Metabolism: Myths VS Facts

Metabolism Myths VS FactsMetabolism has always been a topic of debate among both men and women. It is believed that some people have fast metabolism while some have slow metabolism. We all know someone who eats junk food and still stays slim. We all also know someone who doesn’t grow a beer belly no matter how many beers he drinks. These people cannot be superhuman, so what is it exactly that is preventing them from gaining weight?

In order to understand this fact, we need to understand what metabolism is. Metabolism is basically the rate at which the body burns calories. Metabolism can be affected by many things such as what you eat, how much you workout, the kind of exercises you do and so on. Metabolism has one rule and that is if the amount of calories taken in is the same as the amount of calories burned, then the person will remain the same size. Weight gain occurs when the consumption is more than what the body is able to get rid of and weight loss occurs when the body burns more calories than that has been taken in. Read more

10 Best Foods for Brain Health

10 Best Foods for Brain HealthEating well is not only good for your physical health, but your mental health as well. Just like other organs in your body such as lungs, heart and muscles, your brain also needs nutrients. There are many foods which can improve memory and support healthy cognitive function. So if you want to keep your grey matter happy and healthy, given below are the ten best foods that you should start including in your diet.

1. Blueberries

These tasty fruits can reduce the effects of Alzheimer’s and other age related conditions. They can also protect your brain from oxidative stress. In addition, including blueberries in the diet can improve motor skills and learning capacity.

2. Seeds and Nuts

Whether it is flax seeds, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, hazelnuts, cashews, almonds or walnuts, seeds and nuts provide Vitamin E which boosts memory and prevents cognitive decline as you age. Read more

Foods That Will Age You Prematurely

Foods That Will Age You PrematurelyDid you know that what you eat can have an impact on how you look? A flawless skin is synonymous with health and beauty and there are many people who spend a lot of money on expensive skin care products. Some even visit dermatologists and doctors to get their skin conditions treated so they can look younger and have glowing skin. If there are imbalances in the body, it can manifest as skin problems, rashes and even skin breakouts.

It is important to remember that skin health is not always attainable with cosmetics and skin treatments. Most of the products that you buy even contain harmful chemicals which can have a damaging effect on your skin health. When it comes to looking young and having glowing skin, the first thing that you should concentrate on is the food you eat. There are a number of foods that are responsible for causing accelerated skin aging. Given below are the foods that you must try to avoid or minimize intake since they will age you prematurely.

Sugar

One of the worst foods that are responsible for causing premature aging is sugar. Sugar promotes chronic inflammation and they also cause a number of ill effects. You don’t have to banish sugar from your diet completely because many fruits contain sugar naturally. Carbohydrates are an essential part of human nutrition but consuming processed sugar can incite many health issues over time. Therefore, you must try to reduce intake from sources where it is possible to do so. This includes avoiding table sugar, raw sugar, molasses, glucose, fructose, maple syrup and so on. Read more

Top 10 Foods Highest in Zinc

Top 10 Foods Highest in ZincYour body needs vitamins and minerals and a healthy diet is one that contains most of the essential nutrients including trace minerals. A trace mineral is one that is needed by the body in small amounts, an example of which is zinc. Zinc is present in all the cells in your body and there are a number of reasons why it is important.

There are enzymes in the body and for them to function correctly, they need zinc. Zinc also keeps the proteins in your body stable. It helps maintain cell membranes and controls how the cells function. Zinc also plays an important role in the functioning of your nervous system. Aside from these, there are many other health benefits of zinc. These include fighting gastric ulcers, managing diabetes, reducing symptoms associated with sickle cell anemia, managing Wilson’s disease and treatment of acne vulgaris.

Because zinc offers so many health benefits and because it is an essential trace element, it is worth knowing which foods contains the highest levels of zinc. Here’s a look at the top 10 foods highest in zinc.

1. Beef

Beef is one of the easiest ways to get zinc into your diet. Although most other foods listed below contain more zinc than beef, it is not possible to eat much of those foods in a single sitting.

2. Spinach

Being a plant source, spinach contains good amounts of zinc and the best way to eat spinach is in a salad. You can even top your salad with other zinc containing foods to get more zinc in your diet. Read more

What To Eat After Working Out

What To Eat After Working OutAfter working out at the gym, you must ensure that you eat the right type of food. This is because the food you eat following your workout session is the most important of all that you eat during the day. When you hit the gym, excess energy is stored in the muscles in the form of protein and glycogen and when you perform some exercises, the body uses the fuel from the pre-workout meal you have taken. When this much fuel is not enough, then the stored glycogen is used up. However, after you come back from your workout session, the muscles start to break down because the protein levels drop. In order to prevent this, you must eat food that will help you reload the depleted muscles. In this post, we will take a look at what food you must eat following your workout.

