Condiments That are Making You Fat

November 10, 2015 by
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Condiments might seem like a great way to enhance the flavors of your food or add a little spice, but did you know that some condiments are actually filled with additives that make it a lot harder for you to lose weight or maintain a healthy weight? These additives can do this in a few ways:

  • They can interfere with a hormone called leptin that tells the brain when you are full.
  • They can increase the fat-storing hormone called insulin which causes calories going in to be converted into fat instead of being stored as “muscle energy.”
  • They can also make us addicted to them by altering brain chemicals called neurotransmitters making us have more cravings and less control.

Additives to Avoid

It’s important to know what these additives are and which condiments more commonly contain them, so you know what to look out for next time you’re loading up the shopping cart. Here are 7 of the worst additives you should be removing from your diet as much as possible.

  1. Stripped Carbohydrates. These are usually listed as sugar, flour, enriched white flour, white flour, enriched bleached flour, enriched wheat flour, wheat flour, semolina flour, white rice, maltodextrin, glucose, high fructose corn syrup (HFCS), fructose, sucrose, dextrose, and levulose.
  2. Artificial Sweeteners. These are usually listed as NutraSweet (aspartame), Sunette (acesulfame K), and Sweet ‘N Low (saccharin.)
  3. Added Caffeine in soft drinks and energy drinks. While a few cups of green tea or coffee each day is fine, you should be aware of when you’re consuming a little extra caffeine in that energy drink you bought on the corner.
  4. Trans Fats. Trans fats are also listed as partially hydrogenated oils.
  5. MSG. MSG is also labeled as monosodium glutamate.
  6. Excess Alcohol. One to two drinks per week is okay, but you shouldn’t be exceeding that, especially in one night.
  7. Excess Salt/Sodium. This is the norm for a lot of chips, crackers, canned food items, pickles, various cheeses, pretzels, condiments, and salted nuts.

Common Offenders

Now that you know what to look for on the label next time you shop, here are some top offenders you might need to remove from the pantry:

  • Kroger and Lawry’s Marinades: contains high fructose corn syrup.
  • Hunt’s Tomato Ketchup / Heinz 57: contains high fructose corn syrup.
  • Kraft’s Light Asian Toasted Sesame Reduced Fat Dressing: contains MSG.
  • Kraft’s Thick N Spicy Barbecue Sauce: contains MSG.
  • Hidden Valley’s Ranch Dressing: contains MSG.
  • Prego’s Italian Sauce Traditional: has 10 g of sugar per half cup.
  • Old El Paso Taco Seasoning: contains hydrogenated oils.
  • Reduced Fat (or regular) Jif Peanut Butter: full of hydrogenated oil and corn syrup solids.

Healthier Alternatives

What should you buy instead?

  • Heinz Organic Tomato Ketchup. This is a great choice over the original because it doesn’t contain high fructose corn syrup.
  • Curley’s Famous Hot and Spicy Barbecue Sauce. This delicious BBQ sauce doesn’t have high fructose corn syrup or MSG in it.
  • Newman’s Own Salad Dressing. When it comes to salad dressings, you want a low sugar version that doesn’t contain high fructose corn syrup.
  • Low Sodium Kikkoman’s Natural Soy Sauce. Their low sodium version contains 575 mg per tablespoon, while their regular contains 920 mg. That’s less than half the amount.
  • Lucini’s Hearty Artichoke Tomato Sauce. It only has 230 mg of sodium and less than 1 gram of sugar.
  • McCormick’s Original Taco Seasoning. Doesn’t contain any hydrogenated oils.
  • Smucker’s Natural Peanut Butter. It contains only two ingredients: peanuts and salt.

It might seem like this is a lot to remember, but it’s actually pretty simple. As a rule of thumb, try to choose the low sodium and reduced sugar versions of food when available. Keep an eye out for high fructose corn syrup, MSG, and hydrogenated oils. And most importantly: if you’re reading a label and you don’t understand what the ingredients are, it’s probably not a healthy choice.

