November 7, 2008
For many years now health experts have rated the acai berry as one of the top ‘super fruits’, because of its powerful nutritious and antioxidant effects. The acai palm is native to Central and South American and grows mainly in moist, swamp-like conditions. The berries are small and dark purple when ripe, and very similar in appearance to grapes. They have been a staple part of traditional Amazonian tribal diets for centuries and the acai palm is one of the most important food sources in remote rainforest areas, as it yields two harvests of plentiful fruit a year. The rest of the palm is utilized as well and leaves can be used to weave hats, baskets, fences and roof thatches. Acai wood is also resistant to many pests and so is very useful for constructing wooden structures. The seeds from the berries can also be ground up and used to feed livestock and also fertilise soil.
The health benefits of acai berries are recognized in the West and many companies now produce health food drinks, yogurts and sorbets made from these fruits. Acai berries have a high protein, fibre and carbohydrate content, so are useful for people trying to prevent weight gain as they increase energy levels to help prevent you feeling hungry between meals. The high fibre levels in the berries are also good for improving natural digestion health, which is especially important in a Western diet where fibre intake is often low. Acai berries have high levels of vitamin A, B and C, calcium, iron and amino acids, all of which are essential for maintaining healthy cardiovascular, musculoskeletal and immune systems. The acai berries also contain high levels of antioxidants that can help combat the signs of premature aging and recent studies have shown that blood antioxidant capacity increases significantly within just a few hours of consuming acai berry juice.
If you want to benefit from the nutritious and antioxidants effects of acai berries then you can purchase a whole range of commercially prepared acai products from health food shops, the most popular being juices, yogurts and teas. You can also buy whole freeze dried berries, which are thought to preserve higher levels of vitamins and natural fibres. If you want to find out more about acai berries and their health benefits then there is plenty of information available on the Internet from sites such as AcaiAcaiAcai.com. 
Popularity: 56% [?]
Posted in Food & Diet 
1 Comment »
October 17, 2008
Goji Juice is a natural, healthy, organic drink made from Goji berries grown on the Majestic Mountains of the Himalayas. Those who eat Goji berries regularly, commonly live for a period of over 100 years, due to the variety of health benefits. In fact, the oldest person to have ever lived in recorded history, Prof. Li Qing Yuen, was documented by the Government of China as having lived to 252 years of age, and attributed his longevity to eating Goji berries on a daily basis.
Regular consumption of Goji berries has been documented as producing a variety of health benefits including improved eyesight, restoration of hair colour, improved libido, mood enhancement, noticeable improvement in energy levels and a better quality of sleep. Those people from Northern Asia in the Tibetan and Mongolian Himalayas who eat Goji berries have been scientifically documented as having a lower incidence of heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, cancer, diabetes, Alzheimers disease, fibromyalgia, lupus and multiple sclerosis. As a natural source of HGH (Human Growth Hormones), they are also known to slow down and even reverse the aging process.
Goji Juice not only provides you with all of the benefit of Goji Berries, but is made with Pear Concentrate, Apple Concentrate and Black Cherry Concentrate. An extremely tasty and healthy drink, Goji Juice contains no added sugars, colours or artificial flavourings and is suitable for Diabetics, Vegetarians and Vegans.
Whether you are an athlete who is seeking improved performance, endurance and recuperation times, or simply a person who is health-conscious, Goji Juice is a healthy, tasty and low-calorie drink that is rich in anti-oxidant vitamins and minerals, and sure to improve the quality of your health.
Popularity: 40% [?]
Posted in Food & Diet No Comments »
October 14, 2008
If you have a busy life, full of work and family commitments then you may often feel run down and find it difficult to find the enthusiasm to go to the gym or socialise at the end of a long day. You may already find stimulating drinks like coffee, cola and sports energy drinks helpful in boosting your energy during times when you are feeling tired and lacking in concentration, but these drinks are often associated with over stimulation and although they do give you a short period of alertness, this can then be followed by an energy dip as the caffeine and other stimulants wear off. Many standard energy drinks are also high in sugar and carbohydrates, which can slow absorption of fluids into the body increasing the possibility of dehydration during exercise.
Mad Dog Energy shots are carefully designed to provide alertness, without the characteristic energy dive of other energy drinks. They are made from a nutritious blend of vitamins, enzymes and herbs, with no added sugar, calories or carbohydrates and the energy boost provided by this combination can last up to six hours.
An additional benefit is that Mad Dog Energy shots are compact and do not need to be chilled, so you can conveniently keep them in your bag, desk drawer or locker. Mad Dog also produce Energy Chews that contain a powerful combination of energy boosting ingredients including B vitamins, taurine and caffeine, which give a quick boost of energy in just a few minutes and contains as much energy as a cup of fresh coffee, but without that energy dive afterwards.
You can order Mad Dog Energy shots and Energy Chews directly from their website at MadDogEnergyProducts.com and you can also find out more about the products, including FAQ pages and testimonials.:)
Popularity: 27% [?]
Posted in Food & Diet 1 Comment »
October 6, 2008
It is easy to build your own workout plan, whether you enjoy exercising at home or in the gym. Firstly think about your current level of fitness, and also what you hope to achieve by exercising. Do you just want to improve your overall health and well being, or are you looking to loose some weight and shape your body into a new image?
If you want to loose weight and improve your general body image and fitness quickly, it is best to do a full body workout at least two to three times a week. You should include exercises that target all the main areas of your body, and it is a good idea to have rest days between the workouts to lessen the risk of injury.
Here is a sample full body workout routine that would be suitable for a beginner, and can be carried out at home with the relevant equipment, or in the gym:
· Shoulders – seated dumb bell press. You should warm up with a set of 20 repetitions, and then follow with set of 15 repetitions once the muscle is primed.
· Back – Lat machine pull-down. This is a variation on a chin-up exercise, but much easier for beginners. Warm up with a set of 15 repetitions, followed by a set of 12 repetitions
· Chest – dumbbell bench press. Grip the bar with your hands slightly wider apart than your shoulders, and concentrate on driving the weight up mainly from your chest muscles, and not your back and arms. Warm up with a set of 20 repetitions, followed by a set of 12 repetitions
· Biceps – Standing barbell curl. This is a great exercise for building dense muscle and should be the foundation of any arm exercise program. Make sure you are squeezing the muscles as you lift for maximum impact. Warm up with a set of 20 repetitions, followed by a set of 12 -15 repetitions
· Triceps – Triceps kickback. Triceps are often neglected from workout routines, which leads to an uneven muscle balance on the arms. Warm up with 15 repetitions, followed by a set of 12 repetitions
· Upper legs –leg press. This exercise is only effective if you use the full leg extension, so keep the weight manageable and always ensure you can perform full repetitions. Also try and avoid locking out your knees as this takes the stress off of your thighs and reduces the impact of the exercise, and also puts unnecessary pressure on the knee joints. Warm up with 20 repetitions, followed by a set 15 repetitions.
· Calves – Seated calf raise. This can be a tricky exercise, so it’s best to do this in the gym first with an instructor to guide you through it. Warm up with a set of 20 repetitions, followed by a set of 15 repetitions.
· Abdominals – Crunch. There are various types of abs workout, but the crunch is one of the most popular ways to exercise abs, as it really targets and improves strength in this area. Warm up with a set of 20 repetitions, followed by another set of 20 repetitions
Popularity: 38% [?]
Posted in Exercise 1 Comment »
content rss