Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Carbohydrates Make You Fat....Give Me a Break!





It seems like everyone now has some kind of carb-phobia. The latest series of diets claim that Carbohydrates are the devils food and you will put on weight simply by looking at them. Everywhere you look there are foods that have low carb alternatives. Many restaurants even now provide low carb options on their menu!
From my own personal experience, cutting carbs is what made it so difficult for me to stick to a diet. I constantly felt low on energy, tired and drained.

The absolute bottom line in losing weight is to simply burn off more than you eat. Therefore eating too many calories are what makes you fat, not a certain food group. If you eat less total calories then you need, you are going to lose weight, no matter what the food is.

The fact of the matter is, we shouldn’t cut out carbs at all. Several reasons why.

Firstly, our brain needs a certain amount of carbohydrates to function at full capacity. Carbohydrates are our brains preferred source of energy. Studies have revealed that memory; learning and concentration are negatively affected on low carbohydrate diets.

Secondly, carbohydrates are loaded with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants which will only lead to deficiencies and various health problems if we neglect them. They are also our bodies preferred source of energy.

When it comes to losing weight, what many people fail to realize is that fat burns best in a carbohydrate flame. By that, I mean that our body is most efficient and burning our excess body fat, when we use carbohydrates as the primary fuel source. We need carbohydrates to do high intensity workouts. Thus the more energy we have the better we train and the more fat we burn afterwards. A really good analogy I heard once was comparing burning fat to starting a fire. The kindling (carbohydrates) is used to get the fire started then the logs (fat) are burnt for hours afterwards to sustain the fire.

The final reason why we shouldn’t neglect carbohydrates is because they taste good! This is a real key to long lasting weight loss. We should never neglect ourselves from eating foods that taste good and we enjoy. I don’t care how strong a willpower you have, sooner or later you will crack under the pressure. Again, to lose weight successfully, you simply have to eat less than you burn off a day. It isn’t what foods you eat that makes you fat, but how much food you eat. I cannot stress that enough.

So if you are someone who actually enjoys eating carbohydrates, don’t deprive yourself of it, because if you do, sooner or later your cravings will be unbearable. We don’t want to deprive ourselves of what we love; because eventually we will succumb to the pressure.

Remember, the bottom line to successful weight loss is how many calories you eat a day, not what foods you eat a day. Therefore it makes sense to consume foods you enjoy and simply monitor how much you eat. This will enable you to stick to a reduced calorie diet for a longer period of time, hence giving you a better chance of dramatic and long lasting weight loss.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Luke Johnstone is a former long time yo-yo dieter who has struggled with his weight ever since he was a little kid. Fed up with dieting he decided to devise a plan which enabled him to eat more food, eat whatever he wanted, ‘pig out’ a few times a week and exercise only 90 minutes a week. It worked incredibly and now he has a website to help others struggling with diets to lose weight. You can check it out at www.lukesfatlosstips.com

Sunday, February 24, 2008

Lemon Cleansing Diet





Feeling tired and run down all the time? Do you have trouble sleeping? Do you ache all over and feel like your body is out of balance? Maybe it's time to give your body and yourself a little break. Maybe you need a detox to cleanse your system of harmful toxins that have build up over the years.
A detox is a simple way to assist the body in eliminating unwanted substances - poisons, pesticides, drugs, oxidants, heavy metals, etc. And once those substances are gone, you will once again feel energetic, vital, healthy and happy. This article will focus on one of the most popular and easy detoxification methods available - the lemon cleansing diet.

This fasting method, also know as the Master Cleanse or the lemonade diet, is designed to help your body clean the digestive tract, kidneys, liver and blood or, in short, to flush out your system of all the poisonous elements.

Your body possesses an amazing ability to cleanse itself and eliminate toxins through complex reactions and excretory systems. It does that on it's own, day and night, 24/7.

Unfortunately, our modern lifestyles have increased the number of toxins that find their ways into our bodies through the air, food and water. Today, modern societies are adopting one of the most unhealthy and unnatural lifestyles known to mankind. You have to understand that our bodies function exactly the way human bodies functioned 10,000 or 50,000 years ago. But because of our modern and usually unhealthy lifestyles the amount of toxins we take in is shockingly high.

And this is where a detox can help you. Detoxification helps cleanse your system and gives your hard working body an opportunity to purify itself. This is a natural way to assist in self-healing and rejuvenation.

The lemonade cleansing diet is easy and surpasses many other detox methods. With its help you can lose weight, dissolve and eliminate toxins, cleanse kidneys and liver, reduce high blood pressure, increase energy, enhance mental clarity, improve digestion, boost your immune system, clear skin, etc.

In conclusion, if all the toxins that have built up over time are making you feel tired, sick, irritable, depressed and unhappy, you should certainly consider some type of detoxification. You will be healthier and your body will be thankful.

For more information on how to cleanse your body, visit Flushing Body Of Toxins

http://www.squidoo.com/flushing-body-of-toxins

Great Healing Foods For Super Weight Loss





Anyone who has ever been on a diet will tell you that the main reason that they fail is because the person is always hungry. However, experts claim that this does not have to happen. There are two categories of foods that allow you to eat as much as you want without any fat or calories; fruits and vegetables. These to superfoods allow you to eat as much of the as you want without gaining the weight that you do not want. The greatest nutrients in fruits and vegetables are fiber and protein. Fiber assists your body in keeping the weight off, and protein curbs your appetite and you do not feel hungry. Protein can also boost your metabolism, however experts advise that you limit your intake of protein because like everything good, moderation is necessary for good health.
Research has indicated that certain foods are low calorie and can assist you in achieving your weight loss goals.

Green Tea - Researchers suspect that the catechins found in green tea may activate weight loss by motivating the body to burn calories, which in turn burns fat.

Soups- A big bowl of hot soup may reduce your hunger and allow you to consume less food during a meal. Green salads - A garden salad is the perfect lunch for anyone who is dieting. Choosing a low calorie dressing will add to the taste of your salad without adding a lot of calories. Croutons are great on top of a salad, however not when you are dieting. When you choose to add a salad before the main course, you are most likely to eat less of the main course. It may also curb your need for a snack in the middle of the afternoon.

Yogurt - dairy products have a number of different vitamins and nutrients that your body needs especially when you diet. It is important that you include dairy as part of your menu choices. Low fat or light yogurt is a wonderful way to keep dairy in your diet and can stave off the hunger pains in the late afternoon.

Beans - contain the fiber and protein that your body needs when you diet. Beans can make you less hungry for longer periods of time thereby avoiding the temptations that have made diet fail in the past.

Water - This is perhaps the most important part of your diet. Water is important because it keeps you hydrated, however, it also flushes toxins out of your body allowing you to achieve your weight loss goals. Drinking a glass of water before meals and snacks will help you to feel full and you will not eat as much.

High-Fiber, Whole-Grain Cereal - it has always been said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and with good reason. Studies have indicated that when you eat breakfast, you will eat less during the day because you are giving yourself a good start. Whole grain, high fiber cereals contain the vitamins, minerals, and fiber that your body needs for continued good health. ************************************************************** Gaetane Ross is a Certified Natural Health Consultant who has spent over 4 years focusing on Nutrition and Health. She also specializes in Alternative Medicine, Spiritual Healing and Healthy Lifestyle.

http://Live-O-Natural.com

http://Live-O-Natural.com/HealthyLivingRecommendedProducts.html

Thursday, February 21, 2008

Foods To Eat While Pregnant Are Right Here In Your Kitchen!





