Monday, June 14, 2010

How Healthy are Cucumbers?


I never thought cucumbers had much nutritional value...but I guess I was wrong.  Take a look at the nutrition found in a cucumber!
You may want to grow some organic cukes of your own because cucumbers are a healthy fruit from the same family as pumpkin, zucchini and other squashes.
100 grams of cucumber has
•    Vitamin A 180 I.U.
•    Niacin Trace
•    Vitamin C 9 mg.
•    Calcium 32 mg.
•    Iron 1.8 mg.
•    Phosphorus 27 mg.
•    Potassium 80 mg.
•    Carbohydrates 17 gm.
•    Calories 70
Some of the reported health benefits include
•    Cucumber is best natural diuretic known, secreting and promoting the flow of urine.
•    Helps in kidney and urinary bladder disease.
•    Liver disease
•    Pancreatic disease
•    The potassium content of cucumber makes it highly useful for conditions of high and low blood pressure.
•    Cucumber contains erepsin, the enzyme that helps to digest protein.
•    The high silicon and sulphur content of the cucumber is said to promote the growth of hair, especially when the juice of the cucumber is added to the juice of carrot, lettuce and spinach.
•    A mixture of cucumber juice with carrot juice is said to be beneficial for rheumatic conditions resulting from excessive uric acid in the body.
•    Cucumber juice is also valuable for helping diseases of the teeth, gums, especially in cases of pyorrhea.
•    The high mineral content of this vegetable also helps to prevent splitting of nails of the fingers and toes.
•    Cucumber, radish and bitter gourd are beneficial in diabetes.

Deborah Mumm
The Allergy Queen
Healthy Environments, Inc.

Tuesday, June 08, 2010

7 Diet Tricks

Greetings!

Here is a nice article with Diet Tips you might like....

According to Live Science, these diet tricks will actually help you keep off the pounds:
diet tricks












Avoid corn syrup
Science shows that high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is bad news. One study showed that rats who drank HFCS-sweetened beverages gained significantly more weight than rats consuming the same amount of calories in sugar.
Keep away from junk food -- It's Addictive
Junk food can affect your brain in ways similar to drug abuse.
Structure meal times
Long stretches without food make people crave energy-dense snacks, which can make healthy choices difficult.
Satisfy your body -- especially at breakfast
A protein-rich breakfast leaves you less hungry for the rest of the day. Some fat in the meal can help, too.
Favor foods closer to nature
Favoring whole fresh foods over processed ones will naturally optimize the healthiness of your food choices.
Change your environment
Altering your food environment -- whether this means using smaller plates or keeping seconds out of immediate reach -- can help you lose weight.
Enjoy your food
Food that is eaten mindlessly is neglected food. When you pay attention, you are satisfied in a deeper way.

Sources:

  Live Science May 23, 2010

Deborah Mumm, 
The Allergy Queen
Healthy Environments