Grow By Volunteering In Kenya And Other Destinations

Posted on March 5, 2009
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Africa is a vast continent but most of it lies in the shadow of poverty, malnutrition, drought, lack of education and civil wars.

From the famines of Ethiopia to the poaching of wild animals in Kenya, Africa has seen it all. Volunteering in Africa has been a major consideration of Non-profit organizations worldwide.

Different people have different reasons to opt for volunteer work and it can vary from the desire to learn new things about new cultures and societies to travel and gratification through social work and helping mankind.

Some people are so devoted to the cause that they have spent their entire lifetime in Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda, Nairobi etc, while others do as much they can.

Volunteering abroad and in continents like Africa, South America and Asia can be an enriching experience with a satisfaction or gratification that is almost incomparable.

There are different organizations requiring volunteers overseas and especially in Africa. Some of the organizations and projects involving volunteering in Africa are:

The Cheetah Recoil Program: This program is being organized at the Marsabit National Park, Kenya as a part of providing opportunities for volunteering in Africa.

The Cheetah is the fastest animal on land but off late, due to extensive poaching, the population of Cheetah is almost near extinction. This Cheetah program has been designed specifically for volunteers who have an interest in wildlife conservation and are willing to travel overseas to Kenya.

The requirement is for volunteers in groups of 20 who will work in a specific area along with some senior research co-coordinators, game wardens and scientists.

The Azafady Project: The project is being run by an U.K. charity organization and they need volunteering in Africa to effectively alleviate poverty, and at the same time improve and protect the unique and beautiful environment and wildlife. Their overseas volunteer program is two fold.

One program is called the Pioneer Madagascar and it offers opportunity for volunteers to work at the grass-root level and create a system through which environmental degradation and poverty can be fought.

The second project is called the Lemur Venture which is a lemur conservation project focused on protecting the already threatened population of lemur.

Global Service Corps (GSC): They are an organization who offers overseas volunteering opportunities and this includes projects in Tanzania, Africa.

Their volunteering in Africa program involves participants to stay with Tanzanian people in their homes and learn about their life and culture. Volunteers share their own experiences and culture and through daily interaction educate the people of Tanzania.

The project areas for volunteers include HIV/AIDS prevention, health, creating sustainable agriculture to prevent hunger, working with hospitals, farms, schools to impart information and create a social community.

There are many more organizations who offer opportunities to volunteers to visit Africa and make a difference. You can also take up volunteering in Africa and the benefits are:

1.You will be able to give something back. There are many people who feel the need to give back to the society and are passionate about their cause. If you are such a person then volunteering in Africa programs can provide you with a great opportunity to pursue such a cause.

2.If you are looking for a unique opportunity: There are many projects focusing on people, poverty, social issues, disease or health etc., but there are not as many projects on wildlife and ecosystem conservation. If you are interested in a wildlife conservation project and want to become a volunteer and pursue a related program, then it will be a unique opportunity that will ultimately provide satisfaction.

3.If you are looking for experience: There are many people who take part in overseas volunteering projects to gather experience required for their career goals or to start their own non profit organization. Either way, volunteering in Africa will provide the necessary experience and much more. Visit starving children in africa for further information.

What To Eat After You Exercise, And Why It’s Important To Get It Right.

Posted on February 9, 2009
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I’m sure that you’ve heard in the past that your post-workout meal may very well be your most significant thing that you consume all day.

This is because when you’re done with an intense workout session, you’re entering a catabolic status where your muscle glycogen is used up and the levels of cortisol in your body have increased and are beginning to break the tissue of the muscle down excessively. In other words, this means the body’s in the survival mode of getting energy by breaking down muscle tissue state… you don’t want your muscles to get broken down, you want to find balance so that you increase muscle instead. What I suggest you do, is to eat an easily digestible after-exercise meal (can be a shake or smoothie) as soon as you are able after exercising.

The purpose is to choose a meal with carbs that digest easily, as well as protein that digests quickly to give you what’s needed to initiate muscular rebuilding. The flow of carbohydrates and amino acids from this quickly digested meal promotes a raise in insulin levels from the pancreas, which propels nutrients into the muscular cells.

The after exercise meal should usually contain between 300-500 calories for optimum results. Case in point, a 120-lb lady may only need a 300-calorie meal, where a 200-lb man may need a 500-calorie meal after working out. Your post-workout meal should also have anywhere from a ratio of 2:1 and 4:1 for carbs:proteins. While the other meals you consume should include a supply of healthy fats, keep the total fat content of your first meal after working out to a nominal quantity, since fat slows the speed of absorption of the meal, which is the not what you want to happen after a workout.

When you choose what to make for your after exercise meal, the first thing to understand is that you DON’T need any of these costly post-workout supplement formulations that all of the advertisments you see everywhere will tell you that are absolutely necessary! I would rather to make my own post-workout milkshakes from pure ingredients as an alternative to using a store bought shake, since many of them are lacking in quality.

