Where Pittsburgh Eats

The same foods on the glycemic index list of foods can have different rankings based on the way they are grown, processed and cooked. This makes following the list confusing at times. Toss in our varying metabolic rates, the quntity we eat and how we combine foods… it can be daunting.

Now figure that are a some inconsistencies in the way the glycemic index list of foods was calculated.

Food with higher levels of carbohydrates tend to be understated in their affect on our blood sugar. This is due to the fact that the rankings are based on an amount of 50 grams which is well below what the average consumer would eat. On the flip side, for the same reasons, the low carbohydrate food’s impact is overstated.

But…there is a solution. To help clear up some of the confusion, nutritionists have developed the “glycemic load” calculation. It’s more accurate because it takes the quantity of carbohydrates like starches and sugars into account, not just the quality, the food’s amount of fiber.

The amount and the way we combine our foods has an affect, like all foods eaten, on our blood sugar levels. Using the “glycemic load” calculation is a more accurate measure of that affect than the glycemic index list of foods alone.

To calculate the glycemic load is fairly simple. Take the food’s glycemic index list of foods ranking and divide by 100. Once you have that, multiply by the number of grams being eaten. This will give you the glycemic load and a better understanding of how a certain food will impact your blood sugar levels and help you manage the unhealthy spiking.

So you know where the foods rank…a load number of 11-19 is medium, below 10 is low and 20+ is high.

Here’s an interesting example. Watermelon. Watermelon ranks high on the glycemic index list of foods. It comes in at around 72. (Based on 50 grams.) There are 6 grams of available carbohydrates per 120 gram serving. Divide 72 by 100, multiply by 6…ta daaa! You get 4.32 which scores low on the glycemic load.

Watermelon carbs score high on the glycemic index list of foods but low on the load list because there just isn’t a lot of it.

If you get a good understanding of the glycemic load and the glycemic index, it will become very clear why it’s important (and healthy) to combine foods from the four food groups.

Proteins and fats slow our digestion and affect our blood sugar levels on a more consistent and healthy pace. That’s why a hand full of Cheerios, which is basically nothing more than refined carbs…has a higher score on both the index and load charts than a scoop of ice cream!

The glycemic index list of foods is a terrific dietary aid all by itself. If you are not the type person to count carbs and do the math, then just follow the list and you will get amazing health benefits. It can’t hurt. But, if you are the detail oriented type, calculating the glycemic load will give you the best and healthiest diet currently know to science.

For a lot more information on the glycemic index list of foods and to get a copy of my “Fast Weight Loss Tips!” mini-course, check out my website right away.

Acai berries and acai berry juice products are some of latest supplements to enter the health food category as a superfood. Residents and natives of Brazil are very familiar with this berry and its products. Residents have been enjoying acai fruit juice beverages and bowls for some time. Once you have tried the juice you will probably find ways to add it to you favorite smoothie or add it to recipes. Acai freeze dried powder actually goes well in yogurt. The flavor is something to be experienced and it tastes like blueberries with a touch of chocolate and is not over powering.

The natives of the Amazonian rain forest are very familiar with acai berries they have used them as a staple in their diet for thousands of years. These amazing small dark purple berries look similar to small purple grapes and are harvested from the acai palm which grows in the swampy areas of the floodplains in the region.

Acai berries have one of the highest ORAC ( Oxygen Radical Absorbency Capacity ) which is a measurement of antioxidant capacity of foods or supplements. Due to the benefits and its ORAC value these berries have gone up in price in a short time.

A person who may see results from acai berry juice or acai powder is athletes and people that deal with diseases. Training coaches realize the importance of anti-oxidants and are finding out that such supplements may help with energy and endurance.

Health properties that people seek from acai berry products are antibacterial, anti inflammatory, antioxidant and for immune function. Many conditions the a person may use this product for are to lose weight, detoxing and cleansing, blood pressure, heart ailments, to reduce bad cholesterol, inflammation, arthritis, dry skin and other skin related problems.

