Food Articles

Strong bones are vitally important to most people. How to ensure you have strong bones will require some though about what you eat and do. Strong bones allow activity in the early stages of life as well as latter in life. When a person has strong bones they are less likely to get broken bones, osteoporosis, and they can be active. So if you want to ensure you have strong bones, there are two major things to do, take calcium and exercise.

Calcium builds bones better than any other food or vitamin. Strong bones will limit the chance of osteoporosis. The strengthening of strong bones will need to start at an early age to ensure strong bones later on. For the human body, bone mass (how thick and sturdy the bones are) develops quickly between 10 and 20 years. This bone mass peaks at age 30. Continual consumption of calcium will ensure the strength of the bones. After the age of 35 a person will loose 1% of bone mass every year. With calcium and exercise a person can restore bone mass that will be lost.

"Strong bones, how to ensure you have them?" »

Posted by K at 07:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Have you ever wondered if breakfast is really the most important meal of he day? Well eating breakfast can help a body be healthy. It is important to start the day off right by eating breakfast. Breakfast being the most important meal of the day depends on whom you talk to. Someone who doesn't like breakfast will say no, but research has shown that breakfast is the most important meal of the day.

There are four main reasons breakfast is the most important meal of the day. 1. It will break the fast from the night. 2 Breakfast will help weight control or loss. 3. Breakfast not only feeds the body, but the mind as well.

Many will still wonder if breakfast really is the most important meal of the day even after they have fasted all night and are hungry. Breakfast is so important because it breaks the fast from the nights rest. It is not good for a body to eat 24 hours a day, so not eating at night makes sense. When breakfast is not eaten then the effects of fasting are evident in the countenance of the person. This means that a person will be short tempered, tired, and slow to attain information.

"Breakfast-is it really the most important meal of the day?" »

Posted by K at 03:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

What are some fast, fun, tasty snacks that are good for you? With the busy paced world we live in, it is no wonder that we turn to the snacks that are pre-made, with preservatives, and tons of salt, sugars and fats. However, if there is a way to get a fast, fun, tasty snack that is good for you in just about the same amount of time, then why not do it.

Snacks are something that should be able to be creative, healthy, fun and of course fast. So what are some options that you and your family can try? Check out these ideas and see what you find out.

"Fast, fun and tasty snacks, that are good for you too" »

Posted by DF at 07:54 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Making wise diet decision will affect you for the rest of your life. If you choose to eat poorly, you will suffer the consequences of it. If you eat wisely, your body will run better and last longer. The fact is that diet is extremely closely related to health, and the overall health of your body is dependant on how you eat and what you eat.

The following are some tips for making wise diet decisions:

"Making wise diet decisions" »

Posted by DF at 07:21 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

These days it seems like our lives are a lot busier than ever before. We all need to keep our bodies healthy and one of the best ways to do this is to eat well. If we are all honest, most of us would say that we want to be eating better but finding the time to make fresh fruits and vegetables a part of our daily diet is sometimes a difficult thing. Hopefully, some of these tips will help to incorporate more fresh fruits and vegetables into your diet in a quick and easy way.

Ready to eat
It is always easier to grab a snack or a meal in a ready-to-eat fashion. We are all pretty busy these days with work and family and the many other commitments that are so demanding of our time. We all want to eat healthier and make sure that we are getting enough fresh fruits and vegetables. The best way to help motivate ourselves to do this is to take a few minutes to prepare these items in a more ready to eat form. You can already buy carrots ready to eat these days but a great way to eat plenty of your other fresh vegetables and fruit is to take a little bit of time to make them ready to eat too! Cut up broccoli, celery, cauliflower, cucumbers, zucchini and any other fresh vegetables that you like to eat raw and package them into single serving sealable bags, or air tight containers. Most of these vegetables can be stored in the refrigerator for quite some time in water to keep them fresh and crunchy. You can also purchase small cups of single serving dressing to dip your vegetables in if you wish to. This can also be done for fresh fruit of all kinds. Grab one of these items from your fridge on your way out the door to take the kids to school, head to the gym or off to work.

"Tips for getting more fresh fruits and vegetables in your daily diet." »

Posted by DF at 07:58 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Take a look at the title, it says reducing fats, not eliminating fats in your diet. Fats play a big part in your overall health, and eliminating them is not the answer.

Think of your fat intake like a bank account. You need to have a budget for your money to be taken care of the right way, your fat works the same way. You need to budget the fat that you eat.

"Reducing your intake of fats" »

Posted by DF at 07:54 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

There are many things that as a diabetic you have to watch, most that others don't have to. Your blood sugar is very important to your health and you should be doing all you can to make sure you maintain your blood sugar levels.

There are several things that you can incorporate into your daily routine that will help you to have a healthy blood sugar and keep yourself out of harms way.



"Maintaining the appropriate blood sugar levels as a diabetic" »

Posted by DF at 07:51 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Choosing and preparing poultry carefully is important when trying to lower cholesterol. A main contributor to high cholesterol levels is the saturated fats found in food, particularly poultry with skin, fatty meats, whole milk, butter, lard, and cheese. When the amount of saturated fats being consumed is lowered, the total fat amount is lowered as well. It is important to choose and prepare poultry in a way that will minimize how much saturated fat and total fat that is being eaten. The different poultry and the ways to choose and prepare the poultry contribute to whether your cholesterol level will be affected positively or negatively.

 Poultry is right in the middle of nutritious meats. It's better than eating beef for lowering cholesterol levels, but it is not as good as seafood is. Beef usually has high levels of saturated fat and total fat (depending on the cut of meat), while fish and other seafood are often pretty low.

"Choosing and Preparing Poultry to Lower Cholesterol" »

Posted by DF at 03:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

For the cholesterol minded, choosing and preparing fruits and vegetables should be number one on your menu. The daily consumption of fresh and delicious fruits and vegetables can help keep you healthy in many ways, including cardiovascular benefits.
Fruits and vegetables are full of essential nutrients, especially fiber, that your body needs. They are particularly good for you when you are trying to lower your cholesterol. It is recommended that at least 5 servings a day of fruits and vegetables is consumed.

A high cholesterol level is often an effect of a diet high in saturated fat, which can lead to many health problems, including a risk for hearts disease and stroke. When unsaturated fats (good fats) replace saturated fats, this will help lower your cholesterol. Dietary cholesterol, found in animal-derived foods, can also affect and raise your cholesterol level. Foods that are plant derived, such as fruits, vegetables, grain, nuts, and seeds, contain no cholesterol and very little bad fat.

"Choosing and Preparing Fruits and Vegetables to Lower Cholesterol" »

Posted by DF at 03:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Soy protein, whey protein, and pea protein are all important compounds that can make a drastic difference when it comes to your general health and your skin care. While all three proteins-soy, whey, and pea-are great for nutritional supplements and skin care supplements, there are differences between the three proteins.

1. Soy protein

"Differences between soy, whey, and pea protein" »

Posted by DF at 07:16 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Fresh foods have truly extraordinary healing power. The Food and Drug Administration recommends that everyone receive at least a significant amount of fresh fruits and fresh vegetables each day. Fresh foods are simply bursting with anti-oxidants that are truly only available to their full extent in fresh food, though you can still get an incredible amount of anti-oxidant power in cooked fresh foods.

Dietary experts say that every person should eat at the very least five servings of fresh fruits and fresh vegetables and each and every day. Eating fresh fruits and fresh vegetables can help you lose weight, can help you improve your physical fitness, can help you feel better emotionally, and can also increase the power of your immune system, helping you fight off diseases from the common cold to several different types of cancers.

