Good for You Surprises You Can Add to Your Diet Today
We’ve all been told (or told someone else) that finishing all your veggies or eating fresh fruit every day is a good way to keep your body healthy and fit. But there are some other surprising foods (drinks too) that we can add to our diet that bring impressive health benefits, and (in moderation, of course) might just help us reach our weight loss goals.
Here are the five, good for your surprises:
1. Tea – 3 cups per day of any type that comes from the leaves of the plant Carnellia sinensis, which includes black, green, white and oolong varieties. There is strong evidence that tea might just reduce your risk of heart disease, and offer other less researched benefits such as protection from cancer and cutting your risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Tea appears to have a type of flavonoid from that same family of antioxidants found in fruits, veggies and red wine. To get the most out of your cup of tea, make it strong and steep it a good long time-but if you’re watching your weight, keep an eye on the milk and sugar you add to your cup.
2. Dark Chocolate – a little goes a long way, but just like tea, this delicious treat is believed to have an ample supply of the same flavonoids in red wine, fruits and veggies. Small amounts of dark chocolate have been shown to improve blood vessel flow, and may stabilize blood sugar and insulin sensitivity, thus reducing the risk of diabetes. Choose dark chocolate that contains at least 70% cocoa so you get more of these healthy antioxidants, and fewer calories from the milk and sugars used to make milk or white chocolate.
3. Fatty Fish – two servings per week of fish such as salmon, trout, herring, tuna, sardines or mackerel. These fish are rich in omega – 3 fatty acids, shown to reduce cholesterol, which helps to keep clots from forming and causing heat attacks. The research is so compelling that the American Heart Association recommends eating fatty fish on a regular basis. Be sure you choose grilled or broiled recipes as frying removes many of the beneficial substances in the fish and replaces them with calories and saturated fats.
4. Coffee – despite its bad rap, used in moderation, your first cup of morning coffee may have health benefits you haven’t heard about – including stimulating the brain and nervous system as well as lowering your risk of diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, mood disorders and headaches. Coffee has a compound from the antioxidant family and is a good source of magnesium, both are believed to help improve sugar metabolism, help with insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance. And while black coffee is a tasty zero calorie drink, adding cream, sugar, or other toppings adds calories that you might not want.
5. Avocados – even though these fruits are full of fat, most of it is the heart healthy monounsaturated kind that is believed to lower cholesterol. Avocados have carotenoids, vitamin E and potassium, plus fiber to fill you up. Be aware though, that just because the fats are “good” ones, they still add calories if you aren’t careful about portions. Slice them onto salads, add them to a soup or spread them on bread to keep the potion sizes under control while still getting all the taste and health benefits too.
Adding one or more of these surprisingly healthy options is a great way to improve a diet that could use some help, or boost the healthfulness of one that’s already on the right track. Along with regular exercise, eating a balanced and nutritious diet is still one of the best ways to maintain your weight and your health.
Valerie Slaugther
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/good-for-you-surprises-you-can-add-to-your-diet-today-61635.html
March 12th, 2010 at 9:37 pm
does this diet work !?
and if so. how much weight do you think ill lose while one it.
and also doing an hour of cardio a day..
YOU MUST ABSTAIN FROM ALL ALCOHOL. YOU MUST DRINK 10 GLASSES OF WATER EACH DAY
DAY ONE – All fruits except bananas. Your first day will consist of all the fruits you want. It is strongly suggested that you consume lots of melons on the first day. Especially watermelon and cantaloupe. If you limit your fruit consumption to melons, your chances of losing a lot of weight on the first day are very good.
DAY TWO – All vegetables. You are encouraged to eat until you are stuffed with all the raw or cooked vegetables of your choice. There is no limit on the amount or type. For your complex carbohydrate, you will start day two with a large boiled potato for breakfast. You may top the potato with one pat of butter.
DAY THREE – A mixture of fruits and vegetables of your choice. Any amount, any quantity. No bananas yet. No potatoes today.
DAY FOUR – Bananas and milk. Today you eat as many as eight bananas and drink three glasses of milk. This will be combined with the vegetable soup, which may be eaten in limited quantities.
