Turmeric is a plant which is part of the ginger family. This orange coloured spice is considered by many in the know to be one of the best foods (or supplements) that you can consume for good health. Common in Middle Eastern and South Asia, turmeric has been used as a staple in many recipes for thousands of years.
If you have been diagnosed with a fatty liver it is vital that you take a pro-active approach, otherwise the condition will progress and your liver function will deteriorate. Fatty liver is closely associated with Syndrome X (insulin resistance) and an increased risk of type 2 diabetes.
Far better that you eat your broccoli than your beans, healthier to snack on an orange than an apple (yes, despite the old adage “an apple a day keeps the doctor away”) and, even though they are cousins, garlic is far superior than onions or shallots as far as nutritional value. When compared to an apple, an orange has ten times more vitamin C and beta-carotene, a massive 40 times more folate and 4 times more thiamin.
Organic food that is free of insecticides is ideal but for some people it’s just too expensive and not always possible to find. Where possible, buy local produce, as this is the freshest option (and has not had to be transported and stored).
We are all hearing the word 'gluten' more and more these days - ever wondered why? What's so important about gluten and how would you know if it's compromising your health? If you were to eat hamburgers, deep fried food and chips and then wash it down with lashings of soft drink, you would more than likely realise that you are shortening your life. What if you were to eat a sandwich made from fresh sourdough wholemeal bread? You would probably think that you are making a healthier choice, wouldn't you?
When it comes to improving health and living a healthy lifestyle, there are many people in today's world who expend their energy hoping for an effortless shortcut . . . a magic potion, so to speak, or more accurately, a magic pill. For reasons of their own, they'd rather not invest the effort it takes to exercise or diet or pursue any of the other positive lifestyle changes that can prevent a lot of the most common medical conditions - and on one level I can understand why. Exercise is time consuming and sacrifice is definitely no fun!
Your liver is the largest internal organ in your body. Your body relies on your liver to perform many vital functions. Looking after your liver is vitally important if you want a long and healthy life. The food you eat each day can have a beneficial or harmful effect on your liver.
Selenium is truly a powerful antioxidant and it even helps to protect the DNA inside our cells from damage. In this way it helps to boost fertility, particularly in men. A recent study published in Australian Doctor magazine found that when men take antioxidant supplements, their female partners have an increased chance of falling pregnant.
This is because they are in the organic form of selenium, which is selenomethionine. This contains methionine which is a natural amino acid high in the mineral sulphur. Methionine is found in smelly foods such as eggs, garlic, onions and cruciferous vegetables. Methionine is needed by the liver to detoxify the body and so is selenium.
