Monday, May 31, 2010

Your Digestive Health - Discover How to Get Enough Fiber Into Your Diet the Natural Way

Proper digestion is essential not only to maintain good health but for your body to function efficiently. A big ingredient in efficient digestion is including enough fiber into your daily intake. This can be from supplements of some kind or pills but the healthiest way to add enough fiber is through the foods you eat each day.

What are the best foods to eat to get more fiber?
There are certain foods that are considered high fiber foods. These come from fruits, vegetables, grains and nuts. There are actually a lot more choices in these categories than you might realize. Everyone has heard about eating broccoli to get enough fiber in your diet. The good news is if you are not a fan of broccoli, which is really a shame as it is a good source of many other nutrients, there are several other choices of vegetables that are just as good. For instance, baked beans, green beans and lima beans are great sources of fiber. Apples, bananas, strawberries and oranges have high fiber content just to name a few fruits. Most nuts are high in fiber especially almonds, walnuts and pecans. Seeds like sunflower, pumpkin and sesame are all good sources. For the grains, anything whole wheat has great fiber content like whole wheat bread, bran cereal and muffins.

What are the benefits of a high fiber diet?
One of the surprising benefits you will derive from a high fiber diet is putting a stop to binge eating. When you eat foods that are highly processed or contain refined flour or sugar your body is being deprived of the essential fiber it needs to keep you feeling satisfied. You will end up binge eating because you are craving something more substantial than the empty calories you have been stuffing into your body. What you really want is to feel full and satisfied and this will not happen with binging on more junk type foods. Eating foods that are high in fiber will fill you up quickly and stop the cravings.

When you go for a snack or are looking to fill the hole you feel, have some strawberries or grab a handful of nuts. It will not take much to make you feel very full and satisfied. The fiber will do wonders for your colon and your body will work more efficiently. When you are constantly battling constipation, the food is not being digested properly and your body is not getting the nutrients it needs from the foods you eat. High fiber foods will correct this situation.

Is it possible to eat too much fiber?
Your body will process fiber foods and use what it needs. However, if you are not drinking sufficient amounts of water each day and become dehydrated, the fiber has a tendency to turn into concrete in your digestive system. This is not the effect you want. Water is a MUST! Water will not only hydrate your body which is essential as the body is 70 percent water solutions that need to be replenished each day but water flushes out all the impurities in the body. This is just so important words cannot describe how much your body benefits from 8 glasses of water each day. Alkaline water is the ultimate kind of water to drink. You can add alkaline that you get in health food stores or you can add lemon juice to the water to make it alkaline.

Digestive Health - Discover the Causes of Gas in Your System and the Foods to Avoid

Ever wonder why you have gas after eating your meals? Burping is actually a normal experience and is caused from undigested foods. The body releases certain amounts of gas several times a day which is a normal response. However, if there is excessive gas or if it becomes uncomfortable or painful then it is time to find the cause and make some changes.

What causes my episodes of burping?
There are several foods that can potentially be the cause of gas. Other factors like chewing gum, eating too quickly, adding extra fiber foods to your diet, and smoking can all cause bloating and burping. There are drugstore remedies to help with excessive gas issues but eliminating the main food culprits may also work just as well. Eating extra fiber in your diet is a healthy choice but when high fiber foods are added to your daily intake they will probably cause gas for a while until your body adjusts to digesting these foods. Other activities that you do like smoking and chewing gum can cause you to swallow air which means burping episodes.

Why does my body create gas?
A normal side effect of undigested foods is gas which is released from the body either as burping or belching. Soluble fiber and certain sugars like lactose, fructose, sorbitol and raffinose are all materials that cannot be processed by the stomach so they gravitate to the intestines where a bacterium there attempts to process them. This is why the release of gas occurs.

