Pectin is a structural heteropolysaccharide and is a type of fiber that is found in cell walls and tissues in plants. Its physical appearance is commonly white or light brown powder. It mainly comes from citrus fruits and is what makes a jam jelly, it is a gelling agent and it is also used as a stabilizer for fruit juices and milk beverages. The amount of pectin varies from plant to plant and apples contain the highest amount among these sources.

When used as a dietary fiber it can provide a variety of health benefits. If you want to go all natural a great source will be the skin or pulp of the apple and if that would be too tasking, supplementation is always available. Aside from being a great source of health benefits, it also has one specific function that could interest a totally different market and that is the weight loss market.

Weight Loss

There is nothing better than losing weight the natural way when it comes to gaining better control of your health. That is the main reason why so many products are out there today that aids in that process. Many of the natural products and have been used in herbal medicine for hundreds of years already and Apple Pectin is not any different in that sense. It is all natural and comes from what we already know and maybe even love, apples. The way pectin is able to influence healthy weight loss is because of its ability to maintain a healthy balance in the colon.

It acts like a broom sweeping excess chemicals from the body through regular bowel movements, excess chemicals like fats and cholesterols. Another way it is able to help like most fiber compounds does, it helps the stomach feel fuller longer since it gradually moves food through the digestive tract to allow better nutrient absorption and the way it is able to do that is by expanding within the stomach, hence the feeling of satiety.

Soluble Fiber for Better Cholesterol Levels

Aside from the weight loss benefits that a fiber can provide it also has been linked to lowered cholesterol levels. In this case, apple pectin is a soluble fiber which is the kind of fiber that can disperse or spread in water. Soluble fiber has been shown in studies to lower cholesterol by reducing the amount of it absorbed in the intestines. It may be a cliché but I’ll say it anyway, we have all heard about the saying “An apple a day keeps the doctor away”, well in this case it is more like keeps the cholesterol away.

Literally, because of the pectin content in apples, it really will keep a lot of cholesterol away. Although it may take a lot more than just one apple a day, the fact still remains that Apple Pectin can definitely help in cholesterol levels, and there also is evidence that it does not only lower down LDL which is the bad cholesterol, it also has the ability to increase HDL which is the good cholesterol in our bodies.

Lose weight and maintain good cholesterol with natural apple pectin fiber. 

-Darrell Miller, VitaNet, LLC

If you want the short answer to the question “is pomegranate juice good for you?”, then YES, it is! If we are talking about wholesome beverages, they don’t get a lot healthier than fresh pomegranate juice. When compared with red wine, green tea and acai berry juice among others, pomegranate juice possesses a lot more antioxidants. So what does this mean exactly?… well supplementing around 8 oz. of pomegranate juice into your diet daily can significantly enhance your health and wellness in a number of various ways.

Influence on Cholesterol
In accordance with MayoClinic.com, it’s unclear how helpful pomegranate juice is for lowering cholesterol. Even So, it does promote a reduced rate of cholesterol build-ups in blood vessels, which in turn lowers our chances of developing cardiovascular disease. Make certain to consult with your physician before including pomegranate juice into your routine if you suffer with high cholesterol levels or some other medical problem, because it may interact with some medicines.

Heart Protection
Heart disease is the number one source of death in the USA, killing more individuals than pneumonia, cancer, diabetes and accidents combined, based on a 2008 statement by The Presbyterian Hospital of New York. Pomegranate juice can help keep our hearts healthy and prevent possible heart related illnesses. Scientists at the Sapienza University in Rome, reported in the April 2009 publication of the “Journal of Medicinal Food,” that antioxidants called tannins in pomegranate juice help to prevent blood clotting and, which decreases cardiovascular events like heart attacks.

Lowering Blood Pressure
A different heart health benefit of pomegranate juice is its ability to lower blood pressure. Together with high cholesterol levels, hypertension is also a key risk factor for the development of heart disease. The June 2010 publication of “Phytotherapy Research” points out that a protein within the blood called angiotensin II causes blood vessels to constrict, and this increases blood pressure levels. When scientists in India tested the effects of pomegranate juice in rodents they discovered that it lowered blood pressure levels by blocking the action and production of angiotensin. The final results of this study were released in the June 2010 publication of “Phytotherapy Research.”

