Are you aware about you healthy lifestyle diet? Are we having shortage of no-calorie sweeteners? These products have been in the market for years. In fact, The FDA has approved five artificial ones, namely:
Aspartame: Brand names include NutraSweet and Equal.
Sucralose: Brand name is Splenda.
Saccharin: Brand names include Sweet'N Low, Sweet Twin, and Necta Sweet.
Acesulfame-K: Brand names include Sunett and Sweet One.
Neotame: Approved for use as an ingredient in a wide variety of foods including baked goods, soft drinks, chewing gum, jams, and syrups.
But brace yourself for the arrival of a new player in the field of sweeteners. Under the brand name Truvia, this new sweetener is derived from stevia, a shrub common to South America but also grown in Asia. It's been used for centuries as a sweetener in South America and Japan.
While stevia may not be new in those countries, FDA has considered it an unsafe food additive and has instructed its agents to seize the plant and food containing stevia imported into the country. However, the FDA allowed stevia as a dietary supplement, despite its predictably confusing results for consumers.
Truvia, on the other hand, is not settling for a supplement status. It is a new stevia product developed by Cargill and Coca-Cola and is set to debut later this year as a tabletop sweetener and ingredient in certain Coca-Cola products.
According to Ann Tucker, Cargill's communications director, Truvia differs from existing artificial sweeteners because it’s natural, and it's supported by extensive safety studies funded by Cargill and Coca-Cola. Based on these studies, Truvia didn’t affect blood pressure in healthy people or blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes. Further tests in rats show no effects on reproduction, fertility, or other health problems.
The FDA said it will review Truvia’s case to be considered “generally recognized as safe,” which would pave the way for it to become the first stevia product allowed as a food additive in the U.S.
David Schardt, senior nutritionist at the nonprofit Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), is cautiously optimistic due to safety issues.
“We’ve always told consumers you're not going to drop dead if you use it to sweeten your tea,” Schardt said. “But there is concern about using it as a food additive, putting it into a lot of products that are sold to millions of people.”
Providing competition is Pepsi which is planning to put its own highly purified, zero-calorie, all-natural stevia sweetener in various new products after it’s approved by the FDA.
Another company in Seattle called Zevia is already marketing Zevia, a carbonated dietary supplement containing stevia. Zevia is touted as “the world’s only all natural sugar-free alternative to diet soda.” But Zevia remains a dietary supplement.
Since there are many blends of stevia available as dietary supplement, a spokesman from Cargill Health and Nutrition said they cannot comment on all the variations and only know that “we consistently offer a safe, pure, and consistent product.”
Schardt said Truvia’s research may not apply to other stevia products, which is based on a particular pure extract, and that it doesn’t necessarily apply to something else that’s not quite the same. “So that’s an issue that I guess FDA is going to have to address,” conclude Schardt.
Many consumers believe that stevia as a natural product should have been in the country in a purified, not crude form, a long time ago. But politics and big business stopped it until they could find a way to take a portion of it and patent it. That is why they keep the lid on importing poor plain stevia.
Showing posts with label healthy diet plan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label healthy diet plan. Show all posts
Monday, October 27, 2008
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Refreshing Summer Diet as one of healthy lifestyle living
Diet is one of the habit of many people for their healthy lifestyle living. Summer is here and everyone is excited to wear not just their colorful flip flops but their skimpy bikinis and daring thongs to show off those hot bodies. Everyone wants to enjoy and to having muscle relaxant for there hot bodies. Speaking of hot bodies, many people are starving themselves on a wacky fad diet just to fit in those swimsuits. Come to think of it, weight loss is simply choosing healthy foods and taking in fewer calories than you burn. During summertime, it’s a lot easier to make better food choices because heavy, high-calorie dishes become less appealing. The hot season also keeps you out of the hot kitchen, that’s why.
Summer’s best foods are simply great for weight loss: they’re light and refreshing! Load up on nature’s bounty, whether fruits or veggies, which are at peak during summer. In addition to being low in calories, they are loaded with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and fiber.
Delight on fresh melons and berries! Savor on cucumbers, zucchini, tomatoes, beets, all those produce that abound in the garden this time of year! When it comes to fresh fruits and veggies, you can forget about portion control!
To cut your staying time in the kitchen, prepare cut-up fruits and washed greens. When you need something a bit heartier, just add rotisserie chicken, prepared soups, and pre-threaded kebabs.
Here are some picks from experts and dietitians of the best summer foods to help with weight loss:
Chilled Soups – low-calorie soups like gazpacho or cucumber-dill that contain lots of chunky vegetables are a great way to start a meal. It is filling and can make you eat less at the meal.
Watermelon – Since almost half of the watermelon is water, it’s perfect in satisfying thirst and your sweet cravings.
