How to Eat Healthy and Lose Weight

December 16th, 2011 - No Comments

While learning how to eat healthy and lose weight may certainly pose as a challenge in the beginning, with sufficient consistency, determination and drive, you will soon be on the fast track to a leaner and healthier you.

Now the question is; where should you start on your journey of learning how to eat healthy and lose weight? First off, educate yourself on how the body works and how it uses the food that you put into it. Understand that the only way for you to lose weight is to burn more calories than you consume in a day. This means that you will need to be more mindful about your food choices.

What are some ideal food choices if you are trying to lose weight? Try to keep it organic. This means eliminating snacks and food items that are loaded with additives and preservatives. Incorporate plentiful portions of fruits and vegetables into your diet. Eating healthy to lose weight doesn’t have to be boring. Get creative and look up recipes on the different types of salads you can have for lunch and replace your pasta with these healthy substitutes.

Another way to accustom yourself on how to eat healthy and lose weight is by cutting back on sugary food. While there is nothing wrong with snacking on an occasional treat once in awhile (e.g. muffins, a chocolate bar, a slice of cake), daily servings of these sweets do nothing but spike your blood sugar levels and add an extra layer of fat to your belly. Stave off your cravings for sweets by snacking on fruits with low sugar levels but still taste sweet such as apples, papayas, oranges, blueberries, cherries and avocadoes.

Lastly, make meals using food items that are high in fibre such as chicken, beef, whole wheat pasta, whole wheat bread, beans, and of course, fruits and vegetables. Fibre is a miracle component in any diet plan that focuses on how to eat healthy and lose weight as it aids the body in digestion and leaves you feeling full longer—ensuring a longer period of time before you feel hungry again and put food into your mouth. In other words, more fibre in your body will help you consume fewer calories.

For breakfast, an example of practicing a healthy weight loss diet is having a bowl of oatmeal with fruit and nuts mixed with it. You may also have a glass of fresh juice on the side. Lunch can include a sandwich composed of whole wheat bread, turkey breast, tomatoes, lettuce, condiments to taste, and a glass of water. You can prepare roasted chicken breast with steamed asparagus for dinner along with a whole wheat roll or baked potato. These are only a few examples. There are countless dishes you can prepare to practice learning how to eat healthy and lose weight. Understand that going on a healthy weight loss diet is not tantamount to starving yourself. It can be fun and the benefits are sure to last a lifetime. A healthy lifestyle equals a healthy body and a more confident you.

What is the Raw Food Diet

December 16th, 2011 - No Comments

The raw food diet was developed over a century ago by Dr. Maximilian Bircher-Benner. This diet adheres to the belief that the human body was not designed to ingest cooked foods and therefore only raw foods should be consumed. Foods that are processed are also eliminated from one’s diet. However, the raw food diet can be customized according to one’s preferences. Some endorsers of the diet allow for the inclusion of some cooked food, while others do not.

Foods that are commonly consumed in a raw food diet include fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, eggs, fish, meat and dairy products that have neither been pasteurized nor homogenized. A sample diet plan for a raw food diet is a banana, mango and pineapple smoothie for breakfast; a large green salad with hummus, zucchini crackers with avocado and tomato for lunch; and raw spaghetti (made out of zucchini strips) with tuna tartar for dinner. Raw nuts or banana tiramisu can be eaten for snacks and dessert, respectively.

The raw foods diet is healthy in the sense that it greatly promotes the consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables. It also is less tedious than other diets in the sense that there is no calorie counting or portion control involved. Unlimited consumption of raw foods is permitted until the point of satisfaction is reached. Despite these pros, this is not to say that adopting a raw food diet will not be a challenge for a person who is trying it for the first time as it will require major restructuring of one’s diet. There is also a considerable risk level involved with the consumption of raw foods which is why you must be careful to purchase only from trusted suppliers or stores. Handling and storage must be impeccable and sanitary.

When starting the raw food diet, it is important to monitor your healthy carefully and perhaps seek the advice of a qualified medical practitioner to see if you are eligible to go on the diet. This is a precautionary measure just to make sure that you do not pose any risks to your body and your health.

What is the Gluten Free Diet

December 16th, 2011 - No Comments

The gluten free diet is a unique diet that was created by John Michael. Michael suffered from chronic poor health and was misdiagnosed many times before eventually being cured completely after having adopted a gluten free diet for several months.

According to Michael, the gluten free diet is not just a mere change in one’s eating habits; it involves a lifestyle change that will curb your cravings, improve your health, and overall help you to lose weight in a healthy fashion.

As its name states, the gluten free diet seeks to fully eliminate all traces of gluten from your diet. Barley, rye and wheat all contain gluten. Gluten is a protein that can also be found in certain processed foods. If a person is allergic to gluten, this can cause them to experience health problems such as an easily irritated bowel, migraines and arthritis.

Adopting a gluten free diet does not necessarily mean that you are receiving all the nutrients that are necessary for optimal health. This is why it is necessary to customize your diet in such a manner that you are still receiving all the required levels of fat, carbohydrates, sodium and sugar.

The gluten free diet will require that foods such as bread, pastries, blue cheese, cookies, pasta and soy sauce should not be eaten. It is okay to have a glass of wine or two once in awhile but alcoholic drinks such as beer and whiskey should be avoided.

Some recommended gluten free foods include black-eyed peas, lean meat, pinto beans, fish, black beans, dairy products and quinoa. Fruits and vegetables, rice bread, rice, sesame seeds, potatoes, pecans, walnuts and pumpkin seeds are also good sources of nutrition for a healthy gluten free diet. Many gluten free snacks and products are also available in stores. These include pretzels, cookies, pasta sauce and baking ingredients.

It is also advised that the gluten free diet be applied to one’s regimen alongside physical exercise. Walking, running, cycling and strength training are all beneficial to the body and will surely assist you in losing weight and embracing a healthier and happier lifestyle.

How to Eat Healthy and Lose Weight