Can acai berries be so beneficial? Loaded with protein and fiber and boasting such minerals as phosphorus, calcium and iron. You will also find that they have a few B vitamins, vitamin C and E and include a few of the essential fatty acid that based on research help control cholesterol levels, try finding that in a fruit product. A few products add extenders or mix it with cheaper juices such as blueberry, grape or pomegranate but you can do it yourself and save money.

It can be risky to cut back too far on your caloric intake. In fact, it can be downright dangerous. But when checking out diets for quick weight loss, if you don’t mind taking risks with your health, the 500 calorie diet is very popular. But, be careful, even among low calorie diets for quick weight loss, the 500 calorie diet is very extreme.

The reason for the popularity is that it will help you lose weight very quickly. Among people who are looking for quick weight loss, low calorie diets are quite common. But even among low calorie diets, 500 calories is at the low end of the scale.

First, for a definition…For a diet to be considered low calorie, the arbitrary cutoff point is 1200 calories per day. Anything below that is considered to be a low-calorie diet. Clearly the whole idea of a low-calorie diet is to lose weight quickly, but again - it can be quite dangerous so it should always be thoroughly planned with a nutritionist or your family doctor.

It’s well known that the best way to lose weight is to burn more calories than you eat. You can do this by burning more, or by eating less. Your body needs a certain number of calories just to exist. If you’re not eating enough, the theory is that your energy needs will be taken from the fat calories in your body.

The problem is, our body is very smart. It won’t just keep burning the same number of calories and taking the excess from fat. Your body doesn’t know that you are on a diet. It will think you’re starving. To help keep you alive, it will cut way back on the number of calories that uses. To do this it will slow down your metabolic rate and will start eating away at your muscle mass - to get it’s needed calories.

For the long-term, this is very dangerous. It’s your muscles that burn calories (far more than fat) and if you lose muscle mass, it can have a highly detrimental effect on your body and on your ability to keep weight off in the future. As one of the diets for quick weight loss, it works…but only for a little while.

Your gender, activity level, height, body type, genetics, and overall health will determine how quickly and how badly your body is affected by a 500 calorie per day diet. For short while, 500 calories per day may be enough for some of us.

It’s likely, that you’ve been taking in 2000 to 5000 or more calories per day. Suddenly dropping to 500 will immediately move your body into starvation mode. As it should. For most of us 500 calories per day IS literally starving our bodies. To conserve energy and to help keep you alive, your metabolism will slow way down.

Your body will adapt and learn to live on 500 calories per day…until the day that you run out of calories to burn, then you will die.

Fortunately, most of us stop our diets before that happens. Which means that when your diet is over and you go back to your old eating habits (as most of us do) you will have a sudden gain in weight. You will actually gain more weight, than you would have had you not gone on your low-calorie diets for quick weight loss. Plus, you will have lost a great deal of muscle mass which makes it harder to maintain your new weight and keep off the excess weight in the future.

Using a BMR/AMR calculator is a very efficient way of determining what your healthy, daily caloric level should be. In other words, it will tell you how many calories are necessary to support your weight, your health and your lifestyle. Once you know how many calories are necessary to maintain the status quo, you can subtract 500 calories per day and you will have constructed one of the ideal diets for quick weight loss success.

Since the body size and mass of men and women is so obviously different, this means that they need a different number of calories to survive. While the average woman may eat 1200 to 1300 calories per day their male counterpart needs from 1500 to 1600 calories per day. That’s why it’s so important for you to consult your physician before starting any diet. Safety must come first.

Finally, when it comes to diets for quick weight loss…the 500 calorie per day diet is a popular one. But, keep in mind that it can be very dangerous. Clearly, it will help you to lose weight. But the weight loss is only temporary. It’s going to come right back as soon as you stop the diet. Unless you are under the constant supervision and monitoring of a doctor, you should never cut back your calories that dramatically.

To learn more about the best ways to lose weight and to get YOUR free copy of my “Fast Weight Loss Tips!” mini-course - check out my website right away!

