Recently, I’ve started cooking with coconut oil—sautéing veggies, pan-searing fish, and cooking two-ingredient pancakes—it’s become a staple in my diet. Coconut oil not only tastes great, but it also has some pretty amazing healthy benefits. Here are five reasons why you should add it to you diet!
It might help you lose weight. Thanks to satisfying fat, consuming coconut oil will make you feel full more quickly, so you’ll consume fewer calories overall. Additionally, coconut oil contains medium-chain triglycerides, which have fewer calories than other dietary fats that contain long chain fatty acids (8.3 calories per gram versus 9 calories per gram). Medium-chain triglycerides are easily digestible and quickly converted to energy.
It can give you more beautiful hair and softer skin. Coconut oil provides essential proteins needed for nourishing damaged hair. Massaging coconut oil into your scalp can even help alleviate dandruff issues. Coconut oil also has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that help prevent signs of aging in the skin. Here’s how you can get softer skin with coconut!
It can give you stronger bones and teeth. Coconut oil improves the absorption of calcium and magnesium in the body—both of which are important for healthy teeth and bones.
It can help you ward off colds. Coconut oil contains lauric acid, which has anti-bacterial, anti-microbial, and anti-viral properties that might held fend off potential illnesses. A number of studies show that coconut oil can boost a weakened immune system by improving white blood cell counts, which helps the body fight viruses and infections.
Thursday, 8 August 2013
8 Ways To Maintain A Healthy Weight
A couple of weeks ago, I noticed that my shorts seemed tighter than usual. And then a few days ago, the same thing happened with my jeans. I’m generally not a fan of the scale, but I weighed myself because there were so many questions running through my head. Had I gained weight? Why did my clothes not fit the way the used to? Did my clothes shrink in the dryer? It turns out that I did gain a few pounds. No big deal, but where the heck did those pounds come from?
At first, I thought the weight was due to marathon training, but when I started to think about my diet over the past few months, I noticed that my eating habits were a lot more “laid-back” on the weekends. During the week, my eating habits were pretty healthy. I ate lots of fresh produce, whole grains and low-fat protein, but I let loose on the weekends. All I could think about is the fancy multi-course meals, happy hours, barbecues, wedding celebrations … let’s just say, I had a really fun summer. I guess I embraced “eat, drink and be merry” to its fullest!
When I was losing weight, I noticed that the scale would plateau every few weeks. I wouldn’t lose any weight, and special events were likely to blame for those plateaus. Even when I was losing weight, I never deprived myself. I’d enjoy a beer at happy hour or a piece of cake at a wedding. Those splurges were worth it to me, so I just accepted that those special times would stall my weight loss a little bit, but I wouldn’t have done it any other way. Eventually, the weight came off -- and stayed off.
Looking back on my weight loss and maintenance over the past several years, I know that I have the most success when I eat consistently. Not necessarily consistently healthy, but consistently balanced with mostly nutritious foods mixed with some fun ones.
At first, I thought the weight was due to marathon training, but when I started to think about my diet over the past few months, I noticed that my eating habits were a lot more “laid-back” on the weekends. During the week, my eating habits were pretty healthy. I ate lots of fresh produce, whole grains and low-fat protein, but I let loose on the weekends. All I could think about is the fancy multi-course meals, happy hours, barbecues, wedding celebrations … let’s just say, I had a really fun summer. I guess I embraced “eat, drink and be merry” to its fullest!
When I was losing weight, I noticed that the scale would plateau every few weeks. I wouldn’t lose any weight, and special events were likely to blame for those plateaus. Even when I was losing weight, I never deprived myself. I’d enjoy a beer at happy hour or a piece of cake at a wedding. Those splurges were worth it to me, so I just accepted that those special times would stall my weight loss a little bit, but I wouldn’t have done it any other way. Eventually, the weight came off -- and stayed off.
Looking back on my weight loss and maintenance over the past several years, I know that I have the most success when I eat consistently. Not necessarily consistently healthy, but consistently balanced with mostly nutritious foods mixed with some fun ones.
How to Cut Calories From Smoothies
Chock-full of fiber and protein, smoothies are one of the most nutritious foods you can eat. Whether you order yours from the local cafe or whip one up in your kitchen, it's fun to get creative and add tons of ingredients. If you're not careful, though, you could end up sipping down 500 calories or more. This is fine if you're using it as a meal replacement, but if you're sipping a smoothie along with your toast-and-eggs breakfast or as an afternoon snack, that's way more calories than you want. It's easy to cut out calories without compromising on flavor; here's how.
Drink half: Order a smaller size, cut your recipe in half, or share the other half with a friend. You'll save 150 calories or more.
Add more greens: Fruits are healthy, but they're not void of calories. You can reduce the amount of fruit slightly and increase the greens like spinach or kale, and it'll still taste fruity without as many calories — you'll end up saving around 50.
Use these fruits: If it's out of the question to reduce the amount of fruit, then choose these fruits that are lower in calories: watermelon, cantaloupe, strawberries, peaches, grapefruit, and oranges.
Drink half: Order a smaller size, cut your recipe in half, or share the other half with a friend. You'll save 150 calories or more.
Add more greens: Fruits are healthy, but they're not void of calories. You can reduce the amount of fruit slightly and increase the greens like spinach or kale, and it'll still taste fruity without as many calories — you'll end up saving around 50.
