HoserLife|Want to live life like a true Hoser, read on.

What are minerals?

Your body needs minerals for its proper functioning. The study of minerals is known as mineralogy. They occur naturally in earth’s crust. Minerals have certain chemical composition, their physical properties are similar, and they have highly ordered atomic structure. When compared to minerals rock is said to be the combination of more number of minerals which do not have specific composition. The minerals are defined as a chemical substance or an element, which must have crystalline structure and they may be obtained as effect of geological processes.

What are the functions of minerals?

The main functions of minerals are to aid in the growth and development of human body and maintain its health. They help to built strong bones which are helpful in the transmission of nerve impulses. They play a vital role in making hormones and in maintaining normal heart beat.

Chemical Structures of Minerals

Without the crystal structure and the chemical composition, minerals cannot be defined in proper manner. If two or more minerals differ in their crystal structure but they have same chemical composition they are said to be poly morphs. Consider marcasite and pyrite have same chemical composition called as iron sulfide but they differ in atom arrangement. In some cases minerals differ in their chemistry but they posses same crystalinity. Periclase, halite, galena have identical cubic crystal structure but they are made up of various chemicals such as sodium, chlorine, sulphur, lead, magnesium and oxygen.

Crystal Structure and Properties of Minerals

Physical properties of minerals are determined by their chemical structures. In two minerals namely diamond and graphite are made up of same carbon, graphite is soft and diamond is hard. The reason for the hardness of diamond although it has been formed from the same carbon that forms graphite is that the carbon atoms are arranged in three dimensional orders. Graphite is soft because the carbon atoms in it are arranged in form of sheet.

Classification of Minerals

There are nearly 4,000 known minerals. Out of those 4,000 minerals 150 minerals are highly abundant and they are known as common minerals. 50 Minerals are infrequent and they are known as occasional minerals. And the rest are known as rare and extremely rare minerals.

Types of Minerals

Minerals are of two different types: they are trace minerals and macro minerals. Macro minerals are consumed by human body in larger than trace minerals. The molecules in macro minerals are prepared from magnesium, sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium, phosphorus, and sulfur.

Trace minerals- the name itself indicates that they are required by the human body only in small amount. Substances such as manganese, copper, iron, iodine, zinc, fluoride, cobalt, and selenium are known as trace minerals.

Do you know about calcium mineral?

This mineral comes under macro minerals; bone needs it in huge amount. It helps in the formation of strong bones and teeth. The main sources of calcium are dairy products such as milk, cheese, yogurt, calcium-fortified foods, orange juice, cereals and crackers.

Do you know about iron mineral?

The main part of hemoglobin is iron which helps in the transfer of oxygen from lungs to other body parts. Oxygen is wanted by the whole body to stay alive and healthy. The main sources of this mineral are as follows: meat, (especially red meat such as beef), leafy green vegetables, broccoli and whole and enriched grains like wheat or oats.

If you have problems serving healthy foods because of the prices, you’ll find these tips to be just what you need to eat healthy on a budget.

1.  Eliminate junk food
Doing your shopping on your own is the easiest way to shop, as children and sometimes spouses are usually the ones requesting junk food.  Shopping alone will prevent this, and ensure that you only buy the foods you need.

2.  Water or milk instead of soft drinks You can still enjoy your favorite drinks at a sporting event or night out, although you should stick with the smallest size when shopping to save money and calories.  Children and even adults need milk or milk products on a daily basis.  Milk will also help you get strong and provides calcium for healthy bones and healthy teeth.

3.  Buy fruits in quantity

When they are in season, buy fruits in quantity and freeze any extras.  You can buy several pounds this way, and freeze extras to have them when the fruit goes out of season.  Wash the fruit well,  remove any spoiled pieces, dry thoroughly, then freeze in plastic zipper bags.

4.  Meats and beans

Meats and beans are the best sources for protein. Lean meat is more expensive than meats with a lot of fat.  Canned beans are a great deal as well, as they give you protein at a great price.

5.  Beans as a substitute

You should use beans a substitute for meat on a frequent occasion.  There are several varieties, so you can prepare them in a crock pot, so when you return home they are ready to consume.

The USDA recommends eating beans at least 4 times per week.  If you experience gas after eating beans you should try washing them, covering them with water, bringing the water to a boil, then draining it off and refilling the pot. 

6.  If you live in a coastal area or an area where fish are around, make that an integral part of your diet.  You can catch them from the lakes or rivers, saving money in the process.

7.  Peanut butter is great for those on a budget as it’s popular with almost everyone.  You can use it for sandwiches instead of eating hot dogs.  It does need to be refrigerated, although bigger jars can last you for weeks.

Eating healthy is always something you can’t go wrong with.  You can eat healthy for just a few bucks, which makes it perfect for those on a budget. Now, you don’t need a lot of money to have the lifestyle and health you’ve always wanted.
 

