Wednesday, 31 December 2008
Vital Vitamins for Women
Wednesday, 24 December 2008
Alcohol and Cigarettes Facts
Most adults would define cigarettes and alcohol as drugs. Fitness, physical health, mental health and long-term health all suffer as a result of medium- or heavy- drinking. Alcohol is also classified as a food because it contains calories. Cigarettes & Alcohol" is a song by British rock band Oasis, written by Noel Gallagher. Alcohol and cigarettes account for 0.9% of money spent on international trade. Adult men seem to be smoking less, women and teenagers of both male and female seem to be smoking more. Drinking modest, sensible amounts of alcohol, however, can be good for you. Smoking is responsible for nearly 1 in 5 deaths in the United States. The average drink has about the same calorie count as a large potato but, unlike a potato or any other food, alcohol has no nutritional value. Many of the social effects of alcohol are psychological and cultural. Smoking causes cancer and increases the rate of ageing, by damaging the DNA inside cells.
Cigarette smoking causes a variety of life-threatening diseases. The use of alcohol can be controlled with informed consent, age restrictions on participants, validation of the study subject and tight manipulation of confounding variables. Italian long-liver Rafaela Moni who is 109 years old tells that moderate using of alcohol helped her to save her health and force during all her live. Smoking for pleasure or relief of an urge to smoke is counterproductive and shorted: The want of nicotine reduces pleasure, abandoning cigarettes altogether results in an increase overall happiness. Nationwide, 22.3% of high school students and 8.1% of middle school students were smoking in 2004. The calories are empty.Alcohol can produce detectable impairments in memory after only a few drinks and, as the amount of alcohol increases, so does the degree of impairment.
Harmful Effects Of Cigarettes Smoking generally affects a smoker's health, harming nearly every organ of the body, and causing many diseases.
heart attacks and stroke gallstones aneurysms leads to less stamina cancer peptic ulcers bronchitis damage a woman's reproductive health accelerates the development of the macular degeneration Harmful effects of Alcohol alcohol impairs behavior, judgment, memory, concentration and coordination. inflammation neuropsychological deficits brain damage physical behaviour menopause and menstrual irregularities throat cancer affects on the sleep cycle
Tuesday, 16 December 2008
Nutritional Supplement for Healthy Living
Many of us equate vitamin, miniral, and nutrition supplement but most of the time what is purchase in the name of healthy food does not mean to be safe all the time.
Our body I made up of chemical component such as water, proteins, lipids, DNA, and carbohrdrates. We neeed to take all the supllement in a proper and balance manner. When nutrition supplement is take in amounts greater than the recommmanded dietary allowance they will no longer will be nutrition and they will be considred as durgs.
Many people eat anything and anytime which is unknowly or knowly effect your health and diet which will result in health problems, over wieight and lazyness. Nutrition products are alawys fresh and well sealed and always make you feel better.
Currently, too many nutritional benefits are processed, cooked or fried out of what we eat, which leaves us little choice but to supplement our diet with nutrients such as vitamins and minerals to regain health and to stay healthy. If you add to this the pollution and other toxins you have to put up with, nutritional supplements become even more of a necessity
Once you give your body a hand by giving it proper fuel, such as a diet high in fruits and vegetables, along with a sensible set of nutritional supplements, you will soon notice a difference. Healthy food and good nutritional supplements will restore your engine to optimum working order. It will thrive and so will you. DO NOT self-medicate with large doses of vitamins, minerals, or other nutritional supplements without seeking medical advice.
Many of us start taking nutritional supplement with any advice on dietician which affect our body and which is realized by us. So be careful before you feel you need to take nutritional supplements, first discuss your concerns with your doctor, pharmacist, or other qualified health care professional, for example, a registered nurse or dietician.
