Healthy Grocery Shopping

By George B. Siba

Your grocery store is a great place to find both healthy, nutritious foods and the less healthy junk foods. Part of eating right is learning how to shop. This article will give you ideas to help you choose foods that have the best nutritional qualities as you wander the local grocery store.

There are some strategies that can help you make your shopping trips to the grocery store healthier. You will not have a healthy dinner table without first stocking your kitchen with the best foods.

Always make a detailed shopping list before going to the grocery store. This will keep you focused; a carefully thought out grocery list keeps you from succumbing to the temptation of junk foods. Keep a notepad in the kitchen. Write down things as you think of them, when it comes time to go shopping you will have your list ready.

Reading labels is an important expertise for any healthy eater. Nutritional labels supply information on the percentage of vitamins and minerals, the amount of calories, number of at grams, percentage of total fat and amount of fiber your foods contain.

Go to the produce section of your grocery store first. Start your shopping by filling your food basket with fruits and vegetables. This will leave less room for junk foods and get you started out right.

Pick naturally lower fat alternatives to high fat, high sugar snacks. Buying smaller package sizes will help you enjoy sweets while limiting calories. Watch out for extra sugar content, it is always a good idea to check labels for this. It can be a concern with low fat baked produce. Some manufacturers of low fat foods pack their low fat baked goods with extra sugar.

Honey and stevia are healthy sweeteners. Stevia is extremely sweet and noncaloric. Stevia is a notable herb, native to Paraguay, it has been used as a sweetener for centuries. Honey is mostly the sugars fructose and glucose; honey contains insignificant amounts of several vitamins and minerals and tiny amounts of several compounds thought to work as antioxidants, including, vitamin C, chrysin, pinobanksin, catalase, and pinocembrin.

Generally, the less healthy, sugar loaded cereals are at kids height, the healthier products are on the top shelves. Some breakfast cereals have enriched white flour and high fructose corn syrup which isn't as good as whole wheat and honey. High fructose corn syrup is bad for you, dont eat it. It is important to read the labels to make sure you are getting something you should be putting in your body.

This is the tip you always hear, never go grocery shopping when you are hungry. Hungry shoppers make unhealthy choices that will be around long after your hunger has gone. - 17268

About the Author:

This article is by George B. Siba, visit his site Healthy Grocery Shopping. Also visit Bach Flower Essences.

Advanced Wellness Special Offers

By Linda Kemp

Sometimes the little things are what make the most difference. That's certainly been true in my life when I think about the impact that adding the acai berry to my diet has had! Basically, I've always been interested in being an endurance athlete, but I could just never make everything click to make it happen. When I was younger I thought that I didn't have the physiology to be a long distance runner, but since then I've discovered ways to get around those limitations. Unfortunately though, by the time that I had what it took to be a contender I was too distracted by the obligations of family and work. Add the effects of aging to those things, and it seemed like becoming the athlete that I wanted to be just wasn't in the cards. But then I discovered the acai berry and learned that I could easily add it to my diet just by taking Pure Acai Berry! This one discovery has made all of the difference.

Before I started taking the acai berry, I was just run down all of the time and didn't have the combination of time and energy that I needed in order to put in the training that I wanted to. I would get up in the morning after a night of restless sleep, get the kids ready for school while I got ready for work, go to work and spend the whole day stressed out, and come home without the energy that I needed in order to workout! If I was lucky, I could force myself to put in a couple of mile runs two or three times a week.

Since I've been using Pure Acai Berry though, things have fallen into place. Now I sleep more soundly so it's easier to get going in the mornings. I'm more energetic and mentally sharper at work and that makes work a lot less stressful. The fact that I still have energy when I get home from work now allows me to get exercise every day! Now it isn't unusual for me to combine exercise with quality time with my kids, which makes me a better role model for them. In addition I'm able to get in a longer workout on the weekends when I would ordinarily have spent my time wrestling with work around the house and actually getting some rest!

