Monday, April 23, 2012

Healthy Foods that Keep You Full

Hunger pangs remain the biggest deterrent to our calorie-limiting schedules, making it hard to lose those unwanted pounds. However, if you can eat healthy, non-fattening foods that keep you feeling fuller for a longer time, chances are that you will snack less through the day. Some of the healthier food choices that help to sustain the fuller feeling and prevent hunger pangs have been listed below:

healthy foods that keep you full

Soups for Midday Meals: Some cultures suggest that soups are appetizers. However, this doesn’t need to be true if you consume more than average amount of soup and that too, the natural variety, consisting of lots of vegetables. Eating or sipping upon soup induces the feeling parallel to having a two-course meal. This helps the brain in perceiving that you are going through a proper meal. Around two bowls of vegetable soup to which some spicy condiments have been added are perfect for keeping you satiated for at least a few hours. The water content of soups ensures that you feel a bit heavy. However, this isn't the kind of heaviness associated with overeating. Fiber-rich soups, like those made from spinach, are particularly good for this cause.

healthy foods that keep you full


Whole Grains for All Major Meals: Eating whole wheat or multi-grain bread or rotis is recommended since complex carbohydrates release glucose slowly. Slower release of glucose means that sugar levels are kept at a constant. Since there are no spikes or dips in sugar levels, there is lesser chance of being hit by a sugar craving. Further, whole grains are among the best sources of various types of Vitamin B.

healthy foods that keep you full

Citrus Fruits: Citrus fruits, like lemon, guavas and grapes, are rich in vitamin C and fiber. While fiber helps to keep the intestines busy for a longer time, the high concentration of vitamin C is used for the body’s fat burning processes. Vitamin C is also required for stimulating formation of critical amino acids like Carnitine. This tends to fasten the body’s metabolism, ensuring that metabolic processes are kept busy, helping to overcome the hunger pangs. The high water content in most citrus fruits induces that typical, feeling of being quenched, which delays feeling hungry, again.

healthy foods that keep you full


Low-Fat Yogurt Anytime of the Day: Yogurt or the humble Dahi, made from low-fat milk, is the perfect, around-the-clock kind of food. For starters, the low-fat variety too has a certain degree of creaminess to it. This tends to coat your tonsils, inducing the feeling of having eaten something substantial. Yogurt also induces a unique kind of aftertaste that turns-off the temptation to eat something else for some time. Further, yogurt provides the much needed dosage of healthy bacteria for better digestion and calcium for stronger bones.

healthy foods that keep you full

The Anytime Wonder—Oatmeal: Oatmeal is among the most recommended of complex carbohydrate options that helps to keep you fuller without inducing a calorie overload. It can be eaten for breakfast or lunch. It takes the digestive system much longer to break down the complex fiber present within oatmeal. This helps to regulate the insulin levels, keeping you satiated for a longer time. Boiled oatmeal mixed with yogurt is the perfect, low-calorie choice that can keep you fuller for many hours.

healthy foods that keep you full


Eggs for Breakfast: Eggs are the perfect breakfast time. For starters, eggs are loaded with protein which needs a longer time to get fully digested. Two eggs, when eaten in the boiled or omelet form, comprise a healthy breakfast, of course, along with a few slices of whole grain bread. This combination of protein and complex carbohydrates helps to prevent spikes in blood sugar levels and keeps the digestive system engaged for a longer period, preventing you from feeling hungry soon.


healthy foods that keep you full

Green Veggies: Some veggies have a very high concentration of soluble and insoluble fiber along with having a thermic effect. This refers to the overall effort exerted by the body in digesting foods. While proteins have a very high thermic effect, veggies like Spinach too have a high thermic value. When the metabolic processes are busy, trying to digest such foods, the tendency to feel hungry is automatically reduced. Further, more calories are burned in digesting such foods, which means they contribute to your weight-management goals! The idea is here to use Food itself as a tool for eating lesser, burning more calories and remaining healthier. 

