Just recently I was contacted by the makers of Aspire, which is a cranberry flavoured calorie burning soft drink. And have been sent some to review. The drink comes in small 250 ml cans, which handily fit in a sandwich box, or even in a sports bag or small handbag, so you needn’t worry about it, taking up too much room.

The drink is very refreshing and made me feel quite refreshed and alert after drinking it. This could be due to the amount of caffeine that’s in it. They do say on their website that if you have a sensitivity to caffeine, then you may need to consult your GP if that is the case.

They have put together a drink which comprises of selected natural ingredients, and in the literature. It says proven to burn an average of over *200 calories per can, and contains only 5 calories per hundred ml and is a good source of vitamins and minerals, which are Vitamin C, Niacin, Vitamin B6 and Vitamin B12.

• As well as – Guarana Extract which helps boost your metabolism and helps with appetite suppression.
• Green Tea Extract – which boosts your metabolism and helps speed up your weight loss.
• L-Carnitine – this has a role in the oxidisation of body fat and can help with weight loss.

*As regards 200 calories being burned. It does say that this is the average amount of calories burned under controlled laboratory conditions.

Here are some frequently asked questions about Aspire as taken from their website.

• Will it help me to burn calories? Yes, it will help you to burn calories. If you want to read more, then please see this link for more information, read more here.

• Will I burn calories every time I drink a can Aspire? Potentially, you will burn up to 200 calories and maybe more.
  It is all dependent upon several factors such as your individual metabolic rate, which will be determined by your age, your overall weight and the time of day.

• If I am sensitive to caffeine can I still drink it? Aspire contains naturally occurring caffeine’s and you would find no more in it than a standard cup of coffee.If you think, you might have some kind of sensitivity issues regarding caffeine, then it would be advised to speak to your GP for your own peace of mind.

• How can I get the overall best experience from using it? People are finding their many different ways to use Aspire, and you can always use a look at their Facebook page for ideas. One of the recommended ways to try it is drinking it chilled with some ice during the day. And another is to have it with a small amount of champagne.

• If I just drink this only does that mean I won’t have to exercise? You do need to exercise in order to have a healthy body and mind, Aspire will help you to burn calories, but that doesn’t mean it should be a replacement for not doing any exercise, what you should do is implement it to a healthy eating plan, as well as exercise.

• Where can I buy aspire if I want to get some myself. You can order it from there secure online store or if you prefer, you can use a store locator to find your nearest local stockist. I have enjoyed my experience with Aspire and think it’s worth trying out.  If you need more information there at www.aspiredrink.co.uk

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Staying healthy can be challenging at work; if you’re working long hours in a stressful and demanding job, healthy living is likely to be the last thing on your agenda.

In actual fact, staying healthy at work could make you more productive, happier and less stressed[1].  Read these five ways your workplace can help you to be healthy and introduce some inspiring changes to your workplace.

1) Healthy eating as a workplace challenge

Creating a weekly healthy food challenge for your workplace is great as a team building exercise, as well as for implementing a healthy eating routine. Ideas such as a weekly smoothie making challenge or testing healthy recipes with a ‘work together- eat together’ lunchtime once a week will help to stretch the creative skills of your workplace as well as providing healthy and delicious snacks for the whole team.

2) Ask your workplace to provide healthy alternatives

Imagine a meeting with a delicious bowl of fresh fruit in the middle of the table instead of the usual stale biscuits! Fruit is a cost effective way for employers to provide snacks for the workplace and makes a healthy snack choice the easiest one.

Providing a weekly fruit box as a perk for your office can improve worker morale and encourage healthy snacking throughout the day. Fruit delivery company Fruitdrop specialise in office fruit delivery, with fruit boxes starting at just £20, containing enough fruit for up to 25 employees for a week; a small price for a healthy office!

3) Enforce lunch breaks

For over 18s working more than a six hour day, a 20 minute rest break is a legal requirement[2]; but with approaching deadlines and work piling up many of us will skip taking a proper break. Having a proper lunch break each day means you are more likely to eat a healthy meal instead of snacking throughout the day. Using your lunch break to take a walk and get some fresh air means you can return to work feeling refreshed and ready for the afternoon.

