3/27/2013

Daily menu with all required vitamins

Start your day with a rich breakfast.
Just one cup of cereals (54 g), one glass of milk, low fat, (250 ml) and you'll be satiated and full of energy until lunch.


3/26/2013

Vitamin C (Ascorbic acid)


Maintains intracellular cement substance with preservation of capillary integrity. Cosubstrate in hydroxylations requiring molecular oxygen. Important in immune responses, wound healing, allergic reactions. Increases absorption of nonheme iron. 
You need vitamin C for the growth and repair of tissues in all parts of your body. It helps the body make collagen, an important protein used to make skin, cartilage, tendons, ligaments, and blood vessels. Vitamin C is needed for repairing and maintaining bones and teeth.

Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin)



Vitamin B12 is a nutrient that helps keep the body's nerve and blood cells healthy and helps make DNA, the genetic material in all cells. Vitamin B12 helps prevent anemia that makes people tired and weak. Involved in the metabolism of single-carbon fragments. Essential for biosynthesis of nucleic acids and nucleoproteins. Role in metabolism of nervous tissue. Involved with folate metabolism. Related to growth.

Vitamin B12 is synthesized by bacteria, but the vitamin produced from the microflora in the colon is not absorbed. Food of plant origin contain the vitamin only through contamination or bacterial synthesis. 

Folic Acid (Folate)


Essential for biosynthesis of nucleic acids, especially important in early fetal development. Essential for normal maturation of red blood cells. Functions as a coenzyme – tetrahydrofolic acid. Folate-dependent reaction is the conversion of homocysteine to methionine in the synthesis of S-adenosyl-methionine, an important methyl donor. Also folate-dependent reaction, the methylation of deoxyuridylate to thymidylate in the formation of DNA, is required for proper cell division. An impairment of this reaction initiates a process that can lead to megaloblastic anemia. 

Biotin (Vitamin H)


Essential component of enzymes. Involve din synthesis and breakdown of fatty acids and amino acids through aiding the addition and removal of CO2 to or from active compounds and the removal of NH2 from amino acids. Vitamin H is part of the B complex group of vitamins. All B vitamins help the body to convert carbohydrates into glucose, which is used to produce energy. This vitamin helps the body metabolize fats and protein. B complex vitamins are needed for healthy skin, hair, eyes, and liver. They also help the nervous system function properly. 


Pantothenic acid (Vitamin B5)


Pantothenic acid is widely distributed in foods. It is the compound of the synthesis of fatty acids, cholesterol, acetylation of alcohols, amines, and amino acids. This water-soluble vitamin acts as an antioxidant. In addition, it is used in the production of several enzymes and helps the central nervous system to communicate with the brain. Essential in the intermediary metabolism of carbohydrate, fat and protein. 

Vitamin B6 - pyridoxine


Water-soluble vitamin, that helps body to make antibodies, maintain normal nerve function, make hemoglobin, break down proteins, keep blood sugar in normal ranges. As a coenzyme, aids in the synthesis and breakdown of amino acids and of unsaturated fatty acids from essential fatty acids. Essential for conversion of tryptophan to niacin. Essential for normal growth.

Stable in presence of heat, light and oxidation. 


Pack your Easter treats to a pastry gift basket

All face the problem of what a great gift to present for Easter to you loved ones.We like gifts that give delight and surprise. Handmade gifts are the most appreciated. I suggest to bake a gift basket, in which you could pack a variety of Easter treats.

3/24/2013

How to make jello eggs for Easter





Step by step instructions how to make jello eggs:

Gelatin - tasty and healthy


Gelatin has many health benefits and in its pure form – is free of color, additives and sugar. Gelatin is made from the connective tissues of meat animals, which happen to have very nutritious components.

Gelatin-rich foods are a large part of traditional diets. Gelatin by itself has few healthy properties.


3/22/2013

Waiting for Easter? Eat eggs as much as you can!


Eggs should be considered a 'superfood' because they can boost health and tackle obesity.

Eggs are one of the most nutrient-dense foods and are recommended one a day for the maximum benefit.


3/14/2013

Niacin - Vitamin B3


Thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B6, pantothenic acid, biotin, folic acid, vitamin B12 and vitamin C are referred to as the water-soluble vitamins. Solubility in water is one of the only characteristics that they share. Because they are water soluble, these vitamins tend to be absorbed by simple diffusion when ingested in large amounts and by carrier – mediated processes when ingested in smaller amounts. They are distributed in the aqueous phases of the cell. Most are not stored in appreciable amounts, making their regular consumption a necessity.

