4 Big Nutritional No No's When Losing Arm Fat

By Katherine Crawford M.S.

From the food industry's perspective, profit comes before your health. This is just the way it is. It seems as though they are conspiring against your arm fat mission. If only you could see the things I have unearthed during my career

You see, a very LARGE portion of what the food industry sells and markets is unacceptably unhealthy for the female body. Combine this with some bad food preparation habits and you have a recipe for arm fat meltdown.

Now the big problem here is that most women do not have the resources to separate the facts from fiction. After all, a lot of what the food industry does is very hidden. You really have to dig deep to find the truth.

So here are 4 arm fat nutrition mistakes:

1. Charring food. If you cook something till the point that it's very black, then expect an increase in colon cancer risk. Seriously. There is NO reason to blacken food. So try to avoid over-barbecuing things and definitely avoid frying things.

2. Having lunch meat. Lunch meat is ultra convenient. Unfortunately, the convenience comes at a steep price: colon cancer. The nitrates found in most lunch meats are extremely unhealthy. There are far better sources of protein out there.

3. Consuming large amounts of low-calorie sweeteners. They are marketed as healthy and safe, yet they aren't. There hasn't been a single study showing the long-term safety of sweetener consumption. So for now only use these in absolute moderation. Period.

4. Water shock. Ok, what I'm referring to here is the all too common practice of only drinking water in single sittings. You see, in order to stay properly hydrated you have to drink small amounts of water in between meals throughout the entire day.

Your quest to lose arm fat should not involve sacrifices in health. The entire process should be as healthy as possible. After all, what's the point of getting toned arms if your increasing the risk profile of many diseases? Reaching sexy arm stardom can be a safe and short journey! - 17274

About the Author:

Writer Katherine Crawford MS, a Harvard exercise expert and former arm fat victim, instructs women on how to lose arm fat fast. Learn how to get sexy and toned arms by exploring her website about flabby arms right now!

Top Eight Muscle Building Tips

By Chris Tan

Carbohydrate loading - The number tip in building muscle is to gain a good healthy amount of weight. A body will only build muscle if it has an excess of calories even after a full calorie burning workout. This surplus in calories allows the body to repair any tissue damage caused by the exercise routine as well as assist in building new muscle. In order to achieve this, your calorie intake must be 20 times your actual weight.

Fat intake - Hormones are responsible for muscular growth and strength. The hormonal production and overall stimulation is directly linked to your fat intake. Researchers have found solid proof that fat and testosterone production are undoubtedly related. More fat means higher testosterone levels. Avoid saturated fats as these fats cause heart diseases and strokes. The fat type that needs to be increased in your diet is Essential Fatty Acids also known as EFA's such as omega 3 and 6. These EFA's are not naturally produced by the body and needs to be supplied by the food you eat or supplements you drink.

Detoxifying Your Body - Cleansing the body is an essential part of the muscle building process as well as anyone else looking to be healthy. Damage from free radicals should be minimized or prevented. This can be done by implementing the use of anti-oxidants such as vitamin A, C, E, Selenium, Glutathione as well as the common multi-vitamin. Do these muscle building tips sound feasible? The intense regimen of muscle building requires commitment, dedication and will power. Listed below are some additional helpful tips to guide you in your quest for building strong, lean, healthy muscle.

Water Intake - All physicians recommend that everyone drink at least 32 ounces or 8 glasses of water a day in order to keep the body hydrated and cleansed. This is especially important in the pursuit of muscle building. As the protein intake increases, toxins begin to build up in the kidneys, liver and bloodstream. Water is a naturally pure resource that rehydrates after an intense workout regimen as well as flushes toxins from the body. If the body is denied proper hydration, serious kidney damage can occur.

Proper Rest - A good rest after an intense workout is the best tip for anyone embarking on the journey of building muscle. Contrary to popular belief, muscle is not built during the exercise routine. Always remember, load your carbohydrate intake, hydrate with water and get plenty of rest.

Persistence - As they say, "Rome wasn't built in a day" and neither will your muscle building goals be achieved that quickly. Hard work, dedication and commitment will help lead you down the path to your muscle building goal.

