Low GI Healthy Food

By Russel Nouveau

  It is a famous saying that 'we are what we eat' and it is needless to say that while we try to satisfy our hunger and taste buds we should also be cautious about our health when we select what we eat. The glycemic index otherwise known as GI is one of the vital indicators that should be considered by us when we select meal items in our daily lives. It measures the blood sugar levels that increase in our body by consumption of different food items that contain different kinds of carbohydrates. 

And each food item that contains carbohydrates would have a specific glycemic index rating and the healthier choice would be to consume healthy snack items that have a lower glycemic index rating. And that would be irrespective of the fact whether a person suffers from diabetes or just simply one would want to be cautious about not becoming one. Keep in mind that in any case that prevention is a much wiser option than cure.

Although how the measurement is done is purely scientific and would not be of much use being explained, it is important for all consumers to have a basic idea of glycemic index levels. In a general sense any food item that is lower than an indication of 55 is deemed to Low GI in other words most healthy. Most fruits and vegetables fall under this category along with legumes, grains, nuts, tagatose, fructose and few varieties of beans. 

Any food item that contains a GI indication in the range of 56-69 would fall under the category of Medium GI, and that category includes whole wheat products, pita bread, Basmati rice, grapes, sucrose, raisins, pumpernickel bread, cranberry juice and regular ice creams. Finally we should try to avoid or at least cut down on consumption of any food item that has a GI rating above 70 such as white bread, most white rice, corn flakes, extruded breakfast cereals, glucose, maltose, wh

ite potatoes, pretzels etcetera. The logic behind glycemic index is that food items with lower GI levels would release glucose into our blood streams more slowly and steadily while food items with higher levels of GI would release higher levels of glucose into our blood streams rapidly soon after the meal. In conclusion consuming food with lower GI would be beneficial to our health, disease prevention as well as weight control.

Although some facts would point that a low carbohydrate diet would be the healthiest option we could consider but that has its own set of difficulties. Deficiency of essential nutrients should be one of main concerns among few other complications arising from high fat consumption. Extra expenses are another reason of low carbohydrate diets. And battling one's craving for certain food items with higher carbohydrates would be another headache. So much better option would be to eat healthy as well as smartly by choosing better combinations of low GI healthy food for a healthier lifestyle.

Mushrooms - The Superb Fungi For Weight Loss and Good Health

By Felicitas Ramos

To some people, mushrooms may not be appetizing but to a great majority, these are magical foods that are loaded with health benefits, including weight losing properties. For many centuries, mushrooms had been used for both food and medicinal purposes. There had been confusion because there are people who classify mushroom as vegetables and there are those who think of it as herb. But the truth is, mushroom is a kind of fungi.

In the past, people love to pick the mushrooms in the woods. The species are very numerous but only a few kinds are edible and still a fewer kinds are medicinal. And you should not forget that there are very poisonous variants. This makes mushroom identification to be a daunting task. They can vary in color, shape and size. Today, the mushroom becomes safer to eat and use - you do not have to pick them, they are available in farm markets and supermarkets.

Mushrooms have versatile flavor and they are used in a wide variety of dishes such as pasta, salads and soups. They can blend very well with any ingredient. People who are very well conscious of their weights can include mushroom in their daily diet. These are filling nutritious foods that contain very few calories. The low calories in a cup of button or Portobello mushroom make them a low fat-burning food.

Mushrooms may be simple fungi but knowing their nutrition facts and health benefits will make you fill your refrigerator chiller with different species of mushrooms. If you want to lose weight, this is the best food. As they contain plenty of water, around 80%, mushrooms contain low calories. This makes this food very ideal for people undergoing weight management programs. Mushrooms are also beneficial to people experiencing elevated blood pressure. These contain a good amount of potassium, a mineral that is very helpful in bringing down your blood pressure. They contain little sodium and fat hence this is a good diet for hypertensive people.

Another factor to take note of is the fact that mushrooms are fat-free. These are free of cholesterol making them very good for your heart. This is an excellent source of copper, a mineral that provides protection to your cardiovascular system

Learning more about the nutrition facts in this fungi will further disclose the efficacy of mushrooms for your weight lose regimen and good health condition. Mushrooms are essential sources of riboflavin, niacin and selenium. Selenium is a protective nutrient, especially to men. Selenium is an anti-oxidant containing Vitamin E that cuts down the risk of prostate cancer. Other nutrients from these fungi are Vitamins C, B-6 and B-12 which are very essential in boosting your immune system.

The Truth on Weight Loss with Spicy Food

By Phillip England 

Everybody seems to have their own ideas on how to lose weight. Atkins and Banting suggested low-carbohydrate diet plans, the South Beach does away with bad carbohydrates and fats, and the Beverly Hills diet wants weight watchers to go with an all-fruit meal. Then there are some people who think that eating spicy foods will help them lose weight faster than you can say overweight.

Spicy foods have always figured in various native delicacies in different cultures. Black pepper, for example, is an antioxidant and it also has antibacterial effects. Cayenne pepper is touted to boost the immune system and clear congestion. Eating spicy food also increases the endurance of athletes and also helps in treating osteoarthritis.

Interestingly, among the many benefits of eating spicy food came the idea that it can actually aid in weight loss.

Weight loss with spicy dood: Fact or myth?

