If you're anything like me, there isn't much that you won't eat. Pizza is one of those items that I have a more trying time passing up than others. I love pizza! But too often, I hear people say how bad pizza is for you. Well, I'm here to say that that paricular piece of information is innaccurate. You are now free to relax under a few conditions.
You really want to try and stay away from pizza with meat on it. At first, this was really hard for me to do. Especially since I could be qualified as a pure cheese worshipping carnivore. I'm the "Large Meatlovers" type. Anyway, I finally began getting used to having only fresh garlic and vegetables on my pizza and soon realized that I really don't want it any other way. Phew! One obsacle down!
The next issue to face is whether or not you'll be having one slice or two. If you're looking at a beautiful deep dish, grab your ONE piece and than run for your life! Actually, there are a few small things that you can do to help that habit of grabbing more than that one piece. For instance, when my fiance and I would get pizza (and we were being good; no one is perfect) we would get our slice (in his case, two slices... I know, it's not fair!) and immediately freeze the rest seperately. Doing this actually helps out with portioning in all aspects of your diet so try to make a habit of it all the way around (especially when it comes to pasta).
If after you have your one piece, you're still hungry, try filling up with some veggies or a salad. Actually, the real purpose for serving a salad with your meal is to fill in some of the empty spaces. This is why one should eat their salad last. Also, it helps your body get ALL of the necessary vitamins and nutrients as it digests. By having a salad before your meal, you hinder the digestive proccess which means you're not getting the full benefits from your food.
Usually, that one piece of pizza will suffice so long as you're not faced with staring at the box that still has that mouth watering pizza in it. Don't torture yourself!
Eat the pizza slow and really savor it. Now this is a habit that you need to develop. It doesn't just happen overnight, but when you get the hang of it, it's amazing how it works. We are so used to a busy life that we don't realize how good our food really is. However, I bet we would notice immediatley if it wasn't good though, right? That's because it got your attention by tasting gross. So try to pay attention on how good your food is. Also, try aviod eating while watching television. When we do that, our minds are pre-occupied so we're not aware of what's going on in our mouths.
Now, if you decide that you want two pieces, hopefully you're looking at a box of thin crust. A slice of thin crust pizza is anywhere from 200 to 250 calories. You can decrease this a bit. If you ask for low fat cheese, you're better off. You see, what most people don't realize is that it's not just the bread that you need to be aware of, but also the cheese. Most places will offer a low fat cheese and now a days, there are low fat and fat free cheeses that actually melt! If you find that there is no choice for low fat or no fat cheese, than just ask for light cheese.
The first couple of times that you do this, you may notice the difference (especially if you're a meat lover). But hopefully after a while, it will become a habit that you become used to and begin to enjoy.
My suggestion would be to begin this change slowly so that it's easier to get used to the transition. I know from experience how hard it is to make that "lifestyle change". But believe me when I tell you that you're body will thank you for a few different reasons. Those Tums will be less frequent because your stomach won't be as sour from the grease. Also, you'll find yourself in more of a guilt free position because you may just have room for a yummy low cal snack later. Oh yeah, and stay away from that cheese bread! Don't even look at it or you may turn to stone!
Good luck and enjoy!
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Chicken and Rice: Easy, Healthy and Gourmet!
I know what you’re thinking! Sure, chicken is easy and yes, it can be healthy, but can it really be gourmet? Absolutely! It’s all in the presentation. Grab a pen and paper; here’s how you do it.
Preferably, it’s a heck of a lot easier to use an electric frying pan. This way you can make your sauce. Add about 2 Tbls. of extra light virgin olive oil into your pan. Take two nice size garlic cloves, peel them, smack them with a knife, chop them up and put them in your pan. Slice up some red onion (about 3 inches long and a half inch thick). Quarter a handful of mushrooms and sauté them on low along with the onion and garlic. This is a great meal with a yummy Pinot Grigio so I’ll pour myself a glass and use about a quarter cup of it to throw into the sauté. Let that reduce a little and stir it around a few times. Next, add about 2 or 3 Tbls. of Balsamic Vinegar (I like Colavita because it’s a little sweeter), stir and cover. Onto the next station!
