When you skip meals, two things happen. First, your metabolism slows down. Second, since you brain thinks that you are starving it will tell your body to store any food that it does receive in the form of fat. In other words, skipping meals = weight gain. The best thing you can do for your body, no matter what your goals are, is to begin each day with breakfast and eat a supportive meal or snack every 3 hours. This in turn will fuel your metabolism, provide you with an abundance of energy and allow your body to burn more fat 24-7.

A single serving of fresh fruit or vegetables every day appears to reduce by 40% the chance that you will have a stoke. The potassium, magnesium, and fiber that is found in fruit and vegetables work together to control blood pressure.

From:  The Vitamin Alphabet: Your Guide to Vitamins, Minerals and Food Supplements

Red palm oil is one of the richest plant sources of cancer fighting squalene and heart protective CoQ10. It is the richest food source of the two most important antioxidant nutrients--vitamin E and beta-carotene. It is the premiere source of tocotrienol, a highly potent form of vitamin E that is gaining recognition as a powerful anticancer, heart protective antioxidant.

From: The Palm Oil Miracle by Dr. Bruce Fife

You should be able to get fresh blackberries all summer. The nutrients found in blackberries are calcium, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, beta-carotene, and vitamin C. Blackberries are anti-laxative which is excellent for fighting diarrhea, are good as a blood cleanser, and are excellent for energy.

Tumeric, which is found in curry and mustard, may help prevent Alzheimer's. Cloves have some of the most powerful antioxidants. Rosemary is also full of antioxidants. Ginger is anti-inflammatory and may help relieve arthritis. Cinnamon may help lower blood sugar and cholesterol.

The store lighting can help retain or even increase the nutrients available in leaf lettuce. Select a bundle from the top rather than from the bottom.

Leave the skin on fruits and vegetables whenever you can. Many nutrients are just under the skin and the skin adds fibre and texture to your meal or snack. Don't buy pre-sliced fruits. Cut them up yourself. They cost more and can lose some of the vitamin C content.

Men deficient in vitamin D seem to have a higher risk of heart attacks than men whose blood levels of vitamin D are adequate. Medical records and blood samples of 454 men between the ages of 40 and 75 who had fatal or nonfatal heart attacks between January 1993 and January 2004 were compared with 900 men who had no history of cardiovascular disease. The vitamin D connection remained significant even after researchers adjusted for such heart disease risk factors as family history of heart attacks, body mass index, alcohol consumption, physical activities, diabetes, high blood pressure, cholesterol levels, omega 3 intake and ethnicity. The study was conducted by researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health and Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. The results suggest that current recommendations for vitamin D intake need to be increased to boost blood levels of vitamin D high enough to benefit health, the authors said. The study showed that men whose blood levels of vitamin D were 15 nanograms per milliliter or less were at increased risk. Sufficient blood levels of vitamin D were 30 nanograms per milliliter or more.

Rushing through meals while focusing on work or problems, and eating with people or in situations that make you tense are bad for your health. Eat sitting down in one place (not standing, driving or lying down). Calm yourself before starting. Take a deep breath and let it out. Take a second breath, hold it for a few seconds and then let it out. Take a third breath, breathing in deeply and hold for a longer time, then let it out. This will help you relax and aid digestion. Take a moment to be grateful (a blessing for many). Then eat slowly. Chew your food well. Chew 30 times per mouthful (60 for those who have digestive problems, 100 for those who have diabetes). Chewing also helps you relax.

From:   Adrenal Fatigue: The 21st Century Stress Syndrome

If you consume drinks with caffeine or eat certain foods, chances are your teeth may be stained and discolored. Tooth-whitening strips are full of chemicals. To avoid the chemicals, you can make your own teeth whitener with dried sage leaves and sea salt. It will help you get your teeth white again and also has antibacterial properties and will make your teeth feel squeaky clean.

Here is the recipe:

Ingredients
2 tablespoons dried sage leaves
2 tablespoons sea salt

Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F. Using a spice grinder or a mortar and pestle, grind the salt and sage together. Spread the mixture evenly on a baking sheet and bake for 30 minutes. Allow to cool, then stir to blend. Place the mixture in a small jar or other container. Add some to your toothbrush and brush vigorously, then rinse thoroughly.

Researchers have found that those who exercise have younger DNA by up to 9 years which is an incredible benefit. So exercising may do more than just help prevent illness--it may actually make you younger. Working up a sweat seems to be important.