Diabetes Regulation
Pomegranate juice features some very powerful antioxidants referred to as oleanolic, gallic and ursolic acid. These acids are documented in the June 2007 publication of the “Journal of Medicinal Food” for being predominantly accountable for the anti-diabetic effects of pomegranate juice. These acids not only help with blood sugar regulation and defend us from diabetes, they also help protect diabetes sufferers from developing some of the problems which arise from diabetes, like neural damage and neuropathy.

Cancer Prevention
Some of the most amazing news to come out of pomegranate juice studies is its capacity to help prevent cancers. The Nov. 2009 publication of “Nutrition and Cancer” featured an evaluation by V.M. Adhami at the Dermatology Department at Wisconsin University. This review, which is focused on scientific study of pomegranate juice, states that the antioxidant qualities of pomegranate juice ends the growth of lung, colon, and breast cancer cells; animal studies which included consuming pomegranate juice demonstrated that together with those kinds of cancer cells, also inhibited the growth of prostate and skin cancer cells. The antioxidants in pomegranate juice, which seem to have the anticancer effects, are flavonoids and tannins.

Slowing Osteoarthritis
Pomegranate juice might prove helpful as a natural remedy for the kind of arthritis that develops from the deterioration of bone and cartilage. A study which analyzed the strength of pomegranate extract at fighting osteoarthritis discovered that this fruit’s flavonol antioxidants may slow down joint deterioration by preserving cartilage.

Drug Interactions
Pomegranate juice could cause an interaction with specific medications. If you consume blood pressure medications, statin medications or ACE inhibitors like Lisinopril, you need to consult with your physician before including pomegranate juice into your diet.

If you are looking for a quick answer to the question “is apple juice good for you?”, then yes it is, but it needs to be freshly made and consumed in moderation because fruit juice contains sugar along with all the wonderful nutrition it contains. Commercial juice almost always contains more sugar than fresh made juice because it has sugar added to it or it is concentrated (which means concentrated sugar basically!). However, don’t let this discourage you, there are some great health benefits to drinking apple juice, just get a juice extractor!

Cardiovascular Health
Drinking cloudy apple juice daily is shown to be an effective natural remedy for lowering LDL “bad” cholesterol levels in the bloodstream. Cloudy apple juice is made by juicing apples with their skins on as opposed to clear apple juice which is made with peeled apples. There has been several studies that have tested this and even though clear apple juice helps to lower LDL cholesterol, cloudy juice is more effective. It is a soluble form of fiber in apples called pectin that is responsible for this beneficial effect, and a lot more pectin is found in the skin than in the pulp of an apple. Pectin binds with some cholesterol in the intestines, stopping it from entering the bloodstream and therefore decreasing LDL cholesterol levels. Instead, we just excrete it!

Apple juice is shown to have further benefits for cardiovascular health, and again this involves LDL cholesterol. The problem with LDL cholesterol is not so much that it is in the bloodstream but that when it becomes oxidaized in the bloodstream it will then stick to artery walls to form plaque build-ups, a disease known as atherosclerosis, a key cause of heart disease and heart attacks. Apple juice helps because it contains polyphenol antioxidants that help to limit oxidative damage to LDL cholesterol cells in the blood, therefore reducing the amount of LDL cholesterol that gets turned into plaque.

Protection Against Alzheimer’s Disease
One study published in 2009 in the Journal of Alzheimer’s disease found that giving apple juice daily to mice for one month improved their cognitive function abilities and delayed the rate of cognitive decline as they aged. The mice where given the human equivalent of two glasses of apple juice per day.

The results of another study that was released in the American Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Dementias found that apple juice is a helpful aid for calming down the declining moods which are part of a normal progression for moderate and severe cases of Alzheimer’s Disease.” The patients of this study drank two 4 oz. servings of apple juice every day for 30 days. Even though there was no improvement in cognitive function, there was a significant change in mood and behaviour such as anxiety and agitation.

