What to eat during your Alkaline Diet:

Changing the script is the way to combat an acidic internal environment.  Most of your diet will be composed of alkaline foods.  One of the most alkaline types of food is vegetables.  You already know that vegetables are good for your body due to their low caloric content and high fiber and water content.

Other alkaline foods are fruit and grains.  It’s no coincidence that all of these foods are also good for you normally.  Early settlers survived on these types of foodstuffs before processed foods came into existence.

Let’s look at some of the alkaline foods you have to choose from:

* Tomatoes
* Lettuce
* Legumes
* Watermelon, lemon, lime and avocados
* Olive oil

Foods to avoid

On the other side of the pH scale are the acidic foods.  These foods unbalance the delicate internal environment of your body.  If you eat them, and most of us canít do without them, eat in moderation and in combination with mostly alkaline food.

Youíll be surprised at what is on the list and how much of your diet it already makes up.  This is only a partial list but you get the idea.

* Red meat
* Milk and other dairy products
* Saturated fats
* Drinks
* Processed foods

The alkaline acid diet attempts to restore the neutral pH of your body.  Many foods we eat contribute to a more acidic environment which can lead to disease.  Eating alkaline foods in abundance can help you return to normal.

Ingredients:
1 bunch spring onions
1 lb peas (either fresh and shelled or frozen)
1/2cup water
1/3 cup butter
2.5 cups milk (or cream if preferred)
1-2 tsp fresh mint or tarragon
Salt and pepper to taste

Method:
Clean the bunch of spring onions and chop them finely. Set some of the green pieces aside for later.

In a medium-sized saucepan melt the butter on a low heat and add the peas, water and spring onions. Cook for about 20 to 25 minutes or until the peas are tender (but not mushy). Take the saucepan off the heat, let it cool down a bit and then add the milk and the herbs. Stir well and season with salt and pepper.

Put the soup in a blender and blend until smooth. Return it to a saucepan and reheat the soup gently.

Serve this delicious creamy pea soup with the reserved chopped spring onion sprinkled on top and nice crusty bread.

We have all heard how saturated and trans fats such as butter, animal fats, partially hydrogenated oils, as well as tropical oils can increase your risk for various heart diseases. The reason for this is how it increases your total cholesterol, including LDL cholesterol levels.
Cholesterol can’t dissolve in the blood. It has to be transported to and from the cells by carriers called lipoproteins. Low-density lipoprotein, or LDL, is known as “bad” cholesterol. High-density lipoprotein, or HDL, is known as “good” cholesterol. These two types of lipids, along with triglycerides and Lp(a) cholesterol, make up your total cholesterol count, which can be determined through a blood test.

Trans fat is the worst type you can consume. It’s mostly manufactured in a process forcing hydrogen into polyunsaturated fats. This hydrogenation process creates a solid fat product, such as margarine. It also gives foods containing trans fats a longer shelf life and stabilizes flavors.

Saturated fat is an unhealthy choice as the body turns it into LDL cholesterol. This type of fat clogs arteries and is harmful for your heart. Saturated fat is most commonly found in animal products, such as the white fat along the edge of a piece of meat. It can also be found in the skin of poultry, and hidden in whole milk, tropical oils and products made containing these products.

Polyunsaturated fat is moderately healthy. It can lower LDL levels, but is also known for reducing the levels of “good” cholesterol or HDL. This fat is usually liquid at room temperature. Popular variations are soybean, safflower, corn and several other vegetable oils.

Monounsaturated fat such as olive oil is by far a healthier choice. This type can lower your risk of heart disease by reducing the total and LDL cholesterol levels in your blood.

image from: http://www.rachelraydiet.com/images/fruits.jpg

Now That you know what Juice Diets are, here are a few pointers in how to make the perfect menu for your diet:

Some ingredients which can be used in juice fasts are:

Vegetables: celery, cucumber, tomato, bell pepper, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, beets, and sweet potatoes.

Greens: parsley, beet greens, chard, kale, dandelion leaf and spinach.

Herbs: fennel, spearmint, yucca root, basil, ginger, peppermint, green onion, chili pepper.

Fruits: grapes, apples, citrus, Açaí berry.

Extras: wheat grass juice, spirulina, complete vitamin & mineral supplement, psyllium husks.

Some side effects of a juice fast need mentioning here. Some common but temporary side effects include headaches, hypoglycemia, acne, tiredness, bad breath and an increase in body odor. Others could include dizziness or fainting, low blood pressure, weight loss, hunger, heart palpitations, vomiting and kidney problems. If you experience any of these side effects or any situation worsens contact a medical professional immediately.

During a juice fast the stomach shrinks to its original size, about the size of your fist. After only three days of simply ingesting raw organic and fresh juices and water, you will lose those cravings for solid foods.

