Diet

Eat a Healthy Side Dishes this Holidays

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Eat Healthy side dishes this holidays

Ham, turkey, roast pork or steak are mostly the star on holiday dinner table.

But most people are craving for the side dishes, and one of the most favorites are the big carbs like rice, mash potatoes, mac and cheese, and different kinds of pasta.

These heavy carbs contains many calories that can actually hurt our diet and will lead to weight gain fast.

Carbohydrates are both good and bad to our health. Know the recommended amount to consume and lists of good carbs to intake and you should be fine.

Why not try these side dishes instead to enjoy your holiday dining?

  1. Vegetable Salad – vegetables are very light and rich of healthy minerals like protein, fiber and vitamins which are good for our body. You can also add up some fruits to your salad for more flavors. Also dressings are very important so don’t overdo or use heavy dairy products like ranch or mayo.
    • Recipe: In a large bowl, mix all the lettuce, cucumbers, tomatoes, red onions, parsley and basil. Toss it well with vinegar/balsamic, olive oil, pinch of sugar, salt and pepper to taste. This is best on ham or steaks.
  2. Quinoa – is a very good grain with contains enough carbs and fiber. For all the meats we eat this recipe will ensure proper digestion.
    • Recipe: Put a cup of quinoa to a pot with cups of water add some salt and pepper to taste. Bring to boil until quinoa is cook. Put some spinach, tomatoes or beans to it for some added flavors. Include this recipe with your roasted chicken or pork.
  3. Beans – is a good source of low-fat proteins, full of fibers and rich in nutrients. Adding beans to your daily diet is good for lowering body fat and controlling weight.
    • Recipe: Load the beans into a pot, add some onions, bay leaf and bacon then bring to boil. Reducing the heat, let it simmer for an hour allowing the beans to soften make sure to stir it once in a while. Then add some spices like paprika, cayenne, salt and pepper. Simmer it again wait until soft and creamy.  This recipe are best with barbeques.
  4. Sweet Potatoes – when you say healthy diet, this crop is one of the most favorite. Sweet potatoes are packed with nutrients such as potassium, beta-carotene and fibers which are good for cutting weight.
    • Recipe: Wash sweet potatoes thoroughly and load them on a pot with water (just enough maybe half pot). Bring to boil for about 20-t30 minutes or until soft. To check if its already cook, use a fork and pinch the middle part of the potato, if the fork gets through it’s ready to eat. Serve it with some grilled chicken or medium-rare steak.
  5. Salsa – it is a Mexican favorite sides full with vegetables and herbs that are good our body.
    • Recipe: Toss some chopped tomatoes, onions, garlic, parsley and corn. Add some lime, salt and pepper to taste and mix well. Best serve with steak or chicken.

Enjoy the holiday eating healthy options, so you won’t feel bad for your body after the festivities.

10 Best Food to Help you Build Lean Muscles

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10-best-food-to-help-you-build-lean-muscles

Food is one of the key to have a healthy body. We need to eat to nourish our body and furnish energy.

For those people working out and cutting weight “food” is so vital which they are very conscious about it.

Our food intake should be essentially rich in protein, carbohydrate, and good fats to help us sustain growth, repair, and vital processes for our body.

To build lean muscles protein are very essential. Protein is what body needs during and after training for muscles repair and recovery. You need at least 200g of protein and gallon of water a day.

Besides exercise like lifting or watching calorie intake; check out our top 10 items to put on your protein-friendly grocery list!

  1. Eggs – this is a perfect breakfast meal cooked hard boiled, sunny side up, scrambled or omelet. Add some wheat or whole grain toast for a full heavy meal.
    • Protein Power: 6 g per 1 large egg
  2. Cheese – this can be a perfect snack or toppings on your pasta or salads.
    • Protein Power: 14 g per 1/2 cup serving
  3. Greek Yogurt – perfect for midnight snacking. So many flavors now to choose.
    • Protein Power: 23 g per 8 oz. serving
  4. Tofu – best for a dinner meal, slightly fried.
    • Protein Power: 12 g per 3 oz. serving
  5. Quinoa – is a high protein grain, this best serve on dinner as it very light and easy to digest.
    • Protein Power: 8 g per 1 cup serving
  6. Beef Steak – lean steak provide a generous amount of protein. Best eat this meal during lunch with some vegetables on the side.
    • Protein Power: 23 g per 3 oz. serving
  7. Chicken Breast – this poultry meat is easy to cook and cheaper than beef which has almost the same amount of protein. It is good to eat this on lunch or dinner.
    • Protein Power: 24 g per 3 oz. serving
  8. Pork Chop – choose boneless and remove fats to reduce calories.
    • Protein Power: 26 g per 3 oz. serving
  9. Salmon – this is one of people’s favorite meat. So easy to prepare and cook.
    • Protein Power: 23 g per 3 oz. serving
  10. Mixed Nuts – are good as morning snacks or food to munch right after workout. Make sure to watch out for sodium/salt.
    • Protein Power: 6 g per 2 oz. serving