Anti-Inflammatory and Anti-Cancer Benefits
In a study released in the Journal Molecular Nutrition Food Research, German researchers analyzed the specific cancer-preventative qualities of a polyphenol extract from apple juice. Amongst the most notable discoveries, a number of substances in apple juice have powerful anti-inflammatory properties. Inflammation is connected with numerous chronic diseases, such as cancer, heart disease, and some neurological conditions. Antioxidants in apples called procyanidins were discovered to restrict the activity of Cox-1, a major enzyme involved with serious inflammation.

Research indicates that cloudy apple juice contains greater levels of procyanidins than clear apple juice does. One study established that the ‘cloudy particles’ in apple juice possess up to 60 percent of whole apple procyanidins within the juice.

In health
Darren Haynes

1) Apple Cider Vinegar Benefits
2) Aloe Vera Juice Benefits
3) Cranberry Juice Benefits
4) Wheatgrass Juice Benefits
5) Organic Goji Berry Benefits

The short simple answer to the question “is lemon juice is good for you?”, is YES! Lemons are power houses of nutrients and health benefits, many of these benefits come from the abundance of antioxidants found in this citrus fruit and also from the beneficial acids it contains. Not just great to drink, lemon juice also has some benefits when applied topically. So let’s take a closer look at what is lemon juice good for.

Defends Against Rheumatoid Arthritis
Lemon juice is a wonderful source of vitamin C and one extensive study shows that vitamin C rich diets help to protect us against rheumatoid arthritis. In this study, which was published in the “Annals of Rheumatism”, over 20,000 people who were not suffering with rheumatoid arthritis at the beginning of the study took note of their eating habits in diary. In follow ups to the study, scientists discovered that the people with the most vitamin C in their diet were 3 times less likely to have developed inflammatory polyarthritis than those with the least vitamin C.

Additional Benefits of Vitamin C
The impressive levels of vitamin C in lemon juice helps provide optimal health in many different ways. Vitamin C provides many important functions in the body:

• It has anti-inflammatory effects that help to reduce inflammation in joints, in muscles following exercise, and also in artery walls. Less inflammation of the arteries promotes heart health since this inflammation contributes to plaque formations.
• Vitamin C is needed to create collagen. If we consume to little of this vitamin then the body cannot create enough collagen to keep skin supple and youthful, therefore resulting in premature aging of the skin.
• Vitamin C is an integral part of the immune system that is responsible for creating over half of the antibodies on our bloodstream that protect us against viruses and infections. Low vitamin C intake results in an impaired immunity.

Anti-Cancer Benefits
Lemons are an excellent source of limonin, a type of antioxidant that has been shown in studies to possess potent cancer fighting properties. In laboratory studies with human cells and animal studies, limonin displayed abilities to fight cancers of the mouth, breast, colon, stomach and skin. Since lemon juice contains a whole host of different antioxidants and that high antioxidant intake is strongly associated with reduced cancer risk, then lemon juice can be considered a great drink for helping to protect us from the onset of many cancers.

Acne and Oily Skin
Lemon juice may help with acne problems and with oily skin if applied topically to the skin. Lemon juice is a natural astringent and cleansing agent. It helps to remove excess oil, has anti-bacterial effects and provides nutrition to the skin and antioxidant protection, these things all help to produce a better complexion. Used topically lemon juice should be dabbed onto the skin using a cotton ball. Lemon juice can sting so take it easy and don’t wash your face in it directly.

So if anyone should ask you in the future if lemon juice is good for you? You know what to say – YES!


To you health
Darren Haynes


1) Lemon Juicer Recipes
2) Aloe Vera Juice Benefits
3) Is Lemon Juice Good for You
4) Juicing Lemon Tips
5) Health Benefits of Lemons

To answer the question is “cranberry juice good for you?”, the answer is a resounding yes! Cranberries are one of the best foods in terms of proven benefits as outlined by Amy Howell, a scientist at Rutgers University. So what is cranberry juice good for?

Urinary Tract Infections
One of the classic benefits of drinking unsweetened cranberry juice is its benefits for clearing out urinary tract infections. Not just an old wives tale or an anecdotal home remedy, specific compounds in cranberry juice called condensed tannins are shown to inhibit the bacteria E.Coli from adhering to the walls of the urinary tract. Since E.Coli is a prime cause of urinary tract infections, cranberry juice really can help.

