Recipe wednesday : Banana Split Smoothie

Makes 5 servings

Classic banana split flavors blend together to make a smooth and refreshing beverage.

Ingredients

2 cups   1% chocolate milk                                   500 mL

2 cups   low-fat strawberry-flavored yogurt         500 mL

1 cup     frozen unsweetened strawberries            250 mL

1              banana                 1 

Using frozen fruit means there’s no need to add ice to this smoothie.

Instructions

Step 1

In blender, combine chocolate milk, yogurt, strawberries and banana; purée until smooth. Pour into glasses and serve immediately.

Source: Cookspiration

Healthy Drinks

Water is the best choice for quenching your thirst. Coffee and tea, without added sweeteners, are healthy choices, too.

Some beverages should be limited or consumed in moderation, including diet drinks, fruit juice and milk.  Alcohol in moderation can be healthy for some people, but not everyone.

Avoid sugary drinks like soda, sports beverages, and energy drinks.

Water

There are many options for what to drink, but for most people who have access to safe drinking water, water is the best choice: It’s calorie-free, and it’s as easy to find as the nearest tap. Water provides everything the body needs—pure H2O—to restore fluids lost through metabolism, breathing, sweating, and the removal of waste. It’s the perfect beverage for quenching thirst and re-hydrating your system.

 

How much water do I need?

The Institute of Medicine has set an adequate intake of 125 ounces (about 15 cups) for men and 91 ounces (about 11 cups) for women. (1) Note that this is not a daily target, but a general guide. In most people, about 80% of this water volume comes from beverages; the rest comes from food. Water is an excellent calorie-free, sugar-free choice.  For some people who are accustomed to drinking sweet beverages, water can initially taste bland. To increase water consumption without losing flavor or to spice up your daily water intake, try these refreshing water-based beverages:

Infused water

Instead of purchasing expensive flavored waters in the grocery store, you can easily make your own at home. Try adding any of the following to a cold glass or pitcher of water:

-  Sliced citrus fruits or zest (lemon, lime, orange, grapefruit)

- Crushed fresh mint

- Peeled, sliced fresh ginger or sliced cucumber

- Crushed berries

Sparkling water with a splash of juice

Sparkling juices may have as many calories as sugary soda pop. Instead, make your own sparkling juice at home with 12 ounces of sparkling water and just an ounce or two of juice. For additional flavor, add sliced citrus or fresh herbs like mint.

Beverages to limit

Drinks that are loaded with sugar are the worst choice; they contain a lot of calories and virtually no other nutrients. Consuming high-sugar drinks can lead to weight gain and increased risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and gout.

The average can of sugar-sweetened soda or fruit punch provides about 150 calories. If you were to drink just one can of a sugar-sweetened soft drink every day, and not cut back on calories elsewhere, you could gain up to 5 pounds in a year. (2) Cutting back on sugary drinks may help control your weight and may lower your risk of type 2 diabetes.

Sports beverages are designed to give athletes carbs, electrolytes, and fluid during high-intensity workouts that last an hour or more. For other folks, they’re just another source of sugar and calories.

Energy drinks have as much sugar as soft drinks, enough caffeine to raise your blood pressure, and additives whose long-term health effects are unknown. For these reasons it’s best to skip energy drinks.

Source : harvard/edu

Keep Your Blood Sugar Level in Balance

1. Limit or eliminate sugar spikers: sodas, sports drinks, desserts, and alcohol 
2. Make meals and snacks with foods that will be slowly transferred into glucose in the blood such as salads, veggies and beans. And balance meals with protein like nuts, seeds, legumes and free range or grass fed meats.
3. Eat every 3-4 hours except when sleeping. Portion size and quality of food is important here. The idea is that when you eat healthy foods more frequently, you won’t overeat because your blood sugar is better balanced.
4. Up your fiber intake. Fiber helps maintain energy levels and prevents a spike in blood sugar. You can get it in whole foods like whole grains, vegetables, and legumes.
5. Enjoy a couple servings of fresh fruit each day to satisfy your sweet tooth. The naturally occurring sugar in the fruit is far safer and healthier.
6. Do something you enjoy each day. Instead of reaching for a sugary snack, get outdoors, get creative with a craft project or exercise with a friend. Doing a fun activity can replace the feel good sensation you temporarily get from eating sweets.

Use everyday habits to keep your memory in good shape

Your daily habits and lifestyle — what you eat and drink, whether you exercise, how stressed you are, and more — affect your mental health every bit as much as your physical health. A growing body of research indicates that regular exercise and a healthful diet can help protect your memory from aging-related decline.

