This is dedicated to all human survival modes. Robust health is essential if we want to meet our goals in this life. It is never too late to be wise. It is never too early to revise.
Have you ever picked one grocery item over another because of the health claims on the label? You may have been duped. That’s because terms like fat free or all natural are often slapped on a food item that may not be healthy at all.
Frustrated? You’re not alone. Nearly 59% of consumers have a hard time understanding nutrition labels, according to a Nielsen survey.
Here's our list of the 16 most common—and most misleading phrases—manufacturers use on food, with advice on how to look past the hype to make smarter supermarket choices.
All natural
Don’t be fooled, all natural doesn’t mean all that much. The Food and Drug Administration doesn’t define it, although food makers won’t get in trouble as long as so-labeled food doesn’t contain added colors, artificial flavors, or “synthetic substances.”
That means there’s room for interpretation.
So a food labeled natural may contain preservatives or be injected with sodium, in the case of raw chicken. “Some natural products will have high fructose corn syrup and companies will argue that since it comes from corn, it’s healthy,” says Stephan Gardner, director of litigation at the Center of Science in the Public Interest (CSPI). “Well, that isn’t true.”
Multigrain
When shopping for healthy bread and crackers, look for the words whole grain or 100% whole wheat. It’s not enough if it says multigrain or made with whole grain.
Whole grains, (which include popcorn, brown rice, and oatmeal), have more fiber and other nutrients than those that have been refined, a process that strips away the healthiest portions of the grain.
And don’t go by color alone: Some darker breads or crackers have caramel coloring and are no healthier than highly refined white breads. For a list of ingredient to keep on your radar, check out The Whole Grain Council’s helpful chart.
The Whole Grains Council has created an official packaging symbol called the Whole Grain Stamp that helps consumers find real whole grain products. The Stamp started to appear on store shelves in mid-2005 and is becoming more widespread every day.
The Whole Grain Stamp makes it easy
With the Whole Grain Stamp, finding three servings of whole grains is easy: Pick three foods with the 100% Stamp or six foods with ANY Whole Grain Stamp.
The 100% Stamp assures you that a food contains a full serving or more of whole grain in each labeled serving and that ALL the grain is whole grain, while the 50%+ Stamp and the Basic Stamp appear on products containing at least half a serving of whole grain per labeled serving.
But what if there is no Stamp?
Until the Whole Grain Stamp is on all foods, how can consumers know if a product is whole grain?
First, check the package label. Many whole grain products not yet using the Stamp will list the grams of whole grain somewhere on the package, or say something like “100% whole wheat.” You can trust these statements. But be skeptical if you see the words “whole grain” without more details, such as “crackers made with whole grain.” The product may contain only miniscule amounts of whole grains.
YES — Contains all parts of the grain, so you’re getting all the nutrients of the whole grain.
YES — Contains all parts of the grain, so you’re getting all the nutrients of the whole grain.
wheat
semolina
durum wheat
organic flour
stoneground
multigrain (may describe several whole grains or several refined grains, or a mix of both)
MAYBE — These words are accurate descriptions of the package contents, but because some parts of the grain MAY be missing, you are likely missing the benefits of whole grains. When in doubt, don’t trust these words!
MAYBE — These words are accurate descriptions of the package contents, but because some parts of the grain MAY be missing, you are likely missing the benefits of whole grains. When in doubt, don’t trust these words!
enriched flour
wheat flour
degerminated (on corn meal)
bran
wheat germ
NO — These words never describe whole grains.
NO — These words never describe whole grains.
Note that words like “wheat,” “durum,” and “multigrain” can (and do) appear on good whole grain foods, too. None of these words alone guarantees whether a product is whole grain or refined grain, so look for the word “whole” and follow the other advice here.
Check the list of ingredients
If the first ingredient listed contains the word “whole” (such as “whole wheat flour” or “whole oats”), it is likely – but not guaranteed – that the product is predominantly whole grain. If there are two grain ingredients and only the second ingredient listed is a whole grain, the product may contain as little as 1% or as much as 49% whole grain (in other words, it could contain a little bit of whole grain, or nearly half).
Multiple grains get even trickier
If there are several grain ingredients, the situation gets more complex. For instance, let’s say a “multi-grain bread” is 30% refined flour and 70% whole grain. But the whole grains are split between several different grains, and each whole grain comprises less than 30% of the total.
The ingredients might read “Enriched white flour, whole wheat, whole oat flour, whole cornmeal and whole millet” and you would NOT be able to tell from the label whether the whole grains make up 70% of the product or 7% of the product. That’s why we created the Whole Grain Stamp program.
Fiber is not reliable
Fiber varies from grain to grain, ranging from 3.5% in rice to over 15% in barley and bulgur. What’s more, high-fiber products sometimes contain bran or other added fiber without actually having much if any whole grain.
