A Guide to Best Organic Health Foods

Are you jaded with quick fix weight loss diets that don’t work or are you unable to eat healthy food owing to your busy work schedule? Due to our hectic life styles, we often make the mistake of compromising on our diets. This makes it increasingly difficult to shed weight or maintain good health. How often have we resorted to miracle diets and potions, albeit to no avail? Well there is no cause for concern as we are about to introduce to you a natural and effective alternative that will end all your dietary woes.

Organic health foods popularly known as ‘super foods’ are all the rage today and here’s why: grown organically, super foods are packed with all the essential vitamins, minerals and nutrients that promote good health and help you stay in shape. In this article we shall discuss some of the best organic health foods that are available in the market today:

Quinoa

Once called “the gold of the Incas,” and known to increase the stamina of Inca warriors this grain is steadily gaining popularity as health food in the world. This is due to that fact that it is high in protein, and not only high protein, but it supplies the complete protein, which includes all nine essential amino acids. Besides this, it is a very good source of manganese also a good source of magnesium, phosphorus, and folate this grain ensures benefits for persons with diabetes, migraine headaches, and atherosclerosis.

Goji Berries

The Gojii Berry is a much-revered fruit in East Asia, due to its myriad medicinal properties. Also known as wolfberry, this natural super food is believed to bolster the immune system, improve circulation, enhance fertility and improve the eyesight. Goji berries can be eaten raw, made into wine or brewed into herbal tea.

Kiwi Fruit

Kiwi is one of the only fruits that contain Vitamin E, which nourishes the skin and prevents aging. The Kiwi fruit is packed with vitamins including vitamin A and vitamin C and is also a veritable source of antioxidants. What’s more, the Kiwi is also a delectable choice for various salads and deserts. Due to its high fiber content, the kiwi fruit can also be used as a mild laxative to promote regular bowel movement.

Broccoli

America’s favorite vegetable, Broccoli has become synonymous with the organic health food market. This super food is packed with a whole host of vitamins and minerals including vitamin A, vitamin C and most importantly vitamin K, which is responsible for building a strong bone structure. Due to its high fiber content, Broccoli acts as mucilage and is a definitive choice for dieters and weight watchers.

Berries

Berries are a great choice for those with a sweet tooth. Not only do they taste great, but also come packed with a variety of nutrients that are required by the body. Berries are a rich source of antioxidants and phytonutrients and can be safely eaten by weight watchers as they are very low in calories. Besides, berries have a high content of water and fiber that helps to maintain blood sugar levels in the body. Berries add a delectable flavor to a variety of dishes, salads and cereals, making them a versatile choice for dieters.

Nuts

Although nuts may have a high fat content, their nutritional benefits far outweigh their high calorie count. When consumed in small portions, nuts are a very good source of protein. Including nuts into your diet would help you lower cholesterol levels and help you lose weight. Nuts also contain a high amount of fiber and antioxidants, which are so beneficial for the body. Not only do they taste great but are also quite filling, which make them a healthy portable snack for those on the move.

Low fat Yogurt

Low fat yogurt is a very healthy and nutritious alternative for people who are lactose intolerant. In  fact, this super food has higher calcium content than most dairy products and comes packed with a powerhouse of other vital nutrients. The presence of probiotics in yogurt promotes a healthy digestive system as it creates a healthy balance of bacteria in the intestine.

Avocado

Natures very own gift to mankind, the Avocado is a rich source of oleic acid. This monosaturated fat present in the fruit helps to reduce cholesterol in the body. According to a recent study conducted on people with high cholesterol levels, individuals who included avocados in their diet showed a marked decrease in their cholesterol levels. This is due to the high potassium content in avocado, which helps to regulate blood pressure and prevents the onset of heart diseases. Further research has indicated that avocado contains a high concentrate of the carotenoid known as lutein. The presence of carotenoids and tocopherols (better known as vitamin E) in avocado has been found to stem the growth of prostate cancer cells. Given its enormous nutritional value, including slices of avocado in your diet would greatly help your body to absorb the carotenoids from the vegetables and fruits that you consume daily.

