3 Pitfalls of Low-carb Dieting

In every instance the problem with fads is that they go out of style almost as quickly as they became popular, which is why every time we turn on the television we always see an advertisement for some kind of new diet or miracle weight loss pill, which some of us inevitably try only to find that they don't work.

The latest fad diets are those that advocate eating very little or no carbohydrates whatsoever, the most popular of these being the Atkins diet. However, while these types of diets are great for helping with quick weight loss, they simply cannot support a long term healthy lifestyle for the simple fact that the human body needs carbohydrates. So while many so called fitness "gurus" claim no carbs or low carbs is the way to live a long and healthy life, the following list explains why they are wrong.

Pitfalls of Low-carb Dieting #1: Not understanding the difference between good carbs and bad carbs

There are carbohydrates that are good for you and those that are bad. Bad carbohydrates include foods such as white bread, white rice and sugar. Good carbohydrates come in the form of whole grain foods, such as wheat bread, cheerios and pasta. When it comes to avoiding carbohydrates, it is important to avoid the bad ones and focus on the good ones; however, it is possible to eat more good carbohydrates than your body needs, so make sure and watch your daily intake.

Pitfalls of Low-carb Dieting #2: No energy

An important aspect of living a healthy lifestyle is exercise; however, if your body doesn't have the energy needed for activity you won't be able to sustain healthy levels of activity during a workout long enough to receive any benefits. This is where eating good carbohydrates comes into play. When you eat good carbohydrates you then have energy to exercise, and in turn, burn calories and carbohydrates so that your body doesn't transfer them into fat and store them on your body.

Pitfall of Low-carb Dieting #3: Poor nutrients

Most fruits are packed full of carbohydrates, but if you avoid eating them altogether, you're denying your body the many healthy nutrients that fruits have to offer. Fruit offers numerous long-term health benefits that lower the risk of such diseases a heart disease and cancer in older people.

Low-carb dieting was developed for people who want a quick weigh loss fix, but don't want to have to exercise too much to achieve results. Unfortunately, this type of diet doesn't work long-term because a person's body will eventually reach a point where it is demanding carbohydrates, and the moment a person begins eating carbohydrates again the weight will begin to return almost immediately.

In order to maintain a healthy lifestyle, a person must eat a healthy portion of good carbohydrates each day, as well as exercise in order to avoid stockpiling too many carbohydrates in their system. When you get right down to the heart of the matter, the only way to live a healthy lifestyle is through a healthy diet and exercise. Fad diets will come and go, but this old fashioned method will always exist for the fact that it is proven to work.

by Yuki Shoji
www.EatandLookGood.com

3 Pitfalls of Non-fat Dieting

Many studies have already proven that while eating a low-fat diet is highly recommended by health experts, some people often take this type of diet to an extreme, where they avoid eating fat altogether. However, not eating any fat at all works against leading a healthy lifestyle.

The media has managed to demonize fat as being completely unhealthy and being the reason why people have heart attacks. While it is true that a high fat diet can lead to a heart attack, it is not true that fat is completely unhealthy to eat; in fact, fat provides its own health benefits when ingested in proper amounts. Fat provides an extra burst of energy that can be beneficial to athletes and other individuals who include vigorous exercise in their daily life and are looking for extra intensity while in the gym.

So with that said, here is a list of pitfalls people run into when undertaking a low-fat diet:

Pitfalls of Non-fat Dieting #1: Not paying attention to your caloric intake

When you're at the grocery store and shopping for low-fat or non-fat food, it is important that you read the nutritional label on the outside of the package. Oftentimes companies will sucker you in to buying a low or non-fat product which is packed full of calories. A prime example is non-fat cookies, which people mistake as being a snack they can eat as much of as they want; however, while the cookies may be non-fat, there is probably over 100 calories in one cookie; thus, if you eat four, you've completely wrecked a whole day of healthy eating.

Pitfalls of Non-fat Dieting #2: Unbalanced diet

We've probably all heard the term "well-balanced diet." This is because you need a well-balanced diet in order to live a healthy life. To completely cut fat from your diet is like removing a leg from a tripod, your diet just won't stand up. A well-balanced diet should consist of no more than 15% of fat. Less is okay, but 15% is the absolute max. Whatever the case, it is important that fat be included in your diet.

