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A Recipe for Rye Bread
The more I make bread, the more I am convinced of the importance
of the kitchen being in the best position in the house. When we
designed and built our house, I was determined that the kitchen
should have a view and be on the front of the house....
Choosing Foods For Your Special Event
Choosing the right menu for a special event can be just as important as choosing a location. Food can communicate a theme, convey a feeling or set the mood of an entire night. If you are planning a high-class extravaganza, hot dogs and beer might...
Choosing mail order gourmet meat cuts
Buying meat is one of the finest delicacies left in gourmet
food. There are so many cuts, tastes, and styles of preparation,
filets, and seasoning to delight and tingle all senses. Saving
money on gourmet meat can be easy, just follow the few...
Converting a Stovetop Recipe to a Crockpot Recipe
Crockpots vary but the low setting is typically around 100 degrees and its high setting is around 300 degrees.
Knowing this, it is fairly easy to convert most recipes for use in your slow cooker. Some adjusments to cooking times will be a...
In Grandma's Kitchen (Part I)
One of my fondest childhood memories is being in the kitchen with my Hungarian grandmother. I loved watching her chopping vegetables, kneading dough, and leaning over bubbling pots in a kitchen that was always filled with wonderful aromas. I’d...
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Understanding fats and carbs
Fats and carbohydrates are two building blocks of a healthy
diet, but many people do not understand their role in proper
nutrition. While the daily intake of fats and oils should be
limited, these elements are still a vital part of the diet. The
key is to make smart choices when it comes to fats and oils.
That means substituting saturated fats with unsaturated fats,
and using healthier, lighter oils in cooking.
Let's look at the role fats and oils play in the diet. Fats are
necessary for supplying energy to the body. In addition, fats
supply essential fatty acids and act as carriers for fat soluble
vitamins like vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin E, vitamin K and the
carotenoids. In addition, fats have an important role to play as
building blocks for various tissues and membranes, and they also
play a key role in regulating numerous bodily functions.
Dietary fat is available from a variety of plant and animal
sources, and most diets do contain adequate amounts of fat. Most
nutrition experts recommend keeping the intake of fat to less
than 20% of calories, but studies have shown that severely
limiting fat intake can be dangerous. Extreme low fat diets
should only be undertaking with a doctor's approval and
oversight.
The type and amount of fat in the diet makes all the difference.
A diet high in saturated fats, trans fats and cholesterol has
been associated with a variety of ills, including heart disease,
stroke and other associated diseases. In addition, many long
term chronic problems, such as obesity, are associated with high
levels of dietary fats.
The greatest risk of complications from excessive fat intake
appears to lie with saturated fats and trans fats (fats that are
solid at room temperature). One of the best ways to keep levels
of saturated fat low is to limit the amount of animal fats that
are consumed. These animal based fats include meats like bacon
and sausage, as well as butter and ice cream. Dietary
cholesterol can be limited by watching the consumption of eggs,
organ meats and other foods high in cholesterol.
Food labels do make the complicated process of choosing the
right fats somewhat easier. For instance, trans fats will be
listed on the
ingredient list of foods that contain them. In
general, trans fats are found mainly in processed foods.
Some fats, such as polyunsaturated fats and monounsaturated
fats, are better choices for healthy eating. Examples of these
fats include canola oil and olive oil. Cooking with these
lighter oils can be a big step toward a healthier diet.
Polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats are liquid at room
temperature, and they have been found to have heart protecting
qualities.
Many types of fish have also been found to be sources of good
fat. Fish are excellent sources of omega-3 fatty acids. These
omega-3's have been found to promote good health, and they may
even lower cholesterol levels.
Carbohydrates are an important part of a healthy diet as well,
and carbs are necessary for providing energy and many essential
nutrients. Carbohydrates are found in fruits and vegetables, in
grains and in milk and dairy products. It is important to choose
carbohydrates carefully, however, since not all are equally
healthy.
When choosing breads and cereal, for instance, try to select
those made with whole grains, while avoiding the more highly
refined varieties. It is also important to limit the intake of
sugars, such as soda, candy and highly processed baked goods.
Consuming large amounts of such high calorie, low nutrient
foods, can make it very difficult to stay on a healthy diet
without gaining weight.
Most Americans tend to have too much of certain elements in
their diet. Sugar is one such element and salt is the other.
While a basic level of sodium in the form of salt is important
to proper nutrition, most people consume too much salt in their
daily diet. Excess salt consumption can lead to water retention,
high blood pressure and other complications. Choosing low sodium
foods, and limiting the use of the salt shaker, can go a long
way toward cutting levels of excess salt in the diet.
About the author:
Tony Robinson is a Company CEO, webmaster husband and dad. In
his busy lifestyle he has placed importance on health and
fitness. Visit http://www.eat-healthily.com for good eating tips
and techniques to assist you maintain a healthy lifestyle.
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