Natural Breasts Care

Herbs And Vitamins For Healthy Breasts

There are a number of herbs and vitamins for healthy breasts that show promise in the prevention of breast cancer and fibrocystic breast disease (non-cancerous breast lumps).

Cancer of the breast is the leading cause of death for women in the US where it is estimated that 1 in 9 women will get breast cancer before she is 85.

The inclusion of herbs and vitamins for healthy breasts, accompanied by a wholesome nutritious diet and exercise are important factors in maintaining healthy breasts.

One of the main contributing factors to breast cancer seems to be hormonal imbalance : in particular the hormone estrogen, which can promote abnormal tissue growth in breasts. However, there are a number of herbs that women can include in their diets which work to gently balance women's hormones and help in the promotion of healthy breasts.

Red Clover - This herb has been used by many different cultures in the treatment of cancer. Red clover contains isoflavones, a class of phytoestrogens that are structurally similar to estrogen.

In premenopausal women with normal estrogen levels, isoflavones have an anti-estrogen effect. In postmenopausal women with low estrogens, isoflavones act as weak estrogens.

Red Clover is also helpful in the prevention of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women which is related to declining estrogen levels.

Furthermore, Red Clover is useful for relieving menopausal symptoms including hot flashes, night sweats, reduced libido, and vaginal dryness. It should be noted, however, that women who are pregnant and breastfeeding should avoid taking Red Clover.

Green Tea - Several studies have proven that Green Tea is beneficial in the reduction of solid tumor formation and the risk of breast cancers in women. In fact, preliminary research suggests that flavonoids found in green tea reduce the risk of several different kinds of cancers including prostate cancer, colon cancer, and gastric cancer.

A recent Japanese study explored the green tea's protection against breast cancer. It was found that women who consumed more green tea had a lower number of tumor growth. And, in a seven-year study it was found that women with stage I or II cancer who consumed five or more cups of green tea a day had approximately half the recurrence rate of those women who consumed four cups or less.

Turmeric - Because of its anti-inflammatory and anti-carcinogenic properties, Turmeric may be a useful herb for healthy breasts. The medicinal properties of Turmeric have for millennia been known to the ancient Indians and its medical properties have been expounded in the Ayurvedic texts.

A recent study involving mice has shown that Turmeric slows the spread of breast cancer into lungs and other body parts. Other studies have shown that turmeric can be effective in fighting a number of STDs including Chlamydia and Gonorrhea.

In addition to herbs, there are a number of vitamins for healthy breasts that should be included in the diet as well. Vitamin A (Beta Carotene) for example, has been cited in a number of studies as important to healthy breasts and breast cancer prevention. Additionally, it is useful for the reduction of fibrocystic breast disease.

Iodine, a mineral which is commonly found in sea vegetables such as kelp is another nutrient that has been shown to retard the growth of fibrocystic breast disease.

Daydreaming is Good Relaxation

Daydreaming uses the power of visual imagination in an efficient and enjoyable way to activate relaxation.

Daydreaming is a simple, cost-effective way to feel happier and calmer fast.

Picture a place from your past, where you felt happy, secure, and peaceful. Then imagine yourself there, making all the sensory impressions - smells, sounds, sights - as sharp as possible.

Daydreaming benefits:

• Relaxation
• Conflict management
• Reinforces values and beliefs
• Boosts creativity and achieve goals
• Boredom relief

Penne a la Broccoli Recipe

Penne a la Broccoli Recipe

One of the fastest and easiest main dishes to make. It's full of flavor and it also has the cancer-fighting protection of broccoli. Serves 4.

Ingredients:

16 oz penne or other hearty pasta, uncooked
Large bunch of broccoli
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
Several cloves of garlic, chopped or mashed
1/2 cup water
Salt to taste
Red pepper flakes (optional)
Grated Parmesan cheese (optional)

Preparation

1. Cook the pasta in rapidly boiling water until al dente.

2. Trim the ends of the broccoli stems and cut off the flowers. Peel the outer fibrous layer off the main stalks and cut the stalks into bite-sized pieces.

3. Separate the flower of the broccoli into bite-sized pieces.

4. Place the broccoli in a colander and rinse under cold running water. Put it in a saucepan with the olive oil, garlic, water and salt. Bring to a boil, cover tightly, and let steam until the broccoli is bright green and very crunchy-tender - no more than 5 minutes. Remove the lid and boil off most of the remaining liquid.

