Wholesome Living - 6 Things Every Health Conscience Person Recognizes

 

Living a healthy lifestyle requires you to make some conscious decisions. For people who are accustomed to living this way, it becomes second nature. If you are not health conscious, however, it will take some effort and retraining yourself. The following are five habits or practices that healthy people recognize and you should too.

 

“Occasional” Bad Habits Accumulate

This goes for both positive and negative habits. Many people rationalize unhealthy habits by saying something like “just one or two won’t kill me.” This might refer to cigarettes, alcoholic drinks or junk food. The problem is, if you do these type of things consistently, they have a cumulative effect on your body. That’s why healthy people recognize that it’s better to curb bad habits to a bare minimum.

 

Taking Care of Your Teeth and Gums is Vital to Your Health

Recent research shows that there is a connection between people’s dental health and their overall health. Cavities, oral infections and gum disease can not only cause problems for your mouth, but they can spread to other areas. That’s why people with gum disease are more likely to suffer from heart disease. That’s why healthy people take good care of their teeth, which includes brushing and flossing daily and scheduling regular appointments with the dentist.

 

Social Connections Are Essential to a Healthy Lifestyle

Being connected to other people and even animals is beneficial to your health. Isolation, on the other hand, can lead to depression and poor health. Studies show that people who are socially isolated, such as many older retired people, are at greater risk for many illnesses than those who are more sociable. That’s why healthy people make an effort to stay connected with friends, family, neighbors and activity partners.

 

It’s Important to Get Enough Rest

Lack of sleep not only makes you feel tired and drained, it takes a toll on your health. There is even evidence linking sleep deprivation to obesity. When you don’t get enough sleep, it can disrupt the balance of hormones that regulate your metabolism. Most people need at least seven hours of sleep per night. If you have difficulty getting enough sleep, you can try scheduling a nap in the afternoon or early evening.

 

Eating Right Can Do Wonders for the Body

People who are serious about their health are often talking about the last meal that they had. They normally use words like quinoa, kale and chicken. Eating right can reduce risk of several diseases like cancer, heart disease, and type-2 diabetes. A great option for a healthy meal would be a nice peanut butter and honey sandwich with some Klosterman Baking Company bread. Controlling you portions has a direct effect on your waistline. Make sure you continue making correct decisions and pick the carrot over the cake.

 

Stress is Bad for Your Health

Stress is one of the most harmful factors when it comes to your health. When you are tense, angry or frustrated, your body releases adrenaline as though you were under attack. If you are frequently in this type of state, it takes its toll on the body. Healthy people understand the importance of relaxing and letting go of stress. Techniques such as yoga, meditation, aromatherapy and massage can help you reduce stress.

 

There are quite a few ways that health conscious people differ from their less healthy counterparts. The above guidelines are some of the most crucial areas to keep in mind if you want to enjoy better health and a better quality of life.

 

Categories: bad habits, diet, eating right, Gum Disease, health, health conscious, healthy lifestyle, healthy people, heart disease, nbsp, nutrition, people, people recognize, Rest, teeth

Does Hypnosis Work for Weight Loss?

 

Written by Jenny Catton

 

Hypnosis is becoming an increasingly popular therapy for helping to control appetite and encourage weight-loss. But does it work?

 

Yes – Kim

I’d tried every diet under the sun in my attempt to lose weight but nothing worked. Then a friend suggested hypnotherapy. I was sceptical at first but couldn’t face another year of being overweight and decided to give it a go. I looked online and found a hypnotherapist in my area who specialised in weight loss. I went for three sessions in total but found that it was easy to change my eating habits after just one session.

Before trying hypnosis, I constantly craved foods that were high in sugar and fat. During the sessions, my hypnotherapist reprogrammed my brain so that I wanted to choose healthy foods rather than unhealthy ones. She also helped my unconscious brain realise when I was full so that I would stop eating once I’d had enough food.

The results have been amazing. I really haven’t felt like I’ve been on a diet at all – I just naturally crave the foods that are good for me and find it easy to eat in moderation now. As a result, I’ve lost four stone in six months. I feel happier and more positive about life in general and get so many compliments about my new shape.

I thought hypnotherapy would be expensive but it’s a small price to pay compared to all the money I’ve spent on books, gym memberships, and diet drinks over the years.

I’d definitely recommend hypnotherapy to anyone who needs to lose weight but finds that traditional diets just don’t work.

 

No –Frankie

In my opinion, hypnotherapy is a lazy and expensive way to try to lose weight andthere is no proof that it actually works.

People who undergo hypnosis for weight loss may find that they lose weight in the short-term but from my experience, the results don’t last.

My friend tried hypnotherapy to lose weight because he had struggled to stick to a healthy diet. For a couple of weeks after the session, he did eat less and lost a few pounds but his old habits soon returned and he put the weight back on. I don’t think the hypnotherapy actually worked, I think he just started eating healthily because he was trying to convince himself that he hadn’t wasted his money.

There is no quick fix for losing weight – you have to change your entire lifestyle and take responsibility for losing weight yourself. My friend finally lost the weight after changing his diet completely and taking up exercise. You have to look at why you’re overweight – the underlying causes, rather than thinking that lying back and being hypnotised is going to help. At the end of the day, you will always need willpower if you want to lose weight and you can only supply that yourself – you can’t expect a hypnotherapist to find it for you.

Categories: diet, hypnosis, Hypnotherapy, Lose, Lose weight, Losing Weight, weight, Weight Loss, work nbsp

Can the Blood Type Diet Help Aid Weight Loss?

