15 Common Myths About Weight Loss, Nutrition, And Diet

Common Myths About Weight Loss, Nutrition, And Diet

Myth #1: Fad diets work for permanent weight loss.

Fact: Fad diets are not the best way to lose weight and keep it off. Fad diets often promise quick weight loss or tell you to cut certain foods out of your diet. You may lose weight at first on one of these diets. But diets that strictly limit calories or food choices are hard to follow. Most people quickly get tired of them and regain any lost weight.
Fad diets may be unhealthy because they may not provide all of the nutrients your body needs. Also, losing weight at a very rapid rate (more than 3 pounds a week after the first few weeks) may increase your risk for developing gallstones (clusters of solid material in the gallbladder that can be painful). Diets that provide less than 800 calories per day also could result in heart rhythm abnormalities, which can be fatal.
Tip: Research suggests that losing ½ to 2 pounds a week by making healthy food choices, eating moderate portions, and building physical activity into your daily life is the best way to lose weight and keep it off. By adopting healthy eating and physical activity habits, you may also lower your risk for developing:

• type 2 diabetes
• heart disease
• high blood pressure

Myth #2: High-protein/low-carbohydrate diets are a healthy way to lose weight.

Fact: The long-term health effects of a high-protein/low-carbohydrate diet are unknown. But getting most of your daily calories from high-protein foods like meat, eggs, and cheese is not a balanced eating plan. You may be eating too much fat and cholesterol, which may raise heart disease risk. You may be eating too few fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, which may lead to constipation due to lack of dietary fiber. Following a high-protein/low-carbohydrate diet may also make you feel:

• nauseous
• tired
• weak

Eating fewer than 130 grams of carbohydrate a day can lead to the buildup of ketones (partially broken-down fats) in your blood. A buildup of ketones in your blood (called ketosis) can cause your body to produce high levels of uric acid, which is a risk factor for gout (a painful swelling of the joints) and kidney stones. Ketosis may be especially risky for pregnant women and people with diabetes or kidney disease.

Tip: High-protein/low-carbohydrate diets are often low in calories because food choices are strictly limited, so they may cause short-term weight loss. But a reduced-calorie eating plan that includes recommended amounts of carbohydrate, protein, and fat will also allow you to lose weight. By following a balanced eating plan, you will not have to stop eating whole classes of foods, such as whole grains, fruits, and vegetables—and miss the key nutrients they contain. You may also find it easier to stick with a diet or eating plan that includes a greater variety of foods.

Myth #3: Starches are fattening and should be limited when trying to lose weight.

Fact: Many foods high in starch, are low in fat and calories such as:
• bread
• rice
• pasta
• cereals
• beans
• fruits
• some vegetables (like potatoes and yams)

They become high in fat and calories when eaten in large portion sizes or when covered with high-fat toppings like butter, sour cream, or mayonnaise. Foods high in starch (also called complex carbohydrates) are an important source of energy for your body.

Tip: The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends eating 6 to 11 servings a day, depending on your calorie needs, from the bread, cereal, rice, and pasta group—even when trying to lose weight. Pay attention to your serving sizes—one serving is equal to 1 slice of bread, 1 ounce of ready-to-eat cereal, or ½ cup of pasta, rice, or cooked cereal. Try to avoid high-fat toppings and choose whole grains, like:

• whole wheat bread
• brown rice
• oatmeal
• bran cereal

Choose other starchy foods that are high in dietary fiber too, like beans, peas, and vegetables.

Myth #4: Certain foods, like grapefruit, celery, or cabbage soup, can burn fat and make you lose weight.

Fact: No foods can burn fat. Some foods with caffeine may speed up your metabolism (the way your body uses energy, or calories) for a short time, but they do not cause weight loss.
Tip: The best way to lose weight is to cut back on the number of calories you eat and be more physically active.

Myth #5: Natural or herbal weight loss products are safe and effective.

Fact: A weight loss product that claims to be "natural" or "herbal" is not necessarily safe. These products are not usually scientifically tested to prove that they are safe or that they work. For example, herbal products containing ephedra have caused serious health problems and even death. Newer products that claim to be ephedra-free are not necessarily danger-free, because they may contain ingredients similar to ephedra.
Tip: Talk with your health care provider before using any weight loss product. Some natural or herbal weight loss products can be harmful.