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Nutrition Tips To Healthy Lifestyle

August 11, 2015 by

Working out and having a well balanced diet is key to a great, healthy life. For many people, working out comes easy, and diets are the tough part. Balancing both equally to provide a healthy lifestyle can go a very long way to ensuring a nutritional lifestyle. There are also other things throughout the day which can help improve the bodies nutrition.

One thing to help is to always stay hydrated. Drinking fluids early and often throughout the day can drastically improve health. Drinking water, and other carbohydrates often is important to sustain a healthy life, waiting until you get thirsty is not the goal of any day. It is normal to have eight glasses of water each day. Going above and beyond is a great thing. Working to reach these goals daily can help any workout or diet tenfold.

When working out, it is common to loss a great deal of electrolytes, replacing these is important, in moderation. Sports drinks are important when playing sports, thinking these when not working out can lead to extra sugars in the body which are not needed. But replacing these electrolytes after a competition or event is of utmost importance.

Proteins should naturally be apart of any diet. It is said that consuming roughly 1.5 grams of protein to every kg in the body is average and healthy. Which means, a 150 pound man would consume just under 90 grams of protein each day. Having this much protein is great, but making sure to not overdue it is even more important. It can also lead to eating fats which the body does not need.

The information provided on this site is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from your physician or other health care professional or any information contained on or in any product label or packaging. You should not use the information on this site for diagnosis or treatment of any health problem or for prescription of any medication or other treatment. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any diet, exercise or supplementation program, before taking any medication, or if you have or suspect you might have a health problem. You should not stop taking any medication without first consulting your physician.

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Interesting Food Facts

August 5, 2015 by

With so many interesting foods and diets out there, we are bound to run into some interesting, and fun facts about diets, and the stats behind certain foods. Some of these snacks are alarming and should be concerning for parents and nutritionists.

The first, surprising, and fairly alarming fact, is that over 30 million Americans skip breakfast. That is just about 10% of the countries population, skipping out on the most important meal of the day. Breakfast can change the outcome of any day, a healthy, well balanced meal can help boost metabolism and give the brain and body the energy it needs to push through the day. Vegan meal

Another interesting fact which many people are unaware of is that lemons are actually one of the healthiest foods anyone can have. With ample amounts of Vitamin C and immunity boosters, simply adding lemon to water can help cleanse the system. Adding lemon to water is important, but keeping toxins out of the body is just as important. A recent poll uncovered that about 33% of Americans do not drink alcohol. Avoiding alcohol is fantastic, even though many admit to having one or two drinks at a gathering, one third of Americans do not drink at all.

With such an increase in the amount of vegetarians and vegans around the country, it is shocking to know that only .5% of Americans are vegan, and 3% are vegetarians. Cities like New York, San Francisco, and Portland are all making strives to make the world a healthier place to live.

With so many surprising facts, and much more to learn, visit SheKnows to get a full list of truly shocking nutrition facts.

The information provided on this site is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from your physician or other health care professional or any information contained on or in any product label or packaging. You should not use the information on this site for diagnosis or treatment of any health problem or for prescription of any medication or other treatment. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any diet, exercise or supplementation program, before taking any medication, or if you have or suspect you might have a health problem. You should not stop taking any medication without first consulting your physician.

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Health Food Tips For Professionals

July 28, 2015 by

If it was everyone’s decision, everyone would eat healthy, and be as fit as possible. Unfortunately, we all have to work, take care of loved ones, and enjoy simple pleasures of life. These distractions are reasons why people tend to grab a quick meal from their local fast food joint, which after a while becomes routine. These habits that form can head to obesity and other illnesses. For those who work long hours, or have a full family to feed while taking care of so many, here are a few ways to get yourself through the day, while remaining healthy.

People who work long work hours, find it difficult to eat healthy, one way to remain healthy and avoid grogginess is to have small meals throughout the day, not one giant lunch. When the body consumes too much food too quickly, this can cause the body to crash and become very drowsy.