Exercise

Physical fitness and mental fitness go together. People who exercise regularly tend to stay mentally sharp into their 70s, 80s, and beyond. Although the precise “dose” of exercise isn’t known, research suggests that the exercise should be moderate to vigorous and regular. Examples of moderate exercise include brisk walking, stationary bicycling, water aerobics, and competitive table tennis. Vigorous activities include jogging, high impact aerobic dancing, square dancing, and tennis.

Exercise helps memory in several ways. It reduces the risk of developing several potentially memory-robbing conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, and stroke. Exercise is good for the lungs, and people who have good lung function send more oxygen to their brains. There is some evidence that exercise helps build new connections between brain cells and improves communication between them. Finally, exercise has been linked to increased production of neurotrophins, substances that nourish brain cells and help protect them against damage from stroke and other injuries.

Here are some ways to build physical activity into your daily routine:

• Walk instead of driving when possible.
• Set aside time each day for exercise. For extra motivation, ask your spouse or a friend to join you.
• Use the stairs instead of the elevator.
• Plant a garden and tend it.
• Take an exercise class or join a health club.
• Swim regularly, if you have access to a pool or beach.
• Learn a sport that requires modest physical exertion, such as tennis.

Go Mediterranean

Mediterranean-type diets highlight whole grains, fruits and vegetables, and healthy fats from fish, nuts, and healthy oils. This eating style helps promote heart health and may also lessen the risk of memory and thinking problems later in life. In a study that followed more than 2,000 people over four years, those who most closely followed a Mediterranean-type diet had a lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. A later study suggested that following a Mediterranean-type diet could slow the conversion of mild cognitive impairment into full-blown dementia.

The types of fat that predominate in the diet also seem to affect memory. As part of the national Women’s Health Initiative, 482 women ages 60 and older were observed for three years. They reported on their diets, and researchers tested their memory and thinking skills at the beginning of the study and at the end. Those who ate more unsaturated fat (which is abundant in vegetable oils and fatty fish) and less saturated fat (from red meat and full-fat dairy foods) had significantly less decline in memory than those who ate relatively little unsaturated fat.

Eating several servings of fruits and vegetables can also protect memory. Foods from plants are chock full of vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients that may protect against age-related deterioration throughout the body.

Source:HealthHarvard

5 Metabolism Boosters: Separating Fact From Fiction

1. Don't eat close to bedtime. You may have been told not to eat too close to bedtime because of the theory that your metabolism slows down at night and you'll lose less weight than you would if you ate the same food earlier in the day. Not true, says Donna L. Weihofen, MS, RD, health nutritionist at the University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics in Madison, Wisc. "Calories count whether you eat them in the morning or at night. The problem with nighttime eaters is that they are usually eating far more calories than they think, and the calories are denser."


2. Drinking water speeds metabolism. Drinking plenty of water is healthful for a number of reasons, but it doesn't make your body burn calories faster. It can help you feel full, which may keep some cravings at bay. "But that effect doesn't last very long," Weihofen cautions. "One of the things that does help is soup before a meal. A broth-type soup does help cut down on the amount of calories you will eat." Of course, broth won't speed metabolism, either, but it will help you stick to your diet plan.
3. Eat at the same time or at certain times every day to burn calories. Some diets recommend eating every couple of hours, while others advise sticking to a consistent schedule or number of meals for weight-loss success. Following a set schedule may help you stick to a diet plan, but doesn't help you burn more calories. "There's no magic to that," explains Weihofen. "It's whatever fits your lifestyle and your diet."
4. Eating breakfast boosts metabolism. Eating breakfast on a regular basis is important for shedding pounds, but not solely because it improves your metabolism, says Emily Banes, RD, clinical dietitian at Houston Northwest Medical Center. "People who eat only one meal a day will shut down their metabolism. So breakfast is partly a metabolism-booster and it is partly to make sure you stay on track for the rest of the day," notes Banes. People who eat breakfast are less likely to binge later in the day, which of course promotes weight loss.
5. Build muscle. The reality is that there is only one way to enhance metabolism: Build more lean muscle mass. "The best way to increase metabolism is by incorporating physical activity, both cardio and weight training, to increase lean muscle mass, which is what burns the calories!" advises Dr. Anding.

Even at rest, muscle tissue burns more calories than fat, Anding says. So weight-loss programs that encourage strength training and other forms of exercise to improve your metabolism are your best bet. 

Source: Everydayhealth

5 ways to de-stress and help your heart

Constant stress — whether from a traffic-choked daily commute, unhappy marriage, or heavy workload — can have real physical effects on the body. It has been linked to a wide range of health issues, including mood, sleep, and appetite problems — and yes, even heart disease.

