Health Tips

Fats, Carbs, and Protein: The Balancing Act

“So you’re a vegetarian? How will you get proper nutrition?” Vegetarians, novice and veteran, often encounter this question. Fortunately, the answer is simpler than many of our non-vegetarian friends or family think. As the meat-eater’s diet is made up of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats, similarly, the nuts and bolts of a balanced vegetarian diet will follow a similar structure. The difference is that the vegetarians get their nutrients from plant-based foods.

The Fabulous Flax Seed

As nutritional awareness and health maintenance become increasingly popular, foods that were once staples of the human diet are being “rediscovered” for their incredible health benefits. One of these incredible foods is the flax seed.

How to Work a Few Extra Steps Into Your Day

Modern day conveniences have made it easier and more efficient for people to get here and there without having to exert much effort. From cars to elevators and escalators to moving walkways, technology has allowed people the opportunity to cover more ground while physically doing less. But in the world of physical health, less is not more.

Essential Fatty Acids from Plant Foods

Contrary to popular belief, eating fish is not the best way to get your essential fats. Most fats can be synthesized by our own bodies and are not necessary to have in our diet. However, there are a few unsaturated fats that we cannot make which we have to get from food called “essential” fats.

Eating Fats, Eating Healthy

There are many diets on the market that turn people away from all fats because they are considered bad. But good fat is a necessary part of a healthy diet. Your body needs fat to maintain its vibrancy. Fat protects your body, keeps your cells properly functioning, and is critical for the absorption of many essential vitamins and minerals. The goal is to incorporate beneficial fats into your diet and eliminate the harmful fats. A low-fat vegetarian diet, rich in whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables, is the perfect option for health and wellness.

The Skinny on Healthy Fats

Many people are concerned about their intake of saturated fats from vegetarian foods such as nuts and seeds, coconuts, and avocados. While it is true that a high intake of saturated fat is linked to increased risk of heart disease and arteriosclerosis, it is important to understand that there is a difference between saturated fats from animal sources versus saturated fats from vegetable sources.

The Dirty Dozen: Most Heavily Sprayed Foods

As consumers become more aware of the dangers associated with chemical pesticides and preservatives in produce, many are trying to adopt a more organic way of eating. While you may not be ready to eat exclusively organic, the next best option is to avoid those fruits and vegetables that are sprayed with pesticides more heavily than others. To help you make the healthiest shopping decisions, we’ve compiled this list of the most pesticide-contaminated foods (based on recent reports from the Environmental Working Group and TheDailyGreen.com).

NIH Recommended Diet Reduces Risk of Heart Disease

The latest news on healthy eating is related to the government-recommended DASH diet. DASH: Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension, was developed by the U.S. National Institute of Health to lower blood pressure, reduce cholesterol, and improve insulin sensitivity.

Vegetarianism: Cure for Global Warming

It is difficult to ignore the grave threats that global warming may someday cause ( coastal flooding, increases in extreme weather, spreading of diseases, and mass extinctions). Yet the mainstream public has managed to ignore the simplest and most practical way to curve global warming – adopting a vegetarian diet.

Cruelty-Free Shopping

As a conscious consumer, you may be interested in buying products that are free from animal by-products and not tested on animals. At Down to Earth, all of our health and beauty products are vegetarian and cruelty-free. But if you happen to be shopping elsewhere, it is important to be mindful of the ingredients in the health and beauty products you buy. Keep the following tips in mind:

1. Look for words like “cruelty-free,” “not tested on animals,” “no animal testing,” and “vegan” or “vegetarian.”