Connect with us

Diet

Goji

Published

on

Goji Berries Benefits – Top 3 Reasons YOU Need Them

Introduction
First, there was the Great Wall of China… then Sun Tzu with his book, The Art of War… then there were the Shaolin monks and their kung fu… tofu and then, finally this raisin look-alike known for its benefits healthwise when consumed… yes, we’re talking about the Goji Berry!

But that wasn’t all… the Chinese of course, have left their mark as being humanity’s most intelligent race with an astonishing number of natural and philosophical discoveries through the ages until now!

But we’re here to talk about the Goji berry, so let’s get down to business!

Goji Berry – Origin & its Location
Your first impression of the Goji berry will leave you assuming that it’s actual name, the wolfberry is its commercial name, but it is quite the opposite! Now, since you’re delighted to have that cleared up, you’ll also be happy to know that this fruit comes from two very closely related species: Lycium Barbarum and L. Chinense, two species of boxthorn in the family Solanaceae. Other common vegetables that belong to this family include the potato, tomato, eggplant, deadly nightshade, chili pepper, and tobacco.

Useless fact #7586… you think? [Yawn]

Trust me, there’s more to come…

Very little is known about its original habitat of the wolfberry species (where they grow in the wild) and most scholars (isn’t this exciting?) say that they might have grown in southeastern Europe to southwest Asia as well as in other parts of the world but haven’t been found yet.

Yet it is a documented fact that only in China is where the wolfberry is cultivated for its commercial value. [Read: Cash Crop] And that’s how they’ve amassing a fortune… these clever little folk who thrive on a staple diet of starch, and more starch.

And of course, while Jason Bourne took three novels (made into movies) to figure what his actual name was (fake passports et al), the Goji berry also has a long list of aliases such as the Chinese wolfberry, barbary matrimony vine, bocksdorn, Duke of Argyll’s tea tree, Murali (in India) and red medlar.  The names Tibetan goji and Himalayan goji are in common use in the health food market for products from this plant.

The Wolfberry species are deciduous woody perennial plants that grow up to a height of 1-3 metres. L. Chinense is grown in south China and tends to be shorter, while L. barbarum is grown in the north, primarily in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, and is (yes, full marks for guessing)… somewhat taller.

Lastly, Solanaceae is the nightshade family that includes hundreds of plant foods like potato, tomato, eggplant, wolfberry, peppers (paprika), crop commodities (tobacco), and flowers (petunia) with poisonous members such as the Belladonna. And no, it has nothing to do with that ample-chested French porn star named belladonna as well, thanks to a dearth of original-sounding porn names in the industry.

In Closing
Much like Tofu, the Goji berry has become popular in the western world lately as a superfood, due to its numerous health benefits.

Who cares if the Chinese get rich or die trying? Who cares if they rule the world one day? But more pertinently, who cares if I’m just being paranoid here?

As long as you know that the goji berry is healthy for you… that is really all you need to know for now!

So, do you have any experiences in eating the goji berry? If so, share them with us.

Diet

7 Healthy Ingredients Your Diet Needs

Published

on

7 Healthy Ingredients Your Diet Needs

For a perfectly fit body, a perfect diet chart is needed. And for making a perfect diet chart, the necessity of healthy ingredients and elements is very important. Proper healthy ingredients in diet make the diet chart beneficial for your body. Actually, keeping oneself fit, one cannot change the lifestyle. What they need in their diet is to use perfect food material.

Use of Coconut oil

Most nutritionist gives advice on using Coconut oil. Cooking with coconut oil is good for the diet. It can give one relief from stress. Not only that, but it fixes the cholesterol level up also. It increases the immunity power in the body. One can use coconut oil for cooking or drink two or three spoons. Coconut oil contains a variety of antifungal acids, and thus, it helps to keep up the energy level throughout the day.

Use of pine apple with meat

When meat or pork is used in the lunch or dinner menu, the presence of Pine apple can make it more digestive. Pipe apple has an enzyme which is bromelain which helps the protein to break down quickly. Then the meat of pork becomes much more digestible. Therefore pineapple slices with chicken or mutton can be good for the diet.

