Why Prepackaged Foods Aren't As Healthy As They Say

by Georgina White


For many people, home cooking from scratch is not the way dinner is prepared each night. Rather a more familiar scene is popping a frozen meal into the microwave for a quick heat-and-eat lunch or dinner. Companies that manufacture these foods are not required to list every single ingredient put into the food product; therefore you can never be absolutely sure what it is you are getting. There are a lot of prepackaged meals that claim to be fresh and healthy but the reality is that prepackaged foods typically contain preservatives and other ingredients that can be harmful to your health.

In order for many canned and frozen foods to stay "fresh", preservatives are added. Preservatives are chemicals used in foods to preserve them and keep them from spoiling. In addition to the preservatives that are being added, other ingredients that can be dangerous to your health are also part of the deal. Many foods contain artificial flavors and smells, and colors that can adversely affect the liver and other areas of your body.

One example of the additives found in the foods is the excessive levels of sodium. While salt is necessary for the body's survival, too much salt can lead to many health problems, such as high blood pressure and water retention. A derivative of salt is MSG, an ingredient a lot of people are allergic to, but is added to many foods to improve the flavor of foods. Another problem with prepackaged foods is the loss of nutrients, vitamins, and fiber that occur during the processing and manufacturing steps. Fresh vegetables and fruits contain the important things your body needs without the added preservatives and artificial flavors.

There are over 6,000 chemicals used in the commercially produced foods. It is estimated that people will ingest up to 5 pounds of chemical additives in a year's time. Some common examples of preservatives found in prepackaged foods are as follows:

Sulphite
This preservative is used to fight harmful bacteria and yeasts to prevent them from forming in the foods. Examples of food products that contain sulphite are dehydrated vegetables and fruits.

Benzoic Acid
This preservative is most commonly found in soft drinks and ketchup. It is added to prevent the growth of some molds and yeasts.

Nitrates
Nitrates, like those added to bacon, sausages, and ham, are preservatives that help control the growth of molds.

Sorbic Acid
Sorbic acid is a preservative that is used to prevent the development of mold in products such as wine and cheeses.

Alginates
These preservatives help to stabilize the creamy textures of processed foods like salad dressings and ice creams.

Aspartame
This is added to food products to act as a sweetener. Aspartame is commonly found in diet sodas, fruit juices, other sweeteners, and gelatins.

One of the only ways to keep preservatives out of your diet and prevent illness or bodily harm is to avoid the prepackaged foods and eat fresh vegetables, fruits, and use approved natural ingredients that are free of chemicals, artificial colors, and more. Learning to read labels can help to some extend but you will need to brush up on your terminology to truly understand what the listed ingredients really mean to your health.

Georgina White has developed ways to make great tasting food using healthier methods. She feels that it's important to be kind to your body and provide it with plenty of nourishing, fresh food while letting the taste buds enjoy it too!

Picture yourself at one of our simply sumptuous cooking classes relaxing with friends, enjoying a delicious 3 course meal with complementary wine, whilst surrounded by stunning views of Sydney Harbour. Imagine the sense of satisfaction when the food you are eating is fresh from the kitchen and created by you.

5 Foods That Deliver Instant Energy

by Angel Evans

Exhausted, tired, weak, lack of energy and worn-out are just few of the ways we express fatigue. All of us look for a quick pick me up? Your body is screaming for energy and who hasn't turned to coffee, potato chips, or something sweet for a quick energy boost only to be looking for another one in an hour. Try one of these six nutrient rich energy boosting foods instead for a lasting jolt of energy.

Almonds

Almonds are an excellent source of energy and nutritionally dense. A handful of Almonds, is an excellent source of vitamin E, magnesium, and a good source of fiber and phosphorous. Almonds also have the heart healthy "good fat"- monounsaturated fat. In addition Almonds are a good source of protein, potassium, calcium and iron.

Almonds are a convenient filling snack. Almonds are a good source of fiber and monounsaturated fat all which help keep you satisfied and your metabolism revved up. In addition you can carry an ounce of Almonds in your pocket or purse. Scientific evidence suggests, but does not prove, that eating 1.5 ounces per day of most nuts, such as almonds, as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol may reduce the risk of heart disease.

Sweet potatoes

A powerhouse of nutrition, the sweet potato is a perfect example of good food that's good for you. Sweet potatoes are bursting with beta carotene (vitamin A) are high in vitamin C which help fight fatigue and stress. Sweet potatoes are a good source of fiber are fat-free and cholesterol-free.

An All Star Vegetable, the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) ranked the sweet potato number one in nutrition of all vegetables. A great way to prepare sweet potatoes for a quick snack later; julienne like French fries, brush with olive oil, sprinkle with sea salt and roast in the oven until soft.

Bananas

Bananas deliver instant energy, ask any athlete, have very little saturated fat, about 2 grams of protein and around 50 grams of carbohydrates each. Bananas get a bad rap for being high in sugar but because of the fiber, they actually have a medium glycemic index rating (51) if they are too ripe.

A Raw banana is relatively low in calories; 100 calories in a medium banana, and 125 calories in a large banana. They also taste great and are easy to take anywhere.

Oats

A bowl of oat meal with a little honey in the morning will give you that burst of energy you need to get going and help you sustain that energy until lunch time. Oat meal is a great source of fiber, helps to slow the rate of digestion, which may help to maintain healthy blood sugar levels, as well as curb appetite.

