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The Benefits of Freshly Squeezed Fruit and Vegetable Juice

Every Monday is Health at Work day here at The Daily Mind.

Today I want to tell you about the benefits of freshly made fruit and vegetable juice. Many years ago I got into freshly made juice when I was on a health kick and now I really take for granted how good this stuff is for me. This morning, however, I was meeting a friend in the city central markets before work and as usual I grabbed a fresh juice. I suddenly remembered you guys I decided that I would try and convince you to try some fresh juice on your way to work tomorrow.

What do I mean by fresh juice

When I say fresh juice I am talking about juice that has been juiced right in front of you. Many health food stores sell this stuff when you can get a combination of vegetables and fruits juiced right in front of you. This type of juice is one of the best things you can do for your health.

What I am NOT talking about is bottled juice from the store. This stuff has been heated up and had so many preservatives added to it that it can no longer be classified as a health drink.

Why is fresh fruit and vegetable juice so healthy?

There have been numerous studies done on fresh juice and they have all shown that it is an extremely healthy thing to do. Some of the main reasons include:

  • More absorbtion: When you drink your fruits and vegetables you absorb up to 80% more of the nutrients. That is a massive amount of minerals, vitamins, etc. that you would otherwise be missing out on.
  • More fruits and vegetables: People in today’s world are not eating anywhere near the required amount of fruits and vegetables. Jucing them allows you to pack more into your day thus helping your health.
  • Good for your organs: Juicing your fruit reduces the amount of work your digestive organs have to do and has been shown to increase the health of the liver, kidneys, etc. This kind of thing leads to better immunity and overall better long term health.

One of my favorite benefits, however, is the sheer variety of vegetables and fruits that you can get in one sitting. This morning I had a delicious juice with beetroot, ginger, apple, carrot, celery and wheatgrass juice. There is no way I would be able to eat all these for breakfast without the juicing!

Other benefits of freshly juiced fruits and vegetables

One of the main reasons I get fresh juice on a regular basis is simply because it makes me feel good. After a big cup of fresh juice I always feel lighter and much more energized and that energy seems to last for a lot longer than regular foods and drinks. It certainly makes me feel better than a coffee.

Other benefits include: [Read more…] about The Benefits of Freshly Squeezed Fruit and Vegetable Juice

Originally posted on May 27, 2008 @ 4:21 am

Concentration Boosting Foods: 5 Foods That Help You Concentrate and Focus at Work

Ginkgo biloba, ginseng, caffeine… there are a whole range of foods out there that are supposed to help us concentrate more. But do they really do anything? Do these substances really affect how well you can concentrate or how well you can retain information?

In this article I want to take a look at some foods that are commonly thought to help improve concentration and then look at whether they do anything at all.

Foods that help you concentrate and focus at work

1. Ginkgo Biloba


Creative Commons License photo credit: rosmary

Ginkgo Biloba is probably the most famous concentration food around. It is actually from the oldest tree species on the planet and is used to treat concentration problems, dementia, etc. The good thing about Ginkgo is that there are quite a few solid scientific studies that show that Ginkgo actually does work as a “brain herb”. The way it does this is by increasing blood flow to the brain and nourishing the cells and so on.

2. Ginseng


Creative Commons License photo credit: Jean-François Chénier

Ginseng is probably the most famous Chinese herb and is derived from a Greek word which means “all healing”. According to ancient literature this herb will work wherever it is needed. If someone has a high temperature it will lower it. If you have a low temperature it will increase it.

Ginseng is also supposed to be good for concentration and memory function. Some studies have shown that the properties in some ginseng strands increased protein synthesis in the brain and thus concluded that it is good for memory and concentration. However, these studies were carried out in the 60’s and many believe they were flawed. Recent studies have shown that ginseng does absolutely nothing for energy, concentration or memory.

Ginseng has been used for thousands of years in Chinese medicine. I have a lot of respect for this discipline and feel that there must be some benefits if these doctors continue to use it. Scientific studies are often very narrow and limited. If you are going to use ginseng I would suggest only doing so on a Chinese doctors recommendation.

3. Coffee


Creative Commons License photo credit: pokpok313

Coffee. The most popular drug in the world. Millions of people around the world enjoy a cup of coffee every morning because they believe that it wakes them up and helps them stay alert and awake at work. And they are right. Coffee has caffeine and antioxidants that, when combined, improve alertness and as such concentration and better information retention.

However, recent studies have shown that the more often you drink coffee the less effective it can become. Doctors now say that it is better to have a cup when you feel like you need it and not have it every day just because it is a habit. This will ensure it wakes you up when you need it to.

4. Brahmi (Bacopa Monnieri)
Now this is one herb that I personally vouch for. I am not saying it is safe or effective for everyone, but it has worked for me.