Saturday, 6 December 2008
A Word About the Effects of Drugs on Nutrients
Saturday, 29 November 2008
Vitamin A Sources and Deficiencies – Secret behind this Vitamin
Types
Typically, vitamin A can be subdivided into two categories depending on their sources of availability. These two categories are preformed vitamin A and provitamin A carotenoid. Preformed vitamin A can mostly be found from animals such as liver, whole milk and fortified food products. This type is easily absorbed in the form of retinol. Retinol can be converted into retinal and retinoic acid within the body. Provitamin A carotenoid can be found in colorful fruits and vegetables. Few common forms of this type of vitamin A are beta-carotene, alpha-carotene, and beta-cryptoxanthin. Among all of these forms, beta-carotene can be effectively prepared into retinol.
Sources of Vitamin A
Animals and animal products are considered as the wise selection for vitamin A sources. It is mainly because of the fact that it is well absorbed and utilized efficiently with the body system. However, plants can also be considered as vitamin A sources, but they can not be well absorbed within the body and may not function effectively as well. Liver, fortified skim milk, cheese, and egg are great vitamin A sources.
Carrot offers generous amount of vitamin A. Whether you take it raw or boiled or as a juice, it offers you plenty amount of vitamin A. Apart from that, you can depend on kale, vegetable soup, apricots with skin, apricot nectar, oatmeal, peas, orange juice, peaches, and pepper.
Deficiencies of Vitamin A
Vitamin A deficiencies largely depend on regions. The deficiency is quite prominent in developing countries like India; however, it is rarely seen in USA. In the developing regions, a significant number of children become blind every year due to vitamin A deficiencies. On the other hand, vitamin A deficiencies are mostly related to the strict dietary restrictions and excessive alcohol consumption.
Night blindness is one of the most significant conditions occurring as a result of vitamin A deficiencies. Dated back to ancient period, Egyptian civilization also confirmed the usefulness of liver in treating night blindness. Liver is a great source of vitamin A contents. Vitamin A deficiencies contribute to night blindness by turning the cornea very dry and damaging the cornea and retina.
Vitamin A deficiencies may also contribute in weaker immune system. In developing countries, immunization program is thus restricted. The mortality rate is very high due to complications of infectious diseases like measles. Pneumonia is also believed to be caused due to vitamin A deficiency.
Current Controversies
Few scientific studies argue that there is a strong relation between beta-carotene and lower risk of cancer. A higher intake of colorful fruits and vegetables may lower the possibilities of lung cancer. However, it is strongly controversial in nature. It is mainly because of the fact that many studies also advocate against the correlation. They conducted research for investigating the significance of beta-carotene supplements in preventing various types of cancer, but could not find any effective result supporting the relevance.
Recent studies are going for finding out the potential adverse effect associated with excess intake of vitamin A supplements. Several researchers have found out that there is a strong correlation between excess intake of vitamin A and weaker bone structure. Hypervitaminosis A is a critical condition referred to the excess storage of vitamin A in the body. Birth defects, abnormalities in liver, declined bone mineral density and CNS disorders are the common adverse effects associated with the excess intake of vitamin A.
Friday, 4 July 2008
Vital Vitamins for Women
Good health and fitness and fabulous physique can be achieved by having the regular supply of the vitamins in the body. So the question arises what are the various vitamins available for the women. So the most vital vitamins for the women are Vitamin A, D, C, E and B complex. Some of the minerals like the Calcium, zinc and Magnesium are also useful for the body. So the best optimum solution for this is to take the proper balanced diet so that the basic requirements of the vitamins for women can be maintained.List of the vital vitamins for women: -i. Vitamin A: -though it is recommended that the age of the person increase he should consume more vitamins but too much intake of vitamin A can cause the risk of causing bone fracture. Generally for women it is recommended to take just 1.5mg of Vitamin A per day. Making the bones is important but the women who are leading the menopause cycle must take care of this.ii. Vitamin D: - for the good health of the bone it is considered as the essential nutrient. The main sources of the Vitamin D are eggs, fish and food like cereals and breads. But the major source of the Vitamin D is the natural sunlightiii. Vitamin C: - it as an anti-oxidant and help in mopping up the damaged cells of the free radicals. The main benefit for the women is that this vitamin helps in slowing down the process of aging and also keeps the diseases away. So besides having tremendous benefits one advantage of keeping the body young can also be achieved. Some of the sources of the Vitamin C are citrus fruits, tomatoes, green vegetable, strawberries and potatoes.iv. Vitamin B (Folic Acid): - if the body of the women becomes less efficient in consuming and absorbing the vitamin B, then she can go for the intake of the green vegetable and preferring brown rice or white rice over the pasta. Folic acid can be found in the citrus fruits and kiwi fruit and some of the breads and cereals which are generally consumed at the time of the breakfast. v. Vitamin E: - although antioxidants are making the body free from the free radicals also they are protecting the body’s vital organs and hence help a woman in looking younger and maintaining herself. Clear skin and sparkling eyes can be obtained by the Vitamin c and E.
