Author: Scott Meyers
Title: Is All Magnesium Created Equal?

Article: When it comes to magnesium, how much you use is not as important as what kind of magnesium you use. Everyone is familiar with milk of magnesia; unfortunately, magnesium is harsh and not as safe as many would think. At the same time, when you take a good look at your multivitamin, you will find that magnesium features prominently on the list of minerals contained therein and it is considered vital to the proper functioning of your body. This begs the question: is all magnesium created equal?

In the world of magnesium there are the good, the bad, and the ugly:

1. The good form of magnesium – the kind that you won’t mind taking as part of your colon cleanse regimen – is magnesium oxide. This form of magnesium will enable you to cleanse your colon yet it relies on oxygenation to do so, which will make the process of the colon cleanse longer, but at the same time more natural and thus gentler on your body as a whole.

2. The bad kind of magnesium is magnesium sulfate. It will not kill you, and you might actually know it as Epsom salt. Once in a while it is used as a laxative mixed at home in a pinch, but for the purpose of a colon cleanse, it will not provide the decimation of the compacted fecal matter that has built up in your colon. Instead, it will simply flush out whatever fecal matter would have evacuated during your next bowel movement anyways – thus simply rushing things along a bit.

3. The ugly kind of magnesium is the one that is most popular: magnesium hydroxide. Do not be fooled into thinking that magnesium oxide and magnesium hydroxide are the same substance or even share similar qualities! You most likely know this product as milk of magnesia and it is indeed a powerful laxative but at the same time it depletes your intestines of vital salt, thus interfering with the electrolyte balance in your body. If you have ever noticed a friend or loved one undergoing a colon cleanse and instead of looking refreshed and vitalized they are tired, moody, and seem to run out of energy quickly, you must know that you are probably looking at someone who uses a colon cleanser that relies on magnesium hydroxide to get things moving along.

It is important to make sure you are educated on the ingredients used in the colon cleaner. It is also important to understand how the ingredients work together to achieve the colon cleansing effect. Just because one cleanser contains 10 ingredients while another only contains three, does not mean that either one is better or worse. It is the harmony between the ingredients, and the forms they take that decide the quality of the substance. Scott Meyers is a staff writer for Its Entirely Natural, a resource for helping you achieve a naturally healthy body, mind, and spirit. You may contact our writers through the web site. Follow this link for more information on Colon Cleansing.

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Author: Cindy Heller
Title: How To Conquer Home Cooking

Article: Home cooking is an important and valuable skill that needs to be taught to both boys and girls in the family home. Nevertheless, recent ideas about the power and value of the family meal are changing as the dietary concerns in our country are growing. There are many studies that illustrate families that eat a meal together each day are much closer and much more involved in one another’s lives. During 20th century, the family meal was monumental to the family unity.

However, in recent years, the speed of life has taken off as quickly as the speed of technology and we have lost the focus on the family unit. The idea of fitting more activity into a twenty-four hour period has consumed the American ideal of productivity and with that change in mindset; we have lost sight of our basic American values. We are a people that lives to the excess. Regrettably rather than learn to appreciate our good fortune, we abuse the luxuries that our society and economy give us and continue to abuse our bodies and our health.

The act of bringing the family together for a home cooked meal is not a fresh concept in American culture. But it is one that has suffered greatly in recent years. At one time, all member of the immediate family gathered around the dinner table to enjoy family conversation and a home cooked meal. It was considered a family heirloom to pass down recipes to every female member of the family, teaching them how to prepare a home cooked meal. Now, with ten hour work days, two income families, over committed athletic teams and other demands on family member time, we appear to be losing the image of a family joined together for the family meal.

Home cooking is a term that conquers up imagery of family closeness, healthy warm entrees and a complete and nutritious meal. Sadly, with the heavy schedule demands of the 21st century, many children consider fast food as a nutritious meal. There is a popular food chain that has in recent times made a commercial advertising the family as sharing a meal and the “home cooked” meal is a bucket full of chicken bought from the retailer. It is disturbing that the fast paced world of today is moving away from the family and into the idea that fast-food is the healthy answer to a home cooked meal.

