Saturday, December 29, 2012

We Can Choose The Healthy Desserts For Our Kids

Nobody can deny the fact that the best part of a meal comes at its very end with a delicious and sumptuous dessert. You may remember sitting at a dinner table at your home or your favorite restaurant waiting for this special part to arrive.

In spite of this, most of the parents don't allow their children to indulge in their favorite desserts. There is nothing wrong in that as parents are highly concerned about the health of their kids these days.

What makes things even worse is the fact that most of the dessert available these days are full of useless calories and are said to be one of the main reasons responsible for the increasing obesity rates among children. It's quite difficult to find healthy dessert recipes for kids, which they can actually love. This may be the reason why so many parents want their kids to skip this part of the meal instead of serving them with useless sugary calories.


So, what are the most important requirements that you need to keep in mind before preparing healthy dessert recipes for kids? The first thing is that these are should be quick and easy dessert recipes.

Secondly, these recipes should be prepared with only natural and wholesome ingredients, to provide maximum nutritional value to children. No doubt, preparing dessert recipes, especially for kids, is one of the most time consuming tasks for anyone; therefore, you should only select quick and easy dessert recipes that can be prepared within minutes.


As everyone knows kids are really fond of desserts, so you cannot stop them every time from having desserts. The real problem arises when kids start buying desserts from market places that are full of artificial colors and flavors. These artificial ingredients play havoc with your child's health.

Apart from the temporary diseases, these ingredients have serious, long-term consequences such as various types of cancers etc. Therefore, the effective solution is not to stop your children altogether from having desserts, but you should make efforts to replace their binge eating habits with healthy dessert recipes for kids.

One thing that kids really like in their desserts is variety. In fact, this is one of the main reasons why they like to have their desserts in restaurants or any dessert shop in the market place. Always remember, if you have decided to include healthy dessert recipes for kids in their meals, learn to prepare several quick and easy dessert recipes for kids.

Here, you need to be creative at the time of preparing these recipes; you can use your own ingredients or you can try to alter your style of preparation for these recipes and so on and so forth. Actually, there are lots of experimentation that you can do while preparing healthy dessert for kids.

Friday, December 21, 2012

Get Away From Fast Food Keep Healthy

Fast food restaurants are popular because they serve tasty convenient foods for a reasonable price. Many people visit these restaurants frequently to eat their main meals. They don't realize that these type of food items are bad for health.
Here are some reasons why fast food is bad for your health.


Fast food contain more calories.

Majority of junk foods are loaded with calories. Large portion size and high fat content are the main reasons for the high energy content.

An average person need to consume about 400-600 calories in a mealtime. The calorie content of many items are far more than that level. For example; KFC chicken pot pie have 790 calories. If you eat that and drink 300ml of Pepsi, which contain 170 calories, you will have a total of 960 calories. A McDonald's Big Xtra Hamburger with cheese have 810 calories. A Burger King's Club Chicken Sandwich is loaded with700 calories.

Think that if you eat 220 more calories a day, you will gain one pound of extra fat in your body in two weeks time. That means, 24 pounds in one year. That is a lot of weight gain. So, don't visit those restaurants more than once a week.

Fast food contain more unhealthy fat.

Most of the convenient foods contain high levels of saturated fat. This type of fat is mostly derived from animal products such as meat, eggs and butter. Palm oil and coconut oil also contain significant amounts of saturated fat. Eating too much saturated fat can increase bad cholesterol level in the blood. Elevated levels of cholesterol is the main cause of heart attack, stroke and peripheral vascular diseases.

Another type of fat presents in these food is called trans fat, which is the worst type of fat. We do not need to eat trans fat, even in tiny amounts. Consumption of trans fat is linked to elevated levels of bad cholesterol (LDL) in the blood. In addition, it can lower the amount of good cholesterol (HDL) in you body.

Fast foods are high in sodium.

Sodium plays several important roles in our body. We need to consume certain amount of sodium everyday. However, taking too much salt is bad for the body. It can cause high blood pressure, obesity, and osteoporosis. In addition, experts believed that over-consumption of salt is linked to increased risk of developing bowl cancer.

An average adult need to consume about 1200mg sodium per day. Many of the convenient foods contain far more than that amount. For example; KFC double down sandwich contain 1880 mg of sodium. Similarly, McDonald's Angus bacon and cheese contain 2070 mg of sodium. Imagine you eat one of these items for your one meal time. then what are you going to eat for the rest of the day?

Eating too much fast food is bad for your health because they contain more calories, more unhealthy fay, and more salt. They can lead to obesity, high blood pressure, and coronary heart diseases.

Friday, December 14, 2012

Here Are Some Quick And Healthy Lunch Ideas

Whether you work full time or are home with other children, you may find yourself grabbing for a quick lunch. You know that nutrition is important for the baby, but you can't seem to find the time to make a healthy lunch. Fortunately, a healthy lunch can be made in a short amount of time.

Leftovers from dinner can make a quick and healthy lunch the next day. It just takes a minute to set aside a portion in a container and stick it in the refrigerator. In the morning, you just have to grab the container on your way out the door. It can be easily reheated at work for a quick and nutritious lunch.

You can use some leftovers to make a healthy lunch. Leftover chicken, turkey or ham can be cut up and added to a salad for lunch the next day. Leftover turkey makes a great sandwich on whole wheat bread. You can always make the salad or sandwich before you go to bed to save you some much needed time in the morning.


Lunch meat is a stand by for many people. However, this is not the healthiest choice when you are pregnant. Lunch meat can harbor listeria, which is a bacteria that is dangerous for pregnant women. Limit your consumption of lunch meat. If you do eat it once in a while, be sure it is very fresh.

Shop at your local health food store for fast lunch ideas. You can find some ready to eat soups in a healthier version than what you might find in the grocery store. Try to include as many food groups as possible in your lunch. Choose whole grains, protein, calcium and fruits and vegetables. Drink milk or water rather than sugary drinks, iced tea or sodas.

If you are working all day, you will need to pack more food. During pregnancy you will feel hungry faster and will need snacks throughout the day. Pack a variety of quick and healthy snacks with your lunch to help ensure good nutrition. Some ideas for healthy snacks include fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, yogurt, string cheese, granola and trail mix. You can wash and cut vegetables over the weekend and store them in the refrigerator. You can pack granola or trail mix in individual baggies for the week as well. This will save you time in the mornings.

Friday, December 7, 2012

There Are Some Quick Kid's Breakfast Recipes

Preparing healthy breakfast meals for children is simpler than most people think. Over the last 20 years, convenience breakfast foods like super sweet cereal and Pop Tarts have contributed to the obesity crisis in children. Foods like these are laden with high fructose corn syrup, preservatives and empty calories. While they are easy to prepare, there are quick kid's breakfast recipes, which are a much healthier option.


Oatmeal

Steel cut oatmeal is a quick healthy breakfast that can be prepared in bulk and last for a dozen meals.

In a slow cooker combine 2 cups steel cut oats, 2 cups dried cranberries, 2 cups dried figs, 8 cups of water and 1 cup of half and half. Cover the slow cooker and cook for 9 hours or overnight on the low heat setting. Let the oatmeal cool in the slow cooker. Take small plastic containers and measure out 1 and ½ cups of the oatmeal into each container. Store in the refrigerator, every time you want to serve a quick healthy breakfast for kids, take a container; add a tablespoon of milk and microwave to reheat for 1 minute.

Oatmeal is filling and it gives children vital nutrients they need to get through a school day.


Yogurt and Granola

Organic granola, which has not been sweetened with sugar or high fructose corn syrup, mixed with fat free Greek yogurt is a healthy and nutritious option for a child's breakfast. To make the yogurt more appealing, try layering yogurt and granola with fruit in a large glass. Greek yogurt will give your children their daily needed dose of calcium. Dairy also helps maintain energy and sharpen focus.

Taco

Eggs are an excellent start to any morning. They are filled with protein and essential nutrients. Scramble eggs with a variety of veggies; add some low fat cheese to bind the eggs and vegetables together. Heat a wheat tortilla, and spoon the egg and vegetable mixture into the tortilla. Top with salsa, fold and serve. You have a quick health breakfast for your child, which took less than five minutes to prepare and has less than 200 calories per serving.