"The healing power of fresh foods" »

Posted by DF at 07:54 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Pros and cons of protein shakes

Protein supplements in the form of protein shakes have become more and more popular over the last few years. Protein shakes have been rising in popularity for everyone from professional body builders to frat boys to female celebrities to essentially anyone else. But are protein shakes really all that good for you? Do protein shakes really help you out in terms of fitness and nutrition? Do protein shakes help you get more in shape more easily? Here are some of the pros and cons of using protein shakes as a dietary supplement to help you get more in shape and healthier. Review these pros and cons in order to determine whether or not protein shakes and protein supplements are the right thing for you.

Why use a protein supplement shake?
The manufacturers of protein supplements, whether they come in the form of protein shakes, protein bars, or anything else, say that there are a ton of benefits to using protein shakes and protein supplements: you can increase your fat loss, you can achieve higher energy levels, and your protein is more available to your body to make use of in order to increase energy and help burn fat and improve muscle mass.
Professional body builders have been using protein supplements in the form of protein shakes for years in order to improve training and increase the buildup of muscle mass and improve the tone of the muscles. Protein shakes have become more and more popular among the every day person as a way to help aid in weight loss programs or in order to help lose fat tissue. Within medical journals and among weight loss specialists, there are lots of different debates over whether or not different sources of protein work better for different problems-such as using casein or whey, or whether a mix of protein sources is the best way to go. Another question that people have been asking is whether or not it's better to use amino acids alone, hydrolyzed proteins, or whole proteins. But one thing that most people don't know is that while it has been proven that protein will help improve muscle tone and weight loss, there is no scientific evidence that getting your protein from protein supplements, such as protein shakes, is actually better than getting protein from real food sources.
If you have a normal and balanced diet that includes a number of high quality sources of protein, such as nonfat dairy products like yogurt, soy, and/or lean animal foods, such as chicken and/or fish, then you will probably have more than enough of the protein that you need in order to build muscle mass. This principle remains true even if you are a body builder. If you are training pretty intensely, then you need to follow a different type of eating plan than normal, but the needed protein intake is only a little bit more:

"Pros and cons of protein shakes" »

Posted by DF at 07:53 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

If you want to lose weight, one of the most important decisions that you need to make is choosing the right diet for your needs and for your lifestyle. Here are some tips and advice that will help you choose the perfect diet to achieve your weight loss goals, your needs, and your lifestyle.
The technical definition of a diet, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (also known as the NIDDK) is what a particular person eats and/or drinks throughout a day. There are so many different diets out there that it is sometimes really difficult to tell each diet apart. How can you know if you should go for the Atkins diet, as opposed to the Zone diet, as opposed to the South Beach diet? What about the cabbage diet or the soup diet? Should you be cutting out carbs or cutting out all possible fats or cutting out sugar or cutting out protein? Should you go for all meat or all vegetables?

"How to choose the right diet for your needs and lifestyle" »

Posted by DF at 07:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Choosing and preparing fish and other seafood is important when trying to lower cholesterol. Fish can be fatty or lean but is still a great choice in any healthy diet as it is low in saturated fat, a main contributor to high cholesterol levels. The American Heart Association recommends eating fish at least twice a week. With careful selection and preparation, your cholesterol level will improve with the regular consumption of fish and other seafood.

 Fish is the best of the meats when it comes to being low in saturated fat. It is better than poultry on the low fat scale and beats beef by far, which is a huge plus when trying to lower cholesterol.

"Choosing and Preparing Fish to Lower Cholesterol" »

Posted by DF at 03:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

When you take a cholesterol test, several things are going on. It is important that you understand each of the components being considered in a cholesterol test. Increased understanding will lead to a better way of dealing with unhealthy cholesterol levels.
First, when taking a cholesterol test, your levels of LDL are being looked at. LDL is the bad cholesterol that's in your body. LDL comes through eating too much of certain kinds of food. Usually, animal products are the main cause of high LDL levels in people. If you take a cholesterol test, and your LDL levels are too high, it means you have been eating too much meat, butter, cheese, milk, and cream, too many eggs, too many fried and greasy foods, and too many processed foods such as crackers and cookies and doughnuts. This is the first thing to understand about a cholesterol test.
High LDL levels can mean terrible things for your body. Aside from depression, obesity, lack of energy, lack of focus, lack of sleep, and so on, high HDL levels can also mean stroke, heart attack, paralysis, and death.

