Info About The Best Fat Burning Diet Regime

In today's world, a lot of people have become conscious about their body. People want to burn the extra fat but they do not have patience. Not only do they want to burn off the extra fat, they want to get rid of cellulite, love handles, muffin tops and have a well toned body. It is obvious that a well toned body is healthy and this can keep the individual away from numerous diseases. But if the individual follows the wrong regimes for burning the extra fat it can cause problems in the future. It is very necessary to know what is best for you. This article will give you a rough idea about losing the fat with a good regime.

The best way to burn your extra fat is by regular exercise and proper diet. By diet we do not mean starve, we mean include leafy vegetables in your food, have lots of proteins etc. proper food regime will avoid giving you the extra fat and also keep you healthy and it will help increase your metabolism. The higher the metabolism, the faster will your food get digested and avoid the extra fat that gets accumulated. There are various programmed exercises that help you burn the fat and get it converted in to muscle. The "burn the fat, feed the muscle" program gives you a toned body. Which means, it helps you burn that extra fat, convert it in to muscle and tone your body, all at the same time. This program gives you a clear idea about how to control your weight and get more muscle.

When you opt for a diet, you cut down on eating the unhealthy food, this helps reduce your weight but eventually you will eat everything which means you will begin to gain all the weight you lost. It takes no time to gain weight, but it definitely takes time to lose it and control it. It is very necessary to keep your weight under control as it keeps the body healthy and does not harm you in anyway. Over weight can cause heart attacks, diabetes etc.

Burn the fat, feed the muscle program will help you tone your body, convert all the fat in to muscle and keep it that way for a long time. So with this program you need not worry about weight gain after you stop following it. In this program, there is no temporary dieting but a direct way to burn your fat by regular exercise that you can follow for a long time without any problems. It is the cheapest, quickest and easiest way of gaining muscle and toning the body. This program promises to give you the desired results within a few weeks. This program offers solutions apart from dieting. This program can be followed by people of all ages, and people with different weights, and will continue to serve as a powerful tool of getting rid of fat and keeping the body toned and healthy.

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The Top 5 Fat Burning Foods For Faster Weightloss

A good diet & exercise is always going to be the most powerful way to lose weight but certain foods encourage the body to burn fat faster. If you want to lose weight it would be worthwhile for you to know what they are. We've listed the top 5 for you.

#1 Eggs (and more specifically egg yolks):

All the egg nutrients except for the protein are in the yolk and an egg is one of the most complete foods you can eat. If you have eggs for breakfast you will feel less hungry for the rest of the day.  Eggs also contain vitamin B12, which is key to helping your body break down and burn fat. Try and pick free range eggs from pasture fed chickens as they are a good source of omega-3 fats.

#2 Oatmeal:

Oatmeal is rich in soluble fibre. This assists in flushing bad digestive acids out of your system and thus lowers cholesterol.

#3 Low fat milk and natural yogurt:

Studies have shown that women who eat low fat dairy products 3 to 4 times a day lose 70% more fat than those that consume a low amount of dairy. The fat breakdown in cells is likely to be caused by the calcium, protein and the amino acid leucine that is found in these foods.

Lets pause here quickly and note that our top 3 fat burning foods can be eaten right at the start of the day for breakfast!  An excellent way to start your day with the goal of maximizing fat loss. On to number 4...

#4 Avocados:

Avocados are often thought of as a "fatty food" - maybe so but they contain all healthy fats! Avocado is super-high in mono-unsaturated fat, but also power-packed full of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.  Guacamole (mashed avocados with garlic, onion, tomato, pepper) is one of the best toppings created full of fat burning potential. Add it to any meal throughout the day.

#5 Walnuts

All nuts are good but walnuts are one of the few plant sources of omega-3 fats crucial to health.  One reason for nuts being good fat burners is that not all of the energy in them can be broken down but they are filling thus helping you to eat less.

Good ways to integrate these foods into your diet to increase fat loss:

• Try and add these foods and their variations to each of your meals.  Fortunately you have plenty of scope.  For example eggs can be eaten in a number of different ways and for all meals: Hard-boiled, soft-boiled, omelette, poached etc.
• These foods can also make up excellent  snacks for example the avocadoes and walnuts.
• Look for related foods e.g. Tomoatoes, Almonds, Cashew Nuts that you can also include.

We've found an excellent diet that takes advantage of fat burning foods.  Most people have great success with it and also enjoy cooking the different recipes.

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5 Best Diets to Lose Weight Fast and Keep It Off

There are just too many diets and fad diets available today. I've found the 5 best diets to lose weight fast with that work for me. I have my own personal favourite which is a combination of three variations of the Scarsdale Diet with my absolute favourite being the economy version of the diet plan, but more on that in a bit.

In my opinion the Scarsdale Diet Plans offer the most choices in the way of options that you can eat and the prices of the foodstuffs recommended can be tailored to your own personal circumstances and budget.

From my own personal journeys into personal weight loss, it's important to choose a weight loss plan that you can stick to if you want to firstly lose some weight and more importantly have the ability to keep the weight off long term. In this article I outline the 5 best diets to lose weight fast that I've had personal success with and have recommended to others and seen in most cases they have had success with them too.

Important: Before considering any of the weight loss diets always consult with your doctor or physician before you embark on losing any appreciable weight as it could be unhealthy dependent on your physical condition. Seek your doctor's advice, that's what they are there for.

These diets I have outlined below have helped me and various other to lose significant weight in a relatively short time compared to other diet plans I've attempted in the past. The very best of luck with the one you opt for!

Scarsdale Diet

Here is the Original Scarsdale Diet and it works like this: If you follow this Scarsdale Medical Diet (SMD) strictly for 2 weeks you will lose on average 7-15 lbs quickly.

Day One

Morning: Coffee or tea with sugar substitute and a half of a grapefruit and a slice of protein bread
Afternoon: Assorted cold cuts with tomatoes (sliced, broiled or stewed) and coffee or tea
Main Meal: As much broiled fish or shellfish as you like along with a slice of protein bread, unlimited salad and a grapefruit

Day Two

Morning: Coffee or tea with sugar substitute and a half of a grapefruit and a slice of protein bread
Afternoon: As much fruit salad as you like with coffee or tea
Main Meal: As much lean, broiled hamburger as you like along with unlimited tomatoes, celery, cucumbers or brussels sprouts.

Day Three

Morning: Coffee or tea with sugar substitute and a half of a grapefruit and a slice of protein bread
Afternoon: As much tuna salad as you like with a grapefruit and coffee or tea
Main Meal: As much broiled lean pork as you like along with unlimited green salad and coffee or tea

Day Four

Morning: Coffee or tea with sugar substitute and a half of a grapefruit and a slice of protein bread
Afternoon: Two eggs any style, cottage cheese, string beans or tomatoes, and a slice of protein bread with coffee or tea
Main Meal: As much broiled, barbecued or roast chicken (with skin removed) as you like along with unlimited green beans, spinach or green peppers and coffee or tea.

