Health Foods Blog

Submitted by A Sizable Apple

I came across an interesting article that took a look at the actual average cost of each pound lost. I had a feeling with the constant media pressure to be thin, combined with the “easy fix all” approaches of plastic surgery, promising diet pills and expensive workout programs, the result would be high. However, I was shocked to see the results of the study and realize just how much money we’re willing to spend to look good.

The survey, used 2000 women (average age 23), found every pound shed will cost about $1660. The study took gym memberships, exercise tapes, supplements and food into account as well. In addition the research concluded over a lifetime, women average over $300,000 in weight loss products. The study continues to spit out disturbing facts about diet habits among the women studied.

I find the amount of money women spend on weight loss disturbing and selfish. Our society is incredibly fast paced and impatient, and now so are our health plans. Fast methods of weight loss are more publicized than the traditional exercise and balanced nutrition. With all the healthy means we’ve learned in health class growing up, it’s disturbing that women are still turning to potentially dangerous pills, harmful habits and expensive promises.

The quote from More Magazine’s editor on the study hits the nail on the head-

The reason young women can’t lose weight is because they equate dieting with not eating. They look at celebrities like Victoria Beckham and think the only way she could possibly achieve such a tiny frame is by not eating. As a result, whole generations of women have a dysfunctional eating pattern of endless mini starvation diets.

While there are means of healthy dieting, the term has now become synonymous with skipping meals, stocking up on diet pills and signing on to expensive weight loss programs. And while being health conscious and striving for a healthy lifestyle is admirable, its important to be mindful of the amount of money you’re putting to this “good cause”.

What do you think? How much money is too much, and where do you draw the line between going too far and accepting yourself for who you are?

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Submitted by Healthy Foods and Eating Healthy Blog

Parsnips are high in carbohydrates and fibre. They are a good source of potassium, vitamin C, vitamin E, and folate.

Parsnips because of the sweet nutty flavour complement other vegetables in soups or stews. They are a winter vegetable and taste better after the first frost because exposure to cold converts its starch to sugar.

They are nutritious and taste excellent roasted, and can be kept in the fridge for a few weeks.

When buying parsnips look for ones that are a firm and not soft and shrunken. If the tops are attached remove them so they cannot draw moisture and nutrition from the root.

Parsnips with Honey and Orange.

1½lbs (750g) parsnips, washed, peeled, and halved
2 tablespoons of honey
1 grated zest and juice of an averaged size orange
1½oz (45g) butter
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Preheat your oven to 200°C or Gas6 400°F and cook
the parsnips in boiling water for 5 minutes, then drain.

Take a small saucepan and melt the butter. Then stir in the
orange zest and juice with the honey.

Use the mixture to coat the parsnips and spread them out
in a roasting tin, and roast in the oven for about 30 minutes
until nicely golden and crisp.

Delicious!

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Submitted by A Sizable Apple

Last November I wrote about Women’s Health Magazine’s Ultimate Fitness Plan for 2007. Although I brought the news of their plan late, I promised to keep on my toes about new plans for 2008. As promised, here is WH’s 2008 fitness plan.

The plan has a 6-month workout program, tests to gauge your starting fitness level and to track improvement, a workout log, videos, and expert advice. Signing up for the program was among the easiest of all programs I’ve reviewed. The fitness program has a simple starting test to see where you stand before recommending programs.

Although the test is helpful to see where you stand, it didn’t seem to be very effective in judging a starting point as some other programs have been (especially last year’s 2007 WH program). I do admire how hands on the Ultimate Fitness Program is. They provide varying workouts and allow you to plug in your reps, and the amount of weight you use.

This is a great method to keeping track of how much you’re lifting, and UFP also allows you to view each exercise, with details of how to do it and what muscles groups it works. The site allows you to retake your assessment test as often as you would like to stay on top of your routine.

