Food Cravings? Here Is What Your Body Really Wants.

Don't think about pink elephants....
Don't think about pink elephants....
Don't think about pink elephants....
What are you thinking about?
PINK ELEPHANTS
I'm on a diet, and this time it will work.
I'm not going to eat chocolate...
I'm not going to eat chocolate...
I'm not going to eat chocolate...
What do you want to eat?
CHOCOLATE!!! NOW!
Ummh... now this one doesn't seem rocket science to me. Whenever we tell ourselves NOT to do something or think about something, it seems to happen and we want it all the more.
It's like if I tell my children not to spill something, like a full drink they are carrying to the table... yes, you guessed it, within 2 seconds they've spilt it all over the floor! This is because I've placed a suggestion/thought/idea into their head, which potentially leads to a behaviour. So here's a tip for all you parents of messy children out there, instead of:
'Don't spill that drink', use 'Make sure you keep that all in the cup'. You'll be surprised how well it works!
So, how does this relate to food and cravings?
When we start to introduce restrictions into our diet, and tell ourselves we are NOT going to eat something for the next x months, our brain thinks about that food more than we would normally do. Infact it seems, all the time! How many people went on the Atkins Diet, which restricts carbohydrates, only to sit there dreaming and drooling over having a thick fresh wedge of home baked bread or hot buttered toast or creamy mashed potatoes or chunky crispy chips?!! (What are you thinking about now?!) I bet they never experienced these incessant cravings before commencing the diet!
Can you see just what an amazing powerful tool our brains are? Through suggestion, I have probably just made you hungry for some of your favourite carbohydrates. When we banish something, are brain starts to think and quite often fantasize over things, until we 'give in' to temptation.
So here's the trick, are you ready? It's very complex... Allow yourself to eat whatever you like! Yes, that's it. It really truly is.
Now, I can feel the panic rising already... 'If I allow myself to eat whatever I like, I'll be constantly pigging out on crisps or chocolate or biscuits or cakes or cheese or bread or chips..., I couldn't do that'.
OK, to help you, you will need to put in a couple of other steps first (which you can read in my previous articles or blogs)
STEP 1
Eat when you are physically hungry and stop when you are physically full
Not for all the other reasons, e.g. emotional, tired, bored, stressed etc.
STEP 2
Really listen to what your body tells you it wants to eat, not what the diet industry tells you you SHOULD eat. You will be surprised that your body craves a wide variety of different nutrients, when you truly listen to it.
STEP 3
See all food as equal, and do not deny yourself anything
STEP 4
Eat slowly, chew, really enjoy and taste your food. Food is there for pleasure as well as nutrition.
In a 1930s experiment, over a 30 day period scientists gave a group of toddlers unlimited access to foods ranging from ice-cream to spinach. While they each chose different foods at different times, every single child in the study ended up eating what was considered a balanced diet, not just the food junk you would presume.
The key is to trust your body and it will start to regulate itself. It will not require 4 bags of crisps, when you relax and eat for physical hunger, your mind only wants to eat those crisps when you deny yourself certain foods.
Banish those cravings forever, by eating when you are physically hungry, and what your body tells you it needs or wants to eat, and don't deny yourself anything. And remember, you can't eat a pink elephant all at once!
Vanessa Heaps is a Weight Management Specialist based in the UK. She helps people to become their dream weight, for the rest of their lives, without dieting. Vanessa concentrates on helping people to think themselves slim using NLP techniques. She believes that people can regain their passion and enthusiasm for food and eating through giving up dieting forever, as diets only work in the short term.


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Tips For Making Nutrition And Fitness Greater Priorities

Do you know that one family that always seems to keep so healthy and trim? What is it about their lifestyle that you are not doing to keep your family fit? More often than not it is simply a matter of having a more thorough health education. Here are seven ways you can educate yourself and your family to make health and fitness a priority.
1. Work as a Team
In order to get the whole family involved, you need to increase their buy-in. Giving everyone a voice leads to greater participation. Sit down as a family to discuss your lifestyle choices and set some healthy goals you can work towards as a team.
2. Don't Starve
Most diets are very restrictive, and result in people simply eating less. When you do not eat right, your body initiates production of the hormone Ghrelin which causes you to become insatiably hungry. The result is that you end up over indulging on unhealthy foods when you could have simply had plenty of healthy snacks, such as almonds or carrots, throughout the day.
3. Automate Meals
As Americans, we are infamous for skipping the most important meal of the day. The reason breakfast is so important is because it is the first thing you have eaten in 8-9 hours, and determines your hunger levels throughout the whole day. Instead, pick a few staples for breakfast and lunch that are quick and easy, and eat those every day. Use dinner as your meal to get creative.
4. 30 Minutes a Day
Try to get 30 minutes of exercise every day, if you can at your home. If you have to drive somewhere to exercise, you make it more difficult on yourself to keep up with it every day. If need be, split up the 30 minutes into two sessions of light, gentle exercise like walking, running, cycling, body weight resistance exercises, and weight training.
5. Be The Decision-Maker
When it comes to food, whatever you buy your children will eat. If you buy them chips and cookies, they (and probably you, too) will eat them. After this, if you try to restrict them, it will cause them to crave those unhealthy foods even more. Instead, avoid bringing those foods into the house to begin with. Keep fresh fruit and vegetables chopped in the refrigerator, and have nuts, pretzels, and other wholesome snacks on hand.
6. Eat Dinner Together
The simple ritual of sitting down together as a family for a nightly meal places a priority on nutrition and proper eating habits in your family values. Additionally, this simple act has been shown to improve parent-child relationships, and increase academic performance.
7. Play Together
An important part of your exercise regime, should be pure, unadulterated play. Whether that means putting on music and dancing around, kicking a soccer ball around, rough-housing or anything that brings out your inner child.


