10 Health Benefits of Watermelons

When I think of Summer barbecues, one of the first fruits I think of is a refreshing Watermelon slice! To celebrate Summer, I have listed some amazing health benefits that Watermelons come with, something we can all enjoy!

Watermelon Health Benefits

1) Watermelon is rich in a carotenoid antioxidant in it called lycopene, which is something tomatoes are famous for. Something you may not know, watermelon has more lycopene than any other fresh fruit or vegetable -including tomatoes -which are known to help reduce the risk of several types of cancers.

2) Watermelons are very low in calories, about 46 calories per cup. This is one of the many reasons that makes watermelon a great snack to have throughout the day, especially if you have a weight loss goal.

3) Watermelon contains arginine which is an amino acids that can help maintain arteries, blood flow and overall cardiovascular function.

4) When you eat watermelon, you consume zero grams of fat and cholesterol.

5) Watermelons are high in vitamin A which is an antioxidant and promotes eye health (just like carrots!)

6) Watermelons are rich in potassium, which may help control blood pressure and possibly prevent strokes.

7) Watermelon is fairly high in vitamin C, which is a great way to build up your immune system, prevent cellular damage, heal wounds, and even promotes healthy teeth and gums.

8) Watermelon is one of nature’s natural sources of some important electrolytes – sodium and potassium- which we lose when we sweat. This concept alone reminds me why watermelon is a great fruit to snack on during the hot Summer months.

9) I thought this was an obvious thing, but it’s important to realize that we can get water intake from the foods we eat. Some foods contain more water than others, and you guessed it – watermelon is full of water! With it’s high water concentration, eating watermelons is a great way to prevent dehydration.

10) If you want to avoid Genetically Modified (GM) foods, stay away from seedless watermelons. A side-effect of GM seedless watermelons is that there is a much higher sugar content in them, which isn’t always a good thing.

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Tags: Fruit, Healthy, low calorie, Nutrition, Weight Loss

Twinkie’s Challenge: Eat Fruits & Vegetables that are in Season

It’s time you start benefiting from fresh fruits and vegetables that are in Season! Not only will you enjoy a more delicious and fresh flavor from your produce, but you will also be able to save money when you buy fruits and vegetables that are in Season.

This list I have provided shows which fruits and vegetables are in Season throughout the year. It will depend upon where you live, but this list is general enough to give you an idea of when produce is typically available.

Spring (March – May)

• Broccoli
• Lettuce
• Mangoes
• Pineapple
• Artichoke
• Asparagus
• Rhubarb
• Peas
• Zucchini
• Apricot
• Cherries

Summer (June – August)

• Watermelon
• Raspberries
• Blueberries
• Strawberries
• Beets
• Cantaloupe
• Corn
• Cherries
• Lettuce
• Peaches
• Apricots
• Cucumbers
• Figs
• Limes
• Green Beans
• Kiwi
• Summer Squash
• Tomato
• Eggplant
• Plums

Fall (September – November)

• Pomegranate
• Apples
• Cranberries
• Grapes
• Coconut
• Lettuce
• Persimmon
• Beets
• Eggplants
• Pumpkins
• Spinach
• Tomato
• Broccoli
• Brussel Sprouts
• Limes
• Sweet Potatoes
• Pears
• Winter Squash
• Mushrooms
• Oranges
• Tangerines

Winter (December – February)

• Cranberries
• Grapefruit
• Lemons
• Oranges
• Papayas
• Pears
• Coconut
• Broccoli
• Cauliflower
• Mushrooms
• Pomegranate
• Sweet Potatoes
• Tangelos
• Tangerines
• Cabbage
• Leeks

In Season All Year

• Avocados
• Banana
• Celery
• Carrots
• Onions
• Peppers
• Potatoes

Feel free to use this list as a reference guide throughout the year to help you buy fruits and vegetables in Season.

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Tags: Fruit, Fruits in Season, Healthy, Nutrition, save money, vegetables, Vegetables in Season

Healthy Carbohydrates your Body Needs

When it comes to eating carbohydrates and trying to eat healthy, there seems to be a lot of confusion. I am not surprised that so many people feel that carbohydrates are bad, considering all of the “low carb” diets available today.

Are carbohydrates really bad for you? Is it healthy to avoid them completely? I will discuss the answers to those questions, along with talking about what purpose carbohydrates serve in our body, and what types of carbohydrates you should pick up the next time you head out to the grocery store.

