Protein Rich Foods

Chicken actually contains more protein and less saturated fat than red meat, so if you like chicken, you are in luck. Grilled, broiled or sautéed chicken is best, but if sautéing, remember to use healthy oils like coconut or olive oils to sauté in. White meat turkey breast has more protein than lean red meat, as well (but skip the gravy!).

Eggs are an excellent source of protein--if you eat the yolks. Skipping the yolks cuts down on the benefits, and throws out part of the protein! As a snack or a topping for salads, nuts can't be beat in the protein rich food department. Not only do they have protein, but they contain healthy fats that are good for your heart, skin and hair. Peanut butter is a great source of protein, but it is high in calories, so watch portion sizes. Also remember to reach for natural peanut butter, rather than kinds with added sugar.

Cottage cheese and low-fat chocolate milk are great protein sources to reach for after a tough workout. These two have a lot of protein, and can replenish muscles after exercise. Chocolate milk has a lot of water as well so after a workout it helps with dehydration.

If you want to gain muscle, make sure to eat your protein. Typically, you should eat one gram of protein for every pound of lean muscle mass you have. This keeps your muscles healthy, and keeps your body functioning at its best. Adding more protein can keep you from eating too many carbohydrates and fats, and this leads to less body fat and a leaner physique.

Even if you are not trying to add muscle bulk, but simply want to lose weight and tone up, adding protein is key. For every pound of muscle you add to your body, your metabolism speeds up. The higher your metabolism, the more calories you burn all day long, no matter what you are doing--exercising or even sitting at a desk!

Fast muscle gain can come from adding protein rich foods to your diet. Feeding the body correctly helps it to function at top form, and it helps you see the results you want, quickly. Avoiding carbs and fats, and adding healthy proteins, is the best way to go about adding muscle!

All workout programs require you to recover with protein in order to preserve and build muscle.

Healthy Foods

WHOLE FOODS

Whole foods have many benefits over processed foods. Processed foods are typically loaded with artificial additives, sugar and salt. In addition, the processing usually strips them of many of the vitamins and minerals essential for good health.

Avoid: White Pasta

Choose: Brown pasta, wholegrain pasta, wheat free pasta, gluten free pasta.

Avoid: White flour and bread

Choose: Whole meal bread and flour, oatcakes, rice cakes, pumpernickel.

Avoid: White rice

Choose: Brown rice, millet, buckwheat, bulgur wheat, couscous, oats.

Avoid: Sugar sweets, cakes, biscuits.

Choose: Fruit - either natural or dried.

All processed meals should be avoided. Instead, cook meals using fresh natural ingredients (organic where possible).

DAIRY

Eating dairy is positively implicated in weight loss. In addition, dairy has been shown to help remove fat from your digestive system. However, many dairy foods are also high in fat - the key is therefore to choose low fat dairy products. Good choices include skimmed (non-fat) milk, low fat cheese, live organic yogurt, soya cheese, and tofu. Watch out also for high sugar levels in most brand named yogurts.

MEAT AND FISH

It has been known that a high consumption of red meat has been linked to various diseases, and many cuts are also high in saturated fat. It is therefore important to limit your intake of red meat. However, fresh fish contains high levels of essential fatty acids, which have been shown to protect against many diseases, including heart disease. You should integrate white meats and fish, especially herrings, mackerel, salmon and sardines into your diet as best you can.

FRUITS AND VEGETABLES

Fresh fruit and vegetables are low in calories and high in fibre, vitamins, minerals and water, and should therefore form a large part of your diet. In addition, raw foods have been shown to improve energy, vitality and well being.

ESSENTIAL FATTY ACIDS

These are required by the body for optimum health. They are found in cold pressed oils, (safflower, walnut, olive and sunflower), nuts, seeds, avocados and fish oils. It is recommended that you avoid processed oils and margarine, especially hydrogenated oils.

See my article on "Good Fats and Bad Fats" for more information.

