Health Blog | I Give You Health

Learn how to make a low carb bread in a jiffy

In this video I show you a cool free tool that will automatically do your meal planning for you to help you lose fat! No more tedius nutritional label reading and endless spreadsheet calculations Losing belly fat to expose your 6-pack requires two things, good nutrition and exercise. Most people who start on weight loss programs do pretty well on the exercise but fail miserably on the nutrition. Contrary to what you might think, most people fail because they are too ambiitious and too impatient. They cut their calories back so much that they are STARVED. For a few days or a week this works and the weight comes off but then … they cant handle it anymore and they binge. To succesfully lose fat without losing muscle you need to do it gradually. Most people’s eyes glaze over when I start talking about reading nutritional labels, calculating portion sizes, and macronutrient ratios but there IS a easier way! I have a calculator on my website that will automatically calculate your nutritional needs and plan a healthy meal for you! go to: www.scoobysworkshop.com

NutriSystem is a wildly successful weight loss program that uses the Glycemic index to help you lose weight while still eating foods you love. Prepackaged meal options and a healthy approach to hunger and snacking can help even the most difficult dieter achieve success.

The NutriSystem program includes a meal plan with 120 delicious pre-packed options for breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, and desserts! You select the foods you want online or over the phone and they are shipped right to your door, no cooking involved. All you have to do is add a few ingredients like fresh vegetables and fruits. After all, who has time to hunt down special ingredients for low-fat cooking, or to prepare one diet meal for yourself and something else for the rest of your family? All of the meals are perfectly portioned so there is no weighing, measuring, or counting calories or points. And if you have any questions, a counselor, nutritionist, and dietitian are a phone call or e-mail away.

The foods in the NutriSystem program are designed based on the Glycemic Index. They are low in fat and include the right amounts of protein, fiber, and good carbohydrates. This balance of ingredients makes each of the meals easy for your body to digest and turn into energy, without spikes in your blood sugar that can lead to energy crashes. Instead, you get to eat tasty meals five times a day that help you stay full and provide constant energy levels so that you have plenty of motivation to workout. Best of all, the meals aren’t standard diet fare. You get to have burgers, lasagna, pizza, and even chocolate desserts! It’s much easier to stick to a diet when you get to eat the things you love without feeling guilty.

More diet tips and diet reviews at www.dietsinreview.com and the diet forum

Cholesterol is manufactured in the liver for normal body functions, including the production of hormones, bile acid, and vitamin D. Cholesterol is required to build and maintain cell membranes; it regulates membrane fluidity over a wide range of temperatures. Cholesterol is a building block in many important cell components especially the cell membrane and is the starting point for several hormones. About one third to one fourth of the total amount of cholesterol is HDL cholesterol.

HDL cholesterol is called the “good cholesterol” because HDL cholesterol particles prevent atherosclerosis by extracting cholesterol from the artery walls and disposing of them through the liver. LDL cholesterol is called “bad” cholesterol, because elevated levels of LDL cholesterol are associated with an increased risk of coronary heart disease. Of particular interest is the finding that a high ratio of triglycerides to HDL cholesterol is a powerful risk factor for a major cardiac event even when LDL cholesterol levels are normal. It is now clear that any food that lowers LDL cholesterol or raises HDL cholesterol is what we should be looking for.

Most cholesterol is LDL cholesterol, and this is the kind that’s most likely to clog the blood vessels, keeping blood from flowing through the body the way it should. Some cholesterol is normally present in plasma (the liquid part of blood) attached to proteins (lipoproteins) that transport it and other fat molecules around the body. When too much cholesterol is present, plaque (a thick, hard deposit) mayform in the body’s arteries narrowing the space for blood to flow to the heart. LDL cholesterol is more likely to clog blood vessels because it carries the cholesterol away from the liver into the bloodstream, where it can stick to the blood vessels.

Cholesterol is so important that the body produces its own cholesterol. Cholesterol in food and cholesterol in the blood are distinct entities, and they are often confused. You need some cholesterol to help your brain, skin, and other organs grow and do their jobs in the body. When you have too much cholesterol, it can be dangerous to your health.

Cholesterol levels naturally rise as men and women age. Many factors can contribute to high cholesterol, but the good news is there are things you can do to control them. Try to eat less saturated fat, limit the amount of trans fat, and limit cholesterol (check food labels if you’re not sure how much of these particular foods contain). Instead of eggs, try just egg whites or cholesterol-free commercial egg substitutes.

Changing from an unhealthy diet to a healthy diet can reduce a cholesterol level. If you find your blood cholesterol level is too high you can generally reduce it by following the advice of a trained dietitian, which generally means eating less fat and more fibre, and especially soluble fibre. Major dietary sources of cholesterol include egg yolks, beef, poultry, and shrimp. Here are some helpful tips you can try:Eat a diet that contains many low-cholesterol foods: fruits, veggies, whole grains (like breads and cereals), legumes (beans), and fish.

Eating a lot of fats and not getting enough exercise can cause cholesterol levels to rise. It’s also a good idea to get plenty of exercise to help control the amount of cholesterol in your blood and keep your heart and blood vessels healthy. Major health agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) recommend that for good health and to reduce risk of chronic disease, adult Americans should participate in moderate-intensity aerobic (or cardio) exercise (such as brisk walking) for at least 30 minutes on 5 or more days of the week or vigorous-intensity cardio at least 3 days of the week.