Oats can help to lower LDL ("the bad"cholesterol) blood cholesterol levels. Oats also contain protein and natural antioxidants which contribute to heart health.

Yogurt

Yogurt is a great energy boosting food and a well known source of calcium, which supports healthy bones and reduces the risk of osteoporosis. But did you know that calcium also plays a role in muscle metabolism?

If you're feeling zapped of energy during your workout, consider looking at your intake of calcium to see if you are meeting the recommended levels. If not, try adding some yogurt to your breakfast, lunch, or snack. Rich in vitamin B-12, this super food also helps athletes prevent fatigue.

We have limited amounts of energy and reserves, and when these are taxed, either physically or mentally, or more commonly both, we experience fatigue. And when we're fatigued we need to recharge our batteries in one way or another. We deal with the fatigue of our active days and physical activity by resting and by getting a good night sleep.

Body Fitness - Achieve total body fitness with advice from Angel Evans a professional fitness and certified strength training coach. Get tips and exercise routines for shaping a firm body, strength training and building lean muscle mass. Download his free ebook "Fight The Fat Without Starving" just for visiting AngelBodyFitness.com

5 Healthy Fruits That You Will Love to Eat

by Gabriel J Adams

As everyone knows, fruits and vegetables are great sources of important nutrients. Of course, most fruits are super-tasty, in addition to being healthy. Here are 5 fruits that are nutrient-packed health foods - add these to your diet and you'll be well on your way to a healthy diet.

If possible, eat your fruits and veggies fresh. Cooked fruits and vegetables lose most of their nutrition value. Salads are one great way that you can eat fruits on a daily basis.

Blueberries

Forget the magic pills promoted by salesmen; nature has it's own anti-aging food - blueberries. Blueberries are rich sources of antioxidants that neutralize the unstable and harmful free radicals in our bodies. Blueberries are known to improve the short term memory and improve night vision. Plus, they contain resveratrol, potentially an anti-cancer agent,, in addition vitamin to C and E.

There are many great ways to eat blueberries. Of course, if you eat them fresh you will get more nutrients than if you eat them cooked. You can use them to make a fresh fruit salad, or eat them fresh with other foods. A handful of blueberries can taste awful good, too.

Black Currants

Great for cardiovascular health, weight loss, and the health of your vision, black currants are also easy to make a part of your regular diet. The antioxidant polyphenol in black currants protects the body from disease; for this reason, black currants have been used as a natural remedy for centuries. Pound for pound black currants have more vitamin C than oranges, making them one of the best sources of vitamin C.

Goji Berries

Considered one of the world's most powerful anti aging foods, goji berries boast antioxidants and polysaccharides that reduce the speed of aging and help the body recover. Goji can also boost the immune system, boost energy levels, and improve overall body function and health.

Goji juice is probably the easiest and tastiest way to eat goji berries. Goji is very hard to find fresh - pretty much impossible for most people. Dried berries aren't as tasty as the juice.

Cranberries

Cranberries are an amazing source of nutrients: Rich in vitamin C, they are also great antioxidants, and great sources of phytochemicals. They also contain Hippuric acid (a antibacterial), potassium , Vitamin A, and many trace nutrients. Cranberries have been used for years to combat urinary tract infections.

You'll want to eat your cranberries fresh to get the most nutrients. They can be rather sour plain, but you can easily make a healthy salad with plain yogurt, nuts and honey.

Kiwi

Kiwi fruits have a variety of great nutrients - The fruit contains Serotonin which has a calming affect on the nerves, reducing stress. Plus, the large number of electrolytes in the fruit make it a great option for those who regularly find themselves short on energy. In fact, it is regularly used by athletes because of its minerals and electrolytes. The presence of Inositol in the kiwi makes it great for diabetes patients, as it helps regulate the body hormones and neurotransmitters.

Learn how goji juice can help your health. Visit our Australian goji site and jugo goji site

Improve Your Mood With Food

by Laura S Johnson

When it comes down to mood, we feel like we can't always control how we feel. Sometimes we would like to feel happy when we are down, but we simply don't know how to attain that change of mood naturally. We tend to approach mood changes with medications rather than with herbal remedies from certain foods. However, the absolute best way to lift our mood is naturally. There are certain foods we can consume which raise the mood lifting chemical known as serotonin. So what are some of these foods and how do they work?

The first step towards improving our mood is the "consumption of protein with every meal." Protein, such as lean poultry and fish, raise our blood levels of tryptophan. This particular chemical eventually turns into serotonin which in turn improves our mood. On top of its mood enhancing abilities, consuming protein with every meal is an excellent way to lose weight.

"Eating a small carbohydrate snack" is the second step towards improving ones mood. Eat a small snack, such as an oatmeal cookie or a slice of whole wheat bread, 3 to 4 hours after your meal and approximately one hour before your next meal. Make sure that your stomach is empty. Eating this small yet significant snack will cause the tryptophan in your blood to enter the brain. Once the chemical has entered the brain it will metabolize into serotonin leaving you with a feeling of happiness in about 20 to 30 minutes. Following this particular pattern of nutrition can also serve as a natural sleep aid. This is due to the fact that your brain metabolizes serotonin into the natural sleep aid known as melatonin. So follow these simple steps and watch your mood improve before your eyes.

Lauren S. Johnson writes health articles about fitness and nutrition. Some of her favorite passions include studying the medicinal benefits of herbal remedies, weight loss products, and hoodia side effects.