How to Choose Fruits and Vegetables

When purchasing fruits and vegetables, look for those that are 'beautiful' - bright colored and unwithered - and yield slightly when pressed. However, don't be fooled by bright colors - highly colored fruit can still be 'green'. Some fruits, especially peaches and nectarines, are picked so underripe that they never will ripen, but will slowly rot from within. You can tell these fruits by their rock-hardness.

Refrigerate vegetables - except for garlic, tomatoes, potatoes, sweet potatoes, and winter squash. Most fruit should be kept at room temperature for maximum flavor and aroma.

Organic Fruit

Apples: Don't buy apples that are bruised or shriveled. For eating out of the hand: Delicious McIntosh, Granny Smith, Jonathan, Winesap. For cooking: Gravenstein, Jonathan, Delicious Granny Smith, and other tart, dense apples. Store in the refrigerator in a plastic bag.

Apricots: Never buy green ones. Look for velvety skin.

Artichokes: Choose a good artichoke at the market. It should squeak when squeezed, feel heavy in your hand, have fleshy leaves, and look fresh. Brown or purple coloration near the base of the leaves, which indicates that the artichoke has been touched by frost, marks a prize - such artichokes are sweeter and tastier. Trim the stem and thorns from the outer leaves.

Asparagus: Choose fresh asparagus, without woody pores at the end of the stalk and with tight scales at the bud end. Break each stalk where it 'wants' to break to eliminate the tough ends.

Avocados: Press lightly with your thumb at the stem end. If the rind gives a little, the fruit is ripe. If the rind is hard and has sunken spots, it's over the hill. Avocados will ripen at room temperature in a closed paper bag.

Beans (green or snap): Buy crisp beans - you should be able to hear them break if you bend them. Don't buy bumpy beans - they will be tough.

Bananas - Partially green fruit will ripen at room temperature. After it is ripe you can store it in refrigerator, in spite of what Chiquita Banana used to say.

Blueberries - Look for a white bloom on the skin.

Broccoli - Choose broccoli that is dark green, with tight buds, and firm, blemish-free stems.

Cabbage- Heads should be firm, solid and heavy.

Carrots - Medium sized are the best. Don't buy hairy carrots or carrots with shriveled ends.

Cherries - Look for glossy, brightly colored fruit with stems that are bright green and attached. Don't buy cherries that have brown spots or are shriveled.

Citrus Fruit - Pick up citrus and feel its heaviness in your hand - the heavier, the juicier. Choose fruit with thin, smooth, flexible peels. Pointed fruit tends to have thick peels.

Corn - Freshness counts with corn, so buy it from a vendor who guarantees that it is picked the day it is sold. Ears should have fresh-looking green husks with young but plump and developed kennels. Silk should be shiny and yellow. If you can't use corn right away, husk it, warp each ear in plastic and store in the refrigerator.

Cucumbers - Yellow on the skin indicates over ripeness, excerpt in Kirby's cucumbers. Look for firmness and a svelte look - fat cucumbers are not as good as medium or skinny ones.

Eggplant - A shiny skin and green cap means eggplant is fresh. The lighter in weight, the fewer seeds.

Melons - Sniff the melon for ripeness. It should smell rich and fruity. Press the stem end - it should give a little. If the melon feels heavy in your hand for its size, it is probably ripe. Fore watermelons: Thump to see if it sounds hollow, a sign - not infallible - of ripeness; look for a yellowish patch (not dead white) on the bottom. For cantaloupes: choose those with an underlying creamy color. Honeydews should give slightly when pressed on the blossom end.

Peaches and Nectarines - Don't buy green tinged fruit. To ripen peaches, store them in a paper bag that is closed loosely.

Peppers - Look for bright, waxy skins. Wrinkles means old age, as does softness.

Pineapples - Smell them at the stem end for ripeness. Heft them in your hand - they should feel heavy. The rind should be tinged with orange. Also pull one of the leaves away from the fruit - it should come off easily. The leaves should be green and fresh-looking. Don't buy bruised fruit, or fruit that has soft, moist spots.