Right equipment - Exercising the different muscular groups with the correct equipment is absolutely essential for muscle building. The equipment should have variable resistance settings, specifically free-weight. Heavy weights should be used. However the weight should still be appropriate by giving you the ability to do only eight reps. Low reps and heavy weights stimulate muscle growth substantially because of the strain on the muscle- and nerve system. Technique is just as important as the right equipment. You will just waste your time if you work out for hours on the right equipment but employ the wrong techniques. By employing wrong techniques in combination with the heavy weights, you are at risk of sustaining serious and long-term injuries.

Division - Divide your workout into sections, covering specific muscle groups of your body on specific days. This will not only assist in curbing the bore often associated with exercise; it will give the muscles time to recover and rest, ensuring that they are built quickly. - 17274

About the Author:

Chris Tan is a keen muscle building enthusiast and featured writer on Clivir.com where he shares his knowledge about Muscle Building Tips and Basic Muscle Building.

Best Eight Ways to Build Muscle

By Chris Tan

Loading of carbs - Caloric intake to gain healthy weight is the number one tip used for building muscle. Ensuring you take in a surplus of calories allows your body to have extra power to rebuild damage tissue after an extensive workout as well as build new stronger muscle. The way to achieve this is by making your caloric intake 20 times more than your actual body weight.

Your Fat Intake - Hormones play a major role in the stimulation and growth of muscle. In order to produce hormones, the body must have a certain amount of fat intake. Research has proven that the amount of testosterone in the body is directly linked to the amount of fat supplied. It is very important to know the difference between good fats and bad fats. Saturated fats are unhealthy for the body and have shown to cause the onset of heart disease and stroke. EFAs or Essential Fatty Acids such as omega 3 and 6 are exceptional in producing the stimulation of testosterone for building muscle.

Detoxing - Detoxing is an essential part of any diet and exercise regime including your muscle building one. Free radical damage should be prevented or at least minimized by detoxing regularly with anti-oxidants which include Vitamin A, C, E, Selenium, Glutathione as well as a multi-vitamin. Are you able to commit yourself to the above mentioned muscle building tips? Body building requires loads of commitment. Below are more tips that you should adhere to.

Water - Drink plenty of water, approximately 8 glasses of water per day to ensure your body stays hydrated during hard training sessions. Water is the most natural and mildest way of hydrating your muscles and detoxing your whole body. Increased protein intake will increase metabolic waste which means toxins will build up substantially in your bloodstream, kidneys and liver. A lack of water will have a seriously damaging effect on your kidneys.

Down Time - Everyone needs a proper rest after an intense workout including muscle builders. Many believe that muscle is built during exercise; however this is not the case. It is very important to remember to carbo load, hydrate and get plenty of rest.

Persistence - As they say, "Rome wasn't built in a day" and neither will your muscle building goals be achieved that quickly. Hard work, dedication and commitment will help lead you down the path to your muscle building goal.

Right equipment - Exercising the different muscular groups with the correct equipment is absolutely essential for muscle building. The equipment should have variable resistance settings, specifically free-weight. Heavy weights should be used. However the weight should still be appropriate by giving you the ability to do only eight reps. Low reps and heavy weights stimulate muscle growth substantially because of the strain on the muscle- and nerve system. Technique is just as important as the right equipment. You will just waste your time if you work out for hours on the right equipment but employ the wrong techniques. By employing wrong techniques in combination with the heavy weights, you are at risk of sustaining serious and long-term injuries.

Sections - Putting your workout into specific sections performed on specific days allows the routines to never become boring. In addition, each group is given the opportunity to rest and recover which allows the muscles to grow at a much higher rate. - 17274

About the Author:

Chris Tan is a keen muscle building enthusiast and featured writer on Clivir.com where he shares his knowledge about Muscle Building Tips and Muscle Building Routine.

Personal Trainers Find Satisfaction At Work

By Jack Leblanc

The field of personal training is expanding at about the same rate as American waistlines. Obesity is a serious and growing problem among average Americans. As medical research links more health risks, like heart disease, hypertension and stroke to even moderate obesity, more Americans are trying to improve their health by getting fit. Some companies have even opened employee fitness centers in an effort to improve their employees' health and reduce the cost of health insurance.