Ref:  http://in.lifestyle.yahoo.com/photos/healthy-foods-that-keep-you-full-1334300675-slideshow/

What is a Healthy Breakfast?

The concept of a healthy breakfast is seldom understood by people.
Most folks believe breakfast that is low in calories and doesn’t include too much of fat constitutes a good breakfast. However, the parameters for a breakfast meal to be truly healthy include many other aspects.

Understanding Dynamics of Healthy Breakfast 
  What is a Healthy Breakfast?

• Firstly, a healthy breakfast doesn’t need to be very low in calories. In fact, your breakfast should be more fulfilling than your lunch and should contain more calories than your dinner.
• Yes, fat content in breakfast should be low but this doesn’t mean absolute elimination of anything containing a bit of fat. For instance, butter used in minimal amounts is within the realm of eating healthy during the morning.
• A healthy breakfast should be able to keep you full until the lunch time arrives. Ideally, you shouldn’t have anything else besides a cup of tea and biscuit or two between lunch and breakfast.
• Breakfast that is devoid of sufficient carbohydrates and proteins tends to work against your weight loss goals. A lighter breakfast will be digested sooner, inducing a dip in the blood sugar levels. This leads to hunger pangs and sugar cravings, making your snack insensibly.
• A truly healthy breakfast should provide you sufficient energy to kickstart your day. Ideally, the break items should be able to induce physical and mental energy. People who attend work after having a fulfilling breakfast are more likely to be more alert and energetic through the office hours.

Choose Breakfast Cereals with Care    What is a Healthy Breakfast?


Every nutritionist advised to go heavy on complex carbohydrates and a variety of cereals during breakfast. Complex carbs contain a high amount of fiber and help to regulate blood sugar levels. Thus, muesli or vermicelli along with multi-grain breads and cookies are good breakfast, cereal choices. Other options include oatmeal and porridge. Getting sufficient carbs is vital to fight-off the hunger pangs and awaken you psychologically for the day ahead. Carbs are also vital during breakfast if you workout during the mornings. Try to avoid processed or refined cereals in all forms including breads, biscuits and buns. Cornflakes aren't the greatest choice from the perspective of eating a fulfilling breakfast. Further, many varieties of cornflakes are quoted with synthetic sugar.

Enrich Breakfast with Fruits

   What is a Healthy Breakfast?


Fruits are an essential part of any recipe for creating a healthy breakfast. Fruits provide a ready mix of vitamins, minerals and many micronutrients that strengthen our immunity. The natural sugars found within fruits help to increase our energy levels, giving us that much needed burst-of-energy to tackle the rushed morning hours. The high-fiber content ensures that our bowel movement is regulated and distressing problems like bloating or constipation are kept away. This includes banana that are high in carbs, mangoes or pomegranates that have a very sweet taste and watermelon for its thirst-quenching, refreshing taste.

Breakfast without Eggs is Incomplete
What is a Healthy Breakfast?

To feel fuller through the day and fuel your body through the rigors of office-work and morning gymming, you need eggs. Having at least two eggs is recommended for an adult.

Understand Utility of Milk for Breakfast
    What is a Healthy Breakfast?

Some people think that milk is just a traditional breakfast item and doesn’t possess any noteworthy quality. Milk is among the rare foods that contain Tryptophan. This biochemical is needed for the uptake of Serotonin—the feel-good hormone in our body. Thus, a glass of milk ensures that you start your day with a natural, anti-stress aid.

Concluding Thoughts

The best way to keep your breakfast healthy and interesting is trying different alternatives for each breakfast ingredient. This includes trying different fruits, soy milk, different multi-grain breads and eggs cooked in different ways. (Health, MensXP.com)

Ref:  http://sg.news.yahoo.com/healthy-breakfast-060052642.html

Saturday, April 21, 2012

10 ways to be more beautiful

Simple tips to enhance your natural beautyHow to boost your beauty in ten simple steps: from getting down and dirty in the bedroom to grooming your eyebrows, being more beautiful is easy when you make a few small changes to your routine. Here are our top ten ways to make you look and feel irresistible.