The one flaw I found with the 2008 plan is the lack of nutrition help. Some of the other programs I’ve seen have nutrition options and changing meal plans to incorporate to your routine. A fitness plan should focus on all the aspects of healthy living, and this one seems to fall short in that department.

Overall, I would suggest the WH magazine’s Ultimate Fitness Plan for those who are looking for new exercise tips, and looking for a way to keep track of your progress. If you’re looking at starting a healthy lifestyle for the new year all together, I would suggest looking at the Discovery Health National Body Challenge, I’ve posted a review here.

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Submitted by Café Physique

Appetizer
Finding new ways to get your heart pumping will make exercise more fun and more effective.
Main Course
If you are starting to find the treadmill tedious and the stair stepper to be a snooze, it’s time to add a new cardiovascular exercise to your repertoire. Here are few simple things that you may not have considered.

Jump Rope - This grade school recess favorite can be surprisingly effective at shedding calories. After you’ve mastered the basic “single hop” (where the rope goes under your feet once per rotation) try the more challenging “double rotation,” where the rope has to fly underneath you twice before you touch the ground.

Handball - Sports are always a fantastic way to get your body moving, mostly because it feels more like fun than exercise, and handball works well because all you need is a wall, a ball, and two players. Just be sure to wear goggles or a sturdy pair of glasses while you’re playing to protect your eyes.

Hiking or Rock Climbing - If you haven’t already, check out the parks in your area to see what kind of hiking trails and climbing areas are available. A nice outing on a hiking trial not only lets you engage in a lot of low intensity cardio but also gives you some neat areas to explore. Rock climbing can be a bit more intense, so take it easy if you’ve never done it before.

Rowing - A rowing machine can get you into your target heart rate quickly and work your back at the same time.

Dessert
I think that boredom is the number one killer of fitness motivation, so I always have my clients trying out new exercises. Sometimes, like in the case with hiking or rock climbing, it can lead to a lifelong hobby. Try a little bit of everything and eventually you’ll find something you’ll enjoy sticking with.

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Submitted by Healthy Foods and Eating Healthy Blog

While eating fish is recognised as being good for you, there is one type of fish you should never attempt to eat.

Fugu, otherwise known as the Puffer Fish, or Blow fish, is a Japanese speciality. It’s roe, ovaries, and liver are so poisonous that just one drop of the deadly toxin, Tetrodotoxin, very very quickly brings rapid paralysis and death.

Japanese homes don’t attempt to serve it, and a Chef must undergo lengthy and comprehensive training before being allowed to prepare the dish. However all it takes is a slip of the knife during preparation, and the poison can contaminate the flesh of the fish. Competent people can and do eventually make mistakes, so why put a loaded gun to your head? Never, never be tempted to eat this dish no matter how well you are assured that it is safe.

Unfortunately even with stringent precautions, the major cause of fatal food poisoning in Japan every year is still attributed to eating Fugu, which causes dozens of deaths. Don’t do it!

Personally, I would never eat in a restaurant with this fish on the menu. I’d be too worried about possible cross-contamination.

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Submitted by Healthy Foods and Eating Healthy Blog

Cauliflower is another food in the group of anticancer foods. Like most vegetables it is of course an excellent source of vitamin C, as well as folate and potassium. It’s anticancer properties come from indoles, bioflavonoids, and other cancer protecting chemicals.

It is high in fibre and low in calories and makes an excellent Weight Watchers food. During cooking cauliflower will lose around 20% of its folate. The best way to cook a cauliflower is by quickly steaming or boiling in a minimal amount of water. Cook a cauliflower too long and it turns mushy and releases sulphurous compounds which make it slightly unpleasant in taste, and produces a strong smell.

When cooking don’t aluminium or iron pots as these tend to discolour the cauliflower. When buying, aim to purchase a head with firm compact florets, a snowy white colour, with crisp and green leaves.

Cauliflower does have one drawback though. It can cause flatulence from the gut breaking down the cell walls of the cauliflower during digestion. Fennel, Tarragon and Bay can help with the digestion process.

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