DRINKS

Maintaining a good level of hydration is vital. The best choice is water, mineral water, herbal teas, and diluted fruit juices. Popular drinks such as tea, coffee and soda all contain additives such as sugar and caffeine and are best used in moderation.

Top Five Organic Dog Foods for 2012

There are many types of organic dog foods on the market today. Knowing which ones are the best can be difficult undertaking. However, fret not my pet! We have selected five organic dog foods that all dog owners should know about.

Below are the top five organic dog foods that owners should give to their pets:

1. Dr. Harvey's Canine Health Dog Food
This bag of pre-mixed pet food is one of the newest organic food products that people can buy. What makes this organic so special? It is completely all natural and this is what makes it special. This  food is made from 14 different herbs as well as 9 vegetables and 6 certified organic grains. Dr. Harvey's Canine Health does not contain any chemicals whatsoever. The food also contains no dyes as well as no preservatives that can cause a doggie harm.

There are quite a few organic ingredients and other key ingredients in this dog food. Barley Flakes, Kamut Flakes, Brown Rice Flakes, Rolled Oats, Spelt Flakes and Triticale Flakes are the organic ingredients in Dr. Harvey's Canine Health Dog Food. The vegetables that are put into the dog food include Beets, Peas, Carrots, Green Beans, Zucchini, Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes and Parsley Leaf. Fennel Seed, Ginger Root, Oat Straw, Rose Hips, Peppermint Leaf and Rosemary Leaf are some of the herbal ingredients.

Adult canines that take this dog food will look healthier, their fur will look shiner and they will feel healthier and more energized. Adult's will also have healthier bowels when they eat this dog food.

2. The Honest Kitchen KEEN Dog Turkey and Organic Grains Diet
This specific product is relatively new. Dogs will love this organic product because of the ingredients that are in them. The ingredients are designed to help a dog feel healthier. The dog food has only all natural ingredients in it and it is produced in a facility where human food is made and not a pet food plant. This means that the dog food has to meet very high standards before it is sold in stores. Certifications, inspections and increased scrutiny.

Some of the ingredients that are in the Honest Kitchen KEEN Dog Turkey and Organic Grains Diet dog food are carrots, organic oats, organic kelp, apples, rosemary, cage-free turkey, organic flax, garlic and cabbage. Other ingredients include potassium iodide, zinc amino acid chelate, iron amino acid chelate and tricalcium phosphate.

One of the best new organic pet foods on the market, simply because it helps dogs feel energized. Dogs' coats will look glossier soon after starting. The food is also in dehydrated form, making it easy for dogs to eat and digest. This dog food is best suited for adult dogs.

3. Nummy Tum Tum Pure Sweet Potato Canned Dog Food
This popular organic pet food is specifically made for canines of all ages and sizes. A simple organic food that canines will love. Dogs with sensitive digestive systems will especially love this food because it is designed for dogs with sensitive digestive systems. There are not many ingredients in this organic  food. Actually there is only one ingredient in it. That ingredient is 100% organic sweet potato.

Dogs will enjoy the taste of this food because of the texture. Dog owners who have dogs that have a sensitive digestive system should get this food. After a few weeks they will notice their dogs will look healthier and they will have much more energy.

4. Castor & Pollux Organix Adult Dry Dog Food- Chicken Meal
One of the top organic products for 2012 is Castor & Pollux Organix adult dry  food. People who feed their canine Castor & Pollux Adult Dry Food will be pleased with how much their pets will enjoy eating this food. Reviews back this claim up.

Your pet will love this food because it contains chicken meat that is human grade. The chicken meat is dried, which is good because canines will be able to easily digest it. The food is a great source of protein.

The ingredients are simply bar none. Organic Quinoa is in this product. Organic Quinoa! This is a plant that is a great source of protein and contains minerals, vitamins, fiber and antioxidants.Organic Millet is also in the food. This ingredient is filled with amino acids as well as B-complex vitamins. Organic broccoli and organic pumpkin are also ingredients in this dog food. Both of these ingredients are high in fiber and provide dogs with vitamin A, C and E. These are just some of the quality ingredients that are in Castor & Pollux Organix's chicken meal. The chicken meal will benefit a dog's intestinal health and it will help a dog get a healthy coat and maintain healthy skin. There is no soy, wheat or by-products in the food.