Now, rinse off the boneless, skinless chicken breasts, removing all of the fat. I used 3 7 oz. breasts. Turn up the pan to about 300 and sear the breasts tenderloin side down first. After about a minute and a half, turn the chicken over and repeat the sear. Turn down the pan to about 200 and add two cups of water. Once the liquid begins to boil again, add a teaspoon and a ½ of low sodium, plain chicken broth paste. Stir it around so it dissolves properly. Add about a quarter size amount of Thyme on top of the chicken along with some fresh ground pepper. Startin’ to sound good yet? Now, you just let it go! Onto the next station!
You can do this with really any kind of rice. My personal favorite is jasmine white (because it’s not as mushy) but you could do whatever you like. Also, you could even dress up your rice a little by using some slices almonds or cashews. Cook your rice about a half hour before you would like to eat but make sure that it’s not too mushy. This way, you’re not pressured. Anyway, the longer the chicken is in the sauce, the yummier it will be! You just want to make sure that you stir it and turn them every 10 minutes or so and keep the temp down to 200. Make sure that you keep about 2 cups of liquid in the pan at all times.
Ready to eat? Okay, remove the chicken and cut it into slices or chunks (whatever suites you best). Take a 1 ½ tsp of cornstarch and mix it with a small amount of cold water (maybe a ¼ cup of water). Pour the mixture into the sauce and stir. Once it gets a little thicker, add another teaspoon to a ¼ cup of water and do it again. Add the chicken to the sauce and stir it up. Let the sauce cook for about 10 minutes... stir it often. You want the sauce to be thick enough to coat the chicken nicely. Onto the next station!
Here’s where the presentation comes in. Now I’m one of those people who would use his or her “nice stuff” any time I could. So, my philosophy is, if you’ve got it, use it! While you’re messing around in the kitchen, finely julienne some pretty peppers. Red, orange and yellow are my favorite because they add some really nice color to the dish. Sauté them just enough to be limp and you can either clump a little bit onto the plate or spread it out a little. You don’t want it over powering that’s all. Ladle about a cup and a ½ of rice onto the plate. Now make a small pocket into the top of the rice. Ladle a nice amount of sauce into the top of the pocket. Add your chicken to the top and garnish your plate with your peppers and the final touch which is a nice piece of herb. I like to use rosemary sprigs because they’re so pretty. But you could use virtually anything I suppose.
Viola! You have now created Chicken and Rice dish that is EASY, HEALTHY and GOURMET!
Preferably, it’s a heck of a lot easier to use an electric frying pan. This way you can make your sauce. Add about 2 Tbls. of extra light virgin olive oil into your pan. Take two nice size garlic cloves, peel them, smack them with a knife, chop them up and put them in your pan. Slice up some red onion (about 3 inches long and a half inch thick). Quarter a handful of mushrooms and sauté them on low along with the onion and garlic. This is a great meal with a yummy Pinot Grigio so I’ll pour myself a glass and use about a quarter cup of it to throw into the sauté. Let that reduce a little and stir it around a few times. Next, add about 2 or 3 Tbls. of Balsamic Vinegar (I like Colavita because it’s a little sweeter), stir and cover. Onto the next station!
Now, rinse off the boneless, skinless chicken breasts, removing all of the fat. I used 3 7 oz. breasts. Turn up the pan to about 300 and sear the breasts tenderloin side down first. After about a minute and a half, turn the chicken over and repeat the sear. Turn down the pan to about 200 and add two cups of water. Once the liquid begins to boil again, add a teaspoon and a ½ of low sodium, plain chicken broth paste. Stir it around so it dissolves properly. Add about a quarter size amount of Thyme on top of the chicken along with some fresh ground pepper. Startin’ to sound good yet? Now, you just let it go! Onto the next station!
