Archive Monthly Archives: February 2018

Ingredients for a Heart Healthy Meal Plan

February 27, 2018
Nutrition Advice

A heart-healthy diet is your best choice.

Heart-healthy meals start with heart-healthy ingredients. Here are some tips for selecting and preparing foods that support heart health.

To me, calling a diet “heart-healthy” can be a bit misleading. It seems to suggest that a heart-healthy diet is somehow different from a more general “healthy diet,” but they’re really one and the same.

A heart-healthy diet is one that calls for a variety of good-for-you foods––including lean proteins, plenty of fruits and vegetables, adequate amounts of fiber and modest amounts of sugar, salt and saturated fat. Sounds like a healthy diet to me.

A heart-healthy diet not only supports the health of your heart, it also supports your overall health in a number of ways. Low fat protein foods keep you full and give your body what it needs to build and repair important body proteins, all while keeping your total fat and saturated fat in check. The right carbohydrates give your body the fuel it needs, along with generous doses of vitamins, minerals and fiber. And small amounts of the right fats contribute essential fatty acids and flavor. When taken all together, these foods make up a well-balanced diet that’s filling and flavorful.

Heart-Healthy Proteins

Why:

The protein that you eat every day provides the basic building blocks that your body needs to perform literally hundreds of functions. Protein is found in a variety of plant and animal foods, but saturated fats often tag along—especially in the case of animal proteins. So, you’ll want to select from a variety of plant proteins and lean/low fat animal sources. Fish is generally a good choice, since it contributes heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids.

What:

Look for plant proteins like lentils and beans, and particularly the complete protein of soy and soy products. Also include eggs, fish and seafood, poultry (especially white meat), nonfat and low fat dairy products and lean cuts of meat.

How to:

Aim for several vegetarian meals per week that rely on beans, lentils and soy-based foods like tempeh and tofu to provide protein. In recipes that call for meat or poultry, experiment with using tofu or seafood instead. Replace high-fat meats with lower fat choices (ground poultry breast can replace ground beef, for example).

Heart-Healthy Carbohydrates

Why:

Carbohydrates are the primary fuel for your body’s engine. Their fiber content can also help fill you up, which can help you control your weight. Many fruits and vegetables are rich sources of potassium, which supports healthy blood pressure. And some are also good sources of nitrate, a compound used by the body to make nitric oxide which supports the health of your blood vessels. Avoid carbohydrates from sugars and highly refined grains, which offer up much less nutrition and more calories per bite.

What:

Keep your focus on vegetables, whole fruits, whole grains and whole grain products to provide the carbs your body needs. Try to reduce your intake of sweets, juices, sugary drinks and refined grain products like white rice, and “white” flour products like regular pasta, white bread, cereals and crackers.

How to:

Aim for a fruit or vegetable at every meal and snack. Add fruits and vegetables to your protein shakes and use them for snacks, and add veggies to soups, stews, casseroles and mixed dishes. Frozen fruits and vegetables are fine—they’re convenient and their nutrient content is preserved. Choose whole grains––such as brown rice, barley, quinoa, wild rice and oats––over refined grains. To retain nutrients in vegetables, cook by steaming, microwaving or stir-frying.

Heart-Healthy Fats

Why:

Your body needs small amounts of fat in order to function properly. What’s important is choosing
the right fats and keeping your overall fat intake moderate. In general, fats that are derived from plant sources are considered to be more heart-healthy than animal fats. Animal fats contain more saturated fats, which tend to raise blood cholesterol levels.

What:

Nuts, seeds, avocados and olives are some of the best sources of healthy fats, as are the oils that are derived from these foods. Olive oil and canola oil are good sources of monounsaturated fatty acids and are great for cooking. Small amounts of nuts and seeds can add a lot of flavor to dishes. Limit your intake of sources of saturated fats like butter and shortening, as well as foods that contain a lot of animal fat such as cheese, fatty meats and ice cream.

How to:

Use olive and canola oil for cooking. Use mashed avocado to replace foods like mayonnaise, sour cream or butter in cooking and at the table. Use moderate amounts of nuts for snacks (heart-healthy, but the calories can add up).

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4 Fitness Tips for Healthy Aging

February 27, 2018
Fitness Advice

Healthy aging with fitness and nutrition.

As you age, daily activity and dedication to balanced nutrition can have a positive effect on your body. Here are a few balanced exercise routines that can help you to get and stay fit for the long term, if you keep at it.

There are many benefits that are associated with living a healthy, active lifestyle. Reduced stress, improved body confidence and improved cardiovascular health are just a few. Regular physical activity is important regardless of your current age and fitness level. It’s never too late to get started with a new exercise routine.

Dedication to living a healthy, active lifestyle as you age can help to counteract aging effects, such as muscle loss, decreased bone density and decreased joint mobility. Yet, many people believe that as we age our need for activity diminishes. The truth is that the older we become the more focus we must put on staying active, so that we can maintain a good quality of life, perform daily tasks and maintain good overall health.

It can be difficult to understand what exercises are appropriate for your current age and level of fitness. Quite often, it’s not until after you get injured that you realize you were performing exercises that were too advanced. I believe that following a balanced and varied exercise routine that slowly progresses as your fitness level and strength improves is the best approach for people of all ages.

Understanding a few basic fitness terms can make a big difference in the way you approach your routine.

Here are four modes of fitness that you should consider doing as part of your routine:

Low impact

Low impact exercise involves movements that place minimal direct force on the body. It’s typically the best type of exercise for people who are just getting started with a fitness plan, or those who have taken time away from exercise. It’s also often recommended for people who have physical limitations due to injury. Examples of low impact exercises include walking, cycling, swimming and using a rowing or elliptical machine.