As a certified personal trainer, you will have many opportunities for jobs in your field. You can chose to work as an entrepreneur, or you can can chose to work for a spa, gym or corporate fitness center. Trainers work not only to improve the client's level of fitness, but to improve their diet and health habits.

Personal trainers need to be competent in several areas in order to properly serve their clients. The first area is nutrition. One reason for the epidemic of obesity is the poor diet than many Americans chose to eat. High fat foods and refined sugars add unnecessary calories without providing nutrition. The personal trainer works with his clients to encourage a healthy diet with less fat and sugar and better nutrition, not just for weight loss, but for overall health.

In designing fitness plans, the trainer has to be aware of limitations that such health conditions can place on their client's plan. It may be necessary to speak with the client's physician before designing their plan.

Nutrition is an important part of overall fitness and the personal trainer has to know about basic nutrition. Part of a fitness trainer's job is to work with his clients to improve their diet. Motivating clients to eat healthy foods and cut high fat foods and refined sugars from their diets is important. Since there is more to fitness than exercise, the trainer has to cover other issues.

In order to become a certified personal trainer, you will have to train in each of these areas. You may chose to attend a college for an associates degree, or a training course for certification. The time and effort spent in training is well worth it. Personal trainers can make up to $40.00 per thirty minute session. They can make their own hours. There is no shortage of potential clients, and this field is booming despite the current recession.

Training to become a certified personal trainer can be done in a number of ways. You can chose a college program at either the associates or bachelors level (2 or 4 year), or you can enter a training program to earn the necessary credits to become certified. This is a rewarding career choice both from the standpoint of salary and from the satisfaction of helping people improve their health and their lives. You can chose to be a private trainer or work in the fitness industry.

Personal trainers have rewarding careers and the ability to make as much or more income than many college graduates. Look into the career possibilities for personal trainers today. - 17274

About the Author:

Find more on personal trainer resume and physical trainer career.

Chiropractic Care is Effective

By Dr. Jason Fowler

WASHINGTON--A critical mass of recent surveys and studies document the fact that the public, and conventional health care providers and payers, have come to recognize that traditional medicine can not answer all of consumers' health care needs. In particular, more people are turning to chiropractic services.

A study published in the July 1, 1998 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine shows that chiropractic treatment is appropriate for low-back pain in a considerable number of cases. This study by the Rand Corporation found that 46 percent of a sample of low-back pain patients received appropriate care from doctors of chiropractic - an appropriateness rating similar to that of common medical procedures. Poll results released in January 1998 by Landmark Healthcare, Inc., showed that one in every five adults ages 55 to 64 has used chiropractic care. A December 1997 report from the Federal Agency for Health Policy and Research (AHCPR) notes that the chiropractic profession is now the third largest group of doctoral-level providers in the United States (after medical doctors and dentists). That same AHCPR report shows that fully 80 percent of American workers in conventional insurance plans, preferred providers organizations (PPOs), and point-of-service plans now have coverage that pays at least part of the cost of chiropractic care. As the recent AHCPR report states, "In the areas of training, practice and research, chiropractic has emerged from the periphery of the health care system and is playing an increasingly important role in discussions of health care policy." And, notes a March 1998 article in Business and Health magazine, "Many companies say chiropractic coverage has lowered their medical and workers' comp costs, while raising overall health and productivity. 'It's one of the best benefits possible from a quality, quantity and pricing perspective,' says George McGregor, president of (a firm that is a third-party administrator)." The article also cites an Oregon study, which found that median work time lost for employees with back injuries who used chiropractic care was only 9 days as compared with 34.5 days for workers who used medical care.

