Feed: Healthy Diet Tips For Your Cat - AggScore: 9.5

This is a great low fat, low cost lasagna recipe that decreases the amount of
lasagna noodle, and uses low fat cheeses and meat. Ground turkey has less fat
than ground beef, but use what you prefer.1 whole onion, diced1 bell pepper, diced4 garlic cloves, diced1/4 cup chopped scallions1/4 cup chopped mushrooms1 tsp herb seasoning mix (or non-salt seasoning)2 Tsp fresh oregano, thyme, rosemary mix (you can use bottled herbs)Salt and pepper to taste1 large tomato peeled and diced2 Tsp tomato paste1 Pint non-fat cottage cheese75% fat free cheese (available at most grocery stores), grated2 pounds low fat ground beef or ground turkey1 box wheat pasta, remove at least 8 strips-Wheat pasta has 3 times the fiber of regular pastaCook meat until almost doneMix onions, bell pepper, garlic, scallions, mushrooms,1 tablespoon of the oregano-thyme-rosemary mix, tomatoes, salt and pepper together in a saucepan
and cook with 1 teaspoon of oil. Add ground beef and ground turkey until the
meat mixture is done.Boil enough Lasagna noodles to cover the bottom of the lasagna pan, and the top of the
lasagna mixture, add a tincture of salt to boil.Now, using an oblong pan,Place one layer of lasagna noodles on the bottom of a large oblong pan, one at at time, laying each noodle lengthwise and side-by-side.Place a thin layer of meat on the bottom of the pan, (save enough for a second layer),Place a thin layer of fat-free cottage cheesePlace another layer of meat,Place a layer of 75% low-fat cheese,Place a layer of wheat pasta noodlesFor the last layer, place a thin layer of 75% low-fat cheese, and spread your secondtablespoon of herb mixture over the cheese.Place completed mix in an oven and cook at 375 degrees (pre-heated) for
about 20 minutes.Get more recipes at Msfinancialsavvy.com > click money > click cheap recipes.By: Lois Center-ShabazzAbout the Author:

The best diets that lower cholesterol are commonly low in saturated fat, for starters. Once you are committed to losing weight, any effective weight loss diet will cause you to eat foods that helps lower cholesterol by default. If this is already happening to you, great! Congratulations! Now, you are perhaps looking for ways to accelerate efforts for lowering your cholesterol. Well, the following list is for you.I would strongly recommend, however, that the supplements listed here not be considered a substitute for dietary or other changes-that’s why they called “supplements”. So, please consider this information for what it is, supplemental to an on-going cholesterol reduction program that you’re already doing.With that out of the way, here is some exciting supplement information put out by a very reliable source: The Mayo Clinic. They have listed ten natural substances you can eat that “may” lower your cholesterol. The studies for these natural supplements are very spotty because drug companies can’t patent a naturally occurring substance. So, the Mayo Clinic does not say these substances work unequivocally, probably for lack of good scientific research. There is enough evidence however for them to say they “may” work. And, being natural substances you can buy them and try them on for size and judge accordingly.These supplements are probably different than ones you’ve heard about, like fish oil. I looked around for corroborating evidence that these are legitimate cholesterol lowering supplements, and there’s plenty of supporting evidence on each one.Here they are:Artichoke extract – This natural remedy “may” reduce bad cholesterol (LDLs), and has been shown to help prevent heart disease and arthrosclerosis. It has been found to be beneficial to the liver by naturally detoxifying the blood, protecting the liver. Barley -Apparently barley, as well as whole grains and oats, should be added to your dinner or breakfast table. It could lower your cholesterol by 10-15%. Beta-sitosterol – is a plant-based substance. It is most often found in nuts, seeds, some fruits and vegetables. It can improve a long list of afflictions, including heart disease and high cholesterol. Blond psyllium – Shown effective in lowering cholesterol levels, but data is sparse. It’s in the insoluble fiber category, and lowers cholesterol by absorbing LDLs before they reach the bloodstream. Fish Oil – It’s well known by now that omega 3′s found in fish oil is an effective cholesterol lowering substance that also lowers triglycerides. Ground Flaxseed – Rich in omega 3 fatty acid, a well-known reducer of LDL cholesterol. Good on cereal and in your smoothie. It also contains fiber.This combination of components are effective in lowering LDLs. Expect this supplement to lower your LDL cholesterol by at least 14% Garlic Extract – This has the effect of lowering your risk of heart attack or stroke by thinning the blood, but also lowers total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglycerides. Green Tea Extract – Camellia sinesis, possesses powerful anti-oxidants known as polyphenols. In addition to drinking the tea itself, the extract has been shown to raise HDLs in animals and humans, while lowering overall cholesterol and triglycerides. Oat Bran -Reduces LDL cholesterol by absorption as dietary fiber, as does whole wheat and barley. Sitostanol – Like Beta-sitosterol (see #3), this is a plant based product. You’ll find this ingredient in Benecol margarine, and certain salad dressings. The FDA has approved this and related plant chemicals (stanol esters) to make the claim for its cholesterol lowering effects.By: Marc H PrestonAbout the Author:

