Friday, February 17, 2012

Eat Real Food When Looking to Snack

Many people find that later in the day or at night they become hungry or just want to snack. If you are in the latter group, you need to think about why you want to eat and create an alternative. If you aren’t hungry and it hasn’t been several hours since you last ate, there is no reason to eat (unless you have a health condition that requires it). Taking a walk, knitting, meditating, or calling a friend are great alternatives that can keep your mind off of eating.

If you actually are hungry come mid-afternoon or after dinner, eat “real” food instead of relying on “100 calorie packs” or sugar-free items. Eating light or diet foods when you are actually experiencing hunger will only delay your inevitable binge and can actually make you hungrier. Eating a diet product when you’re hungry will not give your body the nutrients it is craving. Furthermore, if the product has sugar or a sugary flavor, it will spike your insulin and actually make you hungrier (since the body thinks more sugar is on its way).

So, if you actually are hungry, eat something substantial such as a bowl of oatmeal, an apple with peanut butter, ½ sandwich, nuts and fruit, fruit and yogurt, etc. If you eat a serving of sugar-free ice cream, you are doing yourself no good. Chances are within an hour of eating that ice cream you will be craving more food. So, just give yourself permission to eat something of substance to suppress the hunger and move on with your day. You will end up eating less over the course of the day if you actually sit down and eat something real. But, to reiterate, only eat if you physically need to; be sure to determine that you’re not eating out of boredom, loneliness, sadness, or some other psychological reason.

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Garlic: The Miracle Clove (Guest Blog Post by Katrina Evans)



Below is a guest blog post written by Kelly's Pantry fan Katrina Evans:

People have been using chopped up garlic for hundreds of years and it turns out to be our best kept weapon against cancer today. While most people are aware of the value of garlic's flavor, many do not realize the benefits of garlic when it comes to cancer.      
Recent population studies that were conducted in different parts of the world have shown a significant link between an increased intake of garlic and reduction of various cancers. Ongoing studies in Europe have shown that higher intakes of onions and garlic significantly reduce the risk of intestinal cancers. In China, researchers have not only shown an association with garlic intake and reduced risk of esophageal, stomach, and prostate cancers; but have indicated that the more garlic that is eaten, the lower the risk of other aggressive cancers like pancreatic cancer or mesothelioma.
It’s hardly new news to naturopaths, but the real news here is that allicin, the active ingredient in garlic, is able to be attached to antibodies that bind with tumor cells by researchers delivering a cancer-busting payload directly to the source. In reality though, you don’t need to target tumors at all: just eat raw garlic.
Every well-rounded chef should know that garlic is an ingredient that everyone should have in their pantry. If you can handle it, try juicing raw garlic with lemon, water and a bit of sweetener, and chug it down. Yes, it may stink a bit, but it’s one of the most potent anti-cancer concoctions you can consume.
Eating the right kinds of foods is absolutely essential for keeping the body at a healthy weight, strengthening tissues, and fighting infection which leads to a greater sense of well-being. Finding the right kinds of foods, containing high amounts of cancer-fighting ingredients, is key to prevention and treatment.
References:

Edited by: Kelly Strogen, MS, RD, LDN

Katrina Evans is a recent college graduate aspiring to write for health and wellness foodies all over the web. She enjoys making a difference in people’s lives seeing how devastating cancer can be for people and their families. Katrina also is a fruit junkie who reads all the time, works to stay fit, and listens to cool podcasts.


For questions about this post, contact Katrina: nutritiondiva.katrina@gmail.com