Fabulous Flax - The Rich Nutrients In Flax

Flax oil and flax (also known as linseed) seeds have become rediscovered as genuine health nutrients. They unquestionably deserve being admitted in any top-ten listing of nutrients that are healthy. Flax isn't a brand-new nutrient. It is in reality among the older and, maybe, among the groundbreaking "wellness foods," cherished due to its therapeutic attributes throughout the Romanist Empire. Flax was among innovative medications employed by Hippocrates.

Flax may be nicknamed the "unnoticed oil." It has been diminished due to oil makers having discovered wholesome oils to be less rewarding from a profit point of view. The selfsame nutriments that flax generates in nutritional advantages - crucial fatty acids - likewise afford it a poor shelf life, causing it to be costlier to develop, ship, and store on shelves.

However, those who are nutritional experts recognize the need to keep ranking flax high up on the list of essential foods. Due to the bustle of technological fields of study confirming the wellness benefits of omega-3s, flax oil has progressed from the icebox of "wellness food enthusiasts" to a position of scientific reputability.

A tablespoonful of flax oil or 2 tablespoons of flaxseed meal should become a daily habit. In addition to being the most beneficial origin of omega 3's, flax oil is an effective source of omega-6 fatty acid, or linolic acid (LA). Safflower, sunflower, and sesame oils are more outstanding sources of omega 6 fatty acids however, they don't incorporate any omega-3 fatty acids. Flax oil comprises 45 to 60 percent of the omega-3 fatty acid alphalinolenic acid (ALA).

Along with wholesome fats, flax seeds carry additional nutriments which make consuming the entire seed superior instead of eating only the distilled oil:

1. Flax seeds are comprised of high caliber protein.

2. Flax seeds are abundant in water-soluble fiber. The combining of the oil and the fiber causes flaxseeds to be an ideal laxative.

3. Flax seeds bear vitamins B-1, E, carotene, B-2, and C. These seeds also incorporate zinc, iron, as well as trace quantities of phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, carotene, and vitamin E, two nutriments that assist the metabolic process from the oil.

4. Flax seeds carry more than a hundredfold additional phytonutrient, called lignin, than any of its most proximate contenders, like wheat berry bran, rye, millet, buckwheat, oats, and soy. Lignins have gotten more press due to potential anti-cancer attributes, particularly in regard to breast and colon cancer. Lignins appear to kick excessive estrogen hormones from the body, thereby abbreviating the relative incidence of estrogen-linked cancers, like breast cancer.

In addition to anti-tumor properties, lignins also look to deliver antibacterial, antifungal agents, and antiviral agents. Linseeds, because they comprise some protein, vitamins and minerals, fiber, and lignins, they are more nourishing than their oils. Even so, for useful intentions, many consumers favor utilizing the oil for its omega-3s and not being forced to hassle with crunching the seeds.

However nutritionally speaking, it's worthy of the bother to mill new linseeds (like in a coffee grinder) and scatter them as a flavoring with cereals, salads, or blend them into biscuits and muffins.

While purchasing seeds, make certain they are intact, not split; breaking the open brings out the inside seed to the light and warmth and diminishes the nutritionary rate. Or, purchase pre-ground linseeds, accessible as flaxseed meal. Just one ounce of linseed meal (about 4 tbsp.) will generate approximately 8 grams of fiber and 6 grams of protein.

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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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Green Nutrition - How Can It Benefit Me?

Green nutrition, smoothies, juices, we've been hearing these terms more and more. 'But what exactly is it, and how can it benefit me?' 

I'm glad you asked!

Green nutrition is something that used to be reserved for patchouli-wearing hippies, right? Not anymore! Thanks to the incredible communicative power of the internet, you are finding more and more people learning about and using the variety of green foods available to them.

What I mean by "green foods" are specifically - certain foods that are, yes, green in color. They are generally referred to by their color not because the color itself is so wonderful, but because they all have similar nutritional benefits.

Green Superfoods are very nutritionally dense, in fact, incredibly so. They have an extremely high vitamin, mineral, enzyme, and antioxidant content, and have a great variety of health benefits, including battling with cancer, heart disease, glaucoma, macular degeneration, osteoporosis, and more. They also provide a tremendous amount of energy along with high quality protein, often with all amino acids for a complete protein.

Here's a few examples of foods that provide green nutrition:

• Wheat, oat, and barley grasses
• Alfalfa
• Algaes such as Chlorella or blue green algae
• Parsley
• Oregano
• Spinach
• Peppermint
• Kale
• Swiss Chard
• Sprouts
• Dandelions

And the list goes on!