Pitfalls of Non-fat Dieting #3: Eating the wrong types of fat

While it is important to have some fat in your diet, you have to be picky about what foods you get it from. Foods such as red mean, sour cream, butter, oil, and anything that is fried are poor choices for getting your daily allowance of fat. A much better choice is chicken and fish, or you may even consider eating a power bar.

Fat is not a nutrient that ruins a healthy lifestyle. It is eating too much fat that ruins a healthy lifestyle, or in this case, not eating any fat at all. You need fat, plain and simple. Any diet that completely cuts a nutrient out is a bad diet. Most foods have something healthy to offer for a reason, and that reason being that your body needs it. It's when we begin eating too much that we run into problems. If you can remember this than you'll be better able to avoid the many ridiculous fad diets on the market, and instead focus on a well-balanced health diet and active lifestyle, which have been proven effective for living a healthy life.

by Yuki Shoji
www.EatandLookGood.com

4 Tips for Eating Healthy Mexican Food

Have you ever tasted a great plate of Mexican food? If so, then you're probably no stranger to the urge to want to eat it again. Whether it's Taco Bell or some dive on a corner, it's obvious that American's have a love for Mexican food. However, if you're trying to live a healthy lifestyle you may be trying to avoid eating it like the plague for the fact that Mexican food has a very high fat content. But while it may be impossible to enjoy Mexican food at an actual Mexican restaurant because of the fattening ways in which they prepare the food, there is no reason why you still can't enjoy good Mexican cuisine.

The key to doing so lies with you. It is possible to enjoy a great tasting and healthy Mexican dinner. All you have to do is prepare it properly.

Tips for Eating Healthy Mexican Food #1: Enchiladas

Enchiladas are a common staple of any Mexican dish; however, they are also loaded with fat. However, when prepared in a healthy way you can avoid this issue. Rather than dip the corn tortillas in oil, a low-fat broth is a great alternative that will drastically lower the calorie content.

Tips for Eating Healthy Mexican Food #2: Cheese

Mexican food just isn't Mexican food unless it's smothered in cheese. However, in order to cut calories and fat, rather than using regular cheese, you can use non-fat or low-fat cheese, and rather than smothering you plate with it, just use it sparingly. In addition, if you're also a lover of sour cream, you can still use it, but just make sure it is of the non-fat variety, and again, make sure and use it sparingly.

Tips for Eating Healthy Mexican Food #3: Avoid fried foods

Unfortunately, not all Mexican foods lend themselves to being easily changed into healthy alternatives. Because of this, you will have no choice but to avoid some types of foods, such as chimichangas and chile rellenos. In addition, you should also avoid the use of flour tortillas because of their high calorie and fat content, but if you insist on them, you can find non-fat flour tortillas; however, and again, eat them sparingly.

Tips for Eating Health Mexican Food #4: Beans

A serving of refried beans contains more than you daily allowance of saturated fat because of the lard that is used to make them. However, there are plenty of non-fat refried bean products to be found in the grocery store. Make sure you serve these rather than the unhealthy alternative. Trust me, you won't be able to tell the difference.

When it comes to eating Mexican food, you don't have to give it up completely in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle. It's all about choices. When you make healthy choices you can create healthy Mexican cuisine. You see, living healthy doesn't necessarily mean you have to sacrifice all of your favorite foods.

by Yuki Shoji
www.EatandLookGood.com

6 Tips for Eating Healthy While Dining Out

Unless you're a total recluse you will never be able to completely avoid dining out all of your life. There will be times when you'll have to, such as vacations, business trips, long busy days where you really don't have time to cook at home, etc. - when these times come it doesn't mean you have to allow them to ruin your healthy eating patterns. Believe it or not, you can make healthy food choices when eating out, and here are some tips for how you can do this.

Tip for Eating Healthy While Dining Out #1: Drink Water

Most restaurants are going to push sodas and alcohol and flavored lemonades on their menus because they make money doing this; however, don't forget that you can order water, which you should. Or if you prefer, you can order tea, or if you insist, a diet soda; however, water is always the healthiest choice.

