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Archive for October 2009
Relaxation Herbs – How Tea Can Help You Relax at Home
Caroline Begin asked:
Teas and relaxation herbs have been used for centuries to help people relax, gain more energy, lose weight, as well as many other benefits. This article will enlighten you on a few relaxation herbs that you can use at home to relax.
Chamomile Tea – The Common Way to Relax with Tea
Chamomile Tea (also spelled camomile tea) is a well-known tea to help people who have trouble sleeping. Its aroma helps release tension and prepares your body and mind for a relaxing night. It doesn’t contain caffeine and it can also help settle an irritable bowel.
In case you’ve tried and disliked chamomile tea in the past, you should try the “loose leaf” or “loose flower” version. The flavor is not as bland as the chamomile tea bag version. For more information on chamomile tea, visit:
http://www.relaxation-at-home.com/benefits-of-chamomile-tea.html
Headache, Indigestion and Congested Sinus Relief
Ginger can help relieve tension headaches, indigestion or congested sinuses. In addition, it can also help pregnant women deal with morning sickness and it will not harm the fetus.
Here is how to prepare ginger tea at home:
1. Grate enough fresh ginger to produce 2 tsp of ginger.
2. In a pot, bring 1 1/2 cup of water to a boil with the freshly grated ginger. Let it boil for 5 minutes.
3. Remove from heat and let it steep for 10 minutes.
4. Pour in a cup and sip slowly while inhaling the steam as you drink the ginger infusion.
Rosemary Tea – Perfect Herbal Remedy for PMS
If you suffer from PMS, add 1 teaspoon of dried rosemary to a cup of boiling water. Cover your cup and let it steep for about 12 minutes. Drink slowly and enjoy.
Relaxation Herbs Combined into Delicious Tea
Here is a blend of tea that you can use at home to relax. You should be able to find all of these ingredients from a local naturalist store.
1/2 tsp Dandelion Root
1 tsp Nettle Leaf
1 tsp Raspberry Leaf
1/2 tsp Chamomile Flower
1/2 tsp Rosemary Leaf
1/4 tsp Licorice Root
1/4 tsp Ginger Root
Simply bring water to a boil, then let these relaxation herbs steep for 3 to 5 minutes before drinking. If you prefer iced tea, simply let it cool, then add ice cubes for a deliciously refreshing and relaxing drink.
Other Ways to Enjoy Relaxation Herbs – Aromatherapy
There are many other ways relaxation herbs can be incorporated into your life to help you relax. For example, you can use aromatherapy and benefit from particular herbs such as jasmine. Jasmine essential oil can be added to your bath to relax your muscles and improve your mood. Try adding 10 to 15 drops of jasmine oil to warm bath water.
You can also use lavender to promote a good night sleep. If you have access to dried lavender flowers, simply place a few in your pillowcase. The aroma will help lull you to sleep and remove the tension in your muscles.
No Nonsense Muscle Building
Teas and relaxation herbs have been used for centuries to help people relax, gain more energy, lose weight, as well as many other benefits. This article will enlighten you on a few relaxation herbs that you can use at home to relax.
Chamomile Tea – The Common Way to Relax with Tea
Chamomile Tea (also spelled camomile tea) is a well-known tea to help people who have trouble sleeping. Its aroma helps release tension and prepares your body and mind for a relaxing night. It doesn’t contain caffeine and it can also help settle an irritable bowel.
In case you’ve tried and disliked chamomile tea in the past, you should try the “loose leaf” or “loose flower” version. The flavor is not as bland as the chamomile tea bag version. For more information on chamomile tea, visit:
http://www.relaxation-at-home.com/benefits-of-chamomile-tea.html
Headache, Indigestion and Congested Sinus Relief
Ginger can help relieve tension headaches, indigestion or congested sinuses. In addition, it can also help pregnant women deal with morning sickness and it will not harm the fetus.
