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...]
5 Healthy Winter Breakfast Ideas
In some of my previous posts I discussed the importance of diet over the festive period. You may have heard the phrase that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. It is the first meal you have after waking up and can have a significant impact upon how you feel for the rest of the day. Eating a poor breakfast or skipping it completely can make you feel tired, sluggish and moody for the rest of the day. With all the other things you have to deal with over the holiday period having a poor start to the day is the last thing you need. That's why today I'm going to share with you five … [Read more...]
4 Foods That Could Improve Your Mood This Christmas
Christmas is meant to be a time of joy and happiness where we spend quality time with our family and friends. However, with an increased chance of catching the common cold or the flu, the poor weather conditions and the very real possibility of suffering from seasonal affective disorder (SAD) the festive period is not always as enjoyable as it should be. Even if you are not suffering from SAD you can still find yourself feeling glum during the holidays for various reasons. In these instances you may want to consider the impact of your diet. What you eat can have a significant impact upon … [Read more...]
6 Foods to Boost Your Immune System This Christmas
In one of my recent articles I discussed how Christmas unfortunately brings with it an increased chance of getting the common cold or the flu. Since there are so many different types of cold and flu virus the body can never be completely immune to them. However, by making sure your immune system is working at full strength you can ensure that your body is in the best position possible to fight the common cold or the flu if you contract them. That's why today I will be sharing with you six foods that can keep your immune system strong over Christmas. 1) ORANGES:- Oranges seem to be a lot … [Read more...]
4 Highly Recommended Whole Grain Substitutes
In my last article I discussed four benefits of consuming whole grain products. Today I'm going to be discussing the areas of your diet where you can make effective whole grain substitutes. 1) BREAD:- Bread is a staple of many people's diets and really it's no surprise. Sandwiches are quick to prepare, portable, practical and can be eaten on the go. Whether you are walking somewhere, you are on a bus or train or even if you are at your desk, a sandwich can provide you with a quick, convenient mini meal. Unfortunately, a lot of people choose to make their sandwiches with white bread … [Read more...]
4 Benefits Of Consuming Whole Grain Products
One of the best ways to get enough fibre in your diet is to start eating more whole grain (also known as wholemeal and wholewheat) products. Apart from being rich in fibre these products also have a number of additional health benefits. In this article I will be discussing why whole grain products are good for you and list four of the top benefits. So what is so great about whole grain? Well it is all down to the production process. Natural wheat is packed with nutrients, containing high levels of manganese, dietary fibre, tryptophan and magnesium to name just a few. However, as the … [Read more...]
Can Milk Help You Lose Weight?
Consumption of milk is a very controversial subject. On the one hand research suggests that milk is a rich source of calcium which has been linked with the reduced risk of osteoporosis (reduced bone density), diabetes, heart disease and even cancer. However, critics suggest that the above benefits are untrue and that consuming milk can also lead to diabetes and obesity. As a result of these criticisms many people who want to lose weight avoid dairy products. In this article I will discuss both sides of the argument and analyse whether milk really needs to be avoided as part of a weight loss … [Read more...]
Can Meat Help You Lose Weight?
A number of diets recommend that you should increase your intake of meats to lose weight. Certain more extreme diets, such as the Atkins diet suggest that to lose weight you should seriously reduce your intake of carbohydrates and compensate by eating more meat. In this article I will be discussing whether eating more meat really can help you lose weight. First, let's look at the reasoning behind eating more meat to lose weight. By consuming more meat and less carbohydrates you force your body into a state of ketosis where it burns fat for energy instead of the usual carbohydrates. This … [Read more...]
Increase Your Metabolism With Pumpkin Seeds
In my previous articles I have discussed how diet and exercise can be used to improve metabolism. On the diet side of things there are particular foods that can help increase your metabolism. In this article I discuss the metabolism boosting properties of pumpkin seeds. Pumpkin seeds are a very healthy snack food which can be a valuable substitute for foods such as crisps, cookies and sweets. These low nutrient snacks are packed with calories and easy to digest, whereas pumpkin seeds are low in calories, high in fiber, rich in protein and make your body work harder to digest them. Not only … [Read more...]
3 Ways To Effectively Incorporate Super Foods Into Your Diet
Since writing this article I have revisited the topic of eating and metabolism. At the time of writing I thought that eating more frequently could boost your metabolism. However, after further reading I have realised that my initial assumption was wrong. For the full details you can read my up to date article on how eating affects your metabolism. ----- Many people are sceptical regarding the idea that there are super foods out there which burn fat and boost your metabolism. On the one hand these sceptics have a point because a diet consisting of a single food is not good for you and … [Read more...]