Quick relief of symptoms and sustained effectiveness have long attracted consumers to chiropractic care. In fact, in just one year - 1997 - more than 20 million adults used chiropractic services. The 1994 AHCPR guidelines for low-back pain concluded that spinal manipulation, chiropractic's primary treatment technique, is one of only three treatments whose effectiveness is substantiated by rigorous research. According to a 1992 RAND Corp. study, patients see a chiropractor primarily for low back pain and neck pain, though many seek chiropractic care for mid-back pain, extremity problems, headaches and other symptoms as well.

Doctors of chiropractic have long understood the cyclic nature of low back pain. They consistently rate higher than MDs in patient satisfaction in this area. In a recent Gallup poll, 90 percent of all people who visited a chiropractor agreed that their care was effective.

Successful outcomes in both effectiveness and patient satisfaction, have paved the way for chiropractors to enter the mainstream of health care services. Some have even begun to collaborate with medical doctors in integrated health care practices. As reported in the May/June 1998 issue of Health magazine, the prestigious Texas Back Institute (TBI) at one time included only surgeons and other M.D.s. Then, about ten years ago, when TBI's medical doctors discovered chiropractic's success with lower back pain, they hired their first chiropractor. Now, according to one administrator quoted in the article, about 50 percent of the Institute's patients see a chiropractor first when beginning their treatment. Also, the Washington Post recently reported on the success of the 5-year-old company, American WholeHealth, whose clinics incorporate a consumer-driven mix of traditional medical and alternative health care including chiropractic.

Due to years of criticism - and even an illegal boycott by the American Medical Association - chiropractic training was sometimes called into question. However, the fact remains, chiropractors must complete a minimum of 6 and, on average, 7 years of college and post-graduate study to earn their degrees. Their education includes at least 4,200 hours of classroom, laboratory and clinical experience, and as much -- and sometimes more than -- course work in anatomy and physiology as most medical doctors. After they receive their degrees from one of the nation's 17 accredited chiropractic colleges, they have to pass rigorous exams and be licensed by the state before they can open a practice. The practice of chiropractic is licensed in all 50 states, and in 1994 there were approximately 50,000 chiropractors licensed in the United States. This number is expected to double by the year 2010, according to the 1997 AHCPR report.

"These recent surveys and reports finally vindicate the chiropractic profession after years of enduring doubt, questions and criticism about our training and practices," said Dr. Pedigo. "What the health care and medical communities are just beginning to accept is what our patients have known all along - that our treatment is safe, effective and highly successful at improving their quality of life. - 17274

About the Author:

For more information on health feel free to contact Dr. FowlerDr. Jason Fowler at www.lakestlouisdc.comwww.lakestlouisdc.com

4 Things Not To Do When Reducing Caloric Load For Toned Arms

By Katherine Crawford M.S.

You have to cut calories if you want toned arms, there is no way around this. Unfortunately, too many women go overboard here.

How many times have you heard of someone going on a 1000 or 1200 calorie diet? This is extremely common and very unhealthy.

If you want toned arms, never cut calories by more than 20%. That's the limit. Anything above and beyond that will shut down your arm-fat-burning hormones.

Now most women associate a calorie cut with massive lethargy. But this doesn't have to be the case. In reality, you can actually be MORE energetic if you do things the right way. Thus, here are 4 things not to do when reducing caloric load for toned arms:

1. Using supplements as meal replacements. Nothing beats regular food for satiety and health. If you stick to powders and pills to fill up your gut, you'll be very hungry all the time. Not good if you want toned arms.

2. Eating once a day. This is probably the worst way to eliminate calories from your diet. It's a surefire way to shut down the arm-fat burning process in your body. Instead, eat with a very high frequency. This becomes extremely important when cutting calories for toned arms.

3. Staying out of the gym. Muscle needs to be fed lots of calories and your body doesn't like that-especially when it's being deprived of calories. So the best way to make your body keep your muscle when dieting is to lift weights.

4. Avoiding balanced meals. I know this sounds basic, but so many women get caught up with taking pills and powders yet their meals are horrible! Never forget that the most important part of getting toned arms is eating balanced meals with loads of vegetables.