There are no special foods to eat when pregnant; just the usual ones that you have been eating since years. However, you need to be more particular about certain foods to eat during pregnancy. Include a variety in your diet and choose quality foods so that you get the right nutrients of the right amount for yourself and your baby.
Fruits And Vegetables

You should consume five or more servings of fruits and vegetables every day. You can choose a variety of fruits, either fresh, frozen, dried, in the form of natural juice, or whole. In case of vegetables, be more liberal towards green leafy ones.

Cereals And Grains

They are an important source of complex carbohydrates. Include whole grains, breads, cereals, pasta, rice, and potatoes in your pre-pregnancy diet as well as in the list of foods to eat when pregnant. Switch to whole meal bread or brown rice, as they contain more vitamins and fiber. Besides, they are more filling thus reducing your tendency to overeat. Hence, they help to check your weight too.

Milk And Milk Products

You need lots of calcium during this time. Therefore, milk is a must for the best pregnancy diet. A pint of skimmed or semi-skimmed milk daily does wonders. You can also have one ounce of cheese, the size of a matchbox; or a bowl of yoghurt or milk pudding. Some people think that low fat dairy products contain less calcium, along with less fat. This is not true. The amount of calcium is the same as in the full fat varieties. However, it is advisable to stick to low fat dairy products to prevent excessive weight gain.

Folic Acid Enriched Foods

One of the foods to eat when pregnant is the folic acid enriched one. Folic acid is a part of vitamin B and is present in its natural form in various foods. It’s also included in many manufactured foods. Folic acid is an important nutrient in the pregnancy diet, as it promotes healthy growth of all body cells. It is particularly essential in the early pregnancy period stages.

If you want to decrease the risk of neural tube defects in your baby, it’s best to start the intake of folic acid before planning to get pregnant. In addition to this, do not forget your protein intake. Include pulses, beans, and nuts in your list of foods to eat when pregnant.

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Eat Healthy by Eating Rainbows





One of my patients recently made dramatic progress in losing weight by following some very simple steps. Since I last saw him six months ago, he significantly improved his diet and started exercising to lose 30 pounds. His cholesterol dropped 45 points and his triglycerides dropped 100 points. He accomplished this by using some of the tips that you can read below. I hope they inspire you to make similar changes in your own diet so that you can experience the victory of being healthy.

Mix beans with meat to reduce the amount of fat and calories. For recipes that call for ground beef or other meats, replace one third or one half of the meat with beans such as kidney beans or red beans or black beans. You will be surprised at how good this tastes.

Add spinach and other healthy greens to most any dish, but especially to stews, soups, rice and pasta. One of my favorite meals is brown rice with frozen spinach and seasoning. It is very filling and tasty. Try meatless days. Meats are high in fat and high in calories and low in vitamins and other healthy nutrients. Replace meats with beans or other vegetables.

Eat until you are only 80% full. It takes 20 minutes after your stomach is full for you to feel satisfied. Most Americans wolf down their meals in under 10 minutes. Stop when you are 80% full and wait 20 minutes before eating something more. You will usually find that you feel satisfied. This is one of the most effective ways to reduce your weight.

Eat the healthiest foods first. Fill up on the healthiest and most nutritious foods first because they are usually the lowest in calories and highest in nutrients. Eat salads followed by non-starchy vegetables, then starchy vegetables and only then eat other foods.

Plan for treats. Rather than eating desserts or other unhealthy foods at every meal, plan to eat foods that you consider to be treats only on specific days and special occasions.

Try new healthy recipes. One day a week, try a new healthy recipe. Eventually, you will find a new favorite that you can enjoy frequently. If you gradually improve your diet over time, your health will also improve. Go a week without a specific junk food. Pick an unhealthy food that you eat frequently and do not eat it for seven days. You will probably find that you do not miss it. This is even more effective if you do it for 21 days.

Eat Five-A-Day. Eat five different fruits and vegetables every day. This will help you to get adequate vitamins and nutrients. See how many consecutive days you can do this.

Have at least one salad daily. Ideally, you should eat two salads daily. Leave off high fat salad dressing, cheese and bacon bits. Use lettuce other than iceberg because of its relatively low nutritional value. You literally are what you eat. All of the cells in your body are made from the food that goes into your mouth. If you eat junk food, you will build a junk body. If you eat healthy foods including all the colors of the rainbow, you will build the body of your dreams.

You may republish and distribute this article as long as you include the following:

Dr. Doug Fullington is a board-certified Internal Medicine physician with a busy practice filled with wonderful patients. He is passionate about helping people learn how to Achieve Maximum Health. You can learn more about how Dr. Fullington can inspire you to maximize your health at www.drdougfullington.com.

Nutritious Diet For Pregnant Women





All expectant mothers are to be given a one-off payment of around £120 that they will be encouraged to spend on fresh fruit and vegetables as a way of protecting their children from diseases and incurable conditions later in life.
Seafood can be an important part of a balanced diet for pregnant women. It is a good source of high quality protein and other nutrients and is low in fat.

To eat well during pregnancy you must do more than simply increase how much you eat. You must also consider what you eat. Although you need about 300 extra calories a day — especially later in your pregnancy, when your baby grows quickly — those calories should come from nutritious foods so they can contribute to your baby's growth and development.

FOOD SAFETY TIPS

•Never eat raw meat — such as steak tartare (a raw hamburger dish) — poultry or seafood, especially raw oysters and clams.

•Do not eat raw or undercooked eggs and any food containing them such as Caesar salad, mousse, some custards, homemade ice cream and homemade mayonnaise. •Do not drink raw or unpasteurized milk or foods made from raw milk.

Diet of mothers during pregnancy

It is a fallacy to say that mothers should eat for two. Eat as per the dictates of hunger and eat healthy food as advised by hygiene and you should be OK

Protein The WHO recommendations are 44g of protein a day for pregnant women. There is no need whatsoever for milk and animal products during pregnancy to achieve these levels. Whole grains (wholewheat bread, unpolished brown rice), legumes, lentils, peas, beans, sprouts, nuts and seeds can amply meet your needs. At most a small quantity of yoghurt or cottage can be added to the salad to meet protein and Vitamin B12 requirements

Eat better. Try to be specific about this one. I, for example, am pledging to add more fruits and vegetables to my diet. A pregnant friend of mine is pledging to eat ate home more often, a.k.a. less fast food. What small change can you sustain that would make your diet a healthier one?

Guide to Daily Diet When Pregnant

The following daily food servings for pregnant women who are of normal weight before becoming pregnant. Mothers-to-be who are underweight or overweight, should discuss their specific nutritional needs with their doctor or dietitian.

- 9 servings of bread and whole grains

- 4 servings of vegetables

- 3 servings of fruit

- 3 servings of milk and milk products

- 3 servings of meat and protein foods

During pregnancy, a woman needs more iron than normal to produce all the blood needed to supply nutrition to the placenta. Good sources of iron are more in green vegetables such as broccoli and spinach, strawberries and breads. Tea, coffee can interfere with the body's absorption of iron. It is often suggested that all pregnant women take an iron supplement every day from the 20th week of pregnancy

The food you eat every day, even before you are pregnant, is important for your health and that of your child. Once you become pregnant it is even more important to eat right since you are eating for both you and your baby. Below we have provided you with free or low cost resources to help you and your child, during and after pregnancy, with food and nutritional needs.

