Fruitarian (fruitarinism follower) think that their lifestyles as an integral part and a simple lifestyle without harming living creatures, including plants. Unfortunately, there are many skeptical and critical opinion against this lifestyle.

Fruitarianism is a diet that only eat fruits, nuts, seeds, and other plants that come from harvested plants without damaging or harming the plant itself. Many of the fruitarian also eat other foods, although most of it still consume 50 percent or more fruit in their daily diet.

The most common examples of edible fruit that comes from plants, including plums, oranges, apples, melons, berries, banana, mango, avocado, and pineapple, but according to fruitarianism, did only eat fruits that fall naturally, not like harvesting fruit that takes from plants. As described by Carefair.

Besides fruits, vegetables can also be included into the fruitarianism diet, such as tomatoes, cucumbers, green leafy vegetables and root vegetables. Although many of the fruitarian prefer fruits than vegetables because it believed that the fruit is higher quality food and assist people to participate in a natural way of life by spreading the seeds of fruit. Wheat is not included because it is not considered worthy to eat the seeds, which have grown into plants.

Later, the medical community expressed concern that fruitarian will lack the intake of essential vitamins and minerals for daily activities. Medical experts said that, following the fruitarianism lifestyle could make your body deficient of calcium, iron, zinc, protein, vitamin B, vitamin D, and fatty acids.

Have you ever heard of Li Qing Yuen? He’s the person who lived up to a ripe old age of 252 years. No kidding. The life (and longevity) of Prof. Li Qing Yuen, who lived between 1678-1930, is one of the best documented. And you know what? He’s reported to have consumed Goji berries daily!

Goji berry is a member of the wolfberry family and is known by the scientific name of Lycium barbarum. It’s credited with increasing the life span and having several health improving properties. It is one of the richest natural nutrients available on earth. It is said that the Chinese have been using Goji berry, as a food and a medicine, for more than five thousand years.

Nutritional value of Goji Berries

Goji berry is a rich source of nutrients and amino acids. It contains 18 amino acids, 21 trace minerals and several vitamins and minerals. It has six times more amino acids than bee pollen, 500 times more Vitamin C by weight than oranges, more iron than spinach, and more Beta carotene than carrots. Goji berry contains minerals like Calcium and Magnesium, and Vitamins B1, B2, B6 and Vitamin E, normally found in grains and seeds and rarely in fruits. In addition, these berries contain many complex compounds and phytonutrients. High levels of protein content (13% of these berries are protein – higher than whole wheat), and antioxidants are other nutrient highlights. In addition, Goji berries contain Beta-sitosterol, Betaine, and essential fatty acids. With all this nutrition packed into it, it is small wonder that these berries have a great medicinal and health value.

Benefits of Goji Berries

Goji berries have been used in traditional systems of medicine to treat various conditions like anemia, cough and inflammation. It has also been used for improving the immune system, protection of the liver, and improving eyesight. Apart from the curative properties, Goji berry is believed to have a positive effect on the health and wellness of those consuming it, and benefits the user with longevity, increased vitality and sexual prowess.

Elderly patients, who were given Goji berries thrice a week, reported several benefits, including improved sleep, better appetite and recovery of sexual function in some cases.

Antioxidants combat free radicals, which are responsible for damaging cells and DNA, increasing the risk of cancer and aiding the ageing process. The high level of antioxidants in Goji berries ensures that the ageing process is slowed down. It is believed that Goji berries have contributed to the freedom from diseases like diabetes, high blood pressure, heart diseases, stroke, and Alzheimer’s disease in the people of Asia who have been consuming this fruit.

About the plant

Goji berry grows in protected valleys with vines reaching up to heights of 4 m. The plant grows in sandy or clay soil conditions under semi shade or no shade. The fruits are never plucked by hand since they are very sensitive and can be spoilt if they are touched by hand at this stage. Instead the fruits are shaken on to a mat and then dried in the shade.

Dosage and consumption details

Goji berries taste somewhat like raisins. They can be taken alone or mixed with other ingredients. Daily dosage could be about 10-30 grams.

The best way to take dried Goji berries is to wash them in water and soak them for a short while, before consuming. You can get it at reasonable prices at most Chinese stores.

No matter what your age or conditions, stress is an inevitable part of everyone’s life and ongoing stress actually contributes to gaining weight. Elissa Epel, PhD and assistant professor in the psychiatry department at the University of California, states, “While the immediate…response to acute stress can be a temporary loss of appetite, more and more we are coming to recognize that for some people, chronic stress can be tied to an increase in appetite – and stress-induced weight gain.”