A good source of easily digestible natural carbs such as honey, pineapples, organic maple syrup, or bananas are ideal. The more you can encourage the muscle rebuilding process, the faster you boost your metabolic rate and this can assist with weight loss too.

The best way to get of quick to digest protein is a quality non-denatured whey protein isolate and/or a non-fat or low-fat yogurt. Following are a few ideas for tasty post-workout shakes that will boost your recuperation process:

Chocolate Banana – blend together 1 cup water, ½ cup skim milk, one and a half frozen bananas, 2 tbsp organic maple syrup, and 30 grams chocolate whey protein powder 38 g prot, 72 g carb, 0.5 g fat, 440 calories.

Pineapple Vanilla – blend together 1 cup water, ½ cup vanilla yogurt, one cup frozen pineapples, 2 tbsp honey (preferably raw), and 30 grams vanilla whey protein powder 35 g prot, 71 g carb, 0.5 g fat, 425 calories.

An additional bonus of post-workout meals is that you can please even the most intense cravings for sweets, since this is the only of the day where you can get away with taking in extra sugars without adding to your waistline. This is true only in the case of a high intensity resistance exercise routine though, so avoid this if you’ve just been doing some modest cardio.
Enjoy!

Slow The Aging Process With The Right Nutrition

Posted on January 14, 2009
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Everyone wants to look ten years younger, and now you can. Helpful as they can be, you can begin to do so without resorting to anti-wrinkle creams, Botox, or even plastic surgery.

With the proper diet, it’s been proven that good nutrition can slow the aging process.

There are an array of nutritional foods that you can incorporate into your diet so you not only look younger, but feel younger and healthier as well.

You’ll want to eat foods, particularly fruits, that contain antioxidants because they slow the rate of free radical damage which is the key source of aging and wrinkle creation.

For a breakdown of some of the best foods that can help slow the aging process, keep reading.

Berries Won’t Make you Feel Blue

There are a variety of berries that help keep your skin look radiant and young. Generally, berries contain a number of antioxidants that slow the aging process, and they also serve to fight off skin diseases – such as acne – that can take a harsh toll on the skin.

Berries that can benefit your youthfulness include Acai, strawberries, blackberries, raspberries and above all – blueberries. Blueberries can also help slow the mental aging process and fight diseases such as Alzheimer’s and other dementia-related conditions.

Carrots Will Brighten Your Day

Fruits and vegetables containing beta carotene help to hydrate the skin by protecting the Vitamin C in your body from oxidation. When one doesn’t receive enough beta carotene, the skin becomes dry and cracked, enhancing the aging process and making wrinkles appear more pronounced.

Fruits and vegetables that are rich in beta carotene are sweet potatoes, carrots, mangos and pumpkins.

Welcoming Lycopene into Your Diet

Lycopene isn’t a fundamental nutrient that our bodies need but it’s definitely recommended if you want to slow down aging regression. Skin damage is caused by the exposure of singlet oxygen to ultraviolet lights.

To counteract the singlet or free radicals, the lycopene is able to squash it and processes oxygen to other cells and organs that need it. Fruits and vegetables that contain good amounts of lycopene include tomatoes, watermelons, papaya, guava, red bell pepper and pink grapefruit.

As long as your diet is rich in fruits and vegetables, you’ll have a great chance of slowing the age deterioration. Your skin will be clear, hydrated and protected from various diseases that enhance aging and cause additional risk of skin cancer.

You can be creative with your fruits by making smoothies to make sure you get a great blend of anti-aging harmony and skin beauty.

Find Out More About Nutritious And Healthy Juices

Posted on December 8, 2008
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Do you like fruit or vegetable juices? It is possible that you are a juicearian after all. We have all heard the word “vegetarian” or “vegan” and sometimes the word “fruitarian” also. But the word “juicearian” is a little bit more uncommon, and not used as much. But times are changing since more and more individuals are getting aware of different ways to improve their health.

Drinking wholesome freshly squeezed vegetable or fruit juices is sure one of them! If you are browsing for information about healthy juices you are sure at the right place. . Raw food adepts regimen also include juices as part of their food. Nearly anything can be juiced – fruits and vegetables, primarily. It’s a type of concentrated food. Many raw foodists consume only fresh fruit juices. In addition, fruit and vegetable juices are good sources of the conventional nutrients. Citrus fruits (grapefruit, oranges, etc.) provide a excellent part of vitamin C. Carrot juice contains large portions of vitamin A, in the form of beta carotene. . Fruit juices are an excellent source of essential minerals like iron, copper, potassium, sodium, iodine, and magnesium. These are bound by the plant in a form that is most simply assimilated during digestion.

Can Vemma Nutrition: Prevent Disease ?

