Archive for the 'Nutrition' Category

Low Glycemic Recipes – Healthy Can Be Tasty

Saturday, February 13th, 2010
Meals that have high glycemic levels are responsible for a higher insulin output which would then store more glycogen and fat. As a matter of fact, meals that contain high glycemic levels will cause the blood glucose to raise two times higher than a low glycemic meal even when both meals have the same amount of calories. High glycemic meals are less filling, lead to feelings of hunger sooner or increased meal size as opposed to low glycemic meals.

Some studies have revealed that children who eat a high glycemic breakfast consumed more calories before dinner than children eating a low glycemic meal. There is always more weight loss on low glycemic diets than high glycemic diets of the same calories.

To increase low glycemic foods in your diet, increase consumption of fruits, vegetables and legumes. Choose pasta, stone ground breads and old-fashioned oatmeal, over potatoes and instant rice. The less processing a food has, the more fiber it retains and the lower its glycemic rating too.

Did you know that rice cakes are high glycemic? Don’t be fooled by supposed “diet food”. Check the ingredients. There is always a lower glycemic alternative. For example, when choosing fruits, oranges, apples and cherries are lower on the glycemic index than watermelon or bananas. An easy rule of thumb to remember is high fiber, natural foods are better for your health.

If you are on a low glycemic diet whether it is for health purposes or to monitor your blood sugar, there are plenty of recipes available that are made with the glycemic index as the guide. Adding fat, fiber and protein slows the absorption of carbohydrates, helping to control your insulin response. Portion size matters no matter what they tell you. If you eat too much food at one sitting you will have an insulin surge, which is not good. Think of a low glycemic diet as a slow burning fire. When you consume a low glycemic diet, your body will release glucose very slowly. Your body gets glucose at a nice, slow rate and runs smoothly. This is what you what.

There are many reasons why people opt for a low glycemic diet. Perhaps you’re struggling to lose weight. Perhaps you have type 2 diabetes or have been told by your doctor that you are pre-diabetic. Maybe you would like to lose a few pounds and would like to have access to tasty recipes that won’t spike your blood sugar. Maybe you just simply wish to change your diet to include healthier foods.

There are many benefits to eating low glycemic recipes. Don’t let the thought of taste deter you. People have been researching this method of food preparation for a long while. You can find an unlimited number of recipes for all occasions that taste great.



By: Shannon Pollock

What is a Healthy Diet?

Tuesday, January 26th, 2010
Wikipedia defines “A healthy diet is one that is arrived at with the intent of improving or maintaining optimal health”. “This usually involves consuming nutrients by eating the appropriate amounts from all of the food groups, including an adequate amount of water.”

The main benefits of a healthy diet are:

1. Improves your immune system

2. Increases energy levels, vitality and alertness

3. Decreases your risk of heart disease and diabetes

4. Helps you cope with stress

A healthy diet is essential to live a healthy lifestyle. Having the correct nutrients can have a significant effect on your energy levels and vitality while decreasing the risks of disease. A healthy diet consists of meeting your daily calorie intake of the five major food groups with portion control of each food group totalling your necessary calorie intake.This will help you follow a healthy diet and lose weight at the same time.

The five major food groups are:

1. Fruit

2. Vegetables

3. Lean meat, fish, poultry, eggs, nuts, legumes

4. Bread, cereals, rice, pasta

5. Milk, yogurt, cheese

A healthy diet is also made up of portion control. The portion control of these five food groups are as follows:

Carbohydrates: 6 - 8

Protein: 1 – 2

Fats: 1

Dairy: 2 – 3

Fruit: 2

Vegetables: 5

Water: 6

What constitutes a serving size for these food groups to achieve a healthy diet?

1. Carbohydrates (6-8 serves daily)

One serving should contain about 0.5oz (15g) of carbohydrates. Examples of this include:

Bread 1 slice

Tortilla, roll, or muffin 1

Bagel, English muffin or hamburger bun 1/2

Rice, pasta, cooked cereal, grits 1/2 cup

Ready-to-eat cereal 3/4 cup (flakes or round)

Pancake, waffle 1 (4.5in diameter)

2. Protein (4-6 serves daily)

One serving of protein should contain about 0.5oz (15g) of protein. Examples of this include:


Cooked lean meat, fish or poultry 2oz- 3oz (60g – 90g)

Egg 1

Peanut Butter 2 tablespoons, 1oz (30g)

Cooked dried peas or beans 1/2 cup

Cooked dried beans 1/2cup

Nuts, seeds 1/3 cup

3. Fat (1 serve daily)

One serving of fat should contain about 0.2oz (5g) of fat.  Examples of this include:


1 tsp vegetable oil

1 tsp butter

1 tsp peanut butter

8 ripe olives

1 tbsp salad dressing

4. Dairy (2-3 serves daily)

One serving of dairy should contain about 0.01oz (300mg) of calcium.  Examples of this include:

Milk 1 cup

Yogurt 1 cup

Cheese 1 slice, 1oz (30g) (1.5oz cheese is about equal to 1 cup milk)

Cottage cheese 1/2 cup

Pudding 1/2 cup

Ice cream 1/2 cup

5. Fruit (2 serves daily)

One serving of fruit should contain about 0.5oz (15g) of carbohydrates. Examples of this include:


Chopped, fresh fruit 1/2 cup

Grapefruit 1/2

Cantaloupe 1/4

Canned fruit 1/2 cup

100% fruit juice 3/4 cup

Raisins or dried fruit 1/4 cup

6. Vegetables (5 serves daily)

One serving of vegetables should contain about 0.2oz (5g) of carbohydrates. Examples of this include:

Cooked vegetables 1/2 cup

Chopped, raw vegetables 1/2 cup

Raw, leafy vegetables 1 cup

Vegetable juice 3/4 cup

7. Water (6 serves daily)

Glass of water (10fl oz)

Vitamins and minerals

Many people believe that they can eat what ever they like and can make it up by having vitamin and mineral supplements to make up for this, however this is not the case. Your body absorbes the nutrients in foods are more effectively than in supplements. Furthermore, a majority of supplements on the market are mainly made with fillers you urinate very quickly.

