Learn about starchy vegetables that are higher in carbohydrates.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Atkins Diet Misconceptions: Ketogenic diets and Cancer Risk
Sunday, August 29, 2010
The Importance of Macronutrition
Macronutrients should take up the largest portion of your diet. This category of nutrients includes carbohydrates, protein and fat. Your body uses macronutrients for energy, growth and repair. Different types of macronutrients do different things for your body, so it is important to get variety in your daily diet, so that you get the right types of each class of macronutrient.
CARBOHYDRATES come in two forms:simple and complex.
Simple carbohydrates are sugars that don't need to be broken down further, so the body can use them for quick boosts of energy.
Honey, maple syrup, soda, cookies, candy, table sugar and cakes are all sources of simple sugars, but since they are also high in calories, they should only be eaten occasionally. Instead, it is important to eat healthy sources of simple sugars, like fruit and fat-free or low-fat milk. These alternatives to sugary sweets offer vitamins, minerals and fiber as well.
Complex carbohydrates are larger, digest more slowly and provide longer-lasting energy. Foods like bread, pasta, rice, oatmeal, corn and starchy vegetables (like potatoes and carrots) contain the highest amounts. Sources you should choose most often are vegetables, beans and whole-grain, high-fiber breads and cereals.
The right carbohydrates are either complex carbohydrate or fibre and generally supply additional healthy trace elements and phytonutrients, as well as energy and should have a low-glycaemic index.
The glycemic index is a way of measuring the rate at which carbohydrates are broken down and appear in the blood as simple sugars.
Those foods that result in a rapid rise in blood sugar often have a high glycemic index. Carbohydrates that are broken down slowly and cause only a moderate, controlled increase in blood sugar often have a low glycemic index. Some carbohydrates fall in between.
High-glycaemic foods provides quick energy, but it is usually short-lived and hunger soon returns. This crash stimulates many energy responses in our body chemistry, stressing our organs. Most convenience foods and many meal replacements and diet products on the market to-day are high-glycemic.
Low-glycemic foods provide greater satiety and sustained energy. By virtue of their slow digestion and absorption, low-glycemic foods can help control appetite and delay hunger.
PROTEIN
A healthy diet includes a variety of high-quality protein sources, including complete proteins, which contain all of the essential amino acids. Protein is what makes up bodily tissues, like the muscles, skin and organs. When you eat food containing protein, your digestive system breaks it down into smaller parts called amino acids. These amino acids are later used by the body to build and repair cells and tissues.
The two main sources of protein are: animal products, like meat, milk, fish and eggs and vegetable protucts, like beans, nuts, seeds and soy. To make sure you get all the essential amino acids, it's important to eat a wide variety of these protein-rich foods, such as lean meat, fish, fat-free and low-fat dairy products, eggs, nuts, seeds and beans.
FATS
Surprisingly, some fat is good for you! Your body needs it for proper brain development, like omega-3 and omega-6, to bring certain vitamins through the brain barrier.
There are two types of fat:saturated and unsaturated.
Beneficial fats are high in essential fatty acids and low in saturated fatty acid.
Unsaturated fat is found in fish, like salmon and tuna, nuts, seeds, avocadoes and most vegetable oils. Most of the fat that you eat should come from these foods.
Saturated fat may increase your risk of heart disease. It is important to limit the amount you consume. No more than 10% of your total daily calories should be derived from saturated fat.
It is found in food that come from animals, like red meat, butter, cheese, milk(except fat-free)and ice cream.
Coconut and palm oils are also high in saturated fat and can be found in many store-bought baked foods.
THE IMPORTANCE OF A LOW-FAT, HIGH-FIBRE DIET.
Diets low in saturated fat and cholesterol and rich in fruits and vegetables and grain products that contain some type of fibre, particularly soluble fibre, have many health benefits.
Unfortunately, the normal diet in to-day's society includes only one-half or two-thirds of the fibre necessary for optimal health. The positive impact of a high-fibre diet is increased when there is a concurrent reduction in the amount of saturated fat consumed.
Trans-fatty acids or trans fat can also raise the risk of heart disease. Trans fat is formed when liquid vegetable oils go through a chemical process called hydrogenation, which makes the oils into solid fat, like shortening and hard margarine. This process increases the shelf life of foods, including the potato chips, cookies and fried food that we consume every day. Trans fat behaves like saturated fat: clogging arteries and increasing LDL-C (bad cholesterol) levels.
Trans fat may also reduce HDL (good cholesterol levels).
