My Favorite Ten Age Fighting Foods That Also Fight Fat

This article contains my ten favorite age fighting foods. I also have included a couple of recipes that we like and eat very often at my house. I have four principles in my recipe for staying young. The four steps are seven hours of sleep every night, six glasses of water equaling proper hydration, twenty minutes of cardio exercise, and what I am high-lighting here, proper nutrition.

My ten favorite age fighting foods are;

1. Apples: I always pre-slice this fruit and keep it refrigerated, always ready for snacking. This is a smart pick because the fiber and pectin (the white part) can lower cholesterol and fat. Choose the apple that is in season.

2. Almonds: This healthy nut should be in everyone's diet, be you young or old. What's the benefit? It helps curb your appetite. The high concentration of linolenic acid. This helps you feel more satisfied so you can stop eating and reduce your calorie consumption. And they taste good.

3. Berries: Just about everyone loves to load up on strawberries, blueberries and raspberries. These guys are loaded with filling fiber. They will stabilize your blood sugar and will prevent insulin spikes, which leads to obesity. Eat them before a meal not just for dessert, just because they taste good they are not desserts.

4. Edamame: This soybean snack is packed with chlorine, which is a compound that blocks the absorption of fat. In addition, these soybeans are laden with protein and fiber that helps satisfy hunger.

5. Eggs: Want to do something real good to yourself. Start your day off with whole eggs. This is a thumbs up thing to do, as the combo of protein and fat in an egg takes a while to digest you stay satisfied. You will not feel hungry thus you eat less.
 
6. Oranges: I like snacking on this tangy fruit. It is high in fiber. A fiber rich diet is not only good at keeping you away from more food but it is so good for you period. This citrus fruit contains compounds that can help metabolize fat quickly.

7. Sweet Potatoes: I love sweet potatoes. This is a perky healthy carb. These potatoes are high in vitamin C and fiber. They definitely prevent hunger spikes. You can eat them as chips, mash them up or like my favorite potato fries. Quick recipe: Slice them up, fry in olive oil and maple syrup, sprinkle with cinnamon salt, this is delicious.

8. Swiss Cheese: This calcium rich food can prevent the release of a hormone that causes the body to store fat. This should be good news to all of you who pile this cheese on your sandwiches.

9. Salmon: Experts give credit to the omega-3 fatty acids in this cold water fish with decreasing the levels of leptin. Leptin is a hormone that influences appetites and metabolism. You should know that people with lower leptin levels burn more fat than those with high level of leptin. Try salmon on top of your green salad and really do something good for yourself.

10: Yogurt: Spoons up! I snack on Greek yogurt. This lowers my calories and sugar and higher in protein than regular varieties. Its calcium reduces fat producing enzymes.

Last year at this time I was approximately two hundred and fifty pounds -today I am one hundred and ninety pounds. I hydrate, I work out and I get my rest. I am almost seventy years and have never felt better. Need I say more? Something worthy of note, Japan diners never clean their plates, see many obese Japanese?

Oh yes, I know I promised two recipes and have only provided one. Here is one of my favorites: In Sweden a sandwich doesn't require two slices, a sandwich is always one slice. The same taste with less calories.
Eat fresh food, but less of it and you will be amazed at what it will do for aging.

Don George Wellness Coach 1-800-211-1202 z60388 Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Don_George

Drink More Water - Here's Why and How

 We all know we need to drink more water and most of us understand the logic behind it. Besides the fact that the majority of what you carry around in the way of blood and muscle is comprised of water, it is also directly linked to hundreds of neurological functions that continually misfire when you are dehydrated. While it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that H2O it is your best beverage of choice, the real question is, how much is enough and how do all the other things we drink factor into the equation?

HOW MUCH IS ENOUGH? - Whether you think you are getting enough water or not, the only way to be sure is to measure how much you actually consume. Low to moderately active people need 80 ounces of water per day (around five 16.9 ounce bottles.) Active people should try to drink 90 to 120 ounces a day (for all my international friends out there, 3 to 4 liters daily is a perfect amount.) If this seems like a lot, it's likely you're not getting enough.

WHAT ABOUT SODA AND COFFEE? - This is where I like to bring in The Four C's Rule - that is, when you drink something that contains either caffeine, carbonation, color or calories, you should follow that drink with a full 16 oz bottle of water. If you choose a drink that contains one or more of The Four C's, you need to add another 8 ounces of water to your day. This is because all these elements tend to dehydrate. In combination, the affects are doubled or tripled. The more C's you consume (diet cola has three of the four) the more water your body needs to counteract the effects.