 

Written by Jenny Catton

 

The blood type diet claims that eating a particular diet of foods tailored to your own blood group can have major health benefits including protection from illnesses. But does it work and is it an effective diet for weight loss?

 

Yes – Cally

I first heard of the blood type diet when a friend gave me a book about it. Although I was sceptical at first, the more I read, the more it seemed to make sense. The diet works on the theory that our blood group affects how we process different foods and therefore some foods will give us health benefits whilst others, even healthy ones, can make us feel ill. When you eat the right foods for your blood group, the body works more efficiently and digests food more effectively – the result is that you feel better and can also lose weight.

My blood type is A – which means I’m ideally suited to a vegetarian diet. My partner meanwhile is O which means he should eat a high protein diet. I suppose this explains why we all crave different foods, for instance some people love red meat whilst others can’t stand it. Since starting the diet, I’ve noticed a lot of positive changes in my health. I have more energy and I no longer feel bloated after eating a meal. The added bonus is that I’ve also lost weight without really trying.

The diet may seem complicated at first but I’d say just try it. I’m still not sure exactly why it works but for me, it does!

 

 

No – Will

The blood type diet is a relatively new fad and there is no real evidence to suggest that it works. People probably feel better when they start the diet because they are paying more attention to what they eat and are choosing healthy foods rather than processed snacks. In the short term they may notice positive changes but in the long term, the blood type diet means restricting what you eat which risks cutting out crucial nutrients.

Unless you have an actual intolerance or allergy to a particular food then it is far healthier to eat a balanced diet with foods from all food groups rather than cutting certain foods out just because you believe they are somehow incompatible with your blood type. As soon as you start cutting out certain foods, you may lose weight – but you’ll also put yourself at risk of developing other health issues due to a lack of key nutrients.

It’s also totally impractical for families to follow this diet – you could end up having to cook two or more different dishes every mealtime just to cater to each person’s particular blood type.

Ask any medical expert what they think of the blood type diet and chances are they will tell you it’s a load of rubbish – there is simply no proof to suggest that what we should eat is determined by our blood group.

 

Categories: Blood, blood group, blood type, diet, foods, Health Benefits, Lose weight, type diet, Weight Loss

Should I Put My Child on a Diet?

 

Written by Jenny Catton

 

All parents want the best for their children and this includes making sure they are physically healthy and confident about their own body image. But getting children to eat well, exercise regularly and maintain a healthy lifestyle can sometimes be a challenge. Media reports are regularly suggesting that childhood obesity is increasing but if you feel your child is at risk of becoming overweight, is it right to put them on a diet?

 

Yes – Tanisha

By the time she was ten, my daughter was a lot heavier than her classmates. She was getting to the age where clothes and her appearance were becoming really important and I could tell that she was becoming upset about being bigger than all of her friends. I really didn’t want her to end up struggling with her weight all of her life – as I have and so I suggested that we both start a new diet.

By planning our diet together, I was able to supervise exactly what she ate. It gave me the opportunity to teach her about healthy foods and help motivate her not to turn to the sugary snacks that she loves. Every Friday we weigh ourselves and if we’ve hit our target for the week, we’ll reward ourselves with a trip to the cinema or some new clothes.

If your child is overweight then I think the right thing to do is put them on a diet. If you don’t, they will continue to put on weight and then it’s only a matter of time before doctors, teachers or their classmates start to make comments about their weight – and this is far more upsetting for children. Hopefully by putting my child on a diet at this age, she will grow up to eat healthily and maintain a normal weight for the rest of her life.

 

 

No – Gillian

Children are still growing well into their late teens and so putting them on a diet at a young age isn’t a good idea. Quite often a chubby child will lose their puppy fat naturally as they grow up and so diets often aren’t necessary for children.

I think it can be really harmful to talk to young children about diets and body shape. It can cause them to become obsessed about food which can then lead to eating disorders. It’s far better to encourage children to feel happy and confident in themselves, whatever their shape happens to be.

In our household, we all eat healthily most of the time. This means that our children have naturally stayed at a healthy weight and there has never been any need to suggest that they should diet. If I was worried about my children putting on weight, I wouldn’t mention it to them. Instead, I’d just change the habits of the whole family – perhaps by buying fewer treats.

Our culture is obsessed with image and it’s really sad to see young people obsessing over whether they ‘look right’. So many adults are on endless diets and encouraging children to diet just starts them on this path from a young age.

Categories: catton, Child, Children, diet, diet nbsp, eat healthily, jenny, nbsp, weight, written, young age

Cook Smart: Seven Health Boosting Cooking Tips

 

 

If you’re looking for easy ways to improve your family’s health, there’s no better place to start than in the kitchen. In fact the food you eat is perhaps the biggest factor in creating a healthy lifestyle. Eating the right foods can benefit every part of your body from promoting healthy skin and nails to maintaining a healthy heart and strong immune system.

If you prepare your own food, rather than relying on ready meals and takeaways, you’re already on the right track. But there are many simple changes you can introduce when cooking to make your diet even healthier. Here are seven ideas to try:

 

Get Grilling
When cooking meat, fish or vegetables try grilling rather than frying and you won’t need to use as much fat.

 

Savvy Seasoning
Too much salt in our diet can cause a range of health problems so add herbs or lemon juice for flavour rather than salt.

 

Extra Veggies
Serve one extra vegetable with each meal to boost your vitamin intake.

 

Cut the Fat

When cooking meat remember to trim off any excess fat for a healthier dish.

 

Steamy Stuff
Boost your vitamins – steaming rather than boiling helps vegetables maintain their vitamin levels. You may also find steamed veggies retain more flavour too.