Beauty tip 1: Exfoliate

It’s often hard to keep up with our skin. One minute we’re smothering it in moisturiser, the next it’s back to being dull and flakey. To compliment your moisturiser and ensure that your skin stays lovelier for longer, make sure you leave extra time to exfoliate daily. Skin continually produces new cells and, as the new cells appear, the dead ones tend to sit on top of the skin making it appear dry and dull. When this happens, there’s not much point in moisturising. Why waste your expensive body butter on dead skin cells? Try buttering up after you’ve buffed the old cells off, and you’ll notice a drastic change.

Beauty tip 2: Have sex

Getting down and dirty is the ultimate beauty booster. Just 15 minutes a day spent doing the deed leaves your cheeks flushed; your lips lusciously red; and your skin glowing and beautiful. Studies have shown that regular romps increase blood flow and bring essential nutrients and oxygen to the skin, which flush out harmful toxins and make us appear younger. Plus, having someone run their fingers through your tresses can give it that gorgeous mussed-up bed head look, and we all like a bit of va-va-voom from time to time.


Beauty tip 3: Ditch the alcohol and cigarettes

Drinking alcohol and smoking cigarettes doesn’t do our skin any favours. Smoking allows a staggering 4000 toxic substances into the body during every puff, and too much alcohol causes skin to dry out and eyes to become puffy – not the best start for boosting your natural beauty. Quit smoking, and only drink in moderation to improve your skin’s elasticity and reduce puffy eyes. This is a sure-fire way to make you look younger and more beautiful.

Beauty tip 4: Rest

The phrase “beauty sleep” is famous for a reason; sleep really does make you beautiful. During periods of deep sleep our cells renew themselves, and lack of sleep – or poor quality of sleep – leaves us looking and feeling a bit worse for wear. If you have trouble getting your beauty sleep, try and relax. Add a few drops of aromatherapy oils to your bath, try deep-breathing exercises, and avoid caffeinated drinks before you head to bed.

Beauty tip 5: Groom your eyebrowsFew things can change your look as quickly and drastically as nicely plucked brows. The right brow shape can really frame your face and compliment your favourite features, whilst bushy brows distract attention away from your best features. There are many different ways of removing your brow hair too: plucking, threading, tweezing and waxing – just find the way that suits you best and you’re well on your way to being more beautiful in an instant.


Beauty tip 6: Strengthen your hair with protein

Keratin – a type of protein – is the key structural component of our hair and nails. By eating protein-rich foods we can reinforce the keratin in our hair to make it healthier and stronger. It’s not all about what you put on your hair, but what you put in your body too. Dietician Dawn Jackson explains that “the foundation of all our new hair, skin, and nail growth is in the nutrients we eat”, so it’s a good idea to boost the natural protein in your hair by eating protein-rich foods such as eggs, nuts, seeds, shellfish and meat for stronger, healthier locks.

Beauty tip 7: Be healthy with fruit, veg, and water

It’s a beauty tip that we’ve heard time and time again, but it’s true: we are what we eat, and being healthy on the inside makes us even more beautiful on the outside. This tip is pretty straight-forward; drink plenty of water to flush out harmful toxins in your skin and increase skin’s elasticity; get plenty of exercise to sweat out the toxins; and eat all of your fruit and vegetables for vital nutrients that will make your skin glow – simple, easy ways to boost your beauty.

Beauty tip 8: Wear mineral makeup

Don’t clog your pores up with a thick, heavy foundation that won’t allow your skin to breathe. Instead, opt for kinder ways to cover up imperfections such as mineral makeup or BB creams. Most mineral powders even help to prevent spots whilst BB creams moisturise your skin and even out skin tone without clogging your pores.

