There are some people who seem to enjoy taking off on the latest celebrity diet craze, and some of these diets are positively bizarre.
The latest diet may be great as a talking point, and maybe you can stick to it. And maybe you can survive on massive quantities of protein and very little else for a few days, if that is what is called for. The problem is that in becoming a habitual dieter, you are expending huge amounts of will power on short-term solutions, and the weight gained between these faddy diets gradually increases.
In some of these diets, if you are not eating a balanced diet, you will end up short of essential vitamins and minerals, putting yourself at risk of anemia and other health problems. There are many other reasons why crash dieting is not a solution to wanting to lose weight. Research has shown that low calorie diets do not work long term. When you diet you spend your day thinking about food. When you diet, food becomes your enemy.
The best way to lose weight for good is to follow a healthy, balanced, reduced fat eating plan. Take exercise and drink at least 2 liters of water a day. You need to change eating habits for life. To do this you need to be in less of a hurry to lose weight and give yourself time to make gradual changes in your eating and exercise habits. You can email to [email protected] for a free copy of my Healthy Eating Guide.
Getting Active
Exercise to Lower Blood Pressure
Aerobic exercise can significantly lower your blood pressure, regardless of whether or not you suffer from high blood pressure. This reduction can lead to a decreased risk of having a stroke, heart disease, congestive heart failure, or severe kidney disease. Researchers have concluded that regular aerobic exercise is an important method to help prevent and treat high blood pressure.
Recipe of the Week
Fresh Asparagus and Lime Dill Salmon Salad
Serves 6
Ingredients
1 kg fresh asparagus, tough ends trimmed
100 g watercress, washed and drained
250 g can corn kernels, drained
300 g smoked salmon, boned and flaked
65 g mayonnaise
1 lime, juiced
9 sprigs of fresh dill, snipped
Method
Place asparagus in a steamer basket over boiling water. Cover pan and steam 4-5 minutes or until bright green and just tender. Remove steamer basket and rinse asparagus under cold running water. Drain well. Arrange watercress and corn around the edge of individual salad plates. Lay asparagus spears in center of plate. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Top with smoked salmon. Combine mayonnaise, lime juice, and dill in a bowl. Drizzle over salad.
Ask Alva
I have Rheumatoid Arthritis and I am seeking more information on the effects of Omega-3 fatty acids. Do you have any information on Omega fatty acids and Glucosamine, which I take once a day? Any other information would be helpful. I am having acupuncture treatment for now and it helps in a small way. I try to keep away from NSAIDs although they are so helpful when there is pain. I have stopped seeing my doctors as he will recommend steroids and immune suppressive drugs and I don’t think these drugs are the right answer. So I try and to non-drug therapy for my illness. So if you have any information of Omega fatty acids and Glucosamine, I would appreciate that. Judy D’Silva
You have obviously given a lot of thought to your problem and I am glad to know that you are undertaking your own research. Omega-3 intake is held to relieve the condition, but as far as Glucosamine is concerned, this is a treatment that is more preventative than curative. Diet is probably the key. Virtually any food can aggravate rheumatism but the most likely offenders are wheat, corn, milk and other dietary products, beef and members of the nightshade family (tomato, potato, eggplant, peppers and tobacco). A generally healthy diet is recommended: Rich in whole foods, vegetables and fibers, and low in sugar, meat, refined carbohydrates and animal fats. Foods that are particularly beneficial include cold-water fish (mackerel, herring, sardines and salmon — all rich in omega-3) and flavonoid-rich berries (cherries, hawthorn berries, blueberries, blackberries etc).