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

Low Calorie Diet





One of the oldest tried and true methods of weight loss is a low calorie diet. A diet low in calories, when combined with a regular exercise regime, can be very effective in helping you to lose weight. There are some basic guidelines you can follow, but the most basic is to read nutrition labels on the foods that you eat. Of course, fresh fruits and vegetables have very few calories, as do chicken breasts and lean meats. If you are counting calories, you should have an idea of how many calories you want to restrict yourself to daily. For health reasons, you should not allow your daily caloric intake to drop below 1200. This can be unhealthy.
What are Calories?

Technically, a calorie is the amount of heat that is required at the pressure of one atmosphere to raise the temperature of one gram of water by one degree Celsius. This is equal to about 4.19 joules. To us regular folk, a calorie is a unit of energy in the foods that we eat. A burger with 500 calories offers 500 units of energy. Of course, too many calories can result in an excess and then your body stores it as fat. Additionally, low calorie foods can still be high in fat which could defeat the purpose if your goal is to lose weight. So, simply put, calories are energy.

What are Some Low Calorie Foods?

There are many low calorie foods on the market, but your best bet for the healthiest, lowest fat and lowest calorie choices are the fresh foods. Steer clear of canned and processed foods. They can contain hidden sugars and fats and can cause you to gain weight. Fresh fruits, vegetables, meats and dairy products (the "horseshoe" of the supermarket) are your best bet. Learn to read labels for other foods that you eat. You may find yourself choosing brown rice over white and whole wheat pasta over flour because of the health benefits and lower calories. A low calorie diet can be healthy and easy to follow - just keep it fresh.

How Many Calories do You Need?

Different people have different caloric requirements. There are many factors that determine this: activity level, gender and age are big ones. There is a way to determine how many calories you need. The formula is somewhat difficult but it is fairly accurate. You first need to determine your BMR, or basal metabolic rate. This is how much energy your body expends at rest. For men, add 1.0 kcal per kilogram of body weight per hour. Women use .9 kcal per kilogram of body weight per hour.

Once you have determined your BMR, add 20% to 4 0% of your BMR if you are sedentary. 55% to 65% is added to your BMR for light activity, 70% to 75% is added to your BMR for moderate activity and 80% to 100% is added to your BMR for heavy activity. This figure will tell you how many calories you require per day. Multiply that figure by 7 for your weekly caloric intake requirement. From this amount you need to subtract 3,500 from your weekly caloric requirement for each pound of weight that you want to lose. (It is suggested that you lose no more than 2 pounds a week because more than that can be unhealthy and can cause you to look flabbier even if you lose the weight.) Divide this figure by 7 and that will tell you how many calories you need each day in order to lose the pounds you want to lose.

Monday, February 18, 2008

Get Stronger With Healthy Food and Have a Body You Can be Proud of





A healthy food regime consists of good nutritional diet that supplements the basic need of body. It supplies the appropriate amount of energy and sufficient raw materials to keep the body healthy. It also provides anti-oxidants that make people feel young and be proud of looking great. Having fair idea of why the body requires healthy food, the next thing is to know more about healthy food and eating methods of healthy food, in order to attain stronger body.
Healthy Food for Stronger Body:

Food in natural state: The food helps to build stronger body. Fresh fruits, apples and berries are good for satisfying the desire for sweets. Vegetables of all kinds such a green, yellow and orange are rich in vitamins and minerals. Steamed vegetables retain the nutritional value of the vegetables. Avoid calorie rich sauces and fats. High calorie foods are not good for health.

Fish, Chicken and Meat: To attain a stronger body, serve seafood two or three times a week. Ocean fish consists of essential fatty acids that are usually deficient in the healthy diet. Prefer baked chicken and fish rather than fried ones. The lean meat such as venison or bison is healthier than beef, which is rich in fat.

Processed bacon, lunchmeat, sausages and hot dogs contain plenty of junk, which the body does not require. Even if anybody wants to have such meats, then probably they can go for healthier versions that are available at health food departments.

Avoid Non-nutritional food: White bread and noodles are made of flour that is not good for health. The flour does not contain nutritional content. Moreover, the high starch content of white bread affects the sugar level of the blood quicker than a regular sugar. In addition, sugary pastries and snacks, apple pie are non-nutritional items, which are not good for health. It is essential that pasta or baked items have to be made from whole grains.

Benefits of Variety in Food & Water:

Some people are very much sensitive to frequently eaten food. Therefore, such people have to break the habit and start eating a variety in food to achieve stronger body. Consume various kinds of grains. Spelt is a better substitute for wheat. Prefer to have almond or rice milk rather than cow’s milk. People have to eat variety of food even if they do not like it.

Drink plenty of water and limit beverages such as soft drinks. If individuals are tired of drinking plain water, add some lime or lemon slice to it. Serve kids with some fruit juice with carbonated water. Even green and herbal tea can be good substitute for water. However, avoid excess of caffeine.

Avoid Skipping Meals:

Skipping breakfast brings down the energy level by midmorning. It is better to split the breakfast in half than skipping it. It helps greatly by eating breakfast early such as oatmeal, egg or whole grain bread. Snacks such as almonds and raisins also benefit the health greatly. The split breakfast provides better solution than going for candy bars or coffee, and retains the energy level to feel good and fresh.

About The Author
Silvia Goodman is a successful writer. She has decided to pen down her researches and thoughts and share them for the common benefit. Check out her new report where she Reveals How to Bring Healthy Food in to Your Life Before It's Too Late!
http://www.eat-4-your-life.com

Raw Food Detox Diet





Detox, or detoxification of the body is a common practice many people use in order to rid the body of toxic substances or lose some weight quickly. There are many different ways and many different diets to detox the body. Some of these are the dieuretic diet, the fat flush diet, an all liquid diet, liver cleansing diet and the raw food diet. Certain detox diets may be better for certain people, so it is important to look at each and decide which one would fit your day to day lifestyle the best. The detox diet that I would like to talk about here is the raw food detox diet, also sometimes called foodism. This detox diet is generally made up of fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, grains, dried fruits, herbs and spices that are all eaten raw.
The first thing you will want to do is prepare for the detox. The safest way to do so is to slowly remove the foods that are not allowed during the detox from your day to day diet for a week before you start the full on detox. This means that the first day of preparation you will replace one or two things that you regularly eat during the day with something that is a fruit, vegetable or other food allowed by the detox. By the seventh day, you will have replaced pretty much everything in your regular diet with someone that is allowed in the detox diet. The other thing that you will need to do to prepare is create a menu plan for your detox diet. You will want to make your menu as appetizing as possible for yourself, but don’t expect it to be as good as friend chicken or extra cheesy lasagna. With a little creativity and searching for recipes you can however find some very tasty meals.

Once you have created your menu plan, create a grocery list and go shopping the day before you start the detox. You are now ready to begin your raw food detox diet.

