Understanding What Happens When You Cut Out Processed Foods

You may want to eliminate processed foods from your daily diet plan in order to improve your overall health. Foods that are processed are altered by a variety of methods, including adding artificial chemicals such as dyes, flavor enhancers or preservatives. In addition, the process of altering foods can include heating, freezing or drying methods. Some foods are processed by adding sodium, salt or fat to change the flavor of the items or to lengthen its shelf life. Today, the majority of foods in a supermarket are processed, so it isn't easy to avoid these foods, but if you do, then you will notice healthy changes in your body. 

Change 1: A Decrease Of Your Blood Pressure

Foods that are processed are typically high in sodium. This additive is used to keep foods fresh during shipping and while the items are stored in warehouses. If you read the labels on food packages, then you will notice several names for salt or sodium, including: 

• Baking powder
• MSG
• Baking soda
• Disodium phosphate

Experts recommend eating only a small amount of sodium each day, and the best way to do this by eating natural unprocessed foods. 

Change 2: You Will Have Normal Blood Sugar Levels

Manufacturers also add a lot of sugar to foods to preserve the items and to change the flavor of fruits, vegetables and meat. Sugar also has numerous names such as:

• Dextrose 
• Brown rice syrup
• Molasses 
• Corn syrup
• Barley malt

If you are diabetic, then reducing your sugar consumption is essential to control your blood sugar levels. 

Change 3: Reduction In Body Inflammation

If you suffer from arthritis or fibromyalgia, then reducing your body's inflammation can help you to feel better. The chemicals that manufacturers add to foods can lead to allergic responses that include pain in the joints, muscles and tendons. After switching to a natural diet, your body begins to eliminate the artificial ingredients that are in processed foods, and within a few weeks, you will notice a reduction in your body pain.

Change 4: An Improvement In Your Mental Mood

When you are eating a lot of foods that are filled with chemicals, it can affect your mood, leading to depression or anxiety. By consuming a cleaner diet of natural unprocessed foods, you can improve your mood. No one really understands how the additives in foods can affect your mind, so if you have a mood disorder, then try changing to a natural diet to see if it helps you to feel better. 

5 Tips for Getting Back On The Rails with Your Diet After the Holidays

The holidays are a time for indulging, but you might wonder once you've gotten started how you will stop. The five tips below can all help you get back on track if too much rich food and other indulgences have put your diet plan in jeopardy. 

Eat on schedule

Holiday snacking and big meals served mid-afternoon can all contribute to losing track of the good health habits you've been working on. Make sure that you start eating your meals at regular intervals again with healthy snacks built in as needed.

Drink water

The holidays are ripe for overindulgence in eggnog, sugar-laden punches, alcohol and other unhealthy beverages. Get back into the habit of staying healthily hydrated by drinking water regularly again. Add a sliver of lemon, lime or cucumber if it tastes too plain.

Get rid of temptation

If your house is still stocked with holiday treats and leftovers, it's time to get rid of them. Take them to work, give them to a neighbor or throw them out, and put healthy food back in their place. If it isn't there, you can't be tempted by it.

Don't be discouraged by holiday weight gain

A big diet derail can occur if you feel as though there's no point in trying to reset your healthy habits just because you've been indulgent. Whether it's one meal, one day or several weeks of unhealthy eating, you don't have to throw your hands up in despair. Just shift back to your old healthy habits and you'll start to see results.

Rethink your diet

This can actually be a great time to do a reset of some of your habits. You might want to look into signing up for a meal planning service, doing more cooking and freezing of food on weekends or cutting back on your restaurant meals in the year ahead.

The holidays can be a tough time for healthy eating. However, you can follow the above steps to shift to a healthier mindset and better habits no matter how indulgent you've been.

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Four Trends in Fitness That Will Be Huge in 2018

 

Arguably, there has never been a time when our society was more fascinated by fitness. People increasingly realize that you need to have a sensible diet to lose extra weight. Nevertheless, most people also realize that exercise is crucial for living a longer, healthier life. Here are three trends in fitness that should prove influential in the coming year:

1. Group Fitness Coaching
Group coaching gives you access to a certified trainer without unduly burdening your budget. As gyms have reached a saturation point throughout many communities, group coaching has taken on new importance within the fitness industry. In fact, a large proportion of new gyms are exclusively focused around group training, which is one of the most dynamic modern trends in fitness. 

Though gyms have always offered classes, the evolving paradigm for group coaching represents a new level of sophistication on the part of coaches and participants alike. People now have access to highly specialized group sessions that are tailored to their specific needs. You can now find coaching gyms in smaller communities that might have been lucky to have any gyms at all in previous decades. 

