Healthy Journey » Nutrition

Raw Food Diet: Get Back to Basics With a Simple Food Plan

Barbara Holbrook — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 17:00:56 +0000

Eating healthy in the modern world is harder than it was when our grandparents were growing up. Processed food is everywhere and the effects can be seen in every corner of our society. In the face of so much manufactured food, a movement is taking place and many people are actively choosing to simplify their eating plan. One of these “back-to-basics” approach to food is the Raw Food Diet.

It may sound impossible to eat only raw foods, however there is evidence that a raw food diet can cure many of the ailments caused by unhealthy eating. (...)

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5 Tips to Getting Get Picky Kids to Eat Healthier

Barbara Holbrook — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 22:57:27 +0000

As a chef for 20 years, what’s the toughest challenge I’ve ever faced? Soufflés? Demi-glaces? Deep-fried Turkeys? Forget about it. Try getting a five-year-old to willingly eat something other than French fries.

Here are 5 easy tips to help that picky eater change his or her ways.

Sit down and eat with your kids. I know this one sounds like a no-brainer, but you would be amazed how infrequently this happens in a lot of families, especially these days when both parents are working full time. By sitting down together as a family, they see you eating (hopefully) a healthy, balanced meal. This is especially important for younger kids because they mimic what adults do. And if all they see is you eating on the run, or a bag a chips on Sunday in front of the game, then that’s what they’re going to want.(...)

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How the Eating Habits of Adults Affect Obesity in Children

editor — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 21:16:59 +0000

In order to live, we must eat. Somewhere in our history, we stopped eating to live and started living to eat. This obsession with food has led to not only obesity in adults, but a rising obesity in children. Let’s examine the eating habits that can lead to obesity in children and the ways to change those habits.

Making Poor Food Choices

Nowadays, children have access to all types of food. In school cafeterias, there are snack vending machines, soda machines, and fast food restaurant counters. It used to be that kids brought their lunches to school, but now most kids buy their lunch since it’s easy and they can eat virtually anything they want. At malls, the availability of non-nutritious foods is more prevalent than good, healthy food choices.

And it’s not just about what we eat — it’s about what we drink. According to various studies, drinking sodas even once a day increases the childhood obesity risk by sixty percent — let me repeat that — just one soda a day can increase a child’s risk of being obese by 60 percent! (...)

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Diabetic Diet: Prevent or Manage Diabetes with Better Eating Habits

editor — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 15:48:45 +0000

When watching our health, what we eat is just as important as how much we eat. Too many of the wrong tasty treats can be an invitation to diabetes. Obesity is one risk factor for diabetes that is easily eliminated by developing good eating habits. For those who have already developed diabetes, dietary changes can help to manage or even reverse the disease.

If you want to prevent or manage diabetes, start by adopting the diabetic diet.

The body is a machine that needs fuel to run.? Unfortunately, some of the foods we eat may taste good, but that doesn’t meant they are good for us. Consuming the wrong foods can result in medical complications and diseases, including insulin sensitivity, metabolic syndrome and diabetes.

The first thing that we can do to prevent diabetes from knocking at our door is learn the right things to eat. But, simply telling people to ?eat healthy? doesn’t help. After a lifetime of poor eating habits, how can we be expected to wake up and fix it over night? For more of us, a better explanation is required if we want to understand how to follow a diabetic diet. (...)

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To your brain, you are what you eat

editor — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 15:04:58 +0000

New research released today is affirming a long-held maxim: you are what you eat — and, more to the point, what you eat has a profound influence on the brain. The findings offer insight into the neurobiological factors behind the obesity epidemic in the United States and other developed countries.

The findings exposed changes in brain chemistry due to diet and weight gain, and were reported at Neuroscience 2009, the Society for Neuroscience’s annual meeting and the world’s largest source of emerging news about brain science and health.

Obesity has been linked to rises in diabetes, stroke, and heart attacks, among other disorders. In the past decade alone, medical spending for obesity is estimated to have increased 87 percent in the United States — reaching $147 billion in 2008 — according to a study funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (...)

