5 Easy Ways to Boost Your Metabolism
1 Don’t Skip Breakfast
The morning meal jump starts your metabolism and helps to prevent bingeing later in the day. A cup of coffee does not count – the caffeine and added sugar may give you a bit of energy and suppress your appetite for a little while it is sure to back fire into severe hunger and you will be more likely to overeat later. Breakfast should include complex carbohydrates like whole grain (granola or oatmeal), along with some protein and fat (low-fat yogurt or milk), will keep your energy levels even and hunger in check.
2 Eat more often
Get into the habit of eating every three to four hours or at least four times a day. Eating frequently stabilizes blood sugar, when blood sugar drops too low you want to eat…a lot. By keeping your blood sugar stable you can control your appetite and keep you metabolic rate high. When you go many hours without eating your body will compensate by slowing down to conserve energy…this effect hurts your weight loss efforts.
3 Eat protein at every meal
Protein will help to reduce your appetite, it takes more energy and time to digest, in effect you feel full longer than eating carbohydrates alone. Research shows that eating more protein can help you lose weight without cutting calories. Try these protein possibilities: turkey on whole wheat; hummus and pita; vegetarian chili; fruit and nuts; or protein snack bars that contain 12 or more grams of protein.
4 Hold off on snacking
Many of us grab a snack for quick energy when we are feeling tired. But do not confuse true hunger with fatigue. If you are feeling tired go for a 15-20 minute brisk walk. This will raise your heart rate and give you a boost of energy. Follow it up with a large glass of cool water. If you are truly hungry have a protein and complex carbohydrate rich snack like; whole wheat crackers and peanut butter or cheese.
5 Consume enough for your body’s needs
Eating too little slows your body’s metabolism the same way eating to infrequently does. If you want to lose weight, do not slash your calories too drastically. Instead, cut out some of the extras in your diet – things like soda, juice, packaged goods or candy. Processed foods tend to be high in fat and calories and low in vitamins, minerals and fiber.
To keep you up to date with news, tips, advice and special offers please subscribe to our newsletter bellow:
The Keys To Healthy Weight Loss And Wellness
WHAT TO EAT
KEY #1 Eat lots of Organic Vegetables and Fruits!
Veggies and fruits are low in calories, provide filling fiber, vitamins and minerals, and protect your health in many ways. Organic produce has superior nutrition without the insecticides and poisons found in ordinary produce. Eat as much of your produce raw as you can. Cooked or frozen is acceptable, but stay away from canned. Naturally fermented (lacto-fermented) vegetables, such as sauerkraut and kimchee, are very good for you as well.
KEY #2 Eat Meat and Animal Products.
There are vital nutrients found in animal foods that cannot be found elsewhere. Meat, fish, eggs, cheese, and milk are important staples in our diet. And their protein is important for preserving and building lean tissue – the muscle that burns calories!
KEY #3 Eat Whole Grains– Properly Prepared.
Grains should be soaked, sprouted, or fermented to be digestible for most people. Whole grain products that have not been properly prepared can cause mineral deficiencies and intestinal problems.
KEY #4 Add Raw Milk Products to Your Diet.
Raw (unprocessed, unhomogenized, unpasturized) whole milk from grass fed cows is what the body needs (adults and children). It will boost your intake of calcium and other nutrients, and help your body shed unwanted fat with the CLA found in it. See http://realmilk.com for more information.
KEY #5 Eat lots of “Good” Fats
The omega-3 unsaturated fatty acids in butter, some fish (especially cod liver oil) coconut and palm oil and nuts are vital to health. Saturated fat, despite what you probably heard, will help you lose weight, does not cause heart disease, and is actually something the body needs for healthy functioning.
WHAT TO AVOID
KEY #6 Cut Out “Junk” Carbs– Sugar and White Flour.
They sabotage your healthy diet in all but the smallest amounts. Use soaked whole grain flours and small amounts of natural sugars such as raw honey and organic maple syrup. Stay away from corn syrup– it is worse than sugar.
KEY #7 Greatly Reduce “Junk” and “Bad” Fats
Trans fats and processed oils (most of the oil you will find in the grocery store for cooking) are not only high in calories, but are loaded with harmful fatty acids that contribute to disease and obesity. Use butter and coconut oil for cooking, and other healthy oils like flax and olive oil raw for salads.
