This Is the Absolute Worst Weight-Loss Mistake You Can Make

You've got slimming down on the mind, and you already know that eating vegetables is the number one thing you should be doing to lose weight. But if you're new to this healthy lifestyle, you'll also need to know what mistakes you absolutely should not make — they could end up causing you to gain weight!

So we asked certified dietitian Leslie Langevin, MS, RD, CD, of Whole Health Nutrition to share the biggest mistake she sees people making when trying to drop pounds. Her answer? "Cutting out too much." Some people feel like they need to stop eating everything that's "bad" for weight loss, like bread or all carbs (even fruit), sweet treats, alcohol, meat, and/or dairy. While doing a diet reset by ditching processed and nutrient-void foods and switching completely to whole foods definitely has its benefits, "limiting to protein shakes and cutting out all carbs" doesn't work for long-term weight loss. Sure, a person will lose weight, but that kind of diet is impossible to sustain. As soon as you go back to eating all those delicious off-limit foods like cookies, ice cream, wine, and pasta, the weight will come back on, and the cravings and binge-eating can also come on strong.

Another form of this is eating super restrictive all week, and then once the weekend comes, going crazy and eating whatever you want. Leslie says, "A starved body during the week will hoard calories on the weekend if it is a normal pattern." If you try to be "good" all week by eating a diet that is completely deficient in all things tasty, you'll feel so deprived and depressed about it that you won't be able to control those natural cravings, forcing you to overindulge. You'll end up consuming way more calories than you would normally, which can make the scale numbers go up.

Eating healthy shouldn't be so black and white. Leslie suggests moderation, also known as the 80/20 rule. It involves eating clean and healthy 80 percent of the time, and then 20 percent of the time, you have the freedom to indulge a little. For those who eat three meals a day, it works out to about three "cheat" meals a week. This eating lifestyle works because as Jessica Alba's trainer Yumi Lee says, "You can't be 100 percent all of the time, but you can be 80 percent all of the time." Allowing you to satisfy cravings during the week translates to greater success in the long run, so this is a great way to have your cake, and lose weight, too.

February 10, 2016 by JENNY SUGAR 

http://www.popsugar.co.uk/fitness/Worst-Weight-Loss-Mistake-40131988

Fresh vs. Frozen Vegetables: Which one is more Healthy?

The fresh fruits and vegetables are more expensive than frozen. It is difficult to keep them for a long time, though, so many people prefer to eat fresh fruits and vegetables as compare frozen, and the reason is that fresh produce are healthy. Is that true?

It is well known that fruits and vegetables are very healthy, be directly consume at maturity, and the reason is that the nutritional content of the vegetables will be at the top level at the peak of maturity. But health experts say that this may be true only if they are eating vegetables or fruits in season pounds. So it can be frozen for vegetables to be better than fresh vegetables alternative, if they are not dealt with in the normal off-season.

When frozen vegetables are better than fresh

The cases in which frozen vegetables are better than fresh, it is when they are transported long distances before being sold in the markets. Then frozen vegetables are more nutritious. Nutrition experts explain, however, that frozen vegetables are often picked before they ripen, which means they did not get the food content fully.

As well as the transfer of fruits and vegetables long distances, making them lose a lot of food content, for example, lose the fresh spinach half the content of folic acid after eight days, as vitamins and minerals decreases inside the stored incorrectly, and that exposing the high light and heat.

This applies, of course, the fruit also. Nutrition experts say that the qualities of fruits sold in German shops are not quite high, as is often the sale of fruits and vegetables before maturity.

The benefits of frozen foods

And perhaps the most important characteristic of frozen fruits and vegetables is that it is often harvested after maturity, and using hot water is peeled, which helps to kill bacteria and stop some active enzymes that damage the fruits and vegetables quickly. And then it is frozen what helps them keep food contents.

It should be noted that frozen fruits and vegetables much better than canned. The canned vegetables and fruits lose a lot of important nutrients when kept inside tins. Health experts advised to avoid buying frozen fruits and vegetables if they are chopped or crushed, Addressing fruits and vegetables before freezing lose a lot of food, as well as the need to ensure that fruits and vegetables frozen completely free of additives such as salt or butter.

