Nutrition

With all the talk about calories on menus, the overwhelming % of obesity, and a growing consciousness for eating the right foods, I want to offer simple ways to reduce caloric intake and improve wellness.

A very simple way to get more nutritious meals is to substitute rice for pasta or potatoes. Rice bran can help cut cholesterol and lower blood sugar. It is also rich in disease-fighting compounds and fiber. Be sure to chose whole-grain rice. Some options in addition to brown rice are black japonica, red rice, brown basmati which have more fiber and flavor.

Here's a great way to make everyday Valentine's Day. Try these foods from around the world. Although some are a bit hard to find, if you concentrate on 1 - 7, what have you got to lose?

We think of seeds for planting. We think of sprinkles as colorful things we used to put on our ice cream cones and sundaes (don't eat those anymore). Now let's think about seeds as sprinkles to add nutritional value to the foods we prepare.

Pierre and Pierre, creators of Thee Quest embarked on a 28 day challenge for perfect health. They believe in their ability to solve health problems on their own with the proper research and tools. We at Body Ami, are happy to be part of their research and solution.

Michael Pollan's column in The New York Times is right on target. We should focus our attention on diet and food production. That could dramatically reduce health care costs.  I highly recommend this article. 

Thanks to Splendora for highlighting these 10 foods recommended for women. Forget the fad diets. Eating right and exercise are the keys to good health.

1. Organic Farm Fresh Eggs
2. Wild Salmon
3. Leafy Greens
4. Nuts
5. Blueberries
6. Steel Cut Oats
7. Avocados
8. Raw Cacao
9. Organic Sweet Potatoes
10. Organic Yogurt with Active Culture

Apple Cider Vinegar has been used for centuries to lower blood sugar and control appetite. Other diets have come and gone such as the alcohol only diet William the Conqueror created when he became too fat to ride his horse. There have been a plethora of food based diets like skim milk and bananas, meat and fat, cabbage soup, the lemonade diet, and even one that claimed "calories don't count" as long as you drink vegetable oil at the end of each meal.

Performance without Pain, a blog dedicated to Optimal Health/Optimal Nutrition via a Healing Diet of Nutrient Dense Traditional Foods, recently posted this: Raw Apple Cider Vinegar Treatment for GERD/Acid Reflux

Did you know that like couch potatoes and fitness fanatics, there are lazy and active calories? The type of calorie determines the rate at which the body will burn them. Foods closer to a natural state such as fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, will burn more quickly than processed foods. Experts blame processed foods for the current obesity epidemic. Learn more about this in this article from Bicycling

Three square meals a day to get your nutrients has become passe, dismissed as outdated thinking. But snacking to stay lean and healthy takes some knowledge about noshing. It makes sense to eat often because it makes your metabolism more efficient but snacks need to be a healthy balance of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. They should feel like small meals with multiple components.