Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Early Spring Must Eat Liposuction Food To Keep Health

We all know that there is a direct relationship between keeping our body fit and healthy and the foods we eat, but we can be even more specific and keep our heart beating longer by eating these top heart healthy foods.

Diet food: Eggplant

Eggplant by selenium higher than other vegetables. Will be fresh round eggplant, peeled and cut into the wire, add salt and sesame oil salad. Selenium has antioxidant, able to maintain the normal function of human cells, enhance immunity, on the human body and disease prevention, anti-aging effects, metabolism, can also play an anti-cancer effects.

Diet food: sea bass

Want to promote the body’s metabolism, the most important, of course, is to include large amounts of protein in the diet. If you love fish crush, the bass is a very good diet food. The bass is very rich in protein, iron and other minerals. So, add it to your diet can speed up your weight-loss plan!

Diet food: Grapefruit

Studies have shown that the chemical substances in grapefruit reduce insulin levels, help lose weight. In addition, grapefruit are rich in vitamins, potassium and cellulose, increase satiety and speed up metabolism have a lot of help.

Diet food: lamb

Lamb contains very rich in protein, vitamin B12 and other nutrients. If you want to keep slim, ginger lamb stew is a very good dinner recipes.

Diet food: eggs

Studies have shown that the protein inhibits fat accumulation, while the egg is the best source of protein. The protein contained protein, can promote fat burning enzyme activity, inhibit fat accumulation, can help you to easily maintain a slender figure.

Diet food: celery

Celery is rich in crude fiber, potassium, vitamin B2, vitamin (also known as niacin) and other ingredients. The hot summer weather, it is easy to get angry, resulting in dry stool. Meanwhile, the hot days when people water loss and more likely to cause sodium and potassium imbalance. Celery can help people to relax bowel, to regulate sodium and potassium balance. The vitamin has on the human skin, nervous system and loss of appetite, if the body lacks vitamin B2, it is easy to cause fatigue and mouth ulcers. Celery leaves contain more nutrients than the stem, gesture, boiled salad to eat.

Diet food: nettle

Nettle low in calories and rich in a variety of nutrients needed by the body, is the best choice for healthy diet food. Nettle contains potassium, calcium, vitamins A, B, and C, and iron, with an appetite suppressant and the release of serotonin, can help lose weight.

Sunday, February 12, 2012

Chocolate Cupcakes With Coconut Cream Cheese Frosting

These are officially the best cupcakes I’ve ever had.  Pretty bold statement, I know.  But it is so true.
Besides the fact that they are really, really, REALLY good they transport me back to my days of living in Paris.  I was a young, (and poor) college student living off two dollar ham & cheese crepes made from the street-side crepe truck by my flat.  

I think “Je voudrais un crepe” was the first thing I learned to say (and may have been one of the only things I learned to say behind je voudrais un baguette and je voudrais que vous coupiez ici, but that’s a whole other story).  Back to the crepes.  That little crepe cart was where I discovered the insane combination of Nutella and coconut.  My daily jambon and fromage was soon replaced with coco and nutella.  And on days I wanted to be more healthy I would eat the crepe with coco, nutella and banana.

Second, anything that is “filled” (or stuffed) is just better.  There is something about that feeling of sinking your teeth down into a creamy center that oozes out onto your tongue.  Lastly, it’s chocolate.  Rich, deep, dark… bold chocolate.  Just the way I like it.  (If you are a chocolate lover like myself you know exactly what I’m talking about.)

■Chocolate Cupcakes
■One small jar of Nutella
■Coconut Cream Cheese Frosting
Chocolate Cupcakes

Makes 16 cupcakes
■ 1/2 cup Dutch-processed cocoa powder
■1 cup boiling hot water
■1 1/3 cups all purpose flour
■2 tsp baking powder
■1/4 tsp salt
■1/2 cup butter, room temp
■1 cup sugar
■2 large eggs
■2 tsp vanilla extract

(You can use your favorite chocolate cupcake recipe or this recipe for chocolate cupcakes derived from Joy of Baking)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

In a small bowl stir until smooth the boiling hot water and the cocoa powder. Let cool to room temperature.In another bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.

Then in the bowl of your electric mixer, or with a hand mixer, beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating until smooth. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed. Beat in the vanilla extract. Add the flour mixture and beat only until incorporated. Then add the cooled cocoa mixture and stir until smooth.

Fill each muffin cup about two-thirds full with batter and bake for about 16 – 20 minutes or until risen, springy to the touch, and a toothpick inserted into a cupcake comes out clean. (Do not over bake or the cupcakes will be dry.) Remove from oven and place on a wire rack to cool. ( These cupcakes are best the day they are made, but can be covered and stored for a few days.)

Once the cupcakes have cooled, with a pairing knife, cut out a hole in the center of the cupcake.  Pour a spoonful of Nutella into the center and then frost with coconut frosting.  Top with toasted coconut.

Coconut Cream Cheese Frosting
■1 8 oz package cream cheese, softened
■2 sticks butter, softened
■1 36 oz bag powdered sugar
■1 teaspoon vanilla extract
■1/2 teaspoon coconut extract
■2 cups shredded coconut

In bowl of electric mixer cream butter and cream cheese.  Slowly add powdered sugar by the cup until incorporated.  Add extract and blend well.  Fold in coconut.  You may have to add a splash of cream to losen the consistancy to spread.

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Southwestern Chicken Fricassee Recipe



