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!

Get Your Engine Running by a healthy vending franchise July 24, 2008

Jessica Vachal wrote this article for a healthy vending franchise to promote health food vending. Long live YoNaturals and a healthier America!

There are many people who compare the human body to a car. Those of us who do not know much about cars may be confused by this comparison, as might those of us who do not know too much about what it takes to keep our bodies healthy and happy. One thing is for sure, however, and that is that surely everyone has at least heard about how good exercise is for your body. Thus, let us look at that car-to-the-body comparison and try to have it make some sense, and highlight for all of us how important it is that we work exercise into our everyday lives.

For people who own cars, it is not recommended that they leave said cars sitting for long periods of time. This is so because cars need to be driven around, they need to be turned on and utilized to ensure that they are working properly, and to ensure that they continue to work properly. The idea of conserving energy does not work with cars, rather if a car just sits for long periods of time, it will begin to break down from the inside out, it will begin to work improperly and then you will have to take it to the auto body shop to get it looked at by a professional.

The human body is much the same way. If you do not exercise, if you just let your body sit and you never use your muscles or your cardiovascular system, then your body will begin to stop ensuring that these functions can work within your body and you will lose them. This does not mean that your arm is going to fall off just as not using a car for a long while means that the door is going to fall off. However, it does mean that the car door may squeak the next time you open it, and that you will have a hard time picking up a heavy book or your arms will feel sore from the most minimal of actions. This is not something we want for our bodies – to have them be unable to perform the most simple of functions, and that is why we must make sure that exercise is a part of our everyday lives.

If you don’t use your body, you will lose the functions that the human body is so amazing at providing. When your heart is not used to pump blood and oxygen throughout your body, it weakens and then you are faced with even greater health risks and issues, like cardiovascular disease and heart attacks. These are things that are easily avoided if you just incorporate walks or jogs into your life. A little really can go a long with in exercise, so give it a chance, and make sure your body keeps running properly!

YoNaturals Take on Early Onset Diabetes July 10, 2008

Author: Lisa Arnold

YoNaturals is committed to fighting early onset diabetes in our children and students. The most common symptom of diabetes in both Type I and Type II is a high level of increase in blood sugar levels. The disease elevates the amount of sugar in the blood and over time complications such as kidney failure, possible amputation, heart disease, and nerve damage which can become severe can occur.

Type I diabetes is described as insulin dependent and is early onset. When the body does not produce enough insulin it cannot properly regulate blood sugar.

There are many symptoms of early onset diabetes. Symptoms of diabetes should not be ignored. Diabetes is a serious but treatable disease. It can be most helpful if these symptoms are easily recognized.

Some of the more common early warning signs of diabetes are:

·         Thirst which is not due to exertion from exercise or overly warm weather

·         Extreme hunger, even when full there is still a lingering feeling of  being hungry

·         Frequent urination especially if being repeatedly waken up during the night

·         Tiredness and fatigue, particularly falling asleep after a meal

·         Sudden and/or rapid weight loss

·         Irritability

It is important to note that many of the signs and symptoms of diabetes may be related to other things besides diabetes, so getting tested for diabetes should be done if any of these symptoms are present. If diabetes is caught in the early stages the more serious symptoms of diabetes can often be diverted or significantly lessened.

The keys to treating diabetes are diet, exercise and the proper management of blood sugar. It is important to eat nutritious snacks throughout the day, such as those found in a YoNaturals healthy vending machine. Such habits can prevent one from eating less healthy snacks when hunger is overwhelming. Unfortunately many of these lesser symptoms go unnoticed which can lead to more serious problems of a physical and/or neurological nature.

The following are symptoms of the more serious type of diabetes:

·         Blurred vision which can lead to blindness

·         Numbness and/or tingling in the hands

·         scratches and minor wounds that will not heal

·         hard-to-treat yeast infections in women which often reoccur

·         dry or itchy skin

Research has shown that there is a rise in Type II diabetes in children. The reasons given are that children are less active and have very unhealthy eating habits. They opt for the junk food meals instead of meals consisting of lean meats, fresh vegetables and fruits.

Diabetes in both adults and children is a serious health threat. To combat diabetes people must eat healthier and get more active. Doing this will save many lives.

Those frequently experiencing any of these symptoms may be showing signs of diabetes. It is advised that they make a doctor’s appointment right away and get tested for diabetes. If diabetes is diagnosed there are measures that can be taken to prevent the more serious complications of diabetes from occurring.

But our goal at YoNaturals is to prevent early onset diabetes, rather than try to control it after it is already present. The best way to do this is to develop healthy eating habits in your children at a very young age, teach them to make the right choices, and of course to provide healthy choices. Ultimately, it is impossible to make proper dietary choices unless healthy alternatives are provided.