Who Doesn’t Want a Flatter Stomach?

As much as this blog is about food and healthy eating, a byproduct of eating healthy is our waist size.  If a person learns how to eat to satisfy his/her body needs, the “food cravings” are significantly reduced.  Sure, sometimes we do desire a dessert or something fattening, but those cravings will come less often and with less viciousness.

 

One friend inquired about how to have a flatter stomach.  His last name rhymes with “erdle.”  A few tips to a flatter belly:

1. Cut refined flours.  If you read this blog, you already know where I stand on this.  If you are reading this blog for the first time, check out my previous posts, and it will become apparent.
2. Going poop three times a day.  Kind of crazy, but if you eat a diet high in nutrients, vegetables with the right mix of grains, fiber, seeds/nuts, you will probably go poop after every meal.  Throw in a smoothie with real fruit and vegetables, and it’s pretty sure to come.  Keeping your “pipes” clean will decrease toxicity buildup, take up less space, and it is indication that your bodily digestive and related systems are working together and well.  I use this as an indicator for the kind of diet I am eating and how healthy it is. 
3. Drink enough water.  Water is essential to life.  Every body requires different amounts of water, but 2 liters a day is pretty average. 
4. Limit dairy intake.  Cheese and milk cause bloating.  I used to eat TONS of cereal and milk.  It was easy, fast and had long shelf life.  I have learned that cereal is not that healthy – think about it, it is processed with added sugar.  Cereal manufacturers fortify it, but these are not natural nutrients.  Perhaps OK as a supplement, but not OK as a mainstay.  Cheese adds to the waistline – I suggest eating cheese sparingly. 
5. Limit sodium.  High sodium diets cause water retention.  Water retention in your legs, arms, body is not healthy (it usually feels tight and stiff). 
6. Don’t skip meals.  For the meal you skip, sure, your stomach seems to be smaller.  But, right after you eat (and make up for the hunger), your stomach will probably seem and be bigger.  Eating every meal will keep your body on a consistent clock, avoiding your body to be famished or stuffed.  I believe it will help control how much you eat.  Breakfast in the morning gives you your base energy for the day – so don’t skip it! 
7. Exercises.  No doubt, for a sculpted abdomen, one needs to exercise.  Here is one exercise that is simple and has some amazing results.  Lay down on your back.  Bring up your legs to table top position, so you create a 90 degree angle.  Put your hands on your stomach for stabilization.  Hold this position for 15 minutes.  Try doing it multiple times a week. 

That’s it.  It’s that simple.  Definitely doable in a hotel room.  I can only hold for about four minutes right now…so if you can do it for 15, you are pretty amazing.

More info: http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/10-flat-belly-tips

Is that really cheese?

This is America.  People love cheese.  It is amazing to me just how many varieties of cheese exist and how many people love them.  Not long ago, some friends (who have super cute dogs named Izzy and Mathman :) ) introduced me to Robusto cheese and truffle cheese.  Out of this world delicious, and amazing on a French baguette.

Although cheese in and of itself has been eaten for centuries, not all cheeses are made equal.  The premium cheeses imported from farms that actually pasture-feed their cows (meaning grass, natural habitat) versus the majority of commercial farms in America that feed their cows corn, soy, or some concoction thereof produce cheeses that are vastly different.  The grain-fed cows produce milk heavy with Omega-6’s and little Omega-3 fatty acids, whereas pasture-fed are more balanced with more Omega-3 fatty acids.  OK, so why does this matter? 

Diets heavy in Omega-6 without the balance of Omega-3 tend to cause people to become fat, and it increases the risk of cancer, obesity, diabetes, and inflammation.  This is major.  And, this is happening. 

In a previous post, I wrote that olive oil is for beautiful women (and for men, we hope you are beautiful too).  One reason is because olive oil is low in Omega-6 fatty acids.  Vegetable oils such as corn and cottonseed are high in Omega-6’s.  

Moderate consumption of cheese (which was done for centuries) should not significantly contribute to burgeoning waistlines; however, it does in this country, in our modern age.  I see a few choices.  Research and get to the source of your cheese if you want to consume regularly.  Or, balance it out with foods that have A LOT of Omega 3’s (somehow…seems difficult).   Or, eat on occasion…which is what I do.

For more information: http://www.eatwild.com/healthbenefits.htm

Croissants are better than you think?!

Did the title reel you in?  As you know my stance from my previous post: bread, refined flour are culprits to a burgeoning waist.  If you don't believe me, try it, and you'll see.  But, I recently stumbled upon (I love that they named a site after that very action) an intriguing site that does a cool visualization of caffeine versus calories.  I will paste the link below so you can first finish reading my blog snippet :)

The designer of informationisbeautiful created some attractive aesthetics.  However, the key learning is, if you are watching your waist line - STAY AWAY FROM MUFFINS AND HOT CHOCOLATE.  GO FOR THE CROISSANT.  The croissant is a lower calorie choice than either muffins or hot chocolate.  Croissants have less density than muffins (therefore reduced calories), are made from real butter (although, I don't think the Costco ones are), and have less added sugar than the muffin or the hot chocolate.

I put into practice today what I just wrote.  Unfortunately, the Caribou Coffee shop I was at didn't carry croissants.  :(  I guess I will save the croissant for the next time.  :)

Check it out: http://www.informationisbeautiful.net/visualizations/caffeine-and-calories/