5. Toss the broccoli with cooked pasta. Top with red pepper flakes and Parmesan cheese, if desired.

Nutrients Per Serving
• Calories: 504.5
• Protein: 17.4 grams
• Fat: 5.8 grams
• Saturated Fat: 0.8 grams
• Monounsat Fat: 2.8 grams
• Polyunsat Fat: 1.3 grams
• Carbohydrate: 95.4 grams
• Fiber: 7.4 grams
• Cholesterol: 0.0 mg
• Calcium: 63.2 mg

为电脑美眉量身定做健康操

如果你和我一样，是个每天在电脑前至少工作8小时的.COM人；或者你是个标准网虫，每个月的上网费让你不堪重负却仍然执迷不悔。那么下面这套体操就是为你量身定做的。

　　有没有觉得与电脑为伍，时间一长就头昏脑胀、四肢僵直、眼花、颈痛。你要注意了，你的健康受到了极大的威胁！适当的运动能让你远离这些电脑综合症，你一定要做！当然，还要提醒你的是：不要一味沉迷，请节制！


　　手部运动

　　1、将十指环环相扣，静心宁神，深深呼一口气。

　　2、将手臂向外伸直，吐气，向外用力。重复3-4次。

　　3、左手掌心向下，右手拇指按住左手腕，用其余四指将左手拇指往下压，吐气。重复做几次，然后换手再来。

　　4、左手掌心朝上，手指伸直，将小指往下压，吐气。

　　转动手腕，顺时针与逆时针转动各5-10次。将两手上下摆动，放松。

　　颈部与肩部运动

　　1、十指交握放在脑后，重量置于手和手臂，将头往下压，脖子伸直，深呼吸5次。

　　2、将右手置于左耳，轻轻勾住，让头倾向右方，做深呼吸5次，重复数次后换左手练习。

　　3、慢慢旋转颈部，顺时针、逆时针各5次。

　　4、将肩膀提高，吐气并放下，重复4-5次。

　　5、晃动肩膀，向后5次，向前5次。

　　6、脸向右看后下方，重复3-5次，再反方向进行。

　　7、放松坐着，手臂垂直平放于膝，然后抬头挺胸，二者交替运动3-5次。

　　脚部与足部运动

　　1、将腿弯曲提起与胸平行，提起、放下各5次，可让你倍感舒适。

　　2、顺时针、逆时针转动脚踝各10次。将脚趾并拢，弯曲向上，伸直向下交替做5次。

　　3、脚平贴于地然后换脚，重复练习20-30次。

　　手部与脸部运动

　　1、用指尖按住头顶部,上下移位(轻按)。

　　2、用指尖轻轻由太阳穴按摩到下颚处。

　　3、食指与拇指捏住上眼皮，向外拉，反复多次。

　　4、沿着面颊骨按摩眼睛四方。由鼻孔旁向外按摩至下颚，再回到原点。沿着下颚向下按摩。下颚左右转动各5次。手掌按住鼻尖做圆周运动，每个方向5次。 捏住耳骨向上、向下、向外拉各3次，然后向前、向后各转动3次。

来源:tom

血型减肥法

你是否试过许多的减肥方法，却不见成功？千试万试，减肥的效果就是不太有效！

连喝水都会胖！吃什么都不对------您还在为身上的赘肉烦恼？让血型减肥法提供你适合自己血型的适合食物，只要送择正确，成功机率一定大大提高，让你在轻松无负担的状态下，瘦得美丽又健康，最重要的是不必再担心会复胖！

“人的血型决定他们身体所需要的食物类型”。这是美国著名的“自然疗法”专家彼德·达达姆(Dr. Peter J. D’Adamo)博士提出来的。彼德在他的《吃适合你血型的食物》一书中指出，为什么有些人为了减肥，小心谨慎地少吃，结果体重照样在增加，原因就是食物对人体的作用是因血型而异的，换句话说，人的血型决定了身体如何利用不同的食物。

　　研究人员多年钻研得出结论：某些植物血凝素是可以和某些血型的抗原相容。根据这一原则，就可以制定出不同的食物清单，根据血型来确定哪些食物可吃而哪些不可食用。如果植物血凝素与血型相匹配，就会产生如下效果：消肿、抗毒素、获得理想体重以及延缓衰老等。

研究人员揭示，一些食品起着真正的药物作用，是能量的来源，对某些人来说是健康的，但对另一些人却可能是有害的。根据这一原则以及血型的不同，只要吃和自己血型融合的食物，做适合自己血型的运动，就可以达到事半功倍的减肥效果！你信吗？着了再说。