While working, it can be very easy to grab a quick bag of chips or a candy bar. Avoid these temptations by packing your own food from home. Celery or carrots are a good alternative for a mid day snack. Little changes like this can go a long way in eating healthy.

Throughout the work day it is of high importance to drink plenty of fluids. Staying hydrated is a great way to increase tiredness while getting the recommended eight glasses needed a day. Not only will this cut out unnecessary sugars, but will keep grogginess at bay.

The last way to healthy living is to avoid alcohol on weekdays. This will lower productivity and fill the body with extra sugars, and toxins which are unneeded. If remaining healthy is the ultimate goal, following a few short keys can truly make a long term difference.

The information provided on this site is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from your physician or other health care professional or any information contained on or in any product label or packaging. You should not use the information on this site for diagnosis or treatment of any health problem or for prescription of any medication or other treatment. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any diet, exercise or supplementation program, before taking any medication, or if you have or suspect you might have a health problem. You should not stop taking any medication without first consulting your physician.

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Summer Growth

July 21, 2015 by

Summer is in full effect, many individuals have hit the beach and showed off their summer bodies. With that said, these people are not in the gym as often as they once were. Which is great, empty gyms! Being able to get on a machine without waiting forever. With so many machines and space available, take these workouts to the next level by aiding workouts with great supplements that can do the body well, and shred up those muscles!

Whey Protein

Whey Protein

Many of these supplements are most likely being taken since they help the body, one of which is whey protein. This can be easily taken in a shake, or post-workout drinks. Having a solidified protein diet can help the muscles in the body recover after workouts, and help retain the muscle built at the gym.

BCAA’s (Branch Chain Amino Acids) are also a great way to develop and gain muscles. These acids have lead to noticeable growth in muscle density and work well with muscles to help the recovery process. Not as popular as whey protein, but has results which exceed whey protein. These should be on the top of any supplement list.

Next on the supplement list is Omega-3 Fish Oil which provides great fatty acids which are vital to a healthy body, and also great for building muscles. Not only are these oils great for building muscles, they generally provide proteins and other essential vitamins to retain muscle.

Get those muscles ready for a winter and bulk up with these supplements. It is never too early to gear up for next summer!

 

The information provided on this site is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from your physician or other health care professional or any information contained on or in any product label or packaging. You should not use the information on this site for diagnosis or treatment of any health problem or for prescription of any medication or other treatment. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any diet, exercise or supplementation program, before taking any medication, or if you have or suspect you might have a health problem. You should not stop taking any medication without first consulting your physician.

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Drinks Which Cause Fat

July 14, 2015 by

Many drinks on shelves today claim to have 100% juice or no added sugars. Even though they may seem healthy for the average consumer, these drinks are actually packed with additives and non-natural ingredients such as fructose, glucose, and dyes to appeal to the target markets.

The first, and probably most surprising on this list of unhealthy drinks is Gatorade. The energy drink which is expected to replenish athletes contains a large amount of fructose corn syrup as its second ingredient. This seems redundant considering the fact that athletes need water and nutritious foods to sustain high energy levels, and fructose corn syrup tends to drain energy and has tendencies to cause grogginess.imgres

The second, and least surprising of the beverages which can cause fat are energy drinks, more specifically Rockstar Energy. Against popular belief, drinking this will not help you get a rockstar body. It will do the complete opposite with its 62g of sugar per can. Four grams of sugar is one teaspoon, I do not see anything pouring fifteen spoonfuls into their water and downing it for energy. So why drink Rockstar?

Staying energized comes in many ways, of course the obvious energy drinks, coffee, and now there is a twist. Starbucks has a Doubleshot Energy plus Coffee which serves as a quick alternate of drinking a cup of coffee. Seems too good to be true? Yes, because it is, this small container contains just under 30g grams of sugar. Sure, coffee is expected to give a nice kick, but not be the cause for fat.

One final beverage which is more of a mixer is Jose Cuervo’s Margarita Mix which has a great amount of high fructose corn syrup, and packs a punch with 400 calories. Remember this is an additive to an already unhealthy beverage, alcohol. Not the best mix if you ask any nutritionist.