There are so many juicers available these days it is quite difficult to choose a suitable one. I first became aware of the the joys of juicing when I purchased a Jack Lalanne Juicer. People spend a fair bit of their time trying to find a right juicer for themselves, but often miss the shot by a long distance.

It is important to first realize the reason for buying a machine and then go ahead looking for one. As fruit and vegetable juicing machines are different from wheatgrass juicers it is advisable to know the differences. Before going out and making a purchase, making a list of features you desire is a useful exercise.

There are many different power juicers around in the shops. It can be confusing trying to choose between a centrifugal juicer, a masticating machine, and a twin gear juicer. Centrifugal machines are the most common and more affordable than the other juicers.

Centrifugal juicers work at a very high speed and are very effective at processing fruit and vegetables. They are, however, unsuitable for foods like spinach, wheatgrass and lettuce. They also let some of the fruit juice go to waste and to prevent this, single blade or twin blade juicers must be used. For these varieties, special kinds of juicers are available. The Miracle-mj 500 electric juicer is one of the types widely available in the shops today. They contain no aluminium parts, are easy to assemble, disassemble and operate and are usually cheaper. With Masticating machines, the low speed units help produce high quality juice as a result of reduced oxidation.

It is important to check the warranty on offer before buying your juicer. A warranty of 5 to 10 years is usually available on most quality juicers. It is also advisable to check the blades before purchase as they will frequently require replacing after two to four months of normal use. Take a look at the yield of the appliance. This should give you an idea of the output and efficiency. The juicer should give more juice and a lot less less waste. I would suggest looking for an appliance with a power output of around four hundred and twenty watts. Higher powered motors produce more heat which damages the juice by oxidation.

A branded machine such as the Lalanne Power Juicer is often a better buy than a non-branded machine. This is because, spares and replacement parts are often easier to source.

Other than producing fruit and vegetable juicers, many modern appliances can be used for other functions. Surprisingly, they can be used to make a variety of products including ice cream, nut butters and pasta. These modern appliances are really quite versatile.

Diabetes is a disease that can either be inherited or brought on by an unbalanced diet. Other than using the regular prescription drugs, you can treat diabetes naturally with herbal remedies.

One of the best treatments for diabetes is the bitter gourd. For diabetics, it is highly recommended that it be taken frequently as part of their diet. In the morning, before having any breakfast, the bitter gourd juice should be taken. You can use bitter gourd in its powdered form if the bitter taste of the juice is too strong for you. You can use the powder in your food to help disguise its bitterness. As a boost to the bitter gourd, you can include the use of the Indian gooseberry. It is has very high levels of vitamin C, which is great in controlling diabetes. The mixture of the two will create a strong remedy to help control diabetes and also feed the pancreas to allow the secretion of insulin.

Mango leaves used dried or in its powder form can be consumed by mixing it with water. The dried leaves must be left in the water for it took soak and release its goodness into the water. The water is then consumed in the morning on an empty stomach. It is effective in treating diabetes. Other than the mango leaves, you can use the butea leaves to help reduce and control the level of sugar in the blood. Simply boil the leaves and drink the cooled water.

Curry leaves are another good herb to use for treating diabetes. They even give an extra benefit of being able to help weight loss. chew on ten leaves daily or you can add them to your food. These leaves are especially effective for the treating of diabetes that are inherited.

The fenugreek seeds offer the most variety in its use. You can take one or two small spoons of the seeds before going to bed. If that is too much to swallow, you can soak them in water and the next day drink the water before having your breakfast. You could also mix the fenugreek seed powder with milk if that is more to your liking. Fenugreek seeds are also fabuluos in food.

Cinnamon may not seem like much, but it is a very capable herb. Honey and cinnamon taken before going to bed will help you treat diabetes by controlling sugar levels in the blood. However, what makes cinnamon shine is that is also able to improve your appetite and placate cranky stomachs. It gives your vegetables and food another dimension it is added to them.

However, it must be noted that you should refer to your doctor if you wish to try herbal remedies. You might be taking prescription drugs that may have interactions with some herbs. It is in everyone’s interest that necessary precautions are taken so that we treat the diabetes effectively and safely.

