Greenpeppers

Green peppers with 4 bumps at the bottom are better for cooking – they are firmer and hold up better during the cooking process. Green peppers with 3 bumps are better to eat raw because they are sweeter than the 4 bump ones. Who knew?

Carrots and Orange Smoothie

Carrots are the perfect blend of nutrition and taste, and filled with Vitamin A. Doctors often recommend it to people who are suffering from night blindness, skin problems and also to those who want to lose weight.

Oranges are filled with vitamin C and it is imperative to have them as fresh as possible, as Vitamin C evaporates into the air if cooked for more than a few... minutes, or kept outside for long duration.

Ingredients:

1 carrot, chopped into large pieces
1 orange, juiced
1 teaspoon chia seeds
½ cup ice
1/3rd cup fat-free yoghurt

Procedure:

In a food processor or blender, put the carrot, chia seeds and yoghurt in with the ice, and blend for 1-2 minutes, or until they are thoroughly blended together. Add the orange juice, blend for 15 seconds more, and then pour the smoothie into a tall glass. Drink up immediately.

13 Reasons to Love Pomegranates

We used to pick these fruits from a neighbors tree on our way home from school. Those pips were so yummy. I have never seen the actual fruit in stores around here in Cape Town, but I'm keeping an eye out for them. I did however find the Pomegranate Juice and it tastes awesome.

 



 

One of my favorite fruits, pomegranates offer more than just incredible taste—they are nutritional and healing powerhouses. Here are 13 reasons to start eating pomegranates or drinking their juice if you aren’t already:


1. Anti-aging effects: Pomegranates contain plentiful amounts of antioxidants. They rate high on the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s ORAC scale (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity)—a measure of how well free radicals are absorbed. Pomegranate juice measures 2860 on this scale.

2. Kidney protection: New research published just days ago in the journal Renal Failure showed that an extract of pomegranate prevented kidney damage and protected the kidneys against harmful toxins.

3. Liver protection and regeneration: More new research published in the journal Toxicology and Industrial Health showed that pomegranate juice not only protects the liver, it helps it to regenerate after it has been damage.

4. Immune-boosting: Pomegranates and pomegranate juice are packed with immune-boosting vitamin C—an essential and quickly depleted nutrient at this time of year.

5. Anti-allergic: Pomegranates are high in substances called polyphenols which have been shown to reduce the biochemical processes that are linked with allergies.

6. Protects against heart disease: New research published in the journal Atherosclerosis shows that pomegranate improves the body’s ability to synthesize cholesterol and destroy free radicals in the vascular system.

7. Prostate-cancer protection: Research conducted at the University of California, Riverside, and published in the journal Translational Oncology indicates that pomegranate juice and pomegranate extracts caused cancer cell death.

8. Breast-cancer protection: Scientists at the University of California, Riverside, also studied the effects of pomegranate juice and its nutritional components: luteolin, ellagic acid, and punicic acid against breast cancer. They pubished their results in the journal Breast Cancer Research and Treatment and concluded that pomegranate juice and its extracts “are potentially a very effective treatment to prevent cancer progression…”

9. Skin-cancer protection: Consumption of pomegranate was associated with a decrease in both main types of skin cancer—basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, according to new research in the British Journal of Dermatology.

10. DNA-protection: The antioxidants and/or phytonutrients in pomegranates also appear to interact with the body’s genetic material for protection.

11. Blood pressure normalizing: Early research published in the journal Plant Foods for Human Nutrition found that pomegranate extract may help prevent blood pressure increases associated with eating high fat meals.

12. Metabolic syndrome regulating: Research published in the journal Food and Function shows that pomegranate helps regulate blood sugar, improves the body’s sensitivity to insulin, decreases inflammation, and improves numerous other factors involved in metabolic syndrome—frequently implicated in obesity and often a precursor to diabetes. Because of these effects, pomegranate may aid weight loss.