My parents gave me this great bowl set for my birthday over a month ago but I was waiting to come up with something suitable for them.  I wanted something Southwestern to match the festive colors but also something that reminded me of my childhood.  One of my favorite dishes that my mom made when I was a kid was chicken fricassee.  So I took a Southwestern spin on chicken fricassee.
Southwestern Chicken Fricassee
Servings:  6 
Ingredients
2 Tbsp oil
6 chicken thighs
1 1/2 tsp Kosher salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp dried oregano
1 1/2 cup chicken broth
4 cups cream of garlic soup
For the Cream of Garlic Soup
2 Tbsp oil
1/4 cup coarse chopped garlic
1/4 cup red bell pepper, diced
1 shallot, coarsely chopped 
3 slices bread, crusts removed and cubed
4 cups chicken broth
1/2 tsp black pepper
1 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp red pepper flake
1 egg
1/4 cup half and half or cream
Instructions
Preheat a wide bottomed pan and a large skillet over medium heat.  
Add 2 Tbsp oil to the pan and saute the garlic, bell pepper, and shallot for 2 minutes.  
Add the bread, toss to coat in the oil and continue cooking another 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. 
Stir in the broth, pepper, oregano and pepper flake.  Bring to a simmer and cook for 15 minutes.
Meanwhile work on the chicken - season the chicken thighs with the salt, pepper, oregano, and garlic.
Add 2 Tbsp oil to the skillet and brown the chicken thighs skin side down.  This took about 5 minutes for me to get a nice golden color.
Flip and sear the other side for 2 minutes. 
Add the 1 1/2 cups broth, bring to a gentle simmer, cover and braise for 25 minutes or until the thighs reach an internal temperature of 175f (I like my thighs done well).
Back to the soup - after 15 minutes, whisk the soup mixture rapidly for 1 minute to break up all of the bread into a smooth consistency.  Simmer for another 5 minutes.
Slightly beat the egg in a large bowl.  Whisk 1 1/2 cups of the hot soup into the egg.  Now whisk this mixture back into the rest of the soup.  
Stir in the cream, taste for seasoning, and remove from heat. 
Put it all together - Drain all but 1/2 cup of the juice from the chicken pan.  Add in enough of the cream of garlic soup to come up to the edges of the thighs.  Bring to a simmer and cook for 5 more minutes.
Serve in bowls with plenty of the flavorful soup mixture.  
Notes
For a full meal and nice presentation, serve with a timbale of yellow rice and peas.
The cream of garlic soup is great on its own too!
If you like a spicier soup base, double the red pepper flake, add chipotle pepper, or use red serrano or jalapeno instead of red bell pepper.

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

How To Cook Sort Of An Original Cabbage Soup

Cabbage soup recipes should be tasting and interesting and not bland and boring. That may be partly why cabbage is used as a staple in many cultures. It's nutritious for sure and inexpensive as well especially in season. Weight loss is part of the association with cabbage soup too. How come? Well it lends it's name to a diet that has been around for years. It's a quick weight loss diet that actually has the soup as a key, essential part but there's more to it than soup for sure.
Cabbage soup forms a staple and basic part of the diet of many regions. That's partly because cabbages grow so well in many colder climates and are also easy to get and cheap too. Cabbage can be used in so many ways and soup is only one of the ways. In soup one of the reasons for cabbage is that it's a great filler that still is high in nutrition. With soup the cabbage can be combined with so many other foods to turn the dish into a variety of textures, looks and tastes too. It's a versatile ingredient, cabbage, and one used in many cultures on a regular basis especially in the cool months of the year.
Sort Of An Original Cabbage Soup Recipe
1 head cabbage
6 carrots
5 stalks celery
2 bell peppers
3 large tomatoes
6 spring onions
6 medium onions
4 oz uncooked brown rice salt
Slice the vegetables into small pieces. Place in a large pot and add cold water to cover. Bring the water to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer uncovered for ten minutes. Cover and then simmer on low heat until the ingredients are soft. This should take about 15 minutes or so.While the soup is simmering, cook the rice. Add rice to the soup when the soup is cooked. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
The cabbage soup diet plan continues to be used partly because it gives you plenty of different things to eat and it's not some starvation plan. It's easy to stay full. However, the real reason the plan works is the foods you eat are sure to be such that you eat a low amount of calories and fats too. By severely limiting calorie intake, it's certain that you will drop weight at the end of the week. This is certainly not any sort of long-term eating plan. It's deficient in several ways. However it may have a place as part of a long-range weight loss and fitness program. That's because real sustainable weight loss is so slow that it's hard to stay motivates when the results are so difficult to see. Mixing in some fast results may help with the motivation department more than anything else.

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Asparagus Soup Recipe

In this artcile I will show you how to prepare  Asparagus Soup recipe the easy way. Thick asparagus spears can be stringy; make sure the ones you buy are only about as wide as a pencil. If not, pare them down with a vegetable peeler. There's no cream in this soup; the potato does the job. Makes 4 servings (can easily be doubled). Follow the directions:
Asparagus Soup
INGREDIENTS :
Nonstick spray
2 ouncesprosciutto, thinly sliced
1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon canola oil
1 medium onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, slivered
12 ouncesYukongold or other yellow fleshed potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch dice
2 teaspoons chopped parsley leaves or 1 teaspoon dried parsley
1 teaspoon stemmed thyme or 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
4 cups (1 quart) chicken broth
1 poundplus4 ounces(20 ounces) thin asparagus spears, peeled and cut into 1-inch segments
1/2 teaspoon salt, plus additional to taste
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper, preferably white pepper
1 small scallion, green part only, thinly sliced
DIRECTIONS :
Spray a large chef 's knife with nonstick spray, then chop the prosciutto into small pieces. Heat a large skillet over medium heat; add 1 teaspoon canola oil, then the prosciutto. Fry until crispy, stirring often, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a plate and set aside.
Heat a large saucepan or small Dutch oven over medium heat. Swirl in the remaining 1 tablespoon oil, then add the onion. Cook, stirring often, until translucent, about 3 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 20 seconds.
Add the potatoes, parsley, and thyme; cook, stirring constantly, for 1 minute. Pour in the broth, scrape up any browned bits on the pan's bottom, and bring to a simmer. Cover, reduce the heat to low, and simmer slowly for 15 minutes.
Add the asparagus, cover, and continue simmering until the potatoes and asparagus are quite soft when pierced with a fork, about 10 minutes. Stir in the salt and pepper.
Transfer the soup to a large food processor fitted with a chopping blade or into a large blender. You may have to work in batches if your appliances are small. Process or blend until smooth, scraping down the sides of the bowl once or twice to make sure everything is pureed. Return the soup to the saucepan. Alternatively, use an immersion blender to puree the soup right in the pot.
Bring back to a low simmer over low heat. Check to see if the soup needs any additional salt. To serve, ladle into bowls; top with fried prosciutto bits and sliced scallions.