Totally Bananas

Bananas are rich in potassium and assist with muscle recovery. A quick healthy breakfast your kids will love is a banana and peanut butter sandwich. Store bought peanut butter such as Jif and Skippy are loaded with preservatives, chemicals and sweeteners. Instead, opt for organic peanut butter. Spread 1 tablespoon on a whole wheat English muffin. Top with sliced banana. This breakfast takes less than 5 minutes to prepare, and comes in at about 300 calories each serving.

Cream of Wheat

For children who may not enjoy the texture of oatmeal, cream of wheat may be an option. This hot cereal has a creamier texture than oatmeal and mixes well with fruit. Try making a cup of cream of wheat and adding in a splash of milk, organic honey and fresh fruit for a nutritious and vitamin-rich start to the day. There are many other hot cereals on the market, such as Cream of Rice, Oat Bran and Muesli. Buy a swathe of different options and see which ones your children enjoy. Most of these kinds of cereals are a vegan quick breakfast for kids.

When Healthy is Not Healthy

All too often, parents have been lulled into the belief that sending their kids off with a glass of juice in the morning is healthy. However, store bought juices are shot full of shelf stabilizing preservatives and sugars to increase the sweetness of the product. A typical 4-ounce serving of juice has over 150 calories. Opt out of juice in the morning and think about making your children a smoothie. Smoothie can be prepared with unsweetened almond milk, which has about 25 calories per cup. Mix in frozen blueberries and strawberries and a scoop of whey protein powder to give your children an excellent low calorie brain booster to start their day.

Store bought muffins and breakfast breads also come packed with calories and fat. An average store bought blueberry muffin has more calories than two Snickers bars. These sugary baked goods are a terrible start to the morning. While the sugar will initially boost your child, a few hours later they will suffer the brain fog associated with a sugar crash. If you choose to serve items like this, invest in a good sugar free cookbook and learn how you can bake muffins that are sweetened with Stevia, cane juice or honey instead of sugar and high fructose corn syrup.

There are many options for parents worried that their children are not eating a nutritious breakfast. Breakfast kicks the day off right, and helps keep children focused. Make sure your kids are getting important vitamins and minerals in every breakfast meal.

Saturday, December 1, 2012

Great Ideas For Healthy Dinner

It is no longer a difficult choice these days to choose to prepare a healthy dinner meal for you and your family. Even if you are on a busy schedule and you find yourself with very little time to cook, there are many meals that you can create in less than twenty minutes. It makes no difference whether you are looking for a budget healthy recipe or speedy healthy recipe for dinner, here you will discover some of the best ideas.

First of all, before you begin to prepare a healthy dinner, you must have a thorough understanding of what constitutes a healthy meal. In order to have a well balanced meal, you must include whole grains, vegetables and protein. A good rule of thumb is to try to get at least five servings of fruits and vegetables each and every day. This should prove to not be a difficult task as you can include at least two to three portions of vegetables in one meal.

It is also important to have protein in your meal, but it is also a good idea to limit the amount that you eat. A lot of people end up eating much more protein in their diet than what is necessary. You should try to limit the amount of red meat that you consume to a couple of times a week. There are alternatives to meat that contain protein such as eggs and they can make you a great healthy meal.


One of my favorite speedy health recipes for healthy cooking is that of a three bean salad. This is very popular during the summer months, but it can also be used throughout the rest of the year. It is very simple to prepare as you simply mix up all of your favorite salad ingredients in a large bowl and then you add a can of mixed beans . There are three different cans of beans that will give you a little variety to choose from. Make sure that you do not use baked beans. You need to focus on healthy beans . The great thing about this recipe is that it is very easy to make and it will last you a few days.

Another healthy recipe that will take you less than half an hour to prepare is homemade burgers. The best healthy choice to use is a good lean meat and then you can add some peppers and tomatoes and have yourself a flavorful healthy burger. They are simple to prepare as you mix up all of your ingredients and shape them into a burger. Depending on how thick you make them, they should cook in about fifteen minutes.

There are also healthy recipes that you can try if you find yourself on a tight budget. One of the ideal meals for this is an omelet. The best thing about this is that you can purchase your eggs in bulk and then add different ingredients which will make them healthier for your body. You can use omelets in combinations with other foods such as a side salad.

Lasagna is another budget conscience recipe that is always a family favorite. It is easy to make as you can buy pre-packaged sauces. If you want to save more money, you can cook it in bulk and have the leftovers the next day or you can freeze it and have it later in the month. As with the omelet, you can also serve the lasagna with a side salad to make it a more healthy meal.

Soup is also an excellent choice for a healthy and hearty meal that you can cook on a budget. The best thing about soup is that you can add all of your favorite vegetables along with a bit of onion and garlic to give it a great fuller flavor. You can add some stock to it and serve it with some whole grain rolls and this makes a perfect combination for a healthy meal.

Friday, November 23, 2012

This French Bread Recipe Is Quite Unique

This was some of the best French bread that I have EVER had! It is good hot, cold, with dips, as toast, and as french toast. My husband could not stop raving about how great this bread was. I will no longer buy french bread at the store, because this bread is just that good.


Ingredients:
  • 2 1/4 cup warm water
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 1 tablespoon yeast
  • 1 tablespoon salt
  • 2 tablespoon oil
  • 5 1/2 - 6 cups flour
Directions:

1. Dissolve sugar and yeast in the warm water. Let this proof—or sit for a few minutes until it bubbles.

2. Add the salt, oil and 3 cups of flour and beat well. Add in 2 1/2 -3 more cups of flour. The dough should clean off the sides of the bowl and not be too sticky – but be careful not to add too much flour. Knead for a few minutes with your mixer.

3. Leave the dough in the mixer to rest for 10 minutes and then stir it down (turn on your mixer for 10 seconds) and then allow to rest another 10 minutes. Repeat for a total of 5 times.

4. Turn dough onto a floured surface and divide into two equal parts. Roll each part into a 9×13 rectangle. Roll dough up, starting from long edge of loaf to seal. Arrange seam side down on large baking sheet that’s been sprinkled with corn meal, allowing room for both loaves. Repeat with second part of dough.

5. With a sharp knife, cut 3 gashes at an angle on the top of each. Cover lightly; allow to rise 30 minutes. Brush entire surface with egg wash (one egg beaten slightly with 1 Tbsp of water). Bake for 30 minutes at 375 degrees.

Saturday, November 10, 2012

There Is An Easy Recipe For Famous Indian Sweet Bread

Even if you have not travelled to India, you can still serve Indian food to your family. Most people think of Indian food as being very spicy, such as in spicy curry. Many people are not aware of how important bread is to an Indian meal. The traditional name for fried bread in India is Puri, and they serve it with most meals that they prepare. There are many different types of bread that they prepare, and some breads are stuffed with sauces or vegetables. Other breads are more sweet to be served in the morning or as a desert.


One type of bread that is often prepared for breakfast or for desert is the Indian Sweet Bread. If you visit India, you can purchase this bread in any sweet shop that you visit. You more than likely have these simple ingredients in your kitchen, so this bread is not expensive to make. In this economy, anything that helps save money is a huge plus. Kids, as well as adults, love this bread with breakfast or after lunch or dinner. Reheating the leftover bread in your oven or microwave is very easy to do and it will taste just as it did when you first prepared it.

You can find many recipes for Indian bread online or in cookbooks. This Indian Sweet Bread recipe is very easy to make, and does not take very long. It could easily be made in the morning for your family as something different to have for breakfast, or have it as a desert after dinner and surprise your family with your Indian food. You can add other items to the bread, if you prefer, such as fruit or even icing. Many Indian people eat this bread plain as it is because it is already very sweet.


Ingredients:
  • 2 cups of all purpose flour
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ cup white sugar
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
Method:

Put flour and salt into a bowl and stir together. Add enough water until a soft dough forms.

Lightly flour a surface and place the dough onto it. Knead the dough briefly. Divide the dough into golfball sized pieces, and then cover the pieces with plastic wrap or a damp cloth.

Pick up one ball of dough and roll it out until it is very thin. Sprinkle the dough very lightly with sugar. Fold the dough into a small square, and then roll it out again until it is thin.

Heat up a grddle that is lightly oiled over medium heat. Place the rolled dough onto the pan. Cook it for approximately one minute on each side until golden brown. Repeat this process until all dough balls have been rolled and cooked on the griddle.

Sunday, October 28, 2012

Tips For A Healthy And Nourishing Breakfast

That time of the day in which everybody stresses about and is supposedly the "great start" to your day. There is no denying it, and as you grow older, breakfast tends to become more and more of a dilemma. How can you juggle your studies while having ample time to eat an energized breakfast?

