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Fat Burning With The Proper Nutrition

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We often gasp at the prospect of trying a new diet program. Please focus in for a minute on the word “diet.” What comes to mind? Low calorie foods, low carbohydrates, and no fat. Without a doubt there many different variations regarding what constitutes an effective diet program. Some of these include no carbs, low carbs, or slow carbs. Also, there’s no fat, some fat, or a lot of fat. Then there’s no protein, low protein, or all protein. Where is a person who wants to lose weight and burn fat turn? What nutrition, that’s right, NUTRITION, not DIET program is the best for you? Do you want to sample a wide variety of tasty food that takes care of burning the fat and provides the proper nutrition to kick start your metabolism.

When we’re searching for the right NUTRITION program for your needs, we must always start with the basic function of human physiology. All of our nutrition needs are based around metabolism. Again, let me say, metabolism “rules the roost” in our bodies’ gastrointestinal physiological (GI) processes. Remember back to your basic high school biology class and recall the three main purposes of the GI system:
1) circulation;
2) secretion; and most importantly when battling weight,
3) digestion and motility (basically this means how the body consumes energy). When we eat, we’re basically consuming energy. The types of energy (food) that we consume effect how the body responds from a physiological standpoint.

Alright, let’s take a break from the technical and shift to the practical. There are two ways that our bodies can process food: store it or burn it. Pretty simple isn’t it-that is it sounds simple. If you’re like me and don’t like guess work when it comes to nutrition, you’ll need guidance. We all want to turn our bodies into fat burning furnaces. Finding the right program to build that fat fireplace is the key. We also need a program that is simple and easy to implement that provides the right foods at the right time and results in a nutritional plan that is actually tasty and not bland. There are some very basics that all metabolic nutritional plans that actually burn fat have in common:
1) watch the sugar! Just because it’s low in fat doesn’t mean that a lot of sugar is alright;
2) mix up the food. The human body has a tendency to adapt to the same routine. To be effective, you’ve got keep your GI system guessing;
3) keep it user-friendly. Find a nutritional guide to work for you and not the reverse.
People are very busy and don’t have time to cater to their diet plans. Their nutrtional plans need to cater to them.

Vital nutritional needs for the elderly

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Ancient wisdom says that, you are what you eat, we must then be careful about what we put into our bodies. We cannot cure all illness or stop the hands of time. We cannot protect ourselves from all diseases, but we can certainly be careful. What we can do is treat our bodies well and enjoy the health benefits that result from this conscious effort.

Senior citizens’ nutritional needs vary little from the nutritional needs of other age groups, yet there are some slight differences. Our younger bodies are able to withstand lack of nutrition more than those of the elderly, and hence it becomes more and more important to get proper nutrients as we age. These factors must be taken into consideration by elders as well as those who provide senior care services and act as their caretakers. Here are a few things essential for elderly care through proper diet for senior citizens:

1. Fiber – Fiber serves two purposes. It fills us up more quickly than empty carbohydrates (carbohydrates that lack nutrition) and it aids in digestion. Fiber forms the bulk of our waste, so encourages our intestinal tract to continue functioning properly. Sources of fiber include: Wheat, spouted pulses, green leafy vegetables etc.

2. Protein – As we get older, we need to work harder at keeping our muscle toned. Muscle wasting occurs naturally with age and getting enough protein can help slow this process. Protein is also very important for transporting necessities, such as hormones, to the cells. The belief that vegetarians will have a hard time consuming enough protein is unfounded. Vegetarians can easily meet their protein needs by eating a varied diet. Sources of protein include: Kidney beans, Lentils, apples, almonds etc.

3. Calcium – Calcium helps strengthen bones and teeth. Osteoporosis happens when calcium levels have reached a low level that results in bone cell losses. Because these levels fall more frequently, it is quite important to consumer more calcium to keep bones strong. Sources of calcium include: Dairy products, cabbage etc.

4. Vitamins – From assisting our bodies in sending out nervous signals to keeping our immunity strong, from warding off potential chronic illnesses to helping our hair and nail grow. Vitamins are the cornerstone of the proper functioning of our body. Some essential Vitamins that need to be consumed are Vitamin B, C, D, E and F

5. Omega 3’s – These nutrients have just -come into fashion- and are now being proven in scientific studies to enhance and improve joint health. They contribute significantly to the immunity system are somewhat considered to be the mechanic of the body, helping keeping it in shape.

6. Water – The need for water cannot be overstated. When not enough water has been consumed, dehydration will set in quickly. Dehydration is a frequent cause for hospitalizing in the elderly and can result in mental confusion and exhaustion among other symptoms.

Staying hydrated is as simple as drinking 8-10 glasses of water per day. Getting the rest of the aforementioned nutrients can be as simple as eating a meal full of vegetables, some fruits, nuts (if you are not allergic), seeds, lean meats, eggs, and beans.