Who doesn’t love diving into a crisp, juicy slice of watermelon when it's hot outside?
Grilled Veggies – this summertime must-have is great even for non-vegetarians! A plate of grilled onions, bell peppers, zucchini, carrots, eggplant, asparagus, and garlic in your fridge can make a variety of healthy dishes, such as grilled vegetable and goat cheese salads, grilled vegetable pitas, and grilled vegetable, ricotta, and fresh herb pasta and frittatas.
Salads – with no recipes required, salads make for quick, healthy meals. Make sure you rinse the veggies well, toss some sliced fruits, low-fat cheese, toasted nuts with a light raspberry or vinaigrette, along with a whole-grain roll for a quick, easy meal in minutes.
Flavor your salads with herbs from the garden so you can go light on the dressing. And when adding meats or fish to your salad, think of them as an accessory to the greens, vegetables, and grains.
Low- and No-Calorie Beverages – While smoothies, sweetened specialty coffee drinks, sweetened teas and sodas all go down so easily, especially when it's hot outside, the calories add up just as easily.
Since we need to drink lots of liquids to stay cool, these refreshing drinks and treats will help you enjoy this summer without blowing your diet:
• Root Beer or Orange Dream Float. 1/2 cup vanilla frozen yogurt in 12 ounces of diet root beer or orange soda (100 calories)
• Tart Lemon Pom Spritzer. 12 ounces of lemon sparkling water mixed with the juice of 1 lemon and 1/4 cup pomegranate juice, served over ice (35 calories)
• Large Ice Skim Latte from Starbucks™ (130 calories)
• White Wine Spritzer. 5 ounces white wine mixed with 3 ounces lemon/lime seltzer water (120 calories)
Fruit-Based Desserts – Though you are on break from eating this summer, your craving are not. To replace those high-calorie desserts, opt for these naturally sweet treats that can tame the sweetest tooth:
• Grilled banana sundaes made with low-fat ice cream
• Grilled pineapple with rum and pecans
• Grilled white peaches with blackberries and honey
• Frozen, dark, sweet cherries
• A chocolate-covered frozen banana (such as Diana’s Banana™, with 130 calories)
• Frozen grapes
Summer’s best foods are simply great for weight loss: they’re light and refreshing! Load up on nature’s bounty, whether fruits or veggies, which are at peak during summer. In addition to being low in calories, they are loaded with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and fiber.
Delight on fresh melons and berries! Savor on cucumbers, zucchini, tomatoes, beets, all those produce that abound in the garden this time of year! When it comes to fresh fruits and veggies, you can forget about portion control!
To cut your staying time in the kitchen, prepare cut-up fruits and washed greens. When you need something a bit heartier, just add rotisserie chicken, prepared soups, and pre-threaded kebabs.
Here are some picks from experts and dietitians of the best summer foods to help with weight loss:
Chilled Soups – low-calorie soups like gazpacho or cucumber-dill that contain lots of chunky vegetables are a great way to start a meal. It is filling and can make you eat less at the meal.
Watermelon – Since almost half of the watermelon is water, it’s perfect in satisfying thirst and your sweet cravings.
Who doesn’t love diving into a crisp, juicy slice of watermelon when it's hot outside?
Grilled Veggies – this summertime must-have is great even for non-vegetarians! A plate of grilled onions, bell peppers, zucchini, carrots, eggplant, asparagus, and garlic in your fridge can make a variety of healthy dishes, such as grilled vegetable and goat cheese salads, grilled vegetable pitas, and grilled vegetable, ricotta, and fresh herb pasta and frittatas.
Salads – with no recipes required, salads make for quick, healthy meals. Make sure you rinse the veggies well, toss some sliced fruits, low-fat cheese, toasted nuts with a light raspberry or vinaigrette, along with a whole-grain roll for a quick, easy meal in minutes.
Flavor your salads with herbs from the garden so you can go light on the dressing. And when adding meats or fish to your salad, think of them as an accessory to the greens, vegetables, and grains.
Low- and No-Calorie Beverages – While smoothies, sweetened specialty coffee drinks, sweetened teas and sodas all go down so easily, especially when it's hot outside, the calories add up just as easily.
