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Berries pose risk to Britain's potato and tomato crops

Wed, 30 Jul 2008 22:26:40 EDT
Demand in Britain has soared in the past year after the berry became the latest “s ... The Plant Health and Seeds Inspectorate warned there is a “substantial trade” in prohibited goji plants in the UK....

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goji berry plant ukSafely Transitioning Off Meal Replacement Plans

Meal replacements have been part of the diet landscape for decades. They have helped numerous people lose weight, and more importantly, they have helped people learn the difference between healthy and unhealthy eating choices. Both quantity and quality of life improvements can be credited to the concept of meal replacement solutions.

Those that have successfully relied upon a meal replacement plan can reflect fondly on how the plan helped address a fundamental diet obstacle: choosing what to eat.

One of the greatest challenges that a dieter faces � if not the greatest � is discovering what to eat, and what to avoid. Answering the latter is usually easier, since most experienced dieters are rather well aware of what they should not be eating. Yet they are often left wondering: what should I eat? Dieters who are fortunate enough to be able to answer this with a simple: I�ll eat my meal replacement foods often see their diets succeed beyond its vulnerable infancy [i].

Dieters who rely on willpower alone, or follow a poorly designed �fad� diet, often do not lose weight. The most that these dieters usually experience is maintenance of current weight, or perhaps a few pounds lost, likely through water loss.

As with most weight loss solutions, there are some potential pitfalls that can undermine dieters. And perhaps the most ironic of these pitfalls exists for those dieters who have chosen a meal replacement route to achieve their weight loss goals. This difficulty is explained, and solved, below.

Diets supported by meal replacement plans are often successful; and herein exists the potential problem. Once a dieter has lost his or her desired weight, there is a transition period from meal replacement food to �normal� food. Without the proper nutritional supplements in place to ensure that this transition is both smooth and long-term, a high number of dieters revert back to their pre-diet unhealthy eating habits. The result, regrettably, is the regaining of weight; and for many dieters, yet one more failed attempt to shed pounds and inches [ii].

The blame for this regained weight is typically, and incorrectly, assigned to two sources. The first target for this misplaced blame is the meal replacement plan itself, which promised long-term weight loss yet apparently failed to deliver. The second misplaced blame, and the one that can do the most damage, is directed towards the dieter him/herself. It is just �another failure�, and a crushing blow to self-esteem.

However, as noted above, this blame is misdirected. The cause of the problem is neither the meal replacement plan, nor the dieter�s lack of willpower. The culprit here was that once the meal replacement plan had done its job, there was no strategy in place to maintain that accomplishment over the long term.

Fortunately, there exist some very well designed nutritional supplements and plans that support this transition strategy. These nutritional supplements are not candy bars posing as �energy bars�, or protein powders laden with calories and fat grams [iii].

Rather, these authentic nutritional supplements are scientifically designed, low-calorie, complete eating solutions. That is, they can be used to supplement a meal that is not fortified with vitamins or complete protein, or they can be used -- without health risk -- to replace a meal when healthy eating choices are not available.

Meal replacements have proven their value in the �battle of the bulge�; especially since they provide dieters with an easy answer to the question: what do I eat today? However, it is just as clear that the period just after weight loss, when the meal replacements program ceases, is critical.

Far too many dieters are left without a transition plan that enables them to safely return to a diet of non meal-replacement items. Fortunately for these individuals, and for future dieters as well, there exist authentic and medically engineered nutritional supplement solutions that bridge this gap, and help ensure that a hard won weight loss battle is a long-term victory.

ABOUT PROTICA

Founded in 2001, Protica, Inc. is a nutritional research firm with offices in Lafayette Hill and Conshohocken, Pennsylvania. Protica manufactures capsulized foods, including Profect, a compact, hypoallergenic, ready-to-drink protein beverage containing zero carbohydrates and zero fat. Information on Protica is available at http://www.protica.com

You can also learn about Profect at http://www.profect.com

REFERENCES

[i] Source: �Are you Sabotaging your Diet?�. Prevention.com. http://www.prevention.com/article/0,5778,s1-4-57-190-4559-3,00.html

[ii] Source: �Meal Replacement Diets�. All About Info Ltd. http://dietsnutrition.allinfoabout.com/features/replace.html

[iii] Source: �Nutritional Supplement�. Rolf Rasmussen. http://www.ezinearticles.com/?Nutritional-Supplement&id=8188

Copyright 2004 - Protica Research - http://www.protica.com

Eat These Powerful Superfoods To Achieve Weight Loss

The reason why you need to incorporate these superfoods into your diet is because they provide excellent nutrients that fuel your body for optimum efficiency as well as help reduce inflammation which allows you to recover better between workouts. All this means you make greater progress in your weight loss.

Make sure you incorporate as many of these foods as you can on a daily basis to stoke your metabolism fat burning furnace.

Fruit: These fruits are high in antioxidants, which help with disease prevention and contain flavonoids. Flavonoids help with eyesight and coordination. These dark colored fruits are also a good source of fiber and boost your immune system.

* Raspberries
* Blueberries,
* Blackberries
* Guava (great source of lycopene)
* Goji Berries
* Dried Plums

Nuts: Great source of fiber, phytoestrogens, vitamin B6, niacin, magnesium, healthy monounsaturated fats, and protein. These nuts help to lower LDL (bad) cholesterol and seem to help maintain healthy blood vessels.

* Almonds
* Walnuts
* Cashews
* Brazil Nuts
* Hazelnuts

Bean/Lentils: Beans are a great source of protein and fiber as well as low in calories. They help to stabilize blood sugars and provide isoflavones that help to prevent certain forms of cancers and heart disease.