On the other hand, can help buy frozen fruit and vegetables to save money, which is the best option for those who wish to address them in the off-season. With the exception of that fresh fruits and vegetables remain the best, especially if they were purchased from farmers directly after picked immediately, stored away from buying from the sale of food stores.

Posted by: Jodie Jackson, December 4, 2015 in Healthy Food

http://www.ehealthtribune.com/fresh-vs-frozen-vegetables-which-one-is-more-healthy/

A Week of Healthy Lunch Ideas for Back to School! | Aspyn Ovard

Healthy breakfast for my children

What my children have eaten for their last breakfast:

Baggels with nut butter, kiwi fruit, rosted seed and chunks of fruit (pears, apples, etc). As my quick healthy option for a breakfast or a school lunch box for my children it`s sweet but still a good source of proteins and vitamins. They love rosty taste and crunchy texture of seeds. I put anything avaliable at the moment (sunflower seeds, sesame, almonds, pumpkin seeds, flax, etc).

Photo: Aleksandra Glapinska

Trying to avoid ham in lunchboxes? Try these healthy alternatives

With parents on alert after the WHO warning on eating processed meats, the mornings are suddenly more complicated. What do we put in children's lunchboxes? Domini Kemp suggests some nutritious and delicious alternatives 

Packed lunches are a staple for nine months of the year. Whatever you pack, it’s judged – by the media, experts, other kids, teachers, parents, and, most importantly, your child. Now, with the World Health Organisation warning about the risks associated with processed meats, it's suddenly become even harder to pack a lunchbox. So, what’s to be done?

First of all, schools like to remind parents that the bulk of calories and meals are eaten at home, where you do have control.

I avoid processed carbs in the morning and evening for the children, but often give in at lunchtime, as I simply don’t have the time or energy to scrap each day wishing that they would eat roast beetroot and carrot sticks instead of sandwiches for lunch. But here are a few easy suggestions that do curry favour and keep us all on speaking terms.

Pesto

If you can’t be bothered to make it, there are some excellent store-bought ones available. A bit of leftover roast chicken and some pesto makes a delicious sandwich.

With all the nut allergies, it can be really confusing, and until recently I thought that the ban on nuts in schools meant no pesto, but according to allergen websites, most people with peanut or tree nut allergies are able to eat seeds.

Pine nuts – rather confusingly – are seeds rather than nuts. So, it looks like pesto could be okay even if nuts are banned in your school. But please do check this out with the school.

Dips!

We are told by great initiatives such as Bord Bia’s Food Dudes that kids “love to dip!” So here goes: use the dipping sensation to try a little hummus or pesto with carrots and celery. If your kids find hummus too creepy as is, then try letting it down with a spoonful of crème fraiche or yoghurt, or even mayo to get them started.

Protein snacks

A little protein is a good thing, so cheese gets a thumbs up from me, and most kids seem to like it. Apples with nut butters are also great snacks (but then you could be in allergy territory again). Or even an apple and a slice of cheese makes a good snack.

Dried fruit is fab

Yes, it contains quite a lot of sugar, but it’s a great snack and perfect with a few seeds as a good breaktime snack. As long as they are not hoofing handfuls of the stuff, they should be fine to enjoy some dried fruit.

Homemade flapjacks

These always go down well and oats are a really good and nutritious carbohydrate, so we’re all thumbs up about them. See my recipe for a healthy version here.

Soup

I would love to say that my kids love taking in a flask of delicious homemade soup every day, but I would be lying through my teeth. If you are lucky enough to have a kid that likes soup, lash it into them.

Smoothies

The current fad of making smoothies at home seems to excite little people. Again, if this is an option to pack in the good stuff, then do so. You can often sneak things such as courgette and spinach into smoothies, and making them with a bit of Greek yoghurt ensures a bit of protein gets into them.

Water down that juice

If you send a flask of juice in with them, do everyone a favour and water it down heavily.

Other than that, try not to lose your mind and your sense of perspective. All too often, we can fall into the trap of making food become a battleground. Go gently, as the mindful folks would say!

