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Friday, 23 March 2012

Recipes to Drop 5 Pounds in One Week part 2

lemongrass-coconut-chicken

Frozen Entrée With Lentil Soup

Heat a 300-calorie frozen entrée (we likes Kashi Lemongrass Coconut Chicken). Serve with ready-made lentil soup and 1/2 cup blueberries.

Hummus and Veggie Sandwich
Between 2 slices of whole-grain bread, add 1/4 cup hummus, baby salad greens, and slices of cucumber and red bell pepper. Pair with 1 cup minestrone soup, 6 ounces low-fat fruit-flavored yogurt, and 1/2 cup grapes.
greek-frittata

Greek Frittata

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 9-inch cast-iron skillet or glass baking dish with cooking spray. Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-heat; spray with cooking spray. Cook 1 cup sliced mushrooms for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until they start to release liquid. Stir in 1 1/2 cups baby spinach, shredded; cook for 1 minute. Remove from heat. Whisk together 8 large eggs and 1/2 cup fat-free milk in a large bowl. Add mushroom-spinach mixture, 1/2 cup diced tomatoes, and 3/4 cup crumbled reduced-fat feta cheese.

Pour egg mixture in the prepared dish. Bake for 35-45 minutes, until eggs are firm and a knife inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool for 5 minutes before cutting.
korean-style-steak-fajitas

Korean-Style Steak Fajitas

Combine 12 ounces lean flank steak, trimmed of visible fat and cut into 1/2-inch wide strips, 2 sliced red bell peppers, 2 small onions, peeled and sliced, and 1/4 cup salsa in a medium bowl. Stir to combine; refrigerate for 15 minutes. Heat a grill pan or nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Remove steak and vegetables from salsa, shaking off and discarding extra salsa; cook, stirring occasionally, until steak is fully cooked and vegetables are soft, about 7 minutes.

Remove steak from the pan if it’s done before the vegetables. Serve steak and vegetables on a platter, with a plate of lettuce leaves and bowls of cilantro, finely chopped radishes and scallions, and more salsa as condiments.
red-lentil-soup

Red Lentil Soup

Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a medium pot over medium heat. Add 1 large onion and 2 garlic cloves, both peeled and finely chopped; cook, stirring occasionally until soft, about 5 minutes. Add 1 32-ounce carton of vegetable or reduced-fat chicken broth, 1 8-ounce can of tomato sauce, 3/4 cup dried red lentils, 1 peeled and chopped carrot, 1 10-ounce packet of frozen squash, 1 tablespoon cumin, and 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper. Increase heat to bring to a boil, then reduce to medium-low.

Cover and simmer until lentils are soft, about 25 minutes. Stir in lemon juice from 1/2 lemon, and season with salt and pepper. Serve as is, or puree in the pot with a immersion blender if you prefer a smooth consistency, adding water if the soup is too thick. Garnish each bowl with a tablespoon each of non-fat yogurt and chopped fresh cilantro.
sweet-tacos
Our 1,350-calorie-a-day diet features foods that are great at stopping that famished feeling.
 http://www.health.com

Recipes to Drop 5 Pounds in One Week part 1

berry-parfait-muffin

Eat more, weigh less

Follow this 1,400-calorie-a-day plan for seven days (include moderate exercise) to drop up to 5 pounds.

Breakfast
(400 calories; choose 1 daily)

Berry Parfait and English Muffin
Top 4 ounces low-fat blueberry yogurt with 1 tablespoon low-fat granola and 1/2 cup strawberries, sliced. Repeat yogurt and granola layers, finishing with 1/2 cup raspberries. Serve with 1/2 whole-wheat English muffin topped with 2 teaspoons peanut butter.
oatmeal-dry-cranberries

Cranberry Oatmeal

Add 1 1/3 cups fat-free milk to 2 packets instant oatmeal and cook according to package directions. Mix in 2 tablespoons dried cranberries and 1 tablespoon chopped walnuts.

Sunrise Waffles
Top 2 toasted whole-wheat waffles with 1 tablespoon maple syrup and 1 small banana, sliced. Enjoy with 1 cup fat-free milk.
bean-tortilla-gazpacho

Lunch and/or Dinner

(500 calories; choose 1 for each meal)

Bean Tortilla With Gazpacho
Top one 2-ounce wheat tortilla with 1/2 cup fat-free refried beans, a sprinkling of shredded lettuce, chopped tomato, salsa, 2 tablespoons shredded reduced-fat cheddar cheese, and 1/4 avocado, sliced. Serve with 1 cup ready-made gazpacho and a 1-ounce piece of dark chocolate.
easy-tilapia-meal

Tilapia With Rice Pilaf

Warm 1 teaspoon olive oil in a sauté pan over medium-high heat. Season a 3-ounce tilapia fillet with a dash each of salt and black pepper. Place in pan and cook until fish flakes easily with a fork (about 2 to 3 minutes per side). Prepare 1/2 cup rice pilaf (prepared from box or from scratch) and 1/2 cup steamed sugar snap peas. Serve with 1 medium baked apple, topped with a dash of cinnamon and 1 teaspoon brown sugar, served with 1/3 cup low-fat vanilla ice cream.
pork-chop-asparagus