There are many more herbs, which can be used to treat diabetes. The ones talked about earlier are the ones that are commonly used. Other herbs are just as good at treating diabetes, but there too many to cover in one article.

Most of us have horrendously bad eating habits! Want proof? Just look at all the overweight people you see. (Perhaps in the mirror?) No worries, our health and our bad eating habits can be easily improved by using the glycemic index food list.

Like any major lifestyle change, it can be accomplished all at once or by slowly making the adjustment.

It doesn’t necessarily have to be a difficult challenge. Eating foods that are low on the glycemic index food list will quickly make a difference and as you start feeling better and the pounds start to melt away, you will look forward to making even more changes. The only difficult part is just deciding to start making the switch - and sticking with it.

The difficulties in making the change are…

Simple fact, as humans, we are creatures of habits. It’s likely you’ve been eating the same (bad) way for a very long time. It’s an ingrained habit - no criticism of you or your lifestyle, it’s just the way it is.

It takes some real drive and motivation to get past our habits and make positive changes in our lives. That’s why it is so easy to “fall off the wagon”.

Depending on the sort of person you are…there are many ways to incorporate change in your diet. Some of us just want to make a drastic change and be done with it, others favor a more gradual adjustment. There’s no right or wrong…

For the best chances of overall success, you need to ask yourself, “What type of change is the best for me?” If you stick with the best one for your personality type, it will be much easier.

The “cold turkey” change…

Most of us initially try to go with a drastic change to our diets. Going “cold turkey” from bad foods. It makes immediate changes to our habits and we will see results faster. It can be a bit more difficult, but with a good strategy, it can be done.

The first thing you need to do is get rid of temptation. If you have bad foods in the house, you’ll eat them! You could throw out all the bad food and start from scratch - which is foolish, expensive and wasteful. Or, you could hold off doing your shopping until you’ve used up all the food.

When grocery shopping day comes, write out a shopping list of foods that have a low glycemic number - or just print out a copy of the glycemic index food list and head to the store. Be sure to stick to the list and stock your pantry with food that is good for your health and diet.

By sticking to the idea of only buying good foods…you are “stuck” with eating healthy. There’s nothing else in the house!

Gradually changing to a healthier diet.

At first it seems that it would be easier to gradually make your dietary changes. Not necessarily. If there are still unhealthy food options in the house, you will tend to gravitate toward them rather than the better choices. But, for some of us, it’s the only way to go.

The gradual shift method works if you make it a point to buy at least one item from the glycemic index food list every time you go shopping. Use it as a permanent change to your diet and never go back. The time will eventually arrive when ALL of your food choices are the best options available.

Now we know how to make the change…but why should we?

Sticking to foods that rank low on the glycemic index food list is helpful to diabetics trying to control their blood sugar levels, it helps prevent heart disease and many other benefits too numerous to include here. It’s not just a healthy and fast way to lose weight. (But it IS among the best ways to lose weight that exist today.)

To get further information on the glycemic index food list and other safe, quick weight loss methods, visit my website. You can get a copy of my “Fast Weight Loss Tips!” mini-course.

It’s very important to focus on getting enough vitamins and nutrients.

You’ll want to get most of your nutrients from very lean protein sources, leafy green vegetables, and natural starches like potatoes since these foods give you the most bang for your buck, nutritionally.

Women and men have different dietary requirements. Because of this, women should be eating a different assortment of foods if they want to optimize nutrition and health.

Wild Fish

Salmon is the best source of the well known and acclaimed Omega 3 Essential Fatty Acids (EFA). Omega 3 fatty acids are great for reducing the HDL or the bad cholesterol levels. Apart from that salmon also has high protein content and a good amount vitamin B complex and minerals like magnesium, zinc, iron and calcium.

Yogurt with Live Cultures

Yogurt is an excellent source of calcium since it has some stomach friendly bacteria that prevent Candida related infections and can be digested easily.