Is it really that hard? Do you have to be enabled with super powers? Super-juggling-never- miss-breakfast-in-your-lifetime kind of powers? Am I making sense to anyone out there? On a serious note, here is a list of points I have compiled to help you get on the road to a healthy and nourishing breakfast:


1. Consume a protein filled meal

This entails such foods as eggs, cheese, fish, meats, and lentils. This might sound strange, but I have a memory of my dad eating some fish for breakfast. It was leftovers to be precise, and he rolled it up in some pita bread with a bowl of salad. Brain food at its best. What's more, he actually felt quite geared up and ready to take on the day with open arms. Also, it's known to reduce calorie levels and boosts one's energy.

2. Get your instant sugar fix

By that, I do NOT mean gorging on donuts like our dear friend Homer Simpson, or settling for candies and chocolate bars like a scene from "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory". I mean the God-given fruits such as apples, dates, and raisins. Apples are known to assist in bone density. In fact, eating an apple with its skin keeps the nutrients intact, such as fiber and antioxidants.

3. Incorporating bran within your diet

Instead of opting for the "white" breads, why not go for some whole wheat/ bran? I remember constantly being reminded of its benefits from friends, family, etc., and decided to see what all the fuss was about. The switch from white to brown bread was made, and I never looked back since. Eating some whole wheat bread, or cereal lowers your carbohydrates and promotes clearer skin. One cereal that really comes to mind is Raisin Bran. Wholesome, nutritious, and great for an active mind.

4. Adding a cool glass of milk

I may sound biased, but I try to add milk with whatever breakfast I may be having. From pouring it onto cereal to drinking it with an egg/ cheese sandwich, milk is key to maintaining a healthy blood pressure and is involved in generating energy. To be frank, I am shocked with people who have energy drinks and sodas for breakfast. I actually feel like I would have killed a brain cell or two if I ever did such a thing.

5. On-the-go dried Fruit & Nut mix

Why fill yourself up with chips that are high in fat and cholesterol, and are just extremely unhealthy? Go for dried fruits such as dried apricot, banana, apple, and pineapple. Likewise, if you're not allergic, why not try out highly fortified nuts such as walnuts, almonds, and peanuts. Walnuts are ideal against heart problems and decrease the risk of certain cancers, such as breast and prostate cancer. Dried fruits contain a high amount of fiber, vitamin E, and vitamin A. With all these options, you never have to feed that empty belly with junk food again!

In short, one should place his/ her health as one of the top priorities in life. Don't fill your stomach with "cheat" foods, as I call them; cheating our system with chips, sodas, candy bars. They get you high, and bring you down almost instantly. It doesn't do a body good. Try not to skip breakfast as it keeps you going for the rest of the day! Say NO to junk food with a big, wide grin on your face. Breakfast is a meal that can't be compromised so take the safe way out and live well. In the end, it is all worth it as you can breathe a sigh of relief instead of a cry for help.

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

There Are 7 Healthy Snacks For Weight Lose

"Snacking" and "unhealthy eating" may seem to be synonymous, but they don't have to be. If you snack on healthy foods, you can actually speed up your weight-loss efforts and get long-lasting results. Many diets fail because people get hungry between meals, particularly between lunch and dinner, and turn to unhealthy foods as snacks. However, eating healthy snacks can help keep your metabolism running at maximum efficiency.

Here are 7 great choices for healthy snacks that won't expand your waistline:


1. Nuts

The monounsaturated fats in nuts can reduce your levels of bad (LDL) cholesterol and your overall cholesterol, while preventing plaque from building up in your arteries. They also keep you feeling full for longer because of their high protein content.

2. Sunflower Seeds

Sunflower seeds and nuts share many of the same nutrients. Be aware, however, that sunflower seeds often have salt added to them, which can make them a less-than-healthy snacking choice. If sunflower seeds are your healthy snack of choice, make sure they're labeled "salt-free," "low salt," or "no salt added."

3. Popcorn

Popcorn has lots of good fiber and is low in calories - as long as it isn't covered with salt and butter, that is. Popping popcorn in an air popper is the healthiest way to do it. If you pop it on a stove, use a type of oil with monounsaturated fats, such as olive oil or canola oil.

4. Soy Crisps

Soy crisps might be described as the lovechild of a bag of nacho-cheese chips and a bowl of edamame. They're low in fat, high in fiber, and a good source of healthy soy protein.

The International Journal of Obesity recently conducted a study that concluded that soy protein doesn't just contribute to the weight-loss process - it also helps to ensure that you're losing fat, not muscle.

5. Peanut Butter

Peanut butter and other nut butters are a delicious and fun way to get your protein, which helps you feel full between meals. It tastes great all by itself, on crackers, in a smoothie, or with fruit. (There's actually a plate of apple slices and almond butter in front of me as I'm writing this - a personal favorite of mine.)

6. Fruit Smoothies

With enough healthy, filling ingredients, fruit smoothies can become more than a snack - they can act as a healthy lunch all by themselves. Depending on what you put in them, they can have as many as 600 calories, the same amount found in a healthy meal, and you'll feel full for a long time after having one. (Of course, fruit smoothies can make great snacks, too.)

You can make a homemade fruit smoothie out of your favorite fruit, some yogurt, and some peanut butter, or you can order one from a cafe or juice bar. When ordering, add protein to your smoothie by asking for a shot of soy protein or whey powder.

Keep in mind, though, that most fruit smoothies are high in fructose (the natural sugar in all fruits), and if you don't burn off that sugar, your body will store it as more fat.

7. Gum

If the answer you get when you ask yourself the question "Am I really hungry right now?" is "No" or "I'm not sure," try chewing gum instead of having a snack, even one of the snacks on this list.

According to studies, when you chew gum, the up-and-down motion of your jaws burns about 11 calories an hour. That may seem insignificant, but if you were to spend an hour every day chewing gum, you'd lose about an extra pound in a year - and that's not counting the calories you'd save by not eating snacks!

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

The Healthy Whole Wheat Nut Butter Bread Recipe

I am always on the search for a good banana bread recipe. I was looking for one that was whole grain, low sugar and high protein, so I could feel good about giving it to my kids on a school day. I found the original recipe here. But I tweaked it a bit to fit my food preference.


Whole Wheat Nut Butter Bread
  • 1 cup King Arthur White Whole Wheat Flour
  • 1 cup quick cooking oats
  • 1/2 c brown sugar
  • 1/4 c ground flax seed
  • 1Tbs baking powder
  • 1 1/4 cup unsweetened Coconut milk ( I prefer So Delicious, but you can use regular milk if you prefer)
  • 1/3 cup soy nut butter (I just had some on hand, next time I will use PB)
  • 1 Egg
  • 2 large very ripe bananas
  • 1 tsp vanilla
Blend all the ingredients in a blender, or with a hand mixer. This is key to get all the ingredients smooth.

Pour wet mixture on top of dry mixture and stir with a spatula until well mixed.

Pour in a bread pan and bake for 50-60 min at 350.

After baking gently pop out of pan and while hot wrap in foil. Let it cool like this and you will have moist delicious banana bread. I let mine cool about 2 hours. Keep it wrapped in foil to keep moist.

Monday, August 6, 2012

There Is So Much Healthy Food For The Fatter To Lose Weight

If you've ever been on a diet, you know the awful feelings of deprivation and hunger that come over you as you cut back on the amount of foods you eat each day. Feeling this way for too many days in a row can almost guarantee that you will give up on your efforts, and stop dieting altogether. Even worse, it may cause you to fall into emotional binge eating and end up gaining more weight. So, the key to any successful weight loss effort is to cut calories by consuming foods that curb hunger and keep you satisfied. And if those healthy food is highly nutritious and delicious, you can almost guarantee a successful outcome.

Protein and fiber are the best types of nutrients to help you feel full and keep you eliminating regularly. Elimination is key, as constipation leads to excess of toxins, which your body wraps in fat molecules, making it a lot harder to lose the weight.
Most of us assume that the best protein comes from animal sources, like chicken, fish and some lean meats.


1. Vegetable Soups

Water is one of the best appetite suppressors there is. Have a glass of water when you’re hungry, and the hunger will go away for awhile. Soups can help you control or suppress your appetite even longer and provide a wonderful opportunity to add nutritious ingredients like whole grains and vegetables to your daily routine. Studies have shown that people who consume two portions of low-calorie soup every day lose up to 50 percent more weight than those who consume the same calories through other means.

