The Facts about Fasting
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People fast for various reasons. While fasting has been a persistent approach to weight loss for countless years, the fact is that any rapid weight loss that comes from fasting is only temporary.
A lot of the initial weight loss comes from a reduction in food intake. We get quite a bit of our fluids from food, so when we don’t eat, we lose water weight. Losing water is not the same as losing fat, and the water weight you lose during a fast will come back when you start eating again.
As it turns out, fasting isn’t even necessary. Some people claim that it helps to give the body a break every now and then, but as long as the body is in good health, it is amazingly efficient.
If you decide to go on a fast, try doing a raw or whole food fast. This involves giving up fast food, processed foods, and even cooked foods for several days at a time. You will get plenty of nutrition without the chemical additives that so many of us have sensitivities to. Drink plenty of clean, pure water during your fast, and you will feel better in no time!
The Dangers of Trans Fats
Did you know that many of your favorite baked goods contain a dangerous substance called trans fat? It’s true; margarine, cakes, cookies, and even breakfast cereal can give you an unhealthy dose of this harmful fat.
Why is trans fat so bad for you? Unlike heart-healthy unsaturated fat, trans fats actually clog your arteries, raise your bad cholesterol, and lower your good cholesterol level. This triple-whammy is responsible for thousands of heart attacks each year. In fact, trans fats are so dangerous that experts predict the health care industry would save $56 billion over the next 20 years if trans fats were eliminated from all foods.
You can protect yourself from trans fats by reading the labels of the food you buy. If you see margarine or hydrogenated oil on the ingredient list, the food contains trans fat.
Enjoy Snacks Under 100 Calories Apiece
It’s been proven that eating several small meals throughout the day can keep your metabolism in overdrive. But how do you eat so much and still manage to come in under your daily calorie allotment? By eating smart snacks under 100 calories.
There are many low-calorie fruits and vegetables you can munch on between meals. Cucumber, carrot sticks, celery, and strawberries will satisfy your cravings and deliver healthy vitamins for very few calories. Sugar-free Jell-o cups weigh in at a skinny 10 calories each. Craving cheese? Try low-fat cheese wedges for 35 calories apiece, or part-skim mozzarella sticks for 80 calories.
Avoid the 100 calorie packs of cookies and chips you see at the grocery store. They are good for occasional cravings, but they don’t really give you enough food to really satisfy your hunger. Plus, you’d get more nutrients by eating a sweet, crunchy apple or a low-fat yogurt cup.
Savor Desserts Under 200 Calories Each
Have a sweet tooth? Don’t let your love of desserts sabotage your diet plan! There are plenty of lower calorie alternatives that will satisfy your cravings without straining your skinny jeans.
If you’re dying for some ice cream, try a Weight Watchers frozen dessert. They typically clock in under 200 calories each. Or try one of the half-cup servings of real ice cream now available in many grocery stores. The tiny serving size gives you full flavor for a fraction of the calories.
For 200 calories, you can have two 100-calorie snack cakes; plenty of sugar-free pudding with whipped topping; or even a slice of fat-free cheesecake. Try chopping up some reduced-calorie pound cake and topping it with strawberries and sugar-free Cool Whip. You’ll have a virtuous strawberry shortcake that tastes like the real thing.
While some dieters avoid desserts like the plague, there’s no reason why you can’t indulge as long as you make smart substitutions and control your portion sizes.
Fill Up on Low-Glycemic Fruits
Along with vegetables, fruit is one of the healthiest foods you can eat. But all fruits are not created equal. Some are very high in sugar, which can lead to blood glucose spikes and crashes, excessive hunger, and persistent sugar cravings.
If you’re limiting your sugar intake, and especially if you have a health condition like diabetes, it’s a good idea to eat mostly low-glycemic fruits. These fruits don’t contain as much sugar, so they don’t stimulate the body to produce as much insulin – a chemical that, among other things, makes you hungrier.
In general, berries and melon are quite low in sugar when compared to other fruits. Papayas, lemons, limes, peaches, and nectarines have a low to medium sugar content. Apples also have moderate sugar, but their fiber content makes them a healthy choice.
