Ping Yahoo HEALTH CARE: Healthy Eating

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Showing posts with label Healthy Eating. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Healthy Eating. Show all posts

Sunday, February 28, 2010

How To Cheat the Hunger? 20 simple but effective ways

People say: hunger is not a lady. But if it does not fly away, we are well able to help it. For this to your attention the 20 easiest ways.

1. Drink, drink and more drink
Cheat your stomach with fluid. Drink a glass of mineral water with a slice of lemon, tomato juice or a cup of green tea. The liquid will fill your empty stomach and blunt the feeling of hunger.

2. Eat in silence
Recent studies have proven that when we eat with music, or when watching TV, we are keen and eat more. In addition, we hardly resist the temptation to eat something sweet or fatty.

3. Take a hot bath
It reduces the appetite, relaxes. Increased sweating at the same time helps to get rid of the excess body's excess liquids.

4. Do sports
If you feel that hunger has become unendurable, make a small charge. Exercising distracts you from intrusive thoughts to get to the refrigerator, and burn a few extra calories. In addition, immediately after exercise the appetite is reduced. But do not overdose with the sports, because perhaps then it would be hard to fall asleep.

5. Pay attention to color
It has long been proved that the blue color helps to reduce the appetite. And red, orange and yellow, on the contrary, wakes it up. Therefore, on the special dinner, we recommend that you always wear a blue dress. It is useful to bring home a blue tablecloth and cobalt blue set!

6. Inhale
Aromatherapy can help to temper the appetite. As soon as you feel an urge to unscheduled reception of food, smell a grapefruit rind, light aromatic candles or hold to nose a bottle with any aromatic oil or perfume. Particularly effective are the floral and fruit aromas. Hunger and olfactory centers are close by, so smells help to "hide"the feeling of hunger for a little time.

7. Remind yourself the childhood
Buy a set of children dishes. Eating a lot with a little spoon from small dishes just does not work. So you gradually accustom yourselves to small children portions.The main - not to run for the second portion!

8.Pamper yourselves
Immediately after dinner pamper yourself with a light dessert, such as fruits, lean yogurt, a small piece of dark chocolate. This will lift your mood, and the aftertaste appeared after it helps in dealing with your appetite.

9. Listen to yourself
Listen to the signals of your body: eat when experiencing feelings of hunger and stop as soon as it dissapears. If there is no feelings of hunger, do not go to dinner for company or because it's dinner time.

10. Do not eat additives
During the last meal ever, do not add to a dish of spices and spices, as they increase the appetite, heighten the sense of hunger, even after you ate.

11. Enjoy eating
There is no need to punish yourself, starve and eat the unpalatable food. Leave in your diet a little bit of sweets and fried fatty meat if you like it. Just tell yourself that you have so very little and only once a week. Find tasty recipes and good food - all kinds of seafood and salads with olive oil. Enjoy their cooking.

12. Out of sight
Never hold in a conspicuous place the high-calorie products. It would be better if on the most accessible places you put fruit or vegetables, in fact, if you do not resist them, it would not be so terrible.

13. Have more walk
According to Scottish researchers, walking in the fresh air before a meal reduces the feeling of hunger. The reason is in the saturation with oxygen. If you can not walk, do a few deep breaths and exhale.

14. Sleep enough
U.S. scientists for 15 years, watched the 68 000 patients and found that those who sleep 5-6 hours a day, are more prone to obesity than those who sleep 7-8 hours. Therefore, if you want to lose weight, go to bed early and avoid too heavy dinners. The active phase of digestion prevents the quiet sleep.

15. Think of the steps
Buy a device measuring the number of steps per day (they are built into some models of phones and watches) and write down how many steps you have done for the day. Your goal - to reach a level of 10 000 steps a day, unless, of course, you are not doing active sports.

16.Have a walk before going to bed
This distract you from serious thinking about food. However, fresh air can enhance the appetite. Therefore, choose the time to walk so that after it you could just go to bed.

17. Chew, but not food
Chew some gum. Better if it is without sugar and fruit. The chewing reflex and sweetness in the mouth will cheat your appetite.

