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The Truth About Alkaline Food

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As you start to learn about the alkaline diet and which foods have an alkaline-producing result on your internal state, you may feel that you will need to do away with everything you enjoy in exchange for good health.

Fortunately, there are some really scrumptious sorts of alkaline diet food that can be used in a wide variety of ways to recreate your favorite acidic meals.

Potatoes

Because they are so versatile, potatoes are a big help on the alkaline diet. They can be sliced or diced and baked or fried or mashed into a creamy whip. Whether you whip them to produce mashed potatoes or bake them in the skin, potatoes can be made into a wide number of dishes. Sliced potato can also be used lined up in a casserole to mimic lasagna noodles.

Mixed Greens

Most grocery stores stock convenient containers of mixed greens, making it quick to eat alkaline when you’re pressed for time. Add them to omelets and other hot dishes and they will cook down to add flavor and texture. Toss them into a fresh salad or add them onto your plate as a visually appealing accent.

Fresh Fruits

I think of fruits as alkaline diet foods, since they can all be interchanged and used according to the mood of your taste buds or the season. This is one of the secrets to eating nutritious alkaline food, because of the fact that you can combine different fruits to produce healthy fruit salad, or use frozen fruits to produce nourishing smoothies in minutes.

This alkaline food can even be used to cope with your cravings for sweets that are very acidic inside the body. For example, produce a wholesome strawberry smoothie by mixing frozen strawberries with rice milk, rather than having a sugary pastry! Not only will it eliminate the craving but it will give you tons of energy and keep you thinner as well.

Tagged As: Alkaline Diet, health, nutrition, Weight Loss

9 Fish Oil Benefits Validated By Clinical Scientists

A huge amount of research indicates that, not only are the benefits of fish oil numerous, some of them are actually very extraordinary! It seems that new research is being written about everyday, as researchers and physicians learn even more about how and why it is so beneficial. The omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil are “good fats” that are necessary for optimal health. They are crucial for human health but the body can’t make them — you must get them from your diet. Here are some proven fish oil benefits that should persuade you to consume more oily,
wild-caught fish and start taking a quality fish oil supplement if you’re not already!

Promotes Cardiovascular Health & Protects Against Heart Attacks and Stroke

Fish oil continues to increase in scientific credibility as a significant component to heart health. According to statements from the American Heart Association, fish oil is effective in lessening the incidence of heart disease and helps to reduce risk factors like high cholesterol and high blood pressure. Clinical studies of heart attack survivors have found that daily fish oil supplements dramatically minimize the risk of dying, subsequent heart attacks and stroke. Omega-3s also lower blood triglycerides, help correct abnormal heart rhythms, and can help prevent and treat atherosclerosis by inhibiting the formation of plaque and blood clots, which often clog arteries.

Lessens Inflammation/Pain

Omega-3s have a powerful anti-inflammatory effect.
Lab studies suggest that diets high in omega-3s (and low in the inflammatory omega-6s) may benefit people with inflammation-based conditions — anything that ends in –itis!. Omega-3s have also been used to effectively treat neck, back and menstrual pain, helping study patients to reduce their consumption of NSAID medication.

Ensures Healthy Joints and Lessens Arthritis Symptoms

The omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil reduce joint tenderness, pain intensity and morning stiffness caused by rheumatoid arthritis.  In fact, many lab studies have found that omega-3s actually decrease the activity of enzymes that break down cartilage. At least 13 published clinical trials have shown that omega-3 fatty acids are highly effective at treating rheumatoid arthritis. Fish oil has helped people with RA to reduce their dependence on pain medicine.

Enhances Mental Acuity & Long-Term Cognitive Function

Are you aware that omega-3s, especially DHA, are highly prevalent in the brain? They’re important for optimum cognitive (brain memory and performance) and behavioral functioning, as well as proper growth and development. Studies demonstrate that omega-3s may aid in achieving adequate cognitive functioning and possibly in preventing or delaying the emergence of Alzheimer’s disease. We also now know that it’s very important that pregnant women get enough DHA, which is essential to the developing fetus — during the 3rd trimester of pregnancy, the fetus’ brain grows at a rate of 250,000 new neurons every 60 seconds!  Kids are also helped by omega-3 consumption, as myriad studies show that omega-3s enhance learning, focus, vocabulary and reading skills. Countless studies have even shown benefits in treating ADHD.

Produces Happy Mood & Emotional Wellness

In nations where fish makes up a significant part of the diet, national rates of depression are lower. So, it shouldn’t be surprising that studies have discovered that fish oil  supplements can alleviate the symptoms of depression, bipolar disorder and psychosis. Many studies have shown that people who took fish oil in addition to prescription anti-depressants had a larger improvement in symptoms than those that only took antidepressants, with patients experiencing a stabilizing effect and less mood swings. Research has also demonstrated that, when those in prison were given fish oil, there was a drastic drop in violent behavior. Omega-3s also seem to reduce the risk of postpartum depression.