One thing that has made a big difference- and something that the acai berry is responsible for- is a better diet. This is true for both myself and my family. The fact that the acai berry has given me more energy means that I'm a lot more likely to eat foods that are higher in quality rather than more convenient. In turn, that higher quality food gives me more energy and it's another good way to set a positive example for my kids!

The way I see it, I was in a downward spiral of poor health before I started taking Pure Acai Berry. Stress and low energy and poor diet were all reinforcing each other. Now that I've incorporated Pure Acai Berry into my diet I've gone into an upward spiral where being healthier and more energetic leads to better health and more energy! Its definitely proof that something as small as an acai berry can make a huge difference! - 17268

About the Author:

L. Kemp writes articles for consumers who want to find the best Acai Berry Supplement Free Trial currently available. She has written for many major publications about the latest on Acai Berry Pro ,deals and promotions and how buyers can find the best discounts.

Acai Berry Antioxidants

By Jenny North

There are very few foods in the world that can claim to be superfoods. Superfoods must have many more benefits besides just providing enough calories and some nutrition. However, there are some foods that are able to be elevated to superfood status because of the incredible benefits they can deliver.

Acai berry is one of these foods. With its ability to do everything from increase weight loss to fighting off disease, acai berry can provide you with better health without any effort.

What makes Pure Acai Berry such an incredible food is the fact that its nutritional content is as close to perfect as possible. First of all, it is absolutely filled with antioxidants. Click here to find more information about Acai Berry Antioxidants.

As you probably know, antioxidants are necessary for slowing down the effects of aging and for fighting disease. The berry also has monounsaturated fats, which are the healthy type also found in olive oil.

Fiber and phytosterols are also part of the package, as is a well balanced amino acid complex. In all, this food is a very complete way of getting energy, nutrition, and antioxidants all in one package.

Because of its extremely complete nutritional content, the acai berry has the potential to provide tons of benefits for your body. Among the most popular reasons for people to use the product are to increase energy, maintain better health, and to lose weight.

You can expect to have more energy when you use the acai berry because of its combination of carbohydrates and fats and its high concentration of antioxidants. All of these things combined make it a very good source of energy and a great way to increase your stamina during the day. Because you are likely to feel and be healthier while taking it, this will also increase your energy.

The antioxidant levels of this berry are more than five times as high as in blueberries and other such foods. This makes them very powerful in terms of fighting aging and bodily damage. Many people rely on this berry to fight off the free radicals that can be implicated in everything from cancer to wrinkles.

Antioxidants have the amazing power to neutralize free radicals, which can help you feel younger and healthier than ever before. By using foods with high levels of antioxidants, you can experience great health and fend off the damaging effects of pollution, UV light, aging and more.

Pure Acai Berry can also help you with your weight loss goals as it has the ability to help your body burn fat more efficiently and to increase your metabolism. In addition, because it can help your body work more efficiently in general, you can expect losing weight to be easier.

For instance, the ability of the berry to increase your stamina will make it easier for you to exercise, and the berries perfect amino acid complex will allow your muscles to function properly during exercise. The berry even provides digestive support so that you can use your food more efficiently.

The benefits of the acai berry are hard to beat and it is a great addition to any diet. Since it is not a local crop, the best way to get the benefits of this berry is in the supplement form offered by Pure Acai Berry.

Since this is the most concentrated and purest way of getting the incredible benefits of this berry, you will be able to reap the benefits of this berry much sooner. Begin now and you can even get a Free Trial of Pure Acai Berry to see the benefits for yourself! Click on Acai Berry Antioxidants to find out more. - 17268

About the Author:

This article is for consumers looking for information on Acai Berry Pro. It provides a resource for finding Free Trial Acai Berry, and any great Pure Acai Berry Promotions that are currently available.