Getting toned and sexy arms does require a bit of calorie cutting, but it doesn't have to be stressful. In fact, it can be quite simple. The key is to not go overboard and to maintain balance. Also make sure to follow my tips! - 17274

About the Author:

Author Katherine Crawford MS, a Harvard fitness expert and former flabby arms refugee, advises women on how to tone arms. Learn how to get sexy arms by visiting her personal blog about flabby arms without any delay!

Is the 6 Week Body Makeover a Scam?

By Rico Kidd

The 6 Week Body Makeover is not a diet, it's a program that re-teaches you how to eat so that you lose weight and stay thin for the rest of your life. Many people are too quick when judging a program and will shout out "scam!" if they do not lose weight (or lose weight at slower rate than what the plan states).

So what do you do when you think something is a scam? Well you Google it of course! You will see a variety of websites and hundreds of complaints about this program when you Google the term "6 Week Body Makeover Scam". I have decided to write this article to clear up some notions about this "scam" diet and clear up misconceptions.

I would like to give a fair review of the of the body makeover program as I am currently on this eating plan and have enough knowledge to give an un-biased review. I can say that my review is un-biased because I'm not trying to sell you anything. You will not see any affiliate links to a product within this article (this diet does not have an affiliate program). There is absolutely no benefit for me, except to share a rebuttal towards all of the negative complaints towards this program.

When one un-happy person writes that this product is a scam, it turns-off thousand customers from trying this product and potentially losing a lot of weight. Negative reviews are powerful ways to dissuade people from buying or trying any products or services. I've realized that in our society people are always going to find something to complain about, no matter how perfect or good a product or service is.

Many people who are unhappy with the program have actually stated that they lost A LOT of weight. They were just un-happy with the program because it was too restrictive to them. These people quit half way through the program and ended up gaining all the weight back. They claim that they lost mainly water weight due to the restricted sodium intake (salt and sodium is very restricted on this program). Yes, you will lose water weight; however, you are supposed to be drinking at least 100 oz. of water a day on this program so you can't blame all of your weight loss on water weight loss due to retention.

The overall program is intended for you to lose weight by confusing your metabolism into thinking that food is abundant, therefore it should burn calories faster. The way to do this is by filling out the body blue print questionnaire, determining your body type and planning your meals according to your body's needs.

Other people complain that all they lost was water weight and that they gained all the weight back once they left the program. What they don't tell you is that they started eating unhealthy again and went back to their old eating habits. People are not victims when it comes to weight loss and weight gain. You ultimately make the decision of whether or not you will lose weight or gain weight. No one is forcing that donut into your mouth. - 17274

About the Author:

Rico Kidd has a blog about the 6 Week 6 Week Michael Thurmond 6 Week Body Learn how to start your own 6 Week Michael Thurmond 6 Week Body today!

Fitness Tips, Tricks and Trends

By Elle Jaye

The main reasons you go through a fitness routine are probably to elevate the heart rate, sweat off excess calories, and force your body to dip into the stored fat so you look and feel lighter. But, how long have you been doing that same routine? If it's been more than a couple months chances are you need to mix in something new to keep your mind entertained and your body working hard.

Ditch the dumbbells and get a more efficient workout with kettlebells. Roundish kettle-shaped weights made of pure cast iron are designed with a solid handle. They come in a variety of sizes, each with a different weight. You should probably start with a smaller sized bell to get a feel for the movements and then advance to larger ones.

What is unique about kettlebells is that you hold them by the top handle which is like a circle and then you swing them in different directions. You can work the entire body and burn massive amounts of calories even in a short session.

The actual kettlebells are being sold all over the place from local sporting goods stores to online retailers. There are also DVDs coming out now that provide at home instruction on effective routines.

Dancing has always been a favorite type of exercise since everyone can do it, but the sensual burlesque dance has now hit the market big time. Hip hop is starting to die down some as more women are seeking ways to get in touch with their body while working it out.

Women are encouraged to let loose and even put on the heels and feather boa for these workouts. It fits right in with the stripper pole classes that many women have been seeking out for some time. If you want to feel sexy and get in shape, then this is a great option to consider.