4) Create healthy eating goals and support each other

As a team, decide how you would each like to be healthier; whether your goal is to lose weight or to improve your general level of health, utilising your teamwork skills to support each other can improve your chances of achieving your objective. Record the changes you make and see if you notice a difference in the way you feel, your productivity (individually and as a workplace) and your general level of health.

5) Facilities for preparing food

Ideally every workplace should provide a basic kitchen area with a microwave, cutlery, plates and bowls, a fridge, a sink and adequate facilities for washing up and keeping the area clean and hygienic. Having crockery and utensils to hand as well as a microwave for the safe re-heating of food allows employees more flexibility when it comes to lunchtime options.

Make sure a selection of bowls and spoons are available to encourage staff to eat breakfast at work; eating breakfast can boost your concentration and performance throughout the entire day[3], so should be important to employers!

Introducing small changes to your workplace routine can make healthy living an easier choice; as we spend up to 60% of our time at work[4], small changes to your working day can impact your overall health significantly.

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Sometimes our daily newspaper can be useful for information regarding health and a couple of weeks ago they printed an article about the health benefits of certain spices being as it was very informative I decided to write it up into a post, mainly because a lot of people may not know the health benefits of some herbs.

1. Allspice, this herb has a pungent sweet taste about it with a bit of a peppery kick. Apparently, in Japan, researchers found that these berries contain something like 25 active components called phenols all of these help in the prevention of cancer, heart disease, and other chronic health problem.

In some recent studies, which were conducted in Costa Rica. They found that this particular spice helps to lower blood pressure. The reason behind the thinking is it helps to relax your central nervous system, which helps blood flow in your arteries.

2. Thyme, they are a 100 varieties of thyme and they share all one thing in common. They contain an oil called thymol. This is one of nature’s own antiseptics and helps to kill germs when you apply it in or around your mouth. It is the main ingredient within the branded mouthwash Listerine

3. Some researchers in Switzerland tested thyme on people with people who had coughs as well as bronchitis and other colds and found that this particular herb was good at clearing up costs, except in 90% of cases

4. Sage, this herb packs one hell of a punch and should be included in your spice rack. It can help to enhance your mood, concentration and memory. Some British psychologists did experiments with 24 people, which revolved around some memory tests. These were repeated several times a day on three separate days.

When the participants had a sage supplement, they could  recall more information better than if they had taken not taken it. They also said to be feeling calmer, and content six hours after taking it.

5. Aniseed, this is used by Mediterranean people quite frequently in after dinner digestifs it is supposed to be very good for helping with digestion studies have found it contains certain compounds that have a calming effect on your digestive system. It works on the muscles of your digestive tract.

A study, done in Saudi Arabia found, aniseed stopped ulcers by preventing the acid that can irritate your stomach lining.

6. Cinnamon, if you are diabetic. Cinnamon is great news for you, but that doesn’t mean to say that you shouldn’t take it. If you aren’t diabetic in an American study, 109 people who had type II diabetes were split into two consecutive groups.

One of them had cinnamon once-a-day and other group just had a placebo. After three months, the researchers checked their data. The participants in the cinnamon group had lower blood sugar. Swedish researchers found that if you sprinkle cinnamon on your food. This will reduce your blood sugar levels after eating and reduce  sugar spikes.

If you want a bit of a brain boost, then chew some cinnamon gum, a professor at Ohio university found that when students either smelled or tasted it, they got higher marks on mental agility tests.

7. Horseradish,  broccoli is well-known for its cancer fighting properties. However, if you overcook it. The benefits can be lost If you, then add some horseradish. The benefits come back. Some scientists in Illinois University found by spicing up some broccoli, it increased absorption in the upper part of your digestive system, which gives it a boost.

Horseradish has certain compounds in which produce cancer protecting substances, so there are benefits to be had when you add some to a meal.

Ginger, a medical journal in the US, called headache found that, during a study, which involved 60 people whom were migraine sufferers which were treated with ginger, and something called feverfew it was found after taking it two hours later a third of the participants said they were pain-free. It’s been found that Ginger is good for preventing nausea in instances of travel sickness and morning sickness.