13. Anti-infectious: New research published in the journal Food and Chemical Toxicology found that an extract of pomegranate increased the effectiveness of a drug used against gram-negative bacteria. Many gram-negative bacteria are known for drug resistance.



How to Enjoy Pomegranates:

You can eat them fresh on their own for a delicious snack or dessert.

Sprinkle pomegranate seeds on a salad for a beautiful and nutritious addition.

Drink unsweetened bottled pomegranate juice devoid of preservatives. I recommend diluting 1 part
water to 1 part pomegranate juice to avoid blood sugar spikes and crashes.

Use a splash of pomegranate juice in salad dressing to jazz up a plate of greens.

Add some pomegranate juice to your favorite smoothie recipe.

Enjoy pomegranate juice with citrus juices for a delicious citrus cocktail.

I’d love to hear how you are enjoying pomegranates or pomegranate juice.



Read more: http://www.care2.com/greenliving/13-reasons-to-love-pomegranates.html#ixzz2MwXq3so4

9 Brain Superfoods

Your brain controls every function in your body yet we rarely give it a second thought. And, few of us choose foods that protect or heal our brain. Here are some of the best foods for thought (literally):

1. Spinach—More than Just for Popeye
A study of middle-aged rats fed diets with added spinach, strawberry extract, or vitamin E for nine months found that spinach proved most potent in protecting nerve cells against the effects of aging in two parts of the brain. More research needs to be done but it looks like Popeye was building more than muscles when he ate spinach.

2. Benefits of Blue for Grey Matter
Blueberries contain a group of plant nutrients called proanthocyanidins. Proanthocyanidins have a unique capacity to protect both the watery and fatty parts of the brain against damage from some environmental toxins. Proanthocyanidins decrease free radical activity within and between brain cells. Blueberry proanthocyanidins have greater antioxidant properties than vitamins C and E. Blueberries appear to have some of the highest concentrations of these powerful antioxidants. In other studies, researchers found that compounds in blueberries may reverse some age-related memory loss and motor skill decline.

Blueberries are excellent anti-inflammatory agents. They increase the amounts of compounds called heat-shock proteins that decrease as people age, thereby causing inflammation and damage, particularly in the brain. By eating blueberries regularly, research shows that these heat-shock proteins stop declining and inflammation lessens, not to mention that they just taste fabulous.


3. From the Vine to Your Palate
A plant nutrient found in grapes, grape juice and red wine appears to protect the brain against Alzheimer’s disease. It’s called resveratrol, and it is an antioxidant thought to be responsible for many of the purported benefits of red wine on brain cells. The researchers found that resveratrol protected brain cells by mopping up free radicals before they can cause brain damage. And while people may prefer to hear that red wine is the best source, the alcohol in wine is still damaging to brain cells. Red or purple grapes are the best option to load up on resveratrol.

4-7. Omega 3s to Maintain a Healthy Brain (Wild Salmon, Walnuts, Flax or Hemp Seeds)
The brain is 60% fat and requires healthy fats to reduce inflammation (linked to most brain disorders) and maintain a healthy blood-brain barrier—a mechanism intended to protect the brain from harmful substances. Omega 3 fatty acids like those found in salmon, walnuts, flax seeds or flax seed oil, or hemp seeds, help to quell inflammation and support a strong blood-brain barrier, while boosting our memory. Be sure to choose only wild salmon since high levels of mercury and PCBs have been found in farmed salmon and both of these substances may have adverse effects on the brain. Also, be sure to choose raw walnuts, flax or hemp seeds or the oil made from them since the fats contained in these nuts and seeds can have damaging effects on brain health when heated.

8. The Memory-Boosting Power of Tomatoes
Tomatoes contain a powerful memory-boosting phytonutrient called “lycopene.” Research shows that those who consume lycopene in their daily diets had sharper memories than those who didn’t consume high amounts of lycopene. Tomatoes aren’t the only source. Another great source of lycopene is watermelon.