Add Spices with fatty foods.

If someone cannot avoid fatty foods, the use of spices like garlic, black pepper, paprika, rosemary, etc. can help a lot. In that case, the fatty foods will not be out of your favorite options of dishes. These spices will decrease the level of triglyceride in the body.

Drinking aloe vera

Drinking Aloe Vera, which is pure is very good for the health. If this element is in your diet chart, it is very good for keeping fit. Well, it increases digestive power and can repair the problematic digestive system. Aloe Vera thus helps you to keep fit.

Vinegar with some desserts

Desserts are very important options after having your main food. Sometimes these desserts contain some fatty elements. It can make you feel hesitation before taking those. But no need to worry if some vinegar is used on that occasion. Vinegar helps to keep the blood sugar level good. Taking some amount of vinegar in the morning also helps to improve the digestion power of a person.

Cinnamon in coffee

As far as the drinks are concerned, coffee can be a good option in the morning or evening. Some amount of Cinnamon with coffee makes it perfect for you. This spice helps to control the amount of insulin in the body. It decreases the blood sugar level as well. It also helps to keep control of cholesterol levels.

Use of good bacteria

The word Bacteria gives us the fear of bad health. But there are some good bacteria that can be used for a healthy body. Some of the good bacteria can improve the digestive system of humans.

For a perfect diet, these elements can help a lot. It is not possible always to leave a lot of food of your choice. It is better to take these things to keep aside the bad effects of those foods.

About the author: Diana Maria is a blogger by profession. She loves writing about technology, health, and parenting. Besides this, she is fond of games and gadgets. She also likes reading various articles on bornrich.com & cellphonebeat.com

Continue Reading

Diet

How to Make Diet Foods Taste…Bad for You

Published

on

How to Make Diet Foods Taste

How to Make Diet Foods Taste

There’s just something about diving into a late-night snack filled with “bad for you” ingredients. Whether it’s nacho chips decked out in cheese, meat, and sour cream or six-alarm chili with all the trimmings, food that’s bad for you tastes so much better most of the time.

But what if you could make your diet foods – you know, foods that are actually good for you – taste as mouth-watering delicious as the foods that aren’t? Sounds impossible, right? Not so fast.

Research indicates that you can do just that. Here are a few simple ways you can take to make your diet foods taste like your favorite heart attack on a stick.

Use Stainless Steel Cutlery.

A recent Men’s Health News article cites an Oxford University Study which indicated that using stainless steel instead of plastic cutlery gives the impression that your food is more flavorful. Hmm, really?

Eat with stainless steel cutlery to make your diet foods taste better.

According to the study, when participants were given identical samples of yogurt, those eating with stainless steel spoons rated the yogurt at 5.5 while those eating with plastic spoons gave a rating of 4.6. The theory is that people associate stainless steel with higher quality restaurants, while plastic cutlery is commonly associated with fast food.

Create a Food Ritual.

A July 2013 paper entitled “Rituals Enhance Consumption” tested the theory that ritualistic behaviors actually enhance the consumption of food. Simple acts, such as snapping photographs of your meal prior to eating, can help you enjoy your meals better and feel more satisfied by the foods you eat.

Taking a picture of your cottage cheese can make it taste more yummy. Okay, if you say so.

Of course, it doesn’t have to relate only to snapping photos. It can be small rituals such as saying grace, singing happy birthday, setting the table, or even cutting the food on your plate into tiny, bite-sized pieces. The theory is that the rituals involved focus your mind on what you’re doing, allowing you to have greater enjoyment, or involvement, in the moment. So, the next time you’re eating a healthy meal, pull out your camera phone and snap away.

Use Herbs and Other Ingredients for More Flavor.

It is unnecessary to eliminate all hope of flavor to eat healthily. Flavorless food is less satisfying, which often leads to over-indulging. Simple solutions involve using more herbs and spices in the preparation of health foods, according to this U.S. News Health article.