You can do this with really any kind of rice. My personal favorite is jasmine white (because it’s not as mushy) but you could do whatever you like. Also, you could even dress up your rice a little by using some slices almonds or cashews. Cook your rice about a half hour before you would like to eat but make sure that it’s not too mushy. This way, you’re not pressured. Anyway, the longer the chicken is in the sauce, the yummier it will be! You just want to make sure that you stir it and turn them every 10 minutes or so and keep the temp down to 200. Make sure that you keep about 2 cups of liquid in the pan at all times.
Ready to eat? Okay, remove the chicken and cut it into slices or chunks (whatever suites you best). Take a 1 ½ tsp of cornstarch and mix it with a small amount of cold water (maybe a ¼ cup of water). Pour the mixture into the sauce and stir. Once it gets a little thicker, add another teaspoon to a ¼ cup of water and do it again. Add the chicken to the sauce and stir it up. Let the sauce cook for about 10 minutes... stir it often. You want the sauce to be thick enough to coat the chicken nicely. Onto the next station!
Here’s where the presentation comes in. Now I’m one of those people who would use his or her “nice stuff” any time I could. So, my philosophy is, if you’ve got it, use it! While you’re messing around in the kitchen, finely julienne some pretty peppers. Red, orange and yellow are my favorite because they add some really nice color to the dish. Sauté them just enough to be limp and you can either clump a little bit onto the plate or spread it out a little. You don’t want it over powering that’s all. Ladle about a cup and a ½ of rice onto the plate. Now make a small pocket into the top of the rice. Ladle a nice amount of sauce into the top of the pocket. Add your chicken to the top and garnish your plate with your peppers and the final touch which is a nice piece of herb. I like to use rosemary sprigs because they’re so pretty. But you could use virtually anything I suppose.
Viola! You have now created Chicken and Rice dish that is EASY, HEALTHY and GOURMET!
Monday, February 26, 2007
"The Top 10 Keys to Successful Weight-Loss"
It doesn’t matter if you have to lose 5 pounds or 500 pounds. There is only one way to do it safely. That is (and I’m sure you’ve heard it before) diet and exercise. Yep, they go hand in hand and are very effective together.
My question to you would be, how bad do you want it? Quite frankly, there are so many people out there who claim they are just as fed as the next person when it comes to weight-loss but just aren’t willing to do what it takes to get the job done. I know how hard it is because I’ve done it myself.
I’m not going to lie. I’ve tried all of the “quick fixes”; all except surgery. But, I wasn’t too far from that either. The truth is that the battle in weight-loss is much easier these days than it used to be. There are a ton of resources out there to help you along the way. It’s time to start your journey, so, get a piece of paper and a pen my friend. Go ahead, I’ll wait! I’m not going anywhere just yet……………………. Okay, write this down: “The Top 10 Keys to Weight-Loss”
1. Set your goals and WRITE THEM DOWN! (You can do this now if you like)
I know you’ve heard this a million times. But it really is extremely important because it gives you something to reflect on… the big picture.
The key to this is to set a realistic goal in a realistic amount of time. Also, set a bunch of short term goals and ONE long term goal. Set your long term goal first. Let’s say its 30 pounds. Ask yourself “how much time are you going to need to effectively and safely do this?” Just an FYI, you should give yourself AT LEAST 12 weeks for this particular scenario. This would mean that your plan is to lose 2.5 pounds a week, which is very good and safe as well. These “weekly goals” are your short term goals. In the first couple weeks you may see that you lose a little more but it should steady out in 2-3 weeks.
Also, set your weekly goals with activity as well. This brings me to the second key to your success.
2. Get into activity!
What do you do well AND enjoy? If it’s shopping, then shop! Do a lot of it! See, the key there is that you are walking as well as maybe lifting, trying on clothes… you get my drift. If you dance, well then, DANCE! Kirstie Alley lost 75 pounds doing that! If you’re good at cleaning, CLEAN! Turn on the radio and make it fun! My point is that you can turn what you enjoy into exercise and make it count!
Though I highly recommend it, you don’t have to go to the gym everyday in order to get into an active lifestyle. It’s better if you do for many reasons like relief of stress (which is a must for success), relief of tension, mental wellness, good for the heart… yada, yada... BUT there are lots of ways to get in your activity. You just need to be creative and consistent.
