Foods for Healthy Eating

Posted by Unknown On Wednesday, May 1, 2013 0 comments

Healthy eating is all about taking nutritious food items on a daily basis. One has to follow a good diet plan in order to maintain sound health. There are foods to avoid regularly. There are also diets to eat on a daily basis. Given below are the best foods meant for healthy eating.
• Fresh Fruits
Fresh fruits make up a comprehensive diet plan. One has to take them on a daily basis in order to maintain sound health. They are also good at controlling weight. They are rich in minerals and vitamins. Among such fruits include paw-paw, pineapple, orange, banana, avocado, berries and so on. They are usually very easy to locate.
• Vegetables
Vegetables are very rich in fiber, minerals and vitamins. They are very necessary for sound health. One needs to be consuming them on a daily basis. Among such edibles include cucumber, carrot, water leaves, spinach, broccoli, green beans, cabbage, and so on. They are very cheap at the food market.
• Calcium-rich Foods
Healthy eating requires regular consumption of calcium-rich edibles. Such diets make the bones strong. They are also good for the heart and other vital parts of the body. Among the best sources of calcium include milk, poultry, seeds, nuts and so on.
• Whole grains
There's a need to eat whole grains when thinking of maintaining sound health. Such edibles are very rich in fiber, minerals and vitamins. They help a lot in weight control and disease prevention. They also prevent diarrhea and constipation. Among them include oatmeal, brown rice, wheat, muffin, mustard and so on.
• Omega-3 fatty acids Foods
To maintain sound health, one is expected to be eating foods that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Such edibles are good for the human heart. They prevent diverse heart diseases. They also ensure sound physical fitness. Among the best sources of omega-3 fatty acids include salmon, tuna, mackerel, sardine and so on.
• Protein-rich diets
One cannot enjoy sound health without consuming enough protein on a daily basis. There are several protein-rich diets that are good for daily living. They improve physical appearance and also enhance digestion. Among the best sources of protein include beans, legumes, lentils. seeds, eggs, and so on.
In all, these food items discussed above are very vital for healthy living. One has to be taking them on a daily basis. It's necessary to have a good diet plan and also follow it judiciously. This is very vital for maintaining sound health on a regular basis.



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Best Ways To Get Fit

Posted by Unknown On Monday, April 22, 2013 0 comments

Recommendations are towards beginning with a plan. By setting a plan with a goal linked to a realistic time scale, it will ensure you stick to your workout plan and don't give up too easily. The thought of achieving your targets will drive you to intensify your work out, therefore leading to better results.
Additionally, with the internet acting as a resource unmatched in today's society, there are plenty of forums, blogs and companies willing to guide you to the best ways for you to get fit. Although caution must be given to those companies only out to sell their products, there are plenty of resources readily available for free and not all people are out to make a profit from your questions.
Once you have set yourself out a plan, the next step is to choose how you will reach that goal. Today there is a plethora of new and innovative ways to get fit. With technology constantly changing, you can now utilise mobile apps, computer games, many tangible fitness devices and even just general household items. With so much choice the decision can be a difficult one, however, gain advice from industry professionals or have a look at other customer reviews before purchasing your exercise aid.
Complementary to utilising devices, the popularity of activities such as Zumba, Yoga and Pilates over the past few years shows that exercise can be fun, calming and good for more than just your waistline. The health benefits of keeping fit are obvious throughout the world and with obesity rates becoming a real concern, the pressure has increased on getting people moving more often. Consequently gym memberships will usually see peaks during the beginning of the New Year.
Welsh news website Wales Online, have highlighted that gyms will be at their premium price brackets in this annual period with the masses of post-Christmas weight gains proving enough encouragement to get fit. The Daily Mail has highlighted that on average the typical person in Britain will consume 38,000 calories and gain up to 6lbs in weight, which is to the joy of the gym companies that reap the rewards of the overindulging public. 
But either way, to get fit as fast as possible, a trip to the gym is not enough. It is advised to make changes to your diet, your daily activity as well as your mind-set in order to shed the pounds as quickly as possible.
Furthermore, never forget that even when you reach your ideal body, health and fitness is for the long term, so maintaining your health and ideal body will take determination and a commitment to bettering your life. Try out different fitness methods and work out which one will match you best. 
There is no one size fits all so it's often the case that trials need to be implemented on a range of exercising techniques before you find the one that provides you with the best results. Just always keep in mind that exercising should be fun as well as beneficial, this way you will be more likely to work out and it will last longer than a short term phase.