18. Smell apple, banana or mint
American dietitians conducted a study on the relationship of aromas and appetite, and found that those who sniff before eating apples, bananas or mint, ultimately eat less and, consequently, it is easier to droppthe excess weight. In testing took part 3000 people.

19. Clean the teeth
Dinner is finished? Immediately go to the bathroom and brush your teeth. Then you do not want to once again have a bite before going to bed. It should work conditioned: after cleaning the teeth, we do not eat.

20. Visualizes
Clearly provide a beautiful and slender, very charming and attractive. Will this woman load up at night? If you have imagination «tight» look in a glossy magazine. The real images of slim beauties certainly will take your appetite.

Saturday, February 27, 2010

Healthy Eating Tips For a Healthier Lifestyle

Everyone is talking about eating right and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. There are shows dedicated to watching your weight and exercising. While these shows are extremely helpful with providing the healthy eating tips you need in order to live a healthier lifestyle, not all of them are living in reality. When you are working 50 to 60 hours a week, and trying to run a household, most of the tips just do not seem like they would fit into your daily schedule. Most of the tips they provide just seem like overkill. They feel more like additional work than effective tips.
The mistake that most people make is they try to introduce all of these healthy eating tips at the same time. When you are trying to make a lifestyle change, you need to take it one step at a time. This will ultimately increase your rate of success. When it comes to healthy eating tips, some will be easier to follow than others. Any healthy lifestyle tips that involve making drastic changes should be incorporated slowly over a certain amount of time. This will allow you to make both the mental and physical change slowly.
  • The most valuable tip is that anything in excessive is not good of the body. If you make extreme changes, like eating drastically less, you body will react negatively.
  • It is not always about counting the calories as much as it is about counting the nutritional value.
  • Make sure that each meal you eat contains a variety of different food types. You want to make sure that your meal includes protein rich food, fruits and vegetables, and some carbohydrates.
  • You need to eat every three to four hours. Eating smaller meals, more frequent meals is better than eating one large meal a day.
  • Make sure you adequately drink enough water throughout the day. You need to make sure that your body stays hydrated.
  • You want to eat fewer calories that are higher in fiber than meals that are just high in calories.
The most important fact that you need to keep in mind is that the body needs more than exercise in order to become healthier. Good eating habits are also a necessity. Once you incorporate a few of these tips you will feel better than you have in years.
Jamie West has been writing about nutrition for over a year. Please check out her new site reviewing products. The latest product review is based on the wood coat tree.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jamie_West

Friday, February 26, 2010

The role of sugar and salt in a healthy diet

Sugary Drinks and Sweets

It is natural to like sweets. And it is okay to enjoy them as an occasional treat, but it is vital to keep consumption to a minimum. Refined sugar is one of the bad carbs mentioned above. Not only does it cause problems with our blood sugar level, but it also uses up stored resources within our body (such as minerals and enzymes) in order to process the sugar. In addition there are many negative health effects that sugar contributes to including: hypoglycemia, suppression of the immune system, arthritis, diabetes, osteoporosis, headaches, and depression.

Choose sweet treats that are home made or have naturally occurring sugar, such as fruits. Try making your favorite dessert with half or one-third less sugar than usual. Make dessert a special event once a week. Many foods have naturally occurring sugars, such as fruits, vegetables, grains and beans. Incorporate naturally sweet foods into your diet to help crowd out unhealthy sweets. Strawberries, apples, sweet potatoes or winter squash are all great options.

Avoid or severely limit sugary drinks – they are an easy way to pack calories and chemicals into your diet without even noticing it. One 12-oz soda has about 10 teaspoons of sugar in it! And just because a soda is sugar-free doesn’t make it healthy. Recent studies have shown that the artificial sugar substitutes used in soft drinks may interfere with your body's natural regulation system and result in your overindulging in other sweet foods and beverages. Try water with a squeeze of lemon or water with a splash of 100% fruit juice.