KEY #8 Stay Away From Modern Soy Foods.
Soy is not a meat replacement and can block mineral absorption, inhibit protein digestion, depress thyroid function and contains potent carcinogens. Traditional soy foods are fine, if taken in small amounts and properly fermented, like in soy sauce, miso and tempeh. Avoid all products with soy proteins and isolates added to them. Do not give infants soy formula!
KEY #9 Avoid Processed Food.
Canned and processed produce, boxed meals, processed meat and cheese, protein powers and powered milk contain toxins and things that keep you fat– such as MSG, rancid fats and cholesterol, hydrogenated oils and trans-fat, white sugar, and white flour, not to mention all the added colors, preservatives and artificial vitamins. Use unrefined sea salt and herbs to season your food instead of refined salt and MSG.
KEY #10 Reduce or Eliminate Processed Alcohol.
Processed alcohol consumption tends to cause weight gain. Traditional homemade fermented unpasturized beverages, low in alcohol, on the other hand, are good for you in moderation.
WHEN, HOW & HOW MUCH TO EAT
KEY #11 Cut Down on Food Gently
Extreme and sudden dieting causes your body to conserve, not burn calories. See “Report.”
KEY #12 Eat Snacks, Not Meals
More frequent, smaller healthy snacks are burned for energy, not stored as fat.
KEY #13 Stop Counting Calories
It isn’t the calories that make you fat, it is what foods you eat– like sugar, white flour, processed foods and bad oils!
EXERCISE & LIFESTYLE
KEY #14 Eat Earlier, Not Later
Skipping breakfast makes it difficult later in the day to control your appetite.
KEY #15 MOVE!
You must exercise to build lean tissue that burns fat! Gradually boost exercise frequency and intensity for even greater effects.
KEY #16 Reduce Stress
Stress increases hunger and promotes weight gain.
KEY #17 Get Daily Sunshine and Plenty of Sleep
Sunshine produces Vitamin D, which helps in fat loss, while sleep is necessary for rejuvenation and carbohydrate metabolism.
KEY #18 Lead a Healthy, Active Life
Good habits and small steps can set you on the right path to a healthy and fit lifestyle.
KEY #19 Be a Positive Person
Think positive thoughts and practice forgiveness.
KEY #20 You are in Charge of Your Own Health
It is your job to take responsibility for your health—it is not the job of your spouse, your family, your doctor, or your cook. Educate yourself and practice discipline. Share what you learn with others.
Sometimes we just need a little help to live a healthy lifestyle. Something to jump-start the metabolism, give us energy and start the fat burning and muscle building. If that’s you – add you email bellow for tips and advice via our email newsletter.
To keep you up to date with news, tips, advice and special offers please subscribe to our newsletter bellow:
Acid Vs Alkaline Diet
Our body’s internal system needs a PH of just above 7.0; our immunologic, enzymatic and repair mechanisms all function at their best in this alkaline range.
If our body becomes over acidic, i.e. under a PH of 7, you may start to experience a combination of these symptoms;
Low energy, fatigue
Nasal congestion
Hives
Muscle Pain
Weak nails, dry skin, dry hair
Frequent colds, flu and infection
Headaches
If you have these symptoms and eat foods which create acid in the body, you may need to balance it with an alkaline diet.
What foods cause acid in the body?
There is a whole list of foods that cause the body to be over-acidic: dairy and dairy substitutes, animal meat, most grains, chickpeas, condiments, aspartame, prunes, chocolate, peanuts, alcohol and quite a few other types of foods.
To balance your PH, the remedy is simple and logical; eat more alkaline causing foods.
To name but a few of these foods, there is; watermelon, lime, mango, most vegetables, vegetable juices, almonds, sprouts, avocados and green tea.
When you’re body becomes more alkaline, the changes that will take place are truly amazing! It will seem magical, but it’s all perfectly normal. You will feel how we all have the right to feel, we just don’t know it.
Benefits include:
Rapid weight loss
Increased energy
The need for less sleep
Improved skin and hair condition
Better mental attitude
Are these benefits worth pursuing? I think so, and you are crazy if you don’t agree with me! Fortunately, it is not hard to slowly alkalise your body. Take it one day at a time, add more and more green food to your diet, reduce the number of cups of coffee you have every day and you’ll soon reap the benefits.