Promotes Eye Wellness

Studies show that people with a greater omega-3 consumption seem to have a lower risk of Dry-Eye Syndrome and developing macular degeneration. Preliminary research also shows that omega-3 supplements aid in
lessening dry eye symptoms, may help to inhibit macular degeneration for those already developing it and improves eye health in general.

Pregnancy, Infancy Brain/Eye Development & Less Incidence of Childhood Disorders

DHA makes up 15-20% of our cerebral cortex and about 30-60% of the retina, so it is absolutely essential for normal development of the fetus and baby. Prenatal DHA availability also seems to lessen likelihood
of childhood allergies and have an effect on motor skill quality, cognitive development and hyperactivity/behavior later in the life of
the child. Omega-3s also assist in lowering the risk of premature birth and low birth weight.

Promotes Optimal Metabolism of Fat and Weight Loss

According to the National Institute of Health, omega-3s trigger “I’m full” signals to the brain and help quash hunger signals. Research has also demonstrated that fish oil improves the effectiveness of exercise in reducing weight. Volunteers who were alloted fish oil with their diet showed greater decreases in weight as compared to those who did not consume fish oil. Exercise along with fish oil had a positive effect on the body shape and body composition of the patients.

Lowers Chance of Breast, Prostate & Colorectal Cancers

Though additional research in this area is desperately needed, we now are aware that the omega 3’s that appear in fish oil help in the prevention and treatment of breast, prostate and ovarian cancers. Preliminary studies imply that consuming fish oil daily can help retard the progression of colon cancer in those with early stages of the disease and may possibly have the ability to cause apoptosis (cell death) in cancerous cells.

More can be said with regards to the many fish oil benefits. And, as the science community and health professionals continue to examine omega-3s, you can bet that fish oil will keep producing news as the ideal source of these essential fatty acids that are so essential to our bodies.
Even if you’re currently in great physical condition, a high quality fish oil supplement is the simplest, safest way to realize and maintain optimal health!

Brittany M. Wallace is a health and wellness authority, with particular expertise with Omega-3 Fish Oil.

Tagged As: ADHD, arthritis, brain, cancer, children, dementia, depression, fish oil, fish oil benefits, fish oil supplements, heart disease, inflammation, omega 3, pain, pregnancy, studies, Weight Loss

“Nuts For Your Health”

Going “green” is a popular topic in the media right now. People are quickly realizing that we need to take care of our bodies naturally to improve our health and to lose weight permanently.

Raw nuts such as almonds and walnuts are a must for holistic weight loss. You can actually shed unwanted pounds by strategically eating these throughout the day.

Eating raw nuts do not create the calorie intake that you’d expect because 5% to 15% of calories are not absorbed by your body. This is due to the skin on the nut and how well the nut is chewed up in your mouth. Both have a tendency to influence digestion. The slow release of calories leads to giving you the feeling of fullness.

All nuts are high in protein and healthy fats. Out of all of the different types of nuts, almonds and walnuts are the healthiest.

What will eating raw nuts do to improve your health and decrease your weight? Build muscle. In addition to having protein, almonds have an adequate amount of magnesium, which is crucial to building muscle.  Fight cravings by eating 24 almonds for a snack or before a meal then immediately follow them with a  drink of 8 ounces of water which will suppress your appetite. The water causes the fiber to expand in your stomach making you feel more full.

Major nutritional factors in almonds: fiber, potassium, vitamin E,  magnesium, phosphorus, calcium, iron, monounsaturated fats

Other healthy replacements: pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, avocados

Impostors: smoked nuts, peanuts, salted nuts

How to introduce into your diet:

• Add chopped nuts to your oatmeal.
• Put a small handful in your blender when making a smoothie.
• Include raw nuts in your desserts.
• Eat a small handful of raw nuts 15 min before your meal to curb your appetite
• Add chopped nuts to a bowl of fresh fruit

Dr Charles Livingston is a structure/function doctor who specializes in advanced nutrition and weight loss. He is also the author and creator of http://www.greenlifeweightloss.com which teaches healthy “green” principles for shedding weight fast naturally.

Tagged As: anti-aging, diet plan, greenlife weight loss, holistic weight loss, nutrition, Weight Loss

Do you sometimes wonder why your crave sugar so much?

For the question “why do i crave for sugar?” you can give an obvious answer that it’s a pleasurable feeling to look at it,smell it and taste it.

