Diet News

What Women Should Eat for Breakfast

2010-11-02T13:34:28+00:00

We hear breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but does it make a difference what you eat? Results from a recent study may surprise you. Think skipping breakfast will help you lose weight? Think again. A recent study shows women who eat half of their calories for the day for breakfast tend to lose more weight than those who start the day by skipping or skimping with a small breakfast! The study included 94 obese, inactive women and showed that along with losing unwanted pounds, the weight they lost tended to stay off! What did this big breakfast consist of? Protein and carbohydrates. Wow! The best of both worlds. According to the doctor who conducted the study, eating a meal like this actually diminishes cravings and can help speed metabolism! In contrast, those who ate a strict low carbohydrate diet initially lost an average of 28 pounds but gained back 18 of those pounds within eight months! The big breakfast bunch lost 23 pounds, but over the following eight months they didn't gain it back. In fact, they continued to lose another 16.5 pounds on average! The women who enjoyed a big breakfast of 610 calories claimed to feel less hungry during the day than their low-carb counterparts. This might just have something to do with why they not only kept the weight off, but continued to lose!

Why Women Should Eat Breakfast

2010-10-29T10:22:48+00:00

Mornings can prove to be hectic, leaving little room for a healthy breakfast, but there are a number of reasons why women should eat breakfast. In fact, if you're trying to lose weight, breakfast may help you achieve your goal.Women wear many hats, from the role of busy mom, to wife, to breadwinner or daughter taking care of elderly parents. It doesn't matter where you are in life, it takes a lot of juggling to manage everything on that "To Do" list. In the rush of it all, many times the one you take care of least is yourself. You can change that in little ways that make a big difference, and eating breakfast is just one of those things you can do. If you don't eat breakfast, ask yourself why. I think the reason I hear most is that people are too busy. Too busy for one bowl of a whole grain cereal or a breakfast bar. I think it really isn't busyness that causes us to skip breakfast, but our priorities. Plus in the back of our minds, we think if we skip breakfast, it will help us lose weight. The problem with that thinking is that it does just the opposite. Skipping breakfast helps slow our metabolism so we burn fewer calories. A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition conducted by the University of Tasmania (Australia) shows that adults (and children) who don't eat breakfast tend to exhibit worse eating behaviors than their counterparts who do eat breakfast. Those who skip breakfast also exercise less. This same study showed that those who didn't eat breakfast also tended to have: Higher cholesterol Elevated insulin levels Larger waist circumferences I don't know about you, but for me those are some good reasons to eat breakfast.

Foods for Prostate Health

2010-10-26T15:34:13+00:00

All week we've looked at foods that promote health, and to finish out the week, I thought we could look at foods for prostate health.According to the Mayo Clinic, diet can make a difference in prostate health. Along with eating healthy foods, they recommend eating healthy portions. As with so many things related to nutrition, I have found conflicting information. Some studies site things like milk to be bad for prostate health due to its calcium content. However, instead of concentrating on conflicting information, I thought I'd focus on what foods are recommended across the board for prostate health. Once again, the foods that are good for the prostate mirror those good for the liver, kidneys and eyes. Fruits and vegetables which are high in antioxidants are best and especially foods that contain lycopene which is thought to reduce the risk of prostate cancer. While you can purchase lycopene as a supplement, it is naturally occurring the following foods: Asparagus Beans Bell Peppers Carrots Grapefruit Tomatoes Watermelon Along with lycopene, vitamins D and E are thought to help. Another nutritional deficiency associated with prostate problems is related to too little zinc in the diet. Some say snacking on pumpkin seeds can help provide the zinc you need. As I look back at the food related health benefits talked about this week one thing is for sure. Eating fruits and vegetables is an important part of a healthy diet.