Both fiber and whole grains have been shown to have health benefits. But they’re not interchangeable. So checking the fiber on a label is not a very reliable way to guess whether a product is truly whole grain.
No sugar added
If you’re concerned about calories and carbs (maybe because you have diabetes or are trying to prevent it), you may toss no sugar added products in your grocery cart.
But foods, including fruit, milk, cereals, and vegetables naturally contain sugar. So although these products may not have added sugar they still may contain natural sugars. And no sugar added products still may contain added ingredients like maltodextrin, a carbohydrate.
Carbohydrates—which can be simple sugars or more complex starches—raise blood sugar, and no sugar added doesn’t mean a product is calorie- or carbohydrate-free.
Sugar free
Sugar free doesn’t mean a product has fewer calories than the regular version; it may have more. (Although food makers are supposed to tell you if a product isn’t low-cal). Sugar-free products have less than 0.5 grams of sugars per serving, but they still contain calories and carbohydrates from other sources.
These products often contain sugar alcohols, which are lower in calories (roughly 2 calories per gram, compared to 4 per gram for sugar), but compare labels to see if the sugar-free version is any better than the regular version. (Common sugar alcohols are mannitol, xylitol, or sorbitol).
Caution: Sugar alcohols can cause diarrhea so don’t consume a lot in one sitting.
Zero trans fat
Trans fat is bad for your heart, and the ideal intake is zero. But products that say no trans fat can actually contain less than 0.5 grams per serving.
“If a product says 0 trans fat on it, it isn’t actually at zero,” says Gardner. “If the consumer were to have two servings, then you would get a good amount added to your diet.”
Check for words on the ingredient list such as hydrogenated oils and shortening, which mean trans fat is still present. There are some products that are more likely to contain trans fat than others.
Immunity boosters
Companies can use words like immunity blend or supports the immune system if a product contains certain vitamins, but such words are sometimes used to give an aura of health to a product that may or may not deserve it.
In general, companies must walk a fine line here. If they make medical claims, it can trigger intense scrutiny from the FDA and the federal trade commission.
In 2008, the company that makes the vitamin product Airborne agreed to settle a $23.3 million class-action lawsuit. The product's label said it could "boost the immune system" and was marketed as a way to prevent colds without sufficient evidence that it worked.
Free range
Although a food label may say free range chicken, don’t assume your bird was scampering around outside Farmer Brown’s barn.
Although the US Department of Agriculture does define the words free range, there are no requirements for the amount, duration, and quality of outdoor access.
“What it’s supposed to mean is that they are out running in a field,” says Bonnie Taub-Dix, nutrition expert and author of Read It, Before You Eat It. (click for book review) “But what it really means is they just have exposure to the outdoors.”
Fat free
This is a notoriously misleading label. When the dangers of saturated and trans fat became clear, the market was flooded with products that touted their fat-free status. The problem? They sometimes contained nearly as many calories as full-fat versions.
“Just because it says it’s fat-free, doesn’t mean you get a free ride,” says Taub-Dix. “Packages could say it’s fat free, but be loaded with sugar, and sugar-free products could be loaded with fat.”
Check the label for calorie content, and compare it to the full-fat version.
Light
A food label may say a product, such as olive oil, is light, but manufacturers have been known to use the term to refer to the flavor rather than the ingredients.
“The flavor might be lighter, but you aren’t saving one calorie,” says Taub-Dix. “The wording on light products can be confusing for consumers, but it is important to read the nutritional facts.”
To be considered a light product, the fat content has to be 50% less than the amount found in comparable products.
Gluten free
Gluten is a protein found in grains like wheat or rye and it can wreak havoc on the health of those with celiac disease or gluten intolerance.
Gluten-free products are becoming easier to find, which is great for those with gluten intolerance. For everyone else though, there’s no advantage to buying them. In fact, gluten-free whole grains may have less fiber than the regular version.
“Unless you have metabolic problems, gluten-free products don’t help you lose weight and are not necessarily good for you,” says Taub-Dix. “But because it’s a buzz word, it’s put on packages.”
Made with real fruit
Products that claim to be made with real fruit may not contain very much at all, or none of the type pictured on the box.
While companies must list the amount of nutrients they contain, such as fat and cholesterol, they do not have to disclose the percentage of ingredients, such as fruits and whole grain, according to CSPI.
In 2012, a California woman filed a class-action lawsuit over Fruit Roll-Ups, which contain "pears from concentrate" and no strawberries (in the case of the strawberry flavor).
Lightly sweetened
Although the FDA has definitions for terms like reduced sugar, no added sugar, and sugar free, companies sometimes come up with marketing lingo that is, well, just made up.
One of those terms is lightly sweetened, which isn’t defined by the FDA.
