All About The Fabulous Mango [Infographic]

All About the Fabulous Mango - Health Benefits, Nutrition, Varieties
Infographic from PlantChallenge designed by Sergio Abadias

Mango is one of those foods that frequently pops up on many recommended food lists.

This infographic entitled The Most Fabulous Mango is all about this fruit: health benefits, nutrition facts, popular varieties, stages of ripeness and how to cut.

Mangoes are not only delicious and versitle in the ways they can be eaten, they are very nutritious.

Because mangoes are rich in important antioxidants, enzymes, vitamins, minerals and other micronutrients like Vitamins A and C, Potassium, Calcium, Folate, Vitamin B6 and Copper, their consumption has been linked to numerous health benefits including:

❤ Cognitive and neurological development and function

❤ Healthy cardiovascular function

❤ Improved immune function

❤ Maintenance of bone health

❤ Normal blood sugar levels maintenance

❤ Formation of red blood and protection of DNA

❤ Vision health and protection of eyesight

❤ Collagen formation and healthy skin support

❤ Increased absorption of iron

❤ Weight loss and healthy weight maintenance.

Mango is a good source of both soluble and insoluble dietary fiber. Research indicates that soluble fiber is an important component in weight loss because it entraps food, sugar, cholesterol and fats in the stomach, slows their absorption by the body and carries them out through the digestive tract.  Fiber also has a satiating effect - leading to consumption of less calories.

Related:

Top 10 Healthy Foods Rich in Vitamin C
15 Foods to Include in an Every Day Diet
15 Foods that Boost Metabolism
12 Healthy Reasons to Eat Fruit
The Benefits of Going Green

Infographic source:  published by PlantChallenge, designed by Sergio Abadias.

Oranges - Health Benefits, Facts and Recipes [Infographic]

Oranges - Health Benefits, Facts and Recipes
Infographic from Just Add Good Stuff

Oranges:  Health Benefits

Sweet, juicy, organically grown, fresh oranges are a superfood that is rich in many important and essential naturally occurring vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, phytochemicals (phytonutrients) and many other nutrients, including anti-inflammatory agents, carotenoid compounds, vitamins B1 and C, folate, potassium, copper, pantothenic acid, calcium, pectin and dietary fiber.

Its no wonder then, that regular consumption of oranges (and certain other citrus fruits) are thought to confer a wide range of health benefits, some of which include:

✿ Helps to prevents certain types of cancer - notably liver, skin, lung, breast, stomach and colon cancer

✿ Promotes heart health

✿ Aids in lowering the risk for ischemic stroke

✿ Reduces the risk of kidney stones and helps to prevention of kidney disease

✿ Lowers cholesterol

✿ Regulates high blood pressure

✿ Protects against viral infections

✿ Aids in detoxification of harmful toxins

✿ Reduces fine lines and wrinkles, fights skin damage, and generally improves the overall texture of skin

✿ Alkalizes the body

✿ Relieves constipation

✿ Promotes weight loss including belly fat

Infographic

Along with describing some of the key health benefits of oranges, this infographic also contains nutrition data and some interesting facts about oranges.  The three recipes referenced in the infographic, together with other great information about health, nutrition, diets and fitness can be found at: Just Add Good Stuff - Just Add Oranges!

 It should be noted that because of the relative high content of sugar in orange and other fruit juice, especially commercially prepared juice, and the presence of certain banned or harmful substances in some imported juice, health experts generally advise to avoid drinking juice and instead to eat the whole fruit.

By eating the whole orange, you get the benefit of the natural dietary fiber generally present in whole plant foods.   Fiber slows down the absorption of sugar into the bloodstream.  Keeping blood sugar levels steady helps prevent insulin spikes.  Spikes in insulin can lead to insulin resistance or metabolic syndrome, which are associated with diabetes, obesity, heart disease, high blood pressure and other medical conditions. Insulin spikes can also lock fat into cells promoting weight gain (especially in the abdominal area) and preventing weight loss.




Related:

12 Healthy Reasons to Eat Fruit
15 Foods to Include in an Everyday Diet
15 Foods to Boost Metabolism

Coconut Oil and Health [Infographic]

Top 25 Reasons to Use Coconut Oil [Infographic]
 from PhysiciansReference.com

In the book, Eat Fat, Lose Fat: The Healthy Alternative to Trans Fats, Mary G. Enig, PhD asserts that in order to enjoy optimal health and to lose weight, the body needs healthy fats, including a certain amount of saturated fat.  Dr. Enig writes:

 "Among saturated fats, coconut is queen because of its special properties."

Other well respected functional medicine physicians and nutritionists support the consumption of coconut oil not only for a myriad of health benefits but also to boost metabolism and speed up weight loss.

For example, Dr. Mark Hyman's 10-Day Detox Diet (see: The Blood Sugar Solution 10-Day Detox Diet: Activate Your Body's Natural Ability to Burn Fat and Lose Weight Fast), does not permit refined and processed vegetable oils like corn, soybean, canola and sunflower.   Instead, the Detox Diet calls for consumption of extra virgin olive oil and extra virgin coconut oil (coconut butter) as the primary sources of healthy fat.

In addition to promoting weight loss and general good health, coconut oil also has excellent moisturizing and healing properties when applied topically.

This infographic illustrates the top 25 reasons to use coconut oil to aid in physical, emotional and mental health and well-being, promote weight loss, and as a completely natural and healthy hair, nail and skincare beauty product.

