrising The Smart Way To Make Money In 2017 And Forward





A tested and proven system that guarantees you steady income into your Bank account to the tune of six figures




Dear friend, greetings from my heart. Take time to read this, it can change your financial life forever! I want to introduce you to a tested and proven peer-to-peer donating platform that guarantees you steady donations into your Bank account to the tune of six figures. Yeah, that may sound crazy and outrageous but it's as true and real as the air we breath.




Details of the system:
It's a referral based program called CROWD RISING. It's a program that enables you to receive donations for any project as you work smartly . I will make this explanation as brief as possible, highlighting also the differences between this system and other referral based program. Crowdrising is a peer to peer donating platform where you donate to others and also receive donations too. This simply connotes that there is NO central account where all monies are paid and disbursed, rather, members donate directly to each other in order of referrer group and donation group. (referrer group - uplines are people above you, while donation group - downlines are people below you) .




Stages of the program:
There are 15 stages in the program where you can receive donations up to 9 billion .
Stage 1: this is the first and least stage. Here, you register and upgrade by donating N7,400, your first and only donation from your pocket and you will  automatically receive donations from your 5 referral which you shall introduce to the platform through your referral link. You donate the sum of N7,400 to the person and upon confirmation by the person, you are upgraded to level 1 and you will be qualified to receive donations of N7,400 from five members. So, you donate 7400 and get 7400*5 = N37,000.
Stage 2: After level 1, you can upgrade to level 2 by donating 14,800 to a member in level 2 which the system will pair with you. When your donation is confirmed, you will automatically qualify to receive same amount of donation from 25 persons. So, you donate 14,800 and get 14,800*25 = N370,000.
Stage 3. Here, you donate N 22,200 to a member matched with you, and you will get 22,200*125 = 2.7million.
The stages continue till the topmost which is stage 15.




Differences b/w this system and other peer-to-peer donation platform :
This system is unique in many respects. I will highlight them hereunder.
1. Fastest payment system ever: The cardinal selling point of this system is fastness. No need to waste many days just to be paid peanuts! The circles of this system is the fastest to complete. Is there any other system known to you that can pay you N37,000 in 2days - depending on how smartly you work -  for a 7,400 investment?? I answer in the negative . So, with this system, you make your money fast, as in, Usain Bolt speed ooh .
2.. The greatest challenge of most networkers is the ability to convince others to join their network. This bottleneck has been removed by the advent of this system. In crowdrising, it's believed that the facts and benefits of the system will speak audibly for itself to attract new members. So where are the newest donors coming from?
The Funnel is filled quickly ( and in large number)  by way of:
  • Spillover from your upline:
The system automatically places the extra referrals by your upline under you since this is a forced matrix. Because you are directly under the upline, these new members fall under you! This is a huge benefit that spawns ultra-fast growth.
  • Your own promotion and / or recruiting your group:
You will get your own referral URL that you can promote to friends, families, etc. Promote in Facebook, Twitter, Email campaigns, YouTube, and all other mediums you think suitable. The more you promote the faster this grows.
  • Auto-placement / Random:
Auto-placement of new members that happen to sign up directly under the Crowdrising domain adverts and not a human invitee will be placed randomly in any given team’s downline. This won’t happen often, but it does happen.




Many other benefits abound but I shall leave you to decide for yourself. When you are done deciding, join us in making the cash now that you have the opportunity.




To register
Note 1: For you to enjoy the aforementioned benefits, you must use the link in this article. It's a link meant for Nigerians. The website has members from so many countries, but When u use the above link to register, you will be matched with people within Nigeria only so that your payments can go directly to your Nigerian bank account.
Note 2: Refer your  friends so they can benefit from the system like you. (which is what I’m doing right now.) Join this amazing platform here for free and enjoy spillovers from my active team. Click this link to sign-up now    https://goo.gl/FCJ2lK  or call me or text me on 08113928930 for more info.

Healthy eating without meat

Healthy eating without meat


As concerns about healthy eating have grown, so too has the interest in vegetarianism and veganism.  Many nutrition experts recommend “eating low on the food chain”.  In plain language this means eating more grains, vegetables and fruits, and fewer meats, cheeses and other animal based products.

There are of course various levels of vegetarianism, and each type has its own unique health benefits and some health challenges as well.  Of course vegetarians, like meat eaters, must still make healthy food choices.  Simply pigging out on French fries while avoiding the burger will not make you a healthy vegetarian.

