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Food Combinations for Best Nutrient Absorption
5 Drinks to Help You Lose Weight Fast
Top 5 Foods that Help You Lose Weight

Food Combinations for Best Nutrient Absorption

Posted: 08 Jan 2012 04:25 AM PST

This is a guest post by Betsy.

Some things are just better together like peanut butter and jelly, cookies and milk, cake and ice-cream. Aside from pairing foods complement each other in taste and flavor, there are nutrients that can be combined together for best results. While our bodies can take in nutrition when a food is eaten by itself, the absorption can be increased if combined with another nutrient. Fortunately, there are many such combinations of food that can be eaten together to improve the nutrient absorption. Some of the combinations are listed below.

Iron and vitamin C:

Vitamin C improves the absorption of the iron, especially the iron from plant sources. This is really beneficial for vegetarians or people who eat only small amounts of meat. When you pair a good source of vitamin C with a good source of iron you are guaranteeing almost 100 percent absorption of the iron. For example, sprinkle lemon juice on your spinach salad or add some tomatoes to your salad. Have a side of red bell pepper when eating lentils.

Calcium and vitamin D:

There is a good reason why milk is fortified with Vitamin D. They make a great team. Vitamin D can easily be made by body if it is exposed to sunshine. However, more and more cases of Vitamin D deficiency are reported each year as people are exposed less and less to sunshine. Calcium is not well absorbed in the body with vitamin D deficiency. Combining a good source of vitamin D such as eggs, with a good source of calcium such as cheese will ensure absorption of calcium.

Vitamin A, D, E, K and fat:

These vitamins are fat soluble vitamins. So having them in combination with a good fat will help trap these vitamins and enhance their absorption. Drizzle a teaspoon of olive oil on greens (high in Vitamin K) or dip baby carrots (high in beta carotene) in an oil based dressing to absorb the fat soluble vitamins. Foods like avocados and nuts have both fat and fat soluble vitamins packed in one. So you can enjoy them as is without combining it with anything.

Acidic foods and meat:

Acidic foods such as pineapple or tomatoes are good tenderizers for meat products. Tenderized meat release protein and iron better thus improving the chances of absorption. Tenderized meats are easy to digest and the protein is released better for absorption. Have a fruity side dish or a salad with your meat entrée and enjoy the flavor while reaping the benefits.

Chocolate and wine:

Treat yourself to some dark chocolate and red wine. These foods are high in polyphenols which is an antioxidant. Antioxidants are beneficial for the body in many ways. Antioxidants reduce the risk of degenerative disorders like heart disease and cancer. So next time you want to pamper yourself, get some dark chocolate to go with the red wine.

Proteins and Non-starchy vegetables:

Protein is one of the macronutrients. Macronutrients provide energy for the functioning of the body. If proteins are combined with starches, it inhibits the digestive process as proteins require acidic medium and carbohydrates require alkaline medium. When they are combined together it creates a neutral medium that does not digest either food properly leading to indigestion, bloating and other GI issues. Combine proteins with non starchy vegetables like green, carrots, broccoli and squash to enhance the absorption of protein and get maximum benefit from eating the meat.

Try these combinations to enhance the absorption of the nutrients and get the most out of your meal. Get most out of your meal choices by following these simple rules.

Betsy is a registered dietitian and contributes regularly on slimming pills reviewed. Check out the latest previews of Capsiplex Plus and Nuratrim.

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Post from: John Is Fit - Personal Weight Loss Blog

Food Combinations for Best Nutrient Absorption

5 Drinks to Help You Lose Weight Fast

Posted: 07 Jan 2012 09:23 AM PST

This is a guest post by Jaime A. Heidel.

Many people just like you are struggling to lose weight. If you've tried diet after diet with no success, it may not be what you're eating, but what you're drinking. Diet sodas, vitamin waters and certain fruit juices contain additives such as high fructose corn syrup that make you pack on the pounds. Cut them from your diet and replace them with these 5 diet-friendly drinks instead!

Water – Eighty percent of our bodies are made up of water so why don't we drink more of it? Water is a great weight-loss friendly drink because it helps detoxify your body, improves your digestion and helps control your appetite.
It may also surprise you to know that the body can confuse hunger with thirst. The next time you feel a hunger pang, drink a glass of water. If the food craving goes away, you were just thirsty. To get the most weight-loss benefit, drink pure, home-filtered water instead of bottled.

Green Tea – Green tea is another great drink to help you lose weight. The caffeine helps boost metabolism and the antioxidants help the body detoxify naturally. For best results, replace your morning cup of coffee with a cup of unsweetened green tea. If you're sensitive to caffeine, try de-caffeinated. You'll need to drink a few more cups but you'll get the same results.