Here is how to prepare ginger tea at home:
1. Grate enough fresh ginger to produce 2 tsp of ginger.
2. In a pot, bring 1 1/2 cup of water to a boil with the freshly grated ginger. Let it boil for 5 minutes.
3. Remove from heat and let it steep for 10 minutes.
4. Pour in a cup and sip slowly while inhaling the steam as you drink the ginger infusion.
Rosemary Tea – Perfect Herbal Remedy for PMS
If you suffer from PMS, add 1 teaspoon of dried rosemary to a cup of boiling water. Cover your cup and let it steep for about 12 minutes. Drink slowly and enjoy.
Relaxation Herbs Combined into Delicious Tea
Here is a blend of tea that you can use at home to relax. You should be able to find all of these ingredients from a local naturalist store.
1/2 tsp Dandelion Root
1 tsp Nettle Leaf
1 tsp Raspberry Leaf
1/2 tsp Chamomile Flower
1/2 tsp Rosemary Leaf
1/4 tsp Licorice Root
1/4 tsp Ginger Root
Simply bring water to a boil, then let these relaxation herbs steep for 3 to 5 minutes before drinking. If you prefer iced tea, simply let it cool, then add ice cubes for a deliciously refreshing and relaxing drink.
Other Ways to Enjoy Relaxation Herbs – Aromatherapy
There are many other ways relaxation herbs can be incorporated into your life to help you relax. For example, you can use aromatherapy and benefit from particular herbs such as jasmine. Jasmine essential oil can be added to your bath to relax your muscles and improve your mood. Try adding 10 to 15 drops of jasmine oil to warm bath water.
You can also use lavender to promote a good night sleep. If you have access to dried lavender flowers, simply place a few in your pillowcase. The aroma will help lull you to sleep and remove the tension in your muscles.
No Nonsense Muscle Building
How to Build Muscle Weight
Rando Meresmaa asked:
I think the biggest problem for a lot of people is that they can´t build muscle continually. Progress is the fastest when you are just starting out. But it is difficult for most people to make progress month after month, year after year. There comes a time when nothing happens. Some are so dissapointed that they give up, others start using steroids hoping that this will solve the problem.
But actually it is very easy to make build muscle weight continually. Every time you go to the gym you have to make some kind of a Personal Record. You can do more reps with the same weight, put on more weight to the bar, add another set or just make your workout more intense. Doing the same thing that you have done in a previous workout will not help you to build muscle. If you apply new stress to the body with more weight or extra reps, then the body will adapt by building itself up bigger and stronger. But if you don´t apply new stress then your body has no reason to adapt. That is why a PR is so important.
You don´t have to set a sinle rep PR. You can set a 3 rep, 5 re or 10 rep record. If you want to build muscle weight all the time, then you have to break records all the time. Of course it is impossible to keep track of every record without a training journal. Having a training journal is very important because you get detailed records of everything you do in a training journal and you can always look back at it so you have a goal to shoot for at every workout and on every set you do.
Having a PR will also give you more motivation and makes the workout more interesting. It is like you are combeating with yourself all the time. If you finish your workout and you have made a PR or more, then you also build muscle weight. If you follow that simple tip, then you will be surprised how much progress you will make.
The Truth About Abs
I think the biggest problem for a lot of people is that they can´t build muscle continually. Progress is the fastest when you are just starting out. But it is difficult for most people to make progress month after month, year after year. There comes a time when nothing happens. Some are so dissapointed that they give up, others start using steroids hoping that this will solve the problem.
But actually it is very easy to make build muscle weight continually. Every time you go to the gym you have to make some kind of a Personal Record. You can do more reps with the same weight, put on more weight to the bar, add another set or just make your workout more intense. Doing the same thing that you have done in a previous workout will not help you to build muscle. If you apply new stress to the body with more weight or extra reps, then the body will adapt by building itself up bigger and stronger. But if you don´t apply new stress then your body has no reason to adapt. That is why a PR is so important.
You don´t have to set a sinle rep PR. You can set a 3 rep, 5 re or 10 rep record. If you want to build muscle weight all the time, then you have to break records all the time. Of course it is impossible to keep track of every record without a training journal. Having a training journal is very important because you get detailed records of everything you do in a training journal and you can always look back at it so you have a goal to shoot for at every workout and on every set you do.