A sample diet to lower cholesterol is important to determine how your body will respond to various cholesterol-lowering techniques suggested by experts. Basically, a sample diet to lower cholesterol involves avoiding certain foods while increasing the intake of others. Combining these techniques can lead to significant decreases in blood cholesterol levels, even reaching up to 20%.1. BreakfastA good breakfast for your sample diet to lower cholesterol should include oatmeal or oat bran and fruits. You can alternate it with cereal and low-fat milk or whole grain products, such as wheat bread. If you use butter or margarine, you may want to replace it with sterol-fortified margarine, instead. For the drinks, you can take sterol-fortified juices, skim milk or water. Vitamin supplement may also be taken in the morning.2, LunchYour lunch for a sample diet to lower cholesterol should include the fatty fish, such as tuna, mackerel or salmon, which is broiled, steamed or grilled. It can be alternated with lean meat, with fat less than 10%, or skinned poultry. These must be prepared with minimal cooking oil, such as canola oil. You may opt to combine them with rice or whole grain bread, and vegetables. Fresh or canned fruits, or low-fat yogurt, may be taken for dessert.3. SnacksHealth snacks that you can include in your sample diet to lower cholesterol include unsalted nuts, such as walnuts and almonds, and seeds, such as sunflower seed. Soy products, such as soy burger, are also healthy alternatives for regular snacks.4. DinnerDinner for a sample diet to lower cholesterol should be somewhat similar to lunch. You can start off with a low-calorie salad combined with a low-fat dressing. You can then alternate between fish, lean meat and skinned poultry. Experts recommend at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables daily.This is an overview of what a sample diet to lower cholesterol should contain. Knowing the principle behind the diet is the most important thing. This enables you to alter your diet and give variety to it.By: Albert LeeAbout the Author:

B vitaminsNiacin is probably the best B vitamin, but it isn’t the only one. Folic acid, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12 are also crucial. Remember homocysteine? This amino acid is thought to be at least as bad as cholesterol for you arteries. If you eat any meats you will elevate homocysteine levels, since it is a byproduct of meat metabolism. The higher the homocysteine levels, the greater the risk of heart disease and clogged arteries.The good news is that the higher your levels of folic acid, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12, the lower you levels of homocysteine. The average American probably doesn’t get enough folic acid and other B vitamins from their diet. There is clear evidence though, that dietary supplements significantly decrease homocysteine levels. One study revealed that a daily dose of 250 micrograms of folic acid lowered homocysteine 11% while a 500 microgram dose of folic acid lowered homocysteine 22%.Vitamin CMost people think vitamin C is good only for the common cold. Little do they know that ascorbic acid is also helpful for the heart. For one thing, vitamin C may lower cholesterol somewhat. That is not its most valuable contribution against heart disease, however.Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant. By preventing oxidative damage from bad LDL cholesterol, it is likely that vitamin C reduces the risk of atherosclerotic plaque formation in arteries. When combined with vitamin E, this is a powerful heart-protective duo.Vitamin EWe think of vitamin E as the queen, or perhaps we should say the intergalactic empress, of antioxidants. There have been so many studies in prestigious medical journals supporting the benefits of this vitamin that we cannot imagine how any responsible health professional could not appreciate its value. Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies have shown that vitamin E can reduce the risk of heart disease and heart attacks.Vitamin E appears very safe. Contrary to an old myth, it does not raise blood pressure. The possibility does exist, however, that vitamin E might interact with anticoagulants such as Coumadin (warfarin) to increase the risk of bleeding. Anyone on Coumadin should check with a doctor about this interaction before adding vitamin E to a personal regimen.Now, there are many factors that will help you decide your nutritional needs. Some people grow their own fruits and vegetables organically. If they eat liver and lots of greens daily, plus sweet potatoes, broccoli, cauliflower, and split peas, they won’t need B vitamin supplements.Someone who spends at least 15 to 30 minutes in the sun every day won’t require lots of additional vitamin D. The person who drinks a lot of low-fat milk or consumes cartons of yogurt and cottage cheese probably doesn’t need much extra calcium.No matter how careful you are about your diet, you won’t be able to get from food the amounts of Coenzyme Q10 that is required if someone is taking “statin” cholesterol-lowering drugs (Baycol, Lescol, Lipitor, Mevacor, Pravachol, Zocor).By: Ben BranklinAbout the Author:

