Author: Melody

  • How To Stop Thinking About Food So Much

    How To Stop Thinking About Food So Much

    One of the biggest enemies of weight loss and healthy eating, in general, is your own mind. We all have those inner voices that often encourage us to eat things that we know we’re going to regret later. It can seem impossible to turn off those inner voices and get food off your mind so you can start losing the weight you want.

    cartoon of a woman thinking about food

    Here are some simple things that you can do to stop thinking about food all the time, so you can take control of your life and your eating habits to get the body that you’ve always wanted. These tips are not only simple, but they’re also effective and were created by Dr. Stephen P. Gullo, Ph.D. who wrote the weight loss book “The Thin Commandments Diet: The Ten No-Fail Strategies for Permanent Weight Loss.”

    1. Take Over Your Senses of Smell and Taste

    Even if you’re not hungry, just smelling somebody else’s food can make you want to eat something, so take over your sense of smell and taste by choosing peppermint. You can pop in a piece of sugar-free peppermint gum or breath strip, and let the mint drown out all other smells. This will immediately stop your craving for the food that’s in front of you and let you just focus on the minty goodness that’s happening in your mouth.

    2. Bust Boredom

    When there’s nothing to do, your stomach along with those little voices will often offer a suggestion: eat something. Studies have shown that many people tend to eat more when they get bored. So, if you find yourself with nothing to do and start feeling hungry, take a moment to ask yourself if you’re actually hungry or just bored, and then get up and do something productive.

    3. Out of Sight, Out of Mind

    If you’ve got chocolate sitting out on the counter in a clear glass jar, it’s going to vanish a lot more quickly than if you have it in a paper bag up in the cupboard. We’ve all been there, not even thinking about grabbing a piece every time we pass by the jar, but it doesn’t have to be that way. By putting sugary foods in hidden places and promoting healthy foods to the eye-level shelves in the fridge, it’s easier to make healthier food choices, and it’s even easier if you don’t let unhealthy foods into your house in the first place.


    4. Budget Your Calories

    Start thinking of your calories like money, and then budget them accordingly. Each person is allowed to “spend” a certain number of calories on food every day without gaining weight. Consider this budget before indulging in a huge plate of pasta and think if there was something more filling that you could spend your calories on such as a piece of grilled chicken.

    5. Always Have Healthy Snacks Ready

    When you get hungry in between meals, it’s easy to reach for something convenient like a bag of crisps or a chocolate bar, but those are obviously not the most healthy choices. Instead, have healthy snacks already prepared and ready in bags or Tupperware containers that are easy to take with you. By devoting even 1 day a week to preparing snacks, you can always have a healthy snack on hand. This can also help you limit the amount that you’re eating, since too many of even healthy foods can increase your calorie count. Carrots or other vegetables or nuts and seeds are great for those mid-meal snacks.

    6. Keep Your Hands Busy

    This is especially important when you are sitting in front of the TV and don’t have anything better to do with your hands other than eat. By picking up a hobby that involves your hands like knitting, or painting, you can keep your hands busy without eating. Plus, while you’re working, you won’t want to get your hands dirty by eating. As an additional bonus, these types of hobbies can help reduce stress which in turn reduces stress eating.

    7. Call Food What it is

    Food is just food, and romanticizing it can lead to it becoming more powerful in your mind than you think. By referring to it as treats, goodies, or “comfort” foods, you may begin to think of food as the answer to your problems, but that isn’t the case. Instead, just refer to food as food, and don’t let it be the answer to anything other than providing energy so you can live your life to the fullest.

  • Health Benefits of Horseradish

    Health Benefits of Horseradish

    horseradish

    Horseradish is a type of seasoning known for its strong, spicy flavor. It is commonly used to help conserve canned foods during the winter as well as used during the year to add flavoring to various dishes. It is native to western parts of Asia and south-eastern parts of Europe. The plant does well in low and dry temperatures, and prefers shade, non-sandy soils, and argillaceous alkaline earth. The plant itself can reach 6 feet (2 meters) in height, and its leaves are also edible.


    Many people may not realize that horseradish has a huge number of health benefits, including:

    Prevention of Cancer

    Cruciferous vegetables, including horseradish, are connected to the prevention of a myriad of cancers, especially colorectal and lung cancers. This is because of the glucosinolates that horseradish contain. These compounds work with the liver to remove cancer-causing carcinogens which can help prevent the continued growth of tumors. Compared to other types of cruciferous vegetables, horseradish has a much high glucosinolate content, making it even more beneficial than the other vegetables in this family.

