As an alternative, the use of herbal medicine has done wonders for various illnesses such as cancer and heart associated problems. This can be attributed to the fact that the substances and composition that all extracted herbs offer are found to negate and improve the body components.

Weird as they may sound, taste or look, it is the healing effect that holds the truth towards a successful fight against diseases and illnesses. It is not purely a matter of relying on your doctor for advice but also a matter of taking into consideration that herbal plants are existent for a reason, a health reason.

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I do fully understand what it feels like to want to keep on eating, especially if the food is good. For those of you who think they eat too much, here are some simple tips which can help you. I have tried them myself, and they work!

Have breakfast. It’s such an old tip, but its effectiveness has never been disproven. Eating breakfast will give you the energy to do whatever you need during the day, and avoid signaling your body to go into starvation mode. You might be surprised at how you do not get hungry easily if you have breakfast!

Drink lots of water. Another old tip, but water really does fill you up. If you find yourself craving for a snack and you just had something to eat, go get a tall glass of cold water and down it. Schedule your meals and follow that schedule. In between, just drink water – lots of it.

Stock up on tasty but healthy treats. What do I have in my fridge/pantry? Cups of low fat yoghurt, low fat cheese, crackers, nuts, apples, soy milk, and other food items that I LIKE. The trick is in finding healthy food that will satisfy you. When you get hungry, you won’t have to look far for something to munch on.

The Telegraph reports about the findings:

Researchers asked over 40,000 people if they would prefer £45 in three days or £70 in three months. Those who wanted the smaller amount were also impulsive in other areas of their life.

They were more likely to want the immediate pleasure of a cake, an affair or a puff on a cigarette than consider the long-term effect on their health or relationship.

The study by University College London found people who are young, poorly educated and on a low income were the most financially impulsive.

It’s not all that bad, though. According to Dr. Stian Reimers, those who are impulsive can learn how to control their impulsive urges:

“Simple techniques can help reduce impulsivity, like imagining how you’d feel about your decision in a year’s time or trying to avoid making decisions in the heat of the moment.”

The next time I feel like indulging in more chocolate cake that I should eat, I will try this trick.

According to the Food Standards Agency of Britain, eating organic food does NOT provide additional health benefits. As shocking as it may seem, the FSA strongly stands by its statement. Early this month, the agency made the announcement that the nutritional differences between organic and conventional food are insignificant – practically amounting to zero. The study was conducted by Dr. Alan Dangour and his team at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM).

Naturally, this announcement sparked a debate all across the country. Organic food advocates got all riled up and the researchers have even received hate mail because of their work. In spite of all this, the British government says that the study is valid and scientific.

What does this mean for us? I suppose it simply is a matter of taking in the information and making our decisions based on it. Personally, I like the idea of organic food. Being practical, however, I realize that I do not have to spend tons of extra money on organic produce if I can get the same nutrients from conventionally produced food for a much lower price. After all, we should also look after our financial health as much as we take care of our physical well being.

But did you know that some drinks contain way too many calories for your own good? Some drinks in the market actually contain enough calories to serve as a full meal! Yahoo Health recently featured some of the worst drinks there are. Let’s take a look at them, shall we?

Baskin-Robbins: Large Ice Cream Soda with Vanilla Ice Cream Float. This drink won the “Worst Float Award.” With 960 calories, 40 g of fat, and 136 g of sugar, a 32-ounce float can replace your lunch. I think that they’ve taken this out of their menu, though.

For the worst ice blended coffee drink, Così Gigante Double OH! Arctic (23 ounces) takes home the prize. A whopping 1,210 calories, 19 g of fat, and 259 g of carbohydrates – that’s what’s packed into this coffee drink. A strong caffeine jolt PLUS tons of sugar will certainly make you high.

And you thought that was bad? Here is the winner of the “Worst Drink in America Award” – Cold Stone Creamery Gotta Have It PB&C Shake. The name itself should give you an idea what it’s all about. Yes, it is so GOOD but it is BAD as well: 2,010 calories, 131 g fat, and 153 g sugar.

Not turned off? Well, you should be; unless you really do not care about your health.

But what about taxing soda in order to help fight fat? Well, if the U.S. health authorities are to be followed, we will soon be paying a lot more for sodas and other similar sugary drinks. According to a report by the AFP, the authorities think that getting these drinks out of the Americans’ menus would solve the problem.

Thomas Frieden, the head of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, says that the average American today consumes about 250 more calories as compared to twenty or thirty years ago. Of the 250 calories, he says that about 120 come from sugared drinks and food.