Grilled Pork Chop and Asparagus

Warm 1 teaspoon olive oil in a sauté pan over medium-high heat. Season a 3-ounce pork chop with a dash each salt and black pepper. Place in pan; cook 3 to 5 minutes per side, or until done. Serve with 1/2 cup mashed potatoes, 1 cup sautéed asparagus topped with 1 teaspoon whipped butter, and 1/2 cup bell pepper strips with 2 tablespoons light ranch dressing (for dipping). Enjoy with 1/2 cup fresh raspberries. http://www.health.com

Wednesday, 21 March 2012

7 Days of Super Healthy Dinners part 2

grapefruit-avocado-salmon-salad

Grapefruit and Avocado Salad With Seared Salmon

• Fatty acids from the walnuts and salmon, as well as monounsaturated fats from the avocado keep this dish heart-healthy.
• Grapefruit helps kick up fat-burning and stabilizes blood sugar.
• This salad nets you a good amount of the B vitamin niacin, which helps keep your skin, hair, and eyes healthy.

Ingredients: grapefruit, arugula, avocado, lemon juice, olive oil, salt, pepper, cooking spray, salmon fillets and walnuts

Calories: 360
brown-rice-turkey

Brown Rice Bowl With Turkey

• Very low in sugar—only 1 gram!
• This dish serves up about one-fourth your daily requirement of vitamin B6, which is crucial for a healthy immune system.
• It's super lean, too, with just 1.2 grams of saturated fat.

Ingredients: brown rice, salt, chicken broth, bone-in turkey breast, olive oil, pepper, soy sauce, baby spinach, scallions, sesame oil and toasted sesame seeds

Calories: 486
spaghetti-walnut-parsley-pesto

Spaghetti With Wilted Greens and Walnut-Parsley Pesto

• This meal makes for excellent post-workout fuel (a great mix of whole grains and protein).
• It helps keep you energized, since it provides one-third of your daily iron needs.
• You get antioxidants from the veggies, herbs, and walnuts

Ingredients: whole-wheat spaghetti, Swiss Chard, parsley, baby spinach, walnuts, garlic, olive oil, lemon zest, salt, black pepper and eggs

Calories: 439
sweet-potato-spinach-quesadillas

Sweet Potato and Spinach Quesadillas

• You'll get an immune boost from the beta-carotene in sweet potatoes.
• This dish delivers 20 percent of your daily iron needs.
• It contains more calcium than a glass of milk.

Ingredients: sweet potatoes, red-wine vinegar, sugar, black peppercorns, red onion, salt, black pepper, flour tortillas, baby spinach, mozzarella and olive oil

Calories: 391
http://www.health.com

7 Days of Super Healthy Dinners part 1

super-meals-opener

Nutritional power

Does mealtime often get taken over by the nutrition villains (tons of calories, loads of saturated fat, and excess sodium)? Take back the dinner hour: We’ve created a week’s worth of great-tasting meals with real nutritional punch. Each one is under 500 calories—wham! High in filling fiber—bam! Low in saturated fat—pow! Not to mention, each recipe puts a premium on antioxidant-rich produce—with two veggies, plus herbs and spices to boost flavor (but not calories). Try one of these supercharged dinners tonight for a leaner, healthier you.
chicken-brussel-sprouts

Chicken Breast With Shaved Brussels Sprouts

• Broccoli and Brussels sprouts are loaded with cancer-preventing phytonutrients.
• This dish is very lean: 309 calories and 3.2 grams of saturated fat.
• It also packs potassium, which helps keep your blood pressure down.

Ingredients: boneless, skinless chicken breast halves, kosher salt, broccoli stems, olive oil, lemon juice, pepper, Brussells sprouts, celery stalks, hazelnuts, parsley and Parmesan cheese

Calories: 309
barley-stuffed-poblanos

Barley-Stuffed Poblanos

• Eat this and you get more than one-third of your daily fiber.
• Your metabolism will get a kick from the chili powder.
• The dish also delivers about 30 percent of your calcium for the day.

Ingredients: olive oil, onion, barley, kale, chili powder, garlic, tomatoes, salt, poblano peppers, white cheddar, Monterrey Jack cheese and queso fresco

Calories: 382
burger-mushroom-radicchio

Burger With Mushrooms and Radicchio

• The lean beef provides more than half your protein and nearly 30 percent of your iron for the day.
• You'll feel satisfied, thanks to that protein and 7 grams of fiber.
• Shiitake and other mushrooms are rich in antioxidants and help reduce cholesterol.