“Whether Kellogg’s Frosted Mini-Wheats Bite Size is “lightly sweetened” should be determined by federal rules, not the marketing executives of a manufacturer,” according to a CSPI report from 2010.
Cholesterol free
Cholesterol free doesn’t mean, literally, no cholesterol. Cholesterol-free products must contain less than 2 mg per serving while low-cholesterol products contain 20 mg or less per serving. Foods that say reduced or less cholesterol need to have at least 25% less than comparable products.
Cholesterol is made by the liver, so only animal products like meat, dairy, eggs, and butter can contain it. If a plant-based product (such as corn oil) touts its cholesterol-free status, there’s no benefit compared to other vegetable oils, which also don’t contain it.
(The American Heart Association recommends people consume less than 300 mg of cholesterol daily.)
Organic
While organic was once a bit like the term all natural—open to interpretation—that’s no longer true. If a product has a USDA label that says organic, 95% or more of the ingredients must have been grown or processed without synthetic fertilizers or pesticides (among other standards).
A label that says made with organic ingredients must have a minimum of 70% all ingredients that meet the standard.
Keep in mid that organic is not synonymous with healthy. In fact, it may be anything but. Organic food can still be packed in fat, calories, and sugar. “Companies like to add magnetic words on products to make you think it’s healthy,” says Taub-Dix.
Two percent milk
Two percent milk sounds great—it’s such a low number! What most people don’t realize is that whole milk contains only 3.25% fat.
So 2% milk contain less fat than regular milk, but not that much. It isn’t technically considered low fat; only 1% milk and fat free (also called skim milk, which has less than 0.5% fat) meet that standard.
Two percent milk may say reduced fat however, because it has at least 25% less fat than regular milk. But the American Heart Association and other health experts recommend that adults choose 1% or fat free over other types of milk.
Omega-3 fatty acids
Omega-3 fatty acids come in three main types: Eicosapentaenoic (EPA), docosahexaenoic (DHA) and a type called alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), which doesn’t have the proven benefit for the heart as EPA and DHA.
Some foods are higher in ALA, such as flax seeds, than EPA and DHA. Eggs may contain omega-3 if chickens are fed flax seed or fish oil, but are not considered to have a heart health benefit because of their cholesterol and saturated fat content.
“If you are looking for a good helping of omega-3, stick to fish and seaweed products,” says Gardner. “Products will sprinkle flax on their food just to slap the omega-3 label on the front.”
Serving size
Food manufacturers can be tricky with serving sizes. To make a product look low in fat or calories, they may list information based on a tiny, unrealistic serving size.
And FDA recommendations on serving size, the Reference Amount Customarily Consumed (RACC) index, tend to be outdated, based on eating habits of decades past. For example, the RACC for ice cream is a half-cup, or one scoop—a lot less than what most people now eat in one sitting. For example, a pint of ice cream would be considered to have four half-cup servings, a buzz kill for those of us who could eat the whole thing in one sitting.
If you are a two-or-more scoop kind of person, double, triple, or quadruple the label’s calorie and fat information as needed.
why peace of mind is the A of life, not the Z of life, and explains the true meaning of being peaceful
What is peace? People say that sitting on the mountain and meditating is peace. Somebody else may drink alcohol and become very peaceful and so on. Whenever your ego is satisfied, you are very peaceful. Wherever you go, in that place, if people are willing to support and boost your ego, in that place you are very peaceful. Only in those places where your ego takes a thrashing, that is where you are not peaceful, isn't it?
If you have to go and sit on a mountain to be peaceful, that peace is not yours, maybe it is the mountain. When you come down you will have the same problems again. Any fool can be peaceful on the mountain because you are there only for three days. If you live there for three years, you will have problems there too. Vacations are generally very short – which is a good thing. If you stay there a little longer, you will realize even that does not work. Because it is very brief, before you can create new problems you are back in your old problems. So people shouldn’t complain about the shortness of their vacation.
Generally in the world, when people talk about peace of mind, it is only about somehow making their ego comfortable. Instead of being in a disturbed state, they wish to be comfortable. But the very process of trying to make your ego comfortable is the whole process of discomfort also. The more a person tries to be peaceful, he only loses his peace and goes off track. A person who is trying to be peaceful will never actually be peaceful. Just the reverse of this process will happen.
Peace is not something that you create; peace is not something that happens. Peace is something that always is.
Generally, the peace that you achieve is only about making yourself comfortable. When you look at the mountains, you are peaceful. Suddenly an elephant rushes out of the forest straight towards you — all your peace disappears. This peace is of no great significance. It is better to be disturbed because if you are disturbed, at least you will search. If you become peaceful you only become complacent. Complacence is the greatest enemy. Disturbance is not your enemy. Your complacence is the greatest enemy and this kind of peace will create only complacence.