The health risks posed by this dangerous fat have prompted many regulatory agencies to require that food manufacturers lists trans fat amounts on all nutritional labels. So when eating packaged foods, try to pick foods labeled 0g trans fat per serving.
All USANA Macro-Opimizers have been analysed and don't contain trans fats. Macro-optimizers are delicious, healthy sources of low-glycemic complex carbohydrates, complete proteins and beneficial fats in the right ratio. The Macro-optimizer drinks and bars are easy to take with you, providing a convenient way to maintain a healthy body with a busy lifestyle.
Friday, August 27, 2010
John Tesh Trashing On 'The New Atkins For A New You' Book
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
The Standard American Diet is Sad
Have you heard the acronym term "SAD" which stands for the Standard American Diet? It is sad but true that most Americans are eating poorly. I know what it's like. Not long ago, I used to eat the SAD diet too. I grew up on sugary boxed cereals (alpha bits, apple jacks, sugar pops, frosted flakes, etc.), wonder bread, canned pasta (ravioli, spaghettios), cookies (Mallomars, girl scout thin mints, Pepperidge Farm butter cookies, etc.), and convenience foods (hamburger helper, tuna helper, boxed potatoes, etc.). I thought nothing of eating a candy bar or cheese doodles. I didn't have a weight problem so what difference did it make?
I should give my Mom some credit for what I ate as a child. We all sat to eat dinner together. She made an effort to give us a full meal of meat, vegetables, and a starchy food like potatoes, corn or rice. She kept a bowl of fruit on the counter. She didn't enjoy cooking though. It was more of a chore. I didn't learn to like cooking from her. In fact, I followed in her footsteps, feeling mostly uninspired in the kitchen. I found grocery shopping a boring chore as well.
I didn't enjoy cooking and shopping until I studied nutrition. A whole new world was opened to me. In fact, I never would have dreamed of being a cook or a nutritional health counselor ten years ago. I was working as a graphic artist, making a good living, doing a good job. But, something was missing. I felt like I could do "so much" more but I didn't know what that "so much" was.
The turning point was when I had my first child. It was about that time, my mother was diagnosed with colon cancer. I became keenly aware of the need to keep well to be there for my child through much of her life and to avoid getting a devastating illness like cancer. I always had an interest in health and wellness though. I grew up as an athlete. I never smoked. I tried to eat well with what knowledge I had about nutrition.
I started investigating programs for studying nutrition and fitness. The Institute for Integrative Nutrition caught my eye and resonated with me. After reading a few of their catalogs, I knew I had found a school and a new career path in the fascinating field of nutrition and health.
I became enlightened. I saw how the SAD diet was hurting me and how it hurt my Mom, eventually taking her down the path of cancer. I began making changes, little by little, step by step, choice by choice. I wasn't getting my information from the food industry nor the pharmaceutical industry. They are big business and they have one priority in mind, making money... at the expense of our health. Now we pay exorbitant fees for health care. When are businesses going to see the link between wellness and reduced health care costs and start educating their workers on how to get and stay well? A little bit of money for wellness goes much farther than a lot of money for reactionary medicine which oftentimes does more harm than good!
Don't fall prey to all that fancy marketing for food and drugs. The truth lies in nature -- mother nature. No one makes food better than mother nature. Forgo the processed, chemicalized, nutrient-poor, junk foods. There is a reason why pretzels and lollipops are cheap -- you get what you pay for. Eat from nature, the way you were intended to eat. Get help if you are stuck.
Monday, August 23, 2010
A Simple Meal Plan For Type 2 Diabetes!
When you learn you have type 2 diabetes you start to realize diet is more than a lifestyle choice ... it is really the key to controlling the course of your condition. When first diagnosed with diabetes many take a deep breathe for different reasons, one of the reasons being the fact they need to work out a way to normalize their blood sugar levels. Another is they need to work out how they are going to adjust to a different eating plan, one that does not include sugar and desserts.
Years ago, as soon as someone was diagnosed with diabetes, they were sent along to see a registered practicing dietitian for help with a new eating plan. This is not the rule any more. Nevertheless your eating plan can "make or break" you when you have type 2 diabetes.
Here is the basis of a simple meal plan that works for most diabetics, and should include:
a protein food
whole grain food
non-starchy vegetables
fruit
small amount of fat
a beverage
This is the equivalent of one meal.
1. Protein food is lean beef, turkey, fish, chicken, eggs, or wild meat. Dairy products such as cheese, cottage cheese or fat free yogurt can be included.
