8 of the Most Nutritious Foods on the Planet

If you had a personal nutritionist, and they had only eight words that they could say to you, this is what they would say! Today we are looking at eight superfoods … foods that are big on health, big on taste, and big on benefits. You probably have quite a few of them in your cupboard anyway … read on to bump up the nutritional value of your next meal!

1. Kidney beans, boiled without salt
   Kidney beans can go in so many different dishes. They are great for tacos and all types of Mexican foods, and delicious n lasagne. They are also a nutrition powerhouse, with 45% dietary fiber (great for your gut), almost 0% calories from fat,, and plenty of protein.
2. Kellogg's All-Bran
   Yes, there are some healthy things in the world that come out of a box! You'll have to add fruit and soy milk to make All Bran palatable, but it is so good for your intestines and digestive health. High fiber products have also been thought to lower cholesterol and the risk of heart disease
3. Nonfat mozzarella cheese
   Yum! Cheese in general is very fattening, but nonfat mozarella cheese actually makes it onto the nutritionist's superfoods list. It is high in sodium, but if it makes eating other ultra-nutritious veggies more palatable, then it does an excellent service.
4. Raw lemons
   Lemons are a great source of B vitamins, iron, magnesium, vitamin C, potassium and copper.
5. Bluefin tuna
   Packed with omega 3 and other nutrients, having a can of tuna on a toasted sandwich is a great way to bump up the health factor of a pre-packed lunch.
6. Eggs
   Eggs got a bad rap for cholesterol over the past couple of decades, but nutritionists have always stuck by them. Eggs are made to be a complete food to grow a chicken from nothing more than two little zygotes, to a fully functioning little bird. What can be bad about that?!
7. Coleslaw (homemade)
   The fact that we are eating these vegetables raw is one of the main reasons that home-prepared coleslaw is so healthy. Actively try to use low-fat and salt ingredients though, otherwise you wipe out the net health benefits.
8. Flaxseed
   It had to be on the list! Full of antioxidants, omega-3 and complex carbs, flaxseed is easy to add to other foods and ultra-healthy.

5 More Things You Didn't Know You Could Buy Organic

Many people are actually put off going organic by the amount of chemicals we are actually forced to ingest as part of everyday life. Understandably, some people feel that if they are going to be breathing in cleaning chemicals, having synthetic fabrics rub against their skin and wearing chemical makeup anyway, what is the point in eating organic strawberries? What they probably don't realize is the sheer number of products that are available in organic form nowadays. We go through five unexpected ones, from organic vitamins to organic mascara!

Organic mascara and other cosmetics

The fact that cosmetics are such personal products, applied daily to some of our most delicate skin, has been a major factor in the push to develop organic versions. Now even mascara, previously an invariably chemical-filled goo, has organic versions.

Organic veges in pill form

Did you know that you can get organic whole food multivitamins … you don't actually have to do all of that spinach and squash eating every day if you don't have time, but can still get the benefit of nutrients in an organic medium.

Organic clothing

You can get organic tshirts, skirts, dresses, pants, socks, underwear … everything! Organic clothing might be made from organic cotton or even bamboo fibers, and recycled suede and leather are also popular.

Organic tea and coffee

There are hundreds of thousands of people all over the world who drink more than one cup of coffee or tea per day. It's a Western ritual, and yet another area where you can make the choice to go organic for your health.

Organic toilet cleaner

Usually the most potent and nasty of all household cleaners, toilet cleaner is available in organic form, utilising natural ingredients that are organically grown and processed. The story of a person who had toilet cleaner spill inside their car, and subsequently had it written off by the insurance agency, saying that it would never be fit for a human to ride in again because of lingering fumes and damage to the chassis, has convinced many to switch!

More tips for feeling good

As a whole, the people of our world are living longer than we ever have at any time in the past. With the amazing advancements in medical science that allow us to overcome diseases, it becomes more important than ever to keep our bodies in good shape. We'll be using them for many decades! Today we continue our look at the concept and science of anti-aging - keeping our bodies as close to their young and healthy state as possible. We've got some great dietary supplement tips, as well as lifestyle changes to ensure you have not only a longer, but also a better life.

