What do you know about the side effects of too much vitamin D?
As you already know, all healthcare providers tell us to consume foods that are rich in vitamins and minerals, and if we don’t get enough, they advise us to take supplements. But is it possible to take too many vitamins? Let’s take a particular example and talk more about it because things are really interesting.
Vitamin D is one of the most important minerals your body can receive. It’s great for growing and developing your muscle cells, maintaining the health of your skeletal system, and assuring the proper functioning of the adaptive and instinctive immune systems. If you don’t have enough of it in your system, you are more likely to be at higher risk of getting an infection or a disease, and also bone demineralization.
Speaking of deficiency, several studies have discovered that roughly 40% of American adults don’t have enough levels of vitamin D. What’s even more interesting is that approximately 1 billion people are diagnosed with vitamin D deficiency.
We are sure that you’ve heard nutritionists and fitness experts say that in order to lose weight and inches off of your body, you need to be in a caloric deficit. This means that you need to eat fewer calories than you burn. However, making dietary changes is easier said than done, but nothing is impossible.
Many people believe that diet pills or fad diets will help them achieve their goals faster, but the truth is that these are not sustainable at all. The easiest way to have a healthy weight is to eat foods that will nourish your body with all the nutrients it needs, such as protein, carbs, and fat, and include plenty of exercise in your day.
Speaking of things you should eat to be in the best shape of your life, we’ve come across a few fat-burning foods you should include in your diet if you’re looking to glow up and lose weight.
So if this topic is something that interests you, make sure to click on the next page to see all of these fat-burning foods that will help you shed off those extra pounds.
Is there such a thing as an anti-cancer diet? There isn’t one per se, but for years people have been putting together a list of foods and ingredients that are known and proven to help with stopping the development of cancer cells in the human body. This effectively makes up a list of foods that, if added to your diet, will lower the risk of cancer development. It may not sound like something you need to partake in, but even if you don’t have a history of cancer in your family, the anti-cancer diet is something that you should look into anyway.
Not only are a lot of the foods on this cancer diet list good for your health in general, but the American Cancer Society recommends certain fruits or vegetables themselves. Moreover, you should generally be eating five servings of fruits and vegetables a day in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Why not add some anti-cancer diet foods to the list of benefits?
Don’t let the word diet fool you; no one is recommending you any diets in the true meaning of the word. You won’t have to measure any quantities or count any calories for this one. But rather, it’s a list of good foods and cooking ingredients you should add to your meal rotation in order to boost your chances of not contracting cancer. What’s there to lose when all of these are healthy, tasty, and come with a ton of health benefits?
Let us know if you knew about the anti-cancer diet food list before or if you discovered it today!
If you have been on the internet in the last few months, it’s impossible to not have seen someone raving about their air fryer. It seems like the new fad for our kitchen gurus, and it has taken the web space by storm with a ton of recipe books appearing overnight and all the celebrities on this earth singing its praises. It’s only normal to be skeptical about such a new appliance (we were too), especially since it seemed to follow the same journey as the microwave when it first came out.
And while no one came out saying that you’re getting exposed to harmful radiation as they did with the microwave (which is a hoax, by the way, the microwave is safe), the air fryer seemed to be on everyone’s minds anyway. And while not a lot of us have a ton of space in our kitchens to add yet another appliance (not to mention the hefty sum some of them ask for), we were all wondering if it’s worth getting one.
It definitely took us a while until we got it, but we can definitely say it’s been one of the best decisions we ever made. And if you’re still reticent when it comes to getting one, we have gathered here some of the best benefits that it brings and hopefully convinces you that getting one is an investment worth your time and money!
Let us know if you already have an air fryer or if we have managed to sway you to our side!
Initially, the air fryer was thought out to be a replacement for a deep fryer, and while that was and still is a great idea, it didn’t do much to convince people they needed it as an appliance. After all, not everyone had a deep fryer or the desire to experiment with one at home: it’s simply not cost- or time-efficient.
However, when people realized that they needed to cook at home more, but they didn’t necessarily have the time to do so, the air fryer ended up shining and coming up as a great alternative! Gone were the days when people would order greasy foods just because they could get them fast. The air fryer could cook the same thing in the same amount of time it took to get delivered, but it took almost no oil!