Weight Loss Tips Made Easy

By Jose Grinden

The number of people who commence a weight loss program every day is mind blowing and the amount of them that will fail is equally astounding. So why should this be when there is plenty of good, proven information available?

The predominant reason for that lack of success in losing any weight is just because the colossal majority of people who endeavour to lose weight just give up too quickly. There are a variety of reasons for this, yet the worst is haste. People are often in such a hurry and expect to manifest results too swiftly and when that happens, they simply give up, believing that it has failed for them. So here we have five facts with regards to weight loss which could cause you to rethink your own strategy with respect to losing weight.

Aiming to lose weight too swiftly by crash dieting could be extremely injurious to your health. Your body naturally resists your efforts to do this by checking your metabolism by attempting to counteract the withheld nutrients, thereby decreasing the cogency of the diet. When you cease dieting and resume eating as normal again, your body is going to stow food as fat in readiness for another bout of starvation, so you will gain even more weight than previously.

Taking things less hastily will bring scores of profits to a weight loss program. Begin an exercise program by degrees and increase the time you spend working out as well as the measure of exertion. Always stretch ahead of and following a work out to imbue your muscles with more flexibility and decrease the chances of straining them.

Doing strenuous exercises may cause unwanted stress on your muscles when they're unused to it. This can result in muscle and ligament damage which will have an injurious effect on your endeavours to lose weight.

By reducing your intake of calories from food so that it is slightly less than the quantity of calories you consume through exercise, you will lose weight until a perfect balance is arrived at. This is the most basic truth about weight loss and one that you can capitalize on to bring about success. - 17268

About the Author:

Author Jose Grinden is a fitness teacher. He writes about the subject of weight loss diets for a large array of diet related websites and also teaches the many aspects of how to lose weight in the home. He also works with health and fitness groups using wholly natural and sustainable methods.

3 MIRACLE FOODS that make you healthy as if by magic!

By Dr Annie Guillet DC BsSc

You chemistry teacher was right! Sinking a tooth in a glass of cola destroys the poor tooth in no time. Step by step, the tooth softens, breaks up and completely dissolves. Acid-forming foods and drinks cause similar damage if theyre not neutralised by our pH-regulating systems.

The problem starts when we overburden our bodies with excessive consumption of acid forming foods. Over time such a deadly cocktail of over-indulgence literally poisons your system and robs you of your energy and vitality. Also, it makes you prone to infections, allergies and other diseases. Below you will find three great foods to help you restore your bodys acid-alkaline equilibrium, cleanse your system and improve your energy levels.

So heres our first one...

SUPER-FOOD #1: Alfalfa Alfalfa is packed with nutrition goodness. Its calcium, chlorophyll, carotene, and vitamin K content make alfalfa an important nutritional supplement. The nutrient content of alfalfa is one of the richest known, making it a highly recommended herb for the human diet. Alfalfa is rich in many nutrients which include calcium, potassium, iron and vitamins C, D, E and K. This makes it a great herb for restoring strength to the sick and weak. It is used to treat all digestive weaknesses. Alfalfa builds strength and vitality and can be used to increase weight. Alfalfa seed also has cooling properties making it ideal for disorders related to heat and inflammation. Uses of the herb Alfalfa includes treatment for cystitis, burning urine, lowering fevers and lowering cholesterol, diabetes, ulcers, arthritis and rheumatic problems and lower back ache. Alfalfa sprouts have increased in popularity mostly because of their great taste and crispy crunch. A sprout is actually a tiny plant that is very easy to digest. Since these delicate sprouts have high water content, they will fill you up fast, but with few calories.

The next one...

