Posts Tagged ‘Mufa’

Dark Chocolate and Avocados Contain MUFA’s Too!

Saturday, March 13th, 2010

Easy ways to add MUFA’s to your diet: Try an Avocado

True, avocados are high in fat—approximately 30 grams—but the good news is that 20 of those grams come from monounsaturated fats, oleic acid specifically, known for its health benefits. Avocados are also loaded with dietary fiber, vitamin K, vitamin B6, vitamin C, copper, folate, and potassium.

Great ideas for adding avocados to your diet:

~mash and spread on whole-wheat toast; top with low-fat mozzarella cheese and place under the broiler until cheese melts. Tastes great without the cheese too!

~cut into slices and drizzle with olive oil, add chopped tomato and fresh basil for a special treat.

~avocados make a great addition to any salad

~create a quesadilla with flair: use sliced avocado, salsa, and low-fat mozzarella cheese

~whip up a bowl of home-made guacamole

Enter the Yummiest MUFA of All: Dark Chocolate

Several scientific studies have shown that eating dark chocolate (in moderation) is actually good for you. Consuming dark chocolate, known to lower high blood pressure, is also high in antioxidants, which destroy free radicals throughout the body.

When picking dark chocolate…the darker the better…this is the easiest way to remember which kind to buy.

Great Ideas for adding dark chocolate to your diet:
~drizzle melted dark chocolate over whole-wheat waffles and top of strawberries

~Mix a ¼ semi-sweet chocolate chips & 2 TB of peanuts for a tempting treat

~Melt 1 serving of dark chocolate and pour over hot air-popped popcorn

~Splurge and buy yourself a special bar of European dark chocolate…the European’s know how to make chocolate…Enjoy!

~Dip strawberries into melted dark chocolate for a decadent dessert

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Flat Belly Diet Book Review

Thursday, March 11th, 2010
Flat Belly Solution
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The Flat Belly Diet consists of several phases. Phase I includes what is referred to as, the “four-day anti-bloat” jumpstart.

The jumpstart is followed by a 28 days of healthy eating that includes a “MUFA” for each of the four, 400 calorie meals consumed daily.

Also included in the plan are optional fat burning walks, belly toning, and a metabolism boost that are designed to burn calories and build muscles.

Chapter I offers a brief description of the authors, their credentials, and also includes information about how the flat belly solution came into existence.

Chapter II , entitled,“The Skinny on Belly Fat” is where the “meat” of the book begins. It also explains why fat, especially belly fat can be so dangerous. Did you know that fat, visceral fat in particular, is linked to many serious health problems?

High blood pressure, breast cancer, dementia, stroke, heart disease, and diabetes are some of the conditions associated with the kind of fat that lies deep within your body. I found this section to be extremely interesting, because the authors took the time to explain exactly why and how belly fat is dangerous. I always knew about the problem but I didn’t know the particulars.

The chapter also explains the difference between “good” and “bad” fats, and it even explains in simple terms how fat cells in the body work. Interesting! The right amount of fat stored in the body is needed for maintaining hormone levels, energy, regulating temperature, fertility, bone growth, and cushioning vital organs.

Remember: Fat is important for optimal health…too much is deadly!

Chapter III , entitled,“The Magic of MUFAS” describes the perfect solution to battling belly fat…monounsaturated fatty acids, known by the moniker, MUFAS for the remainder of the book. The flat belly MUFAS fall into five categories…oils, olives, nuts and seeds, avocados, and my favorite; dark chocolate. The chapter goes into more depth about good vs. bad fats and even discusses what they coin as the, “Eat Less Fat” backlash from years past, where people cut their fat intake, as recommended by their doctors and members of the healthy community, but the obesity rate in America continued to soar.

Enter MUFAS!

Keep reading to find out why they are looked upon as the perfect flat belly solution in the field of healthy eating.

MUFAS:
~protect your heart
~ward off Type II Diabetes
~cut Metabolic Syndrome Risk
~reduce inflammation
~lower the risk of breast cancer
~maintain healthy brain function
~extend life expectancy
~target belly fat!

Pretty amazing, huh?

Chapters 1-3–>Home Page

Please keep reading about the Flat Belly Diet (Chapters 4-5) This chapter is loaded with great ideas for battling belly bloat & stress, the kind that often leads to increased belly fat.

This is what you’ve been waiting for! (Chapters 6-7) This chapter contains the “nuts-and-bolts” of the program…Recipes! Delicious! (Chapter 8)

The “Write Way” to Lose Weight (Chapter 9)

~(Chapter 10) ~Exercise! Boost Your Metabolism!

~Does the Flat Belly Solution Really Work? Find Out!

~Good Morning America: Video Clip There are five of Them… (opens in new window)

Read More about Flat Belly Foods

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Flat Belly Diet Book Review:

Saturday, January 16th, 2010

Is it the Best Way to Lose Belly Fat?

Flat Belly Diet Book Review:

Have you seen it yet? The canary yellow book cover that yells out to you, “Flat Belly Diet is about Food & Attitude. Period. (Not a Single Crunch Required)”

The message is sure to grab your attention when you are perusing the aisles of your local book store, but the big question is, does the diet work?

The authors make the claim, “The lean, healthy body you want is within, your grasp. And the Flat Belly Diet is the answer.”

“Okay, so who are the authors? I’ve never heard of them before.” (That’s what you were probably wondering, so I asked it for you!)The diet book was co- written by Prevention Magazine’s vice president and editor-in-chief, Liz Vaccariello and Prevention’s nutrition director, Cynthia Sass.

They used scientific data from numerous research studies and “human belly fat loss testers”—strategically placed throughout the book—to shine the spotlight on what the diet is supposed to achieve. I must admit that the participants have done a great job sticking to the diet plan and shedding belly fat. Their weight loss vignettes were interesting to read and inspirational too.

The Flat Belly Diet has 3 simple rules to follow:

#1 1,600 calories a day/4 meals (400 calories each)
#2 4 hours is the magic number. Don’t go longer than 4 hours between meals.
#3 Eat one serving of a MUFA at every meal.

What is a MUFA?

Pronounced “moo fa,” MUFA is an acronym for monounsaturated fatty acids, which are sometimes referred to as “healthy fat”. MUFA’s are found in five different food categories—healthy oils, olives, avocados, nuts & seeds, and my favorite…dark chocolate.

What you get:
~4-day anti-bloat jump start
~A four week eating plan (complete with recipes)
~The recipe for “Sassy Water”
~An optional exercise plan (complete with pictures)
~Lots and lots of nutritional information.

Pros:
I learned a lot about nutrition, keeping a food diary, exercise, flat belly foods, and tips for stress management and why it’s important when fighting belly fat. Oh, I almost forgot…most of the recipe ideas are great and easy to make!

Cons:
I personally know that for myself, I need exercise ( and lots of it) to lose weight. The Flat Belly Diet offers a great exercise routine but the plan says it’s optional. From everything I’ve read in outside sources, both diet and exercise is needed to combat belly fat. I also think a few of the recipes require weird ingredients that are hard to find.

This was my review of the Flat Belly Diet in a “nutshell” (pun intended). If you want to read a complete Flat Belly Diet book review—chapter by chapter— Check it out here!

Flat Belly Diet Book Review–>Product Reviews

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