How much water should you drink in a day?
How much water do you need?
Every day you lose water through your breath, perspiration, urine and bowel movements. For your body to function properly, you must replenish its water supply by consuming beverages and foods that contain water.
So how much fluid does the average, healthy adult living in a temperate climate need? The Institute of Medicine determined that an adequate intake (AI) for men is roughly 3 liters (about 13 cups) of total beverages a day. The AI for women is 2.2 liters (about 9 cups) of total beverages a day.
What about the advice to drink eight glasses a day?
Everyone has heard the advice, “Drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day.” That’s about 1.9 liters, which isn’t that different from the Institute of Medicine recommendations. Although the “8 by 8″ rule isn’t supported by hard evidence, it remains popular because it’s easy to remember. Just keep in mind that the rule should be reframed as: “Drink at least eight 8-ounce glasses of fluid a day,” because all fluids count toward the daily total.
The healthiest fast food lunch option
#1 Panera Bread
Over 1,230 locations nationwide (and in Canada)
This bakery-cafe-based eatery wowed our judges with a comprehensive menu of healthy choices for every meal. “Variety makes it easy for everyone to choose healthy,” praises registered dietitian and panelist Marisa Moore. What does that mean for you? For starters, you can pick from two whole-grain breads for your sandwich and have an apple with it instead of chips (though the chips are fine, too—they can be baked!). Half-size soups, salads, and sandwiches make it a cinch to control portion size. Also, most of the chicken is antibiotic- and hormone-free, a rarity for large chains.
Panera also won top honors for kid fare, dishing out RD-approved crowd-pleasers like squeezable organic yogurt, PB&J (with all-natural peanut butter), and grilled organic cheese on white whole-grain bread.
We love: Delicious, nutrient-packed combos like a half–Turkey Artichoke on focaccia bread with a bowl of black bean or garden vegetable soup.
Danger zone: Sticky buns and cheese danishes are on display at the counter.
Source: http://www.health.com/health/article/0,,20411588,00.html
Protein Rich Fruits and Vegetables
Protein-Rich Fruits
Fruit is often not thought of as a source of protein, but some varieties are surprisingly good sources. For example, a cup of dried apricots contains 5 g of protein, whereas the equal measure of dried prunes contains 4.5 g. One cup of cherries contain 3 g, a banana has 2.5 g, a papaya, 2.3 g and a kiwi has 2.1 g. Avocado is often misclassified as a vegetable, but it is a very protein-rich fruit containing about 4.5 g of protein per cup. Coconut is also a fruit and the average sized fruit contains about 2 g. Other fruits considered decent sources of protein include dates, watermelon, peaches and tomatoes.
Protein-Rich Vegetables
The protein content of vegetables often pales in comparison to that of beef, fish or eggs, but many vegetables contain some protein and a few are considered very good sources. For example, a cup of packed spinach contains 5 g of protein, whereas the same size serving of asparagus contains 4.2 g, broccoli has 4 g, cauliflower has 3.8 g, a potato with skin has 3.8 g and a cup of celery has 1.5 g. Other decent sources of vegetable protein include kale, celery and carrots. An advantage of plant protein over animal protein is that it is low in fat content and high in dietary fiber, which can reduce the risks of heart attacks and atherosclerosis.
Legumes
Legumes can be considered plants, vegetable matter and even dried fruits of specific plants. They are often generically called peas, nuts and beans. In general, legumes are the best source of non-animal based protein. Legumes contain relatively low amounts of the essential amino acid methionine, but are rich in lysine. So some vegetarians compensate by mixing legumes with grains, which are high in methionine and low in lysine. A good example of this is native Indians eating beans with corn tortillas, or the Japanese eating tofu with rice. Protein-rich legumes include soybeans, which contain 29 g of protein per cup, while lentils contain 18 g, black beans 15 g, chickpeas 12 g and green peas 9 g. Other good sources of protein include quinoa, alfalfa, clover, carob, Brazil nuts, almonds and peanuts.
