FOOD REALLY IS YOUR FRIEND!

Yes, it sounds silly but it is true.   Food is not your enemy!   You need to eat to survive and you need to eat to burn calories.   If you don't eat enough to support your bodies daily needs it will store everything you do eat instead of burning it for energy.   This will leave you feeling tired and run down.

So, here are some very simple ways to keep your metabolism going:

1:   Eat breakfast, you haven't eaten since last night!   If you skip this meal your metabolism will slow down.

2:   Eat healthy, lean proteins, fruits and veggies and avoid sugar and alcohol.

3:   Snack,  every 4-6 hours is good.   Have fruits and veggies or low fat cheese.

4:   Exercise, even if your mind resists.

5:   Lift weights, muscle burn up to 5 times more calories than fat.

6:   Keep a food diary, this will help you see what you are eating.

7:   Drink lots of water, staying hydrated will keep your energy up and your metabolism going.

8:   Drink green tea, before meals is best it will speed up your digestion.

9:   Get enough sleep, I won't tell you 8 hours because everyone is different.   Listen to your body.

10:  Eat according to your schedule, if you have a busy day eat well for breakfast and lunch and go light for dinner.    If you have a busy evening than switch that around.

I hope this helps anyone trying to maintain or lose weight or just wants to feel better.

Enjoy!

Jacqui Allen

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THE LOWDOWN ON LETTUCE

I have always been a lettuce lover, I can't remember too many meals that  haven't ended with salad.   Where I grew up salad was believed to be a helper in digestion (it also cleanses you palet) and so we always had our salad at the end of the meal.  To this day I still believe that.   Now I am not talking about the fat and calorie packed salads that are commonly consumed today, I am talking a simple green salad (maybe throw in some tomato and cucumber, I wouldn't object to that).   But, what kind of lettuce is the best for you?   Well, in cooking school I learned that romaine lettuce has the most nutrients than any other lettuce, so here is the lowdown. Iceberg versus Romaine:

One cup of iceberg lettuce has:

8 calories


0.5 gram protein

0.7 gram fiber

10 mg calcium

78 mg potassium

1.5 mg vitamin C

16 mcg folate

13.3 mcg of vitamin K

164 mcg beta carotene

152 mcg of lutein + zeaxanthin

One cup of romaine lettuce has:

8 calories

0.58 gram protein

1 gram fiber

16 mg calcium

116 mg potassium

11.3 mg vitamin C

64 mcg folate

48.2 mcg vitamin K

1637 mcg beta carotene

1087 mcg of lutein + zeaxanthin.
 
 
and the winner is clear ROMAINE WINS (I knew it would and it tastes better too)
 
Nutrition info obtained from http://www.about.com/
 
So, enjoy a green salad everyday and help you digestive system it will thank you!
 
Jacqui Allen

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