Your mind might try to tell you differently; however, your body doesn’t need more at this time. While just drinking your food, your stomach is able to get some well-deserved rest, allowing your colon to shed old compacted material which could be waiting there to cause future disease.

If you are considering a diet which is more than just counting calories, this extreme detox diet could be the one for you. Using juices in this diet beneficially provides the antioxidants and vitamins required to keep you healthy for the duration.

Among the various diets found in today’s world of searching for better health, you can find what is known as a juice fast or detoxification diet. This type of fast diet involves the consumption of only water, raw vegetable and fruit juices for a certain period of time. The reason behind this diet is for the beneficial antioxidants and vitamins contained in fresh juices. This diet is considered one of extreme detox as there is no solid food consumed for the duration.

There are many reasons people may choose a juice fast diet over another type. Juice fasts can be used for losing weight, religious reasons, or to assist in weaning oneself from possible unhealthy habits. These could include overeating, caffeine addiction or smoking – to name a few. Then there are fasters who are a little more serious about their routines with juice fasting. They use it as an alternative healing technique to many conventional treatments. It may be used as a healing method for pain management, arthritis, infections resistant to antibiotics and other ailments as well.

There are certain people for whom juice diets aren’t recommended. This group of people includes pregnant or nursing women, children, diabetics, or people with anemia. Anyone with an impaired immune system, low blood pressure, terminal illness or epilepsy should also stay clear. People with any chronic illness or condition should steer clear of a juice fast unless they doing so under strict medical supervision. Never try a juice fast before or after surgery.

When considering how long your juice fast is going to last, there is an easy rule of thumb to follow. Continue with the juice fast until you have two days without any symptoms of detoxification. If you wish, you can also stick to a juice fast three or four days a week while eating a selection of fresh fruits and vegetables the other days. Along with sipping your juice during the day, it is recommended you also consume approximately six glasses of water at room temperature.

(Serves 4)

Ingredients

2 onions, chopped
2 carrots, chopped
2 tbsp oil
2 tbsp walnuts
1 cup of vegetable broth
1 cup mushrooms, such as fresh shitake, sliced
1 head of broccoli, coarsely chopped
1 tbsp cornstarch, dissolved in 2 tablespoons cold water
3 tbsp soy sauce
Salt and pepper to taste

Seeds to garnish

Method:

Heat oil in a wok and sautÈ carrots and onions until almost tender. Add broccoli and walnuts and stir. Add 1 cup of broth and cook until veggies are tender. To thicken the sauce, add the dissolved cornstarch. Stir briefly, then add soy sauce, salt and pepper to your taste.

Sprinkle with seeds of your choice and serve with whole-grain noodles.

Hello guys!

Summer is around the corner, and for the next week Healthful Goddes is going to dedicate a segment “For The Body” with information about: Tai-Chi, Judo, Akido and Kickboxing!

The first article of “For the Body” is about Tai-Chi, the martial art considered to be a form of meditation. People practicing Tai Chi, also known as “players” learn to emphasize not only slow, deep breathing but rhythmic movements as well. This assists development of a focused and calm mind.

Tai Chi is an enjoyable activity for those of all ages and fitness levels. Each individual can practice the postures and movements in a manner relative to their own level of fitness, energy and state of mind. Each individual starts where they are, and learns at their own pace. It can be beneficial to the fittest athlete, the teenager and everyone in between. You may even find those in wheelchairs as part of a group practicing Tai Chi in the park near your home. You could take part even if you don’t think you could be coordinated or agile enough. These are all aspects you can learn at your own pace.

Traditional Chinese Medicine states that disease results from weak and impaired flow of qi (pronounced chee) through the meridians. There are fourteen main energy meridians which link internal organs and the entire physical body with the mind and emotional systems. These meridians arenít visible; however, you can detect them by the energy which moves through them. With the gentle movements of Tai Chi these energy channels are opened, thereby allowing the rhythm of the movements of the muscles, spine and joint to release energy through the body. This flushes out any stagnant qi, replacing it with fresh qi that is newly oxygenated.

The slow pace of Tai Chi provides the effect of performing a body scan to clear any place where there may be tension building up or stored. By releasing the grip of debris in both mind and body, we allow more space for positive aspects such as love and light to enter our lives. Aside from the meridians Tai Chi uses to work the internal organs, it also clears the joints of any potential debris in those areas, such as calcium deposits. This benefit is a result of the different movements requiring the body to rotate to about 95% of its ability. Tai Chiís health benefits are being quickly discovered in western medicine.
Health and life are simple reflections of our mind state. Body and breath move along with the mind. This encourages cleaning out any roadblocks which normally would keep us from moving forward. These roadblocks keep us locked in emotional and psychological patterns that arenít always healthy. The empowerment of “meditation in motion” can keep us in the train of thought that change itself is a constant in our lives, and new beginnings always follow closures.