Leafy Green Vegetables

Greens like broccoli, spinach and asparagus are great store houses of a wide variety of nutrients including calcium, potassium and vitamin B complex. They also contain antioxidants too.

H20

Water is in the list of nutrients since it’s vital for the proper processing of fats and other nutrients. Hence, this is one of the most important nutrients that you should be drinking all day long!

Soy

Soy products are rich in phytoestrogen and can be eaten as a side dish or as the main course. They’re also great for improving your HDL (good cholesterol) levels.

Red Meat

Steak is a great way to get more iron into your diet. Be sure to eat leaner cuts so as to minimize the levels of saturated fats you consume.

Flax Seed

Flax products are one of the best sources of Omega 3 fatty acids. Omega 3’s are essential for the proper functioning of your brain and body. Be sure to supplement daily to make sure you are getting enough.

Pumpkin

It’s very important to get enough beta carotene in your diet. Foods like carrots and sweet potato will give your more than enough.

Beans

Beans are essential because they are high in soluble fiber, protein, and provide a host of benefits. Studies have shown that eating just one cup of beans a day can lower your cholesterol by 10% in just 6-weeks.

If you’re a woman who wants to get tone, eat these super foods for maximum nutrition, improved performance and a great physique.

Diabetes mellitus, often referred to simply as diabetes is a syndrome of a disordered metabolism, usually caused by a heredity and environmental issues.

Resulting is abnormally high blood sugar levels, blood sugar levels are controlled by a complex interacting of multiple chemicals and hormones. The hormone insulin made in the cells of the organ (pancreas) is controller of diabetes and helps with the treatment.

Diabetes mellitus refers to a group of different diabetes that all eventually lead to a high blood sugar count. Diabetes is developed when you have a low count of insulin in your body or resistance to its effects. All forms of diabetes have been controllable since insulin was discovered and came available in 1921, there is still no cure for diabetes.

All types of diabetes have been treatable since 1921, since the hormone insulin has been discovered for controlling diabetes. In life, diabetes is the cause for many complications along with the treatments. Complications in the long run are as followed: chronic renal failure, retinal damage (causes blindness), different types of nerve damage, erectile dysfunction, poor wound healing and cardiovascular disease.

The chronic disease diabetes doesn’t have a cure. The patient plays the biggest rold in medical treatment for diabetes. You have to watch what you eat and make sure that your glucose levels don’t rise above or drop below than what the normal glucose level state is. If this takes place the patient could have a blood sugar attack and if not treated with insulin could die.

Insulin is supplied to those who have attacks, without insulin these people could die from these severe attacks. The main focus of treatment is to keep your blood sugar count to its normal state and not to high or to low. If your blood sugar count drops or rises you can have an attack and at which case the insulin shot is required.

Diabetes effects people all over the world, it has been ruining families and peoples lives. It’s something that no one wants to live with, so therefore we as a race must pay attention to our food intake.

Doctor scientists are currently researching to discover a cure for the groups of diabetes. So far nothing has came out of the research but they are on the verge of discovering new treatment methods that could eliminate diabetes itself.

There has been much buzz about the master cleanse diet which is also known as the lemonade diet and the maple syrup diet. This can be attributed to how Hollywood has been an avid fan of it.

The diet normally runs for a period of 10 days and during this time a dieter can rid himself of an amazing 20 pounds.

But the originator of the master cleanse diet hoped for it to be a cleansing diet because of how it is reportedly good a cleansing the body of unwanted toxins. However, this has also made people lose weight in the process. For this reason, the master cleanse has also earned its distinction of being a reducing diet.

The premise behind the master cleanse diet is quite simple: a dieter will have to go on for 10 days subsisting only on lemonade.

The lemonade will be a mixture of lemon juice, maple syrup and cayenne pepper. Because the lemonade will have all the nutritional and caloric requirements that your body needs to survive, you will not feel any hunger pangs.

However, if you do feel hungry, there is a simple remedy to that problem. All that you need to do is to drink your lemonade until the hunger goes away. The lemonade is a natural appetite suppressant so you will effectively chase hunger away with just a few sips.