Green foods are generally prepared in many ways, depending the food. Grasses are usually juiced or blended, and algaes are available as powders. Herbs can be added to smoothies or salads, and some of the leafy greens can be made into a salad or cooked.

There are a few things to consider when you want to get the most out of your green:

1. Raw green foods are generally better than cooked.
2. Fresh is better than dried, powdered or processed (though is unavoidable sometimes).
3. Organic foods will usually be the most nutrient-dense.

And finally - VERY IMPORTANT - getting some green nutrition is better than none at all.

While you will certainly get the best nutrition from foods that you grew yourself without chemicals and then juiced or consumed within minutes of harvest - that's just not realistic for most people

One of the biggest obstacles we have when trying to change our habits is the "all-or-nothing" mentality. Does that sound familiar? Do not fall into this trap! It is perfectly OK to start off your journey into green foods using a powdered drink mix that you have every morning. Just do something!

The key here is baby steps. Once you get going and incorporate something into your routine, it soon becomes habit and -- guess what? You are then ready to add something new - kick it up a bit.

So to answer the original question, green nutrition IS for real, and it can benefit you by increasing your health and resistance tremendously. It is no miracle that will strip you of 100 lbs overnight or anything, but it really does make a difference.

I challenge you to give it two weeks - try green nutrition - a smoothie or juice or whatnot -- every day for two weeks. It will give you energy, vitality, and will make a huge difference in your day.

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5 Tips For Creating Your Own Healthy Recipes

Most people think that all recipes come from Michelin star chefs or are handed down from some distant ancestor. Not only that but if you were to even consider making your own recipe, you would have to go through years of trial and error or training in the woods with some sort of cooking sensei.

What if I told you that with a little bit of planning and some simple diet knowledge, that you can easily create healthy meals for you and your family? Would you believe me? Read on.

Healthy Recipe Tip 1 - Planning is everything!

The thing that separates average and amazing cooking is simply planning. Taking a few minutes each week to plan meals for the following days can make a huge, and I mean HUGE difference.

Healthy Recipe Tip 2 - Steal!

There are literally thousands of recipe books, websites and blogs full of fantastic recipes. Keep all of these recipes in one place and when it comes to shopping for your next week/month, you can pick out the recipes that grab your attention and add their ingredients to your shopping list.

Healthy Recipe Tip 3 - Trim the fat!

Now it's time for you to get creative. Unless the recipes that you have sourced are super healthy, it is now your mission to take out the unhealthy ingredients, and either swap them with a healthy alternative or change the method in which they are cooked i.e. fried ingredients can be grilled etc. Even if they are already super healthy, don't be afraid to swap things you don't like for things you do!

Healthy Recipe Tip 4 - Be brave!

Now we have a healthy alternative to a recipe that you like, go wild and add any ingredients (healthy ones of course!) that you like and throw them in to the mix. The idea is that you will begin to understand really quickly what works together and what doesn't.

Experimenting with herbs and spices is a great way to start, perhaps add a few spoonful's of chilli in to your next casserole and see how it changes the flavour.

Healthy Recipe Tip 5 - Practice makes perfect!

I know that at the beginning of this article I said that you don't have to suffer years of trial and error to be able to create your recipes. It's true! However, don't expect to get it right all of the time. If you follow the tips above, you will make more winners than failures, all you have to do is stay clear on what you and the people that you will be cooking for like and the sky is the limit!

Good luck!

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Nutrition and Fitness: Exercise Alone Is Not Enough

Why Nutrition is Important

Almost two-thirds of adults are classified as overweight or obese based on Body Mass Index (BMI). Clearly, there is a strong link between nutrition and obesity. Other medical conditions, such as diabetes, osteoporosis, hypertension, cancer, high cholesterol, and cardiovascular disease can also be linked to poor nutrition and obesity, as well as a sedentary lifestyle. While healthy nutrition habits are inherently important for your overall health and wellness, they are critical while engaging in any type of physical fitness training. Your success in weight loss, muscle gain, and endurance all depend heavily on your ability to monitor your diet choices and work openly and honestly with your doctor, dietitian, and personal trainer.

Essential Nutrients

There are six essential nutrients that your body needs to survive and function properly. These are Carbohydrates, Fats, Proteins, Vitamins, Minerals, and Water.

