THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE..weapons of warfare

Losing weight is not a walk in the park . It takes much effort. It is a battle that must be fought on a daily basis, and evaluated at reasonable intervals. Checking the scale every day is not a good idea.
When we are in a battle we must be prepared with the right tools.

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GOOD CARBS

Carbohydrates are actually an essential and vital nutrient for the proper functioning of the body, and should be part of a HEALTHY LIFESTYLE. They are the fuel that gives us energy. Energy is not just needed for exercise. Practically all bodily activities require energy. It is therefore not a good idea to not have enough carbohydrates in the daily diet. Since we have already examined the harmful effects of bad carbs, I want to highlight some of the carbohydrate foods that are considered good carbs.

It may be noted that most fruits and vegetables contain carbohydrates in varying amounts. Because fruit and vegetables in their natural state also contain vitamins, minerals, FIBER and other phytonutrients, they are considered good sources of carbohydrates and PROPER NUTRITION. Consider trying fruits hat are new to you. Tropical fruits are interesting. It is kind of exciting to introduce my friends to tropical fruits which are readily available in Asian markets. I have one friend who had never heard of a guava two years ago. Now guava juice is the only juice she drinks, and will scout the town to find mangoes for mango salsa.

Try avocado as a more healthy alternative to mayo. Were you aware that a cashew is really a fruit and the nuts are merely the external seed of the fruit? and that pomegranates are one of the most anti-oxidant dense fruits on the planet. I have tried some new fruits myself recently and there are none that I have not liked.

Did you know that all whole grains (including rice) are the seeds of grasses?
Brown rice is a more natural source of carbohydrates than white rice because it has not had the husk (fiber) removed. Although the calorie content is not much less than white rice by volume, brown rice is better because of the fiber content. Some substitutes for rice that are healthier, include, Quinoa which is cooked just like rice but is a smaller grain, and has a nutty flavor. Next time you feel like some polenta, try some amaranth. These are two of many delicious options that require only a bit of boldness in the kitchen.

Various forms of potatoes and yams are also good carbs. Other root vegetables such as yucca, (cassava) radishes, beets, eddoes, squashes and pumpkins (yes they are edible) are all sources of good carbs, and constitutes HEALTHY NUTRITION.

Green bananas can be cooked in the skin and is a nutritious and tasty source of carbs. So is its cousin the plantain, which can also be cooked in the skin, or sliced and pan fried.

Peas and beans such as lentils, red beans, pigeon peas, white beans, navy beans, chick peas (garbanzo beans) are not only good for carbohydrates, but are good sources of protein as well as numerous other nutrients.

Explore the world of alternate sources of carbs. All of these items and numerous others are readily available in various farmers markets and international farmer’s markets. A year ago, I had no idea what was quinoa, or amaranth were. Today they are two of my favorites, and so much tastier and nutritious than rice or corn. You don’t have to stick to rice and pasta (refined white flour) to get your carbohydrate content in your diet. Nature has provided an abundance of sources for us to obtain HEALTHY NUTRITION. If you insist on having refined, bleached, white flour (in all its many faces) as your carbohydrate staple, there is always SKINNY FIBER to the rescue. shimari.EatLessFeelFull.com

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Cheers to building your HEALTH and your WEALTH.

BAD CARBS

We have already established that processed white flour is the king of bad carbs, and not part of HEALTHY NUTRITION. Mainly because it is the residue of whole grain wheat, with all of the fiber removed. I believe most of the nutrients are also removed, because some commercially sold brands are labeled as enriched. Since whole grain wheat is not white, white flour is bleached. Chances are with chlorine. Again some brands offer an unbleached version.

Many of you probably can’t relate to this, but I remember as a child, when Easter was approaching, it was kite season. We made our own kites with various sticks and any kind of paper. It was an art form. Involving competitions, of beauty and flying endurance. There was hardly commercial glue available, and if it was, it could not hold a candle to home made. We made glue with flour and water. Once that sucker dried, it was stronger and harder than any manufactured glue. Think for a second. Do you think that gunk behaves any differently when it is cooked, or when other ingredients are added to it to make food? No matter how appealing it is prepared, and how tasty it is made, it is still all gunk we are putting in our bodies. What do you think is the cause of most constipation? In most cases a lack of fiber in the diet, and too much refined white flour in its many forms.

It has gotten so bad that fiber is now sold in many different varieties in the pharmacy, for way more than it would cost to get it naturally from fruits and vegetables.

Bleached white flour is used to produce more food items than you can imagine. While there are many shapes, and slight variations in the make- up of these pasta forms, they are mostly made of this all carbohydrate, high glycemic index, staple.

The Daily Mail of the UK recently concluded a survey of the world’s most popular foods. 1. Pasta 2. Meat 3. Rice 4. Pizza 5. Chicken 6. Fish and seafood 7. Vegetables 8. Chinese food 9. Italian food 10. Mexican food. Read about it here: www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2004279/

Pasta, rice, pizza, Chinese food, Italian food, and Mexican food usually include lots of bread based items. Then we have the cakes and pies, the fried foods that are battered with—you guessed it—flour. Is it a small wonder that our consumption of bad carbs is out of control, and leading to related health conditions? Modern day eating habits are leading to children with type two diabetes, kidney failures, and amputations, obesity and other related conditions that were once rare. We must strive toward reducing these from our daily intake and adopt a more HEALTHY LIFESTYLE.

There is a theory out there that many other illnesses are caused by the body’s inability to tolerate the gluten in flour. Many persons are discovering that they have an intolerance to gluten (the substance in wheat that makes it sticky) while investigating the mysterious cause of various health conditions. Rumor has it that 98% of people who suffer from gluten intolerance don’t know it, and will discover it after it has created health challenges that are too severe to ignore. Since rumors are not always true, I invite you to do your own research on this topic.

The other thing that has to be considered is that many of the items made with white flour are also made with sugar, which further increases the negative effects of bad carb absorption. Added to that we sometimes consume these foods with a sugar infused beverage. WOW!! Can you hear somebody’s kidneys screaming “Help me!!” Yes, we can help. By paying more attention to eliminating some of the gunk from our diet, and replacing it with healthier, fiber- filled forms of carbohydrates.

Tomorrow, I shall write about some interesting forms of good forms of carbohydrates, since we do need carbohydrates as part of a HEALTHY DIET. Go here to learn how you can counteract cravings for these bad carbs. SKINNY FIBER is formulated with three kinds of fiber that help to reduce cravings and also help you to eat less. www.healhandwealthbuilders.net

TO YOUR HEALTH AND WELLNESS