"How to understand your cholesterol test" »

Posted by DF at 03:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

There are two places that we get cholesterol from, the first is from the foods that we eat. All foods of an animal origin contains cholesterol this includes eggs, red meat, and shrimp. As you eat cholesterol from the food is absorbed and makes its way into your liver and circulates through your body in the bloodstream. The second source of cholesterol your body. Your body produces cholesterol naturally. The liver makes cholesterol, once it is produced in can also make its way into your bloodstream. So, the cholesterol that your body makes naturally and the cholesterol that you get from food easily builds up in your bloodstream and how the overall level of cholesterol can increase.

So what does a low carbohydrate/high fat diet mean to your cholesterol levels? Well first we must look at what a low carb/high fat diet is:

"LOW-CARBOHYDRATE/ HIGH FAT DIETS AND CHOLESTEROL" »

Posted by DF at 03:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Oats and dietary fiber are a good way to combat high cholesterol levels in your body. High cholesterol is an increasing problem for people as they become more and more addicted to greasy fast food and processed foods like cookies and crackers and white bread. One of the leading causes of high cholesterol is fat that comes from animal products. These include meat, cheese, and whole milk.
High cholesterol levels commonly occur in people who are overweight, or who simply eat too much of the bad foods listed above. In general, the best foods to eat when worried about high cholesterol are natural foods. Natural foods are foods that come from the earth, the fresher the better.

"Oats and dietary fiber and cholesterol" »

Posted by DF at 03:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Reducing cholesterol becomes ever more important as instances of heart disease, stroke, and death from inattention to this problem rise higher and higher. What we eat is a major factor in how high the cholesterol levels are in our bodies. Fried food, ice cream, chocolate, and other goodies are well-known and obvious causes of high cholesterol. Let's look at the positive side of the fight - what we should be eating and drinking in order to live a happy, healthy life, and a long one.
 The foods that will reduce cholesterol are many. Fruits and vegetables are a major one. At least five servings of fruits and vegetables every day will have a serious impact on cholesterol. Fruits and vegetables are a great source of what is known as soluble fiber. Soluble fiber is easily broken down when we eat it, and becomes a sort of vehicle in our system that grabs and holds onto bad cholesterol and takes it away from us.

"What foods reduce cholesterol" »

Posted by DF at 03:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

A common question that's asked is, "Why should I worry about how my diet affects my blood cholesterol?" To name a few reasons:
1. Your diet can either build good cholesterol or bad cholesterol in your body. Good cholesterol, or HDL for short, will strengthen your heart, help to pump hot, red, flowing, healthy blood through your veins, and give you more energy and uplift in general and better sleep and a better attitude towards life and the world.
2. On the

"How diet affects blood cholesterol" »

Posted by DF at 03:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Choosing and preparing sweets and snacks carefully in order to help lower cholesterol can seem like a difficult and demanding task. After all, these comfort foods are your favorites for a reason! They taste delicious, especially after a stressful day. But don't forget the harm that could be going on inside your body. One main negative effect is high cholesterol. A high cholesterol level is an initiator of many health problems, one of the more dangerous ones being heart disease. By being aware of what you're putting into your mouth, it is possible to maintain healthy cholesterol levels with occasional sweets and snacks.

Saturated fats and trans-fatty acids are the main dietary culprits when it comes to high cholesterol levels. The regular consumption of these fats is extremely unhealthy, although they are found in many different foods, especially in our fun snacks and tasty treats. In order to lower cholesterol levels, you must choose and prepare foods that have as little of these fats as possible or none at all.

"Choosing and Preparing Sweets and Snacks to Lower Cholesterol" »

Posted by DF at 03:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

It is important to choose and prepare your eggs carefully if you are trying to lower your cholesterol. Cholesterol is affected largely by the consumption of saturated fats, which are found in animal-derived foods, such as eggs, meat, poultry, seafood, and dairy products. Eating too much of any food that is high in saturated fat will raise blood cholesterol and increase the risk of heart disease.