Friday, December 30, 2011

The Health Benefits Of Zucchini

One cup of zucchini has 36 calories and 10% of the RDA of dietary fiber, which aids in digestion, prevents constipation, maintains low blood sugar and curbs overeating.
One of the very low calories vegetable that is used during weight reducing and cholesterol control programs. Zucchinis provide only 17 calories per 100 g. Contains no saturated fats or cholesterol. Its peel is good source of dietary fiber that helps reduce impairment and offers some protection against colon cancers.
Courgette is comparatively moderate source of folates, consists of 24 mcg or 6% of RDA per 100 g. Folates are great in cell division and DNA synthesis. When taken adequately before pregnancy, it can help prevent neural tube defects in the fetus.
It is a very good source of potassium, an important intra-cellular electrolyte. Potassium is a heart intimate electrolyte; helps reduce blood pressing and heart rates by countering results of sodium.
Fresh fruits are rich in vitamin A; provide about 200 IU per 100 g.
Cancer Prevention
Because dietary fiber promotes healthy and regular bowel movements, the high amounts of fiber in zucchini also help prevent carcinogenic toxins from settling in the colon. Moreover, the vitamins C and A, as well as folate, found in zucchini act as powerful antioxidants that fight oxidative stress that can lead to many different types of cancer.
Prostate Health
Studies show that the phytonutrients in zucchini aid in reducing the symptoms of benign prostatic hypertrophy (BOH), a condition in which the prostate gland enlarges and leads to complications with urination and sexual functions in men.
Anti-Inflammatory
Vitamins C and A not only serve the body as powerful antioxidants, but also as effective anti-inflammatory agents. Along with the copper found in zucchini, these vitamins deter the development of many hyper-inflammatory disorders, including asthma, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis.
Heart Attack and Stroke Prevention
A one cup serving of zucchini contains over 10% of the RDA of magnesium, a mineral proven to reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke. Zucchini also provides folate, a vitamin needed to break down the dangerous amino acid homocysteine, which - if levels in the body shoot up - can contribute to heart attack and stroke.
Lower Blood Pressure
Along with magnesium, the potassium found in zucchini helps lower blood pressure. If unchecked, hypertension, or high blood pressure, can lead to arteriosclerosis (blood vessel damage), heart attack, stoke, and many other serious medical conditions. Both the potassium and magnesium in zucchini, however, can help alleviate the stress on the body's circulatory system.
High in Manganese
A trace mineral and essential nutrient, manganese provides many health benefits and contributes to a slew of normal physiological functions. One cup of zucchini contains 19% of the RDA of manganese, which helps the body metabolize protein and carbohydrates, participates in the production of sex hormones, and catalyzes the synthesis of fatty acids and cholesterol.

Monday, December 26, 2011

'Cold' TCM Foods

The arrival of summer is important in traditional Chinese medicine as it is the time to release excessive heat in the body. Eating "cold" foods can help improve energy flow and reduce irritability.
Summer has arrived, according to the Chinese solar calendar, and now is the time to adjust your diet and schedule to ensure you stay healthy.
For all things TCM, there is a season. Spring is for sprouting, summer for growing, autumn for reaping and winter for storing. And with summer, the universe enters the "prosperous" season.
"Huang Di Nei Jing" ("Medical Classic of the Yellow Emperor") says the energy of the sky merges with the energy of the Earth during the summer, thus yang ("hot") energy grows rapidly in the universe while yin ("cold") energy diminishes.
To coordinate with the universe, everyone should adapt their schedule by getting up early and going to bed late, which helps yang energy grow in the summer, according to Dr Zhang Zhenxian, physician at Yueyang Hospital.
Releasing excessive heat and blockage of blood and energy are the main principles of summer health maintenance in TCM.
Only by releasing heat in summer will you be able to absorb reinforcing therapy in autumn and winter, the seasons for reaping and storing energy.
Eating yin or "cold" energy, foods and sweating can help release blockages and improve energy flow. Do not avoid the sun in the early summer (use sun block),
but drink enough water to make up for the loss of fluids. Weak people and those with heart conditions should avoid sunstroke.
The heart in TCM refers not only to the organ that pumps blood but also the blood vessels and the brain.
The energy in the heart grows quickly in summer and may become too "prosperous," resulting in irritation and impatience. This increases the heart rate and puts more stress on the heart. It also aggravates hypertension and other conditions.
"Keeping calm and staying in a good mood is the priority for heart patients in summer," says Dr Zhou Duan, director of the TCM Internal Medicine Department at Longhua Hospital attached to Shanghai University of TCM. "A bland diet may also help."
People with hypertension should keep checking their blood pressure and take their medication on time.
"Cold" or "neutral" herbs and foods are recommended in the season as qing bu (clear reinforcement) is the dominant strategy for reinforcement in summer.
These foods usually help clear up internal pathogenic heat and dampness, while reinforcing healthy energy.
North American ginseng ("cold") and white ginseng ("neutral") are recommended. You can chew dried chips or make tea or soup. Try making congee with white ginseng, chrysanthemum, ebony, maidong (dwarf lily turf root), shihu (dendrobe) or wu wei zi (shizandra).
Ginseng leaves can help dispel pathogenic heat and promote creation of body fluids that are quickly consumed in hot days. American ginseng with royal jelly and Qingshu Yiqi Wan (Clear Summer-heat and Reinforce Energy Pill) made of herbs like ginseng and shizandra can help reinforce energy in summer.

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

How To Cook Cauliflower Soup

Cauliflower Soup can be prepared with just a little effort. So how to make How to make Cauliflower Soup?The highlight here is the ginger-in three forms, fresh, ground, and crystallized. The cauliflower gives the soup body and creaminess without adding any actual cream. Makes 8 servings. Here are the easy directions:
HOW TO MAKE CAULIFLOWER SOUP
INGREDIENTS :
2 tablespoons canola oil
1 large yellow onion, chopped
One 21/2-pound cauliflower head, trimmed and broken into small florets
1/4 cup minced peeled fresh ginger
1/3 cup chopped crystallized ginger
2 tablespoons finely grated orange zest, plus additional for garnish
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper, preferably white pepper
4 cups (1 quart) vegetable broth
2 cups plain yogurt (regular, low-fat, or fat free)
2 tablespoons honey
DIRECTIONS :
Heat a large saucepan or soup pot over medium heat. Add the canola oil, then the onion. Cook, stirring often, until softened, about 4 minutes.
Stir in the caulifl ower fl orets and minced fresh ginger; cook, stirring often, until very aromatic, about 2 minutes.
Stir in the crystallized ginger, orange zest, ground ginger, salt, and pepper. Cook for 30 seconds, then stir in the broth, scraping up the browned bits on the pan's bottom.
Bring to a simmer; then cover, reduce the heat to low, and simmer slowly until the cauliflower is very tender, about 30 minutes.
Working in batches as needed, pour the contents of the pan into a large food processor fitted with the chopping blade or into a large blender. Process or blend until smooth; turn off the machine to occasionally scrape down the sides of the bowl to make sure everything is incorporated. Pour the puree back into the saucepan. Alternatively, use an immersion blender to puree the soup in the pan.
Whisk in the yogurt and honey; bring to a simmer over medium heat, whisking constantly. Ladle into bowls; if desired, grate a little orange zest over each serving.
Variations:
Substitute unsalted butter for the canola oil. Add up to 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper with the ground ginger. For a brighter taste, substitute 1 tablespoon finely grated lemon zest for the orange zest.
Curried Ginger Soup:
Add 2 teaspoons ground coriander, 1 teaspoon dry mustard, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1 teaspoon ground cumin, 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, and 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder with the ground ginger.

