Food and Health Room

[Anthea]

A lot of verbosity and bragging about. Athletes are not energetic because of their diet. They are energetic because of their commitment and youthful age.

True the average age of the athletes is probably not much more than 20

[Anthea]

What DOES 100 calories look like? From raspberries and broccoli to pasta and pretzels
we reveal how much of your favourite foods you can really eat

34 pieces of wholegrain penne, or 100 raspberries equal one portion
Five dried figs, 33 grapes or 50 raisins have same number of calories
One serving adds up to 21 unsalted mini pretzels or 15 cashew halves
17 ribs of celery, 31 asparagus spears or 28 baby carrots: it's your choice
Photos are tribute to array of flavours you can taste as part of healthy diet

Do you know what 100 calories looks like?

Although calorie counting comes as second nature to most who pick up a salad, sandwich or smoothie at lunch, it's hard to know how much our meals really add to our daily intake.

But a new series of photos shows exactly how much of certain foods add up to 100 calories in a tribute to the vast array of different flavours, colours and textures you should eat as part of a wholesome diet.

Please Follow Link Below for Full Article - Photos - Video:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/food/ ... y-eat.html

[Anthea]

13 Inspiring Celebrity Quotes on Why Veganism Is the Bomb

For these die-hard animal lovers, veganism is a way of life

1. Joaquin Phoenix

“It takes nothing away from a human to be kind to an animal.”

2. Alicia Silverstone

“I can’t think of anything better in the world to be but a vegan.”

3. Ellen Page

“Why are vegans made fun of while the inhumane factory farming process regards animals and the natural world merely as commodities to be exploited for profit?”

4. Moby

“If you don’t want to be beaten, imprisoned, mutilated, killed or tortured, then you shouldn’t condone such behavior towards anyone, be they human or not.”

5. Tony Kanal

“I’ve always just loved animals and you just start making the connection between what you’re eating and what happens to these poor animals and once you start making those connections and realizing the truth behind what you’re eating, it just, there wasn’t any other option for me.”

6. Natalie Portman

“Everyone has to find what is right for them, and it is different for everyone. Eating for me is how you proclaim your beliefs three times a day. That is why all religions have rules about eating. Three times a day, I remind myself that I value life and do not want to cause pain to or kill other living beings. That is why I eat the way I do.”

7. Miley Cyrus

“The reason that I started this was because I had a fish that was highly intelligent. He really knew who I was, he really got excited when I was home. One day I went to a sushi restaurant with a few of my friends and they were serving blowfish. And I thought, this is an intelligent animal.”

8. Jessica Chastain

“I don’t normally get into this, but I’m a vegan. And I try not to, well, I don’t want to torture anything. I guess it’s about trying to live a life where I’m not contributing to the cruelty in the world. … While I am on this planet, I want everyone I meet to know that I am grateful they are here.”

9. Jenna Dewan-Tatum

“I remember very clearly the day my mom made chicken fingers. I was like, ‘Wait, this was alive? This had parents? I’m not eating it anymore.’”

10. James Cromwell

“I'm an animal rights activist because I believe we won't have a planet if we continue to behave toward other species the way we do. “

11. Liam Hemsworth

"After all the information I gathered about the mistreatment of animals, I couldn't continue to eat meat. The more I was aware of, the harder and harder it was to do."

12. Morrissey

"Nobody can possibly be so hungry that they need to take a life in order to feel satisfied—they don't after all, take a human life, so why take the life of an animal? Both are conscious beings with the same determination to survive. It is habit, and laziness and nothing else."

13. Emily Deschanel

“People don't think about how each of these animals that we call dinner have the same kinds of personalities as our dogs and cats.”

Link to Photos of Stars:

http://www.mercyforanimals.org/13-inspi ... y-veganism

[Anthea]

How to get a flat stomach for the beach in just 15 minutes
(and it's a lot easier than you think)

Need to get toned fast? Experts have shared their simple quick fixes
Includes the most de-bloating meal you can eat
Popping a probiotic, charcoal and sipping lemon water also helps

If you're heading off a jaunt abroad and left your summer workout regime a little too late, fear not.

Experts have shared the very quick and simple ways you can achieve a flatter stomach before you head off - and they require just fifteen minutes.

From sipping fennel tea to performing a clever plank routine, experts have revealed the foolproof ways you can get your abs ready for the beach in no time.

Not quite ready to slip into your bikini? Experts have shared the very quick and simple ways you can achieve a flatter stomach before you head off - and they require just fifteen minutes

Pop some charcoal

One of the quickest ways to beat the bloat is to take charcoal tablets. This is because charcoal, say practitioners, has powerful absorption properties and the ability to soak up gases, small particles of toxins and bacteria found in the large intestine that can lead to bloating.