To keep you up to date with news, tips, advice and special offers please subscribe to our newsletter bellow:
Can Exercise Help You Cope with Arthritis Pain?
Moderate, low-impact exercise really can lend a hand in coping with arthritis. How? By strengthening muscles around your joints, which aids in lessening stress on joints. Exercise is recommended for everybody, but for those with arthritis, it is critical.
Arthritis is a debilitating condition defined as the inflammation of a joint. It may bring about burning pains which leave you feeling tired. As the body ages, arthritis begins to develop from the wide-ranging day-to-day operations of the body. Cartilage begins to wear out and thin out. Bad posture, obesity and traumatic injury may all hasten arthritis’s development. The rubbing of the bones causes irritation and inflammation. Rest is the first treatment option and sometimes relieves the pain, but a patient can on occasion suffer pain that seems endless.
In order to build up healthy joints certain exercises go a long way. Stretching every day is a great activity that can help with joints. Bicycling is another activity that is apt to be beneficial to most joints, and all age groups can carry it out. Stairs are all over the place and free to climb, you can strengthen your lower body joints and save money at the same time by foregoing elevators and escalators whenever possible. Swimming is an effective way to give all your joints a work out. Water cushions body movements and dampens pains, so water aerobics is one of the best exercises for those having joint pains.
Here are few other tips to keep your joints in good shape. Make sure you are within your ideal body weight range. Watch your posture. If you absolutely must lift or carry a heavy object, use your legs. Pay attention to what your body is telling you. Rest if you feel tired, and stop what you are doing if you are having pain. The idea is to eliminate as much undue stress on your joints as possible. And, needless to say, consult your doctor if your pain is bothering you or suddenly worsens.
To keep you up to date with news, tips, advice and special offers please subscribe to our newsletter bellow:
Cholesterol
Summary:
This article explains how to keep your cholesterol levels low by using mostly natural methods.
Ways To Keep It Low:
These days we hear a lot of warnings about cholesterol, but the funny thing is, cholesterol isn’t all bad. Your body produces it naturally and it performs some pretty vital jobs – helping to build new cells, as well as produce hormones and insulate nerves. Only when you’ve got too much do you have a problem.
Unfortunately, there’s a lot of confusion surrounding this substance because it’s made up of both good and bad cholesterol, and is known as HDL and LDL. So which is the good guy, and which is the bad guy ? HDL (high-density lipoprotein) cholesterol is the good guy (higher the better), and LDL (low-density lipoprotein) is the bad guy – the artery-clogging little devil.
Every Day Ways Of Keeping Your Cholesterol Low :-
Watch your weight.
The more overweight you are, the more cholesterol your body produces. So if your weight is up, this is one more reason to bring it down, but do so with a healthy diet.
Cut Out The Fat.
You’d be wise to cut back on such sources of saturated fat as meat, butter, cheese and hydrogenated oil. Whenever possible, replace these items with fish, poultry, low-fat dairy products and polyunsaturated oils.
Switch To Olive Oil.
Olive oil contains monounsaturates which is said to help lower cholesterol levels if added to your food on a daily basis. Two or Three table spoons full a day should be sufficient
Go Easy On The Eggs
Don’t feel you have cut them out entirely, if you want to play safe then limit your eggs to about three a week, or use egg whites only.
Be Full Of Beans
Nutritious and inexpensive, beans and other pulses contain a water-soluble fibre called pectin that helps clear cholesterol out of the body.
Eat More Fruit
Fruit also gets it’s cholesterol lowering punch from pectin, so by eating lots of fresh fruit you will help to lower your cholesterol levels.
Have Your Oats
Oat bran also helps to lower cholesterol in a similar fashion to pectin rich fruit. In fact it was a high oat bran diet that helped me to reduce my cholesterol level. I used it on cereals, and mixed it into meals that I ate. It looks a bit like sawdust, but it’s really effective.
Other Foods That Are Recommended.
Carrots can lower cholesterol. Carrots by way of their pectin content the same as fruit. Two carrots a day should be enough to help when combined with other foods which have been recommended. Eat them raw if possible.
Take Garlic
Eat raw garlic. As well as reducing your circle of friends, it will reduce harmful blood fats. If you don’t fancy eating raw garlic, then use the liquid garlic extract which can be bought in capsule form. These can be purchased at your local supermarket or health food store.
