Many of the freedoms we enjoy here in the U.S. are quickly eroding as the nation transforms from the land of the free into the land of the enslaved, but what I’m about to share with you takes the assault on our freedoms to a whole new level. You may not be aware of this, but many Western states, including Utah, Washington and Colorado, have long outlawed individuals from collecting rainwater on their own properties because, according to officials, that rain belongs to someone else.

As bizarre as it sounds, laws restricting property owners from “diverting” water that falls on their own homes and land have been on the books for quite some time in many Western states. Only recently, as droughts and renewed interest in water conservation methods have become more common, have individuals and business owners started butting heads with law enforcement over the practice of collecting rainwater for personal use.

Check out this YouTube video of a news report out of Salt Lake City, Utah, about the issue. It’s illegal in Utah to divert rainwater without a valid water right, and Mark Miller of Mark Miller Toyota, found this out the hard way.

After constructing a large rainwater collection system at his new dealership to use for washing new cars, Miller found out that the project was actually an “unlawful diversion of rainwater.” Even though it makes logical conservation sense to collect rainwater for this type of use since rain is scarce in Utah, it’s still considered a violation of water rights which apparently belong exclusively to Utah’s various government bodies.

“Utah’s the second driest state in the nation. Our laws probably ought to catch up with that,” explained Miller in response to the state’s ridiculous rainwater collection ban.

Salt Lake City officials worked out a compromise with Miller and are now permitting him to use “their” rainwater, but the fact that individuals like Miller don’t actually own the rainwater that falls on their property is a true indicator of what little freedom we actually have here in the U.S. (Access to the rainwater that falls on your own property seems to be a basic right, wouldn’t you agree?)

Outlawing rainwater collection in other states

Utah isn’t the only state with rainwater collection bans, either. Colorado and Washington also have rainwater collection restrictions that limit the free use of rainwater, but these restrictions vary among different areas of the states and legislators have passed some laws to help ease the restrictions.

In Colorado, two new laws were recently passed that exempt certain small-scale rainwater collection systems, like the kind people might install on their homes, from collection restrictions.

Prior to the passage of these laws, Douglas County, Colorado, conducted a study on how rainwater collection affects aquifer and groundwater supplies. The study revealed that letting people collect rainwater on their properties actually reduces demand from water facilities and improves conservation.

Personally, I don’t think a study was even necessary to come to this obvious conclusion. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that using rainwater instead of tap water is a smart and useful way to conserve this valuable resource, especially in areas like the West where drought is a major concern.

Additionally, the study revealed that only about three percent of Douglas County’s precipitation ended up in the streams and rivers that are supposedly being robbed from by rainwater collectors. The other 97 percent either evaporated or seeped into the ground to be used by plants.

This hints at why bureaucrats can’t really use the argument that collecting rainwater prevents that water from getting to where it was intended to go. So little of it actually makes it to the final destination that virtually every household could collect many rain barrels worth of rainwater and it would have practically no effect on the amount that ends up in streams and rivers.

It’s all about control, really

As long as people remain unaware and uninformed about important issues, the government will continue to chip away at the freedoms we enjoy. The only reason these water restrictions are finally starting to change for the better is because people started to notice and they worked to do something to reverse the law.

Even though these laws restricting water collection have been on the books for more than 100 years in some cases, they’re slowly being reversed thanks to efforts by citizens who have decided that enough is enough.

Because if we can’t even freely collect the rain that falls all around us, then what, exactly, can we freely do? The rainwater issue highlights a serious overall problem in America today: diminishing freedom and increased government control.

Today, we’ve basically been reprogrammed to think that we need permission from the government to exercise our inalienable rights, when in fact the government is supposed to derive its power from us. The American Republic was designed so that government would serve the People to protect and uphold freedom and liberty. But increasingly, our own government is restricting people from their rights to engage in commonsense, fundamental actions such as collecting rainwater or buying raw milk from the farmer next door.

Today, we are living under a government that has slowly siphoned off our freedoms, only to occasionally grant us back a few limited ones under the pretense that they’re doing us a benevolent favor.

Fight back against enslavement

As long as people believe their rights stem from the government (and not the other way around), they will always be enslaved. And whatever rights and freedoms we think we still have will be quickly eroded by a system of bureaucratic power that seeks only to expand its control.

Because the same argument that’s now being used to restrict rainwater collection could, of course, be used to declare that you have no right to the air you breathe, either. After all, governments could declare that air to be somebody else’s air, and then they could charge you an “air tax” or an “air royalty” and demand you pay money for every breath that keeps you alive.