Having a PR will also give you more motivation and makes the workout more interesting. It is like you are combeating with yourself all the time. If you finish your workout and you have made a PR or more, then you also build muscle weight. If you follow that simple tip, then you will be surprised how much progress you will make.
The Truth About Abs
Discover What You Should Be Eating To Build Muscle
villenoire asked:
od that helps build muscle will ensure that you are not wasting all that hard work you are doing in the gym.
Working your muscles utilizes considerable energy. So what happens if you fail to eat the right type of food to build muscle mass? It will take longer to build muscle, and it may even prevent effect muscle building altogether once you reach a certain point.
A diet that is low in fat goes without saying with any serious bodybuilder. Protein provides the building blocks to build that muscle. What types of protein are best? Chicken, eggs, steak (with the fat cut off), fish, cheese (especially cottage cheese), and nuts are all great sources of protein.
There is an optimum amount of protein that your body needs for building muscle effectively. Do you know your lean body mass weight? Yes? Great! If you do not know your lean body mass weight, you will need to apply one of the formulas that calculate this.
Carbohydrates, in moderation, are also essential when finding foods that build muscle. Good high fiber carbs include rice, potatoes (yes, potatoes – just do not add butter!), oatmeal and bananas.
Reducing fat in your diet is of course necessary to build bigger muscle on a body that appears lean and has a low body fat ratio. If you are focussing on what foods build muscle mass, you also need to bear in mind that it pays to reduce fat as well. Although proteins are essential (as we talked about earlier), it is really important to select proteins that are low in fat, or that you can cut the fat off. So eat your chicken without the skin, and go for lean steaks rather than more fatty cuts of meat. Opting for cottage cheese or other reduced fat cheeses, and low fat milk also helps reduce your fat intake.
Drinking sufficient water with your meals, between meals, and while you are working out is also very important. Two litres of water a day is what most experts recommend to maintain optimal health. Regular bodybuilding workouts are also essential to maximise the effects of good bodybuilding diets.
Finally, and perhaps most importantly, do not fall into the trap of believing that if you eat a bodybuilding diet you can slack off with your physical training and still build the body you want. Foods that build muscle will definitely help, but you will need to do the work as well.
No Nonsense Muscle Building
od that helps build muscle will ensure that you are not wasting all that hard work you are doing in the gym.
Working your muscles utilizes considerable energy. So what happens if you fail to eat the right type of food to build muscle mass? It will take longer to build muscle, and it may even prevent effect muscle building altogether once you reach a certain point.
A diet that is low in fat goes without saying with any serious bodybuilder. Protein provides the building blocks to build that muscle. What types of protein are best? Chicken, eggs, steak (with the fat cut off), fish, cheese (especially cottage cheese), and nuts are all great sources of protein.
There is an optimum amount of protein that your body needs for building muscle effectively. Do you know your lean body mass weight? Yes? Great! If you do not know your lean body mass weight, you will need to apply one of the formulas that calculate this.
Carbohydrates, in moderation, are also essential when finding foods that build muscle. Good high fiber carbs include rice, potatoes (yes, potatoes – just do not add butter!), oatmeal and bananas.
Reducing fat in your diet is of course necessary to build bigger muscle on a body that appears lean and has a low body fat ratio. If you are focussing on what foods build muscle mass, you also need to bear in mind that it pays to reduce fat as well. Although proteins are essential (as we talked about earlier), it is really important to select proteins that are low in fat, or that you can cut the fat off. So eat your chicken without the skin, and go for lean steaks rather than more fatty cuts of meat. Opting for cottage cheese or other reduced fat cheeses, and low fat milk also helps reduce your fat intake.
Drinking sufficient water with your meals, between meals, and while you are working out is also very important. Two litres of water a day is what most experts recommend to maintain optimal health. Regular bodybuilding workouts are also essential to maximise the effects of good bodybuilding diets.
Finally, and perhaps most importantly, do not fall into the trap of believing that if you eat a bodybuilding diet you can slack off with your physical training and still build the body you want. Foods that build muscle will definitely help, but you will need to do the work as well.