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Start Eating Alkaline Forming Foods

Posted by Unknown On Sunday, April 21, 2013 0 comments

I started learning about alkaline forming foods several years ago when I was introduced to the raw living foods lifestyle. We can either eat alkaline or acid causing foods. When we consume alkaline foods, it helps maintain a proper acid-alkaline balance in the body, and leads to supporting a powerful immune system. Alkaline and acide forming foods will be reviewed to give you some direction on how to shift what you consume in your daily diet, thereby preventing disease.
The Standard American Diet often consists of all meats, including fish, poultry and eggs. This is often accompanied with the consumption of dairy products such as cheese, and milk, along with breads for breakfast or lunch. Dinner may include pasta or noodles. All of these items are acid forming foods, which includes most legumes. White sugar found in many pastries and baked goods, or added to tea or coffee, is also detrimental to maintaining a proper ph balance in the body.
Some better food options that will alkalize your body include: most raw vegetables and fruits. Incorporating avocados into a daily salad is one good way to transition into a meal that still leaves you full. Sprouts which includes sprouted legumes or whole grains can be added to smoothies or a salad dish. It is possible to purchase sprouts in one of the natural food markets or you are welcome to grow sprouts at home.
In terms of consuming liquids, I would suggest:
  • regular juicing of raw vegetables that makes green juice
  • wheatgrass juice
  • herbal teas
A regular juicer is useful for juicing, but a Vitamix is also handy to keep the bulk of the vegetable in a drink. Spices can also be added to the mixture to give the juice some flavour. I often add ginger to my juices. Herbal teas are also great for a hot drink. I sometimes, add agave or raw honey as a sweetner for my teas.
For snacks, I would suggest either soaked or sprouted nuts. Almonds, hazelnuts, or brazilnuts are great. Sprouted seeds are some of my favorites that include sunflower sprouts. I usually add sunflower sprouts to my salads or smoothies.
For main staples, and instead of pasta or noodles, I would suggest using millet or quinoa, which are excellent sources for an alkaline focused diet.
Incorporating enzyme supplements is another great way to alkalize the body. I have been taking enzyme supplements for almost 4 years now and find it useful for digestion. Enzyme supplements are essential when you eat cooked food. Natural enzymes are released when raw food is consumed as part of a completely living raw foods lifestyle.
I think if you can make the small changes mentioned above, and have 80% of the food eaten produce alklaine compounds when digested, you are in a good position to maintain health and vitality. Keep 20% of what you consume to be the acid-forming foods. Following this will ensure longevity and complete well being.

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Why Is Weight Loss Important In The Case Of Obese Children?

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Although obesity and other weight-related problems are more pronounced in adults, it also has a serious impact on children. According to a recent survey, in the United States, one out of every five children is overweight or obese, and this number is rising. Obesity provides several disadvantages for the children, exposing them to the risk of developing chronic diseases and diabetes later in life. The child may also suffer from depression, stress, and low-esteem.
Obesity can be caused due to several factors. The most common factors are unhealthy eating pattern, genetic factors, lack of physical exercises, or a combination of these factors.
Obese kids are more prone to a number of physical conditions, which includes:
  • High cholesterol: Children can have high amount of cholesterol in their body, which can show its pronounced effect when the child gets older. Too much of cholesterol leads to the build up of plaque which clogs the arteries and blood vessels, leading to serious chronic problems as the child gets older.

