Showing posts with label Health. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Health. Show all posts

Diet - 7-Day Detox Diet Plan




Flush out toxins and rid water retention with this one-week detox menu!

Detox diets needn't leave you feeling famished and tired. Try this realistic one-week detox diet meal plan to cleanse your system and improve your well-being. Begin your day with half a lemon squeezed into hot water, caffeine-free tea or fruit juice, then incorporate the following nutritionally-balanced meal plans to keep you functioning at your best while you flush out the toxins from your body naturally.

Day 1
· Breakfast: Sandwich, ham and lettuce on wholemeal bread, and 1 glass of soya milk.
· Lunch: Fish noodle soup and 1 wedge of papaya.
· Snack: 1 cup of apple chips.
· Dinner: Curried mixed vegetables, stir-fried garlic wholegrain rice and 1 kiwi fruit.

Day 2
· Breakfast: Tuna spread on rye toast and 1 glass of carrot juice.
· Lunch: Chicken porridge and half a mango.
· Snack: 100g bar dark chocolate.
· Dinner: Baked salmon, fresh vegetable salad with low-fat mayonnaise and corn soup

Day 3
· Breakfast: Oats and muesli with low-fat yogurt and strawberries.
· Lunch: Skinless chicken, celery, 1 bowl of steamed rice.
· Snack: Handful of dried cranberries.
· Dinner: Spaghetti with meat sauce and boiled broccoli.

Day 4
· Breakfast: Home-made smoothie, blended using soya milk and banana.
· Lunch: Egg salad sandwich on wholemeal bread and 1 wedge of pineapple.
· Snack: 3 pieces of plain digestive biscuits.
· Dinner: Grilled chicken, bean and pasta salad and 1 glass of orange juice.

Day 5
· Breakfast: Low-fat peanut butter on oat crackers and half a grapefruit.
· Lunch: Stir-fried prawn noodles and 1 slice of watermelon.
· Snack: 1 cup of low-fat frozen yogurt.
· Dinner: Turkey, sliced tomatoes and lettuce on wholegrain bread.

Day 6
· Breakfast: Omelette with bacon bits and diced spring onion, and 1 glass of tomato juice.
· Lunch: Stir-fried fish in sweet and sour sauce, 1 bowl of steamed rice.
· Snack: Handful of unsalted almonds.
· Dinner: Tuna and buckwheat pasta, 1 bowl of miso soup and 1 kiwi fruit.

Day 7
· Breakfast: Wholemeal toast and 1 cup of low-fat yogurt.
· Lunch: Chicken fingers and fresh fruit salad sprinkled with finely chopped nuts.
· Snack: 4 pieces of wholemeal crackers.
· Dinner: Seafood pasta and 1 apple.
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Diet - Detox Diets




Get the scoop on detox diets. Plus, a healthy detox shopping list to get you started.

Lose the excess weight, beat cellulite for good, flush out toxins naturally, banish the bloat and improve your skin's clarity: These are just some of the promises that detox diets hold. It's no wonder that so many celebrities are huge fans of detox diets! So forget about bizarre juice and deprivation diets: Try a sensible detox plan to cleanse your system.

Planning your detox diet
Following a realistic one-week detox plan can help you drop the extra weight as well as improve your well-being. Here are the basics to help you get started on a simple detox plan.

1. Morning detox drink. Start each morning with half a lemon squeezed into hot water, instead of your usual dose of caffeine. Alternatively, non-caffeine tea, herbal tea, freshly-squeezed fruit juice are also great choices.

2. Avoid toxins including cigarette smoke, food additives, alcohol and caffeine. Advocates of detox diets say these toxins that accumulate in our bodies are the causes of health problems like weight gain, cellulite, headaches, bloating, fatigue and dull skin, so the purpose of detox diets is to kick-start the process of removing these toxins from the body.

3. Drink sufficient water. Stay sufficiently hydrated by aiming to drink around two litres of water everyday. The fluids will help flush out toxins from your system.