Sunday, 1 June 2008
Should you use Vitamin E for Scars?
You'll find many people touting the use of vitamin E on scar tissue these days. They will often claim that it can make any kind of scar disappear within a few months. The honest truth is that vitamin E doesn't appear to help heal scar tissue.
In a 1999 study following patients after cancer surgery, doctors applied an ointment containing vitamin E to a part of the scar tissue and applied an ointment without the vitamin to the other half of the scar. The scar tissue healed at the same rate with both ointments and on a negative side the vitamin E ointment gave some patients contact dermatitis, which is red and itchy skin.
Vitamin E is an antioxidant, which means that it snatches up free radicals, mostly in the skin, and transports them elsewhere for removal from the body. It also protects other antioxidants from oxidizing and becoming dangerous in the body, such as Vitamin A. It is involved in the metabolism of cells, but doesn't change cells such as skin tissue. Therefore it should have no direct effect on the improved appearance of scar tissue when applied topically. It is a nice supplement for your skin in general and will help prevent damage caused by free radicals that leads to premature aging.
People who have gained a visual improvement to their skin from applying Vitamin E probably gained it due to the massaging motions of their fingers while rubbing in the oil. Scar tissue is actually skin tissue with a lot of collagen fibers in it. When a wound is healing the collagen served as a bridge connecting the skin. It is tough and firm, but scar tissue can be broken down with continuous regular massage. Also Vitamin E is fat soluble and usually sold as an oil. The oil helps to soften skin tissue and makes it look better overall, if you don't have an allergic reaction to the vitamin E. Unfortunately some people are genetically predisposed to getting scar tissue when a wound heals, while others are not. It may be that those who claim a benefit from applying the vitamin E are simply people who aren't genetically disposed towards developing scar tissue.
A good way to prevent scars is to avoid picking at a scab. This will tear at the collagen fibers and make the wound look worse. Make sure to keep your wound clean and covered with a Band-Aid or gauze. There is the idea that wounds heal better when left open to the air, but many kinds of wounds need moisture to heal and the air will simply dry it out. Also you may think about taking an oral vitamin C supplement. Vitamin C is involved with the creation of new skin tissue and this can help your wounds heal better.
Wednesday, 28 May 2008
The Science of Detoxification - How Does Detox Work?
Detoxification is the science of reinforcing body's own intrinsic power to detoxify itself, as a result of which it bounces back to its natural healthy state. It can help to build up our body's own resilience. We want to minimize the total toxic burden on our physical body by opening the doorways of elimination i.e: bowels, kidneys, lymph, skin, lungs etc. even as the body continues to receive nourishment in the form of food and drink. A holistic detoxification program not only enhances restoration and renewal at the gross physical level, but also at a subtle emotional and spiritual level. This explains the science of detoxification.
A normal, healthy body is supposed to naturally detoxify itself by flushing out all its self-produced toxic waste. When toxins are retained and stored in the body the condition is called toxemia. Besides purging the blood and tissues with toxic residue, detox cleanses and rejuvenates the entire excretory system and clears clogged bowels and blocked lungs, etc. It also flushes out sluggish kidneys and bladder.
