Weight loss and fitness tips

Low Fat Chocolate Fondue Recipe

noreply@blogger.com (mahdi asami) — Tue, 30 Jul 2013 22:08:00 +0000

Ingredients

2 ts Cornstarch

1 c Water

1/4 c Unsweetened cocoa

1/4 c Granulated sugar

1 ts Vanilla extract

Few grains salt

Cut up fresh bananas

Fresh strawberries

Directions

Mix cornstarch and water in a small saucepan. When smooth, add remaining ingredients except fruit and stir over moderately high heat until mixture boils 1 minute. Pour into fondue pot to keep warm.

ice cream recipe: Sweetheart Brownie Sundae

noreply@blogger.com (mahdi asami) — Sun, 28 Jul 2013 16:59:00 +0000

Ingredients

1/4 cup butter (no substitutes)
2 (1 ounce) squares semisweet chocolate
1 egg
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup vanilla ice cream, softened
CHOCOLATE SAUCE:
1 cup water
1/2 cup baking cocoa
1/4 cup sugar
2 tablespoons butter (no substitutes)
confectioners' sugar

Directions

In a microwave or double boiler, melt butter and chocolate; cool for 10 minutes. In a mixing bowl, beat egg, brown sugar, vanilla and salt. Stir in chocolate mixture. Add flour; mix well. Line an 8-in. square baking pan with foil and grease the foil. Spread batter evenly into pan (batter will be thin). Bake at 350 degrees F for 15 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool completely on a wire rack. Cover and refrigerate until firm. Using a 3-1/2-in. x 3-1/2-in. heart pattern or cookie cutter, mark four hearts on surface of brownies; cut with a knife. Spread ice cream on two hearts; top each with a second heart. Wrap in plastic wrap; freeze in a single layer overnight.
For chocolate sauce, combine water, cocoa and sugar in a saucepan; bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Reduce heat; simmer for 2-3 minutes or until thickened. Remove from the heat; stir in butter until melted. To serve, dust brownie hearts with confectioners' sugar and drizzle with warm chocolate sauce. Store any leftover sauce in the refrigerator.

cheese cake recipe:ARIZONA SUNSET CHEESE CAKE

noreply@blogger.com (mahdi asami) — Thu, 25 Jul 2013 10:37:00 +0000

Shortbread Crust

1 1/2 c Flour
1/2 c Finely ground pecans
1/3 c Sugar
1 lg Egg, separated
1/2 c Butter, softened

Cranberry GlazeFilling

1 cn Wholeberry cranberry- sauce OR 2 cups cranberry orange relish
2 tb Sugar
1 tb Cornstarch
1 tb Grated lemon zest
1 tb Lemon juice

White Chocolate Filling

1 1/2 c Fresh orange juice
1-3 Inch x 1 inch piece- oforange peel (orange part only)
4 8 oz pkgs creamcheese
2/3 c Sugar
1 tb Grated orange zest
2 tb Cranberry Liqueur (such- as Crantasia Schnapps)
8 oz White chocolate, melted
4 Eggs

Candied Orange Topping

4 cWater
2 cSugar
3 Seedless oranges (unpeeled)- cut intopaper-thin slices

Garnish

WhippedCream

Shortbread Crust: Preheat the oven to 400 degreesF. Working on a large flat
surface, such asa pastry board, placeflour, pecans, and sugar in the center of the
surface and mix together. Form a smalldepression or well in the center of the
mound. Add the eggyolk and the softened butter to the well,then blend these with
the drymixture. Mixthe ingredients thoroughly usingyour hands -- there isno
substitute for warm hands. Shape the dough into a ball and wrap in plastic wrap.
Chill for at least 10 minutes. Roll out the dough to a thickness of about 1/4-inch. You
shouldhavea circle of about 11 inches in diameter. For best results, roll out your
dough between 2 sheets of waxed paper, then peelaway the paper and cut the crust
in a 9 inchcircle. Place the circle inside a 9 inchspringform pan. Prick the crust
several times witha fork to keep the crust frompuffing up during the baking. Place
the springform pan in the oven and bakefor 15 to 20 minutes, or untillightbrown.
Allow to cool. Using the leftover dough, line the sides of the springform pan. Press
the dough against the sides ofthe pan, smoothing it so as to have a continuous layer
of crust all the way around the sides of thepan. Make surethat the side crust meets
the bottom crust all the way around. Brush the reserved egg whiteonto the shell,
coveringthe bottom and sides. This willsealthe dough and keepit frombecoming
soggy. Set aside until ready to use.

Cranberry Glaze Filling: Mix the sugar and cornstarch together in a small
saucepan. Stir in the cranberry sauce. Cook over mediumheat, stirring constantly,
until thick. Stir in the lemon zest and lemonjuice. Set aside to coolslightly.

White Chocolate Filling: Reset the oven to 350 degrees F. Boil the orange juice
and piece of orange peelin a heavy medium saucepan until the juice is reduced to 3
Tbsp - about 12 minutes. Remove and discard the strip of orange peel and set aside
the reduced orange juice. Using an electricmixer, beat the cream cheese, sugar,
grated orange zest, Crantasia, and reduced orange juice until smooth. Beat in the
melted white chocolate and then the eggs, one at a time, beating just until
combined. Pour thecranberryglaze filling into the prepared crust, spreading evenly.
Pour the white chocolate filling over the cranberry layer and bake about 50 minutes
(the top will be dry and the sides puffed slightly - the center will not be set). Move
cheesecake to a wire rack and cool completely to room temperature. Chill inthe
refrigerator overnight.

Candied Oranges Topping: Covera wire rackwithwaxed paper. Set aside.
Combine the water and sugar in a heavyshallow wide skillet. Stir over medium heat
until the sugar dissolves. Simmer 5 minutes longer. Add the orange slices 1 at a time
and adjust the heat so that the syrup bubbles only around the edges of the pan.
Cook the oranges forone hour. Turn over the top layer of oranges and cook until the
oranges aretranslucent and the orange peelstender, about another one hour longer.
Lift and drain each orange slice out of the syrup, and arrange the slices in a single
layer on the prepared rack. Let dry 1 hour. Boilthe orange-sugar syrup untilthick,
about 6 minutes. Loosenand remove the sides of the springformpan. Set the
cheesecake on a serving dish. Overlap thecandied orange slices around the topof
the cheesecake. Reheat the orange syrup, if necessary, and brush over the orange
slices. Drizzle any remainder over each serving. Garnish: whippedcream.

NOTE: You may substitute grape fruits for the oranges in the Candied Oranges
Topping if you prefer.

low carb recipe: Bacon, Chicken, and Avocado Salad

noreply@blogger.com (mahdi asami) — Thu, 25 Jul 2013 02:51:00 +0000

INGREDIENTS:

¼lb bacon, or 4–5 slices, cut into ½-
inch bits
8 boneless, skinless chicken thighs,
chopped into 2 inch pieces, seasoned
with salt and pepper
1 avocado – peeled, pitted and cut into
1-inch chunks
1 head romaine lettuce, chopped
¼cup chopped red onion
½cup chopped walnut

DIRECTIONS:

1. In a pan over medium heat, cook the bacon “bits” until crisp. Remove and set aside,
but save the bacon grease in the pan.
2. Add the chopped and seasoned chicken thighs to the pan and sauté in the bacon
grease. Cook the chicken and turn so that every side is browned. Allow it to simmer
over low heat while you prepare the rest of the salad.

3. Toss the chopped romaine, avocado, chicken and bacon together. Top with red onion
and walnuts. Dress with your favorite vinaigrette.