Beauty tip 9: Go for a brisk walk

A brisk walk is an excellent way to boost your circulation and get beautiful glowing skin. Walking improve your sleep, enhance mental function, and help to counteract depression. This will all reflect in your complexion as you appear happier and healthier. You might be able to get rosy cheeks from a pot of blusher, but you won’t get the beautifully natural glow of flushed, healthy skin by using a makeup palette.

Beauty tip 10: Protect your skin

It’s important to protect your skin whatever the weather, particularly if yours is sensitive. As temperatures dip throughout the winter, we are more likely to crank the heating up, which can have a detrimental impact upon our skin by drying it out and making it appear aged. Summer skin can be dried out too, causing it to look dry, dull and flakey. To help prevent dry skin, make moisturising a regular part of your routine. Flare-free skin makes us look and feel beautiful.

Ref:  http://sg.news.yahoo.com/10-ways-to-be-more-beautiful.html

4 ways to boost your immune system

keep your immune system strong all year round with these tips. (Getty Images)


Keeping a strong immune system is essential for avoiding common colds during the winter months. Even though the strength of your immune system is partly determined by genetics and childhood exposures, much of it also depends on your nutrition.

Read this article to find out some of the best ways you can keep your immune system strong throughout winter and all year round!

1. Take extra vitamin C

Vitamin C, or ascorbic acid, has long been known as a nutrient that is especially helpful for the immune system.

Vitamin C can help stimulate the immune system to fight off foreign cells that invade the body. Additionally, some research has shown that vitamin C supplementation can actually increase the number of antibodies, which play a crucial role in protecting your body from bacteria and viruses.
It is recommended that adult men consume at least 90 mg of vitamin C per day, and adult women should get at least 75 mg per day. Mega doses ranging between 250 mg and 1 gram of vitamin C per day are sometimes used to help decrease the incidence and duration of colds.

Citrus fruits and potatoes are both loaded with vitamin C. Also, many fruit juices contain 100% of your daily vitamin C needs.

2. Get enough zinc

Zinc is a micronutrient that is important for proper functioning of the immune system. Research is mixed on whether or not extra zinc supplementation can decrease your chances of getting sick, but health care professionals do know that without good overall zinc status, your immune system will weaken.

Zinc is found in a variety of foods, so most people do not need to worry about getting enough zinc in their diet. However, if you are a strict vegetarian or vegan, you may need extra zinc supplementation. This is because the zinc that is found in plant foods is often not absorbed properly by humans because there are other molecules in the food that block absorption.

It is recommended that adult males consume 11 mg of zinc per day, and adult females should get 8 mg of zinc per day.

3. Take Echinacea when you feel unwell

Doctors do not recommend long-term use of the herb Echinacea, however numerous research studies have shown that when taken right after the first symptoms of a cold appear, it can be effective in reducing the duration and severity of the cold.

Because it is not a nutrient, there are no guidelines on how much Echinacea to take. So, make sure you find a reputable company and follow their guidelines. Usually, taking 1 or 2 pills per day during the first few days of a cold/sickness is recommended.

4. Eat a well-balanced diet

Besides the specific vitamins, minerals and herbs that have been mentioned, make sure that you are consuming a healthy overall diet. Having a balanced diet that contains all of the nutrients your body needs will help ensure that your body, and immune system, is functioning optimally.

Try to incorporate lots of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean protein and low-fat dairy into your diet. These foods will provide you with plenty of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, which are especially helpful for the immune system.

Remember, when buying any sort of vitamin, mineral or herbal supplements, you must do your research. Since supplements are generally not regulated, you have to make sure that you are buying from a reputable company. Look online for user reviews and other information about the company.

By registered dietitian Arielle Kamps, M.S., R.D, L.D. Via HealthMatters.sg, a Singapore Health and Fitness blog that aims to help you lose weight, keep fit, and live healthy. Click here to get our free guide "Eat Your Way to Health — Secrets of a Healthy Diet".