Scientific research already proves that charcoal tablets are excellent for treating food poisoning. They are also commonly used in hospitals for treating diarrhoea.

Eating charcoal absorbs these gases, reduces the size of the large intestine and deflates the stomach. If you feel bloated, take two tablets.

Sip raw apple cider vinegar

Raw apple cider vinegar helps rid the body of excess toxins. It also seems to take the edge off hunger making it the perfect mid afternoon drink, explains Karen Cummings-Palmer - health, beauty and nutrition expert and an ambassador for STRIPPD’s range of Whey and Vegan Proteins.

Create a super tonic and add a tablespoon to warm water with a teaspoon of anti-inflammatory turmeric and a little raw honey.

Also, sip on the juice of half a lemon and drink with warm water before breakfast, it’s counter-intuitive but lemon juice is actually alkalizing so helps the body’s natural detoxification process.

Sip on the juice of half a lemon and drink with warm water before breakfast, it’s counterintuitive but lemon juice is actually alkalizing so helps the body’s natural detoxification process

Perfect your posture

'One of the easiest and most powerful tummy toning rituals is to simply improve your posture,' advises Cummings-Palmer.

'Pull your tummy to your spine, your shoulders back and your chest forward; you’ll feel instantly slimmer, taller and more confident.'

Kerry Beeson, Kerry Beeson BSc. (Nut. Med.) Nutritional Therapist, OptiBac Probiotics, says simply wearing high heels is a quick way to flatten your stomach.

Eat a tummy toning meal


Eating breakfast is essential, it will kick start your metabolism, boosting your ability to burn fat for a flatter tummy and peachier bottom, advises Cummings-Palmer.

It is important to start the day with good quality protein and the humble egg, which is rich in energy-giving B12 and metabolism-boosting Choline.

Try a poached egg on avocado and a slice of rye for a nutrient dense summertime classic.

Unwanted belly fat maybe the enemy but when it comes to banishing it, nutritious fat is most definitely your friend. Avocados and olives are particularly rich in oleic acid that can help regulate insulin levels, that in turn regulates metabolic function helping you to whittle down your waist.

The plank is one of the most effective exercises to tone your stomach and tighten your abs in no time

Seaweed is rich in Iodine, which can balance thyroid function and therefore metabolism and the better your metabolism the flatter your tummy so embrace seaweed.

Asparagus is one of the most nutrient rich vegetables on the planet, rich in skin enhancing, A, C, E and Zinc as well as potassium which helps flush excess fluid.

Wild salmon is rich in the anti-inflammatory Omega 3 and can help you to break down excess fat and ease bloating.

Another powerful but entirely painless way to help flatten your tummy is to chew. Good health starts in the gut but only if your break down your food effectively first. So start chewing each mouthful at least twenty times and you’ll feel less bloated, less hungry and less hurried.

Have a cup of tea

Green tea is rich in anti-oxidants and natural caffeine, which will stimulate your metabolism helping you to burn those pesky extra pounds around your belly.

Look out for Matcha, which has ten times the antioxidant value of regular green or fennel tea, which is one of the quickest and most effective herbal teas to reduce windy and gassy stomachs, as well as alleviating constipation and any digestive excess.

Coconut water, says Kerry Beeson, is another great option; excess salt (sodium) can cause water retention, so you can counteract this and balance your sodium levels by drinking potassium-rich coconut water.

THE IDEAL TUMMY FLATTENING MEAL

Poached eggs

Avocado

Olives

Seaweed

Asparagus

Fennel tea

Probiotics are a great summertime tool, not only will they help with any digestive issues associated with travel but they will ease bloating and help flatten your tummy so that you look and feel your very best when you hit the beach.

'The friendly bacteria in our gut help to prevent overgrowth of the "unfriendly" bacteria and yeasts that can cause bloating. And some of them are also thought to encourage normal bowel movements, preventing constipation.

'For all of these reasons, having a good population of beneficial flora in our gut can prevent bloating and achieve a flatter stomach', explains Cassandra Barns, Nutritionist. 'So probiotic supplements, which provide some of these beneficial bacteria, can also help us keep a flat tummy.'

Avoid these foods

An average woman produces around two litres of gas a day which can cause our stomachs to bloat.

Foods that typically create gas are high fibre vegetables such as onions, garlics, leaks, peas, beans, lentils, cabbage, cauliflower and brussels sprouts.

Other typical foods that trigger bloating are high-fat foods. Chips, cheese and oily dressings can take longer to digest and hang around our stomachs.