What foods create gas?
There is actually a long list of foods in all categories; fruits, vegetables, grains, dairy and beverages that have the potential to create excessive gas in the system. Everyone has a little different digestive capability and the foods that will be a problem for you will probably not be a problem for someone else. In general terms any beverages that have fructose to sweeten them are potential problems like fruit juices and colas. Dairy products are notorious problem makers especially milk products or processed foods containing milk products. Artificial sweeteners are big culprits for creating gas. The digestive system always struggles to process 'non-food' substances especially chemicals like artificial flavorings and sweeteners. Processed foods are just trouble makers in general. Legumes like beans are responsible for many individuals having excessive gas as well as foods like pasta and potatoes that contain a lot of starch. Some individuals are allergic to oat bran and wheat with the result being excessive gas.

Do I need to stop eating foods that make me really gassy?
Eliminating foods from your diet that make you really gassy might be a good idea if it is causing you too much discomfort or pain. However, as you can see by checking out the complete list of foods that could be problematic, most of them are actually really healthy food choices full of essential nutrients. Before you decide to eliminate these valuable food sources try giving your body a little time to see if it can adjust to the foods and successfully process them without discomfort to you. You might consider trying an herbal product that aids digestion. If the things that are causing you the most problems are empty calorie type of foods or foods with preservatives and chemicals then eliminate them quickly.

Nutrition - Understanding Antioxidants and How to Add Them to Your Diet

Understanding Antioxidants
An antioxidant is composite of electrons that work in the body to stop the damage that free-radicals do to the cells. A free-radical is a composite of electrons that do not have a mate. These free-radicals are determined to find an electron to join and will steal from cells that are healthy to find an electron to join. Because they are without a mate so to speak, they are an unstable or unpredictable element in the body. If they manage to steal electrons from healthy cells, which make up organs and tissues, the healthy cells become compromised and subject to disease. When an electron is taken from the healthy cell it then becomes unstable and will then try to steal electrons from other healthy cells causing a grouping of unstable cells to form and the damage spreads. This is where disease and aging has its entrance and the result is problematic.

The Job of Antioxidants
The antioxidants enter the body and take on the task of halting the damage caused by the free-radicals. They are the warriors that fight against the damage that unpredictable electrons can cause to healthy cells. They can give electrons to the unstable free-radicals without causing problems to themselves or any other cells. The free-radicals become stabilized and damage to healthy cells is abated. We need these warriors.

Where are Antioxidants Found?
There are a number of foods that are loaded with antioxidants like apricots, broccoli, mango, spinach, germ, beans and lentils, and healing teas. Antioxidants can also be found in alpha-lipoic acid, flavonoids, selenium, carotenoids, and Vitamins E and C.

How to Get More Antioxidants into your Diet
Of course, eating more vegetables and more fruit is a good way. Most fruits and vegetables do contain antioxidant agents. Some like those listed here have larger quantities and should be first choices for your daily menu. You can also take supplements with antioxidants which are usually part of the multivitamins you take each day. The label on your vitamins should list antioxidants as part of the ingredients.

Flavonoids can be found in soy and green tea. Selenium is an enzyme that helps Vitamin E in the fight against free-radical cell damage. Alpha-lipoic acid is an agent that helps make antioxidants more powerful. Vitamin E is a potent agent working against the damage of free radicals and is considered a fat-soluble antioxidant.

Healthy Eating Tips
Every meal should include a serving of a fruit, vegetable or grain. Most of the calories in each meal should come from these foods. Including germ whenever possible will help to increase the amount of antioxidants in your diet. Germ is packed full of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, protein, fiber and good fats and selenium.

Instead of adding a starchy side dish add a vegetable or a fruit. If you have digestive problems you will want to eat fruit by itself and give your body at least three hours to digest the fruit in any form. Drinking fruit juice from a can that is not freshly squeezed will mean added calories and not much else. Read your labels. Steam your vegetables when possible and try not to overcook your foods. The deeper the color of the vegetable or fruit the higher the amount of antioxidants it will contain.

When you snack, think vegetables or fruits. If you fill up on healthy foods you will be less likely to have any desire for foods that are just empty calories like sweets and chips. Pomegranate juice has amazing benefits and is a very refreshing change of pace from the sodas.