9. Tea for Two Hemispheres
Researchers found that people who drank two or more cups of tea each day were less likely to develop Parkinson’s disease. Black and green tea (especially green tea) contains potent antioxidants with twenty times the power to protect against free radicals than vitamin E. Green tea also lowers the risk of blood clots and clumping linked to stroke.


Read more: http://www.care2.com/greenliving/9-brain-superfoods.html#ixzz2MwVtu0h1

Slim Down With Yoga

Lose stubborn fat and tone up all over with this fast, easy plan



Yoga is a known stress buster, but it's also one of the most effective workouts for fighting stubborn fat stores, especially the ones that crop up after age 40. Yes, you can use yoga for weight loss. The reason: Studies show that yoga lowers levels of stress hormones and increases insulin sensitivity—a signal to your body to burn food as fuel rather than store it as fat. The following yoga poses for weight loss will do just that while firming up your arms, legs, butt, and abs. Start now to see weight results in as little as 3 weeks.

Workout at a glance

What you need:
A yoga mat or carpeted space

How to do it:
Follow this routine at least 3 times a week, holding each move 1 time for 3 to 5 deep breaths, unless otherwise noted. Start with the Main Move for each exercise. If it's too difficult, do the Make It Easier variation. If it's not challenging enough, try the Make It Harder option. For faster results: Hold each pose for 5 to 8 breaths and increase repetitions (where noted) by 2 or 3.

MAIN MOVE: Crescent [Firms abs, hips, and thighs]

Stand with feet together, toes forward, and arms at sides. Inhale and raise arms overhead, reaching fingertips toward ceiling. Exhale, and bend forward from hips, bringing hands to floor (it's okay to bend knees). Inhale, and as you exhale, step right leg back into a lunge (left knee bent about 90 degrees, knee over ankle; right leg extended and on ball of foot). Inhale and raise arms overhead; gaze forward. Hold, then return to standing and repeat, stepping left leg back.
Make it Harder: From end position, inhale and arch torso, arms, and head backward, gazing at fingertips.
 Make it Easier: Lower right knee to touch floor as you step back into a lunge, and rest hands on left thigh.

MAIN MOVE: Willow [Firms sides of abs]

Stand with feet together, arms at sides. Place sole of left foot on inside of right thigh, knee bent to side. Touch palms in front of chest for 2 breaths. On third inhale, extend arms up, fingertips toward ceiling. Exhale, and on the inhale, bend torso to left. Inhale and straighten. Repeat 3 to 5 times, pressing foot into thigh; switch sides.
Make it Easier: Keep left foot on calf or touch toes to floor for balance.
Make it Harder: Close eyes as you balance and bend.

MAIN MOVE: Rocking Boat [Firms abs and back]

Sit with knees bent, feet on floor, hands on thighs. With torso straight and head in line with body, lean back about 45 degrees, raising feet so calves are parallel to floor, toes pointed. On an inhale, extend arms and legs, keeping legs together. Exhale, and as you inhale, lower torso and legs 3 to 4 inches so body forms a wider V shape. Exhale and raise torso and legs. Repeat 3 to 5 times.
Make it Easier: Hold backs of thighs with hands and keep legs bent. Lower torso only.
Make it Harder: Once in the wider V position, extend arms overhead.

MAIN MOVE: Hover [Firms shoulders, arms, abs, and back]

Begin in push-up position on toes with arms straight, hands below shoulders, and body in line from head to heels. On an exhale, lower chest toward floor, bending elbows back, arms close to body, abs tight. Hold a few inches above floor.
Make it Easier: Begin on hands and knees and walk hands forward until body is in line from head to knees.
Make it Harder: While holding the hover, lift left leg 6 to 12 inches, pause, and lower. Do 3 to 5 times, then switch legs.

MAIN MOVE: Chair [Firms butt and thighs]

Stand with feet together, toes forward, arms at sides. Inhale and raise arms overhead, palms facing each other. Exhale and sit back about 45 degrees, keeping knees behind toes and abs tight to support back; gaze forward.
Make it Easier: Do the move with feet hip-distance apart, hands on thighs, and bend only about 30 degrees.
Make it Harder: After you sit back, lift heels off floor, balancing on balls of feet (knees will be in front of toes); gaze up at fingertips.




