This can occur as a result of boredom or perhaps viewing something that is suggestive of food. Perhaps watching TV and seeing a commercial that was advertising hamburgers. The next thing that occurs is an unexplainable craving for a hamburger or in the worse case scenario mysteriously finding yourself in your car headed for McDonald's.

Although this may sound weird it happens more often than most would care to acknowledge. Anyone can become addicted to food.

Often it can take a considerable period of time to notice that a person has an eating problem. Generally it is first noticed in the waistline. Once this symptom occurs it does not take a genius to recognize that there is a problem with food.

Are specific foods more addictive than others? That is extremely hard to answer. All foods can be addictive. It is like asking whether what is worse for an alcoholic, beer or whiskey. This is tempered by the fact that some foods can be more addictive than others.

Sugar: This is an addictive substance. Often it is thought of as not being particularly addictive but it is. The bursts of energy produced by sugar are very addictive. Sugar addicts often feel tired and cranky if they are not getting their daily consumption of sugar laden foods. They start to feel tired and worn out as if going through withdrawal. Heroin addicts, that are in withdrawal often consume huge quantities of sugar to offset the effects of heroin withdrawal.

Sugar is very hard to avoid. Try to avoid certain foods that contain a lot of sugar. Particularly avoid candy and sweets. Also be sure to avoid sodas that contain huge amounts of sugar.

Caffeine: Starbucks beware. Everyone knows that caffeine is addictive. Just stopping drinking five cups of coffee a day and it does not take much to realize that you are addicted to caffeine. The headaches alone will tell you that you are addicted.

It is often debated if coffee is really harmful. In reasonable quantities it should not be very harmful. Excessive amounts of coffee can certainly be bad for you. Be careful to limit the quantity of coffee you consume and don't over do it.

Carbohydrates: Many people think that carbohydrates can also be addictive. This may be true for the same reason that sugar is addictive. Unless you are a marathon runner or compete regularly in Iron Man competitions you should temper the consumption of carbohydrates. Try to avoid eating excessive quantities of bread and pasta.

Carbohydrates will not turn you into a junkie but your body can become overly dependent upon them. Many people are addicted to carbohydrates and don't even realize it.

In general, food addiction is not something that people will dwell upon. It just isn't something that you consider when addictions are discussed. Yet, you may be a food addict and like most addicts you will not even realize it. Awareness of the potential problem will allow you to control it.

Yet, like all addictions, those with the worst addiction often are the least aware of their problem. Mankind is an addictive breed. Sometimes it seems that everyone is addicted to something. If it isn't food it is power or something else. Like all addictions if you feel powerless to help yourself, seek assistance be it from a friend or a doctor. You should only be ashamed of yourself if you do nothing about your problem.

If you see a doctor about your problem he may recommend that you see a therapist. Perhaps they can help through treatment or recommend a support group to help you. If all else fails, perhaps you can find help online. If you persevere and recognize that you have a problem you can overcome it.

Have you looked into the Whole Food Project?

Along with dietary changed, Vitamins C and E and some effective herbal compounds can help control your cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of a heart attack. Try taking Vitamins E and C and garlic together. These are safe for long-term use even if you are taking a cholesterol-lowering prescription drug. Vitamin E does not lower your cholesterol directly, but raises levels of HDL cholesterol and prevents the first step in the build-up of coronary plaque. Vitamin C boosts the effectiveness of Vitamin E, and is also thought to increase the level of protective HDL cholesterol. Chromium helps to reduce "bad" cholesterol and raise "good" cholesterol in those people with diets high in refined foods. Diets lacking in cholesterol-reducing soluble fibre can benefit from the herb psyllium, or from oat bran, which has a similar action. Beta-sitosterol can be taken to reduce the absorption of cholesterol from food and from bile discharged by the liver into the intestine. Artichoke extract may prove to be an effective alternative to cholesterol-lowering medications.