Weight Loss Superhero - Organic, Unrefined, Virgin Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is used in a number of ways to create a healthier body. It is used in soaps, lotions and for cooking. The benefits of coconut have been discussed and debated with the results being highly controversial. It is claimed to be a weight loss miracle, a cure for hypothyroidism which is a deficiency in the production of thyroid hormones or to put it even more simply, a slow metabolism. The experts all agree it does have definite benefits for the body when used as a food for consumption or as a skin curative. It really depends on how much you use and how you use it. To reap the full benefits of the coconut you need to ingest organic, unrefined, virgin coconut oil.

Why does the oil have to be organic, unrefined and virgin?
Here is the deal. When any food product is refined it loses its nutritional benefits to a large degree. Any food product that is grown with the use of pesticides and chemicals in the soil will contain some of these harmful agents because it draws these from the soil in which it is grown. When ingested these chemicals will end up in your body. Chemicals in your body make the food you ingest hard to digest and introduce toxins that are harmful and prevent your body from absorbing the food properly. Toxins prevent the body from being able to heal itself as it was intended.

Look for a high-grade Virgin Coconut Oil which is usually indicated by a Gold Label. The purer the food product, the longer its shelf life and the more antioxidants it will contain. Refined coconut oils lose their natural flavor and scent in the refining process. Virgin Coconut Oils are able to keep their coconut fresh taste and smell. Refined coconut oils are frequently labeled as having a coconut flavor but the flavor is not of coconut but more of a burned and bitter taste and not coconut as it is naturally.

What are the benefits of organic virgin coconut oil?
The benefits are actually a long list of truly outstanding claims both for disease prevention and curative and as a weight loss product. The experts all seem to agree to disagree but they all have to admit that coconuts have antibiotic properties, can easily be digested so that the oil is not stored as fat but burned off by the body and thereby help with metabolism and thyroid issues, and because of this is great for weight loss. Other claims are that it will help with mood swings, depression, cure constipation, correct circulation problems, decrease acid reflux and heartburn, lower high blood pressure if not normalize it completely, and attribute to quick weight loss. The weight loss claim is at least ten pounds lost in one month. Here is the list of potential benefits:

-High blood pressure can be corrected.
-Circulation problems vanished.
-Mood swings gone.
-Depression lifted.
-Arthritis pain either reduced or eliminated.
-Constipation cured.
-Cancer put into remission.
-Cholesterol normalized.
-Acid reflux and heartburn diminished or gone for life.
-Weight loss for the obese individual.
-Chronic Fatigue
-Facial and skin care, skin tonic and astringent
-Psoriasis
-Anti-fungal
-Antibacterial
-Emollient

Actually the list goes on. Virtually anything that has to do with the digestive system, the heart, disease prevention and curative qualities, skin care, weight loss, the immune system, dental issues, and more. Basically because the virgin oil breaks down so quickly in the system and digests so easily it is an extremely effective agent in promoting health because it allows the body to absorb all the wonderful nutrients that are contained in the foods you ingest.

How much organic virgin coconut oil should I ingest each day?
The recommendation from the experts is to take one tablespoonful the morning and then one in the late afternoon. Do this for a thirty day period and see how it impacts your overall health. Use the oil for cooking instead of other oils. Other recommendations are for three and a half tablespoons per day so it is up to you. Everyone's body is just a little different. Coconut oil can withstand a very high heat when used as cooking oil and is great for using on your steamed vegetables or wheat pasta dishes in place of butter. It also is a wonderful replacement for the shortening needed for baking.

Realistically what can I expect and will there be harmful side effects?
How much weight you lose or how quickly health issues are corrected will depend on the other foods and health habits that you have on a daily basis. No food will on its own cure all diseases and cause weight to fall off with no other efforts involved. Wellness is about balance and healthy attitudes. Organic Unrefined Virgin Coconut Oil is very stable oil unlike other oils you may choose to use. Overuse of any substance or food product can cause problems because it is not in balance with the rest of your life. However, when you consider that it breaks down differently than other oils you might use and is not a medicine but a food it does not appear to have any real harmful side effects.