Know that it takes about 3500 calories to burn 1 pound. This will help you select the caloric intake you will need daily in order to hit your goal. Selecting this really depends on several different factors. You can find out more about how to do that at www.what-u-need.net/aerobics.
My question to you would be, how bad do you want it? Quite frankly, there are so many people out there who claim they are just as fed as the next person when it comes to weight-loss but just aren’t willing to do what it takes to get the job done. I know how hard it is because I’ve done it myself.
I’m not going to lie. I’ve tried all of the “quick fixes”; all except surgery. But, I wasn’t too far from that either. The truth is that the battle in weight-loss is much easier these days than it used to be. There are a ton of resources out there to help you along the way. It’s time to start your journey, so, get a piece of paper and a pen my friend. Go ahead, I’ll wait! I’m not going anywhere just yet……………………. Okay, write this down: “The Top 10 Keys to Weight-Loss”
1. Set your goals and WRITE THEM DOWN! (You can do this now if you like)
I know you’ve heard this a million times. But it really is extremely important because it gives you something to reflect on… the big picture.
The key to this is to set a realistic goal in a realistic amount of time. Also, set a bunch of short term goals and ONE long term goal. Set your long term goal first. Let’s say its 30 pounds. Ask yourself “how much time are you going to need to effectively and safely do this?” Just an FYI, you should give yourself AT LEAST 12 weeks for this particular scenario. This would mean that your plan is to lose 2.5 pounds a week, which is very good and safe as well. These “weekly goals” are your short term goals. In the first couple weeks you may see that you lose a little more but it should steady out in 2-3 weeks.
Also, set your weekly goals with activity as well. This brings me to the second key to your success.
2. Get into activity!
What do you do well AND enjoy? If it’s shopping, then shop! Do a lot of it! See, the key there is that you are walking as well as maybe lifting, trying on clothes… you get my drift. If you dance, well then, DANCE! Kirstie Alley lost 75 pounds doing that! If you’re good at cleaning, CLEAN! Turn on the radio and make it fun! My point is that you can turn what you enjoy into exercise and make it count!
Though I highly recommend it, you don’t have to go to the gym everyday in order to get into an active lifestyle. It’s better if you do for many reasons like relief of stress (which is a must for success), relief of tension, mental wellness, good for the heart… yada, yada... BUT there are lots of ways to get in your activity. You just need to be creative and consistent.
Know that it takes about 3500 calories to burn 1 pound. This will help you select the caloric intake you will need daily in order to hit your goal. Selecting this really depends on several different factors. You can find out more about how to do that at www.what-u-need.net/aerobics.
3. Support / Mindset
This is so important to a successful weight-loss. You need to tell your friends and family what you are doing. I know that this can be hard because quite simply, by doing this, you are making yourself accountable for your actions.
Let your family and friends know how important they’re role is in this mission. It’s important that they are aware of your position and that they’re encouragement is always welcome.
In my experience, my friends and family were very cautious in that they would offer me something that may not be the best for me at that time, but if I had the will power to say “NO” once, they would NOT push me. However, I did have to make that clear to them and this was a hard thing to do, but once I took my stand, it was clearly understood that I was serious.
I’m not going to try and tell you that there won’t be times that you slip. The key is that when you do (because you will), you “FORGIVE” yourself and get back on track. Don’t look back, just move forward.
Your mindset is crucial to your success. It can single handedly make or break your success.
You must make sure that you stay positive even when it gets tough. This could be a whole new subject, so I’ll just say that you can get what you need on this subject at www.thesecret.tv . It’s important that you understand “how to think”. You won’t regret it… I promise.
4. Eat and be merry!
Make sure you are eating enough food. Most people make the mistake of not eating enough which puts their body into a starvation mode that will ultimately result in no weight-loss at all.
Breakfast is the single most important meal of the day. It boosts your metabolism by 25%. This is the goal here.
Also, make sure that you have lots of veggies lying around. This will help you to quench any hunger in between meals.
A good habit to get into is to pre-plan your meals by writing them down and spacing them out to 3 meals and 3 snacks a day. This should make up the total amount of caloric intake throughout your day.