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Universal Truths in Nutrition

The most famous health quotation that I have heard since my childhood is "An apple a day keeps the doctor away." I realized the importance of apples when I grew up and understood the meaning of this saying. Apples are no doubt a super food which has one of the best balanced quantities of natural elements in it that keeps you healthy and strong. The most potent flavonoid found in apples is quercetin, which is also a powerful antioxidant. Apples are an excellent source of fiber as well. Don't forget that when you are eating an apple with its skin it contains five grams of fiber in total and that is a good quantity.
Apples are also very famous because of its look which is red and juicy. The majority of its phytochemicals and fiber is filled in the colorful exterior that you see and get attracted. Therefore it is suggested that one should eat an apple with its skin. Apple is the only fruit that has this much popularity that we hear this saying "An apple a day keeps the doctor away" otherwise we don't hear usual saying about other fruits so common.
The nutrients, fiber, and flavonoids in an apple work to keep you healthy in several ways. Many people from medical science and many nutritionists also prove this fact by presenting a lot of researches conducted. It is a fruit with no side effects at all. It fights high blood pressure according to a research conducted by the journal of nutrition in 2007, it is proved that quercetin in this fruit helps to lower blood pressure in humans. Another very natural healthy benefit of this fruit is that they help you lungs to process properly. The flavonoids I just mentioned works like anti histamines and anti-inflammatory agents to reduce severity of asthma attacks and allergic symptoms. It strengthens the respiratory system of your body and makes you feel better.
Like many super foods, this fruit also prevent cancer as said in the Journal Prostate in 2008 that, in laboratory tests quercetin slows the growth of cancerous cells without harming prostate cells. Don't stop counting because apples also help to make you think clearer and sharper. Yes! They help you to strengthen your nervous system. I bet you haven't heard of this one before. Older people who eat this fruit and drink its juice may have stronger brain functions


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Amazing Facts About Sleep That Will Surely Impress You

Sleep is very essential for every living thing. It is a periodic activity that is closely linked to our body clock and serves as a sort of "defense mechanism," be it a plant or an animal, including human beings.
Here are a few important facts about sleep you probably knew about but never gave them a second thought -
What Goes On As You Sleep - The most important thing that happens is that your body gets a chance to rejuvenate, relax, replace dead cells with new ones, and heal the feeling of fatigue. The brain gets re-charged and important hormones are released that help the tiredness go and you have a feeling of being fresh on waking up.
Need For Sleep - Babies need most sleep - up to 16 hours a day since the cells are growing rapidly in their body. As they grow older, the pattern changes from up to 10-12 hours of sleep in 3 to 12 year olds and 8 hours sleep from 18 to 55, the older persons needing only about 6 hours.
Dreams - dreams are normal and common phenomenon. Curiously men dream about themselves and other men almost 70% of the time, while women dream of women as well as men almost equally. We can dream of only the faces we have already seen sometime, someplace - whether we remember them or not.
Parasomnia Or Sleep Walking - This is a disorder that makes a person do unnatural movements despite being asleep. It can lead to crime resulting from driving; writing bad checks, rape or molestation, etc while one is actually asleep!
Sleep Positions - Sleep positions are also regarded as a sort of key to the type of personality one reflects. To see the various positions, go to my website..
Bonding - Sleeping together increases the bonding. However it is assumed that 1 in every 4 married couples sleep in separate beds.
Dream Recall - Almost 50% of your dream is forgotten within 5 minutes of waking up. Also, within 10 minutes, its 90% gone!
Positive Affirmations - The affirmations made during the hours of wakefulness and semi-sleep have a deep impact on behavior and personality.
Phases Of The Day - Sleep is induced by lack of sunlight in the normal course of our body cycle. This explains why we sleep early when there is no light or sleep late when the room is well lit.
Effect On Health - Without sleep, health deteriorates more rapidly than without food! You may be able to survive starvation for more than ten days, but without sleep for more than 7 days, you might just not survive!


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The Ten Benefits of Drinking Lemon Water Naturally Sweetened With Raw Honey

Fruit juices taken in its natural form will give you the best results. This is what you may have comes across and knowing the fact how fruits are to be eaten that will give you the maximum benefit. Fruits consumed in its wholesome form will truly provide the greatest health benefits in terms of holistic wellness. In relation to rejuvenating a youthful looking appearance and enjoying a tint of glowing skin health, here is a special recommendation. By drinking lemon water or juice mixed with honey, you will discover the many benefits that come along with drinking it regularly. Henceforth, I would have readers here to re-look at the 10 benefits of drinking lemon water or juice. How you can experience the youthful looking vibrant glow of health that you are entitled to no matter what and where you belong to, is what I am sharing in this article.
1. For the beauty conscious, drinking lemon water naturally and on a regular basis without the usual processed white sugar content being added to it but with raw honey will not only make the skin looks better but glow with a tint of health. You may wonder why it is so good in bringing about a beautiful complexion to your overall skin. What it can do, is that it acts as an anti-aging remedy, helping to remove wrinkles or blackheads. In view of its vitamin C content in this citrus, it not only enhances beauty by rejuvenating from within, but also promotes the level of immunity to common illnesses.
2. As a natural antiseptic medicine, it is associated with its marvelous healing properties for a number of skin related problems.
3. Lemon fruits contain anti-bacterial property and it is great in treating and curing throat infections.
4. Lemon water helps in reducing or breaking fever by increasing perspiration and has proven to fight against common cold effectively. It thus paves the way for simple home treatment approaches for folks who are very much comfortable with natural treatment of illnesses.
5. Not only is it able to act as a blood purifier such as in cases where patient is undergoing treatment for Malaria, cholera or dengue fever but also as a cleansing agent. It helps flush out bacteria and toxins from the body. It helps in constipation too.
6. Lemon juice 's ability to help the liver produce more bile, acting as a liver tonic, helping in the digestion of food is also regarded as an agent for gallstones remover.
7. For those with digestion problem such as heartburn, belching and bloating, taking lemon juice mix with hot water will bring much relief. Besides, symptoms of heartburn and nausea could be effectively treated with it. Furthermore, it can help in regulating blood pressure level, having a stabilizing effect to the bodily system.
8. It has been used in dental care as well because it can actually assist in getting rid of pain when apply onto the areas of the toothache. On gum bleeding and bad smell problems related to gums, just applying the massages of fresh lemon juices on gums would have settle the problem.
9. Lemon is a diuretic and therefore great in treating rheumatism and arthritis. Apart from this, it also assists in the treatment of respiratory disorders such as asthmatic patients with breathing problems.
10. Act as a health agent for weight loss, taking lemon juice or water with raw honey added makes for a unique way of reducing body weight to a quicker pace. It greatly works against obesity.
Armed with these amazing facts about lemon, you can now start the habit of taking lemon water or juice, and as one health expert has suggested by taking the lemon whole together with the pulp that provide more added health benefits because of its fiber content in it. For a healthier and youthful glowing face that makes you look younger your age to come about, this simple daily act of drinking lemon juice or water could make a big difference in bringing about a desire change from within.
The author has considered the general interest of readers who have a flair for looking radiant and glowingly healthy to do some study over what helps to make one looking younger his or her age. This is only part of what constitutes to it and for further information, the link may provide added benefit hopefully. [http://theabtwister.org]