You can even bring the lemonade with you anywhere you go so that you can have a sip of it when you need to.

It is natural for the dieter to feel lightheaded, faint and sick during the first few days.

This is normal though and you shouldnt take it as a bad sign if this happens. You will feel such symptoms because the cleanse is already taking place and the toxins are now all in your blood stream. Go on with your diet and you will begin experiencing the wonderful effects during the third day or so.

The estimated weight loss is 2 pounds for every single day so it pays to follow the diet really strictly. If you are overweight and you want to lose more you may also decrease the amount of maple syrup you mix in. You can stick to the basic 10 days but you can also go from 7 to 12 days of dieting.

Gluten Allergy, Celiac disease, or gluten-sensitive enteropathy, is an auto-immune disease in the intestines, which is initiated by gluten, a protein found in a number of cereal grains. So, anyone with celiac disease have got to adhere to a gluten-free diet. Be sure to study the gluten allergy symptoms and if you suspect gluten allergy contact your doctor.

Where is Gluten Found? The most important sources of gluten in the diet include wheat, rye, and barley. Oats may be tolerated in quite small amounts by certain patients with celiac disease, even though those with severe disease normally don’t.

Dairy foods might not be tolerated when persons with celiac disease has active symptoms, since lactose intolerance frequently develops. However, this is due to the lactose sugar in the dairy foods, rather than the proteins, which can cause milk allergy.

What Common Foods are Gluten-Free?

Foods such as soybean flour, tapioca flour, rice, corn, buckwheat and potatoes are usually safe for people with celiac disease. See below for more information regarding a gluten-free diet.

Why Follow a Gluten Free Diet?

* Even though if there are no obvious symptoms, celiac disease can cause critical vitamin and nutritional deficiencies, since the intestines may not be able to absorb important nutrients if gluten is being eaten.

* Rates of certain cancers of the gastrointestinal tract are much higher in people with celiac disease, and there is evidence that this risk is decreased with a gluten-free diet.

* People with active celiac disease are at increased risk for other auto-immune conditions, (such as diabetes mellitus type 1, Graves disease and Hashimotos thyroiditis) especially those with continued gluten exposure.

* Mothers with untreated celiac disease are at increased risk for having a low birth weight baby.

How to Follow a Gluten-Free Diet? First, reading all labels on prepared foods is key. Do not eat any foods that contain the following:

* Hydrolyzed vegetable protein

* Flour or cereal products

* Vegetable protein

* Malt and malt flavorings

* Starches (unless specified as corn starch, which does not contain gluten)

* Various flavorings, which can be derived from cereals containing gluten

* Vegetable gum

* Emulsifiers, stabilizers derived from cereals containing gluten

Next, especially when eating at a restaurant, avoid the following:

* Breaded foods

* Creamed foods

* Meatloaf and gravies

The following are good choices for a gluten-free diet:

* Broiled or roasted meats (beef, poultry, fish)

* Plain vegetables

* Plain salads

* Potatoes (white, sweet, yams)

* Corn

* Rice

* Beans

* Fruits

* Breads and baked goods made from alternative flours (rice, soy, tapioca, arrowroot, potato)

* Breakfast cereals containing only rice, corn, grits or hominy (Such as puffed rice). Some people with celiac disease may tolerate oats as well.

Are There Other Suggestions Regarding Nutrition?

It is a good idea to see a dietician or nutritionist on a regular basis to ensure that your gluten-free diet is well balanced and meeting nutritional needs. Your doctor may also prescribe various vitamin supplements to make up for any nutritional deficiencies. Since bone loss is a common problem in people with celiac disease (due in part to vitamin D deficiency), frequent monitoring with bone density scans is recommended.

Consider buying a cookbook with gluten-free recipe ideas, and visit various sites specializes in the support of people with celiac disease.

DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this article is for educational purposes only, and should not be used as a substitute for personal care by a licensed physician. Please see your physician for diagnosis and treatment of any concerning symptoms or medical condition.