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Using Supplements for Diabetes Prevention

editor — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 12:20:57 +0000

Supplements are just what their name implies: an addition to something else. They are not meant to be the main source of nutrients in your body.

The majority of the nutrients that the body needs come from outside the body. We can make some amino acids and other building blocks ourselves within the body cells, but not enough to sustain us, and not without proper nutrition. When it comes to getting proper nutrition, food is the primary tool we need to use.

Nevertheless, the world of supplements is big business because many people see them as a tool to help improve their health. In some case, they may be right. If you are at risk for diabetes, a little supplementation may help you fight back. (...)

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Can a Nutritionist Help You Lose Weight?

editor — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 11:38:15 +0000

A nutritionist is a person who is trained or an expert in the science of nutrition. If you are interested in losing weight, you may inquire about hiring a nutritionist to assist in your weight loss journey.

How can a nutritionist help you lose weight?

Typically you would hire a nutritionist for a five to six month period to teach you about good nutrition and portion size, and give you a tailored plan for your body and lifestyle.

Your lifestyle, eating habits, exercise habits, and medical history will all be analyzed and it is quite common to take allergy tests and be asked to keep a journal for the entirety of your relationship with the nutritionist to track all of these things and more.

After the “entire person” has been evaluated, a weight loss program with meal planning and exercise routine will be established. (...)

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Extra-Meaty Veggie Chili

Barbara Holbrook — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 08:27:28 +0000

This super-delish dish is a great way to sneak in some extra veggies without giving up the meaty taste that makes chili a winter comfort food.
I like to serve up a large 2-cup bowl with one of Krusteaz-brand honey cornbread muffins. And at around 2 points* per cup, it’s a great filling meal that helps me stay on track with my weight-loss goals.(...)

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Important Steps to Prevent Childhood Obesity

editor — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 07:58:56 +0000

You may have heard about childhood obesity and have some concern about your own children. If they do not have a weight problem now, that is good news. But, you can be proactive to prevent obesity from ever happening in your family.

Children are impressionable. They learn most of their habits from their parents. This is the time to take your kids under your wing and teach them healthy habits that will help them throughout their lifetime. As they get older (into their teens) their attention will shift from you to their friends. If a life of healthy eating and exercise are already instilled, you have a better chance of them sticking to those good habits. (...)

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Green Super Foods

editor — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 05:38:53 +0000

When it comes to Green Super Foods, Mom was right!

Remember when you used to sneak your Brussels sprouts to the dog under the table? Well, Fido got the better part of the deal. Here’s why.

Green is good. Green foods are filled with nutrients that improve not only overall health but the health of your heart and immune system. Green foods also lower cholesterol, improve brain health, and improve emotional and mental health. Better health and improved mood? We all could use that!

There is an abundance of green all around you, but if you’re wondering how to choose green super foods, here’s a primer:

Start with the produce section. Fresh is always better than processed. Whenever you can, eat green super foods raw. The majority of nutrients are unlocked that way.
Frozen is next. Steam them to preserve as many nutrients as you can.
Canned green super foods should be a last resort since processing removes much of the nutrients you’re looking for.
Some folks also like to use a juicer. Even if some vegetables don’t taste good to you, you may enjoy them in a juice mixed with other vegetables you do like. The downside to juicing is that you don’t get as much fiber as eating the whole food.

Now, about that Super List of Super Green Foods… (...)

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Find Heartburn Relief: Try an Acid Reflux Diet

editor — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 02:45:52 +0000

Even before the “official” diagnosis, people that suffer from acid reflux disease have already learned to avoid certain foods. This is because diet has a huge effect of acid reflux symptoms.

acid reflux, also known as GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease), may exhibit an array of symptoms — pain, indigestion, burning of the throat and esophagus, bloating, gas and other more serious medical problems.

Making changes in your regular diet and starting an acid reflux diet can ease many of these symptoms. An acid reflux diet should include dietary modifications such as: (...)

