Comfort Eating Doesn't Work Says Science: Is Completely Wrong

Comfort eating does not work' says science, so step away from that tub you're emptying of ice cream and filling with tears.

Instead, it has discovered that most bad moods will get better on their own and food doesn't make a difference.

Er, Science, have you ever even BEEN in a bad mood?Pizza - Not a mood improver, apparently (Food Network)

Experiments deny food's importance

The research worked by putting 100 college students in the US in a bad mood (by the very scientific method of showing them sad clips from films) and then splitting them into groups to see how what they ate, or didn't eat, affected their mood.

And they found that it didn't really matter what they ate or if they ate at all. But as anyone who has emotionally eaten (even if you wouldn't consider yourself an 'emotional eater'), this experiment is, in our scientific opinion, complete rubbish.

Food is hugely important to us emotionally complex humans, and most women particularly will have had bouts where their relationship with it isn't the healthiest.

Whether it's restricting food as something to control in an otherwise rollercoaster life, to bonding with friends over a shared dessert or treating yourself to a take away when you've had a bad day at work, food is an important tool in our psychological make up.

Dr Pam Spurr says that around 70 per cent of women are 'emotional eaters' and that their mood can be a huge part of why healthy eating and dieting fails.

Because emotional eating isn't just having a cake when we're in a grump, it's a way to forget about problems, give yourself an instant mood boost and a fall back to deal with self esteem issues. It's certainly not about having a bar of chocolate after a sad film.Feeling grumpy? You could just wait it out... (REX)

Will any food do?

The research found that eating something seen as 'comfort food' such as pizza or ice cream, did make people feel better. But equally eating something a bit healthier improved mood too. That would suggest that it's more the process of eating that cheers us up.

But then, the students' moods improved with no food as well, suggesting it's really just a case of sitting it out until you feel better.

But if you're feeling down, which are you going to reach for - a carrot or a lovely slice of Victoria sponge?

https://uk.lifestyle.yahoo.com/comfort-eating-doesn-t-work-says-science--is-completely-wrong-113649636.html

7 Amazing Body-Toning Desserts

Just because you’re working on toning up your body, doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy deliciously indulgent foods. These super healthy desserts are amazing at building muscle, and all taste fantastic to boot.

Avocado ice lolly

Avocado ice cream

Don’t be put off by the high fat content of avocados – around 70% of that fat content is made up of monounsaturated fats, which help to prevent the breakdown of muscle. A 2014 Swedish study showed that people with higher amounts of unsaturated fat in their diet displayed lower fat levels and more muscle than those who ate primarily saturated fats.

Although it might sound like an alien concept, avocado actually tastes delicious when used to make light and creamy avocado ice lollies. All you need to do is blend avocado up with almond milk, lime juice and a pinch of sugar (or natural sweetener) until smooth, and then throw the mixture into moulds in the freezer. Alternatively, swap the almond milk for cream and put the mixture into an ice cream maker, and you’ve got avocado ice cream.

Quinoa pancakes

While pancakes are a delicious and filling way to round off a meal or start your day, they’re also making you fat without you even realising. According to research published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, the refined carbohydrates often found in pancakes can lead to increased cravings for food throughout the day.

Luckily, these red quinoa pancakes solve that problem, while adding an extra muscle-building boost to this fluffy dessert. Coconut oil and coconut milk are used instead of regular milk and butter, and sugar is taken out of the equation by adding coconut palm sugar. Add red quinoa to the pancake mixture before cooking to give an extra bite and zest to the dish.

Quinoa is a fantastic source of muscle-friendly protein. It’s also unique in that it contains the full range of essential amino acids, which combine to fight off free radicals within the body and improve muscle development.

Pineapple and banana sorbet

If you want to build muscle and you’re planning to start hitting the gym hard, you absolutely have to add pineapple to your diet. Not only is it high in vitamin C to speed up muscle recovery, pineapple also contains bromelain, which helps with protein digestion and reduces muscle inflammation.

You can make a delicious pineapple and banana sorbet by blending pineapple chunks with banana, lime juice and sugar, and then chilling the mixture for three hours before running it through an ice cream maker.

The banana in this tasty sorbet gives you an extra muscle-building bonus. Bananas are great for maintaining optimum glycogen levels, which slows down the break up of protein reserves in your muscle tissue.

Coconut milk milkshakes

Put a healthy, muscle-toning twist on normal milkshakes by creating a delicious coconut milk milkshake. It couldn’t be easier to prepare – if you’ve got coconut milk, banana, vanilla, honey, ice cubes and a blender then you can’t go wrong.

Coconut milk is all about keeping your muscles in peak condition. Its high level of magnesium helps to reduce post-workout muscle soreness and improve the health of your nervous system. Your joints and bones will become stronger as well, because coconut milk contains phosphorous, which works in tandem with calcium to increase bone strength.

Peanut butter protein balls

A tasty dessert that takes 10 minutes to make, doesn’t require any baking, and provides a double hit of protein to build muscle – sound too good to be true? Then you haven’t tried these delicious peanut butter protein balls yet.

It’s just a case of mixing up protein powder, ground nuts, peanut butter and agave nectar (we’d suggest skipping the chocolate chips) into bite-size balls, and then popping them in the fridge.

The protein powder provides the main body-toning power of this dessert, but peanut butter is no slouch either. Each tablespoon of natural peanut butter contains 3.5g of protein, as well as poly- and monounsaturated fats. 

Spinach and blueberry smoothie

Seems there really was some truth behind Popeye’s penchant for spinach. In a study at Rutgers University, researchers identified a type of phytoecdysteroid found in spinach that boosts muscle development by 20 per cent.

You can enjoy spinach in dessert form with this sweet but super healthy spinach and blueberry smoothie. Simply whizz some fresh spinach up in a blender with fresh blueberries, a banana, and the fruit juice of your choice – both apple and pomegranate juice work really well.

As well as covering up the distinct taste of spinach, blueberries are packed full of antioxidants, and contain polyphenols, which reduce inflammation and increase muscle recovery rate.

Cottage cheese fruit salad 

Cottage cheese has long been a favourite snack of gym-addicts, and for good reason. Because it’s so high in protein (a whopping 25g of protein per 200g serving), cottage cheese increases your body’s production of natural growth hormone. This hormone was found to be a major contributor to both muscle gain and fat loss in a 2009 study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology.

With it’s tangy, salty taste, cottage cheese isn’t up everyone’s street, so try sweetening it up by adding it to a fruit salad. Make sure you mix in the cottage cheese well in advance of eating it, as this gives the cheese plenty of time to absorb the sweet flavours of the fruit.

https://uk.lifestyle.yahoo.com/7-amazing-body-toning-desserts-080015083.html

Calorie checker

Calorie checker

Check the calories in over 150,000 different food and drinks. Just type the product name below.

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Use the search box above to look up the calories of more than 150,000 different foods and drinks quickly and simply.

The calorie checker remembers your search history – handy if you want to stay on top of your day's calorie intake.

For quick access to the calorie checker on the go, save it to your mobile device's home screen, just like an app.  

Online calorie counters are one of the easiest ways to track your calories on the NHS Choices weight loss plan.

Use the search history to tot up your day's calorie intake and add it to your food and activity chart (view sample PDF, 545kb).

Our calorie checker's 150,000+ database lists the calorie and fat content of:  

• generic foods
• branded products
• meals from around the world
• alcoholic drinks
• restaurant meals, including fast food chains

Your daily calorie allowance on the NHS Choices weight loss plan is 1,900kcal for men and 1,400kcal for women.

If you want a more personal recommended calorie intake tailored to your individual circumstances, use the BMI calculator.

It's also a good idea to get used to reading food labels to find out the calorie content in packaged food and drink.

Calorie counting in practice

Here are some practical examples to show you how to work out the calorie content of your meals, snacks and drinks.

Snacks

It's easy to find the calorie content of a wide range of snacks. Use these examples to help:

• Banana: Use an online calorie counter to find out the calorie content in fruits. The NHS Choices calorie checker says that a medium-sized (100g) banana contains 95kcal (398kJ). 
• Kit Kat: Use food labels to find out the calorie content in any packaged foods. Look for the "per bar" or "per packet" figure. A two-finger Kit Kat contains 107kcal (448kJ).
• A scone: If scones, pastries and muffins come in a packet, use the food label. Some cafés and restaurants have calorie labelling in-store, on their menus or online. 