Raspberries - Look carefully for mold, and do not buy berries in boxes that have stains (an indication that the berries may be overripe)

Strawberries - They should be red all over, with no green or white parts. Check the carton to make sure that berries packed on the bottom are not green. Look for mold.

Summer squash - Buy shiny-skinned squash less than 7 inches long. Press on the ends- if ends are soft, they are probably too old.

Tomatoes - Tomatoes should be bright red and yield to slight pressure, but should not be too soft. Buy vine-ripened ones. To ripen tomatoes, cover them with a cloth and keep at room temperature.

How to Choose Fruits and Vegetables

KiyaSama is an author on http://www.Writing.Com/ which is a site for Writers.

Related : cuisinart multiclad unlimited 12 piece cookware

Choose a Healthier Life With Organic Foods

You have probably heard a lot of people talking about the health benefits that come with eating raw organic foods. You may have wondered what implications come with a diet of organic foods. A table full of raw beef and oysters does not appeal to most people, but there is more to it than that. An organic foods diet means that you are required to eat the food in its natural unprocessed state. Organic foods may already be included in your diet, if you eat fresh fruits and vegetables.





The processing and cooking of the foods strip them of a lot of vital nutrients. A lot of people say that cooking vegetables leaches out the vitamins and it can also destroy the important enzymes that they contain. Packaged foods available in every grocery store, that have been processed in some way to help you benefit from an easy package meal, have a very low nutritional value and they are not very good for your body because they are hard to metabolize.





Earth gives us natural foods. If you consume them as such, in their raw state, it becomes a lot easier for the body to process them. Raw foods are packed with vitamins, minerals and enzymes. Everything you do costs energy. The energy levels of your body are given by enzymes. These things are not the most popular topics of discussion, but they are very important for your body. Think about how tired you feel after serving a big meal of cooked foods. This happens because you use your body enzymes to process these foods instead of using them for other activities of your daily life. By consuming raw organic foods that contain their own enzymes helpful for digestion, you preserve your energy for doing the things you like, instead of wasting that energy for digesting food you just ate.





People that follow a raw food diet consume up to 75% of raw foods. This includes fruits, vegetables, nuts and other foods in their natural form. Preparing raw foods involves several processes. One of these is juicing. Many people turn the fruits and vegetables into juices. Just by drinking fresh juice in the morning you can benefit from a health boost. Another way of preparing raw foods is by using a dehydrator. The moisture is taken out of the fruits and vegetables so they are good for long time storage. The dehydrator uses hot air to remove the moisture from the foods, but the temperatures it operates under has to be below 1160 F, so that all the enzymes in the food are stored and not destroyed.





Organic cheese can also be a part of a raw food diet. The process used for obtaining organic cheese does not involve temperatures higher than 1160 F, so it fits in the category of raw foods. The government keeps the organic farms under strict supervision, so you don’t have to worry about quality or scams if you purchase products from them. The cows from which the milk is harvested for the organic cheese cannot be treated with any antibiotics or other medicine in case of illnesses. In case they must be treated, they are removed from that farm. This guarantees that the organic cheese or other foods you purchase from that farm are 100% organic.





The amount of raw foods included in your diet should be around 75% (ar at least 50%), but you should not start eating immediately this amount of raw foods. Instead you should increase the quantities gradually. As a precautionary note, if you plan to have any major changes in your diet, you should consult your doctor. Even though raw foods are the base for a healthier life, some of them may conflict with certain medication, so this is the best thing you should do in order to avoid unpleasant situations. Due to the detoxifying effect raw foods have, some people may experience mild headaches and nausea, but only temporary.

If you choose to switch to a diet of raw organic foods, then the choice you have made is for a better life. Raw fruits, raw vegetables, organic cheese and other organic foods help you preserve your energy in order to live an active, healthier life.

Related : all clad master chef 2 14 piece cookware set breville sk500xl ikon cordless 1.7 liter stainless simply calphalon nonstick 14 piece set

Why Choose Organic Cosmetics?

You wouldn't consider a highly-processed, artificially-flavored applesauce to be as healthy as an organically grown apple, would you? Same with cosmetics. A beauty product made with synthetics, or even ultra-processed natural ingredients, is not good for your skin or overall health. Natural, nontoxic cosmetics are the organic fruit of your beauty diet.