ACTIVE COOKING TIME:20-30 minutes
TOTAL TIME(START TO FINISH):20-30 minutes
SERVINGS:4

recipe: Low-Carb Pastry Pizzazz

noreply@blogger.com (mahdi asami) — Thu, 25 Jul 2013 00:48:00 +0000

This delicious treat adds only 1.9 grams of carb for a Superb Roll of any size. Just add
a glaze to the rolls once they are baked. While the rolls are baking, make ½ or ¼ of the
below mentioned glaze. Apply the glaze thinly with a pastry brush to the tops of the hot
rolls. It will set within minutes. The rolls will freeze well, even with the glaze. Thaw at
room temperature or follow directions for heating in the oven.

Glaze

SERVING SIZE ,icing for 1 cookie. Carbs per serving 0.5 gram of carb.
Number of servings: 280
Ingredients:
1 egg white (or 3 Tablesps sterilized egg white)
1 cup powdered sugar (unsifted)
3 Teasps vanilla extract

Put the egg white and powdered sugar in the bowl of your electric mixer and beat
on high speed until the sugar is absorbed and the mixture thickens a bit: scrape sides of
bowl as needed. Mix in the vanilla extract. Apply icing with the tip of a knife or a small
brush. The icing dries quickly, particularly over freshly baked cookies, rolls, and so
forth. Store unused frosting, covered, in the fridge. Always stir well before using.
Ingredients:

¾ cup cold water plus 2 Tablesps (very important)
6 Tablesps butter (¾ stick)
¾ cup vital wheat gluten flour
1/3 cup unbleached, all-purpose wheat (white) flour
trace of salt (two light shakes or to taste)
3 eggs *
1 egg white

Preheat oven to 420F. Have ready one large, nonstick, heavy-gauge metal
cookie sheet. Put the water and the butter in a heavy 2-quart saucepan, preferably with
a rounded bottom, over medium heat. Occasionally stir the mixture while you wait for
the butter to melt.

Meanwhile, thoroughly combine the two flours, and a pinch of salt in a medium-
mixing bowl.

As soon as the butter has melted and the mixture begins to simmer, add the dry
mix all at once, and stir vigorously with a wooden spoon. Within just a few seconds, the
dough will become smooth and leave the bottom and sides of the pan. Keep stirring
until no flour shows. Cook for about 10 seconds longer and remove from heat.
Put the hot saucepan on a cold burner or other safe surface. Stir in the eggs,
one at a time, mixing well after each addition. At first the dough will appear lumpy.
When the whole eggs have been added, the dough will be smooth. It should be creamy
and hold peaks with almost no settling. Work in the egg white. Now the dough will be
just right; it will still hold its shape, but in softer peaks. It should form mounds that do
not spread on the cookie sheet, but sink back and broaden out slightly. Occasionally,
you may need to make a judgment call. Depending on the size of the eggs, the dough
may be sufficiently soft even before you add the final egg white. In that case, omit the
egg white or add it by the Tablesp. The right consistency makes the best rolls. Dough
that is too stiff results in smaller rolls; dough that is too soft (i.e., spreads out wide on
the cookie sheet) may result in flat rolls.

If you like, use your electric mixer to work in the eggs. Simply transfer the hot
dough from the saucepan to the mixer bowl and beat in the eggs, one at a time. Do not
over beat because if you do, the rolls may develop large air pockets. Use a flat beater if
you have one.

Put spoonfuls of dough on the cookie sheet, choosing the size you prefer. Use
large Teasps or even soupspoons to drop the dough. Place them fairly close together.
Bake the rolls for about 25 to 28 minutes or until they are golden brown and
crusty on top. Promptly freeze rolls that you do not plan to use the day they are baked.
Take them out of the bag to thaw at room temperature. You can also put the frozen
rolls in the oven, set at 350 F (no need to pre-heat), and bake for 5 minutes. You can
toast rolls (slice in half), but you need a wide-slot toaster or toaster oven. The rolls toast
rapidly, so use the lowest setting.

Save unused rolls in a dry place until rock hard. They will be used for
Magnificent Bread Crumbs.

Zesty Lime-Fish Tacos Recipe

noreply@blogger.com (mahdi asami) — Wed, 24 Jul 2013 19:21:00 +0000

1 lb tilapia fillets (about 4)
1/2 cup fresh lime juice (2 to 3 limes)
3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1/4 cup Pillsbury BEST® All Purpose Flour
1/4 cup yellow cornmeal
1 can (16.3 ounces) Pillsbury® Grands!® Homestyle refrigerated
buttermilk biscuits (8 biscuits)
6 tablespoons Crisco® Pure Canola Oil
1 1/2 tablespoons chipotle chiles in adobo sauce (from 7-oz can),
finely chopped
1/2 teaspoon McCormick® salt
1/4 teaspoon McCormick® pepper
1/2 cup salsa
1/2 cup sour cream
1 1/2 cups shredded cabbage

Preparation

Heat oven to 200°F. Cut each fish fillet lengthwise into 4 strips. In shallow glass dish, mix 7 tablespoons of the lime juice and garlic. Add fish; turn to coat. Let stand while preparing biscuits.
On work surface, mix flour and cornmeal. Separate dough into 8 biscuits. Press both sides of each biscuit into flour mixture, then press or roll into 6- to 7-inch round.
In 12-inch nonstick skillet, heat 1 1/2 tablespoons of the oil over medium heat. Add 2 biscuit rounds; cook about 1 minute on each side or until golden brown and cooked through. Place on cookie sheet; keep warm in oven. Cook remaining rounds, adding 1 1/2 tablespoons oil to skillet for each batch. Wipe skillet clean.
Heat same skillet over medium-high heat. Add fish and lime juice mixture, chiles, salt and pepper; cook about 5 minutes, turning fish once, until fish flakes easily with fork.
In small bowl, mix salsa, sour cream and remaining 1 tablespoon lime juice.
Using slotted spoon, remove fish and divide evenly among biscuit rounds. Top each with cabbage and 1 to 2 tablespoons salsa mixture. Fold biscuit rounds in half over filling. Serve with any remaining salsa mixture. Garnish with lime wedges, if desired.

recipe: DIABETIC FRUIT COOKIES

noreply@blogger.com (mahdi asami) — Wed, 24 Jul 2013 12:45:00 +0000

1 c. flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 c. water
1 c. dates, chopped
1/2 c. apples, peeled & chopped
3/4 c. raisins
1/2 c. margarine
1 c. quick oats
2 eggs, beaten (or eggbeaters)
1 tsp. vanilla
1 c. pecans, chopped

Sift flour and soda, set aside. Cook water, dates, apple and raisins;
bring to a boil. Simmer 3 minutes. Remove from heat and add the
margarine and stir. Cool mixture and then add eggs, oatmeal and the
dry ingredients; add the vanilla and nuts. Cover andrefrigerate
overnight. Drop on cookie sheets 2 inches apart. Bake in 350 degree
oven for about 24 minutes. Store in the refrigerator in air tight
container. May also add 1 tsp. cinnamon to dry ingredients if desired.

recipe: TORTE AU CHOCOLA

noreply@blogger.com (mahdi asami) — Tue, 23 Jul 2013 21:21:00 +0000

1 3/4 c. cake flour, sifted
1/43 tsp. salt
3 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
4 eggs, separated
1/2 c. melted butter or oil
3/4 c. Fruit Sweet
3/4 c. Fudge Sweet
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 c. milk

Sift dry ingredients together and set aside. Combine the butter or oil,
Fruit Sweet, Fudge Sweet and vanilla. Add the yolks to the liquid
mixture, blending one at a time. Add the flour mixture to the liquid
mixture alternately with the milk. Whip the egg whites to stiff peaks
and fold in gently but thoroughly. Bake at 350 degrees for 1/2 hour in
2 (9") round greased and floured tins. Test. Cake will spring back
when lightly touched. For a drier cake, bake until the cake draws
away from the edge of the pan. Cool.