8. Juniper Berry, if you’re ever wondering where gin gets its taste from look no further, because it’s from this particular spice, its compounds are good for helping your kidneys to produce fluid that help to kill bacteria, which makes it ideal for preventing bladder and urinary tract infections.

Juniper Berry is good for your kidneys. Researchers at the University in California found that it helps kidney transplant patients with kidney rejection problems.

9. Cumin, if you’re one of those people who enjoys eating curry like me, then if you’re eating the right type of curry, this should be one of the ingredients in it. Researchers in India took some animals, which had type II diabetes, either cumin or an anti-diabetes drug worked more or less the same when it came to reducing levels of cholesterol and triglycerides, which are heart damaging blood fats.

The animals were also found to have a high level of reduction in blood sugar. Another study in India involving cumin found when diabetic rats were given it. It delayed them getting cataracts, which can be down to high blood sugar levels. Another health benefit of cumin is it has high levels of vitamins C and A which makes it a very powerful antioxidant spice.

10. Coriander, this is another spice that can be found in curries, depending on how they are made. Researchers in Portugal at the University found certain substances within coriander, have bacteria killing properties. G to patients in small amounts, it could help to treat E. coli and MRSA.

11. Basil, are you one of those people whom get stressed out regularly? Then why not try some basil. Some researchers in India found that this particular herb helps to normalise the amount of cortisol you have in your body and lowered blood sugar, which tends to be higher when you are under stress. Basil can help with protecting your heart and helps to lower cholesterol.

12. Clove, if you bite some clove. This will give you a slight numbing in your mouth very similar to an anaesthetic in the Journal of dentistry. They say that it has a similar effect as the drug, called benzocaine when numbing your mouth if you put some near a problem tooth.

It will dilate blood vessels, which will bring the blood to the surface and help soothe the pain. This particular herb has anti-inflammatory properties, as well as antibacterial ones, which can help prevent gum disease, as well as cold sores.

13. Chilli, when you eat chillies, a compound is released called capsaicin, which will numb aches and pains that you may have it also releases a hormone that soothes inflammation

14. Fennel seed fennel is a vegetable, herb and spice, which tastes like liquorice. This herb is particularly useful for women who may have menstrual cramps. It is also beneficial to young children who may have colic.

This is extracted from a book called healing spices by Bharat, B Aggarwal.

Sources and references: www.dailyexpress.co.uk

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Not so long ago I was sent some Quickasteam cooking bags for review. Here is my experience, based on using them over a few days. The sample I was sent contained 25 standard bags. On the packaging, it says retains flavour and goodness better and quicker than any other cooking method.

I would have to say that after using them that does resonate with my experience, totally. For my first time using them, I decided to use some brussel sprouts so as per instructions put them in the bag and cooked them for between two and 4 mins, as suggested on the instructions on the back.

I used this figure because there wasn’t a specific time for brussel sprouts, but figured they would take about the same time as broccoli, as it is roughly the same size. I have taken some photos as you will see below of the brussel sprouts before they were cooked and after cooking.

Before cooking

After cooking

Served

After you take them out of the oven. You have to be careful because the bags are quite hot, especially when you open them to take out the food, I had my brussel sprouts with a cheese escalope and some potato chips. And I have to say they tasted delicious. To me, I couldn’t tell any difference, compared to having them cooked in a saucepan with boiling water.

On the second day that I used them. I went with something different this time I used some frozen vegetables. I had, which were carrots, cabbage and broccoli and cooked them for the roughly the same time and they came out exactly the same, just as if they had been cooked in a saucepan with water.

After cooking

Both the broccoli and the other vegetables tasted delicious. To me, they weren’t hard at all and were very soft to eat. They more or less melted in your mouth. Here are some photos I took of the steamer bag with the vegetables before cooking and after these are the assorted vegetables, which were broccoli, cabbage and carrots.

