The Real Life Show

10Jan/10Off

A Vegetarian Diet is a Healthy Heart Diet!





Making healthy food choices that are good for your heart can dramatically reduce the risk of heart disease. Thousands of Americans die each year from obesity related diseases the most common being heart disease and diabetes.

The benefits of a vegetarian diet can change your prospects for the better, of a long and healthy life. Doing nothing about your health and vitality is like expecting a miracle 'health fairy' to swoop down from the heavens and wave her magic wand to make you feel better. It won't happen. The good news is that it's never too late to get started on a healthier lifestyle.

It's going to be difficult for you to make an immediate and sudden break from the western red meat diet you are currently supporting, however, with some patience and a strong will, it certainly is possible. If you have recently been diagnosed with a heart problem it is not only possible but absolutely essential you make some changes to your diet.

Here are some guidelines for a heart-healthy diet:-

* Buy fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, and fat-free milk products
* Buy snacks like popcorn, fresh fruits and vegetables, rice cakes and pretzels
* Buy whole grain breads and cereals that are high in fiber
* Buy fat-free or low-fat milk instead of reduced fat or whole milk
* Use nutrition labels to identify foods lower in saturated fat, cholesterol, and fat.

There are many factors in a vegetarian diet that contribute to better health. There is two to three times more fiber in a vegetarian diet than there is in a meat-eating diet. This has been shown to reduce cholesterol and blood glucose levels which in turn decreases the instances of heart disease and possibly diabetes and cancer.

One of your priorities is to educate yourself on the ingredients and preparation of healthy, nutritious and scrumptious meat-free meals that you and your family will thoroughly enjoy. There are so many delicious recipes available for your selection. Start by choosing the ones that your family have enjoyed previously as red-meat meals and substitute the meat content with simple replacements such as mushrooms in the marinara sauce to take the place of meatballs or textured vegetable protein (TVP) in the lasagna recipe. As you research the variety of vegetarian recipes you will find many other examples.

Good luck in your endeavors to create healthier hearts and healthier, more energized bodies for you and your family.
29Dec/09Off

Vegetarian Diet – Is it Healthier?





There are people who are courageous enough to take the challenge of becoming a vegetarian. If you have already decided, then go for it at once. You can start by taking out meat on your ordinary meals, then after sometime, you will be able to notice that you are not eating meat at all.

At a certain period, you should familiarize yourself with meals that are just plain vegetables. You should also add other menu to the usual vegetable meals you are already taking. Cook books and websites are very helpful to find new vegetable dishes.

For first timers, don't be on a rush. To help you get started, here is some useful information about the benefits of vegetable diet and not on an orthodox diet:

• If you decide to practice the vegetable diet, for sure there will be less case of chronic diseases.

• It is more advisable than orthodox diet because of its health benefits.

Chronic diseases vs. vegetarian diet:

• Vegetarians are less prone to becoming obese. This is because food with high fiber content will give you less calories.

• If you are a vegetarian, smoking and drinking are prohibited because it might cause high blood pressure. You should also accompany it with regular work out to monitor and maintain your blood pressure. Another thing that can help lower the blood pressure is by taking low in fat foods, high in fiber like fruits and vegetables.

• With regards to heart diseases, vegetarian diet goes for whole grain, vegetables, fruits, soybeans as an alternative for meat. These foods make the heart healthy.

• As per cancer issues, meat meals can lead to cancer due to the carcinogens.

Here are some of the benefits of being a vegetarian:

• It is friendly to animals because it saves them from being slaughtered

• Meat is costly, vegetables are cheaper
22Dec/09Off

Vegetarian Diet for Children? What’s Up Doc!





While a vegetarian diet is among the healthiest ways to eat, certain nutrients can be lacking on a diet that contains no animal products at all. I have been on a vegetarian diet-or to be more exact-a vegan diet for close to 10 years now and although the first 3 were erroneous based on my actions as a result of misinformation, the last 7 or so have been the healthiest of my entire life. You will often here parents who are vegetarians ask the question, what effect will a vegetarian diet have on my child.

You will probably be aware that putting your child on a vegetarian diet can greatly improve his or her health and limit the exposure to animal products that are often linked to hormones and preservatives. If you have not done sufficient research and are not well-prepared for the task of putting your child on a vegetarian diet, then you probably should not. An advantage of starting your child off early on a vegetarian diet is that it helps form good eating habits, as likes and dislikes are formed in these early years.