--FILLING--

1 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese
3 tbsp. Fruit Sweet
1 tsp. vanilla
Blend together. Cream cheese may be warmed slightly to soften for
blending. Fill cake, then frost with whipped cream sweetened to taste
with Fruit Sweet, flavored with vanilla or your favorite flavoring.

Drizzle melted Fruit Sweet around edge of cake. *optional - put thinly
sliced strawberries on top.

recipe: Beau'sSweet-SourChicken Wings

noreply@blogger.com (mahdi asami) — Mon, 22 Jul 2013 23:54:00 +0000

20 Chicken wings

7 1/2 ouncesTomatosauce(half can)
2 tablespoons Orange marmalade
1 tablespoon Honey
2 teaspoonsGinger--minced
2 teaspoonsFermented chili sauce --(Summitbrand)
2 teaspoonsPeppervinegar
4 Garliccloves--peeled
1 teaspoon Salt (scant)
2 teaspoonsMSG
1/2 cup Water(moreasneeded)
dsTabasco, totaste -(orother hotpepper
-sauce)

Cut off spurs fromchicken wing-tipsand rinse chicken wings. Placein
pressure cooker with water; bringto pressureand cook at high heat forup
to fiveminutes.Removefrompressurecookerand place cooked-outfat in
wide-mouthed, tapered jarfor other uses.

Blend all ingredients except chicken and Tabasco (or hotsauce) until
fairlyeven consistency,with no largechunksof gingerorgarlic.

Place3/4ofsaucein pan. Rollwings insauce; remove wingsto broiler
pan (with slotted top). Bake at 325 degreesF. for 20 minutes.Remove
fromoven and spoon abouthalf of remainingsauceon topof each piece;
broilfor5 minutes. Add Tabasco orother hotpepper sauces to tasteand
serve.

Beau's notes:

* Use vinegar"which has been used tokeep asupplyofbird's-eye
peppers."

* Afterdiscardingchicken spurs, wash handswith verywarmwater and
Dialsoap (and follow up with isopropylalcohol rinse); wash all utensils
with bleach. (One should alwaysregardchickens,even ifprocessed in USA
or inspected byUSDA,asunclean!USDAinspectors arenotoriouslyless
than thorough, and U.S.packing houses often neglect basic hygienicrules
in workingwith chickens, especiallyin dealing with theirentrails, waste
productsun-excreted, etc. And one shouldnot expect muchbetterfrom
out-of-countrychickens.)

recipe: AFRICANCHICKEN WINGS

noreply@blogger.com (mahdi asami) — Mon, 22 Jul 2013 21:25:00 +0000

FORTHE WINGS

4 Garliccloves
2 Shallots
1 1/2 teaspoons Salt
1 tablespoon Chinese 5 spice
2 teaspoonsPaprika
1 teaspoon Dried rosemary--crumbled
1/2 teaspoon Cayenne--or to taste
2 tablespoons Vegetable oil
4 poundsChicken wings--about 20-24
Tipsremoved

FORTHE SAUCE

1/3 cup Natural stylepeanut butter
1/4 cup Canned cream of coconut--Wellstirred
2 Garliccloves--chopped
1/4 cup Water
1/4 cup Red bellpepper --chopped
1/8 teaspoon Dried hot red pepperflakes
Orto taste 1 teaspoon Soysauce

Coriander sprigs

THEWINGS:Prepare thechicken wings: Minceand mash the garlicand
shallots toapaste with the salt. Inalargebowl stir the paste together
with the 5 spicepowder, paprika, rosemary,cayenne, and the oil. Mix
well. Add thechicken wings. Toss and stirthemuntiltheyare completely
covered with the marinade. Letthemmarinate, covered and chilled for 4
hours orovernight. Arrangethewings, skin side up, on the rackof a
foillined largebroiler pan and bakethemin theupperthird of a
preheated 425Foven for25 to 30 minutesoruntiltheyare golden. The
wingsmaybeprepared onedayin advance, kept covered and chilled and
then reheated beforeserving.THE SAUCE:Inablender, blend together the
peanut butter, cream of coconut, garlic, water, bellpepper, redpepper
flakes and the soysauceuntil the mixtureis smooth,season thesauce
with salt, to taste. THE PRESENTATION:

Transferthesauceto aservingbowl set on aplatter.
Arrangethe wingsaround thebowland garnish the platter with the
coriander.

recipe: REFRIGERATOR BRAN MUFFINS

noreply@blogger.com (mahdi asami) — Sun, 21 Jul 2013 17:41:00 +0000

1 1/2 c. apple juice
1 c. butter, melted
4 well beaten eggs
4 c. buttermilk
5 tsp. baking soda
2 c. processed Bran Buds
1 c. Fruit Sweet
4 c. ready-to-eat bran cereal
5 c. flour
1 tsp. salt

Pour the juice into a medium saucepan and bring to a boil over high
heat. Remove, pour in the Bran Buds and stir well. Let the mixture
stand for several minutes. Combine the butter, Fruit Sweet and eggs
and beat well. Then stir in the bran cereal. Pour in the buttermilk and
stir well, then add the flour, baking soda and salt. Beat the batter
until it is thoroughly blended.

Add the juice and Bran Buds and stir the batter until well blended.
Drop several teaspoonfuls of batter into each greased muffin cup.
Bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes or until the centerof each muffin
is done. The batter can be stored in the refrigeratorfor up to 6 weeks
and used as needed. Fruit and nuts, such as raisins, cranberries,
bananas and walnuts, can be finely chopped, tossed with alittle flour
can also be used to add a little variety.

recipe: BLACK BOTTOM PIE

noreply@blogger.com (mahdi asami) — Sun, 21 Jul 2013 14:50:00 +0000

--GRAHAM CRACKER CRUST:--

1 1/4 c. graham cracker crumbs
1/2 c. diet margarine

--FILLING--
1 envelope unflavored gelatin
3/4 c. part-skim ricotta cheese
12 packets sweetener
1 packet low-calorie whipped topping mix
1 1/2 c. skim milk
1 tbsp. vanilla extract
1/4 c. cocoa

Combine crumbs with diet margarine by cutting in softened margarine
until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Press firmly in bottom and
sides of 8 or 9 inch pie pan. Bake in preheated 350 degree oven for 8
to 10 minutes. Cool. In small saucepan, sprinkle gelatin over 1/2 cup
skim milk. Let stand one minute.

Heat, stirring constantly until gelatin dissolves. In blender or food
processor, blend ricotta until smooth and add gelatin mixture,
remaining 1 cup milk and vanilla. Continue blendinguntil completely
smooth. Remove half the mixture, set aside. To mixture still in
blender, add 6 packs sugar substitute and cocoa. Blend thoroughly.
Pour blender mixture into crust, chill for 30 minutes or until partially
set. At the same time, chill remaining mixture for 30minutes.

Prepare whipped topping mix according to package directions gradually
adding remaining 6 packets sugar substitute. Whisk into reserved,
chilled mixture until blended smoothly. Spoon over chocolate layer;
chill until set. Garnish with dusting of cocoa. Makes one (8 or 9 inch)
pie or 8 servings.