IS WINE REALLY FINE ANYTIME? - Alcohol is a triple threat. First, it is high in calories and usually devoid of nutrients. Okay, an occasional glass of red wine is said to be beneficial, but hang with me here. Second, it lowers your metabolism. Third, if you eat and drink, alcohol all but guarantees that you will consume 30% more calories from food. Sure, one cocktail on occasion is fine, BUT, if you are trying to get the scale to move in the right direction, any alcohol, even in moderation, can bring things to a screeching halt.
If you find you need to step up your water intake, make sure not to try and do it all at once. A great way to start getting more water is to have a full 16 oz bottle by your bedside and vow that each morning you will finish it before you hit the showers.

Also, don't try eliminating caffeine cold turkey or you may end up with flu-like symptoms for a few days - not fun. Taper off gradually, exchanging one caffeinated drink for a bottle of water until you're consuming the correct amount of each. Your kidneys will also need time to adjust to the extra water, so don't be too alarmed by the number of bathroom breaks you'll be making those first few days. Soon it will all be... water under the bridge.

About The Author:
Dianne Orwig is a success coach, motivational speaker, fitness trainer, and founder of LivingFit Online™, a fitness program that has helped thousands of men and women completely transform their bodies and live healthier, happier lives though her less-works-better approach.

For more information on how you can get better results in less time and with less effort than you ever thought possible, visit http://www.lovelivingfit.com. While you are there, sign up to receive the most current and innovtive weekly health and fitness tips in the industry by subscribing to our FREE newsletter!
(c) Copyright - Dianne Orwig. All Rights Reserved Worldwide

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5 Benefits of an Alkaline Diet

Adopting an alkaline diet and drinking alkaline water is the single most important step you'll ever take towards a healthy lifestyle.
By raising your body pH, you will:

1. Banish viruses from your body - including the herpes simplex virus
2. Detoxify your body.
3. Boost your energy levels.
4. Lose weight.
5. Feel and look years younger.

How does it work?
Pathogens (viruses, harmful bacteria and parasites) can only survive and thrive in an acidic environment.
This means that with the correct body pH at a little over 7, the herpes virus cannot attack the cellular system and cause an outbreak anywhere on your body.

In his book, 'Never an Outbreak', William Fharel states: "An acidic body provides a biological terrain conducive for disease to proliferate... Maintaining proper alkaline levels is essential for overall good health as well as preventing all herpes outbreaks."

Doctor Theodore Baroody states in his book 'Alkalize or Die': "The countless names of illnesses do not really matter. What does matter is that they all come from the basic root cause... too much acid tissue waste in the body."
The major causes of an acidic body are:

• An acid generating diet.
• Drinking acidic (low pH) water, cola and other beverages.
• Stress.
• Pollution.

How Dangerous is Acid?
If our blood pH level falls to just below 7, human cells stop functioning.
If this happened, we would lapse into a coma and die from blood poisoning.
This means that the most important task our liver and kidneys are faced with, is processing acid waste and maintaining the correct level of alkalinity in our blood.

In order to keep us alive, the bodily cleansing organs will do whatever it takes to maintain a blood pH balance between 7.35 and 7.45...
And that includes sacrificing other organs and bone mass if necessary.
Once our alkaline reserves are depleted, the liver and kidneys raid our bones, teeth and other organs in order to pirate neutralizing calcium to detoxify the blood.


In addition to that, if our overtaxed vital organs cannot get rid of the acid waste quickly, they store it in the form of fat for "later processing" (which never happens, by the way).
These toxins are kept as far away from our vital organs as possible, so the fatty waste finds its way to our bellies, buttocks, chest and thighs.

And this is why diet and exercise seldom work in the long run...
There's no doubt about it. Over acidity leads to poor health, facial wrinkles, premature aging and an early grave.

Fix it by going on an Alkaline Diet and drinking alkaline water.

Ian R Kelly draws his ideas both from research and from life's experiences. The prime focus of his website, http://www.home-remedy-site.com/, is to pay it forward by showing people how to obtain drug-free relief for various debilitating maladies.

If you found this article interesting, visit http://www.home-remedy-site.com/alkaline-diet.html for many more "how to" details and benefits of alkalizing your body.