People who exercised vigorously at least 3 hours each week had longer telomeres (the protective ends of the chromosomes that shorten as you age) and were 9 years younger than couch potatoes who did not exercise. This holds true after removing other factors like smoking, age, weight and activity level at work.

Researchers believe that shortened telomeres can increase the risk of age-related diseases like high blood pressure, mental difficulties, cancer and more. This is because as telomeres shorten, there is more stress on your body's tissues to function correctly. Researchers believe that exercise helps reduce damage by free radicals, allowing your body to spend its efforts in maintaining health instead of repairing damage.

Potatoes may contain a chemical called solanine. When potatoes have a green tint to their skin, they may actually have a sunburn. Potatoes grow underground and if they are exposed to light, they develop a green tint due to chlorophyll production which normally happens in the stems and the leaves, but not in the tubers. The chlorophyll is harmless, but the light exposure also causes the potatoes to develop a higher level of an irritating chemical called solanine which causes the potatoes to taste bitter.

Some people claim to be sensitive to solanine and believe they may feel increased arthritis type pain after eating potatoes with a green tint. Although the association between arthritis pain and solanine from dietary sources remains unproven, research does show that solanine may adversely affect the cells that make up the lining of the intestines and could possibly irritate inflammatory bowel disorders. To avoid solanine, don't buy potatoes that have green skin. Store potatoes in a dark place in your pantry or kitchen.

Witch hazel is something you might want to add to your first aid kit or medicine cabinet. It is made from a distillation of leaves, bark and twigs from the witch elm tree. You can find it in stores next to hydrogen peroxide and rubbing alcohol. There are many ways you can use it. To treat stings and irritations, soak a cotton pad with witch hazel and apply to the area. Do this for insect bites, sunburn, and windburn. Witch hazel is also good to disinfect minor cuts and abrasions. As a cosmetic you can cleanse, tone, and refresh the face with it. In addition it can be rubbed into your arms or legs for muscle soreness. Witch hazel has no drug interactions and may be used safely by children and adults.

Sleep allows the body to repair and rejuvenate and also reduces fatigue and stress. Dreaming helps to clear the nervous system. There are five distinct stages of sleep. The first 2 stages are considered light sleeping which takes place the majority of the night. The 3rd and 4th stages are considered deep sleeping or "delta sleep " and rest and restore. Stage 5 is the dream state which generally involves rapid eye movement or REM. A normal pattern of sleep may happen like this: light sleep, deep sleep, REM, light sleep, deep sleep, rest and restoration. The first period of light sleep lasts about 45 minutes.

A good night's sleep is necessary for good health and feeling good. For a natural remedy for insomnia try aromatherapy using Lavender Naturopatches

The way you breathe affects your health too. We take about 28,000 breaths a day and each breath gives you an opportunity to open up the lower lobes of the lungs through "whole lung breathing." Shallow breathing reaches only the upper lungs and triggers the stress receptors. Whole lung breathing reaches the lower lobes and activates the calming receptors that reside there. It stimulates the lymphatic system so waste products can be efficiently carried from the body. Finally, breathing into the lower lobes allows the rib cage to be elastic and open.

To do "whole lung breathing," breathe deeply through your nose only (the best way to activate the lower lung receptors) and inhale, filling up the lower lobes of the lungs, followed by the middle lobes and then the upper lobes. Then, squeeze out all the air, as best you can, as you exhale through the nose. This style of nasal breathing will ensure full respiratory capacity with each breath and is always recommended, even while doing moderate to vigorous exercise.

If you want a "pill" to fix your heart, try exercise. Physical therapy used on people after a heart attack enables them to live longer than those who do get no therapy. Research using rats has shown that exercise can even be more effective than statins, the drugs normally used to treat heart disease.

Research has found that exercise sparks the creation of new heart vessels. In a study of 37 people at Leipzig University in Germany, Dr. Robert Hollriegel found that people with serious heart failure who rode a bike for up to 30 minutes a day for four months produced new stem cells in their bones. Those in the study who exercised also had more small blood vessels in their muscles. Those who didn't exercise had no change in their vessels or muscles.

The way it works is that physical activity strains the heart's arteries and muscles by sending 10 times the normal amount of blood to the muscles being used. Then stem cells are sent to relieve this stress and may repair any damaged parts. If the exercise is continued, the stem cells help the body adapt to the stress by building new blood vessels and strengthening muscles. To maintain the benefits of the new blood vessels and stronger muscles, the exercise must be done on a regular basis.