As far the benefits, it may be dependent on the lifestyle of the person using the oil. Some people may experience diarrhea and the way to counteract this is to take less of the oil per day to begin and then increase over time so your body can adjust. It is possible to have a food allergy but this is pretty rare as most allergic reactions to foods are connected to foods with protein or dairy products.

Sunday, May 30, 2010

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Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Learn Why Flavonoid Rich Foods Should Be Part of Your Daily Food Menu

What are Flavonoids?
Flavonoids are actually plant pigments and are referred to as Vitamin P in order to identify them in foods. They are the pigment that gives color to plant life. They have other names to identify them that are specific to the foods that contain them. Flavonoids are found in literally thousands of different substances and their chemical groupings.

What is the purpose of Flavonoids?
The main purpose of the flavonoids is to protect the body usually by acting as antioxidants. As an antioxidant their job is to protect the healthy cells of the body from the damage that free-radicals cause. Flavonoids have the capability of making the levels of glutathione higher. Glutathione is a very robust antioxidant that protects cells from being compromised.

Flavonoids are particularly associated with Vitamin C and are an invaluable support to the benefits of Vitamin C. They are like little power-boosters. When both Vitamin C and Flavonoids are working together the antioxidant qualities are super-charged.

What diseases do flavonoids help to prevent?
There are a number of harmful diseases that flavonoids have been found to either prevent or help in the cure. These are allergies, yeast infections, Atopic dermatitis, diabetes, cataracts, asthma, macular degeneration, gout, hemorrhoids, stomach ulcers, periodontal disease, varicose veins, stomach ulcers and migraines. When inflammation becomes extreme flavonoids comes to the rescue. In severe conditions like the herpes simplex virus, HIV virus or HSV-1 flavonoids have proved to be a help to the antibiotics administered.

When do you know you need to add foods that contain flavonoids?
There are certain physical conditions that directly point to the need for flavonoids in your diet. Things like nose bleeds, hemorrhoids, extreme bruising and swelling after an injury will be greatly improved with the addition of foods containing flavonoids. This will improve the immune system and help in preventing infections like yeast infections and the common cold.

What happens when vegetables containing flavonoids are cooked?
Cooking vegetables or fruits containing flavonoids does drastically reduce the potency of the flavonoids contained in the plants. Steaming vegetables is the best choice or eating them raw if possible will keep protect the integrity of the plants. As a general rule, do not overcook vegetables. The deeper or more intense the color the more of the nutrients it will contain or retain.

http://healingfoods.biz
Learn about healthy foods and how they not only make your body healthier but are a natural way to prevent diseases. Learn detailed information on the nutritional value foods and how certain foods can even burn fat. There are several lists of foods in different categories as well as information about vitamins, antioxidants and more. See lists of foods containing flavonoids and other information about flavonoids.

Iced Coffee Nutritional Value - Learn the Facts

Drinking iced coffee blends will not add a ton of nutrition to your daily intake. Brewed coffee by itself is almost calorie free and contains no cholesterol and no fat but adding things to the coffee like whipped cream, sugar or even milk adds fat, cholesterol and calories. For instance, a dollop of whipped cream (15 milliliters or 1 tablespoon) on the top adds 5 grams of fat and 50 calories. There is no nutritional value there. Adding just a tablespoon of sugar also adds 50 calories but adding a tablespoon of milk that is fat-free is only 5 added calories. If you were to order a cafe latte espresso with regular milk added you are looking at 11 grams of fat and about 200 calories but this drink with milk that is nonfat reduces the calories to 130 and takes away the added fat. All this makes a big difference if you are watching your weight or trying to lose weight.

Cappuccinos that are blended and then iced are a very popular drink especially in hot weather. A drink like this usually has sodium and sugar added to enhance the flavor. The hot version of the blended cappuccino has 45 percent less sugar and 68 percent less sodium. The icing of the drink dilutes the flavors so this is probably why so much sodium and sugar is added. If your weight is a concern then a better choice is decidedly a basic coffee drink without adding sugar.