If home remedies do not lower your total cholesterol sufficiently within two or three months, you may need to take prescription drugs. Conventional drugs reduce heart attack risk by up to 25%. Take regular exercise to raise your HDL level, and improve your diet by reducing saturated fats. Substitute oily fish for meat, eat high-fibre foods (grains, vegetables and fruit), and use olive oil and mono-unsaturated spreads in place of butter, and include soya protein (available as tofu and soya milk).

In 2002, Time magazine featured a story proclaiming that we have entered the "Age of Anxiety". Due to the uncertainties and constant stress of living in the 21st century many people are living a life of worry and fear.

Between all the news stations and newspapers we are bombarded with many images and stories that are beyond disturbing. Another stressor is the economy. With the outrageous housing costs, soaring gas prices and the cost of living, people are forced to work at jobs that are tedious and unsatisfying. Simply bringing home a paycheck is more important than trying to get the career of your dreams.

Women tend to contribute to their stress levels by trying to be all things to everyone. For example, they are required to be daughter, sibling, wife, mom, housekeeper and paycheck earner. They forget to make time for themselves and then their stress levels skyrocket.

For children and teenagers they have to contend with peer pressure. For teenagers wanting to go to college, if they aren't smart enough to get a scholarship, they will probably need to obtain a part-time job so that they can earn some extra money to pay for what their parents can't.

We are always on the go and always reachable, there's the Internet, cell phones, i-pods, palm pilots etc. We don't make time to relax and enjoy life anymore. Why not? We certainly should!

Sometimes the things we do aren't because we WANT to but because we HAVE to. Rather than saying "No" once in a while, unnecessary obligations and expectations pile up and make us feel anxious.

Additional causes of stress can include, relationship problems, traveling, buying property, managing finances, exams, being bullied, having guests stay over (in-laws!), etc.

Stress is a "normal" function of everyday life. Only when it appears to take over our lives does it then become a problem. Usually if you feel that you are no longer in control of a situation you will feel worried or "stressed".

If being stressed is caused by not feeling in control of a situation, the answer is to try and reverse the feeling and regain your control. The good news is: YOU CAN!

Some of the problems in in diets are deficiencies in fiber, vitamins and minerals, and trace elements, as well as excesses in total/animal fat, total calories. salt and sugar.

The body needs cellular nutrition to be healthy. Within the body the 80 - 100 trillion cells, need protein, minerals, oxygen and water to live properly. Both health and disease begin with the cell. The cells are the living units that create life. We need our cells to grow, reproduce, detoxify and function. If you don't get key nutrition, the cell begins to break down. When enough cells break down, you start to feel the symptoms and if enough break down, it can lead to death.

What keeps cells from getting good whole food nutrition?

A certain amount of the problem can be traced to the way food is grown and harvested. Chemicals, fertilizers, over processing/over refining of foods- e.g. instant foods, high fat/sugar foods, foods that have been processed to make them tastier, have a longer shelf life, etc. all contribute to extra calories, salt and sugar and destroy vitamins and minerals.

Did you realize that you would have to eat 4 bowls of spinach today, to match the iron from 1 bowl in 1930? This shows conclusively that our soils are being depleted.

We also keep our cells from getting good nutrition by the way we prepare our foods. We tend to over cook foods, thus taking away the minerals,vitamins and essential oils, robbing our bodies of the things that we need for proper health.

Sixty percent (60%) of Western culture chooses to eat junk food , which is high in fat, sugar, salt and calories. It is almost devoid of any nutritional value. It is already a disaster, before it even gets to your mouth.

Food needs to be digested, broken down into a useful micro-nutrient form and absorbed by the intestine, before any of the nutrition gets to the cells.

The mediations most commonly prescribed for obese teenagers are categorized as appetite suppressants and lipase-inhibitors. The activity of appetite suppressants on the human body is to increase the feeling of fullness in the stomach while suppressing appetite - a person will simply have a decreased craving for food. These drugs suppress the appetite by interacting with certain chemicals in the brain involved with both mood and appetite. They include serotonin and catecholamine. Lipase-inhibitors, on the other hand, prevent the absorption of fat by not allowing it to be broken down to a chemical form and then consequently absorbed by the body.

