Are the rich more healthy?

Here is a special Health and Fitness Bulletin concerning fitness past the age of 40.

Enjoy...

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Special Bonus Report Available
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A reminder -- "Slow Poisoning", the eye-opening report by health journalist John Erb, is now available in the "Fit Over 40" members area.

Anyone who owns a copy of "Fit Over 40" now receives FIVE free bonus e-books/reports:

--- >  "The Menopause Solution" by Jill Langham;
--- >  "Why Grow Old" by Orison Swett Marden;
--- >  "Natural Ways To Increase Your Testosterone" by Men's Health Journalist Christian Finn
--- >  "The Bill Pearl Interview" by Rob Cooper

AND "The Slow Poisoning of Mankind" by John Erb. This incredible report is literally the report given to The World Health Organization on the toxic effects of one of the most common food additives in America.

If you own "Fit Over 40", just visit the homepage and login to the member's downloads.

If you do not own "Fit Over 40", get it here --

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You can also pick up Frank Mangano's e-book, "The Silent Killer Exposed", for a limited time.

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Poverty And Obesity:  A New Study Finds
A Remarkable Connection
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While the rich and the affluent still face many of the problems that come with the "king's lifestyle", a new pattern is emerging in the United States and, predictions state, Europe.

A new study shows that the trend of ill-health and obesity is shifting rapidly to the poor and less educated portions of the country.

The reason this is important to us all, other than a concern for our nation's health as a whole, is the economic strain this will place on our already burdened health care system.

By the year 2012, if this trend increases, the middle and upper classes will be looking at massive increases in taxes to fund proposed government plans to address the problem.

This is a problem that flat-out does NOT need to exist. Everyone who can afford food at 'all' can easily eat healthy and exercise.

Part of the confusion is due to the fact that the billion dollar fitness industry has created a myth -- that expensive food supplements and organic foods are mandatory for good health.

While I believe in both, neither are mandatory.

It's the TYPE of food, and the COMBINATION of the foods that make all the difference -- that, and moderate calories, exercise, and proper mental disposition.

This is covered in detail in the best-selling e-book, "Fit Over 40", by Jon Benson and Tom Venuto, CSCS.

Get it here --
http://bit.ly/184UcB

In regards to the study, Dr. Janet Collins of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had this to say --

"Populations are no longer equal in terms of experiencing health problems. Low-income populations tend to experience all the health problems we worry about at greater rates."

The five states with the highest obesity rates in the 2005 consensus include Mississippi, Alabama, West Virginia, Louisiana and Kentucky.

These same five states have higher rates of poverty than the national norm.

Meanwhile, the five states with the lowest obesity have less poverty. They are Colorado, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Vermont.

Each of these states also have more college graduates and stronger education programs.

Education in health and fitness does not need to be expensive, and it certainly does not take a rocket scientist to figure it out.

However, many fitness professionals and nutrition 'gurus' lend that impression.

If you visit a gym today, especially in a larger city, you'll see a myriad of devices that, frankly, would give you a better workout if you tried to pick them up and move them out to the garbage dump.

It can be daunting and confusing for anyone! But, this doesn't have to be the case. In fact, as so many people report in "Fit Over 40", workouts can be done in your own home that will more than satisfy the needs of most people.

The same goes for nutrition. While a few people require "high-tech", expensive foods (for medical reasons usually), the vast majority of us can easily get the job done at the local grocery store.

The best way to inspire change is to create change in yourself. Start there, set the example, and the word will spread.

Anyone can be fit and healthy, and they can do it at ANY age, and at ANY income level above absolute poverty.

Yours in health,

Arthur M.

10 Other Reasons to Gather Around the Dinner Table

I received a lot of compliments on my post about "24 Reasons to Gather Around the Dinner Table" - well, compliments and a challenge: come up with even more reasons families should sit down to dinner together.

But first, if you find the idea of family meals daunting, take a look at Dine Without Whine. It's a monthly subscription, which gives you weekly meal plans, recipes and grocery shopping list. Dine Without Whine definitely simplifies meal planning and preparation.

Ok, now back to my challenge. It's been hard, but here you go, 10 OTHER reasons to gather around the dinner table:

1. You'll have a ready audience for your jokes.

2. You can get instant feedback on new recipes you've been wanting to try.

3. You'll have a venue to plan family activities, such as your next vacation, or a child's birthday.

4. Your family members can help you stick to your diet.

5. Family mealtimes can teach responsibility. It's a natural time to give children chores, such as setting the table, clearing up, and washing dishes.

