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Showing posts with label health news. Show all posts
Showing posts with label health news. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
8 Superfoods for Fat Burning and Overall Health
If you are like the millions of Americans trying to maintain or lose weight, chances are your doing a couple of things to aid you in your quest. These probably include being calorie conscious, reducing your daily fat intake and keeping an eye on your portion sizes.
But dieters beware: filing up on processed snacks and prepared foods that promise to keep you within your caloric guidelines can actually hinder your metabolism as your body tries to function under nutrient-lacking food.
What you eat is just as important as how much you eat, and the right foods can help you drop pounds by jump-starting your overall metabolic rate and help curb cravings. ††
These eight Superfoods can aid you in reaching your weight loss goals while still providing you body with the fuel and energy it needs.
Wild salmon
Long has it been known that fish fats are good for your heart, but did you know they shrink your waist too? Salmon is loaded with those Omega-3 fatty acids clinically proven to improve insulin sensitivity. Having stabilized blood sugar levels can help build muscle and decrease belly fat. And we all know, the more muscle you have, the more calories your body burns naturally. Try to opt for wild salmon, if you can, it has a tendency to contain fewer pollutants.††
Apples
A study at Penn State University recently found the old-adage to be true. Well, sort of. An apple a day can keep weight gain at bay. Apples are notoriously high in fiber (up to 4-5 grams each!) which makes them "filling" in nature. People who chomped an apple as a before-meal snack will eat less calories than those who have chosen a less fiber-full nosh. Plus, apples are loaded with antioxidants that may help prevent metabolic syndrome, a condition leading to excess belly fat. †
Dark Leafy Greens
Broccoli, kale, spinach, collard,and other greens are rich in antioxidants like vitamins A, B9 (folate) and C, and full of iron and calcium. Not only that, but these leafy greens have a high fiber content and super low in calories, so you can eat to your hearts content and not "ruin your day". Plus, there's a million and one ways to prepare them; try a raw salad, steaming or sauté them with garlic and a tablespoon of olive oil. ††††
Blueberries
According to recent research from the USDA Agriculture Research Service, blueberries contain the highest level of antioxidants out of all frequently consumed fruit. These little guys also deliver a whopping 3.6 grams of fiber per cup. Fiber isn't just about feeling full: studies have shown that fiber may actually even prevent some of your consumed fats from being absorbed.
Don't like blueberries? Well, don't get too blue, all berries are indeed good for you. However, those with a blue hue are among the best of the bunch -- so try blackberries, or boysenberries instead. †
Chiles
Need a reason to spice up your meals? How about your metabolism? Chiles contain a compound called "capsaicin", which produced a thermogenic effect when consumed. It English, it means they cause the body to burn extra calories for up to 20 minutes after you eat them. Need another one? You can't gulp down spicy food. The nature of flavor on your tongue leaves you feeling more satisfied and forces you to eat slowly -- giving your brain time to register that your stomach is full. †††
Pomegranates
The juice has long been in the spotlight of marketing hypes, but pomegranate seeds deserve their own 15 minutes of fame. Another fruit low in calories and high in fiber, these guys can satisfy your aching sweet tooth without blowing your diet. Pomegranates are also loaded with folate and disease-fighting antioxidants -- and 105 calories a pop, they're super fun to eat! ††††
Yogurt
Dietitians often refer to yogurt as the perfect food -- with its holy trinity of protein, carbs, and fat -- it can stave off hunger by keeping blood sugar levels at a steady pace. In a study at University of Tennessee, people on a low-calorie diet that included yogurt as a breakfast food or snack had a 61% more overall fat loss and lost 81% more belly fat than those on a similar diet plan that omitted yogurt. Also, yogurt is loaded with active cultures which is great for balancing your digestive tract and maintaining regularity. ††
Avocado
Don't let the 29 gram fat content of an avocado make you walk away from the guacomole bowl -- it's that healthy fat that makes it a superfood. Avocados contain oleic acid, a monounsaturated fat that may help to lower cholesterol. Also -- avocados offer you a heaping source of potassium, a mineral that helps your body regulate blood pressure. Adequate intake of potassium can help to guard against circulatory diseases, like high blood pressure, heart disease or stroke and promote overall cardiovascular health.