    High Levels of Vitamin C

    One of the most well-known and powerful antioxidants that horseradish has a lot of is vitamin C. Vitamin C works throughout the body to remove harmful toxins which cause damage at the cellular level. These toxins, or free radicals, are known to contribute to the development of cancer. Vitamin C also helps to boost the immune system and helps the body fight against a number of health concerns.

    Antibacterial and Antibiotic Properties

    Horseradish has been found to be very effective against a number of types of infections. This is in part due to the antioxidants it contains. Some of the types of infections that horseradish has been found to help treat include: common cold, the flu, coughing, ear infections, pneumonia, bladder infections, bronchitis, and strep throat. It’s anti-inflammatory properties can also help relieve the discomfort that often accompanies these conditions.

    Clearing the Sinus Cavities

    Because of its potent smell, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that horseradish will help to clear out the sinus cavities. However, it not only can help drain the sinuses when you need relief, but it may also help treat sinusitis as well as most antibiotics. There are a couple ways that you can take horseradish to treat sinus problems. You can drink juice that has been extracted from the root, or you can make a mixture of fresh grated root and wine vinegar, then breath in the fumes.

    Pain Reliever

    If you’re looking for a natural pain reliever for muscle or joint pain, consider trying out horseradish. By mixing it with olive oil and massaging it into your skin above the area that is bothering you, you can experience some relief. This sib because horseradish can help increase the blood flow to where it is applied which will help keep the build up of toxins which is causing the inflammation.

    Digestive Problems

    Another way that horseradish can help is in the digestive tract. It can help stimulate your appetite, and will also stimulate your digestive tract to make more digestive enzymes, which can help improve digestion. However, it is important to note that too much horseradish can actually irritate the digestive tract, especially if you have a sensitive system or an ulcer.

    Parasite Treatment

    Another way that horseradish helps in the digestive tract is by destroying parasites. Although it’s not fun to think about, many people have parasites but don’t realize it, which can cause everything from digestive problems to allergies. However, horseradish’s anti-microbial properties can help take care of them for you.

    Water Retention

    Horseradish is also a natural diuretic, so it can help you with problems such as edemas where you are retaining too much water. This will also help in the removal of toxins in your body and can also help improve your flow of urine. Be sure to drink plenty of water to help this process.

    Using Horseradish

    Because it has so many nutrients and helpful compounds packed into every bit, you don’t need to take much to get results. You can also find it at nearly any grocery or health food store. You can find it fresh or processed, and both ways are helpful in your body, though it is recommended to get it organic. You can even very easily grow it at home by buying organic horseradish root and planting pieces of it.

    Before taking horseradish, ask your doctor if you have gastrointestinal problems such as ulcers or renal problems as horseradish could make these worse. Horseradish should also not be given to children under the age of four.

  • What to Eat and Avoid For Healthier Teeth

    What to Eat and Avoid For Healthier Teeth

    Although we all know the advantages of brushing our teeth, flossing, and regularly visiting the dentist, there is a lot more to having healthy teeth in what you eat than most people realize. However, by making changes in what you eat and avoid eating, you can actually have a profound impact on your dental health. Here are some foods that are good for your teeth:

    Eggs and Milk

    As expected, milk is at the top of the list for teeth-healthy foods. The reason milk and eggs are both good for your teeth is that they contain high levels of calcium and vitamin D. Calcium is the mineral that strengthens your bone, and vitamin D is what your body needs in order to process it, which is why milk is often fortified with vitamin D. You can also get vitamin D by spending time in the sun.

    Yogurt and Cheese

    These are both dairy products that work similarly to milk to strengthen teeth with calcium, and they also contain phosphorus which helps protect the enamel of the teeth and replaces lost minerals. Cheese is considered to be especially good for your teeth because it has a protein known as casein which also strengthens the enamel.

    Fish, Meat, and Tofu

    Phosphorus, as previous mentioned, is one of the most important minerals for healthier teeth and bones. Foods like meat, tofu, and fatty fish such as salmon all contain high levels of this vital mineral. You can also make broth from meat bones to get plenty of phosphorus for strong, healthy teeth.