Foods That Weaken Your Bones

When it comes to thinking about how food affects our health we usually think of weight gain and fatty foods that affect our heart and arteries, among other things. We generally don’t assume that what we eat will affect our bones. However, there are foods that will weaken your bones, prevent proper mineral assimilation to keep them strong and therefore increase the risk of osteoporosis, which women are already at a risk of developing. Read on to find out which foods to avoid so that you keep your bones healthy.


Salt can do a lot of damage to bones as it drains the calcium from then which makes them weaker over time. Most post menopausal women, with a diet that is high in salt lose more minerals from their bones than other women the same age.


Soft drinks and soda drinks contain an ingredient called phosphoric acid, which actually increases the amount of calcium that is expelled from the body in urine.  Increase you intake of milk which contains calcium and cut out soft drinks.
 
Most fatty foods contain hydrogenated vegetable oils, such as margarine. However, when these are solidified they create trans fats, which are bad for the heart, and destroys the vitamin K which your bones need to stay strong and healthy.


Caffeine’s effect on the bones is similar to that of salt, but not to the same high extent. However, every cup of coffee you have depletes your levels of calcium. Although tea also contains caffeine it is believed to help the bone density in older women.


Alcohol blocks the calcium that you have eaten throughout the day from being absorbed. Drinking alcohol prevents the bones from being kept strong and meddles with the remodelling process of the bones by not allowing the bone building cells from doing their job.


Although soy products are full of protein which help to build the bones and keep them strong, they also contain a compound which is plant based which prevents the proper absorption of calcium. These plant compounds are known as oxalates and they combine together with the calcium, stopping it from being available to the body.

The Benefits Of Wheat Grass

Now bear with us because while you may think it’s a little odd to consider consuming grass, wheat grass has so many health benefits and isactually verygood for you, it is hard to know where to start. It has been called one of the healthiest things for you and contains extremely high levels of vitamins and nutrition which can only be beneficial to us. Available in the form of grass, powder or as a juice, we give you the reasons as to why adding this to your diet will give you plenty of health benefits which may be why many Juice bars sell it in the form of a shot.

It’s good for your blood

Wheat grass helps to increase the bloods ability to carry oxygen. It contains chlorophyll which the body can change into haemoglobin as the molecules are very similar an essential in carrying oxygen around the body. More oxygen means that the organs can function better.

It’s good for your immune system

The chlorophyll also helps to boost the immune system by detoxifying the blood and can help stop harmful bacteria from developing in the body. Its high vitamin and mineral content also help to boost the immune system so that the body is stronger at fighting illness.

It’s good for your digestive system

Certain enzymes which can be found in wheatgrass are greatly beneficial to the digestive system. They help to break down fats and aid the breakdown and assimilation of foodstuffs, therefore preventing diarrhea, constipation and other intestinal problems.

It helps to boost energy

When more oxygen is delivered to the organs, especially the brain and the heart, it increases the body’s energy levels. It helps to balance the PH levels in the body by reducing acidity which is also good for improving a person’s energy levels.

It helps to prevent cell damage

The multiple vitamins and the antioxidants that wheat grass contains help to fight against damage done to the body’s cells by getting rid of free radicals and toxins which are harmful to us. It also contains loads of amino acids that make up proteins which are vital in renewing damaged cells and for their growth.

Wheatgrass verses vegetables

When we mentioned that wheat grass packs a nutritional punch; we weren’t kidding. A small 30ml juice shot, which can be bought from most juice bars, provides similar nutrition, vitamins and goodness as a bowl of green vegetables. The only thing you won’t be getting is bulk and fibrous roughage which eating fruits and vegetables give you.

Foods For Healty Skin

Everyone wants clear skin that is blemish free, and just as food affects everything else in your body, what you eat will also affect your skin. Stress, and environmental factors will also damage the skin, and we are all guilty of neglecting ours once in a while. Give yourself a healthy and flawless skin with these foods.