Source: http://www.livestrong.com/article/394772-protein-rich-fruits-vegetables/
10 Healthy Breakfast Ideas
Oatmeal, flaxseed, blueberries & almonds. To me, this is the perfect breakfast. Steel-cut oatmeal is probably the healthier choice, but if you are in a hurry, the instant kind will do fine (it doesn’t have as much fiber, but the other ingredients make up for that). After microwaving the oatmeal, add ground flaxseed, frozen blueberries, sliced almonds. You can add a little cinnamon and honey (not a lot) if you’re using the non-instant oatmeal. That’s four power foods, full of fiber and nutrients and protein and good fats, with only a couple of minutes of prep time. And very tasty!
Kashi Golean Crunch. Actually, any whole-grain, high-fiber cereal is a good choice, but I mention this particular one because it’s a favorite of mine. It has a high amount of protein and fiber, low sugar. Add low-fat milk or soy milk (which has 1/3 the saturated fat of 1% milk), perhaps some berries if you like.
Scrambled tofu. Healthier than scrambled eggs. Add some onions, green peppers or other veggies, some light soy sauce or tamari, maybe some garlic powder, and black pepper, stir-fry with a little olive oil. Eat with whole-grain toast. Fast and delicious.
Fresh berries, yogurt, granola. Get low-fat yogurt (not non-fat, as it often has too much sugar) or soy yogurt, cut up some berries or other fruits, add some healthy cereal. I actually use the Kashi Golean Crunch instead of granola, as many brands of granola have way too much fat and/or sugar.
Grapefruit with whole-wheat toast & almond butter. Add a little sugar on top of the grapefruit, and it’s actually pretty good. The almond butter is healthier than peanut-butter, with lots of good protein to fill you up.
Fresh fruit salad. Cut up some apples, melons, berries, oranges, pears, bananas, grapes … any or all or whatever your favorite fruits are. Add a little bit of lime or lemon juice. Perfect.
Protein shake with extras. I use soy protein powder, but whey works well too. Blend up with low-fat milk or soy milk, some frozen blueberries, and perhaps some almond butter or oatmeal. That may sound weird, but it’s actually pretty good, and pretty filling. A little ground flax seed works well too.
Eggs with peppers. I’m not a fan of eggs, but many people love them. Egg whites are healthier than whole eggs. Scramble with a little olive oil, red and green bell peppers, maybe broccoli, onions, black pepper. Goes well with whole-wheat toast.
Cottage cheese and fruit. Get low-fat cottage cheese. Add any kind of fruit. Apples, citrus, berries.
Gibb’s muffins & jam. While most muffins you buy at a coffee shop or grocery store are just empty carbs with lots of fat (basically, cake), this is a delicious recipe with lots of fiber and nutrition. (Note: the recipe in the link doesn’t mention it, but it’s actually a recipe from Simplify Your Life by Elaine St. James — it’s her husband Gibbs’ recipe). Bake them the night before, and they’re perfect in the morning (and for days to come). A little honey or jam makes them perfect.
Source: http://zenhabits.net/10-tasty-easy-and-healthy-breakfast-ideas/
The importance of omega-3 fatty acids
Omega-3 fatty acids are essential nutrients for health. We need omega-3 fatty acids for numerous body functions, such as building cell membranes in the brain, and since our bodies cannot make omega-3 fats, we must get them through food. Omega-3 fatty acids are also associated with many health benefits, including protection against heart disease and possibly stroke. New studies are identifying potential benefits for a wide range of conditions including cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, and other autoimmune diseases such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.
There are two major types of omega-3 fatty acids in our diets: One type is alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), which is found in some vegetable oils, such as soybean, rapeseed (canola), and flaxseed, and in walnuts. ALA is also found in some green vegetables, such as Brussels sprouts, kale, spinach, and salad greens. The other type, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), is found in fatty fish. The body partially converts ALA to EPA and DHA.
We do not know whether vegetable or fish omega-3 fatty acids are equally beneficial, although both seem to be beneficial. Unfortunately, most Americans do not get enough of either type. For good health, you should aim to get at least one rich source of omega-3 fatty acids in your diet every day. This could be through a serving of fatty fish (such as salmon), a tablespoon of canola or soybean oil in salad dressing or in cooking, or a handful of walnuts or ground flaxseed mixed into your morning oatmeal.
Source: http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/questions/omega-3/index.html
Triple Extension
Good Extension of the Rear Leg and Good Shin Clearance of Lead Leg.
