CanDrugStore Health Blog

January 28, 2011

Quinoa: A Rising Health Food Star

Filed under: healthy eating — Tags: Health, healthy diet, healthy eating, healthy living, nutrition, weight loss — bstacey @ 10:23 pm

Have you made a New Year resolution to eat more consciously? It can be challenging to start eating healthy food. Part of this adventure may include incorporating new foods into your diet. If this is part of your healthy eating plan, you may want to check out the new superfood on the scene: quinoa.

Quinoa (pronounced KEEN-wa) is the seed of a plant called Chenopodium. Chenopodium is related to plants such as beets, chard, and spinach, and its greens can be eaten. However, it is its seeds that are fast gaining popularity and recognition for their health benefits.

Though a relatively recent introduction to North America, quinoa has long been cultivated by indigenous people living in the Andean Mountains of Peru, Chile, and Bolivia. So what makes quinoa so great? Quinoa is an excellent source of nutrition. It contains all 8 essential amino acids, making it a rare example of a complete protein found in the plant world and a good choice for vegetarian and vegan diets. Quinoa is particularly high in lysine, an amino acid that is important for tissue growth and repair. The seed contains a good whack of the minerals magnesium, iron, copper, and phosphorous. These minerals may help ease the symptoms of migraines, diabetes, and atherosclerosis. Quinoa is a source of dietary fiber, which has been shown to reduce the risks of heart disease, colon cancer, and obesity. It is gluten-free and can be used in place of wheat, oats, and other grains. Quinoa is therefore a very good choice for those with celiac disease symptoms.

Quinoa can be found in many regular grocery stores, bulk food stores, at natural food stores. Though its beige and yellow varieties are most common, you can also find red quinoa, and pink, orange, and black colors of the seed. Its flavor has been described as “nutty,” with the seed itself having a creamy texture and its tail a slightly crunchy one when cooked. It is somewhat comparable to couscous or rice.

Quinoa is easy-to-cook and there are many quinoa recipes available such as salad recipes and for breakfast quinoa. When cooking with quinoa, it is best to wash the seeds well to remove the saponins that coat the seeds. It can be cooked in the same way as rice, (one-part grain to two-parts liquid) and there are even recipes for delicious-looking quinoa chocolate cake out there! Creativity and experimentation are what eating well is all about, and quinoa is one super-food you shouldn’t go without. Here’s to a healthy 2011!

CanDrugstore.com, a Canadian Internet-based pharmacy intermediary (license #BC X23), offers low cost, long-term prescription drugs. A professionally registered pharmacist fills all Canadian prescriptions. A certified member of the Canadian International Pharmacy Association, CanDrugstore.com is ranked as one of the best Canadian pharmacies online by PharmacyChecker.com. For more information on how to order your drugs from Canada safely and securely call 1-866-444-6376 or visit http://www.candrugstore.com/- a trusted and reliable Canadian online pharmacy since 2002.

Comments (0)

January 22, 2011

Healthy Eating Tips for 2011

Filed under: weight loss — Tags: alcohol, Health, healthy, healthy eating, healthy living, lose weight, losing weight, weight gain, weight loss — sgordon @ 1:08 am

A very popular new year’s resolution seems to be to lose weight. Without the proper technique, losing weight and staying healthy can be quite a pain. If you are one of those people looking to lose weight this year, be sure to follow these tips.

- Slow Down! Eating food too quickly can cause you to eat too much, and you can end up feeling sick because of it. Simply breathing in between bites can cut down your calorie intake drastically. In fact, it takes your brain approximately twenty minutes to realize that you have had enough to eat.

Eating at Restaurants. Restaurants are surprisingly generous with the amount they serve out, likely too generous. Most people don’t realize how large the portions are and they end up eating it all. Be sure to understand how much food you are actually eating, no one wants to waste money, or food; so be sure to bring some home for another meal. Furthermore, alcohol is a bad choice of beverage with dinner as it tends to make people feel hungry. If it you can’t help yourself, limit alcohol intake to one or two glasses.

Office Food. If you work at an office, there is a good chance someone will bring in food for co-workers to enjoy, but beware of these nice gestures. Cakes, cookies, and other goodies can account for up to twenty of the pounds you may put on this year. Be sure to keep an eye on how much of these treats you enjoy!

Snacking. Be sure to keep an eye on how much of this you do. For example, sitting in front of the TV with a bag of chips will lead to weight gain. If you’re in the mood for an unhealthy snack, grab a bowl and decide for yourself what the right portion is. Be sure to remember that even though you are dieting, you can still indulge a little bit from time to time.

