Why You Should Substitute White Foods for Whole Grain

With everyone being more nutritionally conscious nowadays, we decided to take a look at why more and more people are swapping white refined flour for wholegrain.

White Flour 

Everything that we remember as a child from buttery toast to our birthday cakes and muffins have always been made with white flour. In fact as adults when we taste these tastes again it’s just like being kids again. (Unless we had particularly nutritionally enlightened parents!) It’s no wonder that we have an addiction almost to these white flour goods but did you know how damaging these foods are to our delicate systems?

The thing with white / all purpose / enriched flour is that our bodies process it like sugar. Enriched sounds lovely but in reality the flour actually gets completely stripped of all its goodness during this process. Yes white bread and related products taste amazing but the actual flour is created by stripping the most nutritious parts of the wheat berry. In fact this is the only starch left in white flour. Not good!

 White flour and digestion

White flour is just no good for your digestion. The starch is digested mega quickly thus causing a spike in insulin production. This then throws your whole body out of balance and can create a whole host of problems. In fact with the constant fluctuation of blood sugar which manifests through eating white flour products you could be potentially setting yourself up for diabetes and weight problems too!

Whole Grain 

Whole grain and whole wheat flour is so much better for you than its white counterpart. This is due to the fact that whole wheat flour uses the whole wheat berry. This means that you are intaking all the goodness – the bran, the starch and the germ. When you eat the whole berry, there are no peaks and / or lows in insulin levels and your body stays healthy and balanced. Another great aspect of eating in this way is that you will stay full for longer than you would if you were eating white bread! No more rumbling tummies in the middle of the afternoon!

Whole grain is great for you if you have stomach and digestion difficulties and there are even studies to say that there is a link between whole grain and the prevention of cancer of the colon. When you buy your products always look for the word, “whole”. That way you know that you are getting the best; there are many brown products which don’t use the entire wheat berry and won’t be as good for you as “whole” products.

It might be hard in the first few months to wean your family, especially the youngsters off white bread and white flour products but over time it can be done. A trick is to make a half and half sandwich, half white bread and half whole grain, this will give your kids time to get used to the different taste and texture. It’s worth making the change for the health of both you and your family.


Eating whole grain foods instead of white foods is a great way to ensure your general nutrition levels remain healthy consistently.

Lose Weight and Build Muscle – 4 Tips

Most people believe it is impossible to lose weight while gaining muscle at the same time. This belief is not wrong, but just not clear how it could be possible. For starters, to gain weight one must consume an excess of calories; on the other hand, to lose weight you must reduce the total number of calories you consume. So how is it possible to do both? Read these tips to help you accomplish it;

Do Cardio

Although this is fairly obvious to anyone wanting to lose weight, it is the type and duration that makes the difference. There is standard “slow” cardio, which is done for maybe 45 minutes at a time; and then there is HIIT (high intensity interval training), done for 30 minutes max. The difference with these two types being that the HIIT type expends more calories while limiting protein breakdown, while the slow type may be more geared to a gradual mainly weight loss pattern. So if losing fat and gaining weight are your goals, HIIT seems better suited for you.

Weight training

You must do this if you require your body to take on a new look. Endless cardio won’t reveal your “hidden” body; actually you will look like one of the many skinny-fat guys around. The reason for this is because cardio is an activity that quite often results in both fat and muscle breakdown. So if you really want to change the way you look, strength training must be done to give the body a reason to change.

Nutrition

Nutrition is basically the make or break factor when it comes to achieving this double feat. Every time we eat, hormonal signals are released which dictate if we gain muscle, fat or lose weight. The nutrition plan that seems most geared to the goals in focus here work around cycling carbohydrate and fat intake, while keeping protein levels reasonably high. It appears that the body makes best use of carbohydrates to incorporate in muscle glycogen when taken around the workout; some before and about three times following the workout.  During these high-carbohydrates meals, fat should be minimized. It is a good rule of thumb to state that fat and carbohydrates should not be consumed in large quantities together, this is a recipe for weight gain.

Wise Use of Supplements

Many natural thermogenics exist; including green tea extract, ginseng and even the use of Chia seeds. These supplements can give you that small push to increase your metabolism and shift into a recomposition state.

Above all, be realistic; don’t expect to gain large amounts of muscle while simultaneously losing excessive fat, expect to do a little bit of both. After all, no vehicle ever got anywhere with its wheels spinning in the opposite directions.

 

John has been a personal trainer for over 3 years. He enjoys writing about bodybuilding, supplements, and natural remedies. His favorite website is Remedy Tip.

B12 injections For Weight Loss

One of the easiest ways that you can lose any additional weight you have been carrying around is the use of B12 shots for weight loss. The perfect way to get great weight loss results would be B12 shots for weightloss because of how effective they are.

These vitamins are found naturally in some of the healthiest foods that you could put into your body. However, you will save yourself time and money by simply using these shots in order to get the same benefits without the additional calories that you would otherwise take in. Weight loss is very simple, reduce the amount of calories you take in each day. Once you do this, simply burn off what you are putting into your body and you will experience great results. Many people find this difficult to do because of the fact that they have very little energy or time at the end of each day. When you feel constantly worn out, it is very hard to find the motivation to get in the exercise that is needed in order to shed extra pounds. The greatest thing about these shots is the energy boost that they provide.

