Beetroot Juice Could Be Key to Alzheimer's Disease Prevention

By John L. Phillip 

The results of a new study published in the journal Nitric Oxide: Biology and Chemistry shows the impact of beetroot juice on brain health. Researchers already know that beetroot juice is beneficial to heart health as it effectively lowers blood pressure. A new study demonstrated the extract could be used as an agent to improve oxygen flow to the aging brain and improve cognitive decline.

Nitrates in Beetroot Juice Relax Aging Arteries

Healthy blood flow to the brain declines with age as the vascular endothelium begins to harden and normal flexibility is lost. The heart needs to beat faster and harder to pump the same volume of blood and normal oxygen supply is reduced. These are known risk factors for the onset of dementia as well as stroke.
Beetroot juice is high in natural nitrates that turn into nitrite and help to relax and open aging blood vessels that supply the brain. More blood flow corresponds to improved oxygenation, improved memory and the ability to learn and retain recent events.

Blood Flow to the Brain Improved with Beetroot Juice

The study conducted at Wake Forest University's Translational Science Center included 14 adults aged 70 and over for a period of 4 days. Participants were broken into two groups and provided with a diet high in nitrates (from beetroot juice and leafy green vegetables) or a traditional diet without nitrates. The next day blood was drawn to determine nitrite saturation levels and an MRI was performed to check for blood flow to the brain. Participant diets were switched on subsequent days and the tests repeated.

Study Concludes Beetroot Juice Improves Blood Flow and Cognition

Test results indicated that blood flow to the critical front lobe white matter was increased as a result of the diet high in nitrates from beetroot juice. No change was seen when a traditional diet was provided. The study authors concluded "Our results support the proposal that oral nitrate therapy may be beneficial in treating cognitive decline that is often observed with aging. Towards that end, we show a direct effect of dietary nitrate on cerebral blood flow within the subcortical and deep white matter of the frontal lobes".

Increasing blood flow and oxygenation is essential to prevent the cognitive decline that is so prevalent in the aging population. Half of those people at age 80 will experience some form of dementia or vascular disorder. Research continues to confirm that a natural diet including foods such as beetroot juice can help to improve cognition and allow people to age naturally.

Read More Expert Advice on Diet, Health and Nutrition, and Download your Free Weight Loss eBook!
John Phillip is a Health Researcher and Author of 'Your Healthy Weight Loss Plan', a comprehensive eBook explaining how to use Diet, Exercise and Targeted Supplementation to naturally achieve your healthy Weight Loss goal. Visit My Optimal Health Resource to download your Free 48 page copy.

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Better Natural Vision Superfood For Super Eye Health - Red Cabbage

By Joel Travers King 

Nutrition and eye health are connected, for instance, the more dark green leafy vegetables you consume on a regular basis, the greater the benefit you receive in terms of improving your vision health. While we are used to thinking about common foods to improve vision like carrots, broccoli and spinach, one specific food for eyes that does not always come to mind is red cabbage. Red Cabbage is a superfood with cancer fighting properties. It provides the body with overall health coverage with its wide range of vitamins, minerals and fibre. Its vitamin content includes Vitamins A,C, Riboflavin, Pantothenic Acid and Thiamine, including minerals such as Calcium, Potassium, Phosphorous, Iron and Magnesium to name a few. Red Cabbage also provides nutritional coverage that improves eye health. Therefore, if you are interested in eye foods for better vision, that also provide important benefits for general health, here are some reasons for making this vegetable part of a healthy balanced diet for better eye health:

Eye Health Benefits

Vitamin C: According to nutritional experts, one surprising nutritional fact about Red Cabbage is that it provides a higher amount of the daily recommended daily allowance of Vitamin C than citrus fruits, to the tune of 56 percent. In terms of eye health, the consumption of this nutrient not only contributes to better vision but cuts the development of cataracts by a third. This is due to the fact that the eye lens requires vitamin C to eliminate free radicals that have been caused by direct exposure to sunlight.

