Epicure’s seven steps for healthy living
Chaim Kimel of www.Epicurechefs.com

EPICURE’S 7-STEP PROGRAM TO HEALTH

Here at Epicure, we believe it is important for people to not only evaluate their fitness by the bathroom scale, but also to focus on increasing their health and their overall physical, emotional and mental well-being.
Epicure promotes a food plan that is similar to that of the US Health Department Recommendation (basically a Mediterranean diet), which encourages a life-style of healthy eating (fruits, vegetables and low-fat intake) in conjunction with a sustainable exercise regime.
Epicure does note that their 7-step program will help you lose weight through establishing better eating habits (resulting in less hunger and emotional eating), but unless a calorie-controlled diet is specified it may not directly correlate with a massive weight reduction.
However, with a wholesome balanced lifestyle, with Epicure cuisine you are bound to reach your optimal weight naturally, without excessive effort or food deprivation.

1. A balanced food intake

At this moment in time, there are a multitude of popular diets promoting things such as:

1. high protein with little to no carbs (Atkins); and

2. high carbohydrates but low GI (Glycemic Index, or simple sugars) (GI Index diet).

In the short term, these diets may help you lose weight, but a recent study conducted in the US and the UK found that the most weight people lost on these diets was only 5-10% of their original body weight, over a year. This is not much if you weigh 150kgs.

The major problem, however, was that most people found it difficult to sustain such unnatural eating patterns, and after 3 months, 80% of the focus group had not only reverted to their old, familiar eating habits, but also regained the weight they had initially lost.

The simple reason for the failure of such diets is that our body is not designed for the consumption of single food groups only. The healthiest people in the world and the individuals with the longest lifespan are primarily from the Mediterranean region, Japan, and rural central Asia.

So, what are the common denominators in these communities’ diets? 3 simple things:

1. a high vegetarian intake (fresh fruit and vegetables);
2. fish and meat are consumed in small quantities only, and not every day; and
3. almost no-one in these communities over-eats.

One of the biggest causes of disease and physical and emotional stress are caused by overeating. It is no surprise that many food related illness (obesity, diabetes, etc) are especially prevalent in western societies, where there is an abundance of poor-quality food available which is often consumed in excessive amounts.

2. Fresh foods

In today’s urban society time is a scarce commodity; so many people tend to shop for food only once or twice a week. Because of this, we are used to eating a large amount of processed foods, usually laden with preservatives and nutritional supplements. These additives can have a detrimental effect on our well being, and have been linked to the development of allergies and food intolerances. Therefore, Epicure understands that it is vital to only eat fresh, whole foods which are bought and prepared on the day.

3. Non/low- allergenic ingredients

Until the body’s functions are balanced through constant exposure to a healthy food regime, it is very important to avoid food stuffs that will slow down the revitalization process.

Where ever possible, Epicure watches out for those allergy promoting ingredients, without compromising on taste.

After a period of healthy eating, however, you will find that most of those allergies will naturally disappear.

4. Correct food combinations

Some foods need acidic juices to digest, and others need alkaline juices. If we eat opposite types at the same time, the acidic and alkaline juices in our stomach will cancel each other out, and the food will sit there and ferment, taking longer to digest. This means that immediately after eating we will begin to feel sluggish and bloated, and who has time to feel like that?!! (Please refer to the attached chart).

For example, good foods such as fruit are digested in the small intestine. If we eat fruit after a meal, the fruit will be held up in the stomach further slowing digestion; therefore, Epicure always ensures that such food types are eaten individually, and at the optimal hour (for digestion) during the day.

5. Hydration

Our bodies are made of 80% water. All chemical and cellular reactions, transport of nutrients, and waste removal all use water in their processes. So for optimal functioning of our system we need to drink a lot of water and eat a lot of fruit and water-rich foods.

Epicure recommends you drink at least 1-2 liters of water a day, but as this may seem like a lot for some people we have some ‘secret ingredients’ we can add to your water to make it more palatable, but which don’t add any calories or sugar.

6. Eating times and frequency

Breakfast can be a difficult meal for many people – either they are too busy to eat and so skip breakfast (not good as it slows down the metabolism), or they eat the wrong foods, leaving them tired and lethargic. Neither option is good way to start the day!

Epicure’s research indicates that the most effective breakfast is fruit (or fruit juice) in the morning, as it works as a cleanser and gives your brain the sugar intake it needs to function.