Think it couldn’t happen? Just give it time. The government already claims it owns your land and house, effectively. If you really think you own your home, just stop paying property taxes and see how long you still “own” it. Your county or city will seize it and then sell it to pay off your “tax debt.” That proves who really owns it in the first place… and it’s not you!

How about the question of who owns your body? According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark office, U.S. corporations and universities already own 20% of your genetic code. Your own body, they claim, is partially the property of someone else.

So if they own your land, your water and your body, how long before they claim to own your air, your mind and even your soul?

Unless we stand up against this tyranny, it will creep upon us, day after day, until we find ourselves totally enslaved by a world of corporate-government collusion where everything of value is owned by powerful corporations — all enforced at gunpoint by local law enforcement.

The year 2011 just might go down in history as the year that initiated the end of artificial water fluoridation. Nearly three million people living in 37 different North America communities will no longer be forcibly medicated with synthetic fluoride chemicals via their public water supplies, thanks to a groundswell of dedicated citizens and city council members that fought popular myths about fluoride with scientific truth — and won!

According to data compiled by the Fluoride Action Network (FAN), a group devoted to exposing the truth about the toxicity and dangers of fluoride chemicals, 37 cities and communities across the US and Canada officially ended their water fluoridation programs in 2011. From small towns like Tellico, Tenn., which has just 900 residents, to large cities like Calgary, Alberta, with over 1.3 million residents, the truth about fluoride is spreading like wildfire.

For far too long, water utilities mostly in the United States and in some parts of Canada have been adding toxic fluoride chemicals to drinking water supplies because they were told that doing so would help prevent tooth decay. It never really mattered to most of them that no scientific studies had ever proven that ingesting fluoride chemicals is safe, or that it helped improve oral health.

In fact, most of these utilities probably just went along with what they were told, and popular consensus seemed to agree at the time that lacing tap water with an unregulated drug, which just so happens to be a toxic waste byproduct of the aluminum and phosphate mining industries, was a good idea.

But a lot more information about fluoride has surfaced in recent years that contradicts what people believed about it 50 years ago. And with so many modern illnesses and deficiencies that are now attributed to fluoride exposure, removing the chemical from water supplies is a no-brainer for many who recognize that mass medication with an unapproved drug is not the answer to the world’s dental problems.

Witnessing these many victories against fluoride throughout the past year has been inspiring. But what is even better is the prospect that twice as many, or even three times as many — or more — could follow suit in 2012! The ball is rolling to end the pseudoscientific practice of water fluoridation, and the number of communities that still fluoridate their water supplies are falling. Will your community be next?

Source: http://www.naturalnews.com/034489_fluoridation_communities_water_supply.html

If you read the ingredients label on a loaf of bread, you will usually find an ingredient listed there as L-cysteine. This is a non-essential amino acid added to many baked goods as a dough conditioner in order to speed industrial processing. It’s usually not added directly to flour intended for home use, but you’ll find it throughout commercial breads such as pizza dough, bread rolls and pastries.

While some L-cysteine is directly synthesized in laboratories, most of it is extracted from a cheap and abundant natural protein source: human hair. The hair is dissolved in acid and L-cysteine is isolated through a chemical process, then packaged and shipped off to commercial bread producers. Besides human hair, other sources of L-cysteine include chicken feathers, duck feathers, cow horns and petroleum byproducts.

Most of the hair used to make L-cysteine is gathered from the floors of barbershops and hair salons in China, by the way.

While the thought of eating dissolved hair might make some people uneasy, most Western consumers ultimately have no principled objections doing so. For Jews and Muslims, however, hair-derived L-cysteine poses significant problems. Muslims are forbidden from eating anything derived from a human body, and many rabbis forbid hair consumption for similar reasons. Even rabbis who permit the consumption of hair would forbid it if it came from corpses — and since much L-cysteine comes from China, where sourcing and manufacturing practices are notoriously questionable, this is a real concern. In one case, a rabbi forbade the consumption of L-cysteine because the hair had been harvested during a ritual at a temple in India.

High-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is known to be a contributor to obesity and a number of serious health ailments, but very few health experts and medical publications ever discuss the highly toxic substance hiding within a large percentage of HFCS — mercury. Found in a large number of processed foods and sodas, mercury-containing HFCS is toxic in all forms and may be contributing to the rampant disease rates inside the United States and elsewhere.

The presence of mercury in processed HFCS was first revealed through the results of two little-known U.S. studies. Researchers from the two studies reported that about half of tested samples of HFCS contained the toxic element, a substance known to wreak havoc on the nervous system, neurological function, and overall biological function. Even more concerning is the fact that mercury was found in nearly one third of 55 popular brand-name food and beverage items, which listed HFCS as the first-or-second-highest labeled ingredient. Of course these are only a sampling of popular products containing HFCS as a main ingredient, and it is a significant challenge to find processed food brands that do not contain HFCS as a major ingredient.

Activists Demand Change While FDA Does Nothing

After the report was released to the mainstream media detailing the presence of mercury in the food supply, health freedom activists immediately began petitioning the FDA to take action. Their calls, while oftentimes highly publicized and met with considerable support, ultimately fell on the deaf ears of the FDA. The Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy was one such organization that called upon the FDA to remove toxic mercury from processed foods. Even the co-author of the two explosive U.S. studies, Dr. David Wallinga, spoke on behalf of the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy. In a prepared statement on the subject, he stated:

“Mercury is toxic in all its forms. Given how much high-fructose corn syrup is consumed by children, it could be a significant additional source of mercury never before considered. We are calling for immediate changes by industry and the [U.S. Food and Drug Administration] to help stop this avoidable mercury contamination of the food supply.”

Mercury is certainly a threat to health in any amount, but the findings become truly alarming when considering the fact that the average American consumed 37.8 pounds of high-fructose corn syrup in 2008 alone. Much of this HFCS most likely contained mercury, accumulating in the bodies of unknowing consumers who are not privy to the very real dangers of processed junk food. It is also important to note that this it but a single source of mercury exposure. CFL light bulbs, seafood, and amalgam fillings are also common sources of mercury exposure that are contributing to the mercury toxicity of consumers worldwide.

The ubiquitous nature of HFCS makes it nearly impossible to avoid if eating a junk diet full of dead, processed food items. In contrast, eating a high quality organic diet full of raw produce will make it nearly impossible to ever encounter HFCS. Until the FDA or another organization is forced to respond to health conscious activism, choosing 100% organic foods is the best way to avoid mercury-filled HFCS.

It’s because all those healthy things are nothing but junk. Crap. Garbage. They are well-disguised as health foods, I’ll give them that, but man are they ever liars. And they know it, too.  ~ Health Freedoms

Think veggie chips are more virtuous than potato chips? And that turkey burgers have less fat than those made from ground beef? Think again. Many foods that seem healthy are actually fat traps in disguise.

1. Pretzels
You may think that with only 1 gram of fat per serving, pretzels are a virtuous snack choice. However, pretzels are essentially refined carbohydrates that offer barely any nutritional benefits and an overdose of salt. Just 10 pretzels can contribute to more than half of the 1.5 grams of sodium a person needs each day.

Instead, snack on popcorn. It’s whole grain, high in fiber and only about 100 calories per cup.

2. Splenda (and other artificial sweeteners)
Sugar substitutes may seem like a good choice for people looking to watch their weight because they cut down on calories in sweetened beverages and foods. However, researchers have found that artificial sweeteners may actually make people more prone to overindulge and crave sweet foods because they trick the body into thinking they are getting calories. When the calories do not follow the sweetness, you look for them elsewhere.

Research suggests that artificial sweeteners not only leads to weight gain, but also can cause damage to beneficial bacteria in the gut.

Skip the fake stuff and use real honey, which is only 60 calories per tablespoon but promotes better blood sugar control.

3. High-fiber cereals with sugar
Everyone wants to get a little more fiber in their diets, so why not add a bowl of your favorite high-fiber cereal to your breakfast? Careful, some of these high-fiber health claims come with the surprise of high-sugar content!

Check the ingredients. Added sugar comes in many forms, including corn syrup, white or brown sugar, honey and evaporated cane syrup, as well as natural sugars from dried fruit. A cup of Raisin Bran has 6.5 grams of fiber, along with 17.6 grams of sugar, while two pieces of Shredded Wheat (sans frosting) can give you the same 6 grams of fiber, without the sugar.

Bottom line: A high fiber diet has been shown to protect again heart disease and the risk of type 2 diabetes, however a big sugar load in the morning can increase your blood sugar.

A better choice: Kashi Go Lean, which as 140 calories, 6 grams of sugar and 10 grams of fiber.

4. Diet soda
Diet soda may save you liquid calories in the short term, but in the long term, may contribute to overeating. A University of Texas, San Antonio study, which was reported at the American Diabetes Association annual meeting, found that with each can of diet soda consumed, an individual’s risk for being overweight increased by 41 percent. As with artificial sweeteners,  diet sodas cause your body to crave more calories.

It gets worse: Diet soda is not only bad for your waistline, it can be damaging to your health. A recent study presented at the American Stroke Association followed 2,500 New Yorkers who drank diet soda every day, found that these individuals had a 61 percent higher risk of vascular events, including stroke and heart attack, than those who did not consume diet drinks.

So, skip the soda and sip seltzer with slices fruit for zero calories and lots of zip.

5. Frozen yogurt
Yogurt is a healthy snack that promotes intestinal and immune system health. However, many frozen yogurts do not contain the “live and active cultures,” which are the beneficial healthy bacteria that boost gut health. Companies like Red Mango are beginning to realize they can and should preserve the beneficial healthy probiotics during the freezing process.

Most frozen yogurts contain nearly the same amount of fat and calories as ice cream. Even fat-free options will be close in terms of calories — you’re just getting calories from sugar, instead of fat. In half a cup of Haagen Dazs low-fat vanilla frozen yogurt, there are 200 calories, 4.5 grams of fat and 21 grams of sugar. The same amount of Haagen Dazs vanilla ice cream contains 18 grams of fat, but the same amount of sugar and only 70 more calories than the frozen yogurt.

Scoop up real ice cream instead. It’s not much worse and is so much more satisfying.

6. Veggie chips
Veggie chips must be healthy because they are made from veggies, right? Wrong. Often, veggie chips aren’t much healthier than regular potato chips. Most varieties of veggie chips contain mostly corn flour or potato, with small amounts of veggie powder or puree mixed in. The essential vitamins such as A and C that are found in vegetables are lost in the processing of these chips, so they don’t offer much in the way of nutrition.

Most of these chips are high in fat, calories and sodium. An ounce of veggie chips has 150 calories — the same as potato chips! Potato chips only have a gram or two more fat.

DIY veggie chips: You are better off making your own veggie “chips” at home — try chopping kale and tossing it with a small amount of olive oil and sea salt, pop it in the oven and bake until crispy.

7. Turkey burgers
Many people assume that because a burger is made with turkey rather than ground beef that it contains less calories and fat. But this is often not the case. Often, turkey burgers ordered in restaurants are made from dark meat and turkey skin — which is plentiful in saturated fat and calories. Sometimes turkey burgers can be made from entirely dark skin, which can give it a very high fat content.

Source: http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/43142931/ns/today-today_health/t/healthy-foods-are-making-you-fat

High blood sugar levels are known to accelerate aging and decrease longevity in many different species. Now it seems blood sugar may also be tied to how well you keep your memory as you age.

A new study published in the December issue of the Annals of Neurology examined the effect of high blood sugar on the region of the brain responsible for memory formation, the hippocampus. Researchers examined patients with either diabetes or stroke (in other, non-hippocampus, parts of the brain) and determined that both groups had defects in the hippocampus compared to normal patients, but the problems were in different hippocampal subregions.

What does this mean for you?

The study’s principal investigator and professor of neurology at Columbia University, Dr. Scott Small says,”This would suggest that anything to improve regulation of blood glucose would potentially be a way to ameliorate age-related memory decline.” That means both diet and exercise may work together to preserve memory function into old-age by controlling blood sugar.

“We had previously shown that physical exercise strengthens a part of the brain involved with aging but, at the time, we didn’t know why physical exercise would have this selective benefit,” Small affirmed. “Now we have a proposed mechanism. We think it’s because subjects who exercised had better glucose handling.”

Though the role of diet in hippocampal function has not been directly tested in humans, evidence is mounting that it is important for maintaining cognitive function and protecting against Alzheimer’s disease.

——————–

The best way to control your own blood sugar levels is to eat and live in a manner that improves insulin sensitivity. An added bonus is that you will probably lose weight, live longer and reduce your risk of a bunch of other diseases too, including cancer.

Sensitivity to insulin is affected by two dietary factors: 1) How much glucose is in your blood at any one time and 2), the composition of fat in your diet. It is also improved by exercise.

Keep these things in mind when you eat if you want to control and improve your insulin sensitivity:

• Limit sugars and refined carbohydrates, including all white bread, white rice and pasta.
• Choose whole, intact grain carbohydrates such as brown rice and oats.
• Make vegetables the bulk of your diet.
• Consider substituting legumes for carbs.
• Reduce saturated fats from red meat and dairy
• Eat more healthy fats from fish, olive oil and nuts.
• Avoid processed foods with hidden sugars, yogurts and salad dressings come to mind.

Source: http://summertomato.com/controlling-blood-sugar-may-help-preserve-your-memory/

If you’re trying to eat healthy, perhaps you have heard to stay away from processed foods. While that’s great advice, it seems many people are confused about what exactly constitutes processed food.

If you can’t identify them, it’s hard to cut processed foods out of your diet. And although most people know processed foods are bad for them, it’s often unclear what makes them so dangerous to a person’s health.

Remember – processed foods are foods that have been altered from their natural state.

Have you ever wondered why a pre-packaged food stays fresh for months, when the same food made from scratch grows moldy in just days? It’s because food manufacturers use man-made ingredients that prolong a product’s shelf life. Unfortunately, they may have the opposite effect on peoples’ health.

Physician to Patients: Trans Fats Will Kill You

For instance, trans fats are oils infused with hydrogen. They raise bad cholesterol and lower good cholesterol. Dr. Michael Aziz, author of the book, The Perfect 10 Diet, doesn’t mince words when he tells his patients trans fats will kill them.

“Trans fats are really like plastic,” he said, “and when we eat them they incorporate in our cells and the cells cannot communicate or talk to one another. In turn, hormones are disturbed, weight gain follows but more troubling, the risk for heart disease, cancer, stroke, infertility goes up.”

Trans fats are commonly found in commercially fried food and packaged foods, especially baked goods. But you won’t see the phrase, “trans fat” in the list of ingredients. Instead, look for the word, “hydrogenated.”

And beware of labels claiming no trans fats. They’re often still in there, because the Food and Drug Administation allows food with up to a half-gram of trans fat per serving to be labeled “trans fat free.”

The problem is, those servings can be small so we eat many servings, and those half-grams add-up.

When Cooking, Go Back to the Basics

To give you an idea of how bad trans fats can be — in New York City, it’s against the law to cook with them.

Carey Cannizzaro is the executive chef at the popular Home Restaurant in Greenwich Village.

“You go back to basics,” she said. “That’s how you cook without hydrogenated oils. You go back to basics.”

Cannizzaro says with a little know-how you can prepare any food that tastes better and is better for you without using trans fats.

“As fats, when we go for sweet we’re using buttermilk,” she said. “We’re using butter, and savory we use extra virgin olive oil. We cook with a blend of extra virgin olive oil and vegetable oil, we fry with soy oil.”

Customers dining at the trendy restaurant say they like not having to worry about what they’re eating.

“It’s a good thing,” diner Johnny Kitchens said. “I don’t see why we need trans fats anyway. We might as well be healthier, you know?”

Chef Cannizzaro points out that the Home Restaurant has never used trans fats, even back when it was legal to do so. She says she has always prided herself on cooking with only natural ingredients.

The problem was, trans fats are cheaper, and restaurants that used them could make more of a profit. Now, however, the playing field is level.

The Effects of High Frutose Corn Syrup

Vending machines are often loaded with processed foods. In addition to trans fats, they often contain too much salt, which can cause heart problems and creates a craving for even more salt.

Another addictive ingredient you’ll find in processed foods is high fructose corn syrup, which is linked to obesity and diabetes. Although high fructose corn syrup manufacturers contend it’s nutritionally the same as sugar, others say it’s worse.

Former FDA toxicologist Dr. Dana Flavin says while sugar is burned and turned into energy, high fructose corn syrup turns into fat, causing what’s known as “fatty liver.” She says sugar can make you feel full, but high fructose corn syrup does not trigger the body’s satisfaction gauge, so you always desire more.

“So you do eat more,” Flavin explained. “You have a greater appetite because your body’s saying, ‘I haven’t had enough’ and your body’s being fooled.”

High fructose corn syrup is the main ingredient in soft drinks, but is also hidden in foods like bread and pasta sauce.

Dr. Steven Sinatra, author of Metabolic Cardiology, says high fructose corn syrup and its chemical cousins, are directly linked to high blood pressure and heart disease, which unfortunately, most doctors treat with medication instead of going to the source.

“He or she may prescribe drugs, when only the best treatment is loss of weight,” Sinatra said. “Exercise and restriction of simple carbohydrates, sugars and high fructose corn syrup is at the top of the list.”

Also on the list are other syrups and sweeteners like dextrose, glucose, lactose and maltose.

The Pitfalls of MSG

And speaking of chemical names, here’s another one to watch out for: monosodium glutamate, or MSG for short. Food manufacturers like it because it adds flavor. But doctors dislike it because it causes high insulin secretion.

“It creates headaches, migranes, but it can also lead to weight gain,” Aziz explained.

In addition to avoiding MSG, Dr. Aziz advises against eating ingredients that usually contain MSG like hydrolyzed protein, yeast extract, soy protein isolate, spices, natural flavorings, citric acid or anything with the word, “hydrolyzed” or “autolyzed.”

“We have to be vigilant about excluding MSG with all its different names from our diet,” Aziz said.

Believe it or not, even white flour is a processed food. Its soft texture and mild taste is created by removing the most nutritious parts of the wheat berry, the bran and the germ.

The starch leftover is digested too fast in the body and can lead to weight gain, diabetes, heart disease and cancer. By contrast, whole wheat flour includes the entire wheat berry, which is digested slowly, making us feel full longer.

Younger Skin Starts From The Inside

Processed foods not only create health risks, they also make us look old. Anti-aging specialist, Dr. Doris Day, author of the book, Forget the Facelift, and popular Manhattan celebrity doctor, says young-looking skin starts from the inside.

“A healthy diet is critical,” she said. “Some of everything you eat, for better or worse, ends up in your skin. So if you have a lot of soda or chemicals, that’s going to be a stress on your skin. High sugar foods, highly processed foods, you’ll see it in the skin for sure.”

Although identifying processed foods and removing them from our diet isn’t easy, it may be less troubling than dealing with the health problems they could create.

http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/healthscience/2010/June/How-to-Avoid-Processed-Foods-in-a-Healthy-Diet-/

Have you ever wondered why a pre-packaged food stays fresh for months, when the same food made from scratch grows moldy in just days? It’s because food manufacturers use man-made ingredients that prolong a product’s shelf life. Unfortunately, they may have the opposite effect on peoples’ health.

Although we exhaustively advocate vegetables as a dietary staple, it turns out there are some instances when vegetables aren’t really all that healthy.

Ok, ok, that’s really not true. Just about every vegetable has a redeeming quality or two, but sometimes some vegetables are forced – usually by the masterminds behind food marketing – to masquerade as something healthy when really they’re nothing more than an unhealthy food with “vegetable” tacked on in the title.

Confused? Read on to learn which “vegetables” you should be avoiding:

Veggie Chips:
Love potato chips but know they aren’t good for you? Common sense dictates that vegetable chips – which the labels claim are made from real vegetables – would be a sensible alternative, right? Wrong. The first ingredients on most “veggie” chip labels are potatoes and corn, which, to be honest, aren’t that much different from regular run-of-the-mill chips. But those pretty colors, the ones that show that the chip is from a tomato, a bell pepper, heck, even a carrot!? Sadly they’re nothing more than a vegetable extract, or worse, a chemically-manufactured colorant. Need further proof these aren’t the chips for you? Most veggie chip varieties are cooked in canola oil, a rapeseed derivative that is thought to be toxic to humans and animals (appetizing, huh?)

Vegetable Tempura:
Realistically, any vegetable that’s taken a dip in a deep fat fryer really shouldn’t be considered healthy fare, but for tempura, the odds are stacked even less in the veggies favor. Although touted as one of the lighter types of batter, most “authentic” tempura recipes call for liberal use of cornstarch and heaps of sugar. Our tip? Stick to the stir fry!

Vegetable Sushi:
In recent years, sushi has risen to fame as the healthy meal of the celebrity set, and while we know to stay away from some lower grade sushi (like the supermarket sushi that boasts sugar-laden imitation fish), the reality is even simple vegetable sushi can be unhealthy. The culprit? The rice, which in sushi is mixed with rice vinegar and plenty of sugar. If you must do the sushi samba, ask for brown rice or balance out the meal with plenty of steamed veggies, such as hijiki (cooked seaweed) or oshitashi (boiled spinach with soy sauce).

Tomato Ketchup:
Tomatoes? Check. Vinegar? Check. High fructose corn syrup? Definitely! In fact, ketchup contains so much sugar (typically holding the second or third spot on the ingredients list) it might as well be re-branded tomato syrup (yum!) Instead, opt for salsa, malt vinegar, spices or learn to go without!

Spinach Dip:
Think the chips are the only bad thing going on in a spinach dip? Turns out the dip itself isn’t all that good for you either. Yes, it does contain healthy spinach (and sometimes artichokes too!), but it’s also chock-full of heavy cream, mayo and cream cheese, and quite often topped with bread crumbs or croutons. Why use the ingredient that is usually featured least prominently to name the dip? It would be like calling “carrot cake” carrot cake.