Domini Kemp         Tue, Oct 27, 2015, 09:00 

http://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/food-and-drink/trying-to-avoid-ham-in-lunchboxes-try-these-healthy-alternatives-1.2319909

Quick to cook and good for you too: Why we need more seafood in our diet

• 06:01, 15 OCT 2015
• BY ALICE HINDS

• If you want to lead a healthy lifestyle, adding some nutrient-rich fish dishes to your diet is a great start.

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  Fish is the Dish

  Seafood contains omega 3 for a healthy heart






HEALTH fads come and go, but there's one food that experts have been recommending for decades – fish.


The delights of the sea are packed full of health-boosting vitamins, minerals and fatty acids that are important for maintaining some key body functions.


Here, we dive in to find out why seafood is so good for us.
1. There's plenty more vitamins in the sea


Fish and seafoods such as mussels, prawns, haddock and more, are great sources of essential vitamins and minerals, with key nutrients including:
Omega 3 – important for brain development, seafood is the richest natural source of this fatty acid.
Iron – required for the creation of new blood cells.
Protein – not only great for providing energy, protein also helps to maintain healthy cells and build muscles.
B-vitamins – responsible for converting food to energy and for making new blood cells.
Calcium – especially important for women and children, calcium helps to keep teeth and bones strong.
Vitamin D – works in the body to help absorb calcium.
Vitamin A – often also found in carrots, this vitamin is great for giving you healthy eyes and skin.
Iodine – helps to keep the metabolism running at the right level.
2. Eat oily fish for a healthy heart


As we've mentioned above, fish is rich in Omega 3 which is a long-chain polyunsaturated fat – or good fatty acid to you and me! Omega 3 has been linked to a range of health benefits, but it's particularly important for maintaining a healthy heart.


These fats help to maintain blood levels of a type of fat in the blood, called triglycerides. If levels of triglycerides get too high in our body, our risk of heart disease is increased.


Eating oily fish also helps to maintain normal blood pressure, helping to reduce your risk of a stroke.
3. Fish helps you to train


If you love the gym or are training hard for a big goal, such as a marathon, fish could help you reach your personal best. Fish and seafood are lean sources of protein, which is essential for helping to build and maintain muscles. Plus Omega 3 has also been tied to an improved aerobic metabolism.
4. Get beautiful skin and eyes


Let's face it, eating healthy isn't all about boosting your insides – we want our outsides to look good too! And the vitamins and minerals in fish and seafood go a long way to helping you look great.


The nutrients in oil-rich fish, such as mackerel or herring, have been found to help you have clear skin, shiny hair and bright eyes. Plus it could also help your smile too, as scientists have found that eating seafood can lower the risk of depression.
5. Ditch the sat-fats


Maintaining a healthy weight is one of the more difficult things in life. After all, with so many tempting treats, it can be hard to say no!


Fish is not only a delicious option, but it can also actually help you lose weight, thanks to most fish choices being low in fat, high in protein and often low in calories.


Make sure to prepare your fish in a healthy way – avoiding adding unnecessary fat, oils and butter – and you will be on your way to a slimmer waistline.


This article was brought to you in association with Seafish, the authority on seafood. 
• For more information, recipes and tips visit www.seafoodweek.co.uk 
• http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/lifestyle/food-drink/quick-cook-good-you-too-6596760
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How to pack lunch like a star

Washington - Just because you're grown up doesn't mean you don't need a good lunch. (,,,) 

When you DIY, chances are you'll eat better-quality food in saner portions with more of what you need(...) Plus, packing lunch saves money.(...)

Plan leftovers

The easiest trick is to make lunch with food from dinner the night before.

When you're cooking, it is no more work to toss an extra piece of chicken breast or salmon fillet in the skillet, add a few more broccoli florets to the steamer, boil an extra egg or toss some extra vegetables on the grill, and all of these are just as good served chilled.

If you have access to a microwave, you can pack just about any meal in a microwave-safe container and reheat it for lunch the next day. Soups, stews and chilli often taste even better the second time around.

