Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Vegetable Gardening - 3 Organic Vegetable Gardening Tips for Newbies

No chemical gardening turned into a very hot topic recently and a lot of people practice certain types of organic gardening without having any idea that they are doing it. Planting vegetables via natural methods is better recognized as organic vegetable gardening. Artificial particles will not be utilized when organizing for pest control, weed control and fertilization.

With organic gardening, the chances of your beloved family members being exposed to dangerous chemical substances are being reduced automatically. There will be no negative effect that occurs against the environment and you are actually assisting in saving planet Earth. Expenses such as the purchase of fertilizers and pests control products can be saved if you plant your vegetables organically.

The use of compost rather than mulch and fertilizer is a fundamental concept in organic vegetable gardening. You must also learn the fundamental techniques of how to protect your vegetables from "sicknesses" as organic fertilizers such as animal faeces does not reinforce the immune system of your plants.

Organic Vegetable Gardening Tips #1 Soil
The types of soil used for your organic vegetable gardening practices will help in determining your success because you will not be relying on human made fertilizers. While you are planting your vegetables, you need to make sure first that you have an optimum pH Value for your healthy soil, which is 6.8, however, pH values will differ for different types of vegetables.

Organic Vegetable Gardening Tips #2 Water and Sunlight
Water is essential grow your plant. Sunlight is also another important element in organic gardening. However, it is hard to manipulate the exposure of your vegetables to sunlight. Make sure that you pick a vegetable gardening place that receives at least 6 hours of sunlight daily. Otherwise, your vegetables will not achieve the maximum growth it should have.

Organic Vegetable Gardening Tips #3 Pests Control
Utilization of natural pest killers such as hornets, ladybugs and preying mantis is proven to be an effective replacement for pesticides. If these predators are not available naturally in your garden, you can always purchase them via local nurseries or even through online shopping sites like Amazon and eBay.

For weeds control, pulling them out manually is more beneficial than exterminating them with weed removers as you will do no harm to the environment.
VEGETABLE GARDEN Preplant Insecticide

Sacrificing a little portion of the vegetables to the bugs so that you can provide your families with foods that is free from chemicals is definitely a plus for organic vegetable planters. Unwanted kitchen scraps and weeds reduce the amount of waste that is transferred to sewers.

Thursday, December 4, 2008

Don't be a Lazy Vegetarian

We've all been there. We've just come in from a long day at work and the last thing on our minds taking the time to prepare a healthy, nutritionally sound vegetarian meal. But choosing a refined or enriched carbohydrate over the beneficial carbohydrates that a solid, well-balanced vegetarian diet offers defeats the purpose of your decision to live a vegetarian lifestyle, and that's for optimal health. Consuming refined carbohydrates presents different hazards to your health.

The over-consumption of refined carbohydrates and sugars can result in excess insulin in the bloodstream. In the presence of excess insulin, glucose, the blood sugar, is converted to triglycerides and stored in the fat cells of the body.

According to one study, consuming refined grains may also increase your risk of getting stomach cancer. The research found that a high intake of refined grains could increase a patient's risk of stomach cancer.

In addition, refined sugars and carbohydrates have been implicated as a contributing factor in increased gallbladder disease, according to a recent study. It showed a direct link between the amount of sugars eaten and the incidence of gallbladder disease. Another study looked at the role carbohydrates play in the incidence of heart disease. The researchers noted that as carbohydrate consumption increased, so did the level of triglycerides in the blood of the participants. Diets low in fat and high in carbohydrates not only dramatically raised triglyceride levels but significantly reduced levels of HDL, the "good" cholesterol.
Russian Choice GI 100 vegetarian Capsules: N

And lastly, refined white sugars increase the rate at which your body excretes calcium, which is directly connected to your skeletal health. Simply put, as your sugary and refined carbohydrate intake increases, your bone density decreases.

So don't be lazy! Do your body right and take the time to prepare a nutrient-dense and delicious vegetarian meal. Your body, and your conscience, will thank you for it in the long run.