Check out these tasty smoothie recipes for a flatter belly:
 http://worldwiderecipescollection.blogspot.com/2013/03/flat-belly-diet-smoothie-recipes.html

With No More Than a Pencil

 

Laugh away your calories

Did you know you could burn calories by laughing? A study at Vanderbilt University showed you could lose up to 50 calories by laughing 10-15 minutes a day. When laughing, people burned 20% more calories. Laughter has other health benefits that include stress reduction, immune system boosting, natural pain relief and increased blood flow (good for the heart) - no joking either.

Sadly your sense of humor is one of the first things that you lose on a diet. Let's try to remedy that. Enjoy some humorous thoughts and do a little laughercising.

My advice if you insist on slimming: Eat as much as you like - just don't swallow it.

The biggest seller is cookbooks and the second is diet books - how not to eat what you've just learned how to cook. ~Andy Rooney~

I keep trying to lose weight... but it keeps finding me! ~Author Unknown~

The older you get, the tougher it is to lose weight, because by then your body and your fat are really good friends. ~Author Unknown~ 

I gave up jogging for my health when my thighs kept rubbing together and setting my pantyhose on fire.

Inside me there is a thin person struggling to get out, but I can usually sedate her with four or five cupcakes

Every time I get the urge to exercise, I lie down till the feeling passes.

Drinking three glasses of water before every meal will help you lose weight, because you will burn a lot of calories running to the bathroom. 

Today's weight loss tip: Use Superglue as lip-gloss

Want to lose weight? Eat only Moon Pies, they have less gravity than earthier foods like fruits and veggies.

 

I think I'll hire a Chippendale to chase me around with a licorice whip, I'd be thin by Christmas....

 

“Remember, you are not a heavy person trying to slim down. You are a trim, healthy person learning how to re-emerge.”

 

To lose weight, drink lots of water, you'll burn more calories running to the loo every few minutes.

 

I'm on a seafood diet. I see food and I eat it. ~Author Unknown~

 

I'm in shape. Round is a shape... isn't it?

 

If your snack gets stuck in the vending machine, be thankful. You will burn a few calories shaking the machine. And if the machine falls on you, you will probably be thinner.

 

Limit your intake of dates and nuts, as well as your desire to date nuts.

 

You cannot eat just one piece of chocolate, unless it is the last piece in the country.

 

I'm allergic to food. Every time I eat it breaks out into fat.

 

I'm not overweight. I'm just nine inches too short

 

You have to stay in shape. My grandmother, she started walking five miles a day when she was 60. She's 97 today and we don't know where the hell she is

 

I burned sixty calories. That should take care of a peanut I had in 1962

 

Self delusion is pulling in your stomach when you step on the scales

 

I'm a light eater. As soon as it's light, I start to eat.

 

When I buy cookies I eat just four and throw the rest away. But first I spray them with Raid so I won't dig them out of the garbage later. Be careful, though, because that Raid really doesn't taste that bad

 

A balanced diet is a cookie in each hand

 

If nature had intended our skeletons to be visible it would have put them on the outside of our bodies

 

The leading cause of death among skinny fashion models is falling through street grates

 

I tried every diet in the book. I tried some that weren’t in the book. I tried eating the book. It tasted better than most of the diets

 

A diet is the penalty we pay for exceeding the feed limit

 

Exercise is a dirty word. Every time I hear it, I wash my mouth out with chocolate

 

Aerobics: a series of strenuous exercises which help convert fats, sugars, and starches into aches, pains, and cramps.

 

A moment on the lips, forever on the hips

 

What you eat in private will show up in public

 

If you have formed the habit of checking on every new diet that comes along, you will find that, mercifully, they all blur together, leaving you with only one definite piece of information: french-fried potatoes are out

 

I’ve been on a constant diet for the last two decades. I’ve lost a total of 789 pounds. By all accounts, I should be hanging from a charm bracelet

 

I’m on a 90-day wonder diet. Thus far, I’ve lost 45 days

 

Laughing burns off calories so everyone needs a giggle.... some more than others.