Posted on December 2, 2008
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Can Vemma nutrition supplements really assist with different health conditions? There have been assumptions that nutrition supplements can assist with treating ailments and heal people of their diseases lately . This is as a product of the testimonials and recognition that people seem to be getting from taking these nutrition supplements. Up till now, the FDA has not approved the use of supplements as a method of treatment for ailments and diseases.

However, it doesn’t mean they do not approve of it as a beneficial food supplement. The fact is there have been a lot of claims by manufacturers of these nutrition supplements and no one can say for a fact whether they are indeed true or false.

While their power to cure ailments is still under scrutiny, supplements can be a healthy supplement for food, and can help improve the body’s immune system and prevent ailments and conditions. For instance, vitamin C is famous for its ability to prevent colds, and flu. So, taking vitamin C on a daily basis is sure to defend you from catching a cold. Nutrition supplements have a lot of benefits and they often act as a method of minor ailment prevention. For instance, Mangosteen juice is known to have such miraculous benefits as even curing diabetes as a product of the phytonutrients that are available in the mangosteen fruit.

In spite extraordinary qualities, Vemma nutrition supplements are not approved as healing methods until it can be proved beyond reasonable doubt that they can indeed be used as a prescription.

Acai Juice In Your Every Day Life

Posted on November 28, 2008
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Acai juice comes from the Acai berry grown wild in the Amazon Rainforest in Brazil. The acai berries grow on palm trees and are deep purple with a small amount of pulp.

Typically with fruit juice people say the fruit is tastier than the juice. This is not so with acai. Acai berries contain a very small amount of pulp, and few people know that acai cannot be consumed until the juice is extracted from the pulp. Most people say that acai juice tastes like a berry and chocolate combined.

With its incredible nutritional value, this juice has been said to be an entire meal in itself. Acai Juice is full of fatty acids, and a lot of vitamins and minerals which your body craves. During the picking season, the acai berries soak in water so they can become soft, making it easy for the seed to be removed. The acai juice is then finalized by adding water and oil to the fruit pulp. Traditionally, the Brazilian natives would crush the berries to extract the juice.

Acai juice is known for its health benefits among the Brazilian natives and this knowledge is quickly spreading across the globe. It has been said that Acai juice may help with arthritis, inflammation in the muscles and joints, body pain, the aging of our skin and even sleep issues.

The health benefits of acai juice are plentiful. The acai berry and acai juice are very good for the economy of Brazil as there are over 60 factories located in the country which produce acai products. To protect the Amazon Rainforests delicate balance, the harvesting of the Acai berry is still done by hand as it has been for years. To avoid damage, acai berries are usually processed within 24 hours. In order to process the berries within 24 hours, acai harvesters will pick the berries and rush them to the factory.

Acai Juice is definitely on the rise partly thanks to the many recognized benefits of the product. Acai juice is perfect for daily use and is an excellent addition to any diet.

How much Protein do we Really Need?

Posted on November 27, 2008
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From the days of grade school, we saw those wonderful colored charts showing us the importance of eating our meat and drinking our milk so that we would get lots of protein.

The Meat, Dairy and Egg Push

Now, as adults, we know that the concept of the “basic four” food groups is heavily promoted by the National Dairy Council, the National Egg Board and the National Livestock and Meat Board. In fact, the largest supplier of “nutritional education” materials for our U.S. schools is the National Dairy Council. But do we really need all of the protein that their agenda pushes?

Does Anyone Know?

According to the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, history has shown that many populations have lived in excellent health with 2.5% of their daily calories coming from protein. The World Health Organization says it should be 4.5%. The Food and Nutrition Board says 6% while the National Research Council claims it should be as high as 8%. Then we have the National Academy of Sciences which recommends 10 to 35% of our daily calories should come from protein. Hmmm, is the picture getting muddy? Why do the numbers keep get higher?

Human milk is 5% protein, so that could be nature’s view point on the issue. During the first year of life, babies grow faster than any other time and their protein needs are the highest. For centuries before modern times and man-made formulas, babies grew solely on their mother’s milk during their first years. Has anyone thought about making that the guide?

Standard Most Used

The common standard shown on charts these days put it at 8 to 9%. How does this compute? The simplest method is to just take your weight and multiply it by .37 and that’s the number of grams of protein to eat each day. An even more important issue here may be where you choose to get those grams of protein.