Peace can also come out of achievement. When you have achieved something you feel very satisfied. You feel like you are complete, a whole being. This lasts just for a moment. This feeling of wholeness is not really wholeness. When your wishes are fulfilled, when your ambitions are fulfilled, or when everything is right for you, when the situation around you is comfortable for your ego and your body, these are the times when you feel peaceful generally. But this peace is not peace. Peace means nothingness. Peace is not something that you create; peace is not something that happens. Peace is something that always is. What happens on the surface is disturbance.
This is just like the ocean. On the surface of the ocean you will see waves, tremendous turbulence and turmoil going on. But if you go deep down, it is perfectly peaceful. The fundamental quality of existence is always peace.
Peace of mind is
the “A” of life
Right now, most human beings think that having peace of mind is the highest goal in their life. Such people will only rest in peace. Even your dog sits peacefully if you give him enough food. Maybe he is not blissed out but at least he is peaceful. That state is considered as the highest by most human beings on this planet – including the so-called spiritual people. They say peace is the highest goal. Peace is not the highest goal. If you want to enjoy your dinner today, you must be peaceful. If you want to enjoy your family, your work, or your walk in the park, you have to be peaceful. Peace is the A of life, not the Z of life. It is the most fundamental thing. If you don’t have anything else, at least you must be peaceful.
Peacefulness is being projected as the highest thing because when someone has a disturbed mind, peace will be the highest goal in their perspective.
Peacefulness is being projected as the highest thing because when someone has a disturbed mind, peace will be the highest goal in their perspective. Whatever you are deprived of, that becomes the highest thing in your life.
When I was in Israel some time ago, I was taken to a restaurant where a dinner was arranged. There are different types of restaurants. Some restaurants are known for good food. Some are famous for their ambience. But some are famous for the conversation that happens there. In Tel Aviv, this was the restaurant which was supposed to have the most intellectual conversations.
People started coming in and one person said “Shalom” to me. I said “Namaste” and asked, “What does Shalom mean?” He replied, “This is the highest way of greeting. It means peace.” I said, “Why is peace the highest way of greeting?” For me, peace is not the highest way of greeting. Maybe if you are born in the Middle East, peace is the highest way of greeting because every day you see so much happening around you. If people are dying in your neighborhood, you will definitely think peace is the highest way of living. But if everything is peaceful around you, you are looking for some excitement.
To be peaceful is definitely not the ultimate goal because only if you are peaceful and joyful will your body and mind work at their best – and that is the basic parameter for your success and efficiency in the world. Your efficiency and your productivity is not dependent on your desire to do something, it is dependent on your capability. Your capability is impaired when you are in some state of unhappiness, frustration or depression. So, if you are interested in productivity, the first and foremost thing is to create a pleasant basis for yourself, that to be peaceful and joyful is not an issue for you. It does not depend on anything – this is how you are. Now, your body and mind will work at their best, and you can effortlessly create what you want to create.
Source: Coconut Research Center, by Dr. Bruce Fife, an internationally recognized expert on the health and nutritional aspects of coconut and related products.
One of the questions I’m asked most often is: How can a person identify a good quality coconut oil? There is a way you can tell a high quality coconut oil from the rest. There are four things you can look for in a quality coconut oil. I’ll discuss each one briefly.
The first thing to look for is a Virgin coconut oil. I recommend virgin coconut oil over non-virgin or RBD oil. RBD stands for refined, bleached, and deodorized. The less processing a food undergoes the higher the nutrient content and the healthier it is. Processing removes and destroys nutrients. Virgin coconut oil is made from fresh coconut without high heat or chemicals.
The resulting product is less refined than RBD oil and retains more of its natural phytonutrients, which give coconut its distinctive aroma and flavor. In RBD oil all the phytonutrients have been removed so it is tasteless and odorless.
Although virgin coconut oils, in general, are superior to RBD oils, not all virgin oils are of equal quality. In fact, there is a wide range of quality among them. There are many different ways to make virgin coconut oil. The methods and care used in the process determines the final quality of the product.
To be honest with you, I have tasted some very poor quality coconut oils. In fact, some have been so bad I had to spit them out. Oils like this give the coconut oil industry a bad name. I won’t tell which brands to avoid, but I will give you some guidelines to distinguish the good from the not-so-good.
I have tasted many good quality and a few extraordinary quality coconut oils. How do you tell the difference? How can you avoid the “not-so-good” ones? Appearances can be deceiving, that is if you don’t know what to look for. When looking for the best quality oil the appearance is very important. The second thing you look for in a high quality coconut oil is purity.
If you are familiar with coconut oil you know it naturally has a high melting point. At 76 degrees F and lower it become solid, at higher temperatures it turns into a liquid. It’s much like butter, when it’s in the refrigerator its solid but if left out on a hot day it melts.