Boil 1 cup of water. Pour the water over 1 teaspoon of cinnamon. Cover the mixture and let it steep for 30 minutes. Then, while cool, add 2 teaspoons of raw honey. Never add the honey when the mixture is hot because the heat will destroy the enzymes and other nutrients in the raw honey. Drink half of the mixture right before going to bed. Cover and refrigerate the other half of the mixture. In the morning drink the other half cold or at room temperatuer.

Do not add anything else to this recipe. It is only effective on an empty stomach, primarily at night. The cinnamon and honey will have a cleansing effect in the digestive tract, cleaning out parasites and other fungus and bacteria that slow down your digestion and cause a toxic build up. While doing this cleanse, if the toxins being released cause any unpleasant side effects, cut back on how much you use or take a break. One of the pleasant side effects can be a feeling of more energy and joy.

A tip from a doctor I heard on tv:    If you are on a diet to lose weight and feel like having a snack, eat an apple. If you aren't hungry enough to eat an apple, you aren't hungry enough for a snack.

Oats were defined in Samuel Johnson’s Dictionary (1755): "Oats: a grain, which in England is generally given to horses, but in Scotland supports the people." A Scotsman replied, "England is noted for the excellence of her horses; Scotland for the excellence of her men."

Oats are high in fat, suppling stamina and warmth. Oats help improve the resistance to stress and keep the body balanced. Oats help to stabilize blood suger, regulate the thyroid, soothe the nervous and digestive systems, reduce the craving for tobacco, and reduce cholesterol. You can add oats to you diet by eating oatmeal and energy bars that contain oats. You can make your own energy bars or buy a product with healthy ingredients (avoid bars with high fructose corn syrup and ingredients that are chemicals rather than food).

The brain is a living organ and is affected by what we eat in the short-term and in the long-term. To simplify, you could say a healthy body equals a healthy brain.

To start the day, eat a balanced breakfast. When waking up from sleeping the body and brain have been in a fast state. If the last meal you ate was finished by 7 p.m. and if you wake up at 7 a.m., it was a 12-hour fast. It helps the brain function to have a balanced breakfast after that 12 hours. Balnced means not too high in calories, not too high in sugar, and has some protein, some fiber, and some fat (such as eggs, whole wheat toast with butter, and orange juice). That kind of breakfast will keep you alert until lunch.

A good way to prevent Alzheimer's is eat fish two to three times a week. Some fish that contain omega-3s are mackerel, salmon, and sardines.

A study in Switzerland discovered that people in their 60s who had the highest blood levels of vitamin C and beta-carotene scored higher on memory tests than those with low levels. In almost all cases the people in the study got the vitamin C and beta-carotene from food, not supplements. Foods with beta-carotene are yellow, orange, and dark green vegetables and foods with vitamin C are citrus fruits, berries, and fresh peppers. Blueberries are in a class by themselves for the benefits they provide to the brain and other parts of the body.

Asparagus, beets, broccoli, brussel sprounts, lentils, kidney beans, and pinto beans are just a few foods that will supply you with folic acid, another nutrient necessary for proper brain function.

From the shower to the nightly news, from your trip to work to your housework, there are many ways to sneak healthy activities into daily living. In the shower or tub you can increase your stretching ability because of the warm water. While driving or riding you can do simple exercises. For example, while you wait at a stop light, tighten your thighs and butt muscles and release as many times as you can. This will firm your leg and buttock muscles, improve blood flow, and keep you occupied in heavy traffic. If you are standing in a line, lift one foot half an inch off the ground. The extra stress on your opposite foot, ankle, calf and thigh, plus your buttocks, will help firm and tone muscles. Switch feet every few minutes. Every time you pick something up from the floor, do a squat as you do so. This makes you use your leg muscles and will help build strength. While watching tv you can do stretches and twists. These little spurts of exercise won't replace a 30-minute walk or workout with weights but you can add them to your life with just a little effort.

The pleasure you get from a meal will help in the absorption of nutrients. Eating under stressful conditions will decrease the absorption. The body is engineered to crave and enjoy the taste of sweet foods and fat. By eating high quality meals that include good fats and complex carbohydrates, you can maintain a healthy metabolism. Driving through a fast food pickup lane and eating on the run is not good for you or for the ones you love. This reflects the wisdom found in The Slow Down Diet that can improve your life.