6. Enjoy your good china and silverware, instead of saving them for special occasions. Because any time you're together IS a special occasion.

7. Family dinners give structure and routine to your day, which is especially important for small children.

8. By having meals together, you can reduce the time your kids spend watching TV, playing video games or surfing on the Internet.

9. Family meals are good times to give each other props - talk about everyone's latest accomplishments, such as good grades, a new drawing, a new skill learned.

10. Family dinners remind you daily of your blessings: food on the table, a roof over your heads, and loved ones all around you.

Having family dinner every night may be hard for most families nowadays. But if you can manage it on most nights, then you'll enjoy the benefits.

Cut down and simplify on other areas of your life, so you can cook a meal and sit down to dinner together. Dine Without Whine provides a weekly menu of kid-tested recipes, as well as a grocery list to simplify your shopping as well. Go here now and try Dine Without Whine for only a penny.

Did you forget about these?

I hope you didn't forget about the sample 7-day Veggie Meal Plans that nutrition expert Kardena Pauza prepared for you!

In case you missed my last email, today is your last chance to get your 7-day Vegetarian Meal Plans for Men AND Women.

They are gone at midnight tonight.

I guarantee you'll feel so much better on her vegetarian diet than on any diet you could design for yourself.

After all, do you really think you can eat better than this?

=> http://bit.ly/eoT5k

So if you are struggling to change your body or have more energy or even to stop being hungry all the time, then isn't it time you got meal planning advice from a professional?

Don't try and design a diet yourself...get professional help now!

Helping you get the best nutrition advice,

Arthur M.
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PS - When you get your copy of the Meal Plans...

...you'll also be added to the VIP List where you'll get access to an extra 25% off the full Easy Veggie Meal Plans System when it is released on Monday, July 27th.

Kardena is practically giving away her full Meal Plans System for 72 hours, and as a VIP you'll get the lowest introductory price possible.

So don't wait any longer, get your 7-day sample veggie meal plans here and become a VIP on the Vegetarian Lifestyle:

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"It is the position of the American Dietetic Association and Dietitians that appropriately planned VEGETARIAN DIETS are healthful, nutritionally adequate and provide health benefits in the prevention and treatment of certain diseases."
American Dietetic Association

Veggie meal plans for you

If you want to STOP eating meat and start transforming your body with an EASY and SIMPLE to follow vegetarian meal plan, then I have great news for you!

Vegetarian Nutrition Expert Kardena Pauza put together these vegetarian meal plans to help you out.

Go here and grab these meal plans at no cost to you:

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It's our gift to you because we want to share the Vegetarian Lifestyle with everyone who is struggling with their diet and who wants more energy.

After all, we get emails EVERY DAY from folks who have questions about Vegetarian Diets, but no one was offering them a solution.

Kardena shows you how easy, simple, and convenient it is to live the Vegetarian Lifestyle.

You'll have the best vegetarian diet coach in the world, Kardena Pauza, telling you EXACTLY what to eat!

I guarantee you will have more energy and you'll even start dramatically transforming your body in just 7 days.

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Sincerely,

Arthur M
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PS - Please hurry, because these Vegetarian Meal Plans will only be available until Friday, July 17th. 

Just go here and grab those meal plans today:

=> http://bit.ly/eoT5k

PPS - And don't miss her powerful and controversial report...called, "The Top 10 Foods You Must NOT Eat on a Vegetarian Diet"

This is one of the most important nutrition programs ever designed - not only will you change your body but following the Easy Veggie Meal Plans will give you more energy and could help extend your life.

24 Reasons to Gather Around the Dinner Table

How often does your family have dinner together? If you're like most families nowadays, the answer is probably, "Not very often."

It's understandable. Modern families are busy. Both parents work and sometimes get home at different times. Children have activities to go to, and Mom's got to drive them all over the place. Really, who's got the time and energy to even cook dinner every single night?

You, that's who! Eating together is good for you and your family. So you better make time and find the energy to make home-cooked meals and sit down and eat together more often.