Diet & Nutrition Myths Debunked

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Diet & Nutrition Myths Debunked

1. Sugar Causes Diabetes
The most common nutrition myth is probably that sugar causes diabetes. If you have diabetes, you do need to watch your sugar and carbohydrate intake, with the help of your Registered Dietitian, to properly manage your blood sugar level. However, if you do not have diabetes, sugar intake will not cause you to develop the disease. The main risk factors for Type 2 diabetes are a diet high in calories, being overweight, and an inactive lifestyle.

2. All Fats are bad
It’s a long-held nutrition myth that all fats are bad. But the fact is, we all need fat. Fats aid nutrient absorption and nerve transmission, and they help to maintain cell membrane integrity – to name just a few of their useful purposes. However, when consumed in excessive amounts, fats contribute to weight gain, heart disease and certain types of cancers.

3.Brown Sugar is better than White Sugar
The brown sugar sold at grocery stores is actually white granulated sugar with added molasses. Yes, brown sugar contains minute amounts of minerals. But unless you eat a gigantic portion of brown sugar every day, the mineral content difference between brown sugar and white sugar is absolutely insignificant. The idea that brown and white sugar have big differences is another common nutrition myth.

4.Brown Eggs are more nutritious than White Eggs
Contrary to a widely believed nutrition myth, eggshell color has nothing to do with the quality, flavor, nutritive value, cooking characteristics, or shell thickness of an egg. The eggshell color only depends upon the breed of the hen.

5. Avoid seafood to lower blood cholesterol
I still can’t believe it, but I heard this nutrition myth from my own doctor! In fact, the dietary cholesterol found in seafood and other meats has little effect on blood cholesterol in most people. Saturated fats and trans fatty acids are the most important factors that raise blood cholesterol.

6.Avoid carbohydrate to lose weight
The key message that many low-carb diets convey is that carbohydrates promote insulin production, which in turn results in weight gain. Therefore by reducing carbohydrate intake, you can lose weight. Unfortunately, this is just another nutrition myth.

7. Avoid nuts as they are fattening
Yes, it’s true that nuts are quite calorically dense. Fifteen cashews, for instance, deliver 180 kilocaleries! On top of that, it is very tough not to overeat these tasty snacks. But if you can restrain yourself from overeating them, nuts can be a part of a healthy diet.

8. Eating for 2 is necessary during pregnancy
Energy requirements vary among individuals. Unfortunately, the idea that pregnancy is an ice cream free-for-all is a nutrition myth. It is generally recommended that pregnant women increase their daily intake by 100 kcal in the first trimester and 300 kcal in the second and third trimesters. An extra snack before bedtime consisting of a fruit, a serving of milk or yogurt, and a few biscuits is often enough.

9. Skipping meals can help lose weight
Many people think that by skipping a meal, they will be eating less food and therefore lose weight. As we now know, this is a nutrition myth. People who think skipping meals means weight loss do not understand how our bodies work.

If you skip a meal, your body will think that you are in starvation mode and therefore slow down the metabolism to compensate. You then tend to overeat at the next meal. Often, skipping a meal and then eating too much at the next one means that you have a higher total caloric intake than if you just ate more frequently throughout the day. A better approach is to eat smaller frequent healthy meals and snacks to keep your blood sugar balanced.

10. Red meat is bad for health
I often hear people saying that they do not eat red meat. When I ask why they don’t, or even what they consider to be red meat, the answers vary dramatically.

It is a nutrition myth, however, that red meat is altogether bad for your health. Instead of excluding red meats, choose leaner cuts of beef and pork. For beef, choose eye of round, top round roast, top sirloin and flank; for pork, choose tenderloin and loin chops.

Nopalea Cactus Juice

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All living creatures depend on nature and natures products (plants, animals and minerals) for basic sustenance and Nopalea is one such product. For centuries, man has depended on the products of nature not only for basic sustenance, but also as sources of treatment for bodily injury, illness and the myriad maladies that can affect the human body system.
Nopalea A Natural Product

Even today, given vast advances in science and technology, virtually all (if not all) health and medicinal products consumed by man are derived, in some shape or form, from natures products. Penicillin, for example, comes from plant mold.

Today man is again turning to nature and the scientific community, to find products from nature that possess the power to sustain, heal and manage the human body system in a way that promotes better living and freedom from conditions that can debilitate the human body and spirit. This is for several reasons:

First, today, people throughout the world are increasingly concerned about their health and the positive and negative effects of their food and beverage consumption (i.e. dietary intake of cholesterol, sugar, fats, especially saturated fats, sodium, etc.).