Drinking a medium black cup of coffee will not destroy a diet because there is no cholesterol, or fat and about five calories but there is something called caffeine. Decaffeinated coffee removes most of the harmful caffeine but there are still other factors to consider while drinking coffee. Black coffee has the highest amount of caffeine (330 mg) plus sodium (10 mg). Caffeine is actually a drug that spikes energy. A burst of energy is a good thing at times but at what price? When the coffee is black there are no extra calories but the coffee itself is then in a pure form and contains 330 mg of caffeine. If caffeine is your consideration then a cafe au lait with nonfat milk in equal proportion to coffee will cut the caffeine intake right in half. Unfortunately this means the added milk takes the calories up to 130, with 18 grams of sugar, 5 grams of cholesterol, 5 fat calories and a whopping 150 mg of sodium. Using 2 percent milk instead of nonfat milk adds 55 fat calories, 25 grams of cholesterol and 60 more calories.

Calories that are burned depend on the weight of the person, the amount of time spent exercising and the type of exercise. For instance, a person who does some regular dancing for ten minutes and weighs 150 pounds will burn 52 calories while a person who weighs 300 pounds doing the same exercise and time will burn 102 calories. It stands to reason that the larger person burns more calories for the same movements. The person who carries twice the weight burns twice the calories because when they move they are moving so much extra weight it is like doing isometrics plus aerobics. A thin person needs to add weights to burn more calories while the heavy person just has to move their body. Taking a casual stroll for 10 minutes at 150 pounds will burn 28 calories but the 300 pound person will burn 57 calories. If that walk is brisk, then the calories burned off will increase about 6 percent.

So with your iced coffee, if you want to add a dollop of whipping cream or a tablespoon of sugar to enhance the flavor, you will need to take about a 12 minute brisk walk if your weight 150 pounds to burn off the extra calories. If your pleasure is to indulge in a cafe latte espresso with whole milk and weigh150 pounds it will take 25 minutes of high impact aerobics to burn off the extra calories.

Another consideration about drinking iced coffee is that coffee has a high acid content. This makes the digestion of coffee difficult and it should not be combined with meals. Besides the health problems that too much caffeine in your diet will cause, there is also health related problems when the acid content of the foods you ingest are too high. The worse part of drinking coffee is that too much has the potential of causing problems with the body's absorption of the vitamins, minerals and nutrients in the food that is ingested or the supplements taken. The body will steal what it needs in the way of nutrients and vitamins from bones and vital organs in an effort to balance itself. The depleted organs will then be subject to disease.
The nutritional value of coffee is the same whether it is served hot or cold. A simple brewed cup of coffee has only about ten calories and no fat. However, most iced coffee lovers enjoy adding other ingredients that make an iced coffee high in calories plus adding sugar and fat. If you are on a weight loss program, an iced coffee with all the trimmings is like eating a meal, calorie wise. The bottom line is if you do choose to indulge in your favorite iced coffee treat, remember it is not the innocent cup of coffee you may have thought.

http://healingfoods.biz

Learn about Healing Foods and how they make your body healthier. Detailed information on the nutritional value and how each food can fight off diseases.

Edible Flowers - How to Use Them to Dress Up Your Beverage

Edible flowers can be used in a variety of interesting ways and they will not only be unusual but very impressive and tasty as well. Some add flavors like adding herbs will do for your recipes and others have their own wonderful fresh flavors.

One very creative and beautiful way to use the blossoms of flowers is by making them into delectable ice cubes for festive drinks. Any time you are using flowers for eating or cooking ingredients it is imperative that they are rinsed carefully to get any residue from pesticides off the petals or the blossoms. You can purchase flowers that were grown without pesticides or if you grow your own be sure to use organic growing medium.