SUPER-FOOD #2: Chlorophyll The molecular structure of chlorophyll is similar to that of haemoglobin, which is responsible for carrying oxygen throughout your body. Chlorophyll happens to be central molecule for increasing oxygen availability in your system. It is also vital for the bodys rapid assimilation of amino acids. The way to tell if a vegetable has enough chlorophyll content is by looking at its leaves. Algae are the highest known source of chlorophyll. Dark green veggies like spinach, broccoli and alfalfa are also very rich in chlorophyll content. These vividly coloured plants not only brighten your plate but also add a lot of nourishment to your diet. They are also a rich source of antioxidants and studies have shown that they go a long way towards preventing liver cancer, skin cancer, colon cancers and rheumatoid arthritis. Enjoy them cooked, steamed or raw.

Lets move onto our final power-veggie...

SUPER-FOOD #3: Spinach Spinach is an excellent source of vitamins C and A, and iron, and contains about 40 percent potassium. It leaves an alkaline ash in the body. Spinach is good for the lymphatic, urinary, and digestive systems. Spinach is a rich dietary source of vitamin K - a vitamin that unlike other fat-soluble vitamins is not stored by the body in appreciable amounts and must be replaced on a regular basis. Vitamin K is essential for the production of six of the proteins necessary for proper blood coagulation. Blood simply won't clot properly without it.

It's been hypothesized that vitamin K plays a role in vascular health. Low levels of vitamin K have been linked with lower bone density and an increased risk of hip fracture in women. Just 1 cup of fresh spinach leaves a day gives you 190 percent of your daily requirements of vitamin K. Alfalfa, chlorophyll and spinach alkalize and cleanse your body. Our high-paced, caffeine and sugar-powered lifestyles overburdens our bodies with an excessive acid load making our bodies feel tired, worn-out and prone to allergies, hay fever and food sensitivities. The toxins produced within an overly-acidic, oxygen deprived body may contribute radically towards runny noses, sneezing, itching and tearing of the eyes, bloating, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, skin rash and other allergic reactions.

Your body needs a slightly alkaline pH to be able to perform at its peak level and remain in optimal health. Studies show that an alkaline body copes better with stress and resists disease more effectively. Alkalizing foods, like alfalfa, chlorophyll and spinach, improve physical energy, mental clarity, emotional well-being and even optimism. As a final reminder, you need to consume the above alkalizing foods regularly for maximum effect. - 17268

About the Author:

Dr. Annie Guillet teaches people around the world how to cook for optimal health without breaking the budget to learn more Goto alkaline foods website.

The Benefits of Drinking Acai Berry Juice

By I Russell

If you have heard about the acai berry, more than likely you are interested in learn more about all the great health benefits that the acai berry juice has to offer. You'll find that many marketers today proclaim that this is a super food that will help you to lose weight and that it will also help to prevent diseases. Well, you'll definitely find that this berry has a whole lot to offer. Let's take a look at some helpful information on the fruit and all of the benefits that come with it as well.

Let's define the acai berry: the acai berry is a small fruit, with a length of approximately one inch. Its color is a purplish-red. These berries are gathered from the acai palm, which is a tree native to Central and South America. The acai berry is akin to the cranberry and blueberry, which are alike in coloration.

So, what is all this hype created about acai berry juice? Well you will discover that much research has been done on this berry as it's believed to contain high concentration of antioxidants. Various substances are present in the acai berry. Anthocyanins as well as flavonoids are present in it. Both of these substances are supposed to be great antioxidants which helps in the protection of the body and getting rid of free radicals. Consuming diets high in antioxidants are important to help us in fighting diseases and aging. Hence, using the acai berry fruit is definitely a very wise choice to be considered.

You'll find that there are many great benefits to drinking the acai berry juice on a regular basis. Studies are beginning to show that there are some great health benefits that you can enjoy when you start taking the berry. In fact, studies have shown that there are more antioxidants contained in this fruit than there is in strawberries, cranberries, blackberries, blueberries, and raspberries as well. People are now eating these berries for a variety of different health conditions. Many people believe that these berries can help with weight loss, anti aging, and even cancer prevention.