Day Five

Morning: Coffee or tea with sugar substitute and a half of a grapefruit and a slice of protein bread
Afternoon: Assorted low fat cheese slices, unlimited amounts of spinach, and a slice of protein bread with coffee or tea
Main Meal: As much broiled fish or shellfish as you like along with unlimited salad, and a slice of protein bread with coffee or tea

Day Six

Morning: Coffee or tea with sugar substitute and a half of a grapefruit and a slice of protein bread
Afternoon: As much fruit salad as you like with coffee or tea
Main Meal: As much broiled or roast turkey or chicken as you like with unlimited salad of tomatoes and lettuce, and a grapefruit with coffee or tea

Day Seven

Morning: Coffee or tea with sugar substitute and a half of a grapefruit and a slice of protein bread
Afternoon: Cold or hot chicken or turkey, tomatoes, carrots, cooked cabbage, broccoli or cauliflower and a grapefruit or melon along with coffee or tea
Main Meal: Plenty of broiled (grilled) steak, all visible fat removed before eating along with a salad of lettuce, cucumbers, celery, tomatoes and brussel sprouts with coffee or tea

The second week is just a repeated variation of the first week just change up the days. Do not stay on the diet for more than 14 days. After two weeks you can repeat the diet if you wish and remember during the two weeks between do yourself a favour don't go back to your normal eating habits of junk food and burgers. Your only making it harder for yourself.

Budget Friendly Scarsdale Diet

Morning Daily: 1/2 grapefruit or cantaloupe or fruit in season (choose whatever costs least), One slice of protein bread, toasted, no spread added Coffee /tea (no sugar, cream or milk)

Day One

Afternoon: Chicken Bouillon, Salad, 1 slice protein bread, toasted, Coffee/Tea
Main Meal: Fish, fresh or frozen (depending on cost), broiled or baked, Combination salad, as many greens and vegetables as you wish, 1/2 Grapefruit - or fruits in season, Coffee/tea

Day Two

Afternoon: Fruit salad, any combination of fruits, as much as you want, on lettuce, Coffee/tea
Main Meal: Plenty of broiled, lean hamburger (inexpensive cut; if possible chopped at home after removal of all visible fat), Brussels sprouts, in season or cabbage or broccoli, Salad of lettuce, cucumbers, celery, radishes, Coffee/tea

Day Three

Afternoon: Tuna fish or salmon salad (drain off the oil) with lemon and vinegar dressing, on lettuce, Grapefruit, or melon, Coffee/tea
Main Meal: Lamb Stew OR Braised Lamb Shanks, Sauerkraut, Salad of lettuce,tomatoes,cucumbers,celery, Coffee/tea

Day Four

Afternoon: Two eggs, any style (no fat used in cooking), Low-fat potted cheese or cottage cheese, Zucchini, a slice of protein bread, toasted, Coffee/tea
Main Meal: Boiled, Roasted, broiled or barbecued chicken, all you want -(skin and visible fat removed) OR Broiled Chicken Hawaiia, Plenty of spinach, Coffee/tea

Day Five

Afternoon: Spinach Pie Olga, No-sugar added applesauce, Coffee/tea
Main Meal: Fish, any kind, fresh or frozen, broiled or baked, or sauteed or poached, salad, any fresh vegetables you want,including cold diced tables, a slice of protein bread, toasted, Coffee/tea

Day Six

Afternoon: Fruit salad on lettuce, any kind of fruit you want, Coffee/tea
Main Meal: Turkey or chicken, roasted, boiled or broiled OR Marinated Turkey Parts, Salad of tomatoes and lettuce, Grapefruit or canteloupe or watermelon, Coffee/tea

Day Seven

Afternoon: Cold or hot turkey or chicken OR Broiled Chicken Hawaii, Tomato, carrots, cooked cabbage (or broccoli or cauliflower), Coffee/tea
Main Meal: Broiled or Grilled Round Steak OR Cubed steak, pan-broiled in non-stick skillet OR Boneless Ham OR Liver and Onions OR Lean Pot Roast (low-cost lean cut of meat) OR Tenderized Pimento Steak, Salad of lettuce, cucumbers, celery, Cooked tomatoes (fresh or canned withour sugar or oil) or Brussels Sprouts, Coffee/tea Second week just change things around to your personal tastes and favourites.

Quick Important Fact: You are more likely to succeed in any endeavour to quit anything by not starting your endeavour on a Monday. Statistically, people who try to give up smoking, start a diet, etc on a Monday are statistically more likely to fail. Start your diet on a Tuesday or a Wednesday, you'll be surprised how much stronger your willpower will be to stick with it.

Scarsdale Vegetarian Diet

Morning Every Day: 1/2 grapefruit or other fruit in season, 1 slice of protein bread, toasted, spread with no-sugar jam or jelly, if desired Tea/coffee/herb tea (no sugar, cream or milk)

Day One

Afternoon: Watercress (or broccoli) soup, Baked potato with low-fat cottage cheese & chives OR 1 oz. uncooked/ 4 oz. cooked soya beans, 6 halves of walnuts or pecans, Baked Apple, Tea/coffee/herb tea
Main Meal: 2 slices cheese of your choice on lettuce, Ratatouille, Artichoke hearts (no oil), cucumbers, radishes, a slice of protein bread, toasted Canteloupe or watermelon or sliced orange, Tea/coffee/herb tea

Day Two

Afternoon: Fruit Salad, as much as you want any kind of fruit with lettuce, celery, a slice of protein bread, toasted spread with no-sugar jam or jelly, if desired Tea/coffee/herb tea
Main Meal: Acorn Squash with cooked apples, Hot or Cold Vegetables, cauliflower, carrots, tomatoes, all you want, 4 olives, Tea/coffee/herb tea

Day Three

Afternoon: Cheese Stuffed Tomato, Broiled mushrooms, zucchini and carrots, a slice of protein bread, toasted, Tea/coffee/herb tea
Main Meal: Asparagus (or cauliflower, or broccoli) Au Gratin, Pineapples and Squash with nuts, Green salad and tomatoes, a slice of protein bread, toasted, Tea/coffee/herb tea

Day Four

Afternoon: Low-fat cottage cheese with sliced scallions, radishes, cucumbers, Olives, 1 slice of protein bread toasted OR 1oz uncooked/4oz cooked soybeans, Apple, Tea/coffee/herb tea
Main Meal: Cooked Eggplant sprinkled with Parmesan Cheese and tomato sauce, Green salad with choice of low-calorie dressings, Fresh fruit cup with squeeze of lemon or lime, minced mint leaves, Tea/coffee/herb tea

Day Five

Afternoon: Assorted cheese slices, Spinach, a slice of protein bread, toasted, Peach or pear, Tea/coffee/herb tea
Main Meal: Onion bouillion, with low-fat croutons, Stewed vegetables, No-sugar apple sauce with 6 walnuts or pecans, Tea/coffee/herb tea

Day Six

Afternoon: Fruit salad, any kind, as much as you want, with low-fat potted cheese or cottage cheese, on lettuce or other greens, a slice of protein bread, toasted, Tea/coffee/herb tea
Main Meal: Vegetable Cheese Casserole served with 1/2 cup no-sugar apple sauce sprinkled with 1 tablespoon raisins, Sliced Tomato and lettuce with vinegar and lemon dressing or no-fat diet dressing, Tea/coffee/herb tea

Day Seven

Afternoon: Cheese Stuffed tomato, Boiled or mashed potato (no butter) with 1 tablespoon low-fat sour cream and chives OR 1 oz uncooked/ 4 oz cooked soya beans, Stewed fruit; use sugar substitute if desired, Tea/coffee/herb tea
Main Meal: Vegetarian Chow mein on rice, Salad of lettuce, sliced tomatoes, Sliced pineapple or pineapple chunks ( if canned, packed in its own juice or water- not sugar sweetened syrup), Tea/coffee/herb tea
As before with the other Scarsdale Plans, for the second week just change things up to your personal tastes.