A型 – 以蔬菜水果为主，少吃高脂肉类

A型血的人的祖先是最先从事农耕作物，是人类第二种最早出現的血型，相当适应以素食为主的食谱，豆腐、黄豆及蔬菜对他们非常合适，某些植物蛋白质如大豆蛋白质是他们最佳的健康食品。有容易适应环境的性格，适合缓慢且配合自己需要的运动。

饮食重点 :

1. 以蔬菜水果为主，摄取量为鱼或肉类的3倍

2. 每日三餐的卡里标准为早餐700卡、午餐500卡、晚餐300卡

3.水果尽量安排在早上吃，多吃草莓，能帮助脂肪顺利燃烧

避免在晚上吃水果，因为多余的糖质会变成脂肪屯积在体内。A，摄

4. 少吃高脂肉类

5. 海藻类食物应安排在晚上吃，补充必要的矿物质。

身材易胖区

和Ｏ型人相反的，A型人的上半身易胖，例如手臂和背部。可是，Ａ型人的胸部往往不夠丰滿

合适运动

Ａ型人不适合競爭性的运动。只要保持轻松心情，每天勤做燃脂运动就可。

B型-平衡的海鲜、蔬果和乳制品

与O 型和A型相比，B型却是人类学上较晚出现的血型。这类人是最早习惯于气候和其他变迁的游牧民族。所以，能夠适应各式各样的环境，免疫功能和器官比一般人好，在吃的方面可以说是最受上天恩宠的一类血型，无论是动物类还是植物类，几乎什么东西都能吃。但建议各类食品都能均恒摄取

饮食重点 :

1. 肚子饿时以低脂乳制品充饥

2. 少吃糖果、饼乾和蛋糕，否则会影响B型人的消化及化谢功能，过多也会妨碍胰岛素分泌，导致体脂肪屯积。

3.每天致少有2餐吃大量深色蔬菜，尤其是能促进代谢的菠菜

4. 动物性和植物性食材各占一半，注重营养均衡。

5. 尽量食用低蛋白、低脂食物，多吃鱼贝类，取得优质蛋白质。

身材易胖区

大多数Ｂ型人的易胖区都集中在腰和腿兩处，身型像水桶一样，腰身直直的，毫无线條。

合适运动

Ｂ型人也是不适合激烈的競爭性运动，体质比Ａ型好，最适合选择燃脂运动如排毒操和排毒舞

AB型-平衡的海鲜、蔬果和肉类

AB型血是A型血与B型血的混合型血，对于饮食生活及环境的变化能够随机应变。但是，由于其消化器官比较弱，基本上A型血和B型血人不宜的食品，AB型血的人也不宜食用，不过也有例外

AB型血人的生理特点是胃酸少而不易消化肉类。肥胖的原因也是因为只吃肉，转化为脂肪。所以在饮食方面，AB型血人最好以豆腐、新鲜蔬菜和水果为主，以乳制品（酸奶）和少量肉食做点缀，另外稍加一些鲜鱼和鸡蛋。
饮食重点 :

1. 谢绝所有肥肉，选择瘦肉，份量也不宜太多

2. 选择低脂乳制品，能促进胰岛素分泌。

3. 每天多吃高纤蔬菜及硷性水果

4. 食用同新鲜鱼贝类补充蛋白质

5. 面包、汤类等面粉制品少吃为宜。

身材易胖区

双腿是ＡＢ型人的弱点，小腿线条一般都不很美

合适运动

激烈的运动反而会破坏ＡＢ型人的瘦身效果。最适合的的是具有伸展性又能大量流汗的运动。



O型-少肉多蔬果，配合激烈运动

本來是狩猎民族，是人类最早出現的血型。属於領者性格。消化系统強健，拥有对食物过剩作出反应的免疫系统。这类血型的人饮食中最不可缺少的是动物性蛋白质，也就是肉类及鱼类等。适合進行激烈的競爭性运动。

　O型人想要减肥的话，应该食用脂肪少的瘦肉，并配合大量的运动，尽量避免食用谷物类和面包类的食品。谷物类食品和面包中所含的外源凝素会妨碍O型血的代谢，使人肥胖起来。

饮食重点 :

