الفراولة..لصحتك وجمالك أيضاً
الفراوله واحده من ألذ الفواكه على الإطلاق. وهي فاكهه جميلة المنظر رقيقة الملمس ، ـ تتميز الفراولة بوجود نسبة عالية من الفيتامين سي وهذا الفيتامين يعد من مضادات الأكسدة التي تحافظ على صحة الخلايا والأنسجة وسلامة القلب، ويساعد على التئام الجروح يحتوي كل 100 جرام من الفراولة على 91.5% ماء، وحوالي 0.61 جرام من البروتين و0.37 جرام من الدهون، هذا بالإضافة إلى 30 وحدة حرارية فقط لذا فهي غذاء جيد للريجيم تبين الدراسات البحثية أن فوائد الفراولة للأسنان لا حصر لها، حيث تساعد الفراولة على تبييض الأسنان خلال فترة قصيرة جداً مع إضفاء اللمعان عليها.. وكما توضح الدراسات فإن يُمكن الاستفادة من الفراولة في تبييض الأسنان من خلال تدليك الأسنان بنصف ثمرة فراولة يومياً وبشكل مباشرٍ .
دور الفيتامينات في تقليل الاصابة بالسرطان
كشفت دراسة حديثة ان تناول حبوب الفيتامينات المتعددة يوميا قد يقلل بشكل طفيف من حالات الاصابة بالسرطان بين الرجال , حيث تتبعت الدراسة 15,000 رجل تزيد اعمارهم عن 50 عام لمدة تزيد عن 10 سنوات. وذكر الباحثون ان دراسات سابقة اظهرت التأثير العكسي وان اتباع نظام غذائي مليء بالخضراوات والفواكه قد يكون اكثر أمانا. ويوصى باعطاء مكملات الفيتامينات لبعض المجموعات من الاشخاص مثل فيتامين د للاشخاص الذين تزيد اعمارهم عن 65 عام. وبشكل عام فان فائدة الفيتامينات المتعددة على الصحة بشكل عام تعتبر مختلطة. حيث اقترحت بعض الدراسات انها قد تسبب ضرر اكثر من الفائدة عندما يتناولها الاشخاص الاصحاء بينما اظهرت دراسات اخرى انه ليس لديها اي فائدة في منع الاصابة بالسرطان. وقام الباحثون باجراء دراسة على رجال عن طريق اما اعطائهم حبوب فيتامينات متعددة او حبوب سكر ( كعلاج وهمي ) يوميا. ووجد الباحثون انه كانت هناك 17 حالة اصابة بالسرطان من كل 1,000 رجل تناول الفيتامينات المتعددة سنويا مثارنة باصابة 18 رجل من كل 1,000 رجل تناول العلاج الوهمي سنويا. وقال الباحثون ان العديد من الدراسات اظهرت ان تنوال الغذاء الصحي المتوازن قد يقلل احتمال اصابة الرجال بالسرطان. وبهذا فان تناول الفيتامينات المتعددة يوميا بالاضافة الى تحديد النقص في المعادن والفيتامينات الاخرى قد يساهم في منع الاصابة بالسرطان لدى الرجال في منتصف العمر وكبار السن. ولم يظهر الباحثون ان كان هذا الاثر موجود لدى النساء ايضا او الرجال الاصغر سنا. وبسبب انخفاض الفرق بين المجموعتين فانهم يقترحون اجراء المزيد من الدراسات الكبرى العشوائية لتحديد فيما اذا كان للفيتامينات المتعددة اثر ام لا على تقليل الاصابة بالسرطان. ونصح الباحثون ان تناول الفيتامينات والمعادن بشكل كبير وتناول الغذاء الصحي والمتوازن والذي يحتوي على انواع مختلفة من الخضراوات والفواكة فان بذلك معظم الاشخاص الاصحاء لا يحتاجون لتناول مكملات الفيتامينات المتعددة..
