Part of the reason why cooking oils have become so confusing for a normal person to understand is that there are many different kinds of it. Some of the most popular are canola oil, olive oil, sunflower oil, extra virgin coconut oil and sesame oil. Included in the list are butter and margarine, although they are considered “bad” hands down! Popular cooking oils mentioned earlier have their own followers who swear by them but before we make recommendation, let’s look at fats first, since it’s the most influencing factor to consider.

In a nutshell, it has two groups, the good and the bad fats. The good ones are monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats which lessen your health risk by not adding any more bad cholesterol inside your body. The bad ones are saturated and trans fats which increase your health risk by piling up those bad cholesterols in you. Naturally, if you are to choose between the two, you should go with the good ones therefore these fats should also be your choice when choosing the best cooking oil to use. Most recommended are canola, olive and flax seed oils.

Please take note that all cooking oils are bad for your health if you use them in excess. By using them sparingly, healthy cooking oils are sure to delight your taste buds and at the same time, will not expose you to any health risk.

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Organic farmers believe that a free range chicken is one happy chicken and therefore is not oozing with harmful toxins. Not only will it help your energy levels and staying power last longer but also it was said to delay the aging process when introduced along with overall healthy lifestyle.

Most free range chickens are kept organic, since then it became so popular to health buffs the world over causing a shortage in supply. This alone makes it a very lucrative business for farmers worldwide especially in times like these when people are beginning to make a conscious effort in living a healthy lifestyle. Organically raised chickens are grass fed and they are encouraged to live a stress free life of clean air and water. As much as possible, no chemicals are introduced to the chicken’s system, whether directly to the chicken or to its surrounding areas.

Free range chickens are a great source of protein. Aside from that, it offers many benefits to humans when consumed. It is healthy and very delicious too unlike those that are raised in coops which tend to be less tasty. Be warned though, since free range chickens require special care, it tends to cost more than its supermarket counterparts.

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Community supported agriculture works effectively in and around areas where farm communities are conveniently located. Since the transportation costs is somehow lessen, if not prevented altogether, produce are offered cheap to members considering that they only have to pay for one-time shareholder’s fee before the planting season starts. There are many types of arrangement when going for CSA depending on what’s convenient for both the farmer and his consumers, these are:

·    Farm-to-home delivery set-up. In this arrangement the farmer will have the produce delivered to his consumers or the consumer picks it up after harvest all boxed up and ready to go. The only problem in this set-up is that the consumer would have to put up with what goes in his or her box since it is all up to the farmer’s discretion.
·    On-farm handpicking set-up. Consumers are allowed to pick their own share in the farm when harvesting season arrives. The only drawback is that this set-up tends to leave the farm in pieces after the harvest is over such as trampled plants. Not to mention this one angry shareholder who happens to be late for the picking.
·    Market style set-up. To avoid farm destruction, some resourceful farmers opt to put up a small stall outside of the farm and put together the produce for the consumers to choose from. This way, everyone is happy to have a variety a produce but also the farmer won’t have to worry about the state of his farm during handpicking sessions.

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Forest farming involves trimming down, albeit cautiously, some certain genus to reestablish balance and equilibrium of a particular forest. Forest farming is encouraged in areas wherein there is an existing issue of overabundance of certain species which restrict growth of other living organisms essential in the biological cycle. Some of the most popular harvests are exotic mushrooms such as Shiitake and other medicinal, edible fungi. This method of farming is not only about harvesting but also it involves planning and cultivating to ensure that the biocycle is not destroyed in any way. Forest farming proves to be a fun and profitable venture that anyone could explore.

Several government funded seminars are conducted to teach locals residing near forest areas about forest farming methods and techniques, as well as the kinds of mushrooms that could be grown in the area. These seminars go as far as how and where to sell your produce after harvests. Aside from mushrooms, there are other crops you can find, grow and harvest in forests since they have rich and very fertile soil that could grow practically anything you can think of. These crops include, but not limited to:  ginseng and ferns which are used for medicinal and ornamental purposes.

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Given these bountiful rewards, who could turn away from this very lucrative business? If the only thing that hinders you from acquiring your own income generating farm is land, think again; there are microfarms operated right in the heart of the city and its neighboring suburbs–one might even be near your place.

Actually, all you need is a piece of land. Determine how much space you can set aside for your own garden and consult an expert on what crops could be grown based on the condition of soil within your space. Usually, you can grow small crops like tomatoes, peppers and radishes. In microfarming, variety is important. However, if you plan to make this as an income generating one, stick to crops that are popular so you could sell them once they are ready and stay away from the ones that will take up too much space such as corn and potatoes. Start with a little garden first then if everything goes right in place, you can add a greenhouse later.

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Always remember to take everything in moderation.  Nothing is really bad for us unless we take in too much.  Fat for example is bad since it has a lot of cholesterol which can clog our arteries.  However our bodies also need a certain amount of fat.  Fat is easily converted into energy which is what keeps all of us going.  Wine and alcohol is also bad for us since it does not only make us tipsy these drinks also contain a lot of calories.  However studies have shown that alcoholic drink like beer actually help in the digestion of food.  Wine also contains anti-carcinogens which can help us live longer.  So keep in mind that everything you consume should be done in moderation.  Chocolates are full of calories and fat but taste good and also contain anti-aging agents.  So eat and drink moderately.