Salt

Once again the problem with salt comes with the over-use and over consumption of processed salt most commonly used. It is best to limit sodium to 2,300 mg per day – the equivalent to one teaspoon of salt. Most of the salt in our diets comes from processed, packaged, restaurant, and fast food. Processed foods like canned soups or frozen meals can contain hidden sodium that can quickly surpass this recommended amount. Many of us are unaware of how much sodium we are consuming in one day.

Salt itself is not bad. A high quality sea salt can have up to 90 minerals, which are healthy for our body. Look for sea salt that has a reddish or brownish tint, has no coloring, additives, chemicals and has not been bleached.

Healthy Fats and Oils to support brain and body functions

Healthy  Fats and OilsFoods rich in certain omega-3 fats called EPA and DHA can reduce cardiovascular disease, improve your mood and help prevent dementia. The best sources for the EPA and DHA omega-3 fats are fatty fish such salmon, herring, mackerel, anchovies, sardines, and some cold water fish oil supplements. Canned albacore tuna and lake trout can also be good sources depending on how the fish were raised and processed.

  • You may hear a lot about getting your omega-3’s from foods rich in ALA fatty acids. Main sources are vegetable oils and nuts (especially walnuts), flax, soybeans, and tofu. Be aware that our bodies generally convert very little ALA into EPA and DHA, so you may not get as big of a benefit from these foods.
  • Some people avoid seafood because they worry about mercury or other possible toxins. But most experts agree that the benefits of eating 2 servings a week of cold water fatty fish outweigh the risks.

Fats: avoid the bad fats and enjoy the good fats

Fats are another vital part to a healthy diet. Good fats are needed to nourish your brain, heart, nerves, hormones and all your cells, as well as your hair, skin, and nails. Fat also satisfies us and makes us feel full. It’s the type of fat that matters in addition to how much you consume.

  • Saturated fats, primarily found in animal sources including red meat and whole milk dairy products, raise the low-density lipoprotein (LDL or "bad") cholesterol that increases your risk of coronary heart disease (CHD). Substitute lean meats, skinless poultry, and low-fat or nonfat dairy products, fish and nuts. Other saturated fat sources include vegetable oils such as coconut oil, palm oil and foods made with these oils.
  • Trans fat raises low-density lipoprotein (LDL or "bad") cholesterol that increases your risk of coronary heart disease (CHD), as well as lowering HDL, or good cholesterol. Trans fats are created by heating liquid vegetable oils in the presence of hydrogen gas, a process called hydrogenation. Primary sources of trans fat are vegetable shortenings, some margarines, crackers, candies, cookies, snack foods, fried foods, baked goods, and other processed foods made with partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.
  • Monounsaturated fats - People following traditional Mediterranean diets, which are very high in foods containing monounsaturated fats like olive oil, tend to have lower risk of cardiovascular disease, Primary sources are plant oils like canola oil, peanut oil, and olive oil. Other good sources are avocados; nuts such as almonds, hazelnuts, and pecans; and seeds such as pumpkin and sesame seeds.
  • Polyunsaturated fats – These includes the Omega-3 and Omega-6 groups of fatty acids which your body can’t make. Omega-3 fatty acids are found in very few foods – primarily cold water fatty fish and fish oils. Foods rich in certain omega-3 fats called EPA and DHA can reduce cardiovascular disease, improve your mood and help prevent dementia. See below for more on Omega-3. Other sources of polyunsaturated fats are sunflower, corn, soybean, and flaxseed oils, and walnuts. It is important to know that these oils become unhealthy when heated due to the formation of free radicals, which can lead to disease.

How much fat is too much? It depends on your lifestyle, your weight, your age and most importantly the state of your health. Focus on including Monounsaturated fats and Polyunsaturated fats in your diet, decreasing Saturated fats, and avoiding Trans fats as much as possible. The USDA recommends that the average individual:

  • Keep total fat intake to 20-35% of calories
  • Limit saturated fats to less than 10% of your calories (200 calories for a 2000 calorie diet)
  • Limit trans fats to 1% of calories (2 grams per day for a 2000 calorie diet)
  • Limit cholesterol to 300 mg per day, less if you have diabetes.