Related:

Healthy Oils
The Benefits of Vegetable Oil (Olive, Coconut, Flaxseed, Sesame, Avocado and Peanut Oils)
Benefits of Coconut Oil
Amazing Benefits of Coconut Water


Infographic source and further information at:  PhysiciansReference.com

Weight Loss - 5 Proven Ways to Lose Weight and Keep it Off [Infographic]

5 Proven Ways to Lose Weight and Keep It Off
Infographic by EatoHealth.com

 Dieting in the U.S. is at an all time low, according to data compiled and released by The NPD Group, a leading global information company that has been tracking Americans' eating habits for nearly 30 years.

Currently, only about 20% of American adults report that they are on a weight loss diet, as compared to the 31% who reported being on a diet in 1991.

According to The NPD Group, their data suggests that dieters are giving up on diets more quickly than in the past.  Their data also suggests that while Americans still want to lose weight, they are changing their attitudes about being overweight.  That is, fewer Americans are viewing being overweight as unattractive.

The waning interest in dieting might also be attributed to confusion about weight loss foods, programs and strategies brought about by so much conflicting information and claims.

Also, many of the most popular fad diets are very extreme, leaving out entire food groups and/or severely restricting intake of calories. Good examples of these are Atkins, Raw Vegan Food, and the HCG Diet.

For the majority of people, these types of diets are too difficult to follow and maintain over the long-term.  Additionally, the effectiveness and even safety of some of these diet plans has been the subject of much controversy.

So, its easy to see why Americans are getting tired of following a specific diet program or not buying into the latest weight loss craze.

The good news is that its very possible to lose weight and maintain that weight loss by making some relatively simple lifestyle changes.

This infographic illustrates five common weight loss challenges and provides solutions, tips and information for each.  They are:

1.  Limit calories and fat

2.  Eat five small meals a day, starting with breakfast

3.  Monitor food intake

4.  Eat consistently throughout the year

5.  Limit restaurant meals

Related:
10 Tips for Guaranteed Weight Loss
Women are Dying to be Thin

Infographic source and more weight loss, nutrition and health information and tips at:
EatoHealth - 5 Proven Ways to Lose Weight and Keep It Off

The Benefits of Vegetable Oil [Infographic]

Some 30 to 40 years ago, the "low-fat" and "fat-free" diet craze began to take hold in the United States.

Many doctors, wellness professionals and medical and public health institutions advised Americans to eliminate as much fat from their diets as possible.

Dietary fat was blamed for everything from weight gain and obesity to coronary heart disease.

In response, food manufacturers began to produce low-fat and fat-free versions of just about every type of food, including food that never had any fat to begin with - like juice.

Certainly, the low-fat and fat-free diet fad did not stop or even slow down the obesity epidemic in the U.S. during the past several decades.  And, whether or not a low-fat diet can prevent or reverse obesity, heart and other diseases continues to be a subject of heated controversy among physicians and other health professionals.

What we do seem to know is that human body needs a certain amount of healthy fat in order to function properly.

A growing body of research indicates that certain healthy fats are essential to brain health, may decrease risks of certain diseases and may even play an important role in weight loss and healthy weight management.

So, what are the sources of healthy fats?

Many doctors today, especially functional medicine physicians, advise staying clear of hydrogenated fats and fats from animals - particularly from commercially raised farm animals as these fats often contain traces of antibiotics, steroids and other drugs. (See Abuse of Antibiotics in our Food and the FDA, Drugs in Meat and Milk and How Farms Contribute to Superbugs)

Instead, it is recommended that we limit ourselves to fats from plant-based sources - those found in certain foods (such as nuts, seeds and olives and avocados) and in certain vegetable oils.

As this infographic illustrates, the most recent studies show that insofar as oils go, the healthiest fats come from the following:

✿ Olive Oil
✿ Flaxseed Oil
✿ Coconut Oil
✿ Peanut Oil
✿ Sesame Oil
✿ Avocado Oil

Other beneficial oils include:

✿ Almond Oil
✿ Hemp Seed Oil
✿ Macadamia Nut Oil
✿ Sesame Seed Oil
✿ Walnut Oil

Certain considerations need to be given to purchasing, storing and cooking with various types of vegetable oils.  This infographic gives some pointers in these areas and this and related information is also available online and in many excellent books.




Related

Healthy Oils
Oils to Avoid and Oil Essentials
Healthy Oils - Cooking and Storing


Infographic Source and further info at:  Health Central - Benefits of Vegetable Oils

Healthier Tacos: Increasing Dietary Fiber

The good news is that taco lovers (who make their own tacos at home) now have a healthier option:  Ortega Whole Grain Corn Taco Shells.   The bad news is that, while these whole grain shells do provide 10 less calories and nearly twice as much (5 grams) of dietary fiber per serving (2 shells) than their traditional non-whole grain counterpart, nonetheless each shell still contains the same amount of fat (6 grams), 50% less iron, and slightly more sodium.

2013: Focus on Health, Not Another Diet, to Lose Weight

For many Americans, losing weight is at the top of their New Year's resolutions list.  Unfortunately, most overweight people choose the latest trending diet - one that promises quick results with mimimum effort.  Although many individuals will initially lose some weight on a fad or trending diet, studies have repeatedly shown that the weight lost from these diets almost always comes back. 

Lose Weight with a Modern Bed of Nails

Endorsed by Dr. Mehmet Oz (host of The Dr. Oz Show) as one of the best products for getting and staying healthy, a modern "bed of nails" can help you lose weight and stay slim.

The modern "bed of nails" is a soft mat with thousands of tiny plastic spikes. It is also known as a massage, acupressure or acupuncture mat. When you lay down on the mat,