The strength and flexibility of red and white blood cells are diminished by many factors. Some of those factors are: (1) a diet lacking enough fruits and vegetables, (2) a diet high in polyunsaturated fats, (3) a diet high in canola oil, (4) an elevated level of blood glucose (from a high intake of simple carbohydrates), (5) excessive prooxidants in the diet and/or environment (smog, cigarette smoke, food additives), (6) low immunity, (7) drugs (aspirin, morphine, antidiabetic drugs, cholesterol-lowering drugs), (8) alcohol, (9) stress or trauma, (10) age.

From: The Palm Oil MIracle by Dr. Bruce Fife

Joining classes that meet weekly can help you achieve physical fitness. It helps you get on a regular schedule which will be easier to keep than when doing it at home. Many different types of classes can make you stronger, better balanced, and healthier. Some typical classes found at local gyms and YMCAs are: BodyFlow, Body Pump, Qigong, Tai Chi, Pilates, and Yoga.

A ten-year study of 300 healthy adults showed that an increased intake of vitamin C was linked to a 50% reduced risk of bone marrow lesions, an important indicator in the development of knee osteoarthritis. Previous research showed that higher levels of vitamin D was linked to improved muscle strength and function in the knee.

Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables for your vitamin C and cheese, eggs, and salmon for your vitamin D.

Pomegranates help in the production of red blood cells, strengthen the bladder and the gums, expel tapeworms, and soothe ulcers in the mouth and throat. Pomegrantes are high in potassium and citric acid and have moderate amounts of the B vitamins and vitamin C. Pomegranates have very high content of punicalagins, a potent anti-oxidant component found to be responsible for its superior health benefits. The level of anti-oxidants is higher than those of other fruits known to have high-levels of anti-oxidant, including blueberries, cranberries and oranges. This was attributed to the very high polyphenol content in the fruit. You can find 100% pomegranate juice bottled by several different companies.

"For the LORD thy God bringeth thee into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and depths that spring out of valleys and hills; A land of wheat, and barley, and vines, and fig trees, and pomegranates; a land of oil olive, and honey;" Deuteronomy 8:7-8 (King James Version)

Figs aid digestion by cleansing and soothing the intestine. An old Italian remedy for a lingering cough is lightly roasted dried figs eaten just before bedtime. Dried figs have more dietary fiber than prunes and are higher in calcium that cow's milk. Figs have a notable amount of protein and abundent magnesium, phosphorus, and potassium. Figs can be enjoyed fresh, dried, or canned. Roasted, figs make a rich addition to hot beverages. See The New Whole Foods Encyclopedia: A Comprehensive Resource for Healthy Eating, p. 129 by Rebecca Wood.

Figs were used in Biblical times:

"And they found an Egyptian in the field, and brought him to David, and gave him bread, and he did eat; and they made him drink water; And they gave him a piece of a cake of figs, and two clusters of raisins: and when he had eaten, his spirit came again to him: for he had eaten no bread, nor drunk any water, three days and three nights." 1 Samuel 30:12 (King James Version)

"And Isaiah said, Take a lump of figs. And they took and laid it on the boil, and he recovered." 2 Kings 20:7 (King James Version)

Honey and the honeycomb are found frequently in the Bible. King David ate honey, butter, and cheese with his beef, King Solomon ate honeycomb and honey together calling them good. John the Baptist ate locusts and wild honey. The last meal Jesus ate (on the third day) before he ascended to heaven consisted of broiled fish and honeycomb. See 2 Samuel 17:29, Proverbs 24:13, Song of Solomon 5:1, Matthew 3:4, and Luke 24:42.

Proverbs 16:24 says: "Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones." (King James Version)

Proverbs 16:24 says: "Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweet to the palate and a cure for the body." (Tanakh, New JPS Translation)

Comb honey can be chewed like gum, or spread on bread and consumed completely. When swallowed, comb acts as roughage and aids the digestive system. It is a miracle food. It is an instant energy building food containing all the essential minerals necessary for life; seven vitamins of the B complex group, amino acids, enzymes and an antibacterial agent that acts like penicillin and other antibiotics killing microbes and germs. It is called the elixir of life. Comb honey is excellent for stuffy nose and sinus congestion. Chew like chewing gum and it will help relieve the symptoms. Honey is the only natural sweetener that doesn't have to be refined. It is especially recommended for anyone with digestive problems. Comb honey is an energy food. Comb honey is unheated and unfiltered so that all its attributes are fully preserved.