Kamis, 23 Desember 2010

Omega-3 Supplements: Vegetarian Alternatives

By now, you must be familiar with the nutritional benefits of omega-3 supplements. Omega-3 fats have potent anti-inflammatory properties that boost your immune system, protect you from cardiovascular disease, and even treat psychological conditions like ADHD, depression, and dementia. This important nutrient is normally obtained by eating deep sea fish, or consuming fish oil. However, both of these go against your principles as a vegetarian, and it seems like there's no other source of these important nutrients.

Actually, there are several vegetarian alternatives to fish oil supplements that provide just as much omega-3 as deep sea fish - if not more. You too can receive the health benefits of this nutrient without compromising the beliefs you've upheld as a vegetarian. Below are some vegetarian-friendly sources of omega-3s.

Evening primrose oil

Did you know that the body needs a balanced ratio of omega-3 and omega-6 for you to receive the benefits of these nutrients? Evening primrose oil is an excellent source of these two essential fatty acids. Evening primrose oil contains a rare omega-6 essential fatty acid called GLA, which can only be found in human milk. Unlike most omega-6 EFAs, which block the anti-inflammatory properties of omega-3, GLA actually supports these and increases its potency. High quality evening primrose oil should be cold-pressed and non-raffinated to ensure the bio-availability of its EFA content.

Flaxseed oil

Flaxseed oil is a goldmine of the mother of all omega-3 fat called alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). Once ingested, the body then uses ALA to create two other omega-3 fats called DHA and EPA. This means that if you consume enough ALA, you won't need to eat any other food source of this nutrient. One other advantage of getting your omega-3 needs from ALA is that you won't risk the dangers of consuming too much DHA and EPA; the body only converts the amount that it needs. You can obtain ALA through flaxseed oil supplements or by incorporating milled flax into your pastries and meals.

Purple viper's bugloss (echium plantagineum)

Don't be misled by its name - purple viper's bugloss isn't an exotic African snake. It's actually a purple wildflower that grows in Western Europe. Only very recently did scientists discover that echium oil from the plant's seeds contains an omega-3 fat called stearidonic acid (SDA), which is the percusor for EPA. Echium oil also has other important fatty acids like the omega-6 GLA and the omega-9 oleic acid, which is responsible for its benefits to the cardiovascular system. Studies show that SDA and GLA can increase the levels of EPA in the blood stream more effectively than any fatty acid combination. Echium oil has just been approved for consumption in the UK and will soon spread to other countries.

Healthy Vegetarian Cooking

You may think of the average vegetarian as being someone who is healthy and lean, but you may be surprised to learn that there are many who are true vegetarians that are overweight and even obese. You can live a great life full of health and well-being if you incorporate vegetarian cooking into your life, but you must make sure that you know what you are putting into your body and what could be problematic to your health. Not all things on a vegetarian diet are actually good for you. Use these these in moderation or not at all.

Healthy vegetarian cooking starts with healthy cooking oils. This means avoiding the oils that have trans fats, as they can cause heart attack in the long run. Vegetable oil sounds like the perfect oil for a vegetarian diet, but that is not actually a good idea. Instead of this type of oil, you want to go with a non-animal and trans fat free oil like canola or olive oil. These are heart healthy and vegetarian friendly. If you cook with these you can be assured of better health in the long run as long as you don't overdo it.

You should also make sure that you are eating the right type of breads in your vegetarian cooking plans. Whole grain and whole wheat breads are far better for you than traditional white bread, and can help you stay healthy. These are going to digest slower and keep you fuller longer, and are great for your digestive system. You can also find muffins and other bread items with these ingredients that you can use in some of your vegetarian cooking creations.

Of course, you want to add a lot of vegetables to your vegetarian cooking. The trick is to steam them, or to cook them down just a little with low heat so that they still have some bite to them. If they are completely cooked down, you have just cooked most of the good stuff out of them. Instead of trying to cook them to death, cook them lightly in our vegetarian cooking endeavors to make sure you are getting all of the goodness that you should be getting. Green is good, but remember to add color to your dishes as well so you can get the best of everything.

Technically, sugar is okay in vegetarian cooking. However, that does not mean that you should be eating a lot of it. This is the main reason why some vegetarians are having trouble with their diets and their weight. As with anything else in life, too much of anything is going to be bad for your health. Instead, think about adding more protein to your diet with beans and tofu, and cut back on the amount of white foods and sugars that you add to your vegetarian cooking dishes. You will soon start to look and feel better. Simply cutting meat out is not enough to turn your health around. You have to do it the right way by avoiding foods you may think are okay but really send you two steps back.

Finding a Family Friendly Vegetarian Restaurant

If you're like many vegetarians with children, finding a family friendly vegetarian restaurant can be challenging. Children often have picky eating habits and will turn up their little noses at foods with which they are not familiar. Additionally, some vegetarian restaurants cater to a very specific clientele, often one which is at odds with a boisterous family.