Riboflavin - Vitamin B2



Thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B6, pantothenic acid, biotin, folic acid, vitamin B12 and vitamin C are referred to as the water-soluble vitamins. Solubility in water is one of the only characteristics that they share. Because they are water soluble, these vitamins tend to be absorbed by simple diffusion when ingested in large amounts and by carrier – mediated processes when ingested in smaller amounts. They are distributed in the aqueous phases of the cell. Most are not stored in appreciable amounts, making their regular consumption a necessity.


Riboflavin is essential for the metabolism of carbohydrates, amino acids and lipids, supports antioxidant protection. It carries out these functions as the coenzymes flavin adenine dinocleotide and flavin adenine mononucleotide. Because of its fundamental roles in metabolism, riboflavin deficiencies are first evident in tissues that have rapid cellular turnover such as the skin and epithelia.

3/13/2013

Thiamin (Vitamin B1)



Thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B6, pantothenic acid, biotin, folic acid, vitamin B12 and vitamin C are referred to as the water-soluble vitamins. Solubility in water is one of the only characteristics that they share. Because they are water soluble, these vitamins tend to be absorbed by simple diffusion when ingested in large amounts and by carrier – mediated processes when ingested in smaller amounts. They are distributed in the aqueous phases of the cell. Most are not stored in appreciable amounts, making their regular consumption a necessity. 



3/12/2013

Vitamin K - clotting factor

Vitamins are:

Fat soluble (A, D, E and K) vitamins – are absorbed passively and must be transported with dietary lipid. They tend to be found in the lipid portions of the cell such as membranes and lipid droplets. They are excreted with the feces, via enterohepatic circulation.

Water soluble (ascorbic acid, folate, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, pyridoxine, biotin, pantothenic acid, cobalamin) vitamins – are absorbed by passive and active mechanisms, transported by carriers, and not stored in appreciable amounts in the body. They are excreted in the urine.


Vitamin K plays a role in bone formation and regulation of multiple enzyme systems. 

Your skin needs it - Vitamin E





Vitamin E has a fundamental role in protecting the body against the damaging effects of reactive oxygen species that are formed metabolically or encountered in the environment. 


3/08/2013

Sunshine vitamin (D)






Vitamin D (calciferol)

Vitamin D is known as the sunshine vitamin because modest exposure to sunlight is usually sufficient for most people to produce their own vitamin D using ultraviolet light and cholesterol in the skin. 

For your eyes only - Vitamin A



Vitamin A is absorbed passively and must be transported with dietary lipid. It tend to be found in the lipid portions of the cell such as membranes and lipid droplets. It is  excreted with the feces, via enterohepatic circulation.

Fat in common foods



0 g fat

Fruits and vegetables (except avocados, olives, nuts)
Nonfat milk and yogurt
Plain pasta and rice

Fats. Naked facts



Fats constitute about 34% of the energy in the human diet. Because fat is energy rich and provides 9 kcal/d of energy, humans are able to obtain adequate energy with a reasonable daily consumption of fat – containing foods. Dietary fat is stored in fat cells located in depots on the human body. The ability to store and use large amounts of fat enables humans to survive without food for weeks.

3/05/2013

Glycemic index



Dietary carbohydrates are digested into glucose, fructose and galactose through the actions of a-amylase and brush border digestive enzymes in the upper gastrointestinal tract. The ability to digest carbohydrates is modified by:

Weight loss: calculate food energy


Not all of the energy in foods and alcohol is available to the body's cells. The processes of digestion and absorption are not completely efficient, and the nitrogenous portion of amino acids is not oxidized but is excreted in the form of urea. 

Therefore the biologically available energy from foods and alcohol is expressed in values rounded off slightly below those obtained using calorimeter.

3/04/2013

Body weight control



Bone, muscle, organs, body fluids, adipose tissue are all components are body weight. Maintaining a constant body weight is regulated by a complex system of neural, hormonal and chemical mechanisms that keeps the balance between energy intake and energy expenditure. Mechanism abnormalities can result in weight fluctuations (overweight and obesity).


Eat grapefruits for weight loss



Refreshing and delicious grapefruit is rich in phytonutrients such as vitamin A, beta-carotene, and lycopene. It is revered as fruit of "paradise" for its unique health-promoting as well as disease-healing properties, especially among health-conscious, fitness freaks.

If you want to gain weight



It is a common phenomenon that we hear that people talk about losing weight and making special New Year resolutions to loose out that extra fatty layer from their waists, but what about those who want to gain weight and add on a few extra kilos to get that perfect chubby look?

3/01/2013

Weight loss



Healthy eating is not about strict nutrition philosphies, staying unrealistically thin, or depriving yourself of the foods you love. Rather, it's about feeling great, having more energy, and keeping yourself healthy as possible.