  • Early heart disease: Early heart diseases can include arrhythmias (abnormal heart beats), a disease of the cardiac muscle, valves, blood vessels etc. It can even lead to heart attacks. The child suffering from this problem can experience chest pain, or a feeling like heartburn or indigestion.

  • Bone problems: Obesity results in large number of bone problems both for the old and for the young. The child suffers from severe pain in the foot along with many other developmental disorders which gets more pronounced with age. Some of the bone defects associated with obesity are Flat feet, Misalignment of the knees, Osteoarthritis, Deformities of the hip and bowed lower legs.
In order to fight against obesity, weight loss is very important. Preparing a good diet chart for an obese child is very crucial, because improper dieting in the case of children can be detrimental to their health. To help an obese child to loose weight parents should take care of the two most important factors:
  • Selection of the right type of food - For weight loss, obese children must avoid junk food or fatty food and instead they should consume healthy vegetables and fruits. They should properly chew the food to avoid indigestion. Rather than eating three large meals, obese children can go for six small meals. Eating in excess amount should also be avoided.

  • Proper exercises - the right type of exercises can help in weight loss. If obese children exercise on a regular basis they can surely see positive results after a certain period of time.


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Advantages of Consuming Whole Foods

Posted by Unknown On Saturday, April 20, 2013 0 comments

One reason for sourcing your health foods from whole food stores is that they care about your health. These grocery outlets stock items of superior nutritional value. Organic and natural foods contain less or no toxins which would otherwise be detrimental to human health.
Whole foods are foods that are in their natural state. They are unprocessed and mostly organic. Foods that are packaged with preservatives or those that have been modified in some way away from their original state cease to be whole foods. Unpolished cereal grains, fruit, vegetables and fresh milk products are all examples of whole foods. Retailers and wholesalers of these foods are termed whole food stores. 
Reputable stores are dedicated to provide you with the best quality healthy foods, along with being environmentally friendly. They are keen on using things which are biodegradable. Whole food stores are the smart solution for anyone needing healthy food options.
One reason for sourcing your health foods from whole food stores is that they care about your health. These grocery outlets stock items of superior nutritional value. Organic and natural foods contain less or no toxins which would otherwise be detrimental to human health. It is well known that the modifications made to foods such as homogenization, preservation, polishing and such alterations undermine the original value of that food. 
When consumed overtime, these foods can have adverse effects on the body. However, acquiring items from whole food stores ensures that you only consume certified, high quality and natural foods that guarantee good health.
Whole food stores are environmentally friendly and it is for this reason that you should buy items there. Because the foods are rarely packaged (and if so, biodegradable materials like paper are used) the problem of contaminating the environment with harmful toxic waste is eliminated. 
Packaging materials such as plastic polythene bags, when poorly disposed of, create an environmental hazard. Whole food stores remove this problem and emphasize their green footprint by not packaging, using organic packaging materials (if they must package) or insisting on reusing shopping bags. This ensures that the environment is spared of any kind of contamination. Waste from whole food stores is easily, safely and naturally broken down without affecting the ecosystem.
Advice on the best health food solutions is also offered at whole food stores. Often, people do not know exactly what they need for their bodies. And shopping at a whole food store would be meaningless if you did not have the proper information about what you really need for your body. 
Not everything acquired from a whole food store is necessarily what you need. At whole food stores, there are specialists whose job is to provide the relevant advice to customers who need it. And with regular commodity reviews, you will be sure to get the highest quality foods from whole food stores. Certification seals are normally attached to almost all items in these stores.
A whole food store also gives back to the community in a number of ways. A shopper may take pride in shopping at a local store that is just not all about profit maximization but has the community's best interests as part of its brand values. The mere fact that whole food stores use biodegradable materials for packaging (that is if they must package at all) means that the community is spared of environmentally harmful litter. 
Emphasis by whole food stores is often put on recycling and reusing items which translates into affirmative action towards the community. Some whole food stores also donate items to individuals and institutions as part of their social responsibility.


