Aug
10
Smoothies To Soothe Thee
Filed Under Daily tips, Nutrition, fat burning | 1 Comment
Did you know that a fresh fruit smoothie has the power to boost your immune system? Fruit and veggies are musts in your daily diet, but if you find that a fast-paced life doesn’t have much room to munch on such produce, why not drink your fruits and veggies instead of masticating them in the conventional way? The smooth solution: smoothies!
Pureed fruit like strawberries, kiwi, bananas, and veggies like spinach have been proven to raise blood antioxidant levels by about 15%, as demonstrated by certain US studies. That’s a lot like taking 1250 mg of Vitamin C. Also, the natural ingredients guarantee your fiber needs are met. Since the fruit or veggies are diced or sliced before blending and do not require a pulpy mess for when you extract the juices for a normal drink, you’re getting all the goodness of a ripe and healthy produce in liquid form. Apples, bananas, avocados, tomatoes, berries…if it’s a fruit, it can be turned into a smoothie! Same goes for green leafy veggies as well as elongated ones like cuke, carrots, celery, etc.
A tip for weight-watchers, though: If you’re used to shake-like smoothie concoctions done with ice cream and then blended with fruit-flavored syrup, a fresh fruit smoothie is best for you. Flavor-wise, it isn’t compromised, and if you’re after a low kilojoule drink, the best way to go about it is to blend fresh and ripe fruit with low-fat yogurt or just crushed ice. Cut down on adding sugar or do away with it altogether. If the fruit is too sweet, you can add fresh lemon or lime juice to the mix. If it’s too tart, pour in some honey or unsweetened apple juice.
If you want a thicker concoction, freeze diced fruit on a baking tin for a couple of hours. Or get frozen berries. Frozen fruit are guaranteed to thicken up your smoothie and make them as tasty as if you’ve picked them fresh from the grocery aisle. Or tree.
Now that’s smooth!
Jun
27
Glow Up! (Healthy Food For Great Skin)
Filed Under Skin Care | Leave a Comment
Here’s excellent news for those who just can’t do without their breakfast cereal in the morning—you’re going the right route to ensure that your skin is getting the best nutrition! At least 3 ounces of cereal, along with rice, crackers, pasta, or wholewheat bread, are part of the food pyramid approved by the USDA Food Guide for a balanced diet. You’ll be getting your recommended vitamins and minerals, plus all the antioxidants that come with them, to protect your skin from things like sun damage and free radicals.
Said antioxidants can also be found in many fruits and vegetables, specifically the dark green and orange ones. Biotin, a well-known B vitamin, is actually what helps form the basis of skin, hair, and nail cells; and Vitamin A, which helps maintain and repair skin tissues, are both found in fruits and vegetables. If you don’t consume these on a regular basis, you might notice lacklustre hair or brittle nails or even bad skin. So make sure your fridge is stocked up on the freshest produce to keep you looking and feeling young. Nix the fizzy drinks and the high-fat snacks and the lard-smeared meals. Not only can they worsen certain skin problems, but they can also wreak havoc on your weight-loss plan!
Another sure-fire way to keep aging at bay is to drink, drink, drink.
Not alcohol, but water!
Water keeps the skin hydrated, while alcoholic beverages dehydrate you big time (anyone who’s ever had a hangover and felt that their brain was as dry as a fossilized sponge would agree with me).