Taking appetite suppressants has been known to reduce weight by several pounds more than that lost through only physical exercise and other non-drug therapies. The greatest impact in obese teenagers is typically observed after six months of taking the medication. So patience is a must.

Though medication usage should always be considered with a sober mindset, taking the appropriate ones for teenage obesity, however, does eradicate some of the need for diet control and physical activity. Despite this, studies support that the right medications actually help improve eating and exercising habits.

On another note of caution, these obesity-reducing medications for teens are needed only for those in a position of pending medical danger due to their excessive weight. Such prescriptions cannot, and should not, be made available casually to teens merely entertaining a short cut for weight loss. The consultation of a trusted family physician is critical in the decision-making. Doctors will usually consider the distribution of fat in the patient's body and how many pounds overweight or obese the individual is as a basis for prescribing medications.

The main goal for taking obesity reduction medications is to move away from alarming health dangers brought about by an undue increase in weight. Obtaining and maintaining an ideal weight based on height and body structure for most obese persons is normally not a realistic goal, though it certainly can be accomplished. A modest reduction of five to ten percent of one's previous - or benchmark - weight is a worthwhile short-term objective that will lead to an improved state of health. Beyond the shorter duration, one's prior success can serve as a launching pad for even greater weight loss where deemed still beneficial.

If a teen is very heavy and ill on an abnormally frequent basis, a visit to a doctor to discuss the prospect of controlling obesity through medications would be time well invested. Once prescribed, the need for remaining on the medications will likely last for years, if not for a lifetime. However, the benefit of the appetite suppression or prevention of fats being absorbed into the body may well be worth the trade off for greater health through the teen years and into adulthood.

Multivitamin pills are not a replacement for a healthy diet, however. Instead, they are a supplement to healthy eating. Today's fast paced lifestyles, and the correspondingly fast paced fast foods, do not typically supply all the necessary vitamins and minerals your body needs for good health and nutrition. Instead, these rather unhealthy diets are more likely to provide you with large amounts of only a few essential vitamins, and little or none of others. Taking a daily multivitamin by a reputable manufacturer helps even out the nutrient deficits in your diet.

Do not be alarmed if the combination of your daily diet and your daily vitamin provide you with more than 100% of the recommended daily allowance of one or more nutrients. First of all, different people have different nutritional requirements, and may need more of that particular supplement. Secondly, the extra amount of the nutrients you consume are not likely to be large, and the unused part will normally be flushed out of your system with other bodily wastes. Be aware, however, that deliberately taking mega-doses of certain vitamins can be unhealthy. Almost any material can be toxic to the body if taken in excessive doses!

Remember to take your multivitamin tablet on a daily basis. Taking a pill once a week, or once every two to three days, will be helpful. However, most nutritional supplements containing Vitamins C, D, E, B6, B12, Niacin, Thiamin, and the other recommended nutrients provide the most health benefits when taken daily. If you forget to take your daily pill, don't take two the next day. Instead, simply take your next scheduled single pill. Taking multivitamins on a daily basis can supplement your diet and improve your overall health.

This became more "convenient" for many new mothers and this practice was considered the norm for many years.

Little did they know that what they were doing was far from natural and actually was a cause of many "mystery" problems.

When a baby is born, its digestive system is sterile until it begins to feed. Good and bad bacteria are introduced this way and there are ingredients in Mother's milk that help the good bacteria to establish control. The good bacteria are necessary for proper food digestion and absorption, thus necessary for optimal health.

Formula fed babies are lacking this advantage in their development, which can result in problems with infections, digestion and other ailments that mystify poor mom.

In baby's digestive system, the good bacteria help to produce B vitamins and enzymes. They also help to develop and strengthen baby's immune system.

Many things can upset this delicate balance and the worst culprits are chemicals and prescription drugs. Antibiotics are a common cause of problems, although a connection is not always made between baby's problems and antibiotics because the effects may not be noted for a few weeks. These effects can be infections, rashes and food sensitivity.