Don't drink much alcohol

Yes, some types of alcohol have antioxidants in them. However, so does a piece of broccoli! Drinking alcohol for the antioxidants is counter-productive, if you are embarking on an anti-aging quest. The alcohol will harm your liver, meaning that toxins cannot be filtered out of your body as effectively, and your general health suffers. Alcohol is generally a downer on good health. Enjoy … but keep it to an absolute minimum! You'll probably find that once you get out of the habit of drinking, it really doesn’t hold the same temptation.

Look to Japan

Researchers have been trying to pinpoint what it is about the Japanese lifestyle that helps them live so long, so healthily, for many decades! There is no single answer yet - but eating sushi, staying away from saturated fats and meats other than fish, and meditating will certainly not hurt your anti-aging aims.

Reduce stress

If you have done any research into the effects of stress on the body, your heart rate probably went up a bit thinking of how mean you have been to your heart, your brain, and your organs in general on all those horrible days at work! Everybody needs to do something they love at least once a day … otherwise what point is there in living til you are 90? Do what you love, and don't do what makes you stressed for best anti-aging effects.

Get moving

It hardly seems appropriate that this is at the end of the list - however we did mention exercise for anti-aging early on, as an 'antioxidant'. In reality, the benefits of exercise are too numerous to mention. It helps your heart, lungs, muscles, brain, liver, endocrine system, and just about every other little bit in your body to work properly. You need to do exercise at least six times a week - dietary supplements alone can't do all the work!

Awesome Anti-Aging Tips

The term anti-aging is relatively recent, yet the concepts that anti-aging specialists are using are actually very traditional and time-tested. It is simply that the media, the public and scientists are now drawing together all the facets of the science of anti-aging into a single discipline. We have been looking at some of the most important tips for keeping your body working well, as well as looking great. From whole food multivitamins to giving up the cancer-sticks, here are some top anti-aging tips!

Quit smoking

Of course, in one way smoking can keep you young … your friends will never remember you as an old person, because you will most likely have died by middle age. Smoking is one of the number one killers in our society, and decreases both lifespan and quality of life the longer you do it. It affects your lungs, your skin, your liver, your heart, your brain … it is hard, but ultimately worth it.

Always wear sunglasses

One of the only places in our body where cells are not naturally regenerated is our eyes. This is why macular degeneration and cataracts are such concerning conditions. Wearing sunglasses protects your eyes from UV radiation, which your retinas and lenses don't get damaged in the first place … which keeps your eyes younger!

Always Slip, Slop, Slap, Seek and Slide

The Australian Cancer Council created this ditty to help remind people how to be sun-smart:

• Slip on a shirt
• Slop on sunscreen
• Slap on a hat
• Seek shade
• Slide on sunglasses (which we already talked about!)

You do need vitamin D (from sunshine) for good health, but ten minutes a day on your face and hands is plenty. The sun has far more harm to do your body than good, if you want to stay as 'young' as possible.

Take omega 3 dietary supplements

If everybody in the world ate their two servings of fish per week, we would quickly run out of fish. Taking an organic whole food supplement focused on Omega 3 is both the healthy and environmentally responsible thing to do.

Awesome Anti-Aging Tips

It isn’t just simple vanity … often being able to turn back the clock in your body means that you will live a longer and more fulfilling life. Anti-aging is so much more than just getting rid of wrinkles … if it wasn't we would all just booking a Botox session and be done with it! Today we start a series of anti-aging tips (including ones on both lifestyle and dietary supplements) to help every man and woman look, but more importantly feel, their best.

Drink plenty of water

Water has several benefits to your body. For starters, most of us don't get enough for our kidneys, liver and brain to function at their optimal level. Secondly, drinking water means that you are not as likely to reach for soda, sugary flavoured milk, or highly caffeinated drinks. Having enough water in your body is essential to keeping your skin, teeth, and inner organs young. Use it to wash down some dietary supplements, and get double the benefit!