Another catchy trend is workout DVDs based on popular TV shows. Do not be surprised to find your favorite reality TV stars smiling on the cover an exercise DVD at a store near you. Going beyond the popular Biggest Loser series, many other TV stars are now taking their chance in the fitness market. Dancing with the Stars has a new one out with Lisa Rinna, for example.

Another one that promises a great workout is Kim Kardashian's new DVD series. Not only do you get to be inspired by your favorite stars, but some of the deliver very effective workouts that are unique as well.

Last but definitely not least, weighted hula hoops are growing in popularity as well. Even if you were not big on the hoop as a child, chances are you will get the core workout of your life with one of these. They are a little different from your childhood hoops because they are made to be different weights, but the spinning motion around the hips and waist is the same.

You don't necessarily need a DVD or other guidance to play around with the hoop and burn off some calories, though you may want to seek some ideas of what to do with it through the internet, a DVD, or a class at a gym.

Make fitness enjoyable and you are more likely to stick with it for the rest of your life. Not only is doing the same thing all the time boring, but it makes your body a less efficient fat burner as well. So, shake things up and make sure to check out the latest trends at least a couple times a year! - 17274

About the Author:

Get tons of free Health, Workout and Fitness Tips like advice on how to do a bicycle crunch correctly.

Farmers Markets in Marin County " Direct to Your Table from Local Fields

By David DuPont

For many people in Marin, a trip to the local farmers market is a weekly must on their schedule. With ample opportunities to purchase and eat fresh and often organic produce, grown by local farmers, why not make time to visit your local farmers market?

The largest farmers market in Marin County also operates year-round at the Civic Center in San Rafael each Sunday from 8 am to 1 pm. The third largest farmers market in California, attracts nearly 200 farmers, specialty food purveyors and artisans to sell their goods to local residents. Location: 10 Avenue of the Flags, Marin Civic Center, San Rafael.

Many of the Countys premier chefs shop for their weekend produce at yet another farmers market held at the Civic Center in San Rafael each Thursday from 8 am to 1 pm, year-round. This farmers market features 100 local farmers, specialty food purveyors and artisans. Where: 10 Avenue of the Flags, Marin Civic Center, San Rafael.

From May to the end of September, the Novato Farmers Market is held every Tuesday evening in the summer in the renovated section of Grant Avenue called Old Town. This is where locals shop for fruit and vegetables, treat their children to pony rides, face painting and balloon sculptures. Location: Grant Avenue between Machin & Reichert, Novato.

The Fairfax Farmers Market is staged in a beautiful setting every Wednesday, also during the summer months, from 4 pm to 8 pm. Fairfax has outlawed single use plastic bags, so dont forget to take your tote bags! Location: Bolinas Road & Elsie Lane, Fairfax.

The Marin Farmers Markets mission is to educate the public about the benefits of buying fresh and locally grown food, to promote a viable food system, and to bring farmers and communities together.

Marin County Farmers Markets are Likely to Offer the Following Fruits and Vegetables:

Apples, Apricots, Artichokes, Asparagus, Avocados, Bananas, Beans, Beets, Blackberries, Blueberries, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower, Celery, Chard, Cherries, Chicory, Coconuts, Collard Greens, Corn, Crabapples, Cranberries, Cucumbers, Dates, Eggplants, Elderberries, Figs, Gooseberries, Gourds, Grapefruit, Grapes, Jerusalem Artichokes, Kale, Kiwi Fruit, Kohlrabi, Kumquats, Leeks, Lemons, Lettuce, Limes, Lychee Nuts, Mandarin Oranges, Mangoes, Melons, Mushrooms, Nectarines, Okra, Olives, Onions, Oranges, Papayas, Parsnips, Passion Fruit, Peaches, Pears, Peas, Peppers, Pineapples, Plums, Pomegranate, Potatoes, Pumpkins, Radicchio, Radishes, Raspberries, Rhubarb, Rutabaga, Shallots, Spinach, Squash, Strawberries, Sweet potatoes, Tangerines, Tomatoes, Turnips, Watercress, Watermelon, Yams.

Not found on this list are the many types of nuts or the many kinds of lettuce, peppers, onions or olives, most of which are sold direct from local farmers at the Farmers Markets.

