Tag Archives: Weightloss

Guiltless Ordering Tips to Empower Mid-West Eaters

“Calorie Restriction (CR) is the fastest way to slow down our aging process” according to various research studies worldwide.  The amount that is served at the price that is given usually looks like a pretty good deal in any restaurant, but remember that we can only burn a certain amount of calories.  The rest of the calories not utilized in a 24 hour period turns to fat. Thus, a daily meal plan is critical so that each calorie that is consumed is nutrient filled. 
Knowing how to order, and understanding why we need certain foods throughout the day can only empower us when walking through the door of our favorite hometown Eatery.  The key to Guiltless eating is one must have the mindset of Whole Foods,  whether you are eating at Panera, Skyline Chili, Krogers, Wild Oats, Subway, McDonalds, or Wendy’s.  The naturally occurring vitamins and minerals within such produce will energize your mind and body throughout the work day. 

Fluids are equally important to a successful diet. Add 1-2 glasses of water with 1/2 to 1 whole lemon each day. Also drink 1-2 cups of Oolong tea each day. Oolong tea burns over 157% more fat than Green Tea and has become the most popular tea designed to accelerate weigh loss. 

KNOWLEDGE IS POWER… CHOOSE WISELY

Pass on the chips, burgers and fries.  Ask to replace them with fish, lean meat, rice, yogurt, fruit or vegetable!

1.  Broiled Salmon or fish has Vitamins A, D, E, magnesium, calcium omega 3, 6.   Vitamins A,E, D is beneficial for skin and eyes. Magnesium assist the gut in keeping things moving, plus a mood stabilizer.  Omega 3,6 promotes HDL in removal of plaque build up in arteries plus reduces inflammation within the body.

2.  Lean meats have Vitamin B’s.  According to Life Clinic, “they help to process calories from carbohydrates, protein and fat. Your body needs it for growth and red cell production, and adequate riboflavin intake promotes healthy skin and good vision”.

3.  Bean Soup has various vitamins and magnesium!  We need 600-800mg magnesium to balance the calcium so that constipation is not an issue. Magnesium is found in fish, pumpkin seeds, nuts and beans.  It is also a mood enhancer curving depression, fatigue, leg cramps, migraines, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting and high blood pressure.

4.  Leafy greens and  salads with nuts or seeds vineagrettes. Obtain magnesium, Omega 3,6.  for Vitamin K, A and iron.  Promotes blood coagulation (vit. K) plus  skin cell repair.   

5.  Vegetable Sticks, Fruit for fiber, vitamins, nutrients and antioxidants to combat free radicals.

6.  GO FOR Multi-Grain or Whole Wheat breads.  When wheat (or any other grain) is processed into flour the germ and the bran (which contain most of the nutrients and fiber) are discarded. The whiter the flour the more nutrients have been stripped away. At this point I consider it a serving of sugar and not a ‘grain’.

7.  Lemon water . Lemon has Vitamin C (any fruit or veggie), which allows for iron to better bind to hemoglobin (red blood cells), reducing opportunity for anemia.

8.  Skim or 1% milk (also leafy greens).  We need 1200 mg of calcium a day found in milk and leafy greens.  Calcium contributes to healthy bones and muscles so that when they are stronger weightloss is more prevalent.

9.  Oolong, Green and Black teas are some of the best teas with the highest amount of anitoxidants present per mg. It’s a great way to keep your cognitive functions healthy and focused!  Additional evidence boasts of Oolong tea benefiting your pancreas and optimizing it’s ability to work better too.

BE EMPOWERED.  Know what nutrients you are providing yourself with and why you need them.  To eat Guilt Free is to eat with a sense that you are giving your body the best that you can for the day.  The Whole Foods will help you to combat Depression, keep Diabetes and Heart Disease at bay.  Nutrients from Whole Foods strengthen your body so that pathologies requiring medication can be kept at lower doses.  French fries, chips, chocolates, soda’s, white bread, or large amounts of cheese are all tasty, but must be eaten in small quantities, reducing intake of no more than 3 times a week.

 By: Kimberly Crocker

Literature Research

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12766099?ordinalpos=5&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16618952?ordinalpos=2&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

http://thyroid.about.com/b/2005/05/26/what-you-need-to-know-about-the-benefits-of-magnesium.htm

http://www.lifeclinic.com/focus/nutrition/vitamin-b2.asp

Control Obesity, Control Pathologies???

PLEASE VIEW!!!  Dr. Oz, a nationally renowned Physician, conducts a round table discussion on “Obesity and Diets” that may or may not contribute to pathologies.  What do we really know about nutrition and how it should be individualized?  Does obesity then relate to our hormonal and biochemical make-up?  What we do know is that an individual can change their DNA (as related to predipostion) make-up based on a two year dietary intake.