No Nonsense Muscle Building
Successful Weight Loss Tips And Program
adityasnv asked:
10 Strategies for permanent weight loss 1. Exercise is essential for weight loss
It’s nothing new, but exercise is probably the most important predictor of whether you will succeed at long term weight loss and weight loss maintenance. In order for exercise to be helpful in weight loss, you should strive for a minimum of five 30 minute sessions per week. The good news is that recent research has shown that three 10 minute sessions in a day are as good as one 30 minute session. This helps many in combating the old "no time for exercise" excuse. Be certain to find something you enjoy. You’ll be more apt to stick with it. Try walking with a friend, joining an intramural sports league, participating in outings with a group like The Sierra Club, or trying some classes at your local gym. Once you give exercise a chance, you will begin to enjoy its positive benefits on your psyche as well; you will literally become "hooked."
2. Weight loss and weight training
We chose to list this separately from the "exercise" category because of the significant weight loss benefits attached to weight training in and of itself. The basic equation is this: the more muscle tissue you have, the more calories you will burn. This is why world class weight lifters must eat thousands of calories a day to maintain their weight. Muscle is active tissue, fat is not. Thus, muscle "burns" a significant number of calories each day for its own maintenance. In her book Strong Women Stay Slim, Miriam Nelson, a Tufts University researcher, showed that a group of women who followed a weight loss diet and did weight training exercises lost 44% more fat than those who only followed the diet. While aerobic activity can help burn calories, muscle’s where it’s at when it comes to giving your metabolism a significant daily boost even at rest.
3. Keep a diary for triggers that hinder weight loss
Keeping a food diary can be a huge asset in successful weight loss. Devote some time each day to record what you have eaten and how much, your hunger level prior to eating, and any feelings or emotions present at the time. A food diary can provide a large amount of self-awareness. It can identify emotions and behaviors that trigger overeating, foster greater awareness of portion sizes, and help you discover your personal food triggers. Study any patterns that emerge from your food diary and identify where you may be able to make more healthful changes. A food diary provides an added benefit of keeping you focused on and committed to your goals. Start keeping a food diary today by printing our food diary.
4. Stay focused on being healthy, not on becoming thin
Many people become more successful at long term weight loss when their motivation changes from wanting to be thinner to wanting to be healthier. Change your mind set to think about selecting foods that will help your body’s health rather than worrying about foods that will affect your body’s weight. The Food Pyramid offers a basic outline of the types and amounts of food you should eat each day to give your body the nutrients it needs for optimal health.
5. Find out why you overeat
All too often overeating is triggered by stress, boredom, loneliness, anger, depression and other emotions. Learning to deal with emotions without food is a significant skill that will greatly serve long term weight control. The Solution, a book and national program developed by Laurel Mellin, RD, helps participants to identify their eating triggers and respond to them without food. A research study showed that the participants in this program demonstrated a better rate of long term weight loss maintenance than those who simply diet and/or exercise and don’t address behavioral and emotional issues. Chronic over-eaters and "emotional eaters" can be significantly helped by learning new behavioral skills such as those Mellin presents. You can also seek help with behavioral and emotional eating issues from a licensed counselor or psychologist in your area.
6. Weight loss support: join a weight management group
A big key in long term weight control comes from receiving encouragement and support from others. You can check to see if groups such as Jenny Craig offer programs and resources in your areas. You may also wish to check with your local hospital to see if their registered dietitian conducts group weight loss programs.
7. Weight loss and portion control
With the advent of "super-size" meals and increasingly huge portions at restaurants, our concept of normal serving sizes is a distant memory. Be mindful of the amounts of food you consume at a sitting. When necessary, divide your food in half and ask for a take home bag. It is all too easy to be a "plate cleaner" even when served enormous portions. Learn to pay attention to your hunger level and stop eating when you feel comfortably full, not stuffed.