Ref: http://sg.news.yahoo.com/blogs/fit-to-post-health/4-ways-boost-immune-system-023435384.html

4 ways to increase your energy levels

Ways to increase your energy levels. (Getty Images)

If you come home from work or school exhausted, you are not alone. Long days of work and studying are sure to leave just about anyone's energy levels low for the day. This article will discuss some useful tips you can follow to maintain and increase your energy levels throughout the day, so you will not come home running on an empty tank.
1. Eat regularly
Although you don't want to be munching on unhealthy, high-calorie foods all day, it is important to eat something healthy every three to four hours.
When you go without food for too long, your blood sugar can go down, causing your energy to be fall, as well. Try to keep some healthy snacks around to eat in between meals. Some good ideas are fresh fruit or veggies, pretzels or other lower-calorie snack foods, low-fat yogurt, nuts, dried fruit, low-fat cottage cheese, whole-grain granola bars and cereal.

Eating regularly can help maintain your energy so it doesn't decrease in the first place.

2. Get up and move

It may seem counterintuitive to exercise when your energy is low, but it actually helps.

Walking around the room, stretching, taking a 10-minute walk outside on your break, or even doing some pushups in your office can all help increase your energy.

Exercise gets your blood flowing, which helps to make you more alert and awake. It also helps you think clearer and regain focus. Try to take a mini-break every hour or so in order to break up your routine and keep your energy up.

Walking for 10 or 15 minutes outside with your co-workers or classmates right after lunch can alleviate some of the fatigue that sometimes occurs after eating a meal. Additionally, adding a routine walk to your day will help you stay in shape and active.

3. Take a breath of fresh air

Even when you're not out to take a walk at lunch, just stepping outside for a bit of fresh air can really increase your energy. Especially with jobs where you are sitting staring at a computer screen or reading books, getting out in the open just for a minute can be very refreshing.

4. Take some caffeine

When worst comes to worst, caffeine is always a short-term fix to increase your energy levels.
Although it's not recommended to become dependent on caffeine, having one or two cups of coffee or tea per day will likely do no harm. In fact, some research has actually shown that moderate coffee consumption can be beneficial to your health, and it is a rather widely held scientific belief that many teas (which can also contain caffeine) are good for the body.
Be aware, however, that coffee and teas are healthiest when they are not loaded up with extras, such as cream, sweeteners or flavorings.

Also, know that drinking coffee, cola or tea for caffeine is much better than drinking an energy drink. Energy drinks may have a stimulatory effect early on, but they also can backfire, leaving you with less energy than you started with. Additionally, many energy drinks contain extra ingredients that may not be healthy in the long run.

Increasing and maintaining your energy can be a difficult task when you are working all day long. Trying some of the tips mentioned in this article can help you stay energetic and focused throughout the day.

By registered dietitian Arielle Kamps, M.S., R.D, L.D. Via HealthMatters.sg, a Singapore Health and Fitness blog that aims to help you lose weight, keep fit, and live healthy. Click here to get our free guide "Eat Your Way to Health — Secrets of a Healthy Diet".

Ref:  http://sg.news.yahoo.com/blogs/fit-to-post-health/4-ways-increase-energy-levels-022832675.html

Monday, April 2, 2012

Look And Feel Younger

ThinkstockTop 6 wise moves to fight the aging process
Many of us are looking for ways to stay young and although you can't stop the clock, you can fight the signs of aging and the aging process with a few wise moves. Aside from good skincare habits, maintaining an active lifestyle, and reducing calorie intake, the following tips will help you to look and feel younger for longer.

1. Use your brain

Although the brain isn't a muscle, the old 'use it or lose it' adage still applies. Brain scans show that when people use their brains in unaccustomed ways, more blood flows into different areas of the brain, and new neural pathways form.

