Orange Juice

Daily Glass of OJ Is Heart Smart

Antioxidant in Orange Juice Linked to Better Blood Vessel Health, Lower Blood Pressure

ByKelli Miller Stacy
WebMD Health News

Reviewed byElizabeth Klodas, MD, FACC

July 20, 2009 -- An apple a day is said to keep the doctor away, but orange juice may be good at the job, too.

An antioxidant in orange juice called hesperidin improves blood vessel function and helps lower a person’s risk of heart disease, researchers report.

Hesperidin is a plant-based compound called a flavonoid. (Grapes, red wine, green and black teas, and chocolate also contain flavonoids.) A growing body of evidence suggests that flavonoids can improve the health of the delicate cells that line blood vessels. The way these cells work is referred to as "endothelial function." Problems with these cells can lead to the development of clogged arteries, a major risk factor for heart attacks and strokes.

Minerals

Dietary mineral

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

    

Dietary minerals (also known as mineral nutrients) are the chemical elements required by living organisms, other than the four elements carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, and oxygen present in common organic molecules. Examples of mineral elements include calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, zinc, and iodine.... Plants absorb dissolved minerals in soils, which are subsequently picked up by the herbivores that eat them and so on, the minerals move up the food chain.

Healthy Eating

Are You Maintaining
a Healthy Weight?
By Abigail Natenshon
Author of When Your Child Has An Eating Disorder

Some people have lost track of how to tell if they are a healthy weight. Some kids compare themselves to the skinniest people they know, to the actresses on television or to the models in the fashion magazines in an effort to know if they are at an acceptable weight.

A healthy weight is not simply a matter of pounds. Rather, it is a stable weight that you can maintain. A healthy weight is different for every person, depending on body type and bone size, age, overall health, and hereditary conditions in your family.

Have you ever heard of a “set point” weight. That is the weight that your body feels most comfortable at, where it is its healthiest and most fit. For adolescent girls, this weight will support a regular, monthly menstrual period. You will know when you are at your set point weight because though you may gain or lose a little weight, it will never be more than a few pounds in either direction.

Being active and eating well can help you reach and maintain a healthier weight.

If you feel that you must lose weight in order to be healthier, remember:

Never diet. Dieting deprives your body of the nutrition it needs.
Eat differently, not less.
Eat foods that are nutritious, that you enjoy, and that satisfy your hunger.
Keep a variety of nutritious foods on hand so you have a choice of what to eat when you are hungry.
Add new foods to what you eat now, making your menus diverse.
Eat slowly and enjoy every bite.
Don’t ever skip a meal.
Sit down to eat.
Be sure to include healthy snacks in your day.
Make sure that the fruits and vegetables you eat are fresh and delicious.
Stay physically active.
Eat protein, fats and carbohydrates at every meal.

Enjoying tasty foods is one of life’s greatest pleasures. Sharing a meal is also a great way to relax, communicate and enjoy time with family and friends.