Sunday, 28 December 2014

Roast chicken breast, spiced potato & cauliflower

Perfect protein-filled training dish

This is proper hearty training food. This week I am doing my take on a classic Indian side dish of Sag Aloo. Cheap and easy to find, the potato, cauliflower and spinach form the base of this tasty dish. It is packed full of vitamins and nutrients and makes the most of easily found vegetables. I have used my favourite form of protein in chicken, although this dish works brilliantly if you use sea bream as well.


Ingredients

Serves 2

2 medium chicken breasts
Marinade, 1 tsp curry powder & one dash of oil
1 large onion, finely diced
1 tsp olive oil
1 tbsp curry powder
1 tsp turmeric
250g diced raw potatoes
150g chopped raw cauliflower
Large handful of fresh raw spinach
Fresh coriander to finish
Roast chicken breast, spiced potato & cauliflower
 

Method

Mix together the curry powder and olive oil to form a paste, rub over the chicken breasts and allow to marinade at room temperature for 15 minutes. To cook the chicken breasts, colour in a medium sauté pan and then bake in the oven at 190c for 15-20 minutes.
To make the Sag Aloo, gently cook the onion in the olive oil for 3/4 minutes until soft, add the curry powder & turmeric and cook over a low heat for 5 minutes, ensuring it doesn't catch. Add the potato and cauliflower and cook for 15 minutes until both the potato and cauliflower are soft. Before serving add the spinach and cook for a further 2 minutes. Correct the seasoning and add the fresh coriander at the last minute.

Ingredients

2 medium chicken breasts Marinade, 1 tsp curry powder & one dash of oil 1 large onion, finely diced 1 tsp olive oil 1 tbsp Curry powder 1 tsp turmeric 250g diced raw potatoes 150g chopped raw cauliflower Large handful of fresh raw spinach Fresh coriander to finish

Vital Statistics

Serves: 2
Preparation: 15
Cooking: 20
Difficulty: Easy
Good for: After a long cold run, hearty training food
Calories (kcal): 379
Protein (g): 17
Carbs (g): 29
Fat (g): 7
Fiber (g): 10

Plan Your Post Christmas Detox Diet Now!

It's always a good idea to plan ahead when it comes to a Christmas detox diet, as you may find the new year drags on and before long it's spring and the physique you imagined you'd have this summer is slowly dwindling into the unlikely.

So to get the ball rolling, it's always a good idea to start with a detox before you begin an actual diet as it helps shred excess body fat which you would normally mistake for real body fat.

1. January - Detox first

That may sound confusing but take for example when someone gives up beer, after 7-10 days there will be an initial drop in weight and then that weight will steady off unless you put yourself through a diet/supplement/exercise plan.

The same goes for a 2-4 week detox.

By taking either a combination of detox foods and/or anti-oxidant supplements, this enables you to flush the liver, intestine and kidneys of all harmful toxins, parasitic bacteria and free radicals that have accumulated over time since your last detox.

Detoxing also enables you to get your metabolism into superb shape as it's not inflicted day to day by high glucose foods (provided you stick to a diet free of trans fatty fast foods and rich carbs found in donuts, sweets and carbonated fizzy drinks etc).

Begin your detox in January through ideally a combination of rich anti-oxidant fruits and natural super-powered supplements.

2. January/February - Diet second

GRAPEFRUIT JUICE
The Christmas period was a month ago now and you've given your body a thorough detox and it's now time to focus on healthy nutritional food groups to get your diet plan back on track to ring in the new year.

a) Lean protein

Get plenty of lean meat down you such as grilled chicken and poultry that will speed up your metabolism, keeping you satiated and curbing the cravings while your body slowly eases of the unwanted pounds.

If you've already started an exercise plan or some simple anaerobic weight training or aerobic sports like running and swimming, lean meat will help build up the muscles rather than the belly.

b) 1 Grapefruit a day

If you like grapefruit then you're lucky as the fruits acidity slows down digestion, keeping you fuller longer while accelerating weight loss.

It also contains vast quantities of vitamin C which lowers cholesterol, diminishing your risk of a stroke, heart disease, and certain types of cancer.

c) The Omega 3's

Omega 3 especially is well known to have an assortment of benefits from longevity, to replenishing collagen and Oxford University latest study shows that eating tuna and salmon can speed up the movement of food from the stomach to the intestines - freeing up your stomach from any bloating.

They do this by stimulating hormones that regulate food intake, metabolism and weight loss.