Consumption of Eggs
The yolk of the egg is where the saturated fat, fat, and cholesterol are found. In one large egg, the yolk contains 5 grams of total fat, 2 grams of saturated fat, 213 milligrams of dietary cholesterol, and 60 calories. Egg whites have no cholesterol, saturated or total fat, and have only 15 calories. In order to lower cholesterol, it is recommend that the average person each no more than four egg yolks a week, including what is used in baked goods and other dishes. Be sure that when you do foods with whole eggs, balance out your fat and cholesterol intake by choosing other foods to complement your meal

"Choosing and Preparing Eggs to Lower Cholesterol" »

Posted by DF at 03:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Lycopene is found in red fruits and vegetables and is a great way to fight against prostate cancer, cervical cancer, and breast cancer, intestinal and lung cancer, in addition to heart and lung disease. It is proven that roughly 75% of the United States population does not eat the recommended five servings of vegetables and fruits daily. Or, if they are eating fruits and vegetable, they are not eating a variation that will provide the nutrients and vitamins to produce a healthy body.

Lycopene can be taken in the form of a pill, however it is tastier and better if you eat the red fruits and vegetables that are a natural source of lycopene. These would be:

"How to get more lycopene in your diet" »

Posted by DF at 07:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

It is important to choose and prepare dairy products carefully in order to lower cholesterol. One of the main contributors to unhealthy cholesterol levels is the saturated fat found in foods derived from animals, particularly dairy products such as whole milk, butter, lard, cheese, and ice cream. Although less than 7% of a day's total calories should come from saturated fat, it's possible to still enjoy these delicious products without the unhealthy effects.

1. Try drinking skim milk or 1% milk instead of 2% or whole. All of the calcium, protein, and other nutrients are present in these calorie-cutting milks without the extra fat and cholesterol.

2. Dairy products such as butter, ice cream, and cream should be eaten rarely, perhaps only on special occasions. They contain even more saturated fat and total fat than whole milk. Pay attention to baked goods, sauces, and other dishes that contain these high-fat foods, which won't help lower cholesterol.

3. Cheese is another dairy product that is high in saturated fat but does come with healthier options. Look for cheeses that have 3 grams of fat or less per ounce. Choose hard cheeses that say fat free, reduced fat, low fat, or part skim on the package, such as part-skin mozzarella. When looking for soft cheese, look for nonfat or low-fat cottage cheese or light ricotta. All of these options are just as tasty but much healthier.

"Choosing and Preparing Dairy Products to Lower Cholesterol" »

Posted by DF at 03:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

With high cholesterol a mounting problem all over the world, people are looking for ways to counter it. The best way to counter high cholesterol, the most proven, effective way, is a combination of diet and exercise. Some like to add supplements, such as fish oil and garlic, to their diet, as a means of countering high cholesterol.
First, let us look at the causes of high cholesterol.
1. Poor diet. High cholesterol sufferers usually eat the same kind of thing, and a lot of it. They usually eat a lot of animal products such as cheese, eggs, whole milk, cream, and meat, in great quantities. They also eat a lot of sugar and processed foods, such as cookies and crackers. They eat a lot of fried, fatty foods.

"Garlic and cholesterol" »

Posted by DF at 03:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Perhaps you're one of those people so many love to hate - you can eat whatever you want, from a dozen cookies to giant hamburgers and fries to extra helpings of dessert, without ever putting on a pound. You may say to yourself, "Why should I eat healthy now if I feel fine?" but this many not be a good idea. While you may feel that healthy eating is unnecessary and undesirable if you feel fine and look good, it can actually be dangerous.

The dangers of unhealthy eating

"Why eat healthy now, if you feel fine?" »

Posted by DF at 07:39 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

It happens to many people-they spend their entire lives eating high-calorie, high fat foods and don't appear to suffer any negative side effects whatsoever, not even weight gain. Then, they hit their late twenties and early thirties and slowly the weight begins to pile on. All the hamburgers and French fries catch up, and they find they can no longer eat whatever they want.

