Friday, April 30, 2010

Healthy Eating Tips For The Elderly

The body composition of man is always in a dynamic state and hence keeps changing, especially in old age. This affects the nutritional requirements of the body and hence healthy eating can be a challenge particularly for the elderly. Also, in old age the hormones start losing their activity, thereby making the body lose muscles and bones and gain fat. There are some factors, which if kept in check, can help all of us lead a healthy life.

In elderly people, the intake of fat should be limited. This can be achieved by making small changes in your diet like choosing lean meats, low fat dairy products and cutting out fried food. It is important to note that fats should not be totally eliminated from the diet. Since at this age the body starts to lose muscles, proteins become a crucial part of the diet plan. It also helps in building up a healthy immune system.

High quality proteins like eggs, poultry and fish should be included in the diet. Carbohydrates are a major source of energy. However, it is important that older people choose carbohydrates that are high in fiber since it will also help in preventing constipation.

Another major part of our diet is water, which normally gets neglected. As we grow old, the body starts to lose water and hence dehydration becomes a common problem. It is recommended to drink at least 1 ounce of water per 2.2 pounds of body weight.

Micronutrients like minerals and vitamins are also important. Iron deficiency is very common in old people. It gets aggravated by the fact that the elderly tend to lose appetite and hence eat less food that results in less intake of iron. This can be avoided by incorporating lean red meat and breakfast cereals in the diet.

Calcium is another mineral that is normally deficient in the elderly. The recommended intake is about 1500 mg per day. Elderly normally avoid milk, a rich source of calcium, thinking that it will cause stomach upset. There are other rich sources of calcium like low fat cheese, yogurt, broccoli etc. Another option is to use low fat powdered milk as a substitute for milk.

Zinc intake has been found to be less in the case of older people. Also, it does not get absorbed well in the body. The answer to tackling zinc deficiency is by incorporating meat, poultry and fish in the diet plan.

Vitamin B12 is another critical micronutrient that is commonly deficient in the elderly, more so since it needs an intrinsic factor for it to be absorbed by the body. Our stomach produces this intrinsic factor. Most of the elderly suffer from a condition called atrophic gastritis, which causes stomach inflammation and bacterial overgrowth. This results in less production of the intrinsic factor and hence less absorption of Vitamin B12.

The key to a healthy life as a senior citizen is in staying active and eating a balanced diet. With adequate care and required nutrition, you can ensure that your retirement years become a boon and not a bane.

Discover more articles discussing retirement and senior living at http://seniorstips.com

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

Thursday, April 29, 2010

The Perfect Blueprint For Healthy Eating

With the vitality and rushing of the everyday living at present, having to orchestrate good healthy eating plans might be nothing but a mere impossibility. There are many elements needed to complete a good dietary blueprint. If you are the kind of person who is always rushing from paying bills to picking up groceries, having to follow an eating plan may sound difficult, but it is not.

Knowing some helpful tips that can make your good lifestyle a reality is easy, if you just know what to do. Basically, there are three elements that make up a good eating list. The first is to select a healthy breakfast. Forget the belief that skipping meals can help you get that dream body. It will just make your day more difficult if you don't have enough energy to start your day. The second element is to eat a proper lunch and supper. Remember, minimizing the amount of food you take is not the answer. The real key is to properly choose the food you will consume by scrutinizing their nutrients and minerals.

The third element in constructing healthy food plans is to balance each of your meals with their proper amounts of unsaturated fat, carbohydrates, and protein. Consuming too little or too much of these important nutrients can both be bad so it is heavily important to keep just the right amount for your meals.

Together with these three important rules, you should also keep in mind to correctly monitor your calorie requirements each day. By doing so, you will insure of having and maintaining a proper body weight. This is vital when it comes to longevity, having a good well-being, and prevention of diseases. One golden nugget you should know, for example, is that the elevation of blood pressure is directly proportional to that of the increases of body weight. Moreover, having just 10 percent over your correct body weight can already put you at risk in having cancers and diabetes. On the other hand, those who are underweight like people who have anorexia are also candidates in having health problems because their body's system is too sensitive due to of lack of nutrients. These facts are evidences that a good eating plan should properly give attention to the proper calorie intake relative to the weight of the person who will follow it.

Complex carbohydrates, fats, and proteins, are the three macronutrients that gives energy for our body's system. Good healthy eating plans have the amounts of these macronutrients in proportion to the total calorie intake consumed per day. One basic rule that you should consider is to be able to have 20 percent of calories from protein, 30 percent calories from fats, and 50 percent from complex carbohydrates every day.

Follow the food guide pyramid which comprises the five main food groups and the three macronutrients groups and you will be on your way to that healthy living oasis you've been dreaming of.

With a lifelong passion for health, I enjoy sharing my personal experiences with diet and exercise. I also enjoy reviewing products, enjoy my latest reviews on what you need to know about choosing a 36" gas cooktop and island range hoods for your kitchen.

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

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Healthy Eating With Fresh Cranberries

While the cranberry and Thanksgiving just sort of go together, the health benefits of cranberries make them a good choice for a healthy diet all year long.

Cranberries are one of the tartest fruits around due to the high concentration of citric acid in them. Considering citric acid is the same thing as vitamin C, that makes the cranberry a healthy to eat fruit.

But vitamin C isn't the only thing the lovely red cranberry has going for it. Other health benefits of cranberries include having several phytonutrients, plus the fact cranberries are also rich in fiber, vitamin K and manganese.

Not to mention if you're looking for a juice high in antioxidants, cranberry ranks among the best juices to drink.

More Health Benefits of Cranberries

Cranberry juice really does help urinary tract infections. It's not just an old wives tale. In fact, studies are also showing cranberries have antibacterial properties and are potentially potent antibacterial agents.

Cranberry nutrients are even good for your digestive health. Cranberry juice inhibits H. pylori, a bacteria associated with peptic ulcers, stomach cancer, and gastritis.

Try Some Fresh Cranberries!

During November and through the winter months, fresh cranberries are usually easily found in grocery stores. They are harvested in the fall, which is one reason why the cranberry probably became so closely associated with Thanksgiving.

Fresh cranberries can be stored for weeks in the refrigerator. If placed in the freezer, they keep well for a very long time, and can be used in most recipes calling for fresh cranberries. (They may need to be thawed first, depending on the recipe.)

The only preparation needed before using cranberries is to wash them off. Throw out any berries that have dried out or are off-color. Make sure there are no stems left on the berries, and that's itt. Your fresh cranberries are ready for use.

Of course, cranberry sauce is a good way to use fresh cranberries, but they also work well in baked goods, puddings, and many other foods. There are many recipes online and most print cookbooks also have recipes that include cranberries.

However you choose to eat fresh cranberries, they're a great and tasty addition to a healthy diet.

Try this recipe for a healthy Fresh Cranberry Relish made with cranberries, apples and oranges. Or you might want to try the Cranberry Mayonnaise on Banana Salad recipe found at Health Food Made Easy. These recipes and information on how to make easy changes to make your diet healthier can be found there.

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

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Work at Home Mums - Healthy Eating Habits

We all recognise that eating nutritious foods is crucial to maintaining high levels of energy and brain power. A healthy diet helps us keep fit and arms us against diseases and viruses. However, as for several other things, busy mums tend to place their needs last and forget to maintain a daily healthy diet. This creates an even greater issue for work at home mums, especially when they work around their young kids. Our children can take up all our focus while they're up and about, and when they go to sleep or are not home we typically take the opportunity to get some work done and do house chores. Our heads are full with schedules, work commitments, our children's education and health, household planning (and the list goes on), and we occasionally have to thank our stomachs for shouting out that we are hungry, otherwise we sometimes wouldn't remember to eat! I am sure some of you can relate! I am not an expert in diet and nutrition. I believe however that sometimes taking even the simplest recognised health-promoting steps will help mums achieve greater results, and feel healthy, focused and empowered. So with the risk of repeating what everybody knows, here are some important yet easy dietary facts you need to follow to help maintain a healthy body, mind and spirit!

About Carbohydrates and the Glycaemic Index: Carbohydrates are the preferred supply of energy for your body. They are rated against the glycaemic index (GI) consistent with how quickly they get absorbed and bring up the blood glucose level. Low-GI carbohydrates help you to reach and preserve the energy you need to perform at your best, making you feel fuller for longer (hence reducing the sugar cravings and linked sugar-intake habits!). Work at home mums should include the following low-GI foods in their diet plan: oats, bran, barley, soy-derived products, beans, fruit, milk, pasta, lentils and grainy bread. Plenty of vegetables, fruits and leafy greens. Higher GI-foods like potatoes, highly refined grain products and concentrated sugar should be taken in moderation.