Dairy products and other sources for calcium and vitamin D

Milk  and other dairy productsDairy products provide a rich source of calcium, necessary for bone health. Most are fortified with vitamin D, which helps the small intestine absorb calcium. Calcium can also be found in dark green, leafy vegetables, such as kale and collard greens, as well as in dried beans and legumes.

Recommended calcium levels are 1000 mg per day, 1200 mg if you are over 50 years old. Take a vitamin D and calcium supplement if you don’t get enough of these nutrients from your diet.

Choose non-fat or low-fat dairy products that do not contain rBST (bovine growth hormone). If you're lactose-intolerant, choose lactose-free and lower-lactose products, such as lactose free milk, hard cheeses and yogurt.

Avoid full-fat dairy products or products from cows treated with rBST.

Putting protein into perspective

During digestion, protein in food is broken down into the 20 amino acids that are the basic building blocks our bodies use to create its own protein. Our bodies need protein to maintain our cells, tissues and organs. A lack of protein in our diets can result in slow growth, reduced muscle mass, lower immunity, and weaken the heart and respiratory system. Protein gives us the energy to get up and go –and keep going. Keep in mind that it is vital to eat healthy protein that is free of hormones and antibiotics. Also, the majority of people in the U.S. eat more protein than is necessary. So focus more on getting higher quality versus more quantity. Each person is individual and may need different amounts of protein depending on their body and activity level.

  • A complete protein source is one that provides all of the essential amino acids. Examples are animal-based foods such as meat, poultry, fish, milk, eggs, and cheese.
  • An incomplete protein source is one that is low in one or more of the essential amino acids.
  • Complementary proteins are two or more incomplete protein sources that together provide adequate amounts of all the essential amino acids. For example, rice and dry beans. Similarly, dry beans each are incomplete proteins, but together, these two foods can provide adequate amounts of all the essential amino acids your body needs.
  • Do complementary proteins need to be eaten in the same meal? Research shows that your body can combine complementary proteins that are eaten within the same day.

Nuts, Seeds, Beans, and Tofu: alternative sources for healthy proteins

Nuts, Seeds, Beans, and TofuBeans, nuts, nut butters, peas, and soy products are good sources of protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Many of the foods in this group provide iron, which is better absorbed when a source of vitamin C is consumed with the meal

Choose: Black beans, navy beans, garbanzos, lentils, and other beans. Nuts like almonds, walnuts and pecans. Soy products like tofu, soymilk, tempeh and veggie burgers. All of these are great sources of protein for vegetarians.

Avoid: Salted or sugary nuts; refried beans.

Fiber

Dietary fiber is found in plant foods (fruit, vegetables and whole grains) and is essential for maintaining a healthy digestive system. Fiber helps support a healthy diet by:

  • Helping you feel fuller faster and longer, which can help prevent overeating.
  • Keeping blood sugar levels even, by slowing digestion and absorption so that glucose (sugar) enters the bloodstream slowly and steadily.
  • Maintaining a healthy colon - the simple organic acids produced when fiber is broken down in the digestive process helps to nourish the lining of the colon.

The two types of fiber are soluble and insoluble:

  • Soluble fiber can dissolve in water and can also help to lower blood fats and maintain blood sugar. Primary sources are beans, fruit and oat products.
  • Insoluble fiber cannot dissolve in water, so it passes directly through the digestive system. It’s found in whole grain products and vegetables.

A healthy diet should contain approximately 20 to 30 grams of fiber a day, but most of us only get about half of that amount.

Vegetables and Fruits: Vitamin, antioxidant and fiber powerhouses

Vegetables and FruitsFruits and vegetables are low in calories and are packed with vitamins, minerals, protective plant compounds and fiber. They are a great source of nutrients and vital for a healthy diet.

Fruits and vegetables should be part of every meal, and be your first choice for a snack. Eat a minimum of five portions each day. The antioxidants and other nutrients in these foods help protect against developing certain types of cancer and other diseases.