Ratatouille of Roasted Vegetables

noreply@blogger.com (mahdi asami) — Sun, 21 Jul 2013 12:10:00 +0000

6 servings, 5 cups

Ingredients
1 large head garlic
12 ripe plum tomatoes, cored, halved and seeded
1 eggplant (1-1 1/4 lbs.),cut lengthwise into 1/2-inch-thick slices
2 small zucchini, cut in half lengthwise
2 small summer squash, cut in half lengthwise

1 Spanish onion, cut into 1/2-inch-thick slices
1 large red bell pepper, cut in half lengthwise and seeded
1 large yellow bell pepper, cut inhalf lengthwise and seeded
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
2 Tbsp. olive oil, preferably extra-virgin
1 Tbsp. chopped fresh thyme
1 tsp. dried oregano
2 bay leaves
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper

Instructions
Set oven racks at the two lowest levels; preheat to 450 degrees F.
Peel away as much of the papery skin from the garlic as possible and
wrap the head loosely in aluminum foil. Bake for 30 minutes, or until
the garlic is very soft. Let cool slightly.
Meanwhile, lightly coat 2 baking sheets with vegetable oil or spray
with nonstick cooking spray. Arrange tomatoes, eggplant slices,
zucchini, squash, onions, red bell peppers and yellow bell peppers on
the prepared baking sheets. Roast for 20 minutes, turning once, until
just tender and browned. Let cool slightly. Reduce oven temperature to
350 degrees F.

Separate garlic cloves and squeeze the soft pulp into a large heavy
saucepan or Dutch oven. Slip skins from the tomatoes and peppers.
Slice all the vegetables into piecesand add to the garlic. Stir in
basil, olive oil, thyme, oregano, bay leaves, salt and pepper. Cover
and bake, stirring occasionally, for 30 minutes, or until heated
through and thickened. Remove bay leaves. Taste and adjust seasonings,
and serve hot or at room temperature.

Nutritional Information:
113 calories
5 g fat mono
0 mg cholesterol
16 g carbohydrate
3 g protein
208 mg sodium

Pan-Grilled Salmon Filletswith Tomato & Tarragon

noreply@blogger.com (mahdi asami) — Sun, 21 Jul 2013 00:10:00 +0000

4 servings

Ingredients

1-1 1/4 pounds salmon fillet, skin on (scaling is not necessary),
pin

bones removed, cut into 4 pieces

Salt & freshly ground black pepper to taste

1/2 cup dry white wine

1/3 cup very finely chopped fresh chives

3 sprigs fresh tarragon

1 teaspoon butter

2 ripe plum tomatoes, seeded and finely chopped

Fresh chives for garnish

Instructions

1. Preheat a 12-inch ovenproof skillet (cast iron is fine) for 3 or 4

minutes over medium-high heat. Preheat the broiler,positioning the top rack about 4 inches
from

the heat.

2. Place salmon fillets in the skillet, skin-side down, leaving the heat on medium-high. Sprinkle
with pepper and cook, undisturbed, for about 6 minutes, or until the salmon flesh turns opaque
about halfway up the fish.

3. Transfer the skillet to the broiler and leave it there for 2 or 3
minutes, just until the salmon browns on top. The salmon should still be moist in the middle.

4. Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, heat wineover medium heat. Let it simmer for about 1
minute. Add chives, tarragon and butter and stir. When the butter has melted, add tomatoes and cook another 30 seconds. Adjust seasonings withsalt and pepper. Remove and discard the tarragon. Spoon the sauce over the salmon. Garnish with chives.

Nutritional Information:

185 calories

8 total fat (2 g sat)

65 mg cholesterol

3 g carbohydrate

23 g protein

1 g fiber

65 mg sodium

Motivation To Lose Weight: 3 Essential Mindset Tips

noreply@blogger.com (mahdi asami) — Sat, 20 Jul 2013 13:19:00 +0000

OK, so your probably reading this because you've decided to do something about your weight, but can't get motivated enough to start making those changes. Well, your not alone. Many people find them selves waiting for the right time, for the right circumstances to make a start, but can't seem to find motivation to lose weight.

In this article I'll share with you three simple ways to keep motivated and carry the momentum forward to achieve your goal weight. You'll soon learn that having the right mindset Is everything
when it comes to losing weight and getting fit. So let's get stuck in...

1. Mindset matters: Most people tend to focus on the more physical side of diet and exercise, and don't give a thought to what is needed mentally when the going gets tough. It's the same with any challenge or obstacle you want to overcome in life. Without the right mindset to start with, your almost destine to fall at the first hurdle.

Think of something you've achieved in your life. Some moment when you were totally certain of the result before you achieved it. Maybe it was in school, during a sports match or the night you met someone special. A moment when you excelled beyond all odds.

Before this achievement there must have been a time when you made the decision to commit, and the thought of giving up was out of the question. All decisions that make real changes in life have this unshakable certainty.

I believe that the power of a single decision can totally change your life. So now's the time to commit! Be honest with yourself and stop making excuses. Make your decision to lose wight final, and you'll soon start dropping the pounds and become the person you want to be.

2. Be Positive & set goals: We all have a dark side to our minds. That negative voice that always seems to be there in the background somewhere, telling you there's no point in trying, You've failed before and you'll fail again.

Try to replace this voice with a positive massage every time you start to doubt yourself. Make up a few words like "Enough's enough, I can do this!" or "This is easy, nothing can stop me!" Well you get the gist of it...

Also try to visualize yourself in 6 - 12 months time walking down the street, as the new slimmer you. Your wearing an item from your new wardrobe, you've achieved your goal weight and your looking fantastic. This will help you relax and keep you focused on your goals.

Well planned goals can help convert thoughts into action. Although positive thinking is essential, you must be realistic about your goal setting too. Don't expect to lose 10 pounds in a week. This can only undermine your efforts.

Keep a journal of your goals, your action plan and your progress. This can be fun...

First off, write down your goals for the next 12 month. Jot down anything that comes to mind even the silly things. How much wait are you going to lose? What dress size will you be? Where will you go, what will you do once you've shed the weight? And so on...

Next write a plan of action. How will you achieve your goals? How many calories must you eat per day to start losing weight? Are there any recipes you'd like to try to spice up your evening meal or make lunch more exiting?

Also, write down an exercise schedule and what you need to get started? This way you can easily track your progress to see if you're meeting your goals. If you plan to run, how far are you going to run? what time a day and how many days a week?

It's a fact that by writing things down, you can not only keep track of progress, but maintain your focus and motivation. It's also a good idea to write down any thoughts and feelings your having and congratulate yourself when appropriate.

3. Get up & do something... Just make a start!: This is my final and most obvious peace of advice to get motivated for weight loss.

First of all, there is no such thing as a perfect time, or the perfect circumstances to start. Don't make the excuse of waiting until after Christmas, or when you get back from holidays. There's always going to be someones birthday party around the corner.

By making the decision to taking action right now, you'll start the ball of momentum rolling, which will fire endorphins in your brain, giving you a feeling of well being. You'd better get used to it because you'll have that warm glow of achievement wash over you after every exercise session, every time you step on the scales and most of all, when someone you know tells you how slim your looking.

Sometimes we all need a little help, a push in the right direction. Rob Davies is a diet and fitness researcher with an obsessive passion for the weight loss problem.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7785995

Ways To Lose Belly Fat Quick: 3 Simple Ways That Work!

noreply@blogger.com (mahdi asami) — Fri, 19 Jul 2013 19:04:00 +0000

You're probably reading this because you've finally decided enough's enough, that's it, this belly's got to go! So now your on a mission to find reliable information on how to lose belly fat. Well, your not alone.
Many people out there are in the same boat. They decide they've got to do something about it, but just at the point where they're about to see some results, they slip back into the same frame of mind that first caused them to put on weight. Does this sounds familiar?

In this article I will discuss the dangers, the cause and most importantly, the solution for a fat stomach and obesity in general. These three points I'll make are quite obvious really, but most of us choose to live our lives in ignorant bliss, which makes it so easy to fall back into the same old habits that got us into the situation in the first place.

Where I live in the UK, around 1,000 people a week die from obesity-related conditions. It's much the same all over the western world and growing, with America at the top of the heap.
When it comes to your health, It's not just the extra fat your carrying that matters, it's where your carrying it. As you put weight on your waste line, Fat builds up around your internal organs, which means the risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes and a few other nasty conditions increases dramatically.