The antibiotics kill the good bacteria as well as the bad and this sets the stage for the bad bacteria to take control resulting in problems that can follow from childhood right into adulthood.

Poor diet will add to the problem. Never use any foods with preservatives and chemicals in them to feed your baby. Look up the terms on the labels and if you're not sure, don't use it. A body needs healthy food to maintain good health and the human body was not designed to process chemicals.

Many people, including some forward thinking doctors are realizing that good or bad health starts in the digestive system. Babies that are breastfed definitely start out with an advantage, but they will also have poor health eventually if they abuse their digestive system later in life.

It is easy to make simple things your baby likes with a blender and healthy organic foods. Try it and have a happy baby!

Lactose is the sugar found in milk and other dairy products. The small intestine produces an enzyme called lactase whose job it is to break lactose down into two simple sugars called glucose and galactose. The glucose is then absorbed into the bloodstream for nourishment. If your body does not produce enough lactase, the unaltered lactose makes its way into the large intestine and begins to ferment, producing acids and gases.

Some think that they are allergic to milk when they have these symptoms. Usually this is not the case. Food allergies are rare. According to some experts, only 1 to 2 percent of the general population is affected by a true food allergy.

What is the difference?

Though the symptoms are similar, there are differences. With an allergy, the immune system produces a "histamine" to fight against foods you have ingested to which you are allergic. Some symptoms may be swelling of the lips or tongue, hives (rash), or asthma. Lactose intolerance will not cause these symptoms because the immune system is not involved. Lactose intolerance is the body's inability to assimilate a food properly, causing a reaction.

How can help you tell the difference?

If it is a real food allergy, the reaction will occur within minutes of ingesting the food that you are sensitive to. If the symptoms do not occur for an hour or more, it is most likely lactose intolerance.

FOODS TO AVOID

These foods may also contain lactose and could cause symptoms:

* Bread and bread products
* Cakes and cookies
* Candies
* Instant potatoes
* Margarine
* Some prescription drugs
* Some over-the-counter medicines
* Pre-mixed foods for pancakes, biscuits, and cookies
* Processed breakfast cereals
* Salad dressings
* Lunch meats
* Soups

TREATMENT?

At this time, there is no treatment that can cure the problem, but you can prevent some of the symptoms by ingesting a food enzyme dietary supplement just before taking your first bite of food. These contain lactase to assist the intestines in converting lactose. Products come in pill or liquid form. You can also take probiotics (opposite of antibiotics)on a regular basis. These help produce "good bacteria" in the body, promote good digestion and reduce the reaction your body may have to foods containing lactose.

Through trial and error, you may be able to determine which foods or what amount of foods cause you the most discomfort. By being observant of your body's reaction, you will find that you know how much you can or cannot digest.

You may have to cut out dairy products altogether. You should, however, find other sources of calcium that has been supplied through the dairy products. Certain green vegetables and some kinds of fish and nuts are high in calcium.

Lactose intolerance is not life threatening, just uncomfortable and sometimes embarrassing. Managing lactose intolerance can be challenging, but possible. Be observant of what you eat and take preventative measures once you determine what foods cause you the most problems. Then you should find that you are symptom free and can enjoy most of the foods you love, always in moderation of course. If your symptoms persist, there may be something more serious that requires a visit to your physician. Learn to read your body and know when you need to make adjustments in your diet and nutrition.

Sushi is a very healthy meal made mostly with rice, fish and vegetables. Sushi should always be made with fresh ingredients. Not only for the safety of the eater but for the flavors. The delicate flavors of rice, vegetables and fish are enhanced with healthy soya sauce, ginger and wasabi.

What are the health benefits of sushi?

The thin, toasted seaweed sheets, called Nori, used in rolled (maki) sushi are high in Vitamin A, B-complex, Niacin and Vitamin C. It is also good for digestion.