Eating Many Different Food in a Vegetarian Diet

You've weighed your options carefully, studied the pros and the cons, and decided that the vegetarian lifestyle is right for you. But where do you start making the changes? Do you go 'cold turkey?' Do you adopt a more gradual approach to transitioning to vegetarianism? However you choose to make the change, you can begin to achieve the health benefits of vegetarianism by significantly cutting down on the amount of meats consumed, and making vegetables, fruits, legumes, and whole grains the focus of your meals.

Choose whole-grain products like whole wheat bread and flour, instead of refined or white grains. Eat a wide variety of foods, and don't be afraid to try vegetables, fruits, grains, breads, nuts, or seeds that you've never tried before. Experiment and explore! You may discover a new favorite or two, and learn fresh new ways to liven up more traditional vegetarian dishes. Many vegetarian foods can be found in any grocery store. Specialty food stores may carry some of the more uncommon items, as well as many vegetarian convenience foods. When shopping for food, plan ahead, shop with a list and read food labels. And if you decide to eat dairy products, choose non-fat or low-fat varieties, and limit your egg intake to 3-4 yolks per week.

Becoming a vegetarian can be as easy as you choose to make it. Whether you enjoy preparing delectable, delicious meals or choose quick and easy ones, vegetarian meals can be very satisfying. If you get in the habit of keeping the following on hand, meal preparation time will become a snap: -Ready-to-eat, whole-grain breakfast cereals, and quick-cooking whole-grain cereals such as oatmeal, whole-grain breads and crackers, such as rye, whole wheat, and mixed grain and other grains such as barley and bulgur wheat

-Canned beans, such as pinto, black beans, and garbanzo beans

-Rice (including brown, wild, etc.) and pasta (now available in whole wheat, spinach, and other flavors) with tomato sauce and canned beans and/or chopped veggies
Vegetable  Mix Noodles - 6/16 oz Vegetable Mix Noodles: GR

-Vegetarian soups like lentil, navy bean, or minestrone

-A wide variety of plain frozen vegetables, and canned and frozen fruit

-Fortified soymilks and soy cheeses, should you choose to not eat dairy

-A wide variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, which should be the core of any diet

As you learn to experiment with foods and learn that a meatless diet doesn't have to lack variety, you'll find your decision for vegetarianism was not only wise, but easy and fun come mealtime.

Become a Vegetarian and Stay Healthy

It's been well documented through the years that vegetarians are healthier than people who eat meat. Vegetarians are less likely to be obese, or to have high blood pressure, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, or colon cancer. They are also less likely to die from heart disease. Vegetarians have lower blood pressure even when they eat the same amount of salt as meat eaters and exercise less. Many studies show that vegetarians have less instances of colon cancer, due in large part to the differences in the bacterial flora that is present in the colon.

There are many factors in the vegetarian diet that contribute to better health. Vegetarians consume two to three times as much fiber as do meat-eaters, which has been shown to reduce cholesterol and blood glucose levels, and protect against colon cancer. They also consume more antioxidants, which are found in a wide variety of plant foods and protect cells from oxygen-induced damage and reduce the risk for heart disease, arthritis, cancer, and other diseases.
Chicken Flavored Vegetarian Broth Powder Cert Organic 1.56 oz Pouch: K

Vegetarians eat more isoflavones than do meat eaters. These compounds, found mostly in soy foods, are a type of phytochemical. Research shows that isoflavones may reduce the risk for prostate cancer and may improve bone health. Vegetarians also consume much less saturated fat and cholesterol than do meat eaters, resulting in significantly lower levels of blood cholesterol, decreased instances of heart disease and possibly for diabetes and cancer. And, since vegetarians do not eat meat, they are not exposed to heme iron, a type of iron found in meat that may increase the risk of heart disease and cancer.

And lastly, vegetarianism is not only optimally healthy for your body, but your environment and the planet's animals. It allows you to live more harmoniously with the world around you, which improves mental and emotional health accordingly.