2. Wholegrain foods include brown rice, rye bread, whole wheat bread, 7-grain bread, oat bran, or quinoa. This category of food could be substituted with a starchy vegetable such as peas, corn or potatoes
3. Non-starchy vegetables could include tomatoes, onions, mushrooms, okra, green beans, broccoli, asparagus, cauliflower, lettuce, spinach, cabbage, peppers, zucchini and radishes.
4. Fruit means one serving only of a medium sized apple, pear, peach or nectarine. Or one cup of berries, watermelon, cherries, grapefruit, or orange. One serving also means two fresh figs or ten grapes.
5. A small amount of fat means one teaspoon butter or virgin olive oil.
6. A beverage is tea or coffee. The type of tea you use can be herbal teas including:
red raspberry, red zinger, green tea, yerba mate, peppermint, chamomile
spearmint, catnip, or ginseng
and many of the good-tasting tea blends available in the market place
Using a simple healthy eating plan such as this, as a basis, is one way to commence your way back to eating in a way to break the cycle of obesity and insulin resistance, and to help you maintain a healthy weight. You don't have to give up tasty meals in order to reverse type 2 diabetes.
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Energy Function - 2/2
Thursday, August 19, 2010
How to Lose 10 Lbs in a Week
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Burn Stomach Fat - Easy Steps to Shrink Belly Fat
Is your goal to burn stomach fat quickly? If it is, this article is for you. Read on to find out the 7 steps to burn fat from your stomach -
Burn Stomach Fat
1. Set a goal that's somewhat flexible because you may not appreciate what a comfortable weight is until you have reached it. That means you can maintain it while eating enough that you don't feel as if you're starving.
Once you reach your target, you can adjust your goal if you decide you're still not happy with the way you look or feel. Or you may find that your target weight is just too difficult to maintain and you would feel more comfortable - in terms of what you can eat and how much you can exercise, if you nudged it slightly.
Ultimately, you will want to settle on a weight that makes sense for your health, your body and your lifestyle!
2. Farewell Fats - regardless of whether you're using healthy olive and sunflower oils instead of butter or lard to taste, baked or fired food, all fats have the same high calorie content and will add weight if used in excess. Cutting out one tablespoon daily of any kind of fat or oil - by dry frying food in a non-stick pan, grilling, baking or simply using a quick blast of spray oil - can see you go down a full clothing size in a year.
3. Get some carbo into your system - that is complex carbs. Complex carbohydrate are a saintly group - they consist of wholegrain breads, cereals, legumes, rice, pasta, starchy vegetables and fruits. If you combine complex carbs with protein, it actually causes a series of fat burning reactions to occur. Complex carbs like protein require more energy to be digested. When both are present they work together to spur your metabolism on to feed the muscle and burn the fat. Eating sensibly and including all good groups will bring success. The right fuel for your body will turn you into a mean, lean machine! Hence try to cut down on the white rice, white bread and other processed foods and add more whole-grains into your meals!
4. Giving up that little hit of sugar in your tea or coffee may seem a sacrifice, until you realize that 2 teaspoon feels in 3 daily cups represent a massive 8 pounds of weight in 1 year. So replace sugar with sweeteners or give it up altogether and you'll trim down and have more stable blood glucose.
5. Snack - A late afternoon snack will keep you from gorging at dinner.
A good snack can be a cup of yogurt, an ounce of nuts and a large piece of fruit. This is a good mix of carbs, protein and fat. The combination also supplies the nutrients you need to keep your blood pressure and cholesterol in check.
6. Research shows that it is never too late to start being physically active. Regardless of the intensity level, people of all ages can benefit their health greatly by starting some moderate intensity exercise. Moderate activity like brisk walking for 30 minutes a day, 3 to 4 days a week is great for the body. However, if you're really serious about burning fat from your stomach, you will need to step it up a notch - by taking an activity that will make you huff and puff (but training within your fitness level).
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Want to Get Rid of Candida? What You Need to Eliminate Candida!
Are you struggling with Candida and just want to get rid of Candida for good? If so then this could be the most important article you can possibly read. Find out now what the 3 critical steps are in order
So let's begin, here now are some changes you should be incorporating into your daily life so that Candida is no longer an issue for you!
Cleansing: How candida becomes a problem is by sitting around in the body long enough to allow it to create massive amounts of fermentation, to correct this you will need to focus attention upon elimination. In order to increase elimination a colon cleanse, aloe vera and triphala are all excellent methods. The key to being free from illness is having the channels of elimination constantly open so nothing sits around in the body but instead is constantly moved out.