It is important to start the day with good quality protein and the humble egg, which is rich in energy-giving B12 and metabolism-boosting Choline. Try a poached egg on avocado and a slice of rye for a nutrient dense summertime classic

Do this pilates move

Lynne Robinson, founder of bodycontrolpilates.com, says the reason pilates is so good at trimming inches off your waist and flattening your stomach is because one of the key fundamentals, alongside alignment and breathing, is centring. This involves learning how to control all your movements from your centre.

She explains: 'In pilates you learn how to use your deep core muscles to support your spine. These muscles wrap around your waist like a natural built in corset. It’s been called your "girdle of strength!".'

She shared a simple 15 minute abdominal exercise that will help achieve a flatter stomach. Top tip: do it slowly and precisely for maximum effect, repeat up to 8 times.

Starting position: Lie on a mat with your knees bent, feet hip-width apart and parallel. Check that your pelvis is level (neutral) and your spine retains its natural curves. Lightly clasp your hands behind your head so that your hands support your head.

Action: Breathe wide into the ribcage. Breathe out, and gently engage your pelvic floor muscles drawing from back to front and up inside like an internal zip until you feel your lower abdomen hollow slightly (this connects your core muscles).

Breathe in again, then as you breathe out nod your head gently and continue to curl your upper body from the mat. Keep your pelvis level. Breathe into back of ribcage to keep the curl up. Breathe out and fold one knee up, without disturbing the pelvis. Breathe in as you return the foot to the floor. Repeat with the other leg, before breathing out as you control the curl back down.

Move the spine bone by bone on the way up and on the way back down. Allow your head to be heavy and supported in your hands. Do not tuck the pelvis under, keep it level.

Perform these simple tummy toning moves

Dean Hodgkin, Fitness Expert at Ragdale Hall, shares the simple 15 minute workout that will help tone your tum.

Start with a Russian Twist; lie face up on a fit ball, feet flat on the floor with knees bent to 90 degrees, holding a dumbell, medicine ball or bag of sugar in both hands directly above your chest. Rotate to lower the weight to one side, return to the centre, then repeat to the other side.

Next, perform an Oblique Curl; lie sideways on the fit ball, feet spread on the floor for balance, fingers behind the ears and elbows open wide. Slowly curl up to the side, with focus on the oblique muscles in your waist, generating the movement. Try to imagine squeezing your ribs down to meet your hips. Repeat on the other side.

The reason pilates is so good at trimming inches off your waist and flattening your stomach is because one of the key fundamentals, alongside alignment and breathing, is centring. This involves learning how to control all your movements from your centre

Then do the Reverse Curl; lie face up on a mat, holding the fit ball between your feet/lower legs, with knees bent. Keeping the neck and shoulders relaxed, draw the knees to the chest, bringing the ball closer to you. Concentrate on ensuring the movement comes from a strong contraction in your lower abdominals, below your navel, not from swinging your legs.

Next up is the Weight Transfer. Lie face up on a mat, holding a medicine ball or bag of sugar in both hands, on the floor behind your head. As you sit up, lift bent knees towards your chest and place the ball between your knees, then lower down. On the next repetition, switch back again. Focus on a slow, controlled movement that begins in the abdominal muscles, try not to initiate the movement with a swing in the arms and/or legs.

The final move is the Golf Swing. Hold a dumbbell, medicine ball or bag of sugar in both hands, down by your right thigh, feet hip width and knees slightly bent.

Keeping your arms almost straight, lift it diagonally across your body, rotating your hips, so the weight ends up high above your shoulder on the left side. Now lower it to your left thigh and repeat in the opposite direction, lifting up to above your right shoulder.

As your hips rotate lift your rear foot onto the ball and twist it in the direction of movement, to avoid injury to your knees.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/artic ... think.html

[Anthea]

Secret of eternal youth

Lentils, yoga and celibacy

Hindu monk Swami Sivananda looks amazing for his age. Guess how old he is?

India's passport authorities have confirmed Sivananda's age from a temple register and he is applying to the Guinness World Records to verify he is the oldest man to have ever lived

phpBB [video]

[Anthea]

Forget cereal and eggs:
Why eating MEAT and fish for breakfast will help you to stay in shape

London personal trainer Greg Cornthwaite came up with the unusual idea
He says the meals are packed with protein and will help you keep trim
Dishes include beef mince and broccoli, and steak with tomatoes
Meals are about 500 calories each and are packed with vitamins

If you think a healthy breakfast of poached eggs or fruit is the best way to keep trim, then think again.

