| |
Archive for the ‘Nutrition’ Category
Sat, July 26, 2008 1:31 pm By James Coolridge  Printer friendly version
 Email to a friend
 The goal of low carb diets is to increase protein intake by reducing carbohydrate intake. This way, your body will burn fat instead of carbohydrates for energy. According to many diet experts, a diet rich in protein is highly beneficial for your overall health. Here is a list of foods rich in protein.
Egg Whites: Egg whites virtually have no fat. They have only 16 calories! Egg white is a perfect food for your required protein supplies. So, don’t limit eggs to breakfast. You can have egg whites any time a day!
Tilapia fillet: Tilapia fillet is usually inexpensive and it is really very easy to prepare. Just add some lime, salt and pepper and sauté for about 10 minutes on each side. Your delicious tilapia is ready to serve!
Soymilk: Soy milk is one of the best foods for muscle gain. People who work out for putting on some extra muscle must consume soy milk everyday, for their daily dose of protein and some fat. A cup of skim soy milk will give you around 8g of protein.
Tags: eggs, Soymilk, fillet, whites
Thu, July 10, 2008 11:25 am By James Coolridge
 There are many reasons why you should follow a healthy diet, apart from the fact that healthy diet ensures overall wellbeing. A person following a healthy diet reduces the risk of diseases such as heart attacks, diabetes, and cholesterol, at the same time gets more energy. In this article, we give you great new ideas and tips that will help you achieve a healthy diet and thus, better health.
A healthy diet is not so much about what you eat, but how you eat. Sounds complicated, but it is actually very simple.
When you are in a hurry, you may tend to rush through your meal and just gulp it without chewing the stuff. This should not be done. It is very important to chew your food and enjoy the taste. So, chew your food thoroughly so that your saliva breaks down the food and digests the nutrients.
Eating slowly will help to make out best when your stomach is feeling full and when you feel full, put your dish down. This way, you can avoid overeating.
It is very important to eat regular meals and cut down snacking in between meals. You should eat three full meals a day- Breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Let us talk about balanced diet. You should know that you need food from at least six food groups in order to obtain all the nutrients that are required by your body. These six food groups include whole grains such as oatmeal, brown rice, vegetables, fruits, milk and dairy product, protein and oils. You may wonder why oil is included in this six food groups. This is because good oils and high quality fats provide fatty acids that are needed by your body. Avocados, coconuts, and olive oil are some of the good sources of oil.
You should not be conscious about healthy diet only when you are at home. Healthy eating habit is equally important when you are away from home. You may seldom have the time to prepare meal at home and thus opt for eating out. So, avoid fast food outlets since fast foods are laden with high sodium and fat contents. They lack nutrients. You may have the temptation to eat junk food, but eating unhealthy fast food will only make it tough to avoid overeating. The pizzas and burgers are so tasty that you may not resist yourself from having one more. As a result, you may start overeating and it may become difficult to ignore overeating. Ultimately, you will develop the ugly bear belly and extra flab under your abdomen.
Hence, it is wise to order healthier food options. When dining out, ask for water or fresh milk instead of ordering aerated drinks, which contain a lot of sugar and calories.
Last but not the least- include vitamins in your diet since they are a viable supplement for healthy diets. Drink at least eight glasses of water a day. This will help you clear out the toxins from your body and keep your body hydrated.
Tags: healthy, supplement, diets
Thu, July 3, 2008 1:28 pm By James Coolridge
 Egg- the nutritional dynamos- are enriched with almost every essential vitamin and mineral necessary for humans. It is a great source of omega-3 oils. Let us take a look at the benefits of Omega-3 fats present in eggs.
• Anti-inflammatory: The anti-inflammatory property of omega-3 fats present in eggs reduces inflammation.
• Anti-coagulant: Omega-3 fats are anti-coagulant (blood thinner), which keep the platelets less sticky and decrease the risk of blood clot formation thereby helping you to protect yourself against heart attack.
• Reduces initial heart attack: Omega-3 fats present in eggs reduce the risk of initial heart attack by 20-40 percent.
• Reduces the risk of cancer: Eating eggs is beneficial for you because the omega-3 fats present in eggs are capable of reducing the risk of cancer. They may also help inhibit the growth of cancer.
• Reduces fat: Eggs are must-have for the figure conscious people since the omega-3 fats present in eggs can help you to reduce fat and maintain a leaner and healthier body.
• Promotes eye health: Eggs are healthy for your eyes. Lack of omega-3 oils in your diet may cause macular degeneration, so exclude egg from your diet. The carotenoids namely lutein and zeaxanthin present in eggs reduce the risk of cataracts.
Apart from this, omega-3 oils present in eggs help fight depression, anxiety, control the level of hormones, and help reduce the tendencies towards impulsiveness or aggression.