Is there anything to worry about regarding side effects when taking the acai berry? Generally not, unless you have a specific allergy to berries or pollen. Besides this concern, the product has been shown to be safe.

Acai berry juice definitely has a lot to offer you. There are great health benefits, including possible weight loss and disease prevention as well. So, if you are looking for a way to get all the antioxidants that you need, this is a wonderful option to consider. - 17268

About the Author:

Find all the details you seek on the acai berry and all the wonderful benefits you'll realize from consuming the juice on a regularly. Being the top super food today, it will help balance your diet giving you all the nutrition you need for a healthy life. Amazon Thunder acai berry juice and other products are made from pure organic acai berries.

More Vegetables and Fruit Equals a Healthier Heart

By Gerald Beatty

You likely already know that you should eat a diet containing a lot of fruits and vegetables. Adding any type of fruit or vegetable is going to be good for you. But some are more important than others when it comes to your heart health.

Two important categories of vegetables are dark, leafy greens and cruciferous vegetables. Instead of iceberg lettuce, choose a variety that has a darker green color. This indicates that there are more nutrients packed inside that are good for your heart. You should also include lots of broccoli, cauliflower, kale, and cabbage in your diet.

Your best choices in fruit are from the citrus family. Fruits such as lemons, limes, oranges, and grapefruits are the best choices for your heart. It's best to eat the whole fruit because you'll get more fiber. But fruit juice also contains nutrients that are healthful.

Most people have between one and three servings of fruits and vegetables each day. This is nowhere near the recommended five servings that's a bare minimum. Even better is to eat seven to nine servings. Just don't attempt to escalate from one serving to nine in only one day. Take it slow and add them into your diet gradually. Here are some tips to help you sneak in extra servings throughout the day.

If you like eggs for breakfast, add some tomatoes, onions, peppers and mushrooms. Have a small glass of fruit juice along with your meal. Make up a smoothie containing whole fruit that you can take with you as you head out the door. Or add some fruit to your cereal.

When you make your sandwich for lunch, add lots of vegetables such as tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers, in addition to the typical lettuce leaf. Eat a bowl of vegetable soup. Have a side salad, or make a meal of a large salad containing some protein. Adding fruit to your salad gives both a flavor and nutrition boost.

If you already eat vegetables at dinnertime, double your portions. If you're not eating a vegetable with dinner at all, make a point of adding one. A tasty way to add more vegetables to your meal are by making hearty soups and stews. Or start each meal with a small salad.

You don't have to make major changes to incorporate more fruits and veggies into your diet. Simply add a serving here or there. It won't be long before you're getting what you need for optimal heart wellness. - 17268

About the Author:

Preventing heart disease involves making long-term changes that will improve your heart health and decrease your risk of heart attack and stroke. Learn how to get started on the path to Heart Wellness.

Vemma Verve and Weight Loss Over 40

By Julieanne van Zyl

After the age of forty losing weight can be very difficult, and because of the hormonal changes that are taking place in their bodies, it is especially difficult for women. But it is possible to lose weight over forty if you get plenty of exercise, learn how to eat right and be patient.

Metabolisms decline as we age, therefore, we usually have to watch what we eat. Folks over 40 just do not burn off the fat as fast as they did in their twenties.

It is essential to eliminate all the junk food is in your home if you want to decrease weight and get into shape. By eliminating the junk food, you are removing the temptation to cheat with that bowl of ice cream or bag of chips.

Learn how something healthier can replace those high calorie foods. If you drink a lot of soda or kool-aid type drinks, then switch to water. If you do not like the taste of plain water, you can use sugar free flavor packets that taste delicious and have no calories.

A healthy energy drink like the Vemma Verve can also assist you to decrease weight, because it improves your metabolism and provides your body with the daily required minerals and vitamins. Quite often people lose weight when they start getting the proper nutrition into their bodies.

Every day, take your lunch to work with you. This will assist you to put off the temptation to run through the drive-thru at lunch. Make sure that you take healthy in-between meal snacks to work. This will keep you from hitting the snack machine during the day.