Some people who consider themselves vegetarians still eat poultry and seafood, while others avoid all animal flesh, even fish and chicken.  Most vegetarians still eat milk, dairy products and eggs.  In nutritional circles these people are referred to as lacto-ovo vegetarians.

Vegans, on the other hand, avoid all animal products, including eggs, milk and dairy products, and even fabrics like silk, leather and wool.  It is vegans who face the largest challenges and risks when trying to follow a healthy diet.  Most vegetarian diets provide more than enough nutrition, as long as smart dietary choices are made.

The key to eating a healthy vegetarian diet is much the same as eating a healthy diet that includes meat.  It all boils down to making smart food choices, understanding nutritional labels, and cooking your vegetables to maximize their nutritional value.

Choosing the foods that make up the bulk of a vegetarian diet is very important.  For most vegetarians, vegetables, grains, lentils and soy products will make up the bulk of their diet, and these staples are included in many vegetarian recipes.

When cooking with soy, however, it is important to remember that tofu is relatively high in fat.  The fat content of tofu dishes is often comparable to that of dishes that are made with lean cuts of meat.  Those vegetarians following a low fat diet may want to limit the amount of tofu based products they eat.

The same caution applies to the nuts and seeds that can make up a large part of a vegetarian diet.  Nuts and seeds are excellent sources of dietary protein, but they can be high in fat as well.

Many newly minted vegetarians worry that they will not be able to get enough protein and iron without eating meat, but for most vegetarians this is not a problem.  Most diets today actually contain too much protein, and there are many non animal derived sources of protein for vegetarians to enjoy.

Proper cooking techniques are of course very important to any healthy diet.  Avoiding high fat cooking methods is important, as is avoiding the use of high fat creams, butters and sauces.  A vegetable stir fry cooked in healthy olive oil can be a great addition to any vegetarian menu.  And a great fruit salad is both easy to make and delicious as a snack or a meal.

The only real area of concern when it comes to vegetarianism and health is the B-complex vitamins, particularly vitamin B12.  Vitamin B12 is almost exclusively derived from animal based sources, so vegans, who avoid all animal products, should take a high quality vitamin B12 or B-complex vitamin supplement.  It is also important for vegans to discuss their diet and lifestyle with their family physicians.  As vegetarianism and veganism becomes more widespread, the amount of information on the nutritional needs of these two groups continues to grow.

The bottom line is that vegetarians can enjoy a very healthy lifestyle.  Making vegetables, fruits, whole grains and beans the centerpiece of the diet is a smart move for many people, and a good low fat vegetarian diet can be a great way to enjoy a healthy lifestyle.  As with a meat based diet, however, it is important for vegetarians to follow common sense eating guidelines and make smart choices when creating meat free meals.


Fish: Using It as part of a healthy eating plan

Fish: Using It as part of a healthy eating plan

It is hard to beat fish and seafood for high protein and low fat.  Fish has been shown in study after study to have a positive impact on health, and to lower the risk of heart disease and other diseases.  In addition, fish is delicious and easy to prepare.

Many nutrition experts recommend eating fish at least once or twice every week.  The most nutritious varieties of fish, and those that contain the greatest amounts of heart protecting omega-3 fatty acids, tend to be those that live in cold ocean waters.  These varieties of fish include salmon and sardines.

The benefits of a fishy diet
Fish has long been thought to have a positive benefit on the heart.  So far the results of clinical studies have been inconclusive, but research into the heart healthy effects of fish continues.   No matter what the benefits, there is little doubt that fish is a healthy food, containing significant levels of protein and smaller amounts of fat and calories than other types of meat.

As a matter of fact, fish is one of the best sources of protein there is.  Everyone needs protein for building muscles and repairing damaged body tissues.  In addition, protein plays a vital role in the growth of nails and hair, in hormone production and in many other vital bodily processes. 

In addition to fish, many other animal based products, such as meat, eggs, poultry and dairy products, contain significant amounts of protein.  Plant based sources of protein exist as well, in nuts, beans and lentils, among others. 

The key to getting sufficient protein in the diet is to balance the healthy effects of protein on the diet against the large amounts of fat and cholesterol that protein rich foods often contain.  The combination of high protein and low fat is one of the things that makes a diet rich in fish so appealing.