Here's a list of vegetables not permitted on the Scarsdale Medical Diet: Dry Beans (baked beans, lentils, dry white beans, red kidney beans, lima beans, chick peas, black-eyed peas, etc; except soya beans, which are permitted in the Vegetarian diet), Sweet potatoes/Yams

The Lemonade Diet

Proponents of the Lemonade Diet claim you can lose anywhere from 10 to 20 pounds during the ten day diet period. Make sure you consult with your doctor or physician prior to starting the Lemonade Diet.

The instructions for the lemonade diet are as follows:

1. Drink about 100 ounces of the lemonade per day.
2. Drink the salt water flush in the morning as soon as you wake up and drink the herbal laxative tea at night before bed.
3. You cannot eat anything while on the Lemonade Diet. You drink only the lemonade, the saltwater flush, and the herbal tea.
4. The Lemonade Diet is a detoxing and elimination diet, which claims to help rid the body of toxins along with helping you to lose weight fast.

Lemonade Recipe:

2 oz. of fresh squeezed lemon juice (must be fresh squeezed) 2 oz. of maple syrup (must be grade B, organic maple syrup) 1/4 of a teaspoon of cayenne pepper 2 cups of water (spring water or purified water is best) Mix all ingredients well. This makes approximately 20 ounces of lemonade, or two servings. You will need to drink about 10 servings a day.

Salt Water Flush Recipe: 2 teaspoons salt 1 litre of water Mix well. Allow at least half an hour after drinking before leaving the house. You'll need to be near a bathroom. During the lemonade diet, some dieters complain of diarrhea, dizziness, nausea or vomiting from the salt water flush.

See a doctor immediately if any of your symptoms are severe or prolonged or cause you discomfort.

Hollywood Diet

Hollywood Diet Recipe One: 1 cup low-fat vanilla soy milk, 1 cup orange juice, 1 cup cranberry juice, 1 cup yogurt (plain), 1/4 tsp. wheat-germ oil or 2 tbsp. wheat germ, 1/4 tsp. flaxseed oil Blend all ingredients together, then divide into two portions (each portion is a full day's diet drink). Sip throughout the day, along with plenty of water for 2 days.

Hollywood Diet Recipe Two: Juice from 8 oranges, Juice from 4 lemons, 4 Tablespoons of honey, 2 bananas, peeled and sliced, 2 apples peeled and sliced, 2 cups of grape juice Blend all ingredients together, then divide into two portions (each portion is a full day's diet drink). Sip throughout the day, along with plenty of water for 2 days. Stay on the Hollywood Diet for only two days, as this is a juice fast. Be sure to consult your doctor before starting this diet.

I hope these diets give you some food for thought(Pardon the pun) when you are embarking on ways to lose weight.

Please note: These are medically proven weight loss diets that have been proven healthy diets to lose weight fast for many fellow overweight sufferers. I hope you have enjoyed reading about my 5 best diets to lose weight fast as much I have enjoyed sharing this information with you. Most of the meals I have outlined you can source recipes for online by doing searches on the internet. You can succeed in your battle of the bulge, but you need to take action, now!

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3 Cool Things Dr Oz Taught Me

Dr. Oz--you know that name! The famous doctor was one of the medical experts who spoke at the recent Integrative Healthcare Symposium. I'd like to share some of his important presentation points with you--and some tips from my files for turning Dr. Oz's advice into a plan that works for you, for a lifetime.

1) Waist Management begins today.
Dr. Oz recommends a simple test that speaks volumes about your general health. Stand straight, and ask someone to measure your abdomen. The measuring tape should start from your side, in the narrow area between the bottom of the ribs and the hip bone. Keeping the tape level, wrap it around your abdomen. Take a breath in, breathe out, and then look at the measurement. (This is not a "suck in your tummy" exercise!) Now double that circumference. Is the resulting number less than your height in inches?

Your take-away
If it's less, then you're probably in a healthy range. More? You might have risk factors for obesity, including belly fat, which can predict other health-related problems.

Many interventions can help move you out of this risk group. In my practice, I've seen patients make positive changes with the help of acupuncture and NET (Neuroemotional Technique). These methods help balance energy flow and recalibrate those emotional components that have created Waist Management challenges.

Successful Waist Management is about finding a personalized fuel mix--the key being "personalized." It's a confusing world of information out there. There's no one-size-fits-all plan. It's important to find a combination of exercise, food, and stress-busting choices that work for each individual. Lifestyle changes that really fit can be easy to do yet reap huge rewards.

2) Knock off the junk!
Dr. Oz pointed out that each sugary drink you consume adds at least 100 calories. Those soft drinks combine for a weight gain of 11 pounds per person, per year. That's on top of the extra weight many of us carry from other unhealthy choices.

Your take-away
Dropping 100 calories can dramatically upshift your condition, so replace a single daily soft drink with pure water. You've done it! Easy? Good. Simple changes are the best way to pursue a healthy outcome now, and, better yet, maintain wellness for the long term.

3) Stay on top of your Lifetime Curve.
Picture an upside-down U. This "Lifetime Curve" represents your wellness and happiness. Through your teenage years, you're moving up the left side, ascending as you learn and grow. When you begin to round the peak, you're in your prime.

At the top of the curve is the ideal time to safeguard and continue to improve your health. Beware of rounding the curve to the right side. That's where you risk aging too rapidly by settling for a lifestyle and expectations that are less than optimal. Dr. Oz's advice: Stay on top of the curve.

Your take-away
If you're at the top of the curve--generally, your 20s and 30s--make a plan to stay there, enjoying the health and good life that's your birthright. Spoiler alert: Moving laterally to the right rather than rounding down toward the bottom takes life-affirming, bold moves. You'll have to fight the temptation to let down your guard.

But what if you're older and want to regain the vitality and wellbeing of younger years? You can. Create a plan to get back the endurance, happiness, and health you have let go. Remember, above all: It's never too late to improve!

Ready to take the next step? It's simple! Through my Virtual Wellness Coaching program, you can get completely individualized, focused-on-you coaching calls with an experienced healthcare professional who really "gets it." Now's the time to step up and claim your best health and wellness. Call me at 212-686-0939, or visit Virtual Wellness Coaching to reserve your spot.

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What Are The Best Low Carb Dessert Recipes

Everyone loves desserts, whether it's cheesecakes or chocolate cakes. My favorite is red velvet cake. I'm not sure what it is about that that's so delicious, but my mouth waters every time I see one. This is rather unfortunate, because I am trying hard to stick to a low carb diet. This diet means that I can't eat most traditional sweets. However, sweet treats are not completely off the table - it just means that I can only eat desserts that are low in carbs and low in sugar. Low carb desserts vary greatly - some are much tastier than others. That's why I'm going to share with you some of the best ones below.

First, there's low carb cheesecake. If you're a fan of cheesecake in general, then you'll love this recipe. It's basically the same recipe as any other cheesecake except that the sugar is replaced with splenda, or better still, with sucralose. You also have to replace the graham's cracker crust with something else. That something else can be either nothing or an almond crust. I like the cheesecake by itself without a crust at all, but if you would like to make a crust, then the almond crust is simple to make. Just ground some almonds in the food processor and then add some melted butter to it until it forms a paste. Then spread the almond paste around the base of your baking pan so that it forms a thin layer. Pour the cheesecake mixture onto of the almond layer. Once baked, this layer will form a great tasting crust. You can also add some sucralose to the almond paste if you want a sweet crust.