Generally the first couple days of any detox are the hardest days, so it is important to keep any temptations out of sight and as out of mind as possible. It may take a lot of will power but you will find as you are on the detox for longer that it will become easier, and believe me, when you start seeing those results of how much better you feel or how much weight you have lost, you will want to keep the detox going strong.

With the raw food diet it may be a little costly to purchase all of the fruits and vegetables that you will need, but it is important not to skimp or cheat. Some great meals you can make are fresh fruit salads, mixed salads with other various vegetables such as tomatoes, onions, parsley and other dressings, raw mixed vegetable soup, avocado and even raspberry and banana sorbet. You should be able to find these special raw diet recipes as well as many others with just a little searching online. The important thing with a raw food detox diet is that you make a plan and stick with it. Jon Heus is the developer of Raw Food Weight Loss Diet, which will teach you all about healthy living with raw foods. If you have ever thought about a raw food diet, visit his site.

http://www.rawfoodweightlossdiet.com/

Sunday, February 17, 2008

Eat More To Lose Weight





Many will think it is logical to eat less to lose weight. And they are dead wrong that this method will work as the body will then burn less calories as there is lesser food consumed. The end result is you are not going to lose weight this way.

Eat More Is The Solution

It does not sound right but yes you are right that you will lose weight by eating more. However it has a system to follow called the Calories Shifting System. You get to eat four or more meals a day by eating different types of foods with different calories. And you will lose weight fast this way. How can this happen?

Change the Eating Pattern

Your body has a natural mechanism of knowing what food is coming its way when you begin with a eating routine. With a usual routine of eating habits, it is used to burn the same amount of calories. With Calories Shifting, you change this routine pattern. The body tries to adapt to your different calories intake and as a result burn more fats than you think! In a nutshell the two key reasons why it works are:

1. MORE FOOD, FASTER BURNING

As you eat more, you force your body to work harder to burn the foods you consume, thus burning more calories.

2. DIFFERENT CALORIES

Your meals come with erratic calorie values. This triggers a faster burning process to rid itself of the calories.

What is the result? You have caused a quick lose weight the safe way. No pills, no rigorous exercises or fasting.

Dr Jo Johnson recommends a PROVEN NATURAL & SAFE WEIGHT LOSS method for effective results. She likes to give you a FREE REPORT on 51 Tips To Lose 9 LBS.... Click here at http://www.fatlossfast.org to get this free report and take the first step to a weight loss program that really works at http://www.fatlossfast.org Please leave your name and email to keep in touch. My Best Wishes To You.

Saturday, February 16, 2008

Fruit and Your Health!





Has the secret come out? There's no doubt that fruit not only tastes fantastic but it also has many health benefits too. People who use fruit in their daily menu are less likely to encounter such illnesses as heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s disease. Fruit also provides your body with the nutrients that are needed to mend cells and fight off infection. Yes, but why consume fruit and not another healthy food?
Today our bodies require more vitamins and minerals than was the case before. We have to work longer hours just to make ends meet; we experience a good deal more pressure and are exposed to many poisonous fumes from pollution. Consuming fruit is simply a simple way to provide your body with essential nutrients to ensure that you can cope with the day to day demands that life throws at you. Fruit may of course also save you from getting ill in future.

Studies show that fruit has a variety of natural health benefits. We have really only reached the tip of the iceberg in understanding the many healthy "secrets" that have been packed into simple, ordinary fruit. The updated food pyramid now suggests that people should consume 5 to 9 fruit and vegetable portions every day.

Why is fruit swiftly becoming the first choice for those who want to eat better? Here comes the plain truth. Aside from the great taste, fruit is rich in antioxidants, which can prevent free radicals from damaging your body. Fruit can help support brain function, assist in maintaining healthy joints and fruit will even help to keep you cardiovascular system in good shape.

Fruit comes in a variety of shapes, sizes, colours and tastes, but they are all packed with the same healthy benefits. From apples to oranges and from grapes to strawberries, each type of fruit offers unique health benefits that will help you have a healthy and active standard of life. The great variety of nutritious components that are contained in fruit are bounty from Mother Nature herself.

Here are a few varieties of fruit you may wish to start eating if you wish to lead a healthy life:

The Super Charged Cherry!

Will cherries actually help keep your body healthy? Recent studies have shown that cherries offer an enormous variety of health benefits including the ability to offer natural relief from joint inflammation, joint pain from gout and arthritis. Lots of people choose to drink cheery juice, eat tart cherry fruit supplements or eat dried cherries in order to receive all of the virtues from this little red fruit. Nature's Top Antioxidant - Blueberries

Blueberries came to be the #1 in its class for containing the highest antioxidant capacity among fruits. Blueberries have the potential to conteract short-term memory loss that is a product of aging. They also have the potential to improve motor skills. If this tiny fruit could help forestall other effects of the aging process, then their potential would prove to be very great indeed.

Strawberries

Science has demonstrated that this red, delicious berry may contribute to lowering cholesterol and even promote a healthy digestive system. Simply eat a handful of strawberries each day to help you maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Fruit really can carry a powerful wallop as it helps to promote a healthier and stress-free life for all of us! Javier Melendez is a writer for several health and fitness web sites such as the UK Muscle & Fitness site. His recent work concerns weight loss clinics research.

Look the best for you next date - 10 tips to detox after a long summer





10 Nutritious Summer Foods To Detox To
It's summer time and produce is fresh and easy! What better time to stock up on nutrients after a cold winter with the beautiful array of fruits and veggies that flourish at this time of year.

Here are 10 amazingly vitamin rich foods to include in your diet to ensure that you never run the risk of deficiencies, not to mention helping out your brain, heart, vision, joints and just about everything else by consuming them....

#1 - Dark Leafy Greens Dark green is the key with examples of amazingly vitamin rich, leafy vegetables including spinach, mustard greens, beetroot greens, turnip greens and kale as just a few. Adding these to a salad will give you high amounts of vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals, and carotenoids. Mustard greens themselves have an incredible array with vitamin A, C, E, and B6, folate, dietary fibre, tryptophan (no this is not the radioactive rock that can kill Superman!), manganese, calcium, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, iron and copper all being found in this green.

#2 - Asparagus These fleshy spears are extremely high in vitamin K and folate and is also high in protein for a vegetable. It is also a superior source of vitamins C, A, B1, B2 and B6. It's high in essential minerals as well including copper, phosphorous, potassium, iron, manganese and magnesium. Plus, asparagus is also a natural diuretic that provides benefits for the heart and also prevent birth defects (thanks to folates ability to protect against spina bifida!)

#3 - Blueberries The blueberry is one of the healthiest fruits in the world. It has incredible amounts of vitamins C and E, calcium, magnesium, potassium, manganese, dietary fibre and riboflavin. Because of its dark blue/red flesh, it contains some of the most potent antioxidants around. The phytonutrients contained in this amazing berry help to destroy free radicals that damage the body's tissues. They can help prevent heart disease, cancer, dementia, ulcers, varicose veins, cataracts and glaucoma. Blueberries also have anti-inflammatory abilities that can also protect brain cells from damage.

