Check labels

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has given organic foods a national standard. They state the term ‘organic’ means foods that have been produced without antibiotics, hormones, pesticides, irradiation, and bioengineering. But be warned, there are different types of organic products – some are 100% organic, some contain 95 -100% organic ingredients and can be labeled ‘organic’, while others with less than this percentage will state they are made with organic ingredients’ (70% and up) or ‘contain organic ingredients’ (less than 70%). Make sure you check labels on your food products carefully to know what quality of product you are buying.

Pick your organic options

You might not be able to switch your whole diet to organic – this option could be too expensive or just not practical – but you can decide which foods you believe are worth buying in the organic form. Read up on the foods that are considered to be most affected by pesticides, hormones, etc. e.g. apples, strawberries and dairy products and least affected too, e.g. avocados because of their tough skin. Then make your organic choices accordingly.

Shop around for best prices

Organic foods are generally priced higher than regular ones but the range can vary greatly – from 10% to 200% higher! Make sure you visit a range of stores which supply organic foods to get the best value on different foods. Visit health food stores, your local farmer’s market, shop online, or browse through the organic sections of large retail chains.

Get your timing right

Since organic foods do not use chemicals to help preserve their freshness, many fresh foods have to be consumed quite quickly after they are bought. Buy unripened fruit or vegetables when appropriate and talk to your store owner, farmer or grocer about when their deliveries are made so you can time your purchases to get the best quality foods.

Get the whole family involved

If it’s not just yourself who’s turning organic but your whole family too, try and get everyone involved in being educated about your new choices. You could do something adventurous like trying to grow your own organic ingredients in your garden or find cooking classes for kids that uses only organic ingredients. Education will be the first step towards enjoying your new healthier lifestyle!

So goes a line on a familiar song that is sung in the Philippines. But nowadays, drinking coconut oil can actually save your life. To be more specific, it is extra virgin coconut oil that has all the health and life-long benefits that one can have. For instance, a centenarian by the name of Bess Baker Jackson recently celebrated her birthday and attributed her long life to this. Mrs. Jackson was a teacher married to a businessman/manager, and had two daughters with him. She lived through the Great Depression, World War 2, historical moon landing and 9/11. She witnessed the invention of the television, car, jet planes, personal computer, and the Internet. She began taking coconut oil a few years after her husband’s death and about the time when she has just moved in to her new home. She reported using this natural oil for her skin and added it to her tea even.

Previous health experts have long thought that coconut oil is bad for the health mainly due to its fat content and high cholesterol level. But that was before experts realize that they have been studying the hydrogenated variety of coconut oil – one that is laden with trans fats, the type found in deep fried food that is responsible for increasing “bad” cholesterol levels in the blood stream and blocking our arteries. On the other hand, extra virgin coconut oil is categorized as a “medium-chain fats” – in particular, lauric acid which is present in coconut milk, and has antibacterial and antiviral properties. This is obtained from a long process of harvesting coconuts, to shredding the meat and milking the juice, and then fermenting it overnight until the water evaporates and leaves the oil that is the main healthy ingredient of coconut. Extra virgin coconut lengthens the lifespan by boosting the immune system, maintaining the skins moisture, regulates metabolism and digestion, facilitates the body’s endocrine response and helps build strong bones and teeth. It contains many vitamins and minerals which wards off disease-producing organisms, and aids the cell-regeneration and renewal process.

Drink more water! Water is essential to the health of your body. You extract water from the food you eat and beverages you drink. Nothing you can drink will be as good for you as a clean, pure water. Bottled water is an alternative if you do not like the taste of your water, or you can add filters to your sinks and pitchers for a very low cost. The benefits of drinking water but are innumerable. Water is good for your skin, making it soft and clear. Water is good for the blood, it helps maintain the balance of chemicals circulating in the blood to appropriate levels. Water is good for the kidneys, because it maintains the volume of blood. If you drink enough water your urine will be clear to pale yellow and should not feel strong. If your urine is very dark or yellow, you need to drink more. Water keeps you hydrated and can help prevent headaches. It can also help your muscles recover after exercise.

Take the sun! Sunlight is essential for the formation of vitamin D. Vitamin D is important for your bones. It helps your body absorb calcium. If you do not have enough vitamin D may weaken your bones and you could be at risk of fractures. Vitamin D inhibits inappropriate cell division, and can inhibit cancer growth. Vitamin D is a major contributor to chronic low back pain and persistent, the musculo-skeletal pain nonspecific. Vitamin D helps to maintain the adequate blood insulin, improved health for people with diabetes and prevention to those who do not. Vitamin D is also important to your heart. Active vitamin D has been shown to increase survival in patients with heart disease. Get direct sunlight for 10-15 minutes per day, generally happy with your life. In our society, and during certain seasons of the sun is less necessary. Many people have a deficiency of vitamin D without realizing it. In addition to a multi-vitamin is suggested.

Sleep! We live in a society where we have been working 24 hours a day. Getting sleep is vital to health. If you have less than your body needs, you may be at risk of disease, injury and disease. The functioning of the brain is decreased with sleep deprivation and you may experience muscle pain. Everyone has individual sleep needs vary. In general, most healthy adults are built to 16 hours standby and need an average of eight hours of sleep per night. However, some individuals are able to function without sleepiness or drowsiness after as little as six hours of sleep. Others can not perform at their peak unless they have slept ten hours. And, contrary to myth, the need for sleep does not decrease with age but the ability to sleep for six to eight hours at a time May be reduced. Take the time to sleep can help you find the strength and energy you need to do your daily tasks and to enjoy a healthy lifestyle and active.

Move! Your body was built to move. The activity is important for health and longevity. Those working in some form of regularity, are in better health, less disease and illness and have a better quality of life than those who are sedentary. Obesity is a risk factor for many diseases, if you exercise regularly the risk of obesity is lower. Your lungs, blood vessels, intestines, brain and muscles are able to work more efficiently if you have some form of exercise every day. Your heart benefits of aerobic exercise that raises your heart rate and respiration rate for a sustained time. Discuss options with your doctor is important for safety and better effect.

Eat a balanced diet! Make sure your diet is rich in protein and low fat high fiber whole grains. Fruits and vegetables in a rainbow of colors can help prevent cancer. Plan 9 fruits or vegetables each day and try to eat at each meal and snack. Fresh is always best for you. Often it is difficult to get all your nutritional needs, take a multi-vitamin is an easy way to ensure your nutritional needs. If you can not afford meat, or do not like soy or beans and rice consider shakes whey proteins. It can really help to give you the protein you need to build muscle and curb appetite.