An interesting sidenote: Certain fruits enjoy greater favor among the foodie community; fruits currently in fashion among foodies and consumers include Pomegranate and Heirloom Tomatoes. Cultivated in California, Pomegranate is consumed mainly for its juice and is rich in Vitamins C, B5, and antioxidants. Many people particularly treasure Heirloom Tomatoes each summer for their multiple colors, unique shapes, and sizes and their unusually delicate flavors.

Seasonal vegetables and fruit that are especially popular and most commonly eaten in California include Artichokes and Avocados. Artichokes are a spiny vegetable grown largely in Californias Central Valley area. Avocados are a pear- shaped fruit, also known as Alligator Pears, that are mainly cultivated in countries with tropical climates. Many avocados, mainly the Hass type, also grow in Southern California. - 17274

About the Author:

David DuPont, a principal with The DuPont Group in Mill Valley, California, specializes in Sausalito,CA homes for sale and Tiburon real estate for sale for high net-worth individuals and families. David is a Senior Real Estate Specialist (SRES) and brought to market the nation's largest residential real estate transaction in 2005.

How to Make Lemon Poppy Seed Cupcakes

By Amy Feigns

Through the ages, poppy seeds have proven their significance in the medical history and as a significant element in a lot of healthy dishes. These days, more and more recipes have been brought up that highlight the use of poppy seeds . In a wide variety of cuisines, poppy seeds have been given great importance due to its health properties.

Most often, poppy seeds are the people's favorite in various baked goods like bread, muffins, cakes, and more. One good example is the lemon poppy seed cupcake which is not just the perfect addition to any meals but as a healthy snack for a healthy lifestyle. For making this unique twist for cupcakes, you will require yourself to have a zest of lemon, softened butter, sugar, blue poppy seeds, vanilla extract, yoghurt, baking soda, baking powder, and all purpose flour. To make a fine mixture for the icing, you will be needing lemon juice or water, and an icing sugar.

What you need to do first is to prepare the moldings by greasing them properly. You must then have the oven preheated in a 200 degrees Celsius or 400 degrees Fahrenheit temperature. While doing this, you can start mixing the sugar and butter through the aid of a hand mixer within 3 minutes until the solution has become creamy and light. Then add the eggs one at a time while you go on with the stirring. Also add the blue poppy seeds into the mixture.

After having added all the eggs, vanilla extract and lemon zest follows into the mixture. On the other bowl, start mixing together all the dry ingredients. After having properly mixed all the wet ingredients, you may then slow down the pace and pour in the yoghurt along with the dry ingredients alternately in way of starting and ending with flour.

You may then start pouring the prepared mixture into its moulds and properly even out the top before placing them into the oven. For about 18 to 20 minutes, bake the mixture into the oven. To properly determine whether or not the muffins are already well baked, you can do so through a thin knife. After having securely determined that the muffins are already fully baked, you may start getting them out of their moulds and wait for five minutes to have all of them cooled down. The cooling factor is important before you start adding the icing on top to avoid melting the icing as it will look differently.

But to make the icing, you will mix the lemon juice along with the icing sugar until it gets moist. You may add some of the said ingredients when needed with an interval until you have reached the needed texture. The icing should be creamy and white to make a perfect topping for your muffins. And then serve the muffins as a unique dessert or as a mouth watering snack. - 17274

About the Author:

These seeds had been notorious in the past, but people have recently been aware of its health benefits. Find out more about the great health benefits of poppies in this site: http://www.PoppyPodsDirect.com.

Body Building Diet Plans, the Importance of Pre-Workout Nutrition

By Ricardo d Argence

The saying says, "if you fail to prepare, you are preparing to fail", and the same holds true for each and every one of your workouts. Every session in the gym should be treated as a battle, and just like any other battle in life you must enter it with proper mental and physical readiness.

When you are planning to work out you need to ensure that the meal you eat before going to the gym gives you the nutrients to battle the weights effectively.

The 3 main goals of the pre-workout meal are as follows: Maximize your strength potential. Provide a steady stream of balanced energy for your mind and muscles throughout the workout. Minimize muscle breakdown and provide the raw tools for your body to begin the recovery process once the workout is over.

