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Top 5 Healthiest Types of Cooking Oil

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Olive oil
Olive oil

Do you want to know one of the secrets to a healthy diet? Biologically, our body needs fat so it has its place in a healthy diet. When we hear fat, we assume that it is not healthy. I am afraid that what you have been hearing is just a plain stereotype. As a matter of fact, fat is one source of energy, and it also helps our body absorb certain vitamins like A, D, E and K.  Fat aids as well in our satisfaction with the food that we eat and is a key nutrient for proper growth and metabolic function.

Somehow, people always assume that if the food is cooked with oil, it is already unhealthy, and that the words diet or healthy or oil does not blend together. No! Our body needs fat, specifically “the good fat”.  The best source of this type of fats is the oil that we use for our diet, and there are plenty of them, but let us just point out the top 5 healthiest types of cooking oil.  There are a number of oils that contain lower amounts of saturated fats (which we need to avoid) and higher amounts of unsaturated fats, which our body needs.

Olive oil

Olive oil is the most known with the highest amount of unsaturated fats.  It is the most flavorful oil that we can use for home-cooked meals and is very high in heart-healthy antioxidants.

Canola Oil

Canola oil is high in mono and polyunsaturated fatty acids and low in saturated fats.  This oil is made from the crushed seeds of the canola plant and is the great source of the omega-6 fatty acid (helps reduce the risk of coronary heart disease) and linoleic acid which our body is not capable to produce.

Peanut Oil

Peanut oil from the name itself is made from peanuts (which is known for a number of benefits).  This oil is monounsaturated and is mild in flavor. Peanut oil is known to help people with health issues relating to trans fat and saturated fats.

Rice Bran Oil

Rice bran oil is made from rice and is considered one of the world’s healthiest oils.  Some of this oil’s health benefits are lowering of cholesterol levels and fighting diseases.  This oil is extremely light and versatile.

Sesame oil

Sesame oil which is very popular in Asia comes in a variety of colors which is a result from the number of ways the seed is processed to make this oil.  Since it is packed with a great amount of vitamins and minerals, this oil is known to lower cholesterol level and lower the risks of heart diseases.

Now that you know that you can still use oil and be healthy, you can just choose one of the oils listed above to cook those healthy and nutritious foods.  Frying, although not recommended for your everyday diet plan, is not that bad as long as it is done in moderation.

Sources:

  • http://whatscookingamerica.net/Information
  • http://www.fatfreekitchen.com/cholesterol/cookingoi.html

The Best Exercises for an Apple Body Shape

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Large waist, big breasts, and a bulky midsection in symmetry to small backside, arms and legs: Does this description suit you? If so, then it looks like you are categorized as an apple-shaped figure. Do not worry, it does not imply that you are doomed to resemble an apple all throughout your life. You are just likely to carry unwanted pounds that you need to shed off.

Do not pull a long face. There are a lot of exercises for people with apple  body shape like you. Here they are:

Groove It!

Aerobics Exercises: Engaging in appropriate exercises is the most effective way to build some muscles and mold that apple body shape. Focus on aerobic training to burn fat especially on your midsection. With at least 30 minutes of aerobic exercises daily, you can set a goal to lose those ugly spare tires on your waist. Plus, you can reduce your health risks by as much as 50 percent when performing aerobic exercises. Sweat it out, baby! While you will never be an hour glass figure, you can become a healthier apple by saying goodbye to your love handles forever!

Shape It Up!

Front Planks- Strengthen and condition your core muscles with abdominal exercises.

  • Start it by lying on your back with a mat on the floor. Put your palms down and position your hands forward. Place your elbows close to your sides right under your shoulders. Then, stretch your legs, grab your toes unto your shins and contract your core muscles.
  • Slowly lift your body off the mat, keep your midsection and legs stiff — your weight should rely on your arms and toes. Do not bend your lower back, raise your hips up nor bend your knees. Just keep your shoulders over your elbows and keep your palms faced down.
  • Breathe deeply and hold the position for five seconds or so. After that, gently lower your body on to the mat while ensuring your torso is stiff and your knees are extended.

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Move That Body!

Crunches- Begin this apple shape busting exercise by resting on your back on a mat, bending your knees, and keeping your feet flat on the floor and positioning your heels 12 to 18 inches from your tailbone.