To make your flower ice cubes you will first bring water to a boil for about two minutes. Take the water from the heat and leave to cool down to the temperature of the room. The reason for doing this is to make sure that the ice cubes will freeze clear and beautiful. Put a flower or arrange a couple petals at the bottom of each ice cube section of the ice cube tray. Only fill the tray half way up with the room temperature water and let it freeze solid. Then you can finish filling each compartment of the ice cube tray to the top with the rest of the water that you boiled. Let this freeze solid and it is ready for use when you are ready to dress up your beverage.

Ice cubes with edible flowers are great additions to your Valentine's Day celebration or any romantic or special occasion. They are guaranteed to delight and impress. Another way to impress your guests or make a very romantic treat is to make tea using the petals of edible flowers.

The ratio you will need to make a tasty and beautiful cup of tea is one cup of boiled water with one tablespoon of petals from edible flowers. For instance, the romantic and aromatic rose makes a lovely tea drink using either the petals from the rose or the hips. This rose petal tea drink has a little tangy taste with a light floral aroma and flavor. This is a great tea to serve at a lady's party like a shower or woman's group.

If you are serving an iced tea then the edible flower ice cubes will be a wonderful addition. Edible flowers make delightful candied treats when they are crystallized and will go well along with your flower pedal tea.

http://healingfoods.biz

Learn about Healing Foods and how they make your body healthier. Detailed information on the nutritional value and how each food can fight off diseases.

Food Combining Tips - Help Stabilize Your Digestive System

Eating your favorite foods in the wrong combination may be causing your digestive system to shut down or malfunction. For years I personally battled with constipation and used every type of laxative known to man, had the dreaded colonoscopy, ended up in the hospital twice and spent a great deal of time feeling very ill due to a sluggish system. Over time and with approaching senior years my condition became chronic and the doctors just said, "Eat more fiber". I was eating tons of fiber and drinking gallons of water but the condition was growing more severe as the years passed. Finally, I found an answer and it turned out to be extremely simple.

My answer to better health was in food combining. After changing the combination of foods that I ate my health almost immediately began to improve and within two weeks my system was working like clockwork, better than I could ever remember. It was amazing. It has been three months now and by using the food combining method of eating my digestive system is still working perfectly.

Here are a couple very basic rules to follow when eating. Never eat fruit in combination with any other foods and give your body the opportunity to fully digest the fruit before eating any other types of foods, at least two hours but optimally three before eating again. Do not eat meat in combination with starches like sugar vegetables, bread, pasta or any dairy products.

Yes, this means no hamburgers with buns but you can eat meat with green leafy vegetables. Cow's milk is hard to digest so drinking soy or rice milk is much easier on your system. High fiber foods and high water content foods are the best to eat. Animal proteins are okay to eat with high water foods. High water foods and starchy foods are okay to eat together. However, combining starchy foods with animal protein foods causes digestive problems. The old standby, meat and potatoes is a real problem for your body to digest. Dessert is okay once in a while but should be eaten three hours after your main meal and it is best to eat less than you might normally eat.

Eating three balanced meals and two snacks each day is a good way to bring your system back into balance. The foods need to be nutritious and in the right combination. If you want a sandwich, do not use meat but a sandwich with some may and tomato and lettuce or avocado or cucumber is excellent in taste and easy to digest. Instead of a tuna salad sandwich, try mixing up your tuna as usual. Then you can use stalks of nice crisp celery either to dip into the tuna mixture or stuff the celery with the tuna. It is really surprising how filling and satisfying this meal can be. You will not miss the bread. Wait a couple hours and then enjoy your bread with some butter or peanut butter as a snack. Eating foods in the right combination does not mean you have to change the foods you enjoy, just change which foods you eat at one time. Do not overeat and choose the healthier foods as often as possible. Your body will thank you.

http://healingfoods.biz
Lists of foods that are good for your body, foods that contain antioxidants, fat burning foods, water filled foods, proteins both animal and plant, starchy foods, vitamin information, edible flowers and more.