8: Lose weight slowly with small changes
Try to remember that "losing 15 pounds in two weeks" is nothing to celebrate. It is important to realize that the more quickly weight is lost, the more likely the loss is coming from water and muscle, not fat. Since muscle tissue is critical in keeping our metabolism elevated, losing it actually leads to a decrease in the amount of calories we can each day without gaining weight. Fat loss is best achieved when weight is lost slowly. Strive for a weight loss of no more than 1-2 pounds per week. One pound of weight is equivalent to 3500 calories. By making small changes like eliminating 250 calories a day from food and expending 250 calories a day from exercise, you can lose one pound (of mostly fat) per week. You can calculate how much time you need to exercise to burn 250 calories by clicking here. You can calculate your caloric needs by clicking here, and then subtract 250 from that number.
9. Eating slowly can lead to weight loss
Did you ever notice that thin people take an awfully long time to eat their food? Eating slowly is one method that can help take off pounds. That’s because from the time you begin eating it takes the brain 20 minutes to start signaling feelings of fullness. Fast eaters often eat beyond their true level of fullness before the 20 minute signal has had a chance to set in. The amount of calories consumed before you begin to feel full can vary significantly depending on how quickly you eat. So slow down, take smaller bites and enjoy and savor every tasty morsel.
10. Weight loss through eating less fat - but do it wisely
We’ve known for some time that limiting high fat foods in the diet can be helpful with weight loss. That’s because fats pack in 9 calories per gram compared to only 4 calories per gram from proteins or carbohydrates. To many, the message to limit fats implied an endorsement to eat unlimited amounts of fat-free products. Just to clarify, fat-free foods have calories too. In some cases fat-free foods have as many calories as their fat laden counterparts. If you eat more calories than your body uses, you will gain weight. Eating less fat will help you to lose weight. Eating less fat and replacing it with excessive amounts of fat-free products will not.
Fat Loss For Idiots
10 Strategies for permanent weight loss 1. Exercise is essential for weight loss
It’s nothing new, but exercise is probably the most important predictor of whether you will succeed at long term weight loss and weight loss maintenance. In order for exercise to be helpful in weight loss, you should strive for a minimum of five 30 minute sessions per week. The good news is that recent research has shown that three 10 minute sessions in a day are as good as one 30 minute session. This helps many in combating the old "no time for exercise" excuse. Be certain to find something you enjoy. You’ll be more apt to stick with it. Try walking with a friend, joining an intramural sports league, participating in outings with a group like The Sierra Club, or trying some classes at your local gym. Once you give exercise a chance, you will begin to enjoy its positive benefits on your psyche as well; you will literally become "hooked."
2. Weight loss and weight training
We chose to list this separately from the "exercise" category because of the significant weight loss benefits attached to weight training in and of itself. The basic equation is this: the more muscle tissue you have, the more calories you will burn. This is why world class weight lifters must eat thousands of calories a day to maintain their weight. Muscle is active tissue, fat is not. Thus, muscle "burns" a significant number of calories each day for its own maintenance. In her book Strong Women Stay Slim, Miriam Nelson, a Tufts University researcher, showed that a group of women who followed a weight loss diet and did weight training exercises lost 44% more fat than those who only followed the diet. While aerobic activity can help burn calories, muscle’s where it’s at when it comes to giving your metabolism a significant daily boost even at rest.
3. Keep a diary for triggers that hinder weight loss
Keeping a food diary can be a huge asset in successful weight loss. Devote some time each day to record what you have eaten and how much, your hunger level prior to eating, and any feelings or emotions present at the time. A food diary can provide a large amount of self-awareness. It can identify emotions and behaviors that trigger overeating, foster greater awareness of portion sizes, and help you discover your personal food triggers. Study any patterns that emerge from your food diary and identify where you may be able to make more healthful changes. A food diary provides an added benefit of keeping you focused on and committed to your goals. Start keeping a food diary today by printing our food diary.
4. Stay focused on being healthy, not on becoming thin
Many people become more successful at long term weight loss when their motivation changes from wanting to be thinner to wanting to be healthier. Change your mind set to think about selecting foods that will help your body’s health rather than worrying about foods that will affect your body’s weight. The Food Pyramid offers a basic outline of the types and amounts of food you should eat each day to give your body the nutrients it needs for optimal health.