Synthetic ingredients are not only harmful to humans and the environment, but are actually less effective than natural and organic ingredients. Pure ingredients from nature work with your skin and body to boost healing and regeneration.

Organic Fruit

What are Natural Cosmetics?

Natural cosmetics are made with ingredients from plants, minerals, and certain animal-derived ingredients, either untreated or treated with other natural ingredients. Pure, natural ingredients are minimally processed to preserve the natural benefits the ingredient holds.

While there is unfortunately no legal definition of the term "Natural" at this time, look for organic products to be BDIH Certified. BDIH is a well-established German certifying body with extremely strict standards on cosmetic ingredients, packaging, and production.

To obtain the BDIH Certified Natural seal a product must meet these requirements:

* Ingredients must come from a plant or mineral source
* Ingredients must be organically-sourced or wild-harvested wherever possible
* Free from petrochemical-derived or synthetic ingredients
* No genetically modified ingredients (GMOs)
* Ecologically conscious, recyclable, and minimal packaging
* No animal testing allowed

What are Organic Cosmetics?

Organic ingredients are those grown and produced in accordance with strict government-controlled standards --the same organic standards that apply to food-with third-party verification. Organic standards require no use of synthetic pesticides, chemical fertilizers, sewage sludge, or GMOs. Strict rules also apply to the treatment of animals and the environment. A truly organic product bears a "Certified Organic" stamp from an official organic certifier. However, in many cases, it is simply not possible to meet the 95% organic requirement to get the official organic seal. For instance, a natural sunscreen usually requires over 10% of titanium dioxide or zinc oxide, so the best it can do is be 90% organic. If a cosmetic contains minerals, such as titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, mica, or iron oxides that are used to give it color, these minerals eat up the 5% of allowable non-organic ingredients. In many cases, it's simply not possible to create a usable cosmetic or skin care product that is 95% organic.

Though BDIH is a natural cosmetics certifier, it does require product manufacturers to use organic content wherever possible (when available in sufficient quantity and quality). BDIH is responsible for creating the world's first organic body care certification.

What About Preservatives?

Preservatives play a very important role in the safety and efficacy of natural and organic cosmetics. Without a sound preservation method certain cosmetic products may grow harmful bacteria over time. But preservatives need not be synthetic to be effective. There are many safe preservation methods used in natural cosmetics. Airtight packaging, plant alcohol, and certain herbs and essential oils prevent bacterial growth.

Let's address the paraben issue. Parabens are synthetic preservatives that researchers suspect enter our bloodstream and mimic estrogen in our bodies. Phenoxyethanol is a semi-synthetic preservative which has become more widely used in natural cosmetic brands since more research has been conducted on the evils of parabens. Though some view phenoxyethanol as a safe alternative to parabens, studies show it causes damaging effects on the brain and nervous systems in animals. Even the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) data sheets show "chromosomal changes and genetic mutation effects in testing as well as testicular atrophy and reproductive damage in mice."

Ingredients to Avoid

An organic ingredient has to meet strict requirements regarding production, but organic skin care can still contain ingredients that are not so healthy. Get to know which cosmetic ingredients are harmful and best avoided, and always follow brands with full ingredient listings and clear safety policy displaying which ingredients they do not allow in their products.

Why Choose Organic Cosmetics?

Liz Thompson is founder and editor of Organic Beauty Source, a blog where she shares information on safe, natural beauty and personal care products, such as natural cosmetics and organic skin care. Years of extensive research on the subject of safe cosmetics and a passion for all things beautiful led this mother of two to create this online venue where the conscientious consumer can easily find products free from harmful ingredients and educate themselves in the process.

Visit : all clad master chef 2 14 piece cookware set circulon 2 10 piece cookware set kitchenaid 10 piece cookware set

Healthy Fruit Juice Checklist - How to Choose a Bottled Fruit Juice

Not every bottled, canned, or boxed fruit beverage is a healthy fruit juice. Here is a checklist for evaluating juices to get the most health for your money.

* Look for the words "100% fruit juice" on the label. This exact wording means that the beverage contains only fruit juice, flavors, and additives. Other wordings without the term "100%," such as "orange juice drink" or "fruit juice cocktail," mean that as little as 1% of the beverage might be fruit juice: the rest will typically be corn syrup.