About Protein: Protein is also a source of energy for the body, though accounts for only a fraction compared to carbohydrates. Most significantly, proteins play an essential role in growth and repair, as well as metabolic, enzyme and chemical processes. Proteins can be found in meat, fish, poultry, eggs, dairy products, seeds, soy beans and other soy products, nuts and wheat.. Eating a diet too low in protein isn't usually a concern in industrialised countries, but it's important to understand that proteins are not stored in the body and should be taken daily.

About Iron: Tiredness, fatigue and a decreased immune system can sometimes be connected to diet-related iron deficiencies. Work at home mums simply don't have time for these! If you have concerns concerning your iron levels, see your doctor. If you have low iron levels which can be addressed through diet, ensure that you consume iron-rich foods on a daily basis, such as wholegrain cereals and breads, meat, poultry, fish, dark-green leafy vegetables, raisins, nuts, seeds, beans, peas and lentils. Remember that Vitamin C assists with iron absorption, so include fruits and vegetables rich in Vitamin C.

About Sugar: Sugar can give you an energy boost, but can bring back down your energy level even lower, and slow your brain down too. If you crave sugar, what you actually need is a low-GI snack. Wholegrain and oat-based snacks, nuts and seeds, orchard and stone fruit, bananas, dried apricots, baked beans, freshly popped popcorn, and low-fat yogourt are all examples. My best trick for work at home mums to beat the sugar habit is this: don't keep high-sugar foods in your home! If they're not within reach, you'll have to settle on the healthier choice.

About Fruit and Vegetables: You have most likely heard the magic formula by now: two serves of fruit + 5 serves of vegetables every day. This simple formula is so powerful, it helps prevent cardiac disease, cancer, obesity, and assists with cholesterol, blood pressure and digestive regularity. Work at home mums usually make sure that they include the right quantity of veggies and fruits in their kids' diet throughout the day, but forget their own. When you take the time to arrange fresh fruit and vegetables for your children, make extra for yourself to eat throughout the day.

About Legumes: Legumes, such as soybeans, lentils, kidney beans, and chick peas are great brain foods. They are also a great substitute for meat when served along cereals or pasta, providing protein, vitamins and fibre. They're versatile and easy to integrate in your diet, which is handy for work at home mums! You can add them to soups, salads, sandwiches, pasta, casseroles and stir fries.

About Water: Ok, I am not going to discuss this one in too much detail. You know water is good for you, so drink plenty of it! Fill up that big jug in the morning and have it drunk by the end of the day. Line up your glasses. If you are a busy mum working from home around your children, you might need to use creative tricks, drinking cues or monitoring tools for drinking the eight glasses of water you need, so find something that works for you! Keep in mind also that sometimes feeling hungry means that you are dehydrated, so hydrate before you fill up your plate!

About Salt: Even though salt plays a vital role in regulating blood and tissue fluids within the body, we typically consume it far beyond the recommended daily intake. The over-consumption of salt is not related to adding table salt to meals, rather we pick up the excessive amounts of sodium from the processed foods we eat. Over-consumption of salt is connected to several serious conditions, from heart and kidney disease, to cancer and osteoporosis. For work at home mums and their families, the most effective approach to ensure that the daily limit of 6g of salt (2,300mg of sodium) is not exceeded is to eat fresh, unprocessed foods. When you eat processed foods, be alert to the amounts of sodium by reading the nutrition facts on the label.

Work At Home Mums deserve to look after their health and take the time to prepare healthy meals for themselves. Let's not forget how vital it is to eat varied nutritious foods, each day, for maintaining our physical health, mental health and brain power.

Justine Simard is a mother and work at home business owner. Visit Work At Home Mums to find out about a work from home business opportunity which allows mums to attain a greater income, a better lifestyle and more freedom.

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

Healthy-Eating Children

Proper eating habits at home can make the difference in your child's behavior during the school day. If they have sufficient nutrition at home it will give them the energy they need to get through the day, and give their brain what it needs to think. Children that don't eat breakfast or don't eat well can be too tired during the school day. It is difficult to learn when you can't stay awake. If you aren't careful this is where danger starts.

Morning time can be a big rush out the door, but it is important to take the time for breakfast. Stocking up on fast breakfast choices is easier than you think. A nutritious cooked hot breakfast on the weekends and Monday mornings is how I manage to keep organized for the beginning of the week. For example, if you make extra pancake batter for waffles or pancakes and freeze the cooked item it will help accomplish having good choices for breakfast. You could lay out each pancake or waffle flat on a cookie sheet until they are frozen and then toss them in a freezer baggie. They keep their shape because they are frozen and kids can pop them in the toaster for breakfast. There are other ideas you can come up with to make breakfast easier. It's easy to provide a nutritious breakfast in the midst of the morning scuttle.

Older kids usually can fix cereal and have a piece of fruit. If this is how your home is structured, supplement the cereal with some orange juice or another 100% fruit juice. Add toast with jam or try a seasonal fruit salad or yogurt. There are many products on the market that make breakfast fast and simple. Breakfast bars can provide many nutrients that are needed for healthy bodies. Adding milk or juice can give an extra boost. Make sure whatever you fix for breakfast will fill your child up until lunch and will give them the energy they need.

You are just a few clicks away for the very best children recipes and solutions to obesity. Don't delay.

You can find more related information at: http://healthyeatingchildren.net

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

Monday, April 26, 2010

Tips For Healthy Eating During The Holiday Season

The time from Thanksgiving to New Year's Day has to be the hardest few weeks to stick to a healthy eating lifestyle or any diet for that matter. We are constantly tempted by sweets, treats and just way to much food in general. I would like to share a few tips with you that have helped me in the past to stay on track between now and the end of the year.

1) Make sure you eat before you go to any holiday gathering. You know you will be tempted by all sorts of unhealthy but yummy foods. Make sure you don't go overboard by eating something that is good for you before you go. Try to make sure you are not hungry when you arrive, or you will be much more tempted to overeat as well.

2) Drink some water before you go and alternate higher calorie drinks like alcoholic beverages, eggnog or hot chocolate with water while you are at the holiday party. Drinks can have a lot of hidden calories in them, so watch out. Diet sodas are another good option.

3) Fill your plate with some "good " foods first. Pick some raw vegetables, but go easy on the dip. Turkey breast, and lean ham or pork roast are other good choices. Don't forget a nice plate of salad with a low fat dressing and some fresh fruit for dessert.

4) Don't cut your favorite holiday treats completely out. If you don't allow yourself the occasional small indulgence, you will be much more likely to break down and binge on all those cookies and treats. The key is to enjoy small portions or bites of your favorite foods. If you have a soft side for chocolate chip cookies then go ahead and indulge, but limit yourself to one a day or every few days. Of course the same applies if you prefer cheesecake or gingerbread men.

Eat several small meals a day. This old tip holds especially true during the holiday season. We tend to skip meals and indulge in one large holiday dinner with the entire family. Don't starve yourself all day. Get some snacks in and most importantly start your day with a good, healthy breakfast. You will be able to enjoy your holiday more by stabilizing your blood sugar. You don't want to spend the day being grumpy from not eating for hours, or be the first ready for a nap after overeating.

5) Use the busy shopping season and burn some extra calories. If you are heading to the mall, park a little further away, or take your time and do a round of window shopping all through the mall before you buy. Every few extra steps that you take count. Just don't reward yourself afterwards with food. For extra motivation to get more walking in, consider wearing a pedometer. See http://www.walkingofftheweight.com for more information on walking and using a pedometer.

6) Take some time to relax. The holidays can be a very stressful season if we let them. Many of us (including myself) tend to overeat or medicate ourselves with food when we are stressed. Work in some extra time just for you. Sit in front of the fire with a good book or your favorite magazine, go get your nails done, take a bath or go for a walk. Do whatever works for you to calm you down and help you de-stress.

Above all, enjoy the holidays and remember they are not only about food, but more importantly about family spending quality time together. Treat yourself to some new holiday candles, listen to your favorite Christmas tunes, or go for a drive through a lit up neighborhood this year. Have fun during this special time of the year and enjoy that occasional cookie.

Happy Holidays!

Susanne Myers together with Christine Steendahl, owns and publishes the Healthy Menu Mailer. Each week, we provide you with 7 dinner recipes. Sign up for a free sample menu at http://www.healthymenumailer.com/sample-newsletter-signup.html

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

Healthy Eating Tips For Teens

Eating healthy food is extremely important, especially for kids and teenagers who are still growing. As they get older, your child is going to have increasing control over what they eat - particularly when they are away from you at school every day. With hectic schedules it can seem difficult to find time to choose healthy food options. There is always time for your health if you make it a priority and give it a bit of thought. These are the lessons we want to instill in our children and teens so they take these habits with them throughout their lives. Just by packing a few quick and easy healthy items each day, you can stave off temptations of less healthy options. These small "good choices" each and every day can make a big difference in their health over their lifetime.

Just what will an on-the-go teenager take (and actually eat) for lunch that is healthy, if given the choice? What better way to find out, than to ask them? The following is a list of ideas for teen lunches taken from a chat forum where teens were asked just that -

"What do you like to take for a healthy lunch?"