  • After that, you can place your hands at the back of your head, then keep your shoulder blades together and pull your elbows behind.
  • Exhale and contract your abdomen while flexing your chin a little bit toward your chest, and slowly curl your torso toward your thighs.
  • Place your feet, tailbone and lower back directly on the mat all the time. Curl your whole body up till your upper back is off the mat. Then, hold this position quickly. As you breathe in, slowly lower your body back on to the mat.

At the end of the day, it does not really matter what your body shape is, what is truly important is how healthy you are and how comfortable you are of yourself. These exercise tips are aimed at guiding you to look your best by merely removing any body confidence and self-esteem issues you may be having.[ad#afterpost]

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Beyonce’s Workout Secrets for a Sexy Physique

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Beyonce Knowles
Beyonce Knowles (Wikimedia Image)

Beyonce Knowles is the epitome of a vogue goddess. She is one of the sexiest female celebrities of all time who has a gorgeous body that goes with a phenomenal voice.  She is a recording artist (who started getting famous for her song “Independent Women”), actress and fashion designer.  She has inspired a lot of youth with her success story.  One of the most amazing traits of Beyonce is her untiring drive to succeed with everything she puts her mind to.  All throughout her career, she has kept her curvy figure and she has inspired women like you that you do not need to be super skinny to be sexy.  And so, people are wondering what her secret is to maintaining her voluptuous figure.

Beyonce’s General Rule of Thumb

Use a diet plan that complements your exercise program.   All of your hard work will only go to waste if you have a poor diet. Consult a dietitian for a diet menu that would suit your lifestyle while exercising.  Beyonce says, “I eat a lot of boring things like green vegetables. I do not eat red meat or bread and I do not drink alchohol – I just do not like the taste.” Well, boring things could do you a lot sometimes!  She eats a lot of vegetables every day and her overall diet consists of low-fat, low-carbohydrate and low-calorie intake.

Featuring The Lemonade Diet

She was able to lose weight rapidly when she went on the “Lemonade Diet” to quickly drop 20 pounds for her role as Deena in Dreamgirls.  The lemonade diet, also labeled to as the Master Cleanser, helps ward off the toxins in the body.  You prepare the drink with lemons, purified water, maple syrup and cayenne pepper.  This diet is actually more like a fast one because it does not let you crave for any actual food and is only followed for about 10 days only. You drink the lemonade during daytime and drink laxative tea at night.  It’s known to be very effective to lose weight but only temporarily.
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Beyonce’s Insights Into How She Keeps her Sexy Physique

Workout five days per week, change routine regularly.
-Starts off with a bowl of cereal, waiting about 30 minutes to let it digest and then doing a cardio for 30 minutes followed by a  45 minute  of dumbbell workout to keep her body toned, and Beyonce changes her exercise plan from time to time because it helps her not to get bored with the routine.

Do yoga.
– Yoga not only tones her legs and thighs but helps Beyonce relax and meditate, letting her mind rest.

Dancing makes it a whole lot better.
– Dancing is the best exercise, as per Beyonce.  Dancing gives the actress the opportunity to have fun while her body burns calories.

Beyonce’s workout secrets are just like other Hollywood workout secrets.  Eating low-fat, low-calorie and low-carbo diet can give you the best results faster. By eating at most six meals a day, you can fasten your metabolism which would aid you to replace your belly fat with well-toned muscles. Voila!  And just with constant exercise, you can always achieve your goal. What your mind and heart can conceive, your body can surely achieve, just like Beyonce Knowles.[ad#afterpost]

How Healthy Can Kimchi Be?

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Have you been wondering what kimchi is? Kimchi is a spicy fermented cabbage and a tasty complement to Korean dishes. Commonly contained in jars, it has a conspicuous aroma and a sour-spicy taste.  Oh well, it may seem to have this pungent smell but do not let that push you back. Why? You got to read on to find out the answers…

Where It Is Made From?

Kimchi is made from the combination of garlic, scallions, vegetables, vinegar, oil and salt. All these make it an au naturel condiment. While Koreans do consume small amounts of protein especially meat and seafood, nonetheless, their intake of fermented Kimchi is what makes their diet so out of the ordinary. There is very little fat found in Korean dishes, because the meat does not dominate the meal at all.