DAY FIVE – Today is a feast day. You will eat sprouts and paneer and tomatoes. Eat 280 grams of sprouts and paneer. Combine this with six whole tomatoes. On day five you must increase your water intake by one quart. This is to cleanse your system of the uric acid you will be producing.
DAY SIX – Sprouts and paneer and vegetables. Today you may eat an unlimited amount of sprouts and paneer and vegetables. Eat to your heart’s content.
DAY SEVEN – Today your food intake will consist of brown rice, fruit juices and all the vegetables you care to consume.
Vegetables can be taken in the form of salad if desired. No dressing except malt, white vinegar, squeezed lemon, garlic and herbs. No more than one teaspoon of oil. Do keep way from beans (Lima, Pinto, kidney.) because they tend to be high in calories even though they are very good for you.
BEVERAGES YOU MAY CONSUME WHILE ON THE PROGRAMME.
Water flavored with lemon or lime if desired.
Club soda
Black coffee, No cream or cream substitute, No sugar or sweeteners.
Black tea.
No fruit juices before Day 7.
HOW AND WHY IT WORKS.
DAY ONE – You are preparing your system for the upcoming program. Your only source of nutrition is fresh or canned fruits. Fruits are nature’s perfect food. They provide everything that you could possibly want to sustain life except total balance and variety.
DAY TWO – It starts with a fix of complex carbohydrates coupled with an oil does. This taken in the morning for energy and balance. The rest of Day 2 consists of vegetables, which are virtually calorie free and provide essential nutrients and fiber.
DAY THREE – Day 3 eliminates the potato because you are getting your calories from the fruits. Your system is now prepared to start burning the excess pounds. You will still get cravings, which will diminish by Day 4.
DAY FOUR – Bananas, milk and soup sound like the least desirable and strangest diet. You are in for a surprise. You will probably not eat all the bananas that you are allowed. But they are there for the potassium you will have lost and the Sodium that you may have missed during the last 3 days. You will notice a definite loss of desire for sweets. You will be surprised how easily this day will go.
DAY FIVE – Sprouts and tomatoes. The sprouts are for iron and protein. The tomatoes are for digestion and fiber. Lots and lots of water purity your system. You should notice colorless urine today. You must eat 6 tomatoes.
DAY SIX – Day 6 is similar to Day 5. Iron and proteins from sprouts, vitamins and fiber iron vegetables. By now your system is a total weight loss inclination. There should be a noticeable difference in the way you look from Day 1.
DAY SEVEN – Day 7 finishes of the program like a good cigar used to finish of the Victorian meal. Except it is much healthier. You have your system under control and it should thank you for the flushing and cleaning you just gave it.
March 13th, 2010 at 2:39 am
This sounds retarded.
Losing weight is more of a lifestyle change….fad diets don’t work because you will revert to old habits in no time at all.
If you really feel like you need to "cleanse" your body, just drink water. Cleansing is what your kidneys are for.
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March 13th, 2010 at 2:41 am
I heard of that diet before… but you eat a bowl or two of cabbage soup.
cause that doesnt sound very healthy and you will bound to gain it all back and possibly more very quickly.
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March 13th, 2010 at 2:43 am
count calories and exercise, be reasonable and drink lots of water. You will undoubtedly lose weight. Don’t go under 1200 calories a day and try not to lose more than 2 lbs pr week or it won’t stay off (trust me been there done that) Also take a multi-vitamin. Good luck!
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March 13th, 2010 at 2:45 am
This is the worst diet i have ever seen in my entire life wheres the protein where is the meat for God sake… there is no source of protein not even beans are aloud… wow…. i mean i dont even know where to begin on how many levels of wrong this is i would go with dont go on this diet because you would be depriving your body a good diet… if you would like help on losing weight i would be happy to write out a diet that makes since for u and if u wanna clean your body out then drink goji juice, sauna, and drink plenty of water, and colon cleanse that will more than be enough to clean your body… email me if u would like help on your diet
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March 13th, 2010 at 2:47 am
DAY EIGHT- your very weak from getting no protein!
dumbest shit ive ever heard.
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