 

Go Brown
Choose brown versions of everyday staples such as bread, rice and pasta which are healthier than the refined white options.

 

Keep it Varied
Don’t stick to the same ingredients day in day out; instead use a wide range of ingredients to ensure you are getting a balanced diet.

 

For more healthy tips, visit: www.nhs.uk/change4life/Pages/change-for-life.aspx

 

Categories: cooking, cooking meat, diet, Healthier, Healthy, nbsp

5 Ways to Prevent Oral Cancer

 

According to the Oral Cancer Foundation, 43,250 people are diagnosed with oral cancer per year and over 8,000 of those cases will be terminal. The five-year survival rate of an oral cancer diagnosis hovers around 50 percent. This is grim, and the reason the survival rate is so bad is that it often goes undetected until the disease has significantly progressed. Therefore, prevention and early detection are key.

 

Eat an Antioxidant-Rich Diet

Cancer-fighting foods such as dark leafy vegetables, garlic, cabbage, broccoli, green tea, tomatoes and soy are all lauded for their nutritional content and anti-cancer components. While the occasional unhealthy splurge likely won’t make a difference, your everyday diet needs to be full of antioxidants.

 

Quit Using Tobacco Products

Whether its cigarettes, a pipe or chewing tobacco, stopping the use of tobacco can reduce your risk of cancer throughout your body and especially in your mouth and throat. Smoking or using other tobacco products is one of the leading causes of cancer, and one of the most preventable. If you’re having trouble quitting, seek out a tobacco cessation program online or in your local area for help.

 

See Your Dentist Every Six Months

Your dentist or oral hygienist not only cleans your teeth and polishes them, he or she is also inspecting all the tissues on your mouth for any changes. Tiny spots on your tongue or gums can be removed before they bloom into cancer. According to Dr. Bryan Murray, your dentist also looks into your throat and can help spot any changes to the tissues there, as well.

 

Perform a Self-Exam Monthly

Using a mouth mirror available at nearly any drug store, take the time to check your mouth carefully for any changes. Not only will this help you notice any deterioration in your teeth, it will help you spot changes on your tongue, the roof of your mouth or the lining of your cheeks. Shining a bright light onto a mirror can also help you get a clear view of your throat.


Lower or Eliminate Your Alcohol Consumption


Alcohol is not kind to the delicate lining of your mouth and throat and can also cause dry mouth. Not only can this destroy your teeth, it can damage your tissues and make them more likely to become cancerous. Keep drinks to special occasions or cut them out altogether.

 

Preventing oral cancer is largely a matter of good hygiene and habits. By following these tips, you can decrease your risk of a diagnosis while also setting yourself up to find any tissue changes quickly, before they have a chance to spread.

 

Categories: Alcohol, cancer, Dental, dental care, Dentist, diet, oral cancer, tobacco

Healthy Food Tips During Pregnancy

 

When you find out that you are pregnant, one of the first things that comes to mind, after the euphoria has worn off, is what to do and what not to do to ensure that you give birth to a healthy baby. Suddenly good nutrition becomes incredibly important and right from the start of your pregnancy, you become more conscious about what you should eat and how it could affect the growth of your baby.

 

If you are planning to fall pregnant, you should start thinking about eating healthily before conception as the unborn fetus will benefit most from a healthy diet during the first three months of your pregnancy. A nutritious diet with a steady supply of essential vitamins and minerals, and a balanced amount of protein, carbohydrates and other nutrients, especially iron, is crucial to the development of your baby and will help form a healthy placenta.

 

There is so much information and a wealth of myths on what to eat and what not to eat during pregnancy, that moms-to-be can become quite confused. Added to this is the strangest food cravings that often accompany pregnancy. The following informative facts will help you separate the truth from myth and decide what is best for you and your baby.

 

- There is no need to eat for two.

 

A pregnant mom with average weight will need roughly 300 more calories per day, the equivalent of one banana for example.

 

If you are underweight at conception, speak to your doctor about a weight gaining program to ensure that you get enough nutrients to feed the placenta.

 

If you are overweight, to not go on a diet as you will risk depriving your baby of essential nutrients needed for healthy growth and development. Change to a healthy diet and consult a nutritionist to help you cut out unhealthy food options.

 

You will gain weight during pregnancy as the baby grows and your doctor will monitor the growth of your baby throughout to ensure healthy development.

 

- For safety, the following foods need to be avoided during pregnancy:

 

• Undercooked or raw poultry and meat to avoid the risk of salmonella or toxoplasmosis.


• Lightly cooked or raw eggs in recipes such as chocolate mousse or homemade mayonnaise.


• Unpasteurized milk, goat or sheep milk, and all types of pt to avoid the risk of Listeria, a build-up of vitamin A in liver products that may cause harm to the fetus.


• Certain cheeses such as Camembert, Brie and blue-veined cheese such as Danish Blue or Stilton due to the risk of Listeria.


• Avoid peanuts, especially if there is a family history of allergies, including conditions such as hay fever, asthma or eczema.


• Avoid eating raw fish and include oily fish such as salmon, mackerel, fresh tuna, trout and sardines in the diet no more than twice a week to avoid a build-up of pollutants.

 

- Do not consume alcohol in any form during pregnancy to avoid fetal alcohol syndrome.

 

A Few Handy Tips

 

- To ease the discomfort of morning sickness eat smaller meals and include small amounts of carbohydrates.

 

- Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated. Milk and herbal teas such as chamomile, cinnamon and ginger can be soothing. Ginger reduces the feeling of nausea.

 

- Have something to drink or eat before getting up in the morning.