Next, there's low carb fudge. This has the same great texture as normal fudge but none of that sugar! The fudge is made with almond or peanut butter, butter, cream cheese, vanilla whey protein, vanilla extract, and sucralose. No cooking is required. Just mix all the ingredients together and then leave in the fridge to solidify. It'll come out just like your favorite fudge! This is one of my favorite recipes to make, because it's so quick. I keep the fudge refrigerated and then have a piece every night.

The third dessert I want to share with you is the low carb cookie. Cookies are generally off-limits during any diet, and especially during a low carb diet! However, this recipe doesn't use any sugar or flour but still produces are great tasting cookie. I think the cookie tastes almost like it's an oatmeal cinnamon one. The main ingredients in this are flax meal and almond or peanut butter. I then add some baking soda and cream of tartar to make the cookie rise a bit. To sweeten the cookie, add some sucralose, and then add some cinnamon and nutmeg to give the cookie more flavor. Mix all the ingredients together and form small round cookie shapes on the baking sheet. Bake for 8 minutes. These cookies can get burnt quickly, so don't overcook them! Leave the cookies to cool for 10 minutes after they've come out of the oven. Then they're good to eat.

Many people think that they can't eat any desserts on a low carb diet, but they're wrong. There are plenty of great sweet dishes to try still. I've described my favorite three low carb desserts above, but I hope you'll find more that you enjoy!

Jeremy is a health and nutrition blogger, specializing in low carb diets, paleo diets, and grain-free diets.

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Benefits of Beans - A Natural Fat Burner!

Discover the incredible weight loss benefits of beans, how to best prepare them and how much you should eat to get maximum benefit from beans - one of nature's amazing fat burning foods.

Legumes, also called beans, are some of the world's most ancient cultivated plants. According to fossil records, prehistoric man was familiar with growing and eating legumes.

There are now more than 33,000 types of legumes, and legumes are the second most popular food (grains being the first) for providing protein to people around the world. In comparison to grains, however, beans have approximately an identical number of calories, but contain two to three times more protein. As a matter of fact, beans are really a superfood.

Here is a list of some popular bean varieties: pinto, kidney, navy, black, lima, and mung beans.

There are many other varieties of beans, including Great Northern beans, Cannellini beans (white kidney beans), garbanzo beans (chickpeas), and kidney beans (pink, red, white/cannellini, light, and dark). As consumers become more and more interested in beans, there are brand new varieties that are coming into the market on a regular basis.

What is the reason for this sudden interest in beans?

Actually, there are a couple reasons. Beans are hearty, taste delicious, and contain many nutrients that are beneficial to maintaining good health.

You can purchase dried beans throughout the year in supermarkets, grocery stores, whole food markets, health food stores, specialty stores, farmer's markets, and roadside stands.

The Fat Burning Benefits of Beans

Beans are an excellent source of low-fat protein, folate, fiber potassium, B vitamins, magnesium, iron, and phytonutrients. They are sometimes referred to as the poor man's meat because they contain an abundant amount of protein. Actually, beans are among the healthiest, budget-friendly protein supplies anywhere.

Lysine is an amino acid that is not commonly found in many plant proteins, but beans are an exception, because they are high in lysine. This causes beans to be an excellent choice for people who are vegetarians, consuming such healthy dishes as rice and beans. Lysine is one of the two amino acids that the body needs in order to synthesize Carnitine. Carnitine is essential to your body's ability to produce energy.

There is a familiar saying that beans are good for the heart. This is true, but there are a lot more benefits from beans. Beans supply a lot of soluble fiber in the diet. When soluble fiber moves its way through the digestive tract, it catches cholesterol-containing bile and drains it out of the body before it has a chance to be absorbed. You can actually make your total cholesterol level go down up to 10% in six months by simply eating one cup of beans daily. Reducing your overall cholesterol level may also lower the incidence of heart attack.

Beans are packed with fiber to curb cravings and leave you with a sense of satiety. Beans also aid in lowering blood pressure levels, which helps to protect the heart.

Besides their ability to lower both cholesterol and blood pressure, beans additionally prevent blood sugar levels from going up too fast after eating food. This is why beans are a great food for diabetics, people who are resistant to insulin, or those who suffer from hypoglycemia.

Beans contain fiber for a constant supply of energy. Beans are also packed with water soluble vitamins, particularly thiamine, niacin, riboflavin, and folacin. Folate is essential for lowering concentrations of homocysteine. Without sufficient folate in your diet, your homocysteine level increases and can cause harm to your blood vessels and your heart.

In addition to folate, beans also contain a good amount of calcium, magnesium, and potassium, all of which are healthy minerals and electrolytes which, when combined, can help to lessen the risk of high blood pressure and heart disease.

For anyone who wants to burn off fat, beans are indispensable. Their bulk will leave you feeling full without adding excess calories.

There is also research indicating that beans can help to prevent several types of cancer, particularly pancreatic, colon, breast, and prostate cancers. This is because of lignins, a phyto-estrogen found in beans that has properties similar to those of estrogen.

The risk of getting estrogen-related cancer, such as breast cancer, can be reduced by incorporating lignins in your diet. It is also believed that they can offer protective benefits for the male reproductive system by warding off cancers. Intestinal cancer might be prevented by incorporating phylates and other compounds found in beans into the diet.

Beans contain antioxidants, which help to protect the heart from damage caused by free radicals, reduce inflammation, and help wounds to heal.

Garbanzo beans, or chickpeas, as they are commonly called, contain a high level of antioxidants from phyto-chemicals called saponins. Chickpeas are not only a reliable source of protein and folate, but can also help people to lower their cholesterol levels.

When you have so many beans to choose from, it makes sense to add beans to your fat burning diet every day.

How to Cook Beans

People who eat beans on a regular basis have the benefit of lowering their cholesterol levels.

The fact that they are low in calories plus contain a great deal of fiber make them an ideal choice for your fat-burning diet and daily nutrition.

When looking to purchase dried beans, you want to shop at a grocery store or market that does a lot of business so it is bringing in fresh goods all the time. Choose the freshest dried beans rather than a product that's been in the store a year. Try to find beans that aren't very old. This might not be an easy task, so you may have to depend on your market for their freshness.

You will realize the importance of buying fresh beans if you ever have the experience of cooking beans for many hours, only to realize that they are still not cooked. Do you understand the reason why? The reason is that the beans are not fresh.

Whenever you buy beans in a whole foods market or any supermarket that sells dried beans in bulk, inspect the receptacles to make certain they have lids and look sanitary. Make sure you look to see if there is any powder around beans that come in bags. This indicates they are not fresh. Choose beans that are intact rather than broken.

Before cooking your beans, you should look at them carefully when they are still dry, and remove any extra debris, such as rocks, insects, and lumps of dirt. You're going to find some, however it's easy to remove any. Next, rinse off the beans by putting them in a colander and running cold water over them.

After this step, soak the beans for a minimum of one hour; soaking beans overnight is even better. You should always soak any variety of dried beans overnight before you cook them.

Common knowledge dictates that when you soak beans for a longer time period, you do not need to cook them as long, and they will cause less gastric disturbance.