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Pedometer: A Healthy Physical Motivation

Posted by Unknown On Friday, April 19, 2013 0 comments

What is a Pedometer? Well, everyone should already know what a timer or a stop-watch is. However, the term "Pedometer" might sound a little unfamiliar. A pedometer is an electronic device that counts every step a person takes by first detecting the motion of a person's hip or perhaps the bottom to be a little accurate. 
Most pedometers are used to increase a person's physical activity and help increase the effectiveness of workouts. Pedometers are great electronic devices where they contain amazing mechanical parts that run the electric circuit, turning it on and off. 
Recording the amount of steps an individual takes can be very difficult especially when recording individuals who bike or run. Fitness efficiency can be improved by recording speed and motion data of individuals during their workouts. Weight loss for healthy benefits and body balance can be promoted through the use of pedometers. 
These electronic devices are becoming more and more popular these days as more and more individuals are encouraged to keep themselves and their bodies physically fit. Pedometers measures accurately the amount of steps a person takes the exact amount of turns the bike rides, and the absolute seconds or minutes an individual runs from one point to another.
Pedometers are often used by physical therapists, physical fitness professors, physical education professors, and even common individuals who are greatly concerned about their physical health. Increasing physical activities and body's balance through physical exercises will motivate and encourage both mental and physical health to all individuals from young to aged individuals. 
Pedometers have helped improve individuals with their speed efficiency and have developed numbers of skills in relation to speed in sports as well as physical activities. Pedometers vary in size and features. The following paragraph will further explain about types of pedometers and their uses.
Types of Pedometers
Pedometers come in various types where their rate of accuracy, design, and positioning is different from each other. Common pedometers often come in the size of normal credit cards or name cards. However, there are those with specialties and come in larger sizes.
 A pedometer often performs similar functions though designs and the positioning of the devices are different. Despite its size, a pedometer is indeed a great motivator of physical exercises and activities. The recorded data can be saved for several days or even for weeks to be able to refer to the data and track improvements. 
Pedometers motivate individuals to strive more and increase the amount of physical they perform daily or weekly. Individuals with set goals can achieve their goals faster with hand-sized pedometers in their jogging pants.
How do you choose the best pedometer for you?
Pedometers often have common features despite its designs. However, individuals often refer to the prize of the products, imagining it would be parallel to the quality of the products. Pedometers do not have to necessarily be expensive to be excellent. Individuals must choose pedometers that fit themselves and their lifestyles best. 
Know first the goals then choose the best product. Always remember to look first at yourself, determine your goals, and choose the item that best fits you and those that will probably lets you achieve your goals successfully.


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Staying Young And Beautiful: The Natural Way

Posted by Unknown On Thursday, April 18, 2013 0 comments

Who doesn't want to look beautiful forever? It may not be as simple as it seems, but it is definitely not rocket science to be able to stay beautiful for years. Following some simple tips and a healthy lifestyle, you can attain that glow and vibrancy that you had always desired. Here are some tips on staying naturally beautiful and young:
- Take adequate breaks. Recent studies have shown that stress causes significant changes in the body that only accelerates aging. It is seen that 60- 90% of all doctor's visit each year are for stress- related problems like anxiety, obsessive anger, depression, hostility, insomnia, heart attacks, high blood pressure, etc. To reduce stress, sit in a quiet place, close your eyes, relax your muscles, roll your head, neck and shoulders and breathe deeply. Repeat this once or twice daily for 10- 20 minutes.
- Healthy fats help stabilize your mood, prevent visible signs of aging in the body, and helps maintaining bone strength. Omega3s also have the ability to pull out fat from storage, particularly the hips, and use it as energy. Omega3s helps to keep you healthy and your skin radiant. Experts suggest that you have at least 2 grams of Omega3 fatty acids every day. Have plenty of fatty fish, like salmon and also walnuts. If you aren't getting enough omega3 fatty acids from your diet, consider having fish oil supplements.
- Make a exercises a part of your regular routine. It will help you lose weight, build healthier bones, tone muscles and even boost your mood. Walking for just 10 minutes a day can help you avoid the risk of Alzheimer's by 40%. Schedule 3 20 minutes work in a week. Choose any form of exercise that you enjoy most, be it running, swimming, cycling or dancing.
- As an alternative to exercises or an add on, you can do yoga. It will give you more energy, greater flexibility, better posture, improved mood and less stress. Through conscious yoga breathing, you become aware of the connection between mind and body. Do yoga regularly or at least twice a week.
- Have plenty of fruits. Much of research is going on different types of fruits. It has been found that pomegranates are more beneficial than other fruits. A glass of pomegranate juice helps to lower blood pressure and cholesterol and help reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease. It also helps prevent some forms of cancer. It also protects the skin from damage caused by UV rays.
- Have 2- 3 cups of green tea daily. It has numerous health benefits and will also keep you young and glowing.
- Abstain from using cosmetic products that contains chemicals as their ingredients. Though they may be able to produce immediate results, they are only harmful in the long run. Buy organic products for skin care from stores that sell them.