If you like fried food then it’s also best to change into a low cholesterol cooking oil like canola.  Other cooking oil like coconut contain a lot of HDL which is the bad cholesterol.  Oil like canola and olive oil contain cholesterol too but it’s the LDL they contain or the good cholesterol.  Certain oil most especially coconut oil can actually contain more HDL than a piece of beef!

A good tip would be to take in as much fruit and vegetables as you can.  Fruits and vegetables are good sources of vitamins and minerals not found in meat, plus fruit make good dessert.  Fruit and vegetables also contain a lot of fibers which aids in good digestion and also helps the body eliminate waste.

Eating excessively is bad because you are doing your body more harm than good.  Eating a balanced diet plus regular exercise can strengthen your body.  People say that you are what you eat so in order to be healthy, eat healthy food all the time.

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A macrobiotic diet is different from a vegan diet. A vegan diet is exclusively greens while a macrobiotic diet includes some foods from animal sources, although in limited amounts only. In some ways, a vegan diet shares common food staples with macrobiotic diet such as brown rice and beans but their principles are different. Generally, macrobiotics is based on healthy eating practices that were applied before, when artificial and chemical compositions in food are unheard of.

Macrobiotic dieters state that macrobiotic is a way of life and not a diet which focuses on nutritional value of the food they eat. They believe that in order for the body to achieve maximum health levels, everything inside it should be in perfect balance. This means that a dieter should not deprive the body of nourishment but not overeat. Macrobiotics also has set of rules for cooking and what to eat on certain seasons such as spring, summer, fall and winter. You will also have to learn how to do a macrobiotic diet properly, if you are planning to engage with one.

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Actually, the scary human swine flu affects humans only and the infection is made from one human to another and never by eating infected pork although it is not advisable as well to eat that kind of pork. This human swine flu is a combination of flu strains: human, swine and avian. To avoid further misconception, the CDC changed its name from swine flu to a more technical H1N1.

Again, this human swine flu does not affect the way we eat or put us in any food safety risk by eating pork but proper food handling is highly encouraged to avoid food poisoning. Apparently, there was a reported case wherein a farm worker passed the virus to a herd of pigs but there is no known infection of pig to human, so far.

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Salt is already known to health experts as a high-risk nutrient for cardiovascular problems – high blood pressure, stroke, and heart disease. A new study conducted by Dr. Rachel Thompson, of the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF), concludes that regular consumption of salty soups increases the risk of stomach cancer. This particularly applies to several well-known brands of creamy soups, especially those containing ham or bacon. Some of these contain around half of the recommended daily intake for salt, which is a maximum of 6 grams per day, in a single serving. Vegetable soups are generally lower in salt (and hence safer), though some of these also carry as much as one-third of the recommended daily intake for salt per serving.

Owing to the risk of stomach cancer, Dr. Thompson recommends that people watch the salt content of branded soups (reading the labels) and make low-salt versions of their favorite soups. People who consume other salted foods – like sausages, hams, and processed cereals (especially those taken for breakfast) – are at a still higher risk of stomach cancer, if they also continue regular intake of salty soups. To stay on the safe side, it is advisable to watch all branded foods for their salt content.

The risk of getting bacterial infection from peanut butter is more immediate as the popular food item is suspected of spreading the infectious bacteria Salmonella. After the latest Salmonella outbreak (culminating in January 2009) in the United States, which left around 600 people down with illness and possibly killed 9 people in the US, the food safety center of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has ordered the collection and testing of peanut butter for bacterial content before allowing it to go into a facility. Stewart Parnell, the CEO of the Peanut Butter Corporation of America, was summoned by congressional subpoena to explain his orders to ship products of bacteria-tainted peanuts to about 50 manufacturers of food items. While Parnell chose to use his right of not answering the questions, the potential risk of acute bacterial infection remains with the peanut butter products and consumers are advised to stay away from these until the investigation comes up with its conclusions. A list of peanut butter products recalled by the FDA can be read online at http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/peanutbutterrecall/index.cfm

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1.    Campylobacter is found in the intestines of birds and most poultry.  Campylobacter can cause diarrhea, stomach cramps and fever.  It is the most common cause of diarrhea in the world.  The bacteria lives in the intestine of healthy birds and may be passed on to humans when eating undercooked chicken or poultry.
2.    Salmonella causes salmonellosis.  This bacteria can be found in the intestines of birds, mammals and reptiles.  It comes to human contact via the different foods of animal origin.  Salmonellosis causes diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps.  A person who has a weak immune system or poor health can cause life threatening infections.
3.    E Coli is a bacterial pathogen found in the reservoir of cow or cattle.  Humans come into contact with this bacteria by consuming water contaminated with cow feces.  E Coli infection causes bloody diarrhea, sever abdominal cramps and mild fever.  In some cases, E Coli infections develop into hemolytic uremic syndrome  or HUS. This complication causes temporary anemia, profuse bleeding and kidney failure.

Government Agencies and the World Health Organization tell us that the incidence of food related illnesses or food poisoning can be lowered by practicing good hygene and sanitary food handling when cooking or coming into contact with food.  Simple acts like washing the hands before and after eating reduces the risk of food contamination.  Rotten or rotting food should also be thrown away as these become natural breeding ground for bacteria and viruses.  When cooking always make sure that there is adequate heat and that food is cooked before serving.

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