‘’ 2008 ‘’ February

Top 4 Healthy Cooking Mistakes

Posted by Administrator - 16/02/08 at 05:02:55 pm

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Eating meals prepared at home usually means the meal will be lower in fat and total calories than premade food and will be much healthier than fast food. This logic can be sabotaged by even the most knowledgeable and experienced home chef who unknowingly adds unnecessary carbs and fat. Listen below are four of the most common mistakes made when preparing food at home that is supposed to be a healthy and hearty alternative to premade courses and eating out.

1. Using Too Much Oil.

The right cooling oil can be heart healthy but it can also be high in calories. Try misting your oil on dishes like sauteed vegetables. There are cooling oils in misters on your store shelves or you can clean out an empty spray bottle and fill it with olive oil of the extra virgin variety. For other dishes like potatoes, meat, and poultry, try coating the pan with just a few sprays. You’ll still get the flavor and non-stick of the oil without overdoing it.

2. Cooking and Baking with real sugar.

Try artificial sweeteners. Many sugar alternatives like Splenda, Nutrasweet,and Equal can be used for cooking and baking. If you don’t like that aftertaste some artificial sweetners can leave lingering, try combining two different kinds of sweeteners.

3. Using too much meat.

While you can’t fake the delicious and savory taste of steak, if you’re making a meal like a meat chili or beef stew, try swapping out half of the beef for soy crumbles or tofu. If you aren’t a big fan of soy, try adding beans, diced cherries, or another of your favorite fresh vegetables or fruit.

4. Using High-Fat Cheeses.

Okay, fat-free cheese tastes horrible and doesn’t melt well at all but all is not lost when looking for a low-fat or reduced calorie cheese alternative. Try going with a reduced fat cheese. If you’ve never tried Cabot light cheddar cheese, as one example, you’re missing out on a great cheese option. This stuff melts well and tastes very similar to a full fat cheddar cheese.

You’re Invited To The Tea Party!

Posted by Administrator - 14/02/08 at 01:02:17 pm

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Grandmas and stuck up Englishmen aren’t the only people that are suitable tea drinkers. Tea is for everyone because tea can be an important addition to the diet of anyone seeking a healthy lifestyle. Only beaten out by good old fashioned water, tea is the most comsumed beverage in the entire world - and it possesses a long list of health benefits.

Tea is made from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant, and the processing of the leaves results in different types of teas. Learn more about the different tea types below:

Green Tea

Green tea comes from tea bushes located in either China or Japan. These leaves are picked fresh and steamed or pan fired to release trapped moisture. The tea leaves are then rolled and dried then given a final firing to ensure all trapped moisture is gone.
The flavor of green tea from China is light, smokey, and nutty. Japanese style green tea tastes more grassy, bright, and oceany.
There are many health benefits that come with drinking green tea,. Green tea is by far the most researches tea. Green Tea contains high levels of antioxidants that may help the body fight off all kinds of bad stuff from cancer to skin disorder like dandruff and psoriasis. Studies has even shown that in populations where green tea is consumed frequently, cancer rates were shown to be significantly lower.

White Tea

White tea is processed using low heat and no rolling. White tea is usually made from buds and young tea leaves. This tea variety is suggested to have slightly lower amounts of caffeine in it.
Like green tea, white teas potential health benefits are many. White tea may have more anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties than green tea. White tea has higher levels of catechin due to the lack of processing involved in making white tea.

Oolong Tea

This tea comes from leaves that are shaken or rolled to bruise their edges. After a short fermentation period, tea leaves destined to be oolong are pan fired. Oolong tea is popular at Chinese restaurants.
Teh flavor of Oolong tea can be described as rich and fruity, kind of like a cross between green and black tea.

Black Tea

This tea comes from picked leaves that are left to oxidize completely until they turn black in color, then they are often pan fired. Black tea contains the most caffeine of all teas mentioned here.
The flavor of black tea can be described as pungent, thick and rich while also staying on the sweeter side of taste.
Researchers found that black tea contains chemical compounds that may stop the growth of bacteria that causes bad breath. There has been other research that shows the high amounts of amino acids found in black tea may serve to strenthen the human immune system.

Feel Your Back Muscles Working

Posted by Administrator - 14/02/08 at 12:02:27 pm

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While working out your back may be more fun than leg day, it stinks that you can’t see your back working while you’re doing lat pulldowns, rows, etc. The lack of visual [being able to see your back muscles contracting] can lead to a disconnect between your mind and body that you may not experience during other workouts like chest muscles, triceps, and biceps.

A good back exercise that pumps up the lat muscles and builds some great strength is the incline bench row. To do this exercise, you set a bench to a 45 degree angle. Grab a pair of dumbbells with the palms of your hands facing the sides of your body and rest your chest against the bench. Now, pinch your shoulder blades together and row the weights to the outside area of your chest.

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