There are a couple of reasons for this. The most common is the result of metabolism, which slows with age. In a nutshell, metabolism is the amount of calories your body burns to maintain itself. Metabolism ensures that you are burning calories while you're eating, sleeping, walking, or anything else. A high metabolism in turn will burn many calories, whereas a slower metabolism burns fewer calories. For this reason, younger, more active people can get away with eating fattening foods because their metabolism is higher. As people get older, it begins to slow down. This is in part due to the muscle loss that results as we age.

"When do all the hamburgers and French fries catch up?" »

Posted by DF at 07:38 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

If protein shakes are a regular part of your diet, you already know you're receiving a number of health benefits. Many people are turning to protein shakes to help them achieve their fitness goals and to get the required amount of protein each day.

Most people who drink protein shakes are doing so because they're trying to achieve some sort of muscle growth. Protein is perhaps the most important ingredient you can consume for effective muscle growth. Protein requirements vary from person to person and depend on weight, gender, and body fat percentage, among other things. As a general rule, one gram of protein per pound of body weight is the minimum amount someone who is weight training should eat. So, a 200-pound man who is weight training for bulk would need about 200 grams of protein each day.

"How to make protein shakes taste better" »

Posted by DF at 07:28 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

What is lypocene?
Lypocene is one of the most commonly-found carotenoids in the human body and is an antioxidant that gives tomatoes and certain other fruits and vegetables their color. Foods that have particularly high concentrations of lypocene include tomatoes, watermelon, pink grapefruit, papaya, and rosehip.

Lypocene is considered to be one of the most powerful antioxidants. Antioxidants block the actions of oxygen molecules, which can damage cells. Lypocene is considered a superior antioxidant because unlike most, it is not converted to Vitamin A after it is digested, which in turn weakens the antioxidant properties.

"Lycopene, how to get more" »

Posted by DF at 07:28 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

There are a number of diets out there today, and each one does something different. Whether you want to lose weight, gain weight, lower cholesterol, or anything in between, there are plenty of diet and eating guides to help you reach your goal.

If your goal is to build muscle, your approach to eating should be a little different. When it comes to building muscle, your diet is just as important as your form and the amount of weight you lift. Muscles need fuel to grow and repair themselves, but the wrong fuel can quickly turn to fat instead of muscle. The following tips will help you eat properly for muscle growth.

"Eating to help muscle growth" »

Posted by DF at 07:21 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

When it comes to health and fitness, there are a number of things that should be in your diet for optimal health and performance. Many people are turning to protein shakes to help them achieve their fitness goals and to get the required amount of protein each day.

Most people who drink protein shakes are doing so because they're trying to achieve some sort of muscle growth. Protein is perhaps the most important ingredient you can consume for effective muscle growth. Protein requirements vary from person to person and depend on weight, gender, and body fat percentage, among other things. As a general rule, 1gram of protein per pound of body weight is the minimum amount someone who is weight training should eat. So, a 180-pound man would need about 180 grams each day.

"Are protein shakes good for you?" »

Posted by DF at 07:08 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

1. Develop and implement specific stress management strategies in your life to lessen the impact of the stress that change often brings: Watch what you eat and drink. Get the sleep you need in order to feel rested. Exercise regularly.

2. Develop and stick to a regular fitness routine. The better you feel, the more readily you will be able to deal with the stress of work change.

3. Take time to eat breakfast. Breakfast gives your body the fuel it needs to work effectively.

4. Determine what foods you need to eliminate, reduce, or add to your diet in order to lessen your stress response.

"4 Steps to Manage Your Nutrition and Fitness Needs" »

Posted by K at 11:02 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

It's just simple math. You consume more calories than you expend in your daily activities. You have an imbalance between energy intake and energy expenditure.

But what about that friend that eats like a horse, never exercises and still stays slim? (We all have one!) It could be a combination of factors, but most likely it's heredity.