Second, there is increased consumer interest in natural products (i.e. whole foods and beverages without high levels of preservatives, produce grown organically, health supplements from natures plants that provide nutrients that have been lost in todays fast food, prepared and processed food, eat-on-the-run culture, etc.). By way of scientific explanation, Dr. C. Leigh Broadhurst, a geochemist who works as a visiting scientist for a government nutrition research laboratory and heads 22nd Century Nutrition, a nutrition/scientific consulting company, stated in a 1998 article published in Nutrition Science News regarding essential BLOOM BLOOM phytochemicals that are found in natural fruits and vegetables that:

Third, in many counties, the United States in particular, there is increasing concern about the rising costs of health care. Furthermore, increased longevity and the increased likelihood of health disorders associated with aging are of growing concern. The high cost of health care is least affordable among the elderly.

Fourth, in some cases, unwanted and/or undesirable side effects are associated with prescription pharmaceuticals and their positive effects may by short lasting as against natural products that basically work from within, to help the human body maintain and strengthen itself.

In short, there is a significant and growing market throughout the world, for natural products that have special nutritional, health maintenance and medicinal benefits. Nopalea can provide such benefits. Among the primary areas of market opportunity are consumer concerns about:

Heart conditions (which have been associated with high levels of cholesterol, triglycerides, saturated fats and sodium),

Obesity (which been associated with diets high in calories, sugar and saturated fats),

Immune system efficiency (Cancer, pathogen control, resistance to disease, etc.),

Digestive system efficiency (which requires dietary intake of fiber, particularly soluble fiber, pectins, mucilage and gums that aid in digestion and in reducing the effects of saturated fat and toxic substance intake) and
Nopalea Health Disorders

Certain health disorders to which certain segments of the population are or have become more susceptible. One example is Adult On-set (Type II) Diabetes, the incidence of which is rapidly increasing (particularly among Hispanics, Asians, Blacks and native American Indians).

Scientists in the United States and in other countries have in the past studied many plants and herbs in order to determine their nutritional content and to ascertain their medicinal properties and health benefits. Only recently, however, have scientists begun to focus on some of natures plants that were, prior to modern times, used for centuries both as a source of food and for their medicinal benefits. Nopalea fits this category.

Milking Chocolate for Healthy Benefits

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I’m making a confession. I am one of the stealth chocoholics. That is bad news and good news-the bad news is that like you, it can be tough for me to turn down a sample of the creamy confection. On the good side, chocolate has health benefits.

Now I am not saying you can have all the chocolate you want. I want to share with you how chocolate can help with your goals to include foods that are good for you as ingredients in your diet. Chocolate begins with the cacao beans. It’s the cacao beans that are the key in creating the good-for-you factor. These beans are rich in plant nutrients called flavonoids, which protect the cocoa plant. The primary type of flavonoids found in cocoa and chocolate are flavanols which have antioxidant properties. Research has shown that these flavonals have positive affects on health. Antioxidants, such as vitamins C and E help protect healthy cells from substances called free radicals which can attack health cells. These nutrients are also found in red wine and green tea.

There are several types of chocolate which contain varying amounts of cacao beans and flavanols. Bittersweet or dark chocolate contains the most generous amounts from higher cacao content chocolate. The higher the percentage of cacao in the chocolate, the greater the benefits and nutritional value. For example, an average 65% dark chocolate serving would look something like this (these are estimates, as actual numbers will vary, depending on brand, size, etc.):

Total Fat 15 g, Sat. Fat 9 g, Sugars 16g, Protein 3g.

In comparison, an average 99% dark chocolate serving would look something like this (these are estimates, as actual numbers will vary, depending on brand, size, etc.):

Total Fat 22 g, Sat. Fat 14 g, Sugars 2g, Protein 5g.

As the percentage goes up on the cacao content, the less sugar and more protein you’ll find.

You may also notice the higher fat content -don’t worry, most of it comes from healthy fats. (yes, you can find healthy fats in chocolate!)

Benefits of dark chocolate include:

-High antioxidant content—it is an antioxidant powerhouse.

-It can have positive affects on maintaining heart health

-It can help lower blood pressure

-It can aid in maintaining healthy arteries that are relaxed and flexible, thus increasing blood flow.

-It may reduce insulin insensitivity and lower the risk of diabetes.

-A greater feeling of fullness or satiety which can reduce cravings for sweet and salty foods.

Consumption of chocolate and other flavanol rich foods like red wine and tea can also reduce stress and increase performance on cognitive tests.

This sweet indulgence can also tip your scale toward the heavy side. Choose a dark chocolate with cocoa content of 65 percent or higher. Limit yourself to 2 or 3 ounces (56 to 85 grams) a day, this will add between 300 to 450 calories to your diet. You may want to cut back on calories from some other food or boost your exercise to make sure you can add the chocolate and maintain a healthy weight.

A little chocolate goes a long way and it’s health benefits can soothe your conscience if you’re you are reluctant to fess up to enjoying this guilty pleasure.

TAKE AWAY: It’s a good thing to be able to enjoy foods that give you pleasure. The caveat is to remember too much of a good thing can easily become less enjoyable and that is true of chocolate. It contains calories and overindulgence with pack the pounds on.

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