#4 - Other Berries Berries are abundant in summer so consider having a berry fruit salad first thing in the morning or for a mid day snack. Cranberries are proven natural healers of the urinary tract (number one in fighting UT infections!) and as a digestive aid. They have incredible amounts of vitamin B2 alongside a few other B vitamins. They also host high levels of fibre, vitamin C, iron, manganese and copper. The raspberry is rich in tannins, elagic acid and flavonoids. With potent antioxidants and antimicrobials, research has suggested that the mighty raspberry can even help fight cancer. They are high in fibre, vitamin C, B2, B3, B5, B6, folate, manganese and impact minimally on blood sugar levels. Strawberries are well known for their phenols, which have powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory qualities. Jam-packed with more than 12 essential minerals and vitamins, strawberries are very high in vitamin C and K and in dietary fibre.

#5 - Rock Melon Although this beautiful melon peaks in summer, it is often available all year round. It offers an excellent supply of beta-carotene, potassium, and vitamin C. One cup of rock melon has under 60 calories, but is already well above the recommended daily intake of vitamin A. The orange flesh of the rock melon boasts vitamins B1, B3, B5, B6, folate and great source of dietary fibre. The B vitamins combine to make a great energy producer for the body, helping to control carbs and blood glucose levels through processing the carbohydrates and slowing digestion with its fibre content.

#6 - Spelt Grain Just two ounces of this ancient whole grain contains more than your daily requirement of vitamin B2. Though largely unknown to many, spelt can be found in cereals, crackers, breads and baked goods. Your local health food store will have it in the form of grain, flakes or flour. It has a wide range of nutrients for a whole grain including an excellent source of niacin, thiamine, manganese and tryptophan. It also packs a decent amount of fibre, zinc, copper, protein and iron.

#7 - Broccoli Broccoli is a nutritional wonder. The exceptional nutritional value of broccoli is most visibly seen in its vitamin K levels. It is also very high in vitamin A, folate and dietary fibre not to mention protein, thiamine, riboflavin, calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus and potassium. This is a vegetable not to be missed! Who said Mum was an idiot?

#8 - Lentils Lentils can provide an upward of 80% of your daily value of iron in one cup! The same amount of this amazing food contains 230 calories and hardly any fat. Whilst its iron levels will boost the body's energy and help prevent anaemia, its fibre content will stabilize your blood glucose levels and also net you four B vitamins, seven other essential minerals and a heaping amount of protein. All of the mighty lentil's nutrients can be found in high levels. As a note of interest: the history of lentils dates back 8,000 years! Found in archaeological sights in the Middle East, it is possible that lentils could be one of the first foods ever cultivated.

#9 - Black Beans Also known as Mexican or Spanish black beans, they have a phenomenal source of molybdenum, a trace mineral that detoxifies sulfites in your body. Black beans (like most beans) are good for your heart, and contain an excellent source of dietary fibre, folic acid, magnesium, and polyphenols that bring down cholesterol levels. They are also high in vitamin B1, tryptophan, phosphorus, iron, manganese and potassium. Each cup of black beans carries 15g of protein too!

#10 - Brussel Sprouts Although a tough vegetable to get any child to consider (or adult often for that matter), the active constituents of Brussel sprouts are cancer fighters, great for skin, boosts the immune system and ensures the colon stays healthy. Best boiled or steamed, they contain gigantic amounts of vitamin K as well as high levels of vitamins C, A, B6 and B1, and fibre on top of a good amount of 14 other major minerals and vitamins.

The author - Brett Smith is not your average health and online dating expert. He has some interesting and controversial views on health for singles published on www.partner4real.com.au.

Friday, February 15, 2008

Healthy Eating and Super Food - 3 Food Categories That Help Burn Fat





I'm wondering if you're already aware of what I'm about to share with you? There is some good news for people trying to lose fat and slim down to a healthier and more attractive lifestyle: there are actually foods you can eat with will burn fat for you with any effort on your part. Even better, they can easily be assimilated into any diet; in fact, you may already be eating them on a regular basis and not even know it.
These types of foods actually burn more calories than their own caloric content. They are natural plant food and certain dairy items, and they are as follows:

Foods That Help Burn Fat #1: Citrus

These foods include limes, lemons, grapefruit, tangerines, and oranges. To get the most benefit from them you need to eat them in their freshest form, which means all by themselves. Don't attempt to cut them up and use them for a marinade because you will lose the calorie burning benefits. In addition, don't assume drinking them in juice form will work. Most juices bought at the store are filled with preservatives that negate the calorie burning benefits.

Foods That Help Burn Fat #2: Fruits and Vegetables

Not just any fruits and vegetables though, but fruits and vegetables that are rich in Cellulose. These include watermelon, cabbage, asparagus, carrots, broccoli, apples, and blueberries. Again, remember that certain food preparation can negate the calorie burning benefits of these foods, especially when it comes to the vegetables. To fully achieve the best benefits from vegetables you should only steam them. In addition, don't slather them in butter for taste.

Foods That Help Burn Fat #3: Dairy

Unlike the other foods mentioned above, which you can eat as much of as you want, you have to ingest dairy in moderation. These products include low-fat milk, low-fat yogurt, and white cheese. Make sure and follow the recommended daily allowance on the package closely. Dairy products can be helpful in burning calories, but they also contain other nutrients that you don't want to get too much of, such as carbohydrates.

While eating these foods alone will help you burn calories, if you really want to exacerbate their effects you should combine an exercise routine with the diet. This way you get twice the calorie burning effects. In order to lose one pound per week it is a scientific fact that a person must cut their caloric intake by as much as 500 calories per day. This can be hard to do, but if you work out at least 30 minutes a day and eat these fat burning foods, the process becomes much easier. You'll find that you're less hungry and that you also feel much better about yourself.

Living healthy and looking attractive are goals that everybody can obtain. It is not food that is the enemy, but the food choices people make. And by making the food choice above, people are making the right decision for reaching these goals.

To learn more about healthy eating and superfood secrets, visit http://www.eatandlookgood.com

Thursday, February 14, 2008

Popular Kinds of Diet to learn





Food diet: the fundamental principles are eating adequate protein and limited crabs. Food diet And obesity summarizes the key research on the links between obesity and diet. Topics discussed include trends in obesity, the evidence behind popular diets and meal replaces, the effectiveness of fat and sugar replaces in food, emerging issues such as the value of the glycolic index, protein content and calcium in weight control, and potential functional food targets and ingredients for weight control.
Types

Low carbohydrate diets: Low carbohydrate diets are among the most popular diets around. Despite this popularity, most people don’t really understand how the diet works. Here’s the low-down on low-carb diets.

Low fat diets: There is probably no diet more common than a “low fat” diet. As dieters embraced it, an entirely new faction of the food industry was invented and has thus far thrived. All our favorite processed foods were soon further processed into “reduced fat” or “fat free” versions.

Fixed-menu diet. A fixed-menu diet provides a list of all the foods you will eat. This kind of diet can be easy to follow because the foods are selected for you.

Prepackaged-meal diet. : These diets require you to buy prepackaged meals. Such meals may help you learn appropriate portion sizes.

Finisher diets: Finisher diets are usually fed from 120 lbs to market weight. The diets contain 0.60% lysine with 13 - 14% crude protein and are self-fed. Finisher diets, much like grower diets, are usually mixed on the farm in most operations, but are also available commercially.