 

Rethink your sandwich

Most homemade sandwiches are automatically a better bet than the foot-long, meat-stuffed kind you might get at a deli.

But consider this to make yours even better: Skip the humongous rolls, bagels and oversized wraps that can weigh in at the equivalent of four standard bread slices. Instead, aim for two ounces (about 56g) of bread total (the nutrition label gives you the weight of a serving) and make it whole grain for the fibre, antioxidants and nutty taste. That generally translates to two slices of sandwich bread, a six-inch pita (15cm) or a nine-inch wrap (22cm).

Scooping the centre out of a crusty baguette or roll is also a great way to keep starch portions in check and still have the satisfying sandwich you crave.

When it comes to spreads, get yourself out of a mayo rut by exploring condiments that are bursting with flavour and nutrients. Try slathering a basil or sun-dried tomato pesto on bread for a punch of flavour, indulging in a spread of buttery ripe avocado, or smearing on some rich, creamy hummus. And instead of overstuffing your sandwich with cold cuts and cheese, leave lots of room for vegetables.

Pack more produce

That go-to slice of tomato and lettuce leaf on your sandwich is okay, but you can do so much better.

Rather than treating the veggies as an afterthought, make them the star. Grilled zucchini, eggplant, fennel, peppers, onions and tomatoes, interesting greens such as watercress, steamed asparagus spears or green beans, sliced beets, snow peas, shredded carrot, cabbage or sliced radish can all be piled on a sandwich to give it a big wow factor. They can also be added to, or substituted for, your basic salad to make it more interesting and tasty.

Say no to soggy

There is no need to suffer through soggy sandwiches and salads. For salads other than slaws, which can stand up to being dressed ahead, pack the dressing separately and toss with the greens right before eating. There are many cute containers available with separate salad and dressing compartments, or you can use any sealable food containers. Also be sure to dry your greens well before packing them so they don't get waterlogged.

To keep sandwiches from getting mushy, protect the bread from any wet ingredients by putting large pieces of lettuce in between the bread and the other fillings on both the top and bottom pieces of bread.

Most important, keep your lunch fresh and safe to eat by packing it in an insulated lunchbox with an ice pack and, if you have access to a refrigerator, pop it in there as soon as you can — with your name on it, of course, to prevent the dreaded lunch theft.

Step away from the desk

Two of the most compelling reasons to go out to lunch if you are at work are simply to get away from your desk and maybe socialise a bit. There is no reason to forgot that important mental break when you bring food from home. Make a point of finding a spot in a nearby park or outdoor seating area or, at least, find somewhere in the office where you can escape your computer for a few minutes. Invite a friend or co-worker to join you if you are craving company. It might be just the inspiration that person needs to pack lunch, too.

Washington Post

* Krieger is a registered dietitian, nutritionist and author. She blogs and offers a biweekly newsletter at www.elliekrieger.com. She also writes weekly in The Post's Food section.

http://www.iol.co.za/lifestyle/food-drink/food/how-to-pack-lunch-like-a-star-1.1915569#.ViGCKn4vfIU

Ways to get healthy at work

Cape Town - What we eat at our place of work has a huge impact on our overall diet and influences our productivity.(...)

Healthy eating in the workplace is the theme of this year's National Nutrition Week, which started on October 9.

Employees consume at least half of their meals and snacks during work hours, making this an important place to promote healthy eating, according to a press release from the Association for Dietetics in South Africa 

Registered dietitian Alex Royal says that healthy eating at work can be a challenge as there are often too many temptations: the vending machine, the sweet trolley, colleagues who have bad habits that influence others.

“During a busy day we don't have time (or forget) to prepare healthy meals or even forget to eat. So blood glucose levels drop, resulting in an energy dip and potentially cravings, especially for highly processed and sugary foods. This fuels the cycle of unhealthy eating at work”, Royal concludes.

Cath Day, Registered Dietitian and ADSA spokesperson, also offers some tips for employees:

* Before grabbing a snack, first ask yourself if you are really hungry or if you actually need to take a break from what you are doing. Going for a short walk or getting some fresh air - may be all you need.

