Staying True to Your Health August 30, 2008

Author: Laura Rayburn

Wherever it is that you work, you probably have access to a bank of vending machines. Love them or hate them, they are a part of modern American life. In fact, a quick peek into trash bins situated around your workplace will probably reveal just how deeply involved these machines are in providing for you and your coworkers’ diets.

Considering the amount of time that most people spend at their workplace during a given week, it should surprise no one that people rely upon vending machines in the way that they do. These machines provide a quick fix to those hunger pangs or energy slumps that plague everyone from time to time, and there are very few people in this world who will always be prepared to knock out these problems with a snack that they prepared at home and brought along with them to work. Also, in addition to providing quick snacks to the masses, vending machines often provide lunch substitutes for people who find themselves without.

Despite the fact that these machines do provide a useful service for many working adults, reliance upon vending machine food can also prove problematic. First off, most of the food that is purchased from these machines are unhealthy (read: calorie-laden) snack foods. The kinds of foods that you can mindlessly munch on without giving a thought to how much you are actually eating. This is especially true in an office environment, where you can sit at your computer, checking emails and reading through documents while scarfing down your snack. The mindlessness of it all leaves no opportunity for your body to tell you when to stop, which is an unhealthy habit to have in the first place. And this is especially true when you are eating such unhealthy food. So what can you do to avoid these problems?

Aside from preparing snacks at home and remembering to bring them to work with you each day, you can take some steps to ensure that your body gets the maximum benefit from workplace snacking. Your first priority should be to find the healthiest foods that your snack machines offer and stick to those choices. YoNaturals produces vending machines that cater to that purpose exactly: providing healthy food options to hungry people. Your second priority should be to step away from your office or cubicle for a few minutes (go outside and get some fresh air if you can) while you enjoy your snack. Without the distraction of a phone that is ringing off the hook and an inbox that is flooded with new email, you will be able to focus your attention on the food that you are putting into your body. You deserve this much, and your health should always come before even the most important project that your employer gives you.

Proper Eating with Fruits and Veggies by YoNaturals August 26, 2008

Author: Jessica Vachal

For all intents and purposes, eating more fruits and vegetables should not be a very hard way to add some more “healthy” into our everyday lives. Yet, for most Americans, it would seem that eating more healthfully involves more eating “fat free” and “non fat” foods, in all their prepackaged goodness, rather than just making sure to get more fruits and vegetables onto the dinner plate every night and into the breakfast bowl every morning. The point is, most people seem to think they know what it takes to eat more healthfully, and yet they do not take the simplest steps towards making that goal a reality.

Eating fruits and vegetables is undeniably the healthiest thing anyone can do for their bodies and their health. The nutrients and other benefits derived from fruits and vegetables are unrivaled in any other form, even vitamins consumed in a pill form, and yet people do not do enough to ensure that these fruits and vegetables will end up on their tables during every meal.

It can be easy to add more fruits and vegetables to your daily meals, provided you take small steps to make it happen. Add blueberries or strawberries to your oatmeal every morning for a healthy meal that is as full of fiber as it is tasty. Throw some carrots and celery into a baggie for a midday snack so you are not tempted to go to the vending machine for chips. Unless of course you are lucky enough to have a workplace or a school even, that boasts a vending machine full of YoNaturals goodness and you can choose organic fruit juices and organic snacks rather than the standard chocolate candies and greasy, fatty chips that most vending machines boast.

Eat a salad with dinner – not even necessarily for dinner – and you will be well on your way to a healthy lifestyle. The fact is, eating healthfully does not have to be hard, it can even be easy if you have the right tools at your disposal, and having fruits and vegetables readily accessible is a big step towards making sure you are armed with the necessary healthy lifestyle tools. So buy some apples and oranges to keep on hand, and make sure you get whatever fruits you love that are in season to make your breakfasts pop. Keep greens in the refrigerator, and your healthy lifestyle can begin today!

A Conscience Free from Carbohydrate Guilt August 19, 2008

Never mind all of the bad things that you have heard about eating carbohydrates. These macromolecules are an essential part of healthy diets, providing a great energy source for all of your body’s many functions that it would like to complete during the course of the day. Good news for you, these bits of energy are found in two basic forms: as simple sugars and as starches. These sugars and starches, in turn, can be found in many different foods within your neighborhood grocery store, favorite local restaurant, or office vending machine. So, you ask, why do some carbohydrates have such a bad reputation?