Focus on complex carbohydrates

People are often confused about what constitutes a complex carb … really it is simple. The opposite of a complex carb is (as you would expect!), a simple carb. Simple carbohydrates are sugars. Complex carbohydrates are broken down in to sugars. They are foods like seeds, wholemeal bread, brown rice, oatmeal, etc. They are packed with antioxidants, and help maintain digestive health just like probiotic dietary supplements do.

Make use of 'free' antioxidants

Antioxidant dietary supplements can be really handy if you lead a busy life, but one of the most effective antioxidants is free … oxygen! Oxidative stress occurs in an anaerobic environment … maximising the oxygen in your blood is a quick antioxidant boost , and has sooooo many other benefits!

Take your bacteria, every day

New Chapter's Probiotic anti-aging formula helps re-balance the bacteria in your gut, which can have quite a knock-on effect in other areas of your health, and a huge effect on how well you age.

Beating Candidiasis: 10 Diet and Whole Food Multivitamin Tips

Candidiasis can be such a frustrating disease. For those who are predisposed to yeast infections, and especially for those who are on long term antibiotics (such as for acne), or the contraceptive pill, they can be a daily part of life. Today we are looking at some strategies for getting rid of those nasty little bugs, and taking control of your body back, including diet tips and fungal defense complexes.

1. Avoid sugar. Yeast needs simple sugars to survive, so in addition to doing your pancreas and liver a favor, cutting down on the sugar will starve those little yeast organisms.
2. Avoid yeast. Eating white bread, white flour products that have been 'risen', crackers, pastries, etc will only put more yeast back into your body … and you want them OUT!
3. Avoid alcohol. Beer is not the only drink that is made with brewer's yeast - again, you don't want to put more yeast in your body when you're trying to get rid of it!
4. Avoid fruit juices and fruits. Fruit does have lots of essential nutrients, buit it also has a high percentage of natural, simple sugars. You'll be feeding the colonies.
5. Avoid coffee and tea. Pau de arco tea is the only exception to this - even green tea and herbal tea is sometimes seen to contribute to candida proliferation.
6. Avoid chlorinated tap water. This ultra-sterile environment may help the candida colonies grow - tap water can contain natural probiotics that will help outcompete the candida.
7. Avoid old leftovers. You can freeze any dinner that you don't eat, but if something has been in the fridge for more than three days after being cooked, it is a breeding ground for yeast.
8. Fungus foods like mushrooms and blue cheese should be avoided.
9. Peanut butter - it seems that candida likes this as much as kids do! You can use almond butter in place of peanut butter, for a lovely flavor and more nutrients.
10. Take a fungal defense holistic capsule as often as directed. Look for one that is made from organic vitamins and minerals, and has fermented whole foods.

Is Bottling the Answer to the Water Dilemma?

To answer the question posed by today's blog title … NO! If you are wondering why bottled water is certainly not the solution to the problems that our tap water often has, keep reading. We know that tap water is often filled with low levels of agricultural chemicals, chlorine, and various organic pollutants. We also believe that this low level chemical exposure is a huge contributor to degenerative diseases that proliferate in our society … completely negating the good effects of all those organic vitamins that you are taking! Today we give you six reasons why bottled water is not the answer to the water dilemma, but filtration is.

1. It takes three bottles of water to make one bottle of water
   The water input come in the processing, waste, manufacturing of the plastic to hold it, and transport. Seems crazy to keep drinking such a wasteful substance!
2. Bottled water is TERRIBLE value
   Bottled water costs thousands of times what water from the tap does. However, there are no guarantees that it is any purer or fresher than what comes out of your tap! In many cases, all he bottler does is put a label on it and do some marketing to give the impression that it is purer … but doesn’t actually filter anything. You aren't helping your body or assisting your organic vitamins by buying bottled water.
3. Bottled water creates garbage
   Even if you faithfully recycled all of your water bottles, there would still be resources in the form of energy and water needed to melt them back down and convert them into another usable form. If you don't recycle, your water bottles end up as landfill or litter. Given that there are 60 million of them in movement on any given day in the US alone, this is no small problem.
4. If we spent equaivalent money on public water systems instead of bottled water, we would have much more efficient solutions
   Buying bottled water puts your dollars in the hands of those that least need it. It might not feel like, it but it would actually be more sensible to donate what you would have spent on bottled water to your water authority.
5. Bottled water has contaminants, too
   There are no regulations, either state or federal, that require bottled water to be better, cleaner or safer than tap water. It must meet minimum standards, of course … but so must your tap water!a

If you want to make a difference in your body, buying a water filtration system is the best way to support all your other organic vitamins and healthy activities. Bottled water is a waste of money and resources!

