Healthy Lifestyle
By · CommentsThere is one thing that cavemen know better than what we in modern day societies do. That is how to survive and live off the land. Tribes and cavemen do not have access to hospitals and doctors and yet they know how to live healthy. Let’s take a look at what were their diets and lifestyle and learn from them and see what how we change our own diets and live a healthy lifestyle.
Cavemen ate what they could find or hunt in the wild. Does that means that we all should start hunting for our own food? Definitely not, but we can apply the same rules in the modern way. If the food on your plate is not something that early men could gather or hunt from the land, you should not be eating them. For example, if your dinner consist of meat, fruits and vegetables, it is fine as it equates to what they ate in those days. But not bread or pasta. These foods did not exist then and we will be much healthier without them.
Our ancestors drank what they could find. And that is plain, old fashioned water. Water that came from rivers and lakes. No juice, pop, energy drinks and least of all alcohol. These are modern-day drinks that cause obesity and many illnesses. Such drinks did not exist then and people are healthier without them.
Cavemen had to travel on foot and hunt everyday and thus they were active for most part of their day. It was due to such routine that their bodies burn the calories that they consumed and that they were able to stay healthy. Today, we spend most of our day sitting in an office chair and then go home and to sit on the couch for the rest of the evening. To make matters worse, we do not even walk much. Drive to work, park as near to our destination as possible and take the elevator to our office. And lunch is just a short walk to our favorite café, unlike the early man, who had to hunt for his food.
By modeling the food and daily activities of our ancestors, we will be able to plan a healthy lifestyle for ourselves so that we can begin to shred off excess body fat and improve our health. Just ask yourself, these questions:
- Is this food or drink something early man could find in the wild.
- Do cavemen minced their meat, marinated them and stuffed them into intestines to eat?
- Do they have dressings, dip or sauces in those days?
- Do they add sugar, coloring, flavoring to their water?
If your answer is no, you should not be eating them. Does not mean that you have to eat your meat raw or bland? No, but look for food that is more natural and has little or no artificial flavoring.
Learn from the cavemen and make some changes to your daily routine such as :
- Do not rely too much on your car for transport. Walk, jog, cycle or even rollerblade to your destination instead of driving. You get your exercise, save petrol and the environment and also stay healthy.
- Take the stairs to your office instead of the elevators.
- Go for a swim, workout or participate in other sports after work instead of heading home for the TV.
Make these changes to your diet and routine and you will have a healthy lifestyle, which means a healthier and slimmer you.
Good Fats and Bad Fats
By · CommentsFats make you fat. That is what we are told and everyone believes that. So all the weight loss program recommend low fat diets. The fact is that you cannot avoid eating fat totally. There are certain fats that essential for important bodily functions. However, eating the wrong kind of fat can lead to unhealthy weight gain and many diseases.
So, what type of fats are good fats and what type of fats are bad fats? The fat that should be avoided at all cost are hydrogenated oils. Hydrogenation makes the fat more stable, prolonging its shelf life. It is a chemical process that completely alters the oil’s molecules that it is no longer the same as a natural fat. Our bodies do not recognize this altered formed of fat and therefore cannot process it and it becomes a toxin in our bodies. And as a result it has been linked to a number diseases such as diabetes, heart diseases, birth defects and cancer. And definitely it is responsible for obesity and unhealthy weight gain. Hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated oils can be found in many snacks such as crackers, chips, pretzels, cookies, popcorns and cereal bars. Always read your labels before buying.
Good fats are fats that the body needs to perform certain essential functions. One important fat that our body cannot survive without is essential fatty acids. Our immune system, digestive system and brain are dependant on this fat. An example of essential fatty acid is omega 3 fats. These essential fats are found in high concentrations in the brain and it is important for the performance of the brain as well as the behavioral function. Thus the symptoms of deficiency in omega 3 includes poor memory, mood swings, poor blood circulation and tiredness. Omega 3 cannot be produced by the body and it is important that we get these fats from the foods we eat. Foods that are high in omega 3 includes cold water fish such as salmon and mackerel, eggs, leafy green vegetables and flax seeds. Researches indicate that omega 3 fatty acids help prevent chronic diseases such as arthritis, cancer and heart conditions.
Eat fat to lose fat? Yes, you need to eat the good fats so that your body can perform the essential functions such as getting rid of toxins (unwanted fat) from your body and increasing your body’s metabolic rate (helps to lose weight). Avoid all foods that contain hydrogenated oil and partially hydrogenated oil. Eat plenty of food that has essential fatty acids such as salmon, sardines, green leafy vegetables, walnuts and avocados. Just apply this simple rule for a healthy body and mind and of course control your weight.
Counting Calories
By · CommentsWe have been told often that if you consume more calories than what your body burns, you will gain weight. Calories are units of energy released from the food we eat. Our bodies need energy from food to maintain the organs and systems as well as physical activities. When we consume more calories than what our bodies require, it will be stored in our muscles, hence gaining weight. This is why almost every weight loss program, recommends counting calories as a way to slim.
We need enough calories to give our bodies enough energy to perform all the necessary functions and activities. How much calories each individual needs varies depending on weight, age, activity level and a long list of other factors. Some weight loss diets recommends low calorie intake and they do bring the weight down. However, they also brought along serious health problems. When the body do not consume enough calories from protein, there is muscle breakdown and this is especially so for the heart. When the heart muscle breaks down, it can lead to serious cardiac problems.