If you’re hungry in between these meals and snacks, there are several options for you. You can find them at the resources listed throughout this article.
Also, keep in mind that you can have as many veggies as you want.
5. Get label conscious
In order to do this, you’ve got to read them! You would be surprised at how quickly you become an expert on what’s in the grocery store. Know what your options are when deciding what to stock your fridge and cupboards with. I’m not going to lie. Some things you “try” taste like, well… not so good. But it’s worth the risk because believe it or not, there are a lot of options out there that are quite pleasing to the taste buds.
Don’t stick to one market either. What one market has, the other does not.
6. Familiarize yourself with outside support systems
Forums and topic based chat rooms are a great way to get support, recipes and great ideas to help with your lifestyle change. Just to name a few…
www.hungry-girl.com (resource)
www.jennycraig.com (chat)
www.what-u-need.net/aerobics (resource)
7. Take a before and after picture...
Okay, this one is hard. But you’d be surprise at the motivation it will give you to keep going.
Do it in your “birthday suit” so that you get the full effect and put it someplace where you and only you can see it… everyday.
Take a new picture of yourself at your halfway point. You’ll love what you see!
8. Always be prepared!
When you go to parties, DON’T GO HUNGRY! You’re just asking to fall off the wagon if you do this! Be sure to eat a healthy snack or meal (depending on what time you go) before you go. If you really need some security and confidence with this, than bring your own snack to have for a “back-up”.
Also, STAY AWAY FROM THE FOOD TABLE! If you must hover by it, then hover in front of the veggies for cryin’ out loud! Don’t torture yourself!
Another thing that is helpful is to always have a glass of water in your hand. For some reason, this helps what I call the “munch syndrome”. Not only that but for every 64 oz. of cold water you drink, you burn 100 extra calories. Water also helps to prevent loose skin if there is a lot of weight to be lost and helps curb hunger. It’s good stuff. Drink as much as you can.
9. Know how to do food exchanges
This is something that needs practice and just like the labels, will come easy with time.
It is a tool that will eventually allow you to eat or drink whatever you want (within reason) with out paying for the consequences.
10. Get your calcium by putting dairy in your diet!
This is something that for years was considered a “no-no” when it came to dieting. The truth is that calcium in dairy is the key to losing 25% MORE weight than someone who does not have dairy in their diet. You want to incorporate 3 servings a day.
Skim or Fat Free milk are the best options for this for obvious reasons. Fat free yogurt is good (not frozen), along with cheese and cottage cheese. Stay away from sour cream in regards to this and ice cream doesn’t count either folks… Sorry!
So there you have it! You now have the basic tools to have a successful weight-loss plan. The key is to pay attention to what works for you. What makes you feel good, mentally and physically, is a tell tale sign that whether or not what you’re doing is good for you.
Friday, February 16, 2007
The Hoodia Pill...
Okay, so we've all seen this fad about the part that Hoodia plays in weight loss. The real deal is that there are a lot of regulations in the distribution of Hoodia Gordonii and most facilities don't have what it takes to sell you the real thing. They might swear up and down and even give you the load of crap with all of their fake testimonies, but trust me... it's not the real thing. In fact there is another cactus like plant that a lot of companies have been using in place of the real thing. Gutzy eh? The sad truth of it is that there are a lot of desperate people out there who fall into that trap putting really high hopes on these products, only to be incredibly disappointed AND out of a lot of money.
Here are a few things to watch out for. First, there is no such thing as a 20:1 extract. No company could afford to distribute that dose and charge the amount of money that they do. It would cost thousands to distribute that kind of ratio. Also, there are special certificates that need to be issued as well as displayed on the manufacturers website. Keep in mind, quite a few companies will try to fool you by taking really bad screen shots. My point: if you can't read it, move on.
Another thing to look out for is the "Free Trial"... RUN!!! RUN FAR AWAY! Yeah right! The deal is that Hoodia is so expensive that it would cost a company lots of money to do that which, really just doesn't make "sense" (no pun intended) to distribute it for free.
