The big day approaches - one that has people putting on their stretchy pants, and taking L-tryptophan naps on the couch after gorging on several servings of fat-laden foods. A little indulging is a given on the day of giving thanks, but it doesn’t have to be a calorie mass casualty.
With all the various diet crazes that come and go: South Beach, Atkins, Ovo-Lacto, Whole 30, The Werewolf diet, a diet where you pee on a stick…a diet where you eat cotton balls (seriously?), most agree that protein is essential to your health and well-being.
We’re all guilty of wanting that quick snack before heading to bed. In general, you shouldn’t eat food later than 2 to 3 hours before you head to bed, which isn’t always easy with busy schedules. We know, sometimes you just don’t have a choice but to sit down to a later dinner, and with that meeting first thing in the morning, you really can’t wait 3 hours to hit the hay. While this isn’t the worst once in a while, it is important to try to limit those nights of late dinners. Now, even with those limitations in place, there are several foods you shouldn’t eat before bed.
The ketogenic diet has gained an enormous amount of traction in recent years, boasting the ability to eat high-fat foods like bacon and avocado as one of the primary keys to its requirements. This high-fat, very low carb and protein diet shifts the body into ketosis. This is a natural process that occurs in the body that burns carbohydrates from food for energy. When a lack of carbs is presented, fat is used instead to sustain that supply of energy. This produces ketones, which are chemicals made in the liver. Ketones are produced when the body doesn’t have enough insulin to turn sugar into energy.
It’s pretty safe to say, fresh food is best. But, we also know how difficult it is to always have fresh meals prepared. One can start the week with the best of intentions of meal prepping for the week, and having healthy snacks at the ready, but sometimes life just gets in the way. Unfortunately, you should think twice before reaching for a pre-packaged snack or meal. There are several pitfalls of pre-packaged foods, and we break down some of the worst parts of them.
With everyone becoming so health-conscious nowadays, it’s more important than ever to find quick healthy tweaks to your favorite recipes, that way you can still enjoy comfort food, without having to sacrifice your health. We found a couple of healthy tweaks to your favorite recipes that are simple to do, and won’t affect the taste.
In the past several years, the body positivity movement has gained some strides. Ad campaigns like Dove have embraced women of all ages, and models like Ashley Graham have put plus size on the catwalk and covers of magazines. Airbrushing flaws until the person is beyond recognition have eased up considerably on billboards. Publications have also stopped offering ways to drop ten pounds in 24 hours, lest they start a rash of unattainable goals that result in diet disorders.
When you’re in the market for a new protein powder make sure to peruse the ingredient labels the next time you are at your local nutrition store or health food joint. One thing you may be overlooking is the sugar content. Many of these so-called healthy powders are heavy on the sugar and seriously lacking when it comes to protein. And while it may make your shake taste like it came from a malt shop, it won’t be doing your waist any favors. According to Healthy Living, the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition published research showing that a higher protein diet can help weight loss. However, some of the protein powders used to achieve this are loaded with added sugar which can wipe out the benefit and in some cases even cause weight gain.
There are certain things that we just know we have to have plenty of. Water, for one, it’s essential to everything, and we are constantly being told to drink more water. You may also hear that about fiber, though this one is not as easy to do as drinking enough H2O. However, there are a great many benefits of a high fiber diet, so this should definitely be worked into your diet plan.
When you are striving to live a healthy lifestyle, there are many factors that must be taken into consideration. Many people know about getting enough exercise and drinking enough water each day, but they may still not be feeling at the top of their game, especially after eating a meal that contains wheat, barley, or rye. If this is the case, it’s possible that you have a gluten allergy or intolerance. We’ve put together some common signs of gluten allergy or intolerance, however, please consult a doctor if you feel that you have an allergy or intolerance to food or ingredients.
Everyone knows there’s more to building lean muscle than just increasing the amount of food eaten. Unfortunately, it’s not as easy as adding pizza and ice cream to your diet, however, there are lots of snacks to help gains that taste good and are easy to add into your diet. Eating healthy doesn’t have to be tough, and aside from our delicious protein powders, there are easy ways to help build up that lean muscle your body wants and needs.
Finding a healthy diet and sticking to it can sometimes feel like the Holy Grail. Try as they might, many Americans don’t know how to eat a healthy diet. The long list of fads found on Instagram, Pinterest, and morning talk shows are often misleading. Not only are their punishing menus not sustainable in the long run, but they don’t supply the body with enough nutrients. It’s no wonder with all these flashy quick-fix distractions, that settling on a well-balanced diet seems as likely as spotting Bigfoot. Protein is one of the most important nutritional needs for creating the body that rocks the party. So if you plan on partying, you need to eat your protein. The question is, how much is the right amount for a healthy body?
