yogurt

Yogurt is just plain delicious and nobody can argue against it’s health benefits.  But what was once a canadian brand viagra has changed. These days the choices viagra.ca canada are much broader than ever. Many yogurts have fruit and flavour added, some yogurts claim to be fat free, while others advertise low calories or no added sugar. Some manufacturers are adding vitamins, omega-3s and probiotics to further enhance health benefits.

Yogurt is a healthful food made by adding a starter culture of bacteria to pasteurized milk. The bacteria naturally act on the milk’s sugar to create lactic acid, which gives yogurt its characteristic thick, creamy texture and tangy taste. Some yogurts are heat-treated to increase shelf life, which kills the bacteria and its healthful attributes. If the words “live” or “active” are listed in the ingredients then it means that the bacteria is living and functional.

Always check labels for nutrient contents.

Additives
Be award that flavored yogurts often contain additional ingredients such as sugar and fruit.  They may contain everything from artificial dyes to preservatives and sweeteners to enhance flavor. (natural or artificial), to ingredients that enhance flavor. Thickeners or stabilizers such as gelatin are commonly added to create a thicker texture and increase shelf life. While not harmful, thickeners and stabilizers are used instead of more nutritious dairy ingredients that can also thicken yogurt.

• Yogurt is rich in calcium, which is essential for maintaining colon health and reducing the risk of colon cancer.
• Calcium works with the live cultures found in some yogurt to increase absorption by the bones, making yogurt an excellent choice to help prevent osteoporosis.
• Yogurt is an important source of calcium for people who have difficulty digesting the lactose (sugar) in milk, because yogurt contains lactase -– the enzyme we need to break down lactose for proper digestion.
• Yogurt is rich in calcium, B vitamins and essential minerals and low in carbohydrates. It can also be low in fat if made with low fat milk.

Beneficial bacteria
Eating yogurt may help with digestion, but for yogurt to have this positive effect, you should eat dairy based yogurt. In addition you should eat it everyday or two. Only a fraction of the bacteria it contains can withstand the acidity of our stomachs and reach the intestines. So by eating it regularly more bacteria will remain in your intestines at all time, you should eat yogurt every day.

Vitamin D: Some yogurts contain this vitamin, which is important for helping our bodies absorb and use calcium. Vitamin D is especially important for people over 50, who need twice the amount as those under 50.

Folic acid: Deficiency of this B vitamin is associated with congenital malformations in infants. Synthetic folic acid added to food is absorbed at almost twice the rate of that found naturally, making its addition to food extremely beneficial to pregnant and nursing women. Low levels of folic acid are also linked to coronary heart disease and stroke. You can find folic acid in Yoplait Source Cardio yogurt.

Omega-3s: Since our bodies can’t synthesize these essential fatty acids, we have to get them through food. Omega 3s contribute to normal growth and development of our brain, eyes and nervous system; they can also reduce the risk of heart desease, inflammatory problems and depression.

Many people are under the impression that salt is just another way to decrease your health, this is not so. Salt plays a major role in water retention, muscle contraction, and contains nutrients that are vital to your stomach. Salt in moderation is actually very important to your diet.

Our bodies rely on electrolytes, including salt, to help carry out electrical impulses that control many of our bodies’ functions. To keep our bodies functioning as they should, our bodies need the proper amount of electrolytes. Electrolytes trigger thirst mechanism, which cause us to consume adequate amounts of water. With this water, our kidneys are able to keep the appropriate amount of electrolytes in our bloodstream. The amount of water our bodies retain also impact blood pressure.

Salt is important to the nerves, as it stimulates muscle contraction helping prevent your muscles from cramping. Salt also keeps calcium and other minerals in the bloodstream. Salt is also very important in the prevention of heat prostration and sunstroke, which is very important to remember during hot summer months.

Salt plays a role in digestion by helping to break down food. Salt also creates hydrochloric acid very important  in digestive secretion, which lines the stomach walls. Salt helps your body digest food, instead of using your muscles as an energy source.

Sodium deficiency on the other hand can cause the body to perspire heavily causing dehydration to set in. Sodium deficiency can lead to shock if the blood pressure is decreased too severely.  Too little can cause disturbances in tissue-water and acid-base balance, which is important to good nutrition.

Remember, diets too high in sodium can lead to high water retention and hypertension.  The maximum amount of sodium that should be incorporated into a healthy diet should range from 2,400-3,000 mg/day.

apples

Apples are known for there excellent source of pectin and fibers. They are high in vitamin A and C and a good source of potassium, calcium, iron, phosphorus. A majority of the nutrients in apples is stored in or just under the skin, so it is important to take advantage of this and use the skin in the dishes you prepare.

There are a number of phytonutrients such as ellagic acid, malic acid, chlorogenic acid, and quercetin. There are many more phytonutrients in an apple, some yet to be discovered and named. These compounds are high in anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer effects.

When you eat an apple raw (not cooked) or drink of its fresh juices every day, you can expect to benefit from its numerous health benefits.

Due to the high vitamin C and anti-oxidant content asthmatics who drink apple juice daily will encounter less wheezing and asthma attacks.

Oxidative stress in the body created by strenuous work out can be eliviated by drinking apple juice after trainings by neutralizing the harmful oxidants, replenish the vitamins/minerals, reverse muscle tiredness and muscle stiffness. Be sure that the apple juice are not oxidized which will add on to the oxidative stress that is harmful to the body.

High LDL cholesterol in the body is dangerous when there is oxidative stress. The high anti-oxidant compounds in apple will help neutralize the oxidation, there-by reducing the danger of the plaque build-up and clogging of the arteries that lead to atherosclerosis.

Regularly consuming apple juice that is rich in vitamin C will retard the development of hardening of the arteries.

The high content of potassium in apple prevents loss of calcium in the blood which in turn help prevent loss of calcium in the bones. Daily eating/drinking an apple helps preserve bone density and prevent osteoporosis.

Drinking apple juice mixed with carrot juice is a sure way to ease constipation. If badly constipated, keep drinking this combination until bowel moves, and it will.

Chewing on an apple helps clean the teeth and maintain healthy gums. The anti-septic effect of apples keep bacteria and viruses away; and reduces the incidences of cavities in teeth.

Green apples are great to be consumed by diabetics for its fiber. The apple polyphenols also help prevent spikes in blood sugar with enzymes that help break down complex carbohydrates.

Apples contain a natural laxative. When drunk as juice, it helps aid bowel movements. It is most effective when mixed with carrots and spinach juices, you can expect bowel movement the next day. Regularly eating apples also will ensure bowel movements due to its gel-forming fiber, pectin. It improves the intestinal muscle’s ability to push waste through the gastrointestinal tract. Regular bowel movements mean lower chances of colon cancer.

Apple is one of the best sources of malic acid that plays an important role in improving muscle performance, reversing muscle tiredness after exercise, prevent muscle stiffness, and generally reducing lethargy and increasing energy levels. This makes it a great help for people suffering from fibromyalgia.

The high content of flavonoids quercetin, naringin and anti-oxidants in apples are effective compounds in preventing lung cancer.