Myth #6: "I can lose weight while eating whatever I want."

Fact: To lose weight, you need to use more calories than you eat. It is possible to eat any kind of food you want and lose weight. You need to limit the number of calories you eat every day and/or increase your daily physical activity. Portion control is the key. Try eating smaller amounts of food and choosing foods that are low in calories.
Tip: Read the Nutrition Facts Label on a food package to find out how many calories are in a serving. Check the serving size too it may be less than you are used to eating.

Myth #8: Fast foods are always an unhealthy choice and you should not eat them when dieting.

Fact: Fast foods can be part of a healthy weight loss program with a little bit of know-how.
Tip: Avoid supersize combo meals, or split one with a friend. Sip on water or nonfat milk instead of soda. Choose salads and grilled foods, like a grilled chicken breast sandwich or small hamburger. Try a "fresco" taco (with salsa instead of cheese or sauce) at taco stands. Fried foods, like French fries and fried chicken, are high in fat and calories, so order them only once in a while, order a small portion, or split an order with a friend. Also, use only small amounts of high-fat, high-calorie toppings, like:

• regular mayonnaise
• salad dressings
• bacon
• cheese

Myth #9: Skipping meals is a good way to lose weight.

Fact: Studies show that people who skip breakfast and eat fewer times during the day tend to be heavier than people who eat a healthy breakfast and eat four or five times a day. This may be because people who skip meals tend to feel hungrier later on, and eat more than they normally would. It may also be that eating many small meals throughout the day helps people control their appetites.
Tip: Eat small meals throughout the day that include a variety of healthy, low-fat, low-calorie foods.
Healthy Eating and Physical Activity Across Your Lifespan: Tips for Adults

Myth #10: Eating after 8 p.m. causes weight gain.

Fact: It does not matter what time of day you eat. It is what and how much you eat and how much physical activity you do during the whole day that determines whether you gain, lose, or maintain your weight. No matter when you eat, your body will store extra calories as fat.
Tip: If you want to have a snack before bedtime, think first about how many calories you have eaten that day. And try to avoid snacking in front of the TV at night it may be easier to overeat when you are distracted by the television.

Myth #11: Lifting weights is not good to do if you want to lose weight, because it will make you "bulk up."

Fact: Lifting weights or doing strengthening activities like push-ups and crunches on a regular basis can actually help you maintain or lose weight. These activities can help you build muscle, and muscle burns more calories than body fat. So if you have more muscle, you burn more calories—even sitting still. Doing strengthening activities 2 or 3 days a week will not "bulk you up." Only intense strength training, combined with a certain genetic background, can build very large muscles.
Tip: In addition to doing at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity (like walking 2 miles in 30 minutes) on most days of the week, try to do strengthening activities 2 to 3 days a week. You can:

• lift weights
• use large rubber bands (resistance bands)
• do push-ups or sit-ups
• do household or garden tasks that make you lift or dig

Myth #12: Nuts are fattening and you should not eat them if you want to lose weight.

Fact: In small amounts, nuts can be part of a healthy weight loss program. Nuts are high in calories and fat. However, most nuts contain healthy fats that do not clog arteries. Nuts are also good sources of protein, dietary fiber, and minerals including magnesium and copper.

Tip: Enjoy small portions of nuts. One-third cup of mixed nuts has about 270 calories.

Myth #13: Eating red meat is bad for your health and makes it harder to lose weight.

Fact: Eating lean meat in small amounts can be part of a healthy weight-loss plan. Red meat, pork, chicken, and fish contain some cholesterol and saturated fat (the least healthy kind of fat). They also contain healthy nutrients like protein, iron, and zinc.

Tip: Choose cuts of meat that are lower in fat and trim all visible fat. Lower fat meats include:

• pork tenderloin
• beef round steak
• tenderloin
• sirloin tip
• flank steak
• extra lean ground beef

Also, pay attention to portion size. One serving is 2 to 3 ounces of cooked meat—about the size of a deck of cards.