High quality virgin coconut oil should be snow white in color when it is solid and water clear when liquid. If you see any shade of yellow or gray it is of an inferior quality. Pure coconut oil is colorless. Any discoloration is a sign of contamination. Contamination can be from mold or smoke residue.
If old or sun-dried coconuts are used to make oil it will almost always contain mold. The mold isn’t considered harmful because temperatures used in processing are high enough to essentially sterilize it. If the heat used comes from open flames from wood or gas fuel smoke can be absorbed into the oil.
The third thing to look for in a high quality coconut oil is aroma and flavor. Virgin coconut oils should always retain a coconut smell and taste. If not, they have been highly refined. If they have no flavor they are essentially RBD oil, even if they did come from fresh coconut.
Some virgin coconut oils have a very strong flavor or smell. These are almost always of poor quality. The smell and taste comes primarily from contaminates and not coconut. If the oil does not taste and smell like fresh coconut beware. Some of the nastiest oils I have tasted were strong flavored and did not taste like coconut.
Most virgin coconut oils use some type of heat in processing. Often smoke from the heating process contaminates the oil giving it a toasted or smoky smell and taste. Some oils when I open the jar smell like roasted coconut, which I like, but tastes like smoke, which I don’t like.
The very best virgin coconut oils do not have a strong roasted or smoky taste or smell. They should have a very mild coconut aroma and flavor. The flavor should not be overpowering, but just mild enough to enjoy without altering the flavor of the foods it’s used with.
The fourth criteria is price. You get what you pay for. Obviously, a very inexpensive oil is going to be of inferior quality. From my experience the cheapest oils are the most disagreeable tasting, and usually tainted with residual contaminants.
The way to judge an oil is: 1) source, 2) appearance, 3) taste and aroma, and 4) price.
Fake Oils: Olive Oils Can Fake it & So Can Coconut Oils
With so many food items to choose from on supermarket shelves, it's becoming increasingly difficult to ensure that only the healthiest and highest quality products end up in our shopping carts.
According to a Nielsen study, 59% of consumers around the world have a hard time understanding the nutrition labels on food. Manufacturers use misleading phrases on their packaging to make food appear healthier than it actually is, duping many consumers into buying inferior quality products.
But it doesn't end there. Some foods are actually not what they appear to be at all!
Food fraud is a surprisingly common problem, with many everyday food items falling prey to this deceptive practice. Some of the most commonly faked foods include seafood - cheap, low-quality seafood is often packaged to appear premium, Parmesan cheese - pre-grated Parmesan cheese can be bulked up with fillers such as cellulose, and honey - which is commonly diluted with less-expensive sweeteners like corn syrup.
In today's post we'll explore the topic of fake food by looking at two of the most commonly faked oils - extra-virgin olive oil and virgin coconut oil.
We'll show you the warning signs to look out for when buying these oils, and give you the information you need to make sure you choose a genuine oil, packed full of the health benefits you're paying for.
Fake Olive Oil
Extra-virgin olive oil is one of the most faked food products on the market. Because of its relatively high priced compared to many others oils, unscrupulous manufacturers and dealers flood the market with counterfeit extra-virgin olive oil in a bid to increase their profits.
In 2010, researchers from the University of California-Davis tested olive oil sold in stores and found that 69% of imported "extra-virgin" olive oils were deceptively labeled.
Extra-virgin olive oil is made by crushing olives to extract their juice. For an oil to qualify as "extra-virgin," olives must be from the first cold pressing of ripe olives, and no chemicals can be used in the process.
The Researchers found that most of the oil samples tested failed to meet these standards. Common quality issues included samples that were oxidized, mixed with low quality olive oil, or diluted with less expensive oils such as canola or sunflower oil.
So what's the upshot of all this? If you buy fake olive oil, you're really being cheated twice. First, the inferior oil is worth much less than you paid for it, and second, it lacks the health benefits of genuine extra-virgin olive oil.
Real extra-virgin olive oil has a wide range of health benefits. These include lowering cholesterol levels, guarding against obesity and type 2 diabetes, and protecting against skin cancer.
If you're not buying real extra-virgin oil, you're missing out on many of these fantastic health benefits. Fake olive oil is often heavily processed, and loses many of its healthy properties.
With so much fake extra-virgin olive oil in stores, it pays to be vigilant while you shop. Here are a few pointers to help you select a genuine oil ...
What to Look out For
Avoid oil sold in clear bottles Light damages the oil, so choose a product in a dark bottle.
Look for a stamp of approval Seals from the California Olive Oil Council (COOC), Extra Virgin Alliance (EVA), and UNAPROL - the Italian olive producers association - verify that the oil is of a high standard.
Look closely at the terminology on the label Words like "natural", "pure", "premium" and "virgin olive oil" can often indicate a low quality product.
Don't buy the cheapest oil on offer Half a liter of good quality oil should cost around $10. Top quality oil can sell for up to $25 per half liter. If the price is too low, it's a sure sign of poor quality.