On the instructions, it says leave the bag to stand for 25 to 30 seconds to allow for cooling, which is a good idea. From my experience of using these within just a few days I would say they are well worth trying out, and I shall be using the remaining bags. I have to try with other foods.  If you’re looking for a simple and cost-effective way to steam vegetables Quickasteam are a good way to go. If you would like more information, please visit their website at.

http://www.planitproducts.co.uk/

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Just recently I was contacted by a representative for a sports drink, and they sent some samples of Lucozade Sports Lite Cherry to try out. So here is my review of this sports drink. Lucozade Sport Lite is theU.K. ‘s number one low-calorie sports drink.

Recently, they have added cherry flavour to their range. It has the following vitamins in to help you in recovering from your workout, vitamins B3 and 6 and vitamins B5 and 12, which help reduce tiredness and fatigue.

For this review, I will be doing some exercise for a certain period of time and then afterwards I shall be drinking the Cherry Lite Lucozade Sport to see how I feel after drinking it. For the exercises, I chose to do some bicep curls using resistance bands, some chest presses using the latter and some abdominal exercises using the same.

So after doing my exercise and feeling quite thirsty. I got my bottle of Lucozade Lite Sport and tried it the top was a bit awkward to get off but once opened it snaps back on quite easily and is watertight. In case you don’t want to drink the whole drink at once you can save some of it for later.

The bottle is very easy to drink from and you get sufficient liquid from it quite easily. It is quite a refreshing taste, and I do like the cherry taste, after doing my exercises and drinking it.

It did quench my thirst, and I felt quite good and refreshed after drinking it this is based on my own individual experience of the product. Other people may get different experiences. Overall, I would say it’s well worth a try and for me, I do quite like the taste of it. As well as the other benefits of the added vitamins etc.

Here is what Sandra Hughes Senior Brand Manager for Lucozade Sport’s Lite, has to say about it.

“Lucozade sport Lite continues to go from strength to strength enabling more people to enjoy the lighter side to sport. It is perfect for exercise sessions under 60 min – so it doesn’t matter if running is your passion, or you prefer the challenge of a gym class, even a swim. Lucozade Sport Lite, at only 50 cal a bottle will help keep you hydrated and therefore, is a perfect addition to your kit bag“.

For more information please visit: http://www.lucozadeshop.com

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This is a guest post by Nisha of healthypages.co.uk

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Losing weight is a constant struggle for many men, women and children. While the idea that weight loss results from taking in fewer calories than are burned throughout the day, even the strictest diet does not always have the expected results.

In fact, many struggle to lose those extra pounds even when the calories are firmly restricted and every bite is counted. This brings up the question: why is it so hard to lose weight?

The Psychological Challenges

Losing weight is not only a physical battle. Half of the battle is psychological and mental rather than physical. While many of us are aware that logically the only way to lose weight and keep it off is through cutting back on calories and increasing exercise, if the mental factor is not considered it will not have the ultimate success necessary to maintain weight loss.

The psychological challenges start with social influences. Society often helps influence eating and exercise habits. Part of the influence is from television and media. Watching a favourite TV show for 30 minutes can result in seeing at least three or four commercials that are selling high calorie, low nutrient foods for low prices. This brings the mind into a state of craving or temptation, particularly if it is a favourite food.

The social influences also include friends and family. Unlike commercials and marketing pitches, friends and family can become a negative or positive influence on eating habits. They are able to offer support during weight loss struggles by working together to make healthy and low calorie foods or going to the gym and offering support by encouraging more exercise.

The psychological challenges are not only a matter of social influences. It is also related to habit formation. Eating more calories than the body needs is a habit that develops over a lifetime and it is challenging to break that habit in the short term of a diet plan.

The best way to have success psychologically on the habit and start forming healthier eating and exercise habits is keeping a log of every bite of food and every minute on the treadmill. This helps track unhealthy behaviours and over time results in making permanent changes to the overeating habit. When it remains consistent for at least one month, the new habit takes the place of the old habit. It is important to maintain this new habit for a long term. Otherwise, it is easy to get back into that old habit.

The Physical Challenges

As with any other goal, the physical challenges are always an aspect of weight loss. The physical challenges include everything from overeating to health conditions that make weight loss challenging.