Foods for Eye Health

2010-10-25T14:23:51+00:00

Growing up, I was told carrots were good for my eyes. Is it true or an old wives' tale? "Carrots are good for your eyes." I heard this regularly when growing up. Back then I figured the adults were saying that because I didn't like overcooked carrots and had a hard time eating them without gagging. The truth is that eating the right foods can make a difference in eye health and can even reduce the risk for some diseases. According to EyeCareSource foods rich in antioxidants may help prevent age-related problems like macular degeneration and cataracts! Fruits and vegetables are the best sources of these antioxidants and are best eaten raw for the most benefit. Juicing is one way to get plenty of antioxidants from fruits and vegetables. A juicer extracts the antioxidant-rich juice from the fiber. I remember when I was drinking fresh carrot juice regularly; the eye doctor commented on the excellent health of my eyes and that I would never have macular degeneration if I continued to do that! It seems that saying about carrots being good for my eyes had some truth to it, but those mushy over-cooked carrots I had trouble eating had lost much of the nutritional benefit. Maybe my tongue knew that even back then! Along with antioxidants, omega 3 fatty acids are believed to promote healthy eyes. These can be found in foods like salmon, flax seeds and walnuts. Including these foods in your diet may help you "see" things in a new light.

Foods Good for Kidney Health

2010-10-19T13:17:06+00:00

Yesterday we looked at foods good for our liver and today we move on to foods good for kidney health. The two groups have something in common. Can you guess what it is? Yesterday we saw how antioxidants are good for the liver. Kidney health also depends on antioxidants. The liver and kidneys both function as filters. When a filter gets clogged, it can't do its job. That's why feeding our bodies the right food helps promote kidney health in more than one way. First, the right foods cut down on the kidney's workload with less toxins to handle. Second, if you include these so-called "renal super foods" in your diet they are said to help protect against disease. When it comes to fruits and vegetables, it is often recommended they be eaten raw to derive the full nutrient benefit. These foods top the list: Blueberries Cabbage Egg whites Fish high in omega 3 fatty acids Garlic Onions Raspberries Red peppers Strawberries If you suffer from poor kidney health, talk to a renal dietitian about foods good for kidney health. If you don't have problems with your kidneys, now is the time to take care of them. Eat a varied diet of healthful foods including those high in antioxidants. Take care of your body and it will take care of you.

Foods for Liver Health

2010-10-18T12:56:40+00:00

The liver is a vital organ that cleanses our blood and plays a part in metabolism and digestion. Are there certain foods for liver health we should be sure to eat? The Liver Cleansing Diet that shot to celebrity status back in the late 90s brought attention to the liver and the important role it plays in overall health. It stores glucose, vitamins and minerals, helps with digestion and plays a part in metabolism. In other words, we take care of our liver and it takes care of us! The old adage garbage in garbage out doesn't quite hold true when it comes to our liver because it also works as a filter. Garbage in results in a unhealthy liver! According to Dr. Sandra Cabot who is known as the "liver doctor," people can eat a daily diet rich in foods that can help keep the liver clean. Foods for liver health include foods high in antioxidants like fruits and vegetables. Look for foods rich in beta carotene, which is a precursor to the antioxidant vitamin A, along with foods rich in vitamins B, C and E. Here's a snapshot of foods to include in your diet for a healthy liver: Almonds Avocado Asparagus Beets Broccoli Brown rice Carrots Eggs Fush Garlic Peppers Spinach Walnuts Wheat germ Eating the right foods is thought to keep the liver clean and help protect it from damage brought about by free radicals. Foods to avoid include highly processed foods and those high in fat or cholesterol.

Yogic Diet to Lose Weight

2010-10-14T16:37:58+00:00

Many people enjoy the benefits of yoga for exercise, but not everyone follows the yogic diet to lose weight. Yogis don't approach eating from a nutritional stance but from the effect they believe foods have on the body, spirit and mind. Eating a yogic diet to lose weight requires a different focus on foods. Instead of looking at nutritional content, foods are viewed based on the perceived affect they have on the entire being. In this light, foods are broken in three types: Sattvis: These foods are believed to calm the mind and sharpen the intellect. This category includes foods like: fruits, honey, milk, pure water, nuts, seeds and whole grains. Rajasic: Rajasic foods are believed to over-stimulate the mind and should be avoided. This includes foods like: coffee/tea (or caffeinated beverages), chocolate, eggs, garlic, onion, meat, most processed foods, and highly spicy foods. Tamasic: Tamasic foods are thought to bring about lethargy and are believed to result in a dull mind. Foods in this group include: alcohol, eggs, meat, mushrooms, anything burnt, fermented or stale. You can see by looking at these groups that the food group embraced as a yogic diet is sattvis, which in turn happens to be a vegetarian lifestyle. Along with foods being placed in these various categories, certain behaviors related to eating are also labeled. For instance, if you are a fast eater you'd want to change that because it is considered rajasic. In the same way, overeating is thought to be tamasic. This is certainly a different way to look at food, but some believe eating like this leads to a happier and longer life. The basic rule of thumb, if you plan to try this diet, is to eat until your stomach is half-filled with food, and another quarter filled with water and the last quarter left empty. You can see why it would result in weight loss.