Your caloric intake should be reduced by 200 calories per day. You can do this by adding more vegetables as a side dish. The vegetables will fill you up without the added calories.

We recommend highly that you stay away from fried foods when you are trying to lose weight. Bake or grill all of your meats. This will decrease the fat content of the foods and will also help keep your cholesterol levels under control.

Boosting your intake of whole grains and cereals is one of the biggest secrets to decreasing weight when over forty. These foods have a lot of fiber which is important for good digestion. Whole grains and cereals will also help decrease cholesterol levels.

You must keep in mind that you will need to add exercise to lose weight, even if you do eat a healthy diet. After 40, you are battling against a sluggish metabolism. It is up to you to augment your metabolism. Find a type of exercise that you enjoy doing and do it every day. If you really want to boost your metabolism, it is a good idea to add weight training to your routine. Adding muscle will help to get rid of more fat.

Over forty it is critical to eat healthy if you want to lose weight. Start taking lean meats, fresh fruits and vegetables and cut out the junk foods. Increase water intake and take good care of yourself. A healthy energy drink could assist you in losing weight also. - 17268

About the Author:

Julieanne van Zyl operates a site about healthy energy drinks which has current information about energy drinks. If you would like to to purchase a healthy energy drink, which is a Mangosteen Juice supplement with an energy blend, go here: Verve Energy Drink

Top 7 Time Wasters At The Gym

By Victoria Jamison

When you're in the gym, there are a lot of distractions. It seems, these days, my gym time is always battling with other things that can seem more important. When I do finally get in the gym, I'm careful to not waste my time on these 7 items.

1. Too much time in the gym- Cardio exercise should be a portion of your time in the gym, not the bulk of it. It's meant to compliment your resistance training and a proper nutrition plan.

2 - No more long rest periods between exercises. Usually this happens when you see a friend and you spend 10 minutes chatting about fitness. Talking about getting fit isn't going to help you get fit. Don't take as many breaks and instead schedule some time over coffee when you're both of you are away from the gym.

3 - Plan your workouts. Make sure you know what exercises you're going to do, how many reps you'll do of each and how much weight you're going to use. If you're constantly trying to figure things out on the fly, you'll double your time in the gym.

4 - Have two exercises in mind. You've most likely got a set routine you want to use to work all the muscles in a group. If, for some reason, someone else is using the machine you need, this can slow you down dramatically. I like to have two exercises using different pieces of equipment in my plan book. Exercise A and if that isn't available exercise B.

5 - Get intense! Push yourself further than you thought you could go. Physical gains don't happen when you're barely pushing yourself. You need to be going to failure on almost every exercise. Even if you're just building strength and have no interest in bulk, you should still work to failure, just at a higher level. Remember, bulk comes between 8 and 10 reps and strength comes when you're doing between 12 and 15.

6. Not using your full range of motion- If you are not using your full range of motion when performing your exercises, you can be sure that you are wasting your time. Be sure you are using correct form to be sure you are getting the results you desire.

7) Get some help from someone who knows what they're doing. There aren't many golfers better than Tiger Woods, but, he still has a coach. A coach isn't someone who knows more than you, it's someone who can observe and motivate you from outside of yourself. They can see things you're doing wrong. They can motivated you when you don't have it in you. Seek out a professional even if it's just for a periodic check-up for yourself. It will pay huge dividends.

If you could only relate to 2 or 3 of those items, don't just brush them aside thinking you're well beyond this information. Take those 2 or 3 things and concentrate on fixing them. It will give you more time away from the gym and increase the quality of your workouts. - 17268

About the Author:

Victoria Jamison is the owner of Fit Supermom and has a passion for helping people with their weight loss program. She specializes in cardio fitness, diet nutrition and fitness weight training.