The first physical challenge to consider is anything related to health. Before starting any weight loss program, it is important to see a medical doctor and ensure no problems are going to make the weight loss harder. Thyroid disorders, diabetes and other health conditions can sometimes cause complications in the weight loss battle. Thyroid disorders often make weight loss harder or almost impossible until treatment for the problem starts.

Those who have a problem like heart disease or diabetes should work closely with their doctor and allow medical supervision during exercise to minimize the risks of health complications during weight loss.

The next physical challenge relates to overeating and under-exercising. The logic of more calories burned than taken in is well-known, but it is easy to miscalculate and end up maintaining weight rather than losing weight. Some consider this a “plateau” since it often occurs after a short period of weight loss. The only way to combat this is changing up exercise each day and gradually increasing the exercise while keeping a diary of every bite taken in.

Weight loss is a constant battle. It is not easy to lose weight and maintain the lower weight, but it is possible. Keeping track of food, getting regular check-ups and getting a support network of friends and family involved can lead to better success.

My name is Nisha I represent a site called healthypages.co.uk. I enjoy writing and  I love to write about health and beauty.

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This is a guest post by Phyllis Schaub of  phyllisschaubdds.com

In the last few years, scientists investigating the relationship between inflammation and cardiac health have discovered an unexpected and potentially significant connection between oral bacteria and obesity.

Researchers at the Forsyth Institute, a Harvard Medical School-affiliated scientific research organization whose mission it is to study the links between oral and systemic health, announced their findings in The Journal of Dental Research.

The team of scientists at the Forsyth Institute analyzed saliva samples from 313 middle-aged women who had a body mass index between 27 and 32, and compared the results of that analysis with the bacterial populations measured in the saliva of 232 individuals whose body mass index was below 27.

The human mouth is home to about 700 species of bacteria. According to the researchers, there were “significant differences” between the two groups with respect to 7 of the 40 species of bacteria that were identified and studied.

Nearly all of those bacteria were present in greater numbers in overweight individuals (those whose body mass index was above 27), and one species in particular, Selenomonas noxia, was present in significantly higher numbers in 98% of those who were classified as overweight.

The results of the study indicate that certain types of bacteria are more likely to be found in greater numbers in the saliva of overweight individuals as compared to healthy individuals. Whether the bacteria themselves are the cause of weight gain or are a symptom of it will require more analysis.

Previous research in animals has also suggested a link between bacteria and obesity. In one study, mice infected with a particular germ had 60% more fat than their germ-free counterparts. Germ-free mice who were later infected subsequently gained weight as well. Interestingly, the germ that appeared to predispose infected mice to weight gain belonged to the same phylum (Firmicutes) as Selenomonas noxia, the bacteria most closely associated with obesity in the Forsyth Institute study.

Other human studies also suggest some connection between bacteria and obesity. For example, it has been shown that spouses and siblings are more likely to gain weight at the same time than individuals in other relationships, such as friends or neighbors. That may suggest weight gain is “infectious” and more likely to be “spread” by individuals who interact and come into close contact with one another more frequently than with others.

Moreover, periodontal disease, which is believed to be caused by three different bacteria, causes increased levels of inflammatory mediators, and the impact of inflammation on cardiac health is currently being studied by the National Institutes of Health. Studies and surveys have also suggested a correlation between periodontal disease and overweight conditions.

For example, one survey showed that overweight or obese individuals are significantly more likely to have periodontal disease than non-overweight individuals, and those overweight or obese individuals who have the disease are more likely to have a severe form of it.

Of course, none of this is to say that there is a conclusive link between oral bacteria and obesity, only intriguing circumstantial evidence. As the Forsyth Institute noted, the presence of certain bacteria in overweight individuals suggests a connection between the two, but not necessarily causation.

The bacteria identified by the study may directly contribute to weight gain, multiply as the individual gains weight, or both. And since obesity is a major cause of cardiovascular disease, the role of bacteria in obesity could have important implications for reducing the adverse effects of weight gain on overall health.

A dentist can tell you more about this study, the role of bacteria in oral and systemic health, and the importance of maintaining healthy teeth and gums. Your dentist will advise you of the most effective ways of avoiding the harmful effects of bacteria. Depending on the scientific knowledge that develops in the coming years, your dentist may be able to help you manage your weight, as well.