US Populations that Live Longer and Healthier

2010-10-13T14:00:41+00:00

When we hear about people who live long lives, we are often pointed to mountain tribes in a far off land who haven't fallen prey to the Western diet. This raised a question as to U.S. populations that live longer and healthier. You might be surprised at what I found. A study published in NaturalNews reports the findings of a longevity researcher by the name of Dan Buettner. Results from his study narrowed the world down to four regions where people live not only the longest but also the healthiest. After all, no one want to live long to be an invalid. One of these "healthy long-living" regions is right here in the United States, in the state of California in a town called Loma Linda. The Seventh-Day Adventist population there often live to be in the hundreds and even at this advanced age residents are able to live active, healthy lives both mentally and physically. Before you run off to live in Loma Linda, you'll want to know it's not the location that makes the difference. Buettner attributes the longevity found in Loma Linda and the other three regions known for healthy longevity to the fact that the people there eat largely plant-based diets. Along with that they get regular exercise and the cultures encourage strong family relationships. Older individuals have a place in society and a sense of purpose. Buettner sums up the reason for longer healthy lives in these regions with one word: lifestyle. It's something you can adopt no matter where you live.

Health Benefits of Drinking Wine

2010-10-12T14:34:20+00:00

Studies don't all agree about the health benefits of drinking wine, but those that do support drinking wine mention it should be consumed in moderation. The health benefits of wine have been in the news off and on for a few years. People who enjoy a glass of wine want to hold on to the good reports. However, results are mixed with different studies offering different conclusions. Some studies say red wine is no better for your heart than having a beer or liquor. Since the evidence isn't clear as to whether or not red wine is good for your heart, I'd say don't drink it for heart health. If you're going to have a glass of wine, have one for enjoyment. Any antioxidants you take in are a side benefit, but don't use the fact that wine is good for you as an excuse to drink it. (The same goes for chocolate.) When it comes to wine and trying to lose weight, it's also good to take into consideration the number of calories you're consuming. While wine is fat-free, it provides calories from alcohol and from sugar. Those calories can add up quite quickly as my friend Jeanne over at Adventures in Weight Loss has shared can booby trap your weight loss efforts. If you do choose to drink wine, do so in moderation, and be aware of how many calories you're adding to your day.

Best Way to Curb Appetite Naturally

2010-10-07T12:36:50+00:00

Yesterday we looked at how to eat less, but what do you do when hunger sabotages your diet plan? Today we'll look at the best way to curb appetite naturally. We've all heard about various diet pills that come with side effects. People only turn to those things because they're desperate to control their appetite and lose weight. If you don't want to go that route, but are still desperate to control your appetite the best ways to curb appetite naturally include items such as: Exercise: I know you probably don't want to hear the word exercise but it really does work wonders to control appetite because it causes the body to release endorphins that naturally suppress your appetite. Hot tea: Hot tea is allowed on just about every diet out there. Drinking a cup of tea when you're feeling hungry can help suppress the appetite. Green tea is highly recommended to complement any diet. Protein: Add protein to your diet to help keep your appetite in check. This works because protein keeps you feeling full for longer. It is slower to digest and doesn't affect blood sugar the same way carbs do. Drink water: You've heard this a number of times for a number of reasons. Our bodies need water to function properly, but learning to drink a glass of water 30 minutes before your meal can help you eat less when you sit down to the table. These are some of the best ways to help control your appetite naturally. Go ahead and give them a try. You should be pleased with the results.