Meat is the unlikely ingredient you should be tucking into in the morning, according to London-based personal trainer Greg Cornthwaite.

Though they sound more like typical dinner options, Greg has put together a list of five ideal breakfasts to eat if you want to stay in shape - and venison, steak, lamb and mince are all on the menu.

The breakfasts are about 500 calories each, high in protein and healthy fats, and low in carbs, which Greg says will prevent your body from creating fat.

Greg, of Embody Fitness, said: 'These breakfasts should give your body the essential proteins and fats to kick start your metabolism and balance your blood sugar levels.

'These options should keep you fuller for longer, preventing you from craving sugar until lunch time.'

The first option is beef mince with tenderstem broccoli and red onion, fried in coconut oil.

This high-fibre meal is rich in zinc, vitamins A, B1, B12, B6, iron, potassium and calcium.

But if you don't fancy mince, why not try venison steak in the morning?

Serve it with collard greens and cherry tomatoes fried in coconut oil for a meal full of vitamins A, B6, C and K, as well as fibre and potassium.

Greg also recommends starting the day with a hearty steak, kale and tomatoes fried in butter.

It might be a more traditional dinner option, but it's a meal full of zinc, vitamins B6, B12 and iron that will keep you going until lunchtime.

Lamb mince with spinach and mixed peppers is another winner in Greg's book.

The meal is packed with vitamins like magnesium, iron, zinc, potassium and vitamins A, B2, B6, B12, C, and K.

The last option is the only fish dish on the list: fried mackerel, with green beans fried in butter and a squeeze of lime.

It's packed with protein, omega 3 fatty acids, vitamins A, B1, B6, and E, as well as potassium, magnesium, calcium, and iron.

Greg said: 'All the above will give your body the essential proteins and fats to kick start your metabolism and balance your blood sugar levels.'

These meat and fish dishes are good options for those who find they put on weight easily when they eat carbs, he added.

He said: 'It’s important to understand that our genetic make up and gut bacteria may differ from one person to the next.

'This could be why your lean friend can eat carbs with each meal and not gain a pound, where as if you were to do the same, the scales would steadily increase week after week as you gained fat and weight.

'This could be why nutrition is such a debatable topic as there is no one meal that suits everyone.

'Without getting too scientific, we all have a different tolerance and sensitivity to carbs.

'If you are really sensitive to them, your body will process them efficiently and convert them to energy and stored energy, therefore not gaining fat.

'Or if you are less sensitive to them, you will most likely convert a high percentage of them to fat by a process called "de novo lipogenesis" (the creation of fat).

'If you feel you can relate to the latter, then these five unlikely breakfasts will be a great choice for improving your body composition.'

FIVE UNLIKELY BREAKFASTS TO HELP YOU STAY IN SHAPE

Option 1 - Steak with kale and tomatoes (501 calories)

Protein: 28g

Fat: 29g

Carbs: 32g

4oz beef steak (245 kcal), two fists of kale (100 kcal), two medium tomatoes (51 kcal), fried in butter (100 kcal).

Greg says: 'It's rich in zinc, vitamin B12, selenium and phosphorus - and a good source of niacin, vitamin B6, iron and riboflavin.'

Option 2 - Lamb mince with spinach and mixed peppers (500 calories)

Protein: 44g

Fat: 26g

Carbs: 14g

200g lamb mince (400 kcal), two fists of spinach (50 kcal), one cup of mixed peppers (50 kcal).

Greg says: 'It's rich in many vitamins and minerals, including iron, zinc, and vitamin B12, vitamin K, vitamin A (in the form of carotenoids), manganese, folate, magnesium, iron, copper, vitamin B2, vitamin B6, vitamin E, calcium, potassium and vitamin C.

'It's high in dietary fibre, phosphorus, vitamin B1, and choline.'

Option 3 - Venison with collard greens and cherry tomatoes (500 calories)

Protein: 67g

Fat: 19g

Carbs: 17g

265g venison steak (210 kcal), collard greens (66 kcal), six cherry tomatoes (27 kcal) fried in one tbsp coconut oil (130 kcal).

Greg says: 'It's rich in vitamin C, biotin, molybdenum, and vitamin K.

This meal is also a very good source of copper, potassium, manganese, dietary fibre, vitamin A (in the form of beta-carotene), vitamin B6, folate, niacin, vitamin E, and phosphorus.'

Option 4 - Beef mince with tenderstem broccoli and red onion (495 calories)

Protein: 43g

Fat: 31g

Carbs: 11g

200g beef mince (384 kcal), 120g tenderstem broccoli (38 kcal), red onion (24 kcal), fried in one tsp coconut oil (43 kcal).