Wholegrain breakfast cereal

You can eat wholegrain breakfast cereal at any time, but you can get the most benefits out of it when you eat it after your workout. Wholesale cereals are rich in protein, fiber and carbohydrates. They are perfect for restoring the muscles that tend to break down after your training session. You can include yogurt or milk to your cereal and make it a substantial after-workout snack. Read more

7 Foods To Fight PMS

7 Foods To Fight PMSMood swings, anxiety, irritability, headaches and bloating are some common premenstrual symptoms. You may not experience all of them, but a single one can spoil your day. It is common to reach out for salty food to curb that craving or even get mad at your best buddy over a small thing. There are over-the-counter medications available to help find relief from stomach cramps, but did not know that there are certain foods which can actually help you during this time of the month. Let’s take a look at 7 such foods that can help fight PMS.

Low Fat Yogurt

Think of yogurt when you are craving for something filling. One cup of low fat yogurt can provide good amounts of calcium. Foods rich in calcium can actually lower the risk of developing PMS and this has been proven by a number of studies and researches.

Grilled Salmon

Omega 3 fatty acids can help overcome the blues that come along with your period and grilled salmon is one of the best sources of fatty acids. Read more

Should You Drink Bottled Water Or Tap Water?

Should You Drink Bottled Water Or Tap Water?Pollution, contaminants, chemicals and price are some of the things that come to mind when thinking about drinking water. Is the water that you drink safe? Bottled water or tap water: which is safer? Should you drink bottled water because it is treated or should you drink tap water because it’s cheaper? Let’s take a look at some facts surrounding bottled water and tap water.

Bottled Water

The label on the bottle can be misleading. Although, it may depict a pristine mountain stream, it doesn’t mean that the water it contains is pristine and pure. In some cases, the water is just glorified tap water being sold thousand times its original cost. Some companies may provide bottled water that comes from natural springs and pristine sources, but some just treat water from the municipal supply.

Bottled water is easier to carry around, they are refreshing and some of them also taste better than tap water. But bottled water is not better protected or better regulated than tap water. It cannot be said that bottled water is safer than tap water. Read more

8 Foods You Should Not Refrigerate

8 Foods You Should Not RefrigerateYour grocery shopping for the month has been done and now your fridge is overflowing with all the foods that you think should go in there. On some foods, you can see labels that say “refrigerate after opening”, but on foods without such labels it is pure assumption that they should be kept in the fridge. While it does make sense that tomatoes will stay fresh longer if they are refrigerated, did you know that refrigerating such foods can alter their flavor and even reduce their nutritional value?

Some foods that you thought would be better in your fridge are actually best kept at room temperature. Continue reading to find out which 8 foods you should not refrigerate.

Tomatoes

The first on the list is of course tomatoes. Keeping tomatoes in the fridge makes them mushy and it also promote cell break down. The cold temperature also breaks down acids and sugars in the tomato causing them to lose their beautiful flavor. You should keep tomatoes at room temperature, away from direct sunlight. Read more

Pros And Cons Of Drinking Coffee

Pros And Cons Of Drinking CoffeeHaving a cup of coffee in the morning, one at lunch time and one in the afternoon when chatting with friends or families or while in the office may be a routine for many people. But have you ever considered what coffee can do to your health? Does coffee have any real nutritional value? Is it healthy for you? Drinking coffee can give you important perks, but there are some drawbacks as well that you must consider if you love your coffee. In this article, we take a look at some of the pros and cons of drinking coffee.

Pros:

Reduces risk of diabetes

According to a number of studies, drinking at least 4 cups of coffee a day can help reduce your risk of Type 2 diabetes by 30 percent. Polyphenols are a type of molecule contained in coffee that can help prevent inflammatory illnesses including Type 2 diabetes. In addition, coffee contains chromium and magnesium which can be helpful for reducing the risk of diabetes by improving insulin sensitivity. Read more

Healthy Energizing Dessert

Healthy Energizing DesertIngredients:

100g raisins

100g almonds

100g pitted dates

 

Preparation:

Mix all ingredients in food processor/blender about 30 sec

Once the ingredients are well blended, put the mixture on a transparent foil and cut into squares. You can also make different shapes by desire using hands or cooking molds.

Store in the fridge until firm and serve.

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