Unfortunately, this means that many vegetarian parents are relegated to ordering the same salad or side dish over and over at a traditional restaurant. But by taking just a few minutes to do some quick research on your local vegetarian restaurants, you can find dining options that both you and your children will enjoy.

Review the Menu for Family Friendly Clues

The first step in determining whether your local vegetarian restaurant promotes family dining is to check out the menu. Many vegetarian restaurants post their menu online for you to peruse, so you can scout out the options before you leave the house. If the menu has a kids' section, you can bet that the restaurant promotes an environment that is family friendly.

Once you've found the kids' menu, pay close attention to the options. Some vegetarian restaurants simply offer smaller portions of adult entrees for children. While this is a good start, every parent knows that kids like a little fun with their meal. Kids' entrees should be typical of what most children enjoy, and if the menu even has some choices with silly names, you've hit the jackpot.

High priced restaurants are not geared toward kids

Next, look at the menu prices for adult entrees. If a typical entree runs $35 or more, the restaurant probably doesn't cater to families. These establishments often have stricter behavioral expectations, making your child feel uncomfortable. Additionally, if your child should misbehave, you may be asked to leave the restaurant, spoiling the meal for everyone.

A family friendly restaurant has a casual, inviting atmosphere

Once you find a vegetarian restaurant menu that holds all these family friendly clues, the next step should be a quick visit to the restaurant itself, preferably during the dinner hour. As soon as you walk in the door, look around. Even if there are no children in the dining room, other features will offer clues. Casual dress, cheerful colors, and a warm, inviting atmosphere typically characterize a family friendly establishment. If the majority of the patrons are wearing formal or evening dress, or if the atmosphere is excessively professional, your kids may be happier dining somewhere else.

If the restaurant is not too busy, you may even ask the host/hostess or a member of the waitstaff whether the restaurant serves many families. A vegetarian restaurant that is popular with other families may very well be a hit with your family, too.

Finding a great, family friendly vegetarian restaurant is a win-win for your family. You get to enjoy fantastic dishes prepared specifically to appeal to your vegetarian tastes. Your kids get to enjoy the fun, eclectic environment that many vegetarian restaurants offer. By taking these few quick steps, you can ensure a great vegetarian dining experience for the whole family.

New York East Village Vegetarian Restaurants Are a Hub for Vegetarian Diners

The East Village, an east Manhattan neighborhood, has long been synonymous with art and culture. It has also become known as one of the most veg-friendly neighborhoods in New York. With over 27 negetarian restaurants in a ten block radius, this unique neighborhood is a must-visit for diners searching for a true negetarian experience.

East Village has a Unique Culture

The East Village began its legacy as an artists' mecca in the 1950s. Located on the east side of Greenwich Village, students and artists were drawn to the area by the cheap rent and an existing bohemian population. By 1960, the neighborhood had become a hot spot for artists and musicians alike. Andy Warhol, Nan Goldin and Jeff Koons are just a few of the many artists who have frequented the area for both recreation and exhibition of their work.

Musicians also found favor. Musical performances over the past 50 years have included shows by The Grateful Dead, the Allman Brothers, The Who, Blondie and even Madonna. Rent, the 1996 Broadway musical set in the East Village, won four Tony Awards and a Pulitzer Prize for Drama. The characteristic art-and-music culture of the neighborhood continues to this day.

Over the years, the neighborhood has become a veritable melting pot of cultures, lending an exceptional diversity to negetarian restaurant menus. Nearby New York University and Cooper Union School of Art each attract an influx of both business and art students to the area. German, Polish, and Ukranian immigrants draw on eastern European influences; Hispanic and Japanese residents have also left their mark on the local scene. With so many choices, East Village diners can often find a delicious negetarian version of their family favorites.

negetarian Dining in the East Village

Thanks to heavily negetarian student and artist populations, the East Village has spawned a wealth of negetarian dining options. With a steady flow of customers, a negetarian restaurant is a good investment, leading many owners to tailor their menu specifically to their negetarian and vegan clientele. Additionally, many of the restaurant owners are negetarian themselves, making them uniquely aware of the dietary needs and tastes of their diners.

Menus at a typical East Village negetarian restaurant wanders far from the standard baked-tofu-and-vegetable fare offered outside of the neighborhood. Seitan sandwiches, grilled veggie pizzas, and handmade veggie burgers satisfy many a hungry appetite. For many negetarians, the choices are endless, drawing diners from throughout NYC and beyond.

The East Village boasts its own unique culture dating back over 50 years. The influence of artists, musicians, immigrants and students have given to rise to some of best negetarian restaurants in the world. A negetarian restaurant in this one-of-kind neighborhood is well worth the visit.

What Exactly Are Vegetarian Vitamins For Women?

