HEALTHY DRINKS

Health Drinks

2009-12-15T15:29:00.000-08:00

Health Drinks
Health drinks are very popular and efficient way to take in important nutrient, vitamin C and antioxidant and to provide fiber in the diet.

These combination drinks, often with such names as Cider Vinegar and Honey, Wheat Orange and Papaya Blend, are mixed and sipped on the go, helping busy people get their minimum daily five servings of fruits and vegetables.

Most health drinks made from fresh produce are good for pregnant women-especially if the produce is organic. But there are two reasons to be cautions about health drinks.

First reason
They may be too much of a good thing. The prenatal vitamin supplements often prescribed to expectant are packed with 100 percent of recommended daily allowances.

The vitamin intake from a balanced daily diet to the vitamin supplement pushes those levels to the upper limit.

Adding a nutrient packed health drink to the mix can easily push the daily dose of vitamins over the limits of safety. This is especially true with vitamin A.

A proper levels, vitamin A is important for your baby’s brain and eye development. But too much (more than the USDA recommended) can cause brain development to be slowed and can lead to neural tube defects.

In this case, vitamin A overload is definitely too much of a good thing.

Second reason
They may not healthy. Not all products with worlds “healthy” or “fruit” or even “vegetable” in their names are actually good for you.

Fruity soft drinks, flavored ice teas, sugary fruit juices, fruity wine coolers and energy and sport drinks as well as fruit “flavored” drinks may not be healthy drinks.

They often contain excess sugar, calories, caffeine and artificial sweeteners and flavorings that can easily cross the placenta.
Health Drinks

Vitamin C Content of Orange Juice

2009-12-08T18:45:00.000-08:00

Vitamin C Content of Orange Juice
There are many bioactive components present in citrus fruits, including vitamins, ascorbic acid (vitamin C), and folic acid; phytochemicals, flavonoids and limonoids; citric acid and dietary fiber.
The antioxidant capacity of citrus is attributed to vitamin C and flavonoids.

Fresh orange juice (248 mL) is a concentrated source of vitamin C, containing 50% more than a single orange.

Similarly, the antioxidant capacity of fresh orange juice is higher than that of a single orange.

Orange juice processing (pasteurization and storage), however reduces its vitamin C content (frozen reconstituted juice > chilled juice in plastic jugs > chilled juice in cartons), as well as its antioxidant capacity.

Orange juice is the leading dietary source of vitamin C for Americans; hence the consumption of highly processed orange juice may affect Americans’ vitamin C status.

Interestingly, the prevalence of vitamins C deficiency in Americans has increased from 5% to 11-16% during the last 20 year.

Because Americans consumes more fruits and vegetables today than they did 20 years ago, the increased prevalence of vitamin C deficiency is likely a reflection of food choices and perhaps, food processing notably orange juice processing.

As a side note, orange juice is also an important source of folic acid, and similar to vitamin C, folic acid levels in chilled orange juice are reduced 50% compared to fresh orange juice.

However, as of 1998, grain products in the United States have been fortified with folic acid; these foods include enriched flours, breads, rolls, buns, rice and noodle products.
Vitamin C Content of Orange Juice

Grapefruit Juice

2009-11-13T10:49:00.000-08:00

Grapefruit Juice
Grapefruit juice differs slightly from orange juice in its nutrient profile. An 8 oz serving of grapefruit juice contains fewer than 100 cal and has the same amount of vitamin C as orange juice (72 mg, 120% of Daily Value).

One serving also provides approx 300 mg of potassium.

Grapefruit juice contains lower concentration of the B vitamin folate, thiamin and niacin than does orange juice.

Many compounds have been proposed as active components in grapefruit juice, including both flavonoids (naringenin and naringin) and nonflavonoids (6’, 7’-dihydroxybergamottin).

The principal flavonoid in grapefruit juice is the flavanone glycoside naringin.

Red grapefruit juice also contains trace elements of the carotenoid lycopene. Lycopene has the greatest single oxygen quenching capacity (in vitro) of the dietary carotenoids.
Grapefruit Juice

Sugarcane Juice

2009-10-30T20:30:00.000-07:00

Sugarcane Juice
Sugarcane has many medicinal properties. It strengthens the stomach, kidneys, heart, eyes, brain and sex organs.

Fevers
The sugarcane juice is beneficial in fevers.

In febrile disorders which cause fever, when there is great protein loss, liberal intake of sugarcane juice supplies the body with necessary protein and other nutrients.
Jaundice
Mixed with lemon juice, it can hasten recovery from jaundice. It is, however, very essentials that the juice must be clean, preferably prepared at home.

A resistance is low in hepatitis, any infected beverage could make matters worse.
Weak teeth
Sucking juice by chewing on the sugarcane stick can prove highly beneficent to weak teeth which result from excessive use of soft foods.

Chewing cane exercises the teeth and makes them strong. It also keeps the teeth clean and increases their life.
Low Weight Disorder
Sugarcane juice is a fattening food. It is thus effective remedy for thinness. Rapid pin weight can be achieved by its regular use.
Eye Disorders
The dew which collects on the long leaves of sugarcane is useful in several eye disorders. When instilled in the eyes, it is an effective medicine for detective vision, cataract, conjunctivitis, burning of the eyes and eye-strain after excessive reading.
Genito Urinary Disorders
Sugarcane is very useful in scanty urination. It keeps the urinary flow clear and helps the kidneys to perform their functions properly.

It is also valuable in burning micturation due to high acidity, gonorrhea, enlarged prostate, cystitis and nephritis. For better results, it should be consumed mixed with lemon juice, ginger juice and coconut water.

Sugarcane Juice

Roselle Juice

2009-10-10T19:04:00.001-07:00

Roselle Juice
Also known as Florida cranberry, Jamaica sorrel and botanically Hibiscus sabdariffa, the plant was popular in the subtropics during the thirties.

Now food prices are so high we should use it again It has many benefits. Roselle can be used to make jelly, juice, fruit pies and tarts.

Roselle juice looks much like cranberry juice and has much the same food value, except roselle doesn’t much contain the benzoic acid that gives the bitter taste to cranberries. Both contain malic acid and should not be cooked in thin metal containers.

According to the societies, Roselle juice is antibiotic, diuretic relieves fever and coughs, stimulates intestinal activity and is effective in lowering blood pressure.
Roselle Juice

Alcohol and Losing Weight

2009-09-17T16:58:00.000-07:00

Alcohol and Losing Weight
Fruit juices, cordial and soft drinks, are even higher in kilocalories than some alcoholic drinks. When they’re added to alcohol (for example, brandy, and ginger ale, rum and cola, gin and tonic or champagne and orange juice (the calorie content is correspondingly higher).

Even among beers, there’s a difference in kilocalorie content. Some people ask if they should switch from beer to spirits.

Beer contains a little more sugar than spirits but so little that it’s relevant.

However, spirits are often consumed with sugary mixer drinks.

Some people find they drink less when they switch to spirits, others drink more because the drinks are smaller and less filling.

Stick with whatever you’re able to drink in the smallest quantities.

Wine is also a popular drinks, and some people wonder if it matter which wine they choose.

From the point of view of kilocalories it makes very little difference.

Sweeter wines have almost the same kilocalorie value as dry wines.

To be able to enjoy a drink and lose weight, you’ll need to do some trade-offs in the type of food you eat and the amount of exercise you do.

As a rough guide, one 10 oz glass of beer is roughly equivalent to walking or jogging 1.5 kilometers (about a mile), although the effect of the exercise on metabolic rate might mean you don’t have to go quite that distance.

Alternatively, a 10 oz glass of beer is equivalent to a couple of biscuits or a small piece of cake.

To cancel out having up to four beers a day, you can decrease the amount of biscuits, cake or equivalent fatty food you eat or increase your walking.
Alcohol and Losing Weight

Papaya Juice

2009-09-09T06:20:00.000-07:00

Papaya Juice
Most papayas sold in American supermarkets are shipped from Hawaii, where they are grown.

Other producers of the papaya are the states of California, Florida and Texas.

Imported papayas are shipped to US markets from the Caribbean, Central America and Mexico.

The outer skin of a papaya turns yellow or orange when it is ripe, and the flesh becomes sweet and soft.

To prepare them for juicing, cut in half, scoop out the seeds and discard and then scoop out the flesh, throwing the skins away.

Then run the flesh through the juicer. Using blender, you can also freeze and then blend the papaya spears with other fresh juices to make smoothies.

To make plain papaya juice in a blender, simply blend two to four ounces of water with the flesh of one medium sized papaya.

Papaya juice is rich in vitamins A and C and contains small amounts of the minerals calcium, chlorine, iron, phosphorus, potassium, silicon and sodium.

Its nutritional highlight is its enzymes, specially papain, a protein digestant.

It also endowed with an abundance of energy boosting natural sugars when ripe.

Papaya juice strengthens the body’s blood coagulating ability. It is a fine laxative, appetite stimulant and cleanser of the kidneys, liver and intestines.
Papaya Juice

Energy Drinks

2009-08-23T02:49:00.001-07:00

Energy Drinks
Energy drinks such as Red Bull, Monster and Rick Star are all the rage today, especially among younger consumers.

And when it comes to energy, any product that purports to provide it is inevitably going to be tried to endurance sports, whether substantiated or not.

If you consider or are currently using an energy drinks as a supplement to your training or racing consider these points:

Many energy drinks contain taurine or guarana, ingredients about which there is little existing reputable research. Most energy drinks contain some caffeine, so oftentimes the benefits of these so called energizing ingredients are overstated.

The scientific community has not thoroughly studied the effects of combining the ingredients in many energy drinks. Researchers don’t precisely know what effect an energy drink will have on your heart, blood pressure nervous and perception of fatigue and pain during training.

Energy drinks can turn off your body’s natural physical and metal warning flags. For example, if an energy drinks revs you up so much that you feel you can go farther faster or harder than you should, it will cause you to push your boundaries, making you more susceptible to injury and overtraining.

Many energy drinks are carbonated, which most endurance athletes find intolerable. During strenuous long term aerobic exercise, carbonated beverages often lead to nausea or other stomach problems.
Energy Drinks

Chicory Drinks

2009-07-20T19:20:00.000-07:00

Chicory Drinks
The chicory in botanically called as Cichorium intybus and belongs to the composite family. It is close related to endive and is sometimes called French endive.

It is very rich source of vitamins A, B, C and G. It also contains minerals.

Its drinks as coffee are stimulant and invigorating. It increases stamina and vigor, vitality and strength.

According to Pliny (AD) 23-79), chicory juice was mixed with rose oil and vinegar as a remedy for headache.

Currently, its main application is as a mild bitter tonic for liver and digestive tract as a mild laxative and for cleansing the urinary tract.

One of the commissions in German recognized the herbs efficacy in the following areas
Loss of appetite
Dyspeptic complaints
Liver and gallbladder complaints

Wherever deep fried of fatty meals are consumed, a cup or two of chicory root beer is recommended.

A cup of cold root brew is given for settling an upset stomach or correcting acid indigestion and heartburn.
Chicory Drinks

Does Alcohol Lower Blood Pressure?

2009-07-15T08:11:00.000-07:00

Does Alcohol Lower Blood Pressure?
Alcohol actually has two effects on blood pressure. One of these effects was initially hidden from earlier researchers, because they often performed blood pressure measurements 12 to 15 hour after the original alcohol intake.

It turns out that this point coincides with the maximal effect that alcohol has increasing blood pressure.

However, when researches attached a monitor that took study participants’ blood pressures multiple times each hour and measured their blood pressure responses during the time immediately following alcohol ingestion, and then continued on to take their blood pressure measurements 12 to 15 hours or more after alcohol intake, a different picture emerged.

Shortly after alcohol ingestion, there is actually a decline in blood pressure. After a few hours, blood pressure returns to its baseline values. As some of the metabolites (the breakdown products of alcohol) the n enter into the circulation, there is actually an increase in blood pressure that is evident about 12 to 15 hours after the original alcohol ingestion.

Overall, the net effect of alcohol is an increase in blood pressure of about two points, or 2 mm Hg.

If you look at the blood pressure 12 to 15 hours after ingestion, this effect appears to be more like 6 mm Hg.

Because a 4 mm Hg decrease in blood pressure occurs after ingestion, however, the net increase from alcohol is actually about 2 mm Hg.
Does Alcohol Lower Blood Pressure?

The Art of Tea

2009-07-06T18:01:00.000-07:00

The Art of Tea
Nothing warms the body and soul like holding a fragrant, steaming cup of herbal tea, inhaling its subtle scents as you slowly sip.

Tea is among the most ancient, basin and simple methods of healing and nourishing body, mind and spirit.

As science has proven time and again, plants are endowed with important nutrients and potent healing compounds.

Some of those elements come from the raw earth: for example, a plant grown in calcium - or iron-rich soil draws those elements into its own body.

When you brew plants in water, the resulting beverage – herbal tea – is imbued with those constituent, carrying them into the body, where they are quickly absorbed.

Even better, teas are very easy to prepare, inexpensive and delicious.

Plant constituents that release their properties into water include carbohydrate protein, enzymes, mucilage, pectins, saponins and polysaccharides.

Essential oils are soluble but evaporate easily gums and tannins are partially soluble. All can play a role in improving and supporting human health.

Even though there is a wide array of medicinal herbal preparations, including capsules, tablets and tincture, drinking herbal tea offers unique benefits that should not be overlooked.

Teas are rapidly absorbed in the body, Also teas, are flavorful and aromatic. When we drink herbal tea the brain is soothed and nourished by aromas inhaled though the nose and the tasty sensory messages received by the tongue.

Another important benefit of drinking herbal tea is that it gives us an opportunity in our busy day to take a bit of time out for ourselves.

Taking tome out to taste and savor herbal teas provides an opportunity for reflection. Rather than swallowing a couple tasteless capsules with a gulp of water as we run out the door, we can use our time drinking herbal tea to think about intention - nourishing nervous sytem strengthening nervous system.
The Art of Tea

Herbal Drinks as Diuretics

2009-06-22T18:23:00.000-07:00

Herbal Drinks as Diuretics
Numerous teas and herbal preparations have also been widely used as diuretics to treat premenstrual syndrome and other conditions.

Extracts of goldenrod (solidago sp.), juniper (Juniperus communis), parsley (peroselinum), bearberry or uva ursi (Arcstostaphylos uva-ursi), fennel(Foeniculum vulgare) and stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) are modestly effective diuretics that may be used safely in moderation, either singly or in various combinations.

Of these, goldenrod is probably the most effective diuretic. It also possesses anti-inflammatory and antibacterial activity.

The active constituents of goldenrod include flavonoids, tannins and saponins. There are no reports of adverse reactions from its use.

The dried ripe berries of the juniper tree (J.communis) function as a diuretic and also provide antiseptic activity for the urinary tract.

Juniper’s diuretic effect results from its content of terpinen-4-ol, which increases the glomerular filtration rate in the kidney.

One must exercise caution when using juniper berries, because large amounts may produce kidney damage characterized by albuminuria or renal hematuria.

Juniper tea also is also contraindicated during pregnancy.

Stinging nettle (U. dioica) is feared by many because its leaves and stems are covered with tiny hairs that inject formic acid and release histamine when touched.

However, the stinging irritant is tamed by cooking or drying. The dried leaves of U. dioica possess diuretic activity, possibly due to its high flavonoids content.

Parsley is widely used in salads and soups as a garnish. The leaves and roots of parsley are helpful for reducing urinary tract inflammations.

Bearberry or uva ursi is also effective against urinary tract infections as a result of its antibacterial action.

Its antiseptic action results from the presence of two phenolic glycosides.

Juice made form cranberry also provides protection against the colonization of Escherichia coli bacteria in urinary tract infections.
Herbal Drinks as Diuretics

Watercress Juice

2009-06-08T01:43:00.000-07:00

Watercress Juice
The juice extracted from watercress is one of the best body-cleansers and toxin-neutralizers.

It is exceedingly high in sulphur which represents more than one third of all its mineral elements and salts.

Of these elements more than half as definitely alkaline-forming, potassium accounting for 20%, calcium 18%, magnesium 5% and iron, only a trace.

Watercress juice is a powerful intestinal cleanser, removes toxic impurities from the system, heals kidney and bladder inflammation, regulates the glands, dissolves rheumatic poisons, eradicates skin affections, stimulate the circulation and tones up the entire system.

Watercress is sometimes called the “poor man’s vitamin food” because it contains potent amount of the 5 most important vitamins.

Owing to the fact that watercress juice is such a powerful intestinal regulator it should not be taken alone.

It is best mixed with carrot juice or celery juice in the proportion of 7 parts of carrot or celery juice to 1 part or watercress juice.

One pint or more of this combination may be taken each day. The juice of watercress, carrot, spinach and turnip leaves combined has the property of removing hemorrhoids (piles) and many cases of tumors.

Two pints of this combinations taken daily when all starch, sugar and protein foods have been eliminated from the diet, have been found to remedy these conditions in a perfectly natural manner in from 1 to 6 months.

Watercress cocktail is excellent for the complexion can be made by mixing equal parts of watercress juice and orange juice.

For variety grapefruit juice or pineapple juice can be used in place of orange juice. One glass per day is sufficient.
Watercress Juice

Tea and Cancer

2009-06-01T02:09:00.000-07:00

Tea and Cancer
Most of the on cancer chemoprevention by tea has been conducted using green tea or its individual polyphenolic constituents.

Less work has been reported on black tea.

In animal studies, the polyphenolic fraction isolated from green tea. The water extract of green tea, or individual polyphenolic antioxidants present in green tea have afforded protection against chemically induced carcinogenesis in the lung, liver, esophagus, forestomach, duodenum, pancreas, colon, and breast.

The raises possibility that green tea consumption and its associated catechins may lower cancer risk in humans.

Studies have shown that green tea intake increases the excretion of a class of carcinogens known as heterocyclic arylamines formed during the cooking of meat, poultry and fish; this is expected to reduce DNA adduct formation, in particular and carcinogenesis, in general.

Consumption of both green and black tea aqueous extracts influences the excretion of mutagens and promutagens in the urine of animals.

Several epidemiological studies suggest that tea and its associated compounds may prevent some, but not all, cancers.

This is understandable, because cancer is a complex disease with multiple etiologies, even for one body site.

It is, therefore a false hope that any nutritional or synthetic agent can prevent or treat all cancer types.

However, based on a large volume of cell culture, animal studies and human observational studies, there is hope that green tea consumption can retard cancer development at selected sites in some populations.

The challenge is to elucidate what cancer type can be prevented by tea. This requires extensive research for which considerable resources are required.
Tea and Cancer

Lotus Root Tea

2009-05-18T02:17:00.000-07:00

Lotus Root Tea
Lotus root tea is especially helpful in relieving coughs and dissolving mucus in the lungs.

To prepare it squeeze the juice from a half cup of freshly grated lotus root into a pot with one cup of water.

Simmer until the liquid thickens, add a pinch of sea salt, and drink it hot.

If fresh lotus root is unavailable, dried lotus root can be used instead.

To make tea form the dried root, add 2 tablespoons of lotus root to 1 cup of water.

Bring to a boil, reduce the flame, and simmer for fifteen minutes.

Add of sea salt or a dash of tamari, and drink it hot.
Lotus Root Tea

Cabbage and Cabbage Sprout Juice

2009-05-11T23:46:00.000-07:00

Cabbage and Cabbage Sprout Juice
Green and red cabbage and members of the cabbage family, such as Brussels sprouts, Chinese cabbage collard greens, kale green and so 0n, are highly cleansing due to their concentration of vitamins B-6 and C (and large stores of vitamin A and calcium in kale and collard greens), and minerals including chlorine, iodine, potassium and sulfur.

Cabbage was considered to be tonic and rejuvenator by the ancient Greeks who also used it as a cure for baldness.

Cabbage juice is an effective laxative and skin food as well as an effective healing agent for intestinal ulcers.

Scientists believe the active ingredient in cabbage juice that helps heal ulcers is vitamin U.

As wonderful and valuable a cleanser and healer cabbage juice is, it may produce gas in some people.

The sulfur in cabbage juice can react with bacteria in the intestine, causing mild intestinal cramping and gas.

If experience these symptoms after drinking cabbage juc9e, try reducing the amount by diluting it with other juice or spring water.

Also cabbage sprout juice can be tried rather than whole cabbage juice.

Cabbage sprouts from red, green or Chinese cabbage seed make an equally good juice especially when mixed with other vegetable juices.
Cabbage and Cabbage Sprout Juice

Toxicities of Herbal Teas

2009-05-04T05:23:00.000-07:00

Toxicities of Herbal Teas
Because manufacturers are not required to list potential toxicities on the labels, consumers may unknowingly exposed to harmful substances.

More than 30 herbal teas contain substances that cause serious toxicities, including liver, GI tract, nervous system, and circulatory system disorders.

Chaparral, an herbal preparation made from the leaves of the creosote bush (Larrea tridentate) of the American southwest desert, is used in teas capsules and tablet preparations.

Chaparral is promoted for the treatment of cancer, to retard aging, and as a free radical scavenger because of its antioxidant properties.

In December 1992, the FDA Center for Food safety and Applied Nutrition issued a warning suggesting a potential link between chaparral use and liver toxicity after six cases of hepatitis were reported after consumption of the herb. Some of the serious liver problems required hospitalization.

An herbal tea containing woodruff, melilot and tonka beans produced abnormal clotting function and mild clinical bleeding due to its high content of natural anticoagulants called coumadins.

Deaths have also been reported from the use of herbal teas made from oleander leaves (Nerium oleander) that are rich in toxic cardiac glycosides and mistletoe berries (Viscum album) that contain viscotoxin and other toxic principles.

Using herbal teas in home remedies for common childhood illness may trigger serious health problems for child.

Peppermint and chamomile teas are commonly used among Mexican-American populations. Their prolonged use, in the absence of normal food, may result in water intoxication and seizures in young children resulting from an inadequate sodium intake.

Furthermore, many herbal beverages are actually a concoction of several herbs. With the lack of comprehensive data on individual herbs, it is difficult to predict the combined effect of a complex mixture of herbs that may act in concert, in conflict or synergistically with each other.
Toxicities of Herbal Teas

Physiological and Therapeutic Effects of Tea

2009-04-27T19:52:00.000-07:00

Physiological and Therapeutic Effects of Tea
In China, from Tang Dynasty to Qing Dynasty (618-1911 A.D.), there had existed a great number of books contributed to tea. Those included mainly 3 categories, namely books in herbal medicines, tea manuals and general historic publications.

Tea was repeated to exhibit 24 kinds of physiological and therapeutic effects, such as causing less sleep, calming down, clearing sight, relieving headache, dispelling thirst, dissipating fever, detoxification, helping digestion, reducing obesity, diuresis, as a pectoral for chest disease, invigorating, strengthening teeth, and more.

In addition to the probable applications as medicine, tea, used as a daily beverage has made great contributions to human health in at least two major aspects.

Firstly, tea drinking changes the habit of how people consume water.

In ancient times, when people felt thirsty they would simply drink natural, unprocessed water that might contain pathogenic microbes.

Since the adoption of tea drinking, people had used boiling water to make tea infusion. In fact this practice helped people avoid a variety of infectious disease.

Secondly tea appears to be a good substitute for alcoholic beverages. This people who very much enjoyed tea drinking might avoid alcohol over consumption that causes severe damage to the human body.
Physiological and Therapeutic Effects of Tea

Chrysanthemum Tea

2009-04-20T00:11:00.000-07:00

Chrysanthemum Tea
Chrysanthemum tea is prepared in the same way as traditional tea. The dried flowers are infused with hot water for over 10 min, and the tea is ready to serve.

For clinical usage, the chrysanthemum is boiled either alone or together with various other herbs, according to the prescriptions to suit a specific clinical purpose.

Based on traditional usage, in addition to use as a tea, C. morifolium is used for the common cold, fever, migraines, conjunctivitis, eye, irritation, hypertension, ulcerative colitis, vertigo, ophthalmia with swelling and pain, etc.

As a mixture with other herbs, it has been claimed to be able to relieve migraines and eye irritation, improve vision, and cure keratitis.

The curing rates of ulcerative colitis and hypertension are reported to be more than 90% and 80% respectively.

Apart from the above traditional usages, there are also reports of other usage, such as antitumor activities.

Chrysanthemum water extract was found to significantly inhibit growth of transplanted tumor in nude mice, suggesting that the water-soluble components of chrysanthemum may have potent chemopreventive effects.

Although chrysanthemum is considered to be a “mild” herb and almost with no side effect in traditional medical practice, adverse effect has been reported with its flowers, and leaves may cause skin dermatitis.