Sunday, December 18, 2011

Food Is A Source Of Nourishment Gives Energy And Builds Tissues Of Body

Food is a source of nourishment gives energy and builds tissues of body. And the healthy food is the one which gives you better nourishment along with good energy that helps to build the tissues of body and be healthy. In the modern human being's hurried life it is important that one should have proper and planed diet to maintain his health. Proper diet means in which one can get an appropriate amount of all those nutrients which a human body needs for healthy growth and work. Healthy foods are many from which one can get a proper amount of nutrients; there are verities of natural as well as man made foods that give you the best amount of needed nutrients. Medically speaking nutrient is a chemical and substance that human body needs to grow properly, to build and repair the tissues, to give needed heat and energy to body, and to maintain the regular work of human body. Organic nutrients include carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, water and mineral also considered nutrients. Nutrients that need in bulk quantity called macronutrients and those that are needed in less quantity called micronutrients.
One should use the above mentioned foods in groups, like he can use vegetable along with dairy products in one group and meet with poultry in another; this is what we call a proper diet program or plan. Each nutrient that healthy food provides has its own particular functions in human body, for instance protein is needed for growth and repair of body, and fats are used to generate proper heat and energy needed to body along with the cell formation. So every nutrient is important for being healthy.
There is a proverb, prevention is better then cures, and healthy diet prevents you from many diseases like obesity, blood pressure, diabetes, cancer and many others. Unhealthy diet is the major factor for many serious diseases as mentioned above. So it is better to have a planned and healthy diet and prevent yourself from many serious diseases which need serious medication. Diet is important also for those who are going through from ailments, proper food can make them prone towards getting better and gaining their health back rapidly. Good and healthy food helps you to counter the deficiencies like blood deficiencies.
But having a proper healthy diet is important that gives you the needed quantity of nutrients rather then increasing or decreasing the ratio. With the evolution of web and extensive research and development work in the field of medical makes it simple to educate people about what is the proper and healthy diet, what are nutrients and in what quantity human body need these nutrients, and what kind of diseases one can face after having unbalanced and unhealthy food. Many medical health and care companies, research and development related people and organizations are committed to provide you knowledge regarding proper and healthy diet, many also guide you personally online about what kind of food is best for your body and what kind of diet and healthy food plan you can fallow.

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Cheese Pizza Recipe


How to make homemade Four Cheese Pizza recipe? Although there are many variations of this pizza parlor favorite, here's my favorite, with a little roasted garlic to help tone down the heaviness of all that cheese. If you'd like to come up with your own combination of four cheeses, keep this in mind: at least two of them should be semi firm cheeses like Cheddar or Monterey Jack; at least one should be a hard cheese like Parmigiano Reggiano or Grana Padano; and none should be a soft cheese like ricotta or goat cheese. Look for roasted garlic cloves at the salad or deli bar of your local supermarket. Follow this simple directions:
INGREDIENTS:
Yellow cornmeal for a pizza peel or olive oil for a pizza tray or a large baking sheet
One recipe homemade dough or1 poundpurchased fresh dough or frozen dough, thawed; or one 12 to14 inchstore bought, pre baked plain pizza crust
1 head roasted garlic, cloves separated and their husks removed
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoonDijonmustard
4 ouncesmozzarella, shredded
4 ouncesprovolone, shredded
4 ouncesMuenster, shredded
2 ouncesPecorino, finely grated
1/2 teaspoon grated nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
BAKING TIPS:
With a pizza stone. Preheat the stone in the oven at425°Ffor 30 to 45 minutes; or preheat the stone on a gas grill at medium, indirect heat (about425°F) for 30 to 45 minutes; or build an indirect, medium- heat fire in a charcoal grill and preheat the stone for the same amount of time.
With a pizza tray or a large baking sheet. Preheat the oven to425°F, a gas grill to indirect, medium heat (about425°F), or build an indirect, medium heat, well ashed coal bed around the perimeter of a charcoal grill.
CRUST TIPS
Fresh dough on a pizza stone. Dust a pizza peel lightly with cornmeal, then set the dough at its center. Start dimpling the dough, pressing into it with your fingertips as you stretch it slightly, until it's a thick, flattened circle with lots of little ridges. Pick it up by the edge and slowly rotate and stretch the circle until it's about14 inches in diameter. Set it floured side down on the peel.
Fresh dough on a pizza tray or a large baking sheet. Grease either lightly with some olive oil on a paper towel. Lay the dough on the tray or baking sheet and dimple the dough with your fingertips until it's a flattened circle then pull and press it until it forms a 14- inch circle on the pizza tray or an irregular rectangle, about 12 inches long by 7 inches wide, on the baking sheet.