1. Cut down on drinking: Most of us enjoy a glass of wine with a meal or a few beers with friends at the end of a hard week. The thing is, we normally associate putting on weight with eating not drinking. Here's a thought...

A glass of red wine can contain between 170 - 250 calories, and a pint of beer 200 - 275 calories. This makes you look at an average night out quite differently doesn't it?
So if you like a drink and don't really pay attention to the amount you have, start thinking about drinking in moderation or even giving it up for a while. Also you could try buying lower volume alcohol as usually, the higher the percentage of alcohol, the higher the calorie content. Wine is a good example of this.

2. less fast foods: OK, so your out and about with the kids, or your stressed out in work, and eating healthy is the last thing you want to think about. It's so easy to grab something easy and convenient isn't it? The trouble is, easy and convenient is normally heavy on calories and light on nutrition.

I have a few tips for combating these types of eating habits. I say eating habits because that's what they are. The same as smoking, biting your fingernails or picking your nose. Alright, I'm not saying 'bad for you' foods don't taste nice. I'm saying, we often find comfort and familiarity in such things, even if we know they do us harm.

The first step would be to start thinking differently about your diet in general. If you start thinking ahead and planing every meal in advance, you'll soon build new eating habits. Also it's not hard these days to educate yourself on what's good and what's bad for you.

You've probably heard this before, but I'll say it anyway. Eat lots more of the right stuff e.g. fruit, veg, fish and lean meats more often. Try eating five or six small meals a day and drink plenty of water.

If you find yourself in a restaurant, ask for no butter on your vegetables, and the salad dressing served on the side. If your having pasta, ask for the sauce on the side. If you ask, they normally will do it for you. This way you have more control over calories content.

3. get some exercise: This is so important for our health and well being. When you think about it, human beings are not designed for lazing around. Early man had no super markets or convenience stores. They had to be extremely active for they're own survival. Our genetics haven't changed much, except maybe for a little less body hair.

If your not too shy about joining a gym or you know someone who trains regularly, take advantage and start as soon as you can. On the other hand, you may prefer working out at home or out side. What ever you decide, don't wait till next week, next month or after Christmas, take action as soon as possible.

Cardiovascular training is essential. I prefer running to anything else, although you could choose swimming, cross training, cycling or even walking. Of course, any type of physical sport is great too. Think of what you left behind in your school days and never really picked back up for some reason. This could be the right time to grab that bull by the horns.

The other essential exercise for getting rid of your belly fat is stomach workouts. try different types of ab exercises that work your upper, lower and side abdominal muscles. Design your own workout routine and stick to it 100%.

Final word...

I have no idea how much of a weight problem you have, but I do know these three points are the answer to why your reading this article today. I can only offer you this advice... Take the information presented here and run with it! Make the decision to change final, and don't except anything less of your self!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7786083

How To Lose Weight Fast: 5 Tips For Getting It Right, Starting Today!

noreply@blogger.com (mahdi asami) — Fri, 19 Jul 2013 16:48:00 +0000

You're probably reading this because your just sick and tired of all the weight loss gurus pushing and pulling you in all directions, bombarding you with fad diet plans and exhaustive exercise systems.

Maybe you feel you've tried everything and nothing seems to work in the long run. I mean, anyone can loose a few pound or even a couple of stone, but sooner or later you have to come off the diet and that's where it all go's wrong.

You see, my approach is one that has transformed my life completely. From being over weight with health problems, to being healthy and fit with lots of energy, and I didn't even have to try that hard.

Enough's enough!

I think there comes a time in everyone's life when they stare at them selves in the mirror and say "enough's enough"! Well, my time came around three years ago when a tragedy turned my life up side down. A life long friend of mine died of a brain aneurysm. I was consumed with grief and needed something to focus on.

So that day in work I said to a college, "I'm gona run 10 miles"...

As you can imagine, these words coming from a chubby, depressed man would be hard for anyone to believe. In fact, I thing my college may have laughed...

That day I contacted a charity related to brain injury and run two miles (it nearly killed me). I knew I couldn't achieve this without a bit of research, and soon discovered that losing weight and getting fit was pretty much down to the food I ate.

Anyway, long story short, A few months later, I run the 10 miles (with ease I must say) on my friends birthday with all his family there supporting me. It was one of them days in my life I will never forget. We raised almost £1000 for charity.

Although I ran three times a week, I believe my success was mostly down to a few simple dietary rules I followed and stuck too. If you adopt theses simple principles, I'm SURE you could drop the weight you want and turn you life around like I did.

My five tips for fast, lasting weight loss

1. Always be prepared:

You'd be surprised how much junk food an average household stocks at any one time. It is vital you don't have any temptations lying around, as the road ahead maybe challenging enough.
Always being prepared is about no distractions, no temptations and planning each meal in advance. Sit down and write a shopping list with your diet in mind, then go shopping and only get whats on the list.

If your a busy mum or work long hours it's so easy to fall into the trap of grabbing some fast food where it's convenient. Taking a healthy packed launch to work or simply having it in the fridge ready to grab is so important. You could prepare it the night before.

2. Get to know calories:

If you've ever been on a diet you've probably counted calories at some time. This is a great way of managing what you eat.

Its a good idea to find out your body mass index (BMI), so that you have an accurate point to start from. On average, a women needs around 2000 calories a day and a man 2500. To loss weigh, the general idea is to cut down your calorie intake by 500 per day.

Get use to looking at nutritional information on food labels. Maybe write them down and make a list to stick on your fridge for reference.

3. Eat more, lose more:

This is so important! You should aim to eat five - six small meals a day. If you haven't got the time then just grab an apple or something.

Remember! Hunger is the enemy here. Don't allow yourself to get hungry as this may result in you stumbling off the wagon and grabbing that sugar fix.

Also, skipping meals definitely isn't the way to shed pounds. Keep focused on planning your next meal.

4. Simple food swap:

Choosing healthier foods isn't as hard as you think. It's all about changing a few of your eating habits one step at a time. This alone can get you on track to achieving your goal weight.

Swap breads and bagels for wholegrain versions. These are not only healthier and lower in calories, they keep you fuller for longer.

Try eating more lower calorie proteins such as poultry and fish, and only cook with lean cuts of meat. By cutting the fat off a ration of bacon or taking the skin of a chicken before cooking can dramatically reduce the calories.

It is very important to educate yourself on what the fat, sugar, salt and calorie levels are in what you eat. This will shine a light on your diet and help you identify what's holding you back from achieving your ideal weight.

5. Get more active:

Now I realize the word EXERCISE for someone like I was a few years ago, can be quite uncomfortable and even scary. The idea of going to the gym or exercise class was the furthest thing from my mind, but there's other options...

I would recommend running to anyone, no matter their weight or age. But I realize running isn't for everyone so here's a few ideas to help you get more active in your everyday life. Remember, the more calories you burn, the more weight you lose.

If you take the bus to work, get off a bus stop or two earlier and work the rest. Also make a conscious effort to walk and take the stairs as much as you can.

If possible, try to designate an hour every day to work out to an exercise DVD or some other form of workout method that suits you.

One thing that first got me hooked on working out was the fact that, after exercise I felt on top of the world. This is down to the release of endorphins in the brain when you exercise, which fills you with a sense of well being.

So if you really are looking to make a lasting change in your life, you must have discipline and turn these five tips into everyday habits. And we all know how hard habits are to kick...

Sometimes we all need a little help, a push in the right direction. Rob Davies is a diet and fitness researcher with an obsessive passion for the weight loss problem.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7786124

Chamomile Tea - Side Effects, Health Risks, and Points Of Caution

noreply@blogger.com (mahdi asami) — Fri, 19 Jul 2013 14:01:00 +0000

Chamomile tea is a popular caffeine-free herbal tea with a reputation for its mild relaxing effects. Chamomile is widely consumed as a beverage, and is generally recognized as safe. However, there are a few special populations of people that are at risk for potentially dangerous side-effects or negative impacts on health associated with chamomile consumption. This article outlines the largest known concerns about potential risks or negative side effects associated with drinking chamomile tea.