As low-calorie diets usually do not give enough energy to keep organs and systems healthy, they can cause malnourishment. Does that mean that we have keep counting calories on everything we eat in order to stay healthy and slim? Keep counting calories can be very stressful and tedious, there is a simple way to keep track of your nutrition requirements. Just follow these simple rules:-
- Make sure that your daily meal consist of the basic food nutrition requirements namely protein, carbohydrates, calcium, vitamins and minerals. There must be a balance in the quantity of each type. That means that in one meal, you do not eat just a lot of carbohydrates and little of protein or vegetables.
- Do not eat one type of meat alone. Chicken, beef and fish will each have different types of nutrition.
- Eat at least two servings of fruits and two servings of vegetables per day. Fruits and vegetables are not only a good source of digestion, which is important for weight loss, they are also high in vitamins. Always eat different colors of fruits and vegetables as they each contain different types of nutrients for the prevention of various types of illnesses.
- Cut down on fried food and avoid hydrogenated oil.
- Cut down on your sugar and salt intake.
- Exercise daily. It can be light exercise such as a daily walk, run or swim.
- Instead of unhealthy snacks like chips, try fruits instead.
- Do not starve yourself. Listen to your body, if you feel hungry, you need to eat. It is your body telling you that it need nutrients.
Eat To Lose Weight
By · CommentsThere is a lot of confusing with regards to nutrition and weight loss. Every expert seem to contradict each other on what is to eat for fat loss and for optimum health. The simple truth is that a good weight loss diet need not conform to any of the fad diets. It does not take a low carb diet or a low fat diet to be successful in losing body fat.
The key to success in a diet is eating a lot of nutritional foods in their natural state, that is as unprocessed as possible). Heavy processed foods creates havoc on our bodies and therefore is not good for our general well-being. Here are some simple diet tips to follow and eat to lose weight:
- Eat enough protein daily. You need to burn calories in order to digest protein. So when you consume protein, your body needs to burn fat to digest protein, so leading to a slimmer you. Plus protein builds up lean muscles and that what you need to stay healthy and slim.
- Eat a lot of fiber. Not only it is a good source of carbohydrates, it also fills you up faster.
- Eat fat to lose weight. Is this sentence a joke? The common thinking is that fat will make you fat. Healthy fats are essential for many primary body functions. People who eat too little fat may have serious health problems. Healthy fats are found in nuts, seeds, avocados, eggs and coconuts.
- Avoid hydrogenated oils and partially hydrogenated oils. These are bad fats commonly found in most processed foods such as chips, cookies and cereal bars. Hydrogenated oils are fats that have undergone chemical process. The body does not recognized such fats and will not process them. They become toxins in the body and can cause chronic illnesses.
- In general, avoid processed food and go for freshly cooked food and food in its natural state if possible.
When we say “Eat To Lose Weight”, it does not means eating everything that you can grab hold of. Chose what you eat careful and eat plenty of nutritious foods to keep your body healthy and good-looking. Those fad diets that recommend eating very little or completely avoiding certain food groups are not only ineffective but also dangerous as your body will be deprived of certain nutrients. So enjoy delicious meals and stay slim by following simples rules.
Diets That Work
By · CommentsWhat are the diets that work? Which diet is the best to follow? These are common questions asked by those who are looking for ways to lose weight. There are so many different types of weight lost diets that it can be confusing as to which one works. To make matters worse, there are many false information out there, each claiming that their weight loss program has the best results and is the most effective.
Is there really a diet that anyone can follow to maintain a healthy body weight? Yes, there are diets that work well and it need not be expensive and difficult to follow. It need not involve eating calories or eating bland food. Many diets recommend eating only certain food groups. This is not good for health. A weight loss diet should not just aim to lose weight, but must also take care of the health. Which means that the diet must cover all the daily nutrition intake requirements.
You do not have to eat tasteless foods and keep on counting calories just to lose weight. Keep a healthy diet is not a difficult process and you should be enjoying your meals and not feel stressed out by trying to keep up with the diet requirements. Here are some tips that can help you maintain a healthy diet and keep you in good shape:
- You can still enjoy your favorite food. Yes, go ahead eat your favorite food but just make some changes. For meat, chose the lean part or trim away the fat and skin. Instead of deep fry, try baking or grilling.
- Have plenty of vegetables with every meal. Fruits and vegetables is something you can never go wrong. They have all the nutrition that you need. Keep the rule of two plus two, that is eat at least two servings of vegetables and two servings of fruits each day.
- Drink plenty of water. Water not only keeps you hydrated, it is also important for the disposal of body waste and thus helps in weight loss.
- Make some changes to your habits. Drink water instead of sodas or cut down on the amount of sodas that your drink. Instead of chips, why not take a healthy snack of fruits or nuts.
- Cut down on sugar. Not only it is bad for your teeth and your waistline, it is also bad for health.
- Be active. If your job requires you to sit all day, take a walk at lunch break or after work. You need not have strenuous exercises to lose weight, just some simple exercise such as a daily walk, swim or run will do.
There is no need to keep searching for a perfect diet that works. What you need is some changes to your habits and what you eat. People don’t get fat overnight, it is usually over a period of time and as a result of some bad habits or over-indulgence in some food, drinks or activities. If you love to sit down for long hours in front of the television, munching chips, you are bound to get fat sooner. Stop doing that, you will find that you stop gaining weight. Start taking daily walks, soon you will find that you lose weight. It is that simple. No need for expensive weight loss programs or taking diets pills of any sort.