Forget Liposuction - Try Lip Obstruction!

Eat your food while staring into a mirror.... totally naked!

When eating donuts - only eat the center part.

Weigh yourself with only one foot on the scale.

Use Parental Block for the Food Network on your TV - Eat PIN Number/Password.

Eat your food with one chopstick

LMAO is a great way to reduce weight in the hindquarters.

Don't eat your evening meal before breakfast

Ladies - Drop 5 lbs. Instantly! Let go of your purse.

Attach Full-Length Mirror to your Refrigerator Door.

Hang your bikini on the refrigerator.... definitely don't do that if you are a guy.

FREEZING LEMONS - WHO KNEW

FREEZING LEMONS - WHO KNEW

Amazing frozen lemons. All it is.....is a frozen lemon.

Many professionals in restaurants and eateries are using or consuming ... the entire lemon and nothing is wasted. How can you use the whole  lemon without waste?

Simple.. place the washed lemon in the freezer section of your  refrigerator. Once the lemon is frozen, get your grater, and shred  the whole lemon (no need to peel it) and sprinkle it on top of your
foods.

Sprinkle it to your vegetable salad, ice cream, soup, cereals,  noodles, spaghetti sauce, rice, sushi, fish dishes, whisky.... the  list is endless.

All of the foods will unexpectedly have a wonderful taste, something  that you may have never tasted before. Most likely, you only think of  lemon juice and vitamin C. Not anymore.

Now that you've learned this lemon secret, you can use lemon even in  instant cup noodles.

What's the major advantage of using the whole lemon other than  preventing waste and adding new taste to your dishes?

Well, you see lemon peels contain as much as 5 to 10 times more  vitamins than the lemon juice itself. And yes, that's what you've  been wasting.

But from now on, by following this simple procedure of freezing the  whole lemon, then grating it on top of your dishes, you can consume  all of those nutrients and get even healthier.

It's also good that lemon peels are health rejuvenators in eradicating  toxic elements in the body.

So place your washed lemon in your freezer, and then grate it on your  meal every day. It is a key to make your foods tastier and you get to  live healthier and longer! That's the lemon secret! Better late than  never, right? The surprising benefits of lemon! Lemon (Citrus) is a  miraculous product to kill cancer cells. It is 10,000 times stronger  than chemotherapy.

Why do we not know about that? Because there are laboratories  interested in making a synthetic version that will bring them huge  profits.

You can now help a friend in need by letting him/her know that lemon  juice is beneficial in preventing the disease. Its taste is pleasant  and it does not produce the horrific effects of chemotherapy.

How many people will die while this closely guarded secret is kept, so  as not to jeopardize the beneficial multimillionaires large  corporations?

As you know, the lemon tree is known for its varieties of lemons and limes.

You can eat the fruit in different ways: you can eat the pulp, juice  press, prepare drinks, sorbets, pastries, etc. It is credited with  many virtues, but the most interesting is the effect it produces on
cysts and tumors.

This plant is a proven remedy against cancers of all types. Some say  it is very useful in all variants of cancer. It is considered also as  an anti microbial spectrum against bacterial infections and fungi,
effective against internal parasites and worms, it regulates blood  pressure which is too high and an antidepressant, combats stress and  nervous disorders.

The source of this information is fascinating: it comes from one of  the largest drug manufacturers in the world, says that after more than  20 laboratory tests since 1970, the extracts revealed that It destroys  the malignant cells in 12 cancers, including colon, breast, prostate,  lung and pancreas. The compounds of this tree showed 10,000 times  better than the product Adriamycin, a drug normally used  chemotherapeutic in the world, slowing the growth of cancer cells.

And what is even more astonishing: this type of therapy with lemon  extract only destroys malignant cancer cells and it does not affect  healthy cells.

