Weight loss and Dieting

Lack of fibre in Diet

2009-02-19T21:56:00.000-08:00

We all enjoy eating highly processed foods, meat, dairy and soft drinks. But do you know that they all lack in fiber. Now you must be thinking …why fiber is important?
Fiber is found in raw fruits and vegetables and is indigestible and is necessary to move the materials effectively through the bowel. A regular bowel movement keeps your colon healthy and helps your body get rid of all the toxins.Basically there are two types of fiber one is called insoluble which helps prevent bowl cancer and constipation and the other is called Soluble fiber that swells and makes the faeces soft and easy to pass. It also absorbs the sugar and fat from the intestine and there by helps in weight loss. So if you are looking to lose weight, then make sure you add fiber to your diet

Healthy eating is all about choices.

2009-02-11T00:56:00.000-08:00

So do you think what you are eating is healthy? Eating is the basic necessity of life, we eat wide variety of food each day, so it is important that we make the right choice. Selecting the right food is the key to good health. Making use of sea salt rather than refined salt is a good choice. As we know that vegetables and sea salt contains organic salt that is needed for the human body. At the same time refined salt contains preservatives and chemicals , which causes burden on the kidney which leads to swollen veins and other diseases. Similarly you can use whole meal flour in place of plain white flour or brown rice in place of white polished rice.

Eating after Exercise

2009-02-08T00:58:00.000-08:00

We all know that we should eat healthy and exercise in order to lose weight but most of the time when we are back from gym after a good workout, we think of rewarding ourselves with good treats like cakes, donuts, fizzy drink and other sugary stuff, as a result we eat more calories then required by the body and gain weight. So whenever possible we should take a fruit or a sandwich after exercise to maintain healthy weight. If you are serious about losing weight then you should keep away from foods that can contribute to weight gain.

How to lose weight

2009-02-04T02:10:00.000-08:00

So you want to lose weight? Many of us find it very difficult to lose weight, if you have tried before and have failed, then let me tell you that by just eating healthy diet and doing regular exercise you can achieve long term weight loss. Most people fail to stick to diet because of their eating habits. You need to make changes about what you eat and how much you eat.
The main factors that control weight are caloric balance, metabolic rates and life style. Permanent weight loss is attained by changing the life style behavior.
Dieting today is very trendy; many young people get influenced by the skinny supermodels and the concept of glamorous celebrity lifestyle.
Don’t be lured by diets that claim amazing weight loss in couple of weeks. We all feel desperate sometimes, but crash diets gets rid of lot of weight that isn’t fat, and most of it comes back again. Our body runs on glucose and makes use of it to power body cells and the excess is stored in the form of fat. Before this the excess glucose is first stored in liver in the form of glycogen. Once the stores of glycogen are full then the excess glucose is stored as fat. Therefore when your body runs out of energy it makes use of stored glycogen which results in short term rapid weight loss. So in order to achieve a permanent weight loss you need to get rid of the fat stored in the body.
It is very simple, you become overweight when you take in more calories than you burn up and you lose weight when you’re taking less calories and burn more. When fat cells are called upon to release energy during dieting they inform the body that they are getting empty and once again you start feeling hungry and you eat, that is the reason it is hard to keep the weight off.
However by making small changes to your life style like eating less portion and by doing more exercise you can achieve permanent weight loss.

Don't give up Exercise

2009-01-29T21:36:00.000-08:00

I think, Summer is a great time to lose weight and to get into shape. Many of us begin exercise regime but give up quickly if we don’t see result in couple of weeks. It is important to have a goal one which is realistic and that can be achieved. Ask any person who is successful in whatever they are doing what motivates them, and most likely they will say "goals". Goal Setting is the key to motivation and success. Goal Setting is very important. A person without goal is like going on road without map. I hear people around me telling me that they want to lose weight, but they don't want to change the way they live to reach that goal. So don't give up exercise, i am sure you will see great result in few days

Weight Loss With Pills

2009-01-26T01:50:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, we went to the gym and spend an hour working out . I was talking to my friend who is taking weight loss pills to shed extra kilos. Supplements have played a large role in shedding those extra pounds faster. We all know about the benefits of adding extra vitamins and minerals to our diets. But still I don’t think weight loss pills should be taken to lose weight. Some weight loss pills are designed to increase the metabolism of the body, this in turn increases the burning of calories. How ever I still feel that doing regular exercise is the right way to lose weight. I believe weight loss pills may not work in the same way for all of us, as each individual has its own make up.

