Cottage Cheese - A Fitness Food

Cottage cheese doesn't seem very palatable to many people. While it is runny and lumpy it's also a great food for both weight loss and building muscle due to it's low fat and high protein content.

Cottage cheese can be made in to recipes as a cheese and dairy substitute like in lasagna, dips, on baked potatoes and in salads. It can also be added in to an egg white omelette, whole grain pasta and low fat desserts, like cottage cheesecake.

If you like the taste (many do!) then eating cottage cheese on its own is an incredibly healthy snack. Add some yogurt for a a more a creamy taste and some fruit for a nutritious but decadent snack.

Nutritional Content per 4 oz or 113g 

Calories- 120 g
Protein- 14g
Fat-5g
Carbohydrates- 3g

There are also low fat and no fat varieties which bring the fat down to 0-1.5g. However, be aware that sugar is added in some low fat varieties to add sweetness to the cheese. [..]

Keep in mind that diet is always 50% of results. So eat cottage cheese for a low fat, high protein diet and reach those goals!

Eat Up!

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8 Great Breakfast Ideas For People With Wheat Intolerance

Even if you have wheat intolerance, you can still have an effortless and guilt-free breakfast. You want to start your day off right, but you don't want to have to eat wheat to do it. These 8 breakfast ideas will have you waking up each morning actually looking forward to a new day!

Breakfast Idea #1: Omelets

This is one breakfast classic that doesn't belong on anyone's wheat intolerance "forbidden list". Grab some eggs (or egg whites), and mix in tomatoes, bell peppers, and onions. Pour it on a hot pan, fold the omelet, and you've got yourself a scrumptious gluten free breakfast!

Breakfast Idea #2: Gluten-Free Cereal

Although most breakfast cereals have gluten, there are many that don't. You have to be very diligent about label reading or call the manufacturer to be 100% sure.
Many organic cereal brands, like Nature's Path and Whole Earth, make cereal that is 100% gluten free. There are also specialty companies that produce gluten-free cereal made just for people with wheat intolerance.
The best part is that they taste great! They range from super-healthy crispy rice to indulgent frosted flakes.

Breakfast Idea #3: Fruit

As you already know, fruit is naturally gluten free. The best breakfast fruits are blueberries, strawberries, melons, bananas, and grapefruit. Fruit alone isn't' the most filling breakfast, so it's best used as a side.

Breakfast Idea #4: Gluten Free Toast

There are dozens of gluten free breads on the market today. Pick your favorite, throw it in the toaster, top with butter or peanut butter, and presto: toast is back in your life!

Breakfast Idea #5: Yogurt

Many flavored yogurts contain gluten, so it's best to go with the plain variety. To add yummy flavor, you can mix in frozen fruit, some honey and top with gluten-free cereal.

Breakfast Idea #6: Pancakes

Sure, most pancakes are made from wheat flour, but it doesn't have to be that way! To make an amazing gluten free pancake, just substitute wheat flour with rice flour, tapioca flour, or brown rice flour. Most classic pancake ingredients are gluten free, so this is actually the only change you need to make.

Breakfast Idea #6: French Toast

This is another traditional breakfast food that doesn't have to be sacrificed just because you have wheat intolerance. Combine the wet ingredients (eggs, milk, vanilla extract, nutmeg) like you normally would and let gluten free bread slices soak it up. To cook, throw the bread on a hot greased pan.

Breakfast Idea #7: Bacon

A real breakfast favorite! Most bacon is gluten free, although some companies use gluten as filler. This is another case where you have to check the ingredients label before giving it a go.

Breakfast Idea #8: Porridge

Porridge is great for staving off an appetite until lunchtime. Although oats are generally not advised for those with wheat intolerance, other grains like buckwheat and millet work just as well for porridge.

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The 7 Health Benefits Of Castor Oil

Many know castor oil's health properties and is widely used for medicinal purposes. Yet, this vegetable oil's use for health is often underrated, for a number of reasons. This vegetable oil is found from the seeds of the castor plant, which is found in Africa and India. So, what are the health properties of this vegetable oil that makes it so special? Here is a look at the seven different benefits of this oil and how it is different.

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1. For pain

Castor oils' anti-inflammatory properties make it be used as a natural anti-inflammatory agent useful in treatment of swollen joints and tissues. You can take this oil orally in a glass of water to treat severe rheumatoid arthritis as well. This oil can also work wonders to offer relief to back pain and abdominal pain and is also useful in menstrual cramps.