Phyllis Schaub DDS is a Mission Viejo cosmetic dentist who performs general preventative dentistry in addition to providing cosmetic dentistry services

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This is a guest post by Sara of Dukan Diet Meals

If you’re thinking that November is probably a bad time to start a diet, then think again. With just over a month to go until the Christmas holidays officially begin, now is a great time to slim down:

not only your body will have time to get used to eating less so that you won’t feel like over-indulging during the festive season but, thanks to the great results you will achieve, you will also feel more motivated to kick-start the weight loss again in January with a renewed commitment to shed extra pounds. On top of that, because you will have a limited amount of time and a deadline, sticking to the plan will be much easier from a psychological point of view.

The Dukan Diet for a Slimmer Christmas

Made famous by Jennifer Lopez, Giselle and Kate Middleton, the French Dukan Diet is the easy-to-follow and effective diet which could help you slim down before Christmas.

So why is it so effective? Well, one of the main reasons is that it does not require calorie counting and therefore eliminates a lot of the stress linked to having to carefully weight and record what you’re eating. There is a list of 100 core foods and you can pick and choose from and eat as much as you like.

The plan is very much a high-protein diet, however, unlike the famous Atkins Diet, it only focuses on low-fat proteins and introduces oat bran into the daily routine therefore making it much healthier in the long term.

Attack the Body Fat and Cruise to a Healthier You

If you decide to give the Dukan Diet a try, you will begin with the Attack Phase. This phase, which lasts between 2 and 10 days depending on how much weight you wish to lose, allows low-fat protein only in unlimited quantities: anything from poultry, lean meats, low fat dairy, to eggs and any type of fish is there for you to enjoy. Following the Attack, you will then switch to the Cruise Phase where you will alternate protein-only days with protein and veg days until you reach your desired weight.

To top it all off, include oat bran into your daily routine and drink plenty of water. Isn’t this the easiest diet you’ve ever heard of?

Step up your Fitness Regime

When it comes to exercise, the only thing Dr Dukan prescribes is a 30 minute walk. It’s easy to see here how, by just turning up your fitness regime a notch, you will be able to achieve even greater results. Combine the Dukan plan with a detailed fitness routine and stick to it. It doesn’t have to be anything crazy if you’re not already used to exercising much during the week. Make a commitment to yourself and, for example, decide you will go swimming three times a week no matter what or you will go for a long walk everyday during your lunch break. Again, because you have a precise deadline, honouring this commitment should not come difficult.

Don’t Stop Having Fun

Although a month is not a long time, I cannot stress enough how important not avoiding social events for the sake of dieting can be. Because the Dukan Diet is so flexible, there is absolutely no reason why you should stop enjoying meals out with friends and family and ultimately have fun. By personal experience, I can tell you that the pounds will come off rapidly anyway and you won’t feel like being on a diet at all. With the run up to Christmas being a particular stressful period of the year, what better way to diet than eating as much as you like?

Guest post by Sara, foodie, serial dieter and editor of Dukan Diet Meals, a website offering advice and a collection of Dukan Diet recipes to anyone following the French diet plan.

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This is a guest post by Toby Sandford of 121doc

Weight loss and diet go together like chips and gravy, but like the simile used here it’s hard not to think about food when it comes to starting a new weight management plan.

There’s a popular belief that no diet is totally effective in helping a person maintain a healthy body weight because the efforts needed to sustain a change in eating habits will eventually be swept away by the temptation to eat what you want, when you want.

Following that school of thought, many an expert has instead suggested a person make subtle lifestyle changes at their own pace. Here are 4 such undervalued weight loss tips that can outlast the tried and tested diet technique.

1. Drink Red Wine

Many studies on the effects of drinking red wine have concluded that a glass a day can help reverse the genetic changes that worsen the common risk factors for obesity. Red wine, which plays a huge part in the Mediterranean staple, can dodge health conditions, such as diabetes and heart diseases and extend life expectancy.