Greens: Dark leafy green vegetables are a vital part of a healthy diet since they are packed with nutrients such as calcium, magnesium, iron, potassium, zinc, and Vitamins A, C, E and K. Greens help to strengthen the blood and respiratory systems. They are currently the most lacking food in the American diet. Be adventurous in your choice of greens: kale, mustard greens, broccoli, Chinese cabbage are just a few of the many options.

Sweet Vegetables: Naturally sweet vegetables are an excellent way to add healthy sweetness to your meals and reduce your cravings for other sweets. Some examples of sweet vegetables are corn, carrots, beets, sweet potatoes or yams, winter squash, and onions.

Fruit: Eating a wide variety of fruit is another very healthy part of any diet. They provide us with beneficial properties such as natural sugars, fiber, Vitamins and antioxidants. Choose fresh or frozen, and focus on variety. Berries are cancer-fighting, apples provide fiber, oranges and mangos offer vitamin C, and so on.

Go for the brights: The brighter, deeper colored fruits and vegetables contain higher concentrations of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.

Avoid: Fruit juices can contain up to 10 teaspoons of sugar per cup; avoid or dilute with water. Canned fruit often contains sugary syrup, and dried fruit, while an excellent source of fiber, can be high in calories. Avoid fried veggies or ones smothered in dressings or sauces – you may still get the vitamins, but you’ll be getting a lot of unhealthy fat and extra calories as well.

Support your health and the environment by eating locally-grown food

Eating fresh food is an important part of a healthy diet. It has become standard practice for fruits and vegetables to be shipped across the country or even across the world before they arrive on our supermarket shelves. Locally-grown food is fresher than what you'll find in the supermarket, which means that is tastier and more nutritious. And since the food travels a shorter distance to get to you, it is better for the environment and helps us reduce our dependence on foreign oil. Following are some ideas on easy ways to increase your consumption of fresh local foods.

  1. Visit a local farmer’s market. Farmer’s markets are springing up all over the U.S. They usually offer a wide variety of products such as fruits, vegetables, flowers, baked goods, eggs, and meat. Small farmers care about their land and the health of their farms, so even if they are not “certified organic” the food they produce is of a very high quality.
  2. Join a Community Supported Agriculture group (CSA). A CSA is partnership between a local farm and its members who sign up and pay in advance for a box of goods that they will receive on a regular basis (typically once a week). These partnerships help farms receive a better price for their products while giving you a wide variety of fresh local produce.

Carbohydrates clarified

Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates – food composed of some combination of starches, sugar and fiber - provide the body with fuel it needs for physical activity by breaking down into glucose, a type of sugar our cells use as a universal energy source.

  • Bad carbs are foods that have been “stripped” of all bran, fiber, and nutrients. They have been processed in order to make cooking fast and easy. Examples are white flour, refined sugar, and white rice. They digest so quickly that they cause dramatic elevations in blood sugar, which over time can lead to weight gain, hypoglycemia or even diabetes.
  • Good carbs are digested more slowly. This keeps your blood sugar and insulin levels from rising and falling too quickly, helping you get full quicker and feel fuller longer. Good sources of carbs include whole grains, beans, fruits, and vegetables, which also offer lots of additional health benefits, including heart disease and cancer prevention.

Whole Grains for long-lasting, healthy carbohydrate energy

Whole GrainsIn addition to being delicious and satisfying, whole grains are rich in phytochemicals and antioxidants, which help to protect against coronary heart disease, certain cancers, and diabetes. Studies have shown people who eat more whole grains tend to have a healthier heart. Make whole grains an important part of every meal.

Make sure you're really getting whole grains. Focus on including grains that are in their whole form, such as whole grain brown rice, millet, quinoa, and barley in your meals. When you want to eat healthy grains in the form of breads or cereals be aware that the words stone-ground, multi-grain, 100% wheat, or bran, don’t necessarily mean that a product is whole grain. Look for the new Whole Grain Stamp from the Whole Grains Council. If there is no stamp look for the words “whole grain” or “100% whole wheat,” and check the ingredients to make sure each grain listed is specified as whole grain. Some good sources are dark breads and toasted wheat cereals.