تناول الكالسيوم بمستويات عالية قد يقلل احتمال الاصابة بفرط الدرقية
أظهرت دراسة حديثة ان النساء اللواتي يستهلكن مستويات عالية من الكالسيوم لديهم احتمال اقل للاصابة بفرط الدريقية الاولي. قام باحثون بتحليل بيانات 58,354 امرأة تتراوح اعمارهن من 39 الى 66 عام منذ عام 1986 واللاتي لم يكن لديهن اي تاريخ سابق للاصابة بفرط الدريقية الاولي. وتم اجراء استبيانات حول الاطعمة المستهلكة لتقييم استهلاك الكالسيوم. وتم تقييم الاصابة بفرط الدريقية الاولي عن طريق مراجعة السجلات الطبية. ووجد الباحثون من خلال 22 سنة متابعة للنساء انه كانت 277 حالة اصابة بفرط الدريقية الاولي. وكان احتمال الاصابة بفرط الدريقية الاولي اقل وبشكل واضح بين النساء اللاتي كان نظامهم الغذائي يحتوي على مستويات عالية من الكالسيوم بنسبة 0.56 مقارنة بالنساء الذي كان تناولهن للكالسيوم قليل. وحيث كان احتمال اصابة النساء اللاتي تناولن اكثر من 500 مغ يوميا من مكملات الكالسيوم اقل بنسبة 0.41 مقارنة بالنساء اللاتي لم يتناولن مكملات الكالسيوم. ولم يتغير الرابط بين استهلاك الكالسيوم واحتمال الاصابة بفرط الدريقية الاولي عندما قيدت التحاليل المشاركات باجراء فحوصات جسدية بشكل منتظم. وقال الباحثون ان زيادة تناول الكالسيوم مرتبط بشكل مستقل مع انخفاض احتمال الاصابة بفرط الدريقية الاولي لدى النساء..
أطعمة مقوية لشعرك
ثمة أطعمة تقوّي الشعر وتعزز صحته ولمعانه بفضل غناها بالبروتينات، والحديد، والزنك، والسيلنيوم، والفيتامينات A وB وE. ولحسن الحظ أن هذه الأطعمة مفيدة أيضاً لنمو الجنين بحيث تستطيع المرأة الحامل تناولها. – الثوم: إنه يحفز الدورة الدموية علماً أن حسن تدفق الدم في فروة الرأس بالغ الأهمية في تعزيز مفعول العلاجات المحاربة لتساقط الشعر. كما أن المواد الكبريتية الموجودة في الثوم تعزز فوائده المضادة للتأكسد، بالترافق مع المستويات المهمة من السيلنيوم..
الأطعمة التي يجب أن تتجنبها الأم المرضعة
يجب أن تهتم كل سيدة بعد ولادة طفلها بنظامها الغذائي خاصة إذا كانت سترضعه طبيعيا فهي تحتاج لمراقبة كل ما تأكل كي توفر لطفلها العناصر الأساسية التي يحتاجها لينمو بشكل صحي، فهناك عدة أصناف من الأطعمة يجب أن تتجنب كل سيدة مرضعة تناولها أثناء فترة رضاعتها حفاظا على صحتها وصحة طفلها أهمها ما يلي:.
Swap a cup of pasta for a cup of vegetables.
Simply by eating less pasta or bread and more veggies, you could lose a dress or pants size in a year. "You can save from 100-200 calories if you reduce the portion of starch on your plate and increase the amount of vegetables," says Cynthia Sass, RD, a spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association.
Order children's portions at restaurants.
Ordering a child-size entree is a great way to cut calories and keep your portions reasonable. This has become such a popular trend that most servers won't bat an eye when you order off the kids' menu. Another trick is to use smaller plates. This helps the portions look like more, and if your mind is satisfied, your stomach likely will be, too.
7: Stock your kitchen with healthy convenience foods.
Having ready-to-eat snacks and meals-in-minutes on hand sets you up for success. You'll be less likely to hit the drive-through or order a pizza if you can throw together a healthy meal in five or 10 minutes. Here are some essentials to keep on hand: frozen vegetables, whole-grain pasta, reduced-fat cheese, canned tomatoes, canned beans, pre-cooked grilled chicken breast, whole grain tortillas or pitas, and bags of salad greens.
Spice it up.
Add spices or chiles to your food for a flavor boost that can help you feel satisfied. "Food that is loaded with flavor will stimulate your taste buds and be more satisfying, so you won’t eat as much," says American Dietetic Association spokeswoman Malena Perdomo, RD. When you need something sweet, suck on a red-hot fireball candy. It's sweet, spicy, and low in calories.
Drink plenty of water or other calorie-free beverages.