Beans that are fresh and recently picked cook up faster. Pressure cooked beans may be used in certain recipes to obtain a better result.

You can add beans when preparing dishes however you like. You will learn that adding beans to any recipe will add additional health benefits. The following are a few quick ideas. I know you will be able to discover many more ideas on your own.

Beans are a fine addition to any soup, salad, or casserole dish. They can also be made into a puree.

Prepare a batch of hummus using garbanzo bean puree with minced garlic and olive oil.

It is simple to make a Middle Eastern type of pasta if you add garbanzo beans to whole grain penne pasta, then mix these ingredients with extra virgin olive oil and mild-flavored cheese, then sprinkle with fresh oregano.

Simmer precooked garbanzo beans in some tomato paste, add curry to the mixture, then add some chopped almonds; pour this mixture over brown rice. Toss some garbanzo beans into your salad, soup, or stew recipes.

Mix garbanzo beans with various herbs and sauces for a delicious treat.

Traditionally, chili is made with red kidney beans; red kidney beans are also used when preparing tacos and Mexican soups. Helpful hint: Substitute beans for the beef in these recipes.

If you want to make your own distinct take on tamale pie, when you make kidney beans consider putting them over cornbread and then grate low- or fat-free cheese on top.

Mix black, white, and red kidney beans with tomatoes and scallions, and toss with a dressing made of extra virgin olive oil, fresh lemon juice, and black pepper to make a tasty three-bean salad.

You can cook a delicious meal from Tuscany that is prepared using white, cannellini beans (large kidney beans that are white instead of red), rosemary. and fresh chopped garlic.

Add some beans to pasta dishes.

You can make a delicious spread for a sandwich wrap by mashing beans with diced garlic cloves.

Prepare salads made from beans by combining a variety of beans, then pour a dressing made from oil and herbs on top.

If you would like to eat a delicious layered dip, mix black beans with cilantro, chopped tomatoes, chopped onions, and guacamole.

Black beans combined with rice produce a delicious and creative Cuban dish.

Make a batch of black bean soup by mixing cooked beans with onion, tomato and seasoning. If you want to try a different kind of burrito, try using black beans instead of the typical pinto beans.

Serve black beans in combination with various toppings over baked potatoes.

Recommended Serving Size

Try to have a half cup to a whole cup of beans 4 times weekly, at minimum.

This is just one example of the many extraordinary Fat Burning Foods available - foods that will burn fat naturally, allowing you to lose weight whilst you eat! Discover over 100 fat burning foods at 107FatBurningFoods.com and start losing weight effortlessly.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Steve_O'Connor

How Does Food Affect Your Memory?

The Relationship between Food and Your Brain.

The things that you eat correlate directly with the effective functioning of your mind.

Eating better foods gives your mind the opportunity to increase intelligence, balance out your emotional being, and best of all, it keeps your mind youthful. This article is about food that improve your memory.

Don't Forget Your Veggies.

When you were young, your parents undoubtedly harangued you to eat your fruits and veggies. Well, it's high time you do so!

Eating fruits and veggies isn't just good for your body, it's good for your mind, as well. Improving your memory is as simple as listening to that age-old advice.

Right is Right.

Ingesting the correct nutrients grant your mind the ability to process information quicker, thus improving your memory, and enabling you to concentrate better.

In the world in which we live, it is constantly becoming more and more difficult to ensure that the foods we eat are in fact, the right foods. Let me help you make sure you eat the right ones.

What You Should Eat.

To begin with, you should always glance at the nutrition facts on a package. If there are more than seven ingredients listed, put that product back on the shelf.

You shouldn't be eating things with tons of processed ingredients. Your best bet for healthy food is cooking at home with simple products like veggies, rice, pastas, and other simple things.

7 Tips for Better Memory Food.

1. To begin with, whatever food you eat, eat in moderation. Eating the appropriate amount will not only help you live longer, but also live better. As an added bonus, this strategy also deters obesity.


2. Drink More Water. The great majority of the blood coursing through your veins is made up of water. Your blood should be able to effectively transfer nutrients to your brain, and deter unwanted toxins. Even a mild dehydration can be enough to cause your mind to function well below its capacity. In short: you should ideally be drinking eight cups of water per day. To stay hydrated, drink liquids without caffeine or alcohol.


3. Antioxidants are a must. Your blood employs food and oxygen to create energy. As your blood does so, it creates free radicals. Free radicals eliminate toxins from your body. Unfortunately, free radicals in excess are a cause of damage, and can ultimately result in a poorer memory. Vitamins E, C, and beta carotene (found in carrots) deter the production of excessive free radicals. Additional foods for this are: strawberries, blackberries, cranberries, broccoli, and kiwi.


4. Include Essential Fats in your diet. Contrary to common belief, not all fat is bad, one of the best forms of fat is Omega-3 fatty acids, and DHA, which is found in fish. These fats are a big component of the brain, and will encourage a positive emotional balance for you.


5. Keep healthy snacks around. Especially if you are the sort of person who likes to munch throughout the day, keep your snacks healthy. Maintain a balance between carbs, proteins, and fats, much in the same way you do for meals. If you keep healthy snacks around, the thought of buying candy will be kept at bay.


6. Balance out carbs, protein, and good fats. Maintaining a balance of the three is an effective tool for mind and memory health. Eating sugary sweets causes the brain to function slower by quickly raising the blood sugar level. Hearty proteins like those found in meats, cheese, nuts, and soy deter quick absorption of carbs, and balance out the blood sugar level.


7. Use these tips to make a plan that works for you. By creating and sticking to a plan to eat in a healthy way, you are supporting your mind and memory. Creating this plan is an essential step in the direction of positive living. When you use a shopping list, you will be more apt to choose more foods that you genuinely need.

Beyond Food.

While you are living your new lifestyle, make sure to keep your body healthy, too. A simple walk each day (about a half an hour) will do wonders for both your body and brain.

An increased flow of oxygen will go to your brain, thus benefitting you. Exercise daily.

John MacRaay has developed himself an expertise on memory improvement. For more great tips on Improve Memory With Food [http://www.bestmemoryimprovement.com/improve-your-memory-with-your-food/], visit BestMemoryImprovement.com [http://www.bestmemoryimprovement.com].

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_MacRaay

How to Restore Your Digestive Health - Master Cleanse

It is overwhelming to know that over 35 million people in the United States are suffering from gut problems. Irritable bowel syndrome, stomach ulcers, bloating and indigestion are to name just a common few ailments that are leading many people to turn to dependency on prescriptions and over the counter drugs that may be too harsh on their body. Side effects of taking these drugs as the dosages are increased may even cause more problems and experience different problems on top of it. If you are one of these suffers, you need to investigate seriously a master cleanse.

There are more natural methods that can be used to alleviate the symptoms of discomfort. A natural solution is taking Probiotics to discourage opportunities for spoilage organisms in your gut. Probiotics can be made from animal or vegetable by products that help the digestive system dissolve the foods in your stomach. Aside from natural digestive aids such as Probiotics and digestive enzymes, an effective natural solution to treat your gut problem is abdominal massaging. This technique not only massages the internal organs but as well aids in the movement of undigested foods throughout the intestinal track to its eventual elimination. Yet, as great as these natural remedies are there are time when a more drastic method is more useful to quickly and easily treat the problem and not just the solution with a master cleanse detox diet.