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The Limits of High Intensity Interval Training

We've heard about the benefits of high intensity interval training such as you can burn just as many calories as sustained aerobic activity in a fraction of the time. But what are the drawbacks? My goal is to equip you with the balanced truth about high intensity interval training, and the truth comes with balance.
Much like the aerobic wave in the 1980's, the high intensity interval training craze in recent years has the potential to be more than a passing fad. If it is a fad or if it has staying-power, getting comprehensive information is vital in making informed decisions.
1. Intensity Aspect:
Hara suggests performing a HIIT workout at 80% cardio capacity for 15-20 minutes may be more realistic for the non-elite athlete. She argues how many non-athletes can perform a HIIT workout at 100% cardio capacity for 8-minutes?
2. Health Constraints:
HIIT, like any other exercise regimen, can lead to health and safety issues if you don't exercise on a regular basis. Hagikalfa recommends working out 3-5 times a week CONSISTENTLY.
According to the American College of Sports Medicine, you may have an increased risk of heart disease if you have been living a sedentary lifestyle or extended periods of physical inactivity, such as family history, cigarette smoking, hypertension, diabetes (or pre-diabetes), abnormal cholesterol levels and obesity when performing high intensity exercise. You should consult a physician prior to starting this type of training or any exercise regimen as a safety measure.
People with cardio-respiratory conditions and the obese can struggle with regular exercise. Imagine how ramping up to a high intensity interval training workout could exacerbate their problems.
Hagikalfa advises consulting your doctor is especially important considering the level of stress high intensity interval training can put your hearth and respiratory system.
ACSM suggests that you, or your personal trainer, establish a foundational fitness level (often referred to as a "base fitness level") prior to beginning high intensity interval training.
"A base fitness level is consistent aerobic training (3 to 5 times a week for 20 to 60 min per session at a somewhat hard intensity) for several weeks that produces muscular adaptations, which improve oxygen transport to the muscles. Establishing appropriate exercise form and muscle strength are important before engaging in regular high intensity interval training to reduce the risk of musculoskeletal injury, " ACSM reiterated.
Regardless of age, gender and fitness level, one of the keys to safe participation of high intensity interval training is for all people to modify the intensity of the work interval to a preferred challenging level. Safety in participation should always be primary priority, and people should focus more on finding their own optimal training intensities as opposed to keeping up with other persons.
3. Doing Too Much (DTM):
The adrenalin naturally flows when you first start, or get back to, working out. You regret that extra rep you gave the next day when you struggle to get out of bed because of muscle lactation.
Doing too much in high intensity interval training can lead to excessive muscle soreness, and in extreme cases, rhabdomyolysis (where the muscles break down muscle fibers that enter the bloodstream and poisons the kidneys) according to University of Virginia exercise physiologist and researcher Shannon Slovenski.
Furthermore, too much high intensity interval training will hinder your ability to see gains in resistance training and cardio-vascular training.
Tony Gentilcore, CSCS of Cressey Performance near Boston said, "Too many people go to the extreme, performing three or times high intensity interval training sessions a week. But even athletes do intervals once or twice a week."
Aerobic effects:
A 2009 study revealed that aerobic changes that occur with high intensity interval training are similar, and some cases higher, to aerobic changes that occur with continuous aerobic training according to Micah Zuhl and Len Kravitz PhD. The study "showed that 4 repetitions of 4-minute runs at 90%-95% of heart rate maximum (HRmax) followed by 3 minutes of active recovery at 70% HRmax performed 3 days per week for 8 weeks resulted in a 10% greater improvement in stroke volume than did long, slow distance training 3 days per week for 8 weeks."
In short, you get more bang for your buck in increasing your aerobic capacity with high intensity interval training.
http://www.charmcitysportsinsider.com/high-intensity-interval-training-truth/ gives comprehensive data and information about the HIIT craze.


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How to Look Great Without Makeup by TM Huang

I have noticed that more and more women wear makeup these days. Once, I watched a silly American reality show called The Bachelor and believe it or not, there was a contestant in the show that had her makeup on even when she went to bed! No wonder the beauty industry continues to thrive.
Anyway, while makeup does help us women (and sometimes men) to bring out and enhance some of our features, sometimes it is good for us to allow our skin to breathe and also to let our most natural-looking self shine. If we wear make up 5 days a week to work, why would we want to wear the same amount of makeup again on the weekends when we have our friends or family with us at home? In order to look great without makeup, there are a few basic things we should be aware of...
SLEEP
Getting enough sleep is absolutely crucial to looking your best in the morning. I am sure we have all experienced going out late and then waking up really early the next day for work - only to look really, really terrible. What would we do in a situation like that? Slap on tons of make up on our faces so we would look at least presentable of course! Well, that says a lot about the importance of a good night's sleep. If we get enough sleep, we will wake up with a fresh face, ie. no puffy eyes, no eye bags, no dehydrated skin and no tired-looking face. With a fresh face, we can go anywhere without makeup and still look great!
SMILE
I love it when people are generous with their smile. When one smiles, it instantly brightens up the whole face - and the whole room. You won't need any makeup when you wear a smile on your face.
PERSONAL HYGIENE
I think this goes without saying. No one could possibly look good bare-faced when they do not take care of their own hygiene. Even those who do wear makeup need to have clean personal hygiene. Personal hygiene includes having clean hair, clean nails, clean teeth, clean clothes, fresh breathe and well... it generally means a clean you!
POSTURE
Stand tall and proud. While this may not have anything directly to do with your face, your posture makes a big difference to how you look. Compare two people who are without makeup: one who slouches and one who stands (or sits) straight. Which of them will leave a better impression? All things being equal, the slouchy one would come across as someone who seems unkempt, while the proud one would come across as someone who takes care of herself and thus, looks better.
CONFIDENCE
Yes, confidence is everything. If you get enough sleep, you smile, you have a good personal hygiene and you keep your posture right BUT you are lacking in confidence... then it will show. As women nowadays wear makeup so often, a lot of them would feel quite naked and vulnerable when they are stripped of their makeup. Suddenly their confidence level would go down and they would feel very self-conscious about being seen bare-faced. Therefore, being confident and comfortable in your own skin are crucial to looking great without makeup because you know makeup or not - you are still you and you are proud to be you! And remember - true beauty is from within...
TM is a part-time blogger/writer. She wants to experience more in life and continue to grow as an individual. She has decided to blog to express her thoughts and share her journey towards an extraordinary life with people like you...
Visit her website at http://www.sterlinghappiness.com and connect with her directly!