Don’t Smoke
Studies have shown that heavy smokers have a higher cholesterol than non smokers, so here’s another reason to give up. You’ll also save yourself a bundle of cash as well ! – In smoking trials which were carried out in Sweden, smokers tended to suffer from low levels of the beneficial HDL cholesterol.
Medication – Drugs
There’s now plenty of drugs on the market for lowering cholesterol levels. But, as with all drugs there’s always side effects to take into account, so try the natural methods first. Only use drugs as a last resort.
To keep you up to date with news, tips, advice and special offers please subscribe to our newsletter bellow:
Benefits of resistance training
Do you want to have a stronger and more beautiful body? Then the best thing to do is get on your feet and start doing the resistance training.
What Is Resistance Training?
Resistance training involves activities that use weights, machines and even body weight to work out the muscles properly. It is also known as strength training or weight training. This can be very helpful in achieving a healthier body.
This kind of training is usually associated with athletes who have to build up their bodies. Most people would think that when resistance training is done, the body will grow bigger. Actually it will not. Resistance training is simply about increasing the strength of the body, not its size.
Actually, this can be practiced by anyone. It basically builds and tones the muscle to give the body a better look. This training program is even very much advisable to the elders. The usual training programs undergone by the elders are standing free-weights resistance or the moderate-intensity seated machine training.
How Does Resistance Training Work?
A resistance training program will include the use of various exercise equipment and machines like the bench press, dumbbell or barbell. When the equipment is used, the muscles of the body will be pitted against the weight. The cells of the body will then adapt to the extra weight. This will then result to hypertrophy or the enlarging and increasing of the nerve cells to help in the muscle contraction.
Before doing any resistance training, it will be best to consult first with the doctor. This goes especially for people who have medical conditions or are overweight. This kind of training is not something that you can explore on your own. You have to know the proper equipment for the needs of your body. The body must also be conditioned first before taking in the weights.
Resistance training can also be done without resorting to the equipment. Doing push-ups is one good example. You can do it just about anywhere where there is enough space for you to move. This time it is your own body weight that will be pitted against the muscles. So those who are a bit constrained in the budget can still do resistance trainings.
What Are the Benefits of Resistance Training?
- Increase Bone Mineral Density
Bones are constantly remodelling, meaning the tissues break down at the same time they build up. The peak of remodelling takes place during puberty. However, as a person ages, there may be problems with the bone mineral density as the remodelling may not be as active anymore. This is especially a problem to post-menopausal women. Bone mineral density is usually supported by the hormones. To address the problem of not having the hormones to maintain the bone mineral density, physical activity is the next best option. Resistance training is one physical activity that can address this. - Increase Strength
Strong bones and strong muscles will be developed as you undergo the resistance training program. - Increase the Range of Activities
When your body is strong enough to carry some considerable weight, then definitely you will also be capable of doing more strenuous activities. You are less likely to be lazy and you can live a more active lifestyle. - Reduce the Body Fat
Pitting the weights on your muscle will definitely give it the body the exercise it needs and get rid of the undesirable fats. Thus expect the tone of the body to improve. Even more, expect the body to look better, to be leaner. - Improve State of the Elders
For the elderly, undergoing a resistance training program will help improve their health and decrease the risks brought about by the age. They can be more independent, without needing to rely on other people for doing simple things. Being able to do so will also decrease the risk of injuries in the elders - Improve Heart Condition
Regularly doing resistance training can result to a lowered heart rate and lowered blood pressure, especially after exercise. The risk of heart diseases is reduced to a considerable extent.
This kind of training however must be properly done. It requires commitment and consistency. It will have to be done in a regular basis, following a schedule that the doctor or the physical trainer would recommend. If done incorrectly, the benefits of the program may not be enjoyed and it can even result the injury.
The key here is to simply take your time. Do things one step at a time correctly. As your body condition improves, then move on to more challenging tasks. The strength of the body and its overall look are at stake in the resistance training. So you better be sure to do it properly.
To keep you up to date with news, tips, advice and special offers please subscribe to our newsletter bellow:
5 Best Ways To Lose Weight
When you are dealing with a phenomenon as diverse as human beings, it is very difficult to create rules which will work equally well for everyone. Nevertheless, there are some characteristics shared by all human beings, and this means that some basic principles can be developed. Here are five proven techniques to help you lose weight.
