Have you heard of this? I am sure you have. 'An apple a day keeps the doctor away'. It's a new fad of mine. I bring an apple to work everyday. Well that's the first step is it not? Actually buying it and taking it to work? Now ask me what I do with the apple? I ate it the first day. The second day, I told myself well, 'I will have it for lunch', forgot about it, and decided maybe for a snack. It got too busy and forgot about it again. The next day brought another apple to work. Same story. The next and the next ditto. Now I have 4 applies sitting in my drawer. It's the weekend. I am wondering if I should take them all home and start all over again,or just leave them inside the drawer for next week.
Decided. Will leave it at work. I'll come back to discover their state on Monday.
Friday, March 18, 2011
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Sshhh, there's a new diet program nobody's is heard about until now
The Dukan diet - Quite similar to Atkins but introducing different types of foods in stages.
Read this - Dr. Dukan from whom this diet program originated is as follows-
His low-fat approach is organized into four phases: "attack, cruise, consolidation and stabilization. The first encourages dieters to eat as much as they want of nonfatty, protein rich foods, including oat bran (a key component) washed down with oceans of water. The second stage introduces vegetables, but no fruit; the third brings with it two slices of bread, a serving of cheese and fruit and two servings of carbohydrates a day, with two weekly “celebration” meals with wine and dessert (the diet is French, after all); and the final stage six days a week of “anything goes” and one day of reversion to strict protein-only stage one — for the rest of your life".
The only must-do daily physical exercises are a 20-minute walk and total elevator avoidance, fine in a city like Paris where five-story buildings are common.
Not sure for how long each stage is but doesn't seem like a difficult one to follow. Hmm maybe easier said than done!
Read this - Dr. Dukan from whom this diet program originated is as follows-
His low-fat approach is organized into four phases: "attack, cruise, consolidation and stabilization. The first encourages dieters to eat as much as they want of nonfatty, protein rich foods, including oat bran (a key component) washed down with oceans of water. The second stage introduces vegetables, but no fruit; the third brings with it two slices of bread, a serving of cheese and fruit and two servings of carbohydrates a day, with two weekly “celebration” meals with wine and dessert (the diet is French, after all); and the final stage six days a week of “anything goes” and one day of reversion to strict protein-only stage one — for the rest of your life".
The only must-do daily physical exercises are a 20-minute walk and total elevator avoidance, fine in a city like Paris where five-story buildings are common.
Not sure for how long each stage is but doesn't seem like a difficult one to follow. Hmm maybe easier said than done!
Monday, March 14, 2011
Obesity in Mexico
Obesity kind of goes hand in hand with the country's poverty state I guess. I was in Mexico just a year ago and one thing that did strike me as odd was that the children there were all more or less obese. I feel sad for Mexico since it does have a lot of potential. However, lack of education is a big drawback in its path to advancement. Education means in turn understanding of health and nutrition which that country is lacking big time.
But there is hope. Looks like the government there is working with the interests of its youth, particularly children. They are banning or working on regulating school cafeteria food. No fried foods, only baked chips and, no sodas. An aggressive change, but a great beginning. I am sure it will make a big difference.
But there is hope. Looks like the government there is working with the interests of its youth, particularly children. They are banning or working on regulating school cafeteria food. No fried foods, only baked chips and, no sodas. An aggressive change, but a great beginning. I am sure it will make a big difference.
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Is it really a sin to be poor?
I have read about it and can't remember that particular book from which this statement came about, 'It's a sin to be poor'. Many a times I have blogged about obesity and the lack of nutrition awareness in people that leads to that obesity. The poor can't help it though. When they have no medical insurance, no access to farmers' markets where fruits and vegetables are grown naturally, when choices are extremely limited, constrained or nil.
Forget obesity, but what about for eg. diabetics in low-income neighborhoods. If survival and every meal is in question, nobody is going to worry about insulin or whole grain foods. It is heart-wrenching to hear stories of people who go to emergency rooms at the very last minute because they have not been able to afford precautions or treatments in the first place.
They all point to money or the lack of it. The poor are not sinners but being poor can be as difficult and bad as sin.
Forget obesity, but what about for eg. diabetics in low-income neighborhoods. If survival and every meal is in question, nobody is going to worry about insulin or whole grain foods. It is heart-wrenching to hear stories of people who go to emergency rooms at the very last minute because they have not been able to afford precautions or treatments in the first place.
They all point to money or the lack of it. The poor are not sinners but being poor can be as difficult and bad as sin.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Dieting with the help of hormones, that's scary
I believe any kind of hormone treatment that is unnatural is risky.
I just read about a new hormone injection that curbs appetite and also helps women lose a pound a day. Also, lose the extra weight in all the right places. This is even available through prescriptions. The hormone generally given to women for infertility is now legally available for doctors to prescribe to women for weight-loss. Doesn't all this sound twisted in some way? That's because it is in many ways. For one, the F.D.A. recently received a report of a patient on this hormone who had a pulmonary embolism. The hormone carried risks of blood clots, depression, headaches and breast tenderness or enlargement. Isn't that enough?
Despite these reports why do women torture themselves and risk their lives. That's because they can lose the weight in all those unwanted place, not feel hungry, not obsess about food, have their body or think they can be in control, and, look fabulous. Who could want for anything more?
I just read about a new hormone injection that curbs appetite and also helps women lose a pound a day. Also, lose the extra weight in all the right places. This is even available through prescriptions. The hormone generally given to women for infertility is now legally available for doctors to prescribe to women for weight-loss. Doesn't all this sound twisted in some way? That's because it is in many ways. For one, the F.D.A. recently received a report of a patient on this hormone who had a pulmonary embolism. The hormone carried risks of blood clots, depression, headaches and breast tenderness or enlargement. Isn't that enough?