What’s there not to love about it? It’s very fast, cooking up your meal perfectly in about 20 minutes max, and very uncomplicated. It’s easy to set up and extremely easy to use; all you have to do is season your ingredients, put them in, and they’re all ready to go! Set the timer, and all that is left to do is wait. It’s so easy and safe, there’s nothing more simple.
This is one of the main reasons people fall in love with this appliance, and we think you will follow suit if you give it a chance!
#2 Extremely Versatile
Not only will the air fryer replace any need to cook something in an oil bath ever again, but you will find that it is so versatile that you will be able to virtually cook anything with it. From frying anything to preparing spaghetti squash, from frozen store-bought foods to actual desserts, there are so many uses for it that you’ll wonder why you still have an oven.
It comes with the added bonus that it’s so easy to use even a kid cannot mess things up (don’t let any kid use any appliance without supervision)! Try it out for yourself, and you will find yourself with so much inspiration you will have a hard time choosing what to have for the next meal.
Image By perfectloop From Shutterstock
#3 Healthier cooking with an air fryer
This is it! This is the reason why everyone raves about air fryers, and we can not blame them! If there is just one reason why you should’ve gotten one of these appliances and lost important counter space for it, it is the fact that no matter what you cook, it will be a lot healthier! It uses so little oil that you only need a can of the spray-on version to replace any need for deep-fried foods: you will simply be cooking the same dishes in a much healthier manner!
Deep-fried foods are horrible for our health. We are all aware of this, but sometimes we cannot resist the temptation. It’s just good, and we all get cravings. If you do get an air fryer, the only oil you will be using is going to be a little spray on things like fried fish or chicken tenders, just so that the breading gets evenly crispy, but compared to an oil bath, it’s a hundred times less oil. Not to mention, other things like french fries require no oil at all to get the perfect crispy golden result.
Trust us, you will be using so much less oil that you will be surprised. Not only that, but you will find so many new recipes to add to your cookbook that you will never go back to conventional oil cooking again!
#4 Faster than conventional over cooking
One of the biggest advantages of this appliance is that it gets hot really quickly, and it uses its circulating air technology to make sure that everything is cooked evenly, browning or crisping up the food without much input from you. This will not only cut down your cooking time drastically, but it will also lessen the stress of not knowing if your home oven will give you the result you want and an even crust.
This happens not only due to the fact that the air fryer circulates the air and it’s really hot, but also because of the size it has: even the bigger ones are a lot smaller than conventional ovens, and they do not need any pre-heating period like most of the ovens. Even when you use an electric oven, it still needs you to preheat it in order to make sure everything bakes evenly.
The air fryer gets rid of all your worries. You can basically throw everything in, set the timer, and then eat dinner (or lunch, or breakfast) in about 10 to 15 minutes. And it’s great to use not just for your main meals but also for quick and easy snacks. If you have a party or you need to make finger food for a youngster in your family that’s famished after school, this appliance will let you heat up and cook something to perfection in a matter of minutes.
Image By leungchopan From Envato Elements
#5 East to clean
Who doesn’t love to hear these three words? Easy to clean. For someone that cooks frequently, it’s just music to our ears, especially if you have a big family: all the pots and pans you have to clean, in addition to all the cutlery and plates. It can be a nightmare sometimes to have to clean all the dishes after a meal after you have spent the last hour cooking. We get you, and this is why a good air fryer will solve all your problems.
They are very easy to clean and, due to the fact that they are versatile, they will lower the number of appliances you have to use in order to get the meal done. Sometimes it’s as easy as adding everything to the pot and setting it up! In a couple of minutes, you will have a steaming dinner ready to be served and way fewer dishes to clean! We only see benefits!
#6 Crispy and crunchy food
If your family happens to be an enthusiast of carb-focused foods and head over heels for snacks, then you have all the reasons for which you will love an air fryer here. It happens a lot of the time when you cook frozen, often breaded foods, like onion rings and fish fingers, in an oven that they do not end up as crispy as they could be if you used an oil bath. Sometimes they can even end up unevenly cooked or even burnt on some sides.
With an air fryer, you can say goodbye to all these issues without all the problems (from a logistical and health perspective) that using an oil bath would bring you! This appliance makes sure that all your food gets crisped up correctly and evenly, avoiding any soggy messes and leaving you to serve your friends and family with perfectly golden, crunchy goodness!
