Do you like to munch nuts? Is it favourable to your diet? The article “Once a Diet No-No, Nuts Are in Again” of MaryAnne Gragg will enlighten you about the nutrition benefits of including the nuts in your diet.

Although nuts are rich in fat and calories, its nutritional value cannot be underrated. This is the reason that nuts are good to be part in your diet however be careful also. Excessive consumption of nuts can also lead you to adding extra pounds in your weight.

It is important to remember the idea of moderation when considering nuts in your diet.

There are many ways to include nuts in your diet. Some of the suggestions in the article are tossing it in your dishes and salad, or sprinkle chopped nuts in your bowl of cereal. There are many creative ways to include nuts in your meals but just always remember - moderation and right serving – is important.

Read the full article ‘Once a diet no-no, nuts are in again‘ from CNN.com - Health.

Fitness Editorial Credits to MaryAnne Gragg, Health.com.

Have you been eating healthy foods and still not losing weight? Then check your food portion. Perhaps you ordered grilled meat yesterday for your lunch but the portion was doubled than your ideal portion to help you lose weight.

The article of Phillip Rhodes entitled “Why Portion Control Matters” will enlighten you as why it is important to be mindful of the portion served in your plate. Also, Rhodes outlines an interesting explanation as why people generally overeat. It is always a battle between your rational mind and impulsive emotion.

It is also fascinating to know how your subconscious reacts on certain situations. According to study, people are more likely to order the “Triple-Chocolate Black Forest Volcano Cake” than for  a cake which is simply labeled as “chocolate cake”. Do you realize how many times you ordered because the description of the menu is just to appealing to your taste palate?

Let’s face it. Our conscious effort to live a healthy lifestyle is oftentimes sabotage because we are bombarded with striking marketing strategy about foods. Hence, there is always a battle between keeping your weight loss goal and caving in to the alluring ads of delicious rich fat foods.

Indeed people need to be mindful in their portion size when eating because it really matters to your goal to lose weight.

Read the full article ‘’Why Portion Control Matters’ from CNN.com - Health.

Fitness Editorial Credits to Phillip Rhodes, CookingLight.com.

There is no other better way to start a New Year but to aim for a healthier lifestyle. Staying fit and healthy does not imply fortune. In fact, Jacquelyne Froeber has written a very interesting article ‘20 Ways To Get Healthier For Free’.

She outlines simple and easy to follow tips on gearing up for a healthier you this year and it does not cost you a dime. Some of it is very practical advice such as engaging to a new sport. If you are living a sedentary lifestyle, perhaps learning the nuts and bolts of swimming or hiking can considerably improve your fitness level.

Another excellent idea is ‘Eat Healthier, No Cookbook Required’. Oftentimes you envy to watch celebrities drop their weight through the help of personal fitness instructors. Others even hire nutritionist or chef to ensure they are on track in their fitness and diet regimes. How you wish to have the means to do the same, right? But do not lose hope!

You can still stay fit and lose those extra pounds by eating nutritious foods. Stay active by increasing your physical fitness level like speeding up your walking pace or hiking to more elevated areas.

So, do you want to learn more on how to gear up for free for healthier 2010? Read the full article ‘‘20 Ways To Get Healthier For Free’ from CNN.com - Health.

Fitness Editorial Credits to Jacquelyne Froeber, Health.com.

The article of Leah Zerbe entitled ‘Eat Slowly to Lose Weight’ is not actually a new idea about weight loss. This concept has been taught to us since childhood. Perhaps it is not about losing weight that our parents taught us this manner. Our parents want us to eat slowly and to have small bites because they don’t want us to choke. And it is precisely correct!

According to the ‘Eat Slowly to Lose Weight’ article, an ideal time to chew each small bite is at least nine seconds. So count from one to nine while chewing a bite-size piece of chicken. In this way, you are making sure that you are eating slowly.

Actually, this is also a good eating habit to adapt. Aside from it helps you to lose weight; it is a great way to savor the flavor of the food. As what Zerbe mentioned, relishing the taste of the food makes you feel more satisfied.

The article also suggests filling our fridge with small packs of nutritional snacks like fruits.

