Just wanted to wish everyone a Merry Christmas today! 

Take care, enjoy your family and friends and don’t forget to really take the time to reflect on the gifts in your life and enjoy everyone around you, even if you have some family angst

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Scientists in Britain have successfully created a hybrid version of broccolil that is supposed to be even healthier and pack a bigger nutritional punch than original broccoli.  It took them fourteen years to create the cross-bred version of broccoli, but they finally did it and were able to file a patent on the new breed of vegetable.

The broccoli is supposedly not genetically modified (non GMO), so it may still appeal to the purists who do not want to eat GMO foods or produce that is grown this way. Genetically modified basically means that the basic genetic makeup was messed with in some way at the inception of the growth of the veggie.

The new breed of ‘super’ broccoli is supposed to taste a bit sweeter because it does not have as much sulphur in it. Sulphur is actually a really healthy component of broccoli and other sulphur rich veggies like cauliflower, cabbage and brussel sprouts, so I’m not sure why they reduced the sulphur content in the broccoli.

However, the new super broccoli has much more of a nutrient called glucoraphanin.  Glucoraphanin helps to break fats down in the body, and so is thought to be excellent for heart and brain health, and a great diet aid since it can help you maintain a thin waistline.

Where can you get this new enhanced super broccoli?

Right now, this super broccoli is only available in certain select stores in Texas and California so far here in the US. It may be available more widely in the country where it was created, the UK, but details were not available.

Broccoli itself, the normal kind, is a super food. It contains so many vital nutrients such as vitamins and minerals, as well as beneficial fiber, that it helps maintain heart health and ward off cancer. It is important that this veggie be purchased organically if at all possible.

This is because broccoli is eaten as a whole food. It is not peeled before eaten, so it has not protective layer from the pesticides that are repeatedly sprayed on it. It also can absorb the toxins from the soil since non-organic soil contains toxins left over from years of pollution.

What’s All This About Antioxidants?

Antioxidants are used to control free radical damage. Free radicals are produced when the body burns oxygen to produce energy. A free radical is a molecule that has a single, unpaired electron in its outer shell. Free radicals are reactive because they seek stability with an additional electron to make a pair.

They can do damage to other atoms in the body by taking their electrons and making them unstable. This can cause chain reactions that result in cell death. Antioxidants are molecules that have an extra electron, and they can give it to a free radical, thus neutralizing it.

Then the neutralized free radicals leave the body as waste products. So having lots of antioxidants in the body can reduce the amount of damage free radicals cause. This level of free radical activity is called oxidative stress. Oxidative stress is associated with aging and general breakdown of the body over time.

Some foods that are rich in antioxidants are fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, seeds, cereals, and spices. As you can see, these are natural, living foods. Vitamins A and E are antioxidants, and help strengthen your immune system as well.

Cherries, blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, raspberries, pomegranates, oranges, plums, kiwis, black currants, and grapefruit contain lots of antioxidants. Some people may choose to eat these fruits whole or buy beverages like Welch’s, Minute Maid, Tropicana, Monavie, or Florida’s Natural. Monavie is made with fruit purees and acai berries.

These berries have antioxidant properties and come from the acai palm. When you choose to add antioxidants to your diet, you are taking a step towards preserving your own health.

Adjusting your diet to combat free radicals could allow you to enjoy a healthier life. It can be easy and tasty to include more antioxident-rich foods in your diet. If you start by using some simple fruits, like prunes, raisins, blueberries, and blackberries, you could decide how you feel with the change.

You may want to include more vegetables after a time, like kale, spinach, brussel sprouts, and broccoli. If you decide you like this path, you can develop a more sophisticated repetoire and try some fancier dishes.

For instance, adding beets to your diet could allow you to try a popular dish called borscht that is made with beets, beef, carrots, onions, potatoes, and sour cream.

Or you could just snack on a stir fry of onions, corn, eggplant, black beans, and red bell peppers. Adding many antioxidants to your diet is easy, healthful, and quite delicious.

Many people pass judgement on others who are overweight especially if they, themselves, don’t have a weight problem.  Most people don’t realize that overeating and the often resulting obesity may be from differences in how our brains are “wired.” 

Overeating and obesity doesn’t necessarily mean that a person is lazy or has no will power.  In a recent study, results show that, for some people, food is an addiction and their brains respond to food in a similar way that people with other addictions respond to alcohol or drugs when the binge on food. 

There are differences in actual brain activity in those who have have an addiction to food than in those who don’t when shown a picture of a sweet treat.  The participants in the study who had signs of food addiction had more activity in the craving areas of the brain in response to the picture.  The same participants also had less activity in the part of the brain that inhibits the desire to eat.

When measuring food addiction in this study, the researchers measured responses in a similar manner to how they would gauge any other addiction such as drugs or alcohol.  Food addicted individuals will have the same type of behavior patterns as those addicted to any other substances . 

They will be preoccupied with thoughts of food, be prone to going on eating binges and will have little control over their eating patterns.

Since obesity is such a problem and the effects on our health are serious, the medical profession is as concerned about food addiction as they are about other substance addictions like drugs or alcohol.  Extreme overeating and resulting obesity is just as dangerous to our health.

The importance of recognizing that food is, for some, an addiction and not just a lack of will power, can change how individuals approach weight loss and changing eating patterns.  Breaking the cycle of food addiction can be dealt with the same way as breaking addictions to any other substance.

Recognizing signs and symptoms of withdrawal from certain foods and a one day at a time attitude can help an individual overcome food addiction.  The researchers at Yale University have come up with a list of questions to determine if you have an addiction to food that are similar to the self questioning thresholds for other substance addictions.  They can be looked up online at abc world news and click on the health tab.

Hello everyone. This is gonna be really short and sweet because like everyone else, my plate is full of social stuff today with family.

I wanted to wish everyone a really wonderful Christmas day.  Let’s all be grateful for what we have and forget about any problems we have on this day.

So, eat drink and be merry – without guilt and without stuffing yourself til you feel ill.

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE – I LOVE ALL MY READERS!!!!