1. 要选择低脂肪的瘦肉

2. 主食以糙米钣为主，要少吃面食类。

3. 除了哈蜜瓜和酪梨会影响代谢功能，应每天在早午餐时多吃水果

4. 多摄取具有抗氧化作用的深绿色蔬菜

5. 多吃矿物质丰富的低卡海藻类食物。

身材易胖区

Ｏ型人的易胖区都集中在下半身，例如有「小肚腩」及不结实的大腿等

合适运动

Ｏ型人必须要有大量运动，否則体重会不断增加，而且要严格遵守，不能中断。

1. 血型看性格

Ａ型
内敛心软、善於容忍 不挑咀、食量少

B型
充满好奇、喜欢创新 重口味、多变化

O型
决断明快、意志坚强 能吃饱为原则

2. 血型与饮食行为

Ａ型
心血管疾病、消化不良、贫血、鼻子过敏、视力变差

B型
腿步循环不佳、肝胃大、神经失调、食道紧张

O型
关节痛、背痛、膝痛、胃痛、胀气、气喘、咳嗽、糖尿病

AB型
脑部冲突、下半身肥胖

AB型
客观智慧、善於协调 希望吃得丰盛

3. 血型与罹癌率

罹癌机率高、妇科、消化系肿瘤
Ａ型、 AB型

骨癌、膀胱癌
B型

黑色素瘤
O型

Eating for stress reduction

Women’s Health Magazine has a new article on foods that help to reduce stress. I was very excited to read their article on this topic because so many people are suffering from stress and reach to food for comfort - especially during the holidays. Stress increases your risk for high blood pressure, obesity, and heart disease. The great news is that we can avoid guilt and eat the following foods that actually help your body stay calm and counteract the damage that stress causes.

Almonds, Pistachios, and Walnuts - almonds are packed with B and E Vitamins which help boost your immune system, and walnuts and pistachios help lower blood pressure. Tip: Try almond butter instead of peanut butter on a high-stress day, or just eat the nuts plain if you’re craving something crunchy.

Avocados - homemade guacamole can satisfy cravings for something creamy and high-fat. The monounsaturated fats and potassium in avocados help lower blood pressure. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute says that one of the best ways to lower blood pressure is to consume enough potassium (avocados have more than bananas). Tip: Make your own avocado salad dressing with one medium avocado, two tablespoons of lemon juice, and a little cayenne pepper.

Skim Milk - calcium helps ease muscle spasms and soothes tension. A glass of low-fat or skim milk can reduce the stressful symptoms of PMS like mood swings, irritability, and anxiety.

Oatmeal - eating carbohydrates helps your brain produce serotonin (the relaxing, feel-good chemical) and when carbs are absorbed slowly, serotonin levels flow at a steady pace. So, reach for high-fiber carbohydrates like oatmeal because it takes longer for your stomach to digest it. If you have time, make the old-fashioned steel cut oats to avoid highly-processed foods.

Oranges - a German study in Psychopharmacology found that Vitamin C helps reduce stress and return blood pressure and cortisol (stress hormone) to normal levels after a stressful situation. Vitamin C is also well-known for boosting your immune system.

Salmon - diets high in omega-3 fatty acids protect against heart disease. A study from Diabetes & Metabolism found that omega-3s keep the stress hormones cortisol and adrenaline from peaking. Try to eat fatty fish at least twice a week.

Spinach - magnesium in spinach helps to lower stress levels. A deficiency in magnesium can cause migraine headaches and a feeling of fatigue. One cup of spinach provides 40% of your daily needs for magnesium. Tip: Swap out lettuce for spinach in sandwiches and salads.

Read the entire Women’s Health Article, “Eat to Beat Stress”.

Honey can ease your cough

Cold and flu season is in full swing and you or your family may be plagued with a nasty cough. Reuters wrote about a new study from Pennsylvania State University that found honey helps ease a nighttime cough and improves sleep. The researchers compared buckwheat honey to the cough syrup ingredient dextromethorphan, and honey was the clear winner in easing a cough and catching ZZZs! I don’t know about you, but I would much rather ingest a spoonful of honey than the nasty bright red or green chemical cough syrup. Yuck!

The study’s authors said the sweet and syrupy characteristics of honey are soothing on the throat. In addition, the high antioxidant content and antimicrobial effects of honey could also be responsible for relieving coughs.

