Did you hear of Health and Nutrition

goji berry plants ukThree Principal Carbohydrates and the Foods in Which they are Present

Carbohydrates are organic molecules (contain carbon and come from living sources) and are our main source of energy. Three principal carbohydrates according to their structure) are: sugars, starches and fiber.

1. SUGARS

Monosaccharides: � Glucose is found in fruits or can be hydrolyzed from starch, cane sugar, milk sugar, malt sugar

� Fructose is found in most fruits and fruit juices, honey, certain vegetables

� Galactose is formed in the process of metabolism of the milk sugar lactose

Disaccharides:

• Lactose, also known as �milk sugar� and the only sugar of animal origin, comes from mother�s milk
• Sucrose or �white sugar� comes from sugar cane, sugar beets, maple syrup, molasses, sorghum and pineapple
• Maltose or �malt sugar� is produced in the process of breakdown of starches in certain cereal grains and is also present in beers, malted snacks, some breakfast cereals and crackers

2. STARCHES are also known as �complex carbohydrates� or �polysaccharides�. They are found in potatoes, vegetable roots and whole grains like wheat, rice and corn.

• Amylopectin � most common starch found in foods
• Amylose � with long chains of glucose molecules
• Glycogen � the animal source starch (from muscle and liver)
• Dextrins � partially digested starches, formed during the breakdown of starch

3. FIBER is mostly the indigestible cellulose from the skins of fruits and vegetables and coverings of cereals. It provides little energy or caloric value but aids intestinal function and elimination. Other hi-fiber substances are: guar gum, konjar root flour, chitosan (derived from oyster shells).

• Cellulose � most common fiber from basic foods
• Hemicelluloses � from the cell walls of plants (i.e. psyllium seed husks, pectin)
• Agar and alginate � from seaweeds
• Carrageen � from Irish moss plant

Copyright � 2007 D. Perse. All rights reserved.

D. Perse is a student of Herbology at Clayton College of Natural Health, passionate about growing herbs and collecting interesting facts about them, including history and legends, medicinal uses, recipes, growing tips and more. Website http://www.dariasworld.info is devoted to herbs and offers tons of free information for the purpose of educating and empowering, never to diagnose, prescribe or treat. Because one's health is in one's own hands.

Not just A blog about where to buy goji berries

where to buy goji berriesBilberry Nutrition

Bilberry (Vaccuinum Myrtillus) is a standardized herbal extract used in supplements made by New Zealand company Xtend-life Natural Products. The supplements Xtend-life makes are developed by scientists and manufactured under the world�s strictest standards for dietary supplements production.

Bilberry, a powerful anti-inflammatory, is made from a little blue berry related to blueberries and cranberries. The herb is also a powerful antioxidant and has blood-sugar-lowering glucoquinine. Containing flavonoids called anthocyanosides which protect the collagen structures in the optical blood vessels, bilberry is used to treat macular degeneration, diabetic neuropathy, cataracts, and other eye disorders.

Bilberry Benefits

Found mostly in dark skinned fruits, bilberry is used to treat diarrhea, varicose veins, and mucous membrane inflammation. It is an herb beneficial in the treatment of hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis) and in maintaining optical health.

Its ability to improve night vision has long been known. During World War II, British Pilots ate bilberry jam before going out on night flights. They claimed it improved their vision; bilberry herb seems to help the eyes quickly adjust to changes in light. Many studies have shown bilberry to be very beneficial for eye health.

Europeans use bilberry treat the venous insufficiency responsible for swelling and varicose veins. It relieves pain and itching, and combats skin ulcers on the legs. It may also alleviate Reynaud�s Disease, which, in cold weather, causes pain and numbness in the outer extremities.

Bilberry improves circulation and helps build the arterial walls. An anti-inflammatory, it can ease gastro-intestinal problems, diarrhea, gum sores, and heart-disease-related gum problems. It may also relieve peptic ulcers, diabetes, fibrocystic diseases, and painful menstruation. And it possesses strong antiseptic properties.

Our Thoughts on the Effectiveness of Bilberry

Bilberry�s strong antioxidant composition makes it an excellent free radical scavenger, combating the cell damage that leads to premature aging and disease. But its e most noted benefit, as we briefly discussed above, is its ability to treat a range of problems relating to optical health. Bilberry, for example, protects collagen structures in the optical blood vessels, promoting healthy capillaries that carry many vital nutrients and oxygen-rich blood to your eye muscles.

Various studies have confirmed that the benefits of bilberry go even further. Its optical benefits may include protection against macular degeneration, cataracts, night blindness, and poor or fading vision. We believe bilberry to be one of the best herbs available for maintaining optical health. Clinical studies have even shown that if given orally to healthy people, it improves visual accuracy. Our conclusion is that everyone should consider consuming bilberry as part of overall health maintenance.

Bilberry may treat menstrual cramps and aid stomach ulcers; by improving blood flow, it might reduce varicose veins, thrombosis, and angina, and improve poor circulation.

Finally, bilberry contains a substance called glucoquinine, which may significantly lower blood sugar levels, and an antioxidant, anthocyanin, which can reduce high blood pressure. Precautions Concerning Bilberry Use

The use of bilberry has produced some side effects, including possibility of stomach. However, there are no known adverse interactions with prescription drugs, nor have there been, to the best of our knowledge, any harmful effects noted in the literature for this herb. As always, though, use your common sense when taking nutritional supplements: if you notice any unwanted side effects, discontinue usage, or immediately reduce your dosage level. And always consult with a qualified physician before beginning supplementation of any kind.

Pregnant or nursing women should always refrain from supplementation with nutritional products until they speak with their personal doctor.

Bilberry: Our Opinion

The evidence for bilberry�s benefits in treating eye disorders and maintaining clear vision in healthy individuals is drawn from many long, and varied clinical trials. However, many of the recent discoveries concerning its benefits need, in our opinion, further study to validate them further. Among these new findings are bilberry�s benefits in treating menstrual cramps and stomach ulcers. Because the many benefits of bilberry seem to outweigh the small possibility of adverse side effects, we would say it is a supplement well worth checking out.

How to Find the best Bilberry Supplement

1. Purchase only those bilberry supplements produced from a standardized extract. Standardized herbal extracts contain the highest level of therapeutic benefits. Most herbal supplements on the market, however, do not even contain the amount of ingredients stated on the label. This is a concern both within the nutritional industry and for consumers.

2. While Bilberry dosages range from 20 to 160 mg, people in good overall health should take lower dosage levels, but maintain long term use. However, those people with specific conditions, such as macular degeneration, cataracts, glaucoma, mentioned above in our article, may wish to supplement with dosage levels in the higher ranges But do not exceed the maximum suggested amount.

The product we personally use called Total Balance, which contains Bilberry - http://www.natural-nutritional-health-supplement.com is the best supplement we have come across. We have been using this supplement for over 3 years with excellent health results.

We highly reccomend you learn more about our best natural nutritional supplement if you are interested in improving your overall health.

John Gibb runs a series of health websites, We offer a free health book for subscribers to our websites newsletter. We cover everything you need to know on nutrition and how to improve your general overall health. Check out our nutrition e-book, for more information on our nutrition book.

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