nutrition – Food Hygiene Essentials

Homemade Baby Food – It’s Easier Than You Think

[tweetthis twitter_handles=”http://holdcroft.biz/food-hygiene-essentials-free-ebook/” hidden_hashtags=”#foodhygiene #foodpreparation #cooking #crazyfood #vegan #rawfood #food #cakes #deserts #cream” display_mode=”box”]Study reveals that vegetarians can expect to live 4 years longer on average. Why? Is meat so bad? What are we doing wrong?[/tweetthis]

Latest studies reveal that vegetarians can look forward to an extra four years of life. Studies in an Arizona university which included 1.5 million participants revealed that for meat eaters there is an increased risk of over 25% to develop death causing conditions at an earlier age to that of their vegetation counterparts.

The department of family medicine says that the finding confirm earlier notions that the diet has the ability to harm or to heal. The eating of red meat, including pork and all forms of processed meats are the main source of concern.

These are the main points of the report, so lets look into them a little deeper. Firstly, the gut is only capable of processing 50 grams of protein per meal. The body invests a lot of energy breaking protein down because the chains of amino acids in meat need specialized enzymes to break them into smaller chains. We need to realize, also, that proteins exist in plants based foods as well as in meat.

Plant proteins are easier to digest because chemicals that create specialized bonds such as sulphur. Excess meat protein is, therefore pushed through the gut relatively unprocessed and exists the body, more or less as it was put into the body as raw protein.

There is however a complication in that meat tends to stick to the Gut wall and to form pockets. This is due to the fact that meat is more difficult to push along the gut in the smooth peristaltic motion. When the gut has a problem with something it gets stuck on, the muscles find their way around the obstacle so as not to disrupt the timing of the peristaltic motion. Thus, pockets are formed!

These pockets ferment upon the wall of the gut and cause inflammation of the villi. The villi, then become inflamed and porous to the passage of bacteria. This triggers an immune response, one of which is the release of cortisol hormone that reduces inflammation. Cortisol, is a steroid and as with all steroids it tends to interrupt the production of antibodies. This means that in practical terms, the gut becomes chronically ill, to one degree or another.

Vegetables, on the other hand contain two factors that help to prevent and to cure this from happening. The first is fiber. Fiber absorbs water and acts as a sponge that cleans the gut out. However, fiber has to be chewed and ground, almost into a powder by the teeth stomach. Large balls of fiber in the gut can act in a similar way to meat blockages. This means that chewing properly is a vital factor of digestion.

The second factor active in plants is a vast array of micro nutrients called phytonutrients. For our bodies to function properly we need phytonutrients from multiple sources of fruits, vegetables, herbs, nuts and even spices. Phytonutrients help in the correct transportation of nutrients to the cells and in the transportation of wast materials from the cells. By eating many varieties of plant foods we ensure that there is enough range of essential organic chemicals to perform all the necessary tasks in a symbiotic and integral way And this is why plant foods extend our lives. The report is absolutely correct.

Unlike most other nutritional supplements, Juice Plus supplements are made out of thirty different fruits and vegetables. Juice Plus is produced by farmers that work specifically and only for the Juice Plus company using the most up to date organic methods. The produce is always processed straight away, while the fruit is at it’s freshest and most beneficial.

Juice plus separates the juice of the fruit and vegetables and processes it further to remove all but the components that Juice Plus wants to put into their capsules. The Majority of those components are phytonutrients and other plant compounds such as antioxidants that are the most beneficial to the body.

Every part of the process and packaging is performed under the stringent quality control of Juice Plus in their own plants. Even the capsule shell is produced by the company. The capsule is made from the cellulose of the Guar plant combined with sea weed.

Juice Plus has been tested by multiple research and quality control bodies who have all found that Juice Plus has definite benefits that translate into correct body function. It is a unique product based upon thirty species of fruit and vegetables or in other words, food! Juice Pule’s aim is to provide you with the nutritional level that your body functions need.

Juice Plus fruit and Vegetable capsules also have a cleaning or detoxing effect on your body. The difference between other detox methods and the Juice Plus system is that Juice Plus provides nutrient to the cell at the same time as it is detoxing of the cell. This function is proving to have tremendous advantages for people who need detox most such as athletes and those recovering from disease. For athletes this function translates into recovery time which is crucial both during exertion and in the interim period between events. the danger of over training and peaking too soon is thus lessened substantially.