Carbohydrates: Many weight-loss gimmicks in recent years have been based on the concept of "low-carb" dieting, which effectively deprives the body of this essential nutrient. The prime function of carbohydrate is to provide energy. Under normal circumstances, the nervous system relies exclusively on carbohydrate as an energy source, and 130 grams of dietary carbohydrate is necessary to support normal daily brain function. Carbohydrates are also protein sparing, which means muscle tissue is not used as a fuel source if sufficient carbohydrate is available.

Simple carbohydrates ("empty calories") are found in foods such as cakes, candy, soda, sports drinks, cookies, and syrup. These should be avoided and are not part of a healthy nutrition program. Foods that contain complex carbohydrates include whole grains, fruits, vegetables, legumes, brown rice, and whole-wheat pasta. These foods have a high nutrient density and provide much of your vitamin, mineral, and fiber needs.

45-65% of your daily calorie intake should come from carbohydrate, mostly from sources of complex carbohydrate and fiber. The recommended dietary fiber intake is 14 grams per 1,000 calories consumed.

Fats: Yes, fats are an essential nutrient! Among other things, fats are the major component of cell membranes, and are necessary in the absorption and transport of fat soluble vitamins (A, D, E, and K). There are four types of dietary fat: saturated, hydrogenated ("trans"), monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated. Saturated and hydrogenated, or "trans-fats," are high in cholesterol and should not comprise more than 7% of daily calories.

20-35% of daily calories come from fats, mostly from sources of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats such as fish, nuts, and vegetable oils. Cholesterol should also be limited to 300 mg/day.

Proteins: Proteins are made up of amino acids, which have many functions in the body. One of the key functions related to fitness and exercise is the synthesis of new tissue, such as muscle and skin. Many amino acids cannot be produced by the body and must be obtained through the diet. These are referred to as "essential" amino acids. The best sources of protein are animal sources (milk, meat, cheese, eggs, etc.). These are considered to be "complete" proteins because they contain all the essential amino acids in proper balance.

10-35% of daily calories come from protein. Good sources of protein include lean meats, poultry, fish, low-fat dairy, egg-whites, legumes, and nuts. Low-carb protein shakes and bars can also be used to supplement protein if needed, but it is always best to take protein from natural sources if possible.

Vitamins and Minerals

Vitamins and minerals do not actually provide you with energy, as they have no caloric content. However, they play a vital role in regulating many processes within the body, including the process by which energy is derived from nutrients such as fat and carbohydrate.

Vitamins: Vitamins are organic substances that regulate many bodily functions such as vision, DNA formation, red blood cell formation, metabolism of nutrients, and blood clotting. They are divided into two types: fat-soluble (A, D, E, and K), and water-soluble (B and C).

Minerals: Minerals are elements found in nature that are also essential to bodily processes. They are divided into two types: major minerals (calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, potassium, and chloride), and trace minerals (fluoride, chromium, copper, iron, zinc, etc.). Calcium and Magnesium are key minerals for fitness training as they function in muscle contraction and nerve impulse transmission, and are major components of bones and teeth.

Water

Keeping your body well hydrated is important, especially during bouts of vigorous exercise. While most fluids can help you maintain normal levels of hydration, pure water is clearly the best option. Soda, juice, milk, and sports drinks may contain a lot of unwanted sugar (empty calories) and sodium, while other options such as tea or coffee contain caffeine. Drinking 8-10 glasses of water a day will not only help you stay hydrated, but may also help you feel satisfied longer and less tempted to snack.

What does a healthy diet look like?

So now that you know a little bit more about your daily calorie and nutrient needs, you may be thinking: "what exactly does a healthy diet look like?" To sum it up, a healthy diet: 

• Emphasizes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and fat-free or low-fat dairy;
• Includes lean meats, poultry, fish, beans, eggs, and nuts; and
• Is low in saturated fats, "trans" fats, cholesterol, sodium (salt), and added sugars.

If you need additional help determining your own personalized diet and nutrition plan, you can always consult the advice of health and wellness professionals such as your physician, a nutritionist or dietitian, and a personal trainer.

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Why Are Fermented Vegetables Good For You?

Fermented vegetables, also known as raw cultured vegetables, have been around since ancient times and across all cultures. The fermentation process was originally done to preserve foods as the process enabled foods to be kept for months without spoiling. Specifically, its where foods are either left whole or chopped and left to sit in their natural juices, which are drawn out then used to preserve the food.