* Avoid flavors and additives as much as possible. Read the ingredients list in the fine print to see the number and names of additives.

* "Pulp" or "puree" in the ingredients list indicates extra fiber, taste, and nutrition from the crushed flesh of the fruit.

* On the label, look for the words "not from concentrate." This means that the juice was bottled when it was pressed. In contrast, "from concentrate" means that the juice was first dehydrated and then later reconstituted by mixing with water. The additional processing of making the concentrate harms the quality of the juice.

* Look for the words "USDA organic" for the extra taste and nutrition of organic fruit. Organic fruit is grown without synthetic pesticides, which can concentrate in the juice. "100% organic" indicates entirely organic ingredients; "organic" indicates 95% organic ingredients. "Made with organic ingredients" means that only some of the ingredients are organic. The word "natural" means nothing at all!

* Make sure that you get the fruit that you think you are buying. The ingredients are listed in the order of volume: the largest ingredient first and the smallest last.

* Look for juice made from high-antioxidant fruits. Antioxidants are healthful nutrients that help maintain the body against the ravages of age, metabolism, and toxins. Fortunately, some antioxidants in fruits survive the bottling process! High-antioxidant fruit juices include bilberry, blueberry, cherry, concord grape, cranberry, and pomegranate.

Low-quality juices and corn syrup waste your money; whereas the highest quality juices enhance your health. This checklist will help you get the most from your juice purchases.

Heidi Boudro is the editor of Getting Started With Healthy Eating, a web site at http://www.getting-started-with-healthy-eating.com dedicated to ideas, techniques, and information for beginning and maintaining healthy eating with whole foods. More details can be found there about how to choose a Healthy Fruit Juice -- Copyright: You may freely republish this article, provided the text, author credit, the active links, and this copyright notice remain intact.

Thanks To : all clad cop r chef 8 inch fry pan cuisinart multiclad unlimited 12 piece cookware cuisinart multiclad pro 12 piece set

How to Choose Fruits and Vegetables

When purchasing fruits and vegetables, look for those that are 'beautiful' - bright colored and unwithered - and yield slightly when pressed. However, don't be fooled by bright colors - highly colored fruit can still be 'green'. Some fruits, especially peaches and nectarines, are picked so underripe that they never will ripen, but will slowly rot from within. You can tell these fruits by their rock-hardness.

Refrigerate vegetables - except for garlic, tomatoes, potatoes, sweet potatoes, and winter squash. Most fruit should be kept at room temperature for maximum flavor and aroma.

Apples: Don't buy apples that are bruised or shriveled. For eating out of the hand: Delicious McIntosh, Granny Smith, Jonathan, Winesap. For cooking: Gravenstein, Jonathan, Delicious Granny Smith, and other tart, dense apples. Store in the refrigerator in a plastic bag.

Apricots: Never buy green ones. Look for velvety skin.

Artichokes: Choose a good artichoke at the market. It should squeak when squeezed, feel heavy in your hand, have fleshy leaves, and look fresh. Brown or purple coloration near the base of the leaves, which indicates that the artichoke has been touched by frost, marks a prize - such artichokes are sweeter and tastier. Trim the stem and thorns from the outer leaves.

Asparagus: Choose fresh asparagus, without woody pores at the end of the stalk and with tight scales at the bud end. Break each stalk where it 'wants' to break to eliminate the tough ends.

Avocados: Press lightly with your thumb at the stem end. If the rind gives a little, the fruit is ripe. If the rind is hard and has sunken spots, it's over the hill. Avocados will ripen at room temperature in a closed paper bag.

Beans (green or snap): Buy crisp beans - you should be able to hear them break if you bend them. Don't buy bumpy beans - they will be tough.

Bananas - Partially green fruit will ripen at room temperature. After it is ripe you can store it in refrigerator, in spite of what Chiquita Banana used to say.

Blueberries - Look for a white bloom on the skin.

Broccoli - Choose broccoli that is dark green, with tight buds, and firm, blemish-free stems.

Cabbage- Heads should be firm, solid and heavy.