  • Apples, oranges, bananas, grapes, peaches, cherry tomatoes and dried fruit packs are easy and fast to pack.
  • A wrap or sandwich made with a wholegrain tortilla or bread, filled with low fat ham, turkey or chicken, rice, cheese, veggies, or beans. Low fat dressing/mayo or mustard.
  • Lots of teens replied that they love to take a salad to school for lunch! Weekend prep is key to making that possible on a busy school morning. Here are some other great ideas for teen lunches if you take a little time to prepare the weekend before:
  1. Chopping veggies like carrots, celery and peppers into sticks make quick snack options. Try dipping them in peanut butter or hummus for some extra protein and a bit of fun.
  2. Chop those same veggies a bit smaller along with mushrooms, cucumbers, avocados (with a bit of lemon to prevent browning) and romaine. Store in air tight containers for easy to throw together salad ingredients any day of the week. Cherry/grape tomatoes and baby spinach leaves are already bite size and ready to go!
  3. Boil eggs and/or chicken and slice for a more substantial and filling salad ingredients.
  4. Use tiny bowls with lids or cosmetic bottles for low fat dressings or vinegar or lemon juice and olive oil.
  5. Pre-bag nuts (cashews, peanuts, almonds), seeds (sunflower, pumpkin), dried fruits and granola, so they are easy to grab on the run.
  6. Pre-chopping fruits like watermelon, honeydew, cantaloupe, pineapple, and strawberries makes it easy to grab a bowl of fresh fruit with a yogurt and a snack bag of granola.

The following were ideas also given by teens for quick and easy lunch ideas that are not necessarily 'healthy', but are a 'healthier alternative' when you want to splurge on a treat....

  • Pretzels and air-popped popcorn are great crunchy/salty snacks.
  • A few squares of dark chocolate or a handful of dark chocolate covered raisins or nuts are a better choice for that chocolate craving.
  • 100 calories snack packs are convenient and great for portion control.

As you can see, they have about the the same needs and desires as most busy adults. They want ease, convenience and variety. Make it easy for them by making sure there are ingredients available and help them prepare ahead of time if necessary. If healthy convenient options are ready and waiting, there is a good chance your teen will be happy to take them to school! Remember to always lead by example and take these items along with you too!

Wendy Eaton invites you to learn more about healthy eating, nutritional recipes, increased energy, stronger immune system, weight loss and more by clicking on the following link, http://nutrition4lifeplan.info

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

Sunday, April 25, 2010

Healthy Eating in 100 Words

Everyone has a different idea of what healthy eating means. Some think it's all about eating lettuce and drinking only water. Others think eating healthy means you have to make gigantic sacrifices in your life that amount to starvation. To me, eating healthy means this:

"You have only one chance at life. It makes more sense to increase your chances of living longer; opposed to decreasing you chances of living longer. Eating healthy means you have taken the initiative to be around longer for those you love. Heart attack, stroke, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol have sunk in at some point, and you refuse to take any chances. Eating healthy means you have self-will, self-awareness, self-confidence, and the desire to look and feel great every single day. You understand your bank statement, so should you understand words like sodium, fat & sugar. Start now."

Simple ways to eat healthier starting today:

* Reverse your veggie to non-veggie ratio. Eat more veggies and less of the other stuff- that other stuff is what's giving you the love handles. Meat is high in sodium and fat, so eat less of it.

* Butter be gone. When you order out, make sure they prepare your meal without butter. Most restaurants use butter to add flavor to food that has been sitting out for a while.

* Use milk instead of cream in your coffee.

* Rinse all your canned foods before eating them. It washes the sodium away from them!

* Learn about food labels. Reducing fat, sodium and sugar are critical to living healthier.

Learn Food Labels. Live Longer. http://www.stopkillingyourselfbook.com/buy-now

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

Healthy Eating and Lifestyle Tips

(1) Replace refined breads and pastas made from white flour w/ ones made from whole grains.

(2) If you are an omnivore buy meat that comes from grass-fed cattle and eggs from pasture-raised chicken.

(3) Eliminate corn oil and soda from your pantry - both are heavily processed and your body doesn't NEED them.

(4) Eat only until you are 80% full. Avoid overeating, by eating only until you are satisfied.

(5) Get enough sleep. Your body can't function properly if it is not well rested. If you don't get enough sleep, you will find that the pounds stay on your body.

(6) Do workouts that you enjoy. There is no point in doing work outs that you don't like, you won't stick with them. Remember, fitness is a journey which you must commit to long-term. COMMIT TO WORKOUTS YOU ENJOY!

Instructor Taking Exercise Class At Gym

(7) Wear workout clothes that make you feel confident.. Just because you are working out doesn't mean you have to look a mess!

(8) Eat raw fruits and vegetables with every meal. Start every meal with some sort of raw fruit and/or vegetable...your waistline will thank you.

(9) Smile and laugh more often. Smiles and laughter are powerful and you should attempt to laugh and smile as many times as possible throughout the day.

Smiling everyday keeps the doctor away!

(10) Start each day by looking in the mirror and saying a positive affirmation. Mine for this week is: I choose love, joy and freedom, open my heart and allow wonderful things to flow into my life.

Jackie Omotalade is The First Lady of Fitness, Fashion, and Fun and Pittsburgh Certified Personal Trainer (CPT), Independent Beachbody Coach, TurboKick Instructor, and life coach. Her website is http://www.fixupmybody.com.

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

Saturday, April 24, 2010

Low Cost Healthy Eating

Malnutrition is the main cause of death in many underdeveloped countries where poverty is highly prevalent. It is not only poverty and impoverishment that can lead to malnutrition. Even well-off people who are ignorant about eating well can suffer due to malnutrition. According to Canada's Food Guide, meaning of eating well is "a healthy eating pattern that supports the best possible growth and development and also helps reduce the risk of chronic diseases".

Therefore, the best idea is to look for options and alternatives which allow us to eat healthily on a low budget.

o Use the food pyramid to plan out what meals to cook for your family.

o Insist that the family eats at home and avoids eating out.

o Prepare 3 wholesome meals including breakfast and ensure that you include fruits and vegetables liberally in your meals and also provide it as a snack.

Always choose foods you prepare from the bottom of the food pyramid because they are more economical, filling and less fattening. For instance, choose high fiber cereals and bread, go for green leafy vegetables, citrus fruits and increased servings of fruit juices. You must also opt for low fat milk, cheese and yoghurt. For proteins, eat beans and peas or eggs. In fact peas are an excellent source of vitamin-B (except B12), vitamin-A, vitamin-C, vitamin-E, zinc, iron, and soluble fiber. If you must eat non-vegetarian items, you can even use meat or fish as a source of protein but try to stick to lean meat and trim off the fat from the meat. Use oil sparingly and learn to eat a plain toast instead of one with butter dripping from it.

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

Bloating After Eating - How to Relieve Abdominal Distention When Eating Healthy Foods Causes Gas

With bloating after eating, you have the sensation of swelling and tightness in the stomach and/or intestines. Your pants may feel tighter and you may have pain accompanied with gas after eating.

Most often the reaction is to consider that you have eaten something that didn't agree with you and then try to avoid those foods. That may work for the short term; however, bloating after eating can be a sign of other digestive problems. Now, if this is the case, then often the complaint becomes, "I bloat up even after eating healthy foods."

For many, the simplest cause of abdominal distention is swallowing air when you eat or drink. We all swallow some air when eating, but those who gulp air in are more likely to be just eating too fast. The gas that you swallow expands when warmed up to body temperature and causes pain as it passes through the intestines.

To solve this you would slow down when eating. Chew your food and relax or not tense up. Don't eat when you are upset. Drinking through a straw eliminates gulping air in when drinking.

Another cause of bloating after eating is not having enough hydrochloric acid for digestion or having low stomach acid. Your doctor can test for this and may then have you take a hydrochloric acid supplement with your meals.

Another cause is over eating. When you over eat you stretch out the stomach and it doesn't have the room it needs to contract and work the stomach contents for digestion. Smaller, more frequent meals is the solution to this cause.

Intestinal gas can be from the waste given off by the unhealthy bacteria living on undigested food in the intestinal tract. If your food is not fully digested, it is a breading ground for unhealthy bacteria. Many times the bloating after eating is caused by both swallowed air and gases from undigested food. Just so you know, swallowed air doesn't have a bad odor when passed.

The goal is to have an efficient digestive system. Efficiency means that you have the nutrients, enzymes and digestive secretions present to be able to digest your food well. You see, if your food is well digested, there is nothing left for the unhealthy bacteria to feed and live on. They die off and you have no gas.

To keep digestion efficient, smaller meals are needed. This allows for enough mobility of the digestive tract to do its work. Too much food stretches everything out and mobility is limited. But, smaller meals help in another way too...