Why Are Supercritical Supplements So Good?

If you've stumbled across the New Chapter range of whole food multivitamins and organic vitamins, you are probably also wondering about the "Supercritical" label that many of them have. Many people take it to mean that the supplement is one of the most critical elements of their diet … and while this can be true of the nutrients these little pills contain, it isn’t the intended meaning! Today we take a look at exactly what supercriticality is, and some of the products that utilize this technology and extraction method.

What is a supercritical fluid?

Rather like the superheroes of old, who were not quite man, not quite monster, supercritical fluids are stuck between two physical states. The critical point represents that highest pressure and highest temperature at which a substance can exist as a liquid and vapor in equilibrium. Above a certain pressure things trend towards being solid, while above a certain temperature they trend towards becoming liquid, then vapour -- think water turning to steam as it heats up.

However, there is a magical point at which something can be a solid, liquid and gas all at once. There is also a temperature and pressure range above which a substance is considered supercritical, and has the properties of both liquids and gases, both dissolving other materials and diffusing through solids.

What does supercritical mean with supplements?

It doesn’t actually mean that the organic vitamins exist in a supercritical state, partway between solid and gas … although that would be a neat trick! It means that their ingredients are obtained by supercritical extraction -- that a herb is taken to its supercritical zone to distill a substance from it.

What are the benefits of supercritical extraction?

It is the gentlest way to extract vitamins and minerals from a herb, and means that chemical solvents don't have to be used in the process.

What are some examples of supercritical supplements?

New Chapter has the market in supercritical supplements pretty much tied up! Check out some of their products if you want to see what difference taking supercritical, rather than ordinary, supplements could make to how you feel. Their range includes:

1. Supercritical DHA 100
2. Supercritical DHA 100
3. Supercritical Holy Basil
4. Supercritical Omega
5. Supercritical Stress Advantage Stress Take Care
6. Supercritical Antioxidants

6 Quick Facts About Bone Health

Our bones really do tend to get used and abused .. .even if they are never broken! They tend to be ignored until there is a problem with them -- while plenty of people do preventive cardiovascular exercise, they try to take care of their livers by not drinking alcohol or eating too much meat, and we are very protective of our skins, our bones just don't get that same focus. Today we take a quick overview of bone health at all stages of life, perhaps telling you something you didn’t know about the strategies and whole food multivitamins that can help ensure your bones stay healthy and strong!

1. Did you know the teen years are actually the most important ones in the prevention of osteoporosis? If you have a healthy diet and exercise pattern as a teenager, your peak bone mass grows, and you'll be able to get better effects from weight-bearing exercise andwhole food multivitamins.
2. Eating disorders can ruin your bone health. One unfortunate and long-lasting side effect of eating disorders is the leaching of calcium from your bones, through malnutrition.
3. Dairy products are a good source of calcium, but supplements aren’t always. If you hate milk or are lactose intolerant, be aware of how much calcium you take as a supplement. Taking too much calcium can actually cause it to leach from your bones -- not the desired effect!
4. The greatest calcium intake is usually required during the reproductive years. Between the ages of 20 and 45, there is no excuse for ignoring your bone strength!
5. Weight bearing exercise is critical for increasing bone strength. When you put pressure on your bones, they form tiny, tiny tears and fractures. When these heal, they are stronger than the previous bone was. When you're doing cardio, make sure you do plenty of jogging as well as swimming.
6. You should also make sure you get enough vitamin D to support calcium's role in maintaining strong bones. You get vitamin D from sunshine, so if you have an indoor job you may suffer during the winter months. Always be sun smart, though -- 10 minutes sunshine a day on your face and hands will get you plenty of vitamin D.