Coconut Oil
The benefits of coconut oil are becoming more widely well known, leading to an increase in its popularity. As the demand for coconut oil increases, many retailers are looking for ways to drive down the price in order to sell more of the product.
The end result is that good quality virgin coconut oil is becoming difficult to find. Cheaper versions of the oil are commonplace on supermarket shelves. They are often low quality, and lack the health benefits of genuine virgin coconut oil. The harsh reality is that the coconut oil you purchase to help with Fido’s allergies or ear infections may actually be doing more harm than good.
There are two major types of coconut oil available to buy - "virgin" coconut oil and "RBD" coconut oil. Virgin coconut oil (unrefined) is processed naturally and retains its coconut flavor and smell. RBD (refined, bleached, and deodorized) coconut oil often comes from inferior or sun-dried coconuts (copra), and has therefore been chemically processed to remove impurities. This also removes its natural flavor and smell.
Because virgin coconut oil is processed naturally, it retains the maximum amount of vitamins and nutrients possible - making it the very best choice for the health-conscious shopper.
Genuine virgin coconut oil has many health benefits for pets and humans. These include the power to boost the immune system, support brain health, aid the digestive system, and fight infection.
The problem with cheap or fake coconut oils - whether labeled as "virgin" or "RBD" - is that they're often very low in healthy nutrients, usually as the result of being made from coconuts that aren’t fresh, or from old copra. Low quality coconut oil may also contain heavy metals such as arsenic, copper, iron and lead.
Moisture and impurities in coconut oil varies greatly from brand to brand – from as low as .01% for an excellent virgin coconut oil, to as high as .2% + for unrefined coconut oil, and even higher for partially refined oil. The MCTs in coconut oil - specifically the Lauric Acid component - varies greatly as well, some lower than 40% and some as high as 56%.
Just as with olive oil, many coconut oil products are deceptively labeled. The packaging of the oil may use words such as "virgin", “extra-virgin”, "natural", or "pure", but the contents could be far from it.
Common quality issues include coconut oil that has been blended with cheaper oils such as vegetable oil or palm oil, RBD coconut oil, improperly filtered oil, and coconut oil made with low-grade coconuts.
So, what do you need to know to make sure you choose a virgin coconut oil that's safe, natural, and packed full of the wonderful health benefits that make it a true "superfood"?
What to Look out For
Choose an oil packaged in glass Plastic packaging is a sign of a low quality oil. The best quality virgin coconut oil is packaged in glass. The reason for this is that plastic can affect the taste of coconut oil and cause toxins to leach into the product. Plastic packaging may also be improperly sealed, making the product prone to spoiling. Glass is the best option as it seals in the healthy nutrients in the coconut oil and keeps the product fresh.
Check the taste and smell Genuine virgin coconut oil has a fresh, “sweet”, distinct coconut aroma, and a mild coconut flavor. It should taste fresh, never rancid, or “sharp.” Avoid oils with a burned or roasted smell or flavor, as it's a sign that the oil has been processed using heat - and has lost some of its healthy nutrients. If the oil has a “waxy”, oily scent along with a barely discernible coconut aroma it’s a sign that it may have been mixed with an RBD coconut oil or vegetable oil. As we mentioned before, RBD coconut oil has no smell or taste because of the way it's processed.
Look for an oil that's cold-pressed True cold-pressed coconut oil has NEVER been heated during manufacturing. This process is more difficult, and yields less oil, but the end product is far superior to low quality coconut oil. Be particularly careful when choosing a cold-pressed coconut oil. The labelling on some products may claim the oil is cold-pressed, but often heat has been used in earlier stages of the manufacturing process. Which brings us to our final point ...
You Get What You Pay For
The low price of the coconut oil should tip you off. Unfortunately, consumers looking to purchase "bargain" or inexpensive coconut oil are supporting deceptive practices. Stores continue to buy low price oils because they sell, and consumers have become addicted to the lower prices. This has serious effects on the market of high quality, authentic virgin coconut oil that is naturally more expensive. Just like olive oil, when it comes to coconut oil, price does determine quality. An inexpensive coconut oil is going to be of inferior quality, mixed with RBD coconut oil, palm or vegetable oils, tainted with residual contaminants, and lower in healthy nutrients than a more expensive product.
Purchase your coconut oil from a company that cares
The best way to make sure you're buying the healthiest virgin coconut oil is to seek out a company that’s passionate about the oil they produce. Unless you buy your coconut oil directly from a coconut oil producer, the harsh reality is you may not be getting what you think you're getting.