3. January/February - Detox & weight loss Supplements

Detox and weight loss supplements really can work provided you help assist them with a fairly disciplined diet and better also with some moderate exercise 3/4 times a week - 30/40 minutes long.

Detox supplements are probably the most effective in terms of the return you get almost overnight.

You must bear in mind that you have to stay hydrated as they harness the anti-oxidants and healthy bacteria from fruits high up the ORAC table (oxygen radical absorbance capacity).

Weight loss supplements are different and sometimes combine both a detox and a fat burning or fat blocking side to them, but most dieters tend to opt for fat burners as they're looking to really speed up their metabolism - an obvious choice if you're struggling to shake of the pounds.



http://ezinearticles.com/?Plan-Your-Post-Christmas-Detox-Diet-Now!&id=8097126

Saturday, 27 December 2014

The Queen of Fruits - Mangosteen Fruit



Southeast Asia for the longest time has revered Mangosteen for the unique flavor it has as well as the suggestion that it can actually promote good health. The most amazing thing about this fruit is that the entire fruit is used especially, the rind which is xanthone packed. It acquired the name "the queen of fruits" as a result of Queen Victoria fetish for the fruit. She would offer knighthood to anyone who managed to bring the fruit to her in its prime condition. However, no one ever succeeded because of preservation issues considering the long journey the fruit had to take. The admirable quest of the queen gave this fruit this title and it has stuck to date. The fruit is now grown in different parts of the world and it is gaining popularity.

The Mangosteen Fruit Juice

The mangosteen fruit is usually eaten as a fruit for dessert. It is also made into jams which can be enjoyed with different kinds of breads and foods too. The one thing that is becoming too popular, however is mangosteen juice. There is a health drink known as xango juice and one that has created a whole new way of enjoying the fruit. The juice is not only made to be enjoyed, but also as a supplement. The fruit is packed with lots of minerals, compounds and nutrients hence the reason as to why it used to make the juices. Besides enjoying the popular xango juice, individuals can also make their own juice at home using this fruit.

Materials

To make delicious mangosteen juice that you can enjoy at home, you will need

2 pieces of the fruit
Honey
200ml of water
Sugar (optional)
Start by choosing the best mangosteen fruits that you can find. They should be ripe enough and free from any dirt. Clean the fruits in readiness for the juice preparation. Make sure that the fruit is well cleaned before opening it. You can easily use a knife to open the fruit to reach to the flesh inside it. Remove the contents inside the fruit. This should be done with care to make sure that the outer skin does not come in contact with the fruit flesh. This is because it can be very bitter and can give the juice a taste that is not too pleasant. Take the mangosteen fruit peel and the contents inside into a blender before then adding a little honey, water and some sugar. The sugar is however optional; it will be better to blend the juice without the sugar. Blend the content until you have a smooth beverage. You can then enjoy your juice with meals or at any other given time of the day where a refreshing drink is needed.

The mangosteen fruit is a delicious fruit with a taste that is simply unique. It is tasty and can be enjoyed in lots of different ways. It is a tropical fruit with useful rind, fruit juice, fruit, bark and twig.



http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Queen-of-Fruits---Mangosteen-Fruit&id=8736347

10 things you didn't know about maintaining a healthy diet

Better digestion
1. The fibre contained in leafy green vegetables acts like a scrubbing brush in the gut, helping to reduce the absorption of microbial toxins into the body. Foods to eat: kale, spinach
2. Eating healthy, raw fats can help with the overall functioning of your GI tract, including helping maintain a healthy lining, for which vitamin A is also crucial. Foods to eat: avacado, sweet potato

WEIGHT LOSS

3. Eating more fruit and vegetables satisfies your hunger and means you'll be less likely to reach for high-fat, high-sugar and low-fibre foods. So try some new recipes that incorporate more fruit and veg.
4. Staying hydrated can help reduce over eating. We often misinterpret our thirst for hunger, so drinking enough water (which also counts clearer skin among its many benefits), can help us control our hunger. Drink: water
  •  Love food and want to lose weight? Try to find compromises and recipes that allow you to enjoy the best of both. 