Yes, there are negetarian vitamins for women, too. negetarians are considered as a group of people who may suddenly fall down to their knees in the middle of the road because of the lack of protein. When people think of negetarians, they conjure mental images of those individuals who are smashingly skinny, unhealthily weak and destructively protein-deficient. Many believe that a negetarian diet is almost tantamount to subscribing to something that will ultimately turn out bad for a person.

True, there are some foods that a negetarian can't eat because it may violate her principles, screw up her health plan, or leave her weeping for some organisms of the planet. And yes, some nutrients may be lost, too. But, there is no truth to the notion that negetarians, due to their food choices, are orchestrating their own chances for a lot of unpleasant health conditions. The following negetarian vitamins serve as proofs that negetarians take in a lot of nutrients that the body would need - and ingesting these good things does not require much effort, too.

* Vitamin A: There is not much debate being waged on the benefits of vitamin A to a person. They improve eyesight, build up better cells, and protect the mucous membranes along the nose and the throat. But, not everyone knows that vitamin A works better if it is eaten when the food that contains it is hardly cooked - something that negetarians can do, very easily. Raw eating (or steamed eating) of the following vitamin A-rich foods comes easy to negetarians that emulating them may lead to a better life for all of us: carrots, spinach, pepper, apricots and other fruits. Yellow and green and leafy vegetables are rich in vitamin A, too. Most fruits are, as well.

* Vitamin B: Vitamin B affects some of the regions of the brain that control mental functions. negetarians are more prone to feeling confident and alert because most of the foods that they eat come with this essential vitamin - in all of its forms. B vitamins play a part in reducing stress and tiredness, too, while helping body processes happen more properly. Peanuts, yeast, bananas, avocados, cereal, mushrooms, currants, wheat germ, whole grains, and green, leafy vegetables are rich in B vitamins.

* Vitamin C: It cleanses the body of toxins and free radicals, and it also builds up the immune system. Vitamin C, then, has become one of the most important negetarian vitamins for women. This vitamin is found in broccoli, green peppers, oranges, grapefruits, potatoes, kiwi, spinach and tomatoes. It is important to know, though, that when vitamin C is processed too much, it loses its value.

* Vitamin D: Useful in reducing risks of diabetes, hypertension, osteoporosis and even cancer (according to some studies), vitamin D in the body is activated by sunlight. But it is also present in food, such as soy milk, vegetable oil, fortified cereal, grape seed oil and margarine.

* Vitamin E: The antioxidant properties of vitamin E have long been established. Present in sunflower, seeds, avocados and olive oil, this vitamin can do a lot of wonderful miracles for the body.

There are vitamins that come very normal to a negetarian diet. The missing nutrients can come from the beneficial multivitamins. So, the truth is, negetarian vitamins for women ought to help one realize that eating vegetables and our fruits is very, very good.

The Case For Vegetarian Diet

negetarian is a term that means a mixed bag of things to different people. In essence negetarian describes avoiding meat, eggs, and diary products. There are different types of negetarians. A lacto-ovo negetarian is an individual who does not eat meat, but does eat dairy - meaning lacto and eggs meaning ovo. Without doubt the raising rates of problematic conditions such as obesity, heart disease, cancer, diabetes and high blood pressure is driving an increasing number of people to find alternative healthy dietary lifestyles.

Some researchers are concurring that a negetarian diet is useful and beneficial in protecting people from specific diseases namely hypertension and heart disease. In Particular the American Dietetic Association notes that a well planned negetarian diet can be helpful, nutritionally adequate and provide health benefits in the prevention and treatment of certain diseases. These diets are suitable for people of all stages of the life cycle, including during pregnancy, nursing, infancy, childhood and adulthood.

Particular benefits of negetarian diets offer specifically identified nutritional benefits. To begin with, the diet has less levels of saturated fat, cholesterol and animal protein as well as higher levels of carbohydrates, fiber, magnesium, potassium, folate and antioxidants. Doctors note that animal products are the main source of saturated fat and cholesterol. By-passing meat, eggs and diary products significantly reduces the amount of saturated fat and cholesterol all of which plays an important role in causing heart disease. Advocates of negetarian diet note that cases of breast cancer are remarkably lower in societies that follow plant-based diets. Cancer rates are higher in countries where people consume more animal products in their diets. It can be further noted that people who are negetarian have lower rates of colon cancer compared to non-negetarians. Some studies have claimed that a low-fat, negetarian diet with routine exercise can help stop and even reverse prostate cancer.

As noted earlier, obesity is a big problem especially in the United States. It has long reached epidemic proportions with some estimating that it will soon surpass tobacco use in terms of the number of people killed. A low-fat negetarian diet with moderate exercise has been shown to have the ability to take-off and even keep-off weight. On average negetarians have been shown to be leaner than people who eat meat. Doing away with obesity will have a significant impact on the prevention f high blood pressure. Obesity has been shown to be an extremely important risk factor for hypertension.