With the exception of salmon, almost all commonly eaten varieties of fish are very low in fat, and even salmon contains lower levels of fat than many varieties of meats.  In addition, fish is low in saturated fat, the type of fat that is most associated with heart disease and clogged arteries. 

Fish is low in unsaturated fat because of the nature of where and how they live.  Instead of storing energy in the form of saturated fat as land animals do, fish store their fat in the form of polyunsaturated oils.  That adaptation allows their bodies to function normally in the cool oceans and streams where they swim.  It also makes them a great choice for anyone seeking to cut levels of saturated fat in the diet.

For all these reasons, fish remains an important part of any low fat, heart healthy lifestyle.  Substituting high fat, greasy foods like hamburgers and ribs is a great way to make a change for healthy living.

One note about fish and pollution, however.  It is true that many fish caught in polluted waters contain high levels of mercury.  While most commercially caught and grown fish is low in mercury, it is important for fisherman to limit their consumption of locally caught fish.  Pregnant women are also advised to limit their intake of fish, due to the potential harm to the baby.

Fitting fish into your busy lifestyle
Many people avoid fish because they do not know how to prepare and cook it.  While it is true that fish can present more of a challenge for the inexperienced, there are many recipes and cookbooks that make preparation easier.  In addition, many packaged seafood products contain cooking tips and serving suggestions that take some of the mystery out of preparing a nutritious and delicious meal of fresh fish.

Even those who do not cook, however, can enjoy the many benefits of fish in the diet.  There are a number of canned seafood products on the market, including canned salmon, sardines and the ever popular tuna.  So there is no reason fish cannot fit into your healthy eating plan.

For a healthier eating lifestyle:Keep fat low

 For a healthier eating lifestyle:Keep fat low


Everyone has heard about the importance of keeping the level of fat in the diet to a minimum.  While some fat in the diet is necessary, most Americans eat far too many fatty foods.  Fats do play  a vital role in the diet, including in the absorption of important fat soluble vitamins like vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin E and vitamin K.  These vitamins are stored in fatty tissues, and dietary fat aids in this process.

Too much fat in the diet, however has been linked to high cholesterol, heart disease and even some kinds of cancers.  Eating less fat, especially less saturated fat and trans fats, is an important part of adopting healthier eating habits. 

For this reason, it is important to use foods that are high in dietary fats as an occasional snack or treat, and not as a staple of the diet.  Many meats are high in fat, so it is important to choose lean cuts of meat whenever possible, and to trim excess fat from steaks and chops.  Even some poultry can be high in fat, and for this reason, removing the skin from chicken, and avoiding fatting dark meat, is a good practice to follow.

When planning your healthy eating lifestyle, it is important to remember that fat, whether from plant or animal sources, contains more than twice the number of calories per gram as protein or carbohydrates.  Experts recommend that people limit the amount of dietary fat to no more than 30% of total calories.  Since fat is so calorie dense, simply cutting back on the number of fat grams per day can result in a significant lowering of daily calorie consumption.  That is why low fat diets are so effective as weight loss plans.

Some fats are worse than others – there are both saturated and unsaturated varieties of fats.  Unsaturated fats further break down into monounsaturated and polyunsaturated varieties.  In general, unsaturated fats are healthier than saturated fats.  Saturated fats have been shown to raise levels of cholesterol in the blood more than unsaturated fat.  Reducing the level of saturated fats to fewer than 10 percent of daily calories is a proven way to lower levels of cholesterol in the blood.

Meat, milk, dairy products and eggs are the main sources of saturated fats in moth diets.  In addition, many baked goods are also rich in saturated fats, since they are often cooked in fatty oils and contain eggs and other fatty ingredients.

When cooking with oils, it is important to choose the healthiest ones.  Olive oil and canola oil both use unsaturated fats, and they tend to be very useful in healthy cooking.  There are even such things as good fats.  In particular, omega-3 oils found in fish are good sources of these fats.  Omega-3 oils have been shown to have a protective effect on the heart, and in lowering blood cholesterol levels.

Listed below are some of our favorite tips for keeping dietary fat and cholesterol as low as possible:

  •           Use fatty cooking oils sparingly
  •    Make fatting foods an occasional treat, not an everyday source of nutrition
  •   Pay close attention to the nutritional labels on packaged foods and meats.  These labels provide valuable information on fat content, calorie content and nutritional quality
  •     Eat a diet rich in low fat foods like whole grains, fruits and vegetables
  •   Choose low fat varieties of your favorite foods whenever possible.  There are excellent nonfat varieties of milk, dairy products, baked goods, and more
  •   Choose lean cuts of meat whenever possible, and trim additional fat before cooking and serving


Cutting fat is not easy, but the many benefits of a low fat diet make it a very worthwhile change.  There are few dietary changes that impart as many health benefits as does cutting the fat from your diet.  A few changes here and there can add up to a huge change and make a real difference in your health.