Smaller more frequent meals also reduces the demand on the digestive juices and enzymes. A lower demand of digestive secretions means your food is more likely to be more fully digested because the demand can be met.

Healthy eating plays a role in good digestive health. But, it can also be a bit of a problem when it comes to bloating after eating. Let me explain...

Eating healthy provides all the nutrients most of us need to maintain a healthy digestive tract. But good healthy nutritious food is also feeding that bad bacteria in the gut. The unhealthy bacteria thrive and give off gases, which cause you pain. One may give up healthy eating because of the phenomenon.

That would be a mistake because without a healthy diet, your digestion and overall health would surely suffer.

The solution is to eat well and in a way to kill off the bad bacteria in your gut. As I explained, smaller meals would leave less undigested food for them to live on. That's your first step. Eat smaller more frequent meals.

The second is to eat foods that would kill them off. Acidophilus or probiotics are healthy bacteria your digestive tract needs to function properly. These probiotics will kill off the unhealthy bacteria. You can get probiotics from yogurt. It should contain live active cultures and be organic.

Organic yogurt is the only one you should eat. The only exception would be to make it yourself. Genetically altered food is not permitted in organics. That means that the bacterial culture in the organic yogurt cannot be from genetic engineering.

Bloating after eating can be embarrassing and painful. However, it is possible to get relief. Make an appointment with your doctor for a full examination to determine the cause of your digestive problems. Then with the cause nailed down, a care plan can be worked out for you to follow.

Doris Temple created http://www.mom-going-organic-sensibly.com to fill the need for unbiased information. The Website provides information about organic food, products and healthy nutrition. Sign up for a free monthly email newsletter (ezine) and receive a free Going Organic Special Report: http://www.mom-going-organic-sensibly.com/ezine-signup.html
(c) Copyright 2009 Doris Temple - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED WORLDWIDE

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Healthy Eating Advice - What's a Guinea Pig to Do?

When my kids were growing up, they owned just about every pet you can imagine-- dogs, cats, birds, fish, hamsters, rabbits, hermit crabs, chinchillas, and a guinea pig. (I don't remember any reptiles, but I may have blocked out that experience!)

However, of all the creatures that inhabited our menagerie at one time or another, the guinea pig stands out in my mind because, it seemed to me, all that rodent did-his name was Teddy, after a famous politician, I think-all Teddy did was eat, drink, squeal and excrete!

I suppose Teddy was cute, in a beady-eyed, big-nosed, scruffy-furred sort of way. Our boys liked to try out different foods on him to augment his official guinea pig chow. "Hey, Mom! Let's see if he'll eat a piece of carrot, a Cheerio, a raisin or a jellybean!" Almost without fail, Teddy would squeal with excitement at the mere sight of a human, and then munch contentedly on nearly any tidbit he was offered.

Human guinea pigs

In some ways, we consumers are like that guinea pig. Over the last fifty or more years, health experts and the food industry have given us healthy eating advice in the form of a number of products and schemes that have been experimental to say the least, and often unsuccessful in promoting our good health. In many cases, this was done with the best of intentions, but you know that old saying about good intentions!

Here are a few examples of what I am talking about.

Healthy Eating Advice from the 1950's: Feeding babies formula in a nice, sterile bottle is better than breast-feeding.

On the other hand, before you start squealing,

Although baby formula is the best substitute we can find for mother's milk, breast milk has exactly the right combination of nutrients that babies need. Breast-feeding also helps the mom to heal after childbirth and to bond with her baby. Sometimes it is not possible to breast-feed a child, for a number of reasons, but breast milk is still the best food for infants, when available.

Healthy Eating Advice from the 1960's: Margarine, also known as oleo, is better for you than butter, since it is made from vegetable oil, which is lower in saturated fat.

On the other hand, before you start squealing,

Hydrogenating fats produces trans-fats, which are worse for you than saturated fats since they can significantly lower your good cholesterol (HDL) and increase your bad cholesterol (LDL), while at the same time encouraging inflammation and the formation of blood clots.

Healthy Eating Advice from the 1970's: Eggs are bad for you since they are high in cholesterol.

On the other hand, before you start squealing,

Eggs contain lecithin, which is a cholesterol emulsifier, along with good quality protein, vitamins and minerals. In addition, dietary cholesterol has been shown to have little effect on serum cholesterol levels.

Healthy Eating Advice from the 1980's: Low-fat diets are the way to go to lose weight.

On the other hand, before you start squealing,

Since we embraced this concept in the 1980's, we have gotten fatter, not thinner, probably because we replaced the fat with simple carbs, like sugar, which set up insulin resistance and not much satiety. A better idea is to eat healthy fats in moderation along with complex carbs and lean proteins.

Healthy Eating Advice from the 1990's: High Fructose Corn Syrup affects you the same as sugar.

On the other hand, before you start squealing,

Recent studies have shown that fructose is processed directly by your liver where it encourages fat synthesis, and although sugar in all its forms should be limited in a healthy diet, HFCS is ubiquitous in the food supply and more difficult to avoid. Stay tuned on this one.

So what's a guinea pig to do?

Because we are generally a compliant species, each time we are presented with new healthy eating advice, we obligingly squeal, eat and...well you know the rest.

However, the truth is that the formula for eating healthy does not really change, in spite of all of the latest and greatest hoopla. We knew a long time ago that the way to eat healthy is to consume a variety of fresh, whole foods, with an emphasis on fruits and vegetables, lean proteins and whole grains, and including some healthy fats and a minimum of processed foods and sugar. This is still the best healthy eating advice you can get!

Our poor Teddy couldn't help being a guinea pig, and since he was stuck in a cage, he was at the mercy of his well-meaning keepers. But, unlike that captive rodent, we are free human beings with the ability to educate ourselves about what is good for us, use common sense, and then make choices that will lead to vibrant good health and wellness.

Now you can squeal!

I am convinced that what we eat and how we eat plays a major role in how we feel and particularly, how well we are. For this reason, I would like as many people as possible to become more aware of what healthy eating involves, and of the extreme benefits that can be found in being conscious of what and how we eat.

Eat and be healthy with my warmest regards,

Suzy Staywell

http://healthy-eating-support.org
http://www.healthy-eating-support.org/small-bites.html

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Friday, April 23, 2010

Healthy Eating For Children - 4 Unhealthy Eating Habits We Teach Our Kids

Healthy eating for children is more than just eating healthy foods. Childhood is the time when we learn healthy eating habits. Not surprisingly, it is also where we learned many of these unhealthy eating habits.

1. Clean your plate
This was a common phrase at the dinner table when I was growing up. We were expected to finish the food on our plate. Yet, it doesn't fit in with healthy eating for children for two reasons. First, you are eating past the point of being full. Just consider all those calories to be extra--because they are. After you are no longer hungry, you are just adding unneeded calories. Extra calories get stored as fat.

The second issue is that over-eating stuffs the stomach. The stomach needs to be able to move, gyrate and agitate the contents as part of digestion. If it cannot, then the decreased mobility can mean food is left undigested in the intestinal tract. I have to say that this was a tough habit to break. But when I did, weight maintenance became a lot easier. Ask yourself, "How does it help some hungry person far away if I overeat?"

2. No dessert if you don't finish your meal
Here is another common mind set. In fact, a line from Pink Floyd's song Another Brick In The Wall says, "If you don't finish your meat, you can't have any pudding. How can you have any pudding, if you don't eat your meat." Pretty hard to argue with Pink Floyd, but I will go for it.

With this solution to healthy eating for children, you're not only having them over-eat, but then have them jam down some dessert too! Isn't that taking "clean your plate" to the next level by including dessert too? We are not just another brick in the wall; which I consider to be a more accurate context of Pink Floyd's point. We don't all like the same foods, nor do we all need to eat the same amount.

A better solution would be to eat till satisfied. Then in an hour or so, have a small dessert. You get to enjoy your meal and dessert without over-eating and without missing out. Something kids would appreciate too, I'm sure. Dessert is extra, it doesn't need to be part of every meal. Most desserts have a high amount of sugar. This is another reason why waiting an hour or so after dinner works well. It allows for some digestion and perhaps, just maybe the family forgets about dessert; yes, it could happen.

3. Don't spoil your dinner
Not eating or not letting your child eat when very hungry just sets you or your child up for over-eating. Have you ever been so very hungry that you just eat and eat and eat very quickly? What happens is that you ate far too quickly to register that you have had enough. When kids are made to wait when hungry, they get upset and then you have an upset child to deal with.

Instead try telling them how long till supper and ask if they can wait. Something like, "Supper will be ready in 10 minutes. Can you wait?" If not, suggest a light bite to eat to tide them over till dinner. This works well with husbands too. But the thing is, if they say they can't wait, let them eat. I'm sure in this case they will still eat the dinner you prepared. Another benefit is that they can see that they do have control over their own eating and so, are less likely to act up at meals.