Home remedies

2009-01-23T20:43:00.000-08:00

Do you know that most of the ailments can be cured at home by using the common food available in your kitchen.

HEADACHE? EAT FISH! Eat plenty of fish -- fish oil helps prevent headaches. So does hot ginger tea.

HAY FEVER? EAT YOGURT! Eat lots of yogurt before pollen season. Also eat honey available locally daily.

TO PREVENT STROKE DRINK GREEN TEA! Prevent buildup of fatty deposits on artery walls with regular doses of green tea. Actually, tea suppresses the appetite and keeps the pounds from invading....and is great for our immune system.

INSOMNIA ? HONEY! Use honey with milk during bedtime as a tranquilizer and sedative.

ASTHMA? EAT ONIONS!! Eating onions helps ease constriction of bronchial tubes.

ARTHRITIS? EAT FISH, TOO!! Salmon, tuna, mackerel and sardines actually prevent arthritis. (fish has omega 3 fatty acid - good for our immune system)

UPSET STOMACH? BANANAS - GINGER!!!!! Bananas will settle an upset stomach. Ginger will help in digestion.

BLADDER INFECTION? DRINK CRANBERRY JUICE!!!! High-acid cranberry juice doesn't allow the bacteria to grow.

BONE PROBLEMS? EAT PINEAPPLE!!! Bone fractures and osteoporosis can be prevented by the manganese in pineapple also take Calcium rich food like Milk and Cheese.

PREMENSTRUAL SYNDROME? EAT CORNFLAKES!!!! Women can ward off the effects of PMS with cornflakes, which help reduce depression, anxiety and fatigue.

MEMORY PROBLEMS? EAT OYSTERS! Oysters help improve your mental functioning by supplying much-needed zinc.

COLDS? EAT GARLIC! Clear up that stuffy head with garlic. (remember, garlic lowers cholesterol, too).

COUGHING? USE RED PEPPERS!! A substance similar to that found in the cough syrups is found in hot red pepper. Use red (cayenne) pepper with caution-it can irritate your tummy.

BREAST CANCER? EAT Wheat, bran and cabbage which helps to maintain estrogen at healthy levels.

LUNG CANCER? EAT DARK GREEN AND ORANGE AND VEGGIES!!! A good antidote is beta carotene, a form of Vitamin A found in dark green and orange vegetables.

ULCERS? EAT CABBAGE !!! Cabbage contains chemicals that help heal both gastric and duodenal ulcers.

DIARRHEA? EAT APPLES! Grate an apple with its skin, let it turn brown and eat it to cure this condition. (Bananas are good for this ailment).

CLOGGED ARTERIES? EAT AVOCADO! Mono unsaturated fat in avocados lowers cholesterol.

HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE? EAT CELERY AND OLIVE OIL!!! Olive oil has been shown to lower blood pressure. Celery contains a chemical that lowers blood pressure too.

BLOOD SUGAR IMBALANCE? EAT BROCCOLI AND PEANUTS!!! The chromium in broccoli and peanuts helps regulate insulin and blood sugar.

Kiwi: Tiny but mighty. This is a good source of potassium, magnesium, Vitamin E & fiber. It's Vitamin C content is twice that of an orange.

Apple: An apple a day keeps the doctor away? Although an apple has a low Vitamin C content, it has antioxidants & flavonoids which enhances the activity of Vitamin C thereby helping to lower the risks of colon cancer, heart attack & stroke.

Strawberry: Protective fruit. Strawberries have the highest total antioxidant power among major fruits &protects the body from cancer causing, blood vessels clogging free radicals. (Actually, any berry is good for you..they're high in anti-oxidants and they actually keep us young.........blueberries are the best and very versatile in the health field........they get rid of all the free-radicals that invade our bodies)

Orange: Sweetest medicine. Taking 2 - 4 oranges a day may help keep colds away, lower cholesterol, prevent & dissolve kidney stones as well as lessen the risk of colon cancer.