Why you need Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates are good for your body, but most people are eating the wrong type of carbohydrates (which I will go into detail below). Your body benefits from Carbohydrates when they are broken down into glucose, which fuels the body with needed energy. Anyone who exercises probably knows how important carbohydrates are in their diet.

Simple Carbohydrates

When you eat simple carbohydrates, such as processed flours and sugar, you will get a quick but short boost of energy. Our cells only need a certain amount of gluose at a time, so all of the extra “instant” glucose that is created by these simple carbohydrates turns into either stored glycogen (in the liver) or converted into fat.

An example of simple carbohydrates would be white bread, doughnuts, cakes, cookies, etc. They are packed with calories but depleted of nutrients. Basically, if you want to maintain or lose weight, stay away from the simple carbohydrates, because they become converted into fat soon after eating them.

Complex Carbohydrates

Complex carbohydrates are typically low in calories, high in fiber, and are full of nutrients that are very beneficial for your body. These types of carbohydrates are digested slowly, which allows for a gradual release of energy. Since your body isn’t overloaded with glucose at one instance, your body’s cells use what it needs and leaves a much smaller amount to be stored or converted into fat. Because of this slower digestion process, you end up being full for longer, which usually helps prevent people from overeating.

An example of complex carbohydrates would be vegetables, grains, and rice.

Healthy Carbohydrates

•Quinoa – This tasty seed (not actually a grain!)  is very high in protein and also considered what’s called a “complete protein”,  since it contains all of the amino acids, including lysine. Quinoa is also high in fiber, calcium, manganese, magnesium, and low in saturated fat and cholesterol. Quinoa is a gluten free grain, which means those with Celiac disease can enjoy the many health benefits of Quinoa.

•Farro – This grain, similar to the taste of barley, is rich in Magnesium and contains, protein, fiber, and Vitamins B and E. This is an ancient grain used for thousands of years in Egypt and Italy. Not only is Farro very healthy for you, but it has a delicious nut flavor to it and great in recipes. It’s a grain that is growing back in popularity, especially amongst chefs in Europe.

•Brown Rice – This rice is full of nutrients that are very beneficial for your body! Brown rice is full of Vitamins B1, B2, B3, B6, iron, manganese, magnesium, iron, fiber, and protein. Brown rice oil, which is only present in brown rice (not white rice), has been proven to help lower cholesterol levels. Brown rice may help reduce cardiovascular disease as well as help prevent cancer.

•Freekeh – This grain is becoming increasingly popular, known as a “super grain” amongst celebrities such as Doctor Oz and Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver. It’s no wonder that Freekeh is getting a lot of attention lately, since it is full of vitamins and minerals such as calcium, potassium, B Vitamins, Vitamin E, and this grain is very high in fiber (four times the amount of brown rice), and also high in protein. In addition to that, Freekeh also acts as a prebiotic, which helps aide digestion.

•Amaranth – Known as a “Natural Weight Loss Food”, Amaranth is high in Calcium, fiber, iron, magnesium, and protein. Amaranth even contains Lysine, which is an amino acid that helps growth and tissue repair. Amaranth is another great source for those who are looking for something that is Gluten Free.

•Chia – This is one of the richest plant sources of Omega 3 fatty acids, which boosts the metabolism and promotes lean muscle mass. Chia seeds are very high fiber, protein, antioxidants, and helps support heart health and stabilizes blood sugar levels.

•Beans – Beans are full of fiber, helps improves digestion, stabilize sugar levels, and maintain energy levels.

•Vegetables – Vegetables are low in calories, very filling and very healthy for you. Just try to eat a variety of different vegetables so you can get a variety of different nutrients.

Carbohydrates to Avoid

• Bleached/Processed Flour – During the refining process, the nutrients are completely lost and destroyed. What does this mean? Half of the calcium and beneficial unsaturated fatty acids, 80% of the iron, 70% of the phosphorus, over 90% of the magnesium, up to 80% of the B Vitamins, and just about all of the Vitamin E is completely gone. So when I say that White flour is “empty calories” or “nutritionally depleted”, you now know what I am talking about. There is just no health benefit to eating bleached and/or processed flour, a.k.a “White Bread”.

• White Bread – Made with Bleached and Processed flour, it holds no nutritional value. I am surprised people are still buying this stuff.

• White Rice – When you take brown rice and process it by removing it’s bran, minerals, vitamins, and strip off the essential nutrients, it then becomes white rice. Why do we as a society strip a perfectly healthy brown rice and make it white? Because once it is white rice, it becomes easier and faster to cook, and it now has a longer shelf life (great for food storage -not necessarily our health). Most people who aren’t used to brown rice, think that white rice tastes better. Now that you know that white rice has nothing left in it after being processed, and how it is now a simple carbohydrate (read: helps you gain fat), I hope you will be more willing to try brown rice next time.