* Don't skip meals or healthy snacking between meals. Skipping meals and snacks results in dips in blood glucose (sugar) levels and thus you will be more likely to crave unhealthy foods.

Work lunchboxes go a long way in giving employees more control over what they eat during the day.

Registered dietitian Kelly Schreuder says the goals of a healthy work lunchbox include:

* Variety and balance of foods, providing a variety of nutrients, including protein, carbohydrates, fat and micronutrients.

* Real food, as opposed to processed snacks and those that are high in added sugar, excess salt and poor quality fat, and portion control.

And what about fluids - what should we be drinking while we are at work?

“The simple answer is that water should be the main beverage we are drinking while working but there are many other healthy options to choose from as well. People often forget that beverages can contain a large amount of energy (and many beverages contain too much sugar such as sugar sweetened beverages and fruit juice) so we need to be more mindful about what we are drinking”, say ADSA spokesperson Catherine Pereira.

Being active in the workplace is also important and employees should try to be as physically active as possible.

Durban-based dietitian Hlanzeka Mpanza says that it is not impossible to include some physical exercise in the workday. Use the steps instead of the lift; form an exercise club with colleagues and try to fit in a 15 minute walk during the lunch hour; wear a pedometer during the day to keep track of activity levels and as a motivator; and stretch your legs by walking over to your colleagues' desk instead of sending them an email.

What we eat affects our mood, how alert we are and our overall productivity.

We asked dietitian Maryke Bronkhorst why food influences us in this way. “Some foods contain nutrients that are used to manufacture certain brain chemicals that may enhance mental tasks like memory, concentration, and reaction time. Protein foods enhance the brain's production of dopamine, a natural brain chemical that helps one to feel alert. Large quantities of carbohydrates, on the other hand, result in the production of serotonin, a natural brain chemical that can cause drowsiness, but glucose in the bloodstream is the brain's main source of energy. So it's important that you eat at regular intervals and choose low glycaemic index options to prevent your blood sugar levels from dropping too low,” says Bronkhorst.

Lean biltong, a small handful nuts, a piece of fresh fruit eg blueberries, vegetable crudités with a dip like hummus and plain yoghurt flavoured with handful of berries are great 'go-to' snacks.

October 12 2015 

http://www.iol.co.za/lifestyle/ways-to-get-healthy-at-work-1.1928440#.ViF9yn4vfIU

How to make homemade yogurt - save money, get healthy

Isn`t it a very easy way of doing your own yogurt? With a very little effort and money you can boost your daily diet. I also did it putting milk and a yogurt starter into a flask instead of covering a container with a towel whitch helps keeping the warm environment for bacteria to grow. Just let`s try it in any way and have a fun as a home scientist doing experiments with making your own yogurt.

Cooking With a Doctor: How To Cook Vegetables Without Losing Nutrients

https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4759700415401236593#editor/target=post;postID=5599864696963709239;onPublishedMenu=allposts;onClosedMenu=allposts;postNum=0;src=link

Does Cooking Vegetables Kill Vitamins? | Healthy Food

What are the eight most popular diets today?

There are literally hundreds of thousands of diets. Some are for losing weight, others for gaining weight, lowering cholesterol, living a long and healthy life, etc. The Mediterranean Diet, for example, reflects the culinary habits of southern European people.

The word diet comes from Old French diete and Medieval Latindieta meaning "a daily food allowance". The Latin word diaetaand Greek word diaita mean "a way of life, a regimen".

A diet can be described as a set course of eating and drinking in which the kind and amount of food one should eat is been planned out in order to achieve weight loss or follow a certain lifestyle.

This Medical News Today information article provides details on the most popular diets according to three criteria: how many articles there are around about these diets/lifestyles, how popular they seem to be generally, and how often we receive feedback on them.