The information provided on this site is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from your physician or other health care professional or any information contained on or in any product label or packaging. You should not use the information on this site for diagnosis or treatment of any health problem or for prescription of any medication or other treatment. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any diet, exercise or supplementation program, before taking any medication, or if you have or suspect you might have a health problem. You should not stop taking any medication without first consulting your physician.

 

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Summer’s Healthy Foods

July 7, 2015 by

With summer in full force, it is easy to lose track of your diets with ice cream, and little snacks throughout the day. Although tough, there are ways to get around this and continue to eat healthy. No matter the day, here are some healthy foods which can go a long way when dealing with the summer heat.

Corn is a great way to eat healthy and yet enjoy everything that is summer. Cooking up some corn on the bar-b-que is a fantastic way to stay healthy, while enjoying summer foods. It is important not to drench the corn with butter or salt though, which would ruin the health factor of having corn.

Another great food is tart cherries, a summer time favorite for many California natives. These cherries are both healthy and delicious providing nutrients and a sweet kick of flavor which is nothing but refreshing in the summer season. Be careful to not overeat though, because it can be difficult to stop eating these treats once you start. 5. Watermelon

This may come as a surprise, but tomatoes are a great way to keep healthy, and also provide extra protection for your skin. Tomatoes provide a UV vitamin which can help with extra protection when sunscreen may not be enough. Eating tomatoes raw does not sound the most appetizing, but eating it with salads and other sides can go a long way in a healthy summer.

Being 92% water and 100% delicious, watermelon is a fantastic way to stay hydrated in the summer heat, which eating a tasteful treat. Not only does this taste great, it can help with dehydration and dry skin!

Last, raspberries are a great source of fiber to get rid of nasty toxins and a great ingredient in any summer smoothie. They provide a great source of vitamins which can be coupled with any side or salad, making them a perfect summer treat.

These are just a few foods to help stay healthy in the summer. Stay tuned for more health and nutritional updates.

The information provided on this site is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from your physician or other health care professional or any information contained on or in any product label or packaging. You should not use the information on this site for diagnosis or treatment of any health problem or for prescription of any medication or other treatment. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any diet, exercise or supplementation program, before taking any medication, or if you have or suspect you might have a health problem. You should not stop taking any medication without first consulting your physician.

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Snacks Which Cause Fat

July 1, 2015 by

Many of your favorite snacks can be the reason the ever anticipated summer body has yet to emerge. Mentioned in previous posts, nutrition labels are not as truthful as once expected, they hide true numbers and give false numbers to when someone is eating. Many of the foods, drinks, and even supplements on the fat causing list are ones you would least expect!

The first on the list is a Slim Fast drink mix. The fact that this drink has sugar as its first ingredient explains why they are served in such small portions which generally do not fill anybody up. These tricky drinks are the reason consumers over indulge in these snacks and drinks, they are un-filling and do not provide the right nutritional ingredients.

The second supposedly nutritious or healthy food is Weight Watchers chocolate chip cookies. Their first ingredient is enriched wheat flour, and the second ingredient is sugar, this so called healthy product is anything but healthy. If anything, having normal cookies in the right portion can have the same effect as having these cookies. 

Also making this list of unhealthy products is the Special K candy bars which contain sugar and partially hydrogenated oil as their first two ingredients. These ingredients are accompanied by the third ugly ingredient of high fructose corn syrup. All of the ingredients and nutritional facts can be very closely compared to a Snickers bar. You take a pick on which one sounds more enticing. And for many, picking up the Snickers bar is the more appealing choice.

The scariest of these foods is the Atkins Advantage chocolate peanut butter bar. This small bar which most likely will not satisfy hunger contains 6g of saturated fats and 12g overall. They also have just around 250 calories which does not make this bar advantageous in any way.

It is important to always read ingredients and facts closely, but also understand that portion sizes need to be accounted for when purchasing and eating snacks throughout the day.