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5 Healthy Breakfast Ideas

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. A healthy breakfast will improve blood sugar levels, boost the metabolism and reduce the desire to binge on snack foods throughout the day. Studies now prove, people who eat a healthy breakfast are slimmer than those who skip breakfast.
Below are 5 health breakfast ideas that you can begin using today:
1. Super-Fast Omelet: Ingredients: 2 eggs, 2 ounces of diced turkey bacon and ¾ cup of chopped spinach. Method: Whisk the eggs until light and fluffy. Add the bacon and spinach and mix until all ingredients are well combined. Place the ingredients in a microwave safe bowl. Microwave on high for one minute, add a slice of whole wheat toast and you have a perfect breakfast to start your day.
2. Strawberry Smoothie: Smoothies are fast, easy to prepare and are great when you need to get up and go. Ingredients: 1 cup of reduced fat milk, 1 cup of strawberries, ½ cup of yoghurt and 4 ice cubes. Method: Place all the ingredients in the blender on high and mix until smooth. Pour into your favorite cup and enjoy.
3. Lean Mean Veggie And Cheese Wrap: Wraps are quick, healthy and a great way to start the day. Ingredients: 1 flour tortilla, 1 cup of cooked mixed vegetables of your choice, 2 tablespoons of grated low-fat cheddar cheese. Method: Lay the tortilla on a plate and spread the cheese over the top. Microwave the tortilla on medium heat for 40 seconds. Add the vegetables, roll the tortilla and eat while hot.
4. Quick Fruit Salad And Yoghurt: Fruit salad and yoghurt would have to top the list as an all-time breakfast favorite. Ingredients: 1 small banana, 1 small apple, ½ cup of mixed frozen berries and 1 cup of vanilla Greek yogurt. Method: Slice the banana and apple thinly and place in a bowl. Add the berries and toss the ingredients together. Top off the fruit salad with the vanilla yoghurt and enjoy.
5. Homemade Muesli: Low in fat, high in fiber and made just the way you like it. Ingredients: ½ cup of lightly toasted rolled oats, 1 tablespoon of sunflower seeds, 1 tablespoon of plump juicy raisins, ¼ cup of dried banana and pineapple chips, ¾ cup of reduced fat milk. Method: Put all ingredients in a bowl, stir until combined. Add the milk and start your day the right way.
Now you have 5 healthy breakfasts for your work week. Each of the recipes takes just a few minutes to prepare. A healthy breakfast is a great way to begin the day and kick your metabolism into gear.
Discover the advantages of living a healthy lifestyle and see the benefits that a well balanced diet can do for you. For more information about weight loss, healthy living, getting the proper diet and exercise and other usefull health tips go to: Health Tips 101


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The Healthiest Foods on Earth