Blood-thinning effect:

Chamomile is known to contain small but significant amounts of a chemical called coumarin. Coumarin, which has a pleasing fruity aroma, is known to act as a blood thinner. It is chemically very similar to coumadin, a synthetic chemical sold under the name Warfarin, as a prescription blood thinner.

Although the effects of a single cup of chamomile tea are small, chamomile is best used with cautiong by any people for whom a blood-thinning effect could be harmful or undesirable, especially those who are taking prescription blood thinners.

Allergic reaction:

Chamomile is in the composite family, related to asters and daisies, and as such, is relatively closely related to a large number of allergens, including ragweed and mugwort. Although uncommon, there are documented cases of cross-reactivity between these plants and chamomile. This means that a person who has never been exposed to chamomile but who is allergic to these other plants, or other plants in the composite family, has a small chance of reacting to chamomile in a similar way. Although rare, a few severe allergic reactions have been documented.

For this reason, chamomile is best used cautiously by people the first time they are exposed to the plant, among people who are at risk of severe reactions to plants in this family.

Chamomile is generally healthy:

Although this article has focused primarily on side-effects and potential health risks associated with chamomile tea, these risks and side effects are relatively insignificant compared to those of many prescription drugs. Chamomile is also known to have a number of compelling health benefits, including lowering blood sugar, and having a relaxing effect.

In summary:

Chamomile tea is safe and widely-consumed as a beverage. However, there are a few points of concern with respect to potential side effects or negative effects on health. The first is due to the fact that chamomile contains a chemical known to act as a blood thinner, and the second is due to possible allergic reactions due to cross-reactivity. Chamomile is thus best used with caution among people for whom blood thinning effects could be dangerous, and among people at risk of severe allergic reaction to plants in the composite (daisy or aster) family.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6993955

5 Ways Herbal Teas Can Treat Or Reduce Anxiety And Help You Relax

noreply@blogger.com (mahdi asami) — Fri, 19 Jul 2013 10:34:00 +0000

Drinking herbal teas, especially ones like chamomile, and various herbal blends, is often seen as a powerful and effective way to relax. This article explores five ways in which herbal teas can help you to relax, making an effective, natural, and inexpensive treatment for anxiety

1. Medicinal Effects:

Herbs have various chemical components which act on the mind and body a lot like prescription drugs, but in a gentler, safer, and more balanced way. Many of the herbs commonly used as teas have been established scientifically to have relaxing or calming effects. The herbs with some science supporting their use for relaxing include chamomile, tulsi (holy basil), lemon balm, lavender, sage, passionflower, valerian, and kava. Many of these are common ingredients in herbal blends, especially those designed to promote relaxation.

2. Warmth:

Imagine curling up in a warm blanket with a hot cup of something. Even thinking of this sort of thing can help us relax. Warmth relaxes us, and this is not just due to our minds, it is due to the activation of the parasympathetic nervous system, which reduces the stress response. Drinking herbal teas can help relax us by warming us up.

3. Aroma:

Aromas can be very powerful. Think of how certain smells can bring back vivid memories, often evoking strong emotions associated with those memories. Some chemicals are even able to produce measurable effects on the mind and body even at levels so low that they cannot be consciously detected. Infusions of richly aromatic herbs have great potential to impact our mood through their smell. Many of the herbal blends people drink to relax have been chosen and blended specifically to have a calming or anxiety-reducing effect. This effect can be powerful and immediate, helping us to relax even before we take the first sip.

4. Mindfulness:

Mindfulness is a powerful way to combat anxiety and related problems like depression. The act of focusing on the here and now can help us to be happier and work effectively. Herbal teas can be a focal point for our mindfulness, as we pay attention to the taste and smell of the cup of tea we are drinking, and as we take time out of our day to enjoy our herbal tea, which leads into our final point:

5. Enjoyment:

People often approach anxiety and stress like it is a medical problem; while there is some merit to this approach, it is also true that at times, we just need to kick back and enjoy ourselves. If you want to drink herbal tea to relax and to help reduce your anxiety level, the best way to do so is to pick an herbal tea that you enjoy the most, and drink it because you like the way it tastes. Your enjoyment will help you to relax more as well!

Green Tea Weight Loss: Top 5 Extreme Weight Loss Supplements

noreply@blogger.com (mahdi asami) — Thu, 18 Jul 2013 23:14:00 +0000

Many weight loss supplement manufactures claim that their product will lead to extreme weight loss in a short period of time. Some will, and some won't. So, how do you know which product will achieve extreme weight loss? I have reviewed and evaluated the top 5 extreme weight loss supplements. All of the weight loss supplements reviewed include green tea as the main ingredient.

How Do Green Tea Supplements Work?

Green tea as an active ingredient in diet supplements promotes thermogenesis - the process of heat production in organisms. When this happens, your body starts to burn fat. In turn, your metabolic heart rate increases by about 4%. This process does not affect your resting heartbeat. Green tea supplements are safe for people with heart conditions. In short, it burns fat and increases your metabolism without jittery side effects.
There are many benefits of green tea as a herbal diet ingredient. By taking these supplements, you can burn an extra 400-500 calories per day! Some actually burn more calories which will lead to rapid results. As a golden rule, 1 lb of fat = 3,500 calories. If you eat 500 less calories per day. You will lose 1 lb a week. By taking these supplements and following a proper diet and exercise routine, you will have an effective weight loss plan!

Top 5 Picks:

#1. ProshapeRx-

ProShapeRx is the only product on the market that combines 100% pure and natural Hoodia Gordonii and green tea. I picked this for the number 1 spot because I have actually sampled this product through a free trial offer. I did notice results in about 10 days (the manufactures state that there should be noticeable results in 7 days), but I will take it! I did not feel jittery, and I did lose a few inches off problem areas within 30 days. Overall, the product did what it said it would: curb appetite, boost metabolism, helps build lean muscle, boost energy levels- all without side effects. ProShapeRx offers the same advantages as prescription weight loss pills.

#2 Green Tea Fat Burner? 150 LiquidSoft- Gels

Given a five star rating online, these soft-gel caplets offer maximum strength 100% green tea extract. Made with Xenedrol (a natural blend of 8 ingredients), this supplement works to fight and burn fat, turning food into instant energy. Green Tea Fat Burner also curbs appetite, and is quickly absorbed up to 200% faster than other dietary supplements. Reviewers are raving about this mid-priced diet product, and have generally seen results in 3 weeks when using this supplement.

#3 Maximum Strength Acai Berry Extreme / Vital Cleanse - With Green Tea Extract - Intense Fat Burning Weight Loss Diet Pill Combination

This extreme weight loss combination is intense and will yield very noticeable results. Made with the antioxidant Acai Berry and Green Tea, this duo works together to burn fat, cub appetite and rid your body of toxins. Yes, this is a cleanser and detox treatment as well as a diet supplement. Once your body sheds its toxins, get ready to experience rapid results. Reviewers have stated that the detox is gentle, and they have felt less hungry,and more energetic. Most noted dramatic results within a month. This is a great product to add to your weight loss plan!

#4 ACAI Fat Burn #3 all Pure Diet Pill with Green Tea, Grapefruit, Apple Cider, and more for Weight Loss and fat burning

With over 100 reviews online, this acai supplement delivers a safe weight loss plan that has been tested and verified. I like this supplement because it includes vitimans such as Vitamin B1 (Thiamin), Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin), and Vitamin B3 (Niacin). Included in the system is a 3 month supply of a detox and diet supplements. This product is made from 100% Pure Organic ACAI with Green tea, grapefruit, Apple Cidar, and more antioxidant capsules. There are no sugars or preservatives added. Reviewers state that this product gave them more energy, offered extreme results and a more youthful appearance- and who doesn't want that?