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Why Cheating on a Diet is a Myth

When it comes to eating, there really isn't a right or wrong way to go about it. Eating in a healthy way comes down to three things: balance, motivation and flexibility. There will likely be a time that you have a meal that's just a little too high in fat, or you might get so busy with work and other things that you miss one of your workout sessions. Please realize that these things are normal, and that they happen to everybody. When things like this happen to you, try hard to not get too down on yourself. More importantly, don't abandon or lose sight of the healthy lifestyle you want to have when you come across one of these speed bumps.

The most common reaction to these obstacles that stand in your way of a more fit and healthy lifestyle is to start feeling guilty about things. You'll begin to feel bad about it, and wonder if all of your hard work has been for nothing. Do you want to know the number one reason why most people don't see the success they want from their diet and exercise routine? It's because they have adopted an all-or-nothing attitude. You want a structured program that you can follow to reach your goals because it relieves you from making your own choices. Now there isn't anything wrong with following a structured routine that is properly designed to get results, but don't expect to stick with it forever. Why?

It makes no sense at all to start a structured eating and exercise plan expecting that you will stick to it for a long period of time without deviating from it at all. If you do this, you're pretty much setting yourself up for failure, because it's just too unrealistic. You'd be better off not trying to change your habits at all if you think that deviating away from your plan once or twice is going to ruin it completely. Unplanned obstacles, distractions, and temptations are just a part of day-to-day life. The best approach to handling them is to be prepared for them. Just keep an open mind, and try to maintain a positive attitude.

This next bit of advice is very important, so please pay close attention. Before you start your healthier lifestyle, make sure you are completely comfortable with the fact that there will be some days where you won't eat 100% healthy and engage in intense exercise. Tell yourself (over and over again, if you have to) that no matter how you feel in the future, you won't abandon your new lifestyle if you happen to slip-up a little bit. Instead, you'll see it as a minor speed bump on your road to success, and you will resume your healthy habits as soon as you possibly can. Eating some fattening foods once in a great while or missing a workout every now and then are not bad, or wrong things to do. It doesn't matter what obstacle is in your way or what temptation you're facing. As long as you keep moving forward in a positive direction, and you don't let discouragement or guilt completely stop your program or routine, you'll reach your goals soon enough.

Jake Dennert has been writing and publishing articles online for almost 3 years now, and he has recently taken an interest in alarm clocks. Come check out his latest website, where the two main topics are the battery operated alarm clock and vintage alarm clocks.

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Is Organic Worth It ?

When you head to the grocery store, shopping for products like eggs, meat, fish, milk, and produce can be very tricky. Signs are posted everywhere labeling food as natural, organic, and a number of other things—but what’s the difference, really? Learning what specific names mean can help you decide if you should shell out extra money on a product of it is simply a marketing ploy.

Natural is a turn associated with a number of fruit and vegetable product. Typically, this is simple a marketing ploy to convince you to buy the product. After all, all fruits and vegetables are natural, right? Unless it’s a new kind of food that has been developed and processed, the product is natural. What you really probably want is organic. Organic foods are grown without chemical pesticides and fertilizers. There are two main benefits to organic foods. First, you are helping the environment because those chemicals are not being introduced into nature. Secondly, you are avoiding ingesting chemicals and are therefore healthy more healthy foods.

However, organic products are usually more expensive. If you’re on a budget, skip over organic fruits and vegetables that you can peel, like oranges and bananas. After all, once you’ve discarded the peel, you’ve also discarded the chemicals. Instead, opt for organic items like apples, where you eat the peel. No matter what you buy, however, make sure that you rinse off the food when you get home.

Another tricky label you will see is “no hormones.” This is usually in regards to milk or meat products and is false, since all animals naturally produce hormones. Hormones are what helps an animal (even a human) regulate body organs, have young, and otherwise function. All meat products have hormones. What the labels really mean is that no hormones were unnaturally given to the animal, which is sometimes done to increase milk production. Regardless of hormones, however, the milk and meat is safe for a person and not a violation of an animal’s rights.

Lastly, a label on eggs and meat can indicate if the animal was caged or penned. This does not make a difference in the quality or nutritional value of the meat, but is simply a matter of animal rights. These products may be a bit more expensive, but if you want to make human decisions, that is the way to go. Reading the label and making healthy choices can sometimes be difficult, but learning how to do so can help you make the best choices for you diet.

Healthy Snacking - The Health Benefits of Pumpkin, Sunflower, and Watermelon Seeds

Did you know that gourmet nuts are one of the healthiest snacks to eat and serve? And in the nut family, gourmet seeds like pumpkin, sesame, flax, and sunflower are also brimming with vitamins and nutrients. Let's take a closer look at their health benefits...