 

- Get plenty of rest and light exercise in fresh air such as a gentle walk.

 

- Don’t drink any alcohol.

 

Include the following nutritious food in your diet on a daily basis:

 

Broccoli, bananas, avocado, well cooked eggs, green leafy vegetables, nuts and nut butters, lean poultry and meat, whole grain bread, dried lentils and beans, Greek yoghurt.

 

Listen to your body and satisfy your cravings within reason. A happy mom who eats a healthy diet will have a good pregnancy and a healthy baby.

 

 

Author : Aria Meyer is a fashion and parenting blogger. She writes for several parenting blogs. She is currently living in West Covina and working closely with Mydeebaby to help them grow the fashion and apparel department.

Categories: diet, Food, Healthy, pregnancy, Pregnant

Food for Thought: What Your Diet Says About Your Health

 

 

When it comes to food, there are so many delicious options to choose from. Delicious, however, does not necessarily mean nutritious. The types of food you eat, as well as the amount can play a major role in determining how healthy you are. If you are interested in staying as healthy as possible, it is important to closely examine your diet to ensure the foods you are eating are optimal for keeping your body in top shape.

 

What Kinds of Food are Healthy?

In order to get the most out of your daily diet, it is important you choose the right foods. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables as this is associated with many long-term health benefits. A diet that is high in whole-grain foods can have similar benefits. Limiting your intake of fatty meats is also a good idea. Fat intake in general should be kept to a minimum, especially saturated fat. Foods that are high in added sugar can also be unhealthy for you.

 

How Much is Too Much?

Aside from watching your intake of saturated fat and added sugars, it is also a good idea to keep an eye on how many calories you are eating in a day. Your body needs a certain amount depending on factors like your age, height and activity level. Have a Chicago weight loss clinic take your information to calculate what you specifically need. If you are eating more than your body needs, you are probably damaging your health. Weight loss is a goal that many people share, and restricting your calorie intake is the most effective way to achieve it.

 

Dangers of an Unhealthy Diet

There are many health issues associated with not eating right. Heart disease is linked to high saturated fat intake. Certain cancers are associated with not getting enough fiber through foods such as grains, fruits and vegetables. And many people who do not eat enough healthy foods report feeling unwell in general. Losing excess weight can really boost your overall happiness and wellbeing.

Your body is a delicate machine, and it needs the right kind of fuel in order to operate at its best. When you decide you are going to make changes to your diet in order to eat for long-term health, you are doing your body a favor that it is sure to thank you for throughout the rest of your life.

 

Categories: diet, food for thought, health

Best Reasons NOT to Start Doing That New Fad Diet

Diets are all over the place. Whether they’re about improving your nutrition, losing weight or simply boosting your wellness and wellbeing, going on a diet can be really bad for your health. Fad diets are the worst for this – you’ll recognise a fad diet because everyone will be going on about it for a short period of time, and then they will find that it’s unsustainable and will move onto the next thing.

 

Fad diets tend to make all kinds of impossible claims. They seem to set themselves up as some kind of ‘miracle’ and tend to say that the dieter will lose a staggering amount of weight in a very short space of time. There is often some kind of celebrity spokesperson who illustrates how effective the detox/starvation routine can be. They are often pictured in a tiny bikini, showing off a very slender body is if to say that any of us can look like that in just six weeks, when the reality is far from being the case. This celebrity will talk about how much her life has improved since going on the diet, and there will never be any mention of the subsequent weight gain (or how all her pictures for the shoot have been airbrushed).

 

Something else to bear in mind – fad diets are boring. When you’re counting out every calorie or every gram of fat, life can become pretty dull – and unfortunately you can become pretty dull too. The only thing worse than a boring diet is a boring dieter, droning on about the calorie content of things or how they’ve cut out certain food groups or that they are having their life changed by some kind of unsustainable milkshake diet.

 

Unfortunately, it’s also the case that any weight loss through a fad diet is likely to be regained, with a few more extra pounds to keep it company!

Categories: diet, Diets, fad, fad diet, Fad Diets, kind, life, reasons, weight

Maintain A Healthy Office Routine With These Steps

The office is a difficult place to maintain a healthy routine, but with a few easy changes to how you spend your day you can stay healthier throughout the working week. Here are ten steps to a healthier you, both in and out of the office.

Eat breakfast

Breakfast is something which many of us claim we don’t have time for, but it sets up your metabolism for the rest of the day. People who eat breakfast actually end up eating less during the day than those who don’t. This means if you’re trying to lose weight, you could actually be making things harder for yourself by skipping this important meal.

Take your breaks

Breaks give you chance to de-stress and relax. This short time away from your desk equals peace of mind, and that leads to more energy and focus, so you have more productivity for the rest of the day. Make the most of your lunch break by taking a walk around the block or step away from your desk regularly throughout the day to give your mind a rest for five minutes.

Take a packed lunch

Make your favourite lunch and take it with you to work. Not only is lunch an important meal and packing your own is cheaper, but it will also stop you searching for something more satisfying if you enjoy what you’re eating.

Eat lunch away from your desk

There’s no point in taking a lunch break if you’re just going to be responding to emails – you need a break during the day to refresh your mind and set the pace for the afternoon. You need to be focused on eating during lunch, so take time to digest and enjoy your meal – you’ll be more satisfied in the end and this will stop you from seeking food elsewhere later in the day.

Don’t drink more than two cups of coffee a day

You may think you need those coffees to get your through the day, but you’ll be amazed at how less jittery you are when you stop having them.