The majority of sugar-laden treats are appealing both visually and to our taste-buds.

Most anyone you could ask could immediately tell you what, when it comes to sweets, are their favorites in color, texture, flavor, and temperature. Eating sugar even causes a temporary mood height, which adds to the pleasure of eating sugar. The brain in its way recognizes the energy value of sugar, and so, as a reward to the body’s owner for ingesting the substance, lavishes chemical agents of pleasure upon itself. The pleasure we derive from eating sugar is brought about by signals from our brain as a reward for giving the brain the sugar it needs for a quick energy boost. It seems obvious that it creates profound cravings. The question your brain may seem to be asking is “Why do I want sugar so badly?”, when the real question may be “Why do I not?”.

Very few people can resist a sugary treat.

Sweet treats took place in most of the celebrations in associates with the time of year. Sugary foods are constantly made aware to us through text and images. Advertisements of sugary confections are found everyday in the form of commercials, signs and on the internet. It’s not only the store at the corner which sells sugary treats,you can get confectioneries at the check out line or in the various aisles of many kinds of stores including the movie rental stores,grocery stores,departmental stores,hardware stores and other types of stores.

Of course, sugar cravings don’t have to sabotage a good diet plan. Many good diet product are available online to help you plan a successful diet, such as the popular and successful FatLoss4Idiots plan. See the Diet Handbook for diet plan reviews.

Vitamin B Deficiencies

Eating too much sugar can deplete vitamin Bs from our body. When you don’t have sufficient amount of Vitamin Bs in your body,you might feel tired and for giving a quick boost to your energy levels,you may crave for sugary foods. For both of these reasons, you will tend to eat more and more sugary foods. If you try eating nutritional and natural, unprocessed foods, you’ll see that you will have a longer energy boost so you will not crave the short energy boosts of sugar quite as much. Dietary supplements along with a balanced meal plan can be of assistance if you are in this circumstance and are wondering why you have sugar cravings.

Medical Conditions

Certain medical conditions or diseases can be indicated by a craving for sweet or sugary food. Since some medical conditions can cause a craving for sugar, it is vital that you get examined by your doctor if you have started to have a craving for sugar so that this possibility can be eliminated. If your sugar cravings started suddenly, then this is really important. Craving sugar can be caused by a number of things, for example insulin resistance (intolerance to carbohydrates) or a nutritional deficiency, or even other medical conditions.

dealing with the stress of daily life.

Some people are very comforted by sweet foods. Emotional eating can be part of poor food choices. Sometimes after a breakup you might find yourself digging a spoon into a pint of ice cream or two, the only problem with this decision is you might find that you’ll regret it later, only to feel more depressed than when you started. It can turn into a vicious circle of avoiding the stress issues, overeating and gaining weight. Unfortunately it’s an endless cycle because by eating sugary treats, you’ll only crave more of them.

Sugar cravings can be caused by boredom and having sweet foods around.

You may eat a sugar-laden soda or a piece of cake simply because the treat is there and it tastes good. Stop and ask yourself “why do I crave sugar” when you are reaching for a candy bar or fantasizing about another sweet treat.

When you begin to know why you crave sugar, you can start to deal with the sugar craving effectively.

Tagged As: diet, nutrition, sugar craving, Weight Loss

Did You Know Cheating (On Your Diet) Helps You Succeed

If your fitness plans include a fat-loss diet as part of your plan to get fit at last, you know that staying on your diet is going to be hard. It’s going to take a lot of discipline to stick with it 100% of the time, and you’re probably already mourning the loss of some of your favorite foods. So this may come as a shock to you, but cheating (on your diet) is sometimes a necessity. At least, cheating is good when you do it right.

When you’re want to lose significant weight, you need to work out more, but you also need to control the amount of food you consume. To get really lean, you will have to start eating fewer calories than necessary to keep your weight were it is now. And your body isn’t going to like that.

Your body adapts to changes. You know that when you eat too much, your body adapts by storing the excess as fat. Your body will also adapt to a significant and sustained reduction in calories. If the number of calories you eat drops a lot, your body will eventually adapt to this situation. It adapts by acting as if there is a famine and you are in danger of starvation.

When your body is in starvation mode, it behaves differently. It starts storing every calorie it can as fat, since it thinks there is a famine in progress and it doesn’t know when you’ll get enough food again. It dials down your metabolism slows, leaving you with less energy. Your body puts less effort into maintaining and repairing your joints and muscles, since the top priority is to survive until there’s more food. If the “famine” last too long, it starts consuming your muscles as fuel while preserving the fat for an even more dire emergency.