In a study in the journal Nature in 2004, young people were taught how to juggle. After three months, MRI scans showed enlargement of the grey matter in their brains—the part responsible for higher mental functions. When the participants in the study stopped juggling, their brains shrank again, suggesting that we need to keep our brains engaged to maintain mental agility and function. So, whether it's a crossword puzzle, Sudoku, or a university degree, trying giving your brain a challenge every day and you'll be more likely to keep your marbles!

Also, another study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association showed that more frequent participation in mentally stimulating activities can lead to a reduced risk of Alzheimer's disease.

2. Be sociable

According to US government research, social isolation is a predictor of declining mental function in older age. Experts believe this may be down to not using a wide variety of communication skills.

Research shows that people who are part of a group—whether it's a church or a book club—are healthier than solitary people when they are older, and that the wider the range of relationships (family, friends, work and so on) a person has, the less cognitive decline they will experience with aging. So, as well as tackling the crossword puzzle on your lonesome, make time in your life for shared activities—and ensure you spend time with as wide a range of people as possible.

3. Increase your intake of antioxidants

As we age, levels of harmful free radical levels rise, while the body's production of antioxidants —the compounds which can 'mop up' free radicals—declines.

According to studies at the Human Nutrition Research Centre on Aging at Tufts University in Boston, antioxidant-rich foods may slow aging processes in the body and brain. Researchers found that foods such as blueberries and spinach could increase the antioxidant power of human blood by 10 to 25 per cent—so try eating more of these.

The antioxidant vitamins A, C and E play a major role in protecting the body against free radicals, so aim not only to get your five-a-day, but also ensure that you take in a wide variety of fruit and veggies, especially those of strong color. Vitamin A in particular helps to keep the skin strong and healthy, which we get in our diet from foods rich in beta-carotene. Carrots are the obvious choice—but sweet potato, pumpkin and melon are also good sources.

4. Have more sex

It's official: getting active between the sheets can help keep you youthful. Sex enhances emotional intimacy, relaxes us, decreases stress, and makes us feel great.

A study conducted by Psychology Today magazine found that the more active and satisfying a person's sex life is, the fitter and healthier they tend to be. For example, athletes who were still competing in sport in their sixties had sex lives comparable to those 20 years younger. And it wasn't just big talk—the researchers interviewed their spouses for verification!

Also, in his book Real Age, Michael Roizen reported that women who are unsatisfied with the quality or quantity of their sexual relationships have a life expectancy half a year less than is average for their age, while women who are satisfied with both the quality and quantity have a life expectancy one and a half years longer than average. For men, having fewer than five orgasms a year shortens life expectancy by two and a half years, while a man having more than 300 orgasms a year will add three years to his life expectancy.

5. Believe in yourself

As well as being physically, mentally and socially active, people who reach old age have a high level of what's called 'self efficacy'. Self efficacy is a blend of self belief and confidence, and studies show that it is a major distinguishing trait in centenarians.

Researchers reported that the older centenarians become, the more they make decisions on the basis of what they believe as opposed to what others expect. They place responsibility for their health with themselves and not their doctors. People with high self efficacy tend to see problems as challenges to be met, setbacks as a reason to double their efforts, and failure as a learning experience for next time.

6. Protect your skin

There are two factors affecting the way we age: intrinsic factors—caused by the genes we inherit—and extrinsic (external or environmental) factors, such as exposure to the sun's rays and cigarette smoking. This is the area that you can take action in.

If you smoke, stop—and if you don't wear a sun protection factor on your skin, start! Without protection from the sun's rays, just a few minutes of exposure each day over the years can add up to cause noticeable changes and damage to the skin, such as freckles, age spots, spider veins and fine wrinkles. Cigarette smoking causes biochemical changes in our bodies that accelerate aging. A person who smokes 10 or more cigarettes a day for a minimum of 10 years is statistically more likely to develop deeply wrinkled, leathery skin than a non-smoker.

Ref: http://sg.news.yahoo.com/blogs/fabulous-mom/look-feel-younger-064542801.html