Avoid: Refined grains such as breads, pastas, and breakfast cereals that are not whole grain.

Tips for a Healthy Diet and Better Nutrition


Healthy eating is not about strict nutrition philosophies, staying unrealistically thin, or depriving yourself of the foods you love. Rather, it’s about feeling great, having more energy, and keeping yourself as healthy as possible – all which can be achieved by learning some nutrition basics and incorporating them in a way that works for you.

Choose the types of foods that improve your health and avoid the types of foods that raise your risk for such illnesses as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes. Expand your range of healthy choices to include a wide variety of delicious foods. Learn to use guidelines and tips for creating and maintaining a satisfying, healthy diet.

Big picture strategies for healthy eating

Eat enough calories but not too many. Maintain a balance between your calorie intake and calorie expenditure—that is, don't eat more food than your body uses. The average recommended daily allowance is 2,000 calories, but this depends on your age, sex, height, weight, and physical activity.

Eat a wide variety of foods. Healthy eating is an opportunity to expand your range of choices by trying foods—especially vegetables, whole grains, or fruits—that you don't normally eat.

Keep portions moderate, especially high-calorie foods. In recent years serving sizes have ballooned, particularly in restaurants. Choose a starter instead of an entrĂ©e, split a dish with a friend, and don’t order supersized anything.

Eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, grains, and legumes—foods high in complex carbohydrates, fiber, vitamins, and minerals, low in fat, and free of cholesterol. Try to get fresh, local produce

Drink more water. Our bodies are about 75% water. It is a vital part of a healthy diet. Water helps flush our systems, especially the kidneys and bladder, of waste products and toxins. A majority of Americans go through life dehydrated.

Limit sugary foods, salt, and refined-grain products. Sugar is added to a vast array of foods. In a year, just one daily 12-ounce can of soda (160 calories) can increase your weight by 16 pounds. See suggestions below for limiting salt and substituting whole grains for refined grains.

Don’t be the food police. You can enjoy your favorite sweets and fried foods in moderation, as long as they are an occasional part of your overall healthy diet. Food is a great source of pleasure, and pleasure is good for the heart – even if those French fries aren’t!

Get moving. A healthy diet improves your energy and feelings of well-being while reducing your risk of many diseases. Adding regular physical activity and exercise will make any healthy eating plan work even better.

One step at a time. Establishing new food habits is much easier if you focus on and take action on one food group or food fact at a time

Eating smart: A keystep towards healthy eating


Healthy eating begins with learning how to “eat smart”. It's not just what you eat, but how you eat. Paying attention to what you eat and choosing foods that are both nourishing and enjoyable helps support an overall healthy diet.

  • Take time to chew your food: Chew your food slowly, savoring every bite. We tend to rush though our meals, forgetting to actually taste the flavors and feel the textures of what is in our mouths. Reconnect with the joy of eating.
  • Avoid stress while eating: When we are stressed, our digestion can be compromised, causing problems like colitis and heartburn. Avoid eating while working, driving, arguing, or watching TV (especially disturbing programs or the news). Try taking some deep breaths prior to beginning your meal, or light candles and play soothing music to create a relaxing atmosphere.
  • Listen to your body: Ask yourself if you are really hungry. You may really be thirsty, so try drinking a glass of water first. During a meal, stop eating before you feel full. It actually takes a few minutes for your brain to tell your body that it has had enough food, so eat slowly. Eating just enough to satisfy your hunger will help you remain alert, relaxed and feeling your best, rather than stuffing yourself into a “food coma”!
  • Eat early, eat often: Starting your day with a healthy breakfast can jumpstart your metabolism, and eating the majority of your daily caloric allotment early in the day gives your body time to work those calories off. Also, eating small, healthy meals throughout the day, rather than the standard three large meals, can help keep your metabolism going and ward off snack attacks.
need full Artical http://www.helpguide.org/life/healthy_eating_diet.htm