#5 Yogi Green Tea Blueberry Slim Life, Herbal Tea Supplement, 16-Count Tea Bags (Pack of 6)

I included a tea in my Top 5 because I felt like this is a good supplemental product to any weight loss system. Users of this product have claimed that this tea made them feel full between meals. Many commented about the delicious taste of the tea. Make no mistake- this is a diet tea and it will help you shed unwanted pounds. To curb appetite the fruit, Garcinia cambogia, is added to give dieters that extra push.The tea extract supplies antioxidants, and ginseng-eleuthero extract to help provide extra energy. Paired with a delicate but sweet blueberry flavor and hints of organic hibiscus, green tea blueberry slim life is a fragrant and delicious addition to a weight loss program supported by exercise and a balanced diet.

Lipton Green Tea Reviews - Pure and Flavored, for Taste and Health Benefits

noreply@blogger.com (mahdi asami) — Thu, 18 Jul 2013 18:59:00 +0000

Lipton is best-known for its flagship product, their basic black tea, available in teabags in nearly every mainstream supermarket in the U.S. However, Lipton also sells green tea, including both pure green and flavored teas, blended with other ingredients including lemon, orange, and other fruit flavorings.

On this page I will review Lipton's green teas, comparing them against other competing
products both in terms of flavor, price and value, and alleged health benefits.

Flavor, Value, and Quality: How does Lipton green tea compare to other teas?

Lipton's pure green tea is not the best example of its type out there, not even in mainstream supermarkets. In fact, my personal opinion is that it represents one of the company's weaknesses, and that Lipton does a better job of quality control for their black teas. This makes sense, given that Lipton has a history as a UK company, where the tradition of black teas is very strong, and green and white teas are only a relatively new discovery.

All that said, I would strongly recommend Lipton's teabags over the bottled (ready-to-drink) Lipton products. Brewing your own tea is a little work, but the result is going to be fresher, healthier, and (once you figure out how to brew it to your liking) better tasting as well. Take care to brew Lipton green tea, like other green teas, with water that has cooled from boiling; boiling water can produce an overly bitter cup.

How to locate better-quality teas:

My opinion on this matter is that it is almost never worth buying packaged green teabags in a supermarket. I think this is true of both the pure and flavored teas. These products lack both freshness and quality--most of them, including Lipton, consist of paper teabags filled with finely broken pieces of relatively low-quality leaves. When I drink green tea, I drink loose-leaf tea, and I seek out named varieties, from named regions of production, sold by companies which know more about green, white, and oolong tea.

However, if you are purchasing green tea in a supermarket, I prefer brands like Yamamotoyama (a Japanese company), Ten Ren (if available, a Taiwanese company), or Foojoy (specializing in Chinese teas). These brands and companies all offer superior quality and value in their green, white, and oolong teas.

On health benefits:

The topic of the health benefits of tea is one that I have researched a great deal, in the course of my work as editor of RateTea. There is relatively strong evidence supporting modest benefits associated with tea drinking, in terms of reducing the risk of heart disease. But it is also true that tea, particularly green and white tea, has been heavily over-hyped by the industries of dietary supplements, attempting to sell green and white tea supplements, or low-quality teas at jacked up prices.

While it is true that green tea contains a small amount of vitamin C, and black tea generally does not, there is no evidence that any one type (green, white, oolong, or others) is universally any healthier than black tea or other types.

In summary:

I am personally not a huge fan of Lipton's green tea; I prefer the company's black tea, which is the product that I think the company focuses on when it comes to flavor and quality control. But I do think their teabags are preferable to drinking their bottled teas. All tea is healthy, but there is not a lot of evidence that green tea is healthier than black, so I recommend making your choice of what to drink on the basis of taste, price, and quality rather than supposed health benefits--
you'll get more benefits with better-tasting tea anyway, as it is fresher.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7470122

Green Tea Extract - Are Supplements As Healthy As Actually Drinking Green Tea?

noreply@blogger.com (mahdi asami) — Thu, 18 Jul 2013 15:00:00 +0000

Green tea has become hugely popular in recent years as a health product, promoted for purposes like weight loss, cancer prevention, skin health, and numerous other uses. Some of these uses have been backed by science, but others of them remain shaky, and green tea is ofter over-hyped as a medicinal product.

Owing to the popularity of this beverage, many companies have begun to market green tea extracts, concentrated herbal supplements, usually in the form of pills, which supposedly offer the same "health benefits" as the drink itself.

In this article, I will explore whether or not I personally believe these extracts and supplements to be as healthy as the drink itself. I will conclude that they are not as healthy as drinking tea, and that drinking tea provides compelling health benefits that extracts and supplements cannot provide.

Tea varies widely in quality:

Green tea has a huge range of quality, ranging from broken-leaf tea and fannings and dust, which is often left over after the production of higher grades of tea, to whole-leaf tea. The higher-quality products tend to taste better, being fresher, more aromatic, and often less bitter and astringent, and they tend to look better, and of course, they fetch a higher price on the marketplace.

Although not always true, higher-quality green teas are often lower in contaminants such as pesticides, heavy metals, and other pollutants. Many of these contaminants can be harmful to health, ranging from mildly harmful to outright toxic. Although extreme cases of contamination are rare, as a general rule, I believe it to be much safer to buy high-quality tea. Organic certification is not enough--the quality itself is also very important as some products are produced using the bare minimum standards for organic certification, whereas other products may not be organic certified, but may still be higher in quality.

When you cannot taste the tea, you cannot assess quality:

When taking pills like a green tea extract supplement, you cannot taste the product you are consuming, and you thus cannot assess the quality or freshness of the tea. I personally find this dangerous. Low-quality tea can taste very bad, and most people would not drink it, but if you pop a pill, this foul-tasting powder will enter your body and you will not taste it. By taking supplements rather than brewing up a fresh cup, you thus are turning off your body's first defense against contaminants.

The process of drinking a hot beverage is itself healthy:

The other reason that I prefer drinking freshly brewed green tea to taking supplements or extracts in pill form is that the process of drinking a hot beverage is actually directly healthy. Liquids are important, and drinking tea can help us to stay adequately hydrated. The warmth of the beverage also relaxes the body, which is good for the immune system and for general health. And by sipping the cup, the chemicals in the tea enter your body gradually, which is ultimately better than having them enter your system all at once as they do when you pop a pill.
Lastly, the act of paying attention to your cup of tea and enjoying it slowly can help promote mindfulness, a useful exercise which can have powerful benefits to both mind and body, in terms of reducing stress and anxiety, combatting depression, and improving overall health.

In summary:

I personally believe that it is much healthier to drink green tea rather than to take extracts. My recommendation is to purchase high-quality loose-leaf green tea from a reputable company that focuses on the quality and freshness of their product, rather than selling it as a miracle cure or medicinal product. Find what tastes best to you, and enjoy it!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7021615

Best Way to Lose Abdominal Weight

noreply@blogger.com (mahdi asami) — Thu, 18 Jul 2013 13:48:00 +0000

Some common exercises known as the best exercises to lose abdominal weight like sits ups, crunches, leg raises, or others, involve very little duration, a set of 10 sit ups will take less than a minute to complete.
It means these exercises won't burn off many calories, it has been proven many times that energy must be burned in order to lose permanent weight. They also tend to be anaerobic in nature. When exercising the abdominal muscles anaerobic exercise results in the use of carbohydrates for energy and not fat.