It is not shocking with this attitude that diabetes, obesity and many other health issues are on the rise in our society. We are a nation of plenty that eats high fat commercially ready foods rather than sitting down together to enjoy a home cooked meal. Cindy Heller is a professional writer. Visit Basic Cooking Tips to learn more about cooking on a budget.

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Author: Kristian Phillips
Title: A Guide To South African Wine

Article: South Africa is a relatively new player in the international wine world, but is increasingly producing better wine through the years. It is good at producing wine which represents good value for money whether it be a table wine or a fine wine that you are looking for.

South Africa is classed as ‘New World’ but the wine that it produces is far from that. In fact it seems to bridge the gap between ‘Old World’ and ‘New World’ styles making the product that it produces one of great interest to anyone who has a passing interest in wine. Add to this a selection of grape varieties that are not found in the other wine producing nations and you can benefit from a whole range of unique wine.

Red wine is something that South Africa seems to be attracting a lot of attention for – Pinotage is one such variety which produces a red wine that is earthy and has a savoury taste to it – a unique take on red wine.

The most well known regions for wine production in South Africa are: Stellenbosch; Constantia; Paarl; and Walker Bay.

Stellenbosch is close to Cape Town and is in fact the country’s largest wine growing area. The vineyards are surrounded by mountains and the town is a university town. It is a very picturesque place – ideal in fact for wine touring. Within this area there are several different regions but in general the east is known for the red wine, whereas the sandstone areas in the west are responsible for the whites.

Constantia is a region which is tucked away in one of the Southern suburbs of Cape Town. This area was one of the first regions planted with grapes and hence has a pedigree for producing high quality wine.

Paarl is North West of Cape Town and is traditionally home to white wine production. However in recent years it has diversified into red wine territory. This has been due to the climate here which is similar to a Mediterranean climate and therefore well suited for growing all types of grape. The vines here are grown on slopes and the vineyards that produce the best wine are those situated further up the slope.

Walker Bay is a cool climate region and it therefore famous for producing Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc. This region is the one to look out for especially as the wines that are currently coming out of here are somewhat unique in taste and could just be the next big thing.

For a great range of South African wines, or just to browse wine in general, it is a good idea to consult an independent online wine retailer. You can browse wines in your chosen price range, and you can research before you buy. Fiona Muller has been writing for over 20 years. She is a qualified journalist and has worked in food and drink writing for the last few years. For more information on wine, go to – www.laithwaites.co.uk

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Author: Zach Thompson
Title: 8 Essential Sugars: Do Your Cells Need Them?

Article: Everyone knows that the human body needs essential items, like air, water, and food, to survive. However, many people fail to realize that sugar is also a necessity for our bodies to function properly and stay healthy. Not just any sugar will do, though. In fact, our bodies require 8 essential sugars, often called glyconutrients that perform very specific function and are found in several different natural sources.

The these sugars are: glucose, mannose, galactose, fucose, n-acetylgalactosamine, n-acetylglucosamine, n-acetylneuraminic acid, and xylose. While most of these names might seem foreign to many, they are actually natural saccharides found in plants. These 8 essential sugars are vital for cell to cell communication and other bodily functions.

The 8 essential sugars help coat our cells and encourage them to easily interact with one another to send important messages from one body system to another. Meanwhile, glucose provides energy and aids in calcium absorption, which is vital for healthy bones.

Unfortunately many people, especially those in Western societies, fail to ingest appropriate quantities of the eight sugars. This is due to the highly processed nature of most people’s food.

Additionally, mass farming has diminished the quality of fresh produce available at most supermarkets. The essential sugars usually do not develop until a fruit or vegetable has fully matured. However, many produce items are picked prior to their prime or grown using chemicals to accelerate growth, which makes an item bigger but not more nutritious.

The best way to keep your body functioning properly is to change your diet to include important sources of the eight essential sugars. Galactose and glucose are the two most easily accessed sugars. Although these 8 essential sugars are vital to your body’s functions, they are hard to find in our modern diets. As a result, it is usually necessary to add these 8 nutrients to your diet in the form of a nutritional supplement.