2. For hair

This vegetable oil has fatty acids and Vitamin E, both of which help you in your hair growth. All you need to do is to apply this oil on your hair and scalp to increase blood circulation and free the scalp from fungal as well as bacterial infections. Applying castor oil also ensures that you check hair loss.

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3. As laxative

The laxative benefits of this vegetable oil are well known. The ricinoleic acid in castor oil starts functioning and helps in digesting the food as well as cleanses the system and improves the bowel movement. No wonder, it helps during constipation too.

4. For skin

The skin properties of castor oil are well known to all. Using this vegetable oil on your skin helps it be hydrated and also be free fro infections. No wonder, it helps treat skin diseases like acne too. If you use the oil regularly you will be able to keep wrinkles in control too. In fact, if you apply this oil to babies, it can help prevent cases of diaper rashes too.

5. For immunity

It's been researched and found out that castor oil, when applied to the body, helps increase the count of T-11 cells in the body thus strengthening the immune system. The total number of lymphocytes increases within 24 hours too.

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6. For allergies

Are you suffering from allergies? Well, this oils' anti-allergic properties can help. If you have allergies related to skin and naso-pharyngeal area, just take five drops of castor oil in water in an empty stomach.

7. For warts, moles and cysts

Applying this oil also helps treat warts, moles and cysts. Apply the oil with a pinch of baking soda will help solve the problem of cysts. In fact, using castor oil packs also helps dissolve cysts in the ovary.

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Minerals And Hormone Balance: What Women Need

It's no secret that minerals are required for every bodily process, but did you know that hormone imbalances can be blamed on mineral imbalances too? That's right - essential nutrients affect how our hormones work and that can have a huge impact on life in general. Hormonal imbalances can cause weight gain, decreased sex drive, weight gain, fatigue and PMS, to name a few.

Prescription medicines contain mind-altering pharmaceuticals that can disturb your natural hormonal balance and cause unwanted side-effects. Some people who use anti-depressants may experience increased suicidal tendencies, while lacking sexual desire and weight gain. Evidence has shown time and again that many conditions that are treated with pharmaceuticals could be avoided with proper nutrition.

Let's take a look at some of the hormones, and how you can address them using mineral supplements. A hair mineralysis is a great way to assess any imbalances and deficiencies that will help address symptoms.

Serotonin boosts excitement and enthusiasm. People who lack serotonin often experience sadness, poor sleep, lethargy, irritable bowel syndrome, PMS and sugar or carbohydrate cravings. Magnesium is essential for hormone development and nerve communication.

Dopamine functions in improving energy, self-confidence and self-discipline. Dopamine deficiency is evident when symptoms such as addiction, depression, hyperactivity and obesity are present. Selenium helps improve dopamine and research has shown that a low selenium intake is linked to depression.

Women in particular need essential minerals for optimum health. During her reproductive years, a woman is more likely to lack iron, while a menopausal woman will have to avoid iron supplementation. Here are some more reasons why women should consider mineral supplements:

Iodine assists hormone regulation, detoxification an nerve activation.

Selenium has powerful antioxidant properties for immune health and it helps to regulate thyroid hormone activity. There is a strong relationship between selenium and hormone regulation, particularly of hormones such as follicle-stimulating hormone, estrogen, luteotropic hormone, thyroid hormone and progesterone.

Zinc is often depleted by birth control, poor dietary habits, HRT, medications and alcohol consumption. Low levels of zinc have been linked to PMS, infertility and increased estrogen activity, as well as increased effects of ageing and an inability to handle stress.

Magnesium has been found to fight the effects of ageing in women, as it helps with muscle cramps and spasms, migraines and blood pressure, as well as PMS.

If you think that your hormones are out of balance, or that you might be mineral deficient, it's a good idea to consider a hair mineral analysis. This quick, accurate and painless procedure will show you exactly what your body needs to become healthy, energetic and performing at optimum level.

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Kombucha - Home-Made, Fermented, Probiotic, Health-Boosting Joy!

In the past I was always a bit nonplussed when it came to kombucha. I didn't think I liked the taste, and I was sceptical of the claimed health benefits. But now I've found out more about it, and discovered how easy and fun it is to make at home, I'm definitely a kombucha convert!

Kombucha is a fermented drink made from tea. It is made using a 'kombucha mother', also called a 'kombucha scoby' (or sometimes 'the tea beast'!) which is a gelatinous colony of bacteria and yeast. The mother is added to a container of sweet black tea, and over the period of a couple of days to a couple of weeks the bacteria and yeast feed off of the sugar, and produce a range of nutrients which fortify the tea.

