Monday, January 2, 2012

The Incredible Health Benefits Of Omega 3 Foods

Omega 3 foods have gained a lot of popularity over time due to their amazing health benefits. There are a large number of different foods that you can eat which contain the Omega 3 fatty acids that are healthy for your body. Research shows that the Omega 3 fatty acids actually help to prevent many types of diseases.

In modern society this is especially important because of the horrible diet that most people are subjected to. Anyone who is getting a healthy amount of Omega 3 acids each day through their diet can avoid serious health problems. Omega 3 foods are important because they contain the unique Omega 3 fatty acids that have been shown to protect the heart and help negate symptoms of depression. These fatty acids have been helping humans stay healthy for quite some time now. The main reason why these acids are so important for the body is because the body cannot create them on its own. These acids are essential, which means that the body needs them indefinitely.

Obtaining these acids through foods is vital because the body has absolutely no way to manufacture the acids alone. The three main types of fatty acids contained in these special foods are ALA, DHA, and EPA. These are obviously abbreviations for each type of fatty acid.

The two types of fatty acids that are vital for adequate brain health are EPA and DHA. For optimal consumption of the ALA fatty acid one of the foods that you can eat is oil from flax seeds. The best way to get large amounts of DHA and EPA omega acids is through fish oils.

The recommended way to get high levels of DHA and EPA Omega 3 acids is through fish oil supplements rather than through eating actual fish. There is a long list of Omega 3 foods that you can eat to obtain quality amounts of all of the essential fatty acids. Eating broccoli, scallops, cauliflower, walnuts, spinach, kale, almonds, tuna, shrimp, tofu, mussels, hoki, salmon, cabbage, sardines, and strawberries will give you healthy amounts of these essential oils.

Eating a healthy and balanced diet using the above foods will give you the healthiest amount of these essential oils. A healthy and balanced diet will maximize the overall effects of the foods that you eat that contain the essential fatty oils.

Including at least a couple of the above foods in your daily diet is going to allow you to live a much healthier lifestyle with optimum brain function and heart protection.

By: Sandy Rutherforde

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Are you interested in learning more about omega 3 fatty acids? Be sure to visit my site to find out more about omega 3 in pregnancy.

Friday, December 23, 2011

Paleo Diet Foods Lists

The Paleo diet is based on the ancient dietary habits of our ancestors in the Stone Age era. They did not have access to all of the food sources that we have today and this diet encourages us to stick with the same basic food groups they had. These are meat, seafood, fruit, vegetables, nuts and seeds. These will form the basis of the Paleo diet and it will allow you to create delicious, healthy meals for yourself and your whole family.

Meat products will be abundant in this diet; and although you can choose from a variety of sources, try to avoid the fatty cuts such as chicken wings, bacon and pork sausages. Eggs can be eaten, but try to limit this to no more than 6 per week. These were available to the cavemen in those times, but it was a scarce food source so you should eat these accordingly. A healthy and popular meal is an omelette; which can be made with veggies such as mushrooms, onions and tomatoes. It is a great breakfast option and it is also a high protein meal. When you choose other meat products, make sure that they are from lean sources; preferably from grass or pasture fed animals.

There are of course certain food groups that one should avoid altogether while on the Paleo diet. These are dairy products, grains, processed foods and fatty meats. Since these were not available in the Paleolithic era, we should not consume these at all. Grains to avoid include pasta, barley, rice cakes and oatmeal. Even if the label says “wheat free” you should still avoid it. Pasta, rice, cakes and pudding are also on the avoid list. Dairy products like milk, cheese, yoghurt, ice cream and butter cannot be eaten and should not be used in any meal. As a basic rule of thumb, if our ancestors did not eat it, we should not either!

Although it might seem that Paleo Food lists are a bit restricted, there are still a lot of delicious meals to enjoy. Fruit and vegetables make up a large part of your daily meal plan and you can easily add a variety of these to any meal. You can also snack on fresh fruit throughout the day. As for veggies, you can pretty much eat anything – except the starchy ones like potatoes. You can grab a handful of nuts or seeds during the day or in-between meals to help keep hunger at bay. You can also add them to salads and desserts too.

The Paleo diet also increases your metabolism over time; allowing you to lose additional weight. Research has shown that this diet can help you lose up to 15 pounds in 6 months. It will stabilize your blood sugar, reduce hunger and improve your digestive system as well. You will get all the benefits of living a healthy life while on the Paleo diet; and it is suitable for the whole family too.

By: David Delongs

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Want to learn more about how you get lean and have more energy eating on the Paleo Plan visit my website Eating The Paleo Way David Delong is a diet and exercise enthusiast and author. He lives in Newport Beach, CA and spends his time teaching others how to live a healthy lifestyle eating the Paleo way. His latest book is, "The Paleo Plan: How to Easily Get Lean and Fit By Following Our Ancient Ancestors"