4. You are going to sit there until you eat all your supper
This makes meal times stressful for your child. So let me ask you: If you go out to dinner, do you make yourself sit there till you eat all you've been served? My guess is you don't. So why not afford your child the same respect? Surely, they have the ability to know when they have had enough or they don't like something. Remember their bellies are smaller; which is a good thing. So, yes they will probably be hungry again later. Would that really be such a problem?

Raising healthy eating kids can be challenging at the best of times. They need your guidance and encouragement. By avoiding these unhealthy eating habits, you are less likely to have to deal with their defiance. Defiance that you too, would show under the same circumstances. It means you still have free will and--so do they.

Doris Temple created http://www.mom-going-organic-sensibly.com to fill the need for unbiased information. The Website provides information about organic food, products and healthy nutrition. Sign up for a free monthly email newsletter (ezine) and receive a free Going Organic Special Report: http://www.mom-going-organic-sensibly.com/ezine-signup.html

(c) Copyright 2009 Doris Temple - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED WORLDWIDE

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Thursday, April 22, 2010

Healthy Urban Kitchen Review - Healthy Eating Guide

Are you looking for more information about this healthy eating guide called Healthy Urban Kitchen Cookbook? I went ahead to read about it straight after it was first released, and now I am glad that I have achieved good fat loss results by following the methods inside. This cookbook teaches you a lot of stuff about making your own types of healthy foods to consume for faster fat loss.

1. What I Have Learned from the Healthy Urban Kitchen Cookbook

For someone like me who knew nothing much about healthy eating, this guide has given me a lot of helpful advice on how to cook up different foods to improve my health. I learned many different recipes to cook natural food, how to eat for health, the things to shop for as well as the types of foods to avoid consuming.

2. How to Make your Foods Safer for Consumption?

One important tip I learned from Healthy Urban Kitchen Cookbook is that the overuse of Teflon coated and aluminum pans can be dangerous for your health. They tend to scrap off as they get older and create toxins in the foods that you cook with them. Besides learning how to avoid hazards like this, you will also learn how to cook in order for you to minimize the loss of nutrients from your food.

3. How Does the Healthy Urban Kitchen Cookbook Help You to Lose Fats?

Every food in the guide is broken up clearly into categories like snacks and appetizers, poultry, different protein types, comfort foods and deserts etc. Each group is then described clearly in terms of their fat loss capabilities and the other benefits and potential harms that they can do to your body.

Is Healthy Urban Kitchen Cookbook a scam? Visit http://www.top-review.org/healthyurbankitchencookbook.htm to read a FREE report about this Healthy Eating Guide to find out the truth before you buy Healthy Urban Kitchen Cookbook!

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

9 Sensible Dieting Tips For Healthy Eating at Fast Food Restaurants

We all love fast food, but unfortunately eating at fast-food restaurants can be our greatest downfall when trying to lose weight and live a healthy life. Does that mean we have to give up the burgers forever if we are to stand any

chance of sticking to our healthy eating plan? Not necessarily - there are ways in which you can still enjoy your favourite fast foods as long as you keep the following sensible dieting tips in mind:

1. Read the menu carefully and make your selection with consideration. Pay attention to the descriptions on the menu. Dishes that are labelled deep-fried,pan-fried, basted, breaded, battered, crispy, scalloped, alfredo, au gratin or in cream sauce should be avoided as they are very likely to be high in calories, unhealthy fats and salt. Choose leaner meats and items with more vegetables.

2. When choosing off the menu, be aware that salads are often dressed with high fat or high calorie dressings. Ask for your food without mayonnaise or dressing you can always add a little yourself if you need to, that way you are in control of how much you put on. Most restaurants will happily give you a sachet or small dish separately.

3. Watch your portion size. Choose a smaller portion size and order a side salad instead of fries - never supersize anything. A lot of fast food restaurants serve much larger portions than you really need, so why not share with a friend. Make sure that when you feel full, you stop eating.

4. Eat mindfully. Give your full attention to what you are eating and savour each bite. Chew each mouthful thoroughly and avoid eating on the run. This will help you to recognise when you are full, make you more relaxed so that you digest better and will make you feel more satisfied.

5. Avoid buffets. You are more likely to overeat in order to get your moneys worth. Even salad buffets are often laden with hidden calories in the dressings. If you do choose a buffet, opt for salads with olive oil and vinegar or low-fat dressings, steamed vegetables and grilled meats. Resist the temptation to go back for seconds.

6. Do not add salt to your food. Most fast food restaurant food tends to be high in sodium, which is a major contributor to high blood pressure, so you do not need any extra.

7. Drink water with your meal. Soda is a very big source of hidden calories. A large cola can contain over 400 calories and has no nutritional value at all. Try adding a slice of lemon to your water or ordering unsweetened iced tea.

8. Do not be afraid to special order. Some of the items on the menu would be reasonably healthy if they were prepared in a different way. Ask for your vegetables and main courses to be served without the sauces. Ask for olive oil and vinegar to put on your salad or order your dressing to be served on the side so that you can add a little yourself.If your food is fried or cooked in butter or oil ask if you can have it grilled (broiled) or steamed.

9. Always keep the big picture in mind. If you know you are going to be eating out and do not want to miss out on your favourite meal, make sure that you plan ahead and make what you eat for the rest of the day extra healthy, this will help you to relax more and enjoy what you choose. Remember that moderation is always the key.

By following these sensible dieting tips you will find that it is possible to stick to healthy eating at fast food restaurants. You do not have to give up all of your favourite foods as long as you always keep in mind what goals you are trying to achieve and modify what you eat in order to carry on losing weight.

For sensible advice on losing weight naturally and making healthy choices, visit http://sensibleslimming.com. You can also download a free booklet entitled "Top Tips for Sensible Slimming".

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

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Healthy Eating Tips For Diabetics

Managing blood sugar is a matter of life or death for diabetics, but most people simply take it for granted because their body will do it automatically. This is not the case for diabetics. If you are diabetic you need to learn how to work with your body to help it maintain a balanced blood sugar level. For diabetics, healthy eating is a life or death matter.

Ensure that each meal or snack contains lean protein, good complex carbohydrates and as little fat as possible. Reduce or eliminate your intake of "bad" carbohydrates such as sugary sweets and starchy grains, breads and potatoes. Be mindful of your intake of certain 'bad' fats (animal fats are especially bad).

Eat a small meal or snack every 2 to 3 hours - going too long between meals is very bad for diabetics. Consult with your doctor or a diabetic educator to learn what is the best choice for you regarding meal timing.

Carefully plan out your portion sizes at meals and snacks. Too much or too little can dramatically impact the fluctuations of your glucose levels. A dietician can show you how to properly measure your portions. A rule of thumb for protein (in the form of lean meat) is a serving about the same size as a deck of cards.

Here are more healthy eating and cooking tips for diabetics. Avoid deep fried foods - the extra fat is no good for you. Instead grill or broil your meats and vegetables - and drain off the excess liquids. Use a cooking spray instead of butter, or else use a small amount of vegetable oil.

Avoid adding sugar to foods for flavoring, instead use other spices and flavorings such as lemon juice, mustards, herbs, spices, garlic, extracts such as vanilla or almond, vinegar, peppers, salsa. Whenever a recipe calls for oil, use canola or olive oil.

Back off the extra fats. Trim fat off meats, take the skin off chicken and turkey. Use reduced-fat salad dressings and mayonnaise and cheese. Use skim or low-fat milk, cheese, and dairy products such as yogurts.

Any fat that turns to solid when cooled should be avoided. This includes lard and shortening as well as bacon fat and butter.

If you're going to eat out - plan ahead before you go. This is especially true if you are taking insulin or diabetic pills. Avoid fried foods and extra salt. Ask for any sauces to be served on the side. Avoid starchy carbs and sugary sweets. Before drinking alcohol, discuss it with your doctor.

These tips are helpful for diabetics but nothing can take the place of asking your doctor personally. Visit with your doctor or diabetic educator if you have further questions about diabetes and diet.

Jonathan Ling is a professional health care educator, public speaker and article author with over 15 years of experience. He also loves to create new websites on a variety of topics. Check out his latest website, http://lgwashersanddryers.com where you can learn about the new environmentally friendly "green" appliances such as LG Washers and Dryers.

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Some Misunderstandings of Healthy Eating and Diet Styles

The researchers found that food or diet style which people consider as healthy one is not necessarily science. For Example, blueberries were known as a super food because they are rich in antioxidants. But it does not therefore consider that blueberries as the king of fruits. Words from nutritionist Angela Dalton are quoted on Daily Mail are that blueberry's antioxidant capacity index (ORAC) is not the highest. Scientists have discovered a lot of food such as dark chocolate, in which antioxidant capacity index is higher than blueberries. Many people believe that intake of eight glasses of water every day will help whitening and weight loss. But, through experiments, the University of Pennsylvania researchers have found this viewpoint was groundless. Everyone's need of water is multifarious, thirst is a signal of water shortage in the body," Dalton said, "If the urine color is pale straw-color, which indicated that you have adequate water in your body." Oklahoma researchers found that the fruits and vegetables which were stored in the refrigerator, not only can't be fresh, but also accelerate the loss of fruit and vegetable vitamin. One of the errors is eating raw vegetables does not cause the loss of nutrients. Dalton said:"take carrot for example, cell damage caused by cooking is three times than being eaten raw.