No matter what detox program you choose, make it a point to drink at least 2-3 liters of pure water everyday. If possible drink alkaline water, so that those acids and other toxic wastes are quickly neutralized, diluted and flushed away and released from the tissues throughout your body as a result of your detox regimen. An effective detox program also removes impurities from the blood through the liver where toxins are usually processed. Other organs like kidneys, intestines, lungs, lymph nodes and skin also participate in the removal of toxins.
Fasting for a short period of time is yet another way for a human body to promote the clearing of toxins. During the fast our organs rest, getting enough time to revive and rejuvenate themselves, which further the process of cleansing. While on a fast, make it a point to include mild exercises like Tai Chi to stimulate your liver in order to eliminate common toxins from your body. This also holds good for elimination through the skin, kidneys and intestines. By including Pranayam (Yoga's deep breathing exercises) you can have improved circulation of blood, which would bring more oxygen to your blood leading to the expulsion of toxins through the bloodstream.
In order to achieve the desirable result of your detox program you must alter your diet by cutting out the intake of all sugar, caffeine, nicotine, etc. The ancient Indian system of India called Ayurveda recommends avoiding deep fried food, spices, chilies, and all other sour acidic food like pickles.
It has been observed that after the period of an active detox program most people tend to relapse and get back to their old faulty lifestyle. As the proverb goes, prevention is better than cure. After reaping the desired results from a good detox program one should radically change one's lifestyle in such a way as to avoid junk food and stop being couch potatoes. Keep doing adequate exercises suitable for your age, weight etc, but avoid too much strain.
Emma Deangela is the author of detox and fasting site at eDetoxify.com. Combining both Asian and Western philosophy, Emma Deangela has helped many people by giving them health consultation to make their lives better and healthier through natural health philosophy. Visit eDetoxify.com to discover the health philosophy that lead many people to a healthy life.
Benefits of Honey
1) It is nutritious for you!: A much healthier choice than over-processed, factory-made table sugar table sugar and artificial sweeteners which do not have any vitamins or whatsoever nutrients, this natural liquid from the honey bees contains many vitamins like B6, thiamin, niacin, riboflavin, pantothenic acid and certain amino acids and minerals including calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, sodium and zinc.
2) It is a healthy food choice!: Honey has a healthy Glycemic Index (GI) , meaning that its sugars can be gradually absorbed into the bloodstream to result in better digestion. Eating excessive high-glycemic foods prompts an elevated insulin release in our body as a result of the pancreas being stimulated to metabolize the sudden surge of glucose into the blood.
3) It builds your immunity against sicknesses!: Honey contains natural antioxidant properties that can destroy biologically destructive chemical agents which have been linked to many diseases such as cancer. Not only can honey's antioxidants help to reduce free radicals in the body, they also provide nutrients for the development of new tissue. Because of this, for centuries, honey has been used all over the world in different cultures as a natural cure for many ailments, and traditionally as an effective home remedy, for instance the honey and apple cider vinegar tonic which is used for treating arthritis and bad breath.
4) It energizes you!: This perhaps is the most common reply kids get from their parents when they ask "why is honey good for you?" An excellent natural supply of carbohydrates which provide strength and energy for our bodies, honey is popularly used for its effectiveness in quickly boosting the performance, endurance and relieve muscle fatigue of athletes. Its natural fruit sugars, fructose and glucose plays an important role in preventing fatigue during exercise and are quickly absorbed into the bloodstream digested by the body. Also, honey is free of cholesterol and it has been reported that adding small amounts of it in the daily diet could even help keep cholesterol levels in check.
5) It beautifies you!: This anti-aging benefit of honey is probably the best reply to "Why is honey good for you?" There exist a huge number of honey products in the market for hair care, baby care, skin care for sunscreen, hand lotions, facial scrubs and moisturizers. Honey's hygroscopic properties also renders it a great cosmetic ingredient as it keeps skin hydrated and fresh and prevents drying. Its natural antioxidant and anti-microbial properties also support the skin's ability to rejuvenate and refresh depleted skin, leaving it feeling silky soft and supple.