The first thing to make sure of is that you are properly hydrated before beginning your workout. Water plays a vital role in keeping strength and energy levels peaked, so always ensure that you've consumed an adequate amount of water in the few hours before you train.

Your pre-workout meal should be eaten approximately 30 to 45 minutes before you enter the gym. The initial ingredient in this meal is, obviously, protein. Maintaining an anabolic workout state helps prevent muscle breakdown and this protein will help you do that.

Whey protein makes for a great pre-workout choice because it helps to prevent muscle catabolism during your workout. Mixing your whey with milk is a good idea because this will slow down the release of the protein and provide your body with a steady stream of amino acids throughout your workout.

You should take 1-2 portions of low-glycemic carbohydrates with your protein shake. Before the work outs it is best to take low glycemic carbohydrates because they are broken down and absorbed slowly,which gives the body a constant stream of energy as long as the workouts last.

When you consume sugary food, it is immediately released into your bloodstream so your body releases a surge of insulin in order to keep your sugar level in check. choose carbohydrates that won't cause this rapid fluctuation in insulin levels so that the last thing you want in the middle of a high intensity workout.

Oatmeal, apples or brown rice are good pre-workout carbohydrate choices. These foods will fuel your body with a steady stream fo sugars throughout the workout, keeping your energy levels continually peaked. For easy digestion and to prevent you from feeling sick when you train, eat only a small pre-workout meal. It is best to exercise after eating. - 17274

About the Author:

Get the #1 natural bodybuilding program, the Muscle Gain Truth No-Fail Method and achieve the best results in some weeks.

Women's Fitness: How to Get a Great Body Safely and Quickly

By Chris Tan

Women's Fitness routines are a great way to become healthy, lose weight and gain that sleek body everyone is looking. However, as with any fitness routine, it takes commitment, dedication and willpower.

The women of today live a hustle and bustle lifestyle that leaves them no time for anything extra. For this reason, time is the number complaint as to why women fail at exercise routines. In addition, it places an emphasis on the quick fix of diet pills and teas which can be harmful and generally don't work. To achieve the much desired 'quick result" women need to adopt specific exercise routines.

Intensity.

Intensity is the key when it comes to fitness trainings. Whether you are doing cardio exercise or weight training exercises, you have to know that the higher intensity of your workout, the more calories you will be burning. For example, a person who jogs for 5 days a week will be losing less calories and fats as compared to one who runs for 3 days a week. That is how much a difference intensity levels can make.

For maximum intensity levels, do short bursts of exercises. For example, do sets of sprints and then rest instead of long distance jogging. Long distance jogging will not increase your heart rate as much as sprinting does. With high intensity workouts, you will no longer need hours of exercise to see results.

Weight Training.

Weight training is the top and very best metabolism boosting training. For weight training, the amount of weight used and the speed of lifting is the key to intensity. Heavier weights mean higher intensity levels. Weight training increases your metabolism rate for 24 hours!

Implementing both cardio and weight training into your workout routine will give you the very best workout possible. Although this may seem like hard work, the results you see in your body every week will be worth it.

Healthy Diet.

A healthy diet is what makes a healthy and beautiful looking body. As many say, you are what you eat. This is very true! The amount of carbohydrates, proteins and fats that your body absorbs during your meals determines your body.

To maximize your workouts, it is recommended that you implement a healthy diet. Here are some examples.

Take in more proteins as compared to carbohydrates and fats. This is really simple to understand. Proteins keep you full for longer amounts of time while excess energy from carbohydrates end up as fats that are stored by your body.

Another suggestion is eating smaller meals. Implementing multiple, smaller meals into your day tricks your body into thinking youre eating more, thus making it work twice as hard. This is the reason starvation diets don't work. When the body is starved, the metabolism has to work less in order to store energy. - 17274

About the Author:

Chris Tan is a keen fitness enthusiast. He loves to share his knowledge and wrote articles about Stretching Exercises for Woman and Fitness Equipment for Woman on Clivir.com.