What’s your Daily Carb Fix?

In the past, we were told that our main diet should consist of carbohydrates. Now, every diet seems to tell you to completely eliminate carbohydrates from your diet. So which one is it? Well, we know that carbohydrates are essential for optimal health, as long as you are eating the healthy kinds of carbohydrates. There are a lot of factors that determine how many grams of carbohydrates you should be eating a day, such as weight, fat vs. lean muscle mass ratio, and the amount of exercise you are doing. Because there are so many factors involved, they best I can tell you to do is to start with 100-150 grams of carbohydrates per day. If you are feeling like you aren’t getting enough, slowly adjust the amount of carbohydrates you are eating and add some more to your diet. If you are feeling too full and sluggish all of the time (even with exercise), you should start to lower the amount of carbohydrates you are taking in each day. Be sure that you are only eating healthy forms of carbohydrates, since this will effect your energy levels and determine how many grams of carbohydrates you really need.

Now that you know which carbohydrates are good for you and which ones you should avoid, you can start by making adjustments to your grocery list. Try to remember that eating healthier doesn’t happen overnight. Start by incorporating these healthy grains- one step at a time!

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Tags: brown rice, carbohydrates, carbs, Fruit, nutrients, Nutrition, Quinoa, vegetables, veggies, White Rice

Just Fruit™ Spreads by Crofter’s

Most jams available on the market probably have more sugar in them than the fruit named on the front of the jar. Luckily for you and me, I have discovered Just Fruit™ Spreads by Crofter’s.

Why Just Fruit™ Spreads?

Besides the fact that these delicious spreads aren’t full of processed sugars, they are delicious and only made with the most simple of ingredients.

My favorite is the Strawberry Just Fruit™ Spread, which only has 5 ingredients: Concentrated Organic grape juice, Organic Strawberries, Apple pectin, Ascorbic acid, and Citric acid.

The Fruit spreads come in Strawberry, Wild Blueberry, Superfruit, Raspberry, Black  Currant, Blackberry, and Apricot.

Be sure to check out all of the delicious flavors that are available, and make sure you always choose the jams that don’t need processed sugar to taste wonderful.

There’s no need to sacrifice flavor for your health, right?

Serving Size: 1 tablespoon

Calories: 35

More information at: Crofter’s Organic

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Tags: Fruit, fruit spread, Healthy, jam, no sugar, Organic, preserves, sugar free

Twinkie’s Typical Meal Plan

A lot of people wonder what I eat every day, how I structure it, and how they too can implement my eating habits to help them lose weight. It’s taken me years to figure out a system that has worked for me, and hopefully my meal plan can help you too.

Here’s a simple outline on how I eat every day…

7:30AM – Breakfast

•Ionix Supreme by Isagenix®

•IsaLean Shake (Vanilla) by Isagenix®

-With my shake, I will include IsaPro (whey protein), Greens!, and FiberPro by Isagenix®)

10:00 AM – Snack

•Fruit

-I will try to pick out a different fruit every week. One week I may have an apple, while another week I will have grapes, watermelon or strawberries.

12:00PM – Lunch

•Sandwich

-I always use Ezekiel bread, and I either make an almond butter and honey sandwich, a tuna or salmon sandwich (with mayo replacement) or sometimes a deli sandwich with fresh tomatoes and sprouts. Easy and delicious!

2:00PM – Snack

•Vegetable

-I will have either sliced cucumbers, baby carrots, or some butternut squash.

4:00PM- Snack

•Protein

-I like to have some hardboiled egg whites (4-6) with a dash of sea salt, or a small amount of nuts, like almonds or pecans.

6:00PM – Dinner

•Protein and Vegetable(s)

-I enjoy a healthy dinner like baked Tilapia and steamed Asparagus. I try to make sure I have a small amount of protein joined with a delicious vegetable.

As you can see, I eat small amounts of healthy food all throughout the day.  I am never starving. I don’t allow myself to get to that point. I eat a lot of food…just not all at once.

Also, I make sure to drink plenty of water throughout the day!

This outline works for me, and I believe it will work for you too.

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Tags: Egg Whites, Fruit, Healthy, Healthy Food, Healthy Meals, Ionix Supreme, Isagenix, IsaLean Shake, Low Calorie Meals, Meal Plan, protein, Twinkie, vegetables, Weight Loss