Researchers have found many benefits to home-cooked meals. Watch this video to learn about some of them. In my own experience, though, there are many more. Here are 24 reasons I have found to share family meals more often:

1. Families who eat together eat healthier, because home-cooked food is healthier than fast food.

2. Family meals allow busy families to catch up with each other.

3. Young children learn a lot of verbal skills just by eating with their family members.

4. It gives everyone a chance to unwind after a busy day.

5. Having family meals more often forces you to end your working day and other obligations in time for dinner.

6. Home cooked meals are not only healthier, they're also cheaper than takeout food or eating out.

7. Eating together forces everybody to tell stories.

8. Cooking at home motivates you to be creative with your meal planning and cooking.

9. Children can get involved in cooking meals.

10. Cooking and eating together creates happy childhood memories.

11. Eating together is an opportunity to explore different cuisines.

12. Eating with your family is more fun than eating in front of the television (or the computer).

13. Eating together gives parents a chance to talk about current events from their point of view, injecting their personal values without giving a lecture.

14.  Eating together helps family members bond and get to know each other better.

15. You'll be surprised what your kids reveal when you're in a relaxed environment, such as a family meal.

16. Kids are less likely to roll their eyes when you reminisce and tell stories from your childhood while eating a meal together.

17. Family meals can be good teaching moments, even for small children. My toddler learned how to count by counting after-meal treats on his high chair.

18. Eating together is a good opportunity to teach and model good manners.

19. Family meals give a good transition from work or school to home life.

20. Family meals are also good times to share music together.

21. Family meals teach everyone valuable life skills, such as sharing and taking turns.

22. Stopping and sitting down to a meal gives everyone a chance to quiet down and regroup.

23. Family meals provide an additional occasion for family members to pray together.

24. Eating home is more eco-friendly than eating out or ordering food - less waste! 

If you think having family meals is too much work, don't despair. You can get help for everything from meal planning to putting your weekly grocery shopping list together.Check out Dine Without Whine for kid-tested, quick recipes that will help you put together family meals with less effort. Dine Without Whine's weekly shopping lists will also help you get food shopping done much faster, and even save money on groceries.

As you can see from the list above, the extra time and effort you spend to have family meals more often are worthwhile.

Still spending too much time?

Are you still slaving away writing meal plans and endless grocery shopping?

Or are you just flying by the seat of your pants, spending too much money on unhealthy drive through meals?

Either way - it doesn't have to be that way. Here's a quick solution for you that you can use right away:

http://tinyurl.com/mllb8j

But if you're not sure or if you think you're doing just fine with meal planning on your own, then try this out anyway. It's a no-cost, no-obligation sample of a menu plan and grocery shopping list good for one week.

Use these, and you just might be surprised that you've got an extra hour or two in your week - plus some leftover from your grocery money.

Here's the link to this cool free stuff again.

http://tinyurl.com/mllb8j

Best regards,

Arthur M.

Zucchini

This veggie may resemble a cucumber, but it is actually a member of the squash family. They are green like a cucumber, but they come in the yellow variety as well. Zucchini are great stir fried with onions or steamed with a complement of other vegetables. Here are some tips for picking, cooking and eating this tasty veggie.

Choosing the Perfect Zucchini
Pick your zucchini wisely. They are all green, but a good zucchini is heavy. Now it may not always be long like a cucumber but it should be heavy like one. Depending on the farmer, some are smaller than others. Hold them in your hand and compare with others before choosing the ones you will buy.

Perfect for Summer Time
Zucchini is a popular vegetable in the summer. The taste is light and it is fat free and low in sodium and cholesterol free. All you need to cook them is a bit of olive oil in a wok or large skillet and some salt and pepper to taste. I like to julienne or matchstick my zucchini, but others may want to slice it into nice round pieces. It is great as a starting veggie for kids because it doesn’t have an overpowering taste.

Storage
Zucchini does well in the refrigerator at a modest temperature. Don’t wait too long to use it or it will become mushy to the touch. It may look good through the clear veggie tray but when the back side is covered in white fuzz it’s time to get rid of it. Zucchini is not a vegetable that stands up to freezing very well. If you must freeze it, blanch it first.

Preparation Suggestions
Pickled Zucchini:  You can pickle zucchini along with other veggies like peppers, onions, and tomatoes. The mix of flavors will enhance any meal you prepare during the fall and winter months. Zucchini can be added to soup stock and frozen for a later time.

Zucchini Bread:  Zucchini is even good as a specialty bread ingredient. I never thought a vegetable would be good in bread, but zucchini bread is really good. You can’t even taste the zucchini. The taste is sweet and similar to banana bread without the walnuts. Bake a few loaves and freeze them.

Additional Cooking Tips
Zucchini has a very high amount of water in it naturally. Therefore, it doesn’t take long to cook. Letting it sit too long over heat will shrivel it up and doesn’t make it very tasty.

