Lose Weight and Boost Energy with Super Food Oranges
Oranges taste great, but they are even greater for your health and for weight loss. To stay trim and fit, we should all be eating more vegetables and fruits - especially orange fruits. The Copenhagen University Hospital conducted a study that proves how women trim down their waist size by inches by simply eating oranges in place of refined carbohydrates like bread or pasta.
Most of us know how oranges are rich in fiber. The fiber is a wonderful aid to digestion and speeds up internal cleansing for our bodies. But fiber is not the only thing in oranges that can help us lose weight. Studies show that oranges have enough vitamin C and beta carotene that also zaps away belly fat. Yes, super oranges fight fat!
If you are feeling sluggish mid day and start to crave a cup of coffee, pick up an orange instead. Nutritionists explain, orange juice actually has more energy boosters than a cup of coffee. This makes oranges a great pre and post workout food as well.
Each orange is a mere 60 calories, yet it is loaded with nutrients, and disease-fighting phytochemicals that are so good for you
Super oranges contain very high amounts of vitamins A, B and C. There is something in oranges that will also help you absorb much more calcium, magnesium and other minerals important mineral.
The hydrochloric acid that comes from eating oranges is very effective in detoxifying the body as well. This is why a growing trend right now is the orange detox diet.
But eating oranges need not be done just for a special detox diet. We should all be eating oranges everyday as part of a balanced, healthy diet - with plenty of fruits and vegetables as well as limited fat, sugar and refined carbohydrates.
The oranges are not just good for our health. Oranges can help us in our weight loss goals! But, nutrition experts advice: it is best to eat the orange in fruit form. Eating the fruit as opposed to just the juice will give you more of the soluble fiber that sweeps up the fat in our bloodstream.
The juice should not be ignored though. A Harvard study showed an interesting trend: Among nurses they surveyed (about 87,000 of them) those who drank freshly orange juice daily had a 25% lower chance of getting a stroke.
Experts are convinced oranges reduce the risk of cancer - particularly cancer of the stomach, mouth, esophagus and larynx by a whopping 50%. Oranges reduce cholesterol, therefore preventing heart disease. Not only that, oranges promote the production of collagen. This means younger, smoother skin.
Aside from the wrinkles, super food oranges can keep asthma and arthritis away. Now if your priority is to lose weight, there’s more good news: Oranges help prevent diabetes and obesity.
Indulge in this sweet, yummy snack without feeling guilty. Indulge and make yourself healthier, thinner and more energized.
Eat Oats, Lose Weight!
September 17, 2009 by Patsie
Filed under Diets, Foods, Nutrition, Super Foods
If you want to lose weight, cutting down food is the usual recourse. However, with certain foods eating more can actually help you lose weight. Eating oats for weight loss is one prime example. Consider oat meal and oat bran as weight loss super foods.
Oats are not only packed with vitamins and minerals, they are so rich in soluble and insoluble fibers that can lower your cholesterol and sugar levels. This is medically proven! Beta glucan is a soluble fiber contained in oats. When this soluble fiber goes through your digestive tract it absorbs cholesterol containing acids. Instead of your body accumulating all the cholesterol, the beta glucan quite literally sweeps it out of your system. It throws the cholesterol down the toilet.
A major study has proven: eating oats regularly can lover LDL or bad cholesterol by about 25 percent. Not only that, the same fibers found in oats can also lower your blood sugar levels. Fiber can do this by letting your body slow down its absorption of carbohydrates. If carbohydrates stay long enough in our system it is converted to sugar - the reason why many of us are overweight.
The regular bathroom trips that come from eating oats also helps stave off bloating. You go to the bathroom regularly - your system is clean, your metabolism keeps working.
Oats are such high-density foods that eating a cup can have you feeling full longer. Less cravings for fattier, less healthy fare.
Take note: Research shows children who eat oats daily are 50 percent less likely to be obese. So go ahead and indulge in healthy oats regularly if you want to lose weight.
Low Carb Diet Information - What Should You Eat?
But how successful are low carb diets in the long term? It is hard to quantify this as most people who start a diet tend not to last. There are numerous reasons for this. The fact that you are on a diet is sometimes enough to trigger huge food cravings. I don’t know about you but as soon as I go on a diet, the chocolate cravings hit with a vengeance.