"Why Are You Overweight?" »

Posted by S at 10:57 AM | Permalink

Fire Element

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) there are five elements that contribute to all activities: TREE / WOOD, FIRE, SOIL / EARTH, METAL and WATER.

Fire is the element of summer … so how can this help to put more of YOU in summer? The more you use EnergyRich Seasonal Foods (rather than associational season foods – a-hem like, maybe, ice-cream?), the more energy you have available for fun!

Fire Foods – to Keep You Cool

1. Grains:

• Quinoa - might be considered a super-grain-- has an incredible amount of protein and contains the amino acid lysine, so the protein is more complete. The quality of protein in quinoa is at least equivalent to that in milk. Quinoa also has a high level of iron, potassium and riboflavin, as well as other B vitamins: B6, niacin, and thiamin. A real strength builder for summer heat, but also has a light, delicate taste perfect for a cool, summer grain salad.

"REAL Summer Foods" »

Posted by Angie at 09:51 PM | Permalink

Dietitians just plain don't like low-carb or high-protein
diets.

Whether it's The Atkins Diet, The Stillman Diet, The
Scarsdale Diet or Eat Yourself Thin Like I Did by Nancy
Moshier, a popular, new book that recommends a low-carb
regimen, medical experts say these diets are not part of
long-term weight maintenance.

"All of these diets, they are warmed-over versions of The
Atkins Diet," says Heather Holden, RD, LDN, clinical
dietitian at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in
Nashville. "Low-carb, high-protein, it doesn't matter what
you call them, they don't work in the long run."

But some aspects of Eat Yourself Thin are useful, says
Holden. In particular, the book's focus on calorie counting
can be useful.

"Weight Loss: Carbs? Or No Carbs?" »

Posted by S at 10:23 AM | Permalink

Summer brings a lot of fantastic things with it, but one of the healthiest for those of us in the colder climates is more fresh food. The growing season has started and is shifting into full gear. Keep your eyes open for these foods to help your summer be absolutely luscious.

Glorious Greens

Most of my clients who have worked with me individually have experienced learning how to use greens for the benefit of their individual body. Green vegetables are the food most missing in modern diets. Nutritionally, greens are very high in calcium (120 -190 mg per cup!) They're also high in magnesium, iron, potassium, phosphorous, zinc, and they are a power house for Vitamin A, C, E and K. Believe it or not, they are also crammed high with fiber, folic acid, chlorophyll and many other micro-nutrients and phyto-chemicals – you just can’t get any better than this. For summer, however, here are two to really take advantage of:

1) Lovage – according to K’Eogh, an 18th century Irish herbalist, this strong scented herb, “expels flatulence; clears the sight; removes spots, freckles and redness; provokes urination and menstruation; and aids digestion … and is aptly used in love potions”. Sounds like the makings for fabulous salad fixins’ to me!

"Glorious Summer Greens" »

Posted by Angie at 03:00 PM | Permalink

On average 30% of foods in our daily diet are processed foods. These are foods that come in a box or a can and have many ingredients that are hard to pronounce, containing food starches, gums, preservatives, and colorings. Many processed foods have to be enriched, adding inorganic minerals and vitamins to compensate for the nutrition lost in the processing of the food. Some people believe enriched foods are good enough, and we will be able to absorb their nutrients sufficiently to benefit from them. But what about the great increase in type II diabetes in the past few years, seen especially now in children? What about the increase in Attention Deficit Disorder and behavioral problems in schools? Adults are now getting symptoms of Alzheimer’s more quickly than before, and are suffering from chronic diseases earlier in life.

The first suggestion I tell parents who are struggling with a hyperactive child is to stay away from any food colorings, especially the added colorings in juices, cereals, snacks, and vitamin supplements. These food colorings affect the functioning of the nervous system. Our liver cannot break down these chemicals and they affect our neurotransmitters, and eventually our thinking ability. It is amazing the amount of food coloring found in processed foods. Significant increases in hyperactivity occur after getting 20 mg. of food coloring per day, which is much less than the amount found in many processed foods today.