Don’t heat your lunch in a plastic container in the microwave

The plastics from your container of choice will get into your food and could even increase your risk of developing certain cancers if you’re not careful. If you need to heat your food, you should transfer it to a hotplate or a microwave-safe glass dish.

If you can, make an effort to walk or cycle to and from work

There are numerous benefits to changing how you get to work to something more health-efficient. Not only will you arrive at work with a healthy glow, but you’ll also get your exercise quota for the day, get some much needed fresh air before sitting in your office all day, and you’ll often save time by avoiding rush hour in traffic.

Drink your greens

At 3pm, when your energy begins to slip, drinking a nutrient-rich green smoothie can really give you the boost you need to maintain your productivity.

Nuts are a great office snack

Nuts are full of protein and healthy fats, as well as being cheap, easy to transport and they don’t need cooking. If you want to sustain your energy, nuts mid-morning or mid-afternoon could be the way forward.

Exercise before you get home

Home is comfortable so you won’t want to leave once you get in after a hard day of work; exercise on the way home so you can relax properly when you get home.

Categories: diet, eat breakfast, health, Home, lunch, office, time, work, Workplace Wellness

Feeling Blue? Why Not Try the Mediterranean Diet?

The Mediterranean diet is more than just a nutrition plan – it is a way of life. Many experts now say that this diet can have an enormous benefit for your wellness and wellbeing, including boosting the health of your heart, and brand new evidence shows that it could also help to reduce depression.

 

A group of Spanish researchers tracked 4,000 people aged between 55 and 80, some of whom where on a Mediterranean diet, which was rich in vegetables, fruits, nuts, whole grains and olive oil, and some of whom were simply on a low fat diet. The researchers followed them over a period of four years. During the time period, 200 members of the group developed some form of depression.

 

Amazingly, the Mediterranean diet cut the risk quite significantly, by around 41 percent, especially among diabetic men. This is possibly because the diet is thought to reduce levels of inflammation in the body. When inflammation occurs, it reduces the secretion of a certain brain compound called neurotrophic factors, and the levels of these are generally lower in patients who are suffering from depression.

 

The Mediterranean has been followed by many generations, generally by those who live around the Mediterranean (hence the name). It is rich in fish, which is lean and filled with omega 3 oils, and also contains lots of fruit and vegetables, which are naturally low fat and low carb.

 

Many studies have already proved that the Mediterranean diet is an ideal diet for health and wellness but this new information about depression is an area that has yet to be studied extensively, and further research is needed in order to fully understand the repercussions of it. It has, however, been known in a more general sense for some time that a good, nutritious diet helps to reduce the chances of you suffering from depression.

Categories: blue, depression, depression nbsp, diet, Mediterranean, Mediterranean diet, nbsp, reduce

Do Diet Drinks Really Make You Gain Weight?

If you have any interest at all in wellness, diet and nutrition, you will have heard the recent news that diet drinks are supposedly bad for you. Research has suggested that these drinks damage your wellbeing by actually making you more likely to gain weight, rather than less.

 

A study was published recently, which was carried out on some 23,000 adults in the United States of America. It found that those who were either obese or overweight drank more sugar-free drinks than those who were within a healthy weight range.

 

It could simply be that people who are carrying extra weight are more conscious about the idea of counting calories. It could also be, however, that those who drink calorie-free drinks are more likely to consume a larger amount of food. This certainly seems to be the case in the group that took part in the research. The results found that overweight or obese people seemed to compensate for the lack of calories in their drinks by eating more food. When directly compared to overweight or obese people who drank sugary drinks, the calorie total was generally the same, as these people tended to eat less.

 

Researchers think there may be a number of interesting reasons behind this. One suggestion is that although the drinks don’t contain any sugar, the sweeteners in it still activate the ‘sugar reward’ pathway in the brain, so that people who drink them are more likely to snack more.

 

Another train of thought suggests that those people who drink low-calorie drinks simply crave more food to keep their calorie intake up to a level that they expect.

 

The study was unable to say conclusively that drinking diet drinks will make you fat, but there does seem to be a strong correlation between drinking diet drinks and being either overweight or obese.

Categories: diet, Diet Drinks, drinking diet, Drinks, Fat, free drinks, gain weight, nbsp, obese people, people

How Days Off From the Diet Can Help You Lose Weight

If you are on a diet, you may find that it’s far easier to be ‘good’ during the week than at weekends, and long for some time off from the diet. All you know about nutrition, however, traditionally tells you that you cannot take a break from safeguarding your wellness and wellbeing, and this causes you to plod on even through the weekends, often making yourself miserable in the process.

 

This same kind of philosophy also is one of the main reasons that many people postpone dieting. If you’ve ever put off starting a diet because there’s going to be a special event or celebration, then you know what we’re talking about! The ‘I’ll start next week’ mentality is rife, and can be one of the reasons that people find their weight starting to snowball.

 

Strangely enough, however, researchers have found that having a system where you bank ‘bonus points’ for depriving yourself of treats and then allow yourself a treat with your points later is actually a sensible one.

 

This does not mean, however, that you can have a huge slab of chocolate cake on a Sunday night just because you feel like it, but it could mean that you can have that slab of chocolate cake at some point, when you’ve earned it. It could also help with your overall relationship to food, if some foods are not ‘banned’ but are just only allowed on certain days when you have put in the hard graft to earn them.

 

The people who are most likely to lose weight and to keep it off are those whose calorie intake varies a lot between the weekends and the weekdays. These are the people who keep their calorie intake to a minimum during the week and then allow themselves to have a bit more flexibility at the weekend and really enjoy their food.