Before you tear into that bag of potato chips, drink a glass of water first. People sometimes confuse thirst with hunger, so you can end up eating extra calories when an ice-cold glass of water is really all you needed. If plain water doesn't cut it, try drinking flavored sparkling water or brewing a cup of fruit-infused herbal tea.
Be choosy about nighttime snacks.
Mindless eating occurs most frequently after dinner, when you finally sit down and relax. Snacking in front of the TV is one of the easiest ways to throw your diet off course. Either close down the kitchen after a certain hour, or allow yourself a low-calorie snack, like a 100-calorie pack of cookies or a half-cup scoop of low-fat ice cream.
Eat several mini-meals during the day.
If you eat fewer calories than you burn, you'll lose weight. But when you're hungry all the time, eating fewer calories can be a challenge. "Studies show people who eat 4-5 meals or snacks per day are better able to control their appetite and weight," says obesity researcher Rebecca Reeves, DrPH, RD. She recommends dividing your daily calories into smaller meals or snacks and enjoying most of them earlier in the day -- dinner should be the last time you eat.Book Reviews: Weight Loss Diet Article Category
Primal Burn Fat Burner System Diet Plan Review - Does It Work?
The Primal Burn program is a popular & successful eBook by Ken
Smith and has helped thousands of people worldwide to lose weight
successfully. It incorporates a formula that helps the body to burn fat
quickly by eating foods and doing targeted exercises that cause the body
to speed up metabolism.
Science Is Catching Up to the Low Carb Lifestyle
It is probably no secret that ever since the low carb weight loss
diet approach was published, who's arguably most visible proponent was
Dr. Robert Atkins; the medical profession in general, was not impressed.
Adding In More RAW Foods and Herbs For Weight Loss and More Energy
I think the more connected we are to raw live foods and connected
physically to the earth, the more we can hear the universe/God. God is
good.
Carb Back Loading Cbl 1.0 Review - How Does It Work? Diet Plan Book by John Kiefer Program
Does the Carb Backloading Book Really Work or is it a scam? The Cbl
diet plan program (Manual for Total Body Fat Control) by John Kiefer is
a popular book (or ebook), and has helped thousands of people
worldwide. Buy the book and download the pdf. Carbohydrate Back-Loading
system user reviews and testimonials. Discover How to Eat the Food you
love and still lose fat.
Get Lean and Mean and Stay Looking Good for Life - Book Review
Are you overweight? Have you noted that every time you try a new
diet, it works for a while and then the weight comes back? Do you know
friends who just cannot seem to stay on track or lose those extra pounds
even though you know it is damaging their health? Would you like to
know of a plan that really works, one which makes sense, but also
encompasses life style changes?
How About a Book On Proper Dieting With a Christian Motif?
Are you an overweight Christian, if so do not despair, I am quite
certain you are not alone. All that extra weight you are carrying around
is keeping you from doing all you can, and you need to shed those extra
pounds to continue to live your life by God's plan. Therefore, I'd like
to recommend a very good diet book for you, one that understands the
Christian Soul and helps the reader get through the hard work of losing
weight.
Weighing In and Results - When Is The Right Time To Check My Weight?
Today I finished Day 50 of the Chalean Extreme and Turbofire hybrid
with Push Circuit 2. This workout consisted of squats, one-legged
squats, bicep curls, v bicep curls, overhead tricep extensions, and
tricep extensions to name a few.
Quick Tip for Losing the Weight
I would like to let you in on a little secret to my success with
losing weight so quickly. First of all you need to make a decision.
Is The Atkin's Diet Dead Or Is It Still Alive - A Book Review
Okay so, the reality is that America is fat. Now that might sound
funny, but it's really not, especially considering that now we have
socialistic medicine, and a collective sort of healthcare insurance
program and safety net for everyone. Not to mention the fact that we are
providing food stamps to 45 million people, many of which are not
watching their diets, and we are perpetuating their fatness.
Eat Your Breakfast!
Breakfast For Champions Another Monday is upon us and it's time to
get ready for work. Perhaps you woke up late so now you are thinking
about skipping on breakfast!
Four Foods That Destroy Your Weight Loss Efforts
If you've taken the time to set up an effective weight loss program
and are all set to put in the effort necessary to see the results
you're going for, you might be feeling fully in control of your destiny
and ready to see the success you desire. But, little do you know that
there may be some foods sneaking into your plan that shouldn't be.