In this day and age of packaged foods and adulteration, organic super foods are undoubtedly the healthiest alternative. Not only do they taste great and are free of chemicals and fertilizers, organic super foods contain a gamut of vitamins, antioxidants and healthy fats. Super foods are thus a viable alternative to packaged foods that ensures that you live a healthy disease free life.

[via Organic Health Foods]

Food Items Commonly Mistaken For 'Health Foods'

The food processing industry and its raw food supplier allies have been clever at marketing their products as healthy while attacking the foods they replace as unhealthy. And it has worked both ways.

Saturated fats including coconut oil and real butter were demonized as obesity producers and heart health hazards while trans-fatty acid hydrogenated vegetable oils and margarine were marketed as substitutes that prevented both obesity and heart attacks.

All were lies marketed without intervention from the the Federal Trade Commission (FTA) or the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Yet both agencies are quick to jump on scientifically confirmed health claims from whole food providers such as those who grow and distribute cherries and walnuts (http://www.naturalnews.com/029698_censorship_FDA.html).

So we are forced to separate fact from fiction and see our way through the blizzard of lies and contradictions within the health foods field. As basic rules, moderation and different foods for different folks makes sense.

But marketing disinformation has vaulted questionable foods into undeserved health food status.

Foods to avoid that are marketed as health foods

Canola oil is not a healthy substitute for olive oil even if you can find an organic cold pressed version of it without GMO contamination. It's ubiquitous in processed foods and health food stores cafes because its cheap.

Up until the 1970s, there was no such thing as canola. They were originally only rapeseed plants that produced a highly toxic oil suitable for industrial purposes.

Through a nationally funded Canadian effort to stimulate its agricultural export commerce, the rapeseed was genetically engineered to remove most of its toxic erucic acid.

Dr. Baldur Stefansson and his team at the University of Manitoba were the early pioneers of plant genetic engineering by creating LEAR (Low Eucic Acid Rapeseed) in a lab in lieu of normal generational plant hybrid breeding.

The more marketable name Canola was synthesized from Canadian oil (http://www.naturalnews.com/029516_canola_oil_fraud.html).

Dr. Stefansson went on to join Monsanto to develop glyphosate resistant Roundup Ready canola seeds that have almost eliminated non-GMO canola from agriculture. (1)

Questioning soy is comparable to kicking a hornet's nest. It's pro and con camps are uncompromising. Here are some facts. Soy is not consumed as a meat or milk substitute in Asia. It's a moderately eaten side dish that is usually fermented.

Traditional Ayurveda medicine frowns on soy's digestibility unless it is fermented. Tempeh, natto, miso, and some soy sauces are fermented. Most soy is processed and GMO for starters. Roundup Ready soy plants can pass on the most toxic form of glyphosate herbicide ever.

Be wary and cautious with fish and other sea foods. There has already existed a lot of mercury and PBC contamination of seafood. That's been joined by BP's Gulf oil and Corexit contamination and Fukushima's nuclear disaster spilling into the Pacific.

Farmed fish and shrimp are akin to factory farmed beef and pork, full of antibiotics to keep overcrowded and poorly fed creatures from becoming diseased.

Here's a list of relative mercury contamination in wild fish (http://www.nrdc.org/health/effects/mercury/walletcard.pdf).

Agave nectar is another hornet's nest. One side claims it's a traditionally used and naturally derived syrup from agave plants. The other side claims it's not traditional and that it's processed from the plant to leave out the fiber that would make its high fructose level less harmful.

It cannot be disputed that agave's fructose level is high, and the liver does have issues processing concentrated amounts of fructose beyond what normally appears in whole fruits.

Let's just say it would be wise to stick with raw organic honey, molasses, and organic maple syrup as sweet and healthy syrups.

[via Natural News, sources Green Cradle, Kimberly Snyder]