Foods to include:
1. Fresh, dried fruits and fruit juices including apples, bananas, oranges, pears, cranberries, grapefruit, mangoes, strawberries, mangoes and peaches. If you purchase pre-packed fruit juices, make sure they're labelled 'unsweetened'.

2. Vegetables, beans and lentils. Fresh, frozen or canned, take your pick from cabbage, potatoes, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, peppers, kidney beans, navy beans, red lentils, green lentils. Toss them in a bowl, mix in olive oil, flax oil or balsamic or wine vinegar for an appetitizing salad dish.

3. Oats and brown rice. These high-fiber foods aid bowel movement and will help you flush out toxins naturally.

4. Unsalted nuts and seeds such as almonds, peanuts, walnuts, pistachio, sunflower and pumpkin seeds. But skip the salted ones as their high sodium content can lead to water retention and bloating.

5. Poultry and seafood. Eat poultry such as skinless chicken and turkey as well as any seafood including cod, mackerel, prawns, crab, salmon and tuna.

Foods to avoid:
1. Red meat. Avoid red meat and red meat products like beef, pork, burgers, sausages.

2. Dairy products including milk, cheese, butter and cream.

3. Junk foods. Stay away from high-fat and high-carb, sugary snacks that have little nutritional value, including chocolate cookies, cream wafers, muffins, doughnuts, butter cakes and sweets.

4. Caffeine, alcohol and fizzy drinks. Caffeine and alcohol are toxins that can build up in our system, so ban coffee, tea, alcohol and sodas from your detox plan.

5. High-sodium foods including chips, canned soups, soya sauce and salt.

6. Wheat products Any food that contains wheat including bread, croissants, cereals, cakes, biscuits, pies, pastry, quiche, battered or breadcrumbed foods, etc.
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Food - Top 10 Food Myths Busted




Our mums are always telling us fresh is best, our friends insist carbs are evil and our boyfriends say oysters are an aphrodisiac. They're all wrong, writes Shelly Horton.

1. Oysters are an aphrodisiac
Say it's not true! Everyone says oysters have aphrodisiac powers. However, oysters don't have a secret chemical agent that boosts your sex drive. Sure, they contain zinc, which is great for men (a bit of lead in the pencil) but will not make him toey. Sydney-based dietitian Susie Burrell says: "Zinc is linked to the sexual hormone but does not have an effect on libido.

However, some people say oysters are an aphrodisiac because they look like parts of the female anatomy." Libido is mostly in the mind so maybe it's the romantic restaurant that's doing more work than the oyster entree.

2. Long-life milk is full of chemicals
It makes sense to think if milk can sit on a cupboard shelf for months it would need preservatives but it's not true. The secret lies in the application of high-temperature technologies. Karen Fischer, nutritionist and author of The Healthy Skin Diet says, "Milk is heated to 135 degrees then quickly cooled. That makes 'bad' bacteria perish, but all the minerals are retained. So long life milk is great as a stand by if you run out of fresh milk."

3. Light olive oil is "light" on calories
The "light" refers to the colour, not the fat content. "Shoppers are tricked into thinking light olive oil is better for you. That's impossible: it's still oil, it's simply lighter in colour. This is a case of really having to check the labels," Fischer says.

4. It is not safe to refreeze meat after it has thawed
Most mums have trotted out this myth ... however, it is actually safe to thaw and refreeze meat. But you do have to be very careful. The meat must be thawed in a fridge at five degrees or less. At this temperature, most bacteria responsible for food poisoning cannot grow and those that can, do so very slowly and are killed by subsequent cooking. "Keeping it cold will keep it safer. I actually do this myself," Burrell says. So no defrosting on the kitchen sink then chucking it back in the freezer or you'll be driving the porcelain bus. And just a warning, thawing and refreezing meat makes it lose its juices and go tough.

5. Carbohydrates cause you to gain weight
Carbohydrates do not cause weight gain unless they contribute to excess calorie intake. The same holds true for protein and fat. Burrell says it's all in the selection: "The trouble with carbs is they can be easy to overeat. If they are highly processed, like white flour and pasta, it is turned into sugar quickly and means you don't stay full for long. So you need to choose the right sort."

