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Why You Shouldn’t Load Up on Carbs at Dinner

January 17, 2012 By Leave a Comment
A man eating lots of noodles.

Hello everyone. Today’s article is a guest post from freelance writer Alvina Lopez. ----- I’m sure you’ve all heard the advice to avoid late-night snacks (particularly those full of carbohydrates) before bed, but I’ve found that many people don’t seem to understand why. Many people also don’t hold as much scrutiny over the carbs they eat at dinner when perhaps they should. There Is No Golden Rule Here I must first insert a disclaimer here that a lot the advice I’m giving in this article is meant for the general, average person. The average person usually comes home … [Read more...]

20 Promising Xanthophyll Health Benefits

January 2, 2012 By Leave a Comment
A plate of salmon with green vegetables.

The xanthophylls are a group of phytonutrients (non-essential, plant based nutrients that have numerous health benefits in humans). There are 5 main xanthophylls: - Astaxanthin. - Canthaxanthin. - Cryptoxanthin. - Lutein. - Zeaxanthin. The xanthophylls can be sourced from fish, fruits, vegetables and certain peppers and spices. Whilst they are not classed as essential nutrients, studies have shown that they have a wide range of potential health benefits in humans. In this article I will be providing a full overview of these and listing 20 of the promising xanthophyll health … [Read more...]

The Free Fitness Tips Christmas Diet Checklist

December 24, 2011 By Leave a Comment
A fork next to a Christmas bauble on a plate.

Christmas is a time when your diet usually takes a back seat. Tasty treats are always on offer, alcohol is flowing constantly and you will probably eat more 3 course dinners this month than you will have done for the entire year. Whist it is almost inevitable that your diet will suffer over Christmas, if you follow a few simple steps you can make sure it does not completely fall apart. Today I am going to give you those steps with the Free Fitness Tips Christmas Diet Checklist. 1) CONSUME LOW CALORIE ALCOHOL Don’t get too excited when reading this. I’m not saying you need to make … [Read more...]

The Xanthophylls Explained

December 21, 2011 By 2 Comments
Some smoked salmon and cress on a slice of wholemeal bread.

WHAT ARE XANTHOPHYLLS? The xanthophylls are a group of phytonutrients (plant based chemical compounds that have various health benefits in the human body) that can be found in a wide range of fruits and vegetables. They can also be sourced from certain types of seafood and certain spices. Whilst you can technically survive without these natural nutrients, they are all powerful antioxidants that keep your body’s cells safe from free radicals (harmful by-products that are released during oxygen based reactions) so should definitely be included as part of your diet. In this article I … [Read more...]

Lutein Explained

December 9, 2011 By 2 Comments
Some kale leaves on a white background.

WHAT IS LUTEIN? Lutein is a carotenoid and phytonutrient (health boosting, plant based chemical compounds which are not classed as essential nutrients) that can be sourced from green leafy vegetables. In this article I will be providing a detailed breakdown of lutein and discussing its role in the human body. WHAT IS THE HISTORY OF LUTEIN? Lutein was discovered around 1930 and it was identified in the macula lutea (an oval shaped, highly pigmented yellow spot close to the centre of the retina of the human eye) in 1945. WHAT ARE THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF LUTEIN? Lutein is a powerful … [Read more...]

Astaxanthin Explained

December 3, 2011 By Leave a Comment
A piece of raw salmon garnished with lemon and parsley.

WHAT IS ASTAXANTHIN? Astaxanthin is a carotenoid and phytonutrient (health boosting, plant based chemical compounds which are not classed as essential nutrients) that is mainly found in red fish such as crab, shrimp and salmon. In this article I will be providing a full breakdown of astaxanthin and its potential health benefits. WHAT IS THE HISTORY OF ASTAXANTHIN? Astaxanthin was discovered by the British chemist Basil Weedon in 1970 along with a selection of other carotenoids. WHAT ARE THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF ASTAXANTHIN? Astaxanthin is a powerful antioxidant which can keep … [Read more...]

Zeaxanthin Explained

November 28, 2011 By Leave a Comment
A pile of spinach.

WHAT IS ZEAXANTHIN? Zeaxanthin is a carotenoid and phytonutrient (health boosting, plant based chemical compounds which are not classed as essential nutrients) that can be found in green leafy vegetables. In this article I will be taking a deeper look at zeaxanthin and its potential health benefits in the human body. WHAT IS THE HISTORY OF ZEAXANTHIN? Apart from being found in plant based foods, zeaxanthin can be found in the macula lutea (an oval shaped, highly pigmented yellow spot close to the centre of the retina of the human eye). The macula lutea was first described in 1782 but … [Read more...]

16 Potential Carotenes Health Benefits

November 24, 2011 By 2 Comments
A sliced grapefruit and orange.

The carotenes are a group of phytonutrients (non-essential, plant based nutrients that have a number of health benefits in humans). There are 3 main carotenes which are: - Beta Carotene. - Lycopene. - Phytofluene. The carotenes are mainly found in orange and red fruits and vegetables. Carrots, grapefruits, oranges and tomatoes are some of the best sources. Although these plant based nutrients are not believed to be essential in humans, studies have shown that they have a number of promising health benefits. In this article I will be taking a deeper look at these and providing you with 16 … [Read more...]

The Carotenes Explained

November 16, 2011 By Leave a Comment
A selection of fresh vegetables.

The carotenes are a group of phytonutrients (plant based chemical compounds that have numerous health benefits in the human body but are not classed as essential nutrients) that are mainly found in orange and red fruits and vegetables such as carrots, grapefruits and tomatoes. Although they are not believed to be essential for human survival, they are all potent antioxidants that can keep your body’s cells safe from free radicals (harmful by-products that get released into your body’s cells during oxygen related reactions). Additionally, many of the carotenes are converted into vitamin … [Read more...]

Phytofluene Explained

November 12, 2011 By Leave a Comment
A bunch of cherry tomatoes on a green, leafy branch.

WHAT IS PHYTOFLUENE? Phytofluene is a carotene and phytonutrient (health boosting, plant based chemical compounds that are not classed as essential nutrients). It is a powerful antioxidant that may also have further health benefits in humans. In this article I take a deeper look at phytofluene and discuss its potential health boosting properties. WHAT IS THE HISTORY OF PHYTOFLUENE? It is not known who discovered phytofluene or when it was discovered. WHAT ARE THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF PHYTOFLUENE? Phytofluene is a powerful antioxidant that can keep your body’s cells safe from … [Read more...]

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