Despite these reports why do women torture themselves and risk their lives. That's because they can lose the weight in all those unwanted place, not feel hungry, not obsess about food, have their body or think they can be in control, and, look fabulous. Who could want for anything more?
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Friday, March 4, 2011
Food labels
I think most people read labels. It has even become one of my favorite aspect of shopping. I look at the list of ingredients. Drop whatever I am holding if I see corn syrup, high sodium content (which usually is only in canned foods which I don't buy unless they are some thing like black-eyed peas, or garbanzo). And if I do buy them, I rinse them out completely and then use them. But after the sodium, I look at carbohydrates, sugar, then additives, saturated and unsaturated fat. Then move on to protein content. By now if the label hasn't passed of course it is back on the shelf. The product gets into my cart if they are fresh fruits or vegetables for sure, or if they are un-modified breads, natural juices and things like that.
When I buy desserts, I just look at the fat and corn syrup part of it. If those are okay then I get them. Nowadays we have to worry about GMO, the genetically modified foods. I think the government should pass a regulation to list them out as well. I will then try to avoid it too.
My family is usually very eager to check out my grocery purchases and most of the time get turned off when their favorite junk foods are not there. They usually are never there. Any complaints about no junk food usually results in NO JUNK food. If somebody wants them then they should go to the store to buy them. After it comes to the house they usually disappear within a day. They can then find it in the trash and by the third day they are usually forgotten because they think somebody has finished it off.
When I buy desserts, I just look at the fat and corn syrup part of it. If those are okay then I get them. Nowadays we have to worry about GMO, the genetically modified foods. I think the government should pass a regulation to list them out as well. I will then try to avoid it too.
My family is usually very eager to check out my grocery purchases and most of the time get turned off when their favorite junk foods are not there. They usually are never there. Any complaints about no junk food usually results in NO JUNK food. If somebody wants them then they should go to the store to buy them. After it comes to the house they usually disappear within a day. They can then find it in the trash and by the third day they are usually forgotten because they think somebody has finished it off.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
What is the verdict? Good or Bad?
It's nothing serious if you are wondering what this is about. Hmm. Actually it could be. As long as you watch it, it'll be okay. It's all about coconut oil. Is it good or bad to use them in your regular diet? Can regular use of coconut oil actually lead to heart disease or clogging of your arteries?
If your ethnicity is Indian, i.e. if you are from India,you'd know that certain areas do their entire cooking using coconut oil. I use it extremely sparingly in mine. Only certain dishes call for coconut oil anyway. Some years ago I read it is high in saturated fat and bad all around. Then, I read that fresh coconut if used in chutneys is okay as long as it is not cooked over heat. Well, so I started making chutneys off and on. Next piece of tidbit on that was it is high in HDL and not so high in LDL. That's good news. So, I started using a little more of it and never worried about coconut chutneys in restaurants.
The latest is use it sparingly since it increases both good and bad cholesterol. If it increases bad cholesterol then it definitely is not good. So I am going to now back off and stay there!
If your ethnicity is Indian, i.e. if you are from India,you'd know that certain areas do their entire cooking using coconut oil. I use it extremely sparingly in mine. Only certain dishes call for coconut oil anyway. Some years ago I read it is high in saturated fat and bad all around. Then, I read that fresh coconut if used in chutneys is okay as long as it is not cooked over heat. Well, so I started making chutneys off and on. Next piece of tidbit on that was it is high in HDL and not so high in LDL. That's good news. So, I started using a little more of it and never worried about coconut chutneys in restaurants.
The latest is use it sparingly since it increases both good and bad cholesterol. If it increases bad cholesterol then it definitely is not good. So I am going to now back off and stay there!
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
We are out worst critic
I have heard it several times and it's true. I am my worst critic be it work or cooking or looks or something else,... I tend to berate myself quite a bit. Latest on self image studies say it is a healthy thing to be kind of one self. People who are easy on themselves are happier and more content.
I don't know if setting high expectations for oneself would equate to self-esteem or lack of and in turn relate to contentment. However, studies say that self-compassion actually promotes everything that is positive in life. It is interesting to see how this translated to food.
One group, was given a lesson in self-compassion with the food. “I hope you won’t be hard on yourself,” the diet instructor said. “Everyone in the study eats this stuff, so I don’t think there’s any reason to feel real bad about it.” Well some out of guilt stayed away while others ate it because they were told not to feel bad. It turns out that people who did not eat actually engaged in 'emotional' eating later on, while others who actually ate some of the unhealthy food earlier on did not do any binge or emotional eating.
Actually I don't know where this study is going. What I gathered was it is better to be kind to yourself and this translates to a more positive happier individual.
I don't know if setting high expectations for oneself would equate to self-esteem or lack of and in turn relate to contentment. However, studies say that self-compassion actually promotes everything that is positive in life. It is interesting to see how this translated to food.
One group, was given a lesson in self-compassion with the food. “I hope you won’t be hard on yourself,” the diet instructor said. “Everyone in the study eats this stuff, so I don’t think there’s any reason to feel real bad about it.” Well some out of guilt stayed away while others ate it because they were told not to feel bad. It turns out that people who did not eat actually engaged in 'emotional' eating later on, while others who actually ate some of the unhealthy food earlier on did not do any binge or emotional eating.
Actually I don't know where this study is going. What I gathered was it is better to be kind to yourself and this translates to a more positive happier individual.
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