Tip for Eating Healthy While Dining Out #2: Order a salad

You can't go wrong with a good old-fashioned salad; however, stay away from those specialty salads that are loaded with extras, such as bacon bits, croutons, egg, or cheese. Just stick to lettuce and other vegetables and have them bring the dressing to you on the side so that you can control how much of it you use.

Tip for Eating Healthy While Dining Out #3: Order soup

Soups usually come as an appetizer, but the portions that most restaurants give make it seems like an actual meal. However, if you're going to order soup, make sure and avoid ordering a cream based soup, such as clam chowder. These types of soups are very high in fat, which you want to avoid. Stick to the broth-based soups, such as chicken noodle.

Tip for Eating Healthy While Dining Out #4: Order grilled fish

When you order grilled fish make sure and request that it be prepared without butter or oil so that a healthy meal doesn't become one which is high in fat.

Tip for Eating Healthy While Dining Out #5: Pasta

People who exercise vigorously, especially runners, need their fair share of pasta for the carbohydrate contents; however, avoid order the more popular cream-based pastas, such as fettuccini Alfredo, and stick to the tomato-based pasta dishes.

Tip for Eating Healthy While Dining Out #6: Eat slowly

There is something about dining out that seems to encourage us to clean our plates. As we sit in the atmosphere and enjoy the company of other we often don't pay attention to how much we are eating, and thus, by the time our plate is empty we are faced with the realization that we have overeaten. Because this can happen, it is important that you pay close attention to yourself when eating. Eat slowly and eat only half of what you're given and take the rest home. Most restaurants' portions are twice what you need in order to feel full.

Living a healthy lifestyle doesn't mean having to completely give up eating out. It can be done and you can maintain your healthy lifestyle while doing it. All you have to do is selective when ordering and you'll have nothing to worry about.

by Yuki Shoji
www.EatandLookGood.com

4 Health Benefits of Watermelons

Think back to when you were a child and when during the summer months, the pinnacle of cookouts and family gatherings was always the cold juicy watermelon that was for desert. When you were young, eating watermelon was about taste, but now that you're older it's more than just taste that should inspire you to eat lots of watermelon each year when the season arises. This is because watermelons have tremendous health benefits that anyone who lives a healthy lifestyle should be determined to take advantage of every year. With that said, let's take a closer look at some of these health benefits this fruit has to offer.

Health Benefit of Watermelons #1: Lycopene

Lycopene is an antioxidant found in most red-colored fruits, with the exception of a few, such as strawberries. Scientific studies have shown that Lycopene reduces the risk of prostate cancer and heart disease in people, especially men, the sex most prone to these diseases. Men who eat a diet high in lycopene are much less likely to suffer a heart attack then men who don't.

Health Benefit of Watermelons #2: Vitamin B6

Vitamin B6 is an important attribute to have in a healthy diet because it promotes chemicals in the brain that help people to cope with anxiety and panic, two psychological disorders that are on the rise in America today.

Health Benefit of Watermelons #3: Vitamin C

If you thought oranges were the only fruit that could provide you with Vitamin C, think again. Vitamin C is important to not only being healthy, but remaining attractive all your life. Vitamin C boosts the immune system so that you get sick less often and it also slows down aging and medical conditions such as cataract.

Health Benefit of Watermelons #4: Vitamin A

Vitamin A works much like Vitamin C, in that it helps boost immunity, but it also help your body fight off infection. It also prevents blindness.

As you can see, eating watermelon is almost tantamount to taking a multivitamin every morning, but with a much better taste. Watermelons are seasonal, which means that they are not available all year long, like fruits such as apples, which also means that when they are in season you should make sure and take advantage.

When you go to the store to purchase one you want to try and find one that is ripe and ready to eat. The best way to do this is to knock on the outside of the rind. If you hear a hollow sound then melon is ready to eat, but if you hear solid thud put it back. The fruit is over ripe and you won't be getting very good flavor from it. Buy you water melon and eat it within the first few days of getting it home. Everything about it is healthy, and in addition, it won't leave you feeling over stuffed if you eat too much.

