FoodBozo.com

By Oz Garcia, Ph.D

Chew on this…

Reach for these items next time you’re feeling under pressure, under the weather, or just too close to that breaking point. Munching on these stress-free foods will help pull you back into the game.

Oranges
A German study in Psychopharmacology found that vitamin C helps reduce stress and return blood pressure and cortisol to normal levels after a stressful situation. Vitamin C is also well-known for boosting your immune system.

Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potatoes can be particularly stress-reducing because they can satisfy the urge you get for carbohydrates and sweets when you are under a great deal of stress. They are packed full of beta-carotene and other vitamins, and the fiber helps your body to process the carbohydrates in a slow and steady manner.

Dried Apricots
Apricots are rich in magnesium, which is a stress-buster and a natural muscle relaxant as well.

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By Mark R. Vogel

In the James Bond movie “Octopussy”, Roger Moore, a.k.a., 007, is captured by the villain, an Afghan prince named Kamal Kahn. Seated at the dinner table with his evil host, James Bond is revolted by the stuffed sheep’s head glaring at him from his plate. In gastronomic horror he watches Kahn twist out one of the creature’s eyeballs and gloriously pop it into his eager mouth. Bond refuses to partake claiming he “loses his appetite when he’s stared at.”

The foods that people choose to eat or not to eat is an interesting subject of study. If humans developed in a vacuum, free of all external influences, we would probably consume what naturally appealed to us. There are underlying biological reasons, (biochemistry, genetics, taste bud anatomy, etc.), that create individual differences in taste preferences. If we were without our feelings we might choose our victuals much like Spock, the emotionless Vulcan of Star Trek: based purely on nutritive value. But we have not grown up in a vacuum nor are we passionless automatons.

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By Brandon C. Hall

Being aware of the nutritional value of the foods we eat is obviously essential to a healthy body. Eating the right combination of carbohydrates, proteins and healthy fats works towards keeping muscles strong and organs functioning the way nature intended.

Our minds are no different and eating foods rich in certain nutrients can help alleviate brain fog and boost our memories back to the place they were when we were younger. It only seems natural that since most of our body is fueled by the healthiest of foods, feeding our minds the same way follows suit.

There has been extensive research done into studying the effects of certain minerals and vitamins in relation to brain function. It’s common sense that sugar although a temporary stimulant quickly loses it’s luster and although we might feel very vibrant and alive after eating a candy bar, within an hour or two our bodies have become sluggish and less responsive. Our minds and therefore our memories would feel the same high and crashing low if fed a diet of sweets.

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THE HAGUE (AFP) – A Dutch branch of McDonald’s was wrong to fire a worker for giving a colleague an extra piece of cheese on a hamburger, a court ruled on Tuesday.

“The dismissal was too severe a measure,” the district court in Leeuwarden in the north of the Netherlands said in a written judgment.

“It is just a slice of cheese.”

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By Chet Day

Herbs do more than add spice to the foods you cook. They also have important health benefits, and many herbs have been shown to contain remarkable healing properties.

Growing your own

Fortunately, herbs are easy to grow in your home herb garden. They are also quite inexpensive to buy, either fresh or dried. When buying herbs, whether they are dried or fresh, it’s important to exercise caution and to buy only the freshest plants, seeds, flowers, roots, or leaves, or those dried herbs made by quality, reputable companies.

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By RealAge, Yahoo! Editorial Team

Remember when any fat was bad fat? When the only difference between a croissant and Krispy Kreme was snob appeal? Now that science has happpily found that some fats are good fats, it’s all about avoiding the bad guys. But if sorting out omega-3s from sat fats makes you want to drown your frustration in a quarter-pounder and fries (a whopping 56 grams of the ickiest stuff), here’s a simple list that rates fats from the top dog to don’t-even-think-about-it.

TOP FATS: THE OMEGA-3s
Among the best fats on the planet, omega-3s add years to your life by dramatically reducing the risk of heart attack and stroke. They may also stave off arthritis, depression, some cancers, and even tame menstrual cramps and post-workout soreness. Looking for clear, soft skin, and great hair? Omega-3s do that too.

Eat these frequently:

• Fatty fish, such as wild salmon, sardines, herring, and tuna
• Flax seeds and flax seed oil
• Walnuts
• Canola oil and leafy greens (modest amounts)

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By Elizabeth Rogers, 50Plus.com

It’s your goal to eat better, and there are thousands of healthy recipes out there waiting to be discovered. But what about your tried-and-true favourites — like your mom’s hearty casserole and Grandma’s famous cake? Or all of the tempting creations laden with rich ingredients that don’t meet your healthy new standards?

One word of advice… upgrade! Here are some ways to make your favourite recipes healthier, according to experts.

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• American Airlines saved $40,000 in 1987 by eliminating one olive from each salad in first class.
• Toxic house plants poison more children than household chemicals.
• You burn more calories sleeping than you do watching television.
• In the 1800’s, people believed that gin could cure stomach problems.
• McDonalds calls frequent buyers of their food heavy users.
• Americans ate eight million more orders of french fries and almost six million more hamburgers this year compared to last.
• Rats destroy an estimated 1/3 of the world’s food supply each year.
• Consuming chocolate was once considered a sin during the 16th and 17th century.
• Coca-Cola used to contain cocaine when it was initially introduced.
• Acorns were used as a coffee substitute during the American Civil War.
• Chocolate was used as medicine during the 18th century. It was believed that chocolate could cure a stomach ache.
• The only “real” food that U.S. Astronauts are allowed to take into space is pecan nuts.

By Jonathan Cox

To-may-to or to-mah-to?
Catsup or ketchup?
Healthy or poisonous?

The poor tomato just can’t escape contention and controversy.

As a member of the portentously named nightshade family, which includes poisonous plants like belladonna and jimson weed alongside such kitchen-table staples as potatoes and peppers, tomatoes were once thought to be deadly. Rumor has it that the British tried to kill George Washington with them, and they have been known to be lethal for more than a few comedy routines.

While countless pizzas and BLTs have proven them not to be fatal to humans, the tomato plant is actually poisonous. The stem and leaves are toxic, and the tomato fruit (yes, it is a fruit — a berry, to be exact) contains traces of alkaloids that may be harmful to those with a hypersensitivity to them. But for the majority of the population, researchers are finding that tomatoes, whose peak season runs from July to September, actually promote good health.

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By Cassandra Szklarski

• the coca-cola case – film tour
• THE COCA-COLA CASE

It seems that a documentary critical of soft-drink giant Coca-Cola has left a bitter taste with the company.

The multinational corporation has told a university film network planning to screen “The Coca-Cola Case” in several cities that the movie contains inaccuracies and violates a confidentiality agreement.

The Montreal-based group, called Cinema Politica, says Coke lawyers sent it a letter earlier this month issuing veiled legal threats if it proceeds with plans to host screenings in Canada, the United States and abroad.

But the group’s programmer, Ezra Winton, says they won’t back down, noting their own legal counsel has said they are within their rights to show the film.

“The Coca-Cola Case,” co-produced by Argus Films of Montreal and the National Film Board of Canada, links Coca-Cola to human rights abuses and anti-union tactics in Colombia and Guatemala.

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