Those who turn away from this traditional way of eating and choose a vegetarian diet are often considered "granola-head hippies". But more and more people these days are discovering the many health benefits of a vegetarian diet. I will touch on other items consumed by non-vegetarians and present the reasons why such items shouldn't be consumed...and why you may want to consider a vegetarian diet for improving and maintaining your physical, mental and spiritual health.

It is safe and healthy for growing children to be vegetarian especially because there is a host of options available today with the parents to supplement their children with the diet that they need. A major benefit of the vegetarian diet is that it tends to involve a healthy serving of fruits and vegetables, along with whole grains.
13Dec/09Off

A Vegetarian Diet Plan – How to Get Started





Perhaps you're worried about the health effects of eating fatty meat. Or maybe the idea of animals dying so you can eat them really bothers you. Whatever the reason, you've decided to start a vegetarian diet plan. So, now what?

It's all too easy to fall into the trap of eating lots of pasta, bread, and cheesy pizza when you first start eating vegetarian, but that's no better for you than the fatty diet you're trying to get away from. For a truly healthy vegetarian diet, you'll need to learn to incorporate whole grains, leafy greens, and fresh fruits and vegetables in a way that's satisfying and varied. It's easiest to balance your vegetarian diet plan if you continue to incorporate eggs and dairy (called ovo-lacto vegetarianism). Strict veganism requires some supplementation, notably with vitamin B12 and the fatty acids DHA and EPA, in order to meet minimum nutritional requirements. For this reason, if you are set on becoming a vegan, it's wise to consult with your doctor or a qualified nutritionist to make sure that your diet is healthy.

If you have concerns over the factory farming of eggs and dairy cattle, consider frequenting your local farmers' market, where you will find sustainably produced eggs, milk, and cheese which are free of dangerous hormones and antibiotics, produced by happy animals eating appropriate, natural feeds. To many consumers, the difference in quality between these sustainable animal products and their supermarket counterparts is nothing less than shocking.

Once you've decided on the type of vegetarianism you wish to pursue, it's time to devise a weekly meal plan. Write down ideas for seven breakfasts, seven lunches, seven snacks, seven suppers, and seven desserts. Possible breakfasts include low-sugar, whole grain cereal (hot or cold), buckwheat pancakes with real maple syrup, whole grain waffles (can be made ahead, frozen, and reheated in the toaster), omelets, and fruit salad. Possible lunches could be vegetable fried rice, fritattas, soup made with seasonal vegetables, or a roasted vegetable wrap. Snacks might be nuts, dried fruit, fresh fruit, or trail mix. Supper might be stuffed squash with a side of steamed asparagus and a salad, grilled portabella with a baked sweet potato and sweet-sour kale, or vegetable stew with fresh garlic bread and corn on the cob. Dessert might be baked apples drizzled with honey, fresh strawberries, peaches and blueberries topped with freshly whipped cream, or a homemade rhubarb pie.

Browse the cookbook section at your local bookstore and pick up a couple of vegetarian cookbooks that appeal to you, then use them during your brainstorming session to set up your weekly vegetarian diet plan. Learn about the seasonality of vegetables and fruits in your area so that you can get the best prices, eat local foods, and support local farmers.

Once you have your meals and snacks planned, go through and list the ingredients for each one, then combine that information to make your weekly shopping list. Check your kitchen to make sure that you have enough of all of your staples, and narrow the list down to things that you are almost out of, plus the foods you will be buying fresh. Some things, like soups and stews, lend themselves to large batches which can be frozen in individual containers for easy meals on busy days. Get in the habit of setting aside a weekend afternoon for cooking slow foods in big batches, then freezing them. Then you'll never be caught flat-footed if an emergency comes up or company arrives.

A vegetarian diet plan can be simple and stress-free; it just requires a bit of forward planning.
26Oct/09Off

A Vegetarian Diet Plan Can Help You Lose Weight





One of the key secrets of success when it comes to achieving a healthy weight loss is to eat a balanced diet. This is just good old common sense. When speaking about balanced diets we are referring to a diet that consists of eating the right amount of nutritious food. In a world where fast food and take-aways are king, it is easy to get the quantities wrong yet also miss out on the quality as well. The key is to only really eat when you're hungry (one of the main reasons for weight gains are eating when you are bored and not necessarily hungry) and don't overdo it.