Eating Right! You will need to consume a diet of foods that are low in sugar, high in fiber. The ideal foods for this purpose are non-starchy vegetables. Eating foods which are high in beneficial bacteria on a consistent basis will prevent problems. Proper digestion is key to eliminating Candida and by eating the right foods to get the job done you'll have a much easier time eliminating it for good!
Anti-Fungals: There are numerous anti-fungals which you can use, the key is to use the right ones and know how to use them. A lot of people don't realize that garlic alone cannot eliminate a chronic candida overgrowth, although garlic is highly touted. Large doses of certain acids can help however as will a routine of powerful probiotics with prebiotics. For best results, you need a complete plan which will not only destory the candida but effectively sweep it out of your digestive system and body.
Friday, August 13, 2010
Morning Glory: Top 10 GI Breakfasts
Breakfast is a very important meal -- it can either make or break your day. Why? Because your body can't run on empty.
That's why it's so important to refuel in the morning. Taking that "engine analogy" one step further, your engine won't run with sugar in the gas tank. That's why your breakfast meal should be high-test fuel, the type of fuel that will get you out on the highway, operating smoothly.
The eDiets GI Diet plan incorporates research that supports including high-fiber, unrefined carbohydrates, such as whole grains and whole grain cereals and breads, plus starchy vegetables, crunchy and cruciferous vegetables, whole fruit and lean protein. It excludes foods that contain trans fat and limits those with saturated fat.
There are many studies that show unprocessed, whole foods are digested and absorbed more slowly than refined, processed foods. Research supports lowering the risk for heart disease and diabetes by following a diet like the Glycemic Impact plan.
A study published in the November 2003 Journal of Pediatrics showed that children who ate low GI, high-fiber breakfasts were less hungry and ate less for lunch than those kids eating a breakfast of refined sugary cereals.
A study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition concluded that people who eat refined grains stripped of fiber are more likely to gain weight and be overweight compared to people eating high-fiber whole grains.
These are just examples of many more studies that prove that avoiding refined, processed carbohydrates is one of the best things you can do for your health and your weight.
The following breakfasts are just a small sampling of what men and women following eDiets GI Diet get to choose from every day.
Start Your Day the Low GI Way
1. Steel cut oats and raisins with nonfat milk Whole grain breakfast cereals like whole oats contain protein and fiber, and stay with you throughout the morning. Although raisins have a high glycemic index, their glycemic load is low, because in the proper portion size (2 tablespoons) it fits into your healthy diet.
2. Crunchy yogurt parfait You'll love this layered parfait of protein powder-fortified nonfat yogurt, wheat germ, chopped walnuts and blueberries.
3. Cottage cheese berry delight Low fat cottage cheese is a good source of protein and goes well with any berry that's seasonal.
4. Southwestern omelet, whole wheat toast and grapefruit Use egg substitute or two egg whites and one yolk; saute in a nonstick pan with diced onions, and green and red peppers. Add a quarter-teaspoon of chili powder, then add eggs and cook until set. Serve topped with a tablespoon of salsa. Round out this meal with whole wheat toast and half a grapefruit.
5. Cheese and tomato sandwich with avocado Enjoy with whole grain bread and low-fat cheese of choice (I like low fat provolone). A quarter-cup of mashed avocado provides healthy monounsaturated fat that's quite satisfying and tasty.
6. Eggless egg sandwich Enjoy this sandwich for breakfast or lunch. It's made with firm tofu, egg-free mayonnaise, Dijon mustard and garlic to taste. Serve on whole grain English muffin with cantaloupe.
7. Mexican cottage cheese Toast a sourdough or whole wheat English muffin and top with 1% or fat-free cottage cheese and salsa. Serve with a cup of cantaloupe.
8. Berry Nutty Yogurt Parfait Another easy-to-love parfait that incorporates seasonal berries with a sprinkle of nuts and wheat germ. This combo works well together to achieve stable blood glucose and sustains you throughout the morning.
9. Vegetarian pita pocket Quickly sauté onions, mushrooms, green pepper and diced firm tofu in a nonstick pan. Add a couple of teaspoons of tomato sauce, season with onion and garlic powder, and serve in a whole-wheat mini pita pocket.