Ultimately, most people are simply unable to consume all 8 sugars in their diets. In such cases, a nutritional supplement may be necessary to ensure the body continues to function at optimum efficiency. No matter how they are obtained though, these essential nutrients ultimately do wonders for our health and well being. They not only make our bodies run better, they can also balance your immune system.. Thus, you should make every effort to ingest each and every one of the 8 essential sugars. Zach Thompson is a freelance internet marketer and glyconutrient consultant. Join him in staying healthy – start taking the 8 Essential Sugars today!

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Author: David Cassell
Title: Tap Vs Bottled Water. Are You Paying Twice

Article: Tap vs bottled water – some experts think that in bottled water, the American public is spending billions on a product that they are already paying for.

They argue that tap water is no safer than bottle water, so paying for tap water and buying bottled water is like paying for the same thing twice.

No Different From Tap?

A landmark study by the National Resource Defense Council (NRDC) found that of the 103 brands they tested, most were found to be of acceptable safety. However, some 30% of the brands tested were found to be of questionable safety, containing bacteria and chemicals that does not meet state or industry guidelines.

An investigation of five national bottle water brands done by ABC 20/20 revealed that there was no clear winner in the tap vs bottled water contest.

Five bottles representing five different brands were taken to a microbiologist for testing. He found that there is no difference between New York city’s tap water and the brands tested.

When 20/20 approached Yale University School of Medicine’s, Dr. Stephen Edberg, on the advice of the International Bottled Water Association, he told 20/20 that bottled water is not necessarily safer or healthier.

However, one thing the investigation ascertained after interviewing many consumers, was that bottle water does taste better than tap.

But when you consider that people pay between 240-10,000 times more on a gallon of bottled water than they do tap, one would imagine that they would want more than better taste – they’d want a guarantee of safety.

But as you are about to find out, there is very little in the way of a safety guarantee coming your way.

Weak FDA Regulation

Bear the following in mind about the bottled water industry:

1. The FDA exempts about 70 % of bottled water from it’s safety standards because their rules only apply to brands which are packaged and sold outside of the state in which it is produced.

2. The FDA exempts carbonated water and seltzer from its bottle water safety standards and applies only flimsy sanitation rules to these products.

3. The FDA rules for bottle water safety is much weaker than the EPA’s safety standards for tap water even though more than 50% of the American population consumes bottle water.

Certainly, it doesn’t exactly inspire confidence that the FDA is letting water bottle suppliers off the hook where safety is concerned. And it must make you wonder if suppliers aren’t taking advantage of this slackness.

The Best Solution – Home Water Treatment

In the event of a natural disaster, bottled water is a savior. The normal water supply would be disrupted so there would be other choice but to use bottled water.

However, in normal circumstances, there is no other device that improves the quality of your tap water like a good water purifier. Depending on the type of purification device you get for your home, different types of contaminants can be removed from your drinking water to make it healthier and safer.

For example, a countertop distiller or an ultraviolet water purifier will kill microbiological contaminants in drinking water. It has been widely agreed that microbes and other pathogens, are the most dangerous of all drinking water contaminants. This is because they have the potential to kill you very quickly.

For those who are more concerned by the bad taste and appearance of tap water, a whole house water filter would be a good choice. It can provide chlorine and sediment free water to every tap throughout your home.

By checking if a water filtration product is certified, you’ll be able to make a more informed decision as to what filter to acquire.

Certification tells you what contaminants a filter can remove and by how much. Therefore, before you hand over your hard earned money to any supplier, make sure they provide certification documentation either on their website or in their place of business.

So forget about the tap vs bottled water debate, get a water filter and access the ultimate in drinking water safety Want to have “spring quality” water running through your taps 24 hours a day? See our free reviews and easily discover which water purification systems give you the healthiest water for your home or business. Visit Best Water Filter for details

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Author: Peter Finch
Title: Tips To Create A Perfect Flower Garden

Article: Gardens, employing flowers as their primary elements, are called flower gardens. Plants, shrubs, trees and the other contributing components are present as well, but the focus is on flowers. These flower gardens are usually cultivated for ornamental purposes.

How Did The Idea Evolve?