Health is determined by what you eat. "Let nutrition be your medicine," Aspostolus said.
What is true then has not changed today.
From my research and on-hand materials that I used to study for my Masters in Science in holistic nutrition, and clients who successfully improved health, energy or accomplished weight loss between 10 lbs and 100 lbs, here is my list of the top 10 foods.
These foods were selected for their general health, low toxicity and nutritional value (in terms of protein, fats, carbohydrates, antioxidants, enzymes, vitamins and minerals).
And what is good for your health is great for weight loss and your youngevity. Both go hand in hand.
10 best foods (and why)
Water is the number one nutrient for your body. Without clean, fresh, uncontaminated water, you will not maintain your body's fluid balance, which consists of 90 percent of water. Minerals and many vitamins are transported to our cells with this fluid. Many basic reactions and enzymes require water. To prevent your body from building up toxic compounds, you need to flush them out. This can be accomplished by simply drinking fresh water. Check where your water comes from? Old water pipes may leach into the water system over time. (Many large cities offer free water testing kits. Look into it.)
Eggs can provide all our essential amino acids. Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins. Protein sources are important to maintain and build your muscle tissue and to maintain a healthy immune system. Your body renews itself constantly and to help your body accomplish this task, eggs are a great source for protein. Eggs also supply cholesterol, which is concentrated in the yolk. If cholesterol is an issue, I recommend that you check in with your doctor. Yet, studies have shown that the cholesterol from the egg yolk does not just lower the LDL ("bad") level but also triglycerides while raising HDL ("good") levels. This study was conducted by Harvard University in 1997.
Sardines are great protein sources as well. Besides providing all the essential amino acids, sardines are excellent sources for Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids. These are important for transporting fat-soluble vitamins such as vitamins E,D, and K and COQ10 into the cell. These little swimmers are also powerhouses of minerals. Calcium, magnesium, zinc, and cooper are minerals that support bone health as well as mental health. Another advantage: Sardines are very low on the marine food chain and toxins like mercury don't accumulate in them as they do in other fish.
Flaxseeds = fiber. That means they are a great item for health, weight loss and breast health. Ground flaxseeds provide fiber to improve your digestion transition time. The general population in the U.S. eats around 12 mg of fiber daily. Thirty-five milligrams are recommended for good health. Even in the Stone Age, this amount might have been considered inadequate because much because at least 135 mg of fiber a day was consumed. Fresh-ground flaxseeds are the best source.. The oil as well as the seeds provide essential fatty acids., such as Alpha Linoneic acid.
Olive oil is the fat of the Mediterranean diet. Studies have shown that this diet, high in vegetables, fish, and olive oil, is beneficial for prevention of cardiovascular disease. Olive oil has to be found to lower cardiovascular disease risk because of its monounsaturated fat content.. This type of fat lowers the LDL cholesterol and triglycerides but helps to increase the HDL cholesterol level as well. All are important to prevent cardiovascular disease.
Cruciferous vegetables are power foods. Broccoli, broccoli rabe, cauliflower, bok choy, cabbage, kale, kohlrabi, Swiss chard, mustard greens, and Brussels sprouts provide similar benefits and belong to the same family. I don't want to single out one particular vegetable that belongs to this family. Each and every one of the members of this family is high in minerals, vitamins, folic acid, phytochemicals (isothiocyanate) such as lutein, zeaxanthin, slforaphane, and idole-3-carbinol.
Those phytochemicals help to prevent cardiovascular disease and cancers and may also slow down aging. Antioxidants help protect cell damage that occurs from free radicals that are flowing free in your blood and looking to bind with an extra molecule; which is taken from the your cells.
Berries such as blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, cranberries, and goji berries are chockful of vitamins and minerals. Berries are mostly always in season. And if you can't find them fresh, frozen works as well as they are picked and processed at their peak. Each of the berries is high in phytochemicals, thereby helping to protect us from cardiovascular disease and cancers. If you had to pick one, go blue. Blueberries have the highest oxygen radial absorbance capacity (ORAC) when compared to other fruits. Because berries have a thin skin and do not need to be peeled before consumption, it is best to buy organic, as many berries can be loaded with pesticides.
Lemons are a bile emulsifier. Bile is produced from the liver and stored in a little gland called gallbladder. By adding lemon juice to your diet, you will help your body with weight loss. as your system improves your fat metabolism and cleanses your system of excess fecal mater. Lemons are high in vitamin C, which your body does not produce, and has powerful antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents. All of these can work to prevent high cholesterol and may help prevent and fight cancer. There are two basic types of lemons: acidic and sweet. If you have issues with lemons, then experiment with both kinds to find out which better suits your digestion. Organic lemons are recommended to prevent ingestion of pesticides and fungicide. Caution: Lemon can cause an allergic reaction like wheat and dairy does for some people.
Sprouts are a power plant. Sprouts are miniature versions of the full-grown plant, which can be broccoli, cauliflower, radishes and others. What makes them so powerful is the concentration of nutrients. "Researchers at Johns Hopkins University discovered that broccoli spouts contain anywhere from thirty to fifty times the concentration of protective chemicals found in the mature broccoli plants, including, indole-3-carbinole, one of the cancer-fighting compounds" writes Jenny Bowden in The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth. Carcinogens and free radicals damage your DNA. The high and concentrated amount of antioxidants, photochemical and minerals are the perfect weapon to prevent and protect your systems for various diseases.
Peppers, the green variety, have the highest amount of vitamin C. Your body does not produce vitamin C, which is an important antioxidant to strengthen your immune system, strengthen your arteries and rejuvenate vitamin E. This plant contains lycopene, which has shown to reduce the risk of prostate cancer. Unfortunately, peppers where placed on the "most contaminated with pesticides" list. Therefore, only organic peppers should be consumed and still washed very well.
The foods chosen above are my "Top 10" foods list.
This list addresses protein, carbohydrates, fats, minerals, vitamins, and enzymes, which are essential for longevity and maintaining a healthy disease-free body.
The foods on this list contain the necessary building blocks to fortify your body, maintain a youthful skin and a healthy immune system.
This will help to maintain body weight and may prevent new-century diseases such as cardiovascular disease and cancers when consumed according to your personal BMR (Basal Metabolic Rate).
Stay focused.
Stefan
Europe's Premier Natural WeightLoss Coach
M.Sc. in Nutrition, Affa, Ace, Reebok University
Stefan Aschan, M.S., author of the Alpine Weight Loss Secrets, which teaches you how to outsmart your hormones and lose belly fat without drugs or surgeries. His approach is holistic, scientific and based on centuries of experience from those living in Alpine Environments. He is a certified strength coach, personal trainer and naturopath. Learn more about how to loss weight naturally by visitinghttp://www.alpineweightlosssecrets.com/membership/

Simple Ways of Having A Healthy Day

Skincare products are there to help you achieve a beautiful natural skin tone. It is however important to note that a healthy lifestyle is equally important if you would like to be happy with your life. Put yourself on a healthy diet and perform some simple body exercises to realize just how much transformation you are able to achieve within a short time.


Before your exercises, it is advisable to have a nutritious breakfast. You can get the aid of a nutritionist or even search online if you have no idea which diet works best for your case. You need to be disciplined to ensure that junk food does not get onto the trolley even by 'mistake'. A healthy diet provides you with the necessary nutrients required for your routine workouts. Make sure that you take a lot of water during and after your work-out as this is important in keeping your body hydrated and you can therefore maintain moisturized skin.
Body exercise doesn't have to be done for hours for it to be effective. There are so many people who just dedicate few minutes every day and have seen an impressive body transformation from the workouts. Workout is mostly built on goals. Make it a routine and try different styles that complement each other. Some of the common body exercises recommended for you include yoga and martial arts.
The good thing about these exercises is the fact that they are simple and can be done both indoors. You really don't have to hire the services of a professional to have a good body or skin tone.
Other readily available items that can help with body exercises include skipping ropes, roller skates and hula hoops. Skipping ropes will work on your arms and lower body parts by toning down the muscles in these areas. Hula hoops are good for your waist area and lower body as well. Try using these items in different ways during your workout.
For instance, use a hula hoop the same way you use a skipping rope by skipping into it as you continuously pass your body through it. Such creativity makes body exercises more productive and fun. After your workout, ensure that you freshen up for the day. Taking a shower relaxes your muscles and also allows you to apply your make-ups on a clean skin surface.
Enjoy your life by having some leisure time whenever you can. This allows you to engage in fun activities such as bike riding and having a walk in the park. This helps you relax your mind from the busy activities you've indulged in throughout the day or week.
You could always end your day with a warm shower before having a nutritious dinner. Don't forget your skin care routine before having a good night sleep. This is one of many ways to change your life and have a good day.
Right now, I would like to invite you to access and read new information about Health Informatics, and The Healthy Smoothie Bible