Myth #14: Dairy products are fattening and unhealthy.

Fact: Low-fat and nonfat milk, yogurt, and cheese are just as nutritious as whole milk dairy products, but they are lower in fat and calories. Dairy products have many nutrients your body needs. They offer protein to build muscles and help organs work properly, and calcium to strengthen bones. Most milks and some yogurts are fortified with vitamin D to help your body use calcium.

Tip: The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend that people aged 9 to 18 and over age 50 have three servings of milk, yogurt, and cheese a day. Adults aged 19 to 49 need two servings a day, even when trying to lose weight. A serving is equal to 1 cup of milk or yogurt, 1½ ounces of natural cheese such as cheddar, or 2 ounces of processed cheese such as American. Choose low-fat or nonfat dairy products including:

• milk
• yogurt
• cheese
• ice cream
If you cannot digest lactose (the sugar found in dairy products), choose low-lactose or lactose-free dairy products, or other foods and beverages that offer calcium and vitamin D (listed below).
• Calcium: fortified fruit juice, soy-based beverage, or tofu made with calcium sulfate; canned salmon; dark leafy greens like collards or kale
• Vitamin D: fortified fruit juice, soy-based beverage, or cereal (getting some sunlight on your skin also gives you a small amount of vitamin D

Myth #15: "Going vegetarian" means you are sure to lose weight and be healthier.

Fact: Research shows that people who follow a vegetarian eating plan, on average, eat fewer calories and less fat than non-vegetarians. They also tend to have lower body weights relative to their heights than non-vegetarians. Choosing a vegetarian eating plan with a low fat content may be helpful for weight loss. But vegetarians—like non-vegetarians—can make food choices that contribute to weight gain, like eating large amounts of high-fat, high-calorie foods or foods with little or no nutritional value.
Vegetarian diets should be as carefully planned as non-vegetarian diets to make sure they are balanced. Nutrients that non-vegetarians normally get from animal products, but that are not always found in a vegetarian eating plan, are:

• iron
• calcium
• vitamin D
• vitamin B12
• zinc
• protein

Tip: Choose a vegetarian eating plan that is low in fat and that provides all of the nutrients your body needs. Food and beverage sources of nutrients that may be lacking in a vegetarian diet are listed below.
• Iron: cashews, spinach, lentils, garbanzo beans, fortified bread or cereal
• Calcium: dairy products, fortified soy-based beverages or fruit juices, tofu made with calcium sulfate, collard greens, kale, broccoli
• Vitamin D: fortified foods and beverages including milk, soy-based beverages, fruit juices, or cereal
• Vitamin B12: eggs, dairy products, fortified cereal or soy-based beverages, tempeh, miso (tempeh and miso are foods made from soybeans)
• Zinc: whole grains (especially the germ and bran of the grain), nuts, tofu, leafy vegetables (spinach, cabbage, lettuce) Protein: eggs, dairy products, beans, peas, nuts, seeds, tofu, tempeh, soy-based burgers.
If you don't know whether or not to believe a weight loss or nutrition claim, check it out! The Federal Trade Commission has information on deceptive weight loss advertising claims.

First Pic of Michael Phelps

First Pic of Michael Phelps

Great Recipes Site

101 Cookbooks ... Check it out 

2007 Food Blog Award Winner - Food Blog of the Year

2006 Food Blog Award Winner - Best Food Blog - Recipes

When you own over 100 cookbooks, it is time to stop buying, and start cooking. This site chronicles a cookbook collection, one recipe at a time. Primarily feature healthy, vegetarian recipes - with the occasional sweet treat thrown in.

 

This Is a sample of the Recipes

Lazy Day Peanut Noodle Salad Recipe

I used asparagus in this version, but you can use any of your favorite in-season vegetables. This time of year peas, asparagus, and carrots all make great additions to the noodles and peanut sauce.