The importance of fiber to a healthy diet

The importance of fiber to a healthy diet


When it comes to eating healthy and enjoying a healthier lifestyle, it is hard to overstate the importance of fiber in the diet.  Even though fiber is most associated with grains, rice and breads, it is important to remember that fruits and vegetables also contain significant amounts of dietary fiber.  In fact, the need for fiber is just one more reason to eat your fruits and vegetables every day.

In order to understand why dietary fiber is so important, it is a good idea to know what fiber is and what role it plays in digestion.  Simply put, dietary fiber is the portion of food that the human body cannot digest.  Fiber is found in foods of plant origin only; there is no fiber in meat and dairy products.  Fiber plays an important role in the digestion of food, and in the elimination of waste products as they travel through the body.

Good sources of dietary fiber include grains, cereals, legumes, lentils, nuts, seeds, fruits and vegetables.  As we said before, meats and dairy products do not contain any dietary fiber, so it is important to eat some plant based foods ever day to get the fiber you need.

Soluble vs. insoluble
Not all fiber is the same, and fiber comes in two forms – soluble and insoluble.  All plant materials contain both types of fiber, but some sources contain more of one than the other.  Eating a variety of foods rich in fiber every day will ensure you get adequate levels of both soluble and insoluble fiber.

Insoluble fiber is important in keeping people regular, and it has shown promise as well in the prevention of some types of colon and rectal cancers.  Insoluble fiber is mainly found in wheat brain, some types of vegetables and in whole grain products.  Some vegetables rich in insoluble fiber include carrots, peas and broccoli.  The skins of fruits are also rich in insoluble fiber.

Soluble fiber, on the other hand, has shown promise in reducing levels of cholesterol in the blood, and at reducing the rate at which glucose enters the bloodstream.  Soluble fiber is abundant in dried peas, lentils, beans, barley, oat bran, and in many fruits and vegetables.

How much fiber is enough
Many people are unsure just how much dietary fiber they need every day, but most dietitians recommend that women consume between 21 and 25 grams of dietary fiber per day.  For men, the recommendation is 30 to 38 grams of fiber each day.

Of course, that is easier said that done, and it is important to know which foods are high in fiber in order to boost your daily fiber consumption.  In the case of packaged foods like breads and crackers, the fiber content will be listed as part of the nutritional label. In the case of fruits and vegetables, there are charts which show the fiber content of an average size piece.  Some grocery stores post this information, and it is also widely available on the internet.

When increasing dietary fiber, it is best to make the increase gradual.  A sudden jump in dietary fiber can lead to bloating, gas and abdominal discomfort.  In addition, it is important to drink plenty of fluids, especially water, in order for fiber to have the best effect.  When choosing breads and cereals, it is best to go with healthier whole grains.  In general, the less processing, the healthier the foods.

Eating the skins of fruits and vegetables is a great way to increase dietary fiber. Many people like to make fruit shakes and smoothies that use the skins of their favorite fruits.  This makes a delicious and nutritious way to increase fiber consumption.  In addition, keeping  a variety of fiber rich foods, such as apples, nuts, seeds and bran muffins, around for snacks is a great idea.


And finally, eating a wide variety of foods will ensure that you get plenty of fiber, as well as the vitamins, minerals, and trace elements that make a balanced diet so important.

Citrus Fruits and Healthy Eating

Citrus Fruits and Healthy Eating


Citrus fruits have long been known to have many health benefits.  In the days of the first ocean crossings, sailors often became sick with scurvy due to vitamin C deficiencies caused by a lack of citrus fruits.  Even though vitamin C deficiency is no longer such a problem, many people do not eat enough citrus fruits.

That is a shame, since citrus fruits are among the most delicious, and most nutritious, fruits available.  Whether you have a grapefruit at breakfast or an orange at lunch, adding more citrus to your diet can do wonders for your healthy eating program.

Of course citrus fruits are not limited to the standard oranges and grapefruits.  Most major grocery stores have an endless variety of citrus fruits on their shelves, including pineapples, tomatoes, lemons kumquats, mandarin oranges, tangerines, and lemons.