Honey has even more benefits! MSNBC reported on a study that revealed buckwheat honey prevents LDL cholesterol from forming plaque in your arteries. In addition, there is tons of evidence proving that you can reduce your allergy and asthma symptoms by eating local honey.

chop and crush garlic

Women’s Health Magazine says research from the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry proves you need to chop and crush garlic in order to activate the enzymes (allinase) that give you the heart-healthy benefits. Crushing garlic before cooking allows enzymes to create the healthy compounds that help prevent blood clots.

Avocados help you absorb nutrient

A study from Iowa State University and Ohio State University found that eating avocado with a meal helps your body absorb more nutrients from your food. Here are the details of the study:

First part: Six males and five females were given 300 grams (g) of tomato salsa to eat. Half of the group ate salsa with 150g of avocado in it, and the other half ate salsa without avocado. Then later, the test was repeated and the subjects were given the opposite salsas.

Second part: The same group ate a salad containing carrots, spinach, and lettuce. Half of the group ate the salad with 150g of avocado, and the other half ate the salad without avocado. Then later, the test was repeated and the subjects were given the opposite salads.

To get the following results, the researchers took blood samples “from each subject several times after each meal to determine changes in nutrient levels for up to nine and a half hours after the meals” (Natural News):

* Salsa — Those who ate the avocado salsa absorbed almost 4.5 times more lycopene than subjects who had no avocado.
* Salad — Those who ate the avocado salad absorbed 13.6 times more beta-carotene, 8.3 times more alpha-carotene, and 4 times more lutein than subjects who had no avocado.

OSU researcher Dr. Steven Schwartz said, “Many fruits and vegetables are rich in beneficial carotenoids, but most fruits and vegetables are virtually fat free, which may limit the body’s ability to absorb some of these nutrients. Our latest research shows that the natural fat content in avocados increases carotenoid absorption, which offers nutritional advantages over other sources of fat like salad dressings.”

The Top 8 Foods To make you younger

Everyone wants to feel younger. We all wish we had more energy, looked better, and had more time to get our health on the right track. So, I reviewed tons of research and came up with the following list of foods that will help you feel younger this year. I’ve included foods that will improve your skin, protect your vision, speed healing, fight off age-related diseases, and more. It’s likely that you’ll find many these foods on “superfood” and “top foods” lists, but they make those lists for a good reason. We are what we eat and if you want to be your best this year, these foods are a great start.

1. Green tea - Dr. Nicholas Perricone, famous dermatologist and inventor of the face saving Perricone Diet, said that “green tea contains healthy acids and protein, which help to improve your complexion.” (Ref: Response Source) Researchers from the Douglas Hospital Research Centre (DHRC) published a study in the European Journal of Neuroscience that suggests regular consumption of green or black tea may reduce your risk of age-related degenerative brain disorders, including Alzheimer’s. (Ref: Physorg)

2. Eggs - A nutritional biochemist at Tufts University says that the antioxidants in eggs are easily absorbed by your body. Eggs are packed with the carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin which are crucial to keeping healthy eyes and sharp vision. (Ref: MSNBC)

3. Dark Chocolate - A University of Nottingham professor found that drinking cocoa drinks rich in flavanols improves blood flow to key areas of the brain for two to three hours. Flavanols in the cocoa drink are a key ingredient of dark chocolate. Professor Macdonald’s study also suggested that cocoa flavanols in chocolate may enhance brain function to help fight sleep deprivation, fatigue, and the effects of aging. (Ref: Physorg)

4. Concord grapes & Welch’s 100% Grape Juice - Welch’s website boasts that in an independent study of over 1000 common foods, Welch’s 100% Grape Juice “ranked #1 in antioxidant capacity per serving among all juices and beverages tested.” Welch’s reports that new research shows “eating a diet high in natural antioxidants such as those found in Concord grape juice may slow down the effects of aging, such as by protecting memory and reducing the signs of skin aging.” (Ref: Welch’s)

5. Pineapple - Pineapple is the only food with natural bromelain (an enzyme group that aids digestion, reduces inflammation and swelling, and speeds healing). These enzymes are helpful for muscle and joint injuries, gout, and arthritis. Note: Cooking pineapple deactivates the bromelain. (Ref: Mark’s Daily Apple)

6. Zucchini - ChefMD ® says that zucchini helps fight age-related macular degeneration (the most common form of blindness in people 55 and older). The National Eye Institute found that a high intake of lutein significantly reduces the risk of macular degeneration. Zucchini is packed with lutein to help you protect your vision before age takes its toll. (Ref: ChefMD)

7. Salmon and Omega-3 Fatty Acids – Dr. Oz says that omega-3 fatty acids are one of the most important nutrients to keep your cerebral power lines strong. Research shows that Omega-3s actually slow cognitive decline, remove plaque from your arteries, and improve function of your neurotransmitters (the message-senders in your brain). Dr. Oz recommends eating 13 oz. of fish a week or taking two grams of fish oil supplement every day.