2. Wearable Fitness Devices 
Even though wearable fitness aids aren't new, it seems that wearables will soon achieve an extraordinary new level of mass acceptance throughout society. Although Adidas has announced they intend to stop making wearable fitness devices, a number of other manufacturers are prepping new devices with remarkable new features. Apple has announced that they will launch a feature called Heart Study for the Apple Watch. According to the sparse details currently available, Heart Study will analyze your personal data to detect oddities in your heart rhythms. As the reigning king of wearable fitness technology, Fitbit is also facing a lot of pressure to up its game in 2018. All signs point to 2018 being an exciting year for fitness wearables.

3. Body Weight Routines 
Just ten years ago, it seemed perfectly normal to work a scheduled eight-hour shift and head to the gym immediately after work. In this era of gigs, part-time jobs and economic uncertainty, it can be hard to have a consistent fitness schedule. In 2018, people will increasingly look for ways to train their bodies without the use of any equipment at all. This type of exercise fits the "less is more" ethos of the times. 

4. Yoga
Of all the body weight regimens that are popular today, yoga is one of the most versatile. Although this Indian health practice is thousands of years old, yoga remains a hip, of-the-moment method of fitness development. As yoga's popularity demonstrates, some trends in fitness seem to get more entrenched every year. Though you don't have to have any particular beliefs to engage with yoga, the meditation that is integral to yoga can provide genuine relief for a troubled soul.

Pitless Avocados are a Real Thing and They're Awesome

Avocados are known for having those large pits that you need to cut around. While the pits are great for kitchen-window science experiments, the awkward shape of the fruit leads many to cut incorrectly, often leading to injury (a.k.a. "avocado hand"). Plus, the pit can be annoying -- who needs it? Plant breeders have come to the rescue, though, with a pitless version that will have you cutting the fruit easily while preserving the safety of your hands.

What These Really Are

There are three pitless versions of avocados. One is a naturally occurring but very rare version, where the pit is either very tiny or generally nonexistent. You can't really spot these when shopping; you get them through the luck of the draw.

The second version is an odd but ingenious one. Small baby fruit are cut open and the pit removed, and then the skin of the fruit is sewn back together with tree bark twine made from the avocado tree. As the fruit grows, the flesh and skin knit back together, creating a whole fruit that doesn't have a pit. These are boutique fruits, of course, but they are available from a mail-order company.

The third version is similar to the first but purposefully grown. If you don't pollinate the blossom, fruit can still form, but it is more likely to not have a seed. Some growers have started producing orchards where avocado blossoms are purposefully not pollinated so that more of the fruit appears without a pit. These fruits can be longer than a traditional avocado, but they taste the same.

How to Use Them

Use pitless avocados the same way you would use traditional fruit, but be careful to weigh the flesh before using it in recipes that call for a specific number of fruits, rather than a volume or weight of flesh. You can get a good 30 percent or more of extra avocado flesh from a pitless fruit, which can throw off recipes if you're not careful. If you like avocado fruit, you will love these pitless versions.

The Health Benefits of Cinnamon

Cinnamon is a remarkably popular spice that has been utilized as a medicine by people in many nations throughout the world. In addition, this spice is highly prized for its remarkable culinary qualities. Because of its uniquely sweet and earthy taste, this spice is used in a wide variety of recipes. According to impartial food researchers, cinnamon powder (CP) may provide a number of excellent health benefits. 

Reportedly, CP contains a lot of natural chemicals called antioxidants. One major theory of aging holds that the aging process is caused by the proliferation of free radicals in the body. Because they eliminate free radicals, antioxidants are thought to slow down the rate of your aging. While not all scientists agree with the free radical theory, this theory has a fair amount of acceptance in modern medicine. CP is derived from the bark of the cinnamomum tree. Specific, beneficial compounds in CP include cinnamic acid and cinnamaldehyde. Other CP components include flavonoids and phenolic acids. Due to its unique chemical makeup, CP can boost your immune system and reduce inflammation. CP may potentially reduce your risk for contracting heart disease, diabetes and several types of cancer. 

CP contains a number of important vitamins and minerals. These include Vitamin K, iron and a whole lot of manganese. Because CP is a strong-tasting spice packed with a lot of beneficial things, a bit of this spice can go a very long way. Dietitians report that you can see benefits from as little as one half teaspoon of CP per day. Further benefits of CP intake include better digestion and more normal blood sugar levels. Researchers have claimed that of all the commonly used foods and spices, CP is one of the most diverse. To date, scientists have isolated over 40 protective compounds within this delicious food. Arguably, CP is even better for your health than celebrated spices like garlic and oregano. 