Ulcers and Stomach Cancer
Cranberry juice is shown to kill off the the H.Pylori bacteria if taken regularly for months. This helps to heal stomach ulcers and prevent stomach cancers since this bacteria is a major cause of both.

Digestive Tract Benefits
Reserach has shown that cranberry might be able to help with optimizing the balance of bacterium in our digestive tract. Volunteers in a recent study using cranberry juice (in doses of about 2 ounces a day and throughout the course of around 12 weeks) were able to improve the amount of Bifidobacteria (a healthy gut flora) in their digestive tract while maintaining levels of other healthy bacterial types. Consequently, the relative number of Bifidobacteria was improved, and the overall bacteria environment of the digestive tract was therefore improved.

Vitamin C Benefits
Cranberry juice is an excellent source of vitamin C and therefore carries the health benefits of this important vitamin. While vitamin C is now well known for its ability to fight off colds and flu because of its immune system bolstering abilities this vitamin carried other important benefits, such as keeping skin healthy and young and promoting cardiovascular health. Vitamin C is needed for creating collagen, the vital skin substance that delays the aging of the skin by providing elasticity and youthfulness. Likewise, collagen is needed for keeping blood vessels elasticated and supple to. The anti-inflammatory properties of vitamin C helps blood vessels and cardiovascular health further by reducing oxidative damage to arteries and reducing plaque build ups.


To your health
Darren Haynes


1) Does Cranberry Juice Clean Your System
2) Cranberry Juice Benefits
3) Is Cranberry Juice Good for You
4) Is Apple Cider Vinegar and Apple Cider the Same?
5) Honey and Vinegar Benefits

Goji juice is extracted from the goji berries, and is sold in many health food and vitamin stores. It has gained a large following with promises of clear skin, healthier libido, and protection from cancer as well as heart attacks. Celebrities like Mischa Barton and Liz Hurley have been said to use goji juice, and its popularity is still growing in Hollywood as more people discover the super fruit that until recently was only used in traditional Chinese medicine.

The great health benefits observed by those who incorporate goji juice into their daily diet are not just hype. They have to do with the rich supply of many important nutrients needed to support a healthy lifestyle. The berry contains high levels of beta-carotene which can help to prevent heart disease. It also contains high amounts of vitamin C and polysaccharides, both of which help boost the immune system. With 18 different amino acid types, the berry helps people to keep their muscles healthy, boost workout performance, process body fat more effectively, and increase brain performance.

Goji juice is an easier way to incorporate goji berries into a diet, and it is found in many health food stores. As it is an imported product, it is usually expensive, but the benefits are more than worth the added cost of goji berry juice. In several weeks, people who drink goji juice regularly will notice an increasingly healthy immune system, better skin complexion, and more productive workouts. As a supplement, goji juice can easily replace multivitamins, and there are no worries about the body absorbing the nutrients from a hard capsule.

Other than helping improve physical health, goji juice has been known to help improve sleeping habits and the overall mood of people who try it. It can sometimes aid anxiety and slight depression in people suffering from mild symptoms, though those who suffer from severe anxiety and depression should never rely solely on a supplement to cure their symptoms. Goji juice is a strong supplement capable of improving even the healthiest person’s mood as well as physical health. Anyone who tries the berry or juice will notice its positive effects, so there is no reason to hold off incorporating the goji berry in a healthy diet.

Anti-Cancer Health Benefits of Strawberries
Strawberries are a great source of an antioxidant phytochemical called ellagic acid. Although research is limited with humans (but not obsolete) there has been a number of studies undertaken with animals and in test tubes that have all provided powerful evidence for the anti-cancer effects of ellagic acid. In fact the ellagic acid in strawberries benefits us in the fight against cancer in two ways. First of all, ellagic acid helps inhibit the growth of tumor cells by inhibiting carcinogenic chemicals that try to bind with our DNA. Second, the powerful antioxidant actions of ellagic acid prevents free radicals from damaging cells, such cell damage is a risk factor for cancer developing.