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Muscle Building Super Foods

editor — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 01:13:54 +0000

We lose fat in two ways: burn fat with exercise, and burn fat with muscle. As we increase our muscle, we burn more fat.

It’s a wonderful cycle to get caught up in! Work out, lose fat, build muscle, burn more fat. Other than doing your exercises routinely, there are foods you can eat to help build muscle tissue. Let’s take a look at what sort of super foods will help build muscle.

The Magic of Muscle For Weight Loss

As we age, we lose muscle, especially when we reach the age of forty and over. But, muscle is important. It helps to strengthen our framework. The same calcium that strengthens the bones also builds the muscle that the frame is attached to.

Muscle weighs more than fat. It’s important to realize that especially when you are losing weight. If the scale comes down slowly, don’t worry. You are sculpting a more beautiful, healthier body with lean muscle. And, that lean muscle needs more energy to operate. That’s one reason why muscle burns fat for energy. Yes, even when you are not lifting dumbbells, your muscles are at work burning fat for you. What more could you ask?

Building muscle requires a nutritious diet. Muscle needs protein, calcium, and a host of other nutrients to grow. That is where super foods come in. (...)

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Alternative Treatments for ADHD: The Feingold Diet

editor — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 20:01:03 +0000

If you’re the parent of a child with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), then you know there is nothing you won’t do to help your child. Even families that are already following a treatment plan that includes medication, usually continue to actively seek alternative treatments for ADHD.

One of the most used types of alternative ADHD treatment is diet.

Although some people have doubts, in many studies sugar and carbs have been shown to increase hyperactivity. The belief is that sugar and carbs, which enter the blood stream very quickly, spike blood sugar levels causing hyperactivity. (...)

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Fruits and Veggies Not Enough to Protect Against Cancer, says the Harvard Health Letter

editor — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 16:42:12 +0000

Cancer isn’t the only health problem that is influenced by diet, and there’s good evidence that eating fruits and vegetables lowers the risk of having a heart attack, stroke, and other forms of cardiovascular disease.

Fruits and vegetables have been touted for two decades as potent cancer-fighting foods. Although new research has tarnished this image, they still pack a punch against high blood pressure, heart disease, and other chronic conditions, reports the June issue of the Harvard Health Letter.

Ever since the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended 20 years ago that people eat five servings of fruits and vegetables a day to prevent cancer and other chronic diseases, research results have been chipping away at that notion. (...)

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Eat a Rainbow of Antioxidant-Packed Super Foods

editor — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 12:28:24 +0000

We are all fighting the ravages of time. But, what if time didn’t have to be so ravaging? Antioxidants may be the answer to help your body grow old gracefully, strong, and healthy. What are antioxidants?

We now know what super foods are so it is time to define antioxidants. Antioxidants are substances that fight free-radical damage in the body. This begs the next question: What are free radicals?

Here’s the down and dirty explanation. The body uses food nutrients at a cellular level to drive certain reactions that goes on in the body. This is called cellular metabolism or respiration. Free radicals are by-products produced by these reactions. In the body, these substances bump into organs, vessels and everything else, damaging them in the process. That is why the body ages, and not always so gracefully.

Free radicals can come from not only the body but also the environment. Pollution, smoking, stress, drugs, alcohol, and other sources all feed into the damage that causes us to age. Antioxidants help by neutralizing the effects of these rogue particles. You are less prone to disease, wrinkles, age spots, arthritis, and the list goes on.

Now to the point you’ve been waiting for: What foods can you eat to get the most antioxidant benefit? (...)

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The Power of Antioxidants to Relieve Stress

editor — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 11:02:36 +0000

With physical exhaustion the muscles become over worked and tense, however, a good night sleep will leave the body refreshed and ready to begin a new day. Mental exhaustion is different. Many folks find it more difficult to relax their mind and so their brain never gets “refreshed.”