Friday, December 9, 2011

Healthy Diet Plan





There is no mystery behind the creation of a simple and healthy diet plan and anyone can make one with just a little help. Many people know what to eat in order to lose weight and maintain it over time but the efforts are not successful because of the absence of a smart eating plan which can be easily created with countless tools available on the internet. Remember people, work smart not work hard. Whilst searching for a suitable diet, people face the common problem that the diet needs to be custom-made or specifically designed for the person otherwise it doesn't really work. Your specialized eating plan should be created to suit your lifestyle and not the other way round. The trick behind creating a healthy diet plan is to identify the foods that you can include in your daily intake. After identifying the foods that you can have, the bridge needs to be crossed from knowledge to action and actually implementing that information.
This is where the creation of a healthy eating plan comes in so that you can follow it to the dot. One of the basic things to know about healthy diet plans is that they need to touch upon all the categories in the Food Pyramid so that nothing that your body actually requires is left out of your diet. A healthy diet plan should be such that you have a massive breakfast, a moderate lunch and a mild dinner. This is the expert take on having healthy eating habits so that you metabolism remains fast with work to do whilst you engage in everyday activities. You should search on the internet for relevant healthy diet plans according to your weight and height and then implement them in your routine. A smart thing to do would be going to websites such as ehealthydietplan and create a healthy, workable diet for you. The website requires you to enter your information such as target weight as well as your gender to generate a personalized diet.
The calorie requirements for men and women differ greatly and thus there is a difference in the recommended foods as well. Then, you have to specify whether you have a sedentary, active or moderately active lifestyle. The website will then generate the information relevant to your body such as Body Mass Index and Body Fat percentage. You can take a look at the diet plan that gives you several options for breakfast, lunch, snack and dinner. What's more: the diet plan will even show the breakdown of calories consumed at different times so that you don't even have to manually calculate them. Afterwards, once you are equipped with a healthy diet plan that perfectly suits the needs of your body; you know which foods to pick in the super market and what to order whilst dining in a restaurant. You should also consider pairing your healthy diet plan with some exercise routines and supplements so that you have a balanced active lifestyle. For more information on the easy and dead simple healthy diet planner, please follow the link in the resource box below.


Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Healthy Eating And Exercise Control In The Holiday Season

We love our holidays and apart from all the gifts and a chance to meet our relatives and in general having a good time, we also look forward to those once-a-year goodies that we get to eat. In fact, we wouldn't be off the mark to say that the cakes, chocolates, puddings and other goodies are the highlights of our holiday and more often than not, we remember the holiday for what we did and what we ate.
For most of us, holiday is also a suspension of normal activity including our normal healthy eating diets and exercise. American Weight Watchers report states that the average American gains between 7 and 10 pounds between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day! Little wonder that Fad diet marketers go on an overdrive and make the most money after the post holiday season.
Of course, the temptations are all too evident. At every house you visit you are offered cakes, puddings, chocolates, cookies and other mouth watering goodies. Being the holiday season we don't like to refuse and once we put a small piece of that chocolate cake in our mouth, it oh so melts away that it is absolutely difficult to not go for another helping and pretty soon we've finished half if not more of the items on the portion control plates. And even God would not be able to help us if we are invited for lunch or dinner. The table is so laden with mouth watering dishes and the aroma is so enchanting that our senses go on an over drive and all attempts to control our minds seems hopelessly futile. Healthy eating breakfast and cooking also seems to go out of the window.
During the holiday season, the kitchen too undergoes a dramatic change - we use lots of butter, chocolate, sugar, cream and everything that we would normally refuse to touch because they are not healthy. The local super market and grocery store too add to the temptation by putting out attractively packaged foods and "holiday season" only items. We of course justify and comfort ourselves by saying this is all a once-a-year affair. Besides, it would not feel like a holiday if we do not indulge would it? The atmosphere is simply too overwhelming.
If our description of the holiday season applies to you, you would be forgiven for thinking that it would be impossible to apply any kind of control. Yet, it is not difficult at all - just requires common sense approach! To help you stay on top of your holiday we present you some excellent healthy eating tips for healthy holiday eating:
Eat small healthy snacks every two hours. If your snack time coincides with some delicacy being offered to you - select a fruit, sugar free salad based item or cut yourself a small portion. Have some excuse ready for not eating more. Remember, nobody will force you to eat. It's all a matter of your own control. At meal time if you find the dining table is laden with unhealthy goodies, take small portions. Fruit will always be there so help yourself to a large portion of fruit. Select portions of grilled or baked meats.

Friday, December 2, 2011

Changing Those Arm Fat Into Muscles


If you want to know if his article is for you all you have to do is a quick self examination test. You can just feel up the lower part of your upper arms which is usually called the triceps with your hands. If they are loose and indeed fat and you want them to be toned up then read on. Alternatively, you can spread both arms out wide by your side and shake them. You might not really like the sound you hear. It's time to get some muscles there.
There is a science behind this and let's attempt to use this paragraph to explain it. Your fat cells are actually holding excess 'material' and what that does is to make your loose its elasticity and tone (not the bones now but the flesh). There is no predetermined place where your fat cells must reside. It is all given to genetics. Dealing with them may be as simple as changing some thing about your lifestyle and this will work over time but you can always get the job done faster.The arm is made up of just one type of muscle bundled together. So do not think for a moment that Barbell curls is the answer to everything because it can only work on certain parts of your arm.
You will have to come up with a plan that works on every part of your arm because both the biceps and triceps each contain other sub-bundles of muscle groups.Calorie intake helps the accumulation of fat on your arms. Doing something as 'simple' as adjusting your calorie intake through adjusting the kinds of food you eat will cut of the supply line. The thing is no matter the exercise regime you take if you don't balance it out with the kind of food you eat it would always work to nullify the toning up process.
The use of 2 sets of 21s adds great tones to your biceps and the muscles in your forearms.Don't forget that it must be done properly. Do it while standing and use a curl bar.The 21 moves you are going to make are split into groups of sevens. The first seven is done halfway towards the curl, the next halfway towards the very top and the last is a full length curl.This is a high octane exercise and you can add a twist by pumping your wrist twice when executing the first seven as you reach the halfway point before you allow the weight to drop down this adds to tone up the forearm muscles.
Use Hammer Curls plus triceps to work on the triceps and the outer bicep muscles. Do this about 15 by 3 times whenever you come to this stage. Start standing like the first but to balance out properly one leg should be placed ahead of the other.If that is not working for you bracing one leg on a chair or exercise bench may do the trick. Using dumbbells, grip them as you would a hammer making sure your palms are inward instead of the other way.

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Your Health With Sport


Inside age which we are living there exists an unprecedented concentrate on finding and staying wholesome. As more and more exploration issues towards the impact of physical fitness and nutrition on our all round health and fitness, the findings become extra tricky to ignore. There may be no doubt that the food that we consume plus the actual physical action that we perform substantially influence our fat and our body's all round health and longevity.

After you take a look at conditioning and nutrition and also the penalties of ignoring their relevance, it truly is not challenging to view how significant a function they play within our well being. First and foremost, it is crucial to understand how powerfully food plan can have an effect on us. All-Natural, entire food - which include refreshing vegetables, fruits, total grains, and lean proteins - give our bodies the vitamins that it must function successfully. We have energy once we consume right. And once we have vitality we burn up fat. Consuming adequately makes it possible for us to maintain a wholesome excess weight and retain undue tension off of our hearts; it also enables us to maintain our blood strain and cholesterol amounts inside nutritious range. Most importantly, great diet keeps our our bodies stocked with antioxidants that battle away from a range of illnesses such as cancer.