It now appears that the most common and popular abdominal exercises may not actually be the best exercises for losing fat around the abdominal muscles. None of these can spot reduce fat from around the stomach area or the love handles. Let's face it, we all heard of people who have tried doing tons of sit ups every night and they don't look any different.

Losing abdominal weight is pretty the same with losing any weight because the fact is that you must consume more energy than your energy intake from what you are eating.If you consume more,the body will burn fat from everywhere,especially from the abdominal weight.

Having these said,the best way to lose abdominal weight is by matching your calorie intake to your calorie needs,having a lack of calories to reduce weight.You will prevent the development of any excess fat.If you are given to store fat around your middle,the best way to lose abdominal weight is to take a weight loss program,healthy diet combined with calorie-burning exercises and create a lack of calories every day.I can also tell you that is easier to maintain a normal body weight when you have it,than to lose weight.

If you already have a fat abdomen and you are asking for the best way to lose abdominal weight and how to reduce a fat stomach, the best option is to follow a healthy weight loss diet, combined with fitness exercises such as aerobics (to burn extra calories) and an abdominal-toning workout to help tighten and strengthen abdominal muscles.

That said, reducing the abdominal fat takes time especially if you are an apple shape.Anyway,you must never get impatient,stressed or discouraged,because it will be harder for you to lose abdominal weight.

Just stay focused and motivated following your program,taking your diet and exercises seriously and strictly.I can only tell you that this is the best way to lose abdominal weight.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/292674

3 Week Weight Loss Detox Program

noreply@blogger.com (mahdi asami) — Thu, 18 Jul 2013 11:35:00 +0000

Detox, short for detoxification, is the removal of potentially toxic substances from the body. Although a detox program is primarily thought of as a treatment for alcohol or drug dependence, the term is also used to refer to diets, herbs, and other methods of removing environmental and dietary toxins from the body for general health and for weight loss.

This is a sample 3 week detox diet plan that is thought to support detoxification and weight loss by increasing elimination from the body, cleansing the colon, enhancing circulation to clear toxic substances, eliminating foods from the diet that require detoxification or are allergenic, and providing nutrients to support and protect the liver, the main organ involved in detoxification.
Benefits of a detox program includes weight loss.It is recommended to be followed for 3 weeks.

After 3 weeks,generally, people often feel improved energy,lose weight much quicker, clearer skin, regular bowel movements, improved digestion, and increased concentration and clarity. Improvement can also be assessed by measuring markers of disease and laboratory tests.
Here are the foods to eat when doing a 3 week weight loss detox program:

Fresh Fruits and Fresh Vegetables

All fresh fruits and vegetables are good for detox,for health and for any weight loss program.
Great detox foods include broccoli, cauliflower, broccoli sprouts, onions, garlic, artichokes, beets, red and green vegetables.

Rice

Brown or basmati rice, rice cakes, rice crackers and rice pasta.

Other Grains

Quinoa, amaranth, millet, and buckwheat can be used instead of rice. They can be purchased at a health food store.

Beans

Split yellow and green peas and lentils are easiest to digest and require the least soaking time. Other acceptable legumes include kidney beans, pinto beans, mung beans, garbanzo beans (chickpeas) and adzuki beans.

Nuts and Seeds

Unsalted nuts, seeds and nut butters can be sprinkled over any meal. Includes flaxseed, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, almonds, cashews and walnuts. Avoid peanuts.

Oil

Extra-virgin olive oil it's the best for weight loss and detoxification.

Herbal Tea

Herbal non-caffeinated teas, green tea,helps the liver and sustaines detoxification.

Other detox Beverages,also good for weight loss

Water, lemon water, 100% natural fruit and vegetable juices, rice milk
Here are the foods that you must avoid,for health,weight loss and detox,especially when

following a program(diet and/or exercise):

Sugar

Refined sugar and mixtures containing refined sugar, including sucrose, dextrose, corn syrup, brown sugar, turbinado. Avoid artificial sweeteners.

Fatty Dairy Products

Milk, eggs, butter and other dairy products.

Wheat

Wheat and products containing wheat.

Gluten

All gluten-containing grains, including barley, rye, spelt and kamut. Some people are sensitive to gluten, a protein fragment in these grains.

Caffeine

Coffee, both regular and decaffeinated, black tea, and other drinks containing caffeine should be reduced. Green tea is a great substitute to regular coffee.

Other Foods to Avoid

Yeast

Alcohol

Food additives and preservatives

Chocolate

High-Fat Foods

Daily must do's when following a weight loss and detoxification program:

Drink a minimum of 8 glasses of water per day, warm or room temperature. Water is essential to clear waste from the blood. Thirst is often mistaken for hunger.

Do not drink liquids around mealtime.

Dilute fruit juice with 50% water.

Take the time to chew food well, especially grains.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/306222

How Detox Programs Remove Toxins and Prevent Weight Loss Failure

noreply@blogger.com (mahdi asami) — Wed, 17 Jul 2013 21:10:00 +0000

Permanent weight loss is dependent upon peak liver performance. In order to burn fat and lose weight, our liver converts fat in the form of triglycerides into energy. However, fat soluble toxins in the liver severely impede your liver function and stop fat burning. A well-designed program that supports the liver will enhance fat burning and result in permanent weight loss.

Your liver is responsible for maintaining energy balance for different systems throughout the body that require energy to do their function. Muscle uses free fatty acids, the brain uses glucose for energy. When the liver is required to make energy from stored fatty acids due to calorie restriction, toxins that are stored in fat cells along with triglycerides are circulated into the liver for processing.

The liver is like a factory that has limited resources and cannot function without proper maintenance. Toxins cause the liver to require more resources (special amino acids, polypeptides, vitamins, minerals, and enzymes) and without them, similar to a factory, the liver will shut down. In order to break the load of toxins coming into the factory the liver will halt the process of breaking down triglycerides. Circulating triglycerides are restored into fat cells. Hence, the process of burning free fatty acids is reversed due to toxic overload in the liver.
When the liver cannot process toxins fast enough, it will not convert the fat into glucose for energy consumption. At this point weight loss stops or worse, weight begins to accumulate again even on a low calorie diet.

In order to lose weight and excess body fat, a weight loss program must encourage the consumption and reduction of internal fat rather than protein. If the body consumes protein instead of fat it breaks down muscle and connective tissue resulting in weakness and emaciation.

The solution to successful long term weight loss begins with a detox system that will support and increase liver metabolism in order to reduce toxic load that naturally surges as fat cells are consumed for energy. (It's like running a car engine with 94 octane versus 87 octane).
To be effective weight loss should be a system that is followed over time. For those who are serious about permanent weight loss, one of the best initial programs is a simple and effective 14 day detox system.

The goal is to get healthy and eliminate toxins in our bodies such as pesticides, herbicides and industrial chemicals that enter our bodies through the food we eat, water, juices, sodas, alcohol and the air we breathe. These toxins enter our bodies negatively affecting our health, vitality and contribute to chronic diseases. A 14 day detox system can remove toxins from our bodies enabling the body to lose weight and reduce body fat. Other benefits include increased energy, healthier skin and hair, restful sleep, clear thinking, positive moods and the start to healthy habits for prolonged health.

Additional benefits of a 14 Day Detox System include:

• Improves digestion issues
• Reduces or eliminates bad breath
• Reduces fatigue and increases energy
• Relieves constipation and headaches
• Improves skin, reducing or eliminating itchy skin and rashes
• Relieves joint pain
• Increases concentration and reduces irritability

A successful 14 day detox program includes a balanced diet supplemented with protein, herbs, nutrients and antioxidants to help the liver balance detoxification pathways.
Be sure to avoid foods such as sugar, sweeteners, gluten containing grains including wheat, oats and rye, dairy products alcohol and desserts.

Implementing a 14 day detox program is a simple and effective short term strategy for getting you on a path of long term health and permanent weight loss.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7576094