You may be aware that most varieties of nuts are very good for you. Nuts like almonds, cashews, pistachios, and several others contain high amounts of fiber, protein, and other essential nutrients. Seeds, like pumpkin, sunflower, and flax, have long been a popular snack food choice, and they are just as healthful as gourmet nuts. Here are five types of seeds and information on their health benefits:

Pumpkin Seeds
Pumpkin seeds are available year around but are obviously more plentiful in the fall. Pumpkins themselves are from the canteloupe and squash family. The seeds are best served lightly roasted and salted, and they contain numerous B vitamins which are beneficial for your skin, eyesight, and circulation. They are also an excellent source of iron and protein.

Flax Seeds
Flax seeds are becoming more popular due to the known health benefits of flax seed oil. These seeds have a taste similar to sunflower seeds and they are loaded with vitamins. They are high in fiber, contain no cholesterol, and contain significant amounts of helpful omega 3 compounds. Flax seeds contain minimal carbohydrates and are often recommended as an ideal snack for those concerned about heart health.
Sunflower Seeds

Long a popular snack, sunflower seeds contain healthy fats similar to what you find in olive oil. This type of fat helps blood flow and lowers cholesterol levels. Like flax seeds, sunflower seeds are a low carbohydrate, high protein choice.
Sesame Seeds

These seeds are used most commonly as an add on for salads or baked into artisan breads. They are also one of the main ingredients in hummus. They have a unique nutty taste and are low in saturated fat. Further, they contain significant amounts of iron and fiber.
Watermelon Seeds

Did you know you can eat watermelon seeds? They are delicious roasted and lightly salted, with a taste similar to sunflower seeds. They contain several B vitamins, zinc, magnesium, protein, and fiber.
Summary

Just like gourmet nuts, these varieties of seeds make ideal snack choices not only for their great taste, but their healthy qualities as well. Further, they are very versatile and can be used as garnishes, in recipes, or as a stand alone treat.

Sunflower, pumpkin, and even watermelon seeds make healthy, flavorful snacks. They are a perfect gourmet nut gift for the health conscious people on your list. Would you like to know why gourmet nuts and seeds are so good for your health? Visit us today at: http://www.gourmetnutgifts.com

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Raw Food Plan - Look Good & Feel Good!

 By Jane Harling
Are you trying to lose weight? Would you like to improve your energy? At the same time improve your athletic performance? Then read on! A Raw Food Plan could be just what you are looking for.

It's a fact,losing weight will not happen overnight! Sadly, it's a process that you need to work on. So, if you're thinking that if you start dieting now, by tomorrow you will have lost all that weight I'm afraid there's a little bit more to it than that! A Raw Vegan Diet with lots of fruit and vegetables can even be better for you than a vegetarian diet.

When people think of a Raw Food Plan or Vegan diet one of the most often asked questions is where will I get my protein from? In our society we are brainwashed into the idea that we need large quantities of protein, especially from meat, dairy and egg products.This all originates, of course, from the meat and dairy industries! Suggested daily amounts of protein are excessive for what we humans actually require for optimum health. Protein is no more or less significant than many other nutrients.Take a look at a gorilla or bull for confirmation, these animals are huge powerhouses of energy, muscle and strength and what do they eat? Why nothing, but pure simple greens!

Aside from weight loss, there are other health benefits that you can achieve when you go on a Vegan Raw Food Diet. One is that you are less likely to suffer various diseases such as cancer, heart disease, high blood pressure, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes and other conditions linked to excessive weight gain. If you, or your family have a history of any of these health conditions then that is all the more reason you need to go on a Raw Food Diet.

On a lighter note you will find you have more increased energy. You will look younger with brighter skin and eyes and have a glowing complexion. You will require less sleep and have better focus. Most probably live longer too! Feeling happier with a simpler life.

A Raw Food Plan carries no risks of side effects compared to taking weight loss pills and supplements so there is no need to worry. This way is totally natural. For a healthier and sexier you, simply cut out the animal products and focus instead on fresh vegetables, nuts and seeds, pulses and fruit and get really fast results.

If you think about it, there are no other animals on this planet that naturally eat cooked food, so why do we?

If you like what you have been reading and would like to know more about a Raw Food Plan click now on http://www.feelgreat-rawfood.com Follow a twelve week plan to help you really get started. You soon could be feeling the benefits of Healthy Eating!

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