The rice used in making sushi, while not as healthy as brown rice, is still low in fat and sodium free while also being a complex carbohydrate which is needed as fuel for your body.

The various fish or meats used in sushi are excellent sources of protein and minerals.

Whether you’re eating vegetarian sushi or it is mixed with fish, the fresh, uncooked vegetables provide the vitamins and other nutrients you look for in a healthy diet.

Even the condiments served with sushi have health benefits.

While soya sauce has come under attack for certain additives that pose a potential health risk, naturally fermented soya sauce does not have this danger. Soya, the main ingredient in soya sauce, has been linked to lower breast cancer and fewer menopausal symptoms in Asian cultures who use soy as a staple in their diets. Soya is a source of high quality protein, low in saturated fats and is cholesterol free. Soya sauce is high in salt although low sodium versions are also available for those who require it.

Ginger, called ‘gari’, is often served alongside sushi and helps with digestion while also fighting bacteria. This is especially of interest to those concerned with the bacteria found in uncooked meat.

Wasabi, Japanese horseradish, can also kill bacteria found in raw fish and is often provided alongside sushi servings as a garnish or is included as in nigiri sushi.

If you are looking for a fast-food meal that is healthy or you just enjoy the flavors and art form of sushi, you are sure to benefit from a visit to your local sushi bar.

Replacing the fat of fast food burgers with the fiber of seaweed would go a long way to improving the way we eat. It could be done using seaweed extract without the burgers tasting much different.

A lot of modern food is over-processed and grown in depleted soil. That is not so if you eat seaweed. The ocean floor is rich in nutrient material and seaweed is a concentrated source of minerals. Supplementing your regular diet with seaweed is a good way to be sure you are getting the quantity and variety of trace minerals and vitamins you need.

There are many types of seaweed. You can find them in health food stores as well as stores that sell Asian food. Look for Agar, Dulse, Hijiki, Irish Moss (which saved thousands of people from starvation during the potato famine of 19th century Ireland), Kelp, Kombu, Laver, Nori, Sloke, and Wakame. Put them together and you have a low calorie sea-vegetable salad! Seaweed can also be used in seasonings, soups, teas, and assorted food recipes.

Seaweed may not be the name we want to call this food with such value. Sea plants, sea vegetables, marine flora, or ocean herbs may be more appropriate titles. Many scientific studies have been done on the medicinal properties of these ocean herbs.

Limu Maui is an exotic name, which translated means brown seaweed. There is a substance in brown seaweed called fucodian which a Japanese researcher claims to be similar to mothers’ milk in its effect on the human immune system. PubMed is a service of the National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health and is a good place to look-up studies on fucodian, laminarin (also an immune-booster found in brown seaweed), or anything else. It is available at either pubmed.gov or pubmed.org on the world wide web.

If you have no inclination to eat vegetables let alone sea vegetables, you can still benefit by getting them in easy to take supplement form as in tablets, capsules, or liquid extract. In that way you can also get the smaller algae forms of seaweed like chlorella or spirulina. You would be getting plenty of beta-carotene, vitamin C, potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, and iodine. Again, studies on these can be found at PubMed.

Seaweed is a wholesome food that adds variety to your diet and is good for your health.

Exercise causes the body to process glucose faster, which lowers blood sugar. The more intense the exercise, the faster the body will utilize glucose. Therefore it is important to understand the differences in training with type I and type II diabetes. It is important for an individual who has diabetes to check with a physician before beginning an exercise program. When training with a diabetic, it is important to understand the dangers of injecting insulin immediately prior to exercise.

An individual with type I diabetes injecting their normal amount of insulin for a sedentary situation can pose the risk of hypoglycemia or insulin shock during exercise. General exercise guidelines for type I are as follows: allow adequate rest during exercise sessions to prevent high blood pressure, use low impact exercises and avoid heavy weight lifting, and always have a supply of carbohydrates nearby. If blood sugar levels get too low, the individual may feel shaky, disoriented, hungry, anxious, become irritable or experience trembling. Consuming a carbohydrate snack or beverage will alleviate these symptoms in a matter of minutes.