Sunday, 25 May 2008
B-12 & the brain
People with low blood levels of vitamin B-12 a decade earlier were more likely to score poorly on a test that's widely used to screen for early signs of dementia.
However, the usual blood test for vitamin B-12 wasn't sensitive enough to detect a link. It appeared only when researchers looked at methylmalonic acid (which goes up when the body has too little B-12) or holotranscobalamin (the active part of B-12).
What to do: People aged 55 or older can lose the ability to absorb the B-12 that's bound naturally to protein, so they should take a multivitamin or eat fortified foods with at least 6 micrograms of vitamin B-12 (that's the Daily Value).
This study isn't proof that lower B-12 levels lead to memory loss, but severe B-12 deficiency can cause irreversible neurological damage that looks like AIzheimer's disease.
Friday, 9 May 2008
FITNESSHEALTHNUTRITION
Firstly we need to stay clued in. Knowledge is power. In other words, we have to arm ourselves with the facts about fitness, health and nutrition. For instance we need to know what a healthy diet is and ignore the fads. This way we are more likely to build confidence in our abilities and achieve our fitness goals. Long term weight control is about being realistic, and enjoying healthy eating and exercise habits for life and reaping all the benefits.
It is absolutely important to have clear motivation. It will be better to write down the reasons for wanting to achieve fitness by following a nutritious and healthy eating pattern .It definitely helps our feeling of commitment. We have to include reasons that are not just about appearance. For instance, will it help us feel fit enough to do more things that we want to do or will it cure the back pain etc.It can be a useful motivator if the going gets tough.
It helps us to become more aware of our eating habits and problem areas if we write down what we eat and drink. It is a powerful way to kick off planning and bringing changes to the diet and put us in control as it paves way to recognize what is going on and understand more about our self. Keeping a food diary helps to stay on track and see the great progress made.
Another important fitness health nutrition tip is to set realistic goals. Losing five to ten percent of the weight is an ideal target. Losing modest amounts of weight are not just easier to keep off but bring big health benefits. If the goals are realistic they are likely to be achieved and we stick with them and feel successful, which in turn boosts our self confidence.
We need to work out as to how to achieve the goals. Writing the goals and action plans helps enormously. Much of the eating we do when we are not hungry is a habit like response to a variety of triggers. We need to plan ways to avoid these triggers like keeping the binge foods out of the house or joining an evening class instead of watching TV etc.
One of the main fitness health nutrition tips is to be a conscious eater and make choices about what we eat. It will not only help us feel in control and achieve our goals, it will stop us from feeling deprived. If unwanted food cravings do strike, acknowledge them and distract oneself with a chore or a more involving task.
Finally eat regular meals, starting with the breakfast. It helps us to regulate how much we eat by stabilizing blood sugar levels and allowing us to recognize natural feelings of hunger and fullness. They also stop us from worrying about hunger as we know our next meal or snack is not far away.
All of the above fitness health nutrition tips are the latest tricks of the trade which helps one lose weight healthily. So get real and be specific, remember the first few days are always the hardest .But with perseverance, you can outwit your weight.
Wednesday, 30 January 2008
Understanding The Nutritional Value Of Sprouts For Your Health
Eaten for thousands of years by cultures in other parts of the world, sprouts are regarded as extremely nutritious and even life-prolonging. Unfortunately, most people don't realize the numerous health benefits of sprouts. Often dismissed as the dietary choice of vegetarians, sprouts actually offer benefits that should be considered by everyone. This article discusses the health benefits of sprouts, the advantages of sprouts over other foods and the types of things that can be sprouted.
Health Benefits Of Sprouts
Sprouts provide many things our bodies need for us to live healthy lives. They are an excellent source of protein which helps our bodies repair itself as well as regulates many of our bodily functions (balancing of water, delivering nutrients, etc.). Sprouts also provide a huge dose of vitamin C, helping our immune systems fight off colds and diseases. Further, some types of sprouts such as broccoli sprouts have elements that can help prevent cancer. In fact, some studies have suggested that broccoli sprouts contain several times more anti-cancer chemicals than in mature broccoli.
