What Are the Benefits of Eating Dates?

Dates are rich in dietary fiber, antioxidants and the essential minerals potassium and magnesium. A diet that regularly includes low-fat, nutrient-dense foods like dates may enhance your health and help decrease your chance of developing many chronic diseases. Available both fresh and dried, dates can be substituted for raisins in baked goods, combined with nuts and rolled oats in granola or used as a sweet counterpoint in chicken- or lamb-based stews. Deglet noor dates are the most commonly consumed variety in the United States, but other types like Medjool and Khala dates are equally nutritious.

 

 

Dietary Fiber

A 1/4-cup serving of dried or fresh dates contains 3 grams of dietary fiber. This amount supplies 14 percent of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's recommended daily allowance of fiber for adult men and women following a 2,000-calorie diet. According to Dr. John Briffa, the bulk of a date's fiber is the soluble fiber pectin. A high intake of foods rich in soluble fiber may help lessen your risk of diabetes and high blood cholesterol. A 2009 "Nutrition Reviews" study adds that a fiber-rich diet can also help prevent obesity, stroke, heart disease and hypertension.

 

Potassium

 

Eating approximately six medium-sized, pitted dates provides you with 6 percent of the potassium your body requires daily. As both a mineral and an electrolyte, potassium triggers enzymes crucial for energy metabolism and is needed for cardiac, smooth and skeletal muscles to contract properly. If you do not consume enough potassium regularly, you may be more likely to suffer from osteoporosis, stroke, kidney stones or high blood pressure. If your diet includes a large amount of sodium, you may need more potassium in order to keep the two minerals balanced. Incorporate high-potassium foods like dates into your meals and talk to your doctor about ways to lower your sodium intake.

 

Magnesium 

 

Every 42.6-gram serving of pitted dates -- an amount equivalent to five or six dates -- provides 5.8 percent of the RDA of magnesium for adult women and 4.5 percent of the RDA of magnesium for men. The body uses magnesium for energy metabolism, to regulate vitamins and other minerals and to help maintain the strength of bones and teeth. Adequate magnesium intake is linked to a decreased risk of diabetes, depression, osteoporosis, hypertension and cardiovascular disease. Pregnant women, athletes undergoing strenuous physical training and individuals recovering from long-term illness or surgical procedures may need more magnesium to avoid deficiency.

  

Antioxidants

 

A 2005 study published in the "Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry" examined the amount of antioxidant compounds in both the fresh and dried versions of three date varieties: Fard, Khala and Khasab. The researchers determined that all three types of fresh dates contained high concentrations of anthocyanins and carotenoids, two potent antioxidants. Dried dates contained a significant concentration of antioxidant polyphenol compounds. The researchers concluded that eating any variety or form of dates could add beneficial antioxidants to your diet. The American Dietetic Association reports that eating plenty of foods rich in antioxidants may help prevent diabetes, cancer, heart disease and neurological problems like Alzheimer's disease.

Sources: http://defemcr.blogspot.com/2014/10/benefits-of-eating-dates.html?spref=fb

Your Organic Skin Care Solutions - True Organics

MICHAEL TODD true organics

 

Many consumers have started purchasing organic food because they do not want to be exposed to harmful pesticides and chemicals. That’s the same reason consumers are turning to Michael Todd's products made with certified organic ingredients: they want to have all the benefits of great beauty products without unhealthy ingredients. Just like with food, your skin absorbs much of what you place on it, so instead of harmful ingredients use healthy ingredients.

MICHAEL TODD true organics represent a synergy between science and the certified organic plants and fruits we use. The result is an unsurpassed skin care experience that enhances and protects the skin for years to come without the use of potentially harmful ingredients so common in many other brands. The products are developed and made in the United States at FDA Registered and USDA Organic Certified facilities under the guidance of experienced formulators, chemists and registered and certified aromatherapists.

Most other skin care products are made with a cheap water (or aqua) base. Water is not “organic,” and why would you pay for a substantially water product when you can get this from your tap? Other bases used in skin care products include Fruit Juice (loaded with sugar), Alcohol (drying) and Mineral Oil (suffocates the skin) that make up much of their contents. And don't be fooled by so-called “natural” products which don’t have any regulation, so any company can name their products “natural” if they have a few ingredients that come from the earth. Remember, even "dirt" is natural because it comes  from the earth. Hundreds of personal care companies are simply using the term “natural” for marketing purposes. We don’t use any of these ingredients. Most every MICHAEL TODD true organics product is beautifully crafted from a base of 100% Certified Organic Aloe Vera Juice now fortified by us in such a unique and novel way that our Aloe base is the subject of a pending patent. This ancient herbal remedy has been called “nature’s first aid kit” because of its anti-bacterial, antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties. With more than 75 nutrients including 20 minerals, 18 amino acids and 12 vitamins, Aloe Vera hydrates, softens, soothes and nourishes the skin.

To the Aloe Vera base, we add thoughtfully selected organic ingredients known for their effective, results oriented skincare properties. We use as much organics as possible, usually 70-95%. Organically farmed fruits and vegetables can contain between 30-50% more vitamins and minerals than conventionally farmed crops and can work better than conventional products because organically farmed fruits and vegetables increase antioxidant levels by nearly 30 percent compared with produce grown on conventional farms (2008 study). These powerful antioxidants neutralize free radical activity which diminish skin cell damage, resulting in more youthful, healthy skin. And, so you know just what you're getting, we state on each product the percentage of certified organically grown plants and fruits used and if it is vegan.

Take a whiff. MICHAEL TODD true organics smell so good it’s like dessert for your face. And these fragrances are real, no synthetic fragrance or color is ever used in a Michael Todd product. Depending on which product you choose, the first thing you’ll notice are the delicious aromas of sweet orange, calendula, lavender or chamomile, aromatherapy ingredients which promote relaxation and well being. You’ll also recognize the scents of carrot, coconut, cranberry, grapefruit, lemon, tropical fruits, even pumpkin. Then there are sea algae and kelp, green, black and rooibos teas and acai berry to nourish and protect. We use minerals like Charcoal and Kaolin Clay for their detoxifying properties, and refreshing essential oils (olives, jojoba, neem, seabuckthorn seed and tea tree) and ultra-rich moisturizing butters (cupuacu, shea and mango).

We also believe organic ingredients need to be combined with other actives to be really effective. You don't fix your skin by just rubbing an avocado on your face. The key is finding the right blend of organic ingredients and specific minerals, peptides, epidermal growth (repair) factor, DMAE, beneficial acids and other powerful age defying or blemish clearing ingredients to deliver powerful, clinically validated results. Just as important as what we put in our products... is what we don’t put in. Conventional beauty products can contain pesticides, methyl, butyl and propyl parabens, mineral oil, sulphates, PEGs, TEA, DEA, phthalates, triclosan, GMO, artificial dyes and fragrances, formaldehyde and more. Do you really want these on your skin? MICHAEL TODD true organics are formulated without these potentially harmful ingredients so you can use our products without health concerns.