But diet does go it on your own; physical fitness and nutrition go hand in hand for attaining very good health and fitness. When we retain our our bodies lively through a constant training method, we're including to our entire body's capability to metabolize food and keep bodyweight along. Further, beneficial conditioning means strong and limber muscle tissue plus a powerful cardiovascular method. Physical exercise also lowers blood pressure and reduces pressure levels.

Mastering how you can pair health and nutrition for optimum health implies a commitment to a particular life-style. It is essential that you revamp your eating habits to remove fatty, higher-sodium, and processed food stuff and substitute it with clean, natural - and even organic - options. But don't forget, health and fitness and diet do the job finest like a team. Implement a constant regime of actual physical exercise into your every day timetable together with cardiovascular function, stretching, fat coaching, and also yoga or Pilates.

Friday, November 25, 2011

Keep Yourself Healthy Is To Eat A Healthy Diet

A healthy diet provides the recommended daily allowance for vitamins, minerals, protein, carbohydrates, and fat. Any diet that fails to meet the minimum daily allowance for any nutrient is unhealthy.Healthy and moderate eating gives you an active, slender, and naturally healthy body. Calorie requirements for teens vary just like they do for adults, but on average a teenage girl needs between 1,800 and 2,100 calories a day.The healthy approach to diet is the best of all diets. There is no need to bother with fad diets that promise extreme weight loss without any effort.Heart healthy diet plans are available for many different uses including weight loss, prevention of disease, and disease treatment. These plans are intended to promote overall health while reducing the risk of developing nutrition-related diseases.Giving up on fast food intake is essential to a healthy diet. Processed and fast food is literally "expanding the waist lines of people all over the world," most noticeably in the United States.Although different people may require different levels of what is a good diet for them, maintaining a healthy diet and a balanced one would mean eating a wide variety of foods that will give you the right combination of nutrients.Have a daily dose of greens. Vegetables are great natural sources not only of fiber but also of the nutrients needed by our body, and these should be the food groups that constitute most of your diet - and don't forget variety.In a healthy diet, starchy food group should make up about a third of your daily meals since it contains starchy carbohydrates that are your body's main source of energy.Any healthy diet eating plan that will help you to lose weight must include controlling the amount of calories eaten in a day and the amount of added physical activity you undertake.The best thing you can do to keep yourself healthy is to eat a healthy diet...all the time, not just when you want to lose weight.If you want to feel the benefits of a healthy diet replace as much of your processed food as you can with organic food and your body will thank you for it.Eat early, eat often: Starting your day with a healthy breakfast can jumpstart your metabolism, and eating the majority of your daily caloric allotment early in the day gives your body time to work those calories off.A healthy diet won't just happen, it doesn't work just to give up this or that, or to go on some fad diet. If you are in for the long haul, and you could be living to a hundred, you need to be on a healthy balanced diet for the rest of your life.

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

More Healthy And Food Is Required For Your Health


Everyone wants to eat healthy or fresh food. Healthy lifestyle is need of everyone. A nutritious balance food is need of everyone. The nutritional requirements for your body have to complete and you always want to eat those kind of food which satisfy your body. When you came home after get tired from any work and that time a more healthy food is required for your health. If you don’t take healthy food on that time then your body or health will be getting down and also you can get in touch with diseases. To work properly by mentally or physically you will have to take healthy food otherwise you can’t get energy enough for to do work better than before.If you don’t know more about healthy food, you can purchase cookbooks from markets or on internet. If you try to pick food that was being served on your dining table, then it is useless. There are number of people who cannot have enough time to eat the fresh food. There are many ways to make it simple and fast for you to cook food in lesser time period. By the help of healthy food recipes that would be easy to do for family meals. You can easily cook food by using these recipes. Protein is the part of healthy food. These healthy food recipes will make you expert in cooking. You will be able to cook food more tasty and healthy.Today there are number of heath issues or problems people are facing. The most common health problems are diabetes and heart problems. To keep healthy make a diet chart for your health with proper exercise. If you don’t know that which food is beneficial for you or not, you can also get this kind of information on internet or from books. You can also get this information from your dietitians. According to all dietitians vegetables and fruits are always come in healthy diet. Different vegetables and fruits give different benefits for body Good health brings a better life, such as more energy and more confidence to deal with life.

Sunday, November 20, 2011

healthy food


There are lots of snack bars to choose from inside a supermarket. It can be difficult to discern which ones are healthy and which ones are not whenmtrying to be careful about your food choices. What are the things that you need to look for when selecting a snack bar? These guidelines may help you in choosing a healthy snack bar by means of reading product labels:
When you are a very busy person, you might want to choose a healthy snack bar which can give 600 kJ. Looking at the energy content also includes taking in consideration the size of the snack bar. For example, 30 g Snack Bar A at 500 kJ will satisfy your energy needs more than a 20 g Snack Bar B at 520 kJ.

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As much as possible, avoid snack bars that contain saturated fat. If you really want that snack bar, better aim for less than 2 g per bar. Saturated fat is harmful, because excessive intake may cause heart disease or even cancer. While the overall fat content may be large, you must look at the saturated fat content, because if Snack Bar A has 5 g of overall fat and contains 0 g of saturated fat, then it is better than Snack Bar B which has 4 g of overall fat but contains 1 g of saturated fat. All in all, the total fat content must be 5 g or less in a snack bar to be considered “healthy.”

To complete the trio with fat and energy content, make sure you check the sugar level of the snack bar. Several snack bars contain sugar, which comprises almost half of their total weight. High sugar levels are not favorable because too much sugar can temporarily boost energy, but this energy declines very fast. As much as possible, look for snack bars with less than 9 g of sugar.After looking at the nutritional facts, you may also want to check out which food substances are used in making the snack bar. Healthy snack bars will list oats, raisins, bran, honey, fruits and other natural ingredients.

