Showing posts with label Diet for weight loss. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Diet for weight loss. Show all posts

Sunday, 5 July 2015

10 Best Foods for Weight Loss




Diet is strongly linked with almost every disease on this planet. When you come to weight loss... its almost impossible to go ahead without certain modifications in your eating habits. Right kind of foods have positive impact on your health and they cut down your body fat faster than medicine alone. Though a planed weight loss program needs not only change in diet but also proper exercise, medication and lifestyle changes however, diet is still the
main factor to be considered. The purpose of this article is to introduce some of the miracle foods you should include in your diet if you are going to cut down your weight.





1. Oats

oats are rich in fiber, so a serving can help you feel full throughout the day. Just a half cup packs 4.6 grams of Resistant Starch, a healthy carb that boosts metabolism and burns fat.

2. Apple
Apples are one of the fruits that are highest in pectin, a soluble fiber that helps you feel full and satisfied. Eat an apple as a snack, and you may just feel like eating a little less when it comes time for your meal.

3. Yogurt
Yoghurt contains probiotic bacteria that can improve the function of your gut. Having a healthy gut may potentially help protect against inflammation and leptin resistance, which is the main hormonal driver of obesity.





4. Green Tea
Sipping green tea throughout the day is a great way to boost your metabolism and suppress your appetite while also hydrating you to keep your body in tip-top shape.

5. Avocados
There's no reason to be afraid of eating fats—as long as they're the right fats. 

Oleic acid, a compound in avocados' healthy monounsaturated fats (MUFAs), may trigger your body to actually quiet hunger. Stick to a quarter or a half of an avocado and watch that belly fat melt away. The creamy fruit is also packed with fiber and protein.


6. Grapefruit

One fruit that deserves to be highlighted is grapefruit, because its effects on weight control have been studied directly. In a study of 91 obese individuals, eating half a fresh grapefruit before meals caused weight loss of 3.5 pounds (1.6 kg) over a period of 12 weeks. The grapefruit group also had reductions in insulin resistance, a metabolic abnormality that is implicated in various chronic diseases.
So… eating half a grapefruit about a half hour before some of your daily meals may help you feel more satiated and eat fewer overall calories.

7. Soup
Broth-based soups are a healthy eater's best friend; they fill you up, are relatively convenient, and are low in calories. Look for a low-sodium, BPA-free can, or make a big pot of these healthy soups to eat throughout the week.


8. Berries
Studies have shown that the antioxidant anthocyanin, found in berries, can alter gene activity in fat cells, making it harder to gain weight. Blueberries are especially high in this antioxidant (it's what makes them so blue!), so sprinkle them on everything this Summer.

9. Brown Rice
Brown rice is a heartier, fiber-packed alternative to less-than-super white rice. A half-cup serving contains 1.7 grams of Resistant Starch, a healthy carb that boosts metabolism and burns fat.  Plus, brown rice is a low-energy-density food, meaning it's heavy and filling but low in calories. One study found that women who ate a higher-energy-density diet gained three times as much weight over six years than women eating a low-energy-density diet.


10. Lean Meat
Meat is an excellent source of protein for building muscle and keeping you full, but going for fatty cuts and processed meats isn't so good for your waistline or your health. Instead, opt for the leanest cuts of meat in order to keep your meals at a normal calorie count.

Sunday, 28 June 2015

Health Benefits of Yogurt



Yogurt is a calcium powerhouse and a source of high-quality protein. Yogurt is nutrient rich because it is an excellent source of vitamins and minerals for its calories!
The nutritional and caloric contents of yogurt are similar to those of the fluid milk from which it is made. So, it is an important source of calcium, protein, vitamins A, riboflavin, phosphorus and potassium.  In fact, one serving of yogurt contains about as much potassium as a banana (around 400 mg).
Following are some important benefits of yogurt

1. Aid in digestion
Yogurt is made by bacterial fermentation of milk, a process that may boost digestive health because it produces the same good bacteria found in the gut. Plus, some yogurt contains additional good bacteria known as probiotics. MayoClinic.com reports that probiotics may help with digestion and irritable bowel syndrome, as well as diarrhea following treatment with antibiotics, which kill off both good and bad bacteria

2. Source of Vitamins
One serving is a significant source of potassium, phosphorous, riboflavin, iodine, zinc, and vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid). Yogurt also contains B12, which maintains red blood cells and helps keep your nervous system functioning properly. "Vitamin B12 is found mostly in animal products, such as chicken and fish, so strict vegetarians can easily fall short.

3. Help against weak bones and osteoprosis
Yoghurt provides calcium to help maintain bone density and strength throughout life. "Low fat yoghurt is a great source of calcium which we need for strong bones," according to food coach and dietitian Sasha Watkins.
BDA spokesperson Rebecca Dunn says: "Adults require 700mg of calcium per day and one standard pot (150g) of yoghurt will provide a third of this. Calcium is important at all ages, as it promotes healthy teeth and bones and prevents diseases such as osteoporosis."
Osteoporosis is a disease that causes the bones in our body to become fragile and prone to breaking. The National Osteoporosis Society says it's important to have a well balanced calcium rich diet to provide all the nutrients your bones need, and to make sure you get enough vitamin D.
4. Provide "Good Bacteria"
he words "live and active cultures" on the container mean that your yogurt has probiotics, beneficial bugs that live in your digestive tract and help crowd out harmful microorganisms that can cause intestinal infections. (Only a very small number of companies put yogurt through a post-pasteurization process that kills off all bacteria). But many varieties now also contain special strains of probiotics meant to help regulate your digestion or strengthen your immune system.
5. Help in Lactose intolerance
Although the lactose content of yogurt is naturally lower than milk, research has shown that the lactose that is present in yogurt is better tolerated by individuals with low production of lactase (hypolactasia) than lactose in an equivalent quantity in milk.
This may be due to several factors including the activity of live bacteria in the yogurt or the digestive action of other enzymes on lactose such as bacterial β-galactosidase. The increased viscosity of yogurt compared with milk has also been suggested as a potential explanation, as this may result in slower emptying from the stomach and thus a longer transit through the gastrointestinal tract, which in turn may improve the absorption and reduce the amount of lactose present in the colon.

