Does FAT Make You FAT?

YES and NO. The right answer to this question is dependent on what type of fat we're talking about. Certain fats are actually essential for so many important bodily functions, but the wrong kind of fat can lead us down an unhealthy path to weight gain and a long list of diseases.

Fat To Avoid

Hydrogenated Oils
You have probably already heard in the media or just about anywhere that hydrogenated oils are detrimental to your health so to avoid them at all costs. But what exactly are they?

Hydrogenation is a chemical process used to make fat more shelf stable. This hydrogenation method completely alters the liquid oil's molecular structure so that it no longer resembles a natural fat. Because your body does not recognize the transformed molecule as a natural fat, it cannot process it and treats it as a toxin. This "toxin" has been linked to cancer, birth defects, heart disease, diabetes, weight gain and obesity.

We must read labels! Hydrogenated oil and partially hydrogenated oil can be found in most packaged foods (margarine, crackers, chips, pretzels, cookies, cereal bars, sugar cereals, microwave popcorn, and low-fat and fat-free snacks). There are even many packaged foods advertised as "health foods" that include this toxic ingredient.

Fats You Must Eat

Your body cannot survive without fat - specifically essential fatty acids. Your brain, hormones, immune system, and digestion are all dependant on this healthy fat (which is why people who go on very extreme low fat diets often suffer many health problems).

Omega 3 Fats
Omega 3 Fats are essential to human health but cannot be produced by the body which is why it is essential that we get these great fats from food. Foods high in Omega 3 fats are leafy green vegetables, flax seeds, salmon, sardines, raw walnuts, organic eggs and grass fed beef.

Extensive research indicates that omega-3 fatty acids reduce inflammation and help prevent risk factors associated with chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer, and arthritis. These essential fatty acids are highly concentrated in the brain and appear to be particularly important for cognitive (brain memory and performance) and behavioral function. In fact, infants who do not get enough omega-3 fatty acids from their mothers during pregnancy are at risk for developing vision and nerve problems. Symptoms of omega-3 fatty acid deficiency include extreme tiredness (fatigue), poor memory, dry skin, heart problems, mood swings or depression, and poor circulation.

Cooking Oil
The only oil that is suitable for high heat cooking (and one of the healthiest oils you can consume) is raw, organic, unrefined coconut oil. Coconut oil has been proven to be one of the healthiest oils available for the human body and increases the body's metabolic rate (helping in weight loss)

Oils best Raw
Olive oil and flax seed oil are two wonderful oils to use for salad dressing or on cooked or raw veggies. These oils have a lower melting point and are more stable (and healthier) when kept raw.

All you need to know to burn body fat and fat consumption:
1. Avoid all products containing hydrogenated oil and partially hydrogenated oil
2. Consume foods high in Omega 3's such as salmon, flax seeds, walnuts and organic eggs
3. Cook with Organic, Unrefined Coconut Oil
4. Use Olive Oil and Flaxseed oil raw for salads and veggies. Also include avocados as a healthy source of fat into your meal plans.

And the best way to burn body fat is revealed to you now!Remember all fats are not created equal and proper use of the good fats can be a great way to keep you and your family at optimum health!

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Coffee: Good Or Bad For Your Health?

Is your morning coffee an ok option on your healthy eating plan? If coffee really bad for you or is it actually good?

I get these questions about coffee and health all the time and as a coffee drinker myself; it is smart to take a look at both the good and the bad.

Now, I’m not here to tell you that coffee is good for you. If I did, I would be telling only the good side of the story and I’m not a politician. I am here to give you the good and the bad and tell you how you can incorporate your favorite coffee or tea into your healthy meal plan.

The Ugly Side of Caffeine

Most coffee and tea contains a lot of caffeine. This is usually the primary reason people make coffee their drink of choice in the morning. Caffeine is a drug like any other and comes with a long list of side effects. Have you ever tried not having your coffee in the morning? Yeah, pass the Excedrin, right? The headache that comes on when you try and kick this habit can be brutal (just like with other drugs) and creating a dependency and addiction like this is harmful to the body.

Second, coffee is extremely acidic. Our bodies function at optimum levels when they are slightly more alkaline (the opposite of acidic). It is best for us to greatly reduce any foods that will drive our body’s pH to be more acidic and eat more foods that are alkaline (like fruits and veggies). An acidic body pH is like a magnet for all kinds of illnesses. Also, an alkaline body has a much stronger immune system, making illness much less likely.

