Thursday, November 8, 2012

Healthy Eating in College - Tips For Students

Healthy eating in college can be difficult on a budget, but just because you have little money does not mean you need to eat food with little nutritional value. With these few handy hints and tips, healthy eating in college can be simple...

1. Make a list
If you make a list when you are going shopping you are less likely to be tempted by pricey, unnecessary items. On a side note, eating before going shopping will make sure that you do not impulse buy and keep to your shopping list.

2. Plan your meals
If you plan your meals for the week, you'll know what to put on your shopping list and it will motivate you to cook in the evening. Meals don't have to be difficult, look for easy recipes online.

3. Buy value ingredients
Just because ingredients are in the value range, it doesn't mean they aren't as good. It may be that the vegetables are different shapes and sizes, but they will all taste the same in the end. People shopping with their eyes instead of their head is the main reason supermarkets can charge more for standardized looking vegetables.

4. Keep an eye out for bargains
If you have a freezer, bargain shopping is easy. If something is buy one get one free, eat one and freeze the other. It is also a good idea to keep an eye out in the clearance section, although the food may be going out of date in a day or two, if you freeze it, it can last for months.

Monday, November 5, 2012

Tips on Maintaining a Healthy Lifestyle

With all the things we do every single day, it's hard enough to keep track of the food we eat and the amount of exercise we get on a daily basis. Often we even skip meals and fail to have time for exercise because of a very busy schedule at work and with our families. It is important to remember, however, that keeping ourselves healthy and maintaining a healthy lifestyle is necessary for us to function better at work and avoid being sick too often. Neglecting our responsibilities to ourselves can result in several negative things we don't even want to think about.

A stressful, healthy life is what we've always dreamed of, and sometimes we just can't think about this being pre-occupied with so many things. Here are a few tips on maintaining a healthy lifestyle you can surely benefit from.

1. Develop a good eating habit, and eat as much as you can. Food is actually nourishment for the mind and the body, but too much of this won't be good for you either. A good eating habit means eating only what is good for you, as many times as possible. Avoid junk and processed food (those you get from fast foods). You can also try consulting a dietician to get the exact amount of nutrients you need on a daily basis.

2. Drink lots of water. Dehydration can cause different types of illnesses, hydrating can help you avoid them. Mix water with your favorite fruit juices (fresh fruits only) to add color to the taste. Since our bodies are mostly made up of water (about eighty percent), a sufficient amount will make you stronger and healthier, and making it a habit will keep you from turning to sodas or artificial juices, contributing to maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Thursday, November 1, 2012

The Reasons Behind Conflicting Health Reports

You've no doubt experience watching or reading a news report about the health benefit of something that completely contradicts a previous report. One day chocolate is bad, the next it's good for your heart. One day taking Vitamin E will help prevent heart disease, next day it may actually accelerate it. So why are there so many contradictory studies regarding fitness and health?

This is a complicated question that requires a multilayer response. It includes everything from sensationalist reporting, to special interest influence, to incomplete studies, and more. But first we have to first acknowledge that the effects of a particular food or supplement to an individual's health and fitness is incredibly hard to study as there are so many variables included.

If I was studying the effectiveness of supplement "X" in increasing muscle strength I may give Group A the supplement and group B a placebo (sugar pill). If 2 months later I find that on average the group taking supplement X gain 25% more strength than the group taking the placebo it may seem logical to conclude that supplement X do indeed increase strength. But logic and science doesn't always coincide. There area a myriad of factors that may have contributed to this result and it may purely be anecdotal, or coincidence.