Of course, you will need to use a little bit of oil, but it’s nothing compared to if you deep-fried any of these foods: a little spray of cooking oil on the outside, and you will have the perfect crispy food. You will be the envy of the neighborhood at your next BBQ. And the best thing is that you can use it both with fresh and frozen foods, so you don’t have to worry about it. It even works on leftover pizza!
Make sure you’re staying on top of a healthy diet by eating as many of these healthy foods as you can!
Did you know that you can get healthy skin with the help of food?
Many people say that food is medicine for the human body, and it can help us ameliorate or even treat some health affections, depending on the severity.
As you already know, nutrition plays an important role when it comes to your health, and all doctors and food experts say that you should eat nutritious food in order to be healthy and happy.
Eating too many processed foods can damage your metabolism, make you gain weight, and can even affect some organs in your body, such as your liver and your heart. And that’s not all! Unhealthy, sugary, and fatty foods can also impact your biggest organ: the skin.
And who doesn’t want to have healthy, glowy, and dewy skin while also aging beautifully? We’ve talked to a few experts to discover more about the impact food has on your skin, and this is what they’ve told us.
Here are 8 foods you should consume if you want healthy skin!
Photo by Ira Sokolovskaya from shutterstock.com
1. Avocado
Avocado is a delicious fruit that is very rich in antioxidants, fiber, and healthy fats. They contain vitamins C and E, which are known for keeping your skin moisturized, supple, and hydrated. Besides that, these nutrients also help your skin fight damage produced by UV rays, such as wrinkles and dryness.
Several studies have discovered that women who included avocado in their diets noticed that their skin looked healthier, fuller, and more hydrated. There are many ways you can consume this amazing superfood: in smoothies, salads, dressings, as a dip, on toast, as a pudding base, and so many other things.
2. Sunflower seeds
In general, nuts and seeds are a great source of nutrients that are very good for your brain and healthy skin. Sunflower seeds, for instance, are an excellent source of vitamin E, which is a necessary antioxidant for healthy skin. One ounce of this food contains 5.5 grams of protein, and they are packed with vitamin E, zinc, and selenium.
Make sure you consume them raw in order to get all these benefits previously mentioned. If you don’t like the taste, you can sprinkle a tablespoon on your salad for a bit of crunch or combine them with your favorite nuts and dried fruit for a healthy and well-rounded snack.
3. Fatty fish
Besides being very tasty and easy to cook, fatty fish, such as salmon, herring, mackerel, and tuna, are great foods for healthy skin. They contain a lot of omega-3 fatty acids, which are known for keeping your skin glowy and moisturized, and your brain properly functioning.
People who don’t get enough of these nutrients in their diets notice that their skin is more sensitive, dry, and prone to inflammation. Fatty fish contains a lot of protein, zinc, and vitamin E, which are known for being key ingredients when it comes to healthy skin.
A few studies have discovered that fish oil supplements are also great for fighting bacteria and autoimmune conditions that can interfere with your skin, such as lupus and psoriasis.
…Make sure you talk to your doctor before you take any supplements to find the ones that work best for your body’s needs!
Photo by Brent Hofacker from shutterstock.com
4. Broccoli
Broccoli is a cruciferous vegetable that contains plenty of minerals and vitamins that play a big role when it comes to healthy skin, including vitamins A and C and zinc. Moreover, it’s very rich in lutein, a carotenoid that is similar to beta carotene and helps protect your skin from severe oxidative damage, which can make your skin wrinkled and dry.
You should aim to eat broccoli weekly because these florets are packed with a lot of special compounds, including sulforaphane, which might help your body prevent some types of skin cancer. And that’s not all! This healthy chemical can also support healthy skin by acting as a protective agent against damages provoked by sun exposure.
It does the work in two ways: neutralizing dangerous free radicals and switching on other helpful and protective systems that are in your body. A few laboratory studies have discovered that sulforaphane reduced the number of skin cells killed by UV light by 29%, and the protection lasted 48 hours.
Green tea is a delicious drink that contains caffeine, but it doesn’t give you all the jittery feelings and anxiety too much caffeine can give to your body. You can sip this drink when you feel like you need a quick boost of energy, and you’ll actually get more than just that!
Green tea is rich in antioxidants that promote healthy skin, protecting it from UV rays damage and keeping it thick and moisturized.
…Make sure to drink green tea plain, without any added milk and sugar, if you want to have healthy skin!
6. Tomatoes
Tomatoes are an excellent source of vitamin C and all of the most important carotenoids, including lycopene. All of these chemicals promote healthy skin and help protect your skin from damaged caused by too much sun exposure.