Best Way 1
The most fundamental strategy of successful weight loss is to burn more calories than you take in. You shouldn’t find it difficult to apply this in some aspect of your life. Adjust your diet by cutting down on high fat food, and take some simple exercise for twenty minutes, three times a week. Going for a brisk walk instead of driving everywhere will have the desired effect, as will gentle jogging or swimming.
Best Way 2
Gym membership is becoming increasingly popular, and, as long the exercise you do is well planned, it can be extremely beneficial. Aerobic exercise has to be the focal point of your plan, otherwise you could do more harm than good. Provided you adhere to this basic rule, some anaerobic weight or resistance training can help tone up your body. This will give you more strength and vitality, and should increase your confidence.
Best Way 3
Going to see a professional nutritionist or dietician can pay off handsomely. If you go it alone, you will need to put in some serious research to make sure you are genuinely eating healthily, and many who try this find themselves discouraged by the lack of variety in their diet. It certainly doesn’t have to be that way, as there are plenty of different healthy meals which help you lose weight. Getting the advice of a professional can make the task of losing weight seem so much more enjoyable!
Best Way 4
Find a friend to train with. If you and a friend are both regularly free at the same time of day, it can make sense to train together. Having someone to help you through the times when you don’t seem to be getting anywhere can keep you in the game until the improvement suddenly appears. Having a social aspect to your exercise will help you look forward to it, and make you more likely to stick to it!
Best Way 5
Eat less food more often. Many medical practitioners now recommend eating more meals a day, with less food at each one. This is a more balanced way to take food into the body, spreading the load on the body over a far wider period of time. The system of eating three meals a day is designed far more to fit in with the working day than it is to fit in with the needs of the human body. When you eat less more often, the body absorbs more of the nutrients in the food, so your body craves fewer calories.
The best and most effective method for weight loss does depend on the individual, but follow these time tested principles and you will see results. Click the links below to discover some effective resources to help you.
To keep you up to date with news, tips, advice and special offers please subscribe to our newsletter bellow:
4 Steps to better health
It’s possible to learn HOW to better your health in only 4 steps and this article will show you how. Each step is a bite-sized nugget of healthy living information you can actually use.
Let’s get started…
Step 1: Nutritional Supplements
In my opinion, they are very necessary and very beneficial- especially when combined with healthy eating habits. It’s very difficult to get all the nutrients your body needs through food alone, but combining proper nutrition with nutritional supplements is very powerful.
That being said, the one supplement everyone should be taking is a good multi vitamin/mineral. Look at it as added insurance- eating well is crucial, but now that you’re also taking a multi, you can rest assured you’re getting the nutrients your body needs.
Step 2: Nutrition
Good nutrition is SO important. You are what you eat…remember that. Make a conscious effort to gradually improve your eating habits, eating more of the good foods (nuts, berries, peanut butter, olive oil, greens, chicken, whole grains, etc.) and less of the bad foods (fried food, saturated fat, fructose corn syrup, hydrogenated oils, etc.). Reading the label of what you’re eating will tell you a lot.
You may think you lack the needed will power, but you’ll be amazed at what happens when you start to gradually improve your eating habits.
Step 3: Exercise
Exercise is the missing piece of the puzzle when it comes to better health. There are so many benefits of exercising, including stronger bones and improved libido- it’s a no brainer to start doing it. Your goal should be to exercise 3-5 times a week with a combination of cardio exercises and strength training (but no more than 1 hour per workout session).
It’s been measured that if you add 3 pounds of muscle to your body, this added muscle will burn as many calories as if you ran 1 mile. Muscle burns calories!
Step 4: Stress Management and Sleep
Stress management and getting good sleep each night round out your path to better health. Until you find a way to manage your stress, it will continue to do damage to your body. Two tips you might want to implement include prioritizing your day each morning and practicing deep breathing exercises (yes, you probably already knew this, but have you tried it?).
Getting enough sleep each night is equally important when you consider your body uses this time to repair itself. You should aim for 7-9 hours each night. Two tips you might want to implement include exercising and avoiding late night eating.
Now that you have the basics, expand on this information. Step 1 research more about Nutritional Supplements, Step 2 research more about Nutrition and so on. I guarantee after the 4 steps you’ll feel more confident about reaching your health & fitness goals.
To keep you up to date with news, tips, advice and special offers please subscribe to our newsletter bellow:
- Published in Health