The outcome of this adaptation isn’t pleasant. You end up listless, with little energy to exercise. If you do get up the energy to exercise, your workout suffers. You tend to get hurt quickly, and healing takes way too long. Everything you eat gets stored as blubber around your waist. Your muscles might actually start to fade away. Not the best conditions for working out and getting in shape. This is where cheating helps you succeed.

Missing a few meals, or even going without food for a few days won’t flip your body over into starvation mode. It takes a sustained calorie shortfall for that to happen. If you don’t stay a low calorie levels for too long at a stretch, your body will stay in its normal mode and your diet will remain effective. You’ll get the positive aspects of your diet program without the nasty side effects of your body switching to starvation mode.

So, to ensure that your serious fat-loss diet remains effective, you need to go off the plan once in a while. Every so often, you need to eat significantly more than the plan calls for, to keep your body from going into starvation mode. And there’s another benefit. If you eat your favorite junk food on thedays when you break the diet, it becomes that much easier to stick with the plan the other days. After all, there’s a big difference between giving up your favorite foods altogether, and still eating them on your cheating days.

The easiest way to do this is to eat anything you want about once a week. But this approach isn’t necessarily the most efficient way to go. If you want to get the best fat loss results possible, while still avoiding starvation mode, you should get expert advice on all aspects of the way you eat, including whether cheating is appropriate for your situation.

Tagged As: cheating, diet, fat loss, fitness, nutrition, Weight Loss

Beef Up Your Burger’s Nutrition

Diets tend to be pretty strict about cutting out red meat. If a good burger is your weakness, then you may be tempted to cheat. No need! There are delicious hamburgers you can create at home that are healthy and taste good.

Beef Up the Fiber

Adding fiber to your burgers can make them healthier and block seven calories for every gram of fiber.

Try adding fine-grind bulgur to your hamburger before cooking it. Bulgur adds three grams of fiber to the meat and subtracts two grams of fat and one gram of saturated fat. To make it taste good, soak half a cup of fine-grind bulgur in water for 10 minutes. Drain the water out and add the bulgur to a pound of lean ground chuck. Mix them together, form patties, and cook them like any other burger.

You can also try this with rolled oats for a meatloaf-type burger. Add a cup of rolled oats and half a cup of tomato paste to the meat and mix well. These burgers will take a little longer to cook, so cook them on a lower heat.

Beef Up the Vegetables

Another way to add fiber, nutrition, and cut the fat is by adding vegetables to the meat before you form the patties. Diced tomatoes, corn, and dash of hot sauce mixed with the meat make great fiesta burgers. Chopped bell peppers and onions are another good choice as a burger mix-ins.

See, no need to give up your burgers. Just make them healthier and your waistline and taste buds will both be happy.

For more tips on losing weight, try reading a good weight loss guide such as this Fatloss4Idiots review.

Tagged As: Health & Fitness, Weight Loss

How to Eat More Vegetables

You probably know that eating more vegetable helps you lose weight. What you may not know is how to get more vegetables into your diet. Here are some tips to sneaking in your veggie servings without a lot of effort.

·        Add a can or two of mixed vegetables to casseroles and soups. Usually you won’t have to adjust the recipe to accommodate the extra veggies, and you boost the nutrition of the dish.
 
·        Buy precut vegetables. Most of us are too lazy to cut up veggies. If we don’t want to cut them up, we probably won’t eat them. So, avoid the extra work and buy them precut.
 
·        Keep a fresh vegetable tray, complete with low fat ranch dipping sauce, handy for snacks. Most stores carry veg trays that are personal sized as well as party sized.
 
·        When picking up sandwiches at a deli, make sure to ask for extra lettuce, tomatoes, and any other vegetable you can think of. Fast food places such as Subway offer a wide range of good-for-you choices.
 
·        When ordering pasta at your favorite restaurant, opt for tomato based red sauce instead of white. The chunkier the sauce the more real vegetables it has in it.
 
·        Make sure to eat salad as a side dish at least a couple of nights a week. Prewashed salad fixings from the grocery store can make making a salad a snap.
 
·        Drink a vegetable juice, like V8, with breakfast or for a snack.
 
·        Eat baked vegetable chips, such as Flat Earth. They give you half a serving of vegetables in each serving.
 
·        Eat a baked potatoes instead of bread with dinner. Make sure to eat the skin, though. That’s where most of the nutrition lies.
 
Of course, you don’t have to implement all of these tips at once. Pick one tip a week and built up your vegetable tolerance little by little. Before you know it, your waist will be getting smaller and you won’t be able to pass a vegetable by.
 
Ebooks such as the one in this No Nonsense Muscle Building review can help you learn more about how to get healthier and eat better.

Tagged As: Health & Fitness, Weight Loss