"Food Additives Affect Behavior" »

Posted by Angie at 11:24 PM | Permalink

Everyone can benefit from understanding how food affects our mood

“Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food,” wrote the eminent Greek physician Hippocrates during the dawn of western medicine. We took his advice. Thousands of years later we use chicken soup to nourish our bodies, yet we question whether the right food choices can heal our mind. Some people are sure.

Inspired by personal experience, Amanda Geary founded the UK’s Food and Mood Project in 1998. “I started the Food and Mood Project following from my own experience of recovery from depression where I noticed that what I was eating was having an effect on my emotional and mental health,“ says Geary. “In 1998 I won an award from Mind, the UK's leading mental health charity, to start the Project and help others to explore the links between what we eat and how we feel.”

The Food and Mood Project is extensive. Geary’s fascination with the relationship between nutrition and mind has prompted a website, www.foodandmood.org, online support group, handbook, posters and large-scale survey. This recruited 200 individuals between the ages of 26 and 55 who lived in London or SE England. The results were substantial. Says Geary: “From the Food and Mood Survey results, those using this form of self-help found that cutting down or avoiding potential food stressors like sugar (80%), caffeine (79%), alcohol (55%) and chocolate (53%) and having more food supporters like water (80%), vegetables (78%), fruit (72%) and oil rich fish (52%) had the most beneficial effects on mental health.”

"How Food Affects Mood" »

Posted by Angie at 07:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

This has got to be the biggest controversy in modern bodybuilding. Bodybuilders will say you've got to consume loads of protein to pack on quality muscle mass and increase strength. Nutrition experts say that you must eat a high carbohydrate diet, particularly complex carbs, to improve strength and size, and say that a high protein is of no benefit.

Who is right? You could say both are right. Only a few studies have been carried out looking into high protein intake and improvements in strength and muscle size. The results are inconclusive. Study design was poor, often only having very few subjects, who may be over-training or under-training. Other aspects of diet were often overlooked and most were only carried out on novice weight trainers who may not know how to train correctly. Also, the topic of anabolic steroids is avoided which does increase demand for protein.

Protein

Muscle consists mainly of two proteins, actin and myosin. The turnover rate of amino acids in these proteins is high, and increases upon stimulation such as exercise. If the muscle is worked to maximum effort like during a correctly executed bodybuilding workout, turnover is extremely high. Hence, there is a large demand from the body's pool of amino acids. High carb fans say this demand can be met by only a moderately higher than normal protein intake. High protein fans argue very high levels of protein are needed to meet demand. Bodybuilders who have plateaued in their gains for long periods, have dramatically increased their protein intake and started making gains. Also anabolic steroids increase the rate of protein synthesis within muscle cells, further increasing demand for protein.

"Protein or Carbohydrates?" »

Posted by Angie at 08:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

As early as in our 30's, our eyes and vision can begin to deteriorate. Wind, dust, chlorine fumes, automobile fumes, smoking, freezing temperatures and physical injury are examples of threats to healthy eyes and good vision. Long hours spent at a computer screen and the vibration from driving have a cumulative negative impact on eye health over time.

Healthy vision is related to the health of the individual parts of the eye – the cornea, iris, macula, lens, optic nerve, pupil, retina and the vitreous humor. And what we eat or ocular nutrition is one of the ways that eye health and good vision can be supported. Information provided by the U.S. National Eye Institute and the results of other ocular nutrition studies have shown that using nutrition to improve and support eye health definitely happens.

Here are foods that are known to improve eye health:

Collard greens, kale and spinach - studies show that eating foods rich in carotenoids is associated with reduced risk of developing age-related macular degeneration. Foods rich in carotenoids are leafy green vegetables such as spinach, collard greens and kale. Macular eye nutrition becomes increasingly important as we get older.

Green vegetables and corn - a study on ocular nutrition has shown a reduced risk of developing cataracts for persons having diets higher in lut