Drink to Your Health!

In a very fast-paced and high-pressure world we seem to forget to eat healthy.  And to make things quicker, it seems to be easier to put everything, vitamins and minerals in one gulp.   Health drinks are proliferating in the market.  But what is more economically efficient than making your own health drink?

Source: Fruits Juices For Good Health

If you are a person who finds it difficult to insert vegetables and fruits into your diet, then think of drinking fresh juices and vegetable juices.  Freshly made juices are a great source vitamins, minerals, enzymes and co-enzymes.  Enzymes serve as catalyst for the processes and chemical reactions that happen throughout your body.  Enzymes are much needed when you digest, convert and absorb food into body tissue. 

There are fruits and vegetables whose nutrients and vitamins are trapped in the fibers.  These nutrients and vitamins get released after blending them.  This make blended fruit and vegetable juices more nutritious compared to eating them whole. Also, drinking fruits and vegetables make it easier for the fibers and nutrients to get quickly into the bloodstream and system.  

There are studies showing that drinking fruit and vegetable juices are best done every morning and evening. The juices drank in the morning and evening will get into the bloodstream within ten minutes after drinking it.  

If you are interested in creating your own vegetable and fruit juice, here are some steps that can get you started in your healthy habit:

• Purchase a juice machine.

• Remember to juice vegetables and fruits when they are raw.

• Fruits that have small seeds like watermelon and pears can be juiced with their seeds.  But papaya and apple seed need to be taken out before being juiced.  Orange and grapefruit seeds can leave a bitter taste to the mouth, so you can take it out also.  

• Fruits and vegetables which are not organically grown should be peeled.  There may be chemical residues left on the skins of the fruits.  While pineapple, kiwis, oranges, grapefruit and papaya skins should be removed even if they are organically grown.

• When choosing fruits and vegetables, make sure to pick out the fresh and ripe ones.  Wilted, under-ripe, bruised fruits and vegetables  are not good for you and does not taste good too.

• Follow the instructions in your juice machine.  Make sure to cut the fruits and vegetables in pieces suitable for the juice machine.  After juicing, remove the pulp right away.  If you leave it, it would have sour smell and would have fruit flies within 8 to 10 hours after juicing.  

• Drink your juices immediately.  It is better to drink freshly made juice.  

Do not be afraid to try out combinations.  You can use different fruits in season to create a great tasting health drink, you can use bananas, mangoes and pineapple.  Their tart and sweet flavor can be balanced with fruits like strawberries, kiwi fruit and oranges.  When using vegetables, it is best to use dark leafy vegetables like spinach or beet tops.  For added flavor, you can even add yoghurt and ice cubes for the chill.  You can even add ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg or vanilla extract to complete your healthy concoction.  

Health juices as health drinks are not new.  As early as 16th century, limejuice was used to save sailors against scurvy.  But it seems like for a while, health benefits of fruits and vegetables have been forgotten and currently we are on the way to rediscover it. 

Your Health and Your Protein Shake

Protein drinks are drinks with high protein content.  They are made by adding a protein source to fluids.  There are also protein powders available in drug stores and groceries.  They are considered food and nutrient supplements.  With the popularity of protein drinks and powders, are these drinks beneficial or detrimental to our health.

Source: Daily Health Tips

Proteins are indeed necessary for our body.  Protein helps in building muscles, skins, hairs, nails and internal organs.  There are twenty amino acids needed for the human body to grow.  Eight amino acids are produced by our body. They are necessary and should be present in the food we eat. While, the other twelve amino acids are manufactured within the body.

Manufactures and some study showed that after a protein drinks are necessary to drink after intense exercise or training where muscle tissues are damaged.  Protein is needed and necessary to repair muscles after physical exertion.  Therefore, it is imperative that a person who is exercising intensely should consume more protein. 

But there are contrasting beliefs.  There are some studies that agree that resistance and endurance training can really break down muscle protein and increase the need for protein consumption.  But even so, there is no need to consume protein drinks.  Why?

During intense exercise, there is an increased need for calories which is proportional to increase need of protein.  So, when the amount of food that you eat increases, so does your calorie intake and your protein intake increases proportionally.  Eating plant foods like vegetables, whole grains, beans, and nuts can get you the protein amount you need without drinking protein shakes and powders.  

There are some studies concerning protein shakes and powders.  These studies showed that when whey protein is added to rat diet, there is a relative increase of tumors and cancers.  That is why most researchers and health care professionals, show concern on the high consumption of protein supplements.  

But both sides agree that protein drinks should never be the only source of protein.   As mentioned, vegetables, nuts, seeds, beans and whole grains can amount into about 50 grams of protein per 1000 calories.  Consuming green vegetables would give you the needed protein without heart and cancer risks.  Also, animal products are good sources of protein. 

Aside from the protein that you will get from these vegetables, you also get natural antioxidants that can protect you against other risks of heart diseases, hypertension and cancer. 

Too much is never too wise.  In a survey, the East German Olympic team of 1964, which are composed of 600 athletes, there are less than 10 people alive today.  Muscular growth and increased body mass with the aid of supplements and steroids increased the factors for heart attacks and other diseases in the long run.  This served as a reminder for us, we need to consider the long tern effects of what we are consuming, eating or drinking right now.  

Protein drinks and other kinds of supplements can definitely have an impact on out health. It could be bad or good.   We should always consider the long term effects and not only the short term impact of what we eat and drink.  But good health can never be measured with how big our biceps and laterals are. 

Our physical size can never be the basis of good health.  It can be judged by our strength, resistance to illnesses, longevity, and our youthful vigor as we grow old.