* Legumes (chickpeas, lima beans, lentils, dry beans)
* Black Beans,
* Red Beans

Oils: Particulary Extra Virgin Olive Oil. It is a heart healthy fat that helps to lower LDL (bad) cholesterol. It contains anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. It also helps to control cravings

Fish: Fish contains the potent Omega 3 fatty acid. It is potent in a very good way. It helps your body store less fat and helps your body convert fat to energy. It is a great anti-inflammatory as well as wonderful brain food. The ADA recommends that you consume 1.5-3gms of Omega 3 fats a day. One serving of the choices below will provide almost 4 gms of Omega 3 fats.

* Salmon
* Tuna
* Mackeral

Vegetables: A variety of colors is the key here. For example carrots are a great source of beta carotene , which can reduce the risk of cancer, tomato contains lycopene another powerful anti-oxidant that reduces the risk of cancer.

Dark green leafy vegetables such as spinach contain carotenoids that improve your immune system and is full of vitamins and minerals. Don't forget about these other powerful vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, kale and other cruciferous vegetables that contain cancer fighting properties as well as a great source of fiber which aids in weight loss.

Approved vegetables:
* Carrots
* Tomato
* Broccoli
* Kale
* Spinach
* Cauliflower
* Beets
* Cabbage
* Swiss Chard
* Purslane

Green Tea: Not only is non-caffeinated fluid good for you, but research has shown that green tea may be one of the best disease fighting fluids you can consume. It is very high in antioxidants and scientists have shown that is has reduced cancer in individuals by as much 60%. It actually inhibits the growth of cancer cells. Studies have indicated that it reduces overall cholesterol levels as well as increasing the ratio of HDL (good) cholesterol to LDL (bad) cholesterol.

Here are just some of the ailments that drinking green tea helps:

* cancer
* rheumatoid arthritis
* high cholesterol levels
* cariovascular disease
* infection
* impaired immune function

There is also some research that drinking green tea shows benefits to those wanting to lose weight. Researchers showed that those that consumed caffeine and green tea extract burned more calories than those that consumed caffeine or a placebo. It looks very encouraging so far based on the studies that have been released.

If you can eat as many of these superfoods as you can on a daily basis you will be running at peak efficiency and burning maximum calories to stoke the fat burning furnace called your metabolism.

As a registered dietitian Jayson knows the secrets to helping any woman inches fast, so they can look their best for any special occasion. Discover more by downloading his powerful special report "The Five Simple Steps for Losing Twenty Pounds Quickly and Safely!" at http://www.dress-size-reduction-blog.com

Juicing for Large Families

Juicing for a large family can be time consuming and tedious. Try these suggestions to make Juicing fun, less time consuming and economical.

Juicing counter:
Especially with a large family and time being a constraint you will find that it is much simpler to have the juicer on the counter. Organize your kitchen such that the juicer is on the counter and all your other equipment like the cutting board, weighing scale, knives are conveniently placed. The bottom line is to arrange things for the greatest efficiency possible.

Refrigeration:
Buying produce in bulk for your large family would mean that you need to store it in the best possible way. It is advisable to invest in a good second refrigerator for additional storage. Fresh produce spoils even under the best conditions. It is important to buy your produce, clean it and keep it in the refrigerator.

Use Zip lock bags:
To keep your leafy vegetables fresh, clean and wipe them and put them in zip lock bags. Remember to dry them before putting them in zip lock bags or they could get soft and spoilt.

Plan ahead:
Make a schedule and plan your juicing ahead of time. Sign up for a copy of our free "Everyday Juice Diary".

Make juicing fun:
Preparing ingredients to juice for a large family can be very time consuming. Make juicing a family activity. Involve the kids in helping with preparing the ingredients, and deciding on which juices to make and searching for recipes. This family time will not only inculcate good and healthy eating habits but the kids will learn about the nutritional benefits of fruits and vegetables. Kids love to have what they have prepared and you will find that they readily have all the good stuff on their own.

Juicing on a budget:
Juicing for a large family can quickly mount up the budget considering the amount of ingredients you need. Here are some tips on how to reduce the cost of juices without accepting poorer nutritional value for your juices.

Use produce that is in season:
Juice ingredients that are in season. When a particular fruit or vegetable is in season there is plenty available in the stores or the farmer�s market. You are sure to find good deals on these fruits and vegetables. It is also beneficial to juice the fruits and vegetables in the season itself. Vegetables and fruits taste their best when their flavors and colors mature naturally with the seasons. Fresh, and seasonal products are essential and more beneficial to healthy juicing especially when you buy produce that is not artificially ripened. Sign up for a free copy of "Your Seasonal Fruit and Vegetable Calendar."

Buying organic at cheap prices:
When you visit your local farmer� market you will find fresh organic produce with a few blemishes or not of the perfect shape, much cheaper than the regular produce. Dont hesitate to buy the organic tomatoes, which are not perfectly round. It�s going to be put in the juicer anyway.

Buy base ingredients:
Carrots and apples are among the most juiced ingredients. Besides they are also among the healthiest ingredients to be juiced. These ingredients are cheaper and easily available throughout the year. Use them as in your juices as a base ingredient (60% of the juice) and mix them with other ingredients of your choice.

Have fun Juicing!!

Charlotte D�Souza is a Horticulturist, focusing on the nutritional benefits of fruits and vegetables, through her experience in the field she recommends juicing regularly as a healthful supplement to your diet, to not only look but also feel better and healthier. The website http://www.healthyjuicecentral.info aims at encouraging juicing and promotes the benefits of drinking wholesome and invigorating juices.