Bacopa monneieri is an Indian Ayurvedic medical herb that is used to treat anxiety, stress and as an intelligence booster. It is said to improve concentration as well as nourishing the brain. And scientific studies (although rare) have supported this information. It has been shown to improve brain function.

I have been using it for about two month and have noticed a tangible difference in my stress levels, concentration ability and general wellbeing. Perhaps if you are after some of these benefits you might want to give it a go. Here is the brand I have been using.

5. Fish
The omega-3 fatty acids in fish as supposed to help improve your brain function over the long term. Like most of these substances, the effects usually take a long time to build up. Some foods will help you concentrate in the short term (coffee) and others take a long time (fish, brahmi, etc.).

The downside on eating fish is that the omega-3 rich fishes usually are those that live in the deep sea. These fish are nowadays often laced with mercury thanks to the pollution of the sea and are thus not all that healthy. For this and a few other personal reasons I rarely ever eat fish.

Conclusion

The subject of concentration foods is really tricky. Some people swear by them and other people say that it is all nonsense. The hard part is that the science is conflicting – there is no right or wrong answer. In situations like this we often have to turn to experience – testing it for ourselves.

Have you got any experience with these foods? Let us know.

top image:Creative Commons License photo credit: Electric Spam

Originally posted on May 12, 2008 @ 3:29 am

How to Eat Cheap and Healthy at Work Everyday

A lot of people blame their weight problems on their work. How many times have you heard and overweight friend say “I don’t have time for a healthy lunch” or some similar excuse? I hear it often. This post will look at some simple ways you can eat cheap and healthy at work every single day.

1. Start shopping at the local market
The supermarket and regular shops you go to are run on massive profits. Here in Australia we have Coles/Myer which is one of the biggest publically listed companies in the nation.

Their food stores make a big profit. The prices aren’t the best.

If, however, you go to the food market on a Saturday or Sunday you can pick up all the food the big guys sell but at cost price. It is fresh and healthy. Stock up on fruits and vegetables and things you can snack on at work.

2. Buy a big thermos and learn to make soup
Vegetable soup made from the vegetables you bought in the market is a great way to eat on the cheap and it is very healthy. Tomato based soups are particularly good for you as the cooked tomoatos have lots of cancer fighting properties. The thermos keeps it hot all day and you can have as much as you want without worrying about getting fat.

If anyone has any killer soup recipes I would love to see them. Surely some people in the cold US states make great soups?

3. Switch from Starbucks coffee to market Green Tea
My local Chinese Market in China Town has about 1000 varites of important teas. There is one for every health problem you can think of. You can buy a packet of about 100 tea bags for $5. That is nothing. That is as much as one coffee for some people! This strategy is good because you still get your caffiene fix whilst saving money, getting healthy antioxidants and cutting out sugar.

4. Remember the old sandwhich
What the hell happened to the days when people took a sandwhich to work? Society is so pleasure driven now that a killer triple decker sandwhich with salad and fresh goodies seems like food for a homeless person. Most people at work I know go out for a sirloin steak for lunch.

Whatever!

Get back to the simple days when healthy food was exciting and made you feel good about yourself. Packing a sandwhich (or three!) before work saves money, time and will keep you feeling better after lunch time.

5. Make enough dinner for leftovers
If I am making a dinner I know I am going to love and I know will last tomorrow I usually make enough for an extra meal. Pack it in the fridge in a container and grab it on your way out the door in the morning. Zero preparation time other than what you normally have for your nightly dinner. 9 times out of 10 your dinner will be a lot healthier than the stuff you buy for lunch so why not have it again if it is easier for you?

6. Check the fast food alternatives
So Subway might be better for you than KFC but is it cheaper than the sandwhich you could get at the local Deli? If you want to eat healthy and save some cash try the local corner store’s lunch specials. Quite often they are thrilled to have your business and you end up with a fresh made sandwhich or a nice home cooked meal. I love these “underground” places.

7. Discover healthy snacking
Normally at work you would snack on soda, candy, chips, coffee, tea and other things during the day. Instead, try taking a bag of mixed nuts or mixed sprouts to work and snack on them whenever you want. The protein will keep you feeling full so you will eat less of a junkie lunch and they replace the less nutritious snacks that you were eating before.

Does anyone have any other tips on eating healthy and cheaply at work?

Originally posted on February 22, 2008 @ 4:32 pm

Can Certain Holiday Foods Influence Your Skin? Here’s What You Need to Know

Resisting the temptation of your favorite treats is already difficult to begin with, and now, with the holiday season finally here, the struggle becomes all the more real. While it can be difficult, it’s important to be mindful with the sweets you consume during these next couple of weeks as certain foods can affect your body in more ways than one.

[Read more…] about Can Certain Holiday Foods Influence Your Skin? Here’s What You Need to Know