We just need enough protein to build and repair muscles, and most of the time we don’t need supplements just eat most from the above list.

There are more protein rich foods in the pyramid like most of the vegetables and fruits. Make sure to always eat a balance diet.

Eating should makes us feel happy and content.

Did you know Cinnamon has many Health Benefits?

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Benefits of Sensational Cinnamon to our Body

This season, cinnamon is one of the most popular spice.

From our hot yummy drinks to home seasonal scents.

Cinnamon has a sweet scent, comforting taste and versatility which can be use in cooking different dishes and mostly desserts.

Apart from being delicious, did you know that cinnamon spice has many health benefits?

Here are my short list;

Nutrient-rich spice – it is high in manganese, fiber and calcium, plus loaded with anti-oxidants which helps our body fight diseases and get rid of body toxins.

Control blood sugar – study shows this spice helps slow digestion and reduce spikes in glucose levels which is good in maintaining blood sugar level.

Brain Boost spice – the sweet scent of this spice can increase brain activity. Use cinnamon based candles or fresheners in your house for some brain energy boost.

Good sugar substitute – it has a natural sweetness which makes it perfect choice or option especially if you want to cut some sugar intake. Use it as a topping on your hot drink or yogurt.

Common Colds and Pain Reliever – this spice is known for its ability to warm and soothe which can ease colds and flu like symptoms. Also, it has anti-inflammatory properties which helps stiff joints, sore muscles and arthritis pains. Add cinnamon to your drinks.

Spices are really known for so many health benefits, so now add some cinnamon on your list of most favorite and healthiest.

 

Enjoy your hot cocoa!

10 Foods To Get Rid of Belly Fats

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10FoodsBellyFat

There is a saying, “You are what you eat!”

We eat mostly three times a day to nourish our body. Eating makes people happy.

But why food is to be blame for the weight gain, those muffin tops and belly fats. Have you ever feel regrets after eating?

The real question is, are we eating the right foods? Do you feel good about eating and still have a flat abs?

What causes those belly fats?

Belly Fats are excess calories turned into fats stored in the belly. Caused by wrong choices of foods like junk, oily and processed.

Wanting to get rid of these bulge or fats is not only for vanity sake as what the trend says. But also, to protect our organs inside healthy and not surrounded by these nasty fats.

Here are some superfoods to help us get rid of belly fats:

  1. Almonds – it contains significant amount of proteins and fiber which helps burning belly fats. Consume an ounce or 20 pieces for snack time.
  2. Oatmeal – is a whole grain full of good carbs and fibers which promotes better metabolism preventing belly bulge. Take one small bowl of oatmeal for breakfast with low fat milk and any fruits you desire.
  3. Broccoli – is packed with good amount of calcium and vitamins effective to boost metabolism. Have this vegetable on your daily meal as side dish or snack, boiled or steamed.
  4. Celery – eating this help cleanse your system. Eat this as a snack, add it on your soup or salad.
  5. Cucumbers – it is a low calorie food, like celery this also help cleanse your body. This is a good additional ingredient on your daily lemon water or salad.
  6. Tomatoes – it has minerals that can control body fats. Put this on you salad, soup or just eat it raw will be fine.
  7. Avocado – this is rich in good fats that helps burns belly fats. Why not make a guacamole, add this on your sandwich or salad.
  8. Pineapple – this fruit is very rich in vitamins and fiber promotes a healthier metabolism and fat burning. Add this on your fruits shake or just eat it raw much better.
  9. Pears – are low-calorie fruit that are high in fiber. Eat one a day for snack.
  10. Apple – one of this fruit a day drives a doctor away. True enough it will also drives belly fats away as it is high in dietary fibers and beta-carotene which helps proper digestion and making you feel full to prevent yourself from overeating. Have an apple for snack time.