Most people who have a taste for this vegetable may not have any zucchini left over after picking their entire crop from the garden because it is such a healthy veggie and good with so many varieties of dishes.

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Ready to learn more about making dinner easier and getting meals for your family on the table faster? The secret solution is meal planning and you can learn more about it with the free meal planning basics guide.

Find Out How To Cut Your Grocery Budget In Half

Potato

Potatoes were introduced to us by our Mayan brothers about 300 years ago. They were grown for food among other uses. Potatoes are full of starch and carbohydrates to fuel a hard day in the field as it was with the early days of this country.

The Various Types of Potatoes

There is more than one type of potato. We have white potatoes, Russet potatoes, red-skinned potatoes, yellow potatoes, and even blue potatoes. Potatoes are mainly prepared in one of four ways: baked, fried, boiled, or mashed.

Boiled potatoes can be mashed or placed into stews and soups. Fried potatoes are eaten for breakfast in some places and lunch all over. The popular French fries are the way most people prefer their potato even though it is not the healthiest of foods.

Picking the Right Potato

Potatoes grow in the dirt. When choosing a good one, look for any types of spots, blemishes, or nicks. Spots or blemishes indicate that there may be a problem with the potato. Nicks can introduce bacteria and bugs into the flesh of the vegetable.

Potatoes are harvested year round. Be sure to wash them good before eating as dirt can stick to them. A vegetable peeler removes the skin with the least amount of vegetable attached. I’ve sliced a potato with a knife before and cut away half the potato. It wasn’t a pretty sight. You can eat them raw but it’ll taste really gritty.

Potatoes & Carbs

Potatoes are often shunned these days by all the people using diet programs. According to the glycemic index, a way to determine good and bad carbohydrates; potatoes rank high on the list. That means they are not good for the blood sugar. Eating too much starch can fatten you up sooner than you think.

Storing Your Potatoes

Potatoes can be placed in a vegetable bin in your home. But, don’t forget about them. If you do, they will begin to sprout long thin extensions called “eyes.” Potatoes sitting long enough to sprout are going bad. Next they will shrivel up unto they are completely unusable.

Potatoes add weight to your cooking dishes. For instance, a breakfast casserole with potatoes, eggs, and cheese is more filling than a meal with eggs alone. Potatoes that have been cooked or used as an ingredient for another recipe are easier to freeze without any problems.

You may prepare your potato any way you want, but it is still good. They are great additions to any meat dish, soup, or breakfast casserole. A potato provides protein, vitamin C, calcium, and iron.

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Ready to learn more about making dinner easier and getting meals for your family on the table faster? The secret solution is meal planning and you can learn more about it with the free meal planning basics guide.

Find Out How To Cut Your Grocery Budget In Half

Tomato: Fruit or Veggie - It Doesn’t Matter!

The tomato is a popular vegetable. Even though technically it is a fruit because of the seeds, it has been officially classified as a vegetable to avoid confusion with import duties on those coming from other countries. So, whether you’re on the fruit or vegetable side of the fence, one thing remains the same; for those who love tomatoes, it doesn’t matter how you classify it. Instead, the only thing of importance is how you eat tomatoes.

Tomatoes have been around for centuries but only eaten in this country for less than two. People were once afraid of them, thinking they were poisonous. When they overcame that, tomatoes were not just grown to add color to the garden but for consumption.

Where to Find Tomatoes
These red veggies are found at farmer’s markets, grocery stores, farms, and at roadside stands. You can find a tomato almost anywhere if you look. Climates on both coasts of the United States are favorable for growing tomatoes all year round.

In the South, tomatoes are used as a sandwich topper or as the sandwich. I’ve never been much for soggy bread or the things that make them soggy, so I won’t be eating a tomato sandwich any time soon, but I know plenty of people that do especially in the summer when tomatoes are at their peak. They don’t seem to mind that the bread turns to mush as they bite and chew.

Keeping Your Tomatoes Fresh
Tomato consumption has risen mostly due to the sources of use for them. When you purchase fresh vegetables, preparing them as soon as possible keeps them from spoiling and you from wasting money. Tomatoes ripen best on the counter. Putting them in the fridge is a no-no because they won’t ripen and the taste is not as good.

Preserving Tomatoes
If you have more tomatoes than you can eat, there are several ways to preserve them for later use. Speaking of preserves, canning tomatoes is one option. There was a time when all people did in the summer on the farm was can fruits and vegetables for the winter months. You don’t see that much if at all anymore but with the rising price of crude oil, it may be back in fashion real soon.