Categories: calorie intake, calories, chocolate cake, diet, Lose weight, nbsp, people, week, weekends, weight

How Can Your Weight Be Improved By Lingonberries?

New studies suggest that lingonberries could prevent weight gain and obesity-related diseases; in a study based on mice, researchers found that these berries helped to prevent obesity. The mice were genetically modified to become obese and develop features of obesity, and in the experiment the mice were fed a high fat diet for 13 weeks as a way of mimicking the fatty western diet. However, there were eight different groups of mice given eight different types of freeze-dried berry alongside the diet of fatty foods to see if the mice were affected in terms of weight gain. Two further control groups were given no berries, one of which ate the same high fat diet and another a low-fat diet. The final result was that all of the mice gained weight but the mice who were given the berries gained less weight. Lingonberries are a wild fruit popular in Scandinavia and, in studies, were the best at showing the lowest increase in body fat, cholesterol and blood sugar of all the high fat groups during the study. Naturally, as the study shows, the lingonberries aren’t an obesity cure which work on their own as a way to remove fat, but they could be an ingredient which could enable you to gain less weight as part of a healthy diet.

 

The research took place using six-week old mice who were engineered to develop obesity and pre-diabetes. The mice were split into 10 groups of 12 mice, and for 13 weeks they underwent the following:

- 8 groups were fed a high fat diet, where 45 per cent of their calories came from fat. This diet was supplemented with eight different freeze-dried berries which were freely available to them.

- 1 control group was fed a calorie-matched high fat diet without the berries.

- 1 control group was fed a low-fat diet, with 10 per cent of their calories from fat without the berries.

 

The body weight and food intake of the mice was monitored weekly, and at the end of the study the blood samples were assessed for sugar, insulin levels, cholesterol and other fats. The researchers also looked at bodily organs, including the spleen and liver, to see how much fat had built up. The energy intake was very much the same across all of the groups, with the exception of those eating blackcurrant and bilberries, who ate more food and calories. But the fasting blood sugar levels were much lower in the lingonberry and blackcurrant groups than the high fat controls. Both of these groups had glucose and insulin resistance levels similar to the mice in the low-fat diet group. Researchers believe that the lingonberries either fully or partially prevent the detrimental metabolic effects of a high fat diet – blackcurrants and bilberries had similar properties but weren’t as effective. The conclusion of the study was that the beneficial metabolic effects of the lingonberries could be helpful in preventing obesity and disorders related to being overweight. As part of a balanced diet and a regular exercise programme, lingonberries could help to maintain a healthy weight and prevent obesity-related disorders from developing. As with any diet, it’s important that you speak to your GP before undertaking any extreme changes to your dietary habits, as it could be detrimental to your health. But there has been no proof that adding lingonberries to your diet can do you any harm, so in moderation they could be the weight loss answer you’ve been looking for.

Categories: Blood Sugar, control group, diet, freeze dried, lingonberries, metabolic effects, Mice, new study, obesity related, prevent obesity, weight gain

The Werewolf Diet: Nutritional Wellness for Team Jacob

By the looks of things, we’re not getting rid of the vampire/werewolf/zombie craze anytime soon. In fact, now it looks as though these other-worldly creatures are infiltrating your wellbeing, as the latest fad in nutritional wellness reveals something that any Team Jacob girl would go for: The Werewolf Diet.

 

Diet and wellness expert Heather Neal details, ‘The Werewolf Diet is based on the cycles of the moon. The ebb and flow; the waxing and waning. The phases of the moon and their effect on nature and the human body. Or would that be the werewolf body? The theory behind the diet is that just as the moon affects the tide of the ocean, it also affects the water in our bodies. Supposedly, when the moon is full, or at the beginning of a new phase, there’s a 24-hour gravitational effect that can influence whether you can lose weight. Hmm. Reportedly Madonna and Demi Moore are moon-diet followers, so it must be totally legit.’

 

Neal continues, ‘There’s not only one Werewolf Diet — or Moon Diet, as some are calling it — there are two. There’s the basic plan or the extended option. The second option is really just a longer version that entails a different diet for each phase of the moon…Let’s start with the basic plan. It’s a simple 24-hour liquid fast that occurs in sync with the full moon. Water, juice, and nothing else for a full day. Sounds mildly feasible if you’re not the kind of person who will eat their arm off after more than two hours of hunger. The claim is you can drop six pounds during those 24 hours. The diet attributes this weight loss to the body’s increased ability to process toxins during the full and new moon phases, thus the drinking of more fluids. Apparently, it’s important to start the diet the exact minute the full moon starts. No pressure.’

 

According to Neal, ‘As far as the extended plan goes, you’re supposed to eat less when the moon is waxing and avoid eating when the “moonlight shines” (aka after 6pm) when the moon is waning, in addition to fasting during the full and new moons. Detoxifying teas are an added bonus for the new moon fast. There doesn’t seem to be any additional claims or reports to enhanced or greater weight loss with this more complex version of the diet. Although, also hidden in the diet’s website is the warning that you shouldn’t follow this diet for more than six days. I’m still working out how you follow a full moon flow for only six days.’

 

But is there anything in this idea? ‘Maybe it’s just me, but I think it goes without saying that this one’s a little out there,’ says Neal. However, she adds, ‘I guess it’s not so entirely off the wall though, considering how many things actually are affected by the moon. Like sleep cycles and baby births. (People tend to sleep 20 minutes less on nights with a full moon, and moms everywhere know the supposed increased risk of going into labour on a full moon.)…I suppose the only way to find out would be to go on a juice fast for 24 hours during a random day of the week and follow it up with another fast during a full or new moon, then compare the weight loss. But I won’t be signing up for that experiment, thank you very much. I’d turn into a werewolf after missing my first meal…I think I’ll stick with the sun diet: only eat on days the sun rises.’