While I think I have tried every sort of diet at some point, the only thing that works for me is to combine exercise with eating more fruit and vegetables. These foods are a dieter’s dream. You can fill up on your favorite fruit, so long as it isn’t bananas, without piling on the pounds. Obviously you wouldn’t want to eat just fruit and vegetables. We need a little of all the food groups in our diet in order to maintain our bodies at their best.
So what should people who want to lose weight eat? Well as we said, fruit and vegetables are the super foods for slimmers. These foods are bulky and watery which means that they are low in fat and provide a lot of volume for few calories. But you cannot just eat the same vegetables every day. You need to eat as many different colors as you can find. Fresh, frozen or canned are fine so long as they are not canned in sugar sauces.
Start your meal with a salad and you will probably eat less overall. But you also need to eat carbohydrates, proteins and some fats.
Carbohydrates should include wholegrain cereals and breads as a good source of vital B vitamins. People with diabetes should eat high fiber starchy foods in order to regulate their blood sugar level so plenty of brown rice and pasta. The white stuff belongs in the bin.
It will surprise those looking for low carb diet info to see that we should all include fats in our diets, even us slimmers. But there are good fats and bad fats. Good fats include those found in oily fish and avocadoes. Bad fats like those found in biscuits, cakes, sauces and pre-packaged foods are best avoided.
Eating calcium rich low fat foods is a great idea for those trying to lose weight as the calcium will help to metabolise fat quicker. You also run the risk of osteoporosis in later life if you cut all milk and dairy out of your diet. Try drinking skimmed milk which is higher in calcium than full fat milk.
It goes without saying that low carb diet information will always suggest you cut out the pasta with creamy sauces and sugar coated breakfast cereals.
Eat More Beans - Weigh Less!
It’s true, people who eat more beans weigh less. Data form the National Nutrition and Health Examination Survey show that adults who eat beans regularly, consume less saturated fat than non-bean eaters. These same adults have a 20 percent lower risk for obesity.
Adult and teenage bean-eaters surveyed also have smaller waist sizes.
Beans are considered to be among nature’s superfoods as they are high in both fiber and protein. High-fiber diets are known to promote weight loss as the fiber cleanses body systems, promotes elimination and assists metabolism.
Beans can often be used as an alternative protein source from meats - meats that are particularly high in saturated fat. Beans are protein-packed, but unlike meat from pork, lamb, or beef, they are low in fat and contain zero cholesterol.
For these reasons, beans are an excellent diet food. Beans have enough protein to help you build muscle. Muscle mass is scientifically proven to burn fat even while at rest. If you exercise regularly - particularly strength or muscle training - and you eat beans on a regular basis, you can really help speed up fat burning.
If you consume beans, you will also notice that you tend to feel full right away. Beans are low-calorie and low-fat, but they are heavy enough that you will not feel like eating more food. Beans can stop you from pigging-out!
In the USDA’s recommended food pyramid plan, beans are so healthy they are actually listed under two groups - under the Vegetable Group (as they are plant-derived) and under the Meat and Beans group (as they are an excellent source of protein). Aside from the protein and fiber, beans are an excellent source of folate and B vitamins.
In the USDA’s current food guidelines, it is advised that Americans triple their intake of beans from one to three cups per week.
But losing weight from eating beans is apparently just a bonus. These health-giving foods - wether they are red, black or white beans - are also effective in reducing your risk of heart disease and cancer. Just make sure you consume natural, dried beans. Beware of canned beans that contain a lot of sodium, as well as chili dishes mixed with too much fatty ground pork or beef.
So go ahead and pile up on healthily-prepared beans… you’ll drop the pounds and gain your health in the process!
Blueberries - The Pound-Zapping Super Food
September 9, 2009 by Patsie
Filed under Foods, Nutrition, blueberries
Blueberries are one of my favorite foods. I love to eat them raw and unadorned, straight from the supermarket. They taste sweet and delicious, just as they are.
But you know what’s the best thing of all about blueberries? They are a superb diet and weight loss food. Seriously!
The general health benefits of the blueberry are undeniable. Doctors and nutrition experts consider blue berries to be one of the top “super foods,” possibly the most super of them all. They are not just jam-packed full of vitamins. Blueberries also contain enzymes and antioxidants that combat many health problems, including urinary tract infections. and even cancer.
But from my point of view, here’s the biggest plus of all: blueberries will also help you shed extra pounds, keep unwanted weight off, and even give a psychological boost to your whole weight loss effort! Let me explain.