Studies have found that red coloured fruit may be able to reduce or prevent the wrinkles that are caused by UV rays. Ellagic, an antioxidant found in these fruits, is thought to block an enzyme which the body releases when the cells are damaged that breaks down the collagen in the skin, leading to wrinkles. Similarly, tomatoes contain lycopene which also protects the skin from these rays.

Try to get roughly two tablespoons of olive oil a day as it contains Vitamin E which helps to keep skin moisturised and supple. Olive oil is also known to help improve the circulation which will make sure that you have a healthy rosy glow.

Snack on some carrots for a vitamin A boost as they contain plenty of carotenoids, which give the carrots their colour. According to the National Cancer Institute, these carotenoids can significantly reduce your risk of skin cancer. Vitamin A also prevents the overproduction of skin cells on the top outer layer meaning fewer blocked pores. Vitamin A is also found in dairy products.

Omega-3 fatty acids, which can be found in salmon and oily fish, help to keep the skin moisturised and reduces inflammation by blocking harmful irritants. The body can’t make these essential fatty acids, so it is important that you get it from your diet and should be roughly 15 per cent of your calorie intake. Try walnuts if you aren’t a fan of fish as they also contain high levels of omega-3.


Vitamin C is important as it is needed for the production of collagen which keeps the elasticity in our skin and declines as we get older causing wrinkles. Vitamin C in the body is depleted by smoking, stress and being in the sun so stock up on oranges, kiwis, papaya, potatoes and broccoli.

Zinc is also needed for healthy skin. It helps with healing, helps to produce collagen and a lack of zinc in the body can leads to stretch marks. Zinc also helps to regulate the hormones and prevents imbalances which can lead to outbreaks. While zinc can be found in many foods, there are a lot of things that prevent it from absorbing properly. The best source of zinc is from oysters followed by wheat germ.


You probably thought your mother was punishing you when she insisted you eat all your greens as a child. However, leafy greens not only contain plenty of vitamins and minerals, but they also contain folate which helps to repair damaged DNA. By doing this, it can reduce the likelihood of cancer-cell growth and skin tumours.

Water is needed for every process in the body and is also invaluable to the skin. It will help to keep it hydrated. Even being slightly dehydrated can affect your skin, so make sure you get your eight glasses a day to keep you looking radiant.

Cranberries

Dark coloured fruits and vegetables have great health benefits, but the small little red berries, otherwise known as cranberries, have a couple of unique qualities and benefits to them. They are a powerfully rich source of antioxidants and don’t get enough recognition. Recent studies have revealed some surprising things about these little fruits, so here are the reasons why you should add cranberries to your diet

Cranberries are most commonly known for their ability to prevent or sooth the symptoms of urinary tract infections. They are able to do this due to the proanthocyanidins found in them which prevent harmful bacteria from clinging to the urinary tract wall.


Similarly, they are also able to prevent bacteria from attacking and thereby infecting the stomach and mouth. This skill that they have prevents us from getting stomach ulcers and cavities in our teeth.


The antioxidant they contain known as tannins, helps to reduce inflammation and the bad cholesterol we may have and therefore reduce the risk of atherosclerosis which is when they artery walls harden. In other words they are great for our heart.


The antioxidant lycopene found in red foods help to protect and repair the damage done to the cells in the body due to oxidation. By protecting the DNA inside the white blood cells which are vital in helping us fight disease and infections.


A lot of research has been done on cranberries and cancer and early research from the University of Western Ontario found that by increasing the amount of cranberries eaten can prevent the development of breast cancer cells.

Cranberries are also beneficial when it comes to weight loss as enzymes found in them have been found to increase the metabolism. They contain a certain acid which actually dissolves fat deposits.

Cranberries contain plentiful amounts of an acid called quinic which helps to prevent these stones from developing in the body. The juice ‘Ocean Spray’ made from cranberries has in fact partnered up with the US National Kidney Foundation to promote kidney health.

Cranberries are also more frequently being used in spa treatments and as an ingredient in certain creams and lotions. The antioxidants and other components help to improve the skins quality and have cleansing qualities.