How to Get a Six Pack

Six-Pack Abs for women is now becoming a trend. Many women are now thinking about not only losing weight but, building a sexy, sporty looking body that includes a 'Six-Pack'.
Some women still believe that this is a 'Guy Thing' and shy away, others are scared of developing a body that is too bulky. A body that looks too masculine. What these women need to realise is that no matter how much training they put in, it is almost impossible to achieve bulky muscles unless they have high levels of testosterone. Women who are bulky have either high levels of testosterone or take strong, 'Additives'.
Dietary Preparation
The formula for a women wanting to carve out a solid six-pack is through a nutritionally well balanced diet. The diet must provide enough energy for growth and sustenance.
The diet should include a proper list of foods that are spread out over the day. They need to follow the tips below if they really want to get that six-pack, 'Just Ripped' look and build those muscles in record time!
  1. Your diet should ensure that you eat at least six times per day every day. This rule should not be broken as it will ensure that you have the energy to lift those heavy weights. It also helps to stabilise your blood sugar levels which will keep your cravings at bay whilst maximising your metabolism and energy. You will be constantly feeding your muscles the proteins that they need.

  2. Proteins are needed to build muscle so your diet should contain enough protein. Getting your protein intake right is paramount to building a rock hard six-pack that you can be proud of. You need to know how much you weigh so that you can calculate how many proteins should be in your diet plan. The equation is 1.2 times your total body weight. This total is the amount of protein in grams that you should consume on a daily basis.

  3. It is important that you also eat the right type and amounts of carbohydrates. If you are deadly serious about training for a six-pack, carbs' are very important as they supply your body with the energy that your body needs. Again there is a mathematical equation for this. You need to multiply your lean body mass by 0.8, the total is how many carbs' you need in grams on a daily basis. You need to be ultra careful when it comes to carbs as you have to lose body fat at the same time. If you do not lose fat and get your body fat below 10% you will never be able to put your own six-pack on display as it will always be covered by your own body fat. So, brown rice, oatmeal and similar are the order of the day.

  4. You should also include vegetables with your diet. Green leafy vegetables such as broccoli, green beans and lettuce are ideal. Vegetables can aid your metabolism which will make the absorption of proteins easier and faster. Adding tomatoes to your diet will also help to get rid of any cellulite that you may have.
If you want to build a rock hard, flat, yet sexy Six-Pack you need to visit me Suzie B at http://www.dietnslim.com Opt-In and grab your FREE Dietary and Weight Training eBooks. See you there, where? http://www.dietnslim.com