Stress caused by mental exhaustion results when the mind keeps working even when the physical body is at rest. If stress is caused by a specific limited event, like a near miss on the freeway, although a bit shaken, the mind recovers once the event is over. But, if the stress is caused by a daily anxiety or goes on long-term, then that is what’s known as negative stress. It’s very real and it can jeopardize your good health.

A failed marriage, loss of job, constant nagging by a co-worker or spouse can cause unremitting stress where the body reaches the stage of mental exhaustion. Chronic mental exhaustion leading to negative stress can be caused by a relationship or a situation that makes you miserable, money problems, living in a high crime area or dealing with any other on-going event that makes you feel financially or physically threatened.

Luckily, the body knows how to fight stress using a superficial energy that can be replaced with good nutrition, exercise and relaxation techniques. (...)

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Count Down the Top 10 Power-Packed Foods for Good Health

editor — Sun, 02 Oct 2011 08:39:53 +0000

What is the secret to a long and healthy life? It is in the food that we eat. As you well know, all foods are not created equal. Choosing and eating the right foods may help increase your life expectancy as well as the quality of your life.

We’re counting down the top power packed foods designed to give you energy, vitality and all around good health! (...)

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Why Weight Watchers is Sustainable – Learning How To Eat

editor — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 03:43:24 +0000

It’s long been reasoned that people who lose weight slowly, tend to keep it off, whereas those who lose weight too quickly struggle with maintaining a healthy weight. Often the reasoning is that when losing weight too fast dieters don’t learn to eat right for sustainable weight loss. Weight Watchers builds its plan on the concept of their members losing, on an average, about 2 pounds a week. This concept is based on the fact that more people will keep the weight off longer when they lose it slower and at a steady pace.

Weight Watchers encourages their members (online or “live” in weekly meetings) to learn how to adjust their lifestyle to one that includes healthy eating and exercise. Their method of giving a Points value to each serving of food makes it easy for members to calculate the proper portion of food to eat. This method also makes it easy for members to stay on the plan because it gives them lots of flexibility and variety in the foods they choose. Weight Watchers doesn’t tell them what to eat, but rather it helps them learn what to eat and what not to eat. (...)

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Papaya extract fights 10 different types of cancer say researchers

editor — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 17:06:51 +0000

University of Florida researchers are reporting that an extract from dried papaya slows the growth of cancer cells in the laboratory. However, it’s not clear if the papaya extract will have the same effect on cancer in people, however.

According to Dr. Nam Dang, the papaya extract appears to affect the regulation of the body’s immune system without causing adverse side effects to nearby normal cells. The findings reflect the use of papaya by indigenous people in Australia and Vietnam.

“Based on what I have seen and heard in a clinical setting, nobody who takes this extract experiences demonstrable toxicity; it seems like you could take it for a long time — as long as it is effective,” he said.

The researchers report that four strengths of papaya leaf extract slowed the growth of 10 types of cancer cell cultures, including cancers of the cervix, breast, liver, lung and pancreas.

The study was published in a recent issue of Journal of Ethnopharmacology.

The U.S. National Cancer Institute has more on the various types of cancer.

What are Super Foods? Discover the Secret Benefits of Real Food!

editor — Sat, 27 Aug 2011 15:42:26 +0000

These days, there are commercials pushing pills, powders, and potions for everything from cancer to weight loss. What if you didn’t have to invest thousands of dollars in so-called ” miracle cures” to get your body what it needs? You don’t. Super Foods have come to the rescue!

What are super foods?

That’s the million dollar question, or rather, the 100-year-old question. Super foods do what those ” miracle” products can’t — and they do it naturally. How did your ancestors manage to live long, healthy lives without all the powders and potions? It wasn’t just because they stayed fit by working from sunup to sundown. The food they ate had a lot to do with it.

Unlike the much-hyped powders, pills, and potions said to cure what ails you, super foods aren’t ” super” because they are filled with additives and other proprietary substances that the manufacturers keep secret. These foods are ” super” because of just how uncomplicated they really are.

Super foods, as they have been dubbed, are actually foods that are nutrient dense but contain no additives or preservatives. (...)

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