5. Find out why you overeat
All too often overeating is triggered by stress, boredom, loneliness, anger, depression and other emotions. Learning to deal with emotions without food is a significant skill that will greatly serve long term weight control. The Solution, a book and national program developed by Laurel Mellin, RD, helps participants to identify their eating triggers and respond to them without food. A research study showed that the participants in this program demonstrated a better rate of long term weight loss maintenance than those who simply diet and/or exercise and don’t address behavioral and emotional issues. Chronic over-eaters and "emotional eaters" can be significantly helped by learning new behavioral skills such as those Mellin presents. You can also seek help with behavioral and emotional eating issues from a licensed counselor or psychologist in your area.
6. Weight loss support: join a weight management group
A big key in long term weight control comes from receiving encouragement and support from others. You can check to see if groups such as Jenny Craig offer programs and resources in your areas. You may also wish to check with your local hospital to see if their registered dietitian conducts group weight loss programs.
7. Weight loss and portion control
With the advent of "super-size" meals and increasingly huge portions at restaurants, our concept of normal serving sizes is a distant memory. Be mindful of the amounts of food you consume at a sitting. When necessary, divide your food in half and ask for a take home bag. It is all too easy to be a "plate cleaner" even when served enormous portions. Learn to pay attention to your hunger level and stop eating when you feel comfortably full, not stuffed.
8: Lose weight slowly with small changes
Try to remember that "losing 15 pounds in two weeks" is nothing to celebrate. It is important to realize that the more quickly weight is lost, the more likely the loss is coming from water and muscle, not fat. Since muscle tissue is critical in keeping our metabolism elevated, losing it actually leads to a decrease in the amount of calories we can each day without gaining weight. Fat loss is best achieved when weight is lost slowly. Strive for a weight loss of no more than 1-2 pounds per week. One pound of weight is equivalent to 3500 calories. By making small changes like eliminating 250 calories a day from food and expending 250 calories a day from exercise, you can lose one pound (of mostly fat) per week. You can calculate how much time you need to exercise to burn 250 calories by clicking here. You can calculate your caloric needs by clicking here, and then subtract 250 from that number.
9. Eating slowly can lead to weight loss
Did you ever notice that thin people take an awfully long time to eat their food? Eating slowly is one method that can help take off pounds. That’s because from the time you begin eating it takes the brain 20 minutes to start signaling feelings of fullness. Fast eaters often eat beyond their true level of fullness before the 20 minute signal has had a chance to set in. The amount of calories consumed before you begin to feel full can vary significantly depending on how quickly you eat. So slow down, take smaller bites and enjoy and savor every tasty morsel.
10. Weight loss through eating less fat - but do it wisely
We’ve known for some time that limiting high fat foods in the diet can be helpful with weight loss. That’s because fats pack in 9 calories per gram compared to only 4 calories per gram from proteins or carbohydrates. To many, the message to limit fats implied an endorsement to eat unlimited amounts of fat-free products. Just to clarify, fat-free foods have calories too. In some cases fat-free foods have as many calories as their fat laden counterparts. If you eat more calories than your body uses, you will gain weight. Eating less fat will help you to lose weight. Eating less fat and replacing it with excessive amounts of fat-free products will not.
Fat Loss For Idiots
How to Make Healthy Food Substitutions
Michael Marquette asked:
Starting a diet doesn’t have to be a total change in the food you normally eat, but by making healthy food substitutions you can get started the next time you go to the grocery store. I’ve met many people who believe that low fat foods are going to taste terrible, but from my experience many are very difficult to tell from the original. In this article I’ve listed some suggestions that I use often on how to start making healthy food substitutions in your diet.
Try a turkey or a veggie product instead of the of the beef or pork version. I’ve been doing this for many years now and the alternatives are quite good as well with less than half the calories and fat, sometimes even less than that. Products out there are sausage, bacon, burgers, pepperoni, and so many others.