If you're already a fan of CP, you'll be happy to know there are hundreds of popular recipes that include this food. Along with other foods known to reduce oxidative stress, CP is commonly called a "superfood." Other foods in this category include red wine, dark chocolate and many types of berries. Of course, superfoods are only beneficial if they are used in moderation. It is particularly important for people to consume plenty of antioxidants if they are over the age of 45. Though there a variety of ways you can improve your diet, the benefits of consuming CP should not be underestimated.

Arguably, people need more information about the benefits and properties of various foods. If necessary, we should be willing to devote public funds to dietary research. After all, poor diet contributes to quite a few public health issues. Every year, taxpayers must foot the bill to treat millions of cases of diabetes, heart disease and hypertension. People need access to plentiful, accurate information to make better dietary choices. Public and private institutions should come together to promote the use of CP and other foods with demonstrably beneficial properties. Although eating right is a personal responsibility, it's not a bad idea to nudge people in the right direction.

How To Treat the "Back to Work Blues"

After a long holiday weekend or vacation, you may experience the back to work blues. Feeling sad when you return to your regular lifestyle is a common occurrence, but you can overcome the emotions associated with returning to work. Here are several ways to treat this condition so that you won't develop long-term depression. 

Treatment 1: Plan Before You Begin a Holiday

To avoid a letdown feeling after the holiday break or a summer vacation, make sure to plan your first few workdays. Organize your work environment to make it easier to cope with a new schedule when you return to an office. Instead of beginning with the difficult tasks at work, start with the simple jobs so that you won't feel overwhelmed. 

Treatment 2: Maintain a Regular Schedule While You Are On a Holiday

Avoid getting off schedule while you are on a vacation or extended holiday weekend. If you maintain your regular daily schedule, then your circadian rhythms will remain normal. Having the same circadian rhythms will help your brain and body to remain healthier so that you won't develop a low mood after you return to work. 

Treatment 3: Get Enough Sleep Before Returning To Work 

Make sure to get enough sleep before returning to work on Monday morning. Prepare your bedroom to create a soothing environment with the right temperature and proper bedding. Relax by reading a book, performing meditation or listening to quiet music. With this preparation method, you are more likely to feel rested in the morning. 

Treatment 4: Consume a Nutritious Diet

It is easy to consume a poor diet while you are on a holiday, but this will reduce your well-being. While you might want to enjoy a treat occasionally while on vacation, continue to eat a nutritious diet as much as possible. To feel your best on the day that you return to work, make sure to plan a healthy breakfast. 

Treatment 5: Have an Exercise Regimen

Instead of watching television throughout the holidays, prevent the back to work blues by maintaining an exercise regimen. When you are traveling during the holidays, you can engage in physical activity by performing calisthenics in a motel or by taking long walks near a relative's home. 

Treatment 6: Don’t Become Overwhelmed By a Pile Of Work

After returning to work, you may have thousands of emails or telephone calls to respond to, but you shouldn't become overwhelmed by these tasks. Instead of trying to contact every client, prioritize the telephone calls and emails. Remember that you have the rest of your workweek to catch up on your tasks. 

Treatment 7: Change Your Daily Lifestyle 

If you have a bad case of back to work blues, then it is a sign that you must change your daily lifestyle. You may be a workaholic who only has fun during the holidays when your company closes for a few days. To feel better all of the time, you should have a daily schedule that includes fun activities so that you are physically and mentally healthy. 

5 Most Nutritious Power Foods

Power foods are defined as foods that are loaded with key nutrients. Although there are many nutritious items of the market, these are some of the most popular super foods. 

Bok Choy

Also known as Chinese white cabbage, Bok Choy can provide you with over 50 percent of the day's suggested serving of Vitamin C when you eat just one cooked cup of this nutritious veggie. The vegetable has been shown to 

• Promote optimal bone health
• Naturally lower blood pressure
• Significantly reduce inflammation
• Fight against certain cancers like prostrate, breast, and lung
• Protect the skin from the sun, polluted air, and smoke

The veggie was founded in China thousands of years ago, but today Bok Choy can be obtained virtually anywhere in the world. 

Canned Salmon

The canned and pouches of salmon that is typically found on the shelves of grocery stores are rich in omega-3s. One pouch of salmon is equivalent to two weekly servings of fish. Maintaining a diet with fish may provide you this the following benefits

• Drastically lower the risks of heart attacks and stroke
• Prevent serious mental disorders like depression
• Lower the chance of developing diabetes
• Support great vision in old age
• Improve sleeping patterns

Canned salmon is considerably less expensive than fresh salmon, so it can easily become a part of your daily diet. 