5. ORGANIX Small Breed Adult Food for Dogs- Chicken
This organic product from ORGANIX is designed for small dogs. The food contains organic chicken which provides dogs with a good source of protein. Dogs' overall health will improve as they consume this food because the food contains a good source of vitamins and minerals.

Some of the ingredients that the food contains is organic pea, organic brown rice, organic oats, organic pears, organic pumpkin, organic quinoa and organic millet. Other ingredients include calcium iodate, potassium chloride, niacin, biotin, vitamin B12, vitamin E and vitamin D3.

ORGANIX also has organic gem is designed for dogs of all sizes. The other types of food that ORGANIX has is just as good as their food for small dogs. All of the ingredients in ORAGNIX's products are natural and good for canines. Anybody who has a furry friend they want to keep in good health should consider trying ORGANIX organic dog food.

Trying ORGANIX organic  food will make your pet feel more youthful and their fur and skin will look better than it has ever looked.

Jon Templeton recommends purchasing Organic Dog Food from only trustworthy and experienced online pet food retailers. For more information, view Jon's top recommended organic dog food retailer's insanely large selection of long-lasting dog chews, dog food, cat food, dog treats and litter available for purchase and free shipping.

What Foods Lower Uric Acid?

If you are a gout patient and suffering from frequent gout attacks, I strongly suggest you to focus your time and efforts on what foods lower uric acid instead of what foods to avoid. This is because reducing or abstaining from gout causing foods can only stop the increase of uric acid level but cannot help to get rid of the existing uric acid that has already turned into urate crystals in your painful joints.

Go For Alkaline Foods.

Since the list of what foods lower uric acid is very long and it is impossible for me to list them all out here, the most effective way is to search for "alkaline foods" in online search engine and you will presented with comprehensive lists of alkaline food suggestions. The reason I suggest you to search for "alkaline foods" instead of "what foods lower uric acid" is because if you search with the former phrase, the result is more direct and accurate, but if you search with the latter phrase, you will end up with lists of high purine foods to avoid.

Basic Science... 

Generally, alkaline foods are mostly green fresh vegetables or fruits, the reason they are classified as alkaline foods is because they are rich in alkaline minerals such as calcium, magnesium, potassium, etc. that can effectively 'pull' the hidden uric acid out from the synovial fluid in the gout affected joints back into the bloodstream for removal through the kidneys in the form of urine. As the concentration of uric acid in the joint fluid reduces, those deposited urate crystal will start to dissolve in the liquid and back to free floating state which can then be 'pulled' out from the joints. Once all the urate crystal in the joints is cleared, you will be free from gout forever. It is that simple.

Water Is Faster Than Foods

The water I recommend here is not normal your normal drinking water or any of the bottled mineral water, the best water for treating gout is ionized alkaline water. As its name implies, this type of water water is rich in alkaline mineral that is in the active ionized form and ready for instant absorption into the bloodstream to do the work of cleaning out the excess uric acid in your body. Unlike alkaline foods, ionized alkaline water bypasses the process of breaking down bigger molecules, that is why it is the most effective way of lowering uric acid in the body. The result is definitely better than taking the chemically produced medicines such as allopurinol and colchicine.

Be Prepared for Healing Crisis.

If you want fast recovery and you decided to try the combo, which is taking alkaline foods (almost like a vegetarian) and ionized alkaline water together, then you have to be ready for the onset of some weird symptoms such as scattered pulsating pain at the joints, minor fever, rashes on skin, or possibly a mega gout attacks in which all the gout affected joints will swollen together. All these are just signs that your body is going through mega neutralization in your body. Usually, the healing crisis will gradually subsides in a matter of days or may be weeks, depending on how much urate crystal deposit you have. If you are afraid of the healing crisis, don't go for the combo deal, just start with drinking ionized water of mild alkalinity and then gradually increase the alkalinity overtime.