Everyone knows that citrus fruits have large amounts of vitamin C to offer, but many citrus fruits have significant levels of other important nutrients, such as potassium, as well.  Let’s take a closer look at what citrus fruits have to offer.

Vitamin C
Vitamin C is the first thing that comes to mind when most people think of citrus fruits, and it is true that most citrus fruits are simply loaded with this important vitamin.  Vitamin C is perhaps the most studied of all vitamins, and it has shown promise in shortening the duration of colds, helping wounds heal faster, and protecting the body from the damaging effects of free radicals.

Vitamin C is essential for healthy skin and gums, and since vitamin C is a water soluble vitamin, sufficient quantities must be consumed every day.  Unlike fat soluble vitamins, vitamin C is not stored in the body.  That is why eating at least a few servings a day of citrus fruits and other vitamin C rich foods is so important.  Luckily, getting the recommended daily amount of vitamin C is not difficult, since a single orange contains 150% of the government’s recommended daily allowance of vitamin C.

Fiber
Fiber content is often overlooked as a benefit of citrus fruits.   After all, most people picture cereals and grains when they think of fiber.  Even so, citrus fruits are a good source of dietary fiber, including the all important soluble fiber.  Fiber plays a vital role in digestion, and studies have indicated it may help to reduce levels of cholesterol in the blood and even reduce the risk of some kinds of cancer.

Folate (folic acid)
Folate, or folic acid as it is also known, plays a vital role in early pregnancy, so all women of child bearing age are encouraged to consume adequate amounts of this important nutrient.  That is because one of the most critical times in a pregnancy takes place before the woman knows she is pregnant.  In addition to its importance in preventing many neural tube birth defects, folic acid also aids in the production of mature red blood cells and helps to prevent anemia.  Citrus fruits are an excellent source of folic acid.

Potassium
Oranges are particularly high in potassium, as are non citrus fruits like bananas.  Potassium is vital to maintaining a proper fluid balance in the body, and for transmitting signals between nerve cells.  Potassium levels can be affected by excess caffeine consumption and by dehydration, so it is important to consume adequate levels of potassium every day.

With all these things going for them, it is easy to see why citrus fruits are so important to the diet.  No matter what your ultimate fitness goal, a diet rich in citrus fruits will help to get you off to the right start.  And with the many varieties of citrus fruits to choose from, it is easy to spice things up and bring variety to your healthy eating plan.




Get your antioxidants the natural way – through your diet

Get your antioxidants the natural way – through your diet



You may have about the importance of antioxidants in the diet, and their possible role in fighting a variety of illnesses, including some kinds of cancer, age related degeneration and heart disease. 

You could also be forgiven for thinking that antioxidant vitamins are things that come in pills, powders and capsules.  The marketing of antioxidant vitamin supplements, such as vitamin A, vitamin C and vitamin E, is intense and relentless.  While vitamin supplements can be helpful, however, the majority of antioxidant vitamins should come from food, not from vitamin supplements.

It is important to understand how antioxidant vitamins work to protect the body from harm.  Antioxidants work by combining with and neutralizing harmful elements known collectively as free radicals.  Free radicals are produced naturally by the body, as a consequence of a number of natural bodily processes.  Most of the time, the body is able to neutralize and eliminate these free radicals on its own.

However, stresses such as environmental pollution, a weakened immune system, UV radiation and alcohol consumption can lower the body’s ability to fight these free radicals.

Excessive free radicals in the human body can cause damage to the structure and function of the various organs and systems in the body.  Recent studies have implicated free radicals in a number of diseases, including cancer and heart disease.  In addition, free radicals are thought to play a significant role in the aging process.

It is estimated that foods contain some 4,000 different compounds that have antioxidant qualities.  Since only a small number of these compounds have been identified, and a lesser amount yet have been synthesized, it is easy to see why it is so hard for vitamin supplements to replace a healthy diet.  Healthy, antioxidant containing foods like fruits, vegetables and whole grains, contain a variety of vitamins, minerals, trace elements and other micronutrients in addition to the antioxidants that have been identified by science.

There are many major vitamins that have been found to have strong antioxidant qualities.  Perhaps the most well known, and the most studied, of these antioxidant vitamins is vitamin C.  Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, is water soluble and is found in all the tissues and fluids of the body.  Since vitamin C is not stored in the body, it is important that everyone’s diet contain plenty of vitamin C. 

