Monday, July 23, 2012

Foods that weight loss clinics recommend for recovery

Source: Lava Magzaine
Whether you’re injured in a car accident, dancing, playing sports or at the gym, nothing is more disheartening than being unable to move or exercise—especially when you’ve been experiencing success with a diet or through one of the various easy weight loss programs available to you. But did you know that there are many foods that can assist with recovery that are also beneficial to your weight loss efforts?

It’s true, there is a delicious array of foods and nutritional remedies that can speed up recovery from injury and even help prevent further injury, while benefiting easy weight loss programs. You guessed it—many are healthy fruits and vegetables, especially those that are rich in anti-inflammatory components such as antioxidants.

In addition to your regimen of ice packs, heat and pain relievers, some of the same foods that many weight loss clinics recommend for losing weight also promote healing. Some of these include blueberries, strawberries, grapes, kiwis, oranges, kiwis, olive oil, celery, ginger, eggplant, garlic, curry powder and turmeric. Foods that are packed with omega-3 fatty acids such as nuts including cashews, almonds and walnuts are also very beneficial, as well fatty fishes such as tuna, salmon and mackerel—they fight inflammation while improving heart health and improving your mood. Some great beverages which have components that are also included in a lot of weight loss products include black, green and white tea.

Note that drinking alcohol excessively can have a reverse effect on healing and can even trigger inflammation—in addition, too much imbibing can derail the effects of easy weight loss programs, as they add empty calories to your diet and can cause late night cravings. Instead, drink a lot of water—it’s the most anti-inflammatory beverage available, and again, hit up your favorite green or herbal tea. There’s a reason so many products geared for weight loss include their contents in their ingredients!

If you have a fractured or broken bone, make sure to consume calcium in some form. Try some appetite curbing Greek yogurt with berries for an excellent anti-inflammatory treat. If you’re avoiding dairy altogether, consider taking a supplement or drink calcium-fortified juice.

As you know, spinach and broccoli are two leafy vegetables that are often recommended by weight loss clinics. They are both rich in iron and boast vitamin A which can help with any wounds or skin irritation. Foods that contain vitamin C, such as oranges, berries and cantaloupe help your body produce collagen, which helps to adhere your injured area back together.

Many new products that are created for weight loss include the herb turmeric, which has significant anti-inflammatory properties due to its high content of curcumin. Eggplant is high in potassium and phytochemicals which are antioxidant rich and have both antihistaminic and anti-inflammatory properties.

Friday, July 20, 2012

Ideal foods for easy weight loss programs

While many of us think that we must avoid fat altogether in order to have success with easy weight loss programs, that’s not true. Scientific research proves that eating healthy fats, such as monounsaturated fats, is a necessary part of a healthy diet and can actually help you to lose weight.

That being said, we’re not talking about eating the wrong kind of fats, such as the kind that are found in baked goods, known as trans fats, and the ones in processed and grain-fed meats, called saturated fats. Those will definitely increase your calorie intake in a way that will derail weight loss programs. However, eating healthy fats are an easy way to improve cardiovascular health while revving your metabolism in an impactful way that will help you lose weight.

When it comes to healthy fats, many weight loss clinics recommend incorporating some of the following foods for those trying programs for weight loss. Olive oil, which is packed with cancer-fighting antioxidants called polyphenols, contains the hormone adiponectin, which breaks down the fats in our bodies and helps to lower our BMI. Use it for cooking or use it to make a salad dressing with balsamic vinegar.

Instead of reaching for peanut butter, which can be very fattening, weight loss clinics recommend that you spread almond butter on your toast or sandwich. Despite their higher content of fat, much research shows that almonds help with weight loss. They’re packed with compounds that limit the amount of fat we absorb, enabling some to pass through undigested.

Another good substitute that clinics specializing in weight loss suggest is dark chocolate instead of more fattening other types, such as milk chocolate. Dark chocolate is antioxidant-rich, specifically with flavonoids, which help our cells resist the damage caused by free radicals, improve blood flow, lower blood pressure, and help decrease the possibility of blood clotting.

Image source: The Rising Hollywood

Sunday, July 8, 2012

Good protein sources for weight loss programs


Source: uncontrolledvocabulary.com
Protein is essential to successful weight loss programs. Eating it helps you lose weight by keeping your full longer than non-protein foods and staves off hunger. Yet it’s very important to eat the right kind of protein so you can reap the health benefits it provides. Check out the list below of good protein sources recommended by medical weight loss centers.

Eggs. Eggs are very nutrient and energy dense and are only about 80 calories per each, making them an ideal choice for breakfast, especially for when you’re following any type of weight loss programs. For breakfast, pair two eggs with a high fiber grain like whole wheat toast to stay full longer and eat less all day long. Or add a hardboiled egg to your lunch for an awesome burst of energy and protein. Beans. Beans, aka legumes, are protein-packed and loaded with soluble fiber, which slows down your digestion and keeps you full longer than even some of the best weight loss products. Their sodium content is naturally low and they contain no cholesterol. Some great choices include lima, navy, kidney, lima, garbanzo and quinoa.

Fish and seafood. Medical weight loss centers often recommend fish and other seafood since they are low in fat, making them excellent sources of protein. While some fish like tuna and salmon are a little higher in fat, it’s the heart healthy kind: omega 3 fatty acids.

White-Meat. White meat like skinless chicken or pork tenderloin provides lean protein to your diet. Medical weight loss clinics recommend always removing the skin from chicken before you cook it, because it’s very high in saturated fat. 

Lean Beef. Lean beef has only one more gram of saturated fat than a skinless chicken breast, and provides important vitamins and minerals including, iron, zinc and vitamin B-12.  

Protein snacks. Sometimes your day is busy and you need to grab a quick and easy snack for while you’re on the go. If your choices are limited, try weight loss aids that pack the protein such as meal replacement shakes, control bars and similar items. Make sure the product is low in both fat and sugar and contains six grams of protein.