Vitamin A: This is a nutrient that is vital to improving vision and protecting eye health. In terms of nutritional coverage for eye health, one cup of chopped Red Cabbage consists of 33% of the daily recommended allowances for Vitamin A. According to nutritional experts, the nutritional coverage of this nutrient is subdivided into 3 different parts: Lutein, Zeaxanthin and Beta- Carotene. Vitamin A plays a role in protecting the surface of the eyes and the mucous membranes to provide the eye with immune system defenses against, bacteria, viruses and eye infections. Lutein and Zeaxanthin safeguard the retina from free radical damage and cut the risks for the age related vision disorder Macular Degeneration.

General Health Benefits:

Better Digestion: According to health care experts, cabbage has healing properties that aid in the prevention of stomach ulcers. In validated scientific studies, Cabbage in the form of Cabbage Juice consumed every day for a period of 3 weeks, healed stomach ulcers. This is due to the fact that the Phytonutrient healing compounds in Cabbage Juice strengthen the lining of the stomach. The Fiber content in Red Cabbage also improves the function of the digestive system for better elimination.

Cancer Prevention: The red pigment in Red Cabbage is derived from a Flavonoid that is a potent antioxidant that aids in the prevention of certain types of cancers. These cancer fighting properties aid in stopping cancer cells and repair the damage done to the body by carcinogens (toxins).

Promotes Weight Loss: When included as part of a well-balanced diet, it can aid in weight loss. This is due to the fact that it is low in calories and also consists of a good source of fiber that leaves you feeling full. Ultimately, If protecting your precious eyesight is a goal, then, Red Cabbage is a good food choice for stronger and healthier vision.Finally, as part of a balanced diet, it provides good nutritional support in every area of health of vital interest and concern to you.

My name is Joel King and I am a City College Broadcasting graduate and internet marketer. As a natural vision improvement success story, I enjoy sharing vision exercise techniques that improve eeyesight with people searching for natural alternatives to glasses, contacts and laser surgery. Reduce or even eliminate your dependency on glasses with this effective natural eye care program that shows you the best foods for better eye health. Also enjoy the easy to follow vision exercise techniques that lead to better, natural eyesight visit: http://betternaturalvision.com today!

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Using The Amazing Coconut Oil For Weight Loss

By Wendy Stanton  

Unlike other saturated fats which are bad for your health, coconut oil is a wonder and you need it in your life! Its many health wonders is the reason why using coconut oil for weight loss will produce some amazing results. Just try it out for a month and you will see.

What is so great about coconut oil?
While many people concerned with weight loss may think that they need to avoid all fats, this particular oil should not be one of the fats you avoid like the plague. There are many unhealthy fats but there are also many healthy fats that the body needs for general health and well being which can also help with weight loss.

There are bad fats that you must avoid such as trans fats (eliminate from your diet) and many saturated fats (reduce or eliminate).

The good or healthy fats that you need more of in your life are also known as essential fatty acids (EFAs) and are commonly found in unsaturated fats such as monounsaturated fats and polyunsaturated fats e.g. olive oil, olives, flaxseed oil, flaxseeds, various nuts and seeds, etc.

These good or healthy fats as mentioned earlier are essential for the body and help it to function properly and can also help boost your immune system, cardiovascular activity, help manage diabetes naturally, rheumatoid arthritis, eczema, psoriasis, cancer prevention, and so on and so forth. If you are trying to eliminate all fats from your body because you think this will help you lose weight, you will be doing your body a great disservice.

Instead of saying all fats are evil and should be banished, you need to be asking yourself what fats you need to be eating instead.

But coconut oil is a saturated fat...
This is true. Saturated fats are those that are solid at room temperature unless you reside in very hot climates in which case it will be so hot that the oil will remain in liquid form. If in solid form, this oil will quickly melt once heat is applied including applying body heat when it is rubbed between the palms or applied to skin.

While saturated fats is very unhealthy, it is important to remember that not all saturated fats are created equal and coconut oil while being a saturated fat is one of the good or healthy fats which is why you need it in your diet.

The reason it is considered healthy is because coconut oil is a medium chain fatty acid and not a long chain fatty acid which are the unhealthy saturated fats commonly found in fatty meats, butter, ghee, cheese, cream, and so on and so forth.