Use these fruits: If it's out of the question to reduce the amount of fruit, then choose these fruits that are lower in calories: watermelon, cantaloupe, strawberries, peaches, grapefruit, and oranges.
How to Lose Back Fat and Armpit Fat
When starting out on a weight loss plan, it is common to want to lose fat from certain areas, including your back and armpits. Unfortunately, according to the American Council on Exercise, spot-reduction of fat isn't possible, as training a certain muscle won't necessarily burn fat from that particular area. The only way to lose fat from your back and armpits is to follow a plan which targets whole-body fat loss, and includes exercises for your problem areas that tone and increase the size of your muscles.
Step 1
Plan your calories carefully. In order to lose fat, you need to be in a calorie deficit, which means eating fewer calories than you burn, which forces your body to burn fat for fuel. The United States Department of Agriculture recommends that women should consume between 1,800 and 2,400 calories per day, and men between 2,000 and 3,000, although both of these amounts depend on your activity levels. Start by consuming around the mid-point of your suggested calorie intake, monitor your progress weekly, and adjust your intake as needed.
Step 1
Plan your calories carefully. In order to lose fat, you need to be in a calorie deficit, which means eating fewer calories than you burn, which forces your body to burn fat for fuel. The United States Department of Agriculture recommends that women should consume between 1,800 and 2,400 calories per day, and men between 2,000 and 3,000, although both of these amounts depend on your activity levels. Start by consuming around the mid-point of your suggested calorie intake, monitor your progress weekly, and adjust your intake as needed.
Obesity Linked to Infertility in Women
Obesity is a known risk factor for ovulation problems, but it also contributes to infertility in women who ovulate normally, new research shows.
Women in the study who were severely obese were 43% less likely to achieve pregnancy than normal-weight women or women who were considered overweight but not obese during the yearlong study.
The study is among the first to examine the relationship between body weight and infertility in women who ovulate, says researcher Jan Willem van der Steeg, MD, of Amsterdam's Academic Medical Center.
"We found that obesity is an additional risk factor for infertility in women who have regular [menstrual] cycles," he tells WebMD. "This is important given the increase in obesity worldwide."
Obesity and Infertility
Van der Steeg and colleagues followed 3,029 couples who were having trouble conceiving on their own.
All the couples had spent a year or more trying to conceive, and none had obvious reasons for fertility problems -- the women were ovulating and had at least one functioning fallopian tube, and the men had normal semen analyses.
The couples were followed until pregnancy was achieved or until they started fertility treatments. In addition to a fertility history, the women's weight, height, and smoking status were measured at study entry.
Women in the study who were severely obese were 43% less likely to achieve pregnancy than normal-weight women or women who were considered overweight but not obese during the yearlong study.
The study is among the first to examine the relationship between body weight and infertility in women who ovulate, says researcher Jan Willem van der Steeg, MD, of Amsterdam's Academic Medical Center.
"We found that obesity is an additional risk factor for infertility in women who have regular [menstrual] cycles," he tells WebMD. "This is important given the increase in obesity worldwide."
Obesity and Infertility
Van der Steeg and colleagues followed 3,029 couples who were having trouble conceiving on their own.
All the couples had spent a year or more trying to conceive, and none had obvious reasons for fertility problems -- the women were ovulating and had at least one functioning fallopian tube, and the men had normal semen analyses.
The couples were followed until pregnancy was achieved or until they started fertility treatments. In addition to a fertility history, the women's weight, height, and smoking status were measured at study entry.
4 Weight-Loss Rules For Your Morning Meal
Skipping meals is never a good weight-loss strategy, especially when it come to breakfast. Eating in the morning wakes up your metabolism, helping you burn more calories throughout your day. A solid first meal of the day also helps keep you feeling satiated so you eat fewer calories later. If you’re working to drop pounds, keep in mind these four breakfast rules.
Eat breakfast within 1 hour of waking: We know that regular breakfast eaters are less likely to be overweight, but the timing of your first meal is important, too. It’s best to eat breakfast within an hour of waking. An early breakfast helps maintain your circadian rhythm and boosts your metabolism early.
Go for protein, not sugar: While pancakes dripping with syrup sounds scrumptious for a Sunday brunch, it’s not something you should devour regularly for breakfast. High-protein choices, like eggs, Greek yogurt, whole grains, and nuts, are lower in calories and provide more energy than a sugary pick-me-up. Here are some breakfasts featuring whole grains, and if you love eggs, try POPSUGAR Food’s recipe for a black bean omelet for a double shot of protein.
Eat breakfast within 1 hour of waking: We know that regular breakfast eaters are less likely to be overweight, but the timing of your first meal is important, too. It’s best to eat breakfast within an hour of waking. An early breakfast helps maintain your circadian rhythm and boosts your metabolism early.
Go for protein, not sugar: While pancakes dripping with syrup sounds scrumptious for a Sunday brunch, it’s not something you should devour regularly for breakfast. High-protein choices, like eggs, Greek yogurt, whole grains, and nuts, are lower in calories and provide more energy than a sugary pick-me-up. Here are some breakfasts featuring whole grains, and if you love eggs, try POPSUGAR Food’s recipe for a black bean omelet for a double shot of protein.
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