1 8 ounce package soba noodles
1 bunch asparagus spears, ends trimmed then cut into 1/2-inch segments

3/4 cup creamy peanut butter
1/4 cup (brown) rice vinegar
2 cloves garlic, crushed and chopped
drizzle of toasted sesame oil
big pinch of crushed red pepper flakes
1/4-1/2 cup hot water

1 small bunch of spring onions or scallions, thinly sliced
1/2 cup peanuts
12 ounces extra-firm (organic) tofu, cut into small cubes (feel free to heat the tofu in a skillet if you like, but cold is good too)

Big a large pot of water to a boil. Boil the soba noodles per package instructions.In the last minute or so of cooking toss in the asparagus. Drain noodles and asparagus, run under cold water for about a minute to stop cooking, and set aside.

Make the peanut dressing by combining the peanut butter, rice vinegar, garlic, sesame oil, red pepper flakes, and a big pinch of salt in a medium bowl. Thin with hot water - the amount you'll need depends on the original consistency of your peanut butter. I like it the consistency of a thin (non-Greek) yogurt. Taste and season with a bit more salt if needed.

Gently toss the noodles, asparagus, spring onions, peanuts, and tofu with a big splash of the dressing. I reserve a bit of each ingredient to sprinkle on top of the serving platter to make it look nice. Add more dressing a bit at a time, until the salad is dressed to your liking, reserving any extra for another use. Taste, sprinkle with more salt if needed, and enjoy!

Serves 6 - 8.

Diet Reduces Heart Attacks, Strokes

A large study offers the strongest evidence yet that a diet the government recommends for lowering blood pressure can save people from heart attack and stroke.

Researchers followed more than 88,000 healthy women for almost 25 years. They examined their food choices and looked at how many had heart attacks and strokes. Those who fared best had eating habits similar to those recommended by the government to stop high blood pressure.

The plan, called the DASH diet, favors fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat milk and plant-based protein over meat.

Women with those eating habits were 24 percent less likely to have a heart attack and 18 percent less likely to have a stroke than women with more typical American diets.

Those are meaningful reductions since these diseases are so common. About two in five U.S. women at age 50 will eventually develop cardiovascular disease, which includes heart attacks and strokes. Women in the study were in their mid-30s to late 50s when the research began in 1980.

Previous research has shown this kind of diet can help prevent high blood pressure and cholesterol, which both can lead to heart attacks.

The new study appears in Monday's Archives of Internal Medicine.

People might think, "I don't have high blood pressure, so I don't have to follow it," said Simmons College researcher Teresa Fung, the study's lead author. However, the results suggest, she said, that "even healthy people should get on it."

About 15,000 women in the study had diets that closely resembled the low blood pressure diet. They ate about twice as many fruits, vegetables and grains as the estimated 18,000 women whose diets more closely resembled typical American eating habits.

Although the study only followed women, Fung said men would probably get similar benefits from the approach.

The study was limited because it merely tracked the women and their habits for 24 years. That's a less rigorous method than randomly assigning equal groups of women different diets and comparing results. But that would be extremely difficult to do for such a long time.

Given that limitation, Dr. Laura Svetkey, director of Duke University's hypertension center, said the study provides the best evidence yet of important long-term benefits from a low blood pressure diet.

"It's nice to see research that really is aimed at helping people with prevention in a very practical way," Svetkey said. She noted that the DASH diet, which stands for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension, is available free on the National Institutes of Health Web site. The study was funded with NIH grants.

Dr. Nieca Goldberg, medical director of New York University's Women's Heart Program, said many patients would rather take a pill than adjust their eating habits. But, Goldberg said, "I always point out to my patients, if you make these changes in your lives, it could ... keep you off medication" in the long run.

"There has to be a greater emphasis on the way we live our lives," she said.

Benefits of Drinking 8 Glasses of Water a Day Questioned

Drinking up to eight glasses of water a day might not be that beneficial for our health as previously believed, researchers say.

Dr. Stanley Goldfarb and Dr. Dan Negoianu of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia reviewed all the studies dealing with the healthy benefits of drinking lots of water.

Their review, published in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, concluded that people in hot, dry climates, athletes or people with certain diseases might do better with increased fluid intake, but for average healthy people, more water did not seem to mean better health.

Read more

20 Tips For Permanent Weight Loss

Permanent weight loss can be a challenge. These 20 ideas can help.