So, give those lemons a good wash, freeze them and grate them. Your  whole body will love you for it!

 

15 Fat Burning Foods - Eating Your Way To Natural Fat Loss

Quickly, can you name 15 fat burning foods in the next 30 seconds? How did you do? Well, there are a wide variety of fruits and vegetables that are hyped as foods that you can eat to help you to lose weight. They are also known as negative calorie foods and have what is known as a high 'thermogenic' value. In other words, they use more calories in the digestive process than what is actually contained within the food itself. This process speeds up your metabolism, which can lead to fat loss.

 

In actuality, it is not the food that burns the fat, but the nutrients in these foods that help in breaking down fatty deposits and make it easier for your body to help flush out the fat. Also, when your body is properly nourished it has a positive affect on maintaining your blood sugar level. Regulating your blood sugar level has proven to be the most effective method to maintaining the body's fat-burning capacity by eliminating the feel of hunger.

Following are 15 fat burning foods known for accelerating fat loss; they are packed with nutritional value and can assist you in achieving your weight loss goal and improve your overall health in numerous ways:

Beans

Steep in fiber and an excellent source of protein as well as iron, a single serving of beans is very filling and can satisfy your appetite for hours. The great thing is that they come in many varieties including lima beans, black beans, kidney beans, navy beans, green beans, wax beans, northern beans, and garbanzo beans. They are great for helping to keep the blood sugar level balance.

Garlic

This staple has a worldwide reputation as a miracle food and comes in over 300 varieties; it contains vitamins A, C, and D. One of the most common is the American garlic; it has a white paper-like skin and a very strong flavor. Its many forms include whole peeled gloves, minced fresh cloves, dried garlic powder, garlic extract, garlic salt, and whole peeled gloves. Garlic contains the compound allicin which studies have shown can help lower cholesterol and high blood pressure; it is a natural diuretic food that aids the breakage of fat. It has been observed that allicin begins to degrade immediately after it is produced, so its medicinal effect decreases over time. Cooking degrades its even further and microwaving allicin, more likely than not, totally annihilates any health benefits.

To receive the optimal effect, crush a little raw garlic and combine with the cooked food shortly before serving. Be careful not to overdo it - too much can irritate or possibly damage the digestive tract. Keep in mind that raw, crushed garlic yields not only the most powerful flavor but, as an entry on the 15 fat burning foods list, it is an extremely effective ingredient to have as a part of your health and fitness arsenal.

Carrots

This vegetable contains high levels of carotene, which is transform into Vitamin A. Carotene stimulates the metabolic rate of the body and speeds the elimination of fat deposits and waste. In addition, research has shown that this compound may be of significant benefit for maintaining blood sugar level and possesses antioxidant properties that can reduce the rate of certain types of cancer as well as cardiovascular diseases.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Known as a simple home remedy for ailments ranging from sinus headaches to a sore toe, apple cider vinegar also has the natural ability to accelerate fat loss. Made from apples, it contains malic acid, which is an essential ingredient for converting sugars and fats into an energy source that fuels the bodily functions such as walking, running, breathing, and blood flow.

Apple cider vinegar also have high levels of potassium that has an antiseptic quality , which helps to eliminate stored fats. Pectin is another ingredient contained in the fresh apples from which the vinegar is made; it is a soluble fiber that binds to cholesterol globules and pulls them out of the body. It works 24 hours a day to help your body remove unwanted fat. This also helps remove unwanted heavy metals. Less fat and cholesterol in the body reduces the risk of just about any ailment!

Onions

Like its fellow vegetable in the 15 fat burning foods category - garlic, onions have minerals and oils that will help to promote fat loss by the breakdown of fat deposits and speeding up your metabolism. They also are rich in vitamin C and chromium. Chromium is a mineral that is promoted as a weight-loss supplement due to it's supposed ability to stabilize blood sugar levels and boost the body's fat-burning metabolism.