In ancient times, fermented foods were considered quite the staple food source, thus very instrumental in getting the masses through the long winter months. Today, we know and appreciate more of the nutritional benefits of fermented foods. For starters, they promote digestive health. Their acidity kills harmful bacteria and pathogens, removes toxins and anti-nutritional compounds and produces antibiotics, which improves immunity and overall health. Moreover, the new cultures that are created from the fermentation process create folic acid, niacin, riboflavin, thiamin and biotin, which are all part of the Vitamin B complex. B Vitamins promote healthy skin, increase metabolism, reduce the risk of pancreatic cancer, help the body make hormones and enhance immunity among other things. So as you can see fermented vegetables have an abundance of benefits to us.

Now, if you're not too familiar with what fermented vegetables are exactly some well-known examples are pickles, salsa, soy sauce, sauerkraut, sour cream, sourdough bread, water kefir and more. On the other hand, if you know of yet just aren't too keen on eating fermented foods, but still want to reap the benefits there are a variety of ways to eat them. For instance, sprinkling some sauerkraut on your salad or eating some with crackers will make a tasty snack or meal. Then, if you're a bread lover you could trade white bread for some sourdough. You could even add some fermented fruit to a nice, cold smoothie. Meanwhile, there are even some healthy fermented beverages that you can enjoy such as kefir, which can be found at your local health food store.

Fermented foods are a blessing to the world. They are a rich source of nutrients and for all the nutrients they pack they are relatively inexpensive whether you buy them fermented or do it yourself. Either way you look at it, you definitely get the bang for your buck and the nutritional benefit that you get is well worth your time and indulgence. Yet, from a broader perspective, fermented foods provide a means for feeding more of the worlds poor. So just as our ancestors realized the immense benefits of this food source so might we. There is much wisdom to be gained from ancient practices such as fermentation, which should not only be honored for what they did for us in the past, but more importantly for what they can and will do for us in the future as food security and the purity of our food is being threatened more and more each day.

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Natural Food As The Best Source For Vitamins And Nutrition

The way that the body works is complex, but one thing should be understood when you are seeking to enjoy optimal nutrition - it is best to get all that you need from your food. Though the modern world seems to favor instant remedies and lots of over the counter health solutions, it is not that wise to rely on pills to give you nutrients such as vitamins and minerals.

Why not? That is something that you will want to know if you are looking to consume a high vitality diet. The body really loves balance. It has actually mastered it by being able to take foods and use everything in them to nourish the body. In fact, this mastery has gone so far as to make it best to eat certain foods because they contain complementary ingredients that actually help the body to use nutrients in the best ways possible.

As an example, you eat an orange because you know it is full of vitamin C. This is a water soluble vitamin that is not absorbed by the body until it is about to exit the small intestine. The fact that oranges are high in water content means that a lot of the vitamin is going to be absorbed easily in the best way possible by the body. It is amazing and serves as a good lesson in the need to use food sources for nutrition.

The Transports

The ways that vitamins are found are almost endless. They appear in almost every natural food you can list, and they all have different quantities. This is why you do want to consume a range of foods on a regular basis, and why you want to choose only fresh and whole foods as often as you can. These are the only guarantees of getting the highest nutrient counts.

After all, if you eat roots, leaves, fruits, flowers, stems, and nuts for your nutrients and vitamins, they are what could be called "living" food sources. They will degrade quite rapidly after being harvested (as they should), and so food that has been transported over distances and kept in storage will not have the same higher nutritional values.

This does indicate that nutrition and vitamins can usually result best when obtained through the consumption of the freshest foods possible, and this means that seasonal eating is the wisest course of action. While your entire diet may not be available as fresh foods, you can consume frozen and dried foods and mix them with the available bounty.

This ensures that you are getting the materials you need at the highest quality. Now, there is one last way to get vitamins, and that is through exposure to the sun. Vitamin D is actually synthesized (made by) the body when the skin is exposed to direct sun. Just sitting outdoors for 15 to 20 minutes each day will allow you to naturally generate your daily supply of this essential vitamin. Nature does provide what you need, just be sure you eat seasonally and rely on food sources for most of your nutrients.

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The Top 5 Healthy Fat Foods (Eat These Daily)

Did you know that fat is an essential nutrient that your body needs on a daily basis? In fact, without enough (good) fat in your diet, your risk for developing major illness such as heart disease, blood vessel disease and atherosclerosis significantly increases.