Is Your Diet Making You Unhappy?
Thousands of diets offer you the premise of getting the body of
your dreams but, is it really worth it? The Every Other Day diet shows
you the difference and how you can get your body in tip top shape while
enjoying your favorite food!
Hydration Smarts: What You Need To Know
When most people start up on a healthy eating plan, they take a lot
of time to figure out the perfect combination of proteins, carbs, and
fats to be eating, making sure that their calorie intake is precisely
where it needs to be. This is good news because your calorie intake is
one of the primary determinants of whether or not you see fat loss or
not, so it cannot be overlooked.
Who Is Rob Poulos? Is His Fitness Program Good For You?
Rob Poulos is the creator of the Fat Burning Furnace program for
people who want to lose weight easily and gain lean muscles in the
shortest time period. You won't have to starve yourself like others and
this program also ensures that you lose weight the proper way unlike
other programs that make false promises. Besides this you will also have
the ability to select which workout program you should use so that you
can burn fat more effectively.
The Diet Solution Program Review: Lose Weight and Maintain It
To remain fit and healthy, one must lose weight in a healthy way.
Losing weight is not an easy task doing on your own without any
guidance. There are many programs out there for you to choose from.
How to Lose Belly Fat and Retain The Shape You Want
If you want to know how to lose belly fat, you have come to the
right place to find out the solutions to your weight problems. There are
many weight loss programs that promise to teach you to reach your goal.
The truth is that not all programs created are equal and the secret to
your fat loss around your belly is to get more information to maximize
your weight loss results.
Important Weight Loss Foods for Proper Dieting
So what are important weight loss foods? We have all heard the
expression, "you are what you eat", but if you consider the amount of
processed foods available to us in our day to day lives, it becomes even
more important to understand which foods contribute to effective weight
loss.
Simple Tips For Weight Loss After Pregnancy
I've seen many cases where lots of women are worried and totally
frustrated to see the changes in their body when it comes to significant
weight gain due to pregnancy. So, what is a women to do if you've just
given birth and still have 20 or more pounds to lose to get back to your
pre-baby body?
Just How Smart Is the Fat Loss 4 Idiots Diet Plan?
When it comes to diet plans, most people want to find the easiest
one that will fit their lifestyle while still allowing some freedom in
the choices of what foods to eat. Today, we'll tell you about one such
plan and why it has found such widespread popularity and success. This
Fat Loss 4 Idiots review will educate you about how this plan works and
about its pros and cons so that you'll know for certain if this is the
right plan for you.
Burn The Fat Feed The Muscle - Your Ultimate Guide To Fat Loss
While there are many fitness gurus out there that claim to offer a
program that has it all, we are always in search of finding that
legitimate one. As we search we want someone that has been in the
fitness industry for a while, someone who knows how to incorporate
nutrition into a fitness program, and someone is an expert. That is why
many people look to Tom Venuto and the program he offers when it comes
to having success with weight loss or weight maintenance.
Burn The Fat Feed The Muscle Review - The Key to Discovering Ways How You Can Have a Healthier Body
There are myriads of weight loss and bodybuilding programs offered
by fitness specialists and clinics. Some are even available through
online courses. One you could look at is the Burn The Fat Feed the
Muscle electronic book guide.
Isabel De Los Rios: The Weight Loss Master You Should Trust
The increase of internet users also comes with the increase in all
sorts of offers for losing weight. What separates The Diet Solution
Program authored by Isabel De Los Rios? Why is it successful if so many
other diet programs fail to succeed in their promises?
What's the Real Truth About the Fat Burning Furnace Diet Plan?
There are so many diet plans on the market today, and each has its
own benefits and drawbacks. Some are better than others and have higher
levels of success, but each has different methods for achieving that
success. Today we'll talk about one of the most popular diet plans
available today and whether or not it's worth investing in.
Secrets To Preventing Holiday Weight Gain This Season
As the holiday season draws near, many people are going to start to
get slightly anxious about the potential chance of packing on a few too
many extra pounds with all the goodies and beverages floating
around. It may feel like everywhere you turn there's something to tempt
your taste buds and challenge your ability to stick with healthy eating
through thick and thin.