While you’re at it can some tomato sauce for Italian dishes like spaghetti and lasagna. Tomatoes are great for salads especially the grape, cherry, and Roma tomatoes. The primary dish for tomatoes is salsa. Salsa is great for chips, dip, and as a sauce for chicken and fish.

However you enjoy tomatoes, they are a documented source of antioxidants. They fight the aging process which is great news for us thirty and forty-something folks.

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Ready to learn more about making dinner easier and getting meals for your family on the table faster? The secret solution is meal planning and you can learn more about it with the free meal planning basics guide.

Find Out How To Cut Your Grocery Budget In Half

Onion

They can make you cry if you let them, but they really are not bad. In some settings they can be stinky beyond belief, but are a fine complement to steaks. Onions come in many varieties, some sweet, some tangy, but all are good for the body and good as an ingredient in main dishes.

Just where did onions come from? It is believed to have originated somewhere in the Middle East. Onions come in three colors: white, yellow, and red. Each onion has a papery outer skin that protects the inner softer layers. An onion has several layers that get smaller as you get closer to the middle. It is a veggie that reminds me of a flower. The narcissus is a relative of the onion.

Bulb onions (most varieties) are okay eaten raw. They are thick sliced to be put on burgers and other sandwiches. Onions are also found on tops of salads. Green onions are an ingredient in vegetable dips and on salads. White onions are common in Mexican cuisine. Onions are chopped up for Pico de Gallo and salsa.

Onions can be purchased at all times of the year. If you can’t find them at your local farmer’s market, they can be found in grocery stores who buy onions from other countries. The most useful onion is the red onion. It can be diced up for use in salads like macaroni or pasta salad. This onion can also be grilled and friend.

Onions are cut into chunks and skewered for shish kebabs. They are sautéed with steaks and used in sauces. Yellow onions are caramelized to be used in French onion soup. Some people even dare to eat onions raw like an apple. Sweet Vidalia onions are supposed to be just that good that they can do that.

Onions can be flowered and deep fried to produce the blooming onion so popular in restaurants today. Before the blooming variety became so popular, people ate tons of onion rings.

Besides the tangy taste that onions add to all the dishes they flavor, they are quite good for a person’s health. They are fat and cholesterol free and contain lots of other nutrients that protect against various forms of cancer, high blood pressure, stomach ulcers, and heart disease.

For extra onions you have on hand, store them before they become soft and mushy. Cut them up and blanch them. The onion chunks are frozen on a flat cookie sheet and then placed in a freezer bag or container.

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Ready to learn more about making dinner easier and getting meals for your family on the table faster? The secret solution is meal planning and you can learn more about it with the free meal planning basics guide.

Find Out How To Cut Your Grocery Budget In Half

Green Beans

They can be called pole beans. Green beans grow on a vine and are actually pods with little beans inside them. Green beans are a delicious side dish for any meal. They can be found Italian style, French style, and simply cut.

Where to Find Them
Green beans are sold at farmer’s markets and grocery stores. You just dig right in and grab a handful for your bag. Fresh green beans have a sweeter taste than canned. It could be because of the salt that preserves the beans in the can. All I know, is they taste so much better straight from the garden.

Choosing the Best Green Beans
Look at your beans. Don’t choose ones with spots or that are torn at the ends. The beans should be green and not brown. Sometimes the beans have purple and yellow varieties. Before cooking them, most people snap the ends off and snap them in half if they are too long. Rinsing the beans removes any dirt from them before cooking.

Cooking
It doesn’t take long to cook green beans. They can be steamed in a small amount of water or sautéed in some olive oil. Either way, the beans are bright green, crisp, and sweet. Snap beans can be used in stir fry mixtures as well if you desire. Beans were grown by Native Americans in fields along with the corn. Green beans have been grown in this country ever since.

Fresh green beans have a bright green color when cooked. Their shape should be maintained during cooking. If you cook them too long, they will wilt and not taste very good.

Beans are usually served with some starch and meat for a complete meal. At Christmas time they take center stage in green bean casseroles. It is a popular dish at the holidays.

Green Bean Storage
Fresh vegetables don’t last longer than a couple of weeks at their best. It is a good idea not to buy more than you can use at any one time, but we often do. If you want to store your green beans to be used later blanch them for a few minutes. After the beans have cooled off, store them in freezer bags to be eaten when you feel like it.