In order to maintain hydrated and healthy skin, make sure to pair tomatoes with foods that are rich in fat, such as olive oil, cheese, walnuts, and sunflower seeds, because fat helps carotenoids absorb faster.
Photo by Gulsina from shutterstock.com
7. Dark chocolate
If you need a healthy excuse to indulge in a piece of delicious and creamy chocolate, here it is: the effects cocoa has on your skin are pretty remarkable. After 6 to 12 weeks of consuming a cocoa powder that was very high in antioxidants every single day, people who participated in this study noticed that their skin was looking thicker, more hydrated, less scaly and rough, and less sensitive to sunburn.
In addition to all these amazing benefits, they also saw that they had better blood flow, which means that their skin was able to absorb more nutrients.
Make sure to choose dark chocolate that is very rich in cocoa, at least 70%, and that doesn’t have too much sugar!
8. Yellow and red bell peppers
Bell peppers are rich in excellent antioxidants for healthy skin, such as vitamin C and beta carotene. Your body needs vitamin C in order to produce collagen, the structural protein that keeps your skin hydrated and your nails, bones, and hair strong, shiny, and well-nourished.
Just like carrots and sweet potatoes, both yellow and red bell peppers contain a lot of beta carotene, a chemical your body turns into vitamin A. Consuming this vegetable on a regular basis will promote healthy skin and good vision, and it will help your body fight free radicals and also the damage caused by UV rays.
You can combine bell peppers with tomatoes, avocado, and fatty fish, and you’ve got yourself a delicious lunch or dinner recipe that will nourish your body and keep your skin healthy and glowy!
CONCLUSION
These foods don’t guarantee that your skin will look flawless, but they will help improve the appearance of wrinkles, texture, hydration, and elasticity. Diet and lifestyle play a huge role when it comes to healthy skin, so make sure to stick to clean and simple foods, and don’t forget to drink plenty of water!
…Did you know that certain healthy foods can make you gain weight?
We all know that in order to lose weight, we have to be in a caloric deficit. This means that you have to burn more calories than you consume. You can do this by eating less throughout the day, or you can work out more.
The best thing you can do in a case like this is to combine the two, so in order to stop gaining weight, you’ll have to eat healthily and constantly move your body.
Unfortunately, not all the foods that are labeled as healthy are actually that good for your body. They might contain a lot of calories, sugar, and artificial sweeteners, which will only make you gain weight.
If you believe that you do everything right, but you can’t still manage to shed off pounds, you should take a closer look at your diet. With that being said, here are 8 healthy foods that will make you gain weight.
…How many times have you gotten angry because of the fact that you eat healthily and workout a lot, but you still gain weight?
Photo by Alexandra Anschiz at shutterstock.com
1. Protein shakes and smoothies
Protein shakes and smoothies are extremely popular among fitness and health enthusiasts. It’s true that they can be very good for your body, especially if you prepare them at home and you also add your greens in, such as baby spinach or kale.
However, those that you can buy from local shops are not that great for your body. For instance, some premade smoothies can contain roughly 14 teaspoons of sugar, which means 55 grams, in just a single bottle of 15, 2 fl oz.
Protein shakes, on the other hand, can contain up to 400 calories per bottle. Unless you don’t want to gain weight, it’s better to prepare these types of foods at home.
They will be healthier and tastier, given the fact that you can easily control the ingredients you put in. Long story short, smoothies and protein shakes are mostly liquids that can be quickly consumed, making it harder for your body to realize that it’s full.
2. Dried fruit
Dried fruit is full of minerals, vitamins, fiber, and… sugar (more than fresh fruit). They might be delicious and healthy for you, but if you eat a whole bag of dried fruit, you might notice that you’ve gained weight.
If you like this snack as much as we do, it’s better to only stick to a 1/4-cup portion size. You can eat this plain, or pair it with a cup of Greek yogurt, a few nuts, and seeds, and you’ll have a sweet, crunchy, full of protein, and healthy snack or breakfast, that will keep you full for hours.
3. Nuts and seeds
We all know that nuts and seeds are very healthy for the human body, because they contain a lot of healthy fats, such as Omega-3, which are great for brain functioning, heart health, and keeping your hunger levels in check.
