Calix : Health and Fitness » Vitamins & Nutrition

Apple Cider Vinegar: Not Just a Salad Dressing

Admin — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 08:47:22 +0000

It’s often surprising to find what’s sitting at the back of the kitchen cupboard. An old tin of beans perhaps. A jar of peanut butter bought for the kids one Christmas that got ignored. Apple cider vinegar. Depending on how long they’ve been there, the beans will be fine (they’ll survive a nuclear war) and the peanut butter might need to go. The apple cider vinegar though, now why did you have that?

It’s impossible to say, obviously, I’m not you, I don’t know why you bought it. But don’t throw it out. You might have bought it in search of an interesting new salad dressing and weren’t quite convinced. What you probably didn’t know is that organic apple cider vinegar is said to have some quite remarkable health benefits.

You may not be crazy about the taste, and truth be told, apple cider vinegar is so potent it should always be diluted. But then, you probably didn’t like broccoli too much when you were a kid either, and you know how good that is. You can grow to like these things. Organic apple cider vinegar has been used as a folk remedy for an enormous range of ailments and conditions for centuries. No lesser man than Hippocrates is said to have used it as a daily tonic.

These days, proponents of the acid/alkaline blood balance theory are particularly supportive of apple cider vinegar’s use as a daily tonic as it is said to have an alkalinising effect on the blood. Their theory is that a PH level that is too acidic (as a result of a similarly acidic diet) leads to all manner of negative health effects: anxiety, insomnia, general ill-health. By alkalinising the blood, apple cider vinegar helps maintain general good health all round.

More specifically, studies have shown that organic apple cider vinegar may be helpful in a weight loss program as it can contribute to greater feelings of satiety following a meal, meaning you will be less tempted to over-eat. Perhaps most interestingly of all, it has been shown to lower glucose levels, making it particularly useful for glucose management in diabetics. Specifically, taken with a meal it can lower the post-meal glucose spike that can cause so many problems.

As with all vinegars, apple cider vinegar also benefits from a long shelf-life. It lasts for around 5 or 6 years so before you absent-mindedly throw it in the bin during your annual cupboard clear out, give it a try, and see how it makes you feel.

Bio:

David J Clark is a graduate of the University of Sussex, currently working as a freelance writer, with a particular interest in natural health and organic apple cider vinegar.

Hormone Balance and Its Significant Role in the Body

Admin — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 07:07:48 +0000

Do you have ever considered how much important hormone balance is for your body functioning? It’s the most significant thing that has to be kept in mind since most of the functioning disorders are the resultant of the hormonal imbalance in the internal body system. Hormones, as already known to everyone, are the chemicals that render the active functioning to body cells and organs thereby increasing the metabolic activity.

Hormones are at the heart of all the major biological processes including growth and development, sexual reproduction, maintaining immune system of the body. Hormonal disorder can lead to several disorders that can be dangerous and result in the exhaustion of the body immune system. Some of the major problems that are related to the mental activity of the human body, which are the resultant of hormonal dysfunction are depression, adrenal fatigue, and deteriorating physical health.

Hormone imbalance can be the resultant of neurotransmitters inactivity or dysfunction. Neurotransmitters are the chemical messengers that are responsible for the functioning of brain and directing the organs, cells, tissues and hormones their proper function. Most of the doctors recommend the patient to go for neurotransmitter tests if the individual has been suffering from prolonged depression. Since, hormone imbalance is one of the major factors for depression. P.S. A friend of mine is developing website which offers HGH and many more information about HGH, Including HGH Reviews for some of top HGH Products like Sytropin, HGH Energizer, GHR 1000 and GenF20. A nice site worth checking out if you’re interested in growth hormone things.

Some of the other but the important tests besides neurotransmitter tests that have to be done so as to assure the proper hormone balance in the body are saliva hormone tests, blood tests, thyroid tests, and digestive tests as well.

Keep Track of Your Calories with Calorie Counter

Admin — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 05:34:44 +0000

Our life styles have changes so much from good old days. We are doing so less physical movement. Our jobs are more and more brain oriented rather then needing physical movement. Most of the times we work in our air-conditioned cabins on computers so we hardly have any good opportunity of physical excise. In these changing we really need to keep track of our calories consumed in order to avoid falling to many life style diseases.

One of the best online resources for keeping track of your calories consumed is www.MyFitnessPal.com. This website has a wonderful calorie counter which is very easy to use and very informative on same time. Best part is that this entire entire website is totally free you will never need any credit card ever. One of the features which I am really impressed me on this website is there easy to use searchable food data base. It has more then 6000 food items in it and you can get all the relevant details you need about that particular food item. This website has its own forums where you can discuses your related issues with like minded people and that sure will help to keep you on track.

Importance Of Vitamins And Minerals

Admin — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 06:51:21 +0000

A vitamin is a nutrient that is an organic compound required in tiny amounts for essential metabolic reactions in a living being. Most vitamins cannot be obtained in sufficient quantities by synthesis in the body, and therefore must be obtained from the diet. Daily vitamins are the ones that must be consumed by an organism regularly in his food. Deficiency of any of these may lead to deficiency diseases. Some of the important daily vitamins are-

Vitamin A- Its recommended daily intake is about 600µg. Its deficiency can cause night blindness. Yellow fruits, vegetables and eggs are a good source for this vitamin.

Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) – Its recommended daily intake is 75 mg. Due to its deficiency; gums may swell up and bleed. Its sources are citrus fruits, green vegetables and gooseberry.

Vitamin D (cholecalciferol) – Its deficiency may result in rickets i.e. soft bones. A sunbath is a good remedy for its deficiency, as our skin synthesizes it under sunlight.

Minerals are elements needed by our body in smaller quantities as compared to other nutrients. They are better known as dietary minerals. They provide materials for the growth and development of bones and teeth. Daily minerals are the ones that our body needs regularly for certain metabolic and other important activities. All the daily minerals are chemical elements except carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen.

All the daily vitamins and minerals are very important for our body; otherwise we become vulnerable to many diseases. They help in the proper functioning of our body organs and are essential for a good health. Intake of proper amount of vitamins and minerals is very essential.