But here's the thing, all fats are not created equal. The right fats (also known as essential fats because your body can not produce them on its own), will support your weight loss goals, improve your energy, make you look younger and support healthy cholesterol levels and a healthy, strong heart.

On the other hand, consuming the wrong fats can lead to a slow metabolism, a lack of energy, overall poor health and even worse, heart disease and even cancer.

The 5 foods listed below all contain healthy fats which will boost your health by increasing your HDL (good) cholesterol, decreasing your bad cholesterol and improving your energy, your looks and even your mood.

Healthy Fat Food #1: Salmon (Wild)

Without a doubt, wild caught Salmon is on of the best and highest sources of heart healthy omega 3's. Salmon is loaded with DHA and EPA, which have been shown is studies to have a direct impact on increasing good cholesterol and decreasing bad cholesterol. EPA and DHA have also been shown to improve symptoms of inflammatory disorders such as arthritis and Crohn's disease. In addition to its' excellent omega 3 content, wild salmon is also an excellent source of high quality protein, Vitamin D, Vitamin B6, Vitamin E and Vitamin A.

But, stay away from farmed Salmon. Thanks to modern fish farming practices, farmed salmon has nowhere near the amount of omega 3's found in wild caught salmon. Salmon farmers use dangerous antibiotics and chemicals to keep the farmed fish healthy in overcrowded fish pens where disease spreads quickly. Farmed salmon is also fed an unnatural diet of fish meal consisting of GMO soy and animal by-products, which dramatically reduces the omega 3 content of farmed salmon.

Eat wild salmon at least twice a week. Avoid frying it in oil. Instead, bake it in the oven and eat it with a side of fibrous veggies such as broccoli, spinach, cauliflower, green beans or a leafy dark green salad.

Healthy Fat Food #2: Walnuts

Walnuts contain a high amount of ALA, another essential fat that your body can't produce on its own. Walnuts are also a great source of fiber, Vitamin E, protein, Iron, Magnesium and vitamin B6. Eat a small handful of walnuts several times a week for optimal health benefits. Walnuts are great to eat all on their own and are a great appetite suppressant.

I like to snack on a handful of walnuts with a piece of fruit in between meals and at times where I may not have something healthy to eat (such as before going to a restaurant, an event etc... ) to reduce my appetite and eliminate bad food cravings.

Healthy Fat Food #3: Eggs (Organic & Cage Free)

Eggs have gotten a bad rap recently because studies have shown that egg consumption increases your cholesterol levels. That being said, higher cholesterol levels are NOT dangerous if you are healthy and have no heart conditions. You see, Eggs increase your LDL (bad cholesterol), but they also increase your HDL good cholesterol at the same time.

No study has ever shown that high cholesterol levels cause heart disease. But rather, a diet high in sugar, processed foods, omega 6 vegetable oils and trans fats (found in french fries, margarine, canola oil, soybean oil and other cheap oils) are the main culprits in the heart disease epidemic. That's because those foods all lead to inflammation of the artery walls, which is the main trigger for heart disease.

If you are eating a diet made up of mostly whole foods and you are staying away from processed foods, white flour, sugar, vegetable and hydrogenated oils, your health will not deteriorate from eating one, two, or even three whole eggs several times a week.

Eggs are an excellent source of protein and B vitamins, as well as brain and memory boosting Choline. Avoid cooking your eggs in vegetable oil. Instead, boil them or fry them in small amounts of our next healthy fat food...

Healthy Fat Food #4: Olive oil

Olive oil is high in monounsaturated fatty acids which have been shown to reduce inflammation in a similar fashion to the non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs Tylenol and Advil. But unlike drugs, olive oil has no side effects and is derived from nature, not made in some lab by scientists wearing lab coats. Just goes to show you that mother nature has the answers to even the most debilitating diseases and health problems.

All in all, olive oil is an excellent health food, but it is high in calories, so you have to limit your consumption especially if you're trying to lose weight. If you are experiencing slight to moderate joint or muscle pain, start cooking with olive oil and you just may find yourself not needing those over the counter pain medications.

Healthy Fat Food #5: Avocados

Avocados are one of my favorite foods because just like olive oil, avocados are high in health boosting monounsaturated fats. They are also an awesome source of fiber and potassium. In fact, one avocado contains twice the amount of potassium of a banana! Slice up an avocado into your next salad, or make guacamole out of it.

Eat these 5 foods on a daily basis and get ready to reap all of the benefits of a diet high in healthy, natural fats.

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