If you have recently been told by your doctor that your cholesterol readings are high and you need to bring them down, then making some simple changes in your diet that include cholesterol lowering recipes is the best way to go.You see, it is a irrefutable fact that for most individuals, the best way to reduce cholesterol levels is by cutting way back on the amounts of saturated fats that you consume while increasing the amounts of foods that lower high cholesterol.When you prepare cholesterol lowering recipes, center them around vegetables and whole grains rather than beef and pork. Look for some lower fat substitutes for these meats such as turkey and chicken. Fish is also very important when looking for natural ways to reduce cholesterol.Vegetables and whole grains are wonderful foods that lower cholesterol because of their high fiber content as well as the amounts of plant sterols they contain. Be sure to load up on these in the meals that you prepare.Personally, when I was working to reduce my cholesterol levels I found that a structured diet plan that included many delicious recipes was important. The South Beach diet for instance, provides many cholesterol lowering recipes even though it is not specifically designed as a diet to reduce high cholesterol.I found that the recipes were enjoyable enough that I wanted to stay on the plan, and included many of the foods that lower high cholesterol along with an elimination of most foods that contain high amounts of saturated fat.Cholesterol lowering recipes that are made with these types of foods will guarantee for most individuals a substantial reduction in their cholesterol levels. I encourage you to visit my website to learn about specific heart healthy recipes, foods and diets.By: Van CrawfordAbout the Author:

Do (Fill in the blank) diets work?Strange title.But I believe that you could insert any popular or fad diet into the above statement and be able to truthfully answer the question.For the short term yes, for the long-term maybe, but probably not.Think about it.Do Low Fat diets work?If they really did, we would be a nation of puny 98 pound weaklings. Everything is low fat, problem is when they remove the fat, something that most of us really like, they replace it with high carbs. Low fat coffee cake, come on. Beside that our body needs fat to operate, maybe not the fat we give it, but we do need fat.Do Low Calorie diets work?Our genetic makeup won’t let our bodies starve. When we were hunters and gathers and had some lean times, when food was scarce, our bodies started to slow the metabolism down to preserve us. As you start to reduce your caloric intake you body compensates for it and starts to go into a survival mode. Oh sure you will lose weight initially but that will stop and you will be upset most of the time because you are hungry.Do Low Carb diets work?I will admit that it was easy for me to follow the Atkins Diet. But it was not easy for my wife to follow it. Still it was a pain in the — not eating some of the fruits I really enjoy. I truly do believe that a modified form of this diet is the best one for most people. Not as harsh as Atkins but maybe more in the line of South Beach. You kick-start your system with the low carb diet and then transition into a sensible eating plan.Do the Purchase our food diets work?If you get on some of the plans, it will cost you $300 to $600 a month for the privilege of eating their food. I am not sure about you, but that is some serious change to eat. Oh, I’m sorry, with most of these plans you still need to purchase some food to supplement their food. Give me a break!I have found some of the frozen dinners do a good job of portion control, along with following the Weight Watchers guidelines. They are reasonably priced and very convenient. I am doing this right now. Although some of these brands do leave something to be desired in the taste category, but that is something you will need to find out for yourself if you choose this plan.So the question remains Do (Fill in the blank) diets work? For the short term yes, for the long-term maybe, but probably not.But think about this. We did mention that we were genetically made to burn fuel efficiently.What would happen if we changed what we eat and when we eat it and kept our body burning fuel in that highly efficient manner. Instead of a low calorie diet, we gave it the food it needed and then changed what we gave it for a few days so it started burning our stored body fat.Then before the metabolism starts to slow down, we give it the food it needs again. We we just keep changing our food pattern and food intake to keep our furnace burning hot. But that is for another article, another day.By: Ross GalloAbout the Author:

Let’s face it. Our lifestyles wreck havoc on our bodies. Day to day stress, lack of exercise and poor diet all contribute to high cholesterol. Unfortunately, high cholesterol will set us up for other health problems like stroke and heart disease. So what is the solution to this problem?Should you take one of those cholesterol lowering medicines that is so heavily advertised everywhere these days? Should you try to lower your cholesterol the natural way? The natural way is always the best because it will carry less side effects and dangers to your system. Read on to discover some of the best ways to lower your cholesterol by using natural supplements.The first thing that you must do before trying any of these natural supplements for high cholesterol is to talk to your doctor. Let him know what you are doing and what supplements that you plan on taking. This is especially important if you take any type of prescription medication. You do not want to risk a drug interaction between your prescription drug and your herbal supplements.So now let’s take a quick look at some of the natural supplements that have been proven to help lower cholesterol levels.Vitamin B3, which is niacin, has been proven to be effective at lowering LDL cholesterol and raising HDL cholesterol. Niacin can be obtained through prescription or over the counter as a dietary supplement.One word of caution about niacin is that it should be used under the supervision of a health care professional. Niacin can cause gas, diarrhea, nausea and worsen peptic ulcers. It can also raise blood sugar levels and create liver inflammation. But Niacin, when used cautiously, can go a long way in reducing your cholesterol levels.Soluble fibers can be found in certain foods and have been proven to lower cholesterol levels significantly. The soluble fiber will bind the cholesterol and prevent it from being absorbed through the intestine. Soluble fibers can be found in barley, oats, legumes, and some fruits such as apples, prunes and berries.One great way to help lower cholesterol naturally is to have plain oatmeal at least five times a week. The fiber in the oatmeal acts like a sponge to absorb cholesterol and remove it out of your body. If you like protein shakes for breakfast try adding 1/2 cup of cooled oatmeal to your shake. You will feel full longer and get the added benefit of oatmeal. This is an especially good idea if you are trying to lose weight as you will find that you are not as hungry when lunch time rolls around.There has been some encouraging research concerning artichoke leaf and it’s effect on lowering cholesterol. Artichokes contain a chemical called cynarin. This compound is believed to increase bile production in the liver. This in turn will increase the speed that bile is excreted from the liver which is believed to excrete cholesterol also. There have been no known side effects associate with artichoke leaf.So if you want to reduce your cholesterol levels without resorting to prescription medications, consider trying these natural supplements. Just make sure that you do it under the supervision of your doctor.By: Patricia ZelkovskyAbout the Author:

It can sometimes be hard to get the correct foods to add to your healthy eating lesson plans. People these days are just so busy with their work lives that something like eating healthy can take a back seat. If things were the way they were supposed to be then we would all eat foods rich in vitamins and minerals but eating junk food is just too easy.The right daily calorie intake for women is 2000 kcals and 2500 kcals for men. This amount of calories should consist of the essentials like fibre, calcium and vitamins A, B, C and D just to name a few. People now actually supplement with these vitamins as their diet does not have enough of these nutrients in it. In this article I am going to give you a list of foods that should be included in your healthy eating lesson plans.Healthy Eating Lesson PlansAlmonds
Almonds are packed full of fibre, heart healthy fats and protein. They are possibly the best type of food to eat if you want to be healthy. Make sure to leave the skin on when you eat them.Phyllium Husks
Helps to get rid of LDL (bad) cholesterol and also on of the best natural form of protein available.Green Tea
Not quite a food either but green tea helps you to lose weight, improve brain function and improve heart health. Drink it unsweetened, without sugar and with out any lemon. Simply the green tea leaves and hot water will do. Try drink 1-3 cups daily.By: Kayla StephensAbout the Author:

These days, with fast food being such a cheap and quick option, many people are neglecting the nutritional needs that their body’s are crying out for. Without the proper nutrients and minerals, our bodies simply cannot function to their full capabilities. To this end, there have been many cheap and healthy nutrition plans developed to maximize your body’s health while keeping to a tight budget.Once per day supplements can combine many of the nutrients your body needs on a daily basis into a simple pill form. These can be relatively inexpensive and work wonders for your health, giving you your daily required vitamins and minerals.Eating vegetables is a key step in most cheap and healthy nutrition plans. Costing much less than purchased food at a restaurant, your body reacts well when given uncooked vegetables. Containing phytochemicals, powerful natural agents that promote health, fresh vegetables also help to alkalinize your system and reduce the harmful effects of the acidic content our bodies most often possess.Limiting sugar is also a critical step in many of these plans, as eating refined sugar has been known to weaken your immune system and promote yeast overgrowth.Another key step in cheap and healthy nutrition plans has to be recognizing the difference between a physical need for food and an emotional desire for it. Many of us overeat due to the fact that we can not differentiate between the two desires, resulting in paying more to get more food than we need.These are merely a few suggestions to help you on your cheap and healthy nutritional plans. Remember to get enough protein to allow your body to rebuild and generate new tissues, enough carbohydrates to keep energy throughout the day, and enough fat to maintain a decent body-fat level while not overindulging upon it.By: John GibbAbout the Author:

Chicken is one of everybody’s favorite dishes. Chewing on the leg gives an individual immense pleasure. However most of the chicken dishes are fattening and adds a lot of calories. Let us at some dishes that are less fattening:1) Grilled chicken salad-A grilled chicken fillet
-A slice of tangerine
-A piece of lettuce
-Cherry tomatoes chopped
-5 dots of Tomato Ketchup
-A half cup of low fat ranch dressing.
-Grill the chicken and simply put all the ingredients together.2) Breaded chicken, Low fat recipesThe Ingredients:-Two skinless chicken breasts
-One egg white
-Half cup milk
-Clove garlic
-Chopped onion and tomatoes
-Half cup flour
-And spicesPreparation:1.Beat the whites and milk to combine. Add garlic, onion, salt and pepper.
2. Place chicken in this milk mixture and let stand 1 hour in the
refrigerator.
3. In food processor, process corn flakes along with herbs, paprika, salt
and pepper. Stir into flour.
4. Remove breasts from milk and coat with corn flakes mixture.
5. Place in a baking dish and bake 40 minutes in 350 d. oven.3) Low Fat Chicken Breast RecipeIngredients:-Four boneless-skinless chicken breasts
-2 cups of plums
-A half cup brown sugar
-2 tsp. fresh squeezed lemon juice
-1 tsp. cornstarch
-1 tsp. ginger
-2 dollops of tomato ketchup
-1 tbsp. plum jelly
-1 tsp. salt
-1 tsp. onion powder
-1 tsp. black pepperPreparation:Preheat the oven to 400. The chicken needs to marinate for a day. If you use fresh plums, they will need to have the pits removed before using. You can use fresh or frozen varieties of this fruit if you want to. In a medium sized mixing bowl, combine the plums, the plum jelly, cornstarch, and the tomato ketchup..Now gradually add the brown sugar while stirring. Next, add the tamarind juice and ginger. Continue mixing. Lastly, add the garlic and onion powder, and the black pepper. Once this plum glaze has been mixed well, it is ready to use.Place each chicken breast, one by one, into the mixing bowl and cover each it with the plum glaze. Do this for each chicken breast. Then put the chicken breasts in a baking pan. You can add one more spoonful of plum glaze to each chicken breast before putting them in the oven if you wish. Bake this dish on 375 for 25-30 minutes.
Remove the pan from the oven. Top each piece of chicken with parsley before servingBy: Ganesh Ramachandran IyerAbout the Author: