Sunday, July 11, 2010

Apple Facts

The crabapple is the only apple native to North America..Apples come in all shades of reds, greens, and yellows.
Two pounds of apples make one 9-inch pie.
Apple blossom is the state flower of Michigan.
2,500 varieties of apples are grown in the United States.
7,500 varieties of apples are grown throughout the world.
100 varieties of apples are grown commercially in the United States.
Apples are grown commercially in 36 states.
Apples are grown in all 50 states.
Apples are fat, sodium, and cholesterol free.
A medium apple is about 80 calories.
Apples are a great source of the fiber pectin. One apple has five grams of fiber.
The pilgrims planted the first United States apple trees in the Massachusetts Bay Colony.
The science of apple growing is called pomology.
Apple trees take four to five years to produce their first fruit.
Most apples are still picked by hand in the fall.
Apple varieties range in size from a little larger than a cherry to as large as a grapefruit.
Apples are propagated by two methods: grafting or budding.
The apple tree originated in an area between the Caspian and the Black Sea.
Apples were the favorite fruit of ancient Greeks and Romans.
Apples are a member of the rose family.
Apples harvested from an average tree can fill 20 boxes that weigh 42 pounds each.
The largest apple picked weighed three pounds.
Europeans eat about 46 pounds of apples annually.
The average size of a United States orchard is 50 acres.
Many growers use dwarf apple trees.
Charred apples have been found in prehistoric dwellings in Switzerland.
Most apple blossoms are pink when they open but gradually fade to white.
Some apple trees will grow over 40 feet high and live over 100 years.
Most apples can be grown farther north than most other fruits, because they blossom late in spring, minimizing frost damage.
It takes the energy from 50 leaves to produce one apple.
Apples are the second most valuable fruit grown in the United States. Oranges are first.
In colonial time, apples were called winter banana or melt-in-the-mouth.
The largest U. S. apple crop was 277.3 million cartons in 1998.
Apples have five seed pockets or carpels. Each pocket contains seeds. The number of seeds per carpel is determined by the vigor and health of the plant. Different varieties of apples will have different number of seeds.
World's top apple producers are China, United States, Turkey, Poland and Italy.
The Lady or Api apple is one of the oldest varieties in existence.
Newton Pippin apples were the first apples exported from America in 1768, some were sent to Benjamin Franklin in London.
In 1730, the first apple nursery was opened in Flushing, New York.
One of George Washington's hobbies was pruning his apple trees.
America's longest-lived apple tree was reportedly planted in 1647 by Peter Stuyvesant in his Manhattan orchard and was still bearing fruit when a derailed train struck it in 1866.
Apples ripen six to ten times faster at room temperature than if they were refrigerated.
A peck of apples weight 10.5 pounds.
A bushel of apples weights about 42 pounds and will yield 20-24 quarts of applesauce.
Archeologists have found evidence that humans have been enjoying apples since at least 6500 B.C.
The world's largest apple peel was created by Kathy Wafler Madison on October 16, 1976, in Rochester, NY. It was 172 feet, 4 inches long. (She was 16 years old at the time and grew up to be a sales manager for an apple tree nursery.)
It takes about 36 apples to create one gallon of apple cider.
Apples account for 50 percent of the world's deciduous fruit tree production.
The old saying, "An apple a day, keeps the doctor away." This saying comes from an old English adage, "To eat an apple before going to bed, will make the doctor beg his bread."
Don't peel your apple. Two-thirds of the fiber and lots of antioxidants are found in the peel. Antioxidants help to reduce damage to cells, which can trigger some diseases.
In 2005, United States consumers ate an average of 46.1 pounds of fresh apples and processed apple products. That's a lot of applesauce!
Sixty-three percent of the 2005 U.S. apple crop was eaten as fresh fruit.
In 2005, 36 percent of apples were processed into apple products; 18.6 percent of this is for juice and cider, two percent was dried, 2.5 percent was frozen, 12.2 percent was canned and 0.7 percent was fresh slices. Other uses were the making of baby food, apple butter or jelly and vinegar.
The top apple producing states are Washington, New York, Michigan,Pennsylvania, California and Virginia.
In 2006, 58% of apples produced in the United States were produced in Washington, 11% in New York, 8% in Michigan, 5% in Pennsylvania, 4% in California and 2% in Virginia.
In 2005, there were 7,500 apple growers with orchards covering 379,000 acres.
In 1998-90 the U.S. per capita fresh apple consumption was around 21 pounds.
In 2005, the average United States consumer ate an estimated 16.9 pounds of fresh market apples
Total apple production in the United States in 2005 was 234.9 million cartons valued at $1.9 billion.
In 2006/2007 the People's Republic of China led the world in commercial apple production with 24,480,000 metric tons followed by the United States with 4,460,544 metric tons.
In 2006/2007 commercial world production of apples was at 44,119,244 metric tons.
Almost one out of every four apples harvested in the United States is exported.
35.7 million bushels of fresh market apples in 2005 were exported. That was 24 percent of the total U.S. fresh-market crop.
The apple variety 'Red Delicious' is the most widely grown in the United States with 62 million bushels harvested in 2005.
Many apples after harvesting and cleaning have commercial grade wax applied. Waxes are made from natural ingredients.
National Apple Month is the only national, generic apple promotion conducted in the United States. Originally founded in 1904 as National Apple Week, it was expanded in 1996 to a three-month promotional window from September through November.
On August 21, 2007 the GoldRush apple was designated as the official Illinois'state fruit. GoldRush is a sweet-tart yellow apple with a long shelf life. The apple is also the state fruit of Minnesota, New York, Vermont, Washington and West Virginia.

Apple Nutrition

You've heard, "An apple a day will keep the doctor away." While it will certainly take more than a daily apple to keep you healthy, it is a step in the right direction. Apples are delicious, easy to carry for snacking, low in calories, a natural mouth freshener, and they are still very inexpensive.

Apples are a source of both soluble and insoluble fiber. Soluble fiber such as pectin actually helps to prevent cholesterol buildup in the lining of blood vessel walls, thus reducing the incident of atherosclerosis and heart disease. The insoluble fiber in apples provides bulk in the intestinal tract, holding water to cleanse and move food quickly through the digestive system.

It is a good idea to eat apples with their skin. Almost half of the vitamin C content is just underneath the skin. Eating the skin also increases insoluble fiber content. Most of an apple's fragrance cells are also concentrated in the skin and as they ripen, the skin cells develop more aroma and flavor.

There are hundreds of varieties of apples on the market today, although most people have only tasted one or two of the most popular such as Red Delicious or Granny Smith. Apples can be sweet, tart, soft and smooth or crisp and crunchy, depending on the one you choose. There is an apple to suit almost everyone's taste, so why not choose one. Have an apple today!

Apple Nutrition Facts

(*One medium 2-1/2 inch apple, fresh, raw, with skin)

Calories 81
Carbohydrate 21 grams
Dietary Fiber 4 grams
Soluble Fiber
Insoluble fiber
Calcium 10 mg
Phosphorus 10 mg Iron .25 mg
Sodium 0.00 mg
Potassium 159 mg
Vitamin C 8 mg
Vitamin A 73 IU
Folate 4 mcg


*The nutritional value of apples will vary slightly depending on the variety and size.

Source: USDA Nutrient Data Laboratory -- Apple

Milk: Calcium and so Much More...

Definitions
Energy

Energy is required for everyday living including all of our bodily functions — muscular activity, growth, muscle repair, concentration and fuel for everyday activity. Milk provides energy from high quality protein, slowly absorbed carbohydrate and fat.
Protein

Cow's milk is recognised for providing high quality protein because it contains ALL of the essential amino acids that our bodies need in the right amounts.

Protein is made up of amino acids. There are more than 20 common amino acids of which 9 are essential. In humans, different combinations of amino acids can make proteins that have very specific functions in the body. Protein is needed to make hair, nails, muscles and enzymes, for example!


Whey protein

Cow's milk protein is made up of 80% casein and 20% whey. Did you know emerging evidence suggests that bioactive nutrients in whey protein may play an important role in the immune system? Research which gave whey protein to people after strength training found that the amino acids in why canhelp the post exercise muscle repair. 2.
Carbohydrate


Carbohydrates are the most important fuel source of the body. Milk contains a natural sugar, lactose, which provides approximately 30% of the energy of regular milk. Lactose may assist with calcium absorption, particularly in infants3. Lactose also has a low glycaemic index. There are small quantities of other natural sugars in milk (glucose & galactose) which also provide energy.



Calcium is important to help build and maintain bones & teeth. It is also necessary for the normal functioning of nerves, heart & muscles.

Dairy foods are the richest source of calcium in the Australian diet. Just three serves of dairy foods a day can help you meet your daily recommended dietary intake (RDI) for calcium. Use the Calcuim Calculator to see if you ate the calcium you need today!


Vitamin A

Vitamin A (also called retinol) is important for skin and eye and bone health, and for reproduction. The amount of vitamin A in milk depends on the amount of fat in the milk. Regular milk contains more vitamin A than reduced, low fat or skim milk.



These vitamins are naturally found in low concentrations in milk. Vitamin D is important throughout life as it can assist calcium uptake into bone. Vitamin E is an antioxidant which can play a role in the immune system and fight free radicals. Vitamin K is necessary for the normal clotting of blood. Because these are fat soluble vitamins along with vitamin A, regular milk will contain higher levels than reduced, low fat or skim milk.

Vitamin B2 (also called riboflavin) assists in releasing energy from our food so that it can be used by the body.


Vitamin B3

Vitamin B3 (also called niacin) is important for skin and nerves, and the digestive system. It is also involved in energy release from food in teh body. Milk contains tryptophan — an amino acid, which can be used by the body to produce vitamin B3.
Vitamin B6

Vitamin B6 can help build new body proteins. Protein is important for the growth and maintenance of many parts of the body. It is needed for building healthy muscles, when combined with a balanced diet and regular physical activity.
Vitamin B12

Vitamin B12 is required for healthy blood formation, nerves and DNA synthesis (in conjunction with folate). The main source of vitamin B12 in the diet is foods of animal origin, including milk. Milk can provide a significant amount of this essential nutrient.
P - Phosphorus

Phosphorus is important for teeth and bone structure. It plays a central role in movement of energy throughout the body.
Mg - Magnesium

This mineral is essential for many of the body's enzymes. These enzymes are involved in the production of protein from amino acids and play a role in the movement of energy around hte body. Magnesium is also an important bone mineral and may be beneficial for the heart.
K+ - Potassium
Potassium is essential for water and electrolyte balance in the body. It is needed for all cells in the body, including nerves. Adequate dietary potassium intake may also be helpful in maintaining normal blood flow.
Zn - Zinc
Zinc is a trace element required for many of the enzymes which are the production of DNA & protein. Zinc is also essential for the normal structure of the body tissues and the immune system.
Se - Selenium

Antioxidants are one of the body's defence mechanisms. Selenium acts as an antioxidant in the body, helping to protect cells in the body from free radical damage.

Benefits Of Orange

Orange is a citrus fruit, considered to be a hybrid, of ancient cultivated origin, between pomelo (Citrus maxima) and tangerine (Citrus reticulata). Native to the countries of Southeast Asia, it is today cultivated in almost all the warm climate countries of the world. Its consumption is as popular in the raw, peeled form, as in the juice form. Even the rind of orange is used by people in recipes, either for flavoring or for garnishing purposes. Being a rich source of nutrients, orange has been associated with a number of health and nutrition benefits. With the information given below, explore more about the fruit.

Nutritional Value of Orange
Given below is the amount of nutrients present in 100 gm oranges:

Vitamin A - 190 IU
Vitamin B - Thiamine .08 mg
Vitamin C - 49 mg
Calcium - 33 mg
Phosphorus - 23 mg
Potassium - 300 mg
Calories - 60
Apart from this, oranges also contain:
Copper
Fats
Fiber
Folic Acid
Iron
Magnesium
Proteins
Sodium
Sulfur
Health & Nutrition Benefits of Orange/Orange Juice

Being rich in calcium, oranges have been associated with protection and maintenance of the health of bones.
Beta-carotene, a nutrient present in oranges, is a very powerful antioxidant that protects our cells from damage.
Consumption of oranges has been found to result in lesser outpouring of mucus secretions from the nose.
It is said that oranges are beneficial in maintaining the dental health of an individual.
Oranges have been associated with keeping blood pressure under check, mainly owing to the presence of magnesium.
Oranges, being rich in Vitamins B6, help support the production of hemoglobin in the body.
Regular consumption of orange juice can significantly increase HDL levels and improve the LDL-HDL ratio of a person.
The folic acid present in oranges helps in proper brain development.
The high content of potassium in oranges helps maintain electrolyte balance in the cells and also aids the maintenance of a healthy cardiovascular system.



Consumption of oranges can help an individual in dealing with the following ailments:
Alcohol Addiction
Arthritis
Asthma
Bronchitis
Bowel Disorders
Constipation
Cough and Cold
Dyspepsia
Fever
Heart Diseases
Indigestion
Influenza
Measles
Pimples and Acne
Pneumonia
Pyorrhea
Respiratory Problems
Rheumatism
Tuberculosis
Typhoid

Peach

Nutrient Units Value per
100 grams of
 
Proximates

Water g 87.66 74 0.152
Energy kcal 43 0
Energy kj 180 0
Protein g 0.70 87 0.015
Total lipid (fat) g 0.09 5 0.004
Carbohydrate, by difference g 11.10 0
Fiber, total dietary g 2.0 0
Ash g 0.46 86 0.008
Minerals
Calcium, Ca mg 5 5 1.066
Iron, Fe mg 0.11 84 0.010
Magnesium, Mg mg 7 85 0.207
Phosphorus, P mg 12 84 0.356
Potassium, K mg 197 45 5.030
Sodium, Na mg 0 43 0.191
Zinc, Zn mg 0.14 5 0.037
Copper, Cu mg 0.068 84 0.003
Manganese, Mn mg 0.047 84 0.004
Selenium, Se mcg 0.4 1
Vitamins
Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid mg 6.6 5 1.115
Thiamin mg 0.017 4 0.003
Riboflavin mg 0.041 4 0.004
Niacin mg 0.990 3 0.025
Pantothenic acid mg 0.170 0
Vitamin B-6 mg 0.018 2
Folate, total mcg 3 8 0.339
Folic acid mcg 0 0
Folate, food mcg 3 8 0.339
Folate, DFE mcg_DFE 3 0
Vitamin B-12 mcg 0.00 0
Vitamin A, IU IU 535 3 31.565
Vitamin A, RE mcg_RE 54 3 3.157
Vitamin E mg_ATE 0.700 0
Lipids
Fatty acids, total saturated g 0.010 0
4:0 g 0.000 0
6:0 g 0.000 0
8:0 g 0.000 0
10:0 g 0.000 0
12:0 g 0.000 0
14:0 g 0.000 0
16:0 g 0.009 1
18:0 g 0.001 1
Fatty acids, total monounsaturated g 0.034 0
16:1 undifferentiated g 0.001 1
18:1 undifferentiated g 0.034 1
20:1 g 0.000 0
22:1 undifferentiated g 0.000 0
Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated g 0.045 0
18:2 undifferentiated g 0.044 1
18:3 undifferentiated g 0.001 1
18:4 g 0.000 0
20:4 undifferentiated g 0.000 0
20:5 n-3 g 0.000 0
22:5 n-3 g 0.000 0
22:6 n-3 g 0.000 0
Cholesterol mg 0 0
Phytosterols mg 10 0
Amino acids
Tryptophan g 0.002 2
Threonine g 0.027 2
Isoleucine g 0.020 2
Leucine g 0.040 2
Lysine g 0.023 2
Methionine g 0.017 2
Cystine g 0.006 2
Phenylalanine g 0.022 2
Tyrosine g 0.018 2
Valine g 0.038 2
Arginine g 0.018 2
Histidine g 0.013 2
Alanine g 0.042 2
Aspartic acid g 0.117 2
Glutamic acid g 0.106 2
Glycine g 0.024 2
Proline g 0.029 2
Serine g 0.032 2

Lychee

Nutrient Units Value per
100 grams 


Water g 81.76 9 1.019
Energy kcal 66 0
Energy kj 276 0
Protein g 0.83 7 0.046
Total lipid (fat) g 0.44 7 0.133
Carbohydrate, by difference g 16.53 0
Fiber, total dietary g 1.3 0
Ash g 0.44 6 0.057
Minerals
Calcium, Ca mg 5 7 1.586
Iron, Fe mg 0.31 5 0.061
Magnesium, Mg mg 10 2
Phosphorus, P mg 31 7 3.387
Potassium, K mg 171 5 23.479
Sodium, Na mg 1 3 0.151
Zinc, Zn mg 0.07 1
Copper, Cu mg 0.148 1
Manganese, Mn mg 0.055 1
Selenium, Se mcg 0.6 0
Vitamins
Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid mg 71.5 14 10.286
Thiamin mg 0.011 2
Riboflavin mg 0.065 3 0.009
Niacin mg 0.603 3 0.147
Vitamin B-6 mg 0.100 0
Folate, total mcg 14 0
Folic acid mcg 0 0
Folate, food mcg 14 0
Folate, DFE mcg_DFE 14 0
Vitamin B-12 mcg 0.00 0
Vitamin A, IU IU 0 1
Vitamin A, RE mcg_RE 0 1
Vitamin E mg_ATE 0.700 0
Lipids
Fatty acids, total saturated g 0.099 0
4:0 g 0.000 0
6:0 g 0.000 0
8:0 g 0.000 0
10:0 g 0.000 0
12:0 g 0.000 0
14:0 g 0.002 0
16:0 g 0.070 0
18:0 g 0.024 0
Fatty acids, total monounsaturated g 0.120 0
16:1 undifferentiated g 0.001 0
18:1 undifferentiated g 0.119 0
20:1 g 0.000 0
22:1 undifferentiated g 0.000 0
Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated g 0.132 0
18:2 undifferentiated g 0.067 0
18:3 undifferentiated g 0.065 0
18:4 g 0.000 0
20:4 undifferentiated g 0.000 0
20:5 n-3 g 0.000 0
22:5 n-3 g 0.000 0
22:6 n-3 g 0.000 0
Cholesterol mg 0 0
Amino acids
Tryptophan g 0.007 1
Lysine g 0.041 1
Methionine g 0.009 1

Avocado

Nutrient Units Value per
100 grams of
edible portion Sample


Proximates
Water g 74.27 58 0.817
Energy kcal 161 0
Energy kj 674 0
Protein g 1.98 58 0.042
Total lipid (fat) g 15.32 54
Carbohydrate, by difference g 7.39 0
Fiber, total dietary g 5.0 0
Ash g 1.04 57 0.093
Minerals
Calcium, Ca mg 11 6 1.610
Iron, Fe mg 1.02 54 0.122
Magnesium, Mg mg 39 54 3.062
Phosphorus, P mg 41 54 2.996
Potassium, K mg 599 30 57.306
Sodium, Na mg 10 30 1.146
Zinc, Zn mg 0.42 1
Copper, Cu mg 0.262 54 0.020
Manganese, Mn mg 0.226 54 0.038
Selenium, Se mcg 0.4 2
Vitamins
Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid mg 7.9 6 1.528
Thiamin mg 0.108 6 0.005
Riboflavin mg 0.122 6 0.006
Niacin mg 1.921 6 0.081
Pantothenic acid mg 0.971 6 0.071
Vitamin B-6 mg 0.280 7
Folate, total mcg 62 12 10.333
Folic acid mcg 0 0
Folate, food mcg 62 12 10.333
Folate, DFE mcg_DFE 62 0
Vitamin B-12 mcg 0.00 0
Vitamin A, IU IU 612 6 70.839
Vitamin A, RE mcg_RE 61 6 7.084
Vitamin E mg_ATE 1.340 0
Lipids
Fatty acids, total saturated g 2.437 0
4:0 g 0.000 0
6:0 g 0.000 0
8:0 g 0.000 0
10:0 g 0.000 0
12:0 g 0.000 0
14:0 g 0.000 0
16:0 g 2.402 0
18:0 g 0.027 0
Fatty acids, total monounsaturated g 9.608 0
16:1 undifferentiated g 0.643 0
18:1 undifferentiated g 8.965 0
20:1 g 0.000 0
22:1 undifferentiated g 0.000 0
Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated g 1.955 0
18:2 undifferentiated g 1.840 0
18:3 undifferentiated g 0.111 0
18:4 g 0.000 0
20:4 undifferentiated g 0.004 0
20:5 n-3 g 0.000 0
22:5 n-3 g 0.000 0
22:6 n-3 g 0.000 0
Cholesterol mg 0 0
Amino acids
Tryptophan g 0.021 12
Threonine g 0.066 4
Isoleucine g 0.071 4
Leucine g 0.123 4
Lysine g 0.094 4
Methionine g 0.037 4
Cystine g 0.021 2
Phenylalanine g 0.068 4
Tyrosine g 0.049 4
Valine g 0.097 4
Arginine g 0.059 4
Histidine g 0.029 4
Alanine g 0.119 4
Aspartic acid g 0.283 4
Glutamic acid g 0.207 4
Glycine g 0.083 4
Proline g 0.077 4
Serine g 0.081 4

Blue Berry

Nutrient Units Value per

100 grams

Proximates
Water g 84.610 40 0.288
Energy kcal 56.000 0
Energy kj 234.000 0
Protein g 0.670 36 0.018
Total lipid (fat) g 0.380 2 0.006
Carbohydrate, by difference g 14.130 0
Fiber, total dietary g 2.700 0
Ash g 0.210 36 0.003
Minerals
Calcium, Ca mg 6.000 82 0.177
Iron, Fe mg 0.170 114 0.005
Magnesium, Mg mg 5.000 114 0.112
Phosphorus, P mg 10.000 42 0.389
Potassium, K mg 89.000 98 1.137
Sodium, Na mg 6.000 98 0.368
Zinc, Zn mg 0.110 82 0.002
Copper, Cu mg 0.061 114 0.005
Manganese, Mn mg 0.282 114 0.018
Selenium, Se mcg 0.600 0
Vitamins
Vitamin C, ascorbic acid mg 13.000 37 0.506
Thiamin mg 0.048 42 0.000
Riboflavin mg 0.050 42 0.002
Niacin mg 0.359 42 0.014
Pantothenic acid mg 0.093 42 0.003
Vitamin B-6 mg 0.036 44 0.002
Folate mcg 6.400 4 1.400
Vitamin B-12 mcg 0.000 0
Vitamin A, IU IU 100.000 0
Vitamin A, RE mcg_RE 10.000 0
Vitamin E mg_ATE 1.000 0
Lipids
Fatty acids, saturated g 0.032 0
4:0 g 0.000 0
6:0 g 0.000 0
8:0 g 0.000 0
10:0 g 0.000 0
12:0 g 0.000 0
14:0 g 0.000 0
16:0 g 0.019 0
18:0 g 0.007 0
Fatty acids, monounsaturated g 0.054 0
16:1 g 0.001 0
18:1 g 0.052 0
20:1 g 0.000 0
22:1 g 0.000 0
Fatty acids, polyunsaturated g 0.166 0
18:2 g 0.099 0
18:3 g 0.067 0
18:4 g 0.000 0
20:4 g 0.000 0
20:5 g 0.000 0
22:5 g 0.000 0
22:6 g 0.000 0
Cholesterol mg 0.000 0
Amino acids
Tryptophan g 0.003 1
Threonine g 0.018 1
Isoleucine g 0.021 1
Leucine g 0.040 1
Lysine g 0.012 1
Methionine g 0.011 1
Cystine g 0.007 1
Phenylalanine g 0.024 1
Tyrosine g 0.008 1
Valine g 0.028 1
Arginine g 0.034 1
Histidine g 0.010 1
Alanine g 0.028 1
Aspartic acid g 0.052 1
Glutamic acid g 0.083 1
Glycine g 0.028 1
Proline g 0.025 1
Serine g 0.020 1

Strawberry

Nutrient Units Value per
100 grams
Proximates
Water g 91.570 100 0.136
Energy kcal 30.000 0
Energy kj 126.000 0
Protein g 0.610 91 0.026
Total lipid (fat) g 0.370 6 0.135
Carbohydrate, by difference g 7.020 0
Fiber, total dietary g 2.300 0
Ash g 0.430 81 0.009
Minerals
Calcium, Ca mg 14.000 10 0.504
Iron, Fe mg 0.380 84 0.042
Magnesium, Mg mg 10.000 74 0.227
Phosphorus, P mg 19.000 81 0.464
Potassium, K mg 166.000 49 2.916
Sodium, Na mg 1.000 32 0.225
Zinc, Zn mg 0.130 19 0.004
Copper, Cu mg 0.049 78 0.005
Manganese, Mn mg 0.290 76 0.031
Selenium, Se mcg 0.700 0
Vitamins
Vitamin C, ascorbic acid mg 56.700 85 1.882
Thiamin mg 0.020 1
Riboflavin mg 0.066 1
Niacin mg 0.230 1
Pantothenic acid mg 0.340 0
Vitamin B-6 mg 0.059 3 0.003
Folate mcg 17.700 8 1.729
Vitamin B-12 mcg 0.000 0
Vitamin A, IU IU 27.000 3 3.480
Vitamin A, RE mcg_RE 3.000 3 0.348
Vitamin E mg_ATE 0.140 0
Lipids
Fatty acids, saturated g 0.020 0
4:0 g 0.000 0
6:0 g 0.000 0
8:0 g 0.000 0
10:0 g 0.000 0
12:0 g 0.000 0
14:0 g 0.000 0
16:0 g 0.014 2
18:0 g 0.004 2
Fatty acids, monounsaturated g 0.052 0
16:1 g 0.001 2
18:1 g 0.051 2
20:1 g 0.000 0
22:1 g 0.000 0
Fatty acids, polyunsaturated g 0.186 0
18:2 g 0.108 2
18:3 g 0.078 2
18:4 g 0.000 0
20:4 g 0.000 0
20:5 g 0.000 0
22:5 g 0.000 0
22:6 g 0.000 0
Cholesterol mg 0.000 0
Phytosterols mg 12.000 0
Amino acids
Tryptophan g 0.007 1
Threonine g 0.019 1
Isoleucine g 0.014 1
Leucine g 0.031 1
Lysine g 0.025 1
Methionine g 0.001 1
Cystine g 0.005 1
Phenylalanine g 0.018 1
Tyrosine g 0.021 1
Valine g 0.018 1
Arginine g 0.026 1
Histidine g 0.012 1
Alanine g 0.031 1
Aspartic acid g 0.138 1
Glutamic acid g 0.090 1
Glycine g 0.024 1
Proline g 0.019 1
Serine g 0.023 1

Cherries. The New Antioxidant "Super Fruit"

Cherries are not only good for you, but they're also on trend as a homegrown "Super Fruit." According to recent data, more than 9 out of 10 Americans want to know where their food comes from, nearly 80 percent say they're purchasing "locally produced" products, and the majority is defining "local" as grown in America.1,2 And cherries deliver.

A growing body of science reveals tart cherries, enjoyed as either dried, frozen cherries or cherry juice, have among the highest levels of disease-fighting antioxidants, when compared to other fruits. They also contain other important nutrients such as beta carotene (19 times more than blueberries or strawberries) vitamin C, potassium, magnesium, iron, fiber and folate.

Emerging evidence links cherries to many important health benefits – from helping to ease the pain of arthritis and gout, to reducing risk factors for heart disease, diabetes and certain cancers. Cherries also contain melatonin, which has been found to help regulate the body's natural sleep patterns, aid with jet lag, prevent memory loss and delay the aging process.

A recent study from the University of Michigan reveals new evidence linking cherries to heart health benefits. The study found that a cherry-enriched diet lowered total weight, body fat (especially the important "belly" fat), inflammation and cholesterol-all risk factors associated with heart disease. According to the American Heart Association, being overweight or obese, in particular when the weight is concentrated in the middle, is a major risk factor for heart disease. As nearly two out of three Americans are overweight, emerging studies like this are important in examining the role diet may play in disease management and prevention.

Click on Cardiovascular/Heart Health for more information on the role cherries may play in reducing inflammation and risk factors associated with heart disease.

While there's no established guideline yet on how many cherries it takes to reap the benefits, experts suggest that 1-2 servings of cherries daily can help provide some of the health benefits identified in the research. Single serving size examples include:
• 1/2 cup dried
• 1 cup frozen
• 1 cup juice
• 1 ounce (or 2 Tbsp) juice concentrate

Olives & Olive Oil

Olives
Small bitter oval fruit, green when unripe and black when ripe, used for food and for oil.

Olive oil
Olive oil is a fruit-juice. Olive oil is cold pressed olive juice and olives are a fruit. That's why it's so healthy and is used in the finest cuisines all over the world. Cold pressed means that the olives are picked and squeezed and are not boiled before squeezing.

Sorts
There are three types of olive oil:
Extra vierge: the purest oil with an excellent taste and a low acidic level;
Vierge: oil with a very good taste and a higher acidic level;
Normal olive oil: this consists of a mix of refined olive oil and an oil between extra vierge and vierge olive oil, it has a good to normal taste.

Wine
You can compare olive oil with wine. Its quality and taste is influenced by geographical factors such as land or region. You also have good and bad olive years, depending on the weather during a certain season. The quality depends of the good care of growers and producers. There are oils with a strong and with a mild taste, some are spicy and others have a grass taste or taste a bit like nuts. No olive oil is the same.
There is yellow and green olive oil. The color says something about the time of season the olives are harvested and not about the quality.

The benefits of olives and olive-oil


In the mediterranean countries of Europe people eat a lot of olive oil. It is common to eat bread or toast just dipped in olive oil. Because of the daily use of olive oil the people that live in these countries suffer less from heart diseases than people of other countries in Europe.
The use of olive oil has a positive effect on the cholesterol level in our blood.
Because olives grow in a warm environment and the fruit has to protect itself from heat and bright sunshine, olives contain a lot of fenol-like substances. These substances could possibly play a role in the prevention and cure of thrombosis and arteriosclerosis.
It is often said that olive oil causes problems with the stomach or intestines. This is simply not the case. Olive oil is very easy to digest and mild for the intestines!

Test it yourself
You can do a little test. If you spill some olive oil on your hands you can easily wash it off. It disappears fast in the sink and you don't need a lot of hot water and detergent to wash it away. Because your body is like a glass of water it reacts the same.
If you have eaten some olive oil your body will evaporate it within 1½ hour via your pores. This means your body can handle it easily and does not have to waste any energy to digest it. This works differently with baking butter and other products, especially those based on animal products. In this case you have to scrub hard and need hot water and detergent to dissolve the fat in the water so it can be washed away.

Use more olive oil



Oil and butter based on vegetables are to be preferred but olive oil is best of course and you can fry everything in it. To put it shortly: everything you eat should be based on fruit or vegetables. You will look and feel much healthier and younger too!

Energy In Fruits

The contents of fruit
As the interest in nutrition increases and people are getting more and more conscious about what they eat, the interest in fruit and its contents also grows. But we still don't know that much about fruit and there is much to discover about the substances that fruit contains. We know it is healthy for us, and that people who are sick can be cured by a diet of raw fruits and vegetables. Even cancer can sometimes be cured by this diet but which substances fruit contains is a mystery. That a human being can live healthily on fruit alone has been proven by the fruitarians, they only consume fruit.

On this page we treat the following subjects:
Water in fruit;
The burning process & sugar in fruit;
Proteins.





Health: Why fruit?
Sugar
Health food
Unhealthy food
Guava
Olive oil
Water in fruit
Planet earth is covered with water for 70%. The human body consists of 80% of water. So what should humans eat: food that contains 80% water.

If you think about it, it is very logical to have food that contains much water. Al right, you say, then I just drink 8 to 12 glasses of water each day, so I can have as much food that doesn't contain much water as I want. Bad luck, this won't work. You cannot cleanse your body by flooding it with water. Instead of drowning your body, you only have to eat food that is rich in water: fruit, fruit juices and vegetables are the nutrition that fit this definition.

Why is it better to consume food that has lots of water in it?
All the fixed substances that you consume have to be digested. A steak for instance can take 8-10 hours to digest, while a fruit salad only takes about 30 minutes! If you squeeze the fruit salad and drink the juice, your body can integrate the nutritious elements even faster. In this way your body can use its energy for other purposes than digesting. For example thinking or detoxifying.

Let's take a closer look at how our body extracts energy from food.


The burning process & sugar in fruit

Everything you eat or drink has to be digested to extract the energy from it.
Your body can extract energy from food in two ways:
Burning with oxygen, for sugar and fat (fruit);
Burning without oxygen, for proteins (meat/dairy).
- Burning with oxygen,for sugar and fat (fruit)
The energy fruit contains is in the form of sugars (glucose). Your body can easily turn this glucose into energy by using oxygen. When the body burns the sugars with the help of oxygen there are waste products produced.

The waste products of this chemical reaction are water and carbon-dioxide. Your body can use the water and disposes of the carbon-dioxide through the lungs by breathing.
It is a very quick, clean and easy way to extract energy.

Your body does an excellent job: it extracts 50% of the energy. A combustion engine about 10 to 20%, the rest is lost through heat.

Fruit juice takes only about 15 minutes and raw fruit about 30 minutes to digest!

- Burning without oxygen, for proteins (meat/dairy)
Proteins are burnt in a different way. The energy that for instance meat, milk and dairy contain consists of proteins and animal fat. The largest part consists of proteins and the conversion of proteins into energy is more difficult and costs more energy than the conversion of sugar and fat into energy.

When the body burns proteins other waste products are produced than with the burning of sugars. The waste product of the burning-process without oxygen is ammonia which is connected with carbon-dioxide and forms the less toxic ureum which is excreted by the kidneys. It's a more cumbersome way to extract energy.

A steak can take up to 8 or 10 hours to digest, especially when eaten in combination with potatoes. In comparison to fruit (30 minutes) a lot of energy is lost to the digestion of proteins and this means that you can't use that energy for other things. Thinking or the disposing of toxins for example.

Proteins
When it comes to fruit and vegetables people tend to say: "But what about my proteins? I need them." We all know that we need proteins, because proteins are an important building material for our cells. We also know that meat, dairy and eggs contain many proteins, so we say that we have to eat meat, dairy and eggs to stay healthy.

We have three arguments that prove that the human body doesn't need that much proteins:
The fruitarians;
Babies;
Amino acids.
- The fruitarians
The vegetarians (no meat), vegans (no animal products) and fruitarians (only fruit) do not consume food that contain many proteins. They live a healthy life without big doses of proteins and look younger too!

Proteins are important though and the best source of protein is from the same raw fruits and vegetables that provide all the other nutrients: vitamins, minerals, enzymes and carbohydrates. Although fruit and vegetables contain less proteins than other nutrition, about 15 to 20 times less than for instance meat, the best way to get all these nutrients, including protein, is to eat a well-balanced variety of fresh, raw fruits and vegetables.
For the exact amount of proteins in fruit see: contents of fruit.

- Babies
When a baby is lucky enough to receive the most natural food it can get babies will be breast fed for the first three to twelve months of their lives. Mother milk contains not only the necessary nutritional elements but also protects the child against allergies and infections. It consists only of about 1% of proteins though proteins are the most important material for building cells! Babies grow lots of cells so obviously it's not necessary to obtain much of proteins for the cell-building process. Fruit also only consists of 1% of proteins and that is obviously enough proteins for a human to obtain the amino acids required for building the cells. Fruit doesn't contain much proteins but has everything in it to make fully grown humans and babies grow.

- Amino-acids


Proteins consist of amino acids and our body uses 20 different amino-acids. There are 8 amino-acids that our body cannot produce itself. They are called the essential amino-acids and our bodies have to obtain them through nutrition. There are many fruits and vegetables that contain all of the eight essential amino acids in the single fruit or veg. This means that it's not necessary to consume animal products to obtain the proteins that contain the essential amino acids our body needs. The following fruits and vegetables contain all 8 essential amino acids:
-Fruits: Bananas, tomatoes, cucumbers.
-Vegetables: Potatoes, sweet potatoes, carrots (also good for the memory), corn, cabbage, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, okra, peas, summer squash and kale.

Fruit and Detoxification

Detoxification
Before we tell you more about the detoxification of your body with fruit we talk about stimulants first. Then we discuss detoxification and the slow reaction of your body, it reacts like an oil tanker.


Stimulating your body

A stimulant is a substance that quickly changes a symptom in an unnatural way. Many people in Western society live on stimulation. We use stimulation to make us feel good. If you try to control a symptom with stimulants, the cause of that symptom will remain. The core of a problem will never be solved by using stimulants. The number of stimulants we use is endless.

We will discuss the most important stimulants in a quick overview.

List of most common stimulants



Refined white sugar
A lot has been written about the detrimental effects of refined white sugar on the body. It is really very bad for you. Inform yourself because a lot of products contain a lot of refined white sugar. Cola for instance, but also ketchup contains a lot. Try to cut down on it by using brown sugars, like cane sugar.
Sugar has a stimulating effect. If you consume a product full of sugar you get a kick out of it, that's why products that contain a lot of sugar are so attractive.
Possible substitutes:
- cane sugar; tastes the same, same kick.
- fruit juices; same kick from natural sugars.

Coffee


The stimulating effect of caffeine in cola, coffee, tea, and chocolate are well known.
Substitute for cola: for the caffeine green tea; for the sugar it contains (one 0.2 l. glass contains 3 spoons full of refined sugar) you can drink fruit juices.
Substitute for coffee:
- Japanese or Chinese green tea.
Gives the same kick because it contains the caffeine but is less worse because it does not contain the stomach irritating substances.

Diet pills
The stimulation of some diet pills is obvious. A lot of weight loss herbs are stimulatory. Some athletes have even experimented with these to give them more energy during their competitions. How's that for a stimulant?
You should be very careful or better: do not use them at all. If it is really necessary consult your doctor first.
Substitute: Fruit.

Fruit is detoxifying and you can eat as much of it as you want. You will lose a lot of weight if you cut down on other nutrition and replace them by fruit.

Cigarettes

The nicotine in cigarettes is another well know stimulant.
Substitute:
- squeeze fruit (kills time);
- carrots.

Spices
Some people feel that salt, pepper, and some spices can be stimulating. Did you ever notice that some people seem to require large amounts and others require none?
Substitute:
- herbal salt.

Red Meat


People feel good and strong right after the consumption of red meat. This is a bit strange because the energy of meat consists of proteins and they take 4 - 6 hours to digest. Therefore the immediate effect must be a stimulant.This effect can be caused by the stimulating elements the meat contains. A well known theory is that when animals are being killed, the animals know that it's about to happen. This activates the production of adrenaline which fuels their blood with fear hormones. These are incredibly stimulating and it is impossible to remove all of them from the meat (and milk).
Animals are also injected with hormones that can stimulate too.
Substitute:
- fish.

Drugs
Soft-drugs as hashish and pot stimulate the kidneys and the blood circulation and can't be overdosed but also contain a lot of polluting elements that can cause cancer, like cigarettes. So stay away from them.
Hard drugs are chemical drugs and are extremely stimulative (pills, powders, alcohol). They speak for themselves, the biggest kick, the biggest kick down for health. These stimulants are so aggressive they kill brain cells. An overdose is killing.

Detoxification
Stimulants cannot give the body what it needs. Only natural food can promote a healthy and thus happy physiological function. You could look at it this way: the only natural way to feel good is the one that is a by-product of a normally functioning body that is producing sufficient energy at the cellular level. Any other way to feel good is phony and a result of stimulants, how innocent these stimulants may look.

Your body detoxifies itself all day and for the biggest part during your sleep. Especially until noon it is therefore sensible to eat fruit only. Your body has to dispose of the toxic elements it receives from stimulants, nutrition and pollution.

If you stop the stimulating of your body with a certain stimulant there is a good chance that the following is the result:
an immediate loss of energy;
emotional symptoms such as headaches, sickness and depressions.

So, if you stop the use of a stimulant you will not feel better right away. It's obvious that these products are really addictive. In some cases if someone improves his eating habits an immediate increase of energy is experienced but the opposite is just as often the result. The body has not only to deal with the moment but also with the problems that have resulted from the past...

Weight loss
For example: if someone improves his eating habits (for example eating a lot of fruit or quitting on dairy products) and loses weight, not only does the body have to burn the fat, it also has to cope with toxic waste that is embedded within the fat. So if your body is burning that fat it is very likely that you will feel ill because your body also burns the toxic waste products embedded within that fat.

Fruit
If you haven't eaten fruit and vegetables on a regular basis and you start to eat a lot of fruit, your body will detoxify itself first. Even if you don't change your use of stimulants!
Fruit can be used to help your body detoxify. The best way of doing this is not to eat anything but fruit until noon. Till that time your body is still busy detoxifying from the night before. Now you know why people always drink freshly squeezed orange- or grapefruit juice in the morning.

The strongest detoxifying effect is caused by the acid fruits. Especially (red) grapefruit and lemons are detoxifying. Citrus fruit is all acid fruit but also tomatoes and pineapples are acid fruits . Squeeze 3 oranges, two mandarins and half a red grapefruit for breakfast. It's the quickest energy supply to wake you up in the morning!

Be a little-bit careful with the acid fruits when you are ill. Your body is already very busy detoxifying and when stimulating this process it could cause an over-reaction of your body to clean itself even more and could make you even feel worse for that moment. So don't go squeezing 20 oranges to get better.

If you are really sick and don't want to eat or drink, the best drink is a glass with the juice of half a lemon filled up with boiled water and a bit of cane sugar (not refined white sugar!) Because you only use half a lemon the detoxifying effect is not so strong but your body does receive much vitamin C.

Oil-tanker


Don't forget that the human body reacts like an oil-tanker. It is wise not to expect immediate results from changing your eating patterns. Going on a diet is nice for a two weeks holiday at Hawaii beach but won't help you losing weight or make you feel better, healthier and more energetic on the long run.