Last but not least, the caffeine in coffee and tea is abuse to your adrenal glands. Your adrenals release your “fight or flight” hormones basically giving you a nice “boost” when needed. Unfortunately, people who drink coffee all day long are consistently beating on their adrenals. This is equivalent of whipping a tired horse even when he is exhausted. Eventually he will not move at all.

The Pretty Side of Caffeine

Coffee tastes oh so yummy and makes me feel great in the morning. (What? Is that not a good enough reason to drink it?)

Many studies have shown that coffee can help in the prevention and treatment of diseases and illnesses as varied as Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, liver disease, skin cancer, Parkinson’s disease and more. Although, I don’t believe coffee will be the cure to any of these diseases, many ancient cultures did rely on the coffee bean to cure a long list of ailments. Not to mention, small doses of caffeine can increase performance and mental focus.

Green tea is also a great drink to include with a long list of benefits. If nothing else, green tea is a wonderful source of antioxidants which are important in cancer prevention. Green tea has even been found to raise metabolism and aid to burn body fat. Before you go take a green tea bath, its effects are really minor when compared to the effects of sound nutrition and exercise plans. Now that I’ve said that, don’t think you can eat junk food and just wash it down with green tea!

What is a coffee and tea drinker to do?

1. Limit your coffee and tea intake to 2 - 8 cups per day. No, not 2 of each, 2 total. Any more than that is considered as a heavy addict. (I know. I’ve been there).

2. If you are currently dependent on a lot of caffeine each day, replace 1 or 2 cups of coffee with green tea instead. Green tea has much less caffeine than coffee and will help to combat the ugly detox symptoms.

3. Do not jack up your coffee with sugar, milk, syrup and whip cream (So I guess that means no Starbucks, huh?). Use stevia or xylitol to sweeten and avoid all the empty, harmful calories. A teaspoon of half won’t hurt either. Please oh please, do not use any of those flavored creamers. They are closer to someone’s chemistry experiment than they are to real food.

4. Make sure to make your food choices healthy. Avoiding other acidic foods like sugar, artificial sweeteners and processed foods will lighten the acid load on the body.

5. Make sure the coffee you drink is organic. Conventional coffee is filled with pesticides and chemicals and should be avoided at all costs.

There is no need to give up your morning coffee but it is important to drink the right types of coffee, without the added unhealthy extras and as with most things, in moderation.

Get started on your own weight loss goals right away with these Healthy Weight Loss Meals.

Coconut Oil Can Help You To Lose Fat

Coconut Oil is a wonderful healthy food that has been shown to increase metabolism and assist in burning unwanted fat off your body. It is a wonder food that has been around for centuries and a great addition to any fat burning meal plan.

Unfortunately, some people have really hard time believing that coconut oil is not “fattening” or “dangerous”. We have all been falsely led to believe that fat, especially saturated fat, is the cause of our weight gain and health problems. This is only half true.

Some fats like hydrogenated oils and vegetable oils do contribute to heart disease and weight gain but good fats like coconut oil, butter and olive oil are actually great fats for our bodies. Think about how much healthier people were in the late 1800’s and very early 1900’s. Heart disease was almost unheard of back then.

Let’s put some of these MYTHS about coconut oil to rest right now and burn body fat.

Myth #1 - Coconut Oil contains a lot of fat so it must be fattening.

Truth - Not all fat makes you fat (I want to get this tattooed on my forehead). Certain fats do cause weight gain but other good fats will actually burn unwanted fat off your body and accelerate your metabolism.

Myth #2 - Coconut Oil contains almost all saturated fat so it must be bad for you.

Truth - Saturated Fat is not the cause of heart disease, weight gain and high cholesterol. Saturated Fat has been falsely accused and it is SUGAR that is Enemy Numero Uno (It is worse than the Joker in Bat Man).

(To read more details about how fats can be healthy and the history of dietary fats, read Butter: Good Fat or Bad Fat?)

Myth #3 - Coconut Oil should be avoided by those who are at risk for heart disease

Truth - The fat in coconut oil is one of the healthiest oils you can consume (yes, even for those with heart disease). It is rich in lauric acid, which is known for its antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal properties and contains no trans fat. The saturated fat in coconut oil is different than many other oils in that it is of the medium-chain fatty acid (MCFA) variety. The body digests MCFAs more easily and sends these fats directly to the liver where they are immediately converted into energy. Now isn’t that great? A fat that is used to make energy instead of storing it on our bodies. We can all use some of that.

I highly recommend everyone to use unrefined, organic coconut oil for all of their cooking needs. 1 - 2 tbsp for most cooking is more than enough. You can even use it raw if you like as I think, it tastes OH SO DELICIOUS! I usually have about 2-3 TBSPs per day which is a perfect amount for a fat burning eating plan. While it’s really good for you, there’s no need to go overboard.