More than 95% of coconut oil brands in the USA are private label, coming from multiple sources, and even multiple countries. There are many multi-national commercial and government issues at play, such as lax government agency oversight, lack of industry standards and certifying agents, and corrupt food inspection agencies, both in the U.S. and overseas. Sadly, relying on labels that claim “cold-pressed”, raw, extra-virgin, and even the USDA Organic seal does not guarantee quality or authenticity.
For years, the founders of CocoTherapy - coconut growers and coconut producers for over three generations - have warned about adulterated and mislabeled coconut oils, finding it frustrating that consumers, retailers, and government regulatory agencies are turning a blind eye to the widespread fraud.
The most serious problem is the fraud committed against the consumer, especially those purchasing virgin coconut oil to address specific health concerns.
CocoTherapy virgin coconut oil is a therapeutic oil, produced to address chronic or acute health issues. We are committed to producing the very best authentic virgin coconut oil on the market.
Our coconut oil is cold-pressed below 115 F, using only 100% organic, non-GMO and non-hybrid coconuts. All the coconuts used to produce our oil are tree-ripened for 12 months and sourced from our family coconut farm in the Philippines.
This results in the highest quality virgin coconut oil that has the highest lauric acid content possible - the "super Ingredient" responsible for so many of the oil's amazing health benefits. CocoTherapy coconut oil also has a high percentage of beneficial Medium Chain Fatty Acids (lauric acid, caprylic acid, and capric acid), containing at least 64%.
Although packaged and marketed for pets, CocoTherapy coconut oil is human-grade and can be shared and used by the whole family, both human and animals alike.
“Fundamentally, kriya means internal action. When you do inner action, it does not involve the body and the mind because both the body and the mind are still external to you. When you have a certain mastery to do action with your energy, then it is a kriya.”
If you do external activity we call it karma; if you do internal activity we call it kriya. Traditionally, or in the general sense of the term it is understood like this: karmas are those which bind you, kriyas are those which release you.
Whatever we do with your body, your attitudes and your thought, for example today your thoughts may go in one direction. Tomorrow if another person comes and influences you, they will go another way. Similarly, whatever we do with your body, your body is well today so it likes asanas. Tomorrow morning if your body is stiff, you will hate asanas. Your emotions are not at all reliable. At any moment they can shift from this to that. But your energies are different. Once we start working with the energy in a certain way, it has a different kind of depth to life. Suddenly, there is a different dimension to every aspect of your life because your energies have been touched and activated in a completely different way.
The advantages of coconut oil are no longer a mystery to anybody, applauded in incalculable articles and in the media, coconut oil is the marvel result of the century. With such a resume it comes as no big surprise the interest for the item has soared at a mind-boggling speed.
Unadulterated coconut oil is known for its lovely aroma and taste, cancer prevention agents, medium chain unsaturated fats (MCFA), and valuable vitamins. Coconut oil is a broadly known and utilized substance. Unadulterated Coconut Oil is regularly utilized as palatable oil and in addition to outer and mechanical applications. Everybody ought to know about the source, uses, and advantages of this kind of coconut oil since it can be so advantageous to human well-being.
This made it feasible for various brands to offer less expensive adaptations of the coconut oil asserting it to be the genuine article. The perils with these phoney items are the reality they are to a great degree low in sound supplements and now and again are even hazardous to the well-being!
Tragically, coconut oil is simple to counterfeit yet there are a couple of traps to recognizing the genuine oil among the phoney variants.
Purchase virgin or additional virgin oil claiming these are harder to counterfeit, while normal straightforward coconut oil can be synthetically available.
Check the package and check whether there is any soil and the item have an unmistakable consistency. This is critical because the earth will ruin it in a brief timeframe traverse.
Coconut oil should smell and pose a flavour of coconut, this is the entire thought of the item. On the off chance that the item you are purchasing has no scent or taste likeness to the genuine article, you ought to maintain a strategic distance from it since that is a sign it has been artificially treated and dyed, which may cause some exceptionally exasperating changes in the item’s structure and later in your body.
The cost of a unique item is constantly enormous because there are sure costs that guarantee the way that the item has been arranged and pressed deliberately to guarantee it isn’t harmed.
Check the package also, unique coconut oil ought to be stuffed in a glass bottle since plastic harms the taste and the scent of the oil. Plastic bundles are a reasonable indication of a low-quality item.
Be watchful with the items you purchase and dependably check marks for more data!
Body functions are the physiological or psychological functions of body systems. The body's functions are ultimately its cells' functions. Survival is the body's most important business. Survival depends on the body's maintaining or restoring homeostasis, a state of relative constancy, of its internal environment.
More than a century ago, French physiologist, Claude Bernard (1813-1878), made a remarkable observation. He noted that body cells survived in a healthy condition only when the temperature, pressure, and chemical composition of their environment remained relatively constant. Later, an American physiologist, Walter B. Cannon (1871-1945), suggested the name homeostasis for the relatively constant states maintained by the body. Homeostasis is a key word in modern physiology. It comes from two Greek words - "homeo," meaning the same, and "stasis," meaning standing. "Standing or staying the same" then is the literal meaning of homeostasis. However, as Cannon emphasized, homeostasis does not mean something set and immobile that stays exactly the same all the time. In his words, homeostasis "means a condition that may vary, but which is relatively constant."