I've tried them all. Hate to say it too. But I have. Yep! I've wasted a ton of money trying to find what works. The truth is that the only thing that has worked for me was a strict diet and... you got it! Exercise! I know what you're thinking and I thought it too. I'm not to fond of exercise either... at least I didn't used to be. Now I've actually grown quite fond of it. You see, I'm kind of a spaz so it does the trick when I need to blow off some steam.
Please don't get caught up in the hype of Hoodia! It does work but it's way too expensive to get the real deal. Besides, the promise of Hoodia is that you won't eat because you don't get hungry. Why would you not want to eat? Food is so awesome! Especially when it's good for you as well as pleasing to the taste buds! Not to mention the fact that if you really want to lose weight, you actually have to eat! I know it goes against everything we've all been brought up to think.
Instead, try drinking a lot of water (or in my case, Crystal Light) to curb your cravings. Also, when you start having an uncontrolable craving, GO BRUSH YOUR TEETH! That works as well. It also keeps your teeth clean!!! Yay! Gum is good too. Just make sure it's sugar free. If that doesn't work... well, take a picture of yourself naked... that oughta change your mind! Well of course unless your like my girlfriend Meesh who has an unbelievable body but still wants to lose a couple pounds here and there.
Good luck to you! More to come!
Here are a few things to watch out for. First, there is no such thing as a 20:1 extract. No company could afford to distribute that dose and charge the amount of money that they do. It would cost thousands to distribute that kind of ratio. Also, there are special certificates that need to be issued as well as displayed on the manufacturers website. Keep in mind, quite a few companies will try to fool you by taking really bad screen shots. My point: if you can't read it, move on.
Another thing to look out for is the "Free Trial"... RUN!!! RUN FAR AWAY! Yeah right! The deal is that Hoodia is so expensive that it would cost a company lots of money to do that which, really just doesn't make "sense" (no pun intended) to distribute it for free.
I've tried them all. Hate to say it too. But I have. Yep! I've wasted a ton of money trying to find what works. The truth is that the only thing that has worked for me was a strict diet and... you got it! Exercise! I know what you're thinking and I thought it too. I'm not to fond of exercise either... at least I didn't used to be. Now I've actually grown quite fond of it. You see, I'm kind of a spaz so it does the trick when I need to blow off some steam.
Please don't get caught up in the hype of Hoodia! It does work but it's way too expensive to get the real deal. Besides, the promise of Hoodia is that you won't eat because you don't get hungry. Why would you not want to eat? Food is so awesome! Especially when it's good for you as well as pleasing to the taste buds! Not to mention the fact that if you really want to lose weight, you actually have to eat! I know it goes against everything we've all been brought up to think.
Instead, try drinking a lot of water (or in my case, Crystal Light) to curb your cravings. Also, when you start having an uncontrolable craving, GO BRUSH YOUR TEETH! That works as well. It also keeps your teeth clean!!! Yay! Gum is good too. Just make sure it's sugar free. If that doesn't work... well, take a picture of yourself naked... that oughta change your mind! Well of course unless your like my girlfriend Meesh who has an unbelievable body but still wants to lose a couple pounds here and there.
Good luck to you! More to come!
MMMMMM WINE!!!
Is Wine Really Good for you? by Elaine Berry
It seems too good to be true. Something which you enjoy and which gives you so much pleasure can actually be GOOD for you?
Actually, up till the 18th century A.D., wine was a major factor in the practice of medicine. Its medical benefits have been known since the Greek physician Hippocrates in the 6th century B.C. It was really only after the rise of the temperance movement in Victorian times that all alcohol, including wine, started to be seen as evil. In some quarters, it still is.
But then people became aware of the "French Paradox". The French eat huge amounts of saturated fats, smoke heavily, and exercise hardly at all. Likewise the Americans. Yet the occurrence of heart disease among the French is less than one-third that among Americans. Why the difference?
It has to be wine. The French consume wine on a moderate and regular basis. Especially red wine. Until recently, the American tipple was much more likely to be beer.