Another benefit of sprouts is that they are organic. Many fruits and vegetables that you purchase in stores have been compromised by pesticides and other fumigants. This is not true of sprouts. Further, sprouts are easily digestable due to their cell walls being delicate and easily releasing nutrients.
Advantages Of Sprouts Over Other Foods
One of the primary advantages of consuming sprouts is the level of vitamin production that happens within them. When vegetables and fruits are purchased from your local supermarket, those foods have stopped producing vitamins. In fact, they stopped producing them the moment they were picked. Then, those foods are often shipped hundreds, even thousands, of miles to the stores where they are eventually bought by customers.
Sprouts continue producing vitamins up until the moment you consume them. Even in your refrigerator, they will keep growing and producing vitamins. Eating sprouts instead of store-bought fruits and vegetables ensures that your body will enjoy the maximum amount of vitamin content.
Types Of Sprouts
When most people think of sprouts, they think of little green, leafy things. But, sprouting can be performed on dozens of different food items. For example, you can enjoy sprouting grains such as wheat, rye and barley. Or, you can sprout nuts and seeds such as peanuts, almonds, sunflower and pumpkin seeds. Sprouting can also involve foods that you are already familiar with such as cabbage, chick peas, mung beans and green peas.
Though most people tend to avoid sprouts, much of the public's perception is based on lack of knowledge. In truth, sprouts offer nutritional value that is nearly impossible to get from other vegetables and fruits that are purchased from grocery stores. In addition, their nature allows for the easy absorption of nutrients and vitamins enabling our bodies to fight off diseases more effectively. If your body's health is important to you, consider adding sprouts to your diet.
Tuesday, 29 January 2008
The Start of a New Health Year 2008 - Natural NutritionHome
:: Health & Fitness :: Nutrition & Supplement
Two thousand eight is on the horizon. In moments it will be here and a new year starts again. This year will be big on using natural remedies to cure your own illness and conditions. For those of you that have been reading and studying the use of natural remedies, you are 10 steps ahead of everyone else.
There are a tremendous number of people that are not familiar with using natural remedies. My sister who is a head nurse knows very little about them. My whole family lacks this knowledge, except my eleven year old.
Yes the new generation will be brought up using natural remedies more than the past generation. History is repeating itself. The young willingly accept the idea that vitamins, minerals, herbs, and food can prevent or cure illness.
But, this idea of natural remedies does not sit well with the FDA or the AMA. They are hard at work trying to pass legislation that will regulate natural remedies just as drugs are - dispensed only by a doctor. Doctors that suggest you take vitamins or natural remedies to prevent illness, if discovered by the AMA, will lose their licenses. Studies, research, discoveries, or experiments that indicate natural remedies can prevent or cure illness are ridiculed by the medical industry.
If people use more natural remedies - vitamins, minerals, herbs, homeopathic salts, special nutrients, or even food - to prevent or cure illness, then they will use less drugs. Pharmaceuticals will lose money. They are not going to stand by and let this happen. They have already been busy for years providing disinformation on natural remedies. Most every famous naturopath has been pursed by the government and discredited for revealing how natural remedies can cure your illness. This is not going to change in 2008.
What is going to change are those of you who are awake to natural remedies and many new people who are going to awaken are going to start using more natural remedies to prevent illness.
In my past newsletters, I have written you to eat more fruits and their juices for breakfast. This helps your body to detoxify the toxins collected during your sleep. Eating a heavy, solid breakfast interferes with your natural detoxification cycle causing the liver to store night toxins in your cells as fat.
I have suggested that you strive for 2 bowel movements per day to keep unused and undigested food moving through your colon and not stagnating. You do this by eating more fruits and vegetables and by eating less processed food, which has a hard time moving through your colon.