Coconut Water – Coconut water is a great alternative to sugary sports drinks and can help replace electrolytes after a work-out. One of the great coconut water benefits is weight-loss. When you're properly hydrated, your body is less likely to store fat unnecessarily. Coconut water also boosts your metabolic rate and helps your body eliminate toxins. Plus, coconut water is only 50 calories per cup!

Kefir – You've probably heard about the health benefits of probiotic yogurt. The only problem with this method of getting healthy bacteria into your gut is it contains fat-promoting high fructose corn syrup and other additives. Instead, try organic kefir. This probiotic-rich fermented dairy drink helps balance your digestive system by repopulating your gut with good bacteria. This helps your digestive system better absorb nutrients from food and helps make waste elimination easier.

Vegetable Juice – Studies show that drinking an 8-ounce glass of vegetable juice before meals can help reduce a person's appetite. Vegetable juice combines vitamins, minerals and nutrients in an easy-to-digest liquid form. For best results, choose organic, low-sodium vegetable juice or better yet, juice the vegetables yourself!

The best way to lose weight fast is to trade your soda, vitamin water and high-calorie coffee drinks for purer choices. Not only will you lose weight faster, but you'll avoid developing autoimmune disease and mystery symptoms.

Jaime A. Heidel is a freelance writer with a passion for natural health. Her blog: http://itoldyouiwassick.info is dedicated to helping others with mystery symptoms heal using natural remedies.

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Post from: John Is Fit - Personal Weight Loss Blog

5 Drinks to Help You Lose Weight Fast

Top 5 Foods that Help You Lose Weight

Posted: 07 Jan 2012 09:09 AM PST

This is a guest post by Brenda Lyttle.

Okay so if miracle diet is what you are searching for, you need to have some illusions shattered for no such thing exists. As a general rule, if you eat more calories than you burn, you will gain weight. Period. No macherel or milkshake will be available to your aid in that case.

Wait! This is not to discourage you and say that no foods can help you lose weight. There certainly are foods that can make you feel fuller than other foods and ensure that you eat less throughout the day. These are usually foods that are high in water content, fiber, and have lots of healthy protein and fats, suggests Dr. Barbara Rolls, a nutrition professor at the Penn State University. The good news is that these foods are normally the ones that pack additional benefit of nutritious minerals, vitamins, and nutrients.

Anyway, so for all you curious but lazy minds, below is a list of top 5 foods that help you lose weight:

Apples – Its high water content make apples your perfect weight loss snack. It contains both types of water-busting fiber – soluble as well as insoluble. While soluble fiber prevents the increase in blood sugar levels that causes cravings, insoluble fiber keeps you full for long.

Eggs – Protein-rich, eggs also make you feel full for extended hours. A study published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition concluded that people who eat two eggs in the morning consume 400 less calories throughout the day in comparison to when they eat bagels for breakfast. Eating eggs regularly can also have great weight management benefits in the long-term, says Dr. Nikhil V. Dharundhar, from Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Loisiana.

Cauliflower – Non-starchy foods like Cauliflower are one of the very few foods that can be consumed limitlessly when you are trying to lose weight. Cauliflower consists of Vitamin C and folate, which is good for weight watchers, says Dr. Rolls. Plus, a Purdue University review also pointed out the importance of Vitamin C in burning up more fat during the physical activity. Brocolli and spinach are some other choices you have, in case you do not like cauliflower.

Soup – A recent study led by Dr. Rolls, published in journal Obesity Research, concluded that an addition of mere two 10-ounce servings of broth-based soup to the daily diet of weight watchers almost doubled the weight lost by them over a period of 6 months. The reason for this is that adding water to a food is a lot more filling than drinking the water alone, explains Dr. Rolls. So, addition of water to the soup increases the volume of the meal, making you feel fuller without any extra addition of calories. In fact, this also cuts down your calorie intake throughout the day as well.

Bulgur – Bulgur are the high-fiber whole wheat grains that can easily be cooked at home. They are a great substitute for pasta and rice that have low fiber content and are highly processed. High fiber content of bulgur also ensures that there are no blood sugar pikes in your body that may otherwise be a problem with low-fiber carbs, like rice or white pasta.

Make these foods a part of your daily diet but do not forget to exercise alongside and you are sure to see a remarkable improvement as you see your love handles disappear in a few months, giving way to the beach body you always wanted.

Brenda Lyttle is a freelance writer and a health freak who loves to share her wisdom on weight loss, diet pills, and healthy eating. Quite recently, she has grown fond of sharing her knowledge related to Halloween, be it the recipes, Halloween costumes, or Halloween wigs.

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