Nutritional Information
Green beans are a fat free food that contains vitamins A and C, calcium, iron, and protein. They don’t have a lot of carbohydrates which don’t adversely affect the blood sugar. You can eat all you want and still be healthy.

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Ready to learn more about making dinner easier and getting meals for your family on the table faster? The secret solution is meal planning and you can learn more about it with the free meal planning basics guide.

Find Out How To Cut Your Grocery Budget In Half

Shish Kebobs

Do you have kids? They love to eat grilled food, too. A fun and healthy alternative to hamburgers and hot dogs for them is to make shish kebobs. Shish Kebobs are easy to make and healthy for those young and old alike.

Shish kebobs remind me of those scenes in old movies when they are roasting meat over a spit. Unlike that scary unmentionable meat being turned over and over by the cowboys, we will put our favorite meats and veggies on a stick and add some flavor.

Kebobs cook just like that mystery meat in the old days. Whether you are using metal skewers or wooden ones, kebobs can be eaten without utensils making them popular with everyone from the kids who eat them to the moms who have to clean up. Metal skewers may be too hot to touch so if you have little ones, opt for the wooden ones. They are much cheaper and can be thrown out afterwards.

When working with wooden skewers, be careful to soak them in water for at least thirty minutes before putting them on the grill. A skewer that isn’t saturated will burn up on the grill and can cause flare ups.

Now that the safety issues are out of the way, let’s get started with the fun of creating these yummy shish kebobs. There are an infinite number of combinations you can make with your favorite foods. Choose your favorites from lamb, beef, chicken, shrimp, fish, and pork. For your vegetable choices, be sure to use veggies that can stand up to the heat of the grill without getting mushy and falling apart. Some of the more common choices include tomatoes, bell peppers, and onions.

Cut the meat and vegetables into one inch cubes. It is easier to cook them if all the food on the skewer is of similar size. Round veggies like tomatoes don’t have to be cut into square shapes. Just make sure that the size of the tomato is equal to the size of the other food. For more even cooking choose items with similar cooking times for the same skewer. For instance, it won’t take a shrimp or a scallop long to cook on a hot grill, but a chicken or beef square will take longer. A square of zucchini will take longer to cook than a cherry tomato. The zucchini will also hold up to the heat better. If you want a tomato on your skewer consider adding one to each end after the kebob has finished cooking or just a few minutes prior to the meat being cooked through. 

To reduce cooking time for chicken, boil boneless skinless chicken breasts for about twenty minutes before cubing. By parboiling you are helping to avoid cross contamination. It’s also a good idea to include only one type of meat on a skewer. When it comes time to put your shish kebobs together combine the chicken with a variety of complimentary vegetables.

When using raw meat, prepare kebobs the night before and chill them with or without marinade. If you marinade, be sure to drain any excess away before grilling. Let the skewers come to room temperature before placing on the grill to aid in faster, more even cooking.

I love shish kebobs. They can be used as appetizers or the main meal over a bed of rice for kids. Whether snack or main attraction, they are delicious. By mixing up the meats and veggies you can enjoy skewers anytime without getting bored with the same foods.

Healthy Homemade Soups on the Go

In this day and age it can be hard to eat healthy. With your busy schedule, especially if you have children, many people find it easier to grab whatever is available and the quickest and deal with the health consequences later. With the following tips for soups on the go you’ll learn how to make sure that the food you grab is of the healthy variety.

The problem with dealing with the consequences of unhealthy eating habits is that later is actually closer than you might think. Later is right now. Sadly, we are a nation of obese adults and just as many, if not more, obese children. Our unhealthy eating choices have caught up with us. You might be asking yourself, “How can I eat healthy when I’m crunched for time already?”

One way is to make foods that can be taken with you on the go.  One of those foods is soup. Soup is tasty, filling, and good for you anytime, but especially on a cold fall or winter day. There are hot soups and believe it or not even cold soups. Many of the warm soups are even good eaten cold or lukewarm.

First, choose your favorite soup. A popular choice of many is the infamous chicken noodle soup. There’s nothing better when you are under the weather than the warm chicken broth soothing your throat. Campbell’s has a wonderful soup in a microwave container perfect for eating on the go, but we are going to make our own soup for an even healthier choice.

The one thing that is best about homemade food is that you know what is and is not in it. Since we are concerned with health, preparing your own soup creations at home is the best way to go. No matter which type of soup you choose to make, be sure to use fresh ingredients. The other items you’ll need are plenty of cups with lids and a blender.