2. Join a Support Group

A lot of people looking to lose weight tend to give up the fight well before they begin. Finding a group that also understands how hard it can be to lose weight takes the burden of going through it alone. The open forum platform allows for frank, useful discussion on how to meet your demons head-on without being judged on your lifestyle. Ask your doctor or nurse about weight loss support groups in the local area run by the NHS.

3. Eat Home Cooked Meals

People who eat out are more likely to consume unhealthy foods compared to those who take to home-cooked dishes. A large part of eating at home is preparing the meal, which can be a refreshing distraction from the mundane activities that arouse comfort-eating. In addition, making food yourself allows you to keep a lid on the volume and frequency of calorie-heavy foods that go into each meal.

4. Chew Your Food Properly

The speed at which you finish your meals matters just as much as what you choose to eat. Eating slowly can even reduce the risk of developing diabetes, says a Japanese study. By taking time to chew rather than swallow quickly you stand a better chance of living a healthier, happier existence.

5. Go for Bike Rides

Cycling requires some degree of physical exertion and even casual riding can burn approximately 500 calories per hour. Studies claim biking uphill can even help burn up to 1000 calories an hour. And most importantly, choosing to ride a bike at your own leisure enables you to get a much needed dose of fresh air, which is essential for healthy living.

This article is brought to you by 121doc, theUK’s leading online healthcare provider. To learn more about weight lose or to find out how to order lose weight medication on prescription, visit 121doc today.

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Some of our forefathers were very intelligent people. One of them said let food be thy medicine and let thy medicine be food. This was quoted by Hippocrates years ago and still stands as a true statement even now.

So what foods can we eat, in order to be used as medicine? As the title suggests, to wellness.

Well, our daily newspaper comes to the rescue yet again, as they printed an article. Only last week with a list of ailments, and the foods to eat for them. And it was so good yet again I decided to make a post out of it.

Foods to eat for wellness

Anxiety

In everyday modern life, we all tend to suffer from stress at times in the most part it is quite unavoidable unfortunately. And if it gets to a point where you feel that you cannot cope. Then, it may be a good idea to seek professional help and get advice from your G.P or health care professional.

The type of foods that you need to eat, if you have this you need to be eating foods that have a low glycaemic load.  So you need to aim for things like, wholemeal bread and pasta, beans, pulses and different types of fruit and vegetables. The whole reason for eating these types of food is they will keep your blood sugar stable, which will stop you having mood swings.

If you want to prevent mood swings from happening. Then you need to watch how much sugar that you eat within your diet, because these are the sort of things that will make your blood sugar go all over the place.

Bad breath

If you have bacteria on your teeth, gums and tongue, then you could have bad breath. Another reason is you could have some kind of underlying problem within your digestive system, which could be gastroenteritis or being constipated.

Twitchy Legs

If you have legs, which tend to be twitchy or feel prickly and could feel uncomfortable. When you’re resting, then you could be suffering from restless legs syndrome, what causes this is unknown. However, apparently there are supposed to be links to levels of dopamine in your brain. There is medication that you can get, however, making simple lifestyle changes could be sufficient as well.

Eyesight

Our eyesight tends to get worse as we age, so it is quite normal for us to need to wear glasses around the age of 50. The foods you need to eat to help with this such as, cataract prevention are plenty of fish, pumpkin, blueberries, spinach, you will need to decrease your amount of fat that you take in especially the saturated types, as well as biscuit cakes, red meat, and full-fat dairy.

Varicose veins

Within your veins, you have small valves. When they stop working, you can get collections of blood, which will make them swell up various treatments are available for this problem, which are surgery and something called compression stockings.

The foods you need to prevent this from happening, are high in fibre like wholemeal bread, dried fruit. Eating these types of food will reduce constipation and relieve the pressure on your veins.

To stop this happening in the future avoid the following, white rice and white flour avoid foods that are low in fibre such as ready meals. Foods that are low in fibre do not encourage, regular bowel movements.

Depression

Throughout life, we have all difficulties, such as the loss of a family member losing your job, relationship break-ups. When you have chronic depression, you will have a lack of energy and may suffer with insomnia (lack of sleep). In order to prevent this get plenty of exercise and eat a well-balanced diet.