You can easily burn calories by abstaining from heavy solid foods for a period of time. This will give your digestive organs a break from the stress of over exhausting itself working to absorb the excess in your gut. The master cleanse solution allows for a five to ten day juice fast. While fasting, you will be drinking ten to twelve glasses of a sweet lemony fusion of a natural home made remedy that will cause you to lose anywhere between one to two pounds each day or three to five pounds per week. It is your choice as to how long you want to take the detox diet, yet best results are made over a period of five to ten days.

This mixture calls for filtered water combined with fresh lemon juice, maple syrup, and cayenne pepper in a eight ounce glass. Each glass is fortified with healthy nutrients, vitamins and minerals to re hydrate your skin, aid in the movement of materials through the digestive system and cleanse your body to eliminate harmful excess, toxins and even heavy metals that a body absorbs daily from the environment. Treating the symptoms is only a band-aide measure and will certainly not alleviate the problems.

What can you expect from a master cleanse detox diet? Most significantly is profound weight loss. Even if you have been on diets all of your life, this solution will help you lose the pounds and ultimately the stress placed on your digestive system. Drinking the amount of fluids that you will have to take during a master cleanse detox, you will notice how your skin has been restored to a healthier complexion. You will look younger and move with more vitality.

Even more importantly, the master cleanse will wash out mucus accumulation in the body and build up your immune system to prevent conditions like flu, colds, sinus and bronchial troubles. If you are suffering from symptoms of digestive disease or discomfort, you really have nothing to lose to look at the master cleanse detox diet.

Master Cleanse is the best Detox Diet and can help you lose up to 20 pounds in merely 10 days!
Look younger, ease chronic pain, cleanse your body of internal waste, and boost your energy levels in merely 10 days! Master Cleanse is heavily featured and endorsed by Oprah, on the Oprah Show, CNN, and Health Networks.

Find out what Beyonce Knowles found out with the Master Cleanse diet!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Cheryl_Maisy

Tips for Adding Kale to Your Diet

You may have never heard of kale

Kale is one of those "mature" vegetables; you probably never even heard of it as a kid when your veggie repertoire consisted of just broccoli, peas and cabbage. Perhaps it wasn't until you were an adult and you started dating that sophisticated, possibly vegetarian, guy or girl who introduced you to wine paring, drinking wheat grass, eating sushi and the wondrous health benefits of kale.

Why you should eat kale - nutritional benefits

Kale stands out as a power veggie because of the incredible amount of nutrition packed into each curly dark green leaf. Kale is unusually high in fiber, and also has high percentages of highly absorb-able calcium and vitamin A. Calcium helps to strengthen teeth and bones, and Vitamin A is good for hair, skin, and vision. On top of that, kale is an excellent source of cancer preventing beta-carotene.

Where to Find Kale

Kale is not generally sold at your general grocery store such as Safeway or Raleys. Instead, it can usually be found at Whole Foods, your local farmer's market, or other health food or specialty stores.

Grow it Yourself

Kale is a hearty vegetable which is relatively easy to grow. Another benefit is that while it grows in all seasons, it peaks in the early winter, so depending on your local climate, it is a vegetable that you can keep growing in your garden year round.

Washing Kale

The first thing that you should know about what to do with kale is how to wash it. Because of the shape of the leaves and since it grows on the ground, kale, and other greens, tend to have a lot of dirt of sand in them. You might also find bugs who love to live in the curls of the leaves, so it is a good idea to wash your kale extremely well before preparing it to eat.

The best way to wash kale is using two large bowls. Place the kale in one bowl then fill it with water. Push the leaves around in the bowl as the water fills into the bowl (kind of like how you'd hand wash a piece of fabric). Once the bowl is full, agitate the greens around gently with your hands to circulate the water through them thoroughly. Each leaf should be submerged and moved around. Remove the leaves from the first bowl and move them into the second bowl. Notice how much dirt and sand is in the bottom of the first bowl.

Repeat the process at least 3 or 4 times, moving the kale between the two bowls until you do not see any more dirt or residue at the bottom of the bowl after a rinsing.

Preparing Kale

Obviously, how you prepare the kale depends on what you plan to do with it. However, in general, the best way to prepare the kale, regardless of how you will ultimately cook or serve it, is to chop it up into bite sized pieces. You can also simply wash it then remove the tough part of the stem and use the large leaves for garnish or presentation.

Cooking Kale

You may know that the longer you cook a vegetable, or any food, the more it loses its nutritional value. Given this, you want to look for recipes where the kale can be served very lightly cooked or raw. The ideal preparation is to bring a pot of salted water to a boil then dip the kale into the boiling water briefly, no more than 30 seconds, to slightly soften the leaves. You can also steam the leaves for 3-5 minutes. Just make sure that you do not cook it too long or else it will become mushy.

Season your steamed or lightly cooked kale simply with lemon juice, salt, olive oil and pepper.

The following are a few simple great preparation and serving ideas:

Kale with Black Beans and Quinoa - This is a super nutritious combination of foods is high in fiber from all three ingredients. The kale the also provides the aforementioned calcium and vitamin A, and black beans provide iron and protein. Quinoa contains calcium, phosphorus, and iron and, due to its having essential amino acids such as lysine, it is known to be a perfect protein food. Lysine helps the body to absorb calcium, so you can see how these foods work together to provide the body with excellent nutritional sustenance. This is a low fat and low calorie dish that is very filling, tasty and extremely nutritious. You can also substitute brown rice for the quinoa for an equally healthy alternative.

Salad with Kale - Substitute or augment the greens in your favorite salads with steamed or lightly cooked kale. This adds extra nutrition and a unique flavor to any salad.

Roasted Kale - Toss steamed or lightly cooked kale in with olive oil, balsamic vinegar and sea salt. Cook under the broiler for 5-10 minutes or until the exposed curly edges of the leaves begin to char and crisp. You can also add garlic cloves or toss in garlic oil for extra flavor.

Sauteed Kale - Heat some olive oil in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Add sea salt and garlic and simmer for 2 or 3 minutes. Raise the heat then add cup of vegetable or chicken stock or water and bring this to a boil. Add the kale, cover, and cook for 3 - 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Add white, balsamic, or rice vinegar for additional flavoring.

I'm just a writer with an interest in sharing ideas on a wide variety of topics.

For information on how you can use your mobile device to locate more kale recipes and cooking ideas, please visit http://recipeappreview.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Imani_Brown

Healthy Diet Healthy Women

Women's health (physical and mental) is closely related (and somewhat "mimics") hormonal status and "balance" in the body.
Hormonal status here refers to the interplay between female sex hormones (oestrogen and progesterone), stress hormones (specifically cortisol), and thyroid hormones (TSH, T4, T3). Sex hormone production and balance is particularly sensitive to levels of stress hormones.
Stress has a profound effect on oestrogen/progesterone balance, as well as creating unnecessary inflammation in the body.

A hormonal cycle in perfect balance helps a woman to feel confident, empowered, healthy and happy. A woman who feels "out of sorts", is depressed for no apparent reason, or shows other common signs and symptoms of hormonal imbalance (of which there are many), is either under too much stress, not taking enough exercise, and or, is eating a poor diet. She herself is out of balance!
Eating poorly results in the body not getting sufficient nutrients necessary to produce enough of the correct hormones in the correct balance.
Nutrients often lacking include essential fatty acids (especially GLA, EPA and DHA), B vitamins (especially B6), calcium and magnesium.