So the next time the weather becomes warmer and summer is approaching, don't forget about watermelons. Eat up and get the extra boost they will add to your healthy lifestyle.

by Yuki Shoji
www.EatandLookGood.com

4 Health Benefits of Sword Fish

After you read this short article, I hope you will take steps towards eating less red meat. As Omega-3 essential oils have been shown in scientific studies to be an excellent addition to a healthy diet, the popularity of sword fish has grown, as it is an excellent source of this nutrient. Experts agree that if you eat at least three servings of this fatty fish each week, in addition to lots of fruits and vegetables, you can expect to receive the following list of long-term health benefits.

Health Benefit of Sword Fish #1: Lower risk of rheumatoid arthritis

]Rheumatoid arthritis can be very painful and plague a person who suffers from it their entire life. It causes the joints in the hands to seize up and swell, so that they are virtually unusable, and can even do the same to a person's knees, making walking, running and climbing stairs next to impossible.

Health Benefit of Sword Fish #2: Lower risk of heart attack

The occurrence of heart disease in America has grown so rapidly that it has quickly outpaced cancer as the plague of the 21st Century. Men and woman alike both have a high chance of suffering from a heart attack today; thus, it is important that people take healthy steps towards lowering this risk, and it can be as simple as eating three serving of sword fish each week.

Health Benefit of Sword Fish #3: Lower risk of IBS

Irritable bowel syndrome is a growing problem in society today. At one time, it was generally the older crowd that developed it, but it is now being commonly seen in young people today. The reason for this is the fact that Americans eat too much red meat, which the body has a hard time digesting and passing out of the body. It leads to constipation, which then leads to straining while using the bathroom which is harmful to the bowels, and can result in IBS after a time. But by replacing red meat in your diet with sword fish the risk of developing IBS can be lowered greatly.

Health Benefit of Sword Fish #4: Lower risk psoriasis

Psoriasis can develop in anyone regardless of age. It is a skin disease that is described as being flaky and itchy, as well as unsightly. The nutrients in sword fish help lower the risk of this disease developing, or if you already have, it can help lower the occurrence of an outbreak of the disease, and in turn, lower your chances of having to go into public and worry about unsightly patches of skin being noticed by people.

Sword fish is easy to prepare. You can buy it already sliced at the grocery store, so that all you have to do is marinade it and cook it on a grill for just a few minutes and then it's ready to eat. It's a simple, quick and healthy meal. It also goes great with salad, so don't forget about a healthy side dish. The next time you're at the grocery store, consider buying less red meat and adding swordfish in its place. Your body will thank you for it in the long run.

by Yuki Shoji
www.EatandLookGood.com

3 Tips for Cooking Chicken Healthy

Can you remember a time when you got sick of eating chicken? Most of us who have tried repeatedly to live healthy can. There are three healthy ways to cook chicken, and even better, they're surprisingly easy to do, or in some cases obtain. Since part of living a healthy lifestyle and maintaining an attractive figure requires your primary source of protein to come from chicken, it is only fitting that you should know the healthiest and quickest ways for eating it.

Tips for Cooking Chicken Healthy #1: Boneless, skinless chicken breasts

Boneless chicken breasts are the absolute quickest way to go about preparing chicken. You can buy them at any grocery store and use them as you need them when you make meals. Just pull one from the freezer, thaw it and cook. Buying your chicken this way is much cheaper and much easier than buying a whole chicken and having to remove the skin and cut it up yourself. With the bones and skin already removed you can have your dinner ready in 30 minutes. All you have to do is flavor the chicken and bake it in the oven and wait for the timer to buzz.

Tips for Cooking Chicken Healthy #2: Whole, roasted chicken

This is a great option because it will leave you with leftovers, which can then be used to make healthy sandwiches or salads over the course of a few days. It takes about an hour to roast a whole chicken in the oven, but preparation requires you to only sprinkle some seasonings. Once this is done the chicken need only be placed in a pan and stuck in the oven at a high heat. Then while you're waiting for it to finish you can accomplish other chores you may have or go exercise.
Tips for Cooking Chicken Healthy #3: Rotisserie chicken

This is an excellent option for the person who hates cooking. You can buy a rotisserie chicken at any grocery store deli that is ready to eat as soon as you get home and still eat it knowing that it is healthy for you because of the way it was cooked. In addition, you will enjoy having leftovers to use in meals over the next day or so, which will save you the time and trouble of having to decide what to eat.