Since we need to drink lots of liquids to stay cool, these refreshing drinks and treats will help you enjoy this summer without blowing your diet:
• Root Beer or Orange Dream Float. 1/2 cup vanilla frozen yogurt in 12 ounces of diet root beer or orange soda (100 calories)
• Tart Lemon Pom Spritzer. 12 ounces of lemon sparkling water mixed with the juice of 1 lemon and 1/4 cup pomegranate juice, served over ice (35 calories)
• Large Ice Skim Latte from Starbucks™ (130 calories)
• White Wine Spritzer. 5 ounces white wine mixed with 3 ounces lemon/lime seltzer water (120 calories)
Fruit-Based Desserts – Though you are on break from eating this summer, your craving are not. To replace those high-calorie desserts, opt for these naturally sweet treats that can tame the sweetest tooth:
• Grilled banana sundaes made with low-fat ice cream
• Grilled pineapple with rum and pecans
• Grilled white peaches with blackberries and honey
• Frozen, dark, sweet cherries
• A chocolate-covered frozen banana (such as Diana’s Banana™, with 130 calories)
• Frozen grapes
Friday, June 13, 2008
Healthy Changes One Step At A Time
Forget about crash diets. Don't make your life complicated. The road to a healthy lifestyle living is paved with small changes made one step at a time.Even with tiny changes, one can expect awesome rewards in the end. Starting a healthy habit now definitely will help you look better, feel better, and live better for years to come. Do not forget that even small steps can add up to long-lasting results.What you actually do over time counts a lot. Talk about over-eating or being idle every once in a while. Don't panic. While it's normal for people to go overboard, be sure to balance these times by eating less or being more physically active for a while. If it's just one meal or one day, don't fret.
There's nothing wrong with those popular fad diets. But for these diets to be successful, you have to faithfully adhere to its design. It means you have to change your eating patterns to fit the diet's rules. Instead of worrying about following a fad diet, it's better for you to think about your health and your lifestyle. You can start by learning which foods are good for you.
Eating foods that are closer to its natural state is always the better choice. Examples of these are fresh fruits and berries which are great in terms of taste and are known to satisfy craving for sweets. Choose whole vegetables which have lots of vitamins and minerals. Eat more green, orange and yellow vegetables. To retain the most nutritional value of veggies, be sure to just steam them and be careful with sauces which may be high in calories and fats that aren't good for you.
While an apple is good for you, an apple pie is not necessarily a health food. Avoid sugary snacks and pastries as well. For pasta lovers, be sure that your pasta or baked goods are made from whole grains.
When it comes to meat, shop for lean meats and don't forget the fish. It is important to serve seafood 2 or 3 times a week because the omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids found in ocean fish are often lacking in our diets. Baked fish and chicken are a lot healthier than fried, and lean meats like bison or venison may be healthier than beef with high fat content.
On the contrary, processed lunch meats, hot dogs, bacon, and sausages have a lot of saturated fat and nitrates in them which are not healthy for your body. However, if you really love these meats, you can find healthier versions sold at health food stores.
Always consider eating a variety of foods to get all of the vitamins and minerals you need to be healthy. When it comes to liquids, stick to water, milk and 100% fruit and vegetable juices as your main beverages and limit sugary soft drinks. To spice up your plain water, add a slice of lemon or lime to improve its flavor. Kids will surely appreciate fruit juice that's jazzed up with carbonated water.
Learning which foods are good for you is one thing, watching your eating habits is another. If the foods you eat are not healthy, you might want to work within your habits and current lifestyle conditions, since they are usually tough to change.
There's nothing wrong with those popular fad diets. But for these diets to be successful, you have to faithfully adhere to its design. It means you have to change your eating patterns to fit the diet's rules. Instead of worrying about following a fad diet, it's better for you to think about your health and your lifestyle. You can start by learning which foods are good for you.
Eating foods that are closer to its natural state is always the better choice. Examples of these are fresh fruits and berries which are great in terms of taste and are known to satisfy craving for sweets. Choose whole vegetables which have lots of vitamins and minerals. Eat more green, orange and yellow vegetables. To retain the most nutritional value of veggies, be sure to just steam them and be careful with sauces which may be high in calories and fats that aren't good for you.
While an apple is good for you, an apple pie is not necessarily a health food. Avoid sugary snacks and pastries as well. For pasta lovers, be sure that your pasta or baked goods are made from whole grains.
When it comes to meat, shop for lean meats and don't forget the fish. It is important to serve seafood 2 or 3 times a week because the omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids found in ocean fish are often lacking in our diets. Baked fish and chicken are a lot healthier than fried, and lean meats like bison or venison may be healthier than beef with high fat content.
On the contrary, processed lunch meats, hot dogs, bacon, and sausages have a lot of saturated fat and nitrates in them which are not healthy for your body. However, if you really love these meats, you can find healthier versions sold at health food stores.
Always consider eating a variety of foods to get all of the vitamins and minerals you need to be healthy. When it comes to liquids, stick to water, milk and 100% fruit and vegetable juices as your main beverages and limit sugary soft drinks. To spice up your plain water, add a slice of lemon or lime to improve its flavor. Kids will surely appreciate fruit juice that's jazzed up with carbonated water.
Learning which foods are good for you is one thing, watching your eating habits is another. If the foods you eat are not healthy, you might want to work within your habits and current lifestyle conditions, since they are usually tough to change.
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