Benefits Of The Vegetarian Diet Are Growing

 Common thinking right now shows that the vegetarian diet wards off disease and vegetarians consume far less saturated fat and cholesterol and more antioxidant-rich foods which are rich in fiber. This results in your weight stays down, energy goes up, and so does the health of your immune system. Vegetarianism is growth hormone-free, antibiotic-free (with organic dairy), prevents type II diabetes, lowers cancer risk, promotes radiant skin, improves digestion, and lowers blood pressure just to name a few. We only need 5% of our calories to come from protein. Too much of it daily can cause a variety of problems.

Many people though get the names vegetarian and vegan confused. Vegetarians often do eat dairy products but vegans do not.

According to Colorado state university, "people on vegetarian diets generally receive adequate amounts of most nutrients."
Vitamin B12 is found in:

• Egg yolks
• Beef liver, haddock, chicken, pork or turkey
• Mozzarella
• Most hard cheeses (like colby, monterrey jack and swiss)

If you worry about your calcium intake, you'll get plenty from:

• Dry beans
• Organic Tofu
• Organic Soymilk
• Broccoli
• Kale
• Collard Greens
• Turnip greens

The vegetarian diet ensures your safety in cases of food-borne illness outbreaks. With regular consumption of fruits and vegetables rich in phytoestrogens women will breeze through menopause in comfort. Phytoestrogens balance estrogen and progesterone levels.  Phytoestrogens are chemicals similar to hormones found in plants with two classes: carotenoids and anthocyanins. According to uspharmicist.com, "Daily intakes of 45 mg of phytoestrogens have been shown to have beneficial stabilizing effects on hormone balance." So for your safety,
 below are foods which are the most abundant in phytoestrogens:
 *** to *(ranked highest to lowest phytoestrogen content in the list below)

• Flax seed***
• Soy beans***
• Tofu ***
• Soy nuts ***
• Tempeh ***
• Sesame seeds **
• Dried apricots**
• Dried dates**
• Hummus*
• Sunflower seeds*
• Green beans*
• Blueberries*
• Watermelon*
• Corn*
• Onions*
• Almonds, cashews, chestnuts* 

You can also find ample amounts in the following herbs: red clover, black cohosh, alfalfa, hops and licorice.

Reduces Risk of Cataract Development
 "Oddly enough, research released by the Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine at the University of Oxford has shown a strong relation between the risk of developing cataracts and diet; with a higher risk falling on meat eaters and the lowest risk groups being vegetarians and vegans."

"New York University Langone Medical Center reports that eliminating animal protein consumption in favor of vegetables will result in a higher urine pH; whereas low urine pH has been associated with stone formation." http://www.globalhealingcenter.com/natural-health/9-health-benefits-of-a-vegetarian-diet/

"Vegetarian diets are associated with lower all-cause mortality and with some reductions in cause-specific mortality." http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/lifestyle/diet-and-fitness/vegging-out-20130626-2owo9.html#ixzz2a174NmOw

Therefore as you can see here, transitioning to a vegetarian diet or even a semi-vegetarian lifestyle can only offer you increased advantages for the future of your own health and welfare.

Natural Food Dyes: A Better Choice?

The buzz over natural vs. synthetic food dyes has been getting steadily louder over the last few years. The Center for Science in the Public Interest is calling for a ban on three specific food dyes: Red 40, Yellow 5 and Yellow 6, stating that they pose a risk of behavioral disorder in children and cancer in almost any body. What is even more interesting is that artificial dyes seem to be more prevalent currently in the United States:

For example, CSPI says McDonald's Strawberry Sundaes [in Britain] get their color from fresh strawberries. The group says in the United States the color comes from Red dye 40. CSPI says in the UK, Fanta orange soda coloring comes from pumpkins and carrot extract. Here in the USA, it says the color comes from a combination of Red 40 and Yellow 6 dye.

Now you as the consumer must stop and realize, this is the same company, the same product on the shelves for resale but in two different parts of the world. Why do they need, or even want to have two different formulas for the same finished product?

So, what do companies use as natural food dyes? Lycopene, derived from tomatoes, provides red. Paprika, carrot oil and turmeric are also used as natural dyes. According to the Chigaco Tribune, a company may only label its products as having "natural dyes" if the dye comes from a native ingredient to the product. If a strawberry drink contains lycopene, the manufacturer can't claim it as a natural coloring on the food label. Why? Because tomatoes (the source of the coloring) is not a standard ingredient in the finished drink.

So, with all the hoopla about artificial dyes, why do Americans have so much of it in our food? There are two main reasons, according to Bob Boutin, a food and drug consultant. Synthetic dyes are much cheaper to use, and Americans are used to bright colored foods. In other words, us Americans are basing our judgment of quality with our eyes, not by the taste.

Still, with more attention being paid to the link between artificial dyes and hyperactivity in school kids, more American companies are at least looking into natural coloring for their food products.

That sounds like the promise of a possible brighter future--without the artificial coloring.

Please see our site for more information about how your food can help you stay safe, healthy and on the road towards fewer medical concerns.

Infant Soy Allergy: An Overview

Food allergies are by no means an uncommon occurrence.  Allergies can develop over time, or can start during infancy.  One of the most common early-developing allergies is an infant soy allergy, which is usually brought on by infant formulas that are soy-based when the mother chooses not to breastfeed her newborn infant.

What exactly is a food allergy? A food allergy is an unnneeded immune response to a food protein.  When the protein enters the body, the immune system mistakenly treats it like an invader.  It is then tagged with an antibody called Immunoglobulin E (IgE), which tells the immune system to send white blood cells out to kill the protein.  The consequent allergic reaction may physically manifest in many ways, ranging from minor discomforts to life-threatening conditions.

Common food allergies include tree nuts, dairy products, food additives, citrus fruits, wheat, eggs, and the previously-stated soy. Some of the signs and symptoms of a food allergy you may see could include:

• Hives
• Difficulty swallowing
• Nasal congestion
• Wheezing/shortness of breath
• Itching of mouth, lips, or face
• Abdominal pain
• Nausea
• Vomiting

Many children who are diagnosed with an infant soy allergy grow out of it over time; others do not.  For those who grow up with the allergy or do acquire it later, there are ways to deal with it.  The most obvious way to deal with a soy allergy is to avoid foods with soy ingredients.  This, however, is not as easy as it sounds, because soy is found in a such a large variety of foods, some can include meat products, baked goods, chocolate, breakfast cereals and so very many more.  Those that have soy allergies must be vigilant and ask questions to know when certain food products have soy.  Visit our website for more information on soy allergies and allergen-free foods.

If you suspect that your child has a soy allergy, take him or her to your family doctor immediately.  Your doctor will be able to refer your child to an allergy specialist for some much needed testing.