Lutein present in eggs is a good source of choline which is vital for the function of all the cells in the human body. Eggs are also excellent sources of iron, riboflavin, Vitamins D, E and B 12 and folate. Eggs are also excellent source of protein.
Tags: fats, Protein, Hormone, Omega 3
Wed, June 25, 2008 1:27 pm By James Coolridge
 Curcumin is an active ingredient of turmeric. Many scientific studies have proved that curcumin is very effective in curing cancer. Curcumin also heals arthritis, acid reflux, acne, allergies and even cholesterol. Hence, it can be said that curcumin is anti-tumor, anti-oxidant, anti-arthritic, anti-amyloid and anti-inflammatory in nature.
The chemical name of curcumin is diferuloylmethane. Scientists have proved that curcumin can be effectively used for the treatment of five top cancers in the US, that is, colon, breast, prostate, lung and skin cancer.
If curcumin is applied to the skin, it can cure various skin inflammations like wounds, sun burns and even Psoriasis.
Acne is the most irritating skin problems found in the teenagers. Curcumin is glad news for them, since the herb can steer-clear acne and bacteria from the face making the skin brighter.
According to the latest research, Curcumin is quiet effective against Alzheimer’s. The anti-inflammatory property of Curcumin reduces the risk of developing Alzheimer’s syndrome. Moreover, Curcumin also protects the heart and circulatory system of the body.
Apart from the medicinal values of Curcumin, it is used in foods as a natural color for coloring food like mustard, processed cheese, cakes, sweets and processed cheese.
Tags: remedies, Turmeric, Curcumin, medicinal, uses
Tue, June 24, 2008 1:22 pm By Brad Adams
 Ginger is used in lots of food preparations in many countries including India, China and countries in the East. Ginger tea has been used in China for the past 2500 years to treat sore throat, sinus pain and nasal congestion. Read on to know about the usefulness of ginger.
A cup of ginger tea can replace the sugar laden energy drinks since it provides as much energy as provided by a glass of energy drink. The soothing and calming flavor of ginger keeps you alert and calm. Put small pieces of ginger in your cup of tea and sip it hot to ward off cold and low-grade fevers.
Herbal ginger has the ability to stimulate the circulatory system. It is also used for increased blood flow to the surface of the skin. Ginger is used as herbal remedy for the treatment of impaired circulation of blood along the hands and feet of patients. Ginger also helps control high blood pressure. Other health benefits of ginger are:
Nausea: Ginger has anti-nausea and anti-vomiting qualities that help to cure nausea.
Digestion: Ginger improves appetite. It calms down the stomach and helps in digestion by promoting the smooth flow of bile. Ginger is an effective herbal medicine that can cure abdominal cramps.
Travel sickness: If travel causes a nauseating feeling in you, drink a hot cup of ginger tea or take quarter teaspoon of powdered ginger fifteen minutes before you go for a car or boat trip. The first signs of travel sickness can be effectively cured by ginger.
Tags: pain, food, Ginger, herbs, remedies, digestion, nausea, throat
Mon, June 23, 2008 1:31 pm By Thomas Maloney
 Year after year, soft drinks have been popularized by persuasive and aggressive advertising campaign run by beverage companies. The sweet taste of these fizzy drinks is so tempting that they have become one of the largest single sources of calories in the diet of every American.
The sweet taste of soft drinks may be a delight for your taste buds, but is the worst enemy of your health. How many of you know that this very taste is nothing but due to the addition of huge amounts of acids and sugar added to these drinks? Well, you should know that these components which give the soft drinks the characteristic taste are risks to the oral and dental health. The sugar content encourages bacterial growth. The fluid nature of soft drinks makes it easier for the bacteria to cause cavities leading to tooth decay. Over time, the mild acids can even weaken your tooth enamel making your teeth more vulnerable to damage and decay. Dentists have warned people of the aftereffects of fizzy drinks but there seems to be very little or no effect at all.
The best solution to ensure dental health and overall health is by completely eliminating the consumption of soft drinks. So if you are concerned about your overall health and oral hygiene, it is not too late, start your efforts right now. Avoid fizzy drinks (including soda). Try out sugar-free alternatives to soft drinks. Take this little, but valuable efforts; you will surely suggest others to avoid fizzy drinks after seeing your results.
Tags: hazards, Cola, Pepsi, Aerated drinks, fizzy
Tue, June 17, 2008 10:12 am By Brad Adams
 It may seem tough to make your children eat whole grain breads. This is because they didn’t start it out at their younger age. To be precise, they didn’t “acquire” the taste of whole grain bread as they did with white bread. Had they started it earlier, you may not have to battle it out to make your children eat their whole grain bread. Give your children a chance to develop the taste for whole grain bread at their earlier age itself. Expose them to healthy, whole grain foods.