Globally, research is being done on nutrition and it’s impact leading up to certain pathologies.  The North American diet, with the exculsion of Alaska, is not healthy.   It has been shown that individuals in Asia, South Europe (mediterranean) and Central America have biomarkers that are healthier than what is found in other parts of the world.  Could this be related to the “essesntial fatty acids” found in omega 3, commonly found in fish and various seafood?  Could it be related to lifestyle, more walking and working with ones hands or more rest?  I look forward to hearing from the readers and what their experience has been.

Great information not commonly known amongst the public at large.

Dr. Mehmet Oz, Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center (GUEST HOST); Gary Taubes, Journalist; Dr. Dean Ornish, Founder and President, Preventative Medicine Research Institute; Dr. Barbara Howard, Amer… (more)
Added: August 25, 2007
Category:  News & Politics

“Going Banana’s”

The Bountiful Benefits of Banana’s are known to those of us who’ve studied dietetics.  Upon receiving this well put together piece of information, I knew I had to pass it on to the readers of “EAT KNOW HOW”. Thank You to the Psychology Professor at CCNY for giving such a fun and informative article.

“A professor at CCNY for a physiological psych class told his class about bananas.  He said the expression “going bananas” is from the effects of bananas on the brain.”  Read on:

Never, put your banana in the refrigerator!!!
This is interesting.
After reading this, you’ll never look at a banana in the same way again.

Bananas contain three natural sugars – sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with 6 grams of fiber. A banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy.

Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with the world’s leading athletes.

But energy isn’t the only way a banana can help us keep fit. It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.

Depression: According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana. This is because bananas contain 20.2 mg of tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.

PMS: Forget the pills – eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.

Anemia : High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.

Blood Pressure: This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it perfect to beat blood pressure. So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit’s ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.

Brain Power: 200 students at a Twickenham (Middlesex) school ( England ) were helped through their exams this year by eating bananas at breakfast, break, and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power. Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert.

Constipation: High in fiber, including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives.

Hangovers: One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey.. The banana calms the stomach and, with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system.
< BR> Heartburn: Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.  

Morning Sickness: Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.

Mosquito bites: Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.

Nerves: Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system. 
 

Overweight and at work? Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria found pressure at work leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and chips. Looking at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most obese were more likely to be in high-pressure jobs. The report concluded that, to avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our blood sugar levels by snacking on high carbohydrate foods every two hours to keep levels steady.

Ulcers: The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronicler cases. It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.

Temperature control: Many other cultures see bananas as a “cooling” fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers. In Thailand , for example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature.  

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): Bananas can help SAD sufferers because they contain the natural mood enhancer tryptophan.

Smoking &Tobacco Use: Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking. The B6, B12 they contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium found in them, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.

Stress: Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body’s water balance. When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our potassium levels. These can be rebalanced with the help of a high-potassium banana snack.

Strokes: According to research in The New England Journal of Medicine, eating bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death by strokes by as much as 40%!

Warts: Those keen on natural alternatives swear that if you want to kill off a wart, take a piece of banana skin and place it on the wart, with the yellow side out. Carefully hold the skin in place with a plaster or surgical tape!

 

So, a banana really is a natural remedy for many ills. When you compare it to an apple, it has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrate, three times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals. It is also rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods around So maybe its time to change that well-known phrase so that we say, “A banana a day keeps the doctor away!”


PS: Bananas must be the reason monkeys are so happy all the time! I will add one here; want a quick shine on our shoes?? Take the INSIDE of the banana skin, and rub directly on the shoe…polish with dry cloth. Amazing fruit !!!  

http://www.nutritiondata.com/facts-C00001-01c20Tm.html

Meal Plan, Which Calories do you Reduce?

Design your 1300-2000 Calorie Meal Plan…Cut calories and stay healthy!  Eat 5 meals a day and drink Water both with and between all meals!  Fluids are equally important to a successful diet. Add 1-2 glasses of water with 1/2 to 1 whole lemon each day. Also drink 1-2 cups of Oolong tea each day. Oolong tea burns over 157% more fat than Green Tea and has become the most popular tea designed to accelerate weigh loss. 
Typical 2000 Calorie recommended Meal Plan

Breakfast
Aunt Millies Bread** (whole/multi-grain) or Oatmeal, fruit, 1% or skim milk, 1 tsp healthy fat (Olio butter)

Snack
fruit, 1 bread (2 graham crackers)

Lunch
3 ounce fish or lean meat,  2 slices of (bread whole or multi-grain),  salad with 1-2 vegetables Salt/Fat free dressing, bread,  fruit

Snack
Vegetable,  Nuts 1 oz (optional protein)

Dinner
3 ounce fish or lean meat, 2 vegetables, fruit, pasta/rice (bread),  skim milk, 1 oz no fat cheese (milk),  low fat dessert, Healthy Fat used for cooking i.e. Extra Virgin Olive Oil

**Bread: Recommend Aunt Millies Bread 2  slices is only 1 serving and 80 Calories and will save 200 calories on this Meal Plan!