Meanwhile, the scientists also make rectification of name for some food or diet style, which are considered to be harmful to people. Many people believe that cholesterol, which is a risk to heart disease, will increase by eating eggs. But the British University of Surrey researchers have found that eating two eggs a day in 12 weeks, all testers' cholesterol didn't elevate. Eggs are rich in vitamin D, vitamin B-12 and so on but low in fat. Although coffee is refreshing, however, many people think it play the role of a diuretic. In fact, moderate consumption of coffee does not make the body dehydrate. "The human body adapts to the diuretic substance in coffee, and coffee can also provide water for the human body," Dalton said. In addition, the United Kingdom Northumbria University researchers found that drinking decaffeinated coffee is not only not be refreshing, but also may give rise to more sleepiness and memory decline.

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Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Type 2 Diabetes Diet Or Normal Healthy Eating Plan - Which is Best?

Many weight loss plans and diabetes diets offer good ideas about what should work to help control diabetes. But do you really need to follow a specific diabetic diet plan? A recent survey performed by the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine may prove otherwise. The participants in the Diabetes Obesity Intervention Trial (DO IT) study, and others highlight a number of factors that support a normal healthy approach to eating over any kind of type 2 diabetes diet.

A healthy eating and exercise plan corrects simple but fundamental errors committed by many people trying to lose weight, such as going for too long without eating or saving the biggest meal for the end of the day. It also ensures that you cover all your basic nutritional needs without ever feeling hungry.

It never restricts what you can eat, although you may need to eat favourite foods in smaller portions or prepare them in different ways. A typical comment by DO IT participants is: "It didn't feel like a diet.'

It's a plan you can live with. Although recent research has tentatively bolstered weight loss claims made for popular low-carbohydrate diets - at least in the short term - doctors and dietitians find that many people have an extremely difficult time staying on these diets long term because they are too restrictive. A more balanced and healthy eating plan can produce significant results that become a way of life, not merely a temporary fix.

Another important reason to follow a healthy eating plan rather than a specific diabetic diet is that it has been proven to work for people with Type 2 diabetes. Eating smaller meals more regularly is specifically designed to keep blood sugar levels from swinging wildly between highs and lows, as well as to reduce your calorie intake so that you lose weight.

Unlike many low-carbohydrate diets, the eating smaller meals more regularly steers you clear of the less healthy type of fat that makes blood sugar more difficult to control and raises your risk of heart disease - already a big danger if you have diabetes - and focuses on the 'healthy' fats that facilitate better blood sugar control.

You can eating unlimited amounts of vegetables, which will provide plenty of the nutrients that people with diabetes need most (not to mention plenty of food, so you won't be hungry). And the exercise you get will help to increase your insulin sensitivity and further decrease your blood sugar levels.

Because a normal healthy eating plan doesn't involve maths, it's easy to follow. There's no calorie or carbohydrate counting (except for an initial one-off assessment of your current diet); you don't have to know the specific Glycaemic Index values of all the foods you eat; and you don't have to eat your burger without a bun or give up potatoes. You're allowed to eat bread and pasta, and even dessert, in reasonable amounts. You will need to make some changes - for instance, eat a little less fat, fill your plate with more vegetables, and cut back a little on portion sizes overall - but they aren't big ones. And you must be ready for change, or you wouldn't be reading this article.

The Power Of Choice

Can a 'self-selected' diet really control blood sugar as well as one that imposes more rigid guidelines? Researchers at Emory University in Atlanta, USA, recently put this question to the test with 648 African-Americans, whose risk of diabetes is twice that of Caucasians.

One group of Type 2 diabetes patients was put on an eating plan using food exchanges, while another group was given a much simpler program that emphasized making healthy choices (balanced meals, less fat).

The result: the people in the healthy choices group improved their blood sugar just as much as those on the plan that used the food exchanges.

Following a diabetes diet plan may not necessarily be the best thing to control and manage your diabetes symptoms. A normal healthy eating plan coupled with some regular exercise could be just as good as any diabetic diet plan. Get the facts today.

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

Healthy Eating During Pregnancy - 5 Healthy Eating Rules NOT to Ignore

Dear my pregnant friends,

Congratulations on your pregnancy. Whether it is a baby boy or a baby girl, you must be excited to prepare all things related to your delivery time. I believe you start thinking of a meaningful name for the baby like I did before. Everyday is full of joy of waiting your coming little love.

As you are pregnant now, you must watch the food you eat everyday since you are now eating for two. Some of pregnant mommies lose the appetite of eating and some of you might feel like vomiting when smelling a certain food. Whatever your condition is, you must try your best to eat properly which is full of nutrient.

Healthy eating during pregnancy is a MUST for every pregnant woman.

Here are the 5 eating rules you must follow:

Rule # 1

Keep It HOT
Always cook your food well so no bacteria which is still alive. Avoid 24-hour leftover foods but if you have no choice, do not forget to heat properly.

Rule # 2

Avoid FISHY Foods
Stay away from eating shark, swordfish, kink mackerel, fresh tuna, sea bass, and tilefish as they contain of high level of mercury.

Best advice: 12 oz. per week of canned tuna is SAFE for pregnant women. Survey based on The American Pregnancy Association

Rule # 3

Stay Away from GERMS
AVOID soft cheeses, raw fish and uncooked meats as they might carry Listeria.

Caution: Listeria is a kind of bacterial infection which can be harmful and dangerous to your growing baby.

Rule # 4

Keep It COOKED
NEVER eat raw eggs including Caesar dressing, eggnog, mayonnaise, and any foods which contain of raw eggs in them.
Raw eggs do not reach high enough temperatures to get rid of the harmful salmonella bacteria.

Rule # 5

Avoid Harmful HERBS
Peppermint, basil and oregano oil must be avoided since they cause uterine contractions. You must educate yourself to know which herbs which are harmful for you and which are safe for you.

The Bottom Line...

Healthy Eating during Pregnancy must not be ignored by any pregnant women in the world. You must be mindful of foods you put in your mouth. Only eat high quality and highly nutritious foods for the sake of your lovely baby and yourself.

To get more FREE information on healthy eating during pregnancy, visit http://www.pregnancy-without-pound.com

Find out what to eat to reduce food cravings, puffy face and varicose veins!

You can also download the FREE mini course on how to melt your pounds quickly without starving. The program is totally designed for new moms.

Charlene Wayne is a holistic health practitioner who is eager to share her amazing pregnancy experience to every mother to have a healthy and pain free pregnancy.

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

Monday, April 19, 2010

Yoga and Healthy Eating - How to Choose Health Foods to Eat

Have you heard the saying "you are what you eat?" "An apple a day keeps the doctor away" and "carrots help you see in the dark?"

How about the famous saying "eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a pauper?"

Quotations like this tell you just how powerful food is and how much of our lives are dominated by what we eat.

Everywhere you look there are TV commercials for food and there are fast food stores, sandwich bars or cafes on every street corner. It seems like your whole life is surrounded by what to eat in one shape or other.

With so much choice around, how do you know what will nourish and protect your body? You know that fruit and vegetables are good for you, yet when faced with such a glorious display at your local supermarket how do you decide what vegetables to pick and choose?

As usual, yoga provides you with a simple solution to help you choose foods that are wholesome, energising and have optimal nutritional value. Yoga philosophy encourages you to eat foods which contribute to your health and well-being; to eat things that bring inner peace to the mind and body and encourage spiritual growth.

From a yogic point of view, all of life is classified into their energetic qualities, known as the three Gunas. The types of foods you eat are also classified according to their energetic qualities. These three qualities or three gunas are known as "Sattva", "Rajas" and "Tamasic"

Sattvic

Sattvic foods are pure natural foods. They are foods that bring maximum vitality, energy and stability to your mind, body and soul. Where possible, sattvic foods are best eaten as close as possible to their natural state, e.g fresh, organic, raw, lightly cooked or steamed. Sattvic foods include grains such as barley, rice, oats, millet and quinoa, fresh fruits and vegetables, pulses, nuts and seeds.

Rajasic

Rajasic foods are active foods which over-stimulate and activate the body and mind, for example, coffee, heavily spiced and salted or fast foods. Rajasic foods taste bitter and sour. From a yogic philosophy rajasic foods agitate the mind and make it difficult for you to be calm and peaceful.