Weight maintenance is much like weight loss. The principles are essentially the same: Eat healthy foods, control your portion sizes and exercise regularly. And to keep the pounds off permanently, you need to incorporate the new, healthy behaviors into your routine so that they become a natural part of your daily life.

Here are 20 ideas to reinforce your healthy lifestyle and to keep you committed to permanent weight loss.

1. Exercise 30 to 60 minutes each day. If time is limited, exercise for several brief periods throughout the day — for example, three 10-minute sessions rather than one 30-minute session.
2. Eat three healthy meals during the day, including a good breakfast. Skipping meals causes increased hunger and may lead to excessive snacking.
3. Focus on fruits and vegetables. Top off your morning cereal with sliced strawberries or bananas. Stir berries or peaches in yogurt or cottage cheese. Liven up your sandwiches with vegetables, such as tomato, lettuce, onion, peppers and cucumber.
4. Weigh yourself regularly. Monitoring your weight can tell you whether your efforts are working and can help you detect small weight gains before they become even larger.
5. Don't keep comfort foods in the house. If you tend to eat high-fat, high-calorie foods when you're upset or depressed or bored, don't keep them around. Availability of food is one of the strongest factors in determining how much a person eats.
6. Plan a family activity. Get the family together to go for a bike ride, play disc golf or kick the ball around in the yard.
7. Eat healthy foods first. Eat foods that are healthy and low in calories first so that when it comes time to enjoy your favorites — sweets or junk food, for example — you won't be so hungry.
8. Pay attention to portions. Serve meals already dished onto plates instead of placing serving bowls on the table. Take slightly less than what you think you'll eat. You can always have seconds, if really necessary.
9. Create opportunities to be active. Wash your car at home instead of going to the car wash. Bike or walk to the store. Participate in your kid's activities at the playground or park.
10. Sit down together for family meals. Avoid eating in front of the television. TV viewing strongly affects how much and what people eat.
11. See what you eat. Eating directly from a container gives you no sense of how much you're eating. Seeing food on a plate or in a bowl keeps you aware of how much you're eating.
12. Vary your activities. Regularly change your activity routine to avoid exercise burnout. Walk a couple of days, swim another and go for a bike ride on the weekend. Seek out new activities — karate, ballroom dancing, cross-country skiing, tennis or Pilate's.
13. De-stress your day. Stress can cause you to eat more. Develop strategies that can help you relax when you find yourself becoming stressed. Exercise, deep breathing, muscle relaxation techniques and even a good laugh can ease stress.
14. Eat at home. People eat more food in restaurants than at home. Limit how often you eat at restaurants. If you do eat out, decide what and how much you're going to eat before you start and have the rest boxed to go.
15. Plan healthy snacks. The best snacks include fruits, vegetables, whole grains and low-fat dairy products. Fruit smoothies, sliced fresh fruit and yogurt, whole-grain crackers, and carrot and celery sticks with peanut butter are all good choices.
16. Start your day with a high-fiber breakfast cereal, such as bran flakes, shredded wheat or oatmeal. Opt for cereals with "bran" or "fiber" in the name. Or add a few tablespoons of unprocessed wheat bran to your favorite cereal.
17. Walk for 10 minutes over your lunch hour or get up a few minutes earlier in the morning and go for a short walk.
18. Plan a week's worth of meals at a time. Make a detailed grocery list to eliminate last-minute trips to the grocery store and impulse buys.
19. Look for a distraction when you're fighting a craving. Call a friend, put on music and dance or exercise, clean the house, pull weeds in your garden, or run an errand. When your mind is occupied with something else, the cravings quickly go away.
20. Reward yourself. Losing weight and keeping the pounds off is a major accomplishment. Celebrate your success with nonfood rewards, such as new clothes or an outing with friends.

The 20 worst foods in America

Sure, a turkey burger sounds healthy. But is it, really? Not if you order the Bella from Ruby Tuesday, which packs a whopping 1,145 calories. (And yes, that's before a side of fries.)
To further enlighten you on the prevalence of preposterous portions, we spent months analyzing menus, nutrition labels, and ingredient lists to identify the food industry's worst offenders.
Our primary criterion? Sheer caloric impact. After all, it's the top cause of weight gain and the health problems that accompany it. (As you read, keep in mind that 2,500 calories a day is a reasonable intake for the average guy.) We also factored in other key nutritional data, such as excessive carbohydrates and fat, added sugars, trans fats, and sodium. The result is our first annual list of the worst foods in America.