Besides that, nuts and seeds also contain minerals, and vitamins, which are nutrients that your body needs, but if you eat too much of them, you might gain weight. They have a lot of calories and you should only eat a handful of those if you want to get all the health benefits and not add on a few unnecessary pounds.
Photo by Pray_for_Ukraine from shutterstock.com
4. Flavored Coffees
Caffeine has the ability to act as a mild appetite suppressant, which makes many people drink more of it when they’re trying to shed off a few pounds. However, even though this is originally a healthy beverage for your body, you shouldn’t rely on it to drop a pant size.
Moreover, you should definitely refrain from certain types of coffee drinks, especially if you don’t want to gain weight. We know it might be a bit confusing, especially after we’ve just said that coffee can make you less hungry. But here’s the thing: many caffeinated beverages, such as cappuccinos, lattes, and frappes are full of milk, cream, sugar, and calories.
For example, a Venti Cinnamon Dolce Latte from Starbucks, made with skimmed milk and without any whipped cream, has no less than 280 calories and 12 teaspoons (50 grams). That’s crazy, especially given the fact that an adult should consume 40 grams of sugar, tops.
You might think that a daily cappuccino won’t do you any harm, but that sugary beverage will make you gain weight in the long run, so it’s better to limit your consumption as much as possible!
5. Protein bars
Many people tend to go for a protein bar whenever they feel like eating but don’t actually have enough time to sit down and enjoy a meal. It’s simple and convenient, and they also give you a bit of energy when you feel like taking a nap or drinking another cup of coffee.
Even though there are some healthy and nutritious protein bars out there, the truth is that a lot of them contain artificial ingredients and sugars that make you gain weight.
According to several nutritionists and fitness experts, in order to make sure that your protein bar is good for you, it should contain at least 12 grams of proteins and no more than 10 grams of sugar for the whole bar.
If you need a sweet pick-me-up snack in the middle of the day to keep your energy levels high, you can create your own protein balls at home with only natural ingredients, such as coconut flakes, clean protein powder, cocoa, dates, and so many other things.
…Have you ever tried making protein balls at home? They’re delicious!
6. Granola
Granola is one of the things that make me smile after a big dinner when I feel like I can’t eat anymore, but there it is: the crunchiness, the chocolaty taste, the sweet bite of granola makes me forget about my bellyache, and all I care about is indulging in a bowl of this sweet pleasure.
Granola is usually a healthy breakfast for the majority of Americans, but some of the brands out there aren’t as healthy as you might think. Even though it contains a lot of nutritious ingredients, such as coconut, oats, nuts, seeds, and cocoa nibs, it can be covered in added sugars to have a richer taste.
If you want to make sure that your beloved granola is actually healthy for your body, make sure that you stick to brands that have no more than 6 grams of sugar per serving.
But if you want to be sure that this pleasure of yours won’t make you gain weight, you can make your own granola at home by baking dried fruit, cocoa, oats, coconut, nuts, cinnamon, and coconut oil at a low temperature.
Photo by baibaz from shutterstock.com
7. Peanut butter
Who doesn’t like to eat a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, or dip an apple or a banana topped with cinnamon in some creamy peanut butter? Originally, this type of food is good for you, because it contains a lot of healthy fats and protein that your body uses as fuel and energy.
However, several studies have discovered that peanuts contain some saturated fat, which can lead to heart issues when consumed in big quantities over time. Moreover, peanuts are also high in phosphorus, a chemical that can limit your body’s absorption of other minerals, such as iron and zinc.
You can still eat your favorite peanut butter, but make sure that the only ingredient on the list is actually peanuts and even in that situation, you shouldn’t eat more than the recommended serving size!
8. Sushi
Sushi is a type of food that can be both healthy and unhealthy for you, depending on the ingredient list. For instance, rolls filled with things such as tempura shrimp or sweet sauces are usually full of sugar and high in calories, while those that are filled with avocado, salmon, fresh fish, vegetables, and grilled shrimp are much healthier.
Another great thing you can do to make sure your meal is healthier and also richer in fiber is to opt for brown rice instead of white rice. However, regardless of the type of sushi you choose to consume, you should keep in mind that the soy sauce that comes with sushi is very high in sodium.
If your diet is rich in sodium, you are more likely to develop health issues, including kidney disease and congestive heart failure.
…Which one of these foods previously mentioned is your favorite? If you have any tips regarding how to shed off pounds or how to live a balanced life, feel free to share them with us by leaving them in the comments section down below!