Todays flower gardens have an interesting history behind them : While pruning, some farmers noted a few colorful weeds. They liked the colors and so left them there. The concept of tolerating these beautiful weeds, gradually caught on and led to the culture of cultivating flowers.

Knot Gardens

Flower gardens arranged artistically, are known as Knot gardens. Knot gardens are designed by a systematic composition of plants, herbs and shrubs. The plants are planted in a pre-calculated way so that when they grow, they end up forming a desired design. Most common ones are rectangle-regions or square-compartments. The edges are given shape with herbs planted in queues, with almost no space left in-between. These are also cut accordingly to maintain the width of the edges throughout in synch. The fence in this fashion, often brings paths in flower gardens, for the visitors to walk through.

These paths derived by boundaries, are sometimes filled with sand, gravel or concrete, and the trend of growing lawn in the regions traced is now on the rise. The number of square regions a Knot garden can carry, depends on the size of a garden and varies in the range of one to ten. These types of flower gardens were first designed in the times of Queen Elizabeth I in UK.

Plants used to form Knot flower gardens are lemon balm, hyssop, costmary, germander, marjoram, acanthus, mallow, chamomile, rosemary, calendulas, violas, thyme, southernwood, santolina etc. Such flower gardens are also called parterres.

Herb Gardens

The gardens with plants used for medicinal and cooking purposes are known as herb gardens. Some flowers are edible, one can eat them freshly-cut, while some others may only be eaten when cooked or baked. Flower gardens are at times, cultivated to grow medicinal plants too, such as aloevera. In ancient times, there were no modern physicians, just the nuns and monks, who were said to heal pain by using extracts of plants.

Aloevera is still widely used today for skin treatments, especially for treating acne. The others herbs falling in this genre are : rosemary, parsley, sage, marjoram, thyme, mint, rue, angelica, bay, basil etc.

Tips For Your Domestic Flower Gardens

Flower gardens need that extra attention from their creators:

- The color, aroma, height, leafage are all attributes of the plants, should be studied carefully before sowing their seeds in your flower gardens. One thing to be kept in mind is that no two plants with similar colored blossoms should be placed beside each other.

- Spacing between the plants should also be worked out in advance.

- A well-examined flower-seed-mix can be used to take care of the arrangements and designs of the flower-plants.

- Different plants bloom in different seasons. Paying due attention to this fact, the plants should be grown in such a way so as to make the flower gardens look colorful throughout the year. Get all of the latest in flower garden know how from the one and only true gardening resource at http://www.flowergardensadvice.com/ Be sure to check out our flower garden pages on our web site.

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Author: Alec Moreland
Title: Nutritonal Regulations Create School Fundraising Challenge

Article: Obesity is the major health concern all across the United States of America as 65% of the adult American population is found to be overweight. Available statistics indicate that almost 16% of the children in the country are overweight and the numbers are increasing with each passing day. Obesity is also the root cause for other health related issues like hypertension, cardiac problems, cancer, diabetes and orthopedic problems and 25% of children within the age group of five to ten have been found to have high blood pressure, high cholesterol and Type 2 Diabetes. Lack of physical activity further worsens the condition.

The federal government has understood the role of the schools in countering the problem of child obesity and the legislation of Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004 was a step in that direction. The rising health costs also do not help much.

Given the present state of affairs, a number of nutritional regulations have been imposed to establish a healthy nutrition environment at the schools. This holds true especially for fundraising events. Implementation of laws like SB 12 has placed a ban on chocolate fundraisers that have an adverse effect on the health of children and young adults. The thrust is now on introducing healthy snack ideas that may prove to be healthy alternatives to the sweets and junk food that kids usually gorge on.

The food items that come under the purview of the nutritional guidelines include snacks, snack carts, desserts, school fundraisers, school vending machines, school stores and ala carte lines. As per the existing health norms, no food item can have 35% of calories from total fat, 35% sugar by weight and 10% calories from saturated fat. The healthy alternatives for children should contain zero trans fat.

In such a scenario, it is a challenge for fundraiser organizers, especially members of the PTA, who are into conceptualizing and working on an elementary school fundraising event. They have to keep in mind that children are far less likely to eat bland low calorie food, let alone enjoy it. Instead they should think of healthy fundraising solutions that do not compromise on the taste, are low on calories thereby complying with the nutritional guidelines and wellness policies.

Fundraising in a healthy manner will help you to raise a substantial amount of money from the event. There is nothing much you need to do except for ensuring the fact that the snacks at the fundraiser are healthy so that the kids can have a good time and their parents do not have to bother about what their child is eating. The kids will not mind donating from their pocket money and that too quite generously if what they get in return is worth it. Parents on their parts will not think twice before sending their child for a healthy fundraising event. Alec Moreland promotes wellness, nutrition and healthy snacks in fundraising to reduce obesity and Type 2 Diabetes in schools. “America”s #1 Healthy Snack Fundraiser” is The Chocolate Alternative.
Healthy_Fundraising_Solutions
Contact Alec at alec@healthyfundraisingsolutions.com

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Author: Susie Cortright
Title: How to Manage Your Mood with Food: A Meal by Meal Guide

Article: Here is a meal by meal guide to eating for energy and managing your mood with food.

Breakfast

Eating a good breakfast boosts your concentration and revs your energy, particularly in the morning when you may need it most.

You can help keep your blood sugar on an even keel with complex carbohydrates. Avoid refined carbohydrates, such as white bread and white sugar. These have a high glycemic index, which can cause spikes and dips in your blood sugar levels.

The right complex carbohydrates provide your brain and muscles with the steady flow of the energy they need. Grains are great sources of B vitamins, which aid in the metabolic production of energy. Natural whole grain breads and cereals are good carbohydrate choices for breakfast.

For the best breakfast, add a lowfat protein, such as yogurt, cottage cheese, or skim milk, and watch your fat intake as well as your meat consumption (since meat takes more energy to digest).

Mid morning snack

Turns out, snacking may not be such a bad idea. Eating every few hours helps your body use nutrients more efficiently. It stimulates your metabolism, keeps your blood sugar levels steady, reduces stress on your digestive system, and decreases hunger, which means you will be less likely to overeat when mealtime finally rolls around.

If you are craving carbs, which many of us do at this time of day, choose whole grain bread, cereal, or fruit.

Fruits and vegetables deliver a lowfat, high fiber alternative to the vending machine choices. Raw carrots and sugar snap peas, for example, provide a crisp, satisfying crunch and will not zap your energy. Challenge yourself to eat at least five servings of fruits and vegetables each day.

For maximum energy throughout the day, avoid foods that are laden with simple sugars, such as cookies, pastries, candy bars, and sodas, which can bring on erratic blood sugar levels.

Instead, try some lean protein (lowfat yogurt, cottage cheese or lean meat) to help tide you over until lunch.

Lunch

At midday, go light. Because a hefty helping of carbohydrates can increase the amount of seratonin in the brain and cause that sleepy feeling, focus on lowfat protein.

Protein can actually raise energy levels by increasing brain chemicals called catecholamines. Eat a lunch of lowfat cheese, fish, lean meat, poultry, or tofu.

Mid afternoon snack

Choose something that will keep you satisfied until dinner. A little bit of fat is fine. It gives those carbohydrates and proteins some staying power. Try a bit of all natural peanut butter and a few crackers, for example.

Before your workout

Carbohydrates are fastest to digest and pack quick energy. Add protein for staying power, but stay away from fats. They can make you cramp.

Dinner

The agenda for the evening can dictate what you will eat for dinner. Need to stay on overdrive for a couple of hours? Choose lowfat proteins. If you are in relax mode, indulge a little.

Whatever is on the menu, remember the Pie Test. Envision your plate as a pie. Seventy five percent of the pie should be filled with fruits, vegetables, and grains and 25 percent with other foods, such as diary products and meat.

Before bed

Before turning in, a carbohydrate rich snack can supply seratonin to help you fall asleep. But go easy. Too much food can reduce the quality of your sleep. Susie Cortright is the founder of Susies-Coupons.com and Momscape.com, where you can win free gift certificates for top online stores. Get current Weight Watchers Coupons too.

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