There is an ongoing debate on whether or not one can achieve weight loss with spicy food. The idea is that spicy foods increase your body's metabolic rate which makes you digest your food faster. Basically, spices improve digestion by increasing the hydrochloric secretion in the stomach. This is what increases your metabolic rate. With increased metabolism comes increased absorption rate. When there is increased absorption, then the body is able to utilize the stuff that you ate for your daily activities so almost nothing really stays put. Ergo, you lose weight.

Some experts believe that while it's true that spicy food can increase the body's metabolism, the increase is not really as substantial as we would like to think. The increased digestive rate after eating spicy food isn't so high as to affect weight loss. Still, there are some other people who look at it from a different standpoint.

Spicy food makes us eat less

There are only a few of us who have a high tolerance for spicy food. Logically, when a meal is spiked with pepper, we have a tendency to eat less. Cayenne pepper, for example, has capsaicin, which among others has shown to help the body burn fats and reduce the appetite. According to some scientists, cayenne increases the level of epinephrine and norepinephrine in the body which causes us to feel less hungry. Spices enhance the flavor of any food which provides the a satisfied sensation to the palate. Eating spicy food makes us eat less which explains why people connect weight loss with spicy food. As thermogenic herbs, spices helps the body burn more calories in food especially when eating a meal high in fat. This is by increasing blood circulation and the body's temperature. In this regard, spices are also capable of stimulating the break down of fat cells thus aiding in weight loss.

So in a sense, weight loss with spicy food sounds logical enough to be true.

But...

With this explanation in hand, more and more people strongly believe that eating spicy food can aid weight loss. Unfortunately, eating spicy foods is not without a negative consequence. Eating spicy food can also cause stomach ulcers. Spices can also cause GERD or acid reflux. Moderation is really the key. Don't overeat on spicy foods especially if you have a sensitive stomach. Acid reflux usually happens to obese people so if you're trying weight loss with spicy food, you may want to think this over. Maybe you can go on the spicy food diet as a sort of supplement to another weight loss plan instead of using it as your basic means of burning calories.

Aside from acid reflux, spices can also irritate your digestive tract and mess up digestion. Too much spicy food can also wreak havoc on your sense of taste. Over time, you won't be able to enjoy food in its natural state.

Heads-up

If you're still hell-bent on going on the idea of weight loss with spicy food, you may want to keep a few tips in mind before going on a curry overload.

Try to test your tolerance for spicy food in small amounts first. Make sure to put in just small amounts of it in your meals. As you go along, feel free to increase the servings according to your taste. Remember not to eat too much of it though because as it was mentioned, spicy food in large amounts isn't good for your stomach.

Detox and Lose Weight: Eliminate These 3 Foods for Faster Weight Loss

By Beth Winter

When it comes to successfully detoxifying and losing weight, you need to know the dangers of these three foods: sugar, artificial sweeteners and processed foods. In other words, these foods could be the main reasons why you are struggling to lose weight.

When you eliminate these foods from your diet you will quickly get rid of the accumulation of fat and toxins--and lose weight faster.

1 - Sugar

Did you know the average person consumes 1/2 a pound of sugar per day! When you think about it, sugar is in almost everything, which means you could be eating tons of sugar without even realizing it.

And I'm sure you know the damage sugar can do to your health. Sugar contains nothing but empty calories. When you eat large portions of sugar (or foods that contain sugar), it gets stored in your body as fat. Too much sugar in your diet makes you look and feel tired and fatigued--and makes you gain weight. Sugar can also depress your metabolism and raise your risk of diabetes.

So it's important to reduce the "sugar highs." This is where a good detox regimen comes in. By detoxifying your system, you can reduce the sugar in your body faster, get rid of the accumulation of fat and start losing weight.

2 - Artificial "Low Calorie" Sweeteners

But before you run out and buy those zero-calorie diet drinks, you should know this: Artificial sweeteners used in those diet drinks and low-calorie products are toxic chemicals. They are unnaturally manufactured in a lab and are not good for you. It's vital for you to detoxify your body and stay away from artificial sweeteners as quickly as possible.

And if you think you're going to lose weight faster by using artificial sweeteners, think again. Artificial sweeteners actually stimulate your appetite and make you eat more food.

It's been shown that chemical sweeteners actually cause excessive appetite and cravings for more food, as well as problems with your metabolism and hormones. In fact, some chronic illnesses and conditions (such as depression, anxiety, migraines, mood changes and slow metabolism) can be directly related to how these artificial sweeteners interact with the normal process of your body. These artificial sweeteners can actually cause the digestive, metabolic and hormonal problems, you may be experiencing and which contribute to carrying around that excess weight.

3 - Processed Foods

As you know, processed foods are usually cheap, convenient and easy to prepare. But unfortunately, these foods are very bad for you. Of course, food manufacturers aren't going to give you a rundown of the unhealthy ingredients they use to prepare the processed foods, so I'll do it for you.

First, many processed foods contain huge amounts of trans fat. Trans fats make it difficult to lose weight and contributes to weight gain. Trans fat is one ingredient you want to get away from as fast as possible.

Second, some of your favorite processed foods are loaded with high fructose corn syrup. High fructose corn syrup has been getting a lot of press lately because it is believed to be a major player in the rising epidemic of obesity. Experts agree high fructose corn syrup may be partially to blame for causing problems with your metabolism, which increases the likelihood of gaining weight. Cut down on processed foods and you will increase the likelihood of losing weight.

Third, manufacturers use chemicals in processed foods. These toxic chemicals contribute to sluggish digestion and metabolic imbalances that make it hard for you to lose weight. So you see the importance of doing a detox to cleanse these chemicals from your body as quickly as you can.