Seasonal Foods II

Make your food choices according to the seasons:

• In summer, include light, cooling foods. You can enjoy fruits like strawberries, apple, pear, and plum; vegetables like cucumber, gourds, leafy vegetables, and citrus fruits like oranges, watermelons; and spices and seasonings like peppermint and fresh coriander leaves.
• In rains, turn toward the more warming, autumn harvest foods, including carrot, sweet potato, onions, and garlic. Also, emphasize the more warming spices and seasonings including ginger, peppercorns, and mustard seeds.
• In winter, turn even more exclusively toward warming foods. Remember the principle that foods taking longer to grow are generally more warming than foods that grow quickly. All of the animal foods fall into the warming category including fish, chicken, beef, and lamb. So, do most of the root vegetables, including carrot, potato, onions, and garlic. Eggs also fit in here, as do corn and nuts.

Reasearch Supporting Seasonal eating:

In a research study conducted in 1997 by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in London, England, significant differences were found in the nutrient content of pasteurized milk in summer versus winter primarily due to differences in the diets of the cows. With more salt-preserved foods in winter and more fresh plants in the summer, cows ended up producing nutritionally different milks during the two seasons. Similarly, researchers in Japan found three-fold differences in the vitamin C content of spinach harvested in summer versus winter.

Seasonal Foods I

The basics of healthy eating comprises of the following points:
ʥ Nutritious
ʥ Seasonal
ʥ Fresh
ʥ Appetizing
ʥ Offer a variety
ʥ Offers food combination
ʥ Moderation
ʥ Balance
Natural and unprocessed foods are much more nutritious then processed and packed foods for the simple reason that they come directly from mother nature without any chemicals and preservatives in them, thus helping us to remain in our natural state.
Eating according to what is available during the season is one of the best ways to live healthy. Eating seasonal foods helps our body to be balanced. During summers, we come across the juiciest fruits and vegetables. These help to cool the body and replace the lost fluids. These juicy fruits and vegetables are not available during winters or other seasons. Seasonal foods offer the best flavor, nutritional value, & are less expensive. Besides, they are great in freshness if they are locally grown.

Weight Loss Or Health Loss?

At the end of the 17th century, Morton described a condition that was seen in adolescents and young adult women who were affected by it.One hundred and seventy years later, Gull in England & laseque in France gave the condition its current name.
The condition I am are talking about is anorexia- it is a disease characterized by intense fear of gaining weight, body image distortion, which can lead to serious complications like amenorrhea. Women & even men in today’s western world are struggling hard to keep themselves in with the fashion world without caring if in the bargain they are sacrificing their long-term health! They induce into voluntary self-starvation and emaciation. In this condition weight loss is considered as a sign of extra ordinary achievement and self-discipline, weight gain is perceived as an unacceptable loss of self control.
So here is the million-dollar question can one lose weight and still maintain good health?
The answer is yes!
One needs to follow a good eating pattern and make sure to maintain a regular fitness regime.
Foods like low fat milk, fruits, and vegetables, nuts, curds, cereals, & legumes should form a major part of the diet.
Fats again a tabooed substance in a dieters list should be taken in moderation as when completely lacking, it can lead to EFA deficiency.
Avoiding colas, fast foods, chats, and the most popular Indian version of burger- Vada Pav! This itself can make a big difference.
However occasionally indulging in these, foods should not lead to a guilt feeling but instead this should serve as a motivation to hit the gym and sweat the fat out!
After all the taste buds too need scrumptious foods now and then.
Eating in moderation is the key to avoid unwanted weight gain.
Having small & frequent meals keeps the metabolic rate ‘up’.
The bottom line is do not deprive yourself of food instead sweat it out by exercising and eating healthy.

Healthiest Choices In Meat

Choose wisely:
When it comes to cutting down on fats,many a times it becomes difficult to do for many of us mainly due to the high consumption of meat.However if one choose wisely and takes care as to what type and cut of meat one is consuming, the task becomes much easier.
Choose lean meats and poultry without skin and prepare them without added saturated and trans fat.Most meats have about the same amount of cholesterol, roughly 70 milligrams in each three-ounce cooked serving (about the size of a deck of cards). The American Heart Association recommends eating no more than six ounces of cooked lean meat, poultry, fish or seafood a day.
The leanest beef cuts usually include sirloin, chuck, loin and round. Choose "choice" or "select" grades rather than "prime." Select lean or extra lean ground meats.
Lean pork cuts include tenderloin or loin chops.
The leanest lamb cuts come from the leg, arm and loin.
Remove all visible fat from meat and poultry before cooking.
Remove skin from poultry before eating.
Choose white meat most often when eating poultry.
Duck and goose are higher in fat than chicken and turkey.
Grill, bake or broil meats and poultry.
Organ meats — such as liver, sweetbread, kidneys and brains — are very high in cholesterol.
Cut back on processed meats that are high in saturated fat and sodium.

Eat well Stay well!

Eat a variety of Nutrient rich foods. There are about 40 essential nutrients, which constitute a healthy diet. There are a few tips for top nutrition, which are vital for a healthy eating plan.
ʥ Stay away from Butter or cream based sauces.
ʥ The more processed the foods the more unhealthy it is, therefore opt for fresh veggies, fruits, grains, & pulses, which are baked, grilled or broiled.
ʥ Stay away from deep fried foods such as samosas, wadas, wafers etc.
ʥ Restrict your sugar and alcohol consumption as these contribute to empty calories.
ʥ Never skip your breakfast as its important to supply your body with energy at the start of the day.
ʥ Avoid junk food during snacks.Grab an apple instead of that french fries.
ʥ Switch from colas and other carbonated beverages to healthier beverages like green tea, coconut water or fruit juices.
ʥ If you are a meat eater, stick to lean meat. White meat as in chicken and fish is healthier. Make sure the fat is trimmed of the chops.
ʥ Drink lots of fluids to keep your system clean like coconut water, soups, fresh fruit and vegetable juices, or just the simple water shall do the trick.
ʥ Create a sacred space for eating. Eat your food in a quiet and uncluttered environment so that you can experience the food's essence and truly enjoy you food.
ʥ Do not starve yourself of the foods you are fond of. Eat your favorite high calorie foods in moderation and only sometimes.