Juice Plus has been chosen by Some Olympic teams as the only nutritional supplement they use. This is no mean achievement for any company. I strongly recommend Juice Plus to all age groups to prevent present and later wear and tear on the body and to prevent the likelihood of future health complications that come from free radical damage.

By: Mila Sidman
So your baby is ready for solids! It’s always exciting when your baby reaches a new milestone, but when it comes to feeding babies it’s safe to say most parents are a little nervous. If you’re planning on making your own homemade baby food, here are a few simple tips.

First of all, relax… making baby food is simple. You don’t need many ingredients, special equipment (except a blender or food processor) or much time.

Apart from saving you money, making your own baby food provides fantastic nutrition for your little one and gives you peace of mind. After all you know exactly what’s gone into your baby’s food, how it was prepared and the quality of ingredients used.

Most pediatricians advice babies should be be between 4 and 6 months before starting solids. Rice cereal is usually the first food of choice as it doesn’t contain wheat (which can be harder for babies to digest) and most babies can easily tolerate it.
If you’re not sure if your baby is ready for solids always ask your pediatrician first.

It’s always best to introduce one new food at a time just in case your baby has an allergic reaction to a certain food. This will make it easier to pinpoint which foods caused it.

Here’s an easy step-by-step guide to making baby food.

Hygiene:

There’s no need to sterilize feeding equipment as you would baby bottles and teats, but you should wash everything you’ll be using in hot soapy water before starting. It’s also smart to wipe down the counter top and work area before starting.

As with regular cooking, it’s important to use a separate chopping board for meat to avoid cross contamination. And do not let raw food come into contact with cooked food.

Always thaw frozen baby food in the refrigerator. Thawing the food at room temperature may breed bacteria which can cause illness.

Equipment:

A food processor, blender or hand-held blender is ideal for a very smooth consistency. Once your baby is used to solids you can simply mash the food with a fork.

Preferably your baby should sit in a high chair or other upright child safety seat. Baby should be upright at all times to help food digestion and avoid choking.

To feed baby a few simple plastic bowls and spoons without rough edges will do. And don’t forget to get a few packs of baby bibs and have plenty of cleaning cloths handy!

Preparation:

Scrub and peel fruits and vegetables well.

Remove all fat, skin, and bones from fresh meat. Always check to make sure the meat is fresh. If you have any doubts as to the freshness of the meat, it’s best not to use it as it’s just not worth your baby getting sick.

Use only a small amount of water when cooking to avoid loosing valuable nutrients. Many vegetables can be steamed to preserve nutrients.

Never add any seasonings, salt, sugar, or other sweeteners. This will make the food too strong for your baby’s taste buds and can actually make him ill.

Transfer cooked food to a food processor and process until smooth (adding a little of the cooking water if necessary) or use a hand-held blender.

For a thicker consistency, simply mash the food using a fork. You can always add a little breast milk or formula to make it smoother.

* Medical literature advices egg whites, strawberries, honey and peanut products should be avoided until 12 months of age as they have been known to cause allergies in young children.

Storage:

As baby’s only eat a small amount of food, freezing is ideal for baby food. There are several ways you can do this.

One of the easiest ways is to fill up an ice cube tray with any unused baby food (do not save any leftover food from your baby’s bowl or that has been contaminated by your baby’s saliva). Once the food is frozen immediately transfer to individual plastic bags. Depending on how much your baby eats, place a few cubes of baby food in each bag. Don’t forget to label and date it.

Advice varies on how long you should freeze baby food for. Most experts agree frozen baby food should not be kept longer than 3 months. Ideally, try not to keep the food longer than one month as it may loose some of its nutritional content as time passes. Remember your baby doesn’t eat very much at first so make smaller batches.

You can also place small amounts of food in individual plastic containers with lids, and stick labelling tape to the top of the lid.

Reheating:

Easily reheat frozen food by placing it in a heat-proof bowl. Place the bowl in or over a pan of simmering water. Gently reheat while stirring occasionally.

You can also reheat the food in the microwave. This will save you time, but be extra careful as the food will be hotter in some places more than others. Always stir the food and taste it before serving to make sure it’s not too hot. Always, let the food sit for a minute or two before serving to baby. Stir again just before serving.

Always thaw frozen baby food in the refrigerator. Do not thaw baby food at room temperate as it can breed bacteria.

That’s it… a few simple steps to making your own baby food. Homemade baby food will save you money but best of all you’ll be giving your baby the most nutritious foods possible.

For tons of delicious family-friendly recipes, nutrition articles, tips, resources and free recipe newsletter, visit http://www.easy-kid-recipes.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mila_Sidman