Excellent Diet Plans
The best diet plans can often be ones that you never come across.
Here are some that are not common knowledge and may help you lose
weight.
The Diet Solution Program - A Quick Review For Making A More Informed Choice
Not sure if the Diet Solution Program is for you? Find out more
about it from the user of The Diet Solution before making the decision.
What Is The Diet Solution Program About?
A quick review of what is the diet solution program is about. The
Diet Solution Program is not for anybody. If you think it is for you,
read more about it before buying.
How To Beat A Fat Loss Plateau
Struggling to see further progress with your workout or diet
program? Feel frustrated that what you were doing seemed to be working
and all of a sudden all progress has stopped?
Let Me Show You How I Lost 17Lb, 3.6% Body Fat And Over 8 Inches In 30 Days - My Personal Story
A question I get asked all the time these days is - How can I lose
as much weight as you have in such a short space of time? In this post I
hope to answer that, let you in on some secrets I've found out and
prove to you that you really can have your cake and eat it.
Eat Stop Eat Diet Program Saves Time and Money
I used the Eat Stop Eat program this past summer and it saved me a
lot of time and money. That's kind of unusual since most diets take up
more of your time preparing food and spending more money on specialty
foods.
Sweaty is Sexy: Total Body
Sweaty is Sexy
- Get Your Sweat On
Don’t be fooled by antiperspirant ads – sweating is sexy. It’s also great for your body and it plain makes us feel like we’ve worked hard. This series is designed to ignite heat throughout your entire body, sculpting your muscles while allowing you to sweat out toxins and stress in a matter of minutes. And you don’t even need the sauna-like Bikram room.
Hold these poses for twice as long as you usually would. Try for 10 breaths. Stick with it and feel the heat rise.
400 Pounds At 40: Gigi’s Story
In conjunction with the HBO documentary
“Weight of the Nation,” WebMD is examining some of the issues
surrounding the nation’s obesity crisis. In this piece, 41-year-old Gigi
Filippi talks with WebMD’s Valarie Basheda about how she confronted her
weight problems. Since the documentary was filmed about a year ago,
Gigi has lost more than 100 lbs. and plans to lose another 120. Her
16-year-old daughter has also lost 100 lbs. Gigi also started a wellness
committee at the call center where she works that offers challenges on
food and fitness.
Question: When did your struggles with weight begin?
Gigi: When I was really little I did not have a weight problem. By the time I was 8 both my parents were dead….. I can actually pinpoint it to the age 8 when my father passed away…It’s been a progression over the past years and has been worse and worse. To be 40 years old and 400 pounds last year, there were a lot of issues somewhere…. I had tragedy after tragedy in childhood I searched in the wrong places for that void to be filled in life.
My greatest support is in the workplace. I told the owner that she’s saved my life. I will always credit the environment she’s created here in the work place to give the confidence that I can do this myself.
Question: Did something happen to prompt you to start losing weight?
Gigi: Something did happen. I had to go to Vegas for a convention. The flight was full coming back. I was stuck in the very back row on the airline. They were asking for volunteers to get off the plane because the plane was too heavy. A man was sitting next to me, he got off the plane, he changed his whole flight because he said I was too heavy to sit next to. At that point, I was just like, “I don’t want to live like this, I have to fix what’s broken in me….
It was my lifestyle, it was the choices that we made, being a single mother, working all the time, trying to make the dollars stretch and feed her, feed me, and the choices were all wrong….. My daughter was miserable, she was starting high school. I had so much guilt on me… I’m very strong in my faith. Every night when I prayed, I would pray I would not die in my sleep. I was so afraid I was going to die.
Question: How did you get started?
Gigi: If you put your mind to it, you have to do it for yourself, you have to do it for your family. You have to start, and as a female, and as a single mother, for some reasons it’s embedded in us that if we take the time to take care of ourselves, it’s selfish. Yes, it is cheaper to go through the McDonalds drive through, and yes it is cheaper to make processed foods. It’s cheaper now, but the end result…has a consequence, either immediately or down the road.
I take time to invest what I put in my mouth because I’m investing in myself and the future of my daughter. I have learned to find a way. We cut cable out. We don’t need cable, if that’s taking away from us eating healthy, then cable is the first to go. If we have time to sit around and watch TV, we have time to be exercising.