Try to eat most of these foods or any that are low in calories, rich in fiber, calcium and vitamins as often as you can to prevent from having a big tummy

Enjoy losing those belly fats, eat good, look good, feel good!

15 Foods to Win a Healthy Training

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healthy

Healthy training means a healthy diet.

Food is like our body fuel to keep us going and helps us recuperate.

Diet is not only restricting oneself with small amount of food but also choosing the healthy options.

It takes a lot of energy to work on intensity exercises such as combat sports. Either your goal is to loose weight or gain energy, people who exercise or do sports eat based on their body needs.

Here are 15 Foods to Win a Healthy Training:

Power of Protein – are essential nutrients, building blocks for body tissues and serve as a fuel source of the body. Protein can be found on different kinds of food like on meat.

  1. Eggs or Egg Whites – it has high amount of protein our body needed such as amino acids for healthy muscles. Have an omelet for breakfast, sunny side-up for lunch and boiled egg for dinner. If you are watching your cholesterol, just use the egg whites.
  2. Grilled Chicken – is the leanest source of protein. Use skinless chicken marinated or just salt and pepper then grill, top it in wheat tortilla with low-fat cheese for quesadillas or salads with light dressings.
  3. Lean Beef – is the ideal source of protein. You can have it in stir fry with some veggies or rice perfect for after strength workout.
  4. Tofu – is full of heart-healthy fats, and cholesterol free. You can have tofu as a filling to a tasty burger with some tomatoes and lettuce.
  5. Fish – is an ideal protein as it is low in saturated-fat and rich in omega 3. It has mineral with anti-oxidant powers involved in enzyme function. Prepare some salmon or cod, steam it with some lemon, herbs and vegetables.

Rich in Fiber and Carbohydrates – carbs is one of the main food that our body obtain energy and calories. These nutrients are essential for us to have a proper body functioning, especially before and after workout when you need so much energy. Anyhow we tend to burn those calories intake.

  1. Brown Rice – is a whole grain rice, a lot healthier than the white rice as it rich in good carbs and fiber for weight loss. You can have it steamed and top with some fish or chicken.
  2. Sweet Potatoes – is a root-crop with a sweet taste. It has a very good amount of nutrients and can be digested fast than any other staple food. You can have it just boiled or bake it with some olive oil salt and pepper.
  3. Pasta – if you have tournaments or game the next day, pasta is one of the best meal to have. It will definitely make you full. Just boil it, add some roasted tomatoes, olive oil with salt and pepper for sauce.
  4. Quinoa – is a mild grain with a pleasant chewy texture. Quinoa is getting more popular now for people on a diet as we learn its benefits especially in weight lose. Cook it with some broth, add some beans or tofu and serve.
  5. Whole Grain Bread – is one of the food with highest amount of good carbs and plenty of fiber for good digestion. You can have it toast for breakfast, sides during lunch or a snack with peanut butter and a banana.

Packed with Vitamins and Minerals – these are the nutrients that the body needs such as  strengthen bones, heal wounds and boost your immune system. If you are away from illnesses and feel better you can train almost everyday.

  1. Fruits – have some banana in breakfast, watermelon at lunch, an apple for snack and orange for dinner. Berries are also good or grapes with some light cheese or dips if you want.
  2. Smoothies – fruit smoothies are the best, especially every after workout. Add some protein shake or some green vegetables like kale for additional nutrients intake and raw honey for some sweet taste. Try to store frozen fruits like berries, mangoes, papaya and pineapple for an easy to make smoothies everyday.
  3. Vegetable Salad – this is the easiest food to prepare, just toss some kale, spinach, baby carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes with light dressing and your meal is ready. You can add some grilled chicken on it or some tofu is fine.
  4. Nuts – are highly source of energy. Have a handful of almonds or cashews during snack time for an instant energy boost. Or top these nuts on your salads or even in smoothies.
  5. Legumes – such as peas and beans are packed with vitamins and minerals that are awesome for metabolism fro digestion, magnesium for strong bones and iron for healthy blood cells. You can cook legumes with ground beef for some burritos or just simply top it off on your salad.

These are just few of the foods to eat and win a healthy training. Milk is also essential for those who are not allergic to dairy, and of course lots and lots of water to keep you hydrated all the time.

Eat proper food, don’t skip your meals.

Eating healthy helps you reach your best potential on every sports or any physical activities.

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