Eat at your own risk.

Read more >>

Love Your Belly, Butt, and Thighs!

4 moves to slim, sculpt, and lift your top trouble spots fast
By Karen Asp, Prevention

What are your trickiest trouble zones? If you said belly, butt, and thighs, you're in good company: 84% of women cite these as their biggest problem areas. To the rescue: a multitasking routine combining principles of Pilates, yoga, and ballet to target multiple muscle groups and slim you down from every angle. In 3 to 4 weeks, you'll be leaner and stronger - -read more

10 Best Foods For Women

By Mueller Glenn

Women have specific requirements, and most women are more stressed out than ever these days. In order to take proper care of her body, it is more imperative than ever for a woman to eat the right foods. here is a list of 10 of the foods most important to female nutrition.

10. Bean There, Done ThatAs the popular children's rhyme tells us, beans are good for the heart. They are also nutritious, low in fat and inexpensive. In fact, one half-cup serving of beans contains more than 5 grams of fiber, which is one quarter of the recommended daily allowance.

9. Kale to the ChiefIn case you weren't aware, kale is actually a member of the cabbage family. Kale is also a great source of folate, a water-soluble B vitamin that occurs naturally in food. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) actually recommend that women consume 400 micrograms of folate every day. Suffering from a folate deficiency during pregnancy can cause neural-tube defects in babies.

8. Beta SightThough the name is derived from the Latin word for carrot, beta-carotenes are actually natural chemicals that belong to the carotenoid family. Aside from carrots, beta-carotene is found in orange squashes, pumpkin, butternut squash and sweet potatoes. Since the body converts beta-carotene into vitamin A, this nutrient helps repair your skin and may even reduce your risk for breast cancer.

7. Just the Flax, Ma'amFlax seeds and flax seed oil are an excellent source of Omega-3 fatty acids, which can help protect the heart. This is extremely important, since heart disease remains the leading cause of premature death among women. Flax also contains substances called lignans, which are an excellent source of fiber. On way to add flax to your diet is to grind your own seeds and add them to that bowl of cereal in the morning.

6. Iron It OutTo have a well-balanced diet, it is imperative to meet your body's iron requirements. Instead of just taking iron in supplement form, women should get as much of it as they can from the food they eat. The iron found in food is easier for the body to absorb. Great sources of iron include Lean red meats, dark poultry and lentils.

5. Oh Boy, It's Soy!Eating plenty of phytoestrogen-rich soybeans can help women significantly lower their bad cholesterol (LDL) and raise the good (HDL) cholesterol. One great source of soy protein is tofu. Even if you aren't a tofu fan, there are many innovative ways to include it in your food. You can even pulse some firm tofu in a food processor and use it in place of ricotta cheese in your lasagna. Mama mia!

4. Water, Water EverywhereDrinking plenty of water is essential for the health of men and women alike. Water is also one of the best tools in the weight loss game, since it suppresses the appetite and helps your body metabolize stored fat.

3. Broccoli Power!Even though former President George Herbert Walker Bush refused to eat his little trees, broccoli is absolutely essential to a woman's health. Broccoli is a fabulous source of calcium and contains other important nutrients like potassium and B vitamins.

2. Chalk up the CalciumThough the Recommended Daily Allowance of calcium is about 800mg a day, some experts claim that most women should get almost twice this amount. Eating plenty of yogurt and other dairy products is a great way for older women to protect themselves against osteoporosis.

1. Something's Fishy Here!There's nothing a woman enjoys more than salmon-chanted evening. This particular fish is a great source of Omega-3 fatty acids. Salmon is also high in protein and low in cholesterol -- not to mention the fact that it contains B vitamins, calcium, zinc, iron and magnesium.

Breakfast and BMI

Eating breakfast linked to lower BMI in adolescents
By David Liu, Ph. D.