A lot of the initial weight loss comes from a reduction in food intake. We get quite a bit of our fluids from food, so when we don’t eat, we lose water weight. Losing water is not the same as losing fat, and the water weight you lose during a fast will come back when you start eating again.
As it turns out, fasting isn’t even necessary. Some people claim that it helps to give the body a break every now and then, but as long as the body is in good health, it is amazingly efficient.
If you decide to go on a fast, try doing a raw or whole food fast. This involves giving up fast food, processed foods, and even cooked foods for several days at a time. You will get plenty of nutrition without the chemical additives that so many of us have sensitivities to. Drink plenty of clean, pure water during your fast, and you will feel better in no time!
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| The Facts about Fasting |
Did you know that many of your favorite baked goods contain a dangerous substance called trans fat? It’s true; margarine, cakes, cookies, and even breakfast cereal can give you an unhealthy dose of this harmful fat.
Why is trans fat so bad for you? Unlike heart-healthy unsaturated fat, trans fats actually clog your arteries, raise your bad cholesterol, and lower your good cholesterol level. This triple-whammy is responsible for thousands of heart attacks each year. In fact, trans fats are so dangerous that experts predict the health care industry would save $56 billion over the next 20 years if trans fats were eliminated from all foods.
You can protect yourself from trans fats by reading the labels of the food you buy. If you see margarine or hydrogenated oil on the ingredient list, the food contains trans fat.
Enjoy Snacks Under 100 Calories Apiece
It’s been proven that eating several small meals throughout the day can keep your metabolism in overdrive. But how do you eat so much and still manage to come in under your daily calorie allotment? By eating smart snacks under 100 calories.
There are many low-calorie fruits and vegetables you can munch on between meals. Cucumber, carrot sticks, celery, and strawberries will satisfy your cravings and deliver healthy vitamins for very few calories. Sugar-free Jell-o cups weigh in at a skinny 10 calories each. Craving cheese? Try low-fat cheese wedges for 35 calories apiece, or part-skim mozzarella sticks for 80 calories.
Avoid the 100 calorie packs of cookies and chips you see at the grocery store. They are good for occasional cravings, but they don’t really give you enough food to really satisfy your hunger. Plus, you’d get more nutrients by eating a sweet, crunchy apple or a low-fat yogurt cup.
Savor Desserts Under 200 Calories Each
Have a sweet tooth? Don’t let your love of desserts sabotage your diet plan! There are plenty of lower calorie alternatives that will satisfy your cravings without straining your skinny jeans.
If you’re dying for some ice cream, try a Weight Watchers frozen dessert. They typically clock in under 200 calories each. Or try one of the half-cup servings of real ice cream now available in many grocery stores. The tiny serving size gives you full flavor for a fraction of the calories.
For 200 calories, you can have two 100-calorie snack cakes; plenty of sugar-free pudding with whipped topping; or even a slice of fat-free cheesecake. Try chopping up some reduced-calorie pound cake and topping it with strawberries and sugar-free Cool Whip. You’ll have a virtuous strawberry shortcake that tastes like the real thing.
While some dieters avoid desserts like the plague, there’s no reason why you can’t indulge as long as you make smart substitutions and control your portion sizes.
Fill Up on Low-Glycemic Fruits
Along with vegetables, fruit is one of the healthiest foods you can eat. But all fruits are not created equal. Some are very high in sugar, which can lead to blood glucose spikes and crashes, excessive hunger, and persistent sugar cravings.
If you’re limiting your sugar intake, and especially if you have a health condition like diabetes, it’s a good idea to eat mostly low-glycemic fruits. These fruits don’t contain as much sugar, so they don’t stimulate the body to produce as much insulin – a chemical that, among other things, makes you hungrier.
In general, berries and melon are quite low in sugar when compared to other fruits. Papayas, lemons, limes, peaches, and nectarines have a low to medium sugar content. Apples also have moderate sugar, but their fiber content makes them a healthy choice.
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