Monday, June 15, 2009

Nutrient rich breakfast ideas

Nutrient Rich Breakfast
1. Organic nonfat yogurt, berries of any sort, seeded berries are an excellent source of anti-oxidants, a bit of honey and chopped nuts.
2. Oatmeal with flaxseed, almonds, milk or soy milk and dried blueberries or raisins and a bit of cinnamon.
3. Omega 3 farm fresh eggs, spinich, garlic and onion. Make an omelette.
4. Whole grain toast and natural peanut butter, fruit spread or honey. Sprinkle with cinnamon.
5. Whole grain english muffin and hummas.
6. Cottage cheese with fruit and slivered almonds.
7. A poached egg, toast and tomatoes.
8. A whole grain high fiber cereal, milk and raisins.
9. One whole-grain English muffin, 1ounce melted low-fat cheese and tomato slices

Sunday, June 14, 2009

Vitamin D and weight loss

There may be a link between Vitamin D levels in the body at the start of a low-calorie diet may encourage success.

Subjects in the study had vitamin D levels that many experts are considered insufficient. The authors of the study found that baseline, or pre-diet, vitamin D levels predicted weight loss in a linear relationship. For every increase of 1 ng/mL in level of 25-hydroxycholecalciferol - the precursor form of vitamin D and a commonly used indicator of vitamin D status - subjects ended up losing almost a half pound (0.196 kg) more on their calorie-restricted diet. For each 1-ng/mL increase in the active or "hormonal" form of vitamin D (1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol), subjects lost nearly one-quarter pound (0.107 kg) more.

Additionally, higher baseline vitamin D levels (both the precursor and active forms) predicted a greater loss of belly fat.

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Choosing high nutrient dense foods

Choose High Nutrient Dense Food
Breakfast
 Pick high-fiber, whole-grain cereals.
 Instead of adding sugar (processed from natural cane or beets), top with fresh fruit, such as sliced bananas or strawberries.
 Choose old-fashioned rolled oats rather than instant, flavored oatmeal. Top with honey, walnuts, raisins, low-fat milk.
 Choose whole fruit or pure fruit juices rather than "stripped" juices that have added high-fructose corn syrup added.
Snacks, desserts
 Fruit
 Have a cup of plain yogurt with a half-ounce (2 tablespoons) of raw walnuts and a tablespoon of honey.
 Mix equal amounts of raw almonds, walnuts, pecans, Brazil nuts, and filberts; eat one or two tablespoons a day as a snack (nuts are exceptionally nutrient-dense – they are tiny warehouses of important trace minerals, as well as protective fats, and natural vitamin E).
Midday and evening meals
 Sandwiches made with whole-grain breads, lean meats, tomato slices, lettuce and a little mayonnaise (mayonnaise is a good source of vitamin E)
 All kinds of fish, broiled or baked
 Fill half your plate with veggies.
- Two or three servings of vegetables, some raw (such as salads, carrot sticks), some cooked; choose some fresh vegetables as often as possible.