2. Quinoa

Another ancient American grain, Quinoa was a staple in the diet of the native peoples of Central and South America. Quinoa is considered a complete protein (i.e. includes all essential amino-acids), it’s a great source of fiber, calcium and other nutrients, and it is very easy to digest.

3. Whole Grain Oats

Whole grain oats are very high in fiber and very low on the glycemic index, which means that they take longer to digest, helping you feel fuller, longer. It is important to note here that the oats must be consumed in their whole grain form (not the sugary, instant formula available in supermarket isles), and without all the added stuff that could turn it into a sugary snack instead of a healthy meal. Dress it up with cinnamon, walnuts or pine nuts, which can help curb your appetite even further.

4. Apples

This fruit is relatively low in sugar, and it will make you feel full for a long time. Apples are great at suppressing your appetite, because they contain a lot of a bulky type of fiber. This fiber has the ability to expand in your stomach, making you feel full and turning off your appetite longer than other fruits, and far longer than other processed snacks!

Sunday, August 5, 2012

How To Keep A Healthy Lifestyle

How does one maintain a healthy lifestyle? At first glance, the question seems simple enough. But try asking up to 20 persons that question, and chances are the answers you'll get will depend on who you ask, especially what part of the world the person comes from.
Sure, everybody wants to enjoy good health. But good health means different things to different persons. Some think that good health simply means the absence of illness. But others believe it goes deeper than that. So really, only you can say what good health means to you based on where you live and your peculiar circumstances in life.
Nevertheless, much of what will guarantee you a healthy lifestyle begins with you. Yes, someone once said that a healthy lifestyle begins even before a person is born—right from conception. There's some merit in that assertion too.
After all, health experts identify environment, lifestyle, and GENETICS as the three pillars on which our health rests. So we cannot totally rule out the impact that hereditary factors (genetics) can play in the health status of an individual.
But whereas the last factor on that list is beyond your control, there is a lot you can do to maintain a healthy, prosperous lifestyle by controlling the other two factors—your environment and your lifestyle. In fact even in the case of inherited ailments, research has shown that with sensible changes in lifestyle and the environment, a lot can be done to manage certain inherited diseases like diabetics, asthma, and the like.
You may consider joining a fitness group to keep you motivated and consistent. And as much as possible, try remove or reduce stressful situations from your life. Stress is a great enemy of good health.
In deed, it is only when we are healthy that we feel it's good to be alive. Only then can we carry on with daily activities. But good health will not happen by chance. You'll have to work to achieve it and maintain it. But you'll agree that any effort made to keep you healthy is well worth it.

Sunday, July 29, 2012

Looking For A Healthy Diet for Older People

A recent query made me realise that many people don’t know what types of food older people should be eating and if they should take supplements or not.
I have previously written two DietDoc topics on Diets for older people - physiological problems associated with ageing and Nutrition and the elderly - coping with eating problems, which may help readers to understand what types of changes occur when we get older and how certain eating problems of old age can be circumvented.
Healthy seniors
It stands to reason that any person, no matter how young or old he or she may be, who suffers from any one of the major illnesses (diabetes, obesity, kidney or heart disease, etc), will have to use a specific diet prescription to treat the condition. Such individual diet prescriptions should preferably be worked out and applied under the guidance of a registered dietician, particularly if the patient suffers from multiple conditions (e.g. diabetes and hypertension and kidney disease).
Nowadays there are, however, many older people, who are well and active for their age and do not have any of the major diseases. To answer the question as to what such individuals should eat, the Dietary Guidelines for Americans - Key Recommendations for Older Adults (US Dept of Agriculture, 2010), are a good place to start.
Calculating energy requirements
Mahan and her co-editors (2011) suggest that the Daily Recommended Intakes (DRIs) for energy for adults can be used to calculate the energy requirement of older persons, provided an adjustment is made for increasing age.
Example:
The DRI for energy for adults aged 18 years is 12 830 kJ/day (3 067 kcal/day) for men and 10 060 kJ/day (2 403 kcal/day) for women.
To compensate for the reduced energy requirement due to ageing, these authors suggest that we subtract 42 kJ/day (10 kcal/day) for men and 29 kJ/day (7 kcal/day) for women for each year of age older than 19 years.
If the person in question is a man of 80 years (i.e. 80-19 = 61 years x 42 kJ = 2 562 kJ/day), then his approximate energy requirement would be 12 830 minus 2 562 = 10 268 kJ/day (2 452 kcal/day).
If the person in question is a woman aged 82 years (i.e. 82-19 = 63 years x 29 kJ = 1 827 kJ/day), then her approximate energy requirements would be 10 060 minus 1 827 = 8 233 kJ/day (1 967 kcal/day).
In other words, a healthy man aged 80 years would require about 2 500 kJ less energy every day than when he was 19 years old.
Probiotics
The use of probiotics (“good or beneficial microorganisms”) can benefit people of all ages, including older people. Try using Bifidoforte or Bifidoflora (which contain Bifidobacteria), which are recommended specifically for the treatment of disorders of the colon (large intestine), or Intestiflora (which contains Lactobacilli and Bifidobacteria), to restore the function of the intestinal flora after antibiotic treatments. You should be able to purchase these probiotics at health shops.
Anyone over the age of 65 years, not suffering from a major disease, can apply these recommendations to ensure balanced nutrition and good health. Older persons who do have a major condition such as heart disease, hypertension or diabetes, should consult a registered dietitian for an individual diet prescription.

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Treat The Heart Disease By The Healthy Diet

Different people should have different healthy diet.We should make a healthy diet plan for the people with different illness.Heart disease are highly common among people especially those that happen to be above 40. Heart disease is a leading reason for death in the states.
Some useful advice for reducing heart disease risk includes eating a comprehensive diet that includes less saturated fats from red meats, more fresh fruit and veggies, more fish, less sugar, more fiber and for some people, a lesser number of total calories. Then you can certainly make your heart and the rest of your cardiovascular system even healthier by adding more of these foods:
• Olive Oil
• Oats
• Apples
• Almonds
• Red wine
• Whole Grains
• Green leafy vegetables
• Tomatoes
• Soy
• Salmon
From asparagus to sweet potatoes to the robust cabernet -- every mouthful of heart-healthy foods delivers a strong dose of phytonutrients that prevent and repair damage to cells. That's the essence of preventing heart disease.
Indeed, fresh produce give the cornerstone for a heart-healthy diet for the reason that help get rid of free radicals inside the bloodstream, protecting veins. Food in its organic form is regarded as the best. The less processed the better.
The best way to decrease saturated and trans fats in your diet is to restrict the amount of solid fats - butter, margarine and shortening - you add to food when cooking and serving. You can also minimize the quantity of saturated fat in your diet by lowering fat off your meat or choosing lean meats with less than 10 percent fat.
Whole grains, beans and legumes, nuts, fatty fish, and teas are equally important -- offering all kinds of complex heart-protective phytonutrients. To keep the heart healthy, one should
• Have 8-10% of the day's total calories from saturated fat.
• have 30 percent or less of the day's total calories from fat.
• Consume less than 300 milligrams of dietary cholesterol a day.
• Limit sodium intake to 2400 milligrams a day.
As for the Heart disease and the other disease,we should not only eating the pills but also eating healthy food.So we should make a plan for the healthy diet.

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Doing Household Chores Can Help You Burn Some Calories

Doing Household Chores
You know that exercise is an important part of any healthy diet plan, but some days it can be hard to work in your workout time when you have so much to do around your home. Here’s some good news: studies show that with a little extra effort, your chores can help you burn some calories.
  
And losing weight is all about the calories. So why not burn them up while keeping your house clean? Here are some calorie-burning household chores and extra tips to help you use them.
  
If you don’t want to hit the gym this weekend, stay home and do some chores instead. Doing household chores regularly can help you stay in shape while keeping your house neat and clean.
  
There are a lot of procedures that can be done to your body to lose weight. There are also different pills and medicines that could help in losing weight but these things cost money. These procedures can be really expensive so looking for alternatives will be a good idea. Looking free ways to lose weight is even better than looking for cheaper ways. This way you will be losing weight without paying for anything. One way to do it would be to do your household chores but how to lose weight doing household chores?

A Little Extra Effort Can Help You Lose Weight
  
When you do the following chores, you need to make them last a little longer while also maintaining an increased intensity of pace in order to lose weight. In other words, to burn calories while doing your chores, you have to do them with an eye for effort (focus on your muscles), pace (do them a bit more quickly) and duration (for a longer period of time). Putting on headphones or a CD player and blasting your favorite music will energize you and make the activities a lot more enjoyable.
  