You have to find what your weakness is. What are you spending you money on, what areas can you cut from. Friends ask, “How are you doing this?” It’s always they can’t, can’t can’t …. You have to learn to get out of your mind set and believe in yourself and have the determination that you can do this. If you want it, it’s achievable and it’s necessary.
Question: What other changes have you made?
Gigi: I don’t try and find the closest parking spot anymore. It’s nice to feel I can walk from point A to point B now. I’m getting a little bit of exercise in. I don’t have that fear anymore that I am going to have a heart attack. I don’t have that fear that I am going to drop dead if I walk a little….
I’ve learned through this whole process that if I don’t plan what I’m going to eat I’m setting myself up for failure. Sunday I prepare meals for the whole week. I bring my lunch every day…. I cannot allow any excuses. I’ve also learned where I can go to eat that has healthier options. When groups of people go out, it’s not about the food, it’s about the fellowship.
We eat spinach 2 or 3 times a day. We joke that we eat like little old ladies. Fish and spinach have become our best friends and we really enjoy it. For a 16-year-old-to ask me for fish and spinach I’m all on it. She has always loved fruits and vegetables and I felt so guilty before our weight loss because I would tell her I just didn’t have the money. Now, we do it.
I even got rid of my SUV and got a 2-door car to save on gas so I would have extra money. So when I say I’m serious about this, I’m serious. I know because I live it.
As a female, what I can’t stress enough is that ok to take out the time out yourself. If you’re a struggling single mother, as I have been for 16 years, there is a way out of this. You have to take care of yourself to take care of your family.
Question: What’s the best change that has come out of your weight loss so far?
Gigi: I’m a stronger person, the healing process has started after 40-plus years. I feel like a different person mentally, physically and emotionally and I fell like I’m able to start living again and I can be a part of every day society.
Question: When did your struggles with weight begin?
Gigi: When I was really little I did not have a weight problem. By the time I was 8 both my parents were dead….. I can actually pinpoint it to the age 8 when my father passed away…It’s been a progression over the past years and has been worse and worse. To be 40 years old and 400 pounds last year, there were a lot of issues somewhere…. I had tragedy after tragedy in childhood I searched in the wrong places for that void to be filled in life.
My greatest support is in the workplace. I told the owner that she’s saved my life. I will always credit the environment she’s created here in the work place to give the confidence that I can do this myself.
Question: Did something happen to prompt you to start losing weight?
Gigi: Something did happen. I had to go to Vegas for a convention. The flight was full coming back. I was stuck in the very back row on the airline. They were asking for volunteers to get off the plane because the plane was too heavy. A man was sitting next to me, he got off the plane, he changed his whole flight because he said I was too heavy to sit next to. At that point, I was just like, “I don’t want to live like this, I have to fix what’s broken in me….
It was my lifestyle, it was the choices that we made, being a single mother, working all the time, trying to make the dollars stretch and feed her, feed me, and the choices were all wrong….. My daughter was miserable, she was starting high school. I had so much guilt on me… I’m very strong in my faith. Every night when I prayed, I would pray I would not die in my sleep. I was so afraid I was going to die.
Question: How did you get started?
Gigi: If you put your mind to it, you have to do it for yourself, you have to do it for your family. You have to start, and as a female, and as a single mother, for some reasons it’s embedded in us that if we take the time to take care of ourselves, it’s selfish. Yes, it is cheaper to go through the McDonalds drive through, and yes it is cheaper to make processed foods. It’s cheaper now, but the end result…has a consequence, either immediately or down the road.
I take time to invest what I put in my mouth because I’m investing in myself and the future of my daughter. I have learned to find a way. We cut cable out. We don’t need cable, if that’s taking away from us eating healthy, then cable is the first to go. If we have time to sit around and watch TV, we have time to be exercising.
You have to find what your weakness is. What are you spending you money on, what areas can you cut from. Friends ask, “How are you doing this?” It’s always they can’t, can’t can’t …. You have to learn to get out of your mind set and believe in yourself and have the determination that you can do this. If you want it, it’s achievable and it’s necessary.
Question: What other changes have you made?
Gigi: I don’t try and find the closest parking spot anymore. It’s nice to feel I can walk from point A to point B now. I’m getting a little bit of exercise in. I don’t have that fear anymore that I am going to have a heart attack. I don’t have that fear that I am going to drop dead if I walk a little….
