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1. Blueberries

You might already be aware of blueberries’ high antioxidant content, but surprisingly many people are not. Easy to find at most any grocery store or market, blueberries are one of the easiest and most effective ways to increase your antioxidant intake naturally without pills. The ORAC rating of one cup blueberries is very high at 9019.[1] If you can afford to, eating one cup a day is an excellent way to supplement your diet.

2. Blackberries

Although generally more difficult to find than blueberries, blackberries are another well known berry which contains a very high concentration of antioxidants. The ORAC value has officially been listed at 7701 per cup.[1] Most often you will find blackberries in a berry mix along with raspberries and blueberries.

3. Cherries

Everyone’s heard of cherries, those unmistakable sweet, shiny red berries. However not everyone realizes what a great source of antioxidants they are. Next time you dive into a cherry pie, you’ll be happy to know it’s helping to ward off free radicals. One cup of cherries has been determined to have an ORAC rating of 4873 which puts them a few steps below blueberries, but they′re so tasty you’ll probably end up eating twice as many anyway![1]

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If you haven’t heard of the Acai Berries, you are way out of today’s loop! These remarkable, power-packed, little berries from the Acai Palm tree are native to the swamps and flood areas of Central and Southern America. The berries are deep, dark purple and grow in clusters similar to those of grapes. They resemble grapes but are smaller and darker. They have a very large seed, very little pulp and were usually made into a wine. The acai berries have been around for centuries but were only introduced to the western world in the 1990’s.

The natives of the Amazon have eaten these berries for centuries and have realized the excellent health benefits that come from them. The tribes people used the acai berries to provide energy, build the immune system, fight infection, protect the heart and control prostate enlargement. This information was given from generation to generation by their tribal medicine people.

At some point, the Brazilian beach goers discovered the energy benefits of the Acai Berries and added the acai to smoothies. They say the acai tastes like effervescent berries with a hint of chocolate. The smoothies became very popular with the trendy, beach crowd. Researchers soon discovered the magic little berry and found that, in addition to providing an energy boost, the acai is rich in proteins; fibre; minerals, such as potassium, iron, phosphorus and calcium; Omega 6, also known as linoleic acid Omega 9, also called as oleic acid and the following vitamins: B1, B2, B3, C and E. The Acai Berries also have up to thirty-three times as much Anthocyanin as red wine grapes.

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Most people could be regarded as food enthusiasts because of their fondness for eating. Many people like trying new things and trying new foods is no exception. Eating has become a most common leisure activity that friends and family enjoy. Sharing a meal and enjoying good conversation is an enjoyable evening no matter where you live.

People are more curious about different dishes from all over the world. This could probably be one reason why more and more people tend to fall into the obese category. Who can blame them? There are several great dishes that you must try at least once in your lifetime but sometimes because they are so good for the palate, trying these dishes once isn’t enough.

There are several different foods you can consider best depending on your mood and taste. Some people think that the best foods to eat are those inspired by a particular country or genre while others consider foods to be best if they are able to satisfy their cravings for sweets, something sour or salty.

Even though you may be excited to try new spicy dishes and world cuisine, your stomach may not be so aggreable. That is to say, the best types of foods to eat are those that are healthy and could make you feel full for a long time, and are able to satisfy your discriminating taste buds.

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Is milk good for you? Our government says yes, but most scientists who do not work for the dairy industry say no. Why the discrepancy? Let’s look at the research.

Though most people still think that milk is good for their bones, there is no evidence for this. The famous Harvard Nurses Study followed more than 77,000 women for over twelve years. Among other things, researchers wanted to see if milk would help prevent or slow the progression of osteoporosis (a disease that makes bones more brittle). Not only was there no evidence of any benefit, researcher Doctor Robert M. Kradjian of Seton Medical Center in California points out that “Fracture rates were higher for those who consumed three or more servings, compared to those who did not drink milk.”

Some scientists now believe that the particular types of proteins in milk may lead to bone damage. In addition, most agree that the calcium found in dairy products isn′t very absorbable for humans. Calcium found in plants is much easier to absorb. These sources include leafy green vegetables, as well as sesame butter (used in humus), some other seeds, whole grains and nuts.

Milk And Digestion

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The food we eat has a major effect on our fitness and our appearance. No one disputes that. But not only is the type and amount of food you eat is key, when you eat and how often you eat is crucial too. If you want to know one of the real secrets of improving your health and fitness, you should keep reading.

What time you eat has a huge impact on your results. Let’s start at the beginning of the day. When you first wake up, your body is running on empty, because you haven′t eaten since the day before. Your blood sugar level is low, and your body is running on reserves. Once those reserves are used up, your body will turn to its next available source of fuel, your muscles! It’s very difficult to get in shape when you’re groggy, hungry, and your body is cannibalizing the muscles for energy. You need to eat your first meal as soon as you can after waking up in the morning. This gets your body fueled up and preserves your muscles.

Now you understand how important it is to have a healthy meal soon after you wake up. This gets your blood sugar to the correct level (assuming you are eating healthy stuff) so you can function effectively and preserves your muscles. You’ll feel better, function better, be able to work out harder, and protect your muscles while shedding fat.

The quest to keep your blood sugar level stable also determines how often you should eat. Within 3 to 4 hours after a meal, your body will have digested that food and your blood sugar level will start declining. That means you really shouldn’t go much more than 3 hours between meals (except when you are sleeping at night).

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