Whenever stress and tension start taking their toll on health and well-being, it would be wise to look to those who have attained that level of harmony within the body.  Whether one is seeking to find that silence, relaxation and focus of thought, or if what is wanted is a gentle fitness program to increase flexibility and overall general health, Tai Chi would be an excellent place to start.

Exercise is a healthy way to stay fit during pregnancy.  For a healthy woman, exercise strengthens muscles for a shorter labor and easier delivery.

Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, exercise is safe in moderation.  There are times when certain conditions present themselves during pregnancy.  If you begin to spot or cramp, see your doctor immediately.  It could be nothing but it could also signal problems with the cervix or placenta.  Any exercise will have to be stopped from that point on.

A pregnant woman may develop gestational diabetes.  This occurs when you experience high levels of blood sugar during pregnancy.  The added hormones produced by the placenta during pregnancy can cause insulin resistance.  Insulin is being produced but it is having no effect in the body.  As a result, more and more insulin is produced, increasing the blood sugar.

Previous medical conditions before pregnancy can prohibit exercise during pregnancy.  While you managed your high blood pressure or asthma before pregnancy, it becomes a more critical situation when a baby is present.  Any type of exercise can increase your blood pressure to an unsafe level for your baby.

Asthma makes it hard to breathe under the best of circumstances and your lower level of oxygen affects the baby too.  It is important to keep asthma under control as much as possible.

Heart disease is another medical condition that prohibits exercise.  Depending on your heart condition, bed rest may be advised.  Physical activity could cause further heart problems that would compromise your pregnancy.

When you become pregnant, your doctor will take a detailed history.  If you have had a history of miscarriages, exercise will be taken off the table.  Any increase in physical activity could contribute to another miscarriage.  It is a chance a doctor won’t take with your health and that of your unborn child.

Each month you go in to see your doctor for an exam, inform him of changes to your body.  Any new developments that will threaten you or your baby can keep you from being permitted to exercise.  Listen to your doctor’s advice for your protection.

Certain medical conditions may prohibit exercise during pregnancy.  Even if you exercised before pregnancy, follow the doctor’s orders for a healthy pregnancy.

High-protein, low-carbohydrate diets are promoted in great lengths. Falling under names such as Atkins, Zone, Sonoma and South Beach, they are technically variations of the same trend. They recommend 30% to 50% of the dieters total calories be consumed in the form of protein, while stressing removal or drastic reduction of carbohydrate consumption.

Recommendations made by the American Heart Association, the National Cholesterol Education Program, and the American Cancer Society suggest fewer calories are received from protein. This provides the body with nutrients deemed essential to building, maintenance, and repair of body tissue.

How Do These Diets Work?

By restricting carbohydrates to a fraction of what Americans typically eat, the body goes into a metabolic state called ketosis. The body burns its own fat for fuel where it would normally burn carbohydrates instead. A person in a state of ketosis receives energy from ketones, which is the fuel created by the breakdown of small carbon fragments. This leads to the breakdown of fat stores. Bodies in ketosis tend to feel less hungry, resulting in eating less than you might otherwise. However, ketosis can also cause serious health problems.

This diet results in your body changing from being a carbohydrate-burning engine into a fat-burning engine. Instead of wanting carbohydrate-rich stores, your fat stores become a primary energy source. This in turn results in weight loss, which can occur quite rapidly.

image from: http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/10/08/and-now-the-exercise-resistant-dieter/

Losing weight is never easy, especially after pregnancy.  You have given your body as a comfortable home for your baby until his birth.  Now, it’s time to get that house back in order.  Here are some tips for regaining that pre-pregnancy baby body.

1.  First of all, give yourself some time.  The most important thing to be concerned about is the baby.  Your body also needs some rest after nine months of sharing a body.  Give it two or three months at the least before you think seriously about starting your weight-loss regimen.

2.  Start slowly.  The only way to stick with an exercise plan is to ease into it.  Women who dive head first into exercise may get discouraged by aches and pains.

3.  Don’t have unrealistic expectations.  It takes time to get up enough energy to do a full workout and to lose the weight. In order to avoid discouragement star with small goals you would like to achieve.

4.  Do something that you love to do.  You may have to work back up to it but that’s okay. For example, if you love jogging, start out walking until you are ready to jog.  Exercise because you want to not because you have to.

5.  Exercise at least two days a week to begin with.  Twenty to thirty minutes two days a week will help you start the process to lose weight and keep your heart and lungs in shape.  Leave a day of rest in between each workout so your body can recover. Use the buddy- system, find a friend that want to get in shape and that way you have a great support system for those days you don’t feel like putting your jogging shoes on!

These tips are the beginning to getting your body back in shape, once you have started this regimen and you feel comfortable with your rhythm, start adding more days, then add more time- one hour every other would be ideal, last but not least, when you feel your body is ready add weights to your ankles and/or arms to your walk or jog for example.

Getting back in shape is not easy, but the rewards are amazing for the body and soul!