20 FOODS TO EAT AND AVOID ON AN EMPTY STOMACH

How to Lower Your Triglycerides

A part of being healthy is taking an all round approach to your lifestyle change. If you lead a healthy life style in general you are not going to have to worry about this, your body naturally sorts itself out. However, high triglycerides are a problem that many people suffer from, and it is important that you understand they why and how. The main form of fat in foods is called triglycerides. Our blood contains certain levels of triglycerides. However, if you consume more bad calories than we need, our body will transform the excess calories into triglycerides and be stored as body fat. It is more common to see high triglycerides in overweight people. High triglycerides are associated with increased risk of heart disease.

Your body has endless storage space for this fat. Some of these triglycerides are not stored as fat, but remain in your blood stream. Excess levels of triglycerides thicken your blood, which increases the possibility of clotting and blockage which can lead to a heart attack or stroke. This is why it is doubly important to know how to lower your triglycerides.

High triglycerides are usually caused by other conditions, like:

Obesity

Poorly controlled diabetes

An underactive thyroid.

Kidney disease.

Regularly eating more calories than you burn.

Drinking a lot of alcohol.

Healthy lifestyle choices are the key to naturally lowering triglycerides

Exercise regularly: aim for at least 30 minutes of physical activity at least five or more times a week

Choose healthier fats: avoid trans fats, limit saturated fat found in meats for healthier monounsaturated fat found in plants, such as olive, peanut and canola oils. Substitute fish high in omega-3 fatty acids - such as sardines and salmon - for red meat. Food labels should tell you what kind of fat you are eating. Choose nonfat or low-fat dairy products.

Include high fibre foods such as wholegrains, oats, fruits and vegetables.

Limit sugar intake such as soda, cordial and other sweetened beverages

Limit alcohol: Alcohol is high in calories and sugar. If you choose to drink, try mixing it with low calorie beverages such as tonic water, or diet soda. Alcohol consumption can raise triglyceride blood levels by causing the liver to produce more fatty acids.

Cut back on calories. Remember that extra calories are converted to triglycerides and stored as fat. Watch your portion sizes.

Keep a healthy weight. Often losing as little as a 5-10 pounds can help lower your triglyceride level

Quit smoking

A healthy lifestyle takes an all round approach. If you lead a healthy lifestyle in general, eat a lot of fruit and vegetables, exercise regularly, and make the right choices, then it is likely that you won't have to worry about excess triglycerides. Stay healthy and make changes for life, and you will see the benefits.

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"WHY DON'T I HAVE LOOSE SKIN" 100+ Pounds Weight Loss

Why Turmeric Should Be in Your Kitchen and Your Diet

Turmeric is a wonder herb, and definitely belongs in your kitchen. Known as Curcuma Longa, this herb of the ginger family is used for many different things, from flavoring up your favorite dish to its traditional use in India as a natural antiseptic for burns and cuts. Thousands of years ago it was used as a dye, and now it's becoming known as a wonder supplement proving beneficial to health conditions, from some forms of cancer to Alzheimer's.

Turmeric has long been known as a healing herb

India has long known the magical power of turmeric. It's used to flavor Indian cuisine, and has been added to mustards to punch up the flavor. More importantly though, turmeric has been used medicinally in Indian and Chinese culture to treat the whole body. Turmeric, which contains an active healing ingredient called curcumin, is a potent and natural anti-inflammatory herb that works just as well as many anti-inflammatory drugs... without the side effects. The list of maladies turmeric can naturally treat is wondrous, indeed.

Just what benefits does turmeric offer?

Indian tradition has long known about turmeric's anti-inflammatory benefit, and Chinese physicians have used this wonder herb for liver cleansing and gallbladder ailments. And now in our modern age, turmeric is being studied and used for a vast array of human conditions and illnesses.

Turmeric is thought to reduce inflammation through its stimulation of our adrenal glands, which increases production of an anti-inflammatory hormone. So, turmeric is used to ease arthritic conditions by easing inflammation and joint pain.

Turmeric is used in treating burns, and is a natural disinfectant. Plus, this wonder herb is rich in anti-oxidents and helps reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke, by improving blood circulation. Turmeric seems to naturally prevent the body from forming blood clots, and has a natural effect against the forming of antiplatelets.

And there are laboratory studies happening now that would indicate the curcumin in turmeric fights some types of cancer cells. More study is needed on turmeric and it's cancer-fighting abilities, but it has been shown to kill human leukemia cells. Saying turmeric is a wonder herb is an understatement, don't you think?

Downsides of turmeric

Turmeric is considered a safe herb, but there are certain individuals who should be cautious about ingesting it. It is recommended that people with congestive heart problems, liver disorders, and gallstones avoid using turmeric in their diets. Also, pregnant women or people with blood clotting issues should consult their doctors before using it.

Where can you buy turmeric?

There are many supplement companies that offer turmeric in pill form, and these are readily available online. However, our family takes the more traditional approach, and we buy it from our neighborhood grocer. Just find your grocer's spice section and buy a reputable line of turmeric, like Spice Islands for instance. Rice is a staple in our home, and we always blend in a generous portion of turmeric powder along with a favorite vegetable like chopped zucchini, broccoli florets or a crooked neck yellow squash. Turmeric is not only good for you, but it adds a zesty, very flavorful taste to rice and other foods we enjoy.

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17 FOODS YOU CAN EAT AS MUCH AS YOU WANT

Healthy Weight Loss Tips - Live Happy, Live Healthy

Healthy Weight Loss should be the only weight loss you take on.

Fad Diets, Weight Loss Pills, and other Fast Weight Loss deals could just plain and simply hurt you in the long run. Some of the things may even work, but not forever. To achieve healthy weight loss you must make a life time commitment.

Healthy Weight Loss is achieved through a mindset shift, in accepting a new healthier life style you can conquer your internal walls. It does even have to be hard!

When you make the transition into healthy eating and a healthy life style you will automatically become more and more conscious of how you eat. But before you can achieve anything you must first expect it of yourself! Carbohydrates are not evil, Proteins are not the miracle weight loss food group, and fats will not kill you (Well some of them).

The way you must look at healthy weight loss is with a conscious mind and common sense approach. The food pyramid and being told to eat your veggies as a kid were not things said and created just for fun.

The key to a healthy mind, body, and soul is a balanced approach. Out of balance even seemingly "good for you things" will become negative just as to much of any "bad for you things".

Life is about balance in all areas and even so in your approach towards healthy weight loss.

Check this out. The following are recommended sources that you should get from each food group each day or at least achieve a balance by the end of the week.

*Keep in mind the lower side of the servings is relating towards someone with a 1600 cal daily need where are the highest serving portions are targeted for someone around the 2600 cal needs.

Breads, Grains, Oats: You should strive to get 6-11 servings from this group each day. This food group can be anything from rice, bread, and pasta to cold cereals, oatmeal, and cream of wheat.

Fruits: Fruits contain many valuable vitamins like vitamin C and A. Making sure to get 2-4 servings a day can be very helpful in boosting immunities and vitality of your body. Plus most fruits vary from quick releasing sugars like Banana's to slow releasing sugars like Apples. Use fruit in place of candy bars to get you through a tough time, between meals, or when you need a little boost.

Veggies: Like fruits your veggies will give you valuable and very necessary vitamins + minerals to help your body rebuild, stay disease free, and balanced. You can also get many antioxidants from eating a variety of raw to lightly cooked veggies. Look to get about 2-5 servings a day and very your veggies. Think of it like this. How many colors of veggies did you eat today? The idea is to get a variety of different colors in there because each may provide an array of different but vital vitamins and minerals.

Dairy: OK so some people here develop something know as lactose intolerance which occurs when the body stops producing enough or any lactase which is the protein enzyme capable of breaking down the milk sugar known as lactose. But the idea in drinking dairy is to get a variety of vitamins and minerals like vitamin D and the mineral Calcium. Plus milk is rich in protein which is beneficial to your muscular growth. Also dairy products like cottage cheese and yogurt with active live cultures promote a healthy and balanced digestive system. These live cultures help balance the good bacteria within your intestines which in turn helps digest and break down foods. Try to get 2-3 servings of dairy a day.

Meat: Meats supply you with many vital minerals and is the best food group for iron absorption. Also, meats supply complete amino acids which help muscle repair, growth, and enzyme production. Eating meats low in fat like chicken and fish is a better approach than eating a 12 oz steak every night. Also, the portions of meat should be around 3oz each, nothing huge but just the right amount of proteins and minerals. 2-3 Servings a day around 3 oz each is appropriate.

Fats: This group is one to be taken sparingly. Now the truth is you need fat in your body. Your brain alone consists of about 60% fatty tissue so wouldn't it only make sense that your body needs fat to assist brain functions? But which fats? The idea is to supply yourself with fatty acids in the polyunsaturated and monounsaturated area but avoid saturated and trans fats (oxidized fats with no nutritional value) You could live your entire healthy life without ever consuming Saturated fats, you don't need them. But, you absolutely without a doubt need fats from nuts, fish, and oils like olive oil, flax seed oil, and sunflower oils. These beneficial fats will supply you with crucial omega fatty acids which your body can use for repair and function. I am sure you have seen labels with "essential Omega 3's and Omega 6's" Those are the good guys. Saturated and Trans fats are unnecessary and could be avoided altogether, though with that said, with moderation they certainly won't kill you!

With a journey for healthy weight loss goals are great but what's best is knowing what your goals are, reminding yourself every day, and doing what it takes in the moment to make the long term adjustment. Some days move slower than others, some days temptation is greater and in some cases you may even indulge. But remember, it's only right now that you have control over what your actions are. Keep in a conscious state of mind and realize your goals.

The idea here is not to deprive yourself of anything you love but to transition into a variety of things you can enjoy. The better your health, the better you will feel, the more you will want to stick with healthy weight loss.

Before you can achieve any of this, you must first give yourself permission to do what it takes.

A healthy weight loss goal should be 1-2 pounds a week. You can achieve this by figuring out your current calorie needs and then reducing your daily caloric intake to 500-700 less than what you need. In doing so you will create a "calorie deficit" and your body will be forced to use fat tissue as energy but you will not be starving or avoiding things you love.

It is important to note that 1 pound of fat is equal to about 3500 calories, so by reducing your calorie intake by 500 less than your maintenance needs daily, you will create a total deficit of 3500 calories a week and therefore burn 1 pound a week.

Of course by adding fitness you can easily increase calories burned each day while increasing the calorie deficit to advance results.

With a life style approach you will find balance in everything you eat and so even "bad for you things" will not be so bad. You can still enjoy the pleasures of cuisine but eat healthy, fresh fruits, and raw to lightly cooked veggies, more often than sugary sweet and late night take out.

Uncover real Exercise Programs that work and how you can add one into your healthy weight loss goals.

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