The sky is the limit when it comes to preparing chicken. The three different types above are healthy ways; in fact, a good rule of thumb is that if you bake it, broil it or boil it, it's healthy. Make sure and stay away from eating it fried or breaded. Both process use high fattening substances such as cooking oil, butter and eggs.

If you need ideas for how to prepare chicken so that you get a chance to experience different flavors there are numerous recipes on the internet and in cookbooks you can reference; so many that there is truly no excuse for ever getting tired of eating chicken again.

by Yuki Shoji
www.EatandLookGood.com

5 Tips for Easy and Healthy Snacking

I'm wondering if you understand how important healthy snacks are to a healthy lifestyle. If you live a healthy lifestyle than snacking is something that is not new to you; however, are you snacking properly? Sometimes the temptation to grab that handful of chips or cookies or candy can be overwhelming, and when that occurs your healthy lifestyle goes sailing out the window.
In order to live a healthy lifestyle and maintain a healthy weight and attractive body you have to avoid these temptations. The first step to doing so is to get rid of them. Whatever you have in your house right now that is an unhealthy snack must go. Once this is done you will need to stock up on healthy snacks, which the following list will help you to do:

Tip for Easy and Healthy Snacking #1: Fruits and vegetables

These are the general go-to snacks. They're easy to prepare also, often only requiring you to wash them and then enjoy, or if you prefer, you can slice them up first. In fact, vegetables like celery and carrots lend themselves to being great snacks to take to work or on trips because they fit into any small sandwich bag and can be easily carried around.

Tips for Easy and Healthy Snacking #2: Trail Mix

This does not mean that you should go to the store and purchase the trail mix that has already been made for you - absolutely not. Store bought trail mix is extremely high in the sugars and fats you don't want in your system. However, you can make your own using a whole grain cereal, dried fruit and nuts. Leave the candy pieces out!

Tips for Easy and Healthy Snacking #3: Sliced chicken breast

A cooked and sliced chicken breast that has been left in your favorite marinade makes for a great afternoon snack, especially a few hours before you workout.

Tips for Easy and Healthy Snacking #4: Crackers

Low fat, no salt crackers are great for making munchies go away. Crackers break down in your digestive system in a way that coat the stomach, which in turn quells the hunger pangs.

Tip for Easy and Healthy Snacking #5: Almonds

Almonds are great for snack time because they contain nutrients that actually help your body burn fat while exercising, and are known to be great for helping to get rid of the pesky bulge around your midsection. What's more, you can eat quite a few of them for a snack; however, it should be noted that the almonds must be plain, with no flavor added.

Healthy snacks do exist, though some taste better than others. However, part of living a healthy lifestyle is understanding that food is not always about taste, but getting the healthy nutrients that keep your body healthy, as well as attractive. Once you master this conviction, you'll look at your daily snacks as fuel to help your body, as well as to please your taste buds.

by Yuki Shoji
www.EatandLookGood.com

4 Quick and Healthy Dinner Ideas

A friend of mine doesn't eat healthy because he says he doesn't have the time to. Did you know that the one excuse most often cited by people for why they don't eat healthy is that they don't have time? Between work, the kids, the spouse, household chores, and the plethora of other daily duties, when it comes time for dinner, many people believe it is quicker just to have something delivered.

However, there is no reason why people and families with hectic schedules can't make healthy dinners. There are plenty of quick and healthy dinner ideas that can be taken advantage of. The following is a list of some of them:

Quick and Healthy Dinner Idea #1: Sandwiches

Often the staple of most American lunches, people overlook the fact that they can be eaten for dinner also. However, forget about Subway or Quiznos. Your sandwiches should come from your kitchen and consist of whole wheat bread. For toppings you can pick between tuna and lean lunch meats, but make sure you use only a small amount of condiments, and don't forget to add some sliced fruits and vegetables to the plates.