Short term stressful situations, like anxiety, excitement or fear, cause an adrenaline rush that temporarily burns fat. However, long term stress increases the level of the hormone cortisol in our bodies, causing the body to store excess fat. Most of this extra fat is stored in your belly and hips – exactly where you don’t want it.

Although several products claim to reduce cortisol, there is no medical evidence to substantiate those claims. A proven way to minimize cortisol levels in your body and eliminate excess fat is by reducing your stress. There are many additional benefits of stress reduction, such as lowered blood pressure and increased mental health.

Here are several simple ways to reduce stress for maximum physical and emotional fitness:

1. Eat at least 4-6 small, well-balanced meals each day to properly maintain the sugar levels in your body and ensure you are getting all the essential vitamins and minerals you need.

2. Drink at least six to eight glasses of water every day to flush the toxins out of your system.

3. Exercise for twenty to thirty minutes three to five times each week. Choose a physical activity you enjoy, such as biking, weight lifting or walking, because getting pleasure from your exercise routine will also help minimize stress.

4. Avoid foods with sugar and caffeine that offer a false sense of energy.

5. Avoid alcohol, which has an impact on the sugar levels in your body.

6. Get plenty of sleep every night because when you are tired, you tend to feel more hungry.

7. Engage in activities designed to help you relax, such as yoga or meditation.

8. Watch less television – statistics show that up to ninety percent of people who watch television an hour or more each day fail at their weight loss goals.

9. Avoid crash diets which could increase your stress level and actually cause the production of additional cortisol, alleviating any potential weight loss you may have been able to experience.

10. When you feel really hungry, choose whole-grain, high-fiber foods, like oatmeal and fruit, which keep insulin levels even to control blood sugar and your hunger.

By reducing the stress in your life, you can get rid of excess fat and emotional baggage at the same time!

Today, I would like to tell you something about this simple Raw Food Diet that has given life back to thousands of people, by empowering them to eat healthily in as little as twelve short weeks, and often sooner. By following the right healthy eating Raw Food Plan you could lose ten, twenty, and even thirty pounds while dramatically improving your health and vitality!

You often hear “you are what you eat”, but what does this really mean? Well, simple really! When we eat Raw Living Food full of life and energy, we too gain lots of life and energy. This diet generally includes foods such as beans, dried fruit, fresh fruit and vegetables. Freshly made fruit and vegetable juices, grains, and the milk from young coconuts, nuts and seaweeds plus sun-dried fruits. Probably a greater variety of food than you eat on a regular basis at the moment.

So, instead of searching for miracle, energy or superfoods, your goal should be to eat a diet that consists of foods that contain natural energy that vibrates at a higher energy level. When food is Raw and uncooked it keeps all its innate energy and all of its vitamins and minerals too. So, when you eat Raw Food you will be giving your body direct energy from the ultimate source – the sun! As most of these foods will be plant based the sun is where they get their energy from.

Raw Food has a higher water content and more fibre. This helps you feel full for longer and stops you wanting to snack unhealthily between your meals. After all, when did a sandwich really fill and satisfy you?

Have you ever noticed that wild animals do not suffer from obesity, cancer or the other diseases that now plague humans. These wonderful creatures are as nature intended them to be; healthy and fit and suitable for survival. And guess what? That’s what nature intended for you as well! But what is shocking and awfully sad is that when animals are taken from their natural wild habitat and domesticated they begin to show the same symptoms and diseases that affect most humans and they often get horribly overweight too.

Another question for you! How would you like to be able to go back to your old wardrobe and be able to put on those tight fitting clothes you used to wear well. Or have energy you’ve only dreamed of and a new sharpness to your mind. By following a delicious, tasty and energising Raw Food Diet you soon can. You need to follow a well researched Raw Food Plan at the beginning as it can be a real lifestyle change. But what results! Go and see for yourself!?

Consuming antioxidant vitamins and minerals from supplements has been declared to protect skin cells from free-radical damage induced by overexposure to ultraviolet light and various harmful environmental chemicals. A properly designed high-potency multivitamin and mineral which is fortified with optimal levels of specific antioxidant vitamins and minerals can help protect the skin from free-radical damage.

Calcium plays a big role of mineral for women. It contributes to the health of our bones, teeth, hormonal balance and our skin. Foods rich in calcium are milk and milk products, including cheese, broccoli, soy products, and sardines. Potassium. helps the skin stay healthy and to regenerate new cells. It can found in potatoes, bananas, whole grains and green leave. Read the rest of this entry »