Keep Your Health Tips

Fat has had a lot of bad press and for many people, just a mention of the word can evoke misery. You can try to lose it, try to hide it, try to avoid it, but your body still needs it! Did you know that fat helps to insulate our nerve cells, keeps us warm, balances our hormones, keeps skin and arteries supple, lubricates joints and is a component in every cell?

The key issue here is recognizing which type of fat your body needs, how much your body requires and which type is your enemy. Armed with the right information, you can focus on getting more of the good fats and less of the bad fats into your daily diet.

There are two types of fat to be aware of. Saturated fats - let’s call them “the enemy” and unsaturated fats - “the good guys”! It is easy to tell the difference because saturated fats are hard at room temperature. Saturated fats are not essential to your health. They come from animals and are found in meat, eggs and cheese. They are harder to digest and full of cholesterol.

Unsaturated fats are liquid at room temperature and have been divided into two groups. Monounsaturated fats such as olive oil, and polyunsaturated fats such as sunflower oil.
Polyunsaturated fats are split into Omega 3 fatty acids and Omega 6 fatty acids. Monounsaturated fat (Omega 9) although not essential, is not harmful in moderation - a good quality (extra virgin first cold pressed) olive oil is a healthier alternative to the usual vegetable oil.
Good sources of Omega 6: safflower oil, sunflower oil, evening primrose oil, walnut oil, pumpkin oil, sesame oil.
Good sources of Omega 3 are mackerel, herring, salmon, pilchards, sardines, tuna and flax seed oil.
Here are some important facts about fat in our diet.

1. Fat is the ‘energy reserve’ of animals, plants and humans.

2. The ideal body-fat ratio should be approximately 19-26% of a woman’s body weight, and 12-18% of a man’s body weight.

3. There are two different types of body fat - brown and yellow. Brown fat is situated inside the body and is ‘active’, containing mitochondria that produce heat (thermogenesis) and as a result burn energy. Yellow fat is found nearer the surface, is less active and more likely to accumulate. Women tend to have a higher ratio of yellow fat than men.

4. Women need higher levels of fat because it is essential for reproduction and so the body stores it ‘just in case’.

5. An average healthy intake of good fats in the diet should be approximately 30-40 grams a day. The fat content of diets in affluent populations can be nearly four times this amount!

6. Most foods containing fat combine saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fat in varying quantities. For instance, butter’s fat content is almost 100%, of which 60% is saturated, 30% monounsaturated and 10% polyunsaturated, compared with sunflower seeds’ fat content of 73%, of which just 12% is saturated and 21% monounsaturated and 67% is polyunsaturated.

7. Heat, light and oxygen destroy essential fatty acids, which is why it is best to keep oils in dark containers.

8. Essential fats must come from the diet because your body cannot produce them. The essential healthy fats are Omega 3 and Omega 6 (known as essential fatty acids).

9. Weight for weight, fat provides more than twice the amount of usable energy than carbohydrates or protein (you’ll find 9 calories in every gram of fat).

10. Fat contributes to the palatability, texture and the smell of many foods, it also slows down the process of digestion providing an extended period of satiation after a meal.

When you know the good from the bad, fat is fabulous!

(c) Copyright Kim Beardsmore

Kim Beardsmore is a weight loss consultant whose business operates across 60 countries. Tons of recipes, articles, resources, free newsletter and more to help you lose weight and keep it off forever. Estimate your healthy body weight or receive a free weight loss consultation at http://www.weight-loss-health.com.au

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Do you struggle to maintain or lose weight? If so, you are certainly not alone. Obesity is on the rise and becoming an epidemic in our society. Why are so many people overweight? Can we blame our genetics? Are we are plagued by a slow metabolism? Certainly, we can’t be the victims of our own self indulgence, can we?

I advise people that losing weight is like starting a new business. It takes careful planning, proper public promotion, consultation with the appropriate experts to set up the structure of the program, and most importantly, a tireless dedication to finish the task despite the guaranteed peaks and valleys along the way. Unfortunately, much of our society expects rapid results, and once they realize the flaw in a fad diet or quick fix, they become frustrated and look for the next overnight solution.

Let me point out the following critical challenges that often block weight loss success for many clients. The list below identifies seven major reasons people fail to attain their desired weight.

1) Unrealistic expectations - As mentioned earlier, people are impatient and want instant gratification. Often, clients are motivated by special events, such as weddings, reunions, or office bets with peers. Once the event passes, the desire to maintain change is lost, or the person may miss the deadline altogether. The answer is to set realistic goals for losing 1-2 pounds per week, understanding that it takes time and you may not lose weight every week. Be patient and work hard.

2) Scale obsession - How many of you get on the scale every morning? Weight will fluctuate by 1-3 pounds at times based on water retention, dehydration, and of course too much overindulgence. Gradual weight loss is best, and those who don’t see positive change each time they get on the scale often get frustrated easily. I recommend weighing yourself once per week on the same scale, on the same day, and at the same time of day to ensure accuracy and reliability. This might be tough, but it will disappoint less and provide a clearer picture of your progress.