It's simply a question of getting back to the basics. Instead of snacking constantly during the day restrict yourself to only eating the core three regular meals a day. Cook your food using natural, wholesome ingredients and then eat with others in a relaxed and convivial environment. It is not only what you eat, but how you eat that counts.

Taking France as an example, despite being well known for gourmet cuisine and speciality (and potentially fattening) cheeses people generally are quite slim. This can be credited to the culture of visiting large outdoor markets to source healthy, nutritious and fresh local produce. The French will take time to cook a balanced meal and to congregate together to eat, much more so than their American counterparts.

Sitting down with your family and friends and eating nutritious meals together should be something we all do on a daily basis. Taking time out to find out how the kids/friends/partners days were helps you to unwind and bond as a family unit more.

Initially, you may suffer from hunger pangs during the day as your body adjusts to the changes in diet but this can be eliminated by grabbing a few pieces of fruit rather than some candy, cakes or other fattening foodstuff. With online vegetarian stores a click away there's no excuse for adopting a vegetarian diet plan.

In today's day and age there is a continuous stream of new diets entering the market all with the aim of making us part with our money to make us all slim and avoid being social outcasts. Some of the diets such as the induction diet (the initial stage of the famed Atkins Diet) continue to be popular. Instead of jumping on the latest diet fad it would be far more prudent to try to settle into a way of life that you can easily and happily follow for the rest of your life. You'll feel more proud of your achievements too as you've made a change on your own terms.

The traditional diet of yoga practitioners has been a vegetarian diet. The yoga diet consists of fruits, vegetables, grains and milk products. Once your body has acclimatised to such a diet it can not only survive but also thrive in addition to losing weight all at the same time. The yoga diet is a great vegetarian weight loss plan.

Simply substitute meat dishes with soy products, lentils and whole grains. You can get enough protein (especially if you also consume nuts and milk products) through such a diet. It's well worth giving it a try as long as you have a modicum of willpower and are prepared to stick at it. After all, nothing ever comes easily in life (well not for me anyway!).

This change in diet will make you revaluate your diet for the benefit of your body. Instead of an ice cream shake, how about trying to blend together fruits, juice and yoghurt and make a healthy smoothie as an alternative. Losing weight needn't mean you suffering; it is more a question of making sensible alternative choices to enable long-term benefits.
14Oct/09Off

The Hallelujah Diet – Rejoicing Over This New Vegan Diet





Perhaps this diet is the answer to your fervent prayers all these years regarding finding the appropriate diet that could truly make you lose all those unwanted pounds and finally blurt out, "Thank Heavens for this!"

The Hallelujah Diet is conceptualized and promoted by Rev. George Malkmus and his wife, Rhonda based from the former's personal experience. According to Rev. Malkmus, God made our bodies suitable for consumption of raw organic foods and such raw foods cultivate good health for our bodies. The Hallelujah Diet, he added is sort of a gift from God Who wants to help people achieve healthier bodies.

The Hallelujah Diet is more of a vegetarian diet focusing on low-calorie food intake that is comprised of two parts:
raw organic fruits and vegetables (85%) cooked foods (15%)

Rev. Malkmus strongly holds on to the theory that drinking the juice of fruits and vegetables instead of eating them as solid foods is better since the nutrients will be more absorbed by the body. In his diet, breakfast, lunch and snacks are all composed of eating raw organic foods, and one can only eat cooked foods during dinnertime. He informs that cooking kills much of the available nutrients in the food. Everyday, the dieter also has to eat fruits (making up 15% of his/her daily food intake).

Aside from eating, followers of the Hallelujah Diet also undergo a regular exercise routine that will involve stretching and weight training as well as getting some sunlight during the early part of the day (so, jogging or brisk walking at the beach would be a good option).

Among the foods that one should avoid while on this diet are:
meat, beef, eggs and other animal products alcoholic and caffeinated drinks and sports/energy drinks white rice nuts and peanuts cakes and pastries

So, if you think this is the diet you've been asking for, and you want to prove it will make you sing "Hallelujah!" in the end, then go on and try this diet. If you need some information to make you more convinced, Diet Fads can satisfy your inquiries.