 

QUALITY OF LIFE

Mackerel
5. Researchers have found that poor diet can result in poor sleep. The message? Eat well, sleep well. Key nutrients, including vitamin B6 and magnesium, can also aide a restful slumber. Foods to eat: oily fish, whole grains
6. Sex-drive (or lack of it) can be affected by diet. Eating foods rich in vitamin C (aiding circulation), or amino acids (boosting nitric oxide levels) could help get you in the mood again. Foods to eat: figs, watermelon

PREVENTING ILLNESS

7. The phyto-chemicals in vegetables and other plant foods have antioxidant qualities—protecting against the effects of environmental pollution. Foods to eat: plant foods, pulses, nuts
8. Food plays a big role in building health and thus preventing illness. Green leafy vegetables that are high in folate and iron can assist in healthy cell development. Foods to eat: kale, lettuce
9. The properties found in certain fruit and vegetables have been heralded as being of particular importance to boosting the immune system, though balance is key. Foods to eat: garlic, probiotic yoghurt
10. Studies have shown diet could affect the risk of developing breast cancer. Foods to eat: vegetables, whole grains and legumes

Eating a diet high in unprocessed and natural foods is one of the best things you can do for your health, along with taking enough exercise and getting sufficient rest. 

Healthy Food and Drink

Friday, 26 December 2014

Go faster porridge with blueberries, toasted walnuts and honey

Low G.I. breakfast for a training diet

This is my fail-safe breakfast if I have got a big day ahead. You can guarantee that I will always have this breakfast on the morning of a marathon. The oats have a very low G.I., meaning that the carbohydrate is released into your bloodstream slowly and therefore will sustain your energy levels and help prevent those 11 o'clock food cravings. What's more, studies show that a bowl of porridge can lower cholesterol.
Go faster porridge with blueberries, toasted walnuts and honey
Also if I am running, I will always make my porridge with water only as it is lighter on the stomach. It is important that you use whole rolled porridge oats; they are less refined, more nutritious and they taste better — sweet and nutty. Pop the walnuts in the oven while you cook the porridge and you will be sitting down to breakfast within 10 minutes.

Method

1. Put the oats, water and or or milk into a pan with a pinch of salt. Bring to the boil over a high heat and then turn the heat down and simmer for about 5 minutes, stirring frequently. The porridge will become thick and creamy.
2. Meanwhile, pop the nuts onto a baking tray and roast in the oven at 160°C for 5 minutes.
3. Pour into two warmed bowls, sprinkle with the blueberries and nuts and drizzle over the honey.

Ingredients

  • 100g porridge
  • 500ml water or milk or ½ and ½
  • Pinch of salt
  • Punnet of fresh blueberries
  • Handful of walnuts
  • Good quality runny honey (Manuka is very good)

Vital Statistics

Serves: 2 bowls
Preparation: 5 minutes
Cooking: N/A
Difficulty: Easy
Good for: Low G.I., low fat, hearty breakfast. Fantastic for fuelling up for a big day ahead
Calories (kcal): 491.9
Protein (g): 17.8
Carbs (g): 63.5
Fat (g): 18.9
Fiber (g): 6.3

Thursday, 25 December 2014

10 surprising things that improve your sex life

Crazy things that make sex better

Lots of things can improve your sex life, but some of them can be strange, scary and very surprising. Here are 10 shocking things that can make your sex life fantastic:
10 surprising things that improve your sex life

Embracing your booty

You may hate your big behind, but the chances are he secretly loves it. Although a lot of women want smaller butts, research has found that men are attracted to bigger rears because they signal a woman’s fertility.

The Swiss-ball

It turns out that the most fun piece of gym equipment around can also improve your sex life. Guys, you should do Swiss-ball press-ups, whilst girls you should use the Swiss ball to do kegels and ball squeezes. This will strengthen your pelvic floor muscles.

Celery

The time when a salad was a food for girls is gone fellers, and if you want to improve your sex life you better start chomping on the green stuff. Celery releases pheromones when you eat it that turn you on, and in turn makes you more attractive to women.

Sex bans

Denying yourself for short periods will give you a great build up and when you do finally indulge, the sex will be amazing. If you can’t manage a sex ban, instead use the no-touch rule, where you can’t touch your bed buddy, unless you use a “tool”, like a scarf or a feather. 

Hugging

Research suggests that the closer a couple feels to each other the more sex they have. Hugging increases your oxytocin levels – the hormone that makes us feel intimate with the person we’re hugging. So if you want more loving, get cuddling.

Scars

Although scars may make you think of pirates, apparently women love them. Men with mild facial scars were ranked as more attractive. For those guys who want a long-term girl though, scars are not the thing to go for. Women said men with scars were not marriage material.

Having another birthday

If you want better sex then it’s time to have another birthday as researchers have found that older people have better sex. They cite better body image, more confidence and a stronger relationship as being the key reasons older people have better sex.