Many medical clinics suggest B12 shots for weight-loss to their patients, this is because b12 is proven to boost your metabolism and allow you to burn fast much faster than you have in the past. With B12 shots for weight loss your system will begin working more efficiently, it will help you to burn off anything that you are eating much faster. Since your system is working harder to burn off calories, you will be able to spend less time exercising than you are currently.  One of the most common excuses that people use to avoid exercise is to say they lack the time required. However, this is simply a matter of having the right tools to get the job done in the shortest possible time. Additionally, these shots have been shown to help provide you with a boost of energy, this can make exercise more enjoyable and much easier to commit to. Losing weight is something that millions of people make a promise to take up every day. However, most of these promises are broken simply because the person believes it is just too hard to lose weight. These shorts are the perfect solution, they can help you to change your body with a lot bit of science and exercise. While there are many choices available to you, these shots are proven to provide results. When you are in need of a dramatic change, allowing b12 to work to your advantage can change your body forever. Avoid crash diets and take control of your weight with these injections.

Protein Supplements: Not Just for the Boys

Ladies, if your goal is burning fat and building muscle, don’t forget to consume the protein your fitness goals require.  Protein revs up your metabolism, helping your body to burn calories, using food for fuel instead of storing it as fat.  Plus, protein consumption assists with lean muscle development.

If you need to keep your diet plan as easy and convenient as possible, consider using supplements to reap the benefits of protein.

Supplements Add Protein with Ease

You will find protein shakes for sale at the health food store, and that’s certainly an easy solution.  But the best protein powders are also simple to use.

Simply stir powdered protein supplements  into water or milk with a spoon or a blender.  You can buy different flavors, including vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry. Plus, using protein powders will be more cost-effective than ready-made protein shakes.

Don’t stop at adding your protein supplement to water or milk.  Blend in some fruit for a delicious smoothie.   Experiment with protein shake recipes until you find your favorites.

Protein is Key for Breakfast and Beyond

Breakfast and healthy snacks are essential to maintaining your metabolism and avoiding hunger.  If you’re too busy to prepare a protein-rich breakfast, a protein shake is a quick, portable (and refreshing) solution.  Protein is especially important at breakfast; without it, you’ll feel hungry or “crash” before lunch.

A protein shake makes a great snack, too.  In fact, studies show that your body (i.e. your muscles) will use protein more efficiently if you consume it consistently and gradually throughout the day. Plus, some of the best protein shake recipes feature high-quality branch chain amino acids that help general body recovery, especially after strenuous workouts.

A Positive Muscle Building State

In a positive muscle building state, your body burns fat rather than muscle.  Consuming protein, whether from supplements or your diet, will help you maintain this state.

To achieve a positive muscle building state, the International Journal of Sports recommends that you consume between 1.6 and 1.7 grams protein per kilogram of your body weight.   That amounts to  0.7 grams per pound, daily.  For an example woman who weights 140 pounds, multiplied by 0.7 grams, a good goal would be 98 grams of protein every day.

Try protein supplements for a quick and delicious answer to give your body the protein it needs to avoid hunger, burn fat, and build muscle.

Eating Clean – The Lifestyle for Your Health!

You may have heard of the concept of eating clean but be unsure as to what exactly this process involves.  To put it simply, clean eating is when you eat food that is as close as possible to its natural state.  Of course this isn’t always possible, but the core idea behind it is to consume natural and wholesome foods.  While there is certainly a lot of talk of the Eat Clean Diet, it is important to understand that it is not intended to be a diet per say.  Rather, eating clean is a lifestyle that should never end.

A key component to this idea is to eat five or six times each day.  Lean protein foods, fruit, vegetables, whole grains, seeds and nuts are the core of a clean diet.  Balance is important and each time you have a meal or snack both protein and carbohydrates should be present.  Water is key, and you should drink at least two liters daily.

In order to be successful, you will need to take the time to learn how to read labels.  Ingredient lists should be as short as possible and you should avoid anything that has ingredients that you don’t recognize.  Avoid white flour, sugar, white bread and white pasta.  Instead, choose whole wheat or whole grain versions.  Quinoa pasta and rice pasta are delicious healthy alternatives to highly refined options.  You will also want to stay away from foods that are high in saturated fats and trans fats.

You may think that fat is something you will have to stay away from but actually you will want to make sure you get enough of the right kinds of fats each day.  Essential fatty acids are a key component to your health, as are fats from sources like avocados, olives and nuts.

Easy To Follow Fat Burning Tips

Losing weight seems like a herculean task for most people whereas all it requires is a disciplined approach towards realistic weight loss goals. Let us quickly jump to some exciting and easy to follow fat burning tips that you can follow:

  • Walking – Nothing can beat the charm of an early warning walk amidst the splendor of nature. There are many patients who have been advised walking to lose weight fast. The best part about this activity is that it can be easily carried out by people across all age groups. Walking in comparison to running is relaxing on the knees and joints and is therefore recommended to lose weight.
  • Dairy Products – You must cut down on your intake of dairy products gradually. The fat content is quite high in such products and therefore must be eliminated completed in a gradual manner. Consumption of dairy products also increases the formation of mucous in the body that is known to slow down the digestive process.
  • Junk Food – A lot of fried stuff that has become a staple diet of a lot of people must be eliminated completely.  Junk food items such as pizza, burger, colas, fries, etc. must be replaced with healthy food options. Alternate options such as leafy green vegetables and fresh fruits should be the preferred choice as they are rich in dietary fiber and nutritional properties.
  • Alcohol – Quitting alcohol is one of the biggest hurdles to overcome for a lot of people. Liquor is very high in terms of calories and a major culprit responsible for weight gain. Quit now and stay healthy.

Regulating your body weight in proportion to your Body Mass Index (BMI) must be one immediate goal in front of you if you are looking at shedding those extra pounds and inches. Remember! Obesity comes with a lot of related health complications such as arthritis, diabetes, asthma, colorectal cancer and heart diseases. Steer clear of these diseases and work towards embracing fitness for life.