Add avocado to your sandwich instead of mayo for a creamy texture and a shot of flavor. Keep in mind, avocados do contain a lot of calories for their size -- about 165 calories each -- so it's best to keep an eye on your portions. † - †††††
** Do you have an idea for an article, or do you need advice? Please write us at elementfitnessny@gmail.com! Subject: Blog
† www.self.com
†† www.bhg.com
††† www.webmd.com
†††† www.healthdiaries.com
††††† www.whfoods.com
But dieters beware: filing up on processed snacks and prepared foods that promise to keep you within your caloric guidelines can actually hinder your metabolism as your body tries to function under nutrient-lacking food.
What you eat is just as important as how much you eat, and the right foods can help you drop pounds by jump-starting your overall metabolic rate and help curb cravings. ††
These eight Superfoods can aid you in reaching your weight loss goals while still providing you body with the fuel and energy it needs.
Wild salmon
Long has it been known that fish fats are good for your heart, but did you know they shrink your waist too? Salmon is loaded with those Omega-3 fatty acids clinically proven to improve insulin sensitivity. Having stabilized blood sugar levels can help build muscle and decrease belly fat. And we all know, the more muscle you have, the more calories your body burns naturally. Try to opt for wild salmon, if you can, it has a tendency to contain fewer pollutants.††
Apples
A study at Penn State University recently found the old-adage to be true. Well, sort of. An apple a day can keep weight gain at bay. Apples are notoriously high in fiber (up to 4-5 grams each!) which makes them "filling" in nature. People who chomped an apple as a before-meal snack will eat less calories than those who have chosen a less fiber-full nosh. Plus, apples are loaded with antioxidants that may help prevent metabolic syndrome, a condition leading to excess belly fat. †
Dark Leafy Greens
Broccoli, kale, spinach, collard,and other greens are rich in antioxidants like vitamins A, B9 (folate) and C, and full of iron and calcium. Not only that, but these leafy greens have a high fiber content and super low in calories, so you can eat to your hearts content and not "ruin your day". Plus, there's a million and one ways to prepare them; try a raw salad, steaming or sauté them with garlic and a tablespoon of olive oil. ††††
Blueberries
According to recent research from the USDA Agriculture Research Service, blueberries contain the highest level of antioxidants out of all frequently consumed fruit. These little guys also deliver a whopping 3.6 grams of fiber per cup. Fiber isn't just about feeling full: studies have shown that fiber may actually even prevent some of your consumed fats from being absorbed.
Don't like blueberries? Well, don't get too blue, all berries are indeed good for you. However, those with a blue hue are among the best of the bunch -- so try blackberries, or boysenberries instead. †
Chiles
Need a reason to spice up your meals? How about your metabolism? Chiles contain a compound called "capsaicin", which produced a thermogenic effect when consumed. It English, it means they cause the body to burn extra calories for up to 20 minutes after you eat them. Need another one? You can't gulp down spicy food. The nature of flavor on your tongue leaves you feeling more satisfied and forces you to eat slowly -- giving your brain time to register that your stomach is full. †††
Pomegranates
The juice has long been in the spotlight of marketing hypes, but pomegranate seeds deserve their own 15 minutes of fame. Another fruit low in calories and high in fiber, these guys can satisfy your aching sweet tooth without blowing your diet. Pomegranates are also loaded with folate and disease-fighting antioxidants -- and 105 calories a pop, they're super fun to eat! ††††
Yogurt
Dietitians often refer to yogurt as the perfect food -- with its holy trinity of protein, carbs, and fat -- it can stave off hunger by keeping blood sugar levels at a steady pace. In a study at University of Tennessee, people on a low-calorie diet that included yogurt as a breakfast food or snack had a 61% more overall fat loss and lost 81% more belly fat than those on a similar diet plan that omitted yogurt. Also, yogurt is loaded with active cultures which is great for balancing your digestive tract and maintaining regularity. ††
Avocado
Don't let the 29 gram fat content of an avocado make you walk away from the guacomole bowl -- it's that healthy fat that makes it a superfood. Avocados contain oleic acid, a monounsaturated fat that may help to lower cholesterol. Also -- avocados offer you a heaping source of potassium, a mineral that helps your body regulate blood pressure. Adequate intake of potassium can help to guard against circulatory diseases, like high blood pressure, heart disease or stroke and promote overall cardiovascular health.