Eating breakfast may help children maintain a healthy body weight, according to a study published in the current issue of the journal Pediatrics.

The study merely suggests such a possibility because it could not prove that the observed lower body mass indexes in those who ate breakfast were actually caused by eating breakfast, meaning that other factors may be involved.

The study showed the children who ate breakfast more frequently were less likely to have a high BMI and the frequency of eating breakfast was inversely associated with BMI in a dose-dependent manner.

A number of observational studies have already linked breakfast habits to body weight in children and adolescents, according to the background information presented in the study report. And most if not all studies tended to suggest that the more often children eat breakfast, the less likely they gain excess weight.

In the United States, an estimated 12 to 34 percent of children and adolescents regularly skip breakfast and the rate is found on the rise, according to researchers from the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, Minnesota who claimed no conflict of interest in conducting the research.

The study initially involved in 4746 students in public middle and high schools in the Minneapolis/ St Paul, Minnesota metropolitan area. 2216 adolescents completed the surveys in 1998 to 1999 and 2003 to 2004 for their eating habits and weight statuses.

The researchers found analysis results derived from data from two survey periods showed inverse associations between the breakfast frequency and the BMI were largely independent of all considered confounding and dietary factors. And the more often the children ate breakfast, the lower BMI they obtained.

Mark A. Pereira, PhD and colleagues concluded that "Although experimental studies are needed to verify whether the association between breakfast and body weight is of a causal nature, our findings support the importance of promoting regular breakfast consumption among adolescents. Future studies should further examine the role of breakfast habits among youth who are particularly concerned about their weight."

Overweight and obesity has become commonly seen among children and adolescents. The researchers suggested that weight-related concerns affect breakfast frequency, which in turn affects dietary quality and appetite control and further affects the energy intake and bodyweight status. It is generally believed that those who skip breakfast could end up eating whatever snacks which are likely less healthy than breakfast.


For more information on the study, read the study report

Healthy Diet for Women

Healthy Diet for Women
Pradeep Chauhan
March 14, 2008

A healthy diet is even more essential for women than men. As well as pregnancy, women have to cope with debilitating hormone irregularities which can impact adversely on both health and weight. Healthy eating won't eliminate or cure these effects, but it often relieves symptoms. It's worth remembering that some foods - especially fresh fruits and vegetables, contain chemicals which are believed to exercise a powerful beneficial effect on the human body.Having a healthy diet is one of the most important things you can do to help your overall health. Along with physical activity, your diet is the key factor that affects your weight. Having a healthy weight for your height is important. Being overweight or obese increases your risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke, breathing problems, arthritis, gallbladder disease, sleep apnea (breathing problems while sleeping), osteoarthritis, and some cancers.Vitamins are organic compounds that your body needs for normal growth and health maintenance, but can’t make itself and must get from food or supplements. The way these vitamins function once ingested varies - fat-soluble vitamins like A and D tend to accumulate in the body and become toxic in large amounts, while water-soluble vitamins like C are flushed through the body on a daily basis. Minerals are inorganic substances necessary for the body to function properly.

Healthy Diet:

• Lean protein. The more active you are, the more protein you will need. Fresh fish, hormone-free chicken (try removing the skin to reduce the fat content), eggs, and lean meats like turkey or pork tenderloin are all good sources. Soy products can also provide protein, although some people are sensitive to soy and cannot digest it properly. The more variety you can incorporate into your diet, the better – so try and find different sources of lean protein every day.


• Water - Most of us are dehydrated and don't even know it. Fatigue, poor concentration and headaches are signs of mild dehydration. Keep bottled water in your office and filtered or bottled water at home; aim for eight glasses a day. Fizzy water is fine, too, and sure beats coffee or cola!


• Nuts - A serving of nuts is 1/3 cup or a level handful for an average adult. A serving of peanut butter is two tablespoons, about the size of a golf ball.


• Milk - We’ve all heard that milk products are rich sources of calcium, but did you know that they're also loaded with protein? A glass of milk or a cup of yogurt has high-quality protein equal to an ounce of meat or cheese or to one egg. Try to choose reduced fat dairy products whenever possible. A glass of whole milk has the equivalent of two teaspoons of butter or three tablespoons of sour cream. That bit of added fat would probably be more enjoyable on a baked potato rather than hidden in your milk!