The information provided on this site is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from your physician or other health care professional or any information contained on or in any product label or packaging. You should not use the information on this site for diagnosis or treatment of any health problem or for prescription of any medication or other treatment. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any diet, exercise or supplementation program, before taking any medication, or if you have or suspect you might have a health problem. You should not stop taking any medication without first consulting your physician.

 

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Top 5 Fat Loss Commandments

June 23, 2015 by

Here are the ten tips to follow when looking to lose weight, other wise known as the 5 weight loss commandments!

1. Develop a vision, not a goal

Wanting to know what your goal is is much more difficult to accomplish than actually visualizing and understanding what you actually want your body to look like. It is important to visualize opposed to just dream.

2. You don’t have to do any radical dieting to lose fat fast

Starving your body does not work, when you are hungry and are on a binge diet the body tends to eat at muscles rather than fat because of the proteins and positive food source they provide. It is important to stay on a normal diet which does not put the body into overdrive causing it to feed at the muscles.

3. Scare your fat away. Intensity matters. Step up!

Fat loss is all about shocking your body. By alternating intensities, changing up your exercise regularly, adding fiber to your diet, changing up the protein sources in your food, and working opposite sides of your body back and forth, you’re sure to burn fat at absurd speeds. Getting into the same routine can cause the body to get used to any particular work out making it null and void after a few training sessions. 

4. Pain isn’t necessary to get in shape

Working out should not give you intense pain, maybe a few sore muscles, but nothing which is permanent should come from working out. If this is the case, change up the work outs and make it something which is manageable and will not leave you in pain for days.

5. Your body is your body

Push your body to limits only you understand, this means work out wise, and also diet wise. Do not force anything which you know the body will reject. This can have an adverse affect and ruin the vision you have for healthy weight loss.

The information provided on this site is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from your physician or other health care professional or any information contained on or in any product label or packaging. You should not use the information on this site for diagnosis or treatment of any health problem or for prescription of any medication or other treatment. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any diet, exercise or supplementation program, before taking any medication, or if you have or suspect you might have a health problem. You should not stop taking any medication without first consulting your physician.

 

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5 Unusual Tips To Look 10 Years Younger

June 16, 2015 by

Looking young the older you get is everyone’s biggest problem. Some people go as for to get surgery and use questionable medicine to help look younger. There are a few simple tips which can help you look younger, as well as improving your health!

1. Increase Essential Fat Intake

There are great fats out there that your body needs. They are called essential fatty acids, and your body simply can’t produce them on its own. You need to go out and get these acids whether it be through vitamins or nutrients, they are vital to looking younger. 

2. Reduce Toxins

Toxins like cigarette smoke, air pollution, excess alcohol, and toxins in our food and water supply should be cut out, which goes without saying. Also, stay away from processed foods that have all kinds of artificial colors, chemicals, and sweeteners. These habits and foods do nothing but ruin the skin, and age your body in ways which are not ideal for anyone looking to be younger. 

3. Sun

Vitamin D is essential as well, in moderation. There is no need to bake out in summer sun, or apply pounds of sunscreen on. Simple, daily activity in the sun is great for looking younger and even feeling younger!

4. Cut the Sugar, More Antioxidants

The average American consumes about 173 grams of processed sugar a day. Some people, mostly teens can take in up to 400 grams of sugar a day. Although it is tough to stay away from these sweet foods, they can cause and make you more prone to certain cancers.

5. Eat, Eat, Eat!

The best way to eat is to enjoy a small meal that includes protein, essential fats, and healthy carbohydrates (like fruits and vegetables) every three hours. No need to limit the body to three massive portions, eating often, yet healthy is the key to helping your skin and body looking young. 

 

The information provided on this site is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from your physician or other health care professional or any information contained on or in any product label or packaging. You should not use the information on this site for diagnosis or treatment of any health problem or for prescription of any medication or other treatment. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any diet, exercise or supplementation program, before taking any medication, or if you have or suspect you might have a health problem. You should not stop taking any medication without first consulting your physician.

 

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