Bad cholesterol or a bad diet is something we all
experience at some point in time.  It’s impossible
to eat healthy our whole lives, even though we may
try hard to do it.  Eating healthy for your heart
is something everyone should try to do, especially
when it comes to restoring health and reducing
heart attacks.

Your heart and food
We know these things for sure - a diet high in
saturated fats will help raise your cholesterol,
which is a risk factor for heart disease.  People
that are obese are more prone to heart disease.  A
diet high in sodium may elevate your blood pressure,
leading to inflammation and even heart disease.

To help prevent heart disease and improve your health,
put the tips below to good use.

Eat plenty of fish
Herring, sardines, and salmon are all excellent sources
of Omega 3 essential fatty acids.  Other fish are great
to, although Omega 3 may help to get your cholesterol
down to a healthier level.

Choosing healthy fats and oils
Saturated fat will increase the risk of heart disease.
It’s found in meat, butter, and even coconut oil.  You
should avoid them until your cholesterol levels are
down and you are at a healthy weight.  Even those
that love red meats can enjoy seafood and nuts for
their main sources of protein.

Monounsaturated fats such as olive oils will help
you to protect your heart.  Olive oil is an ideal
choice for cooking, dressing, or even as a dipping
sauce.

Plenty of fiber
Fiber can help you control your cholesterol.  You
can find fiber in whole grain products to help
control sugar absorption as well, which will help
you keep your digestive system healthy.

Choosing carbohydrates
Eating for your heart involves staying away from
sugary foods such as candy, cookies, cakes, and
pastries.  Eating a lot of sugar isn’t good for
your heart disease at all.  Healthy carbohydrates
involve whole grain breads, whole grain pasta, brown
rice, and a lot of vegetables.  You should make
fruits and vegetables the main aspect of your diet.

Healthy cooking methods
Stir frying and sauteing with olive oil or canola
oil are both great methods, as you shouldn’t dip
your food in batter and fry it anymore.  If you
cook chicken, remove the skin and bake it in the
oven in foil.

Instead of frying your fish you should always bake
it.  Steaming your vegetables can help maintain the
most nutrients.  You should use cream sauces or lots
of butter anymore either.  When you eat vegetables,
try squeezing lemon juice on them or using your
favorite seasonings.

As you make the proper changes to your diet, keep in
mind that it takes time for them to become habits. 
Eating healthy is always great for your body and your
lifestyle, especially when it comes to your heart and
the prevention of heart disease.
 

Many people nowadays are very much conscious about their own health and fitness. In addition to that, these people, and many others as well, are now having that desire to sculpt their bodies to achieve that magazine-cover look. As a result, gyms, health spas and other fitness centers have proliferated all over to cater to the needs of the fitness buffs and afficionados.

Even on television exercise machines, weight loss products, and other paraphernalia to improve fitness have more or less gained control over the airwaves and made their way into the households. But exercise is not the only way to build that body beautiful. It also entails certain amount of responsibility on the foods one chooses to eat. Being healthy and fit requires one to observe diet fitness.

Diet fitness is as essential as exercise itself. Diet for fitness provides the essential nutrition one needs to restore worn-out muscles and for healthy growth. Diet fitness should never be taken for granted. With the popularity of keeping fit, many different views, methods, programs and dieting strategies have been formulated by many professionals. Among these are high carb diets and high fat diets. Whih one is more effective and which one should one choose to follow?

First thing to know would be the fundamental differences between these two diet approaches. As the name implies, high carb diets concentrates on taking in carbohydrate-rich foods while high fat diets endorses fat-rich foods. High carb diets are utilized to glycogen stored in the liver and muscles. Glycogen is a glucose complex that provides large amounts of energy ready for use in anaerobic exercises.

Fats, on the other hand, is well-known for being the richest source of calories. It actually contains 2.5 times more calories than carbohydrates and proteins alike. Studies also show that it takes the body 24 calories to metabolize carbohydrates while it only takes 3 to burn down fat. So which one to follow? A person can follow a high carb and low fat fitness diet or the other way around. It is absolutely not recommended to follow both at the same time; unless of course if you want to gain body fat.

But then diet fitness is not all about losing fat, one must also consider his diet in order to keep fat away. Research shows that sustainable loss of weight can only be achieved on a diet which suits the individual food preferences, lifestyle, medical profile and satiety signals.

Diet programs all over can help you shed off excess pounds, but only one diet can help you stay sexy, and it is the one that satisfies you most. Other important aspects of having a fit diet are moderation, balance and variation. One must be careful not to leave out important nutrients and other substances necessary for healthy body functioning. health organizations are clear about the amounts of nutrients an individual should have in the body.

Low fat high carbs, high carbs low fat; the question is not which diet program will work out but which is it that will work for you. Striving for a sexy and healthy body does not have to burden an individual, diet fitness does not have to mean sticking to the same kind of food for life. One may even try to be adventurous and try out new foods out there. Who knows? one may even discover spinach interesting.