A "healthy diet for a healthy woman" should be "designed" to encourage normal healthy production, balance, detoxification and excretion of oestrogen and other hormones. The organs involved are the ovaries and adrenals (for production), the liver (for detoxification), and the kidneys and bowel (for excretion via faeces and urine). Naturally, these organs need to be in good working order, and nourished correctly!
The diet should contain a vast array of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents to dampen any internal inflammation. It should aim to lower insulin levels (minimising fat storage), and improve insulin sensitivity, i.e. the way in which the body handles sugars. This helps to burn fat, as well as minimising excess fat being converted to oestrogen.

(N.B. Fat cells can convert fat to a "bad" oestrogen via a biochemical process called aromatisation).

Soya protein seems to encourage fat loss in the body together with an improvement in the amount of lean muscle tissue. Soya (especially soy concentrates) contains high levels of beneficial plant oestrogens... known as isoflavones. Isoflavones help to re-balance levels of good and bad oestrogens, and promote a healthier oestrogen/progesterone balance. Non-soya food sources of isoflavones include fennel, flaxseeds (ground or milled otherwise they are largely indigestible), fenugreek, cumin and other spices, blueberries, and the herbs red clover, black cohosh and kudzu. Ground flaxseeds incidentally are a great "soluble" fibre source that promotes the excretion of oestrogen via faeces, and also minimises oestrogens being re-absorbed back into the body.

Green tea "catechins" also contribute to healthy oestrogen detoxification and excretion.
A diet that is rich in cruciferous vegetables and wholegrains supports healthy liver function.... specifically in the healthy detoxification of oestrogen and other hormones through the liver.

Diet

The diet should be as clean as possible. This means eating food that contains NO unnecessary additives, preservatives, hormones or hormone-mimicking chemicals, sugars, or trans fats/hydrogenated fats. Eating only natural, unprocessed foods (in itself) will ensure that all these biochemically and hormonally disruptive substances are kept to an absolute minimum.

Highly beneficial foods...

Nutritional science has come a long way, and we now know that the following foods are highly beneficial for proper hormone production and healthy oestrogen metabolism.

Soya foods and soy concentrates - tofu, miso, Tamari, tempeh, soya beans, soya milk and plain soya yogurt

Chickpeas and beans in general - mung beans are easy to soak and cook in 45 mins, or sprouted

Whole and ground Indian spices and herbs - fenugreek seeds (wonderful when sprouted), cumin, cinnamon, turmeric etc

Unpolluted oily fish (and other quality fish) and fish oil - choose high-grade unpolluted fish oil capsules

WHOLE grains - brown rice, wheat berries and rye berries (these are the whole wheat and rye grains that when soaked and cooked have a lovely chewy texture), barley, millet, whole oats

Cruciferous vegetables - broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, and Brussels sprouts

Ground/milled flaxseeds - 2 tablespoons per day

Sunflower and pumpkin seeds -preferably ground

Almonds and walnuts - preferably ground

Berry fruits (especially blueberries, raspberries, blackberries etc.), a little melon and citrus fruits such as lemons. Warm/hot water with the juice of a fresh lemon is the best way to start the day.

Highly beneficial drinks...

Organic Green tea - steep for 5-10 minutes

Miso soup - you can buy sachets or just add hot water to a tsp of miso paste

Soya shakes - blend soya milk, yogurt, berries and ground seeds

Filtered water with a little lime or lemon juice - remember that urine colour is an excellent indication of hydration status. It should be pale yellow/straw colour the majority of the time... so drink enough water and other fluid to achieve this. Drinking sufficient water is vital for normal kidney function and excretion of oestrogen via urine.

Meal ideas...

The majority of the meals and foods I have chosen contain slow-releasing carbohydrates. Slow-releasing carbohydrates (often call "complex" or low-glycaemic foods) are digested and broken down in the gut relatively slowly, releasing their sugars steadily into the bloodstream. This results in a steady rise in blood sugar, sustained energy, as well as efficient fat breakdown and hormone control. Eating complex carbohydrates help increase and control energy levels; aids weight loss, and controls and encourage a natural appetite.

N.B. Re: Women's health and hormone balance...

Eating natural whole foods keeps insulin levels low - high insulin increases testosterone and oestrogen production leading to potential oestrogen and/or testosterone dominance in relation to progesterone

Breakfast

* Berries with yogurt and cinnamon - Combine ½ a punnet of blueberries and ½ a punnet of raspberries with 100g of goat's yogurt. Mix in 2 tablespoons of ground flaxseeds and sprinkle on top ½ tsp of ground cinnamon.

* A small bowl of oat porridge or cooked oatmeal made with soya or almond milk (Ecomil/Evernat). Add grated apple, a handful of whole almonds, or sunflower seeds and 2 or 3 tablespoons of natural "bio" yogurt.

* Fruit bowl with yogurt and flaxseed - chop 2 pieces of fruit, top with plain soya yogurt and stir in 2 tablespoons of ground or ready-milled linseeds (flaxseeds), with a soya milk or almond milk and hot water. Add ¼ tsp of cinnamon too.

* Smoothies in a glass - A blend of raspberries and strawberries, yogurt, soya milk or almond milk, and 2 tablespoons of milled/ground flaxseeds (available from some Sainsbury's stores or health food shops), or wheatgerm. This meal provides essential fats, protein and fibre and flaxseeds (or other seeds) add a nutty taste to the mixture. A great start to the day!

Lunch

Chickpea dahl with dark green leafy and baby vegetable salad - gently fry off ½ tsp each of fenugreek seeds, coriander seeds and ground cumin. Add ½ can of chickpeas and 100g of cherry tomatoes. Cook gently for 10-15 mins. Make a salad of green leaves, chopped coriander, and add mange tout peas, sliced beetroot, cucumber, and sliced raw fennel. Drizzle with a little olive oil, balsamic or cider vinegar, and a little lemon juice. Serve with a slice of rye bread.

Dinner

Tofu and cruciferous veg stir-fry. Use a variety of cruciferous vegetables - broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, and stir-fry with onion, garlic and ginger. Use Tamari or a spoon of miso (try brown rice miso) mixed in a little water as a base or marinade. Stir in 100-150g of cubed tofu, tossing the mix until the vegetables are "al dente"... cooked but with a slight crunch!

Snacks if you need them...

A small handful of whole almonds

Hummus and vegetable crudités

A small bowl of sliced melon, blueberries and raspberries

Do supplements help?

Coupled with a good hormone-friendly diet, supplements can further naturally balance and control hormone levels.

The following are examples of beneficial supplements for hormonal balance...

Fish Oil (containing EPA and DHA) - vital for production of healthy prostaglandins and anti-inflammatory substances in the body.

B Vitamins, taken as a "complex" - B vitamins together with EPA and DHA are paramount for healthy oestrogen/progesterone balance, AND liver function.

Antioxidants such as green tea extract, d-limonene, turmeric or other quality antioxidants to support healthy cellular ageing.

Other oestrogen-supporting agents - isoflavones, non-soy isoflavones, phytonutrients, active folates (supporting methylation), support female health at all stages as well as benefiting breast health, bone health and cardiovascular health.

Calcium together with other essential nutrients to support bone health - calcium must be in an absorbable form, and taken with other nutrients, such as magnesium, vitamin D and boron. Microcrystalline "hydroxyapatite" (MCHC) is the ultimate form of calcium for proper absorption into bone, and studies show this to be effective in improving bone density in postmenopausal women.