Before engaging in exercise, it is important for blood sugar levels to be tested to make sure that they are not below 80 to 100 mg/dl range and not above 250 mg/dl. Glucose levels should also be tested before, during, after and three to five hours after exercise. During this recovery period (3-5 hours after exercise), it is important for diabetics to consume ample carbohydrates in order to prevent hypoglycemia.

Exercise will greatly benefit an individual with type II diabetes because of its positive effects on insulin sensitivity. Proper exercise and nutrition are the best forms of prevention for type II diabetics. It is important for training protocols to be repeated almost daily to help with sustaining insulin sensitivity. To prevent hypoglycemia, progressively work up to strenuous activity.

As with individuals with type I diabetes, carbohydrates should also be present during training to assist in raising blood sugar levels if the individual becomes low.

Organic farming produces plant and animal foods without the excessive use of chemicals. It focuses on using fertile soil along with a variety of crops to maintain healthy growing conditions which produce a food with more nutrients and less chemicals than typical commercial foods. Organic farming prohibits the growing of GM foods, a controversial issue among commercial growers.

Animals reared on organic farms are treated properly with room to behave like animals and are fed healthy food sources not laden with drugs and other chemicals.

Benefits Of Organic Foods

One of the common benefits proclaimed about organic foods is that they taste better - but there are many other benefits to incorporating organic foods into your diet. Besides the physical benefits to you there are environmental benefits and benefits to the animals and people who live and work on the farms.

Health Benefits

Organic foods prevent people from ingesting regular amounts of pesticides and insecticides commonly found in commercial products. Animals are not routinely given antibiotics and other medication which enters the food supply to humans. Some research suggests that this excessive use of chemicals in food can be linked to increased health problems and interferes with the healthy development of children.

Environmental Benefits

Organic food also protects the planet. Organic farming ensures that bio-diversity remains available in the foods we eat and the wildlife that live on the farms. Fruits and vegetables are naturally available in 100's of varieties. Commercial growing limits the variety of each food available by mass producing only a handful. Many species of birds, insects and other animals are affected by the chemicals and farming conditions used in growing commercial foods.

Organic farms grow a mix of crops and promote a balanced ecosystem including insects that protect crops from pests and worms and other micro-organisms which fertilize the soil.

Human And Animal Benefits

Organic farming is considered 'sustainable' farming. The workers and the animals are not as exposed to dangerous toxins or working and living conditions. This enables people to continue growing healthy foods for the rest of society without reliance on huge machinery and chemicals.

The animals raised on organic farms are not subject to the terrible living conditions imposed on commercially reared animals who often live in exceedingly small spaces without the freedom to move or interact. These unhealthy conditions lead to a spreading of illness which is combated with regular doses of antibiotics.

On organic farms the animals' needs are given priority. Healthy food, clean living conditions and freedom to behave like animals means healthier animals. When animals are sick they are cared for individually according to their actual needs.

Organic, sustainable farming protects humans, animals and the environment. Increasing the demand for organic products will encourage this form of farming and ensure that the food supply available to our children is a healthy one.

When driving or taking a bus or metro, you may be tempted to stop at fast food restaurants and eat the foods found there. Avoid this whenever possible. If you're on vacation, you may want to splurge a little bit, but having fast food more than once during a week can really be bad for your health. If you must, choose the healthiest options available, like chicken breasts and herbal tea.

Also remember that you can take your own meals when vacationing. Carrying a loaf of whole wheat bread or pita wraps, some lean turkey, and low fat cheese in a cooler is a great way to avoid high fat and high cholesterol junk food meals. These are much better choices and you'll save a lot of money as well. Call ahead to be sure there will be a refrigerator in your hotel room.

Lastly, make smart choices when you eat out. If you choose salads or pasta, get the dressing on the side and ask about low-carb options. In fact, many places print these dieting options directly in the menu for the health conscious people. To control your portions order lunch menu sizes or split the meal in half and get a take-out bag, and you'll be well on your way to nutritious eating, even away from home.

