Using Snacks as a Weight Loss Program

Unlike other, more restrictive diet programs, snacking is an absolutely acceptable component of a low carbohydrate diet—as long as your snacks are also found on the low carb list.

 

Snacking is more than just okay, it is also beneficial in a lot of ways. Eating small food servings during the day has been proven to accelerate the body’s metabolism, to burn fat faster and more efficiently. Snacking also helps prevent food cravings, which can cause even the most disciplined individual to overeat or cheat at the next meal. If you don't use snacks as a safety net, then it will be more tempting to munch on restricted foods and almost anything else that comes your way.

 

Do remember that, snacking should be taken in moderation. Just because a food is considered low carb, it does not mean that it is all right to consume as much of it as you want. Make a list of the low carb foods that you may allow yourself to eat and regularly refer to this list to determine the amount of carbohydrates contained in a serving of the food items you wish to eat as snacks, and make sure that the total sum of carbohydrates conforms to your daily allowance. A food qualifies to be on the low carb list based on its singled serving, not an unlimited quantity.

 

There are lots of foods that make good snack options. Meats and cheeses generally have very low carbohydrate content, so they are acceptable choices for snacks. Have a cold cut platter and/or assorted cheese slices to nibble on throughout the day. You could also have a lamb slice or buffalo wings which are great snack foods.  Melt some low fat cheese over a drumstick, serve up some sausage, or make lean meatballs. You may also choose eggs—hard-boiled, scrambled, or over-easy.

 

Other good snack items which you could include in your low carb list with virtually no carbohydrates are lettuce, celery, alfalfa sprouts, and cucumbers. Mix these with other food items from various categories of your low carb list to create a delightful salad.  You could throw in some diced cheddar cheese with some nuts (make sure to check the low carb list to find out which nuts have fewer carbs) and drizzle it with olive oil; or have a chicken Caesar salad.

 

Selections from the low carb list that are beneficial snack foods, but taken in moderation, include most vegetables. Avoid squash, and potatoes, because these have high carbohydrate content. However, a vegetable platter with spinach, broccoli, tomatoes, peas, mushrooms, and string beans, either or cooked or raw, topped with vinaigrette dressing can make a filling treat. Most beans make an easy and delicious snack, which go well with veggies, such as celery bits.  For a filling afternoon treat, try having a tomato soup, chicken soup, or beef stew.

With a properly planned recipe, almost any kind of food can qualify on the low carb list! A lot of low carb recipes can be found online for variants of breads, muffins, pancakes, and even chewy desserts. Once you’ve sampled some successful recipes, experiment and find out what other low carb foods you could create.

© 11/6/2010 Athena Goodlight

Natural and Homemade Remedies for Head Lice

If your family has encountered dealing with head lice, and you have tried searching continuously for effective lice remedies, you would know how frustrating it can be. This could even be more of a nightmare if you've tried various over the counter; lice treatment solutions that failed to free your family from lice infestation.

Using an over the counter lice treatment formula, could make you end up spending a lot of cash every time someone in the family brings home head lice, sometimes, it happens that t the treatments wouldn't even work.

A better option could be to try a home remedy for lice. Most home remedies are a lot less expensive, more effective, and safer for eliminating head lice. There are many, safe and non-toxic alternative remedies that you may want to try before spending large amounts of cash on over the counter or synthetic lice cures.

Among the many lice remedies available, one home remedy for lice that that has been suggested even by pediatricians is using real mayonnaise.  To use mayonnaise for lice treatment you should drench the hair and scalp in mayonnaise, after which you must cover the head with a shower cap. The treatment should be kept on for a few hours.

When it is time for removing the mayonnaise, just wash the hair using dishwashing soap several times until the mayonnaise is completely gone.  Use a specially designed comb for removing the dead lice and nits. After the lice treatment, it will be important to exhaustively clean every surface of the home. Vacuum all rugs and upholstery; wash beddings, garments and coats. Anything that can't be washed must be stored in an air-tight container or plastic bag for two weeks the least.  This process must be repeated every four days for two weeks to see to it that the head lice infestation is in check.