THINGS HEALTHY PEOPLE DO EVERY MORNING

Being a human we need to eat, sleep and do some work. By eating we take some energy in our body and by the exercise's we do some metabolic steps to break the food. The food we take in our body is large pieces of different contents in form of fat, carbohydrates and most importantly proteins.
This food when goes in, need to be broken down into smaller and smaller molecules so that the food is properly digested and taken by our blood to the respective parts of the body.
For the food to be properly taken in by the different important body parts, it needs to be broken down. This is actually the part of metabolism and what is done by our digestive system. Now if the metabolism is being done by the digestive system at a proper pace and each and every constituent is broken down to so small extent that the each molecule of fat, protein and other carbohydrate are separate then only the need of metabolism is fulfilled.
This is because our body is naturally being designed to take up the all contents in form of small constituent units of food so that the all needs of the body parts are fulfilled by taking in the constituent unit's molecules rapidly in.
Medical science has made a rapid progress with time and is providing man with natural and as well as man made products and exercises to speed up the metabolism rate. Continuous research is being done in various parts of the world to provide people with steps of improving their health by continuously evolving through fast oriented metabolic steps and techniques.
Now since we are talking about the "Metabolism" so why not we should study the methods to improve the metabolism process.
Planning the Right Steps to Boost your Metabolism
Morning walk or run:
The first step we are going to present our readers with is the morning walk or running which fro prehistoric times have proved to be beneficial for the commoners as well as elite for maintaining their health. It has been proved scientifically as well as from medical point of view that the morning walk not only makes one fit and smart but it also increases the blood flow to the veins and arteries thus providing the body parts a very useful metabolic base to increase the process of digestion. The oxygen supply to the mind is greatly increased by the morning walk since it is the time which is usually free of all unnatural stuff.
Medically proved that when one takes one or two cups of water and goes out to walk till the body is covered with enough sweat, and then takes a shower to remove all those sweat and dirt materials covered with body, then that particular person will have a continuous blood supply to all the correspondent body parts and the metabolism will keep on working for whole day at full pace. This morning run provides one a jump start because the body remains in the vegetative state and after getting enough sleep on around 6-8 hours one can start the work right after the exercise.
By doing the early morning walk or running the rate of metabolism remains at elevated level not only during the exercise's but also when you stop running and go for a shower the body will keep on progressing at same elevated rate and thus an added advantage of fast metabolism during whole day. So one will have a sociological, physiological and psychological advantage of continuous blood flow through veins and will also feel more energetic for all the daily life routine works.
So making a list of all we discussed above it comes out like
  • Start up early morning.
  • Take few glasses of water.
  • Go out for walk or running either by foot or by use of some sporting device like bicycle etc.
  • Come back and have a shower to give your body a rest.
  • Now take your early morning breakfast full of protein content in form of eggs, milk, fat free yogurt and natural fruits. You are surely going to have one good day.
Decide either you want to make change or you want to live your rest life like same with your fat belly pulling out of the pants and everyone mocking you. Just stand up for your body and self-esteem and make positive steps for positive change.
How to Boost Your Metabolism by These Foods and Drinks
Now since we have studied in detail the advantages of early morning walk and running so we can have a further understanding of foods that may can help one in increasing the metabolism of the body. There are many natural diet plans and foods that help one in getting rid of the body fats and carbohydrate and increasing the intake of protein so that the metabolic rate can be increased along with the decrease in the fat belly content.
We are mentioning these foods because these natural food diets are the best recipe's along with the exercise's to increase the rate of metabolism and make one feel healthy in whole day long. They are cheaper and easily available in every common market or shop place where one goes for daily products. Some of them are
Whey Protein: The first one in our list is the whey protein which you may heard of especially if you live closer to the body builders. This whey protein is the main diet content of the body builders from around the world for increasing the protein intake and decreasing the fat storage. The whey protein naturally increases the intake of the constituent food molecules into the body along with the increase in the protein intake to all the body parts for fulfilling the needs. Usually the water content is increased along with the whey protein intake so that the body doesn't feel dehydrated a shortage of water.
The whey protein is major source of the Amino acids and when amino acids go directly into the muscles when they are in need of it. When one goes to Gym or do some heavy workout the body muscles tissues break and they need some content in form of protein to make these tisues joined again. Here whey protein plays its part and goes directly towards the broken tissues to join them making the protein a wider content of the muscles. Thus fulfilling the protein needs along with added advantage of increase in metabolic rate.
Acai berries: Have you ever noticed why stress related diseases like Parkinson's, and fatigue syndrome happen to a person. Have you ever came a crossed the damaging free radicals? If not then we are going to tell you about them today, right now!
The damaging free radicals are released very often when one is in some pain or high brain stress due to some daily fatigue or any reason. These free radicals are very much injurious to health and can cause damage to body cells resulting in diseases mentioned above. Now in order to deal with them antioxidants are one way of overcoming the negative impact of these free radicals and they can be taken in the form of fruits.
The acais berries have ten times more antioxidants as compared to the grapes and double when we talk about the blueberries. These antioxidants releasing of the fruits help us in fight against the radicals released in stressed state thus increasing the metabolism as an added advantage.
Fish products: The third one in our list is the fish products which are rich in the protein content and are very much efficient in increasing the metabolism in our body. The lean fish meat products are high in protein and low in the saturated fats. They also provide our body with a vital content Omega 3 which is very much efficient in controlling the cholesterol level and decreasing the fatty acids in the body.
Turkey: Do you know that the vitamin B is considered the most important in the family of Vitamins since they provide the body resistance and immune against the diseases by giving the cells and tissues natural defence. They also help us in fighting against the stress. Turkey is very good source of it for maintaining the protein intake along with the vitamin B intake.
Water intake: We have been blessed with the best liquid intake when we come to advantages of water as the most important part of our daily food intake. The liquid is containing in it molecules and enough inter bonding strength that can make the food particles inter molecular bonds to break and then go into the respective body parts for becoming the permanent element of these body parts.
Daily water intake of many glasses obviously increases your digestive rate. It is being experimentally proved that water must be taken in along with food in suitable amount to deal with the process of digestion. Because solid particles do need liquid for breaking them and getting themselves digested.
Green Tea: If you go to the gym you would have encountered the gym instructor always telling his students to take in green tea small intervals 4-5 times a day. This green tea is naturally being made and increases the metabolic rate of the body by several times. It is being made by natural herbs and ingredients widely found in the brazil and Spanish islands, transported from there and processed in the laboratories to get the best of them.
The green tea also has some other added advantage and that include the brain sharpness, less nausea problem and headache and higher antioxidants intake. It also has some caffeine which can make one feel stress free if he or she is doing their work and in need of something to get rid of the headache. They also save a person from heart and cancer problems.
Hot intake: The next one we are going to focus on is the intake of the hot stuff because of the reason that from the prehistoric times the people have used the hot and spicy food items for decreasing the fat content. So hot pepper and chilli powder is surely one way of not only emitting hot fumes outside of the ears but also increasing the metabolism process chances.
Lemon: Have you ever observed that the people mostly from sub-continent who are into taking heavy meat intake are usually adding the lemon juice into their meat. The reason for this is that the lemon also has an added advantage of metabolising on the meat specifically. They also have a thermo-genic effect.
Protein smoothies: If someone came across Dr Dukans diet plan which is a very famous diet plan being devised by the Dr Dukan in France and whose book later became the best-selling book for continuous 3 years, he must have encountered that Dr Dukans food recopies make special place for the smoothies which also have an added advantage of increase in the metabolic rate along with the serving as a desert.
The Matcha tea: You probably have heard about the green tea but for many people the Matcha green tea would be a new name. This great recipe increases the metabolic rate by almost 4 times greater than the ordinary green tea, especially when one takes it in the breakfast or late in the night to digest the heavy protein meat intake. This Matcha tea is sure not going to make you feel bad due to all its natural ingredients.
7 Things That Slow Down Your Metabolism
While talking about the different techniques to increase the rate of metabolism we must understand the process or habits one must get rid of, or the habits that are causing the health problems to a person. There are many habits prevailing in the societies that are responsible for the slow metabolic mechanisms in human beings and can thus prove to be fatal to their health.
Sitting all day long: The first main reason of decrease in metabolism is the habit of sitting all day long o Pc's and Televisions without allowing your body to move. There are many people who do have their most work on the computers and the people in management sector also have to work by just sitting in their office and doing the procedures accordingly. But one must understand that if he or she doesn't give the body enough exercises or movement, the body parts will not be able to trigger the metabolism process.
No exercise's: Suppose you wake up in morning and take your heavy breakfast and go to workplace. Now you come back and have your dinner and again go to bed after doing daily chores. No isn't this making sense to you that your body is not getting what its asking for? It is asking you loud and clear that give me something to do as well so that I can coupon with your daily routine with full involvement.
Exercises not only make one feel healthy but also make a person healthy and strong I nerves. By the exercises the issues break and then with the higher protein intake they are adjoined again with the increase in the metabolism rate. If someone do not goes to gym or park for a run, Obviously his or her body will remain in dormant state for whole day and ultimately will not be giving the body parts the constituent units to fulfil the needs.
Eating 3 times and heavy food: The next reason of the greater fatty content in the body is the taking of food in higher amount just three times a day thus not allowing the body to take some rest. The digestive system due to this habit will always remain in the digestive mood and the food molecules will not get enough time to get to the body parts.
One must take the food in small intervals around 4-5 times a day. This si the basic technique in body building that the body after exercises is given food intake in regular intervals thus it remains fueled all day long.
Sleep problem: Science has proved that not taking enough sleep a day can also decrease the metabolic rate. It is very important point to note since there are many people who do not take care of their comfort because of business or some other important activities. For children or students 8-10 hours' sleep is necessary and for the elder a 6 hours' sleep is comforting for their needs.
Less Food intake: The another point we are going to mention might be a shock for many people since it's exactly opposite to what we are hearing from first day long. The decrease in the eating or food intake daily can also result in the decrease metabolic rate since the body will not be in habit of dealing with heavy food intake. So eating good and natural healthy foods in good amount is also very much important when we talk about good metabolism.
Anxiety and tension: With the increase in the application of the scientific knowledge we have come to the conclusion that not only bad eating habits are responsible for the failing health of people but also it is now scientifically proved that the habits of different people also play their part in the decrease of the metabolic rate. A person who is facing some problem do have some anxiety and tension to face but for many people if this stays for long the eating and thinking ability of a person are greatly affected by this.
Noise and Urban environment: One who lives continuously in noisy and urban environment always comes across a stage when he wants to go someplace open and where there is no noise of cars and heavy traffic. This is because the living in these areas slowly and gradually causes one problem in his daily life which ultimately become so much great in size that one reaches to the conclusion that he must take some break. This sort of environment also affects the digestive and eating habits of a person.
Science And Technology When It Comes To Boosting Your Metabolism
Talking about the science and technology we get a solid knowledge about the new discoveries in the field of medicine. It is now scientifically proved that maintaining your health by decrease in the weight and continuous exercise's and good healthy food items can increase the percentage expectancy of your life span.
The normal life expectancy in Asia is probably 60 years and for Europe it is around 60-70. But one who maintains a healthy life style can even make an addition of around 10 years to his or her life span. Metabolism is the basic science behind all this. For one who has a good metabolic system and healthy lifestyle the ingredients continuous supply to the destined body parts is easier.
And with the full supply of ingredient food contents to the respective body parts including heart, liver and muscles everyone will keep on doing its work with full efficiency. Along with it the healthy exercises will add to it and thus result in a healthy lifestyle one must adopt. As it is said that "A healthy body has a healthy mind" and for a healthy mind a healthy diet plan is necessary that conforms to your body and living. So step up and do the necessary before it's too late and that fat tummy of your cause you more trouble.
Sameh Michael is a professional Weight Loss writer, if you like my articles visit my blog at http://netaqate.com