What We Get Out Of Eating Kim Chi?

Scientists conducted a number of studies that show how this Korean food can increase metabolism and prevent obesity and possess numerous health benefits. Therefore, what the Koreans claim about this food to contain many therapeutic elements has just been justified. Conversely, we are now at the focal point of this article, the reasons why you should not underrate kimchi are because:

    • Garlic, garlic and garlic! The garlic we find in kimchi is a powerful antioxidants that purge your body from free radicals that cause harmful diseases like cancer.  When garlic is crushed, two enzymes work in a tandem to produce the powerful substance called allicin. Allicin is responsible for bringing down cholesterol and triglyceride levels. With kimchi having massive amounts of fresh garlic, eating this certainly helps you reduce your bad cholesterol level. The scallions included in kimchi have the same effect on cholesterol levels as well. Furthermore, garlic is the best known natural source of selenium, a key ingredient that helps our skin and hair healthy. On top of that, it restores Vitamin C, the body’s most important antioxidant. The blend of garlic and vegetables in kimchi keeps us healthy and energetic.
  • The cabbage in kimchi is popularly hailed for curing ulcers, since it helps in nurturing the beneficial bacteria and inhibit the bad ones. Good bacteria are needed for proper digestion and healthy digestive system.
  • Studies have shown that kimchi can shorten the duration of a cold. Moreover, there have been subsequent studies that show how kimchi can be helpful in clearing up yeast infections and urinary tract infections. By incorporating kimchi in your diet, you surely get both a protective and healing effects all in the same package. What a solace!

Pairing kimchi as a side dish with meat, eating it with rice or stewing it could never be even better. There are many recipes sold in many places to make your own kimchi. You can also choose to just pick it up in the chilled section of your grocery store or Asian markets; that is how they call it convenience food.  So do not forget to include kimchi in your next meal; you might just love it![ad#afterpost]

Resource Links:

  • http://bodyecology.com/articles/kimchi_wonderfood_recipe.php
  • http://www.treelight.com/health/nutrition/KimchiHealthy.html

Do You Lose Weight By Not Eating?

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Many people ask: Do you lose weight by not eating?  You think that the quickest way to lose weight is to cut out almost all food from your daily diet or stop eating completely.  In theory, it may make sense that if you restrict your calorie intake by starving yourself, you will lose the weight at a rapid rate.  Sure, you will lose weight because when you do not feed your body; your body will pretty much do something to feed itself in order to provide you some nourishment. You do not want that to happen, do you?

As a result, your body goes into what is known as “survival mode” and your metabolic rate drastically slows down for conversation purposes.  Then, once you have lost your desired amount of weight, you tend to revert to your previous diet.  Since you tried to lose weight by not eating, your metabolic rate is now slower than it previously was.  After torturing yourself by starvation, you now pose this yo-yo consequence, which entails that you are going to bounce back to your normal weight or even twice as much as you weigh initially.

Dangers

Hey, pause right here and understand this section really well! Losing weight by starving yourself practically waves some red flags.  The recommended healthy weight loss is 1-2 pounds per week and losing weight rapidly through starvation is too dangerous. Here are more reasons why:

    • Depriving your body of proper nutrition will have more negative effects on your health than positive. It can lead to malnutrition and health problems as our body requires regular consumption of vitamins, minerals, fibers, proteins and even fats (the good one).
    • Non-eating practices and starvation diets deprive the body of the nutrients needed for conditioned and healthy organs specifically the heart, lungs and liver. Thus, depriving oneself from eating can be fatal where it can lead to serious cardio, circulatory and respiratory issues. And again, yes it can lead to weight gain.

 

  • When your body stops getting food, the weight you will lose (which is not much) will be mostly water and muscle tissue.  This is very bad because not only will you have to start eating again but since you now have less muscle, you’ll have a slower metabolism compared before which will hinder weight loss; as a result you gain even more fat on top of the fat that your body stored while you fasted.
  • Starvation dieting robs the body of needed glucose levels.  Blood glucose  is the preferred energy of our brains so starvation can cause headaches and unhealthy side effects like fainting, depression, irritability, rashes, reduced sex drive, and hair loss. Hypoglycemia can lead to death when taken for granted.
  • Without the needed nutrients of your body, the proteins, vitamins and minerals, you will have little energy for any healthy physical activity so you end up weak and ineffective.  If you really want to lose weight, do it the healthy way, the right way.