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

The Keys to a Healthy Diet

Developing healthy eating habits isn't as confusing or as restrictive as many people imagine. The first principle of a healthy diet is simply to eat a wide variety of foods. This is important because different foods make different nutritional contributions.
Secondly, fruits, vegetables, grains, and legumes—foods high in complex carbohydrates, fiber, vitamins, and minerals, low in fat, and free of cholesterol—should make up the bulk of the calories you consume. The rest should come from low-fat dairy products, lean meat and poultry, and fish.
You should also try to maintain a balance between calorie intake and calorie expenditure—that is, don't eat more food than your body can utilize. Otherwise, you will gain weight. The more active you are, therefore, the more you can eat and still maintain this balance.
Following these three basic steps doesn't mean that you have to give up your favorite foods. As long as your overall diet is balanced and rich in nutrients and fiber, there is nothing wrong with an occasional cheeseburger. Just be sure to limit how frequently you eat such foods, and try to eat small portions of them.
You can also view healthy eating as an opportunity to expand your range of choices by trying foods—especially vegetables, whole grains, or fruits—that you don't normally eat. A healthy diet doesn't have to mean eating foods that are bland or unappealing.
The following basic guidelines are what you need to know to construct a healthy diet.
1 Eat plenty of high-fiber foods—that is, fruits, vegetables, beans, and whole grains. These are the "good" carbohydrates—nutritious, filling, and relatively low in calories. They should supply the 20 to 30 grams of dietary fiber you need each day, which slows the absorption of carbohydrates, so there’s less effect on insulin and blood sugar, and provides other health benefits as well. Such foods also provide important vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals (plant chemicals essential to good health).
2 Make sure to include green, orange, and yellow fruits and vegetables—such as broccoli, carrots, cantaloupe, and citrus fruits. The antioxidants and other nutrients in these foods may help protect against developing certain types of cancer and other diseases. Eat five or more servings a day.
3 Limit your intake of sugary foods, refined-grain products such as white bread, and salty snack foods. Sugar, our No.1 additive, is added to a vast array of foods. Just one daily 12-ounce can of soda (160 calories) can add up to 16 pounds over the course of a year. Many sugary foods are also high in fat, so they’re calorie-dense.
4 Cut down on animal fat. It’s rich in saturated fat, which boosts blood cholesterol levels and has other adverse health effects. Choose lean meats, skinless poultry, and nonfat or low-fat or nonfat dairy products.
5 Cut way down on trans fats, supplied by hydrogenated vegetable oils used in most processed foods in the supermarket and in many fast foods.
6 Eat more fish and nuts, which contain healthy unsaturated fats. Substitute olive or canola oil for butter or stick margarine.
7 Keep portions moderate, especially of high-calorie foods. In recent years serving sizes have ballooned, particularly in restaurants. Choose a starter instead of an entrée, split a dish with a friend, and don’t order supersized anything.
8 Keep your cholesterol intake below 300 milligrams per day. Cholesterol is found only in animal products, such as meats, poultry, dairy products, and egg yolks.
9 Eat a variety of foods. Don't try to fill your nutrient requirements by eating the same foods day in, day out. It is possible that not every essential nutrient has been identified, and so eating a wide assortment of foods helps to ensure that you will get all the necessary nutrients. In addition, this will limit your exposure to any pesticides or toxic substances that may be present in one particular food.
10 Maintain an adequate calcium intake. Calcium is essential for strong bones and teeth. Get your calcium from low-fat sources, such as skim milk and low-fat yogurt. If you can't get the optimal amount from foods, take supplements.
11 Try to get your vitamins and minerals from foods, not from supplements. Supplements cannot substitute for a healthy diet, which supplies nutrients and other compounds besides vitamins and minerals. Foods also provide the "synergy" that many nutrients require to be efficiently used in the body.
12 Maintain a desirable weight. Balance energy (calorie) intake with energy output. Exercise and other physical activity are essential.
13 If you drink alcohol, do so in moderation. That is one drink a day for women, two a day for men. A drink is defined as 12 ounces of beer, 4 ounces of wine, or 1.5 ounces of 80-proof spirits. Excess alcohol consumption leads to a variety of health problems. And alcoholic beverages can add many calories to your diet without supplying nutrients.

Sunday, November 13, 2011

Eating Habits of Human Beings

The term eating habits (or food habits ) refers to why and how people eat, which foods they eat, and with whom they eat, as well as the ways people obtain, store, use, and discard food. Individual, social, cultural, religious, economic, environmental, and political factors all influence people's eating habits.
Why and How People Eat
All humans eat to survive. They also eat to express appreciation, for a sense of belonging, as part of family customs, and for self-realization. For example, someone who is not hungry may eat a piece of cake that has been baked in his or her honor.
People eat according to learned behaviors regarding etiquette, meal and snack patterns, acceptable foods, food combinations, and portion sizes. Etiquette refers to acceptable behaviors. For example, for some groups it is acceptable to lick one's fingers while eating, while for other groups this is rude behavior. Etiquette and eating rituals also vary depending on whether the meal is formal, informal, or special (such as a meal on a birthday or religious holiday).
A meal is usually defined as the consumption of two or more foods in a structured setting at a set time. Snacks consist of a small amount of food or beverage eaten between meals. A common eating pattern is three meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) per day, with snacks between meals. The components of a meal vary across cultures, but generally include grains, such as rice or noodles; meat or a meat substitute, such as fish, beans, or tofu ; and accompaniments, such as vegetables. Various food guides provide suggestions on foods to eat, portion sizes, and daily intake. However, personal preferences, habits, family customs, and social setting largely determine what a person consumes.
What and how people eat is determined by a variety of factors, including economic circumstances, cultural norms, and religious restrictions. Here, an Iranian family sits on the floor and eats from a cloth laden with regional delicacies.