Sucking toes

For many the thought of someone else’s feet makes them queasy, but to a lot of people feet are a big, big turn on. In fact, feet are the most popular fetish, so even if you don’t think you like your partner’s toes maybe it’s time you give them a little attention – you may be surprised. 

Chocolate

Not many people need an excuse to tuck into some chocolate, but if you are one of those people then remember that a few squares of dark chocolate can boost both your energy levels and your mood; in turn this will improve your sex life.

Long legs

We all know that men love long legs, but it seems women like their guys to have a giraffe-like pair of pins too. People whose legs are 5% longer than average are considered more attractive. So if you want more sex invest in some high heeled shoes.

Wednesday, 24 December 2014

Getting Profit of Having Prenatal Yoga

Expert Author Christelle Donaghy    
Before I got pregnant, I thought prenatal yoga was senseless. I felt that conforming your movement level for pregnancy was an indication of shortcoming, and that beyond any doubt, I'd have to do something other than what's expected by my third trimester, yet that there was nothing so drastically diverse about my body that I couldn't proceed with my ordinary yoga normal for a long time. I had no clue that the profits of prenatal yoga could be so particular.
The profits of yoga for prenatal ladies are so generally perceived as of right now that prenatal yoga classes are accessible at the greater part of studios, numerous yoga organizations put out yoga videos particularly for pregnant ladies, and the business locales of numerous Obs and birthing specialists have leaflets prescribing the different neighborhood yoga educators in their holding up rooms. I knew the majority of that, yet I still continued compelling myself to go to my ordinary yoga class, a decently extraordinary ashtanga session, much after I got that positive test. It was just after the worthless, where I washed out partly through, tipsy and shaking from effort that I was ready to admit to myself that pregnancy was an entire new ballgame for me and my body.
Ahead of schedule in my pregnancy, individuals were constantly in a race to let me know the things I couldn't do. I should lift things, I should turn my stomach, and as per a grandmotherly sort I experienced, I should consume corn. (No joke. She let me know it was awful for the infant amidst the checkout line at the market). Reality of it is that the length of your specialist has approved your practice the profits of prenatal yoga endlessly exceed the about microscopic dangers of any complexities.
A large portion of the yoga educators I've experienced through the years say that its paramount to let your body be your aide. You hit a point where feline and puppy harms; you don't press past that point. You hit a point where lying on your stomach makes you disgusted; you quit lying on your stomach. It's truly that straightforward. In the event that your practice did exclude reversals before your pregnancy, it is an awful time to attempt and learn, generally in light of the fact that your expanded blood volume abandons you inclined to unsteadiness, yet overall? Yoga is unrealistic to damage you or your unborn infant.
I totally adored my prenatal yoga classes, once I kicked myself together and off going to them. Rather than the yoga feature that was the same each time I did it, our yoga educator had distinctive schedules arranged, and she would regularly inquire as to whether anybody was especially tight or grieved in a range, and then guide us through work to straightforwardness those aches. Likewise, I reveled in being in a class of individuals who got it, who didn't feign exacerbation in the changing room in the event that I surrendered and rested in youngster's stance for twenty prior minutes I could continue onward. There was a feeling of "we're all in this together," in our imparted trip. I was the first of my companions to wind up pregnant, with the goal that group was a gigantic profit to me.
At the same time for me, all the normal profits the Clinic refers to enhanced slumber, lessened anxiety, diminished torment, and perhaps even diminished dangers of preterm work weren't the greatest blessings I got from my prenatal yoga classes and yoga videos. The greatest profit I detracted from everything was the feeling that despite the fact that my body was changing, was held prisoner on occasion, I was still solid, and I could at present be adaptable.
At the point when my first conception went totally sideways, transforming into a crisis c-segment, I continued breathing as opposed to panicking, recalling that the first run of common conception is that therapeutic intercessions do recovery lives. In my second conception, as I battled for the VBAC (vaginal conception after cesarean) I so needed, I drew on the profound focus I'd figured out how to surf the constrictions, move with the sensations, and then at last solid arm my path through pushing.
In one of the best yoga classes I ever went to, the instructor let us know not to attempt and do the best descending puppy ever, yet simply do the best descending canine we could do right this minute and an incredible form that you can apply at 38 weeks of pregnancy.
http://ezinearticles.com/?Getting-Profit-of-Having-Prenatal-Yoga&id=8743883