So why is the government proposing taxation? Shouldn’t people be allowed to decide for themselves? For one, obesity and other health problems related to it are costing the government a whole lot of money in health care. I guess this is enough reason for the authorities to find ways to lessen the obesity figures – about 2/3 of the American population.

Take note – these drinks and food are already being taxed. The argument, however, is that the tax is not high enough to affect consumption. It’s like the taxation argument on tobacco.

So what do you think about the issue? Would you stop (or lessen) your consumption of soda and other sugar rich foods because of higher taxes?

So what is the Slow Food Movement? Their philosophy is:

Slow Food is good, clean and fair food. We believe that the food we eat should taste good; that it should be produced in a clean way that does not harm the environment, animal welfare or our health; and that food producers should receive fair compensation for their work.

Their mission is:

Slow Food works to defend biodiversity in our food supply, spread taste education and connect producers of excellent foods with co-producers through events and initiatives.

As you may surmise, this movement involves organic produce a lot. And I do not need to tell you that eating organic translates to healthy eating. I have to be honest, however, and state outright that being part of this movement is not that appealing to me. Call me callous and insensitive, but I do not think that it is possible for me to consume purely organic food. I believe that I can eat healthily without going to this extreme. I do respect and even admire the people behind this movement.

What about you? What do you think of slow food?

Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh have conducted a study which yielded the following data:

-Breastfeeding can lower the risk of heart attack and other related diseases
-Breastfeeding can lower the risk of stroke.

These benefits might be had if a mother breastfeeds for a year. More than these two major illnesses, however, breastfeeding can also have a positive effect regarding other conditions such as diabetes, high cholesterol levels, and high blood pressure. As you may have surmised by now, these conditions are closely related to heart attacks and strokes.

The U.S. Surgeon General “recommends that babies be fed exclusively with breast milk for the first six months of life, but “the longer women nurse their babies, the better for both of their health,” says lead study author Eleanor Bimla Schwarz, M.D., an assistant professor of medicine, epidemiology, obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive sciences at the University of Pittsburgh Center for Research on Health Care in Pennsylvania.”

I guess you know what this means, huh? More mothers should opt for breastfeeding rather than using formula. Then again, should is the operative word here. At the end of the day, the decision rests on the mother.

So maybe you’re allergic to shellfish and you can’t eat crab and oysters to help build stronger bones. What else can you eat on a regular basis to avoid bone problems when you advance in years? Here are some more alternatives.

Bok choy
This crunchy green leafy vegetable is very rich in calcium, the main nutrient that helps in bone health. More than that, though, bok choy also contains vitamins and iron, making it a very healthy treat for you. There are many ways to prepare bok choy – your imagination’s the limit!

Bananas
I love this fruit. It is very versatile. You can it eat as it is – just peel and pop into your mouth. You can make desserts. You can make smoothies. The great thing about bananas, aside from the taste, is that it contains potassium, which is responsible for preventing calcium loss in the body.

Kiwi Fruit
While I do not know many people who like kiwi, I highly suggest this fruit as an alternative to other snacks. Just lie bananas, kiwis contain a lot of potassium. In addition to this, however, this fruit also has a lot of vitamins as well as lutein, which is needed to help reduce the risk of heart problems.

Broccoli
Steamed broccoli – crunchy and sweet….You can’t get any better than that! And while there are people who hate this veggie, it does pack a lot of calcium, together with other nutrients. Broccoli is a perfect side dish to meat, which is just right for me!

Our bones need particular attention; at least, if we want to have them strong and healthy when we grow old. I suppose that people in their 20s and 30s do not really worry much about their bones but seeing as how the older people have problems with their bones, I think that it is never too early to try and build up our own bones. My mother would tell you the same thing – she is now suffering from osteoporosis and man, is it hard for her!

So here are some kinds of food that can help you build up those bones as early as you can.

Alaskan King Crab
You can always go for calcium pills but why settle for something routine and boring when you can eat lotsa crab? The Alaskan King Crab is very high in protein and very low in fat. More so, it has a lot of zinc, which is very good for making your bones healthy. Per 3.5 ounce serving, you can get 7 mg of zinc – and you get to enjoy the succulent meat as well!

Prunes
Yeah, prunes are known for other benefits but did you know that it contains a considerable amount of boron and copper? These two things help prevent osteoporosis. So the next time you get the munchies, grab a handful of prunes!

Oysters
Eew…well, I do not particularly like oysters but for those who do, then good for you! Not only does this shellfish help prevent prostate cancer, it also contains zinc and copper, which can help increase bone health.

(to be continued)