Homeostasis depends on the body's ceaselessly carrying on many activities. Its major activities or functions are responding to changes in the body's environment, exchanging materials between the environment and cells, metabolizing foods, and integrating all of the body's diverse activities.
The body's ability to perform many of its functions changes gradually over the years. In general, the body performs its functions least well at both ends of life - in infancy and in old age. During childhood, body functions gradually become more and more efficient and effective. During late maturity and old age the opposite is true. They gradually become less and less efficient and effective. During young adulthood, they normally operate with maximum efficiency and effectiveness.
Life Process
All living organisms have certain characteristics that distinguish them from non-living forms. The basic processes of life include organization, metabolism, responsiveness, movements, and reproduction. In humans, who represent the most complex form of life, there are additional requirements such as growth, differentiation, respiration, digestion, and excretion. All of these processes are interrelated. No part of the body, from the smallest cell to a complete body system, works in isolation. All function together, in fine-tuned balance, for the well being of the individual and to maintain life. Disease such as cancer and death represent a disruption of the balance in these processes.
The following are a brief description of the life process:
Organization
At all levels of the organizational scheme, there is a division of labor. Each component has its own job to perform in cooperation with others. Even a single cell, if it loses its integrity or organization, will die.
Metabolism
Metabolism is a broad term that includes all the chemical reactions that occur in the body. One phase of metabolism is catabolism in which complex substances are broken down into simpler building blocks and energy is released.
Responsiveness
Responsiveness or irritability is concerned with detecting changes in the internal or external environments and reacting to that change. It is the act of sensing a stimulus and responding to it.
Movement
There are many types of movement within the body. On the cellular level, molecules move from one place to another. Blood moves from one part of the body to another. The diaphragm moves with every breath. The ability of muscle fibers to shorten and thus to produce movement is called contractility.
Reproduction
For most people, reproduction refers to the formation of a new person, the birth of a baby. In this way, life is transmitted from one generation to the next through reproduction of the organism. In a broader sense, reproduction also refers to the formation of new cells for the replacement and repair of old cells as well as for growth. This is cellular reproduction. Both are essential to the survival of the human race.
Growth
Growth refers to an increase in size either through an increase in the number of cells or through an increase in the size of each individual cell. In order for growth to occur, anabolic processes must occur at a faster rate than catabolic processes.
Differentiation
Differentiation is a developmental process by which unspecialized cells change into specialized cells with distinctive structural and functional characteristics. Through differentiation, cells develop into tissues and organs.
Respiration
Respiration refers to all the processes involved in the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide between the cells and the external environment. It includes ventilation, the diffusion of oxygen and carbon dioxide, and the transport of the gases in the blood. Cellular respiration deals with the cell's utilization of oxygen and release of carbon dioxide in its metabolism.
Digestion
Digestion is the process of breaking down complex ingested foods into simple molecules that can be absorbed into the blood and utilized by the body.
Excretion
Excretion is the process that removes the waste products of digestion and metabolism from the body. It gets rid of by-products that the body is unable to use, many of which are toxic and incompatible with life.
The ten life processes described above are not enough to ensure the survival of the individual. In addition to these processes, life depends on certain physical factors from the environment. These include water, oxygen, nutrients, heat, and pressure.
Introduction to the
Human Body
Human beings are arguably the most complex organisms on this planet. Imagine billions of microscopic parts, each with its own identity, working together in an organized manner for the benefit of the total being. The human body is a single structure but it is made up of billions of smaller structures of four major kinds:
Cells
Cells have long been recognized as the simplest units of living matter that can maintain life and reproduce themselves. The human body, which is made up of numerous cells, begins as a single, newly fertilized cell.
Tissues
Tissues are somewhat more complex units than cells. By definition, a tissue is an organization of a great many similar cells with varying amounts and kinds of nonliving, intercellular substance between them.
Organs
Organs are more complex units than tissues. An organ is an organization of several different kinds of tissues so arranged that together they can perform a special function. For example, the stomach is an organization of muscle, connective, epithelial, and nervous tissues. Muscle and connective tissues form its wall, epithelial and connective tissues form its lining, and nervous tissue extends throughout both its wall and its lining.
Systems
Systems are the most complex of the component units of the human body. A system is an organization of varying numbers and kinds of organs so arranged that together they can perform complex functions for the body. Ten major systems compose the human body:
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Posts are welcome!Intend to be a lifelong learner. Do not think that it is just a coincidence. How many will ever recognize God in anything that takes place?