Canned Vegetable Soup:
It’s easy to think that the food manufacturers are doing you a favor by preparing a delicious, hearty – and frequently low-calorie – vegetable soup, but the reality is there are a multitude of evils hidden in that can! High sodium content aside, many of these soups also contain honey, sugar and other sweeteners – whether real or artificial – that can amount to as much as 15g of sugar per half-cup serving!

Grocery Aisle Vinaigrette Dressings:
Ok, ok, so it’s technically not a vegetable dish, but for many of us, vinaigrette is synonymous with salads, grilled veggies and a multitude of other seemingly healthy offerings. Although still a healthier option than creamier salad toppers, store-bought vinaigrettes are frequently cut with honey or corn syrup to make them less tangy. Our advice? Pick up a good balsamic vinegar and an even better olive oil and they’ll be no need to add in any extras!

Vegetable Juice:
Let’s face it: Sometimes meeting your recommended daily vegetable quota can be a little taxing (both in terms of finding palatable vegetables and financing them too!) Enter vegetable juice, which promises to deliver up to two servings of vegetables in just a few gulps. However, a quick glance at the label of one of these pre-packaged beauties reveals that they are not only loaded with sugar (usually as a result of fruit-based sweeteners) but are also devoid of almost all fiber. The reason? Juicing, whether commercial or otherwise, can strip vegetables of their heart-healthy fiber, leaving you with nothing more than a fancy vitamin shot!

Carrot Cake:
Despite the fact that carrot cake has the word carrot in its name there still exists the nagging fact that the other word is cake. Enough said.

Corn:
We’ve told you countless times but we’ll tell you again. CORN IS NOT A VEGETABLE IT’S A GRAIN!! Although considered a great source of vitamins B1 (thiamin) and B5 (pantothenic acid), folate, vitamin C, phosphorous and manganese, just one medium ear of corn can pack as much as 15 grams of sugar! Our advice? Treat this GRAIN like any other GRAIN in your diet and bump it to the bottom of your shopping list!

Apparently people are taking this disturbing information seriously. I have recently watched several mothers carefully arranging shopping cart covers or draping blankets over the part of the cart where the baby will be. And the woman who took the cart ahead of me took a package of wipes out of her bag and vigorously scrubbed down the whole top portion of the cart. When she was finished, she used more wipes to carefully clean each of her hands. During the same shopping trip, I also saw a baby sitting in an uncovered cart seat, constantly leaning forward to suck on the cart. His mother did not try to stop him. Obviously everyone does not share the same concerns.

Researchers stress that shopping cart handles are one of the most contaminated public surfaces, even dirtier than most public restrooms. The reason? Public restrooms are cleaned and disinfected regularly… grocery shopping carts are not… in fact, most stores clean their shopping carts only a couple of times each year. In the meantime, with everyone touching the cart handles and babies in diapers being put into the seats, the typical shopping cart is continuously being contaminated and accumulating a startling range of germs and viruses.

Some stores are responding by making disinfectant wipes available for customers who want them, but none of the stores in our area has so far taken this step. Regular baby wipes supposedly work equally well.

There is some good news… most of the original testing that is being quoted in these reports was done several years ago, and recent tests on shopping cart handles and seats have shown much lower levels of contaminants. Researchers guess that the public’s increased use of disinfectant wipes is the reason for this decline. Even so, they warn there IS still contamination, and that it is present in levels high enough to cause illness and disease.

So how do you handle this worrisome situation? For myself, I have not yet cleaned a shopping cart, although I would always spread a thick baby blanket over the part of the cart where my baby’s hands would be. Mostly I try to see that everyone follows the recommended “good hand hygiene”… keeping hands away from eyes, nose, and mouth, and always thoroughly washing hands before eating.

And I never put produce in the baby seat!

Source: http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/dont-touch-that-shopping-cart/

Healthy glowing skin leaves good impression on every person we meet so it is desired by everyone. Without glowing skin, every effort to look good will not attain the desired result though you wear the perfect dress or makeup. It helps to boost your self-confidence level. Americans spend billions of dollars on different types of moisturizer, brightening creams and glitter to get glowing skin but the best the way to treat and prevent unhealthy skin is by making changes in your diet. Junk foods, sugar, processed foods, fried foods, and caffeine not only results in weight gain but also makes the skin unhealthy. Everything you consume is reflected on your skin so you should eat healthy food to get healthy look. There are many foods which provide skin health benefits. Here are provided some foods that give glowing skin and be sure you include them in your diet.

