Diet And Weightloss

Here’s a recipe with a nice twist I hope you will enjoy. I sure do, especially after working out!

If your bananas turn brown, don’t throw them out — take the opportunity to make a delicious and healthy banana bread that the whole family can enjoy.

Freshly squeezed orange juice and a touch of the rind give a fresh and lively flavor to the banana bread. You can also add different nuts such as almonds or crushed filberts for added appeal. If you like, throw some raisins or currants in too. Experiment with different ingredients and amounts. Recipes are only guidelines but suggest using only whole grains.

By trying different whole grain flours, you will find your preference. It’s always a good idea to change your grains and use the freshest whole flour that you can get your hands on.

Ripe fruit contains many elements that are essential for a balanced diet. Although bananas are 75 percent water, they also contain fat, natural sugars, protein, potassium and vitamins A, B complex and C. Ripe bananas are easily digested and they impart quick energy. Try eating one before working out - you’ll be amazed.

After a workout, a protein shake and a slice or two of banana bread are a perfect combination to refuel your energy levels. Try topping the bread with unpasteurized creamed honey. WOW!

ORANGE BANANA BREAD

Makes one loaf.

• 2 cups whole wheat/spelt or kamut flour
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 cup chopped walnuts
• 1/2 cup raisins or currants (optional)
• 3 ripe bananas
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 cup unpasteurized honey
• 1 Tbsp orange rind
• Juice from 2 large oranges, plus the pulp

Preheat oven to 375 F

Mix all dry ingredients together in a large bowl. Add all wet ingredients in a blender and mix for 15 seconds. Stir the blended ingredients in with the dry ingredients.

Pour mixture into a well-greased bread pan and place on middle rack in oven for approximately 45 minutes. Insert toothpick to check for doneness (it should come out clean). Cover loaf with tinfoil if it starts to over-brown on top. Let cool for 30 minutes and then dig in!

If you want to lose weight, most people know that eating healthy foods won’t get you very far if you don’t pair it with a great exercise routine. However, it can be difficult to know when and how to exercise and what foods to match up with your specific lifestyle and exercise plan. Here are five tips that may help you make sure that your diet and exercise plan create a fit and healthy body.

The first tip is to ingest lots of protein, especially if you are doing a lot of exercising involving weight lifting. When you lift weights, your body breaks down the muscle tissue with small tears, and protein is needed to repair these tears. If you don’t get enough protein, you will not build muscle. You can get protein in foods such as chicken breast, lean beef, nuts, soy products, turkey and egg whites.

The second tip is healthy eating when you exercise. If you are planning or will be involved in intense workouts, you will require more food because you will require more energy. Remember, you want to burn more calories than you take in to lose weight and your body should not be relying solely on fat reserves for energy. Relying on body fat as your source of energy, will only make you weak. In other words, eat according to what exercise you’re involved with.

The third tip concerns working out, eating healthy and hydrating your body. Water should be a major part of your everyday diet. It is also important to *drink sports drinks if you will be working out intensely and perspiring a lot. When our bodies sweat, we lose more than just water. We also lose sodium which must be replenished so the body is able to handle the water intake correctly.

The fourth tip for healthy eating and working out is to schedule both to coincide. If you are on a non-work out day, you don’t need the same amount of food as a workout day. Staying motivated for both can be tricky, especially at first, so you must make sure that you have allotted a time for working out and your meals.

The final tip for healthy eating and working out is to see your doctor and talk to him or her about your new lifestyle. Your doctor should be able to help point out ways to eat healthy foods that you never thought about or tell you if a diet sounds too difficult or even dangerous. Also, listen to your body, it will tell you a lot!

*I have been told, and also have heard, that we do not require sports drinks, as our exercises are not that strenuous, do not last long enough and that we do not perspire like football, hockey and basketball players to require sports drinks.