3) Skipping breakfast - You probably have heard that “breakfast is the most important meal of the day.” This is true because it kick starts your metabolism, provides fuel for activity, and also reduces the urge to eat unhealthy snacks before lunch. If you are rushed in the morning, buy healthy items such as fruit, yogurt, granola bars or cereal bars that can easily be consumed on the way to work or at your desk.

4) Failing to pack your lunch - I firmly believe that packing a healthy lunch on a regular basis is essential to avoiding weight gain. If you don’t, it becomes that much easier to grab fast food with co-workers or order in fare that is high in calories, hydrogenated fats, and sodium. You also have a higher probability of having desert when eating out.

5) Eating too few meals per day - Yes, it’s true that you should eat 5-7 times per day, but the portion sizes must be appropriate. Eating every 2-3 hours will prevent significant hunger pangs and eating binges. More importantly, it speeds metabolism and caloric burning throughout the day.

6) Poor grocery shopping - I stick to the mantra of “If it’s not in the house, you can’t eat it.” Always prepare a list of foods before going to the store, and never go shopping when you are hungry. This strategy will help eliminate unhealthy temptations and stumbling blocks.

7) Not drinking enough water - Drinking water helps our muscles maintain cellular volume and flushes our system of waste products. It also prevents dehydration and excess water retention (water weight).

Brian Schiff, PT, CSCS, is a respected author, physical therapist and fitness expert. You can sign-up for his free online newsletter @ http://www.thefitnessedge.cc.

Copyright © 2004 Brian Schiff. This article was first published in Business First Columbus, Ohio in 2004.

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If all of your hard work at the gym is foiled by your snacking habits, then read on to discover how you can snack to stay slim, satisfied and healthy.
Firstly, ask yourself, why do I want this snack? There are several reasons why we snack;

Habit; if you see certain foods as a reward, or they make you feel better or you crave them if you feel unhappy, or you always have corn chips with a film; try to replace those foods with something else. If you are stressed have a warm bath by candlelight rather than a tub of Hagen Daas, treat yourself to a manicure rather than a take-away at the weekend, snack on a big bowl of berries in front of the TV, and boost your mood with exercise. Then compare the good feelings that these things give you with the less-good feelings that you feel when the spoon hits the bottom of the ice-cream carton. Try and use the good feelings as motivation to forge positive behaviour and habits.

Temptation; if you have a weakness for certain things, don’t keep them around. Do not by crisps and biscuits for your children if you end up eating them. Do not buy fattening or unhealthy foods in large amounts. Do not persuade yourself that you will only have one square of chocolate each night if you know full well you will eat the lot on day one (barely taking the time to breathe between mouthfuls). Spring clean your cupboards of unhealthy snacks. If the workplace is a problem, organize a health drive; suggest everyone buys fruit or smoothies in stead of cakes and biscuits, get a water cooler, or fill the fridge with mineral water.

Boredom or lack of stimulation may be interpreted as a desire for a snack, when actually a change of scene or task will revitalize the bored brain; walk around the garden and pull some weeds up, or if you are at work, take a quick break for a change of scene and to revitalize.

Hunger is often really thirst; each time you crave a snack, drink a large glass of water, this may be what you really need, and will help you stay hydrated.

Hunger pangs may be caused by uneven blood sugar levels. Snacking on simple carbohydrates (white bread, biscuits, cakes, sweets, crisps etc) sends your blood sugar levels rocketing, this sugar is removed from the blood by the body, lower blood sugar levels make you feel hungry again, and the cycle repeats. Snacking on complex carbohydrates will keep your blood sugar levels even, as the sugars are released slowly into the blood, keeping levels even and preventing hunger pangs. Try eating complex carbohydrates; oat cakes, brown rice cakes, pasta salad, brown rice salad (see next weeks healthy snack shopping list).

Marketing; it wouldn’t exist if we didn’t fall for it. Millions are spent on researching where to place snacks to make you pick them up, and persuade you that you want them. Writing a shopping list will help fight against impulse buys; if it isn’t written down, ignore it. Do not to be swayed by special offers and 2 for 1s on snack foods. Make a decision that you will not buy things from the cash desk. Don’t go shopping on an empty stomach!

When you have assessed what factors influence your snacking habits, you can start to change your behaviour, and snack to your advantage. Regular snacking is good for you, but snacks must be the right foods in small amounts. Eat small regular meals of slow-release complex carbohydrates, quality protein and fresh fruit and vegetables. Regular eating lets the ‘prehistoric’ brain relax in the knowledge that food is plentiful. (One of the effects of strict dieting and irregular meals is that the brain thinks it is experiencing famine; metabolism slows and body fat is conserved and stored). Plan for 3 small meals and 2-3 small snacks each day, this will keep the metabolism running smoothly and efficiently. Energy often dips mid-morning and mid-afternoon, so plan ahead to make sure that you have healthy snacks sourced for these times. You may find it helpful to draw up a chart and record your meals and snacks; helping establish the habit.

To subscribe to Vikki’s free weekly newsletter or to read more articles about snacking, and health and fitness; log onto http://www.getfitter.net

Vikki Scovell BA(hons) PG DIP is a fully qualified Personal Trainer and Fitness Coach. She is a qualified Nutrition Adviser and runs successful Community Exercise classes. Vikki is a consultant in Healthy Eating and Exercise initiatives to schools in the independent sector and publishes School and General Healthy Living newsletters.

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