The connection between chronic stress and heart disease isn’t well defined. It has been suggested that stress triggers inflammation, a known instigator of heart disease, but that hasn’t been proven. “I think the conventional opinion is that stress is bad for your heart, but the data are much murkier,” says Dr. Deepak Bhatt, director of the Integrated Interventional Cardiovascular Program at Brigham and Women’s Hospital.

Yet stress may influence heart disease in more subtle ways. “Stress does cause some people to act in ways that increase their risk for heart disease,” Dr. Bhatt says. For example, when stressed, people often eat unhealthy food and don’t have the energy or time to exercise. Stress can also lead us into other heart-damaging behaviors, such as smoking and drinking too much alcohol.

Breaking the connection requires both learning to deal with stress and managing unhealthy habits. These five simple tips can help you do just that.

1. Stay positive. Laughter has been found to lower levels of stress hormones, reduce inflammation in the arteries, and increase “good” HDL cholesterol.
2. Meditate. This practice of inward-focused thought and deep breathing has been shown to reduce heart disease risk factors such as high blood pressure. Meditation’s close relatives, yoga and prayer, can also relax the mind and body.
3. Exercise. Every time you are physically active, whether you take a walk or play tennis, your body releases mood-boosting chemicals called endorphins. Exercising not only melts away stress, it also protects against heart disease by lowering your blood pressure, strengthening your heart muscle, and helping you maintain a healthy weight.
4. Unplug. It’s impossible to escape stress when it follows you everywhere. Cut the cord. Avoid emails and TV news. Take time each day — even if it’s for just 10 or 15 minutes — to escape from the world.
5. Find ways to take the edge off your stress. Simple things, like a warm bath, listening to music, or spending time on a favorite hobby, can give you a much-needed break from the stressors in your life.

Stress doesn’t have to ruin your life or your health!

Source: Harvardhealth

16 Powerful Reasons to Eat Pineapple

Aside from their delicious taste, pineapples can help you get glowing skin, reduce bloating and digestive issues, prevent colds and flu, reduce inflammation and even strengthen your bones! That tropical fruit with it’s spiky green leaves and rugged, golden skin is, in fact, a collection of multiple fruits, and a powerhouse of health benefits! Here are 16 reasons why you should enjoy pineapple regularly:

1. It’s nutrient-rich!

Fresh pineapple provides a host of vitamins and minerals including vitamin A, C, calcium, potassium, magnesium, and manganese!

2. It helps to strengthen your bones

The manganese content in pineapple helps your body build strong bones and connective tissues! 

3. It improves digestion

Pineapples contain bromelain which helps to regulate the pancreatic secretions that aid digestion!  

4. It keeps your gums healthy

One cup of pineapple provides 105% of your vitamin C needs for the day. Because of this, eating the fruit lowers your risk of gingivitis and periodontal disease! 

5. It can help alleviate arthritis pain

Pineapple is actually anti-inflammatory, helping to alleviate the pain of arthritis, along with similar conditions, like gout and carpal tunnel syndrome. 

6. It can help to prevent hypertension

Trying to reduce your high blood pressure? The potassium content in pineapples can help to maintain healthy blood pressure levels. 

7. It may assist with cancer prevention! 

The high antioxidant content in pineapples helps to fight against free radical damage, keeping your cells healthy. 

8. It prevents and fights coughs and colds

As pineapples are rich in vitamin C, they naturally boost your immune system, helping you fight off coughs and colds. The bromelain content also helps to loosen mucus and suppress coughs.

9. It can protect your eyes from macular degeneration 

A source of beta carotene, pineapples can help lower your risk for this disease by up to 36 percent! 

10. It may help prevent blood clots

The bromelain content in pineapples may help protect you from blood clots, making it a great snack for frequent flyers and those at higher risk of clotting.

11.  It’s great for watching your weight

Nutrient-rich, a good source of fiber and low in calories, this delicious, juicy fruit makes a great addition to any diet as a healthy, filling choice! 

12. It can help ease an upset stomach

Pineapple juice may also have the ability to reduce nausea and morning sickness! 

13. It can help boost your fertility

A diet rich in antioxidants have been shown to improve fertility. The antioxidants and nutrients in pineapple such as vitamin C, beta-carotene, zinc and folate affect both male and female fertility. 

14. It supports healing and reducing inflammation

Studies show that the bromelain enzyme in pineapples can reduce swelling, bruising, healing time, and pain associated with injury and surgical intervention, as well as inflammation in the body. 

15. It helps maintain gorgeous, healthy skin!

The vitamin C content of pineapples helps to support collagen production, helping you to maintain healthy, supple skin. Try this homemade papaya and pineapple face mask!
 

16. It works as a natural meat tenderizer

The bromelain enzyme in pineapple is great at tenderizing meats and proteins, helping to support your digestion, but also to tenderize your meat before cooking!




Source: FOODMATTERS