I have told you to take digestive enzymes and probiotics. Even if you are 25 or 30, take digestive enzymes and save your body's ability to create these enzymes for a rainy sick day. Enzymes are used in hundreds of body, chemical, reactions and not just for digesting food. Saving your digestive enzymes for when you need them is a smart move.
Supplement with specific vitamins, minerals, or special nutrients. Studies have shown that those who supplements live longer, healthier lives than those who don't.
Stress is the number one killer, so reduce stress. Stress creates hormonal imbalances and causes your endocrine system to overwork. Endocrine organs - thyroid, pancreas, spleen - that become overworked lose function and this leads to disease. Stress causes your adrenal to release excess cortisol, which causes brain cell damage and imbalances in your sugar and testosterone levels. Always look for ways to reduce stress, since this will increase your life span.
Sunday, 27 January 2008
All About Nutrition
In order to optimize your health a good diet is essential. But, with all the fad diets around it can be difficult to know what is 'good'. Nutrition science to the rescue! Though some things are still controversial, numerous studies reinforce the following basic information. A healthy diet requires not just items from the four basic food groups, but in the proper proportion. The average person will need about 2000-2500 calories (sometimes more for larger men, less for women and those looking for rapid weight loss). About 50 from fats (yes, fat is good!) and 20% from protein. Carbohydrates are the main source of compounds needed for energy. Simple sugars, such as glucose and fructose, are rapidly broken down in the intestine and absorbed. Some processing starts the minute they hit your tongue. Complex carbohydrates - starches, such as those found in potatoes - take longer, but are also healthy in moderation. Fats are chemically similar to carbohydrates, and contain fatty acids essential to health. Proteins are lysed (split) to make amino acids, that are then recombined to form proteins used in muscles and other structures. Meat is a valid and healthy source of protein for almost everyone. About 3 ounces per meal is about right for the average sized person. A cup of pasta is a good source of carbohydrates. Two cups of leafy green vegetables supply fiber, minerals and vitamins. A balanced meal can be made up of a serving of meat or other protein source, starchy carbohydrates such as pasta, rice, corn or potatoes, and fruit. Easy on the butter or margarine, go light on cheese, sauces and anything high in sugar or fat. Though you could get the basics from a variety of sources, when considering weight control in addition to getting the proper balance, it's important to know which sources are high in what. Fat contains nine calories per gram, which is double than other energy sources. Thus, you need to keep those foods high in fat down to modest levels. That also helps control cholesterol levels. All sources of carbohydrates have four calories per gram. But healthy sources also contain needed minerals, vitamins and fiber. Some examples are fruits (apples, pears, peaches), nuts (walnuts are lower in fat than peanuts or cashews, for example) and grains (for fiber and minerals). Why is candy bad, unless consumed in very modest portions? Because they are designed to be high in fat, high in sugar with much lower amounts of helpful nutrients. Neither fat nor sugar are harmful in moderation. Indeed, they're essential to good health. But when consumed in a form that contains an excessive proportion, they provide enormous calories and fewer other nutrients. A single Snickers candy bar, for example, contains 63g, with 53g of sugar, but only 2g of fiber. This kind of snack, especially at the beginning of a new diet of nutritional regimen, can be hard to resist. A cup of broccoli (something that you probably don't often crave) has, by contrast, only 6g total, of which 2.5g are fiber, 1.5g are sugars. A cup of sweet corn has 31g total, 21g are starch (complex carbohydrates), 3g of fiber. Unfortunately, listing the good and bad traits of the foods you eat doesn't help healthy foods to sound more appealing, or unhealthy foods less tasty. Fortunately, there are ways to help control unhealthy cravings. One of the best ways to curb cravings for sugary, salty, and unhealthy foods is to have a clean and healthy digestive system. A short-term cleansing program, such as Isagenix 9-Day Cleansing and Fat Burning System, is a great way to jumpstart a lifetime of new eating habits, as it re-trains the body to crave healthful foods. In the end, the best way to being a launch a true lifestyle change is to change the way your body sees food.