A few things to remember:

1. Try and keep your BMI (Body Mass Index) in a healthy range

2. Try and eat plenty if fibre.

3. Have 8 glasses o water a day. A lack of water is the most common cause of tiredness

4. Limit alcohol and caffeine consumption

5. Reduce sugar intake

Maintain these tips to maintaining a healthy diet and healthy lifestyle and you will be amazed at how good you will feel.



By: Michael Jenkins

Healthy Diet – What Constitutes a Healthy Diet?

Wednesday, January 20th, 2010
 

Wikipedia defines “A healthy diet is one that is arrived at with the intent of improving or maintaining optimal health”. “This usually involves consuming nutrients by eating the appropriate amounts from all of the food groups, including an adequate amount of water.”

The main benifits of a healthy diet are:

1. Improves your immune system

2. Increases energy levels, vitality and alertness

3. Decreases your risk of heart disease and diabetes

4. Helps you cope with stress

A healthy diet is essential to live a healthy lifestyle. Having the correct nutrients can have a significant effect on your energy levels and vitality while decreasing the risks of disease. A healthy diet consists of meeting your daily calorie intake of the five major food groups with portion control of each food group totalling your necessary calorie intake.

The five major food groups are:

1. Fruit

2. Vegetables

3. Lean meat, fish, poultry, eggs, nuts, legumes

4. Bread, cereals, rice, pasta

5. Milk, yogurt, cheese

A healthy diet is also made up of portion control. The portion control of these five food groups are as follows:

Carbohydrates: 6 - 8

Protein: 1 – 2

Fats: 1

Dairy: 2 – 3

Fruit: 2

Vegetables: 5

Water: 6

What constitutes a serving size for these food groups to achieve a healthy diet?

1. Carbohydrates (6-8 serves daily)

One serving should contain about 0.5oz (15g) of carbohydrates. Examples of this include:

Bread 1 slice

Tortilla, roll, or muffin 1

Bagel, English muffin or hamburger bun 1/2

Rice, pasta, cooked cereal, grits 1/2 cup

Ready-to-eat cereal 3/4 cup (flakes or round)

Pancake, waffle 1 (4.5in diameter)

2. Protein (4-6 serves daily)

One serving of protein should contain about 0.5oz (15g) of protein. Examples of this include:


Cooked lean meat, fish or poultry 2oz- 3oz (60g – 90g)

Egg 1

Peanut Butter 2 tablespoons, 1oz (30g)

Cooked dried peas or beans 1/2 cup

Cooked dried beans 1/2cup

Nuts, seeds 1/3 cup

3. Fat (1 serve daily)

One serving of fat should contain about 0.2oz (5g) of fat.  Examples of this include:


1 tsp vegetable oil

1 tsp butter

1 tsp peanut butter

8 ripe olives

1 tbsp salad dressing

4. Dairy (2-3 serves daily)

One serving of dairy should contain about 0.01oz (300mg) of calcium.  Examples of this include:

Milk 1 cup

Yogurt 1 cup

Cheese 1 slice, 1oz (30g) (1.5oz cheese is about equal to 1 cup milk)

Cottage cheese 1/2 cup

Pudding 1/2 cup

Ice cream 1/2 cup

5. Fruit (2 serves daily)

One serving of fruit should contain about 0.5oz (15g) of carbohydrates. Examples of this include:


Chopped, fresh fruit 1/2 cup

Grapefruit 1/2

Cantaloupe 1/4

Canned fruit 1/2 cup

100% fruit juice 3/4 cup

Raisins or dried fruit 1/4 cup

6. Vegetables (5 serves daily)

One serving of vegetables should contain about 0.2oz (5g) of carbohydrates. Examples of this include:

Cooked vegetables 1/2 cup

Chopped, raw vegetables 1/2 cup

Raw, leafy vegetables 1 cup

Vegetable juice 3/4 cup

7. Water (6 serves daily)

Glass of water (10fl oz)

 

Vitamins and minerals

Many people believe that they can eat what ever they like and can make it up by having vitamin and mineral supplements to make up for this, however this is not the case. Your body absorbes the nutrients in foods are more effectively than in supplements. Furthermore, a majority of supplements on the market are mainly made with fillers you urinate very quickly.

A few things to remember:

1. Try and keep your BMI (Body Mass Index) in a healthy range

2. Try and eat plenty if fibre.

3. Have 8 glasses o water a day. A lack of water is the most common cause of tiredness

4. Limit alcohol and caffeine consumption

5. Reduce sugar intake

Maintain these tips to maintaining a healthy diet and healthy lifestyle and you will be amazed at how good you will feel.



By: Michael Jenkins