Dates

Nutrition Information for Dates:

The following nutrition information is for one serving of dates. That would be about one-half cup of dates, or 89 grams. This general information is for chopped pitted dates.
Macronutrients:

Water: 18.27 g

Calories: 251

Protein: 2.18 g

Carbohydrates: 66.78 g

Fiber: 7.1 g

Sugars: 56.38 g

Total Fat: 0.35 g

Saturated Fat: 0.028 g

Monounsaturated Fat: 0.032 g

Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.017 g

Cholesterol: 0 mg
Micronutrients:

Calcium: 35 mg

Iron: 0.91 mg

Magnesium: 38 mg

Phosphorus: 55 mg

Potassium: 484 mg

Sodium: 2 mg

Zinc: 0.26 mg

Vitamin C: 0.4 mg

Thiamin: 0.046 mg

Riboflavin: 0.059 mg

Niacin: 1.134 mg

Pantothenic Acid: 0.524 mg

Vitamin B6: 0.147 mg

Vitamin B12: 0 mcg

Folate: 17 mcg

Vitamin A: 9 IU

Vitamin E: 0.04 mg

Vitamin K: 2.4 mcg
Phytonutrients:

beta Carotene: 5 mcg

beta Cryptoxanthin: 0 mcg

Lycopene: 0 mcg

Lutein and Zeaxanthin: 67 mcg

Watermelons

The following nutrition information is for one serving of watermelon. That would be about one cup of watermelon balls, or 154 grams. This general information is for any variety of raw watermelons.
Macronutrients:

Water: 140.83 g

Calories: 46

Protein: 0.94 g

Carbohydrates: 11.63 g

Fiber: 0.6 g

Sugars: 9.55 g

Total Fat: 0.23 g

Saturated Fat: 0.025 g

Monounsaturated Fat: 0.057 g

Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.077 g

Cholesterol: 0 mg
Micronutrients:

Calcium: 11 mg

Iron: 0.37 mg

Magnesium: 15 mg

Phosphorus: 17 mg

Potassium: 172 mg

Sodium: 2 mg

Zinc: 0.15 mg

Vitamin C: 12.5 mg

Thiamin: 0.051 mg

Riboflavin: 0.032 mg

Niacin: 0.274 mg

Pantothenic Acid: 0.340 mg

Vitamin B6: 0.069 mg

Vitamin B12: 0 mcg

Folate: 5 mcg

Vitamin A: 876 IU

Vitamin E: 0.08 mg

Vitamin K: 0.2 mcg
Phytonutrients:

beta Carotene: 467 mcg

beta Cryptoxanthin: 120 mcg

Lycopene: 6979 mcg

Lutein and Zeaxanthin: 12 mcg
Additional Information:

Watermelons are low in calories and very high in lycopene, which is a very heart-healthy phytochemical. Watermelon also has a lot of vitamin A and beta carotene too.

Pears

Nutrition Information for Pears:

The following nutrition information is for one serving of a pear. That would be one small pear of about five ounces, or 139 grams. This general information is for any variety of raw pears.
Macronutrients:

Water: 116.36 g

Calories: 81

Protein: 0.53 g

Carbohydrates: 21.49 g

Fiber: 4.3 g

Sugars: 20.48 g

Total Fat: 0.17 g

Saturated Fat: 0.008 g

Monounsaturated Fat: 0.036 g

Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.040 g

Cholesterol: 0 mg
Micronutrients:

Calcium: 13 mg

Iron: 0.24 mg

Magnesium: 10 mg

Phosphorus: 15 mg

Potassium: 165 mg

Sodium: 1 mg

Zinc: 0.14 mg

Vitamin C: 5.8 mg

Thiamin: 0.017 mg

Riboflavin: 0.035 mg

Niacin: 0.218 mg

Pantothenic Acid: 0.067 mg

Vitamin B6: 0.039 mg

Vitamin B12: 0 mcg

Folate: 10 mcg

Vitamin A: 32 IU

Vitamin E: 0.17 mg

Vitamin K: 6.3 mcg
Phytonutrients:

Phytosterols: 11 mg

beta Carotene: 18 mcg

beta Cryptoxanthin: 3 mcg

Lycopene: 0 mcg

Lutein and Zeaxanthin: 63 mcg

Grapefruits

Nutrition Information for Grapefruit:

The following nutrition information is for one serving of grapefruit. That would be about one half of a medium grapefruit that is four inches in diameter, or 128 grams. This general information is for any variety of white or pink raw grapefruit.
Macronutrients:

Water: 116.34 g

Calories: 41

Protein: 0.81 g

Carbohydrates: 10.34 g

Fiber: 1.4 g

Sugars: 8.93 g

Total Fat: 0.13 g

Saturated Fat: 0.018 g

Monounsaturated Fat: 0.017 g

Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.031 g

Cholesterol: 0 mg
Micronutrients:

Calcium: 15 mg

Iron: 0.12 mg

Magnesium: 10 mg

Phosphorus: 10 mg

Potassium: 178 mg

Sodium: 0 mg

Zinc: 0.09 mg

Vitamin C: 44.0 mg

Thiamin: 0.046 mg

Riboflavin: 0.026 mg

Niacin: 0.320 mg

Pantothenic Acid: 0.362 mg

Vitamin B6: 0.054 mg

Vitamin B12: 0 mcg

Folate: 13 mcg

Vitamin A: 1187 IU

Vitamin E: 0.17 mg

Vitamin K: 0 mcg
Phytonutrients:

beta Carotene: 707 mcg

beta Cryptoxanthin: 8 mcg

Lycopene: 1453 mcg

Lutein and Zeaxanthin: 8 mcg
Source of Information:

USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference
Notes:

Abbreviations:


g = gram
mg = milligram
mcg = microgram
IU = International Unit

Mango

Nutrition Information for Mangos:

The following nutrition information is for one serving of mango. That would be about one cup of sliced mango, or 165 grams. This general information is for any variety of sliced raw mangos.
Macronutrients:

Water: 134.82 g

Calories: 107

Protein: 0.84 g

Carbohydrates: 28.05 g

Fiber: 3.0 g

Sugars: 24.42 g

Total Fat: 0.45 g

Saturated Fat: 0.109 g

Monounsaturated Fat: 0.167 g

Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.084 g

Cholesterol: 0 g
Micronutrients:

Calcium: 17 mg

Iron: 0.21 mg

Magnesium: 15 mg

Phosphorus: 18 mg

Potassium: 257 mg

Sodium: 3 mg

Zinc: 0.07 mg

Vitamin C: 45.7 mg

Thiamin: 0.096 mg

Riboflavin: 0.094 mg

Niacin: 0.964 mg

Pantothenic Acid: 0.264 mg

Vitamin B6: 0.221 mg

Vitamin B12: 0 mcg

Folate: 23 mcg

Vitamin A: 1262 IU

Vitamin E: 1.85 mg

Vitamin K: 6.9 mcg
Phytonutrients:

beta Carotene: 734 mcg

beta Cryptoxanthin: 18 mcg

Lycopene: 0 mcg

Lutein and Zeaxanthin: 0 mcg
Source of Information:
USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference
Notes:

Abbreviations:


g = gram
mg = milligram
mcg = microgram
IU = International Unit

PineApple

Nutrition Information for Pineapples:

The following nutrition information is for one serving of pineapples. That would be about one cup of diced pineapples, or 155 grams. This general information is for any raw pineapples.
Macronutrients:

Water: 134.01 g

Calories: 74

Protein: 0.84 g

Carbohydrates: 19.58 g

Fiber: 2.2 g

Sugars: 14.35 g

Total Fat: 0.19 g

Saturated Fat: 0.014 g

Monounsaturated Fat: 0.022 mg

Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.065 mg

Cholesterol: 0 mg
Micronutrients:

Calcium: 20 mg

Iron: 0.43 mg

Magnesium: 19 mg

Phosphorus: 12 mg

Potassium: 178 mg

Sodium: 2 mg

Zinc: 0.16 mg

Vitamin C: 56.1 mg

Thiamin: 0.122 mg

Riboflavin: 0.048 mg

Niacin: 0.758 mg

Pantothenic Acid: 0.318 mg

Vitamin B6: 0.171 mg

Vitamin B12: 0 mcg

Folate: 23 mcg

Vitamin A: 87 IU

Vitamin E: 0.03 mg

Vitamin K: 1.1 mcg
Phytonutrients:

Phytosterols: 9 mg

beta Carotene: 53 mcg

beta Cryptoxanthin: 0 mcg

Lycopene: 0 mcg

Lutein and Zeaxanthin: 0 mcg
Source of Information:

USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference
Notes:

Abbreviations:
g = gram
mg = milligram
mcg = microgram
IU = International Unit

Plums

Nutrition Information for Plums:
The following nutrition information is for one serving of plums. That would be one plum about two inches in diameter, or 66 grams. This general information is for any variety of raw plums.
Macronutrients:

Water: 57.57 g

Calories: 30

Protein: 0.46 g

Carbohydrates: 7.54 g

Fiber: 0.9 g

Sugars: 6.55 g

Total Fat: 0.9 g

Saturated Fat: 0.011 g

Monounsaturated Fat: 0.088 g

Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.029 g

Cholesterol: 0 g
Micronutrients:

Calcium: 4 mg

Iron: 0.11 mg

Magnesium: 5 mg

Phosphorus: 11 mg

Potassium: 104 mg

Sodium: 0 mg

Zinc: 0.07 mg

Vitamin C: 6.3 mg

Thiamin: 0.018 mg

Riboflavin: 0.017 mg

Niacin: 0.275 mg

Pantothenic Acid: 0.089 g

Vitamin B6: 0.019 mg

Vitamin B12: 0 mcg

Folate: 3 mcg

Vitamin A: 228 IU

Vitamin E: 0.17 mg

Vitamin K: 4.2 mcg
Phytonutrients:

Phytosterols: 5 mg

beta Carotene: 125 mcg

beta Cryptoxanthin: 23 mcg

Lycopene: 0 mcg

Lutein and Zeaxanthin: 48 mcg
Source of Information:

USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference
Notes:

Abbreviations:
g = gram
mg = milligram
mcg = microgram
IU = International Unit

Achieve Healthy Weight Loss through Bananas

We all know that dieting or taking supplement is not the natural to lose weight. Maximum people don't know that some foods eaten on a regular basis can provide you with enough health benefits that they will begin to actually accelerate your healthy weight loss! No, I'm not talking about eating as much bacon as you can stuff into your mouth like some of these fad diets convince people to do. I'm talking about bananas! In this article, you will find some great tips for Healthy Weight Loss.

Bananas Give You Energy:

It's one of the best fruit bananas will give an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy because it contains 3 type of natural sugar – sucrose, fructose and glucose. You have to only take 2 bananas in a day and you will take too much energy.

Bananas Provide Vitamins & Minerals: Vitamins are the cornerstone to good health, and the banana is packed with mostly everything the body needs. Banana has B6 vitamin that regulates your blood glucose levels. It contains high level of iron and potassium which reduces the risk of blood pressure. Since potassium is a vital mineral that sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body's water balance, you can see how important it is for healthy weight loss.

Bananas Promote Optimism: Banana also contains tryptophan; it's a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax. Banana will also make you happy and will improve your mood. If you are happy, you will stick with your healthy weight loss program with positive thinking.

Bananas Are Rich With Fiber: Banana will also help to restore normal bowel action. Fiber is important for healthy weight loss because it helps absorb fat and helps the body so it functions at the optimal level.

Bananas Are A Healthy Alternative: Banana is more advantages as compare to apple because a banana has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrate, three times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals.

Most people fail to achieve their healthy weight loss goals because they grab a fat free processed snack loaded with preservatives instead of an all-natural fruit from the earth. It is all part of making healthy choices when you are serious about losing weight safely and keeping it off for good.

Saturday, July 10, 2010

Yoga exercise For Weight Loss

Yoga is one of the best natural way to lose weight. The fact is doing so regularly will help you with many aspects of your health. Doing yoga exercise frequently will help to tone your body and improve flexibility. Yoga exercise will also helpful in stress and anxiety. It is wonderful for the overall health of your body.

Yoga & Weight Loss

In yoga there are many types of exercise but it depends on you, what you choose. Just remember that in order to lose weight you need to increase your heart rate when exercising. For lose weight you have to burn calories and chose your food carefully.

When it comes to yoga these are the three types that will actually help with weight loss. If yoga is your preferred form of exercise you will need to actively engage in yoga three times a week for an hour and a half each time.

Yoga exercise for weight loss:

1. Ashtanga Yoga: In this exercise, there are 75 poses in Ashtanga which take at least an hour and a half to complete. This is a very vigorous style of yoga that is both energetic and physical.

2. Power Yoga: As the name suggests this again is a style of yoga that involves lots of movement which helps to work your heart out. Power yoga is more of a western style and can vary from class to class.

3. Hot Yoga: In this yoga exercise, you have to sit in heated environment which really gets you sweating. If you are out of shape it would be wise to go with a beginner class. You do not want to over exert yourself right from the get go.

Note: Before doing any exercise, I would request you please consult with your doctor or from yoga instructor because it may be possible that these exercise are not suitable for you.

Why we need Yoga Exercises in your life

"Life is just like a road where sometimes we got smooth surface and sometimes we got hard or rough area." Similarly, in our life if we do not take care of ourselves properly, it creates problem or stress within the body. This has a great impact on the glandular system, which sets the stage for illness and chronic diseases to use our body for its rule performance. From only one way we can stop our illness is to implement a daily yoga routine. Yoga exercises can serve as an astonishing tool to lay the foundation for a perfect mind and healthy body for years to come.

Benefits of Yoga Exercises:


· Yoga exercises can make your body more strong and flexible. There are several forms of yoga exercises that are performed by millions of people throughout the world. These exercises are quite beneficial in soothing their mind more energized and relaxed.

· Well, by doing yoga practices, an individual can also reduce their internal stress and procure for the physical fitness.

· An enhancement of stretching and flexibility are among the common benefits of yoga practices. It greatly enhances ligament elasticity and joint mobility.

· It improves a person's concentration and teaching self discipline practices etc.

· It improves and controls an individual's blood glucose, have lower blood pressure, better sleep, better coordination and an improved digestion.

· Medical problems like acidity, arthritis, anemia, Alzheimer disease, skin problems, allergies, menopause, menstrual cramps, facial wrinkles, depression, obesity, hypertension, insomnia and many others can all be treated by doing daily yoga practices.

· Immune system is enhanced to a great extent.

· It brings internal harmony and peace.

· It assist you helps in improving the blood circulation that makes the skin glowing and healthy.

· It boosts the physical strength, and stamina.


Beside all, Breathing is one of the most important parts of yoga practices. This is the way one exhales and inhales during various yoga poses that helps an individual to stay active and alert all the time.

Weight Loss Supplements

deposit on the certain parts of the body like stomach and thigh is totally different. Fat on the stomach and thighs are stubborn and take a lot of effort and time.

In, Internet you will find so many websites and blogs or even at stores selling health products which maintain that product A, B or C can remove this stubborn fat. This for the most part is probably totally untrue, the biggest percentage of these lotions and potions promoted in this way really do not work.

If you purchased any weight loss supplements you have noticed that they also provide you some exercise and diet plans. All these supplements are worthless and useless because if you really want to lose weight then you have to follow a sensible balanced diet and daily exercise at least 30 min. This will get the same results in time and will keep the bank manager happy too.

It is possible to speed up the fat lose process by increasing the metabolism through eating the right kind of foods at regular intervals throughout the day and regular exercise. Try to avoid any type supplement because supplements have many drawbacks and also it will not give bad health.

How to Lose Weight without Diets

How to lose weight? This is the question which is asking by many of us. The answer is simple and very easy. Just cut off your high calorie food and do exercise. These simple steps are the answers of almost all people's question on how to lose weight without extensive diets.

Our bodies have organisms that seek energizers; calories are the primary example of it, but when they don't enough energizers from the food we eat, then it will take starting to burn stored fats in our waist and other parts of the body. So, the best way to lose weight is to follow a simple diet and exercise.



Though these approaches to lose weight are the most ordinary and healthy, many people failed to follow. For those people weight loss pills are formulated, which is easier to take. In market there are many weight loss pills are available. These pills work by decreasing the amount of fat that our body organism absorbs from foods. Xenical, one of the most common brands of Fat blockers, slows down the lipase enzyme in the intestines which breaks up fat making it prepared for digestion.



As expected from medicinal diets, fat binders and blockers have very wicked side effects. Taking diet pills is easy to take but to be very frank it is also expected to be unhealthy.



There is another weight loss supplement and that is appetite suppressants. As the name suggest supplements, it will reduce your fat by feeling full stomach. Hodia Gordonii, a cactus-like plant found in South Africa is one of the most known herbal appetite suppressants.



Supplements are pure and natural way to lose weight. It does not have any side effects. But remember one thing, don't take any supplements or bills without consult with your doctor because it may be effective to some people or may not effective for some people. Remember, no glory can ever be obtained in just a single snap. Whatever it is that you want to achieve, may it be to lose weight or anything else, hard work is the key.

Weight Loss Pill: Pills for fast weight loss

What is weight loss Pills?

Weight Loss Pills is a medicine that helps an individual to rapidly loose their body mass without any side effects or other any hassle. In other words, it is a medication that helps an obese person to instantly lose weight in combination with a low-calorie diet and the physical activity. There are so many pills available in the market and are very popular that can be easily chosen by any one. These pills are made up from natural or herbal ingredients such as Chitosan, Chromium, HMB, Plantago Psyllium, Conjugated Linoleic Acid, Citrus Aurantium or Bitter Orange.