A balanced lunch is essential, but if you’re still hungry in the afternoon eat something light, and then have dinner as early as possible. Or, if you prefer, reverse your eating habits and eat your main meal at lunch time and have a lighter meal in the evening (as they do around the Mediterranean, which is another reason they are healthier). Who wants to go to bed on a full stomach? You will also wake up lighter and more energetic!

7. Exercise

One of the reasons why people in many rural communities around the world are not overweight is because their life-style forces them to do a lot of physical exercise, such as farming, lifting, walking etc.

Epicure suggests that in order to stay fit and healthy, it is important to do an hour of exercise every day, such as walking, going to the gym, swimming, yoga, etc. Exercise not only burns calories and helps you lose weight, but it also elevates your heart rate, gets your circulation going, and increases your metabolism. Thus, your body is able to cleanse itself more effectively which will further increase your energy.

Unlike cars and other machinery, the more we use our body parts the better they function, so don’t waste any time, get started on your exercise today!

About the Author

Chaim kimel is the the managing director of epicurechefs.com. chaim has studied Physiology And Biochemistry at N.S.W university. He has, over the years researched publications on fad diets, food components on health and different ethnic communities eating habits effect on their health.Currently involved in Team building and teaching cooking. visit the web site http://www.epicurechefs.com

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Almost everybody knows the effects of bad cholesterol in the body. By bad cholesterol, it literally has to do with low-density lipoprotein’s molecular transport deposits that thicken in the walls of the arteries hindering the flawless passage of blood affecting the atherogenic status of the arterial walls. While few people do not fully appreciate the importance of cholesterol in the body, this non-soluble waxy substance is essential to aid in building membranes, manufacture of bile, cell walls, nerve sheaths, and produce hormones.

However, exposing the body to high cholesterol supply result to hypertensions and other cardiovascular disorders or lead to atherosclerosis, a disposition of fatty substances, and fibrosis of the inner arteries.

Certain ways to check and reduce high levels of cholesterol are:

– practicing good eating habits accompanied by regular exercise.

– Indulging in a wrong kind of lifestyle or over indulgence enhances the rise in cholesterol levels.

Good Eating Habits include:

1. Pre-arranging a total cholesterol-free daily diet by creating a whole week menu with vegetable-packed recipes, accompanied by good supply of fiber-filled fruits. If you could possibly buy or produce organically produced food types from such sources as organic gardens, so much the better. Chemicals enhance the increase in cholesterol level. Carbohydrates should be of high complex standards.

Some supermarkets abound in the availability of fresh organic vegetables like lettuce. The high fiber-content of vegetables that you eat will reduce the LDL cholesterol, because these foods are very low-cholesterol-content, or non-containing at all. There are of course foods that enhance low-density lipoprotein to develop to be a total risk, and settle in the arteries during the process of the lipoprotein molecules travel to the blood stream.

2. If egg is included in your meals, eat more egg white, never the egg yolk if you’re already an LDC possibility-individual. Concentrate on baked foods that are made from whole wheat, and noodles made from cereals. Use unrefined sugar in your light beverages. Fully refined food preparations are processed thru certain chemicals for fine or whitening effects for marketing ends, but are in fact health hazards.

3. Water is the universal solvent. There is no harm in drinking more water, following the daily water requirements standard to aid in the total digestion process to balance body equilibrium in cleaning the body to improve blood circulation.

4. Eat more root crops than artificially made or baked foods that are prepared with certain additives, coloring, and extenders for commercial purposes.

5. Drink fresh fruit juices, instead of manufactured soft drinks with high sugar content and artificial colorings and additives. Practically, anyone who drinks chocolate beverage, or any chemical drinks and caffeine-filled, like strong coffee risks himself or herself to certain cholesterol levels.

Always remember that trans fats and hydrogenated fats or oils used in the baking or in food processing are even more destructive the saturated fats of some oil origin. Use in preparing your food selected palm oils, especially “olive oil.” It may be costly, but it is the safest oil to use in the kitchen for overall safety of all family members against the ill effect of too much cholesterol.

The best habit to consider is a regular check up of your cholesterol count, so as to safeguard against instant increase that might lead to unaware possible consequence of a fatal hypertension, or stroke due to unprecedented cholesterol rise.

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When we are trying to lose extra pounds, it would be sensible to follow a low carb fat reducing diet. We know that we need to skip the biscuits, cakes and other sugary snacks we love but what else could we do in order to lose weight.