What this means is that the medium chain fatty acids in this particular oil can be metabolized much faster than long chain fatty acids. In addition, medium chain fatty acids are also easily absorbed into the small intestines with other nutrients which prevents them from being deposited into the belly as fat which is why coconut oil for weight loss is effective.

Coconut oil and weight loss
Using coconut oil for weight loss works because of the amazing properties of this oil which include the following;

1. Does not add fat
Unlike many other fats and foods that contain fat, coconut oil is not stored in the body as fat. When we eat these other fats or foods that contain fat, these fats are deposited into the blood stream and sent directly to our fat cells.

The medium chain fatty acids found in this oil are not deposited into the bloodstream but are sent directly to the liver to be used for energy like the carbohydrates and simple sugars in our diets. When you eat coconut oil, it is used immediately by the body for energy that is required by the cells in the body for day to day activities.

This is also the reason why this particular oil is recommended for diabetics because unlike carbohydrates and sugars that raise blood sugar levels, coconut oil does not raise blood glucose levels and it can also help to control cravings for sugar. Also note that excess amounts of carbs and sugars in the blood stream are stored as fat reserves in the body.

The way the body uses this oil is why you should replace any other oils that you currently use in your life with this oil. This will not only be healthier but will help you lose weight as fat stores are decreased despite still consuming the healthy fat that the body needs.

2. Metabolism
When we eat food, our metabolic rate increases in order to digest this food. This is the normal rate that everyone has but what is normal varies from one person to another which is why your friend can eat anything including unhealthy fats and not gain a pound whereas all you have to do is look at food and you gain a pound or so. She or he has a faster metabolic rate than you do which helps him or her burn more calories per day than you.

It's unfair but such is life. One of the best common methods used to increase metabolic rate is with exercise and building lean muscle and eating protein to build this lean muscle, so these are methods you can try so that your body starts to burn more calories with an increase rate of metabolism.

Another way of losing weight without exercise by increasing your metabolic rate is to add this particular oil to your diet. The medium chain fatty acids contained in coconut oil are able to boost your metabolism which will cause you to burn more calories which leads to weight loss. How amazing is that?

The medium chain fatty acid are quickly absorbed and burned by the body which helps them to be used as energy for your metabolism which leads to an increase in your rate of metabolism.

3. Increased energy
Because this oil is burned immediately, it leads to a boost in energy and besides boosting your metabolism, it can help increase your performance levels especially if you are an athlete or if you add exercise to your weight loss regimen which will help you produce better results.

These reasons are why using coconut oil for weight loss is so amazing and so effective, so go out to your nearest store and stock up on coconut oil if you haven't done so already.

How to use coconut oil for weight loss?
There are many ways on how to use coconut oil for weight loss. The simplest method is to simply use coconut oil in place of many of the other oils that you use daily in your cooking. You can also use it for baking in place of butter.

If you don't ordinarily use oil in cooking or baking, simply add 3 to 4 tablespoons of coconut oil daily to salads, oatmeal, smoothies, green juices, etc. It is best to spread out these 3 or 4 tablespoon of coconut oil throughout the day and not just consume them in one sitting.

The best coconut oil to use
When using coconut oil for weight loss or other health purposes, it is best to use organic, cold pressed and unrefined coconut oil which contains the most of the healthy properties found in this oil in order to make the most impact on your weight loss as well as your general health and well-being.

If you are interested in using coconut oil for weight loss, do not wait any longer. Get yourself some coconut oil and get it today! You will not be sorry. Especially if you are interested in ways of losing weight without exercising although adding coconut oil to a healthy diet and exercise regimen will produce even better results.

As an added benefit, you can also use this oil externally as it makes an excellent moisturizer and because of its anti-fungal and antibacterial properties, it can also help heal many skin issues while moisturizing your skin. This oil also makes an excellent oil treatment for your hair and its healing properties can help treat your scalp if you have any scalp issues. All this to say that you need coconut oil in your life!

Besides using coconut oil for weight loss, you will also need the 3 Week Diet program which will show you how to lose 12 to 23 pounds in 3 weeks! Discover what you need to eat more of for a slimmer body as well as when to eat these foods for maximum fat burning capability. Visit http://weightlosszeroexercise.com/3-week-diet-amazing-weight-loss-diet/ to find out more about this diet plan.

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