Note the words "moderate" and "regular". A consumption of 3-4 glasses of wine a day for men and 1-2 for women (preferably red) could cut your risk of cardiovascular disease by up to 50 percent. The risk is higher both for heavy or binge drinkers AND for total abstainers! This is because the flavonoids in wine, especially red wine, function as anti-oxidants.
As well as the flavonoids, there is another element called resveratrol. This has been shown to: · boost the immune system; · block the formation of cancer cells; · block a specific protein that helps to cause cardio-fibrosis; · prevent or postpone Alzheimers and other degenerative processes in the brain; · (possibly) help avoid the risk of stomach ulcers, stroke, and colorectal tumors.
So if wine is such a wonder-drug, shouldn't we all be knocking it back?
Well, no, there are some people who, sadly, do need to avoid it. If you have stomach ulcers, liver disease, pancreatitis, a urinary infection, or epilepsy, you should not drink wine AT ALL. Also, some people with a tendency to asthma could react adversely to the sulfites in wine.
If you are on other medications, ask your physician. Some medications combine adversely with alcohol, others don't.
And DON'T use wine as an anti-depressant or a stress-buster! You'll feel a hundred times worse once the effect wears off.
Lots of medical papers have been written on the benefits of wine. Most of them don't mention the biggest benefit of all - it makes you feel good! Wine is one of the great pleasures of life. Don't think of it as a medicine - just relax and enjoy it!
It seems too good to be true. Something which you enjoy and which gives you so much pleasure can actually be GOOD for you?
Actually, up till the 18th century A.D., wine was a major factor in the practice of medicine. Its medical benefits have been known since the Greek physician Hippocrates in the 6th century B.C. It was really only after the rise of the temperance movement in Victorian times that all alcohol, including wine, started to be seen as evil. In some quarters, it still is.
But then people became aware of the "French Paradox". The French eat huge amounts of saturated fats, smoke heavily, and exercise hardly at all. Likewise the Americans. Yet the occurrence of heart disease among the French is less than one-third that among Americans. Why the difference?
It has to be wine. The French consume wine on a moderate and regular basis. Especially red wine. Until recently, the American tipple was much more likely to be beer.
Note the words "moderate" and "regular". A consumption of 3-4 glasses of wine a day for men and 1-2 for women (preferably red) could cut your risk of cardiovascular disease by up to 50 percent. The risk is higher both for heavy or binge drinkers AND for total abstainers! This is because the flavonoids in wine, especially red wine, function as anti-oxidants.
As well as the flavonoids, there is another element called resveratrol. This has been shown to: · boost the immune system; · block the formation of cancer cells; · block a specific protein that helps to cause cardio-fibrosis; · prevent or postpone Alzheimers and other degenerative processes in the brain; · (possibly) help avoid the risk of stomach ulcers, stroke, and colorectal tumors.
So if wine is such a wonder-drug, shouldn't we all be knocking it back?
Well, no, there are some people who, sadly, do need to avoid it. If you have stomach ulcers, liver disease, pancreatitis, a urinary infection, or epilepsy, you should not drink wine AT ALL. Also, some people with a tendency to asthma could react adversely to the sulfites in wine.
If you are on other medications, ask your physician. Some medications combine adversely with alcohol, others don't.
And DON'T use wine as an anti-depressant or a stress-buster! You'll feel a hundred times worse once the effect wears off.
Lots of medical papers have been written on the benefits of wine. Most of them don't mention the biggest benefit of all - it makes you feel good! Wine is one of the great pleasures of life. Don't think of it as a medicine - just relax and enjoy it!
How To Get Rid Of Those Flappy Bat Wing Arms
Unless you have been involved in an exercise routine, you may begin to notice (or already have) that flab that hangs from underneath your upper arms. In fact, you can wiggle it like so much Jell-O. Well, here are some exercises designed for getting rid of ugly bat wing arms.
Using 1-2 pound hand weights and a jump rope, follow this routine: Skip rope for one minute; then rest. Then lift the weights over your shoulder for 60 seconds. Repeat this routine twice. Voila! If you do this exercise three times per week, within a month the bat wings will be gone!