Biblical Nutrition - Daniel Wore the Red Badge of Courage Taking a Stand For Healthy Eating

The Babylonian king had just taken over the reign that had belonged to the king of Judah, Jehoiakim. King Nebuchadnezzar began building his empire by bringing in his royal family, the nobility and some of the children of Israel. The king was determined to have only the best of the best to represent his kingdom. The youths that he brought into his kingdom to surround himself all had to be the most perfect in skill, wisdom, appearance, understanding and discernment. They had to be able to serve him well and to stand in a place of competence as they represented the king and his reign. These youths were to learn the language and the literature of the Chaldeans.

 


Part of the special training that these young men received was to be the foods that the king himself ate and drank which were sweets and fatty foods with wine to drink. There were given these foods to eat and higher education for three years before being presented to the king.

 

Some of the youths were the children of Judah, Azariah, Mishael, Hanaiah and Daniel. These youths were given special names by the chief of the eunuchs. Daniel became known as Belteshazzar which meant the attendant to the king.

Belteshazzar or Daniel knew in his heart that eating the sweets and fatty foods of the kings table and drinking wine was not in keeping with the wisdom of God that he knew as the truth of his heart. He asked the eunuch's chief if he might be permitted to keep his diet pure instead of defiling his body with the king's foods and drink.

 

God worked on the heart of the chief of the eunuchs and made him to feel compassion toward Daniel (Belteshazzar). The chief confided to Daniel that he was afraid for him not to eat the foods and drink that the king, himself had chosen for them to eat. He felt that if Daniel and his friends became more haggard and weak looking than the other young men his age who were eating the king's diet that he would be at risk of losing his head at the hand of the king.

 

Daniel struck a deal with the chief of the eunuchs and asked for a trial period of ten days to prove that eating a diet of vegetables and drinking water would prove to make him in better condition than those who were eating of the king's rich diet. He begged the chief to compare him and his friends with the others at the end of this time and judge for himself by what he sees. The chief of the eunuchs took the challenge and allowed Daniel the ten day trial of eating just vegetables and drinking water.

 

At the end of the ten day trial, Daniel and his friends who ate vegetables and drank water were much healthier in appearance and had much stronger bodies than those who continued to eat the king's diet. After seeing this, the rich foods and the wine of the king were taken away from the other youths and they were given vegetables and water to drink as well.

 

Daniel and his four friends who had been eating as God directed were not only strong in their bodies but became very wise and learned. Daniel was given the gift of dreams and visions by God. At the end of the training period, all the youths were brought before king Nebuchadnezzar by the chief of the eunuchs.

 

After the king talked with the youths, Daniel and his four friends were found to be far superior to their peers and were ordered to stand before the king. Daniel and his friends were judged to be ten times more learned than anyone in his entire realm.

 

This is a pretty dramatic story about a young man who knew in his heart of hearts that living on fatty foods, sweets and wine instead of water was putting his health at risk. Being a vegetarian worked well for Daniel but what really made the difference was feeding his body all the nutrients and vitamins necessary to develop a healthy body and alert mind. The body needs to be hydrated so choosing to drink water instead of wine alone made Daniel thrive. Daniel wore a red badge of courage by taking a stand before the king and refusing to eat what he knew in his heart of hearts was bad for his health.

 

Are you ready to take a stand for your health? Eating nutritious, balanced meals and drinking plenty of water does not mean you have to be a vegetarian, but it does mean the foods you choose to include in your daily diet do need to be healthy, nutritious foods containing fiber and high water content. Drinking sufficient amounts of filtered water each day combined with intelligent eating choices will strengthen your body and enrich your mental capacities. After all, this was proven in biblical times so it is certainly not a new concept. It does work!

http://healingfoods.biz
Learn about healthy foods and how they not only make your body healthier but are a natural way to prevent diseases. Detailed information on the nutritional value and how certain foods can even burn fat. There are several lists of foods in different categories as well as information about vitamins, antioxidants and more.

 

http://spiritualweightloss.homestead.com Several choices of unique, well balanced eating plans for losing weight and also exercise programs for specific problem areas.