High impact

High impact exercise is any activity that places a direct force on the muscles and joints of the body. It generally involves having two feet off the floor at one time. Jumping, hopping and running are all examples of high impact exercise. Performing this type of exercise is essential for building strong muscles and bones. However, you should be cautious of doing too much too soon, especially if you are new to exercise or have a significant amount of weight to lose. High impact activity places stress on joints, and you should slowly build up to including this type of exercise in your routine.

Low intensity

Low intensity exercise refers to working out at a lower level of exertion. Intensity level and exercise are closely related. When you are exercising at low intensity, you will feel as though you could carry on a conversation and stay within 60-70% of your max heart rate.

High intensity

High intensity exercise refers to pushing your body to work hard. Exercising at a high intensity has become increasingly popular in the fitness world. This type of training used to be reserved for athletes; however, there are many benefits associated with it, so lots of people incorporate high intensity training into their weekly routine. High intensity training sessions tend to be shorter in duration, making it a practical option for people who want to get results but have limited time available. It’s important for people to check with their health care provider to ensure that they are healthy enough to participate in high intensity exercise.

Mixing up your exercise and combining several types of training into your routine may help you to avoid overuse injury and get the healthy aging benefits you desire.

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Hydrate Your Skin the Right Way

February 27, 2018
Beauty

Choose the Right Cleansers

Many people struggle with dry, dehydrated skin, but there are several things you can do to alleviate this condition.

While dry skin conditions are definitely more common in colder climates, some of us suffer from dry skin all year round.To moisturize dry skin, it’s important to lock in our body’s natural moisture. Here are a few effective ways to help your skin look fresh and youthful.

Choose the Right Cleansers

As a rule, the more gentle the cleanser, the less harsh it is on the skin. Look for facial cleansers that are formulated to target dry skin. They are usually richer, creamier and more lotion-like in texture. Look for ingredients like soothing aloe vera, which can be useful for its excellent skin hydrating properties. Avoid harsh bar soaps that contain strong detergents and deodorizers. Don’t use these on your face, and also be selective when it comes to using them on your body.

Top Tip: Only cleanse using warm water. Water that is too hot can cause your skin to become even dryer. And limit your baths and showers to just a few minutes. The longer you bathe, the greater the chances of your skin drying out. Prolonged exposure to water, especially hot water, can strip the skin of its natural oils. So keep your bathing short and sweet. Use only warm water, pat your skin dry; don’t rub, as rubbing your skin with a towel can also remove oils. Apply your body and face moisturizers right after drying off while your skin is still damp. This will help to seal in water as well as your body’s natural oils.

Moisturize Your Skin From Head to Toe

For the face, consider adding a moisturizing serum containing antioxidant vitamins to your skincare regime. Follow your day lotion with SPF during the day and a night cream of your choice in the evening. These products can help hydrate your skin and minimise the appearance of fine lines. For the body, slather on a good body lotion immediately after your shower. Focus on your elbows, knees and feet, as these areas really showcase skin dryness. Remember to apply and reapply as necessary.

Give Yourself a Good Scrub From Head to Toe

A good exfoliation from your face to your toes can really help your skin retain moisture, as it helps to remove dead skin cells from the surface, revealing new healthy skin cells underneath. When your skin is exfoliated, it allows your skin care products, especially serums and moisturisers, to be absorbed more quickly and effectively. So, to combat dry skin, scrub away!

Hydrate From the Inside

This is the most obvious tip of all. Stay hydrated by drinking good old H2O. Coffee, soda and juice…they don’t count. Drink water to stay hydrated from the inside out.

When choosing skincare products to target your dry skin, look for ingredients like: aloe vera, soy, oatmeal and essential fatty acids that can help seal in moisture. If your skin isn’t sensitive, try products with shea butter, olive oil, almond, coconut and avocado oil. They are all useful natural ingredients that can provide some wonderful benefits to the skin.

It’s really that simple. Little changes to your daily routine can help alleviate the signs of dry skin. Keep your skin hydrated and protected 24/7. And remember, the healthiest skin is the most beautiful skin.

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Recipe: South of the Border Sizzling Beef Fajitas

February 26, 2018
Nutrition Advice

A taste of the south.

Fajitas are an easy-to-make Mexican dish. This colorful recipe is full of protein, vegetables and a delicious Latin flavor. So no need to head down to Mexico, this recipe brings the country’s delicious flavors to you.

 

 

Ingredients:

1 tsp cumin
1 tsp chili powder
1 tsp salt
1 lb. lean beef steak, flank steak or top sirloin

Rub spice mix over steak.

Marinade

1 TBSP Worcestershire sauce
1 TBSP olive oil
2 TBSP lime juice
1 clove garlic, minced

Pour half of this marinade over the meat and set the other half aside. Cover with plastic wrap. Let marinate in the refrigerator for several hours or overnight.

Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat. Add 1 large onion. Cook for several minutes, stirring, until soft.

Add

1 green bell pepper
1 red bell pepper

Cook for several more minutes until peppers are soft.

Add

1 tsp cumin
1 clove garlic, minced

Stir until vegetables are softened, about 5 to 6 minutes. Pour in remaining marinade and stir for a minute or two. Cover and remove from heat. Remove meat from marinade and pat dry.

Add

1 TBSP olive oil

Cook steak 3 to 4 minutes on each side, until medium rare. Transfer to a cutting board. Cover with foil and let rest for 10 minutes. Thinly slice meat across the grain into strips. Toss meat and juices from cutting board into the pan with vegetables. Spoon meat-vegetable mixture into tortillas.

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