Add avocado to your sandwich instead of mayo for a creamy texture and a shot of flavor. Keep in mind, avocados do contain a lot of calories for their size -- about 165 calories each -- so it's best to keep an eye on your portions. † - †††††
** Do you have an idea for an article, or do you need advice? Please write us at elementfitnessny@gmail.com! Subject: Blog
† www.self.com
†† www.bhg.com
††† www.webmd.com
†††† www.healthdiaries.com
††††† www.whfoods.com
Friday, March 12, 2010
Swing Low, Sweet Cookie Dough....
As most of us are far too familiar with, the term "comfort food" doesn't come out of nowhere. These "comfort foods", tending to be high in carbohydrates, have documented "i-feel-really-good" effects on our psyches as certain high carb foods can actually raise our serotonin levels. Processed cereals, breads, pastas, rolls, wraps, pastries and cakes can contain anywhere between 7 to 92 grams of carbohydrates alone. This sudden spike in blood sugar and insulin levels can bring you up real fast, but the crash people tend to feel afterward is less than desirable.
Foods with a lower Glycemic Index are speculated to help you maintain a more stable blood glucose and insulin level (and by default,normal serotonin level) which can help stabilize and prevent mood swings.
Check out this article by Jennifer Ashton, Moody While Dieting? via CBS.com for more info about diet related mood swings.
Foods with a lower Glycemic Index are speculated to help you maintain a more stable blood glucose and insulin level (and by default,normal serotonin level) which can help stabilize and prevent mood swings.
Check out this article by Jennifer Ashton, Moody While Dieting? via CBS.com for more info about diet related mood swings.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
The BBC says: "Having a big bum, hips and thighs is healthy"
... but we already knew that, right? This report from the BBC is a must-read. Remember, it's a (relatively) small waist that is desirable in terms of health. Having a big bum, hips and thighs is healthy;
Cheers to the BBC!
Hip fat mops up harmful fatty acids and contains an anti-inflammatory agent that stops arteries clogging.
Cheers to the BBC!
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Fat, Fit, and Healthy!
Who says people cannot be fat, fit, and healthy? Newsweek has such a wonderful slide show of happy healthy people here.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
The Obesity Myth
Please, please read Paul Campos's book: The Obesity Myth: Why America's Obsession with Weight is Hazardous to Your Health. It explains that dieting does not work and is unhealthy. You need to read this book today! Buy a copy for your mom!
Great article at Pandagon about diet myths
Amanda Marcotte at Pandagon has an excellent, well-thought-out, and useful article up about the horrors of shaming and punishing -- and how these methods do not make people healthier.
Read the whole thing -- and the comments are interesting as well.
In the real world, fat people are subject to so much social disapproval and punishment that it’s traumatizing for some. The high levels of punishment for fatness now haven’t done a damn thing to reverse the trend of growing waistlines for Americans. You can believe that obesity has no relationship to diet and exercise, or you can believe, as a scientist in this article states, that the law of conservation of matter is the relevant one when talking about weight gain and loss, but everyone in this discussion thinks Americans would do well to eat better and exercise more. And since we’ve seen that the punitive approach doesn’t work, then it’s time to shift gears, no matter where you stand on the science issues...
Read the whole thing -- and the comments are interesting as well.
Monday, August 3, 2009
The Politics of Thinking Thin
Marc Ambinder, in The Atlantic, has a interesting look at the whole "won't someone think of the children" aspect of body size, self-segregation, and fat issues. Read the whole thing here. A simple way of looking at this, also, is that of course stigmatized people tend to self-segregate: being in a group that hates you is at best exhausting and dispiriting.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
it's Heatstroke Weather!
Tara Parker-Pope in the Health section of the NYTimes has an excellent article on how to avoid heatstroke here.
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