Benefits:

Eat as much as you can: If you follow a raw food diet you can eat almost as much as you can and still maintain a healthy weight. Rich in fibres:Did you know that there are six types of fibers. The fibers in raw food are called cellulose. They are necessary when it comes to losing weight.

A clear skin: Raw vegetables are an excellent and natural resource for a clear skin. Vegetables are rich in vitamins. Some effective vegetables are carrots, salad, tomatoes and cucumbers.

Energy: An excellent benefit of raw food is that it doesn’t contain only vitamins but also energy. You will feel yourself more fit, you will have more energy and it may even improve your sex life.

Saturated fads: Sat fats are bat in your battle against weight loss. This is one of the most important benefits of a raw food diet it contains very little saturated fats.

Exciting Salads - Tips And Ideas





Getting the right vitamin, minerals and glyconutrients can really help your health, but you also need to eat a healthy diet. Adding salads can be a fun and easy way to do this.
Salads don't have to be the boring iceberg lettuce ho hum concoction. Add a little panache, a little spice, a little flair. Be creative; don't be afraid to try different things. Add some chopped or sliced nuts! Pick up a salad book and see all the possibilities. There are numerous books out there that will tell you how to make creative salads that are filling, satisfying, fun and might even help you lose weight. You can pretty much just look through your pantry and fridge, grab whatever catches your eye and throw it all together!

Greens

Don't limit yourself to iceberg lettuce. There are so many other exciting and delicious greens out there! Baby spinach, heart of Romaine and dandelion leaves all make great greens for your salad. You can even throw several different types of greens together to make an awesome salad. Check your local farmer's market or the produce section of your local grocery store and browse the selections available.

Veggies

Vegetables are great in salads. Throw in some raw squash, zucchini, onion, garlic, bell pepper and carrots and you will have an awesome salad. You can also roast the vegetables with some seasoning and toss them in with some greens or pasta. Jicama is also a great addition to a salad. Similar to a turnip, a jicama is large, crisp and sweet. Cube it or slice it and add it to your salad for a healthy, low fat, crunchy kick!

Pasta

Pasta can turn a salad into a meal. Fettuccini, spaghetti, angel hair pasta, rotini and other pastas are all wonderful for pasta salads. The great thing about pasta salad is that it can be served hot or cold. You can toss it with some vegetables, meats, cheese and whatever else strikes your fancy. Sauté your vegetables in a little olive oil and add some basil and sea salt. Once your vegetables are tender, toss them with the pasta. The olive oil sticks to the pasta (don't rinse the pasta in cold water, warm pasta holds the oil and seasonings better) and blends all the flavors. You can also cook your pasta and roast your vegetables then mix well.

Protein

Meat is often added to salads. While bacon bits are probably the most popular, it isn't necessarily the healthiest. Try poached, chopped chicken or fish to your salads. You can also drain and rinse a can of tuna and add that to your salad with a little lemon pepper and vinegar. Shrimp and crab also pack a nice punch of protein to your salads. Ham is also good, but it can be high in sodium. Season your chicken or fish well and toss it with your greens and vegetables.

Dressings

Regular bottle dressings are OK, but there is a whole world out there of vinegars and concoctions that you can make yourself. Try drizzling a little raspberry balsamic vinegar over raw, chopped vegetables. Some apple cider vinegar, mixed with a little cold-pressed olive oil, garlic and the seasonings of your choice can make an awesome dressing. Think about the flavors that you like, the spices that you enjoy. Do you like basil? It makes a great dressing if you use some olive oil and rice wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar. For an added kick, splash in some white wine or red wine. Just play with it and see what flavors turn you on!

Eating enough greens in your diet can really boost your immune system and overall energy, as well as help you to maintain a healthy body shape. Spencer Hunt is the owner of ifoundhealth.com where he teaches how to buy glyconutrients and provides glyconutrient book reviews such as the Miracle Sugars.

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

USDA Food Pyramid Charts Are a Sure Way to Getting a Healthy Body




You will find many ways to getting a healthy body. These routes will include exercising, dieting and eating the proper foods. Among the many items that you can use to help you plan a healthy diet is that of the USDA food pyramid. With the help of this handy item you can see what sorts of foods are good for your health.


The information that you can get from the USDA food pyramid can be in two different forms. One form will be that of only a picture. The other form will have this picture and helpful serving information. You should understand that there is more than one type of USDA food pyramid pictures that you can look for.


Before you choose to use the information that is provided you may wish to see different pictures or charts. With the information that you can get from the USDA food pyramid you will be able to plan your daily meals. This is helpful if you are trying to maintain a healthy, slim looking figure.


To provide you with an idea of how the USDA food pyramid looks you need to understand that you will only be seeing one face of the pyramid. On this face the various food groups will be divided into 6 sections. The bottom of the pyramid will in general have a number of different cereals, breads, pastas, and rice that you can choose to incorporate into your diet.


The next section of the USDA food pyramid is divided into two parts. One part contains foods like vegetables, leafy greens, and root vegetables to name but a few. The other part of this table shows lots of different fruits that can be eaten. Above these two groups you will find that the USDA food pyramid is yet again divided into two.


These two groups contain foods like meats, fish, dry beans, eggs, poultry, and various types of nuts. In the other part of this tier you will find a plentiful amount of dairy and cheese products. Additionally you can find different types of oil, sweets and fats placed at the top of the USDA food pyramid.


Besides looking at the different types of food that you can eat you will have the chance of seeing the quantity of foods that you should server for yourself during any meal. For instance you will be cautioned against eating too much of sweets, fats and oil based foods.


On the other hand you can eat more of the breads, cereals, rice and pasta types as opposed to the other foods that you will find in the USDA food pyramid. By looking at the different USDA food pyramid charts you can see the foods that will provide you with a healthy alternative to living.


Muna wa Wanjiru is an Internet Marketing Expert and Has Been Researching and Reporting on Vegetarian Cooking for Years. For More Information on USDA Food Pyramid, Visit His Site at http://www.merpetsales.com/vegetarian-cooking/Usda-Food-Pyramid.php

Nutrition and Food - Tips for Healthy Diet





What is a healthy diet? Is it what we have been lead to believe – milk for strong bones and teeth, protein in the form of lean beef or chicken and maybe a “healthy” microwave dinner if we are “on the go.” A healthy diet contains lots of fruit and vegetables; is based on starchy foods such as wholegrain bread, pasta and rice; and is low in fat (especially saturated fat), salt and sugar. This section contains details on what a healthy diet should consist of and why each vitamin and mineral is an essential part of staying healthy.
Maintaining a healthy diet is the practice of making choices about what to eat with the intent of improving or maintaining good health. Usually this involves consuming necessary nutrients by eating the appropriate amounts from all of the food groups including an adequate amount of water. Since human nutrition is complex, a healthy diet may vary widely, subject to an individual's genetic makeup, environment, and health. For around 20% of the planet's population, lack of food and malnutrition are the main impediments to healthy eating; people in developed countries have the opposite problem, and are more concerned about obesity..

Tips for Healthy diet

Maintain a healthy weight. The weight that's right for you depends on many factors including your sex, height, age and heredity. Excess body fat increases your chances for high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, some types of cancer and other illnesses. But being too thin can increase your risk for osteoporosis, menstrual irregularities and other health problems. If you're constantly losing and regaining weight, a registered dietitian can help you develop sensible eating habits for successful weight management. Regular exercise is also important to maintaining a healthy weight..