Now it’s time to actually create your time saving soup. A good soup always starts with the stock. For chicken soup, make the broth by boiling the remains of the chicken you had for dinner. Add the herbs and seasonings of your choice and boil until the chicken bones come out clean. Any remaining meat will be included in the broth. Once the broth cools completely, ladle it into air-tight jars or containers for storing.

If you’re more of a beef and vegetable soup lover, you can use commercial canned broths or bouillon cubes for the base of your soup. Season the stock really well and boil before adding any other ingredients. Once the stock is ready, all that is left to do is toss in your favorite veggies.  Again, wait until the soup is completely cooled before pouring into storage or serving containers.

Now, what about that blender?  It’s a bit difficult to eat soup the traditional way while driving and if you are serving to your kids, the combination of a car and soup in a bowl is a disaster waiting to happen.  Here’s where the blender comes into the picture.

Pour some of the soup into the blender and blend until the pieces are small enough for you to swallow without choking. You can even puree the soup completely if you’d prefer. For a thicker texture, add a bit of cream soup. Now, your soup is ready for distributing in your to-go cups.

The ideal cup would be a coffee mug with a lid. These types of cups have a wide opening perfect for drinking soups from. Be sure to prepare enough soup for the entire week. You can take the soup with you while you’re out shopping, working in the garden or to work.  A cup of soup is packed with healthy nutrients and it won’t mess up the car or cramp your busy lifestyle.  The next time you don’t have time to eat, reach for a cup of healthy homemade soup instead of pulling into that fast food drive thru.

Never make a bad tasting smoothie again...

If you're like me, you've probably made a bad smoothie before...

As a health-nut, it's inevitable.

I've made my fair share, but over time, have been able to figure out what works and what doesn't.

For you, I'd like to help make that learning curve a little shorter... to save you time and your hard earned money.

So to do this, I've just been told about a new book called "Smoothies for Optimum Health".

The concept is cool.

It's a raw food smoothie recipe book with an interesting twist.

Kevin Gianni of RenegadeHealth.com didn't just write a bunch of recipes, he asked over 20 leading health experts what their favorite smoothies were, tested them  and now has compiled them into a book of over 165 great tasting recipes.

Now you can find out what Victoria Boutenko, Doug Graham, Ani Phyo, Mike Adams, David Wolfe, Angela Stokes and more, blend up in their Vitamix when they're in need for a meal or a quick snack!

The book is available now and you can read more about what's included on this page...

http://bit.ly/T5zpE

It's a also a great gift for a friend or family member who may want to be healthier but just don't know where to start...

http://bit.ly/T5zpE

To Your Health,
Arthur M.

PS. The book also includes a whole bunch of educational information as well, such as which blender is best to use, how to combine certain foods and more.

All the recipes are also 100% gluten-free, 100% dairy-free, and 99.9% raw and living foods.

http://bit.ly/T5zpE

Carrots: More than Just Good for Your Eyes

They are supposed to be good for your eyes. Carrots are considered to be “rabbit food” probably because of one famous bunny but the label has stuck. Many humans like carrots too and they are good for more than just the eyes.

Did you know that carrots were not always orange? Yeah, it’s like finding out that the sky was originally another color. Anyway, they used to be white, purple, and yellow. About 500 years ago, the orange carrot came along.

Carrots were used by early settlers as a remedy for stomach ailments. Carrots can be bought all year around. If you get them from the farmer’s market, they will probably be bunched together by the green tops like they were just pulled out of the ground.

Some carrots are already cleaned and chopped and put into plastic bags for purchase in the store. These are okay if you plan on eating them fairly soon. The packages usually have an expiration date on them. Carrots are like other veggies and fruits that shouldn’t be cleaned until ready to eat them.

Carrots are mostly eaten raw. Grab a carrot, wash it off, clip the top and tip and munch to your heart’s content. Eaten raw, the carrot maintains all the nutrients that it contains: beta carotene, which is a form of vitamin A, iron, and calcium.

Carrots can also be cooked. They hold up well on the stove and for baking. They are present in soups and stews in slices or diced cubes. Carrots are one of those vegetables that take longer to soften so they, along with potatoes are added to soups early to give them time to tenderize.

As a side dish carrots are another orange fixture, rivaling the yam and the sweet potato. They can be eaten as is with a sprig of oregano or other herb or candied with honey or brown sugar.

Desserts, or rather one particular dessert contains carrots as its base. And that would be carrot cake—Bugs Bunny’s favorite. Carrot is actually a part of the recipe and the cake is a favorite dessert of many. Well, if you don’t like carrots raw or in soups, you can have it in your dessert. Breakfast and dessert muffins also feature carrots as ingredients.

Carrots are best stored in the refrigerator. They keep for quite a while before succumbing to wilting and browning. Avoid carrots that are flexible and bendy but don’t snap when broken.

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Find Out How To Cut Your Grocery Budget In Half

Firestorm of Your Health Questions Answered

In case you missed it, David Wolfe just did a 90 minute Longevity Secrets Q&A telecall answering several of the nearly 2000 questions posted on his blog the past 24 hours.

He revealed answers to many of the top concerns facing us today, weight loss, dental health, hair growth, beautiful skin, living longer and much more.

http://tinyurl.com/kkdfhp

I was just informed that his conference line could only hold a couple thousand live streaming listeners so I wanted to get the replay of this incredible call out immediately.

I was lucky enough to listen in and believe me when I tell you, you do NOT want to miss this information. Straight content and real advice, through and through:

http://tinyurl.com/kkdfhp

Why Eat a Raw Food Diet?

If you're reading this article, you may be wondering about the benefits of a raw food diet, right? Well, the benefits of eating more raw foods are numerous and once you understand them you'll probably wonder why you haven't eaten more raw in the past. You'll also think twice about eating dead cooked foods ever again.

Raw Foods Give You More Energy

I don't think I know of a single person who eats at least 80% raw foods who doesn't enjoy far more energy than the average person. I know that when I transitioned away from eating a diet made up of breads, dairy, and cooked foods, and adopted more of a raw foods diet, my energy went through the roof. And I'm not talking about the quick surge you would get from an espresso but rather long-lasting energy that enables you to do more with less.

For instance, eating raw will allow you to sleep less and have far more energy than you ever thought possible. When I'm eating at least 80% raw, I can easily function on just 4-5 hours of sleep. I literally bounce out of bed and don't require any naps throughout the day. Oh yeah, did I mention that I workout every single day as well? Sometimes, even twice!

Energizing Enzymes

There are several reasons why a raw food diet will give you more energy. First, raw foods are rich in food enzymes. Enzymes are required for every single reaction in the body. Unfortunately, our bodies only have a finite number of these enzymes, so when we run out, we run out of life! To add to this, when you heat foods above 118 degrees fahrenheit, you destroy the food enzymes that are naturally present in all raw foods. Therefore, if you eat a predominantly cooked foods diet, you're not getting enough food enzymes, which means that your body will have to produce and use more of its own to digest and metabolize your foods.

The more energy your body needs to divert towards digestion, the less energy you will have for other activities. You will feel more lethargic and tired as your body is trying to breakdown "dead" foods and figure out what to do with them.

So, the food enzymes inherent in raw foods are a big reason for boosting your body's energy. They are the spark plugs and are intricately related to the next property that make raw foods so energy-boosting.

Life Force

When raw foods are left intact, they are also known as living foods. They are called "living" because they carry an incredible amount of life force.

Now, since every living being has an aura or energy field illuminating from their body, which foods do you think would enhance yours? High energy raw foods or cooked foods that dead? I think we both know the answer.

As I like to say, "eat alive and you will thrive".

Weight Loss and Beautiful Skin

The other highly sought-after quality of a raw foods diet is its ability to help you lose weight and beautify your skin. Almost all raw foodists have reported losing weight they could never lose. At the same time, they notice an instant improvement in their skin. They look younger and have a natural glow that comes about because of the "living" nature of raw foods, their abundance of enzymes, and of course the plethora of nutrients that are ingested when eating more fruits and vegetables.

You will find it easier to lose weight on a raw food diet because your getting more nutrients and, therefore, your body won't crave "dead" foods. Second, the enzymes help to breakdown the foods you are eating and excess energy and fat stores in your body. Third, raw foods are water-rich, which helps you feel more satiated, as well as hydrated.

Many of these reasons also help us explain why living foods make you look younger and beautify your skin. Enzymes, life force, water, and high quality nutrients all play a role in natural skin care.

We could talk about the benefits of a raw food diet for hours but the only to truly understand them is to experience them for yourself. So why not take action today and enjoy the health, the body, and the vitality that you deserve!

About the Author

Yuri Elkaim is one of the world’s leading holistic nutrition and health experts. If you want to lose weight and live your healthiest and most energetic life ever, then you can learn more about his raw food diet book, Eating for Energy and get started with a FREE 6-part Energy Secrets e-course by visiting http://tinyurl.com/o97fp6