Eat More Slowly to Lose Weight

Hunger happens in your brain, not your stomach. When it is full, your stomach sends a signal to your brain to stop eating. However, it takes time for that signal to get to your brain. Meanwhile, you are continuing to plow food into your body, before that signal reaches your brain.

The Chinese have a saying “eat until you are two thirds full.” This is good advice because even after you stop eating, you will continue to feel fuller as the brain processes the food you have eaten. In fact, studies have shown that people routinely eat 100 to 200 more calories than they need each sitting just because they don’t stop when they ought to. So, slowing down your food consumption will actually allow your brain to process the signals that you are getting full.

In addition to losing weight, when you eat food slowly, you will enjoy it more. You can eat a small amount of an indulgent food rather than a big hunk of cake. But, you will experience a higher level of satisfaction with the smaller amount.

You will also be better able to digest your food. Digestion starts in the mouth. The more work you do there, the less work you will have to do in the stomach. Paying attention to your eating can also reduce the amount of stress in your life. Meal time will become a time of relaxation and rejuvenation rather than one more harried activity in the day.

Natural Remedies for Depression

Do you find ever find yourself feeling depressed?  If you find yourself feeling down or depressed on occasion, you may want to examine natural remedies.

As with many other medical issues and complications, a healthy diet is a great way to manage or treat depression.  A well balanced diet is the key to staying happy and healthy, especially where depression is concerned.  All individuals are encouraged to drink water and consume a good number of fruits and vegetables each and every day.  In fact, there are a number of natural remedies and home remedies for depression that are based on healthy foods.

For example asparagus root can be used to manage depression.  Crush or squeeze the bottom root.  If properly done, a powder will appear.  This powder should be consumed daily with amounts of one or two grams each day.    

Apples are high in vitamin B and potassium, which have shown to relieve depression.  Apple with milk and honey daily is a recipe for a lighter mood.

Other foods rich in Vitamin B, include eggs, green vegetables, whole grain foods, and fish.  As ideal as it is to naturally receive vitamin B from foods, you may also want to examine natural vitamin B supplements, as they are a quick and effective way to help with depression.

Rose petals can also be used when using this natural remedy for depression, take a small number of rose petals and mix them in boiling water.  Once cooled, drink the mixture. 

These are just a few natural remedies that may offer some relief.  However, if your depression is chronic, please seek th advice of a professional.

President Bill Clinton Chooses a Vegan Diet

                            

Celebrities turning to a vegan diet have been making quite a splash in the media. Everyone from Alicia Silverstone to Mike Tyson has converted to a healthy, vegan lifestyle. The newest public figure to join the club: former US president, Bill Clinton. A man famous for his love of Big Macs and French fries while in office, his new dietary decision may have come as a surprise to Americans. But after two serious health scares, including triple bi-pass heart surgery in 2004, changing his diet may have saved his life. He tells Dr. Gupta in a CNN interview, that his new lifestyle was necessary to improve his health:

“I essentially concluded that I had played Russian roulette,” Clinton said, “because even though I had changed my diet some and cut down on the caloric total of my ingestion and cut back on much of the cholesterol in the food I was eating, I still — without any scientific basis to support what I did — was taking in a lot of extra cholesterol without knowing if my body would produce enough of the enzyme to support it, and clearly it didn’t or I wouldn’t have had that blockage. So that’s when I made a decision to really change.”

While it is wonderful that President Clinton is happier and healthier on his new vegetarian and dairy-free diet, it is important to remember that being a vegan is not for everyone. Of course, no 

one needs fast food or packaged food high in sodium and trans fats, but before you declare yourself a full-fledged vegan, make sure that a diet void of all animal products is right for your body.

Every person is different and has uniquely individual nutrition requirements. Depending on your age, gender, natural body shape, metabolic rate, blood type, and even cultural descent, everyone needs different foods and nutrients to feel their best. For example, people of Scandinavian descent might need a diet that includes high-quality dairy whereas people from Japan might need a lot of seafood and rice to feel their best. Consider eliminating foods one at a time to see how you feel with out them in you diet or consult your doctor or Health Counselor to figure out what type of diet is right for you.

If you do decide that a vegan diet is for you, that’s great too! Just remember to get plenty of plant-based proteins and fats such as dark, leafy greens or nuts in your diet so that your body continues to get the nutrients it needs.