Advanced Wellness Promotions

By Linda Kemp

Ever since I first noticed signs of aging, I've been looking for a way to keep the progression of the aging process under control. Specifically, I've been looking for a natural dietary supplement that would be able to minimize the aches and pains that my body has been accumulating, renew my libido to the vigor that I enjoyed back in my twenties, help me to keep my weight under control, and stave off the kinds of chronic disease conditions that I'm more likely to have to deal with as I age. I've actually found something that can do all of those things. It's called the acai berry and it's available in the form of Pure Acai Berry which is a completely natural nutritional supplement.

When I first heard about the acai berry I did a little bit of research. It turns out that the acai berry isn't really a brand new discovery. Of course it's only recently been introduced to American society, but the natives of the Brazilian rain forest where the acai palm grows have been taking advantage of this fruit for thousands of years. The proof that the acai berry is so effective at maintaining human health can be seen in the fact that the natives of that rain forest are some of the healthiest people on the planet!

Of course acai palms won't grow very well in North America, but we can still enjoy the benefits of their fruit through the use of Pure Acai Berry. Pure Acai Berry concentrates all of the beneficial parts of the acai berry into a supplement that is easy to use and affordable. It basically contains all of the antioxidants, minerals, fiber, and omega three fatty acids of the acai berry in a form that stores well and is easy to add to any diet.

When I first incorporated the acai berry into my diet I started noticing measurable improvements to my health almost immediately! I began sleeping more soundly, my mind was sharper, I had more energy and my energy level was more consistent over the course of the day. It didn't take me much longer to notice that my joints ached less, my sex drive had improved, and that I could keep my weight more consistent with less effort!

The most profound effect that the acai berry has had on me is that it has given me a greater ability to control my own life. This comes from a variety of different properties of the acai berry. For example, the fact that it lets me sleep more soundly means that I don't need to spend as much time in bed in order to get the rest that I need. This in turn allows me to get up earlier in the morning so that I can take care of extra business, eat a healthier breakfast, and possibly even get some exercise before going to work. While I'm at work, I definitely notice the improved mental acuity that the acai berry has given me, and I feel less of a compulsion to get into the ubiquitous donuts in between meals! The fact that I have more energy has allowed me to cut back on the coffee at work, and after work I still have plenty of energy to get some more exercise and to take the time to prepare a healthy meal!

Everything has definitely been better for me since I started taking Pure Acai Berry! - 17268

About the Author:

L. Kemp writes articles for consumers who want to find the best Acai Berry Free Trial currently available. She has written for many major publications about the latest on Acai Berry Pro ,deals and promotions and how buyers can find the best discounts.

Two Big Reasons to Ditch Bottled Water

By Phyllis Wheeler

Perhaps you are one of the many, many Americans who have turned from drinking tap water in recent years. After all, who knows whats in it? In many cities it tastes, smells, or even looks odd.

Instead, you have been drinking bottled water, like plenty of other Americans. But you need to take a look at some of the negatives. For one thing, in many cases sellers are putting tap water into bottles, after filtering it. It's not the spring water you might wish for. In addition, the bottled water may have more microbes in it than the tap water, since the FDA, regulating the bottlers, has more lax testing requirements than the EPA, regulating the tap water.

One of the undesirable aspects of drinking bottled water is the waste problem. 60 million bottles of water per day are used in America, and a lot of them are winding up in the landfills. Since we all need to drink gallons of water each day, if we choose bottled water, we will go through a lot of bottles.

There's a health issue with the bottles too. Water bottles made of clear plastic (normally with a recycling symbol #1 on them) contain BPA, a chemical that our bodies treat as mock estrogen. Traces of it end up in the water, just because it is stored in the plastic bottle. By the way, plastics labeled with recycling symbols #3 and 7 also contain BPA.