A quick comparison using 100 grams each:

•Beef: 24 g Protein, 7.7 g Fat, 90 mg Cholesterol
•Chicken: 30 g Protein, 7.7 g Fat, 84 mg Cholesterol
•Egg: 13.5 g Protein, 15 g Fat, 459 mg Cholesterol
•Lamb: 28 g Protein, 7.7 g Fat, 89 mg Cholesterol
•Milk-Cow: 3.3 g Protein, 3.6 g Fat, 14.3 mg Cholesterol
•Milk-Goat: 3.5 g Protein, 4.1 g Fat, 11.4 mg Cholesterol
•Soymilk: 2.7 g Protein, 1.9 g Fat, 0 mg Cholesterol
•Tofu: 8 g Protein, 4.5 g Fat, 0 mg Cholesterol

Don’t be fooled that since you’re getting more protein from an equal amount of beef than tofu that beef is the better deal. Anywhere from 50 to 80% of the calories in beef are fat. And then there is the cholesterol issue. Tofu is a low calorie food with less than 5% fat and no cholesterol.

Remember, all legumes, grains, vegetables, fruits, nuts and seeds contain protein. It’s not difficult to reach the daily requirements. And you can do it with using high fat, high cholesterol foods.

Vitamins And Minerals Information

Posted on October 11, 2008
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You hear a lot about vitamins and minerals, but do you have any idea if you are getting what you need? For the most part, you probably are. However, there are times when we don’t, and this direct us to a fascinating theory. My mom gave me a book she had read a while back, and it claimed that people who do not get enough vitamins and minerals each day not only get sick much easier, they also walk around with strange cravings.

I read the book and it got me thinking about a teacher I had in fifth grade. This guy was your typical teacher, even if he was not very energetic. Many times he would eat the chalk he had in the class room. I never considered there was be a reason why he did it even though we thought it was funny at the time. Could it have something to do with the quantity of vitamins and minerals in his diet? I am not sure, but this book told me it was. It’s a fascinating theory. Our bodies do crave vitamins and minerals we aren’t getting, but would it make us eat chalk?

So this might be the explanation why you demand certain foods. That’s definitely not as awful as eat chalk, but this could explain odd cravings, especially during pregnancy. Expecting women require more vitamins and minerals than anybody, and they need to be sure they get them. Do they have to ask for Italian dressing and hotdogs in the middle of the night if they aren’t getting the vitamins and minerals for themselves as well as what they need for their growing baby? I am not sure.

Free Weight Loss Nutrition Software

Posted on October 8, 2008
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This Program Shows You Detailed Nutritional Value In All Food Groups.

It calculates all the nutritional value in every food imaginable from baby food to meats, fruits and even snacks. A large order of fast food french fries for example has 539 calories & 28 grams of fat [mostly saturated] that literally sticks to arteries & organs.

People want to know the nutritional values of their favorite fast food… Milkshake: A Medium 21 fluid ounce cup has 733 calories, 16 grams of protein, 125 grams carbohydrates [96 grams sugar!] and 20 grams fat [half that is saturated].

This information is very useful if you’re considering a fat loss program. ‘Foodfile’ also has “food facts” like “high sugar content” or “low sodium content”.

Saturated fat is the enemy when it comes to weight loss. This bad boy creates nasty cholesterol that likes to clog arteries and park itself on internal organs.

You can totally control this situation by using the software to research low fat and low sugar whole foods that you enjoy to eat.

The fact is most of the best foods come from mother earth and don’t have tons of refined ingredients to accelerate weight gain.

You won’t know how much information is in this software until you try it out. There’s nothing to lose except weight and this program easily downloads onto your desktop.

Check Out The the best free nutrition software online

Is Acai Berry Juice Really As Great As The Experts Say?

Posted on October 5, 2008
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Acai fruit juice is an amazing new discovery that can help anyone solve many common health problems. What is Acai? Well, Acai is a little purple berry that has a high nutritional value; as a result it is one of the most popular fruits in the health food industry. It has become so popular that the rain forests that contain the Acai palm are being preserved just for production of this fruit. However, it is very difficult to transport this fruit whole, so it is usually made into Acai berry juice or as frozen/dried berries.

Acai fruit juice has been used by Brazilian surfers for years to help boost their performance in tournaments. Locals use it for a quick energy boost, to help treat stomach problems, and it has even been known to improveincrease sexual performance.

When Acai fruit juice was brought back from South Ameria researchers began to find that there was a lot more to this fruit than the locals knew. Researchers found that Acai has one of the highest antioxidant counts of any food known to man. Antioxidants help destroy the free radicals that do great damage to our cells.

This means that Acai protects against cancer, reduces the signs of aging, and can strengthen your immune system. It also contains high levels of essential fatty acids, which have been known to reduce cholesterol, improve mood, and make you smarter.

With all these amazing benefits Acai seems too good to be true, but actually it gets better. Not only can Acai fruit juice give you more energy, help fight cancer, and improve your sex life…but it tastes great as well. With the very unique taste of chocolate mixed with berries, you can enjoy all the benefits of Acai in great tasting drink.

The Amazon rain forest holds many secrets of great health beneath its canopy. Luckily for us What is Acai is no longer a secret. Acai is a simple way to improve the over all quality of life for anyone who decides to use it.

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