Good sources of vitamin C in the diet include citrus fruits like oranges and grapefruits, green peppers, broccoli, strawberries, cabbage and potatoes.  Dark green leafy vegetables are also good sources of vitamin C.

Vitamin E is another popular member of the antioxidant family, and it is thought to play an important role in protecting the body from aging.  Vitamin E may not be the cure all wonder that it was once thought to be, but it is still an important protector of the body. 

Good sources of dietary vitamin E include nuts, seeds, wheat germ, whole grain breads, vegetable oil, fish oil and dark green leafy vegetables.

Beta carotene is also an important antioxidant vitamin, and it is important to a number of bodily processes.  The role of beta carotene in the natural world is to protect the skins of yellow and orange vegetables and fruits from the damaging rays of the sun.  It is believed that beta carotene plays the same sort of role in human nutrition.  That is, beta carotene is thought to be important in protecting people from the damage caused by environmental pollution, UV rays, etc.

Beta carotene rich foods include yellow and orange vegetables and fruits such as carrots, yellow squash, sweet potatoes, cantaloupes, peaches and apricots.  In addition, dark green leafy vegetables such as collard greens and broccoli, and fruits like tomatoes, also contain significant levels of beta carotene.

Selenium is an important mineral thought to share many traits with antioxidants.  Selenium in particular has been studied for its ability to prevent and reverse cell damage.  Scientists continue to focus on this cell protecting ability as a possible cancer fighter.

Selenium is one good example of why it is important to get the nutrients you need from food, not from vitamin supplements.  High levels of selenium can be toxic, so supplementation is not recommended.  Foods high in selenium, such as fish, shellfish, red meat, poultry, eggs, garlic and whole grains, however, are recommended.  In addition to these sources of selenium, fruits and vegetables that are grown in selenium rich soils are also good sources of this important mineral.



Use the five a day rule for healthy eating

Use the five a day rule for healthy eating


The five a day rule is one of the most important rules to healthy eating.  The five a day rule refers to the government’s recommendation that everyone eat at least five servings a day of fruits and vegetables.  At first blush, five a day seems like a reasonable goal, but most people fail to eat sufficient amounts of these important foods.

It is important to remember the many advantages of fruits and vegetables when applying the five a day rule to your own diet.  For one thing, fruits and vegetables taste great, contain fewer calories than many other foods and are full of many important vitamins and minerals.  In addition, fruits and vegetables are colorful and beautiful, making them great garnishes and salad toppings.

In addition, fruits and vegetables are easy to prepare, even for the busiest individual.  In most cases, fresh fruits require no preparation at all, other than a quick wash and perhaps peeling. 

The five a day recommendation equates to roughly two cups of fruit and two and a half cups of vegetables every day, based on the average 2,000 calorie diet.  This is not a difficult goal to reach, but it is important to keep the five a day goal in mind when grocery shopping, cooking and planning meals.

One great way to get started toward a five a day lifestyle is with a delicious serving of 100% fruit juice every morning.  Apple juice, grapefruit juice and orange juice are all excellent choices for both taste and nutrition.

Fruits and vegetables can also be used as garnishes for other foods.  Who doesn’t enjoy a sliced strawberry or banana with their morning cereal?  And fruits and vegetables make great snacks as well.  Whether you keep a couple of apples at your desk or a selection of carrot and celery sticks in the fridge, having fruits and vegetables readily at hand is a big part of the battle.

Of course variety is extremely important when making any change to your diet, and many dietary changes fail due to boredom.  Constantly trying new varieties of fruits and vegetables is a great way to keep yourself interested in your new healthier way of eating.  If you’ve never had kiwi fruit or asparagus, for instance, why not give it a try?

Combining attractive colors, shapes and sizes of fruits is another way to provide attractive and interesting meals for yourself and your family.  Combining white grapes, red peppers and pineapple chunks can provide a delicious and attractive salad.

It is important to provide constant variety when implementing the five a day plan, particularly if you are cooking for a family.  Try making some interesting new dishes, such as veggie pizza, made with fresh vegetables and whole wheat pizza crust, a fresh vegetable wrap, vegetable stir fry or pasta with fresh vegetables.