Recommended Daily Servings

 4 Fruits- 240 calories,

6 Vegetables- 290 Calories,

5 servings Bread -200 calories,

3 Milk/Dairy -300 Calories,

2 Meats or Fish -600 Calories,

3 Fats -360 calories.   

 NEW Total: 1350 Nutritional Calories

Meal Plan with reduced caloric intake. 

May reduce Calories by Removing:  

Any 3 Bread servings –160 calories,

1 Meat serving –300 calories,

1 Fat Serving –120 calories,

1 Milk/Dairy –100 calories.

Total removed Calories  -640. 

Great Link to Check out for additional help. http://www.montana.edu/health/nutrition/healthyway.html

Get Healthy, Get a Plan!

Sharpen your grocery shopping skills and aim to stay healthy too!

Reading Food Labels

  1. Food labels must be checked for Sodium values to be less than Potassium values. (Sodium values low, under 200 mg and Potassium levels, above 300 mg.)
  2. Food must be low in saturated fats, that is to say any product that is animal or comes from animal: Beef, Poultry, Chicken, Fish, Cheese, Milk, Butter, Ice Cream, etc..  However, foods with Mono/Poly unsaturated fats which are plant based: Olive Oil, Canola and Vegetable Oil, Nuts Tofu, Soy etc. can taken in controlled larger amounts.
  3. Aim for low sugar content.
  4. Check fiber content, some prepared foods (boxed) have fiber content ranging from 1g-6g. The more fiber the better!  Fiber is needed for carrying out unused fats, food products and waste.

Fluids are equally important to a successful diet. Add 1-2 glasses of water with 1/2 to 1 whole lemon each day. Also drink 1-2 cups of Oolong tea each day. Oolong tea burns over 157% more fat than Green Tea and has become the most popular tea designed to accelerate weigh loss. 

A variety of foods must be eaten in order to achieve good health and reasonable weightloss.

Carbohydrates from fruits. Vegetables and whole grains. Fats should be healthy oils. Protein must be lean avg. of 4-6 oz., card deck in size.

Plan for Weightloss

  1. You must eat 5-6 small meals to lose weight.
  2. Between 1200-1400 calorie diet
  3. Consume a eight 8 oz glasses of fluids a day.
  4. Exercise: Aerobic 30 minutes a day (walking, jogging, running, swimming, roller bladding, bikeriding, spinning, stairs.)

Strengthening 10 minutes a day (weights, push-ups, sit-ups)http://www.niapublications.org/exercisebook/chapter4_strength.htm (Results: Weightloss may reflect 2 lb’s or more a week. May be less if you are breastfeeding, taking medication, fighting an infection, sick, or recently had surgery.)*

Begin
1 glass warm water (or green tea) with juice of 1/2 lemon and tsp of honey.
(1/2 lemon for under 150 lb’s. 1 whole lemon if over 150 lb’s)

Breakfast
2-6 oz coffee (optional)
Milk…. (choices: 8 oz. skim or 1% milk, 4-6 oz low or nonfat yogurt)
Fruit
Bread….Bran Cereal or Oatmeal (low Sodium high Potassium)

Water

Snack am
Fruit**Water or tea

Lunch
Vegetable….Pepper, Carrot or Celery sticks (1/2 cup)
Bread…. (Aunt Millies multi- grain 2 slices = 1 serving)*
Protein…2 slices turkey
Fruit…….3 slices tomato
Vegetable…..1 lettuce leaf
condiment….mustard
Milk….1 oz cheese (optional. May trade for serving of skim milk)
Fresh Fruit Choice (not canned)
Lemon with water or tea
* may avoid bread and have a chicken breast or filet of fish (3 oz)

Water

Snack pm
Protein and Fat…1 oz nuts (28 pieces= Almonds, Walnuts, Hazelnuts, Peanuts, Soy)
Vegetable of choice**

Water

Dinner
Bread… 1/2 cup cooked whole grain pasta, multi grain dinner roll
3 Vegetables** (baked or steamed)
condiments for cooked vegetables= Mrs Dash salt substitute, drizzled **EVOO, pepper, herbs
Fat…for salad = low sodium vinagrette **
Protein…3 oz lean meat, chicken breast or fish filet baked, broiled or grilled
Fruit of choice
Fluid…water or skim-1% milk 8 oz glass

wine or beer 5 oz only 3 days in the week otherwise they contain 90+ calories each. Opt for water. 0 calories!

Dessets no more than 3 in the week.

Water or Tea

By Kimberly Crocker