Eat an apple every day for good health.
Eat an apple every day for good health.
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What are some healthy snacks that make you feel full? from Amy S.
Snacks with a decent amount of protein and fiber will make you feel full and are good for you. For example, Orville Redenbachers Gourmet Popping corn, single serving for the microwave, has just 100 calories with 4 g fiber and 3 g protein. Skippy creamy peanut butter has 95 calories per 1 tablespoon with 1 gram fiber and 3.5 g protein. Put it on 1 slice of 100% whole wheat bread (Nature's Pride double fiber has 100 calories, 6 g fiber and 4 g protein) and pile high with lots of romaine and shredded red cabbage. Walnuts, 1/4 cup, have 200 calories, 2 g fiber and 5 g protein. Women should get about 25 g of fiber per day and 50 g of protein per day.
What are antioxidants? from Jim T.
Antioxidants are healthful chemicals in plants that include phytochemicals, vitamins, minerals and fiber; they benefit us when we eat them. Antioxidants stop harmful free radicals that are formed in the body during cell respiration. But free radicals also form due to air pollution and smoking. The free radicals can damage DNA and lead to diseases. Food with the deepest colors has the most antioxidants. The top 3 foods are 1/2 cup of small, dried red beans, 1 cup of wild blueberries, and 1/2 cup of dried, red kidney beans. Spices are also packed with antioxidants. Just 1 tsp of ground cinnamon has 7 times the anitoxidants in 1/2 cup of red grapes! Read more here.
What's the best diet? from Mary C.
Consumer Reports rated diets in June 2005 according to pounds lost, nutrition, and ease of use. Weight Watchers tied with Slim Fast for first place. Weight Watchers was a winner because of good support groups, and Slim Fast was the best on most weight lost and kept off. The Atkins Diet was rated the worst because of bad nutrition and poor retention of weight lost.
What is fiber and why should I eat it? from Jan A.
Fiber is the part of plants that is not digestible by humans. There are two types, soluble and insoluble. Soluble fiber, called pectin, mixes with water in the small intestines to slow down digestion, and that is a good thing. It lowers the bad cholesterol, LDL, and makes you feel fuller longer. Insoluble fiber, called cellulose, keeps things moving through the colon and keeps you regular. Fiber helps with weight loss too. Fruits, vegetable, grains and legumes are all high fiber foods. Women over 50 should aim for 21 grams of fiber and women under 50 should get about 25 grams per day.
As reported in Prevention magazine in August 2006, a study at Tuffs University found that women who ate 13 grams or less of fiber per day were 5 times as likely to be overweight as those who ate more fiber.
Find out more about fiber here.
You read all over how to eat healthy, but what should you not eat? from Mike M.
To stay healthy, you should not eat or greatly limit: sugar, salt, red meat, processed meat (like bacon, ham, deli meats), regular or diet pop, refined carbs like white bread, white rice and white flour, fried foods, vegetable oils made with corn or soybean, and bakery items like pies, cakes, and cookies.
As reported in the September 2005 Vegetarian Times, Canadian researchers found that 38 adults with high blood pressure and near diabetic showed dramatic improvement in 8 weeks after following the Mediterranean Diet.
I'm working on the contract negotiations team at the the small industrial plant where I am a manager. It has been a very stressful time over the past few weeks. What can I do, in terms of diet and exercise, to help relieve my stress? from Steve S.