The following estimates of calories burned per chore are based on a person who weighs 150 pounds doing an activity at an increased intensity for 30 minutes. As with any part of your healthy weight loss program, results will vary from person to person.
  
You don't have to go to the gym, jog or play sports to burn calories. You have plenty of opportunities just doing housework and yard chores.
  
You probably already know if you want to lose weight how you have to burn more calories each week than you eat. This can be done by a variety of activities, such as working out at the gym, bicycling, swimming, and playing sports, etc.
  
Unfortunately, buying expensive exercise equipment or investing money in a gym membership isn’t feasible for everyone. What’s more, some people feel they're are too busy to find time for a work out. If you don’t have the time or money to invest in fitness, it’s easy to excuse yourself from exercising.
  
True, it helps to have a planned activity. But just by working hard in the house and yard you can burn about as many calories as walking on a treadmill for the same amount of time. Yes, all those mundane household chores you do at home daily count in burning a significant amount of calories.
  
Washing the car. A nice activity that gets you outside for some good Vitamin D from the sun, washing the car can burn 153 calories to help you reach your weight loss goals. Again, your whole body is used as you crouch down to get the tires and stretch fully over the top of the car and the hood. This activity will definitely take you 30 minutes if not more and you will feel the burn by the end of it if you do it vigorously enough. Change the arm that’s holding the sponge to get even activity for each arm and remember to wear sunscreen, if you’re in the sun.
  
Mowing the lawn. Walking is always recommended for a healthy weight loss program. Pushing the lawnmower around your property gives you this opportunity and can burn 162 calories to get you closer to your goal. You’re getting in a more intense walk than if you just added walking to your program. You also engage your arms and core muscles as you naturally stabilize and coordinate your movements.
  
Gardening. Not only is gardening an art that can also be a form of organic farming, but it also burns 162 calories to boost your weight loss program. Carrying new plants and flowers to their designated spots gives you some lifting and some cardio. If you do have an organic garden, gathering and carrying food to use in your healthy diet plan is exercise too. Plus, gardening really is a terrific way to commune with nature. Remember; always lift with your legs, not with your back.
  
Raking leaves. Again, large movements translate into large number of calories burned; shed 171 calories by raking leaves and you just reach your weight loss goal more quickly. Here you get more of that natural Vitamin D from the sun, too.
  
Scrubbing floors. Really use your muscles when you scrub floors to burn 189 calories and scrub your way to a leaner and more healthy body. Sitting on your heels, take the sponge in both hands and scrub forward, away from your body. Let your rear end come up off your heels. Then scrub back towards you and sit down on your heels again. Do this in different angles away from your body. This movement gives you great cardio and works those tummy muscles too.
  
Moving around furniture. Ready to redecorate? Moving your couch, chairs, dining room table, bed and other furniture burns 225 calories and gives you a new environment to inspire and encourage you as you lose weight.

Sunday, May 6, 2012

Dining At Your Desk Can Create A Field Day For Bacteria

Dining At Your Desk
While it's most important for an employer to provide a safe and healthy workplace, it's also important to encourage healthy lifestyles among their employees. Healthy eating programs can be a great first step. They can bring lots of people together to learn how to improve their health both at work and at home. As always, these programs should be part of a complete workplace health program and should not take resources or attention away from workplace hazards that may be present.You rush off with no breakfast. By morning tea time you’re onto your third coffee. Since it’s a tea break you go for a large creamy lattĂ© and a big muffin.
  
Lunch rolls around and you grab something quickly without thinking. By afternoon you’re feeling tired and groggy, so you go hit the snack box or vending machine and gulp down a Red Bull.
  
Welcome to the busy working lifestyle – where the combination of poor nutrition and high stress make for a sick and tired person – and most probably overweight as well.
  
It's easy to fit healthy eating into your busy lifestyle. These 10 strategies will help you create nutritious, energy-boosting meals in minutes. For those of you trying to eat healthier, one of the biggest places to slip up is at work. There's more temptation to eat out, mindlessly eat, or, not eat at all. To make matters worse, many people never even leave their desks when lunchtime rolls around. If you're trying to change your eating habits this year, here are a few tips to ensure that you have a healthy lunch hour.
  
1. Stock up on healthy staples every week. Whole-grain breads and cereals, fruits, vegetables, canned beans, low-sodium deli meats, yogurt and low-sodium soup will make meal preparation a snap.
  
2. While dinner is cooking, prepare lunch for the next day. Toss in a few extra handfuls of veggies or an extra chicken breast to use for sandwiches and salads.
  
3. At work keep a stash of healthy snack items such as instant oatmeal, baby carrots, yogurt, low-fat frozen burritos, meal-replacement bars, string cheese, low-fat popcorn and fruit canned in its own juice.
  
4. Always add color to your meal by including a fruit or vegetable.
  
"Eating at your desk encourages mindless eating, and overeating," says Susan Moores, RD, a spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association. "You're most likely multitasking and not paying attention to the amount of food you're eating."
  
Lunching at your desk also means that instead of sitting in front of a computer for eight hours a day, you're doing it for nine.
  
"Eating at your desk also prevents you from getting up and out of your office," Moores tells WebMD. "You need to get the heart pumping and the blood flowing again, and lunch is an important time to do that. If you're sitting at your desk eating, you lose that opportunity."
  
As if that weren't bad enough, dining at your desk can create a field day for bacteria.
  
"If you get called away from your desk, and then you have to put off eating for an hour or two, and then you pick at your lunch over the day, you need to be concerned about the temperature of your food and food safety," says Moores.
  
In other words, your room-temperature chicken salad sandwich that's been sitting out for three hours can easily become a bacteria feeding ground. But wait, it gets worse. (You might want to put that sandwich down now.)
  
"The desk, in terms of bacteria, is 400 times more dirty than your toilet," says Charles Gerba, PhD, a professor of environmental microbiology at the University of Arizona in Tucson. "People turn their desks into bacteria cafeterias because they eat at them, but they never clean them. The phone is the dirtiest, the desktop is next, and the mouse and the computer follow."
  
To give your desktop the dirt test, Gerba says, "turn your keyboard over and see how many crumbs fall out. The more of a snowstorm, the dirtier your desk."

Thursday, May 3, 2012

Key Nutrients Are Essential For The Old People

healthy eating for the old
For older adults, the benefits of healthy eating include increased mental acuteness, resistance to illness and disease, higher energy levels, faster recuperation times, and better management of chronic health problems. As we age, eating well can also be the key to a positive outlook and staying emotionally balanced.
  
Remember the old adage, you are what you eat? Make it your motto. When you choose a variety of colorful fruits and veggies, whole grains, and lean proteins you’ll feel simply marvelous inside and out.
  
Live longer and stronger – Good nutrition keeps muscles, bones, organs, and other body parts strong for the long haul. Eating vitamin-rich food boosts immunity and fights illness-causing toxins. A proper diet reduces the risk of heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, type-2 diabetes, bone loss, cancer, and anemia. Also, eating sensibly means consuming fewer calories and more nutrient-dense foods, keeping weight in check.
  
Sharpen the mind –Key nutrients are essential for the brain to do its job. People who eat a selection of brightly colored fruit, leafy veggies, and fish and nuts packed with omega-3 fatty acids can improve focus and decrease their risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
  
Feel better –Wholesome meals give you more energy and help you look better, resulting in a self-esteem boost. It’s all connected—when your body feels good you feel happier inside and out.
  
To meet your nutritional needs, aim to eat a varied dietincluding regular meals and snacks, and drink enough fluid.
  
Sometimes older people can no longer eat as much food at a single sitting, so include more nutritious snacks in between meals to boost nutrient intake.
  
Ideas for quick and nourishing snacks:
  
Sandwiches filled with cooked meat, bacon, tinned fish, cheese or peanut butter. Use different breads for variety and add pickles, relish and sauces.
  
Toast with pilchards, sardines, beans, cheese, ravioli, tinned spaghetti or well-cooked eggs.
  
Crackers or digestive biscuits topped with cheese, toasted crumpets, teacakes, yoghurt, fruit, malt loaf, fruit cake, breakfast cereals or soup.
  
An increase in starchy, fibre-providing foods and a reduction in fatty and sugary foods is likely to be beneficial, particularly if individuals are overweight.
  