Lunch

If you're grabbing lunch on the go, it will often consist of a number of packaged foods, perhaps accompanied by a piece of fruit. For example, you might choose a sandwich, a bottle of orange juice and a banana.

Simply use food labels and an online calorie counter to find out the calorie content of each part of your lunch.

For example:

• Tesco Light Choices chicken, tomato and rocket sandwich – 285kcal (1,191kJ)
  +
• Apple – 47kcal (196kJ)

Grand total = 332kcal (1,387kJ)

Buying food from your work canteen or a café can make it harder to work out calories. Some cafés and restaurants have calorie labelling in-store, on their menus or online.

Cooking from scratch

When cooking from scratch, you can work out the total calories by adding up the calorie content of each ingredient.

You'll need to use food labels, kitchen scales to weigh ingredients, and an online calorie counter.

Say you're making spaghetti bolognese for four people. Use a non-stick pan so you only need to use a tablespoon of oil to fry the ingredients.

The bolognese sauce contains lean beef mince, onions, chopped tomatoes, carrots, vegetable stock, olive oil, and herbs and spices.

• 280g of dried wholewheat spaghetti – the packet tells you that 100g of dried spaghetti contains 348kcal (1,454kJ). So 280g of dried spaghetti contains (348/100) x 280 = 975kcal (4,075kJ).
• 200g of lean beef mince – the packet says the raw mince contains 171kcal (715kJ) per 100g. So 200g of raw mince contains 171 x 2 = 342kcal (1,429kJ).
• two cans of 400g of chopped tomatoes – each can contains 96kcal. So that's 96 x 2 = 192kcal (802kJ).
• one onion – the NHS Choices calorie checker says a medium raw onion contains 55kcal (230kJ).
• two carrots – the same calorie counter says a carrot contains 35kcal (146kJ). So that's 35 x 2 = 70kcal (292kJ).
• a tablespoon of olive oil for frying the ingredients – according to the calorie checker, this contains 119kcal (497kJ).
• vegetable stock, herbs and spices – the calorie content is almost zero and can be ignored.

The total calorie content of this recipe is 975 + 342 + 192 + 55 + 70 + 119 = 1,753kcal (7,327kJ).

If you eat one quarter (one serving), you will consume 1,753/4 = 438kcal (1,831kJ).

http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/weight-loss-guide/Pages/calorie-counting.aspx

Simple Calorie Savers

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Losing weight doesn’t have to mean a complete diet overhaul, a few basic food swaps can save over 1,000 calories a day. 

A new survey, from Evoke.ie, shows the average Brit files away 3,440 calories every day.

We can take some comfort. Against certain other countries, the US obviously, we’re not doing too badly – the average Yank puts away a nausea-inducing 3,770 calories.

But we shouldn’t take too much comfort. Even our ‘mere’ 3,440 calories a day is nearly 10,000 more calories a week than we need. And it takes just 3,500 to put on just one pound. In only one month, that’s almost a stone.

It’s a little alarming, isn’t it?

But it doesn’t have to be, all you need to do is make a few simple swaps to your daily menu, and you’re back down to a nice, safe, expert-recommended 2,000 calories…

Out: Latte In: White coffee

You need your caffeine in the morning, and that’s fine. But you don’t need your latte; what you need is a simple white coffee (essentially the same but with less sickly milk).

Calories saved: 180

Out: Banana In: Apple

Fruit is good for you, and that’s why you’re topping your cereal with a banana. Well done. Sort of. But chop up an apple instead, and you’ve instantly halved the calories.

Calories saved: 50

Out: Ginger Nuts In: Nuts

Ah, the ill-fated elevensies, the moment we all eye the packet of biscuits and think ‘just a couple won’t hurt’. But they will, I’m afraid; ‘just’ two biscuits will hurt in the shape of 200 calories. Try a handful of nuts instead – often seen as the dieting enemy because they’re high in fat, but it’s good health-boosting fat.

Calories saved: 70

Out: Soup Roll In: Oatcakes

Soup might be a healthy choice (if it’s home-made, otherwise it’s packed with salt), but make it even healthier by ditching the accompanying roll and going for a couple of less bloating oatcakes.