Tomato Sauce 

Known as one of America's most popular products, tomato sauce is a recognized power food since one tablespoon contains 3.5 grams of antioxidants like lycopene. Along with supporting a healthy immune system, tomato sauce has also been reported to

• Remove damaging free radicals from the body
• Decrease risk of prostate cancer
• Prevent skin damage caused by too much sun exposure
• Facilitate proper red blood cell function
• Help manage weight

Tomato sauce is a versatile ingredient. The product can be added to pasta, chilli, beef stock, and pizza. 

Baby Spinach
Did you know that two cups of baby spinach provide over three times the suggested dose of vitamin K? Check out the other amazing benefits of baby spinach.

• Ensures that free radicals do not damage the colon
• Maintains excellent brain function including memory and mental clarity
• Encourages a well-functioning cardiovascular system
• Helps lower blood pressure
• Builds stronger muscles

Baby spinach can be a delicious and nutritious addition to most soups, salads, and even sandwiches. The vegetable doesn't have to be cooked before making great lunch foods. 

Vegetable Juice 
If you always have a busy schedule, you might want to consider consuming vegetable juice to get you through the day. This well-known power food boasts key nutrients including vitamin A, fiber, and potassium. According to much research, these nutrients may play an important role in

• Providing the body with hydration
• Supporting optimal detoxification
• Reducing the onset of cancer and cardiovascular disease
• Promoting healthy growth of cells
• Offering a long-lasting energy boost

Most vegetable juices are comprised of numerous vegetables like carrots, beef, tomato, and romaine lettuce; and as a result, it's considered one of the ultimate power foods. 

Because of their many health benefits, power foods should definitely be included in your diet. Many of these types of food can be incorporated into your favorite recipes.

4 Least Healthy and 4 Most Healthy Foods For the Holidays

During the holidays, it is easy to make bad nutritional choices at a relative’s home or at a restaurant’s buffet. It is important to enjoy the holidays with the fantastic main or side dishes that are available, and you will also want to enjoy tasty desserts. However, it is easy to gain weight throughout the holidays, and if you have medical conditions such as high blood pressure or diabetes mellitus, then you must use caution while selecting foods. Here is a list of the least and most healthy foods that are served at holiday meals. 

Food 1: Baked Turkey Is Nutritious

Turkey is a nutritious food that is full of protein, and if you don’t cook it in oil, then it is also low in fat. This delicious poultry also contains phosphorus, potassium, iron, vitamin B and zinc. The best way to cook turkey is by baking or roasting methods rather than deep-frying it. 

Food 2: Pecan Pie Is High In Sugar

While pecan pie is full of nuts that have protein, it is one of the least healthy foods during the holidays. This is because this dessert has a lot of sugar in its ingredients that include honey, maple syrup, molasses or brown sugar. Pecan pie is also made with several eggs and large amounts of butter, making this dessert high in fat. 

Food 3: Green Bean Casserole Contains Nutrients

Green bean casserole is a favorite vegetable dish during the holidays, and it has several nutrients that your body requires for optimal health. This side dish contains delicious green beans along with mushroom soup, milk, soy sauce and breaded onion rings. 

Food 4: Gravy Is High In Fat

If you enjoy pouring gravy on your mashed potatoes and stuffing, then you should know that this food is high in fat and low in nutrients. Gravy is made using the fatty juices from meats such as turkey, and this liquid is mixed with cornstarch or flour. 

Food 5: Mashed Potatoes Contain Vitamins and Minerals

Potatoes contain minerals and vitamins, but it is possible to ruin this food with the wrong recipe. Some of the nutrients in potatoes include vitamin C and B along with calcium and iron. Use low-fat milk while making mashed potatoes to reduce the calories in this food. 

Food 6: Fudge Has a Lot Of Sugar and Fat

Fudge is delicious, but one small piece is filled with fat and sugar. This holiday dessert is made with butter, whole milk and sugar along with chocolate or peanut butter morsels. 

Food 7: Nutritious Brussels Sprouts

Many holiday buffets include Brussels sprouts that contain nutrients such as calcium along with vitamins C and A. These tiny cabbages are easy to prepare with a roasting or boiling method, and you can sprinkle herbs or seasonings on this vegetable.

Food 8: Turkey Stuffing 

Traditional holiday stuffing is often cooked inside a turkey’s cavity, and this is what makes this one of the least healthy foods. The dry pieces of bread in stuffing will absorb the fat from the turkey, making this side dish high in calories. 