If you drink milk try to scale down from whole milk. Switch to 2%, 1%, or if you like the taste skim milk. I’ve been drinking skim for a long time to and now I really don’t like the fat in the others, it’s just too thick. There is enough fat in the foods most people eat every day that having fat in your beverage is unnecessary.
Switch to diet soda or cut out soda all together if you can. Let’s say you drink 5-6 12 ounce cans a day, that can be anywhere between 500 and 700 calories in regular sodas. That is a large portion of your calories for the day, and it is all sugar. If you will cut out soda and you will see some weight lost.
Try eating salsa instead of other fatty dips or cream based spreads. Salsa is delicious and comes in about countless different varieties. Most types have no or little fat, low calories and contain vitamins. Next time you are at the store compare a container of french onion dip to a jar of salsa. Salsa is much better for you.
Deep frying foods can turn something healthy into something very bad for you. Take a chicken breast for example, naturally they are quite healthy, but all that oil used in frying just won’t allow it. Instead of deep frying take that that same piece with some lemon juice, garlic, and black pepper, bake it and now it’s still tasty as well as good for you.
If you buy canned produce make sure you read the label first. Many of the vegetables will have salt added to them and many of the fruits have additional sugar. When in doubt buy fresh or frozen produce. Frozen produce can be just as beneficial as fresh with the bonus of having a longer shelf life. If you buy canned tuna make sure to get the kind packed in water not oils, as the oil adds plenty of extra fat and calories that are unnecessary.
These are just a few substitutions you can use in your diet to replace some foods that aren’t very good for you. Remember don’t change everything at once; try to find substitutions you really do like, and then experiment with new ones. Start making these healthy food substitutions and your body will thank you for it down the road.
Fat Loss For Idiots
Starting a diet doesn’t have to be a total change in the food you normally eat, but by making healthy food substitutions you can get started the next time you go to the grocery store. I’ve met many people who believe that low fat foods are going to taste terrible, but from my experience many are very difficult to tell from the original. In this article I’ve listed some suggestions that I use often on how to start making healthy food substitutions in your diet.
Try a turkey or a veggie product instead of the of the beef or pork version. I’ve been doing this for many years now and the alternatives are quite good as well with less than half the calories and fat, sometimes even less than that. Products out there are sausage, bacon, burgers, pepperoni, and so many others.
If you drink milk try to scale down from whole milk. Switch to 2%, 1%, or if you like the taste skim milk. I’ve been drinking skim for a long time to and now I really don’t like the fat in the others, it’s just too thick. There is enough fat in the foods most people eat every day that having fat in your beverage is unnecessary.
Switch to diet soda or cut out soda all together if you can. Let’s say you drink 5-6 12 ounce cans a day, that can be anywhere between 500 and 700 calories in regular sodas. That is a large portion of your calories for the day, and it is all sugar. If you will cut out soda and you will see some weight lost.
Try eating salsa instead of other fatty dips or cream based spreads. Salsa is delicious and comes in about countless different varieties. Most types have no or little fat, low calories and contain vitamins. Next time you are at the store compare a container of french onion dip to a jar of salsa. Salsa is much better for you.
Deep frying foods can turn something healthy into something very bad for you. Take a chicken breast for example, naturally they are quite healthy, but all that oil used in frying just won’t allow it. Instead of deep frying take that that same piece with some lemon juice, garlic, and black pepper, bake it and now it’s still tasty as well as good for you.
If you buy canned produce make sure you read the label first. Many of the vegetables will have salt added to them and many of the fruits have additional sugar. When in doubt buy fresh or frozen produce. Frozen produce can be just as beneficial as fresh with the bonus of having a longer shelf life. If you buy canned tuna make sure to get the kind packed in water not oils, as the oil adds plenty of extra fat and calories that are unnecessary.
These are just a few substitutions you can use in your diet to replace some foods that aren’t very good for you. Remember don’t change everything at once; try to find substitutions you really do like, and then experiment with new ones. Start making these healthy food substitutions and your body will thank you for it down the road.
Fat Loss For Idiots
Favorite Diet Solution