N.B. Always seek advice from a registered Nutritionist before embarking on a specific supplement programme.

Balancing herbs can be very helpful for many women in dealing with stress or sex hormone imbalance (particularly during the pre-menstrual phase and during and after menopause). Examples include chaste berry (agnus castus), dong quai, black cohosh, red clover, ginger, evening primrose, peony root, red raspberry leaf, and St. John's Wort.
Many can be taken in isolation, or in combination with each other.
Always get professional advise before taking herbs, especially if you are on ANY medication, or hormonal treatment.

Exercise

Yoga and Pilates are two of the best forms of exercise for women to do regularly.

Stress management - meditation, deep breathing, cognitive behavioural therapy, transactional analysis (TA), are all useful and effective therapies and practises that can benefit women in a thousand ways!

Lucy-Ann Prideaux MSc BSc RNutr Registered Nutritionist Simply Nutrition

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lucy-Ann_Prideaux

Benefits of Almonds - A Natural Fat Burner!

Discover the incredible weight loss benefits of almonds, how to best prepare them and how much you should eat to get maximum benefit from almonds - one of nature's amazing fat burning foods.

We consider almonds to be nuts, but in reality they are seeds from the fruit of the almond tree. However, similar to a peach pit that is found in the center of a peach, these seeds are encased in a shell in the fruit of the almond tree.

Covered by a hard shell, the meat of the almonds is off-white, with a thin, grooved, brown skin. That is the reason that we consider them to be nuts: they are chewy like nuts, have the same consistency as nuts, and they are good for you, too!

Almonds can be divided into a couple basic types. Almonds may be sweet or bitter. The ones we eat are the sweet almonds. These oval-shaped almonds are on the malleable side and have a buttery taste. They can be purchased with or without shells in the stores. Plus, you can buy almonds that are whole, slivered, sliced, blanched (with skins removed) or unblanched.

There are toxic substances in bitter almonds and they cannot be eaten. However, they undergo careful processing and are utilized in the production of almond oil.

Almond oil (almond extract) is utilized as a food flavoring; it is also used to make liqueurs like Amaretto. When almond oil is processed, all the toxins are removed.

It is possible to buy almonds throughout the year in grocery stores, health food stores and whole foods markets.

Fat Burning Benefits of Almonds

In addition to being delicious, almonds are quite beneficial to your health -- they can even help burn fat.

Almonds do have calories as well as fat, but it's the good fat -- the monounsaturated fat -- that reduces cholesterol and assists in the prevention of strokes and heart attacks.

In addition to being a good source of dietary fiber, almonds are loaded with nutrients, including Vitamin E, manganese, potassium, magnesium, tryptophan, copper, riboflavin and phosphorus.

Almonds contain fiber that aids in shedding pounds and maintaining weight loss. This may be because the fiber in almonds helps satisfy you, making you feel fuller so you consume less. In addition, fiber helps digestion, provides energy, makes stools bulky, and speeds up the process of removing toxins from the body.

Tryptophan found in almonds also helps you feel full and satiated. Most likely, you will consume less at this meal as well in later meals.

Tryptophan causes serotonin to be released in the brain. This makes you feel good, assisting in controlling moods and fighting stress.

Vitamin E, a powerful antioxidant, is found in almonds. In addition to assisting in the lowering of cholesterol and providing cardiac protection, Vitamin E helps enhance circulation, promotes proper blood clotting and wound healing, relieves PMS and may shield women from developing some kinds of breast cancer.

Phosphorus is contained in almonds and it is required for the health, growth, development and repair of bones. Present in white blood cells, it also boosts sexual function, makes vital nutrients available to the nerves, and is critical for brain and muscle tissue. Phosphorus supplies energy, aids in protein digestion and sugar breakdown too.

Manganese provides energy by metabolizing fats, carbohydrate and protein. In addition, it keeps blood sugar levels stable and is essential for the proper functioning of the nervous system as well as proper growth, development and repair of teeth and bones.

Almonds contain magnesium that boosts circulation and oxygen levels in the system. In addition, magnesium shields you from free radical damage, boosts energy, and assists in maintaining healthy bones, arteries and heart. Magnesium assists in the metabolization of fats, protein and carbohydrates; it also enhances digestion.

Potassium found in almonds decreases blood pressure, regulates water balance in cells, keeps muscles strong, and releases energy from fats, carbohydrates and proteins during metabolism. In addition, potassium may assist in shielding you from becoming obese and developing cardiac problems, diabetes, and renal disease. It acts to keep your bowels moving and it rids your body of toxins. In addition, potassium relieves stress and reduces confusion and irritability.

Riboflavin, a B vitamin, facilitates the conversion of food into energy within the body. It also promotes growth of strong hair and nails, and it may be helpful in treating carpal tunnel syndrome and cataracts. In addition, riboflavin is required for the production of neurotransmitters, which are helpful in providing emotional health and well-being.

Copper facilitates nerve function and bone growth, in addition to helping the body use sugar correctly. In conjunction with Vitamin C, it produces elastin, a connective tissue. In addition, copper is a powerful antioxidant that helps protect us from dangerous free radicals and helping to decrease our chances of having a heart attack or a stroke.

Preparation of Almonds

It is possible to purchase packages of almonds at your local grocery store. You can find them sold in bulk in whole food and health food outlets.

If you purchase large quantities, be sure that the vendor has a regular turnover of their bulk items so you can be sure the almonds are fresh. Check the nuts, which should be stored in a covered container, for any insects or debris. Nuts that are shriveled, limp or an off color should be avoided. Give the almonds a sniff; what you want is a sweet and nutty smell. If they smell rancid or bitter, do not purchase them!

Store almonds in an airtight container that is placed in a cool, dry location. Avoid exposing them to heat and light, particularly direct sunlight. If refrigerated, they will keep for a few months; if frozen, they will last for approximately a year. Keep in mind that almonds that have been cut into pieces or slivers will turn rancid faster than whole almonds. Unshelled almonds will last the longest.

How to chop almonds: To easily chop the almonds, place them in a food processor and use the pulse function. However, be careful that you do not run it too long. If you do, you will end up with almond butter.

How to remove the skins from almonds: It is possible to remove almond skins by blanching them quickly. As soon as the skin begins to swell, remove it. Drain and rinse using cold water. Last, use your thumb and forefinger to pinch. Then you should be able to remove the skin with ease.

As far as recipes go, you can eat them raw all by themselves. In addition, sprinkling whole, slivered or chopped almonds on salads makes them taste great. Mixing almonds with a variety of fruits and nuts, you can create your own trail mix.

Did you pulse your almonds too long and end up with almond butter? You can add that to a breakfast or protein shake for a great taste sensation.

Some other ideas include chicken salad with almonds, green beans with slivered almonds, cold rice salad with currents, almonds and garden peas. Adding sliced almonds is a great way to enhance any veggie dish. Almonds combined with fruit and yogurt provides a fast, healthy snack.

There are a great many dessert options that contain almonds. Following are just a few yummy dessert ideas: Pear-almond calfoutis with red wine glaze, almond biscotti, almond rice cookies (low fat), almond granola, raspberry almond torte, toasted almond cheesecake.

What Quantity Should Be Eaten?

A handful of almonds, or about 1/4 cup, is the average serving size. When a recipe specifies the use of almonds, follow the recommended portion size and ingredient measurement. A single portion of dry roasted almonds is 206 calories.

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