Eat less high kilo joule foods-The total amount of energy-dense (high kilo joule) foods you eat may be as important as the total amount of fat in your diet. To reduce the energy density of your diet, you need to increase the amount of plant foods you eat. This will provide essential nutrients, help to make you feel ‘full’ and also reduce the amount of fat in your diet.

Milk and dairy foods-Milk and dairy products include cheese, yoghurt, milk and fromage-frais. They are rich in protein, calcium, vitamins and minerals. Eat or drink a moderate amount of these foods - about 2 to 3 servings per day. These foods contain a good source of calcium, which is essential to our diet, but as these foods can also be high in saturated fats try to choose reduced fat versions when possible.

Limit fast food and other low-nutrient snacks, such as chips and candy. But don't completely ban favorite snacks from your home. Instead, make them "once-in-a-while" foods, so kids don't feel deprived.

Avoid stress while eating. When we are stressed, our digestion can be compromised. Avoid eating while working, driving, or watching TV (especially disturbing programs or the news). Also avoid confrontations, serious discussions or worry during meals. If you feel stressed or upset, stop eating and relax before continuing with your meal. Try taking some deep breaths prior to beginning your meal, or light candles and play soothing music to create a relaxing atmosphere.

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

Good Glycemic Foods





The Glycemic Index which was discovered in 1981 and is the basis for many recently popular diets, including the South Beach Diet as well as others. The Glycemic Index determines how long certain carbohydrates take to break down and digest in the system. Those with a high rating, take the longest time to break down and do the most damage to the system of someone with diabetes. The good glycemic foods; that is, those with the lower rates, are more desirable not only for diabetics, but for those who are watching their carbohydrate intake through such diets as the South Beach Diet, they should also be aware of what the good glycemic foods are.



Good glycemic foods tend to get absorbed slowly into the system, allowing the body to break down the refined sugars and starches so that the body can digest them properly. People with Type I and Type II diabetes have a difficult time digesting carbohydrates, particularly those that rank high on the glycemic index, and therefore due to the lack of proper digestion making it difficult for the diabetic to expel glucose from their blood. While most diabetics are wise to avoid most, if not all carbohydrates, as these are the most difficult to digest and break down, certain carbohydrates are better than others for diabetics to consume.



Good glycemic foods tend to have a low score on the Glycemic Index. Good glycemic foods are still carbohydrates, but it is easier for the diabetic to digest and are much healthier and more preferable than those glycemic foods that rank highly on the Glycemic Index. There are substitutions available for foods that have a high ranking on the Glycemic Index and are widely available in supermarkets and other food stores.



Some of the foods that rate low on the Glycemic Index include most fruits and vegetables, Although fruits and vegetables contain sugar, the sugars contained in these good glyceic foods digest into the system at a slower rate and also provide valuable nutrients to the diabetic, and everyone else of course. The only vegetable that a diabetic should avoid is a potato, as it has a high glycemic index. However other fruits and vegetables are more preferable than white rice, white bread, corn flakes and anything made with white refined sugar or flour.



Other good glycemic foods include wholegrain breads and pastas. If you or a loved one has Type I or Type II diabetes, you should switch to whole grain breads and pastas made from wheat flour. This can be tremendously helpful to anyone who wants to manage their glycemia as well as anyone who wants to follow low carb diets. Basmati rice is also considered one of the good glycemic foods.



Often, it is not a matter of eliminating carbohydrates entirely when one is using diet to control their diabetes, but understanding which carbohydrates rate high on the glycemic index. Diabetes is a disease that can be controlled by proper diet, monitoring one's blood sugar and following doctors orders with taking medication as well as diet and nutrition.

Friday, February 8, 2008

Pregnancy Diet and Nutrition Tips





Pregnancy nutrition is of the utmost importance.it affects not only the health of the mother, but the health of the baby as well. Pregnancy nutrition is easy when you are armed with the knowledge and power necessary to make smart choices.

Pregnancy

Pregnancy places substantial demands on the availability of iron in the body. Pregnancy diet plans give your baby the best chance for a healthy beginning. Pregnancy diet plans provide the extra nutrition and calories needed by your body and the baby. The fetus takes nutrients from the mother; therefore if the mother does not eat properly, both may suffer the consequences. Pregnancy Nutrition refers to the intake of nutrients as well as the planned diets that are usually considered before, during and after pregnancy sessions.

Nutrition

Nutrition experts agree that the best place for the mother-to-be to get all the essential nutrients, including ample amounts of vitamins and minerals, is from her diet. Nutrition is a focal point throughout the nine months a woman carries her child and continues to be important after labor and delivery.

Health

Healthy eating is also as important as fitness and exercise during pregnancy. Healthy eating and a good nutrition plan takes very little of your time but is the single most important thing you can do for your health. Nutrition and exercise are two of the most important factors in determining the healthy growth and development of a child.

Pregnant

Pregnant women should consult a health professional when using Spirulina or any other supplements.

Women

Women need to choose their meals wisely to make sure they’re getting the vitamins and minerals they need without packing on the calories. Women carrying a single baby are advised to add 300 calories to their daily diet. Women who might be pregnant need to eat a well balanced diet and start taking prenatal vitamins as soon as possible. Women who are under five feet two inches tall may aim for the low end of the weight gain range; adolescents and African-Americans, however, should strive for the high end of the recommended range.

Weight

Weight gain is desirable for all women since it is essential for normal fetal growth. Weight gain should be around 28-40 pounds for women that are underweight at pregnancy. Weight gain should be around 2-4 pounds the first trimester and 3-4 pounds a month for the remaining time. Weight gain recommendations average from 25-35 lbs.

Foods

Foods from animal source such as milk or eggs often contain all these essential amino acids while a variety of plant products must be taken together to provide all these necessary protein components. Foods rich in iron include many meats, fish and poultry (especially red meat and liver). Foods that are high in folic acid include liver, dark green leafy vegetables, lean meat, oranges, grains and legumes (lima beans, black beans, etc.

Thursday, February 7, 2008

Weight Loss Food - How To Start ?




Have you thought about losing weight only to give up before you even start? In How to Start Losing Weight Easily Eating Food you will discover shedding the pounds and trimming the inches is really very simple to accomplish. The best way to go about losing weight is to break it down in bite sizes the same way you eat.

The first way to get started is to prepare your body for change. You do that by cleansing your body by using the correct foods to wash burn and eliminate the old built up foods in your body. Those foods would primarily be fruits that burn or are enzymatic in the way they help the body to break down, digest, and eliminate excess storage from the body. By using the right fruits and foods you will daily be watching those pounds and inches come off. You will want to start each day with a single fruit i.e., pineapple, strawberries, grapes, papaya, watermelon, mango, kiwi, prunes, apricots or figs. Eat as much as you want but make sure you only eat one fruit at a time. Do not mix fruits and wait at least one hour before you try a different fruit. Eat just one kind and lots of it up to 2 hours before you have your next meal.

For your daytime meals enjoy your carbohydrates and eat all you want. These would include your salads, vegetables, rice, breads, pastas, potatoes. They should not be combined with protein. Again wait 2 hours before you eat protein. Make sure you are drinking lots of water all throughout the day.

