Turkey is the traditional meat used for Christmas dinner. The history of this festive food dates back to 1526 when William Strickland introduced this meat to the UK. Following this introduction the popularity of turkey has skyrocketed and during Christmas 2008 approximately 10 million turkeys were consumed in the UK. The good news is that turkey is popular for a reason. Not only is it tasty but it is also extremely healthy. That's why today I am going to be taking a detailed look at this festive meat and the health benefits it can provide. WHAT IS THE HISTORY OF TURKEY? Turkey was … [Read more...]
10 Super Macromineral Food Choices
In my last few articles I have been covering the macrominerals in depth. I have discussed each of the seven individually, outlined the benefits and discussed the negative implications of eating too much or too little. Today I am going to turn my attention to macromineral sources and outlining ten of the best foods for getting your recommended daily allowance (RDA) of each of the seven macrominerals. 1) ALMONDS Almonds are a nutrient packed powerhouse containing high levels of macrominerals, macronutrients, vitamins and microminerals. Macrominerals: - Calcium:- Almonds contain 266mg … [Read more...]
6 Excellent Sources Of Dietary Fat
In my last few blog posts I have discussed the different types of dietary fats in detail. I have covered the many health benefits dietary fats can offer and the potential negative side effects of consuming too much. Today I want to wrap up this article series by listing six excellent sources of dietary fat. 1) ALMONDS:- Almonds are a fantastic source of monounsaturated fat with a 100g serving coming in at 612 calories and offering 33.7g of monounsaturated fat. They are also rich in protein (which helps produce, maintain and repair your body's cells), vitamin B2 (which helps your body … [Read more...]
3 Healthy Christmas Dinner Desserts
When it comes to festive desserts mince pies and Christmas pudding are almost always on the menu. Whilst both are tasty, traditional treats they are also high in calories and refined sugar plus they often contain dangerous trans fats. So this year why not try and add some healthy options to your Christmas dessert menu by using the three suggestions I have provided below? 1) FRUIT SALAD:- Fruit salad is a simple, healthy dessert choice. All you need is a selection of your favourite fresh fruit and some fruit juice. Once you have your ingredients chop the fruit, put it in a large bowl and … [Read more...]
8 Healthy Christmas Dinner Ideas
Christmas dinner is normally filled with tasty treats. Roast potatoes, stuffing and thick gravy are all regular fixtures in this festive meal. Whilst these are delicious foods they are often rich in calories and low in nutrients. That is why today I am providing you with eight healthy Christmas dinner ideas. 1) BEEF:- When it comes to the Christmas roast, turkey is by far the most popular choice. However, if you fancy something a little different this year I highly recommend a nice succulent joint of beef. In recent years people have avoided red meats because of their relatively high … [Read more...]
4 Healthy Christmas Dinner Starters
When it comes to Christmas dinner healthy eating is usually the last thing on people's mind. However, with a little thought and preparation you can start the meal in a healthy way whilst still enjoying the foods you eat. That is why today I am giving you a list of four healthy Christmas dinner starters. 1) HOMEMADE SOUP:- Soup is a popular starter to many meals and Christmas dinner is no exception. However, the problem is most people go for canned soup which often contain high levels of sodium and are full of chemicals. Fortunately, this problem can be solved by making your own … [Read more...]
6 Top Dietary Sources Of Protein
My last few articles have focussed on protein, the health benefits you can enjoy by eating it and the disadvantages of consuming too much. However, I have not yet given too much attention to the topic of protein sources. That is why today I want to discuss six of the top dietary sources of protein. All these sources are healthy foods which provide you with more than just protein and if you do not eat them already I would highly recommend that you add them to your diet. 1) EGGS:- Eggs contain around 5.5g of protein each and are relatively low in calories with a medium egg containing … [Read more...]
7 Healthy Carbohydrates That You Should Be Eating Regularly
In my last few articles I have been discussing carbohydrates in detail. I have covered the benefits of consuming the right amount, the disadvantages of consuming too many and the methods to follow when choosing carbohydrates. Today I want to make this advice a little more practical and supply you with seven healthy carbohydrates that you should be eating on a regular basis. 1) APPLES:- Apples are tasty and come in a variety of flavours. They are also small and portable meaning that they can be eaten any time and anywhere. On top of this apples are rich in a number of healthy nutrients … [Read more...]
From Vitamin A to Vitamin E: 40+ Vitamin Rich Foods
In my last few posts I have been discussing vitamins in greater detail. I outlined how they were vital to your health and that without them you would suffer from a number of adverse effects. I also discussed the dangers of overdosing on vitamins and said that it was very difficult to overdose on them from food alone. Although I am not completely against the use of vitamin supplements I believe that you should try and get your vitamins from food sources where possible. Today I am going to try and help you do just that by listing over 40 vitamin rich foods. 1) VITAMIN A:- Vitamin A can be … [Read more...]
Replace Christmas Candy With Dried Fruit & Nuts
As I have mentioned numerous times this month maintaining a healthy diet over the Christmas holidays can prove extremely difficult. One of the reasons for this is that candy and cakes are so much more prevalent around this time of year. Everyone seems to be offering you candy, mince pies, chocolate logs or Christmas pudding. Often the temptation to snack on these festive treats can prove too difficult to resist. When this happens I find dried fruit and nuts are a very effective tool. In this article I will be discussing exactly why dried fruits are an effective substitute for these … [Read more...]