Healthiest Vegetables To Eat

There will never be an end to the leafy greens you can eat if you shift your attention to those eaten by the natives of other lands. A visit to a little India will open your eyes to the healthy greens the Indians have been eating to stay healthy and wise.
Indian Malabar Spinach
It was the tiny deep maroon flowers peeping from the Indian Malabar spinach leaves that caught my eye while searching through an array of leafy greens to find some really outstanding ones.
Back home I found a picture of Kalanchoe and the color of the flower clusters and leaves somehow bore a vague resemblance to those of that Indian veggie. But while the Kalanchoe is better known for its large range of medicinal plant chemicals, the Indian spinach truly shines nutritionally with its rich store of vitamins and minerals.
Moreover, the Indian Malabar spinach looks nothing like its local counterpart with big fleshy leaves, red stems and pinkish flowers despite the two are from the same Basellaceae family; for sure, it does prefer borrowing the look of its Crassulaceae neighbor.
A survival plant champion, the Malabar spinach can adapt genetically to harsh environments; it does not need a green thumb or a farmer's devotion to grow. When most of the grass has turned yellow, my neighbor's Indian spinach is spiraling its way to the top of a bamboo post. Perhaps it is a good idea to eat more of this veggie and tap its reservoir of adaptive mechanisms for your own use!
Sessile Joyweed (Ponnanganni Keerai)
To treat a fever without medicine, you can use the whole sessile joyweed plant with obovate leaves and tender stems. A carotenoid remedy for eye problems, it is also a great natural skin and hair beautifier, giving you a glow all over, being low in fats and calories, and high in minerals, vitamins and antioxidants.
It is said if you eat this incredibly nutritious aquatic veggie daily for 48 days, it will heal the body of all deficiencies, including those of the liver and spleen. So making this joyweed a part of your diet twice weekly is recommended for good health.
Besides, you can add some sessile vegetables to pancakes or lentil soup to give it more fiber.
Roselle leaves (Pulicha Keerai)
The Ribena brand has certainly lent its fame to the roselle plant whose calyces serve as a perfect substitute for the blackcurrant. An antidote to body heat, the leaves will keep many a heat stroke and sunstroke away. Rich in Vitamin C content, roselle greens is simply a great natural way to boost your immune system.
Originating from Africa, it has been listed as one of the neglected leafy vegetable crops of that continent by the International Plant Genetic Resources Institute (IPGRI). However, saved by its large global range and introduced distribution, it is called different names by different countries, thus the sobriquets, 'Indian sorrel' and 'saan choy' which is Chinese for 'slimy vegetable'.
Though the red stems look like those of the tapioca plant, the mucilaginous leaves impart a sour taste to a dish, quite unlike the bitter tapioca leaves. A simple stir-fry of roselle greens with garlic and onions is refreshing nourishment for the taste buds and soul.
You might soon have to take it easy on leafy greens as more and more green veggies are making themselves known.
Feeding plants leads naturally to an interest in trees; just as wholesome home feeding, to whole foods, natural remedies and a plant-based diet. This briefly encapsulates the natural world of Kez Sze, author, publisher and researcher.