Your protein foods are beef, cheese, eggs, fish, pork, fowl, milk, nuts, yogurt, seafood, and yes ice cream and cheesecake. And Fats such as butter, oil, sour cream, heavy cream, mayonnaise may be combined with either proteins or carbohydrates but do not combine them with fruit.

An example of an all carbohydrate meal would be: Avocado, tomato and onion sandwich. An example of an all-protein meal would be: steak and eggs or bacon, eggs, and sausage. By proper combination of foods and eating them in the right order you can easily eat all you want and lose weight easily. The great part is you won't even feel like you are on a diet and you will have more energy, feel better and shed those inches and pounds with out starving or taking all those unnecessary diet pills. Read out Weight loss tips . Also check out for weight loss doctor and herbal weight loss

Wednesday, February 6, 2008

Low Fat Eating For Better Health




When you eat a diet that is high in saturated and Tran's fats, you are causing a buildup of calcium in your blood vessels that can later cause many different medical conditions. If you change your eating habits to include low fat foods, you can ensure that you will live for a good long time.

For those with a normal heart, each time the heart contracts, calcium is pumped in and out. When too much calcium accumulates, it can cause a myriad of problems with the electrical system of the heart. It can cause cardiac arrest, heart attack or arrhythmias. It has been found that when there is an abundance of saturated fat in the cells of the heart at the time a person experiences a heart attack, the chances of death are greater and the complications afterward can be severe.

Incorporating low fat eating to your daily routine can help you avoid many heart problems as well as circulatory problems. Any doctor or medical professional will tell you eating a low fat diet is the best way to stay healthy, and allow your body to function at its best. Low fat eating can be quite enjoyable if you do your research and you are willing to experiment with new flavors and textures.

Many people view low fat diets as bland and boring, but nothing could be further from the truth. Foods that you can enjoy on a low fat diet are fresh crisp vegetables in season as well as fruits, lean meats and fish and a variety of whole grains. Using sauces and spices to flavor food is also a great way to help you stick with a low fat diet.

Eating a low fat diet can contribute to feeling good about yourself again as it will enable you to lose weight. You may also experience a greater feeling of energy when you are eating a low fat diet. You will eliminate all of the foods that make your body work hard to digest them and it will give you more energy than you ever thought possible.

Tuesday, February 5, 2008

The Shocking Secret About Low Fat Foods




Fat has been made public enemy number 1 in the battle for health and fitness. The low fat thinking has lead to a great variety of low fat food. Its so bad that people will not buy something if its not called low fat. Everywhere you look in the market place now there is a low fat version of everything. You can even get low fat ice cream. The unfortunate thing here is that if you are only buying low fat products, you are probably being mislead for a lot the things you buy. That's because you may not understand how certain foods are processed in your body.

Before I expand on this, you should first know what the low fat diet is all about. This diet tells you to eat low fat foods to avoid getting fat. The food companies have jumped onto this line of thinking and so when you go to the supermarket, there's practically a low fat choice of any food you want to buy. But many of them replace the fat with a huge amount of sugars and other refined carbohydrates to keep the taste.

Therefore, if you are following a low fat diet, you are probably eating a lot of refined carbohydrates.

So, what does that mean?

Refined carbohydrates are instantly converted to glucose (which is sugar) so that your body can use it. The glucose gets dumped into your blood stream, so that your blood can take it to all parts of your body, to ensure it will always have the energy to keep functioning. Now, if you don't need this energy right now, your body stores it as glycogen in your muscles. If all of your glycogen stores are already full, then it is stored as fat!

I hope you understood that. Let me rephrase it to be sure.

If you eat a lot of refined carbohydrates, it will eventually turn to fat if you eat more than you need. Unless you are very active, and make use of your glycogen stores, you don't need refined carbohydrates. Even if you are active, you would have refined carbs very selectively, like for example after you've just finished an intense workout.

So although you may be eating what's called a 'low fat' food, it is really anything but low fat.

Now the main exception to this is low fat milk, low fat cheese or low fat natural yogurt. These usually don't have refined sugar. Most of the other types of 'low fat' foods though are full of it.

The worst thing about these refined carbohydrates are that they are very addictive. If you study the role of insulin in your body, you'll realize that your body starts craving for these high sugar foods, often when you aren't even hungry. It's a vicious cycle you want to stay away from. It's a cycle that most obese and overweight people are right in the middle of. There are also other effects of eating too many refined carbs. These include unstable energy levels, mood swings, headaches and onset of life threatening diseases such as heart disease.

So if you've been trying to eat low fat, and don't see any results with your weight decreasing or with your health improving, no matter how little you've eaten, this might be one reason. What you eat is as, if not more important as how much you eat.

So next time you go shopping and you see the "Low Fat" sign on the food, make sure you check the ingredients label to see how much sugar and carbs are in it. Now you know that excess refined carbs are pretty much the same thing as fat, you'll be able to see right through the sneaky companies that try and trick you with this.

Sunday, February 3, 2008

What To Eat On The Atkins Diet-Tips for Choosing Effective Low Carb Foods

The Atkins diet is a popular way to lose weight, and one of its principles is low carbohydrate consumption. Particularly in the beginning, or what is called the induction phase, you will be restricting your carbohydrates to less than 40 grams a day. This early restriction will help reduce carbohydrate cravings, and help you be more successful with your diet over the long term. After the induction phase, you can reintroduce carbohydrates back into you diet, usually in the form of healthy fruits and vegetables. While it takes a bit of planning, there are many Atkins diet food choices available to help you be successful.

The main cornerstone of the Atkins diet is protein. Its best to get protein from lower fat sources, such as chicken, beef, tofu or fish. While cheese and diary products also contain protein, they can often be too heavy, and should be eaten in moderation. Leaner choices are more versatile and won't contain unnecessary carbohydrates.

After a few weeks, you can also start incorporating a wider amount of fruits and vegetables into your diet. After protein, your next mainstay will be vegetables. High fiber, lower glycemic vegetables like spinach, broccoli and salad greens will help you feel full and aid digestion. Fruits can also be added to your diet for a treat or desert, after you're out of the induction phase. Grains, such as breads, rice, and pasta, should be eaten very sparingly, and do not make up the bulk of an Atkins plan diet.

A good way to stay focused on what is allowed with the Atkins plan is to carry a cheat sheet with you, so you can refer to it if you're out for a snack or meal, or are out grocery shopping. Relying solely on food packaging will not give you all of the information you need. Sometimes, items labeled 'low-carb' may still not be the best choice on the Atkins diet. If you have a quick list to refer to, it makes it much easier.

Snacking regularly is also a good way to avoid hunger pangs and overeating. Atkins diet-friendly snacks include items like jerky strips, low carb soy chips, string cheese, and more. One thing to avoid is giving in to high carb temptations, like bread or potatoes. By stocking your cupboards with low carb foods, you'll be more apt to stick to your diet.

While the Atkins diet can feel limiting, especially at the beginning, there are a wide variety of food you can eat. By keeping the bulk of your diet protein and high fiber vegetables, you'll feel full, and lose weight. An occasional treat like nuts and fruit can help round out your diet. With a little planning, you will find a wide variety of foods to eat.