An online magazine, The Green Guide, reports that scientists are finding evidence that BPA has caused harm, including links to cancers, diabetes, childhood hyperactivity, and cancer. In fact, Catherine Zandonella, MPH, wrote that 104 independent studies found harmful effects from BPA. In contrast, she said, industry paid for 11 studies which showed no harmful effects. Because the FDA has decided to side with industry in the controversy, BPA is allowed in plastics manufacture.

BPA isnt just in the clear plastic bottles. Its also in canned food containers, baby bottles and toys, and vats used for processing wine. In fact, 95 percent of Americans tested in 2004 had some level of BPA in their urine, according to a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as quoted by Zandonella.

It seems clear we should avoid contaminants if possible. In fact, avoiding contaminants is the whole reason we were buying bottled water, isnt it? Lets drink water out of glass, stainless steel, or BPA-free plastic (with a recycling number 2, 4, or 5 on the bottom).

Now, how do I control what container I drink pure water from? Here's a great, economical way. I can get a home water filter and bottle the water myself using my chosen containers. A home water filter, installed at the kitchen sink, icemaker, or shower, can provide me with clean water at a much lower price than bottled water--about 8 cents per gallon. - 17268

About the Author:

A home water filtration can give you with just the abundant, clean water you need, in BPA-free bottles of your choosing. Save money too! Clean, pure water from your home water filtration costs just 8 cents per gallon. Find out about filtration options, including shower-head filtrations, at http://www.home-water-filtration.info .

Slim Fast Diet: Pros and Cons

By Kim Archer

If you'd like to lose a few pounds, hopefully you're only considering healthy weight loss programs and not fad diets. Perhaps you've been considering the Slim Fast program, but don't know if it's healthy or not. Here's a look at the features of this diet plan that might help you make a decision.

In the original Slim Fast diet, you made up a shake by mixing Slim Fast powder with skim milk, twice a day instead of meals. There were three flavors: vanilla, strawberry, and chocolate. You would drink one of these shakes at breakfast and another at lunch, and then have a nutritious dinner of about 600 calories.

Today, there are several more products in the Slim Fast line-up. You can get pre-mixed canned shakes, snack bars in a variety of flavors, and soup mixes. You are allowed these products about three times a day. And a recommendation was added that you drink eight glasses of water every day.

That's the short version of the Slim Fast diet. Next, we'll take a look at the pros and cons.

Pros: First of all, you can certainly lose a considerable amount of weight on the Slim Fast diet if you make sure to exercise. The program is easy to follow. You can take the shakes with you to work, to the gym, on the road, and just about anywhere else. There's no counting calorie or meetings.

Cons: It's hard to feel full after drinking your Slim Fast shake, and you might be longing for some real food at mealtimes. This makes it pretty difficult to stick with this diet for too long. There isn't an abundance of fruits and vegetables on the plan, so you won't be getting your fiber requirements and you'll miss out on some important nutrients (although the shakes contain vitamins and minerals).

There's no doubt you can lose weight on the Slim Fast diet, but given the disadvantages, you might want to use the Slim Fast products to replace a snack instead of a meal. The shakes are flavorful, but you won't get the satisfaction that you do from eating a real meal.

As a final note, it's not uncommon for dieters on this plan to put back on all the weight they lost, plus some more. One woman followed the Slim Fast program and exercised moderately for a year. She lost 60 pounds. And then she gained it all back the next year. The problem is, if you haven't changed your eating habits, and then you stop using the shakes, you're likely to go back to eating your unhealthy favorites.

Recommendation: Since it's so difficult to stay with this plan indefinitely, the Slim Fast diet is best for people who only need to lose a few pounds. If you have a lot of weight to lose, you could use this diet as a starting point for some quick weight loss, then move on to food-based plan to help you continue to shed a pound or two a week.

Every time you turn around, there's a new diet book on the market. It can be hard to choose the one that's best for you. While you're checking out the latest weight loss miracle, remember that long-term weight loss requires a change in your eating habits that you can live with for life. - 17268

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