8. Blueberries – The Agricultural Research Service funded a study that found antioxidant compounds (tannins and anthocyanins) in blueberries which reverse existing short-term memory losses. (Ref: Nutra Ingredients). These compounds have been linked to preventing and reversing age-related mental decline and cancer.
Note: If your grocery store sells it, try out fresh Pomegranate or Acai juice to get similar antioxidant-packed, age-fighting benefits.

Go Ahead, Eat These pears

Women’s Health posted a fun slideshow of five fruits that have potent nutrition in the peels. Many people only like the soft or juicy insides of fruit, but the skins or peels are packed with a significant amount of antioxidants that help us fight disease. Next time you reach for one of these fruits, remember that the skin is too valuable to remove.

Apple - A study from Cornell University found that the skin of apples can have up to 87% more phytochemicals (cancer-fighters) than the inner white flesh. Personally, I don’t mind the skin on apples, but it helps if you buy organic. If you don’t like it, try eating apple slices with almond or peanut butter. You can also cut up small chunks to toss into a fruit salad. You’ll notice the skin less when it’s mixed with other fruits.

Cucumber - The peel of cucumbers has silica which helps you keep healthy hair and nails and keeps your skin plump and free of wrinkles. I’m sure you’ve heard of collagen for skin. Well, guess what it’s made of? Silica! Most experts agree that you need a minimum of five milligrams (mg) of silica every day. You can get that amount from one cucumber. Grab for organic or English hothouse varieties that don’t have the nasty coating of preservative wax on the skin.

Eggplant - The dark purple skin of an eggplant has about 300 mg of the antioxidant nasunin which research shows may prevent damage to your brain cells. The skin also has over 200 mg of potassium, 13 mg of magnesium, and 3 g of fiber. Women’s Health suggests enjoying eggplant with the skin in Eggplant Parmesan. You’ll never notice it! Make sure you use the eggplant as soon as you buy it because the skin gets bitter with age.

Kiwi - This fuzzy fruit’s skin has chemical compounds that help your body avoid infection from staph and E. coli bugs. If the fuzzy feeling bothers you (I know it bothers me) try slicing up a whole kiwi and putting it right into a blender to make a smoothie. Mix with other fruits, yogurt, juice, and ice and you’ll never know. There’s also a gold variety of kiwis that have less fur than others.

Oranges (and Lemons, Limes) - The peels of oranges, lemons, and limes are packed with a hydrocarbon called d-limonene. Eating it can reduce your risk of skin cancer by 30%. Most of us wouldn’t each the skin of these citrus fruits so try zesting the skins to add citrus flavor to your cooking. Lemon, lime, and orange zests are good in salads, meats, desserts, or on top of other fruit (it prevents browning).

This entry was posted on Wednesday, June 4th, 2008 at 12:04 pm and is filed under Antioxidants, Fruits, Health, Skin. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.

If you enjoyed reading this port, please consider subscribing. You can subscribe via RSS or via e-mail.

6 reasons to slow down eating

1. Portion control & Overeating prevention. When you eat slowly it is definitely hard to overeat. Slow eating little by little decreases the desire to eat, so you can stop eating before your plate is empty. It is suggested that it takes about 20 minutes for your stomach to produce the hormones telling your brain that you are full.

2. Weight control benefits. Slowly eating habit reduces the risk of becoming overweight. Recently Japanese researches found strong positive correlation between higher eating speed and obesity.

3. It can't hurt you. Slow eating doesn't have any negative effects on your health, but can bring you a number of benefits without extra costs.

4. Taste and enjoy your food. When you eat slowly, you end up tasting your food more. You will experience more of the flavors, textures and smells of the food you eat. At the same time this may become a small step to a more healthy diet. If you won't like what you eat when you eat it slowly, probably the next time you will choose something of a better quality.

5. Digestion. Eating slowly and chewing properly improves your digestion. It is well known that digestion begins in the mouth. The more we chew our foods, the easier it is to digest them.

6. Heartburn (gastroesophageal reflux). Eating food quickly may cause a type of indigestion called gastroesophageal reflux.