Contents of this article:

2. Atkins Diet
3. The Zone Diet
4. Vegetarian Diet
5. Vegan Diet
6. Weight Watchers Diet
7. South Beach Diet
8. Raw Food Diet
9. Mediterranean Diet

Below you can see a list of the eight diets, a summary on each one, and links to specific articles about those diets:

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Atkins Diet

The Atkins Diet, or Atkins Nutritional Approach, focuses on controlling the levels of insulin in our bodies through diet.¹

If we consume large amounts of refined carbohydrates our insulin levels will rise rapidly, and then fall rapidly. Rising insulin levels will trigger our bodies to store as much of the energy we eat as possible - it will also make it less likely that our bodies use stored fat as a source of energy.

Most people on the Atkins Diet will consume a higher proportion of proteins than they normally do.

The Zone Diet

The Zone Diet aims for a nutritional balance of 40% carbohydrates, 30% fats, and 30% protein each time we eat. The focus is also on controlling insulin levels, which result in more successful weight loss and body weight control.²  The Zone Diet encourages the consumption of good quality carbohydrates - unrefined carbohydrates, and fats, such as olive oil, avocado, and nuts.

Vegetarian Diet

There are various types of vegetarian: Lacto vegetarian, Fruitarian vegetarian, Lacto-ovo-vegetarian, Living food diet vegetarian, Ovo-vegetarian, Pescovegetarian, and Semi-vegetarian.³

The majority of vegetarians are lacto-ovovegetarians, in other words, they do not eat animal-based foods, except for eggs, dairy, and honey.

Studies over the last few years have shown that vegetarians have a lower body weight, suffer less from diseases, and generally have a longer life expectancy than people who eat meat.

Vegan Diet

Veganism is more of a way of life and a philosophy than a diet. A vegan does not eat anything that is animal based, including eggs, dairy, and honey.⁴

Vegans do not generally adopt veganism just for health reasons, but also for environmental and ethical/compassionate reasons.

Vegans believe that modern intensive farming methods are bad for our environment and unsustainable in the long term. If all our food were plant based our environment would benefit, animals would suffer less, more food would be produced, and people would generally enjoy better physical and mental health, vegans say.

Weight Watchers Diet

Weight Watchers focuses on losing weight through diet, exercise, and a support network.⁵

Weight Watchers Inc. was born in the 1960s when a homemaker (housewife) who had lost some weight and was concerned she might put it back on. So, she created a network of friends. Weight Watchers is a huge company, with branches all over the world.

Dieters can join either physically, and attend regular meetings, or online. In both cases there is a great deal of support and education available for the dieter.

South Beach Diet

The South Beach Diet was started by a cardiologist, Dr. Agatston, and a nutritionist, Marie Almon.⁶

It focuses on the control of insulin levels, and the benefits of unrefined slow carbohydrates versus fast carbs. Dr. Agatston devised the South Beach Diet during the 1990s because he was disappointed with the low-fat, high-carb diet backed by the American Heart Association. He believed and found that low-fat regimes were not effective over the long term.

Raw Food Diet

The Raw Food Diet, or Raw Foodism, involves consuming foods and drinks which are not processed, are completely plant-based, and ideally organic.⁷

Raw foodists generally say that at least three-quarters of your food intake should consist of uncooked food. A significant number of raw foodists are also vegans - they do not eat or drink anything which is animal based.

There are four main types of raw foodists: raw vegetarians, raw vegans, raw omnivores, and raw carnivores.

Mediterranean Diet

The Mediterranean Diet is Southern European, and more specifically focuses on the nutritional habits of the people of Crete, Greece, and southern Italy. Nowadays, Spain, southern France, and Portugal are also included; even though Portugal does not touch the Mediterranean Sea.

The emphasis is on lots of plant foods, fresh fruits as dessert, beans, nuts, cereals, seeds, olive oil as the main source of dietary fats, cheese and yogurts are the main dairy foods, moderate amounts of fish and poultry, up to about four eggs per week, small amounts of red meat, and low/moderate amounts of wine.⁸

Up to one third of the Mediterranean diet consists of fat, with saturated fats not exceeding 8% of calorie intake.