Quick and Healthy Dinner Idea #2: Salads

You can use the prepackaged salads that are sold in all grocery stores; however, fresh is better. It only takes a few minutes to slice up a head of lettuce. Add to this tomato or oranges and serve with a non-fat dressing or vinaigrette and you have a very healthy and feeling dinner, but just make sure you stay away from adding croutons or bacon bits. These two toppings defeat the whole purpose behind eating a salad.

Quick and Healthy Dinner Idea #3: Chicken

If you prefer a more formal type of dinner then there is also chicken. Thanks to the convenience of society you can buy bags of chicken breast that are ready to be cooked without a moments notice. Just pull the breasts from the freezer, thaw them in the microwave and then prepare them; either bake them or broil them, but don't fry them. The process takes about 30 minutes, but while you're waiting you can do other things. However, chicken goes great with salad, so don't forget to add one of these on the side.

Quick and Healthy Dinner Idea #4: Fruit salad

It only takes a few minutes to chop up some apples, oranges, cantaloupes, watermelons, and any other fruits you have on hand to make a filling and highly nutritious dinner. The clean up is also easy.

So there you have it, four quick and healthy dinner ideas that prove that you have no excuse for not eating properly and taking better care of your body. Living a healthy lifestyle means that you make time for better eating habits, as well as a moderate amount of exercise. More of both is best, but of course, Rome wasn't built in a day; thus, following these tips are a great way to start living a healthy lifestyle, but be aware that you can always do more.

by Yuki Shoji
www.EatandLookGood.com

5 Quick and Healthy Breakfast Tips

I'm wonder if you understand just how important it is to eat breakfast every morning. You should never start your day without eating breakfast. If you go the whole morning without eating then when it comes time to eat lunch your more likely to over eat to compensate for the extra hunger, and because your metabolism hasn't been given a kick start, this means that your also more likely to not burn those calories, which also means they'll end up being turned to fat and stored somewhere on your body where you don't want them.

Thus, you want to make sure and eat breakfast every morning. The following is a list of quick breakfast ideas to help ensure that you don't skip the most important meal of the day ever again.

Quick and Healthy Breakfast Tip #1: Cereal

It was a great way to start your day when you were a kid and it's still just as effective now that you're an adult. However, you'll want to avoid the cereal that's high in sugar. A healthy bowl of cereal contains a whole grain cereal, such as Cheerios and a small amount of low-fat or non-fat skim milk.

Quick and Healthy Breakfast Tip #2: Parfait

No, this doesn't mean take a trip through a McDonald's drive thru. It means that you make your own healthy version of a parfait by mixing some low-fat vanilla yogurt with some granola and some frozen berries in a blender. The perfect breakfast you can eat while on your way to work.

Quick and Healthy Breakfast Tip #3: Whole Wheat Bagel

This is a simple enough breakfast. You can add a small amount of butter or non-fat cream cheese to make it exciting and still feel guilt free because everything about the bagel is good for you, especially the fiber.

Quick and Healthy Breakfast Tip #4: Smoothie

Some yogurt, juice, fruit, and ice mixed together with maybe a scoop of protein powder is ideal for the busy business professional with very little time in the mornings. Smoothies make a large breakfast that is very low in calories and very filling. When it comes time for you mid-morning snack you're going to have to force yourself to eat it.

Quick and Healthy Breakfast Tip #5: Hardboiled Eggs

This is a quick and easy breakfast if you make it a point to boil a few of the eggs a day or two in advance so that when you're looking for a quick breakfast fix you can easily reach into the refrigerator grab two, peel them and eat. For flavor you can add a dash of salt, but be careful not to overdo it.

Not only does eating breakfast allow you to maintain a healthier diet, but it also makes you more productive at work or at school. When you don't have the inconvenience of a growling stomach, your mind is more focused on the tasks at hand. Never allow yourself to skip breakfast, you'll find that you're much healthier and a more productive person if you don't.

by Yuki Shoji
www.EatandLookGood.com