You will need to eat the following foods in order to prevent depression. Ones that have plenty of Omega three fatty acids in this means eating two to three portions of oily fish per week.

Furthermore, add to this any nuts that are high in omega three oils as well as avocados, seeds, folate, vitamin B12, magnesium. A lack of these will cause depression. In addition, make sure you get plenty of whole grains, dairy products, dried apricots, dark chocolate, and eggs.

Oral problems.

If your gums are bleeding, this could be a sign of something called gingivitis, which if you don’t have it treated it may turn into periodontal disease. If you are concerned about your oral health, deficiency in vitamin C will cause oral problems. You need to make sure that you are eating plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables.

Which are tomatoes, spinach, and carrots, red peppers, oranges and berries. Make sure you avoid sugary foods, as these tend to make plaque form on your teeth, which will affect your gums.

Cholesterol

We all need cholesterol, to a certain extent. However, there is a limit to how much we need. It is vital for hormone’s and nerve endings , if you have too much cholesterol, it will contribute to plaque within your arteries, which will make them narrower and blood flow won’t be as efficient. Eating the right foods, and getting plenty of exercise are key here. You need to be eating yogurts that have something called plant stanois.

Make sure you eat plenty of nuts, especially almonds as these can help to lower cholesterol levels, and fibre, which are in oats, bey beans and other foods, which can help to remove cholesterol from your body. The foods you need to avoid are meats that have a lot of fat in as well as butter, lard and ghee, which are used for making curries.

Insomnia

If you have some stress in your life, and anxiety and drink lots of coffee as well as alcohol. This may be. The reason for your sleepless nights try and establish a regular bedtime and stop watching TV.

And using iPads and mobile phones with high brightness displays as these interfere with the production of melatonin. Try not to sleep during the day, if you sleep for more than a couple of hours. You’re less likely to feel tired when you go to bed at night.

Have a high-carbohydrate snack before you go to bed. This will stimulate the release of insulin, which will help create amino acids. And as a result, produce more melatonin have something like some oatcakes or a small bowl of porridge four/oatmeal.

Anaemia

The bone marrow within our bodies, makes red blood cells, which carries oxygen around our bodies. When this doesn’t happen, we become lethargic and tired, you may also have fluttering of the heart. The foods that you need to eat, in order to combat this are red meat because of its high iron content.

Pay particular attention to, liver and kidneys and fruit wise dried apricots, eat the following vegetable’s ones that are dark green and eat folate which you will find in nuts and green vegetables.

Psoriasis

This is a skin condition that people suffer from, which is an offshoot of your immune system. What happens is your skin cells are replaced far more quickly than normal, which results in plaques of dry skin, which form on the surface as dry flaky skin.

You can get treatments such as ultraviolet treatment, and different creams, which can be steroid-based the foods you need to help psoriasis are ones, which are high in omega three oils such as olive oil, rape seed oil and different spreads.

Use herbs, turmeric, ginger, basil and rosemary these may help. You need to avoid foods that are high in saturated fat and sugars, because these contain something called Arachidonic acid, which is one of the things that can cause inflammation. Furthermore, keep your alcohol consumption to a minimum as this can aggravate the problem.

Blood pressure.

In a lot of cases, there is no apparent reason for people having high blood pressure, but if you do have it, then you may be far more at risk for having a heart attack, stroke and kidney disease. If you eat the right foods, and get plenty of good exercise. This will help you to keep your blood pressure under control.

You need to eat, the following ginger, garlic, oily fish, foods that have vitamin D in, others you can eat are soya, garlic and ginger in a powdered form if you prefer. Things you need to avoid are salt, so if you eat a lot of ready meals. Make you check the amount of salt that they have in because they can tend to be high in salt.

If you have tinned soups checked the amount of salt in those, and if you eat grapefruit,  it  can interfere with certain drugs that are prescribed for blood pressure.

This has been extracted from the food hospital by Dr Geo Miletto, which is a TV series now on Channel 4, which started onthe first of November 2011. This was printed in the Daily Express Newspaper, dated Tuesday, October 25, 2011. If you have any thought’s opinions about this, then please leave your comments in the relevant section below.

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