Tomatoes

Whether raw, steamed, fried, stewed, crushed, pureed, or reduced to a sauce, the tomatoes is one of the most frequently eaten "vegetables" in the United States. It has a high Vitamin C and Citric malic-oxalic acid content. The acid contains enzymes that will hasten the metabolic process. It also helps the kidneys to release more water, which filters out large amounts of fatty deposits. Because it is a "fatless" vegetable, many people employ tomatoes fat-loss diet for a brief period of time.

Celery

Raw celery has a high calcium content and when eaten the calcium is sent directly to work. This pure form of calcium will stimulate your endocrine system. The hormones in your body will break up the fat that is stored in the body. In addition, celery contains a high amount of iron and magnesium; these minerals are excellent for flushing out your system.

Cucumber

The high silicon and sulfur content in cucumbers works to stimulate the kidneys to filter out uric acid, which is a waste product formed from the metabolic breakdown of substances in food called purines. Once this uric acid is washed out, it speeds up the removal of fat, and loosens the fat from the cells.

Asparagus

A good vegetable source of vitamin E, and a natural treatment for rheumatism and arthritis, asparagus is also a natural diuretic that promotes the elimination of fluids in the body. This pick for 15 fat burning foods contains a chemical that accelerates metabolism by assisting in the breakdown of the oxalic acid that tends to bind fat to cells. Its affect in reducing fatty deposits into small bits makes it easier to expend them out of the body.

Beets

This is another powerful diuretic that supports the functions of the liver and kidneys. Beets wash out floating body fats; they are rich in a special iron that cleanses the corpuscles. Corpuscles are blood cells that can contain fat deposits.

Cabbage

Because of the cabbage ability to inhibit the transformation of sugar and other carbohydrates into fat it is of great value in the fat loss war. It contains the minerals iodine and sulfur, which cleanses the body of waste matter from the membranes of the stomach and intestines. If you have a pot belly or want to rid yourself of love handles, cabbage is a natural diuretic that will help to break up the excess fat stored in these areas.

Olive Oil

This item should be at the top of the 15 fat burning foods for everyone. Numerous studies have shown that the reasons for southern Europeans low rate of cardiovascular disease is their frequent use of olive oil as their primary source of dietary fat. By utilizing olive oil in the same way, you can reap the same health benefits. Extra-virgin olive oil (nuts, avocados, and canola oil) is made of monounsaturated fat and helps to lower the levels of the 'bad fat' ldl cholesterol and also the blood fats that are known as triglycerides.

The fats that you need to avoid, the saturated fats found mostly in animal foods and diary products, are what raise those levels. That is why it is recommended that you eat only lean meats and nonfat dairy products. The bottom line here is, olive oil, used in healthy amounts as a replacement for the "unhealthy fats," will enhance your fat loss program.

Apples

This is a food that is high in fiber and provides your body with volume; it prolongs digestion, which makes you feel full longer. Eating apples in place of junk foods, decrease the likelihood of you eating foods that are less filling and high in calories. This encourages stable blood-glucose levels. Because fat burning foods such as apples have fewer calories, they are popular in fat loss programs that involve calorie counting. The high water content of apples is another reason why apples are great for weight loss. The water within the apple is absorbed by the body and helps to keep blood-oxygenation levels high.

When this occurs, your body's metabolism is stimulated and burns glucose energy. A low blood-oxygenation level makes your body feel sluggish and the nutrients that you do eat cannot be effectively transported to the areas of the body where they are needed. So, why not add apples to your list, and the next time you feel the urge to have a snack, pick up one and start munching knowing that you are making a significant contribution to your fat loss efforts.

Oatmeal

There is a reason why professional bodybuilders have relied on oatmeal as a staple of their breakfast; it is very high in nutrients. It is an amazing source of cholesterol fighting, fat-soluble fiber that is filling and provides a good amount of energy to propel you through any workout. Avoid instant oatmeal and choose rolled or steel cut oats instead.

Lean Turkey

This is another favorite food of bodybuilders. Many studies have proven that the proteins contained in lean turkey boost the metabolism that promotes fat loss and helps to build up the lean muscle tissue that enables you to burn even more fat. (calories.) The reason lean meats stimulate metabolism and burns calories is because it uses more energy in the digestion process that other foods.

So there you have it, 15 fat burning foods that not only promote fat loss but contains vitamin and minerals that yield many other health related benefits as well. As with any changes in diet or fitness related activities, you should always consult with your health care practitioner first!

Crash Diets vs. Healthy Eating Plans

How many times in our lives have we relied on a quick fix to get us in shape for an event? Maybe we, too, wanted to get fit for our wedding days. Or maybe we crash dieted to feel more confident about an upcoming job interview, or even a high school reunion.

But did you know that you can eliminate the need for crash dieting by simply sticking to a healthy eating plan? It’s true. Once you start on the road to eating wisely and well, you will no longer have those, “Oh no!” moments when you get an invitation in the mail, or run into an old acquaintance on the street.

Let’s start by talking about the difference between diets and healthy eating plans. Then we’ll talk further about how you can spot a fad diet at twenty paces. By learning about the crucial difference between the two, you can start a healthy eating program that eliminates the need for a quick fix.

What’s a Diet?

OK, so let’s define the term “diet.” This simple word used to encompass everything you eat and drink. However, over time, the term diet has come to symbolize a multi-million dollar industry aimed at a quick fix for our deepest insecurities.

Diets are aimed at restricting our food and beverage intake so that we can lose weight. Some diets restrict our carbohydrate intake. Others restrict our caloric intake. Diets usually fixate on what we put in our mouths, rather than what we do with our bodies, if that makes sense.

By focusing on restriction, the plan is that you will lose weight by eliminating something from your eating routine, or by cutting back on the amount of food you eat.

What’s a Healthy Eating Plan?

A healthy eating plan is a comprehensive program for improving your health by improving the quality of the foods you eat. Rather than focusing on the restriction or elimination of foods from your life, an eating program educates you about how foods impact your body so that you can make a learned choice when it comes to breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Foods may be restricted or eliminated from your routine with an eating plan, but if so, it’s because they are of inferior nutritional value. The focus is always on eating well so that you can be well.

 

 

Spotting the Difference between Fad Diets and Healthy Meal Plans

There are five key ways you can distinguish a healthy eating plan from a fad diet. Before you embark on any eating program, you might want to do a little research to see how your plan stacks up against these criteria:

1. Long term results

An eating program is focused on losing weight slowly over a period of time, so that you keep the weight off for good. Fad diets focus on shedding pounds quickly for fast, but often impermanent, results.

2. Holistic approach to weight loss

An eating program utilizes a holistic approach to weight loss—meaning you have to implement healthy lifestyle changes to guarantee success. This means your eating program can embrace anything from exercise to meditation to help you lose weight. A fad diet usually focuses solely on what you eat and drink.

3. Concentrate on the means rather than the end

A healthy eating plan will focus on the means to get to your goal weight, not just on the end result. In other words, you are encouraged to educate yourself about food so that you can make healthy eating choices. Diets are usually highly regimented and tell you exactly what to eat and drink, rather than allowing you to make your own choices.

4. Balanced nutrition

A healthy eating program will allow you to eat fruits and vegetables and will encourage you to eat a balanced diet. You can usually spot a fad diet because it will focus on eating one type of food (such as the Cabbage Soup diet, or the Grapefruit Diet), or will eliminate one or more types of food from your life.

5. No gimmicks

A healthy eating program recognizes that, unfortunately, there are no quick fixes for obesity and obesity-related illnesses. And so, with that in mind, there are no gimmicks to these plans. You have to do the work for the long-term. A fad diet usually relies heavily on gimmicks to convince you that you can shed all the pounds you want just by following one simple rule.

Let a healthy eating plan teach you how to drown out the fad diet noise so you can feel confident in your ability to lose weight for good. A healthy eating plan doesn’t consist of a diet that tells you not to eat fruits and vegetables!

I hope these 5 differences helped you.