I’ve learned through this whole process that if I don’t plan what I’m going to eat I’m setting myself up for failure. Sunday I prepare meals for the whole week. I bring my lunch every day…. I cannot allow any excuses. I’ve also learned where I can go to eat that has healthier options. When groups of people go out, it’s not about the food, it’s about the fellowship.
We eat spinach 2 or 3 times a day. We joke that we eat like little old ladies. Fish and spinach have become our best friends and we really enjoy it. For a 16-year-old-to ask me for fish and spinach I’m all on it. She has always loved fruits and vegetables and I felt so guilty before our weight loss because I would tell her I just didn’t have the money. Now, we do it.
I even got rid of my SUV and got a 2-door car to save on gas so I would have extra money. So when I say I’m serious about this, I’m serious. I know because I live it.
As a female, what I can’t stress enough is that ok to take out the time out yourself. If you’re a struggling single mother, as I have been for 16 years, there is a way out of this. You have to take care of yourself to take care of your family.
Question: What’s the best change that has come out of your weight loss so far?
Gigi: I’m a stronger person, the healing process has started after 40-plus years. I feel like a different person mentally, physically and emotionally and I fell like I’m able to start living again and I can be a part of every day society.
Photo: Courtesy of HBO
Eat Healthy to Avoid Constipation
Have you noticed a recent change in your bathroom habits? Have
you been having fewer bowel movements than usual? Do you have to strain
to go? These are all signs of constipation, a common digestive health
problem.
Although no one likes to think -- let alone talk -- about constipation, most everyone experiences it at one time or another. In fact, according to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse, more than 4 million people in the U.S. have frequent constipation. So if you're dealing with tummy troubles, you're not alone. Most of the time, say health experts, it's a temporary problem, and making simple changes can help your digestive system run smoothly again.
Common culprits include a low-fiber or high-fat diet, lack of exercise, and not drinking enough fluids. Certain medications, not going when you feel the urge, laxative abuse, and pregnancy can also lead to constipation.
Fiber is the part of plant foods that the body can't break down. When you eat high-fiber foods, this extra bulk helps keep stools soft and speeds digestion.
All plant foods, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and beans, contain fiber. The American Dietetic Association recommends 25 grams of fiber per day for women and up to 38 grams for men. After age 50, we need less fiber -- about 21 grams for women and 30 grams for men. Unfortunately, most of us only get about 15 grams per day, which may help explain why so many people have digestive health problems.
Examples of high-fiber foods include:
Although no one likes to think -- let alone talk -- about constipation, most everyone experiences it at one time or another. In fact, according to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse, more than 4 million people in the U.S. have frequent constipation. So if you're dealing with tummy troubles, you're not alone. Most of the time, say health experts, it's a temporary problem, and making simple changes can help your digestive system run smoothly again.
Common Causes of Constipation
To understand how to prevent constipation, it helps to know what causes it. As food passes through the large intestine, water is absorbed and food waste products form into stool. Muscle contractions move stools through the colon to the rectum, where they are passed as feces. When this process slows down, stools become dry and hard to pass, causing constipation.Common culprits include a low-fiber or high-fat diet, lack of exercise, and not drinking enough fluids. Certain medications, not going when you feel the urge, laxative abuse, and pregnancy can also lead to constipation.
Fiber Helps Relieve Constipation
If your bowel habits get sluggish, you don't have to rush out to buy a laxative. Most people don't need them for mild constipation. Instead, look at your diet. Namely, are you getting enough fiber?Fiber is the part of plant foods that the body can't break down. When you eat high-fiber foods, this extra bulk helps keep stools soft and speeds digestion.
All plant foods, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and beans, contain fiber. The American Dietetic Association recommends 25 grams of fiber per day for women and up to 38 grams for men. After age 50, we need less fiber -- about 21 grams for women and 30 grams for men. Unfortunately, most of us only get about 15 grams per day, which may help explain why so many people have digestive health problems.
Examples of high-fiber foods include:
- ½ cup navy beans: 9.5 grams (g)
- 1 small pear: 4.4 g
- ¼ cup dates: 3.6 g
- 1 medium apple: 3.3 grams
- 1 medium sweet potato: 4.8 g