Friday, November 11, 2011

Vegetarian and vegan diets

Read the answers to common questions about staying healthy on a vegetarian or vegan diet, from looking after your bones to healthy eating in pregnancy.
What is a vegetarian?
A vegetarian is someone who doesn't eat meat, fish, poultry or any animal by-products, such as gelatine. Vegetarians eat grains, pulses, nuts, seeds, fruit and vegetables, eggs, milk and dairy products. Vegetarians who don't eat any dairy products or eggs are called vegans.
At what age is it safe to become a vegetarian or vegan?
As long as they get all the nutrients they need, children can be brought up healthily on a vegetarian or vegan diet. Children need plenty of energy to help them grow and develop.
Children also need protein and iron to grow and develop. Good sources of protein and iron for vegetarians are:
  •   eggs
  •   nuts (don’t give whole nuts to children under five as they could choke)
  •   pulses, such as beans, lentils and peas
  •   foods made from pulses, such as tofu, hummus and soya mince
It's also important that children get enough vitamin B12 and vitamin D.
Sources of vitamin B12 include:
  •   fortified breakfast cereals
  •   eggs
  •   dairy products
  •   some yeast extracts such as Marmite
Vitamin D can be made by the body when the skin is exposed to summer sunlight. Food sources of vitamin D include:
  •   eggs
  •   margarine
  •   fortified breakfast cereals
Vitamin drops are important for vegetarian and vegan children between six months and five years old. If your child is older than this, speak to your GP or a dietitian to see whether vitamin drops should be included in their diet.
All children aged six months to five years old are advised to take vitamin D supplements, unless they drink more than 500ml (about a pint) of infant formula a day.
Can babies and children eat a vegetarian diet?
If you’re bringing up your child on a diet without meat (vegetarian) or without any food from animals (vegan), they will need two or three portions of vegetable protein or nuts every day to give them enough protein and iron.
Don’t give whole nuts to children under five as they could choke. Grind the nuts finely or use a smooth nut butter. You’ll also need to make sure they get enough calcium, vitamin B12 and vitamin D. Vitamin drops are especially important for vegetarian and vegan children between six months and five years old.
Can babies have a vegan diet?
Take care when feeding children on a vegan diet. To get the energy and vitamins they need for growth, they require a wide variety of foods.
A vegan diet can be bulky and high in fibre, and this can mean that children get full up before they’ve eaten enough calories. Because of this, they may need extra supplements. Ask a dietitian or doctor for advice before you start introducing your child to solids.
If you’re breastfeeding and you’re on a vegan diet, it’s especially important for you to take a vitamin D supplement. You may also need extra vitamin B12.
Is it safe to be a vegetarian or vegan during pregnancy?
A varied and balanced vegetarian or vegan diet can provide enough nutrients for you and your baby during pregnancy. However, you might find it hard to get enough iron, vitamin D and vitamin B12. Talk to your doctor or midwife about how to get enough of these important nutrients. Read more about having a healthy diet during pregnancy. All pregnant and breastfeeding women, regardless of their diet, are advised to take a vitamin D supplement.
What are the health benefits of a vegetarian diet?
A vegetarian diet can be very healthy, but your diet won't automatically be healthier if you cut out meat. Like everyone, vegetarians need to make sure they eat a balanced diet that has:
  •   plenty of fruit and vegetables (at least five portions of a variety a day)
  •   plenty of potatoes, bread, rice, pasta and other starchy foods (choosing brown or wholegrain varieties where possible)
  •   some milk and dairy foods
  •   some eggs, beans and other non-dairy sources of protein
  •   just a small amount of foods and drinks high in fat and sugar
Do vegetarians and vegans need vitamin supplements?
With good planning and an understanding of what makes up a healthy balanced vegetarian and vegan diet, you can get all the nutrients your body needs to be healthy without the need for supplements.
However, if your diet is not planned properly, you could miss out on essential nutrients. Vegetarians need to make sure they get enough iron and vitamin B12, and vegans enough calcium, iron and vitamin B12.
Good sources of iron include:
  •   pulses
  •   dried fruit
  •   dark-green vegetables, such as watercress, broccoli, spring greens and okra
  •   wholemeal bread
  •   cereals fortified with iron
Vitamin B12 is only found naturally in foods from animal sources, so sources for vegans are limited and a vitamin B12 supplement may be needed. If you eat dairy products and eggs, you probably get enough.
Vegan sources of vitamin B12 include:
  •   yeast extract, such as Marmite
  •   breakfast cereals fortified with vitamin B12
  •   soya products fortified with vitamin B12
Non-vegans get most of their calcium from dairy foods, so it's important for vegans to get calcium from other foods.
Good sources of calcium for vegans include:
  •   fortified soya, rice and oat milk
  •   sesame seeds
  •   tahini
  •   pulses
  •   brown and white bread
  •   dried fruit
How can I protect my bones?
Calcium helps maintain strong bones. Good sources of calcium are:
  •   dairy products
  •   leafy green vegetables
  •   almonds
  •   sesame seeds
  •   dried fruit
  •   pulses
  •   fortified soya milk
The body needs vitamin D to absorb calcium. Fortified margarine and spreads, cereals and egg yolks contain vitamin D. The body also makes its own vitamin D when exposed to sunshine. Bones get stronger when you use them, and the best way to do this is with regular exercise.
Am I getting enough iron?
Although meat is the best source of iron, there is also iron in:
  •   pulses
  •   green vegetables, such as watercress, broccoli, spring greens and okra
  •   bread
  •   fortified breakfast cereals
What are good vegetarian sources of omega-3 fatty acids?
Sources of omega-3 fatty acids suitable for vegetarians include:
  •   flaxseed oil
  •   rapeseed oil
  •   soya oil and soya-based foods (such as tofu)
  •   walnuts
  •   omega-3 fortified egg
Evidence suggests that the type of omega-3 fatty acids found in these foods may not have the same benefits for reducing the risk of heart disease as those found in oily fish.
However, if you follow a vegetarian diet, you can look after your heart by eating at least five portions of a variety of fruit and vegetables every day, cutting down on food that is high in saturated fat and watching how much salt you eat.
What are good sources of protein for vegetarians?
Good sources of protein for vegetarians include:
  •   nuts and seeds
  •   pulses and beans
  •   soya products (tofu, soya milk and textured soya protein, such as soya mince)
  •   cereals (wheat, oats and rice)
  •   eggs
  •   reduced-fat dairy products (milk, cheese and yogurt)
A variety of protein from different sources is necessary to get the right mixture of amino-acids, which are used to build and repair the body’s cells.
Are Quorn products suitable for vegans?
No. Since all Quorn products contain a small amount of egg white, and most also contain milk ingredients, they are not suitable for vegans. However, they can be a source of protein for vegetarians.
Do I need a special diet if I exercise?
You don't need a special diet for exercising if you're a vegetarian or vegan. The advice for vegetarians who exercise is the same as the advice for non-vegetarians who exercise regularly.
Most vegetarians have enough protein in their diet for the body to grow and repair itself. If you exercise regularly, make sure you eat plenty of complex carbohydrates (such as rice and pasta) for energy, and drink enough fluids when exercising harder.
Is it healthier to eat organic fruit and vegetables?
Vitamin and mineral levels in food vary depending on the soil the plants were grown in, when they were picked and how they were stored. There's no scientific evidence that organic food is healthier. Eating organic is a personal choice and many people eat organic for its environmental benefits. It's important to eat plenty of fruit and vegetables, whether they're organic or not.