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The Dangers of Belly Fat
It might seem strange to follow a post about our society’s unhealthy emphasis on thinness with a post about the dangers of belly fat, but the truth is, we need to find a balance that will allow for both a healthy body and a healthy self image. No matter what we might call it, spare tire, pot belly or beer keg, having excess fat in your abdominal area is never a good thing. As a matter of fact, it presents a very serious danger. Health Risks of Belly Fat Belly fat is not like the fat on other parts of your body. It is far more serious. When you have…
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Twiggy is the new normal
I am old enough to remember the 1960’s. Yes, I was just a kid, but I remember the Vietnam war, Walter Cronkite on the evening news, and the Beatles on the Ed Sullivan show. I also remember the semi-scandalous splash that was made back then by a young fashion model named Twiggy. Women’s clothing in the 1960’s was colourful. Skirts were appallingly short, or long, depending upon your tastes. The motto was pretty much “anything goes,” as long as it was daring and bright. Into the midst of all this, came a young model from the U.K. who called herself Twiggy. The name, Twiggy, was well chosen. She was shockingly…
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Healthy Cooking – Salt and Seasonings
Salt and seasonings can turn an ordinary meal into a work of culinary art, but many people are concerned about getting too much salt in their diets and timid about experimenting with herbs and spices. Salt can cause problems with high blood pressure and water retention or bloating. While you do need some salt in your diet for good health, those of us who enjoy fast food and prepackaged snacks typically get way too much. When shopping for ingredients, look for items labeled as “low sodium” or “sodium free.” By choosing lower sodium foods, you can control how much salt you add to your meals. When you must use salt,…
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Healthy Cooking – The Pleasures and Perils of Sugar
Sugar is definitely an area where most of us tend to have too much of a good thing. Your brain needs to have sugars in order to function. But this doesn’t mean you need to have that doughnut! Eating processed sugar provides a great jolt that makes you feel fantastic while it lasts, but then leads to a crash as blood sugar levels drop right back down again. Some people are more sensitive to this than others. I personally have felt a natural sugar crash from eating a whole apple by itself. Having some protein tends to moderate this for me. Maybe have some cheese with that apple? Children seem…
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Healthy Cooking – Using a Slow Cooker
Using a slow cooker to prepare healthy meals can make life easier for any busy cook. This is a healthy way to cook and can really be a time saver in your life. With slow cookers you can add ingredients to the pot, set the temperature, and then walk away for hours. This can be especially helpful if you have a job outside of your home or just a very busy schedule. You can put healthy foods in to cook but then you can continue with your activities knowing that you’ll have a great meal for dinner, ready to eat at the end of the work day. The biggest complaint…
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Techniques for Healthy Cooking – Steaming
Steaming is very healthy and flavourful way to cook. It is especially good for cooking fresh vegetables. You can purchase a special steamer that plugs into the wall or you can convert an ordinary pan into a steamer by inserting a special steaming basket made of metal or bamboo. With steaming, you just add add some water to the pan, then add the steaming basket. Your veggies go on top of the basket so that the water doesn’t actually cover the vegetables or even touch them. You’ll then need to put a lid on your pot to keep the steam in. As you heat the water at the bottom of…
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Healthy Cooking – Grilling – Baking – Broiling
When it comes to healthy cooking, several methods that give great taste and good health are grilling, baking, and broiling. None of these methods add extra fat to your food and they all impart a wonderful flavour and texture to your meals. Grilling One of the healthiest ways to cook is to use your grill. Here in Canada, many people grill outdoors year round, even during the cold and snows of winter. Most outdoor grills use charcoal or propane gas. Gas grilling is quicker than using charcoal, but doesn’t have the same flavour as charcoal. Grilling can also be done indoors. There are many indoor grill models available for purchase.…
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Healthy Cooking – Healthy Fats and Substitutes
Many times when people decide to eat healthy foods, they try to eliminate fats from their diet. However, your body needs healthy fats and substitutes in order to function properly. The fat soluble vitamins A,D,E,K, and F are absorbed by the body with the fat that we eat, and are also necessary for the metabolism of certain minerals. To understand how dietary fat is important, you’ll need to know the difference between saturated fats and unsaturated fats. Saturated Fats Saturated fats are solid at room temperature and are animal based. You find these fats in meats and dairy products such as bacon, butter, and lard. These are the fats that…
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Healthy Cooking – Frying
When you think about healthy cooking frying is not usually the first method that comes to mind. Frying involves cooking your food in some kind of fat or oil. When you fry foods, it usually adds a large amount of fat or oil to your food as the fat is absorbed by the food as it cooks. While fat is something that your body needs, it doesn’t need it in such high amounts. If you are trying to lose weight, you need to be especially careful about your fat consumption. Fat is very high in calories and reducing your fat intake is an easy way to reduce your overall calorie…
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Techniques for Healthy Cooking
If you’re trying to improve your health, one of the best things you can do is to incorporate healthy cooking techniques into your meal preparation. Sometimes when people talk about healthy cooking, it can sound intimidating and even unappetizing. We get used to doing things a certain way, and having things a certain way, so we are leery of making changes. But healthy cooking doesn’t have to be difficult or bland. Quite the contrary! Benefits for You Fresh natural foods, simply prepared, can be the most flavourful and delicious of all. And with just a few small changes, you can make a big difference in your health and the health…