However, a low-fat, high-fibre diet is not appropriate for all elderly people, especially those with repeated infections, generally poor health or a poor appetite. As discussed above, it is important that older people choose a nutrient rich diet, high in foods providing protein, vitamins and minerals such as milk and dairy products, meat, eggs, fish, bread, cereals, and fruit and vegetables.
  
A varied diet will also help to ensure adequate nutritional intake.
  
Snacks can be an important part of the diet in older age groups, particularly for those unable to cope with large meals at one sitting.
  
Dairy products such as milk provide an excellent way to provide a nutrient rich snack along with fluid in individuals who are struggling to meet their requirements.
  
The senses of taste and smell decline with age, which can make food seem less appetising. Using different colours and shapes in cooking can stimulate the senses and add to eating enjoyment. The addition of herbs and spices can also make food more interesting.
  
It is a good idea for older people to keep an emergency store of some basic foods items for times when it is difficult for them to get to the shops. Useful store cupboard items include:
  
Research shows that remaining active can help to maintain both mental and physical health. Keeping up the activities you enjoy doing will help to maintain physical fitness and preserve muscle tissue. Preserving your strength will help to maintain your independence. Remember, activity doesn't necessarily mean joining an exercise class. Gardening, walking to the shops and housework can all count as types of activity too.
  
Energy requirements can decline with age, particularly if physical activity is limited, but the need for protein, vitamins and minerals remains the same. It's vital that food choices are nutritionally dense, which means you still need to eat a variety of foods to get all the vitamins and minerals you need, but with fewer calories. If you're overweight or obese, it's even more important to be calorie conscious.
  
Advice to restrict fat intake, particularly cutting saturated fatto improve heart health, remains true for older people who are fit and well. A dietary survey of older people showed most eat too much saturated fat. Above the age of 75, fat restriction is less likely to be beneficial, and isn't appropriate if the person is frail, has suffered weight loss or has a very small appetite. In fact, in these situations additional fat may be used to increase the calories in meals and snacks to aid weight gain. Read our tips fortackling nutritional problems for older people.

Monday, April 23, 2012

Arthritis Cure Or Arthritis Relief For Old People


Arthritis Cure
We all know that millions of people suffer from arthritis every year. We see countless ads for the latest super-pill, super-food or super-drink guaranteed to make our arthritis go away. Researchers at prestigious Universities and pharmaceutical giants are spending millions of dollars looking for a silver bullet to cure arthritis. All of us that have suffered with arthritis pain have most likely tried more than one pill touted as an "arthritis cure".

Arthritis is a disease that some people have called as unavoidable. Osteoarthritis, the most common form of arthritis, comes with age, as cartilage is damaged over time, and the body is unable to deal with the accumulating damage. It can affect even younger people, and is a fearsome autoimmune disorder where your own immune system starts to destroy the cartilage and tissue of the body, and can cause abnormal tissue growth. Both are fearsome diseases and can be life-changing, limiting both your mobility and freedom.While you wait for an arthritis cure try to keep a positive outlook, kick your ego to the curb and stay educated. You can explore other treatment options for arthritis and incorporate them into the health regimen your doctor has dictated. If you do these things, you will be surprised at how much better you feel, both physically and mentally.

In cases where conventional medicine cannot provide relief, people have usually turned to what is called alternative medicines. Natural, herbal, or homeopathic treatments for arthritic pain usually offer no side effects or additional risks, particularly when compared with the more potent conventional drugs like NSAIDs. While conventional medicine often considers these options for treatment as no more effective than not treating the arthritis altogether, many people still turn to them for a solution for their arthritic pain. Yet, many attribute their continued joint function and relief from pain from these forms of treatment, and people continue to trust and use them as well.A variety of treatments are available to treat arthritis. These "arthritis cures" include options provided by conventional medicine such as through medications and even surgery, as well as what are considered alternative medicines, such as herbal remedies, homeopathic treatments and even outright folk remedies.

The body is an incredible machine, and if you put the right fuel in the results can be dramatic. Many minor ailments will simply disappear, and sometimes major ailments will too. This has been proved time and time again by Medical science, and everywhere you look on the Internet you will find testimonials of people curing themselves from simply eating properly.

Monday, April 16, 2012

Crash Diets To Speed Up Weight Loss For A Healthy Way

Those in a hurry to lose weight quickly can follow one of the many crash diets that are available these days. Following crash diets to lose weight fast can be cumbersome due to restricted calorie intake. However, today crash diets have gained immense popularity, as one can achieve rapid weight loss. Crash diets seem to be the solution for people wanting to reduce weight in a short time. This weight loss method has been adopted by many Hollywood actresses to bring their body in proper shape, in a very less period of time.

Crash Diets to Speed Up Weight Loss

Do crash diets work? Well, they do take away excess weight fast, but crash diets should never be followed for a long duration of time. Crash diet should optimally last only for a few days (3-14 days). Crash diets cannot come under the list of long-term diet plans as they can cause severe health problems. For many people, following crash diets that actually work, are painful because calorie intake reduces considerably. Also, those put on crash diets find it difficult to control hunger pangs. Nevertheless, crash diets do provide a way to successfully shed extra pounds in a relatively short period. One can always consult a dietitian to get some crash diet tips. Some of the crash diets that work fast to lose weight are given below:

The Lemonade Diet: Did you know that this diet was followed by none other than the famous actress Beyonce Knowles. She took the help of lemonade diet and lost around 20 pounds in a time span of 8-10 days. The actress had to lose weight to bag the role of a slim girl in the Oscar Award-winning movie 'Dreamgirls'.

The lemonade diet plan, besides losing weight, is very helpful to cleanse the body thoroughly. Implementing the strict regimen of this diet plan in the daily routine will help to eliminate toxins from the body. People who wish to follow this weight loss diet plan literally have to live without food at least 10 days. Also referred to as a forced starvation diet plan, this weight loss technique involves consuming only 6-12 glasses of lemonade mixture in a day. This may sound weird but studies have revealed that followers of lemonade diet plan generally lose 7-8 pounds in a period of 10 days.

The Cabbage Soup Diet: Are you finding it difficult to drop those 7 pounds in a week despite following a rigorous exercise routine? If yes, go for cabbage soup diet and rest assured you are sure to achieve the desired weight loss. As the name suggests, this is a 7 day diet plan that essentially focuses on having plenty of cabbage soup. Thus, during this period of 7 days, you can have servings of cabbage soup as many times as you want, to your heart's content. The vegetable, cabbage increases metabolic rate, which in turn helps to lose fat fast. Hence, consuming cabbage soup serves the purpose of losing weight rapidly. Drinking a minimum of 4 glasses of water daily is also equally important to make this diet effective in losing weight. Other food items that can be included in this weeklong diet are given below:
  • Day 1: Have fruits throughout the day. Leaving aside banana (as it is high in calories), one can consume any fruit. Besides cabbage soup, you can also have other beverages like cranberry juice, tea (no sugar) and of course plenty of water.
  • Day 2: Well, on day 2 of cabbage soup diet, you got to stay away from fruits. Help yourself with fresh vegetables that are taken in either cooked or raw form. When it comes to preparing food, make sure you employ healthy cooking methods that include baking, steaming, broiling and grilling. Your last meal of the day should consists of big baked potato with some amount of butter.
  • Day 3: You can consume both fruits and vegetables during any meal of the day. As usual, avoid eating banana and baked potato.
  • Day 4: So long you were advised to keep away from bananas but on this day you can feast on bananas (not more than 8). Along with bananas, you can have skimmed milk as much as possible (no restrictions).
  • Day 5: Meat is introduced into cabbage soup diet on this day. You can include as much as 10 ounces of lean cuts of beef in your diet today. Apart from beef, you can eat not more than 6 fresh tomatoes. If beef is not your cup of tea, you can have skinless broiled chicken. Don't forget to drink water in adequate amounts in order to detoxify the body.
  • Day 6: Day 6 is a combination of vegetables and beef. Eat 2 lean steaks of beef but more importantly, have ample of green leafy vegetables in the form of salads. Although vegetables are permitted, one should avoid eating baked potato.
  • Day 7: Day 7 is a mix of brown rice, vegetables and fresh fruit juices (no added sugar). Have as many servings as you want but make sure you employ healthy cooking methods while making food.
Chicken Soup Diet: Weight loss with chicken soup requires a great deal of mental discipline. This is because, one needs to have only breakfast throughout the day. To boost fluid intake, one can take chicken soup as many times as one wants. The breakfast in the chicken soup diet can vary from fruit salad and non-fat yogurt, to cooked wheat cereals and non-fat milk. This diet plan is used for a very short period (3-5 days). The sharp reduction in the number of calories is the hallmark of this diet plan, that works to lose weight rapidly.

The Scarsdale Diet: This low-calorie diet has shown excellent results when it comes to losing weight. Followers of this diet have reported 7-15 lb loss in weight in a matter of 2 weeks. This 14-day diet plan focuses more on eating fresh fruits, vegetables, and salads. These foods are an integral part of this diet plan. For snacks one can have celery, carrots, or low sodium vegetables. One can also have breakfast everyday, that generally includes one half grapefruit, coffee, tea, or a slice of protein bread.

Remember, crash diets are like a shock to the human body and hence should be followed only for a short duration. The above crash diet ideas can be very effective if they are followed properly. However, taking advice from a doctor is essential to know the diet plan that suits individual needs.

Friday, April 6, 2012

Important Tips For Children To Get Healthy Diet

Health becomes an issue as people get older. Experts have said the healthy diet for children helps prevent diseases and can keep your kids from being obese. Obesity is constantly increasing because of the increasing popularity of fast foods.

Before even starting the diet, never force your children to eat healthy. This might affect your relationship and children don't like it when they're told what to do. The first step is food shopping. Involve your children in grocery shopping and let him choose the foods he wants. From there, devise your own recipe and think of ways on how to make a healthy diet for children.

Developing a Healthy Household can be simpler than you think. Building a nutritionally healthy house is among the most important steps you can take to ensure the well being of your kid. To begin, make sensible foods selections, and assist your little one produce a constructive relationship with balanced meals. Your kids will understand their meals smarts from your example.

Here are the top 10 tips for getting youngsters to consume healthy food:

1. Do not prohibit foods. Limiting meal raises the possibility your child may develop eating disorders including anorexia or bulimia later on in life. Additionally, it may have a very bad effect on growth and development. Also by restricting meal you will in reality improve the risk of overeating later from the day that will cause putting on weight.

2. Keep healthful meals at hand. Kids will consume what's easily available. Keep fruit in a bowl on the counter, not hidden inside crisper section within your fridge. Remember, your kid is able to only choose food which you stock in the house, by limiting 'junk food' you will, by default, train your boy or girl choosing healthier food.

3. Don't label food as "good" or "bad." Instead, connect food towards points your youngster cares about, like sports activities, academics and hobbies. Help your youngster know that lean protein like poultry as well as calcium in dairy products provide strength to their sports activities as well as educational performance, the anti-oxidants in fruits and vegetables add luster to hair and skin as well as the carbs in complete grains will give them vigor to play.

4. Praise healthy selections. Give your children a proud smile and let them know how wise they're when they select healthful meals. Children thrive on constructive reinforcement!

5. Do not nag about unhealthy possibilities. If your youngster selects unhealthy food items sometimes, ignore it. Nevertheless, if your boy or girl constantly wishes greasy, fried foodstuff, redirect the selection. You might try roasting potato sticks inside the oven (thrown in just a little of oil) instead of purchasing french fries. Or, in the event that your kid wants candy, you may well make fresh strawberries drizzled with a little chocolate sauce. As well busy? In that case retain naturally sweet dried fruit in your own home for quick snacks. With continuous effort taste buds change and soon your boy or girl will be craving healthful ingredients.

6. In no way use foodstuff as a incentive. This may create bodyweight difficulties in after existence. Rather, reward your kids with something physical as well as entertaining -- possibly a trip for the park or perhaps a fast game of catch.

7. Sit down to household dinners at night. If this is not a tradition inside your household, it should be. Studies have shown that kids who take in meals at the table with their parents have better nutrition and therefore are less likely to obtain in serious trouble as teenagers. Begin with one night a week, and then work up to three or four, to gradually put together the habit.

8. Make dishes from the kitchen. There you can put nutritious portions of every item on everyone's dinner plate. Your young children will learn to identify proper portion sizes. All too often people go for seconds as well as thirds simply because the food is right there. You may discover that you'll require less foodstuff to really feel full!

9. Give the youngsters some control. Ask your kids to take three bites of all the meals on their plate and provide it a grade, just like A, B, C, D, or F. When balanced food - in particular certain vegetables -- get high marks, provide them more regularly. Offer the items your little ones don't like more infrequently. Allowing your kids take part in making decisions. After all, dining is a family members affair!

10. Consult your pediatrician. Often speak with your child's doctor before placing your little one on a diet plan, trying to enable your child gain weight, or making any substantial changes in the kind of meals your child eats. In no way diagnose your child as overweight, or too thin, by yourself. If weight modification is recommended seek the assistance of a Dietitia

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Following A Healthy Diet During Pregnancy Is The Most Important Thing

There are so much plans that suddenly come on the chart with hints of the new arrival. It is important to follow a nutritious and healthy diet regime to make sure that the baby has a trouble free journey into the world. Following a healthy diet is very important for the proper development and growth of the unborn baby. A pregnant woman must consume 300 calories more than her regular diet. Eating and digesting so many calories a day and that too for whole nine months can be a tedious task at first glance but thinking about the welfare of your baby, it is the least you can do.

Healthy Diet During Pregnancy
Healthy diet during early pregnancy is yet another challenge considering the signs of morning sickness and cravings that you must be experiencing during the first trimester of the pregnancy. Despite everything, a balanced diet must be maintained for the health of your baby. Following are the foods that must be a part of the daily diet of a pregnant woman.

High Fiber Diet
Include fiber rich foods in your daily diet as they are the best source for all the requirements of your unborn baby. By high fiber diet, I mean food products like whole wheat breads, whole grains, rice, cereals, raw fruits and loads of green leafy vegetable and cooked beans. These foods are a great source of energy that is required during pregnancy. Around 5-10 servings of high fiber diet must be included in the daily diet of a pregnant woman. Meat, fish dairy and poultry must be included in adequate quantity as well.

Calcium and Vitamins
Calcium rich foods and those high in vitamin and minerals should be included in the healthy diet during pregnancy. Decent levels of vitamin D and folic acid must be maintained to avoid any complications in the pregnancy. Protein levels, omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin C levels must be maintained by eating enough of fish, fruits and vegetables. Iron rich food must be consumed that helps in healthy blood circulation. You can also opt for calcium and vitamin supplements on the doctor's advice.

Distribution of Meals
There must be equal distribution of the meal into 5-6 mini meals rather than 3-4 whole meals. At least 3 servings of dairy products, 1200 mg of calcium, 27 mg of iron, 70 mg of vitamin C and vitamin A (less than 1000 IU) must be consumed each day by the expecting mother. It is also important to consume at least 6 to 8 glasses of water everyday.

Things to Avoid During Pregnancy
There are some things that must be avoided during pregnancy, because they might cause trouble to the health of the mother as well as the child. Foods to avoid during pregnancy include raw meat items, fish that are high on mercury levels, soft cheeses and deli meats. These foods and more must be avoided to prevent food poisoning during pregnancy. Along with these food items, alcohol and smoking must be completely avoided in order to safeguard the health of the child and the mother-to-be. Stop drinking alcohol as it might cause premature babies, mental retardation and low weight in the newborn babies. Also minimize the daily caffeine intake to maximum 300 mg a day. That means you have to control the intake of coffee, chocolates and cola drinks.

Do not try to follow a diet for weight loss or any such purposes. Diet for healthy pregnancy must be planned with proper consultation with the dietitian. All in all, try to have a balanced diet for the betterment of your 'happy days'. Pregnancy exercises and timely medical examinations are very important factors for a healthy pregnancy. Mental health is as important as the physical health so, keep your mood always high as it will help in the development of your child-to-be. Well-being and proper growth of the unborn must be the prime thing on your to-do list. Healthy diet during pregnancy is all that takes to ensure and safeguard a happy and healthy pregnancy. When you will look at it this way, pregnancy will become a very unforgettable experience. Take care!

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Proper Breakfast To Be Able To Give Children The Right Amount Of Energy

Breakfast is the biggest and most important meal of the day. You need to make sure that your kids take in a proper breakfast to be able to give them the right amount of energy that they need for the entire day. When your kids sleep during the night, the body uses up the energy that is stored in the cells and a correct breakfast will allow the body to recharge and get a jump start for the rest of the day. Aside from this, studies prove that children who eat a good breakfast perform better in school and grow faster as well. Don't think that giving your kids just anything will do, there are certain things that are needed to ensure that your child's body is fueled properly.