Watermelon: Coolest Thirst Quencher. Composed of 92% water, it is also packed with a giant dose of glutathione which helps boost our immune system. They are also a key source of lycopene - the cancer fighting oxidant. Other nutrients found in watermelon are Vitamin C &Potassium. (watermelon also has natural substances [natural SPF sources] that keep our skin healthy, protecting our skin from those harmful UV rays)

Guava & Papaya: Top awards for Vitamin C. They are the clear winners for their high Vitamin C content. Guava is also rich in fiber which helps prevent constipation. Papaya is rich in carotene, this is good for your eyes. (also good for gas and indigestion) Tomatoes are very good as a preventative measure for men, keeps those prostrate problems from invading their bodies.

What do we need to eat to prevent osteoporosis ?

2009-01-16T01:02:00.000-08:00

Eating enough calcium rich food is important. All our body calcium is stored in our bones and teeth where it provides strength and rigidity. It is important that you also get enough vitamin D so that it can help in absorption of calcium. If we eat a healthy well balanced diet we can get all the essential nutrients to keep our bones healthy

What causes of high Blood pressure?

2009-01-15T00:53:00.000-08:00

High blood pressure is defined, as"hypertension" and is a very common disorder found among all of us. Blood pressure is the force that blood exerts on the arteries and veins
as it circulates through the body. The normal blood pressure is 120/ 80.The common causes of high blood pressure are as follows.
1. Ageing process. The risk of blood pressure increases with the progression of ageing.
2. Diet high in salt and low in fibre also result in high blood pressure.
3. Smoking can result in increase blood pressure as the nicotine in it causes the blood vessels to contract.
4. Anxiety may increase the risk of hypertension.
5. Upper body obesity in particular may increase the risk of high blood pressure as arteries become hardened and stiffened.
6. A number of kidney diseases can cause high blood pressure.

What is healthy diet?

2008-10-08T02:16:00.000-07:00

Many of us think about cutting calories in order to lose weight and reduce the risk of heart disease. But there is much more to healthy eating than reducing calories and fat. For example, you may eat diet low in fat but at the same time you may not get enough calcium and this may put you at the risk of getting osteoporosis. Therefore it is very important that you include fresh fruits and vegetables, wholegrains, low fat dairy products and nuts in your diet .

What are Antioxidants?

2008-09-25T23:05:00.000-07:00

Antioxidants are phytochemicals, which are found in fruits and vegetables. They are known to protect our body from the damage caused by the free radicals. Free radicals are formed in the body as a result of oxidation. Their formation increases as a result of bad eating habits and smoking.It is good idea to eat at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables everyday in order to stay healthy.

How can I lose weight?

2008-09-09T00:34:00.000-07:00

Many of us want to lose weight but are not consistent with the workout. When we don’t see results in couple of weeks we give up. It is very important that we set a goal before we begin any exercise. You can start with 10 min and then gradually increasing it to 30 min a day. Don’t forget to increase your efforts and workouts. You need to disciplined and stay motivated to get the result.

How to lose 20 kg in 6 weeks

2008-09-05T01:08:00.000-07:00

1. It is important that you eat four healthy meals each day, including fresh fruits and vegetables
2. Eat plenty of dark green leaf vegetables to boost your iron levels
3. Drink plenty of water
4. Stay away from junk food
5. Make your meals interesting and varied
6. work out 4-5 times in a week.

Easy way to lose weight

2008-09-04T00:54:00.000-07:00

You don’t need costly equipments and latest workout gears found in the gym to lose weight. There are lot of exercises that you can do at home. Skipping is one such exercise that can be done easily at any time. It use both leg and arm muscles. Fast skipping will also increase your heart rate and you can burn up to 700 calories an hour.

How to have a good eye sight?

2008-08-30T00:30:00.000-07:00

Many of us find difficulty in reading newspaper and magazines etc. However by eating right kind of food you can improve your eye sight. Eating carrot will help you see in dark and will help you in reading fine lines ,as they full of beta carotene an antioxidant that is very essential for healthy eyes. It reduces the risk of macular degeneration and cataract.

Cycling for good health.

2008-08-24T19:18:00.000-07:00

Cycling is good exercise for heart and lungs. Cycling is good for maintaining and building bone mass in the feet, legs and hips.
It helps you burns 400 calories an hour on the flat and more on the hills. Cycling tightens the bottom, thighs and calves. Cycling improves blood flow to the brain.So what are you waiting for? get on to your cycle and get the healthy looking body.