Indeed we always take for granted the thing that we had been taught since childhood. Simply remember your Mum’s yell to eat slowly when you were a child and you are on your way to shedding those extra pounds.

Read the full article, “Eat Slowly to Lose Weight” from MSN Health and Fitness.

Editorial Credits to Leah Zerbe, Rodale.com.

We are all aware that carbohydrates play a vital role in our body. It provides our body the necessary energy hence if we are involved in strenuous physical activity, it is important to cautiously review our carb intake.

The article in CNN health entitled “Replenish your energy with the right carbohydrates” outlines the list of best source of carbs which contain the valuable nutrients such as vitamins and proteins. One of it is the energy shake that is comprised of yoghurt and fruits. The article referred it as a winning combination because yoghurt boosts the protein and calcium content while the fruits add natural sweetness and vitamin C. It is an ideal drink for tired and sore muscles.

Other options include whole grain oats, rice noodles and mixed grain salads.

We are oftentimes misled that carbs can make us fat. However, choosing the right source of carbs which are packed with nutrients can boost our energy level. Indeed reading the article ‘Replenish your energy with the right carbohydrates’ is enlightening. It gives us a deeper understanding about the right carbs to ensure that we stay fit and healthy.

Read the full article, ‘Replenish your energy with the right carbohydrates‘ from CNN.com - Health.

Reading the article ‘Trying to lose weight? Watch what you drink’ by Caitlin Hagan is really an eye-opening.

Nowadays people are bombarded with wide range of options for one specific item. Fifty years ago, a coffee is a simple concoction of hot water, coffee powder, sugar and milk as an optional ingredient. These days when you walk into a coffee shop, there are endless selections to choose stretching from hot to iced coffee and from simple to complex coffee concoctions.

If we don’t pay enough attention to what we drink, we are definitely sabotaging our goal to lose weight.  Let’s say you want to have more flavor to your plain coffee so you added a tablespoon of whipping cream.  Unknowingly you already padded the calories in your plain coffee as the whipping cream contains approximately 50 calories with 5 grams of fat.

You are aware that supermarkets and restaurants are flooded with liquid calorie options. To defend yourself from sabotaging your weight loss goal, it is important to start reading the labels of your drinks. As mentioned in the ‘Trying to lose weight? Watch what you drink’,  consuming an extra 500 calories every day for seven days will make you gain at least one pound a week.

Just an extra attention to what you drink will make a big difference in your goal to stay fit and healthy!

Read the full article, ‘Trying to lose weight? Watch what you drink‘ from CNN.com - Health.

Michael Pollan has written a reflective and thought-provoking article about food that is entitled ‘Rules to Eat By’. It seems buying foodstuff nowadays becomes a complicated task if you are conscious with your health.

Have you tried buying groceries and ended up confused? It is the same item but different brands with different nutrition facts. You only want to buy a box of milk but your option ranges from non-fat milk, low-fat milk, and so on. Eventually you will pick each brand of low-fat milk, read its nutrition fact and evaluate which one is superior?

It is indeed quite a common scenario for us, right? But Michael Pollan raises an insightful question as how did humans manage to choose food and stay healthy and fit before? It is true. We have all the experts nowadays that can guide us through in choosing the right and proper foods which deem to be good for our health. Nonetheless, in this era we struggle to keep ourselves healthy and fit.

So does the nutrition fact in your sandwich spread still affect you? Michael Pollan’s article reminds us that we should be smart in our food choices as we cannot entirely rely on the nutritional facts that we read in the food labels.

You can read the full article from NYTimes.com - The Food Issue ‘Rules to Eat By‘

By Andrew Martinez

According to the McKinley Health Center at the University of Illinois Student Affairs, people who engage in regular, consistent aerobic, resistance, and flexibility exercises gain many benefits. Everyone responds differently to exercise. Even if participating in the same program, benefits may vary from person to person.

Exercise can improve flexibility, cardiovascular & cardiorespiratory function, immune system functioning, strength of muscles and tendons, skin tone (making it more elastic), sleep patterns, self-esteem, ability to relax, personal satisfaction & self-image, perceptions of acceptance by others, productivity, and overall quality of life.

Read more…