Fresh blueberries are delicious and sweet even without added sugar. And yet, these tasty berries are actually quite low in fruit sugar (fructose) and total calories. In fact, those who struggle with high blood sugar levels will benefit a great deal from eating blueberries. These fruits actually help regulate blood sugar levels. This is why even in low-carb diet programs like Atkins, blueberries are the only fruit allowed.
Blueberries are also full of fiber. The high fiber content helps speed up elimination and promotes internal cleansing. So if you keep regular bathroom habits, and also eat blueberries regularly, the routine will keep bloating at bay and prevent unwanted fat from accumulating around your midsection.
Numerous studies have shown that there is a link between plentiful consumption of blueberries and lower abdominal fat. Abdominal fat is the kind linked to diabetes and heart disease.
Researchers believe these results show that antioxidant-rich blueberries may change how the body stores and processes sugar for energy, and this effectively reduces the risk of both heart disease and diabetes.
And speaking of energy: blueberries are also a great energy booster for anyone who is following an exercise program for weight loss. And you are following a running or aerobic exercise regimen as I recommend, aren’t you? Eat fresh blueberries, or enjoy a blue berry smoothie after your workout, and your recovery will be much faster and easier. The nutrient-packed berries are the perfect thing to get your body charged up again after training.
Now here’s another huge benefit for weigh loss dieting: blueberries have been proven to bring speedy satiation. Even a handful of fresh blueberries can stave off your hunger pangs. What that means is - blueberries tend to make you full right away, and this will help to prevent you from gorging on too much food.
Do you need more reasons to add blueberries to your daily diet?
- compared to nearly 40 other other fruits and vegetables, blueberries rank highest in disease-fighting antioxidants
- 1 serving (about 100 grams) of fresh blueberries delivers the equivalent antioxidant capacity of five serving of some fruits and vegetables.
- phytochemicals and flavanoids that combat cancer are found in large doses in even a small quantity of blueberries.
- blueberries are as effective as cranberries in preventing urinary tract infections.
So go ahead and indulge on these super blueberries. They taste good and they are so good for you! Definitely, blueberries help promote weight loss as well. All you need is about a half cup of fresh blueberries everyday to enjoy all this super food’s benefits.
Water With Lemon For Weight Loss
Drinking water with lemon for weight loss is a part of most detox diets. These diets work on the principle that we all have too many toxins in our body and every so often we should totally cleanse them away.
The liver is the major detoxifying organ in your body. Its function is to remove toxins we ingest through food, alcohol, medicines or from our environment. Lemons aid the liver in the detoxifying process and help to eliminate waste via the intestines.
Lemons contain a number of vitamins and minerals and so lemon water makes a good start to your day. Now this is lemon water and NOT lemonade filled with empty calories from all the sugar. Lemondae will not aid your weight loss.
The lemon fruit also has diuretic qualities that battles water retention, which can cause bloating - that adds centimeters to your waistline. But drinking lemon water on its own isn’t going to win your weight loss battle.
As with everything you need to look at your whole lifestyle. You need to increase the amount of physical activity you undertake while reducing your food consumption. We have become used to larger portion sizes and tend to overeat without realising it. Next time you are in a fast food restaurant and are tempted to go large for economical reasons, consider your waist line instead.
If you think you need to lose weight, you should start a food diary to keep a record of exactly what you eat and when. You will soon see a pattern of behaviour arising. Once you know why you eat like you do, you can do something about it.
Small changes can make a big difference in our weight loss journey. Always grill or bake when cooking. Throw the deep fryer out. Instead of buying a shop bought cake, make a homemade one instead. Your own version will have fewer calories due to less quantity of fats and sugars added to make the shop bought ones last longer.
We all know that we need to eat more fruit and vegetables. Aim to eat a different colour every day for a week. You never know you may find a new food that you love. Always eat your breakfast but use semi-skimmed rather than full fat milk. Eat regular meals as it will help to boost your metabolism.
Turn off the TV and stick in an exercise DVD instead. Try out some routines at home and see if you can get your family to join in. Always follow the instructions though as we do not want any injuries.
Get outside and play with your kids. Walk with them to the local park and play some football or some skating.
You will not change your whole life in 24 hours but every improvement you make will win rewards. Your health will improve and your skin will thank you for the water with lemon that got your weight loss diet started.