Greg says: 'It's rich in zinc, vitamin B12, niacin, vitamin B6, iron and riboflavin.

'This meal is high in fibre, pantothenic acid, vitamin E, manganese, phosphorus, choline, vitamin B1, vitamin A (in the form of carotenoids), potassium and copper, magnesium, omega-3 fatty acids, protein, calcium, iron, niacin and selenium.'

Option 5 - Fried mackerel with green beans and squeeze of lime (491 calories)

Protein: 24g

Fat: 32g

Carbs: 26g

150g mackerel (300 kcal), cups green beans (80 kcal) fried in butter (100 kcal) with a squeeze of lime(11 kcal).

Greg says: 'This meal has a good of copper, vitamin B1, chromium, magnesium, calcium, potassium, phosphorus, choline, vitamin A (in the form of carotenoids), niacin, protein, omega-3 fatty acids, iron, vitamin B6 and vitamin E.'

Link to Article - Photos -Video:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/food/ ... shape.html

[Londoner]

Charcoal may cleanse the intestine but it can not remove fats. We have also to bear in mind that charcoal is a sort of CO2 and can be absorbed into the blood stream. This adds unnecessary extra burden on immune system to neutralise it or on kidneys to filter it out.

Foods that typically create gas are high fibre vegetables such as onions, garlics, leaks, peas, beans, lentils, cabbage, cauliflower and brussels sprouts.

This couldn't be true from my experience. I eat a lot of high fibre foods, lots of fruits and fermented vegetables, every day. Hardly I notice any wind in my digestive system. However some times I forget to chew my food completely. I have noticed this creates winds.

[Anthea]

I have always given my dogs charcoal biscuits to help settle their digestive systems

It must be doing something because charcoal biscuits also gives dogs fresh breath

[Piling]

I try no sugar free diet (not as an extremist, I eat pasta, rice, etc.) Just no sugar at all, sweets, sodas, etc. Only some fresh fruits.

That;'s not a big deal considering that I don't like sugar taste. I even stop to put sugar in my coffee milk.

[Londoner]

I try no sugar free diet (not as an extremist, I eat pasta, rice, etc.) Just no sugar at all, sweets, sodas, etc. Only some fresh fruits.

That;'s not a big deal considering that I don't like sugar taste. I even stop to put sugar in my coffee milk.

You can use dates and honey to replace sugar. I use organic dates and organic raw honey.

[Piling]

I do not feel the need to 'replace' sugar. I don't like sweet food. Even fruits, except cherries and red fruits, like berries. I stop to add sugar in my coffee milk and I stop to drink soda. In France, I never drank sodas but wine and whisky. Here in Duhok, I buy occasionally wine and booze for feasts and celebrations, so 3 or 4 times per year. Then I replace at evening by coke. That was a mistake. Now I just drink water, and sometimes I add to water a tiny spoon of apple vinegar.

But there is sugar in industrial food like Chinese noodles, may be crisps and other junk food like nuggets, pizza, etc. After the 3rd day I feel the effect of detox : tiring, headache. Very impressive if I consider how few I ate sugar.

Since I start, I have also a huge appetite and then I don't restrain to eat proteins with chicken and fish, and dairy and cheeses.

I eat a lot of veggies (bought yesterday kilos of eggplants) and less fruits (bought plums also). Kurdish flat bread or azyme is ok. About pasta and rice and wheat I won't suppress them, perhaps reduce and buy more chickpeas and beans.

I can drink also black cocoa powder (without sugar, so bitter).

so 4th day of detox : tired but lost not far from 1 kg.

[Anthea]

I have a sweet tooth and love unrefined cane sugar or honey in my tea

I never buy chocolate since I gave up a year ago

But I do buy biscuits occasionally

And last week a friend of mine took me out to dinner and bought me chocolate pastry

[Piling]

I have just finished to read it, interesting :

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sweet-Nothing- ... 140915484X

I feel lucky to not 'crave' by cutting sugar.

[Anthea]

I have just finished to read it, interesting :

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sweet-Nothing- ... 140915484X

I feel lucky to not 'crave' by cutting sugar.

Just read the intro and it seems funny think I will read the book

[Londoner]

so 4th day of detox : tired but lost not far from 1 kg.

You are eating a lot of processed food. Fizzy drinks can not replace water and cause dehydration without feeling thirsty. Many diseases come because of dehydration because the patient doesn't feel thirsty. This is why they say: 'You are not ill, you are thirsty'.

You have not explained how you do your detox. But are you sure you are detoxing? detox should make you full of stamina and feel comfortable.