Things like sun-dried tomatoes, herbs, and even low-fat cheese added to dough prior to baking can leave you feeling more satisfied with the flavor of your pizza crusts, rolls, and breads. Adding sharp grated cheeses and dried fruits to food adds a nice burst of flavor, as does marinating foods in low-sodium marinades – particularly those that are tangy, sweet, or savory.

Have Someone Else Prepare Your Food.

Here’s the theory: You’re more likely to find the food satisfying and full of flavor if someone else prepares it for you. When you prepare a meal yourself, you anticipate the flavor while making the food. When someone else prepares the food for you, that mental anticipation isn’t quite the same.

Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University believe this is due to extended exposure to the food being prepared. Experiencing the making of the meal, in this case a sandwich, makes the sandwich less desirable. It’s sort of like the law of diminishing returns in action. The first bite of a desirable dish is the most desirable (and most satisfying).

These great tips will help you add the flavor diet foods often lack so you can hopefully enjoy them just as much (or close to it, anyway) as you enjoy foods that are notoriously bad for you. Put them to work today and see what a difference they make for your diet efforts.

Have you tried any of these tips or other tips to make your “diet food” taste better? Did they work?

Freelance writer Elizabeth Magill is an author who writes articles, blog posts, news stories, guides, and ebooks on a variety of topics, including health, medical, and many business topics including Reputation.com reviews.

Continue Reading

Diet

Why Fruits and Vegetables Will Never Make You Fat

Published

on

Why Fruits and Vegetables Will Never Make You Fat

Despite what you have heard from low-carb diet fanatics, eating fruits and vegetables will NEVER make you fat!

Fad low carbohydrate diets like the Atkins Diet and the South Beach Diet may tell you that you should avoid all carbs like the plague, but the science and common sense just don’t agree. When it comes to eating fruits and vegetables, More Is Better, according to the USDA, and thousands of studies on the research between chronic diseases and fruit and veggie intake.

The more fruits and vegetables you eat, the lower your risk of cancer, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and almost every chronic disease we know!

Yet some diet promoters will go so far as to say fruits and veggies will make you gain weight! Is it true?

Well, let’s talk about common sense here. If you were to write down the 10 most overweight people you know and analyzed their diets to see what could possibly have made them so overweight, here’s what their diet would look like:

The Typical Overweight Diet

 

  • Soda, milkshakes, energy drinks, mocha lattes and other sugary drinks
  • Excessive amounts of fried foods – french fries, fried chicken, etc.
  • Lots of dairy consumption including milk, ice cream, cheesecakes and other desserts
  • Lots of greasy foods like pizza prepared by someone else
  • Lots of meat consumption, probably in every meal
  • Lots of white foods – white flour, white sugar, white pasta, white salt, etc.
  • Lots of packaged and processed and canned foods
  • Lots of chips, cookies, crackers, and candies
  • Very few, if any, raw foods – including fruits, vegetables, and berries
  • Very few, if any, whole grains or legumes (beans)

When you analyze the diets of the average American (and, by the way, the average American is overweight or obese), you realize that this is what most people eat most of the time. And especially overweight people – they’re eating all this processed, packaged food made in a factory somewhere that is loaded with excess empty calories, food additives, chemicals, dyes, preservatives, hormone disruptors and other toxins.

And that’s what they eat day in and day out! In fact, the average American only eats fewer than 20 kinds of fruits and vegetables in any one YEAR – yet many of us will eat 20 different kinds of sugary sodas, 20 different kinds of cookies, 20 different kinds of cakes, 20 different kinds of ice creams, etc. in any one year!

So is the problem with obesity in America that people are eating too much fruits and vegetables? Of course not!

So pay no attention to those who will try to confuse you in order to sell you weight loss products, pills, and quick fix fad diets.

If you want to lose weight, it’s really simple (not easy, but simple). Just reverse the standard American diet we outlined above. Eat very few of those processed foods at the top of the list and eat lots of fresh whole foods – fruits, vegetables, and berries.

Could it really be that simple? Why not try it for yourself!

Continue Reading

Trending

Copyright © 2023 Fit Buff. Developed by Imran Javed Awan.