Ingredients: olive oil, mushrooms, salt, pepper, ground sirloin, whole-wheat hamburger buns and small head radicchio

Calories: 473
http://www.health.com

Sunday, 18 March 2012

31 Tips for Coping With Rheumatoid Arthritis part 5

Consider a cane

Consider a cane

A lot of people think a cane signifies disability, but if it helps reduce joint pain, who cares? Canes are easy to find and use and can take up to 20% of your body weight off of your legs, hips, and ankles.
Check out acupuncture

Check out acupuncture

Some people say this ancient Eastern healing technique can trigger the body to release the "feel-good" hormones known as endorphins, thus reducing pain. But skeptics believe it's just the placebo effect. Only a handful of small studies have shown that acupuncture can help with RA symptoms. Still, many people swear by acupuncture, and there's really no downside to giving it a try—unless you're scared of needles.
Use the right tools

Use the right tools

Some equipment can help make everyday tasks less painful. Products like pens, knives, can openers, and zipper pulls are available to help you protect your joints. And good news! You don't always have to look in specialty stores for them. Many tools are designed simply to make them easier to use—kitchen tools with large handles, ergonomic can openers, and large drawer pulls.
Plug into community

Plug into community

Beyond social support, getting active in a community of other people with rheumatoid arthritis can be empowering. Even if you just read blogs, instead of writing one, it can help you feel less isolated. Kelly Young launched her blog, Rheumatoid Arthritis Warrior, after being diagnosed with RA at age 40.
Plan carefully

Plan carefully

Because you can't foresee joint flare-ups, it's a good idea to be prepared and plan for problems before they happen. Make sure any activity you start is one that you can end partway through. Break chores up into sections, and when exercising, you don't have to do 30 minutes at once.
Don

Don't feel guilty

If you have to give up some tasks, like making the bed or washing the dishes, don't feel guilty! When you're tired and in pain, it's not your fault. Do the things you must do or really want to do, and find other ways to get less important things done.
 http://www.health.com

31 Tips for Coping With Rheumatoid Arthritis part 4

Take a warm bath or shower

Take a warm bath or shower

Moist heat provides relief from rheumatoid arthritis pain by loosening muscles, tendons, and ligaments, as well as increasing blood flow. So taking a warm bath or shower can be a real relaxation session. Also, moist heating pads, available at most pharmacies, can be applied for 10 to 15 minutes at a time for temporary pain relief.
Look into physical therapy

Look into physical therapy

Your doctor may prescribe physical therapy to help heal and strengthen a body part or an area that's "acting up" and giving you problems, but it's typically a short-term option. PT is a terrific bridge to an exercise program, though. You can work with your physical therapist to come up with a workout plan that's right for you.
Think about what you

Think about what you're eating

Food sensitivities, especially to dairy and shrimp, may aggravate rheumatoid arthritis. Some people try elimination diets, which involve removing all potential allergens from your diet and slowly adding these foods back to see if they trigger symptoms. But there are significant variations within any individual's symptoms in a given time period, making it difficult to study the effects of these diets.
Try hot wax

Try hot wax

If you have pain in the joints of your hands or feet, a hot wax bath can ease the inflammation. Hot wax can work better than a heating pad because, like soaking in a warm water bath, the heat works its way completely around the fingers or toes.
Take fish oil

Take fish oil

Fish oil can ease pain and inflammation. In fact, fish-oil capsules may be as effective for relieving pain and inflammation as drugs like ibuprofen and naproxen. RA patients in studies that found fish oil helpful took high doses, typically 4 grams a day or four standard capsules. 
Get a massage

Get a massage

Depending on how your body is feeling, massages can be wonderful—or agonizing. If your joints and muscles aren't feeling too tender, massages can ease muscle tension related to joint stress. You will be the best judge of whether massage can help you on a particular day, or not. So give it a try! But make sure your massage therapist has experience in treating people with RA.
 http://www.health.com

31 Tips for Coping With Rheumatoid Arthritis part 3

Get support

Get support

Having a chronic illness can be isolating, but being open about your condition can help. Feeling comfortable asking for help when you need it—or just having a shoulder to cry on—can make a big difference in how you feel, both physically and mentally. Online and real-life support groups are great places to meet other people with RA and share coping strategies.
Give it a rest

Give it a rest

Taking a break can relax your mind, ease pain in your joints, and help reduce the fatigue that's often associated with RA. On the flip side, avoid too much rest. A inactive lifestyle can be harmful, so intermingle rest periods with activity.
Get your eyes checked

Get your eyes checked

RA can affect the eyes, causing complications that could lead to blindness. Symptoms include blurred vision, pain, redness, and light sensitivity, but anti-inflammatory eye drops can help RA-related eye conditions. 
Consider occupational therapy

Consider occupational therapy

This type of therapy can be a good bridge to a regular exercise plan. OT helps people live as independently and fully as possible, no matter what his or her age or condition. An occupational therapist will work with you to identify problem areas in your daily life and figure out ways to eliminate them, or work around them. 
Do strength training

Do strength training

Studies have shown that moderate- or high-intensity strength training can help increase or maintain muscle strength for people with RA. Another study reports that a program of long-term, high-intensity weight-bearing exercises improves the functional ability, physical capacity, and emotional status of people with rheumatoid arthritis.
Check your vitamins

Check your vitamins

Many nutrients have been given mixed reviews when it comes to helping patients with RA. For example, some studies showed that vitamin E supplements reduce RA joint destruction and pain, while others do not. In addition, some RA patients take methotrexate to slow disease progression. But the drug also inhibits folic acid metabolism and causes a range of side effects. So make sure you read the fine print before taking vitamins regularly.
 http://www.health.com