We put a lot of stress on developing a taste for whole grain food because they are storehouses of fiber, which, like any other nutrient, is essential for your diet. Fiber helps in making the bowel elimination process much easier. Fiber makes the stool softer and bulkier. Fiber can also help you in controlling your food because you will get a feeling of being full by a meager dose of fiber. It has been found out by many researchers that people eating food with high fiber content are less susceptible to heart attacks and stores as compared to those who don’t include whole grains in their diet.
Moreover, whole grains break down at a slower pace and won’t spike your blood sugar levels. Refined white flour is a risk for diabetics. High fructose corn syrup and refined wheat are found to be major causes for the increasing cases of Juvenile diabetes. Hence, whole wheat bread is far better than white bread. So, make whole wheat bread a default inclusion in the breakfast of your children.
Tags: whole, wheat, grains, benefits, bread, pulses
Mon, June 16, 2008 4:45 am By James Coolridge
 A cup of green tea in the morning rejuvenates the body and soul. The three E’s- Enjoyment, Essential health benefits and Energy- make it one of the most popular brews. No wonder why it is a delight for the taste buds!
Enjoyment:
A soothing cup of green tea gives you sheer enjoyment. Green tea with honey best serves as a sweetener after a sumptuous meal. When served hot, it is the perfect brew and when served chilled, it will replace all your smoothies and frappes. Same degree of delicacy can be enjoyed both in summer and winter. The credit goes to its delicate taste.
Essential heath benefits:
A list of health benefits can be attached to green tea. The beverage is full of antioxidants (catechin polyphenols) that produce free radicals which in turn help increase body’s metabolic processes. The anti-oxidant is also known to inhibit the growth of cancer cells. Moreover, catechin polyphenols reduces the LDL cholesterol and prevents the formation of blood clots. Green tea is also found to reduce heart attacks and strokes. Green tea also acts as a medicine for minor cuts, rashes and sunburns. You can also avoid tooth decay by making it a habit of sipping a cup of hot green tea every morning.
Energy:
Kick-start your day with a cup of green tea. It can make wonders if taken in smaller doses. Green tea also reduces anxiousness by relaxing the mind. Drink green tea during office tea breaks.
Tags: Health, cancer, cure, Green, Tea, Anti-oxidants, vigor
Mon, June 9, 2008 10:30 am By James Coolridge
 Ever noticed why many of us prefer pizzas, burgers, salty chips and other junk foods rather than the healthy veggies? This is because we actually have to pay more for the healthy stuff.
Researchers at the University of Washington have found that low-calorie and nutrient-rich foods are more expensive than the junk foods laden with calories. These junk foods are actually becoming cheaper.
In recent studies, the average price of the low calorie foods including green vegetables, berries and tomatoes have increased by 20 percent over the last two years. Meanwhile, the prices of high-calories fatty foods such as butter, potato chips, candies and cookies have reasonably dipped by 2 percent during the same time period.
No wonder why you find people hanging around Pizza huts and McDonalds to get their hands on the “happy price menus” and “value foods” just to add on extra flab.
Tags: fruits, junk foods, veggies, price rise
Sun, June 1, 2008 1:33 pm By James Coolridge
 Many energy drinks claim to increase your stamina, alertness, give you the “kick” for high intensity workouts. Many people are turning towards these energy drinks to “boost” their energy levels. As a result, there are more than 200 different brands of energy drinks on sale in US.
It was found out that 8 oz of a brand of energy drink contains 77 mg of caffeine while another brand contains 70 mg in 8.3 oz of the drink. This amount of caffeine is similar to a cup of brewed coffee, which has around 85 mg of caffeine.
Since the level of caffeine is similar to a cup of coffee, drinking energy drinks is occasionally is not harmful and is probably safe for most of the adults. Since excess of anything is harmful, excess consumption of energy drinks is also harmful.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends limiting the amount of caffeine in a 12 oz soda to 65 mg. However, the energy drinks are not regulated and many exceed that threshold by a wide margin.
Many people have the bad habit of mixing energy drinks with alcohol. They think that extra caffeine reduces the effects of alcohol. But the truth is something else. No matter whether you add or not add the energy drink to your alcohol, the blood alcohol level will remain the same. Energy drink is a stimulant while alcohol is a depressant which results to dehydration. Hence, mixing energy drink and alcohol is strictly discouraged.
If energy drinks are added to your diet which is already loaded with caffeine, you may encounter some health problems. If you have high blood pressure or are hypersensitive to caffeine, you should limit the consumption of energy drinks.
Tags: High Blood Pressure, coffee, caffeine, energy drinks
|  |
|
Posts RSS
Comments 
RSS
