Introduction to eating to lose weight

Here’s an approach to eating that actually goes against everything that you have read about dieting. Instead of eating 3 meals a day, eat 6 meals a day, only with half the portions. By only eating every three hours, your body never has the opportunity to go hungry and you are keeping your metabolism kicking away. This method of healthy eating did actually start in Hollywood, however it is not starving-based diet fad.

Increase your blood sugar

How does this work? Well, blood sugar stays in your system approximately 3 hours before levels become low. Once they become low, your metabolism slows down. Once your metabolism slows down, you are more inclined to binge eat, to get your blood sugar quickly back up to where it should be. This wouldn’t be so bad, except people reach for sugary or fatty foods, which are packed with calories.
Letting your blood sugar levels fluctuate significantly also affects your moods – and you will be more inclined to gorge on sugary foods if you are feeling flat

Losing weight by eating little, often

By keeping your metabolism stoked, your will be eating to lose weight – your metabolism simply burns extra calories, stripping body fat. Some basic principles:

* dont become obsessed over counting calories
* eat a good mix of carbohydrates and proteins
* eat 5-6 small meals a day (these should be approximately half the size of your regular meals)
* treat yourself once in a while to a sweet snack – this will keep you sane!
* include a breakfast rich in protein (milk, dairy)
* keep alcohol and caffeine to a minimum – these stimulants cause unnatural spikes in energy levels

The key to is coming up with an eating routine that you can stick too.
If you found this information eating to lose weight informative, be sure to check out these 5 ways to strip stomach fat faster – the natural way.

High protein low carb diet myth

The high-protein low carb diet first came about in the 70s. At this time, people were not as aware of the dangers of saturated fat to the heart and body in general. Recently, these same diets have gained popularity. Why? Research shows that these diets result in a large initial weight loss. This weight loss is not without its risks and many health professionals are sceptical about the long term benefits of these types of weight loss diets.

What is high protein/low carb dieting anyway?

Under a normal food pyramid, our body will obtain its energy from carbohydrates, one of the three main classes of food and also a source of energy.
The principle of this diet is to drastically lower the amount of carbohydrates that you consume on a daily basis so our bodies are forced into a state of ketosis, whereby your body sources its energy from ketones (stored fat). In ketosis you feel less hungry and eat less – the result is weight loss. To supplement this, you replace carbohydrates with lots of protein, which can be obtained from meat and eggs.

Ok. So why is this type of low carb dieting potentially harmful?

Risk of kidney failure – your kidneys are forced to process protein (which is converted to urea), an excessive amount which is toxic.
Risk of heart disease – high protein diets often contain a large amount of cholesterol, which is harmful to the heart.
Vitamin deficiencies – many high protein low carb diet programs do not recommend fruits and vegetables, due to their carb content.
Mood swings – high protein diets have the potential to result in mood swings and also cravings for carbohydrate-laden food, which can lead to carbohydrage binging
Because energy from protein is not released quickly, like carbohydrates, the body can become tired and perform sluggishly

What’s the alternative to high protein diets?

Maintaining a healthy fitness regime will reap much greater long term benefits. Eat carbohydrates after exercise, as your body can burn them quickly.
If you found this information about the risks of low carb dieting useful, be sure to check out these 5 ways to Get a Flat Stomach faster – the natural way.

Which are the healthiest oils for cooking?

One of the most difficult decisions that people make when cooking is deciding which is the best cooking oil to use.
Commonly, canola, or vegetable oil is marketed as a healthy oil to use for frying or baking. Canola oil is thought to be a heart-healthy oil because of its low level of saturated fat content and the fact that it contains omega-3 fatty acids, which are also beneficial for the heart.

Aside from canola oil, a number of other oils are used for cooking. These refined oils include corn, safflower and grapeseed oil.These oils are frequently used in processed foods, and are unfortunately the least healthy oils for our body.

They are produced under intense heat and pressure and the side-effect of this is that free radicals, or (organic molecules that can cause aging, tissue damage and a number of ailments) may be present within these oils.

Are all polyunsaturated oils bad for your diet?

Not all polyunsaturated oils are bad. In fact, it they are harmless and in fact good for your health if they are in their natural state. For a great source of polyunsaturated oils, try raw nuts or seeds, which are both high in omega fatty acids.

Processed polyunsaturated oils are the most inflammatory inside our bodies because of their high reactivity to heat and light. This inflammation is what causes many of our internal problems such as heart disease, diabetes, and other degenerative diseases.

A completely different way of looking at oils is by seeing how stable they are. The more stable (how the fat behaves under heat and pressure), the better a fat is for cooking or frying. The order from most stable to least stable fats is saturated –> monounsaturated–>polyunsaturated.

The significance of this is that the healthiest oil for cooking is in fact saturated fats, due to their highest stability (remember the less a fat changes its state, the less radicals will be present). This also means that butter is healthier than margarine (which is a very highly processed fat)

3 best oils for cooking

Healthier oils for cooking include palm oil and coconut oil. Note olive oil is OK for cooking, however is much better at room temperature. Therefore the top 3 healthiest oils for cooking are:

* Virgin Coconut Oil
* Extra Virgin Olive Oil
* Real Butter

Diet note:

Oils are essential for most meals, however should be eaten in moderation due to the high calorie content of oil. For those on a low-calorie diet, oil should be used sparingly. If you found this information about cooking oils beneficial, be sure to check out these 5 tips to Get a Flat Stomach faster – the natural way.