Here are some simple tips to lose weight the healthy way:

  • Instead of not eating, eat small portion of food every few hours.
  • Do not skip breakfast because it is the most important meal of the day. Eat fruits and vegetables if you can.
  • Eat less carbohydrates.
  • Exercise: either you jog, do yoga, workout; just get off that lazy butt off the couch!
  • Drink lots of fluid, especially water.

So the next time you even think about starving yourself, think twice or thrice.  The secret is simple, instead of not eating at all, you eat! Eat frequently with the right food and right amount, and for sure, you will get those extra pounds off quickly.

 

Famous Foreign Chemists and Their Significant Contributions

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Chemistry is something present in each and every aspect of your life. Whether it’s the food you eat, the clothes you wear or the car you drive, from the smallest to the biggest thing of this world can be defined in terms of compounds, chemical reactions, and bonding between different elements.

We have been able to get to the core of each and every thing around us because of the work of several geniuses spread over a time period of centuries. Here we talk about some of the famous foreign chemists who have helped make this world into a more tangible place to live in.

John Dalton- Born in 1766, Sir John Dalton made a great contribution to the field of chemistry with his discovery of atoms, development of John Dalton’s atomic theory, and the findings related to color blindness. He was the one who defined atom as a fundamental unit of matter which can neither be created nor destroyed. He also mentioned that atoms of one element differ from atoms of other elements.

Marie Curie- The name of Marie Curie seems to be synonymous with chemistry and that is not without any reason. Born as a Polish in 1867, she later acquired French citizenship. Curie is renowned for her discoveries in the field of radioactivity. She was the one who discovered the radioactive elements radium and polonium and was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for the same. She had earlier been awarded the Nobel Prize for her work in the field of physics in the year 1903.

Dmitri Ivanovich Mendeleev- No chemistry book is completed with a periodic table as an annexure. A Russian chemist Dmitri Ivanovich Mendeleev charted the first periodic table, which has since been modified by successive chemists. Mendeleev already knew that there was scope for improvement which is why he designed in a way that there was scope to fit in new or yet-to-be found elements. Originally there were 68 elements in increasing order of the atomic weight and similar properties in the Mendeleev periodic table.

Amedeo Avogadro- Avogardo was born in Italy in the year 1776 and is well known for proposing the Avogadro’s Law stating that “equal volumes of gases contain the equal number of molecules when the given temperature and pressure are same for all the gases.” The number of molecules also called Avogadro’s number is 6.023 x 1023.

Joseph Louis Gay–Lussac– A French chemist and physicist born in 1778, he gave the Gay-Lussacs Law regarding gases which says “At constant mass and pressure values, the volume of a gas increases linearly with temperature.”[ad#728-90 after post]

Jons Jacob Berzelius– The technique of chemical formula notations which has been helping millions of chemistry students understand the subject easily was given by Swedish chemist Jons Jacob Berzelius. He also proposed the law of constant proportions, which was used to prove that inorganic substances are made of elements that are in constant proportion by weight.

Michael Faraday– Students of electrochemistry and electromagnetism would not forget Michael Faraday, an English chemist and physicist born in 1779. He was also instrumental in discovering the aromatic compound benzene.

Henri Louis Le Chatelier– A French chemist born in 1850, he proposed the principle for chemical equilibrium, known as the Le Chatelier’s principle.
Svante Arrhenius- Born in 1859, Svante Arrhenius was the one who proposed the Arrhenius equation. He also proposed that salt dissociates into ions when in a solution even in the absence of an electric current.

Ernest Rutherford- Popular as the father of nuclear physics, Ernest Rutherford was a British-New Zealand chemist and physicist. He was the one who discovered the concept of half life in radioactive substances. He received the Nobel Prize in chemistry in 1908 for his work. Later, he postulated planetary model or Rutherford model for structure of an atom. He also tried splitting of an atom and its nucleus.

Dorothy Mary Hodgkin- Born in 1910, Dorothy Mary Hodgkin was a British chemist who used X-ray crystallography to define the structures of biomolecules. She won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for her work in protein crystallography.

These were just a few of the famous foreign chemists who have helped bring clarity into the things and processes around us.[ad#afterpost]