How to take these Pills?

These pills can only be taking by the prescription of doctors or your health dietician, health masters etc. They first examine your fatness, your body requirements and other. After examine, that they prescribe you a particular brand of pills which includes the ingredients that not have any side effects on your health. Furthermore, they also assist you how to take and what time to take the pills which helps you to get a better result.

Are these pills having any side effects?

As, mentioned earlier that these pills are made up from herbal or natural ingredients. It is rarely in chance that these pills have any side effects. But in this grand world, every individual has different body or immune system; they have their own capacity to consume any product. Hence, it is an advice to you to take these pills according to your family doctor prescription. And also tells him about any problems related to your health or if you have ant allergy from any chemical or ingredients and then take medicine according to it.

How it works?

It helps their user to loss as much as fat from their body and also helps them to maintain their physical fitness. It improved the diet to lose and maintain weight successfully over the long term without any hassle.

How to get rid off from belly fat - Let us discuss

Generally people in the gym or health club ask the question that "How to get rid off from belly fat." This is one of the most common problems that suffer by almost 70 % of the population in the world. As we all know that Belly fat occurs because of eating more calories than the body requirement and not doing physical work. Being able to overcome this problem, we are offering you some of the essential tips that help you a lot. Well, while following these weight loss tips and programs, you are requires to have a lots of motivation and discipline. In other words, you have to be a self in charge.

· The first and most essential tip is to take a healthy and well nutrition diet.

· Always read the labels of your food to find the nutritional information and stay away from sweets, oils and other items with a high fat content.

· Everyday go for a long walks or exercise. Always try to perform upper, oblique and lower abdominal exercises as these stomach crunches will burn your stomach fat.

· Try to go for a swim at least thrice in a week. Swimming is also a part of cardiovascular exercise and an absolutely necessary when it comes to burn your extra fat.

· Well, it is true that eating fewer calories will help you to burn belly fat. But don't go overboard. If you don't eat properly, your body will go into starvation mode, and will start holding on to your body fat.

· Always avoid eating before you go to bed because it will slow down your metabolism, thus creating more stomach fat for you to have to work off during the day. A good rule of thumb is to avoid eating before three hours you sleep at the night.

· Yoga is also and effective as it helps in strengthening the body, especially the back and abs. It improves the posture extremely, to create a taller, leaner appearance.

Which Natural Weight Loss Option Is Right For You?

In today's life, maximum people concern about their health. Obesity is a huge risk for life threatening health conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, kidney problems, cardiovascular issues, stroke, cancer and gallstones.

There are so many options available for weight loss. But natural weight loss is the best option for losing weight.

When you are starting a new weight loss program make sure that you consult with your doctor and also be aware of side effects as well as interactions. Natural weight loss includes the use of herbal supplements to raise the body's metabolism, suppress the appetite and to add to the overall feeling of well-being.

As the name natural, it does not mean that it gives you guarantee the safety of the product. When the media began focusing on dietary health and healthier lifestyle manufacturers began to add 'all natural' and 'all herbal' to their packaging. All the products must meet FDA standards when they are used to label foods and medications.

There are many herbal products like Aloe Vera, Astralgus, Bee Pollen and licorice and there are many. Herbal supplements are generally cost effective but more expensive. Whenever youtake any herbal supplement makes sure that you have done proper research on the particular product and ingredients before you chose to take a natural weight loss supplement.

One more thing, its not possible that one herbal products suits another person. So, before taking any herbal supplement, ask with your doctor. Remember that there are many ways to lose weight but they all amount to the same thing: burn more calories than you eat; eating less or burning more or a combination of both.

Vitamin D

Your body makes vitamin D when you are exposed to the ultraviolet B (UVB) rays in sunlight. You probably need from 5 to 30 minutes of exposure to the skin on your face, arms, back or legs (without sunscreen) twice every week. Since exposure to sunlight is a risk for skin cancer, you should use sunscreen after a few minutes in the sun and even in the winter and on hazy, cloudy days.

The amount of exposure also depends on the time of the year. In the northern hemisphere, the UVB is more intense during the summer months and less intense during the winter months. In fact, if you live north of the 42-degrees latitude, you will have a difficult time getting enough vitamin D from the sun from November through February. If you live north of a line drawn on a map from the northern border of California to Boston, Massachusetts, you will probably need additional vitamin D from the foods you eat during the winter.

The intensity of UVB rays is also reduced by clouds, pollution and UVB will not travel through glass, so sitting next to a window will not give you enough sunlight to make vitamin D.

Vitamin D is found in oily fish like tuna and salmon as well as in fortified foods like milk and breakfast cereals. You can also take vitamin D supplements.

Vitamin D is necessary for absorption and utilization of calcium, so you need adequate amounts of vitamin D for healthy bones. A deficiency of vitamin D in children will cause rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults. Research studies also suggest that getting enough vitamin D may help to prevent high blood pressure, multiple sclerosis and some forms of cancer.

Healthy Snacks For Teenagers

Teenagers, who are today leading a more sedentary life than ever before, are prone to a number of diseases and require a shift in lifestyle to lead a healthier life. We all know that teenagers are fussy when it comes to eating. They prefer burgers, chips, pizzas and cookies apart from green veggies, healthy cereals and other minerals. This makes it difficult for the parents to help their little brats to meet the daily requirement of proteins, nutrients, calcium, vitamins and other minerals. This article provides an end to all the worries of parents related to the health of their children. If your child loves to munch on snacks, encourage them to have more and more of them, the only difference being that you should encourage them to consume proven healthy snacks and not the snacks full of calories and fatty contents. Here are few health friendly snacks that can be included in the daily routine of your teens to help them stay fit and healthy.

Healthy Snacks For Teens

Sliced and washed fruits are the best snacks that any parent can provide to their kids. Slice up mangoes, apples, pears, kiwi, grapes, strawberries, blueberries, peaches, cherries and other seasonal fruits and pack it for your kid to enjoy in between their busy, energetic day. You can pack these fruits in disposable containers which your kids can throw after use.
Crackers, peanut butters and jelly can also prove out to be a healthy snack for your teenagers. Peanut butter and crackers will fill up the stomach in a healthy way and jelly can be used to sweeten the pot and make it taste good and not dry.
String cheese can also be used as a healthy intake for your kids. String cheese usually comes pre-packaged in individual servings, making it easier for you to decide the quantity to be given to your kids at a time. String cheese is a good source of calcium and will therefore take care of any calcium deficiency in your kid.
Plain popcorn without butter and salted varieties are an excellent option when it comes to the health of your teenager. Popcorns are fun to eat and are also liked by most of the kids. Encourage your kids to have plain popcorn which will serve as an energy booster and will keep your kids going through their busy schedule.
Veggies are generally hated by all kids. But if made a bit presentable with little bit of creativity, nothing can substitute the health benefits that any vegetable will provide. Research has proven the fact that kids like veggies if they can eat them with their hands. Therefore, baby carrots, sliced cucumbers and grape tomatoes can all prove out to be yummy health snacks for your teenager. You can even add a small container of low-fat dip to make your kids want more.
Children love to have cookies, especially the chocolate ones which are full of fats and calories. You can make your child shift to a healthy substitute for cookies, such as whole grain cookies which are full of fiber.
Worried about your kid's nutritional requirements? Yogurt can prove to be your savior. Yogurt is a good source of nutrition and can meet the daily requirements of your child. It comes in individual containers and is also available in different flavors.
Bologna and cheese wraps can also be converted to fun to eat healthy snacks for your kids. Take two pieces of bologna and place a slice of cheese on each. Roll each pair into a wrap to give your kids two quick healthy intake.
Granola bars are easy to carry especially when your teenager is going for a trip. Granola requires no refrigeration and can be carried along to feed in low fat variety healthy diet for your kids.
Roasted nuts are another great source of protein and other nutrients. You can choose almonds, walnuts or whatever strikes your child's taste and pack it for them to provide them with a healthy day.
Almonds and raisins can also be chosen as a health provider for your kids. Almonds and raisins are full of essential vitamins and minerals and also provide great anti-aging benefits. These are also a good source of fibers and healthy fats.
All natural peanut butter and apple is also a healthy substitute for other snacks. All natural peanut butter without any sugar ingredients and preservatives is very good for health. An apple will provide your kid with all the sweetness you need.
English muffin pizza along with pasta sauce, melted mozzarella cheese and your kid's favorite vegetable will prepare a health booster. This requires some work on your part, but if you want to provide a healthy living to your child, the efforts are worth it.
Mediterranean pocket sandwich can be prepared with whole wheat pita bread with hummus, paprika and cucumber slices to make a nutritious snack substitute for your teenager.