Vegetarian Bacon is a Thing and You Need to Try It

Whether or not you are a vegetarian, many people also choose to stay away from bacon because it is known for being high in fat and very greasy. The World Health Organization recently issued a report warning that eating bacon in excess may be linked to some forms of cancer. However, it is also widely revered as one of the most delicious breakfast meats around. If you want to be able to enjoy this fatty option without the guilt of blowing your diet, then vegetarian bacon just might be the ideal choice for you. It works great as a meat on its own, or it can be added as part of a salad or sandwich to spice up your meal.

There are now many options for vegetarian bacon on the market. You can find most of these in your typical grocery store, and they are prepared the same way you would fry up regular bacon in a pan. Each brand has its own unique taste and texture, and some come across as closer to actual bacon than others. The trick is to not be deceived by the initial appearance of the uncooked bacon substitute. Many of these brands are made out of flour or soy beans, meaning the initial color might not be what you would expect of traditional bacon pieces. Pay attention to the cooking directions on the package so that you do not eat it before it is fully prepared.

Even if you are not fond of the first vegetarian bacon brand that you try, it is worth experimenting with others until you find the right fit for you. Many of these options can be a good source of protein to add to your meals without blowing your calorie count. This is especially true for bacon substitute made of tofu or other protein-based plants. You may also find that it is better to cook substitute bacon for a bit longer than you would regular bacon because it allows it to get closer to the crispy texture of real bacon. Adding some spices could help to give it a realistic flavor.

Even though substitute bacon is arguably healthier than the real deal, you should still pay attention to the nutritional information on the label so that you do not consume more than what is reasonable for your diet. Also, there may not be as much protein in substitute bacon as you would find in the real deal, which means that you might need to find other sources of protein throughout your day to get the requisite amount. This is important because eating a sufficient amount of protein keeps you fuller longer after your meals and could help prevent you from eating unhealthy snacks throughout the day. It is also key for building muscles and boosting your metabolism.

Could This Be The Reason You're Losing Hair?

Losing hair on the scalp is emotionally traumatic for women and men, but there are several reasons why this problem occurs. There are numerous reasons why you can suffer from hair loss, and there are often ways to overcome a hair loss problem. Consider these reasons for extensive hair loss so that you can learn to accept the condition, or alternatively, you can understand how to treat the condition. 

Hair Loss Reason 1: Your Own Genetics 

Genetics is the most common reason for hair loss, especially in males. This is called male-pattern baldness, and it tends to occur on the crown of the head or near the forehead. You can’t change your body's genetic structure, but you can use specialized shampoo or other products to encourage new hair growth. It is also possible to undergo a surgical procedure to move hair follicles from another area of your body onto your scalp. 

Hair Loss Reason 2: Poor Daily Nutrition

If you are losing more hair than normal, then maybe you are eating a poor daily diet. A well-rounded diet plan includes all of the food groups so that you will get enough minerals and vitamins to maintain the health of your hair and hair follicles. When you are losing too much hair, begin to eat more biotin-rich foods such as:

• Meat
• Milk
• Eggs
• Whole grains
• Nuts

You can also take dietary supplements that contain biotin to improve the condition of your hair follicles and hair. 

Hair Loss Reason 3: Too Much Stress

When you are experiencing too much stress, your body releases cortisol or other detrimental chemicals. These chemicals change the health of your body, and you might lose a lot of hair. If you have too much stress at work or home, then you must change your lifestyle so that your body won’t create chemicals that cause you to lose too much hair. 

Hair Loss Reason 4: Is Your Thyroid Functioning Normally?

If you have a thyroid problem, then losing hair is a major symptom of either hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism. When you suspect that your thyroid gland isn’t functioning normally, your physician can perform a physical examination and collect blood to test at a laboratory. With fast treatment for thyroid disease, it is possible to begin growing more hair on your scalp. 

Hair Loss Reason 5: Changes In Your Hormone Levels

When you are female, your hormone levels can fluctuate widely due to your menstrual cycle, pregnancy or menopause. However, if you are losing hair from your scalp, you should schedule an appointment with a physician to determine if you have an underlying heath problem such as ovarian cysts that can affect your hormone levels. 

Hair Loss Reason 6: Do You Have Anemia?

If you are anemic, then your body will divert its oxygen and healthy blood to your vital organs rather than your hair follicles. This can lead to hair loss on your scalp and other areas of your body. Anemia is often caused by not eating enough iron-rich foods, but it is also a sign of other health issues that may require medical treatment.