We need to make actual we eat the right fats. Too many people who embark on a diet cut out all types of fats. This only makes you miserable as the first place you lose fat from is your brain cells. Your brain needs good fats in orderliness to distribute feel good chemicals i. e. serotonin throughout your body. Starving yourself of these recherche fats is the road to ruin.

Following a diet that bans certain foods immediately makes them more attractive and you can crave things you wouldnt normally be interested in. One way to combat these cravings is to allow yourself a little of what you fancy. Ok you cant have the whole chocolate obstacle but one square of good quality dark chocolate per day is actually good for you.

When following a low carb fat reducing diet, it is important not to eat any carbohydrates in the witching hour. Dont eat them after 5pm and you will notice the weight loss speeds up. Carbohydrates are a necessary part of our diet but they release glucose into our systems. When we dont use up this glucose it is converted into fat and stored usually on our waistline. By not eating carbohydrates in the evening, we lower this effect. It also makes us hungrier in the mornings in consequence we are more likely to have a fulfilling breakfast. This is key to losing weight.

Eating more of the correct foods will give you more energy. You already know that you need to exercise more in order to help lose weight but also to improve your overall fitness level. Spawn in a pedometer and aim to get to 10, 000 steps a day. Try other forms of exercise. Variety is the spice o f life. It is pointless forcing yourself to go jogging every day if you hate it. Try swimming, rollerblading or even walking instead.

Find a friend to go on your low carb fat reducing diet with you. It is always easier to do something when there are two of you to keep each other motivated. Agree in advance what your prize will appear as when you grasp your goal weight. Further give blessing that if one or both of you fall off the diet wagon it is not a disaster just a setback and you will just get siphon on again.

Avoiding alcohol is one way of reducing calories as is increasing the amount of water you drink. We often mistake thirst for hunger ergo aim to drink at least 8 glasses a day. Try out different food types. We should all be eating more legumes but they are not staple parts of greatly peoples diets. Aim to try a new low carb fat reducing recipe once a span.

In other words keep it real and not ideal.

24 Hour Fitness
http://www.www.24-hr-fitness.com

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Puberty and childhood can be very inviting, and frustrating times for parents and teeners. During this crucial mode, most teenagers are highly active, and require deeper alertness from different food sources. To provide that your teenage son or jail bait is wicked to cope with the rigors of school work and peer pressure, make sure that they develop a healthy eating habit. Most food experts stress that healthy eating is a way of balancing the amount and the type of food you consume, to keep you energized, strong and properly nourished. Here are a few helpful tips for doctrine your teenage sons and daughters to adopt healthy eating habits..

Let Your Kids Appreciate The Tenets Of Healthy Eating

What exactly is healthy eating? In conventional terms, healthy eating refers to eating the food from all the food groups. This includes consuming balanced servings of fruits, grains, vegetables, dairy proteins, healthy fats and fibers each day. Healthy eating is the art of balancing nutrient – affluent food items with moderate mounts of other food types, like sweets or typical fast – food fare. Healthy eating also refers to eating when youre hungry and stopping when you are already full

Teach Your Teenager To Plan His Or Her Meals

Healthy eating means that you aim for eating three regular meals, from breakfast, lunch to dinner. Eating three meals a day, with the usual snacks in between, is actually one of the best ways for maintaining your bodys energy and healthy weight levels. Because most teenagers often skip breakfast, they are more fated to over – eat later in the day, and are more prone to becoming overweight.

Avoid Excessive Sugar And Salt Intake

Bitter too much sugar and salt is definitely not advisable for teenagers, and for most of us. Beverages that contain high sugar levels are nothing but alone activity sources. This means that they build in a lot of energy that your body may not actually need, and they dont have minerals, vitamins, proteins and even fiber. Instead of drinking the usual sugar – filled carbonated beverages, teach your teener to try diet sodas, flavored water, or sugar – free drinks or juices. Most desserts like cookies, cakes, candies and ice cream also contain lots of sugar. However, its perfectly okay to enjoy eating these foods, as long as these do not fully replace the healthier ones.

Also educate your teenage son or daughter to be mindful when eating. Teach them the benefits of slowing down when they eat, considering well being by listening to their conformation. Make them realize that they should only eat when theyre hungry, and they should stop eating when youre mammoth. By listening to your body, you will help balance its energy needs, enabling you to stay comfortable. Also enshrine your children to consume fiber – rich foods such as vegetables, fruits and whole grains, so that theyll feel comfortably full, and have their daily fill of required vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.

24 Hour Fitness
http://www.www.24-hr-fitness.com

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