Simple Weight Loss Plans

May 25th, 2011 by admin No comments »

Weight Loss TipsLosing weight works on a simple formula, that is intake of few calories and burning more calories. These easy weight loss tricks are meant to cut your bad food habits and help you lose weight fast.

Understand Your Body
Before concluding to a specific diet, it is important to understand how much energy and calories does your body need? You can use a calorie calculator for the same. Due to the difference in the nature of work and also our different bodies, understanding the basic requirement of your body is important.

Veggies on Platter
Obesity generally hints at lower consumption of vegetables in the diet. Vegetables come packed with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fibers. They are low in calories and also make you feel fuller. That in turn will help you eat less portions of your favorite food. You must include at least a handful of veggies, a minimum of five servings of fresh vegetables and fruits, in your daily diet.

Reduce the Carbohydrates
It is true that your body does require some amount of carbohydrates. But you need to balance the simple carbohydrates with the complex carbohydrates. Simple carbohydrates are easy to digest. Most contain refined sugars. Fruit juice, yogurt, milk, honey, maple syrup, molasses, fruits, etc., are some examples. Complex carbohydrates come with lots of fiber, and take longer to digest. Bread, cereal, pasta, legumes, etc., are some examples. It is important to reduce the intake of sugar and balance the ratio of simple and complex carbohydrates. This will help in regulating blood sugar levels, and your body will burn more fat for energy, thus reducing weight.

Meal Portions and Habits
Eating the right portions of food is important so as to reduce and control weight. Eat small meals throughout the day instead of large meals. 5 – 6 small meals are better than 3 large meals in a day. Studies have shown that distributing the same amount of calories in smaller meals, helps produce insulin and maintain control blood sugar level, thus controlling hunger. Also, do not skip your meals or starve. While eating chew slowly, enjoy what you are eating. Slow eating prevents compulsive overeating. It is also advised to avoid packaged and frozen food. Such food is often high in fats and sodium. Home cooked food is your best friend when losing weight. » Read more: Simple Weight Loss Plans

Caring Your Brain From Aging

May 24th, 2011 by admin No comments »

There are signs to let you know when your brain is aging: memory loss, mental exhaustion and difficulty multitasking. What can we do about it? We can make personal choices to keep our brains younger in order to avoid what some people call senior moments. The following are some of the many choices we can make:

  • Oxygen is very important to our brains. If we live a sedentary lifestyle, we don’t get enough oxygen. It is important to get a lot of exercise and fresh air; deep breathe and yawn. Exercise grows brain cells.
  • Our brains are comprised mostly of water so it is necessary to keep hydrated. Most people need at least eight glasses of water, tea, juice, etc. every day.
  • Proper nutrition is very important for our brains. Protein especially means brain growth and makes our brains more focused. Some of the foods that are important to have in our diets are nuts, eggs, fish, white meat, whole grains, fruits and colorful vegetables. An example of a healthy breakfast is fruit, whole grain and a protein.
  • Other healthy brain foods are: wheat germ, cauliflower, soybeans, brown rice, turkey, soy products, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, olive oil, peanut butter, beans and avocados.
  • Foods high in antioxidants are especially helpful for keeping a youthful brain. These include carrots, yams, spinach, cranberries, apples, prunes, plums, tomatoes, grapes, strawberries and raspberries. Blueberries are the winner in the antioxidant category.
  • Herbs such as garlic, mint, rosemary, thyme and barley are also good for the brain as is green tea.
  • It is important to take supplements, or those foods rich in Omega 3′s which include fish and flax seed. A general multivitamin supplement is recommended plus vitamin C, the B vitamins and particularly for seniors, vitamins D and E.
  • Stress and sleep deprivation take a heavy toll on the brain. Other things are saturated fats and trans fatty acids also. White sugar is poison, not only for your health but for your brain too.
  • Smoking is detrimental to the brain as it damages blood vessels and can cause blood clots. And too much caffeine reduces blood flow to the brain.
  • Overuse of alcohol detrimentally affects the brain. Hangovers are brain damage. » Read more: Caring Your Brain From Aging