Tamasic

Tamasic foods are foods which are stale, over ripe or unripe, or which are overcooked and dead - for example meat, fried, burned or reheated foods. From a yogic perspective, tamasic foods are hard for you to digest, full of fat and have minimal nutritional value.

Classifying your foods into the three gunas (sattvic, rajasic and tamasic) gives you an idea of the nutritional and energetic quality of your food. They are not static categories but offer you guidelines to eat foods which promote and enhance your physical health and emotional well being.

If you are keen to get the most out of your life, to feel happy, stress-free and successful, then visit http://www.yogainspires.co.uk for more details. Ntathu Allen, Hatha Yoga Teacher works with women who want a richer, more fulfilling life for themselves and their families. She inspires and supports you to take time-out from your busy schedule to release stress and nurture your mind body and soul. To find out more and receive your FREE Special Report - Ten Yoga Postures To Jump-Start Your Day when you sign up for Ntathu's Free weekly Yoga Newsletter on http://www.yogainspires.co.uk

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

Sunday, April 18, 2010

Develop Healthy Eating Habits and Make Diets Work For You

How to make diet work for me? This question people ask when they start a new diet.To make it work you have to not only switch to different food, but also introduce healthy eating habits in your life and cultivate them through the rest of your life.

The last few decades our life become so intense and overstimulated that we completely forgot about old healthy eating habits, which slowly had been disappeared under the pressure of modern live. But after a while we realized that only diet can't fix the problems of weight and bulge eating. It must be supported by healthy eating habits and physical activity.

No reason to focus on the problem like losing weight. It is doomed to failure from the start. A recent review, published in the prestigious American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, found that Americans who lost weight gained back almost 80% of that weight within 5 years!

If you want that healthy diet have worked for you and helped to lose weight, you must be prepare to switch your attention from weight problem to a task of adopting some healthy eating habits. Here are some of them--

  • eat only if you are really hungry
  • change your attitude towards food
  • walk out of the table with light sense of hunger
  • have your last meal 4 hours before bed time

I'll give you more detailed outlook about each point. The first one is the most simple one. But how often we break it and eat when we are upset,bored or just it is time to eat.We have to learn to listen and understand our body better.

The second point require a lot of effort to implement. What does it mean to change the attitude towards food? It means to reprogram your brain do not look at the food as means of gratification but only as an energy source for the body to keep it function. You can do it with affirmations or self-hypnoses. These programs are available on Internet.Or another way around this problem is to keep the brain busy with more interesting stuff then food.

The third point is all about the size of our meals. Our portion size is larger if you compare it to the size of meal 3-4 decades ago. You just need to reduce the size of your meals. By making the portion size gradually smaller you'll give your stomach time to adjust to changes without much struggle. And also don't forget that we experience sense of fullness 5-10 minutes later after we finish our meal. Walking out of the table before we feel full, we avoid having food, which our body don't need.

The last one is not complicated either, but really important. If you go to bed with empty stomach, you give your body a chance to have really good rest and your liver will be burning existing fat instead of digesting the new one.

A lot of healthy diets, which are on the market place, help you to lose weight and improve your life in a short period of time. But long-term results can only be achieved if you choose a diet, which is suited for your body type. And you can stay on it for a long time. No reason to choose a diet, which you could hardly handle for a few weeks. If you support this diet with healthy habits, you can create long lasting positive changes in your life.

I successfully tasted all these tips. Read more about healthy eating

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

Saturday, April 17, 2010

Don't Get Frustrated While Looking For a Healthy Eating Guide

Searching for a healthy eating guide can get irritating. I, such as you, was in the same situation many months ago. I needed to lose some weight and reduce my cholesterol. I asked my physician what I should do to achieve the tasks he handed down to me. The first suggestion he gave me was to not go out and try to make a severe adjustment. What he recommended is that I should find out some methods to eat healthier. When you discover ways to eat healthier and with a small amount of exercise you will drop the weight and lower your cholesterol as well.

I was constantly on the internet looking for a healthy eating guide and ways to lose weight. I was starting to get obsessed with finding the proper program. Following some intense research I at last found the best weight loss program and steadily began to lose some weight. I lost about 10 pounds in the very first month and I was excited to go to the doctor and show him how I was progressing.

I went to the physician and as opposed to getting a "great job your entire levels are great!", my physician said to me, "well you are beginning to slim down that is the good news". I thought to myself, "whenever somebody says good news there may be bad news following it." Well sure enough, there was bad news. He said, "now with the bad news." I was in shock. He said, "your cholesterol has not come down at all." Being a fairly young guy at the time I was shocked.

I couldn't believe it. I asked him, "how can I shed unwanted weight and not drop my cholesterol?" He asked me if I had remembered our visit from last month. I said, "yes I remember." "Do you remember what I said?" I thought, "of course - why do you think I dropped the weight?" "Now don't take this the wrong way," he said, "the weight loss is superb but you must determine methods to eat healthier." Ahh after that it hit me - "discover how to eat healthier" now I remember those words.

Once speaking with him and actually listening this time, I realized I was not looking for the proper way to lower my cholesterol. I needed to find a way to eat healthier and concentrate more on discovering a healthy eating guide to accomplish my objective of cutting down my cholesterol. I got on the web and I found an ideal healthy eating guide for me. When focusing more on my eating plus adding in exercise I was dropping the weight and lowering my possibilities of heart disease, diabetes and cancer.

About The Author:

Jay Morgan is a nutritionist and a certified personal trainer who specializes in muscular strength, muscular endurance, body composition, cardiovascular, endurance, and flexibility. You can find the "healthy eating guide" he used and is recommending to all of his clients at

http://www.EatingHealthyFoods.info

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

Good Health Foods - 4 Easy to Remember Tips

Good health foods are readily available. However, many folks choose to ignore the foods their body craves and insist on consuming massive quantities of the worst foods to eat, fast foods.

But you know that fast food is bad for you, correct?

However, you may find yourself eating many of these detrimental foods because of time constraints or other reasons that may seem "reasonable."

Balanced Healthy Diet

How are you to remember all of the good health foods you are supposed to be eating everyday?

It's easy.

You use general guidelines that will get you on the right track in forming a easy healthy diet plan.

Healthy Eating Guidelines

Healthy eating guidelines are easy to remember making it easy to formulate a healthy diet plan for you and your family.

Here are simple-to-remember tips you can use at every meal:

1. Consume five (and preferably more) servings of raw vegetables and fresh fruit every day without exception.

2. Eat bread, pasta, and cereal (both hot and cold cereals) that are made from whole grains instead of refined grains.

3. Your daily protein consumption should be kept to a piece of meat about the size of a pack of playing cards. Other sources of protein such as eggs, milk, beans, and some vegetables can make up a portion of this daily requirement.

4. Drink a large quantity of pure water to flush toxins from your body. Your body needs water on a continual basis for many different chores it performs.

These are the basics that will make it easy for you to find healthy foods to eat.

Now you only have to begin to slowly integrate these types of foods into the meals you currently consume. It' easy to do if you begin serving a salad or raw vegetable platter as an appetizer to every lunch or dinner you eat.

It is important that you always have raw vegetables with each meal because cooking kills all of the vital enzymes and most of the other nutrients.

Best Weight Loss Plan

Many times folks want to know what good health foods are available because they want to lose weight.

Healthy Diet Meal Plan

Unfortunately, many of the lessons we used to become skilled at in the kitchen as we grew up have not been learned.

So how are you supposed to transform these good health foods into delectable table fare you and your family will look forward to consuming?

You will find a bunch of excellent ideas to learn how to make great meals out of good health foods.

Dr. Dale Heil

Have you ever wondered why some people just cannot lose weight and keep it off?

Would you like to learn how to modify your favorite recipes to be healthier table fare so you can eat what you want and stay healthy?

Visit http://Eat-Healthy-Diet-Plan.com for great recipes, cooking tips for healthy eating, and common sense weight loss.

Click here for fantastic examples of healthy dinner ideas:
http://www.eat-healthy-diet-plan.com/Healthy-Dinner.html

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dr._Dale_Heil

Friday, April 16, 2010

Healthy Eating For Kids

A lot of toddlers and small children can be very finicky eaters. As a parent, you may find it difficult to convince your younger kids to eat healthy foods. It is especially important for your kids to eat healthy if they have a common skin condition such as eczema. The foods they eat affect their health, their skin, attitude, and energy. You may try bribing your kids to eat with toys, have endless battles at the dinner table, or give in and feed them cookies and candy. If you want your kids to eat healthy, here are some tips to get them to eat the foods that are good for them.

One of the best tips as a parent is to start your children young on healthy eating. When they are babies, feed them organic fruit and vegetable purees. When they start drinking juice, buy organic brands that do not add sugars or artificial substances. Your child will develop a pallet for healthy eating starting from the time they are a baby. It will be easier for you to feed your kids healthy fruits and vegetables. If you start feeding them sweet juices, processed foods, or candy than it can be hard later on to encourage them to eat healthier foods.