In contrast there was no report that drinking chrysanthemum tea could cause respiratory or alimentary tract irritation.
Chrysanthemum Tea

Choosing Beverage for Health

2009-04-08T05:30:00.000-07:00

Choosing Beverage for Health
People have a surprisingly accurate ability to regulate the amount of food they eat day to day.

If we can eat a very large meal, for instance, we tend to make up for it by eating a little less at the next meal.

But sweetened beverages seem to throw this natural ability out of whack. Different mechanisms control thirst and huger in the brain; we wired to think of solids as food and liquid as water.

When we take in a liquid that’s full of calories, we don’t seem to register those calories in the same way as if they were solid food.

Instead, may people can easily guzzle twenty-four ounces of a sweetened beverage as if it were water.

The frightening rise in obesity among children stems from a lot of different factors. But one of the likely culprits is the trends toward drinking larger and larger quantities of beverage, especially sweetened one.

Many parents allow their kids to drink sweetened beverage throughout the day as a substitute for water or as a way to pacify them with something sweet-tasting.

When we start to think of caloric beverages as food, we can realize how allowing a child to idly sip on a beverage throughout the day can really throw an otherwise healthy diet out of balance, loading it with extra sugars and unneeded calories.

Children do need water to dehydrate them throughout the day. Make water the beverage of choice to quench a child’s thirst.

Other beverages should contribute to a child’s overall diet by providing nutrients – a small glass of 100 percent juice will add vitamins and minerals, while a glass of milk with meals or in cereal will help ensure that our child is consuming enough protein and calcium.

Add these drinks to help balance other foods in the diet, but not simply as a thirst-quencher.

In general, the more we can avoid sweetened beverages, the better.
Choosing Beverage for Health

Citrus Juice

2009-03-16T08:00:00.000-07:00

Citrus Juice
Among citrus juice, orange is by far the most important. Lemon, lime, grape and tangerines are also processed as juice.

One of the characteristics of citrus juice is that it is to be consumed mainly as a cloudy drink.

Although the biggest percentage of that juice is made of diluted first extraction juice that does not require enzyme treatment most of the time, there is an appreciable production of by-product that are made from pulp and the peels, and these are marketed either as second quality juice or as natural cloudifiers.

The juice is rich in vitamin C, and in the minerals calcium, calcium, phosphorus and potassium.

The flavonoids are concentrated in the white pulp surrounding the fruit. Bioflavonoids help the body to retain and use vitamin C. Together these two nutrients improve the permeability and strength of capillary walls.

This is why citrus juice helps heal bruises more quickly than if they were not treated with citrus juice.

Common colds benefits greatly form a diet rich in citrus juices. Unfortunately while convenient, pasteurized, frozen, and concentrated citrus juices do not produce the same health benefits as fresh squeezed citrus juices.

Citrus juices taken in excess can leech calcium from the system, softening bones and teeth. If drink more than three to four 6 ounce glasses per week, make sure to get extra exercise to burn excess acid.
Citrus Juice

Garlic Juice

2009-03-09T19:16:00.000-07:00

Garlic Juice
The garlic juice is almost impossibly to drink though, resulting in sweating and an immune system response directed at live garlic cells in the juice.

What is happening is that the live garlic is very strong so the body has a battle digesting the fresh garlic juice. Even so, this has a net positive effect if one can endure it.

Digesting cleansing does involve frequent and less than solid bowel movements, plus bloating.

Bloating is often part of the healing process as the immune system goes to work. It does take months to repair decades of poor diet and less than optimum health.

Understanding that this is a necessary part of the healing process prevents people from giving up and not recognizing progress.

A flat stomach and an ability consume cleansing vegetables plus energized water without any result other than great health and vitality, is the end goal.

Anyone who looks old has a digestive system that needs major repair. Every part of the body regenerates and is capable of healing over time. The digestive system cells, especially the inner wall of the digestive track, regenerate most frequently.

Other than that, garlic acts well against cataract, particularly in smokers and for colds. Like onion juice, one dessertspoonful of garlic in half a pint of warm water is a recognized remedy for worms in children.

One suspects that children in Mediterranean countries must be well protected against worms, and statistics show that their parents have a lower incidence of heart disease than most Europeans, all of which helps to confirm the therapeutic value of this bulb.

