Archive for July, 2008

How To Eat Smarter and Healthier
Learn how to make smarter and healthier choices in food without compromising flavor and taste.

How to Tell If Packaged Food is Organic
Sometimes it’s hard to tell whether a food is organic or not. Fresh produce is easier…it either is, or isn’t organically grown. But packaged foods are trickier. Here’s what you need to know.

1. Look for the USDA certified organic seal. This means at least 95% of the ingredients are organic.
2. If you see a label that says 70% organic, that means that 70% of the ingredients are organic.
3. If the product has less than 70% organic ingredients, it can’t carry an organic label, so you have to read the ingredients on the package. Don’t be fooled by products that you think are organic because their names or packaging look like they are. You have to really read through the ingredients.

10 Tips For Boosting Your Energy

A fourth cup of coffee isn’t what you need to get through that energy slump. Try a few “you-friendly” remedies instead.

How to break the stress-fat connection

Did you know that “stressed” spelled backwards is “desserts?” This ironic connection makes sense because under stress, we frequently do destructive things, frequently overeating, and overeating the ‘wrong’ foods.

Daily stress leads to feelings of helplessness, hopelessness and defeat. Too much of it in turn leads to toxic stress. And toxic stress frequently leads to self-destructive behaviors — overeating for many women; overdrinking for many men.

The big issue with stress-related eating is that it leads to belly fat deep inside your body, and this belly fat is associated with increased risks of heart disease, diabetes and cancer.

How can you fight the urge to self-destruct in response to stress?

• Eat every 3-4 hours. Meals and planned snacks in between. And have a specific plan for eating balanced, healthy snacks rather than running to the vending machines when things get stressful — reduced fat, crunchy peanut butter on whole wheat crackers, or low-fat string cheese and an apple. Just eating will be satisfying, and will calm you down, and if you can eat healthier, lower-calorie snacks that you’ve planned, you’ll be ahead of the game.
• Get up and take a walk. Research shows that moving helps you generate chemicals that make you feel better and less self-destructive.
• Take a mental chill-pill. Consider the source of the stress: It can only cause big-time DIS-stress if you chose to allow it to do that. Remember: You’re in control!
• Make a list of all the stressors in your life, and then take a hard look at the list. Ask yourself why you allow them to cause you stress, and how you can get back in control of them. Are they really big deals? Can you change something? (Remember: You do have the power to change a job or a bad relationship…)
• Try to maintain a healthy balance and positive outlook on life, and reach for your walking/running shoes rather than a candy bar when things get stressful!

For students, eating at college is an entire new thing, the late night pizza delivery and food from buggies. Even though some of these quick and easy options taste great, they are probably not healthy for a student’s body.

The food choices can affect whether or not they’re able to stay awake during class and whether or not they will go down with mononucleosis when it hits campus. The problem is not only about eating up trash food, it’s more about not getting the suitable proteins, carbs, vitamins, and minerals that their body needs.

When it comes to fighting against illnesses, vitamins and minerals are very important. It’s best for students to get their nutrition from food.

You can find vitamin C in citric fruits, Vitamin A in milk and diary products, and vitamin E in nuts, whole wheat products. This is the best way to get nutrition as your body relies on these vitamins for many reasons.

When you eat on campus, try to skip on the soda’s and go the juice machines instead. Explore the different meals that are available and go where there are fresh vegetables. There are always healthy cereals and plenty of fresh fruit available outside the campus if you can’t find them in campus.

Always remember that eating healthy isn’t just about avoiding greasy foods. Eating healthy is about getting a balanced diet and getting the right nutrients and vitamins to keep your body in peak mode, so that you can learn faster!