There are other home remedies that are known to work to treat lice infestation; among these are, use of olive oil or tea tree oil instead of using mayonnaise.  Regular use of a shampoo containing coconut oil is also known to work wonders for keeping your family free from head lice.

The most important step you should take in order to prevent head lice infestation in your family is to make your children aware of the risks of sharing personal belongings such as combs and hats with other children. Head lice transfer through physical contact with the hair.  A louse can also be found clinging on clothes, furniture, accessories, combs, etc.

If your child is sent home from school because of head lice, don’t be scared. With just some research, you are sure to discover a good lice remedy that works.

© 11/5/2010 Athena Goodlight on Factoidz

Two Fat Burning Spices: Mustard and Pepper

You can incorporate these spices in your weight-loss plan. They give your food extra flavor plus the extra metabolic boost that your body requires to lose weight quickly.

Mustard

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Try the spicy mustard variety sold in Asian food stores, gourmet shops, or exotic food markets. Dr. Jaya Henry of Oxford Polytechnic Institute in England, discovered that the quantity of hot mustard generally used in Indian, Mexican, and Asian recipes, which is roughly one teaspoon, temporarily boosts the metabolism, in a similar way as caffeine and the ephedrine drug do.

However, according to Dr. Henry, mustard is natural, totally safe and is effective.  He also adds that it can be used daily. He discovered that mustard can accelerate the metabolism by as practically 20 to 25 percent for several hours.
Peppers

The spicy chili peppers works similarly as the hot mustard.  Dr. Henry studied the chili peppers in the same way as the mustard and they are just as effective as a fat burning food. Even three grams of chili peppers added to a meal with a total calorie count of 766 calories, the peppers’ metabolism- elevating attributes functioned effectively, resulting to what Dr. Henry calls a diet-induced thermic effect.  In fact, it doesn’t take a lot of chili to produce the effect. Nearly all salsa recipes use four to eight chilies – that’s not plenty.

Peppers are also a rich source of vitamins A and C, abundant in calcium, iron and magnesium, phosphorus, fat-free, high in fiber, low in sodium and contain just 24 calories per cupful.

© 4/3/2011 Athena Goodlight on Healthmad

Two Important Fat Burning Fruits: Apple and Grapefruit

If you are planning to lose weight here are two fruits that you may wish to include in your diet.

Apples

Apples have gained a reputation of keeping the doctor away with its daily consumption. Apart from that, apples can help keep the fats away, too.

This works in two ways: First, eating apples raise your blood glucose (sugar) levels in a safe manner that your body naturally accepts, and keeps this glucose up longer than most sweet foods. In effect, you feel satisfied and full longer, according to researchers. Second, apples are a rich source of soluble fiber which fights hunger pangs by defending it against dangerous dips in your blood glucose level.

An average-sized apple contains only 81 calories. It has no cholesterol, saturated fat or sodium. In fact, the nutrients in apples helps lower the level of bad cholesterol which is already in your blood stream, in effect, your blood pressure also lowers to an acceptable and healthy level.


Grapefruit 

Grapefruit is a traditional yet potent food recommended to be a steady part of your diet. It has properties that help dissolve fats and cholesterol. An average-sized grapefruit contains 74 calories, 15 grams of pectin (the exceptional fiber known to lower cholesterol and fat), high levels of vitamin C and potassium and is fat free and sodium free.

It is also rich in natural galacturonic acid, which contributes to its effectiveness as a fat and cholesterol fighter. In addition grapefruit also fights against atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) and heart disease. To tame its tangy flavor, you may try sprinkling some cinnamon, or salt, depending on your taste preference.

Exercise, an Excellent Way to Lower Bad Cholesterol

Cholesterol is something that every human body produces for its normal functions. It is when individual eat food or drink beverages with too much sugar or high fats that damage is done to the body. Because of unhealthy eating practices, many people suffer from heart problems, hypertension, diabetes, or stroke. The good new is that these can be prevented from happening.