Garlic juice has been used beneficially for many conditions including tuberculosis, entercolitis and amoebic dysentery. It is an expectorant as well as assisting asthma and bronchitis.
Garlic Juice

Celery Juice and Health Benefits

2009-02-16T03:55:00.000-08:00

Celery Juice and Health Benefits
Celery juice has a calming effect on the nervous system. This is probably due to its high concentration of organic alkaline minerals especially sodium.

The minerals contained in celery juice make the body’s use of calcium more effective, balancing the blood’s pH.

Organic sodium, which is abundant in celery juice, has received a bad name lately because of the average American’s habitual overuse of inorganic sodium chloride – table salt.

Unlike inorganic sodium chloride, organic sodium found in celery juice is naturally blended with many other useful minerals. It is essential to the proper functioning of all major body systems. Organic sodium is the element in blood that makes it salty.

Because of its slightly salty taste, celery juice is an excellent component of any vegetable juice combination. Celery juice is especially affective for nervous conditions because it produces a calming effect; and for weight reduction diets, as it curbs the desire for sweets.

Celery juice is responsive to condition of acne, arthritis, eczema, fever, fluid retention, hair loss, high blood pressure, kidney disorders, psoriasis and weight loss.
Celery Juice and Health Benefits

Tea Consumption

2009-02-09T22:11:00.000-08:00

Tea Consumption
Tea from leaves of Camellia sinensis, a plant of the Theaceae family, is consumed by more than two thirds of the world’s population and is the most popular beverage, next only to water.

The tea plant is cultivated in more than 30 countries. Approximately 2.5 million metric tons of dried teas are produced annually. Production involves a series of drying and fermenting steps.

Green tea is consumed primarily in some Asian countries, such as Japan, Korea, China and India and a few countries in North Africa and Middle East. Black tea is consumed in some Asian countries and Western nations. Oolong tea is consumed southeastern China and Taiwan.

There are also many products sold in the market as herbal tea which are not derived from the plant Camellia sinensis. There are extracts of several herbs.

Teas differ regarding how they are produced. Green tea production involves steaming fresh leaves at elevated temperatures, followed by series of drying and rolling steps so that the chemical composition essentially remains similar to that of the fresh leaves.

Black tea production involves withering plucked leaves, followed by extended fermentation. Thus, depending on the extend of fermentation, the chemical composition of most black teas is different. Oolong tea is made by solar withering of tea leaves followed by partial fermentation.
Tea Consumption

Potential of Herbal Drinks

2009-02-02T08:00:00.000-08:00

Potential of Herbal Drinks
In supermarket, and health food stores today, there are several different beverages with such catchy names as Scarlet Sunrise, Lemon Appeal, Sunburst C, Tangy Autumn, Mint Magic and Country Peach Passion.

These herbal beverages may provide some therapeutic medicinal value. Those herbal beverages for which therapeutic properties are claimed may vary widely in their potency; therefore, a desired effect may be obtained. In addition, reaction to a particular herb can vary greatly form one person to another.

The potency of herbal beverages and hence their effectiveness, cannot be accurately predicted because the concentration of active ingredients in the plant material can vary enormously. Several factors can influence the potency of a herb, such as age of the plant, growing conditions, growing locations, storage and handling procedures, extraction methods and post-harvest processing. Any of these factors may produce a wide variation in the properties associated with an herbal tea.

Poor standardization of herbal teas can produce unreliable effects due to the great variation in the active constituents. The lack of standardization can contribute to the risk of overdose. There was also significant variability in the concentration of the marker compound from one brand of product to another.

Other issues to consider relate to species identification and whether the correct part of the plant is used. Different species of a particular genus may not act similarity. For example, the three of Echinacea have different activities.

The oral use of the upper parts of Echinacea purpurea are recognized a beneficial for colds and respiratory infections, whereas it is root and the upper parts of Echinacea pallida that are useful for the treatment pf influenza-like infections.

On the other hand, neither the root nor the upper parts of Echinacea angustifolia provide any benefit for the treatment of respiratory tract infections. Because of the world wide shortage of Echinacea, some manufacturers have diluted their Echinacea preparations with wild quinine root, a cheaper look-alike substitute, which is inactive.
Potential of Herbal Drinks