If you have never exercised before, here are some simple ways to target your triceps; biceps and shoulders. Well, why not? You might as well exercise the entire arm, right? You will need a resistance band, first. Okay, here we go:
Triceps: Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, holding an end of a resistance band in each hand. Extend your left arm diagonally up and your right arm diagonally down, palms out. Bend your right elbow, bringing right fist and forearm in toward your chest. Do 8 to 10 reps; switch arms and repeat.
Biceps: Stand on the center of a resistance band, feet shoulder-width apart, arms down at sides. Hold an end of the band in each hand, palms facing each other. Bend both elbows, keeping them tucked into sides, to bring hands up toward shoulders while rotating wrists 180 degrees so that palms face out at the top, then lower. Do 8 to 10 reps.
Shoulders: Place the center of your feet on a resistance band and stand with feet shoulder-width apart. Hold an end of the band in each hand, arms straight down at sides, palms facing your body. Raise your arms straight out to the sides to chest height so that they are parallel to the floor; hold for two counts; lower and repeat. Do 8 to 10 reps.
Feel better? Just think, with these exercises you can wear your favorite dresses, blouses, gowns, or other fine clothes sitting in the closet. More importantly, the next time you wave to a friend or neighbor, you will not take off on a flight path to the nearest cave! Or, you won't be entirely humiliated on your next trip to the doctor when the nurse tells you she can not take a blood sample because your arm is so thick she can not locate the vein. Then she proceeds to recommend lifting hand weights. Instead of slinking down in your chair, you will be able to proudly show off your sculpted arms.
All kidding aside, exercise for whatever reason can only enhance your body and improve your health. Do it for you; not for anyone else. Make it your decision; not the nurse's insensitive remark. Just do it!
If you are taking your diet and fitness program seriously, make sure to check out the top weightloss site fitness calculators at http://www.the-weightloss-guide.com right away.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Patricia_Zelkovsky
Using 1-2 pound hand weights and a jump rope, follow this routine: Skip rope for one minute; then rest. Then lift the weights over your shoulder for 60 seconds. Repeat this routine twice. Voila! If you do this exercise three times per week, within a month the bat wings will be gone!
If you have never exercised before, here are some simple ways to target your triceps; biceps and shoulders. Well, why not? You might as well exercise the entire arm, right? You will need a resistance band, first. Okay, here we go:
Triceps: Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, holding an end of a resistance band in each hand. Extend your left arm diagonally up and your right arm diagonally down, palms out. Bend your right elbow, bringing right fist and forearm in toward your chest. Do 8 to 10 reps; switch arms and repeat.
Biceps: Stand on the center of a resistance band, feet shoulder-width apart, arms down at sides. Hold an end of the band in each hand, palms facing each other. Bend both elbows, keeping them tucked into sides, to bring hands up toward shoulders while rotating wrists 180 degrees so that palms face out at the top, then lower. Do 8 to 10 reps.
Shoulders: Place the center of your feet on a resistance band and stand with feet shoulder-width apart. Hold an end of the band in each hand, arms straight down at sides, palms facing your body. Raise your arms straight out to the sides to chest height so that they are parallel to the floor; hold for two counts; lower and repeat. Do 8 to 10 reps.
Feel better? Just think, with these exercises you can wear your favorite dresses, blouses, gowns, or other fine clothes sitting in the closet. More importantly, the next time you wave to a friend or neighbor, you will not take off on a flight path to the nearest cave! Or, you won't be entirely humiliated on your next trip to the doctor when the nurse tells you she can not take a blood sample because your arm is so thick she can not locate the vein. Then she proceeds to recommend lifting hand weights. Instead of slinking down in your chair, you will be able to proudly show off your sculpted arms.
All kidding aside, exercise for whatever reason can only enhance your body and improve your health. Do it for you; not for anyone else. Make it your decision; not the nurse's insensitive remark. Just do it!
If you are taking your diet and fitness program seriously, make sure to check out the top weightloss site fitness calculators at http://www.the-weightloss-guide.com right away.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Patricia_Zelkovsky
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