Yes, eating healthy foods when on vacation can be a challenge. However, your health is worth it. When you eat wholesome foods, you will also fight illnesses that you are likely to encounter when vacationing and be more attentive so that you can enjoy your trip. So eat well, relax and have a great time!

So what are the benefits of healthy eating? Well, here are a few:

It's long been believed that eating the "right" foods is more likely to prevent cancer: this includes eating more fruit and vegetables which are full of antioxidants (thought to have cancer-fighting properties), eating low fat and high fiber foods. Although there is no shortage of media reports that bad diets cause cancer and good diets prevent cancer, the link between diet and cancer is a little tenuous; however, new studies are coming out saying that women that eat a diet low in meat with lots of fruit decrease their risk for breast cancer and colon cancer.

Fruit and Vegetables

Fruits and vegetables are almost always low in calories and fat, and they are generally very nutritious as well. Fruits and vegetables are advisable for healthy snacking instead of sugar-based products. 7 servings of fruits and vegetables a day is generally recommended as a good balance. Fiber is found in vegetables, fruits, and whole grains and helps keep healthy bowels.

Energy

For people who have to leave early for work, have a heavy schedule, and then have a demanding family, they often find that their energy levels drop and they don't feel capable of additional exercise. Minerals and Vitamins such as iron and B12 give you energy to get through the day. Select foods that will meet your needs of energy and essential nutrients.

Sugary drinks are a big source of empty energy. Healthy eating increases energy, improves the way your body functions, strengthens your immune system and delays weight gain.

Cholesterol

Cholesterol is present in all parts of the body, including the brain, nerves, muscle, skin, liver, intestines, and heart. Cholesterol travels in your blood in packages called lipoproteins. Not all cholesterol is actually bad for you - it is a natural substance that serves as a building block for cells and hormones and helps to carry fat through the blood vessels for use or storage in other parts of the body; however, a high blood cholesterol level can lead to a build-up of plaque in your arteries, which can increase your risk of heart attack and stroke. Certain types of fiber (e.g. oats) can help to lower cholesterol and to keep blood sugar levels normal.

Meals

Believe it or not, 3 meals and 2 snacks are best to maintain both energy levels and healthy weight. You are more likely to overeat or choose nutrition-poor foods when you skip meals and are over-hungry. Try to relax and pace yourself so that your meals last at least 20 minutes, since it takes 20 minutes for you to feel full. It's hard to compete against fast-food kid's meals which are fatty, salty, served quickly, packaged in bright colors and they come with toys.

There seems to be a common belief that it costs more to buy healthy foods. The author firmly believes that this is a fallacy. Using the economy of seasonal shopping, fruit and vegetables can be very cheap and go a long way to filling you up; with some careful planning you can produce exciting, cheap meals that are also good for you.

Salmon has always been a favorite of the wild bears of Alaska, and it's about to become one of yours too. Salmon contains omega-3 the fatty acids that can help protect the brain. With high levels of omega-3 in the blood, studies show that higher levels of serotonin occur. This serotonin gives the brain a natural mood enhancer. But don't eat Salmon just to smile more, serotonin also causes the brain's nerves to communicate more, thus enhancing the brains abilities towards memory, and learning. Just don't go into the stream like the bears, because eating Salmon won't make you smart enough to get out of that situation.

On a cold winter day nothing is as good for you as a cup of hot cocoa, otherwise known as hot chocolate. To add incentive to an already pleasure filled delight, scientists have discovered that hot cocoa has 5 times the antioxidants as most drinks, such as black tea. The reason these antioxidants are so important is that they can help prevent Alzheimer's and other mind altering diseases. One tip is to make sure you heat up 100% pure cocoa rather than using concentrated store bought mixes that are made of less healthy ingredients.

When you're eating out at your local restaurant tell them you'd like a fruit salad with blueberries for an appetizer, salmon for dinner, and hot cocoa for dessert. You'll feel smart, and healthy for doing it.