On the other hand, it is never too late to start eating healthy and organic if you and your kids are not already. Another great tip to get your kids to eat right is to involve them in the kitchen while you are cooking and grocery shopping. Encourage them to help you prepare dinner or snacks and to pick out food in the produce section. The produce section in the grocery store is a great place to teach your kids about healthy eating by naming fruits and vegetables. You can also teach them math and colors with the bright colored produce.

How you prepare food can make a difference when you introduce healthy food or encourage your kids to eat. When you are preparing snacks, you can cut fruit in fun shapes or prepare vegetables like finger foods. When you are serving vegetables, sometimes it will help if you have dip or dressing. You can also serve apple slices with organic peanut butter or cheese, and it tastes really good. It can help if you let your kids choose what they want for a snack too. You can limit their choices to a few things such as fruit, vegetables, or cheese and crackers. If you have other healthy snack ideas you can have that as a choice as well.

Having your kitchen filled with healthy foods will set a good example, and your kids will see that you are a family of healthy eaters. If you have processed foods that are high in sugar, high fructose corn syrup, or artificial ingredients you should replace the items with healthy organic products. Have your fridge filled with fruits and vegetables and raw milk and cheeses.

Melanie Nader is the founder of the Homestead Company which makes premium quality natural skin care products including eczema oil and diaper ointment made with the finest 100% natural ingredients. For more information, visit http://www.homesteadcompany.com.

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

Thursday, April 15, 2010

How to Turn Binge Eating Into Healthy Eating?

If you want to turn your binge eating habit into a healthy eating habit, first of all you must BELIEVE that you can do it. This is the first and most important step on the road to recovery from binge eating.

Put it this way: if you believe you can eat healthy without overeating - that means you will be able to eat healthy sooner rather than later. If you don't believe it - you will not be able to eat healthy regardless of what kind of therapy you undergo, unless you start believing you can the future for you is cloudy.
You may ask "how can I believe in my ability to eat healthy if I always get overwhelmed with these unbearable urges to binge?"

We understand that the urges to binge are strong but nevertheless it is possible to overcome them. Many people have and you can too if you really want to.

You see, urges are really just the thoughts and feelings. So if you are set on stopping them you can do it by making some changes in your daily routine. Then, these binging thoughts will get weaker if you continue to practise the changes.

Here are some important points to help you make changes:

1. Start imagining yourself slim (or have a slim picture of yourself in your mind)

2. Draw a schematic picture of yourself on a piece of paper where you are slim and happy.

3. Set 30 min a day to sit quietly, close your eyes and visualise a slim, healthy you. Attach happy feelings to this picture of yourself.

4. If you have a special time when you binge (for instance, some people binge eat after work, or after school) try to meditate at that special time or any time close to your normal binge eating time.

5. Never eat alone. Get a friend or relative to share dinner with you. Tell them to stop you if they see you lose control.

6. When you eat look at yourself from a different angle try to observe yourself from a 3rd person perspective. Mentally make comments to yourself as if you were sitting in another chair watching yourself eat. For example "She/he is now eating her/his Caesar salad delicately and calmly because she/he is a lady/ gentleman. She/he is chewing slowly because she/he is enjoying the taste of the food and does not want to rush. She/he is talking to her/his friend about what happened during their day". Slow down, think before acting.

7. Learn to observe your own behaviour and make regular mental comment of your own behaviour during the day. From the time you wake up - do mental commenting on your behaviour as if you are observing yourself from the distance.

8. Don't keep too much snack type food you can binge on in fridge. Place more fruits and vegetables in the fridge just in case you get an urge to binge, if there is no junk food then you will have more control.

9. Regular exercise changes your feelings from the negative to more positive ones. This is because you release the feel good chemical endorphin in your brain after regular physical activity - this will reduce your urges to binge (gradually).

10. Always remind yourself that you don't need so much food to keep you healthy. The truth is only by moderating your food consumption can you really be happy and healthy. You know this to be a true statement, because you know how bad you feel after you have binged.

Now, I've saved the best for last.

If you think that all of the above is going to be too difficult for you at the moment, then wouldn't it be nice if there was a way you can do all this easy and fast? What if the information could be installed into your subconscious mind by someone else just by listening to a hypnotic voice and putting you in a meditational state? What if you can do this while you sleep as well?

The good news is you can do this by using special Mindfulness Training for binge eating / overeating. Mindfulness training allows you to make the changes you need easily and effectively by programming your subconscious to change and help you break the binge cycle.

Dr Irina Webster MD is a Director of Women Health Issues Program. She is an author and a public speaker. To read more about mindfulness training for eating disorders go to http://www.meditation-sensation.com

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

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Homemade Tuna Salad Recipe For Healthy Eating

Salads are a great side dish to any kind of meal. They are light, non-messy and good to eat. Apart from this, they are also very healthy because most salads don't involve cooking; all ingredients offer their natural health benefits. Tuna, as everyone knows is a powerhouse of nutrients; it's rich in protein, B vitamins and minerals. Apart from these, tuna also has the Omega 3 Fatty acids; these are extremely beneficial to the heart and also help in controlling cholesterol.

A lot of health benefits have been attributed to the tuna; regular intake is said to prevent heart attacks, Alzheimer's disease, cure dry eyes, minimize risk of muscular degeneration, boost kidney and colon health, flush out toxins from the body, prevent asthma and control blood pressure. When a food product offers so many benefits to the health; most people think it'd definitely taste bad. However, the tuna's enjoyed by people from all over the world and its taste is relished along with its good attributes. While canned tuna's available everywhere in the United States, fresh tuna's said to be much more flavoursome and is enjoyed by people at coastal towns.

The tuna salad is a versatile dish. You can combine tuna with a variety of ingredients to make a good, healthy salad. This is because tuna has a mild flavour that goes well with lots of other salad ingredients. This salad can be had as a side dish or used as a filling for sandwiches. The tuna salad sandwich is an American favourite. Dieters love this salad for its low calorie count and its nutrition value.

Here's a recipe for an easy tuna salad that uses a combination of ingredients that are different from the usual bland salad components. Try this out and see how fast it vanishes.

You'll need -

To make the salad -

* Canned tuna - drained and flaked - 1 Can

* Mayonnaise or any salad dressing - 6 tbsp

* Sweet pickle relish - 3 tbsp

* Dried crushed onion flakes - 1/8 tsp

* Parmesan cheese - 1 tbsp

For seasoning

* Dried parsley - 1 tbsp

* Curry powder - ¼ tsp

* Dried dill weed - 1 tsp

* Garlic powder - to taste

Combine the salad ingredients in a bowl and stir till they're mixed well. Add the seasoning and mix again.

Your tuna salad's ready. Transfer to serving bowl and offer as a side dish with crackers or use as a sandwich filling.

If you would like to see the photo of this dish, please check here: http://www.healthyrecipe.org/welcome-to-healthy-food-recipes-online/tuna-salad-by-julesstonesoup/.

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

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

How Healthy Eating Helps With Your Arthritis Treatment

Everyone knows that the key to avoiding diseases, illnesses and health problems is through gentle but regular exercise, good food and a general all round healthy lifestyle. For many, this advise come too late and for others, illnesses such as arthritis may be unavoidable.

Sportsmen and women alike often face the issue once they are older that their bodies have been pushed too far too often. High impact sports, where joins are pushed to their limits, often see a high amount of people contracting osteoarthritis. There is an osteoarthritis treatment out there that can help your knees and hips, but it is important to do all you can to help the treatment perform its best. You can supplement your arthritis treatment with a healthy and doctor-approved diet.

Your diet may be the best way to help your arthritis treatment work at the highest level. There are some food which should be avoided, and others which you should make sure you are eating plenty of. More plant-based foods and omega-3 fatty acids in your diet will help to lubricate your joints, stopping your joints from having such bad inflammation. Omega-3 fatty acids are found mostly in fish. You can get supplements from your doctor, as well as directly from the food themselves. It is also widely known that olive oil has anti-inflammatory properties which are similar to ibuprofen and aspirin. Eat pastas or salads with a little Extra-virgin olive oil drizzled over - or change your usual cooking oil to olive oil. Strawberries are also known to reduce inflammation while satisfying your sweet tooth!

Watching your weight will also help to prevent any extra stress put on your body and joint. Keeping a healthy BMI count will show you if you need to lose weight for your body's own good. Avoid high cholesterol food and eat whole grains and plenty of vegetables to keep your weight on track.

It's always a good idea to take your whole lifestyle into consideration when looking at your health. For those people who are unfortunate enough to get arthritis there are treatments available that can made your life a lot easier, but supplementing your treatment with a good diet will help you to get the most out of your life - especially if you were accustomed to an energetic and active life.

My name is Ben Camelas a researcher who normally writes in newspapers and magazines about new medical advances for osteoarthritis and arthritis. Don't hesitate to get in contact.

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

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