Fischer adds: "I'm a big fan of carbs. They help you concentrate. It's a good brain food, just don't overeat. High-protein low-carb is a fad diet and not a life choice. So choose good-quality wholegrain carbs; they are more fulfilling and keep you satisfied longer."

6. Fresh vegies are better than frozen
Many frozen vegies are just as nutritious, or in some cases even more nutritious, than fresh ones. Frozen vegetables are usually processed within hours of picking and few nutrients are lost in the freezing process, therefore they keep their high vitamin and mineral content.

Fischer says: "Fresh vegies can take weeks or even months before they reach the dinner table and some vitamins are gradually lost over time." Burrell adds: "But vitamin loss also has to do with the cooking method. If vegies are boiled to within an inch of their life, they'll have no vitamins because it seeps out into the water."

7. Made in Australia means it's 100 per cent Aussie
According to the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, "Made in Australia" means a product is substantially transformed in Australia and at least 50 per cent of the cost of production has been incurred here. "Product of Australia" means all significant ingredients come from Australia, and all or virtually all of the manufacturing or processing is carried out in Australia. So Product of Australia is a stronger claim.

8. The healthier option at a restaurant is a vegetarian dish
Well, it depends on the dish, but some vegetarian meals are high in fat, especially if they're fried or are made with cheese or pastry. "There are a lot of unhealthy vegetarians out there so don't be fooled," says Fischer. Burrell agrees: "The problem with vegetarian meals is that cream-based sauce or butter is used to make them tasty. If you choose a pasta or risotto it has to be very plain tomato sauce to be the low-fat option." In fact, red meat can be low in fat if it's lean and all the visible fat has been removed. A great low-fat option is chicken without the skin, or fish that has been steamed.

9. It's best not to eat after 7pm
It's not when you eat but what you eat that counts. Eat more calories than you burn and you'll get fatter. But late snacking can push your calorie intake over the edge. Burrell: "It's best to have regular mealtimes so you can keep track. And having 10-12 hours without food supports hunger so you start the day with a healthy breakfast." Fischer adds: "Eating just before you go to bed can hamper sleep patterns in that it messes with your insulin. I'd suggest you don't eat for two to three hours before bed."

10. Fat-free equals calorie-free
Munching on fat-free foods may seem the guilt-free way to lose weight but a lot of fat-free foods have the same amount or even more calories than regular versions. Fischer says: "You're just as likely to gain weight from high-sugar products as high-fat products." Get the facts on fat-free foods by checking food labels for the serving size and number of calories per serving."
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Fitness - How To Increase Your Metabolism




Metabolism is a biological term which is made up of two process (anabolism and catabolism) in the body. As in our body various changes takes place which can be categorized into physical and chemical changes. Metabolism is the chemical change in the body since it involves building and breaking down of chemical substances (present in food).

Metabolism is associated with energy. In anabolism simpler substances combines to form compound substance, fat which gets stored in the body as body fat and it is break down at a later stage for releasing energy whereas catabolism is the breakdown of food particles in the body with the help of oxygen to release energy required for performing various functions inside the body as well as for daily routine functions.

The rate of metabolism depends on certain factors such as age, sex, occupation, the amount of body tissues and activeness. The metabolism rate decreases with the growing age, it is lower in females than males and it is higher in a more active person whose occupations requires physical work than sitting work.

Here are some tips for increasing the rate of metabolism in the body by simple exercises.

Cycling
Cycling for an hour or half increases the metabolic rate for at least 12 to 14 hours. As cycling increases the heart rate and flow of blood and it burns out extra calories in the body which results in increased metabolic rate.

Jogging
Jogging for half an hour helps in burning extra calories present in the body and increases metabolic rate of the body due to which we never feel tired.

Yoga
In yoga there are aasanas such as prayanaam and others which help in increasing the metabolic rate of the body and in burning extra calorie in the body.

Regular Exercises
Regular exercises helps in increasing the metabolic rate and if possible you can exercise twice a day for maintaining the constant metabolic rate throughout the day.

Aerobics
It is one of the commonest method which is employed for increasing the metabolic rate of the body as it requires jumping, and other exercising techniques.

So you can increase your metabolism without much efforts by these simple exercise but you should never over do these exercises you should continue till you feel comfortable and then you can stop for rest.

Source:
http://www.womanjunction.com/topic/fitness/how-to-increase-your-metabolism/
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Recipes - Almond Biscotti




Preparation Time
50 min

Servings
50 servings

Ingredients
· 4 Egg Whites
· 80g Castor Sugar
· 1/2 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
· 150g raw whole Almonds
· 60g sieved All-Purpose Flour

Procedures
1. Roast almonds in preheated oven for 20min to preserve the crunchiness
2. Beat egg whites & sugar till firm mousse-like
3. Add vanilla essence
4. Fold in almonds & flour
5. Pour mixture into a baking tin
6. Bake in oven for 30min at 180°C
7. Cool and slice into thin slices
8. Return to oven and bake for another 10min at 130°C
9. Cool & store in air-tight container

Bernice - The Blue Doll Says :


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Food - Facts or Myths (Part I)


As people become more health conscious, demand grows for information about the nutrient content and health impact of foods eaten in the diet. Most people would know about the good foods, the fruits and vegetables that are beneficial to the body.

In response to this, nutrition information on packaging is becomingly increasingly common. How do consumers process this information? How much of this information do consumers believe? More information may not always be a good thing and lead consumers to leads a better choice; consumers were sometimes unsure how to separate facts from unfounded claims.

Facts and Myths

Avocados
Myth: Avocados aren't a healthy choice as it high in fat.

Fact: Yes, they are high in fat for a fruit; however, most of this is the healthier unsaturated fact (mono-unsaturated fats) that has a positive effect on blood cholesterol levels. It is perhaps the only fruit with monounsaturated fat and avocados are free of cholesterol and provide vitamin E which is very good for the heart, folic acid and potassium.

However, just don’t go overboard; one avocado has about 340 calories and eating too much can lead to weight gain if the energy isn't used up through physical activity. A recommended serving will be 2 table spoons which equivalent to 5 grams of fat and 55 calories.



Chocolates
Myth: Chocolate is bad!

Fact: Everyone's favorite food. Eating the chocolate will help the body to release feel-good endorphin chemicals in the brain (No wonder we always come back for more =P ). Chocolate contain antioxidants (in the cocoa) and antioxidants prevent heart attack, stroke, dementia and hypertension.

It is also rich in iron (needed for the synthesis of haemoglobin (the red pigment in blood which carries oxygen to all the body's cells)) and magnesium. A 1999 research at Harvard University even discovered that chocolate consumers live almost one year more than those who do not eat chocolate.

Despite all the benefits of chocolate, we all know that chocolates are rich in fat and sugar, leading one to gain weight.



“Low fats” or “reduced fats” = ‘Healthy’?
Myth: Low fact is low in energy (calories).

Fact: 'Low' or 'reduced-fat' foods may not be necessarily lower in calories as it foods that are low in fat are high in sugar, which may result it extra calories and may cause wide swings in blood sugar level. This will cause one to gain weight and lose energy and raise the risk of several diseases.

One may tag "low-fat" means "Eat all you want." As a result, it leads to the use more of a reduced-fat product than one would of the full-fat version. One might end up having the same, or even more, fat and energy.


Skipping breakfast – No Problem?
Myth: Breakfast is not an important meal.

Fact: It’s actually the opposite. Breakfast is actually a great way to start the day and studies have shown that people who regularly eat breakfast enjoy a more positive attitude, are slimmer and concentrate better.

Better Concentration – The carbohydrates and vitamins taken during breakfast such as bread, cereals and grains help to boost brain glucose level and alertness. The evidence has led to a number of schools setting up breakfast clubs which provide both childcare and food for children before the school day begins.

Slimmer – People who has skip breakfast tend to be hungry by mid-morning and as a result, they will take food which is high in sugar or fat to end the hunger pang. Moreover, people who skip breakfast will tend to eat more thinking that they have skip a meal.


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