To learn more about Coconut Oil and get started on your own fat loss goals, download your healthy bestmeal plans right away and also know the best way to burn body fat.

Diet Recipes To Lose Body Fat

How Can You Change The Routine When Your Kids Are Going Back To School?

It is very common that children get accustomed to a particular way of life during the vacations. They are more indulged in leisure activities than exercising compared to when they have their schools open. Even the parents are affected and they are thrown simply on the other side of a healthy lifestyle.

Certain activities like sitting on the beach chair for hours, getting into ice-cream parlors and long drives add extra pounds to a person. This becomes unavoidable in certain circumstances and these leisure activities become the main culprits of weight gain. The school vacations do not last forever and once the vacations get over one has to bring the children back to their normal life routine which would include exercise.

The parents have to go back to a routine which would be full of physical exercises. This is not very easy but a few steps when followed properly give very good results. The summer months add a few extra pounds and those have to shed in order to get back to a routine which would be very helpful in the long run. The exercise routine should be such that it would be effective for the entire year and hence a few steps have to be followed.

The following guidelines help in getting back to a healthy routine

The lunch should be packed for both parents as well as the children too. While preparing meals the parents should include the children in the meal making procedure. This helps in getting children involved in the process. They should be included right from the time things are being bought. The first step is getting the grocery and a list should be made of the grocery items which should be bought. The food stuff should be bought together and specific times should be chosen for preparing the food so that the children are involved in the process. The children will learn to cook food and they also learn to value food cooked with time. Cooking is a time consuming process. The children who learn to cook healthy food grow up into adults who are into appreciating healthy food. They follow healthy habits throughout their lives.

Exercising should be scheduled: Exercising is very important in order to keep in good health. It is very important to go for a fixed exercise routine which would be fixed. A fluctuating schedule for exercising does not help in any way. One can drop their children to school by wearing gym clothes since they can directly visit the gym from there. The parents should set examples for children by prioritizing the exercise routine. This helps the children in becoming more responsible. They see their parents taking exercising very seriously and they also lead similar lifestyles after growing up. Low fat diets along with simple weight loss programs help in losing weight. Exercising is another important part of it.

Planning the activities: Planning is a very important thing which children should learn since the children grow up into adults. They must have the habit of packing their back packs well in advance so that they can plan for other activities the next day. Planning is a quality which helps a lot and makes children more organized in future. This helps a lot in making good adults who have priorities but still they get their things organized well in advance.

Diet plans to lose weight

A Systematic Approach Towards Exercising

The importance of physical exercise is well understood by people and still they cannot find enough time for indulging in physical exercise. Generally people have a very common excuse; they just say that they do not have enough time. These excuses do not help in any way; it only hinders weight loss programs.

An exercise regime is not effective if it is not enjoyable and hence the routine has to be very enjoyable. Many people find exercising routines to be very boring and thereby they refrain from rigorous physical exercise. The location and the setting of the place where a person is working out is very important.

The bedroom of a home can be converted into a place for exercising. These conversions help a lot in getting the best place for working out. It is not very necessary to get the most expensive equipment for the home based gym. It can be done with using various equipment which are of very basic nature like cycling equipment and gym balls.

A basic set of weights can do the trick for everybody. Expensive machinery does not make up a very good gym; it is the nature of equipments, location and setting which matters.

Many people go for expensive membership programs and take monthly membership programs of many gyms. They actually fail to deliver the good and refrain from going to the gyms. They just do not like the ambience of the gym. When the surroundings do not suit a person then he cannot exercise properly in that very environment.

There is no justification in wasting such gym memberships and continue with the weight loss program. The net result would be nil and they must always go for options which are much more lucrative and attractive like working out inside their homes. Exercising in personal spaces helps many people since they have more time at their disposal and can exercise with proper relaxation.

The personalized spaces for work out programs increase the chances of getting better results from weight loss programs.

There are various reasons for which people hate going to gyms and working out. Working out in a gym is not a very comfortable experience for many people since they do not like the space.

There are people who have an opposite point of view and do not like working out inside their homes. They prefer to go out and exercise with people who are also enthusiasts in weight loss programs. They find encouragement from such places of exercising since they get a lot of people around them who are having a common purpose.

Motivation is a very important factor in any weight loss program. Never an exercise regime should be taken as a torture. One should be comfortable while doing exercises.

There are many techniques of losing weight. One can form exercising groups and can also join local sports league. All this helps in achieving the best results and especially if somebody is taking active interest in any such activity.

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