Healthy foods that pack a punch!

The important thing to consider when planning your healthy meal regime is that your healthy diet still needs to be able to sustain you through your busy day, and not just the 9-5 day either. You day may start a long time before 9:00am and end well after 5:00pm, so it is important to fuel your body with enough energy, crabs, protein and other essential nutrients to pack a punch and see you through your whole day, every day. With this in mind I sourced this through 'ezinearticles' (http://EzineArticles.com/5073751) written by Shauna Arthurs (http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Shauna_Arthurs) - the founder of Breathing Prosperity.


Many people talk about miracle foods, from magazine writers to modern-thinking doctors. As more and more of us become aware that our diet truly affects our health - for better or for worse - we must find new way of incorporating the awareness into our daily lives. As we all know, there is a big difference between knowing something and implementing it, and that difference can mean a healthy, vibrant life or a one-day, regretful 'should have.'

With today's rushed lifestyles, it can be difficult to get the healthy foods we need, even when we know what they are and have the best of intentions. For instance, if you knew there were ten foods that, if eaten daily, could you easily incorporate them into your daily diet? The truth is we often eat too infrequently and/or grab food on the run, and this leaves us bereft in the vitamins and minerals department, let alone giving us enough time to really eat the healthy, whole foods we need.

Following are some helpful guidelines to including some of the most commonly cited healthy foods into your diet.

Breakfast: Whole fruits are some of the healthiest foods you can eat, and the latest wisdom is that they should be eaten alone. This being said, combining them with otherwise less healthy breakfast foods, such as cereals or meal replacement shakes, is a great way to add a few servings of fruit. Consuming fruits whole rather than drinking juices adds fibre and other goodness, upping the health quotient while also slowing down the entry of natural fruit sugars into your body. Tips include: wash fruit very carefully to remove pesticides, or better yet buy organic fruit; support local farms as well as your health by buying fruit in season instead of items shipped hundreds of miles, and freeze extra to throw in your shakes and baking during the off-season. Also, try replacing your coffee with green tea, which has been shown to reduce cancer rates and boost immunity.

Lunch: One great way to get in the veggies you should be eating for optimum health is to eat plenty of salads. With or without lettuce, you can toss together a wide variety of cooked or raw vegetables, add a little virgin olive oil, fresh squeezed garlic and lemon juice (or use half your normal dressing and add these to supplement), and you've got a power-packed lunch. Colourful veggies, garlic and olive oil, as well as lemon, are all on the top health food list. You can also add in such things as nuts, seeds, chick peas or other legumes, etc., for additional healthy filler.

Dinner: What better way to get more veggies, and perhaps some valuable fresh ginger, than with an easy-to-make stir fry dish? You can even get in some extra garlic, as well as varieties of onion and mushrooms - both with enormous health benefits - on top of all the healthy vegetable options such as greens, broccoli and cauliflower, peppers, etc.. Use a little sesame oil instead of a large amount of a cheaper oil; it is very strong in flavor and a touch goes a long way.

WhyWeight - don't hesitate, participate, before it's too late!

-Steve, at WhyWeight-

Eat your way to fitness!

I was reading through this article by Jocelyn Knorr titled 'Feed Your Body What It Needs : Nutrition Tips' and it resonated with me in light of my article from yesterday on the fundamentals of your exercise programme. So, have a read of what Jocelyn is advocating here in terms of your diet - it makes sense. You can learn more via this link :

http://www.articlesbase.com/nutrition-articles/feed-your-body-what-it-needs-nutrition-tips-7103666.html

A focus on positive nutrition should be the goal of everyone. When you know what to do, you can plan the most nutritious meals possible. Just use the advice in the article below, and you should be nourishing your body with good nutrition in no time.

Whenever you get that growling sensation in your tummy, have a healthy choice on hand. Look at portion sizes for your usual, and then compare that to the healthy alternative. This is a chance for you to fill up for less. Keep snack size portions on hand so you can't use the "it's easier to get the other" excuse. Pack your own snacks for the flight. Food at airports and on planes can be quite expensive and selection can be limited. To save money and ensure you have healthy food that you enjoy, bring your own. This also can be a lifesaver if you end up in one of the stuck-for-hours-on-the-runway nightmare scenarios.

Nutrition is something you should study if you are striving for good health and/or weight loss. A holistic approach points out that nutrition provides the building blocks for a healthy body: leave out some of those "building blocks" and you will not have sound health. Therefore it is important to search diligently through writings on nutrition and put your knowledge into practice.

When possible, include more foods in your diet that are high in omega 3. Omega 3 is one of the good fats that has many benefits. It can help reduce pain and swelling in an injury. It is a great source of protection against cardiovascular disease and strokes. It also has some benefits in treating attention deficit disorders.

Eat oatmeal for breakfast. Foods that contain oats or a lot of grain can be very filling. Try eating foods like oatmeal for breakfast in the morning. This will make you fill fuller for a longer amount of time than a typical breakfast. You will be more likely to make it from breakfast to lunch without picking up a snack.

One important way to live healthier is to eat different type of animal protein in order to get all of your nine essential amino acids. Some examples include meat, eggs, and milk. These have all nine of these amino acids. Unfortunately, vegetable sources of protein are lacking in these essential amino acids. Therefore, you must stick with animal sources.

Eat until you are satisfied, not until you are full. Most people eat because food tastes good, not because their body needs more nutrients. Pay attention to your body's signals. Put down your fork between bites and assess how you are feeling. Stop when you feel satisfied. You should not feel any hunger, but you should also not feel stuffed or uncomfortable.

You want to gain the greatest nutritional value from your food. Fresh vegetables are high on your list. What a loss if you throw away these nutrients through overcooking! When you immerse vegetables in water, much of the nutrients are leached out as they cook and are thrown away in the water. Avoid this by using a steamer and cooking vegetables lightly.

Making spaghetti sauce for your family is easy and with a few extra ingredients it can be more nutritious. The next time you make spaghetti sauce, try adding minced carrots or stirring in pureed baby-food carrots. These ingredients will enhance the flavor. Your family will never notice the extra veggies, but will benefit from the extra nutrition.

Have a slushie when you workout. It's vital to remain hydrated during a workout, but especially on a hot day. On those days, don't feel guilty about drinking a cool drink, even if it is a slushie, if you are exercising. Many runners who are otherwise healthy, have been known to pass out on very hot days because they fail to stay hydrated. Don't let that happen to you.

Good nutrition is necessary for a healthy body and mind. By learning about what foods are right for your nutritional needs, you will arm yourself with the power to fuel your body for the lifestyle that you lead. Use the tips given in this article and you'll be living healthier than you ever have before.

Some useful insights here about a healthy, balanced, nutritious and still wholesome diet plan that if followed will help set you up on the right course for your weight loss objectives. Start planning, make improvements from today onwards and eat your self fit, healthier and more energised.

WhyWeight - don't hesitate, participate, before it's too late!

-Steve, at WhyWeight-