Western diet can shorten your life

Tasnime Akbaraly, PhD, Inserm, Montpellier, France, and team carried out a study that found that the "Western Diet", which is high in sweet and fried foods, raises a person's risk of dying early. They published their findings in the American Journal of Medicine.⁹

Dr. Akbaraly said "The impact of diet on specific age-related diseases has been studied extensively, but few investigations have adopted a more holistic approach to determine the association of diet with overall health at older ages. We examined whether diet, assessed in midlife, using dietary patterns and adherence to the Alternative Healthy Eating Index (AHEI), is associated with aging phenotypes, identified after a mean 16-year follow-up."

The team found that study participants who strayed from the "Alternative Healthy Eating Index" had a considerably higher risk of cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular death.

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The advantages of plant-based diets

The well known journal, Food Technology in October 2012 published a report explaining that plant-based diets either minimize or completely eliminate people's genetic propensity to developing chronic diseases, such as diabetes type 2, cardiovascular disease, and cancer.

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Written by Christian Nordqvist

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/5847.php

Coffee makes you a better, healthier person

Caffeine helps break down glucose and keep people moral, research says

Drinking coffee could help people become more ethical at work, and stave off diabetes, according to two new studies.

Tired workers are less likely to resist unethical influence from senior colleagues, and the equivalent of a large cup of coffee could help stave off tiredness that can lead to immoral behaviour, claims a new study published in the Journal of Applied Psychology.

Sleepy workers are more likely to give into unethical or deceptive requests from their bosses, the study claims. Providing caffeine in the workplace and reducing long hours could help workers avoid ethical lapses, the authors of the study said.

“When you’re sleep deprived at work, it’s much easier to simply go along with unethical suggestions from your boss because resistance takes effort and you’re already worn down,” said David Welsh, one of the authors of the study. “However, we found that caffeine can give sleep-deprived individuals the extra energy needed to resist unethical behavior.”

Measures such as ethical codes of conduct might not be enough to encourage good behaviour if workers are too tired to carry them out, the researchers note.

Another study has found that upping coffee consumption by about 1.5 cups can lower the risk of developing type two diabetes. The ideal amount to stave off the disease is around 3 to 5 cups, researchers said.

The drink contains a number of compounds that improve the body’s ability to break down glucose, which contributes towards diabetes, the study’s authors said.

Scientists at the Harvard School of Public Health examined 20 years of data from more than 100,000 people, and found that those that reduced their coffee habit by 8 or more ounces a day — around a cup — saw a 17% hike in their risk of type two diabetes.

Drinking an extra cup or more decreased the risk by 11%. Those that already drank more 24 ounces or more a day and didn’t reduce their consumption for the study were around 37% less likely to be diagnosed with diabetes. 

by Andrew Griffin 2 May 2014

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/coffee-makes-you-a-better-healthier-person-9317190.html

Creating a Fruit and Veggie Culture in the Home

What we surround ourselves with makes a huge difference in the habits that we fall into.  If you want your kids to eat fruits and vegetables one important thing to do is to create an environment that encourages this goal. How do you go about doing this? Stock your kitchen full of colourful fruits and vegetables, be sure to have some washed and ready to eat! Set a habit of making produce a part of every meal and every snack.  The earlier you set this habit with your children the better! The goal is to make eating fruits and vegetables a normal and expected part of their meals and snacks. This will help avoid some of the typical struggles with picky eating! This isn’t to say that the cause of all picky eating is habits! I know firsthand that there are multiple reasons for picky eating.  However I do believe that the eating habits that are established at a young age play a big part!

I was curious about the eating habits of children that are raised Vegan and Vegetarian…where eating fruits and vegetables is a big part of every meal not a side dish…are there less issues with picky eating?  I asked Ruby Roth, a Vegan Mom, teacher and children’s book author what her thoughts were on this subject.  She said “As far as picky eaters go,  it seems like parents who raise their  children vegetarian or vegan from birth actually have an easier time than omnivorous families do incorporating greens and vegetables into their family’s  daily diet. Our little one, born and raised vegan and mostly raw, was sucking  on sprigs of chives when she was two! Chives are the kind of thing that most  parents think a kid would pick off their food, but my experience is that what a kid likes to eat depends on what has been normalized in the household.”(...) Author: Kia Robertson

http://healthyhomemagazine.com/