Carrots - Medium sized are the best. Don't buy hairy carrots or carrots with shriveled ends.

Cherries - Look for glossy, brightly colored fruit with stems that are bright green and attached. Don't buy cherries that have brown spots or are shriveled.

Citrus Fruit - Pick up citrus and feel its heaviness in your hand - the heavier, the juicier. Choose fruit with thin, smooth, flexible peels. Pointed fruit tends to have thick peels.

Corn - Freshness counts with corn, so buy it from a vendor who guarantees that it is picked the day it is sold. Ears should have fresh-looking green husks with young but plump and developed kennels. Silk should be shiny and yellow. If you can't use corn right away, husk it, warp each ear in plastic and store in the refrigerator.

Cucumbers - Yellow on the skin indicates over ripeness, excerpt in Kirby's cucumbers. Look for firmness and a svelte look - fat cucumbers are not as good as medium or skinny ones.

Eggplant - A shiny skin and green cap means eggplant is fresh. The lighter in weight, the fewer seeds.

Melons - Sniff the melon for ripeness. It should smell rich and fruity. Press the stem end - it should give a little. If the melon feels heavy in your hand for its size, it is probably ripe. Fore watermelons: Thump to see if it sounds hollow, a sign - not infallible - of ripeness; look for a yellowish patch (not dead white) on the bottom. For cantaloupes: choose those with an underlying creamy color. Honeydews should give slightly when pressed on the blossom end.

Peaches and Nectarines - Don't buy green tinged fruit. To ripen peaches, store them in a paper bag that is closed loosely.

Peppers - Look for bright, waxy skins. Wrinkles means old age, as does softness.

Pineapples - Smell them at the stem end for ripeness. Heft them in your hand - they should feel heavy. The rind should be tinged with orange. Also pull one of the leaves away from the fruit - it should come off easily. The leaves should be green and fresh-looking. Don't buy bruised fruit, or fruit that has soft, moist spots.

Raspberries - Look carefully for mold, and do not buy berries in boxes that have stains (an indication that the berries may be overripe)

Strawberries - They should be red all over, with no green or white parts. Check the carton to make sure that berries packed on the bottom are not green. Look for mold.

Summer squash - Buy shiny-skinned squash less than 7 inches long. Press on the ends- if ends are soft, they are probably too old.

Tomatoes - Tomatoes should be bright red and yield to slight pressure, but should not be too soft. Buy vine-ripened ones. To ripen tomatoes, cover them with a cloth and keep at room temperature.

KiyaSama is an author on http://www.Writing.Com/ which is a site for Writers.

Thanks To : all clad stainless 7 piece cookware set farberware cookware set 10 piece breville sk500xl ikon cordless 1.7 liter stainless

Why to Choose Organic Protein Powder

When looking for the best kind of protein supplement look no further than organic protein powder. Due to the fact of it being organic you know that you are supporting your health as well as the planet. Organic foods are essentially produced without conventional pesticides or synthetic fertilizers. Fresh and minimally processed foods are in high demand and continue to grow at a very fast rate. Due to the heavy regulations, many countries require producers to obtain special certification in order to deem foods "organic." Just as you would look for any type of fruit or vegetable to be organic, its just as important to make sure that your protein powder is organic as well.

Quality and taste comes naturally when you choose organic products. When choosing a protein supplement that is raw and organic you know that you are putting nothing but the best in your body. The nutritional benefits are endless. Organic brown rice is the best kind of powder available on the market today for those who need a good source of protein. You will get your daily mineral and vitamins along with your essential amino acids. Organic Brown rice is also rich in fiber and selenium.

Organic foods are growing exponentially due to the tremendous health benefits offered. Food may cost a little bit more to purchase, but you will find the benefits far exceed the cost. So when looking to purchase protein its just as important to look for all natural protein powders that will allow you to get biggest bang for your buck.

Your health is directly related to what you put into your body. Organic protein powders give you the most nutritional benefits. View our choice for the best Organic Protein Powder here and enjoy.

To Your Health!

Friends Link : all clad copper core 10 fry pan calphalon contemporary nonstick cuisinart multiclad pro stainless 12-pc cookware