Aside from making the necessary diet changes, exercising is an excellent way to lower bad cholesterol. Exercise increases metabolism of the body, which in turn expels toxins and harmful oils that are detrimental to health.

Individuals who have not been physically active for a period of time should consult with their doctor before engaging in any exercise program to get the recommended fitness regimen for their body’s needs. Those who suffer from heart problems may do low-impact exercises such as walking, low-impact aerobics, and yoga.

Some doctors allow their patients to participate in high-impact exercises such as jogging, running, swimming, cycling, and high-impact aerobics.

Exercises are being recommended depending on a person’s health condition, age, gender, and weight. The physicians devise a plan which a person should present to the fitness instructor who will formulate an exercise program. All the individual needs to do is follow it.

In one or two weeks, noticeable changes will occur in the levels of good and bad cholesterol, including loss of weight.

Even if a person does not have time or the resources to go to a fitness gym, there are other ways in which one can follow an exercise program. With strong will and discipline,

it can actually be done at home. Some can do brisk walking either in the morning before going to work or in the afternoon after office hours. Many buildings have signs that encourage people to use the stairs instead of the elevator when going up or down a floor or two. People may also utilize a wide parking area for health purposes. Parking far from the entrance will force an individual to walk more.

It is also important to drink water during exercise to prevent the body from dehydrating which leads to exhaustion. It is best to keep a glass or a bottle of water nearby while exercising.

The saying that “health is wealth” is still very true. Exercising is an excellent way to reduce bad cholesterol in order to live a long and healthy life. It is better to do something good for your body now for health’s sake, than to do nothing at all and be sorry later.
© 2011 Athena Goodlight

Back Pain Relief Products Are Within Reach

There are a lot of things that can be done to bring about back pain relief, but back pain relief products have been obtained by millions to assist in bringing comfort and a break from the pain they feel daily. They come in many different modes and sizes and can agree with all budgets. If you’re struggling with back pain, relief can be within your reach. They can take the form of a cushion, massager, brace, or some type of exercise equipment. It can also come as a cream or gel. You can get relief with heat therapy or an ice pack. Others even find magnets useful. There is no shortage of alternatives available.

Keep in mind that although these products can and have been recognized to bring about comfort, the information you read here is not medical advice and shouldn’t be used as anything more than for educational purposes. Back pain can be a very severe problem and should be checked by a physician of pain is unbearable or nonstop.

A back brace can offer support for your back and bring in other benefits as well. They can steady the back, provide compression, and help give better posture. All of this can bring around pain relief. Back braces can typically be worn under a jacket and all day if necessary.

A back cushion that offers lumbar support can give a lot of comfort if you are lying down or sitting for a long period of time. They push forward the lumbar area or lower back and your stomach area. This will also help your shoulders to go rearwards leaving you with correct posture which not only helps bring quick relief, but likewise helps prevent or decrease future pain.

Back massagers can be either manual, electric, or battery operated. They are capable of relaxing and soothing muscles or bring intense relief based on the size or setting. Massage as a means of relief for back or muscle pain is an age old method, but bears a long history of success.

There are kinds of exercise equipment that are configured to help strengthen and stretch your back. This equipment can decompress your backbone and release pressure.

Several people find heat therapy very helpful in moderating their back pain. This is a highly suggested means of getting relief. It helps blood flow, relaxes muscles,, and brings comfort. Common heat therapy products are heat wraps, heating pads, or hot packs.

Analgesic gels or creams can be used effectively to curb back pain. You can spread this directly on top of the pain area and find immediate relief. There are also sprays and patches which can be worn that will give the same results. Some will offer strictly heat relief while others will bring relief from heat that is mixed with a cooling down sensation.

Back ice packs can be used to lessen inflammation. They can soothe and release tautness which can make the pain even worse. It also helps with sharp strains and back spasms. You can use this in junction with heat therapy switching between the two to bring long-term relief.

Back magnets are reputed to work with your body’s electrical activity improving circulation and cutting stress. Back magnets come in the form of patches, seat cushions, and belts.