For those who think they are too busy to incorporate five servings of fruits and vegetables a day into their diet, there is help available.  The many ready to eat, prepackaged salad kits on the market make it easier than ever to create a healthy salad on the go.  Just keep a bottle of your favorite low fat or nonfat salad dressing on hand and you can enjoy a healthy salad anywhere and anytime.

Even fast food restaurants have made it easier than every to eat healthy, with every major chain now offering at least a few healthy menu items.  In addition, most grocery chains offer fresh salad bars where you can create your own healthy lunch even if you’re pressed for time.

When creating your five a day healthy lifestyle, remember that fruits and vegetables make great snacks.  An apple, orange or banana provides both great taste and excellent nutrition.  In addition, the natural sugars contained in fruits do not provide the sugar high/sugar crash scenario all parents are familiar with.

Topping meals and salads with additional fruits and vegetables is a great way to enhance your new five a day lifestyle.  Strips of green and red peppers, broccoli florets, sliced carrots and cucumbers are all great additions to pasta and potato salads.  And of course carrots, spinach, apple slices, orange slices, nectarines, pineapples and raisins are all great additions to any salad.


In addition, adding fresh fruits to foods you already eat is a great way to make such foods part of your new lifestyle.  Adding berries, bananas or oranges to cereal and yogurt is a great way to make sure you meet your five a day goal every day.

Healthy eating for a healthy body

Healthy eating for a healthy body
Healthy eating means many things to many people, and everyone has different goals for the perfect diet.  The key to following a healthy diet is to find a diet you can stick with for the rest of your life.  A diet should not be simply a temporary change in the way you life, eat and exercise.  Rather, it should be a permanent change that you can live with day in and day out, year in and year out.

For some people, a healthy diet can be as simple as increasing the amount of fruits and vegetables in the daily diet.  For others, a radical change, involving strict control of fat and cholesterol, may be required. 

Of course what is needed will depend on the goal of each individual.  The serious runner in search of greater conditioning will of course have different goals than the couch potato who is concerned about the possibility of heart disease.

Even though every person will different goals when it comes to healthy eating, the basic tenets of healthy eating are the same.  The most important thing is to eat a good variety of foods, while eating less of the bad stuff and more of the good.

That may sound like an oversimplification, but it really is that easy.  Putting that simple concept into proactive, however, is the hard part.  Everyone wants to eat healthier, but there are so many temptations in today’s world that healthy eating can be very difficult.  The key is to make healthy choices as appealing as unhealthy ones.

One way to make healthy foods appealing is buying a wide variety of exotic fruits at the local supermarket.  There are probably varieties of fruits and vegetables at your local grocery store that you never even heard of before.  Why not make your next trip to the grocery store an adventure by sampling these exotic offerings?

Experimenting with new recipes is another great way to bring excitement and adventure to healthy eating.   A quick perusal of your favorite low fat or healthy eating cookbook will likely present you with many fun and exciting recipes to try.  Often a new cookbook, or a couple of new recipes are all it takes to spur a healthier lifestyle.

It is also important to know that eating healthier does not necessarily mean making a radical change.  There are very simple things you can do, such as cutting the skin off your chicken breast, or trimming the fat from your favorite steak, that can result in significant fat reductions and health improvements.  Dieters should not overlook the importance of these small changes when seeking a healthier diet.

Other examples of small changes resulting in healthier eating include:

Ø  Replacing whole milk with skim or 2%, both in recipes and for drinking
Ø  Snacking on sorbet or low fat frozen yogurt instead of premium ice cream
Ø  Spraying pans with nonfat cooking spray instead of using butter or margarine
Ø  Replacing high fat cuts of meat with leaner ones
Ø  Eating more low fat fish and less red meat
Ø  Using egg substitutes, the kind made from egg whites, in recipes, meals and baking

There are probably hundreds of other such tips, and they can add up to significant health improvements, whether your goal is to get fit, lose weight or improve your level of health.  No matter who you are or what your current level of fitness, eating a healthier diet and losing weight may be easier than you think.

In the end, eating a healthy diet, improving your level of fitness, and managing your consumption of fat and cholesterol boils down to common sense.  Depriving yourself of your favorite foods can be counterproductive to a long term dietary change.  Deprivation leads inevitably to cravings, and that can start a vicious cycle of dieting and splurging.


It is best to think of healthy eating as a marathon rather than a sprint.  The goal of any healthy eating program should be to make easy, lifelong changes in the way you shop, cook and dine.  Only by making changes that you can follow for a lifetime will you truly be able to enjoy a healthy diet.