There are four things that you will need to make sure to include in your child's breakfast: grains, protein, fruits and vegetables and dairy. Grains can be found in the form of cereals, bread and the like. These are the most needed by the body as you will see if you check out the kid's food pyramid. Next are proteins which you will find in meat, different kinds of beans and eggs. Fruits and vegetables should of several different varieties as much as possible. Finally, dairy can be gotten from different sources like milk, cheese and yogurt.

Getting all these in the breakfast of your kids does not have to be so difficult. A bowl of oatmeal topped with fruits served with a glass of milk can easily meet all of these. Good combination's for fruits on oatmeal will include strawberries or an assortment of berries like blueberries and raspberries. Pancakes which are a well loved breakfast by many kids can be made better by making use of whole wheat flour, include bananas and walnuts in your batter for a serving of fruit and protein. Even a good old grilled cheese sandwich can be a nutritious breakfast.

Add some ham to this for some protein and make use of whole wheat bread for some grains. Serve this with any type of fruit. Smoothies can bring bursts of energy and give your child a good head start for sure. Try an assortment of fruits and yogurt. This can easily be paired with any other breakfast food and can be drunk on the go too.

It's also important to know what happens when your child skips breakfast. Children who do not eat breakfast will burn fewer calories throughout the day. They will usually show increased errors on work and have a slower memory recall. They may be more hyperactive and show lower math scores.

Children who skip breakfast are also more like to be absent or tardy from school. It's important that parents ensure their children get a healthy start to the day with a great, healthy breakfast every day. Public schools around the country are required to provide a healthy breakfast every morning for students.

If you are unable to provide a breakfast for your child, just get them to school in time to enjoy a healthy meal from the school. During the summer months, or if your child does not attend public school, do your best to always provide a healthy breakfast each and every day.

Some children forget to eat breakfast or don't know how to choose healthy breakfast foods on their own. This is why it's important for parents to help their kids get the right foods each and every morning to get them started on the right track.

Breakfast Casseroles
There are many types of casseroles for breakfast. And to make them healthy, you can add any kind of veggies you like and is highly recommended to add to your daily intake of vegetables. Using turkey bacon or sausage and low fat cheeses is ideal when it comes to healthy casseroles. Also using an egg substitute such as egg beaters will give you less fat and cholesterol. With casseroles, you can make them ahead the night before and pop them in the oven in the morning.

Last Minute Breakfast
Always have dried fruits, nuts, dates, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, and trail mixes on hand to toss into sealed plastic bags for those mornings when time just doesn't permit for a breakfast meal. Make for sure each child gets one of these bags before leaving the house.

There you have it...just a few ideas to keep breakfast healthy for your little ones. Also...don't forget to eat a good breakfast yourself.

Monday, March 12, 2012

Drinks For Diabetes

We often talk about the effect of different foods on blood and cholesterol. But we tend to forget what we drink. The best and most natural drink is water. But many people don't drink water on its own, they put something else in it such as tea or coffee or sugar or a fruit juice. These additions can have a significant effect on the body.

When you are thirsty, your body is telling you that it wants water, not food. It is very easy to increase your blood glucose levels or body fat without apparently 'eating' anything, if you drink a drink that contains carbs. 

Obvious examples are sodas or fruit juices.
Water: Water does not contain any calories or sugars, and is the ideal beverage for you if you are diabetic. People with Diabetes drink much water because the blood is too high in the body, so the urine output must be increased to discharge sugar with urine. Because diabetics discharge too much urine and lose too much water in the body, so they need to drink more.

Alcohol is also something to beware of. Alcohol contains 7 kcals per gram. However, it does provide calories and is used preferentially by the body. This means that if there are sufficient calories from the alcohol, glucose from carbs in the blood is more likely to raise insulin levels and to be stored as body fat. 

Green tea: One cup of green tea often lowers blood sugar levels. Regular black tea is also effective. Green tea supplements also have a positive effect on blood sugar levels. Consumption of green tea may also ameliorate kidney disease in diabetes patients who have high blood pressure. Do not drink too much tea before sleeping.

Vegetable Juice: Vegetables contain vitamins, minerals, dietary fiber and other nutrients that can keep healthy and prevent disease. You can enjoy a variety of vegetable juices, including carrot juice, celery juice and tomato juice.

Decaf coffee: A cup of plain decaf coffee may have a positive effect on your blood glucose levels. Coffee contains more calories than tea and it often goes against diet control if you eat something else. And remember not to add sugar into your coffee.

Milk contains a variety of nutrients, especially a great amount of protein which benefits people with diabetes. High blood-fat patients had better drink defatted milk.

 

Thursday, March 1, 2012

Sport:The Key To Remain Healthy And Fit

Sport is considered as a healthy activity that not just keeps you fit but also has lots of other benefits. Playing a healthy sport may serve you as a nice alternative to daily exercise.

Perhaps many of us don't know the fact that taking part in different or specific sports activities on regular basis is much more than just your regular exercise. Let us tell you that regular exercise is beneficial for the main organs. It is also an ideal way to improve your stamina. This extends you help to combat different diseases in an effective way so it ensures good health. Furthermore, if a person takes part in any competitive sport habitually, then it is assumed that he or she might have a strong mental attitude that would be more combative, and he or she could fight back.

You would have noticed various sportsmen in the world that they are all fit and smart. And the key to their fitness and good health is that they remain busy in playing sports so this helps to keep them healthy and smart.

Here we must make one thing clear that not all types of sports are helpful for attaining good health as there are some indoor games and sports where you have to use your brain hence such games have nothing to do with your health. Therefore, only specific types of sports, which involve some sort of physical exercise like hockey, football, badminton, tennis, volleyball, basketball, handball, swimming etc are helpful for your health.
We would recommend you to include a healthy sport in your daily routine life. This would offer you a wide range of benefits to your health. But, the idea is to play the sport on regular basis, as this is the key to remain healthy and fit.

You can download martial arts videos online  to start learning martial arts right now. The martial arts like karate, kenpo karate and other forms are the sports that are beneficial both for your mental and physical strength. The martial arts training not only keep you fit but also helps you to protect yourself and your family members from sudden attacks and other similar issues. By learning the martial arts training you are always confident and you are have more patience than normal persons. This helps you to become more successful in your life as compared to other people. So do participate in sports on regular basis.

Sunday, February 26, 2012

Healthy Food To Enhance Your Health

Healthy food course could be something worth doing and try, especially if you have a desire to always prepare healthy meal for your beloved family. As a matter of fact, such a healthy food course are designed for individuals whose job is to prepare and handle food, diet or certain consumption of their clients who are experiencing food-borne illness and need special treatment on the food they intake. Most common, healthy food course will involve nutritionist and
Healthy food course is a great way to enhance your knowledge not only on healthy food, but also some sorts of junk food to avoid to keep your body healthy. In general, the content of each healthy food course may vary from one another. You can simply choose one of which contents suit your need best.

Healthy food course: Things to learn and Understand Before Joining OnePrior to determining taking a class of healthy food course, here are several crucial things you need to learn and understand:

- The Content of the healthy food course
You can simply ask the institution on such content or if you choose to have it online, the customer support of the course provider will help you with this matter. The examples of a course content could be like the following: A New observation at food, examining energy balance, concentrate on fats, all about fibers and many more. Make sure that you only choose one that suit you well and will come in handy in the future
- The Course Duration
The program designed for each healthy food course may vary, depends on the provider and the needs of the course. Some will take only 6 week per education some may take longer. Choose one to match your available time for a maximum result.
- The Tuition
This should also be your consideration since you have to know exactly that the healthy food course is worth the penny. In this case you do have to look for the detail information on such tuition.
- The Future Opportunity

Some healthy food course may deliver skillful and professional individual with good knowledge on healthy food and nutrition. This may grant them with a good job opportunity for their wellbeing.

Healthy food course: Where to look for?

Online healthy food course are widely available now for every individual to join. Some websites offer a free course, however many others demand certain amount of cash for every individual who wish to join their healthy food course. You can also look for such a healthy food course offline from a nearby cookery school or other institution. Whichever healthy food course you choose – other it is online or offline, make sure that you have do your research on the particular institution so as to you only got your healthy food course from a reliable and trusted source. This will also help you to get an official certificate for further usage and maximum knowledge on food, diet and nutrition to bring your family and other healthy food for their health. So, are ready now for joining a healthy food course?