A prospective study conducted in Massachusetts is a strong case, and one of a very few studies, aimed at looking at a link between cancer and eating strawberries in humans. Researchers analyzed the diets of 1300 elderly people and found some pretty amazing results. Those that ate at least one strawberry per day were two thirds less likely to die of cancer than those who only ate one or no strawberries per week!

As free radical damage of our cells is now becoming a more and more well researched and accepted cause of cancer, then it is good to know that there are a variety of free radical fighting antioxidants in strawberries in addition to ellagic acid. These antioxidants include quercetin, ellagitannins, Kaempferol, anthocyanins and the famous vitamin C. A very impressive display of strawberry nutrition and the health benefits of juicing strawberries!

Heart Health Benefits of Strawberry
There are actually a number of important nutrients in strawberries that help protect us from developing the number one killer in the USA – heart disease. Strawberries are a rich source of vitamin C, one of the most powerful antioxidants for protecting LDL cholesterol from the oxidative damage inflicted by free radicals in the blood stream. This protection significantly helps us from developing arteriosclerosis, a condition that is the number one risk factor in the development of heart disease. If LDL cholesterol does become damaged by free radicals then it will attach to the artery wall and start forming into a plaque that hardens and narrows the artery walls – this is basically what arteriosclerosis is. Arteriosclerosis raises blood pressure and reduces blood flow to the heart which can result in angina and a possible heart attack.

Strawberries are also a good source of two minerals that are necessary for heart health – potassium and magnesium. Both these minerals are needed for the heart muscles and the muscles of our arteries to contract and relax in a healthy manner. This helps to maintain good blood pressure levels or lower blood pressure in those with hypertension. If potassium levels get too low in the body we are at risk of suffering a ‘low potassium heart attack’.

The high fiber content of strawberries is another ingredient in this fruit that helps with heart health. A high fiber diet rich in fruits and vegetables helps to lower cholesterol levels in the blood. Fiber actually binds with cholesterol in the intestines and excretes it out in our feces. If we don’t have enough fiber in our diet then some of this cholesterol will get absorbed into the bloodstream instead.

Although not as abundant as blueberries, blackberries and red/purple grapes in heart healthy anthocyanins, strawberries can still claim a fair content of these antioxidants. Anthocyanins help us fight heart disease in two ways. First, as antioxidants, anthocyanins protect the artery walls from free radical damage that can cause inflammation that can lead to arteriosclerosis. Second, and most surprisingly, anthocyanins help to improve the structural integrity of our artery walls by strengthening collagen. This also helps to reduce the risk of arteriosclerosis from developing!

Load up on Strawberry Nutrition By Making Strawberry Juice

A great way to increase the amount of the nutrition that strawberries have to offer is to make strawberry juice recipes. Please note that when making strawberry juice to achieve the juicing benefits of strawberries (or any juice for that matter!), the insoluble fiber content is sacrificed so that we can achieve an abundance of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants instead. As fiber is important in our diets we should always use juicer recipes in addition to eating fruits and vegetables.

Goji Berries contain a high amount of antioxidants which helps slow down the aging process and prevent heart disease as well. Goji berries are originally from the Himalaya’s and that is why they are also known as Himalayan goji berries or wolf berries. They have a red-orange color and have been consumed in Asia for thousands of years as it was believed that eating these berries would help you live longer.

Current studies have shown that goji berries also contain a high amount of vitamin A which helps prevent heart disease and Alzheimer’s. Aside from the 19 amino acids and 21 minerals that are packed into this tasty berry, goji berries also contain more beta- carotene compared to carrots. It has a high amount of vitamin B and vitamin E and 500 times MORE vitamin C than oranges! No wonder it is a SUPER food.

Goji Berries are quickly gaining popularity for it’s health benefits and many are using them to lose weight too. You can consume goji berries in many ways, there is goji berry juice, organic goji berry products and dried goji berries which you can use to mix with your salads or foods. And if you want to really get involved with this super food than you can also buy goji berry seeds or goji berry plants to grow your own berries at home.

The benefits of lemons have been a part of folk medicine for a long time.  Fresh lemon juice mixed with a tablespoon of honey and some warm water has been a remedy for coughs and colds for a long time.  For an added boost, add a teaspoon of cayenne pepper to really chase the bugs out.  It may take some getting use to but it works. 