Health Benefits

Kombucha is credited with anti-viral and anti-fungal properties. Like all ferments, it is a 'living' substance, containing healthful 'friendly bacteria', which are essential for immunity, digestion, and nutrient absorption. It also contains vitamins and amino acids. In ancient China it was called the 'tea of immortality'.

Using & Brewing Kombucha

The only difficulty to start with is getting hold of a komucha mother. You could try asking around your local health-food shops, or look on eBay where there are often some for sale.

A kombucha mother can be reused indefinitely. Each new batch is started with about a cupful of mature kombucha saved from the previous batch, and some new (cooled) sweet black tea. One or 2 teabags and a handful of sugar to a small saucepan of water seems about right, but the quantities are very variable.

The best vessel for brewing your kombucha is said to be a bowl with a large surface area, but I find it easier in a large jar. Cover with a cloth to keep out flies or dust but don't seal closed as this would cause a pressure build up.

Once it's ready, the komucha is kept in the fridge and drunk as it is. It is slightly fizzy, slightly acidic, and to my mind, has a taste not unlike cider. The taste changes day by day as the complex fermentation processes develop. Young kombucha still tastes more like tea and is slightly sweet.

Very mature kombucha is not at all sweet, with a strong vinegary taste. Kombucha connoisseurs often seem to like it quite vinegary, but I must admit I prefer it a little milder, and normally stop my kombucha before it gets too strong.

Every batch you make also produces a new 'mother', so you end up with 2. At first the existing mother that you put in sinks to the bottom. After a day or 2 you can start to see a film appearing on the surface of the kombucha. Don't be afraid - this isn't mould, but the beginnings of a new mother.

After another couple of days it will be thicker, and will resemble the original mother. Once you have finished, you can use each of your mothers to make 2 separate batches of kombucha, give one away, or compost it. A mother will also keep for a couple of weeks in the fridge in a cupful or so of mature kombucha.

You can also kombucha other liquids. I mentioned that to me komucha tastes a little like cider, so I recently tried komucha-ing some apple juice, and it was delicious! It is claimed that using liquids other than tea will eventually harm the mother, but I haven't yet found this to be the case.

As a new mother is created each time I find it best to keep one regular batch of kombucha tea on the go at the same time as an experimental brew, so that I always have one mother that I know will be ok.

So... I'm a kombucha convert, is anyone else with me?

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Hibiscus Tea - Health Benefits

There are many different teas that provide numerous health benefits. One of the healthiest teas is hibiscus tea, also known as roselle, flor de Jamaica, karkade or sorrel. The tea is traditionally used as a mild medicine. In this article you'll read about five most important health benefits of this tea.

1. Hibiscus tea lowers blood pressure
One of the most powerful benefits of hibiscus is its ability to reduce blood pressure.

In one study, conducted by researchers from Tufts University of Boston, drinking three cups of hibiscus tea each day lowered blood pressure of people with mild to moderate hypertension by an average of 7 points after six weeks of treatment.

In another study, conducted by researchers from the Bastyr Center for Natural Health in Seattle, Washington, drinking 16 ounces of the tea daily for four weeks lowered blood pressure even by 10 points.

If you have problems with high blood pressure, hibiscus tea can be as effective in treating hypertension as antihypertensive drugs.

2. It's rich in vitamin C

If you're ill, hibiscus can help you recover more quickly. The tea is rich in vitamin C which may reduce the duration of illness. Moreover, vitamin C enhances iron absorption, which is especially helpful for vegetarians and vegans.

3. It's rich in antioxidants

Hibiscus is rich in antioxidants which destroy cell-damaging free radicals. Some experts believe that organisms age because cells are damaged by free radicals. Diet rich in antioxidants may not only improve your health, but also extend your life span.

4. It aids in weight loss

Consuming the tea after meal will help in breaking down starches and sugar. Consequently, it'll aid you in weight loss. Drinking the tea can also increase satiety which is especially important if you're on a diet. Moreover, hibiscus tea is a diuretic, so it elevates the rate of urination. The less fluid you'll retain, the less bloated you'll look.

5. It lowers LDL cholesterol levels and the risk of heart disease
Last but not least, a study performed by Shan Medical University's Institute of Biochemistry in Taiwan shows that the tea lowers LDL cholesterol levels and the risk of heart disease.

As you can see, there are many health benefits of hibiscus tea. And I didn't share with you all of them - only the most important ones! Hibiscus is used as a mild herbal medicine by thousands of people in many countries all over the world. You too can benefit from this great tea!

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