WHAT IS ZEAXANTHIN? Zeaxanthin is a carotenoid and phytonutrient (health boosting, plant based chemical compounds which are not classed as essential nutrients) that can be found in green leafy vegetables. In this article I will be taking a deeper look at zeaxanthin and its potential health benefits in the human body. WHAT IS THE HISTORY OF ZEAXANTHIN? Apart from being found in plant based foods, zeaxanthin can be found in the macula lutea (an oval shaped, highly pigmented yellow spot close to the centre of the retina of the human eye). The macula lutea was first described in 1782 but … [Read more...]
Exercises for Seniors: What to Try?
Hello everyone. Today's article is a guest post from Karien Jones who writes for DIY Health. ----- Exercises can contribute to health and well being when done on a regular basis. When it comes to the elderly, exercise can bring several benefits like reducing the risk of falls, improvement in the cardiovascular health, functional independence, psychological enhancement and much more. Exercise can contribute significantly in driving your metabolism, boosting immunity, and being energetic. It is important to have a slow pace, considering the ageing body and reduced stamina. Start slowly … [Read more...]
16 Potential Carotenes Health Benefits
The carotenes are a group of phytonutrients (non-essential, plant based nutrients that have a number of health benefits in humans). There are 3 main carotenes which are: - Beta Carotene. - Lycopene. - Phytofluene. The carotenes are mainly found in orange and red fruits and vegetables. Carrots, grapefruits, oranges and tomatoes are some of the best sources. Although these plant based nutrients are not believed to be essential in humans, studies have shown that they have a number of promising health benefits. In this article I will be taking a deeper look at these and providing you with 16 … [Read more...]
Alcohol Explained
WHAT IS ALCOHOL? Alcohol (also known as ethanol) is a compound that gets produced when glucose is fermented by yeast. It is not an essential nutrient but it does contain calories and so can be used by your body for energy. In this article I will be taking a deeper look at alcohol and the impact it has on your body. WHAT IS THE HISTORY OF ALCOHOL? Alcohol is believed to have been around since the stone ages with beer jugs from as early as 10,000 B.C. being discovered. It was identified as a separate compound by the Iranian alchemist Muhammad bin Zakaria Razi (also known as “Razes”) … [Read more...]
3 Easy Ways to Escape the “Fall” of Fall Comfort Food
Hello everyone. Today's article is a guest post from Jocelyn who writes for Heater Home. ----- While summer actually tends to make our dieting plans easier by naturally drawing us to things like fresh fruit, vegetables and big hearty salads, fall tends to have the exact opposite effect. Grilled chicken suddenly loses all appeal in the face of a hearty warm platter full of chicken fettucini alfredo. Instead of salad we crave a cream based vegetable soup and instead of fresh fruit we want a slice of warm apple pie with ice cream. Cooler weather and shorter days somehow manages to … [Read more...]
3 Low Calorie Beers You Can Try This Christmas & New Year
Beer is probably the last thing you would expect to be promoted on a fitness website. It is high in calories, low in nutritional value and does very little for your health. However, that does not change the fact that a lot of people (myself included) enjoy drinking beer. This is especially true over Christmas. Unfortunately, all this extra beer can quickly lead to festive weight gain. Most cans of premium lager contain over 200 calories which means that just 5 cans can take you over the 1,000 calorie mark. When you combine this with all the treats and 3 course Christmas dinners that are on … [Read more...]
The Carotenes Explained
The carotenes are a group of phytonutrients (plant based chemical compounds that have numerous health benefits in the human body but are not classed as essential nutrients) that are mainly found in orange and red fruits and vegetables such as carrots, grapefruits and tomatoes. Although they are not believed to be essential for human survival, they are all potent antioxidants that can keep your body’s cells safe from free radicals (harmful by-products that get released into your body’s cells during oxygen related reactions). Additionally, many of the carotenes are converted into vitamin A … [Read more...]
10 Low Calorie Cocktails You Can Enjoy This Christmas & New Year
Alcohol is definitely not a healthy choice. It contains 7 calories per gram and has no nutritional value. However, most people (even those who try and lead a healthy lifestyle) do consume alcohol and their intake often increases over Christmas. Therefore, an effective strategy over the festive period is to look for alcoholic drinks that are low in calories. Straight spirits are the absolute lowest calorie alcoholic drinks available. They contain no sugars, no carbohydrates and no fats. All their calories come from alcohol. However, unless you are a hardened drinker you probably do not want … [Read more...]
Phytofluene Explained
WHAT IS PHYTOFLUENE? Phytofluene is a carotene and phytonutrient (health boosting, plant based chemical compounds that are not classed as essential nutrients). It is a powerful antioxidant that may also have further health benefits in humans. In this article I take a deeper look at phytofluene and discuss its potential health boosting properties. WHAT IS THE HISTORY OF PHYTOFLUENE? It is not known who discovered phytofluene or when it was discovered. WHAT ARE THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF PHYTOFLUENE? Phytofluene is a powerful antioxidant that can keep your body’s cells safe from … [Read more...]
10 Cool Christmas Presents With A Fitness Theme
Fitness themed Christmas gifts are a great way to share your interest with friends and family. Whether you are looking for a stocking filler or a more substantial gift, there are a wide range of cool Christmas presents with a fitness theme available. Today I am going to help you find the perfect Christmas present with 10 of the hottest fitness gifts. 1) ADICTABALL The Adictaball is a perfect fitness themed Christmas present for a friend or family member who refuses to do any physical activity. It will not improve their physical fitness but it will make sure they are at least exercising … [Read more...]