10. Cold (low GI) cereal with milk or dairy substitute and fruit Choose a cereal with at least 10 grams of fiber per serving -- one that's low in sugar. Good choices include Kashi GoLean, Fiber One, or All Bran. Add 2 tablespoons of slivered almonds, your choice of 1% or nonfat milk or unsweetened soy or rice milk, and one cup of high-fiber berries.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
LLVLC On YouTube: Fresh Express Low-Carb Greens (Episode 50)
Monday, August 9, 2010
For Postpartum Weight Loss - Triple Your Fruits and Veggies
Soon you will have to say it to your kids: eat your veggies! But if you are truly serious about postpartum weight loss, you need to actually eat them yourself!
One good rule of thumb for optimum postpartum weight dropping is to be sure you eat 2-4 servings of raw fruit or veggies with every meal and for every snack. Period. If you don't see something on your plate that is still in the form nature made it, (raw or only lightly cooked) then you are not getting the best weight loss meal possible.
Be careful with eating too many starchy root vegetables like carrots and potatoes. These veggies, while still a better choice than potato chips, can hinder weight loss with their high starch content. Also, keep in mind that corn is a high-starch grain, NOT a vegetable, and should be treated as such when dieting. For serious postpartum weight loss, avoid eating too much of these types of starchy food.
Be sure you look for brightly colored fruits and veggies; greens and yellows, reds and purples. Eat a rainbow of things that grew from the ground to ensure you will see the most results and get the most nutrients while you are working toward your post natal goals.
Not only are raw veggies and fruits low calorie, they are full of healing enzymes. The body is a remarkable and complex machine. So much more is going on than most people really understand. Quite often, excess weight is the result of something far more diabolical than just too much food and not enough exercise.
When working toward postpartum weight loss, keep in mind that there are other factors such as hormonal imbalance, edema (swelling and retaining of fluids) and histamine reactions (basically allergies) at work in your system. The wrong kinds of food are major contributors to these problems.
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Atkins Diet Controversy - How many Veggies on Induction?
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Anti Aging Secrets - Part 1
As you age, you might constantly seek ways to stay younger looking. You can't turn back the hands of time literally, but you can seek ways to keep the clock moving slower in terms of how it looks on you.
There are many methods to slowing down time on your skin. Let's look at five: Diet, exercise, sleep, meditation, and a no smoking rule. And guess what? When you combine these changes with a good anti aging cream, your results are even better.
Diet
It's true what they say - you are what you eat. When you eat a diet that's full of preservatives and unhealthy additives, you are feeding your body and skin that artificial stuff that can only serve to take a toll on your body and your skin.
On the contrary, when you eat a diet that's full of good things, your skin drinks it up, and says more supple and taut. What is a good diet? Most experts recommend a good mix of the following:
Fish (for the Omega fatty acids)
Plenty of vegetables (choose more of the non-starchy variety)
Lots of fresh fruit
Water
Whole grains in moderation
It really comes down to this-the best diet is that which is simple and whole. Whole foods are those that are closest to how they are found in nature. Those are the foods that feed your body (and skin) the best.
Exercise
We all think of exercise as beneficial for controlling our weight, but the reality is that it's excellent for the skin as well. When you exercise, you release endorphins that benefit the skin. Your skin benefits from exercise by staying taught and firm. Though you can exercise too much (which can result in a pained and aged look) most people who enjoy moderate exercise of 30 minutes to an hour a day will see improvement in their skin.
Exercise also reduces stress, which can help you age more gracefully as well.
Sleep
You've likely heard this before and for good reason - sleep is essential. Call is "beauty sleep", call it what you like. The reality is that sleep is good for your health in many ways. Researchers have discovered that a lack of sleep can contribute to a higher rate of stroke and heart disease.
But aside from the major health benefits, getting enough sleep (at least 7 hours a night) is good for your skin. It's during sleep that the cells regenerate themselves and the skin refreshes itself. Getting enough sleep, then, truly does contribute to the "beauty" of your skin.
Meditation
In the realm of lifestyle choices, meditation is a good one to adopt. When you meditate, you learn how to slow down your breathing and relax. Relaxation is good for skin and can help you to relax the muscles of your face. That, in turn, helps your skin age more gracefully.
No smoking
When you're young and carefree, you might be able to smoke without much detriment to your skin (though there is detriment to your overall health). But as you age, everything must be watched with caution and smoking is no exception.
Smoking can cause wrinkle and sagging of the skin. Most of all, it makes the skin look gaunt and dull, not bright and taut, like young-looking skin should appear. It also makes your skin thinner, which can result in many problems like bruises, age spots and a tissue paper look that will get worse as you age.
There are many things that are good for your skin as you age and just as many that are bad. Take note of the good things and apply them to your life for the best skin you can have as you have.