Challenge yourself! Try setting some realistic goals for yourself; whether it be losing a certain amount in a set time period, or eating less of a certain type of food. Having a competition with yourself or even a friend is also a great way to keep yourself on track.

Lastly, remember that eating healthy doesn’t have to mean not enjoying your food. Try looking up a new healthy recipe every once in a while. Who knows, you might just surprise yourself!

Comments (0)

August 24, 2010

Lead By Example and Get Your Kids Active

Filed under: exercise — Tags: child obesity, children, exercise, Health, healthy diet, kids, nutrition, obesity — John @ 6:03 pm

I still remember when I was younger, I used to play outside with my friends until the streetlights came on, and even then we sometimes stayed out even later. I used to and still do love hockey, and I remember when my dad taught me the power of the slap shot. What many of today’s parents seem to forget is that they have to lead by example when it comes to getting their kids active. Even if your kid refuses to admit it, they look to their parents as role models and base a lot of their behavior after what they see and hear. Parents need to start going outside and making exercise fun for children again.

It may seem like a lot of work sometimes, but part of being a parent is spending time with your child or children. Simply going outside and teaching your kid how to ride a bike can be extremely beneficial. You get some quality bonding time in with your child, and you teach your child the importance of physical exercise. Maybe one day, you can take your kid on a day trip to go biking. If you’re not too into biking, go toss a ball around in the backyard. Your child will quickly pick up that sports, and exercising for that matter, can be really fun. This is a crucial first step in ensuring your child can maintain his or her health further on into the future.

Next time you’re sitting at home and see your kid has been sitting inside for hours playing on the X-Box or sitting at the computer, ask them to come outside and throw that baseball around. Your child is guaranteed to benefit from the activity and you may just establish a closer relationship with your son or daughter.

Comments (0)

August 23, 2010

8 Uses for Toothpaste That Do Not Involve Your Teeth

Filed under: brushing your teeth — Tags: acne, cavities, hair gel, Health, hygeine, pimples, skin relief, stain remover, teeth, toothpaste — John @ 9:42 pm

Toothpaste is great for cleaning your teeth and fighting cavities, but what most people don’t know is that there are many other uses for toothpaste.

Crayon marks on walls – By rubbing a little toothpaste and wiping with warm water, you can clean your walls of any crayon marks that any kids or even you have made.
Pimples – dab a small bit of non-whitening toothpaste on a pimple before bed and it should be considerably smaller when you wake up.
Skin Relief – Toothpaste can help relieve those itching or stinging areas caused by bee stings, bug bites, small rashes, burns, and cold sores.
Wall Filler – Toothpaste can be used to fill in nail or pin holes in the wall. Toothpaste is great for this as it dries fast.
Hang up Posters – You don’t need to worry about taping or tacking your posters up anymore, just apply a bit of toothpaste to each corner
Remove Stains – Toothpaste can be a great aid in getting rid of those stains on your clothes or your carpet. Apply a bit of toothpaste right onto the stain for clothes. Then rub quickly until the stain is gone. For carpet, place some toothpaste on a stain and scrub with a brush. Rinse as soon as you’ve finished scrubbing. However, if you are using a whitening toothpaste, you may bleach the fabric.
Shiny Fingernails – If you’re looking for healthier and shinier fingernails, use a toothbrush with some toothpaste to scrub the top and as much of the bottom of your nails as possible.
Hair Gel – If you run out of your hair gel right before that big date, don’t panic. If you have one of the gel toothpastes then you’re in luck. The gel toothpaste has the same water-soluble polymers that your hair gel is made of.

Comments (0)

July 12, 2010

Obesity Camps for Teens in the UAE

Filed under: obesity — Tags: exercise, Health, healthy diet, natural weight loss, nutrition, obesity, overweight, weight loss — John @ 9:42 pm

Teenagers in the United Arab Emirates who are over 90kg’s are being asked by the government to participate in anti-obesity camps. While in these camps, teens are expected to lose 1kg every week during the 1 month program. The teens will be put on a strict calorie-controlled diet and exercise program, and they will receive lectures about obesity every 4 days.

I still haven’t decided if this is too extreme, especially for teenagers, or maybe it’s what we need to do. Obesity is becoming a very serious problem, and nowhere is this more apparent than the United States. In the United States, obesity related illnesses are costing the nation $147 billion every year. Maybe it’s time for some new, drastic, changes in obesity prevention.

I would like to know what the results will be like for the camps in the UAE. If they work, then maybe we can adapt a similar program here in North America. If the level of obesity experiences a drop, it may lead to some lower taxes or health care prices. Not to mention you’ll add years to your life. Regardless of how well these camps work, something needs to be done about the obesity epidemic in the United States.

Comments (0)