Why To Add Fiber in Your Diet?

Fiber is something the body needs but never actually digests - in fact, it remains more or slows digestion, which helps lower cholesterol and blood glucose. Insoluble fiber, on the other hand, remains unchanged all the way to the colon, making waste heavier and softer so it can shimmy through the intestines more easily. Regardless of these differences, neither type of fiber is ever absorbed into the body. less the same from plate to toilet. It comes in two varieties, soluble and insoluble, and most plant-based foods contain a mixture of the two. Soluble fiber turns to gel in the stomach and 
Skipping out on a daily dose of fiber often leads to constipation, which can make going to the bathroom painful and uncomfortable—hence the term “backed up.” Eating too little fiber can make it tough to control blood sugar and appetite because fiber regulates the speed of digestion and contributes to satiety (aka feeling full). There can be too much of a good thing, though. Overdoing it with fiber can move food through the intestines too quickly, which means fewer minerals get absorbed from food. It can also result in uncomfy gas, bloating, and cramping, especially when fiber intake is dramatically increased overnight.
So, it is very important to choose the diet with balanced amount of fiber. Here are some high fiber foods you can add to your diet to make it a healthy one. Just click below to explore.

Monday, 3 June 2013

Fat Burning Foods


Almonds and other nuts (with skins intact)
Build muscle, reduce cravings
Dairy products (fat-free or low-fat milk, yogurt, cheese)
Build strong bones, fire up weight loss
Eggs
Build muscle, burn fat
Turkey and other lean meats
Build muscle, strengthen immune system
Berries
Improve satiety, prevent cravings
Enova oil (soy and canola oil)
Promotes fullness, not easily stored as fat
Peanut butter 
Boosts testosterone (a good thing even in women), builds muscle, burns fat
Fatty fish (such as salmon, tuna, mackerel)
Trigger fullness, fire up fat burning
Grapefruit
Lowers insulin, regulates blood sugar and metabolism; be sure to eat the fleshy white membranes
Green tea
Fires up fat burning
Chili peppers
Spikes metabolism
Spinach and green vegetables
Fight free radicals and improve recovery for better muscle building
Whole grains (quinoa, brown rice, whole grain cereal)
Small doses prevent body from storing fat
Beans and legumes
Build muscle, help burn fat, regulate digestion
Whey
Builds muscle, burns fat



Sunday, 2 June 2013

How Green Tea Can Help You To Fight Against Heart Diseases

A cup of green tea a day could help keep your heart healthy, a study shows.
The drink was found to widen the artery which runs from the shoulder to the elbow by 4 per cent within 30 minutes - reducing the risk of blood clots. 
This is a good indicator of improved blood flow around the body, says a report in the European Journal of Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation. It is the first time green tea has been shown to have a short-term beneficial effect on the large arteries.
Dr Nikolaos Alexopoulos and colleagues at the 1st Cardiology Department, Athens Medical School, used ultrasound scanning to measure the performance of the brachial artery - which runs from the shoulder to the elbow, and is a good indicator of blood flow around the body.
A team of healthy volunteers were given green tea, caffeine or hot water to drink on three separate occasions. Measurements of the brachial artery were taken at three stages after they drank their beverage.
The researchers found the artery expanded by four per cent 30 minutes after volunteers drank green tea. Caffeine or hot water had no effect.
Dilation of the artery shows better functioning of the endothelium, the layer of cells lining blood arteries that stops clots forming.
Previous research suggests black tea improves short and long-term endothelial performance, but this is the first time green tea has been shown to have a short-term beneficial effect on the large arteries. 
Another study has already shown that green tea reverses endothelial dysfunction in smokers.
Green tea is traditionally consumed in China and Japan and differs from black tea in that it is not fermented before drying.
This fermentation process appears to reduce the content of flavonoids - beneficial antioxidants - by up to 90 per cent, which is why green tea is believed to offer different health benefits to black tea.
Researcher Dr Charalambos Vlachopoulos said 'These findings have important clinical implications. Tea consumption has been associated with reduced cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in several studies. 
'Green tea is consumed less in the Western world than black tea, but it could be more beneficial because of the way it seems to improve endothelial function. 
'Recent studies have also shown potent anticarcinogenic effects of green tea, attributed to its antioxidant properties.'
Other research shows drinking green tea lowers 'bad' cholesterol and blood pressure, and reduces harmful liver enzymes.
Drinking green tea could help stave off cancer, with a study showing just four cups of green tea a day reverses cell damage in heavy smokers that might lead to the development of tumours.
Lynne Garton a member of the industry-backed Tea Advisory Panel and a nutritionist, said 'This exciting piece of research takes us one step further in understanding the role of flavonoids in heart health. 
'While the focus of the study was the action of green tea on endothelial function, black
tea, as enjoyed by the majority of the UK population, has shown similar results. 
'This is not surprising as although the types of flavonoids in green tea and black tea may differ, it is thought that the amounts present in a cup are similar. 
'Evidence is now suggesting that drinking around 3 to 4 cups of tea a day (with or without milk) may help reduce the risk of developing heart disease and studies such as these are important in helping us understand the possible mechanisms of action. 
'As part of an overall, healthy balanced diet, this research highlights yet another good reason to drink tea.