Food to Be Eaten For Glowing Skin

1) Avocados

Avocados contain vitamin E in high amount. They also contain vitamins A, B, C, D & K and beta-carotene in high amount. Vitamin E nourishes and retains the moisture of skin. Vitamin E protects body tissue from free radical damage. Monounsaturated fats contained in avocados make them among the best foods for your complexion. Niacin in Avocados soothes skin and balances the red blotches. You can add avocado in salad, sandwich or eat it on its own. You can also make avocado mask by mixing its flesh with yogurt.

2) Berries

Berries such as strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries are loaded with antioxidants which inhibit free radicals and prevent damage to the skin. They contain Vitamin C in high amount. Vitamin C fights against aging and sun exposure effects. Vitamin C helps in the production of collagen which keeps the skin elastic, fresh and young-looking. Berries are rich source of vitamin C, E, manganese, riboflavin and soluble & insoluble fiber. Alpha-hydroxyl acid contained in berries eliminates dead skin cells. You can add berries in cereals, desserts and yogurt.

3) Salmon

Salmon are loaded with Omega 3 fatty acids and Omega-6 fatty acids which prevent toxins to enter in cell membranes and exit cells with waste products. Omega-3 fatty acids also decrease dryness and inflammation as well as control the sebum production. Omega 3 also fights against free radicals. Salmon also contain selenium, potassium and vitamin B12 in high amount which benefit the skin indirectly. You can eat salmon grilled, baked or stir fry.

4) Almonds

Almonds are among the best gifts of nature to the skin. Almonds are loaded with vitamin E that protect the skin from damage, UV rays and premature aging. Vitamin E also protects the body tissue from free radical damage. Almonds are also great source of fiber, protein, omega-6 and omega-9 fatty acids. Essential fatty acids maintain the elasticity and flexibility of the skin. You can consume almonds raw or add them over cereals, salads and stir fries.

5) Whole Grains

Whole Grains are rich source of fiber which keeps the body hydrated as well as flushes out all the toxins. They also have selenium, a mineral that helps to control cell damage which can cause skin cancer. B vitamins contained in whole grains helps in metabolism. Whole grains have rutin, an antioxidant that fights inflammation related skin damage. Biotin helps cells in processing fats. You must add whole grains in every meal.

6) Green Tea

Green Tea is rich source of antioxidants and free radical-fighting agents. An antioxidant, catechins contained in green tea fights against viruses as well as slow down ageing. Green Tea also contains vitamins such as C, D & K as well as minerals like zinc, riboflavin, magnesium, calcium & iron. It is high in polyphenols which reduce free radicals. Green tea nourishes the skin and keeps it clear. As per many studies, green tea decreases the risk of skin damage due to sunburn and skin cancer. It also reactivates dying skin cells.

7) Yoghurt

Yoghurt is very beneficial for skin. It contains good bacteria which keep the skin healthy & glowing by boosting immune system and destroying micro-organisms which trigger pimples & other skin health problems. Yogurt also contains lactic acid which makes the skin surface smooth as well as soothes and tightens it. Lactic acid also purifies the epidermis. You can add yogurt to fruit and vegetable salads or eat it plain.

8)Carrots

Carrots contain rich amount of beta-carotene. Body converts beta-carotene to vitamin A which is among the vital nutrients for healthy & glowing skin. Vitamin A keeps skin supple and maintains the growth of skin cells. Carrots also contain high amount of antioxidants which prevent free radical skin damage. Carrots speed up metabolism of the skin and maintain its smoothness and glow. Vitamin C contained in carrots help in collagen which prevents wrinkles, decrease aging process as well as it is important for skin elasticity.

9) Sweet potatoes

Sweet potatoes are rich in beta-carotene, vitamin C, vitamin E and fiber. Beta-carotene converts in Vitamin A which decreases the aging signs and prevents the fine lines appearance. Vitamin A also decreases the acne production and increases the growth of new cells & tissues. Vitamin E helps to protect body tissue from free radical damage as well as nourish and retain the moisture of skin. Vitamin C is important for collagen production and prevents signs of aging. Vitamin C also protects skin from ultraviolet effects.

10) Tomatoes

Tomatoes are very helpful to keep the skin healthy as they are loaded with antioxidants. Tomatoes contain an antioxidant, lycopene which protects the body against free radicals. Lycopene helps to enhance the appearance of the skin saving the collagen. Lycopene slows down the skin aging as well as decreases skin dryness & roughness. Like sweet potatoes, tomatoes are also high in Vitamin A, E and C. They also contain vitamins such as B1, B2 and B5.

Source: http://www.sweetadditions.net/beauty/foods-for-glowing-skin