Categories: cycle, diet, fad, moon, moon diet, nbsp, nutritional wellness, team jacob, Weight Loss, werewolf, Werewolf Diet

3 Popular Fad Diets that Wellness Experts Have Tried

If you’ve tried a fad diet, and felt pretty stupid about failing or even making that decision in the first place, don’t worry – even those who know all about diet and wellbeing have been tempted by the promise of speedy weight loss results! Wellness expert Elizabeth Goodman Artis, Executive Editor of Muscle & Fitness Hers, admits, ‘I have experimented with most (though not all) of these popular weight-loss methods: from an all tuna plan in 7th (!) grade to the college era diet that allowed me to consume as many Snackwell cookies and Heinekens as my heart desired. Then there was the “caveman” diet I tried with my husband, a fan of the workout that espouses it. This left me craving white carbs so desperately I was ready to stuff a bagel into a baguette and call it a bagel/baguette sandwich.’

 

Goodman Artis continues, ‘And yes, many of these diets worked (not counting the beer and cookies)… at first. The reason, say experts, is that any time you drastically change your eating habits — in any way — you’re going to see results on the scale.’ The problem is that fad diets are simply note sustainable. Janet Brill, RD, PhD, a consultant in private practice and author of Cholesterol Down, asserts, ‘If you can’t envision sticking with a diet for the rest of your life, then it’s not a good eating plan.’ So we got Goodman Artis and Brill to look at some of the more popular, ridiculous diet plans of recent years, and explain why they’re more hype than help:

 

1. The Blood Type Diet: Goodman Artis explains, ‘Whether you’re A, B, A/B, or O, the theory goes that depending on your blood type, you should adhere to one of four possible eating plans: low carb/high protein, low-fat, vegetarian, or just an overall balanced diet. The reasoning is based on biochemistry and evolutionary theory.’ However, Brill points out that this has no scientific basis: ‘Blood type has to do with receptors on red blood cells and doesn’t dictate what you should or shouldn’t eat.’

 

2. Cut One Food Group: ‘Just cut out all carbs/sugar/fat (and eat as much as you want of everything else) and voila, the weight melts off,’ Goodman Artis details. ‘The problem…is that when you cut out one nutrient entirely, you’re likely to compensate with another. So if you eliminate all fat from your diet, there’s a good chance you’ll amp up the carbohydrates, and often the white processed variety. Or if you cut carbs, you may end up eating more fat. And while sugar doesn’t have much nutritional value, vowing to let nothing sweet pass your lips is just a recipe for a binge.’

 

3. Eat the Same Food 24/7: Goodman Artis recalls, ‘Seventh grade, as everyone knows, is a social minefield of cliques, mean girls, and pre-adolescent insecurity — and in an effort to lose the extra three pounds I was carrying, I decided to eat plain tuna fish for breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day until I could fit into a smaller pair of Gloria Vanderbilt jeans. That lasted through lunch. Sub in any singular food and you have a weight-loss method that’s ebbed and flowed in popularity over the years; for example, the all-fruit diet and the notorious cabbage soup diet. There are a myriad of reasons this is a wrong-headed approach to weight loss… but the main one is of course sustainability — forget keeping this up for life (imagine if, 31 years later, I was subsisting solely on canned tuna). Few can maintain this approach for longer than a day.’

Categories: artis, Blood, blood type, Blood Type Diet, cutting carbs, diet, Fad Diets, goodman, goodman artis, weight, Weight Loss

Five Foods That Are Good For Your Eye Health

There are many ways to keep your eyes healthy, from getting your annual checkup to wearing sunglasses when it is bright. It can even be as simple as eating. The nutrients found in these 5 common foods can help protect your eyes and keep them healthy longer.

 

Sweet Potato

Sweet potatoes contain beta carotene, an antioxidant which may help slow the progress of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Beta carotene is a provitamin and can be converted by the body into Vitamin A, which helps prevent dry eyes, eye infections, and can help improve night vision.

You can get beta carotene from deep orange foods including carrots and butternut squash. Dark, leafy greens such as collard greens also contain beta carotene. Eat with healthy fats, such as olive oil, to help the body absorb the nutrient better.

 

Salmon

Salmon and other fatty fish contain omega-3 fatty acids, an essential nutrient with numerous health benefits. Omega-3s, like beta carotene, may help slow AMD, since they are important to nerve cells of the retina.

If you don’t eat fish, you can get Omega-3 fatty acids from various sources, including chia and flax seeds, walnuts, avocados, and olive oil.

 

Kale

Kale contains lutein and zeaxanthin, which help protect the eye from sun damage. Lutein and zeaxanthin are related to vitamin A and, according to Harry W. Chan, OD, these nutrients help protect the cornea, prevent cataracts, and slow AMD.

Dark, leafy greens such as spinach and collard greens are all good sources of lutein and zeaxanthin as are kiwi, honeydew, and corn. These nutrients are best absorbed with healthy fats.

 

Oranges

Just like oranges can help with colds they can help with healthy vision as well. Vitamin C can help lower your risk of cataracts and, when taken with other nutrients, can help slow AMD.

You can get Vitamin C from citrus fruits such as oranges, grapefruits, and lemons. It is also found in strawberries, bell peppers, cantaloupes, and broccoli.

 

Blackcurrants

Blackcurrants contain anthocyanosides, a compound that helps develop night vision. Anthocyanosides are an antioxidant, which are beneficial to eye health, though it is unclear how.