Calories saved: 200

Out: Sandwich In: Salad

Bear with us, it’s not as boring as it sounds. Salads don’t have to be one lonely bit of Iceberg, they can be a fancy new vehicle for your normal sandwich filling. Instead of putting your tuna/ham/egg on some bread, bung it on some (nicer Cos) lettuce. Easy.

Calories saved: 250

Out: Bar of milk chocolate In: Square of dark

No, we never believed this either; one mouthful of dark chocolate, however good the quality, is never going to be as fun as lots of mouthfuls of milk chocolate. Is it? Actually, yes, because the higher cocoa content means you’re still getting the same fix but with less faff.

Calories saved: 180

Out: Wine In: Gin

Argue for antioxidants all you want, wine will never be good for you – not in a weight-loss way, anyway. Even a small glass contains about 120 calories, and a large is nudging 200. We’re not saying don’t drink, just drink Gin and slimline tonic instead.

Calories saved: 70

Out: Pasta In: Rice

It takes the same time to cook, it’s cheap, and it goes with anything. So far, so even on the rice v pasta front. But rice is also packed with vitamins, is a multigrain, and is an instant calorie save. We have a carb winner.

Calories saved: 150

Out: Chips In: Potatoes

Some meals always need chips – fish n chips, for one. But mostly, you can swap them for their humble cousin, the normal boiled potato, and barely notice a difference. Except in the substantial calorie save.

Calories saved: 150

Out: Peas In: Broccoli

Obviously, peas aren’t bad for you, but in a similar vein as the banana-for-apple cereal swap, they are more calorific than other things in the vegetable drawer. A portion of peas is 70 calories, broccoli is 30.

Calories saved: 40

Out: Yoghurt In: Yoghurt

The key here is the type of yoghurt. Obviously, the new breed of chocolate flavoured ones are the bad type, but so are many fruit ones, masquerading as healthy but actually filling you up with sugar. Opt for a small pot of natural yoghurt with actual fruit.

Calories saved: 100

http://www.silversurfers.com/health/diet-exercise/simple-calorie-savers/

Detox And Body Maintenance With Chlorella And Cilantro

It has become increasingly clear over the past decades that our bodies are assaulted by toxins every day. Heavy metals are in the air, medications, water, and the very food we eat. There isn't much in our lives that hasn't been contaminated in some form. However, there are things you can do to help remove toxins from your body. The removal of heavy metals is called chelation and among those in the know, it changes lives. There are two natural foods that can help detoxify your body -- chlorella and cilantro.

Chlorella

This is a lowly algae found in sunny ponds. The outer walls of this single-celled organism are tough, so strong that it is hard to gain any benefit from the algae without help. This help is breaking the walls through milling or sudden changes in pressure to break the walls. Once processed, the chlorella will remove toxins from the body. The action is due to the high amount of chlorophyll found in this supplement. This natural substance can actually differentiate between beneficial nutrients and toxins. Not only can chlorella do this, it binds to all heavy metals to expel them out of the body.

The amount of chlorella needed depends on a person's body type, but the average dosing is listed on the purchased chlorella packaging. Lauded as a super-food by leading natural foods gurus, chlorella is an affordable way to detoxify the body daily.

Cilantro

Cilantro is an easy to access food found in many cuisines. The herb is very easy to grow at home, but if you don't have time to grow your own or to process what you have, it can be purchased raw and organic. Incorporate cilantro into salads, salsa, fermented food, and even raw in pesto. The benefits of cilantro are found in its ability to bind heavy metals, and then draw them out of the body quickly. For people who have had heavy exposure to metals, it is advisable to be cautious when detoxing with cilantro. The metal it has the most affinity for is mercury. Cilantro can move other metals, but to gain the most benefit it should be used with chlorella to remove all metals.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Detox-And-Body-Maintenance-With-Chlorella-And-Cilantro&id=8822854

A Quick Guide to Weight Loss for Beginners

One mistake that people make when they start a weight loss program is not eating. Losing weight is as simple as balancing the amount of calories consumed with the amount of calories burned by the body. In order to lose weight, you must be able to increase the amount of food burned by the body and reduce the food intake. It is not an easy task but this guide will help you reach your goal without sacrificing your health.