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Can You Ever Eat Olives On Medifast? If So, What Type? How Many?

Posted by Unknown On Wednesday, April 17, 2013 0 comments

I sometimes hear from people who are wondering about a specific food that they hope isn't going to be off of limits once they begin the Medifast diet. Believe it or not, I get asked about olives relatively frequently. A common concern would be something like: "I love olives.
They are one of my favorite foods. I eat them with salads a lot of the time and I sometimes have them with eggs. I really want to try the Medifast diet, but I don't want to give up my olives. Are they allowed on this diet?"
Actually, my understanding is that they are. But they count as a fat. And you aren't supposed to have an unlimited amount of them. It works this way. In addition to eating five diet meals, you need to eat one larger "lean and green" meal each day. That meal consists of five to seven ounces of lean protein, three servings of vegetables, and two servings of healthy fats. 5 - 10 green or black olives are considered to be worth one serving of a healthy fat.
So let's say that the person who asked this question wanted to have olives as part of a salad as was her habit. If she were making a dinner time lean and green meal, she could have a chicken salad with 5 -10 olives as well as some salad dressing.
This would put her within those two allowed fat servings. Another thing to consider is that you don't have to your lean and green meal at dinner. You can have it for any of the main meals. So there was nothing wrong with having eggs and olives for your lean and green meal either.
If you were going to do this, you would be allowed to have up to 14 egg whites or two cups of egg beaters. She could also have 10 - 20 olives because she didn't need salad dressing and could use both servings of fats. She would still have three servings of vegetables left so she could actually make this into an omelet if this idea appealed to her. Perhaps spinach, white mushrooms, peppers mixed in with the eggs and olives would be a nice option. As you may be able to tell, your lean and green meal is meant to be somewhat substantial. It will definitely be your largest meal of the day.
But to answer the question posed, yes you can have olives on Medifast when you eat your lean and green meal and they will count as one of the two healthy fats that are allowed with this meal. Olives are one of those foods like nuts that people suspect won't be allowed on the diet. But many are pleasantly surprised when they find out that they in fact are.



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If I Am Unable To Work Out, Can I Still Lose Weight On Nutrisystem?