• Bread, cereals, rice, pasta and noodles - grains and cereals come from a wide variety of sources including breakfast cereals (oats, muesli and wholegrain flakes), whole meal breads and biscuits, rice, barley, corn and varieties of pasta.


• Vegetables and legumes - raw or cooked vegetables can be used as a snack food or as a part of lunch and dinner. Salad vegetables can be used as a sandwich filling. Vegetable soup can make a healthy lunch. Stir-fries, vegetable patties and vegetable curries make nutritious evening meals. Try raw vegetables like carrot and celery sticks for a snack 'on the run'.


• Cultured condiments - such as fish sauce, apple vinegar, or homemade ketchup. These delicious condiments have high enzyme potential, which protects us from harmful substances in foods and facilitates absorption of vitamins and minerals.

Source

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

'Total diet' best approach to healthy lifestyle
By Martha Murphy
Don't eat after 8 p.m. Avoid carbohydrates, even fruit. A piece of cake on your birthday will ruin your diet. Right? Not exactly. There are no bad foods, no good or bad times to eat and no magic bullet for maintaining a healthy weight. The fact is, it's your total diet approach that matters in living a healthful lifestyle.
March is National Nutrition Month, the perfect time to take a fresh look at the big picture. The theme for National Nutrition Month 2008 is Nutrition: It's a Matter of Fact and the American Dietetic Association reminds consumers to focus on the total balance of foods you consume, rather than any one food or meal.
No single food or meal makes or breaks a healthful diet. Your overall pattern of eating is the most important focus. A wide variety of foods can fit within this pattern, if consumed in moderation, in appropriate portions and combined with regular physical activity. No one food or type of food guarantees good health, just as no single food is necessarily detrimental to health.
It doesn't matter if you eat after 8 p.m. What's more important is how many calories you ate the entire day, not when you ate them and splurging on cake and ice cream during a party isn't going to ruin a healthful eating plan. Pay attention to the portion size of your treat and enjoy it in moderation, exercise a little longer the next day or plan ahead to save calories, like skipping your morning latte.
Develop an eating plan that is rich with fruits, vegetables and whole-grains for lifelong health. Too often, people adopt the latest food fad rather than focusing on overall health. Get back to basics consult a registered dietitian and use the new Dietary Guidelines for Americans and MyPyramid (www.mypyramid.gov) as your guide to healthy eating.
A registered dietitian can help you look at your total diet and learn the balance and moderation needed for success, and can dispel the myths and legends that get in the way of healthful eating.

TOP SECRET

SECRET FOOD DIET

Secret Food that help your existing diet.

According to a new study, Researchers found that obese adults who ate 3 servings of this food a day as part of thier diet lost 25% more weight and 60% more body fat than those who simply cut calories and didn't take advantage of this diet. Secret food eaters also lost 80% more fat in the stomach area than non-secret food eaters.
"Not only did this secret food help the study participants lose more weight -- the average weight loss was 15 pounds -- they were about twice as effective at maintaining lean muscle mass," said professors of nutrition at several Universities
Researchers say the results add to a growing body of evidence that the calcium and protein derived from eating this food help burn fat and promote weight loss.
In the study, researchers compared the effects of adding this secret food to a reduced-calorie diet on weight loss in 64 healthy obese adults who were divided into two groups.
For 12 weeks, the first group ate three 6-ounce servings of this food. Both groups ate a controlled diet that contained 500 fewer calories than normal to stimulate weight loss.
As expected, all of the participants lost weight as a result of the calorie restriction. But the study showed that both weight and fat loss were significantly greater in the secret food group.
For example, those on the ordinary diet lost an average of 8 pounds, but those on the secret food diet lost an average of more than 14 pounds.
Participants on the secret food diet also lost 80% more fat in the stomach area, which is the most dangerous type of fat. Excess fat in the midsection has been linked to an increased risk of heart disease, diabetes, stroke, and some forms of cancer.