Anthocyanosides can be found in brightly colored berries, such as blueberries and raspberries, as well as bell peppers and grapes.

A small change now can help prevent eye problems as you get older. Including these everyday foods in your diet is a simple yet effective way to keep your eyes healthy longer.

Categories: Bell Peppers, beta carotene, collard greens, diet, eating tips, eye health, fatty acids, Healthy Fats, leafy greens, night vision, olive oil

SENSA: The Most Talked About Weight Loss Sensation

People are always told that if they want to lose weight, they have to diet and increase their fitness. Although these things definitely do improve your wellness and wellbeing, did you know that there is a way that claims to help you lose weight without dieting?

 

The SENSA Weight Loss System is rapidly becoming one of the most talked-about weight loss products that is available on the market today. It has been featured in Time Magazine, Dateline NBC and The New York Times, and claims to help users lose weight simply by shaking scented ‘tastants’ over their food. It goes against everything that we have traditionally been taught about dieting, so is it just another senseless weight loss fad, or does SENSA actually work?

 

Hollywood celebrities have been using SENSA already, with actress Patti Stranger recently claiming to have lost 30 pounds in just 8 months by using the SENSA system. Patti says she noticed her body changing and the weight just falling off her, and the best bit was that she didn’t’ have to count calories, stick to a diet or eat any kind of pre-packaged meals.

 

SENSA has also been featured widely in the media, because it is such a unique new product. Users of SENSA receive a package containing lots of different types of sprinkles. There are savoury flavours such as onion and parmesan cheese and sweet ones such as bananas and chocolate. Users don’t have to follow a specific diet, but simply have to sprinkle these flakes over anything that they eat. The theory is that the flakes fool your brain through sense of smell into thinking that it is full, leading you to consume fewer calories. Unfortunately, the lack of diet plan and the lack of any corroborating science raises some major red flags about this diet. Most experts still recommend that you stick to a low-calorie diet and do some exercise if you want to lose weight – there really is no magic fix.

Categories: diet, Lose, Lose weight, loss, sensa, sprinkle, weight, Weight Loss

Men Who Want to Lose Weight Should Try This Diet

Men who are on a diet need different nutrition to women who are on a diet. In addition to eating the right type of food, men also need to be more aware of their portion control – good food will benefit their wellness and wellbeing but will not actually help them lose weight unless they only eat a little bit of it!

 

The portion control meal plan is a diet that is currently sweeping the country, with men seeing some dramatic results. The meal plan was devised by a celebrity personal trainer, and focuses on eating five small meals every day, ensuring that the men who try the diet do not have to go hungry or feel that they are starving themselves, but can still reach their weight-loss goals.

 

The Monday plan starts with breakfast, which is a slice of rye bread with two tablespoons of peanut butter on top. A mid-morning snack comes in the form of an avocado, which is packed with healthy fats and protein. Lunch is a turkey breast with new potatoes (a small amount) and mange tout. In the middle of the afternoon, a pear and a handful of Brazil nuts should keep the food cravings at bay and boost the body with healthy vitamins and selenium. Dinner is a chicken stir fry made from one chicken breast, bean sprouts, mixed veg and brown basmati rice.

 

As you can see from this example, the meal plan is low carb and low-fat, and totals at around 1,600 calories for the first day. Tuesday follows a very similar pattern, starting with a bowl of no-added sugar muesli topped with low-fat yoghurt. An innocent smoothie is allowed mid morning, followed by lunch of a chicken breast with a baked sweet potato and a salad of lettuce, tomato and red onion. The afternoon snack is a punnet of blackberries with low-fat yoghurt, and dinner is a grilled salmon steak with spinach, basmati rice and bean sprouts.

 

The week continues in the same vein, with low-fat meats, healthy fruit and veg and very little in the way of carbs. Men find that the variety and low-calorie nature of the diet allows them to lose weight quickly and healthily.

Categories: basmati rice, bean sprouts, calories, chicken breast, diet, Lose, Lose weight, men, mid morning, nbsp, weight

What Everyone Ought to Know About Protein Diets

All experts are now agreeing: include more protein in your diet and it will help to improve your wellness and wellbeing, as well as reach your fitness goals. This latest nutrition news confirms what scientists have been saying for a long time, and that is that the government RDA for protein is not enough to keep you healthy.

 

Protein actually comes from the word ‘proteios’, which means primary, and this ought to give you some indication of how important it is. In fact, it is one of three macronutrients – the other two are carbohydrates and fats. It is vital to keep your hormonal, cellular and immune systems functioning properly. It’s also really important for the maintenance and repair of tissues, including muscle tissues.

 

The Food Standards Agency recommendation is that you eat just 55g of protein per day if you are a man aged between 19 and 55. However, all recent research seems to suggest that this is too small an amount if you are a physically active man. Instead of following a ‘one size fits all’ approach, instead you should work out how much you need based on your fitness goals, weight and body composition.

 

If you want to slim down and look lean and athletic rather than skinny, preserving your muscle is really important. If you increase your protein intake, the body will use this for muscle repair, and this is especially important if you are following a low-calorie diet, otherwise you will burn muscle to make up the deficit.

 

If you actually want to build muscle, many people assume that you need to significantly increase your protein intake. Unfortunately, more protein doesn’t necessarily mean more muscle. Scientists recommend around 1.2 – 2.2g of protein per kg of bodyweight if you want to build muscles.

Categories: build, diet, fitness goals, Food, Muscle, nbsp, Protein, protein intake, scientists