The problem stems from the way that these nutrients are digested by the body. Simple sugars are taken directly into the blood stream with very little digestion required to get from point A to point B. This is problematic because the rapid uptake of sugar causes the blood sugar level to spike quickly, and there have been a number of health issues associate with the intake of too many of these sugary products (e.g. diabetes, heart problems). You can’t write these foods off entirely though, as fruit contains simple sugar, and the health benefits of eating fruit far outweigh their downside.

The complex carbohydrates, on the other hand, take a longer time to be broken down into their component parts (simple sugars), and thus do not cause such rapid changes in a person’s blood sugar level. These carbohydrates are often found in whole grains, vegetables, and some low-fat dairy. Obviously, between the simple sugar-containing fruits and the complex-carb vegetables, a person can hardly have a healthy diet while avoiding carbs altogether. Thus, the key to a healthy diet is not to avoid them altogether, but to be sensible about where your carbs are coming from.

Of course, avoiding the bad carbohydrates and eating the good carbs should be simple enough if you are cooking your own meals or at least eating out at a restaurant with a large selection on the menu. However, the place where many people run into problems is not in the comfort of their kitchen or sitting at a table in their favorite restaurant. It happens when they are on the go and faced with all the bad carb choices that most vending machines have to offer. This is when a healthy vending machine company can become a dieter’s best friend. If one is available, always choose a healthy snack product from a YoNaturals vending machine, instead of grabbing chips or a candy bar from one of the traditional machines. It is the one surefire way to keep your carb conscience free from guilt.

Health Benefits of Berries August 11, 2008

Lisa Arnold compiled the following information for a healthy vending company in San Diego, California. Check out www.yonaturals.com for more information on starting your own small business.

Fresh berries are very nutritious and they will do wonders for your body and overall health. They should be included in everyone’s daily diet. Most berries are naturally sweet and all you have to do is rinse them thoroughly under cold water to enjoy. They make delightful snacks and are delicious for a healthy dessert.

They are packed with nutrients. For example, one cup of sliced strawberries contains 100 mg of Vitamin C. Vitamin C boosts the immune systems. Strawberries also contain calcium, magnesium and potassium. Strawberries are also very low in calories. In addition to being rich in Vitamin C, strawberries are also a great source of Vitamin K and manganese as well as vitamins B5 and B6, potassium, copper, riboflavin, magnesium, and omega-3 fatty acids. Strawberries are also high in folate which is a major ingredient in the formation of red blood cells.

Blueberries have many health benefits. They contain the highest levels of antioxidants of all fresh fruit. They also are also anti-inflammatory, anti-blood clotting and anti-bacterial. They are also effective at combating aging.

Blueberries also help to:

· improve vision

· strengthen blood vessels

· enhance memory

· reverse aging

· control weight

· Neutralizes free radicals

· improve urinary tract health

Blackberries are high in vitamin C which aid with boosting the immune system. They help protect against infections as well. Blackberries are rich in bioflavonoids, fiber, folate and carbohydrates.

They contain the following healthful nutrients:

· Calcium

· Beta-carotene

· Magnesium

· Phosphorus

· Potassium

Blackberries are one of the few fruits that contain Vitamin E which helps to protect the heart. Blackberries also help to make blood vessels stronger and they help to make eyesight better.

The pigments that give berries their blue and red hues are good for your health. Most of the nutrients are in the skins.

When shopping for berries try to pick berries which are ripe, brightly colored and firm. Also look for berries that do not have any signs of mold. And do not pick berries that are squishy or soft in spots. Farmer’s markets or health food stores offer the freshest berries, so if they are available to you it is a good idea to shop for your berries and other fresh fruits and your fresh vegetables in either of these markets.

Most berries such as strawberries, blueberries and raspberries are naturally sweet and can be eaten just as they, but they can also be served with light-whipped cream or with chopped nuts such as almonds, pecans or walnuts. They also go great with whole grain cereals, and some people like to add them to their salad. Fresh berries are also delicious served with plain or vanilla yogurt. They also make excellent smoothies when combined with bananas and low-fat milk.

Most people do not get enough fresh fruits in their diets, but eating a diet rich in berries will help to reduce the risk of several types of cancers and they can help to combat aging and heart disease.

So, we at YoNaturals suggest that you enjoy good health and add years to your life by making it a habit to enjoy a bowl of delicious fresh berries every day!