Count the Calories

You might say that counting calories is a tedious thing to do each day, but it is a way to achieve a successful weight loss program. Keep in mind that a pound is equal to 3,500 calories. If you divide it into seven days, then it is 500 calories each day. Reducing the amount of calories as well as exercising will allow you to reach that goal. And doing it daily will result to a pound each week. To be able to have a specific calorie count goal, consult a doctor or a nutritionist. Just make sure that the daily calorie count doesn't go under 1,200 or else the body's metabolism rate will slow down.

Record the Calories

Counting is just the first step of your weight loss program. In order to maintain your diet, you should monitor your calorie intake and record it in a journal. There are also apps that allow you to keep track of your calories. Each time you eat something, you should write it down in the journal. 50 calories might not be a lot, but they could add up. You should also record your progress by weighing yourself at least twice a week.

Measure your Food

There's no better way of knowing how much you eat each day than measuring your food before each meal. Be sure you have a food scale, measuring cups and spoons at hand in order to have the correct portions for every meal. After some time, you will already be familiarized with the right portions by just looking at them.

Start an Exercise Routine

Diet is just one-half of your weight loss program. The other half is exercise. An hour of exercise that's done at least five days a week is needed to burn calories. Walking around the block is a good start but it is not enough to reduce your body fat. Your exercise routine must include high-intensity classes for strength training, cardio and stretching.

Patience is the Key

Just like anything in life, patience is important in order to reach your ideal weight. Undergoing a crash diet is unhealthy and will just lead to a yo-yo effect. A successful weight loss program takes time, and you need to have a lot of perseverance and patience in order to achieve your goal.

http://ezinearticles.com/?A-Quick-Guide-to-Weight-Loss-for-Beginners&id=8763125

Leaving Obesity Behind To Be Nutrition Empowered

Obesity has been a global epidemic over the last 10-20 years in its making, as people are constantly afforded the many types of foods that are considered fattening and/or unhealthy for overall consumption. The epidemic has gotten so bad as to now be greatly affecting children. This certainly proves that the physical and mental condition can happen to anyone, as it does not discriminate. What time can be better than now to become empowered by proper nutrition?
There are many types of harmful body effects that can result from the body becoming overweight. Excessive fat resulting in obesity is known to cause diseases like: diabetes, heart disease, sleep apnea, and even cancer. All of these diseases can be life-threatening if not remedied through proper dieting. Proper dieting involves healthy eating choices by the consumption of food known to possess high nutrition values. Exercise also plays a key role in achieving bodily health benefits.
Foods that are known to have high nutrition values are foods like, raw vegetables and fruits high in antioxidants, fiber, and potassium. Antioxidants benefit the body by removing what science has identified as "free radicals," which are simply harmful molecules produced within the body during the body's biological processes. Antioxidants counter/remove such free radicals as they are produced by the body.
Fiber is another important nutrition factor for the body. Natural fibers are types of fibers that interact with the biology of the human body. These types of fibers are found in various foods like: whole grain foods (cereal, wheat bread, etc.), vegetables, and fruits. They benefit the body throughout the body's metabolic process (or the breaking down of food) and they help to turn food into energy for the body. Fiber is also known to help foods process in the digestive tract within the body, for easier expulsion (exiting) from the colon.

Potassium is another healthy benefactor for the body and the body's biological processes. It is an element found in nature and is identified by the letter "K" in the scientific 'Table of Elements'. Potassium is known to build in the cells of plants. Vegetables and fresh fruits are known to be a very good source of it for dietary functions and proper nutrition.
If a proper, healthy diet is sustained by the continued consumption of health-benefiting foods like vegetables, fruits, and whole grains, then obesity can be prevented. People (both children and adults alike) need to make conscious, healthier choices when it comes to eating habits. All too often, temptation of the many, diversified food choices offered in a thriving food industry, can heavily influence bodily senses to crave what is not necessarily good for the body. A bad diet, stemmed from bad eating habits, can cause serious risks to one's health. It is 'personal choice' to become nutrition empowered, while remaining conscious enough, to simply stay away from unhealthy eating thus contributing to leaving obesity behind
http://ezinearticles.com/?Leaving-Obesity-Behind-To-Be-Nutrition-Empowered&id=8780327