Cocoa may reduce blood pressure

2008-08-16T00:34:00.000-07:00

A recent studies showed that consumption of foods rich in cocoa were likely to reduce blood pressure. If you don’t eat chocolate, it’s probably not a good idea to start; with all that fat and sugar it is very high in energy. But if you do eat chocolate , it is good idea to eat Dark chocolate.

Wholegrain breakfast

2008-08-14T23:29:00.000-07:00

Researcher found that people who eat wholegrain breakfast cereal were 26% less likely to have an incident of heart failure compared to people who preferred refined cereals.
Even eating wholegrain cereals once a week may reduce heart failure risk by 14%.

Simple ways to lose weight and look younger

2008-08-14T00:12:00.000-07:00

1.Eat slowly,
2.It is important hat you chew the food properly so that the food is absorbed nicely by the body and you don’t over eat.
3.Don’t eat in front of television. Eating in front of television can lead to overeating.
4.Eat low fat dessert, if you are tempted to eat dessert then go for low fat and low sugar.
5.Eat small frequent meals, so that the food is completely absorbed and is not stored in body in the form of sugar. It plenty of green vegetables, fruits, cereals.
6. Drink 6-8 glasses of water everyday.

Simple Way to burn Fat

2008-08-12T00:59:00.000-07:00

It is important to make some changes in your diet in order to burn fat and shed those extra kilos. The most imortant thing is to do regular excercise in the form of jogging or running. As these activities tend to expend more energy and you burn more kilojoules.
Running can be great way to lose weight but it also has the potential to cause injury.

Fitness Tips: "It is essential to wear supportive footwear that you feel comfortable in while you are working out. Function before fashion! Make sure you are using a shoe for the type of activity you are conducting in the gym. Unless you’re doing a lot of running on the treadmill, where a running shoe would be ideal, I suggest using a cross training shoe which will give you much more lateral support for lifting weights."

Reduce weight

2008-08-07T16:21:00.000-07:00

The quick and easy way to reduce weight is to drink minimum 8 glasses of water daily.

Walking is the best form of Exercise

2008-07-30T21:32:00.000-07:00

Walking is the most simple and the safest form of exercise that anyone can start to keep them fit. Before you start walking, follow these guide lines to plan your program.

1. Find a safe place to walk ,like quiet streets ,jogging parks, or shopping malls.
2. Invest in good pair of shoes. Shoes for walking should have thick flexible soles that give cushion to your feet.
3. Consider choosing a partner or a group.Having company keeps you motivated and makes walking more fun and enjoyable.
4. Wear appropriate clothing according to the season
5. Stretch before you exercise.

Maintaining Good Health

2008-07-28T20:03:00.000-07:00

As a general rule for maintaining good health certain factors in diet are most important. The daily diet needs to be simple and well balanced ,comprising of fruit juices, plenty of cooked vegetables, nuts and seeds.It is also important that we should not over cook the food because during cooking most of the essential vitamins get destroyed especially vitamin C.Thus cooking increases the chance of vitamin deficiency.As cooked food is retained in the body for a long time it becomes easy for the micro organisms like bacteria to grow.

How to reduce your cholesterol level

2008-07-26T23:46:00.000-07:00

There are many simple things that you can do to reduce blood cholesterol.

1. Make sure your you eat a healthy diet which is rich in fruits and vegetables.

2. If you are overweight try to get rid of excess fat in your body.

3. It is very important to be physically active.

4. Use small quantities of cooking oil when preparing meals.

5. Try to avoid eating butter,margarine and sweets.

6.Try to cut down the intake of alcohol and quit smoking.

What is Cholesterol ?

2008-07-26T00:48:00.000-07:00

Cholesterol is the waxy substance in human tissues.It plays a key role in digestion ,absorption and transport of fats through out the body. The liver cells are continuously making cholesterol in our bodies. There are two levels of cholesterol LDL and HDL.

LDL are called low density lipo-protein,too much of LDL in the blood stream can cause blockage in the arteries and may lead to heart attack.HDL are known as high density lipo-protein.High levels of HDL are associated with low risk for heart attack.