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I sometimes hear from people who don't intend to do any exercise on the Nutrisystem diet but who are still hoping to lose a reasonable amount of weight. And sometimes, it is not because these individuals don't want to exercise, it is because they have some limitations that prevents this type of physical activity.
I heard from someone who said: "last month, I severely broke my leg. I am going to be in a cast for a couple of months, so exercise is out of the question. I've needed to lose about twenty pounds for quite some time, but ever since I've been even more inactive because of my leg, I've put on even more weight. I'm interested in starting Nutrisystem. But I am worried that I won't be successful since I can't work out. Is this a realistic worry? Can you lose weight on Nutrisystem without exercise?" I will answer this question below.
Although I do know of people who have had a good deal of success on this diet without exercise, I don't want to rely on this in my answer. Instead, I want to take a look at some numbers in order to prove my point. Most people know that saving 3,500 calories over a period of time means that you will lose one pound. And yes, this calculation is without taking in any exercise into account.
So, if you consider that with Nutrisystem, you average around 1,200 calories per day, you can use this to get an estimate as to how many calories you might be saving. First though, you'd need a rough estimate of how many calories you take in when you are not dieting. This is a question that I could not answer, but I can take a guess. To make this easy, I will use a figure from a 2003 USDA (United States Department Of Agriculture) survey which indicated that the average person consumes about 2,700 calories per day.
Since this figure is an average that includes both men and women, I'll lower it a little bit since there was a woman in question. I'll use a figure of 2,300 pounds per day which is conservative. So, if you are taking in an average of around 1,200 calories on the diet, that saves you about 1,100 calories per day. But to make these calculations easy (and to give you a little wiggle room,) let's round that to 1,000 calories per day saved.
Over the course of a week, that's a savings of 7,000 calories or about two pounds. A weekly two pounds weight loss is the equivalent of about eight pounds per month, or about 96 pounds per year. In this case, a twenty pound weight loss would not be at all unreasonable at that rate. And once her leg healed, she could always add in some light exercise. Even walking would help. Remember that any additional calories that you burn with even light exercise will count toward the calorie deficit that contributes to weight loss.
Of course, common sense tells you that results vary depending on the person and the compliance, but I think that it is possible to get decent results on Nutrisystem if you can't exercise, although common sense would tell you that exercise might mean quicker results.


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Are Populations Eating to Live or Living to Eat?

Posted by Unknown On Tuesday, April 16, 2013 0 comments

Why do we constantly think about food? The many and varied fast food outlets available, may easily give you an appetite and the encouragement to walk in for a dose of fatty junk food! However, instead of putting on more weight, what about spending time in your own kitchen cooking a wholesome healthy nutritious meal and saving money?
Eating food- to-go on a regular basis is a habit for many people. It is a wonderful and convenient means of getting added weight in a hurry. This for a large number of people, one of the reasons to be overweight and rid about self-pride and caring how they look to others!
Fast food is for them a tasty escape into pleasurable self-indulgence. One excuse is that time is precious and they are in a hurry keeping up today's fast lifestyle and little time to relax. Looking at the size of some "fast-fooders" rushing anywhere is impossible.
Loneliness and low self-esteem is often one of the reasons for eating chips, cakes and chocolates. It is a boost for the morale and offers a great feeling of companionship and sharing with all the other burger cravers.
Alone and craving company, builds a need for compensation for the feeling of isolation when boxed in four walls without a soul to talk to. Sugary food, chocolates, cakes and the biggest burger make up for it; for a short time!
Munching like this with regularity instead of only an occasional binge adds on many unwanted pounds to your figure. Nevertheless, why worry when you have so much company in your nearest fast food joint! It is so easy to put on the weight, but it is very difficult to lose.
Another factor is stress related food- craving. When stressed out the need for relief often motivates people to the fridge to grab whatever they can find; any time of the day or night. The habit is easy to get into and more convenient than only eating at regular mealtimes.
It is also a recognised fact that snacking before a meal increases your appetite rather than suppressing it.
Genetics also play a role in some people's fat content. If your ancestors were on the large size, then automatically so will you have the tendency to become big.
With so much of the population waddling about protruding large quantities of excess fat, the question does arise as to whether this is the latest fashion for men and women. The skinny 'twiggy' look is definitely out. So, is the gross 'fatty' look the "in thing"?
Being overweight or obese does increase chronic disease risk. Diabetes, heart disease and forms of cancer are among the most common, together with shortened life expectancy.
The occasional chocolate or slice of cake will not do you any harm; just do not make it daily eating. Vegetables, fruit, health bread, nuts and raisins in your daily diet can be just as enjoyable as rushing to buy junk food, don't you think?
My name is Gloria Herman and one of my favourite pastimes is writing articles. I use a variety of subjects as my topics. Being well travelled has enabled me to see many sides of life. Meeting interesting people has given me an insight into their ways of life and the various conditions under which they live. Life is one big collection of inspiration.



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