Of course you don’t always have to detox to get the amazing benefits of lemons.  Add a wedge to your water, squeeze fresh lemon on your fish, rice or vegetables to bring out the flavor and add some zest!  Lemon smoothies are very refreshing, especially in the hot summer.  Also when you are making fresh vegetable juicer recipes, don’t forget to add some lemon.   Lemon makes the best dressing mixed with extra virgin olive oil, 3 cloves of crushed fresh garlic, and pepper and sea salt to taste.  Use this dressing to marinate fish, drizzle on a rice bowl of sautéed vegetables or toss a salad.

Bananas are one of the most ubiquitous of fruits and just like apples and oranges, are found in the stores all year round. Bananas originate from Southeast Asia and may have been cultivated in the area of Papua New Guinea as far back as 8000 BCE! From Southeast Asia, the banana has spread far and wide and is now grown in practically every tropical/sub tropical country.

Heart Health Benefits of Bananas
Bananas are a good source of heart healthy potassium and fiber. Potassium is an electrolyte, meaning it has an electric charge. Muscles and the nervous system require the electrical nature of electrolytes to function properly. In particular, potassium is needed by the muscle to perform contracting movements. Insufficient potassium intake can result in muscle weakness and painful muscle spasms. Therefore, the heart being a muscle is totally dependent on sufficient potassium levels to beat properly. Without enough potassium, the heart beat can weaken, become irregular or even stop.

Studies also show that high potassium intake can lower blood pressure, and therefore the risk of developing heart disease. In one study, people who took potassium supplements reduced their systolic blood pressure by around 8 points. Eating a diet containing potassium rich fruits and vegetables is shown to be more beneficial than just taking potassium supplements; this kind of diet can lower systolic blood pressure by 10 points.

In another study, an inversely strong link was highlighted between a high dietary intake of potassium and stroke. The diet of 40,000 male health professionals was closely followed for a period of 4 years. Those whose diets contained the highest amounts of potassium were considerably less likely to suffer a stroke.

Bananas are also a good source of 2 kinds of fiber – cellulose (insoluble) and pectin (soluble). One average sized banana will provide you with about 15% of the recommended daily allowance for fiber. When you eat foods containing cholesterol, not all of it is absorbed into the blood stream via the small intestine. Some of it makes it through the digestion into the bowels to be eliminated. However, if we don’t have enough fiber in the diet to move the feces quickly, we are at risk of absorbing this cholesterol into the blood stream – increasing our cholesterol levels. So it is good to know that cellulose and pectin are two types of fiber that have been specifically shown to help lower LDL “bad” cholesterol levels.

Anti-Cancer Health Benefits of Bananas
The heath benefits of bananas fiber profile is not limited to lowering cholesterol levels. High fiber intake is a proven factor in reducing the likelihood of developing colon cancer. Fiber helps to bulk up the feces and absorb toxins that might otherwise be exposed to the colon wall and cause inflammation leading to cancer. Fiber also helps move toxins more quickly through the colon, decreasing their chances of being reabsorbed into the blood stream causing further toxicity.

(Another great way to protect us from cancer is through the health benefits of juicing.)

Banana health benefits the kidneys too! In a prospective study of 61,000 women, those who ate four to six bananas per week were half as likely to develop kidney cancer than those who ate no bananas. Although not yet conclusive why bananas have this effect, some researchers think that the antioxidant power of phenolic compounds in bananas may help fight off carcinogens that might otherwise affect the kidneys.

To read about a real life case of kidney cancer visit Kidney Cancer Blog

Bananas Health Nutritional Profile
Although not exceptionally high in vitamins, bananas are a very good source of vitamin B6 and a good source of vitamin C, B1, B2 and B3.
However the mineral content of bananas is an impressive one. It is a great source of potassium and a good source of other important minerals such as phosphorous, magnesium, manganese and selenium.

Thanks for reading the health benefits of bananas.

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2) Juice Extractors
3) Jack LaLanne Power Juicer Review

Juicer Recipes
In Health
Darren and Veronica Haynes.