Diet And Lose Weight

If you are on the DASH diet and have any interesting recipes for a party I would love if you shared themMy brother-in-law is on it and its really working for him and I know if he eats too much junk he feels ill so I'm looking for some interesting recipesIf you don't know what the DASH diet is, its basically a healthy diet with a lot of vegetables and fruit, very limited salt and sugar, and a reasonable amount of protein.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/dash-diet-recipes/RE00089Some of these appetizers looked yummy although I'm sorry to report I don't have any experience with these or any original recipes. Hope you get some answers Good luck

The Mediterranean diet and lifestyle is fast gaining in popularity with researchers looking into good health and longevity, but why is this? Basically, obesity and diabetes is rife across most or the Western world now, except for the Mediterranean, and the research is linking this back to the type of food that they eat. So, that said, what can we learn from them? Well, one of the first areas researchers assessed the impact on health and longevity of omega-3 essential fatty acids such as those found in fatty fish like salmon and mackerel. Omega 3 is thought to help protect the heart and improve cholesterol levels.

The Mediterraneans are big eaters of fish, so copy them and try and get 2 portions a week into your diet, although they do not both have to be oily fish The next area linking to the good health of the Mediterraneans is olive oil. Researchers at the Monell Chemical Senses Center in Philadelphia found that oleocanthal, a compound in olive oil, may reduce inflammation, which could help prevent conditions like heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, Alzheimer’s, and autoimmune diseases, as well as certain cancers. Olive oil is a panacea, the perfect oil for all ages.

And every time scientists look into the reasons behind an olive oil advantage empirically known and employed by the peoples of the Mediterranean, it is certain that they will come across evidence of yet another unique biological attribute. Olive oil, a staple of the region, is also believed to help lower cholesterol and help maintain healthy blood sugar levels and blood pressure. Olive oil is first choice for investigation as it is used almost exclusively in Mediterranean cooking instead of butter, margarine and other fats. Olive oil is a rich source of monounsaturated fat, which is protective against heart disease, possibly because it displaces saturated fat from the diet. Finally, and this may be of interest to those of you that like a tipple, red wine is a staple part of the Mediterranean diet too. It is important to note this because red wine is full of anti oxidants and flavonoids from the grapes. Flavonoids are being credited for being responsible in the reduction of cholesterol oxidation and healthy blood platelet activity.

So go ahead and have a drink on me to your good health. Now, as important as incorporating omega 3 and olive oil and red wine into the diet is, lifestyle also has a part to play in this too. For the Mediterranean’s, meal times are not about sitting in front of the TV and eating the food as fast as possible. Meal times are long leisurely affairs where the whole family gets together, and discusses their day. I hope you can see the importance of this as it is a good way to unwind and let go of stress that has built up during the day. Also, if you are looking into using this kind of diet to lose weight, eating your food slowly is a great way to start, as it will allow your brain to trigger the chemicals properly when you are full, and this means there is less chance of you overeating.

U.S. News Releases Best Diets Rankings

U.S. News today released its first-ever Best Diets rankings–an evaluation of 20 eating plans that have been expert-rated in seven categories, including short-term weight loss, long-term weight loss, easiness to follow, safety, and nutritional completeness. Overall, the government-endorsed DASH Diet (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) snagged the top spot. A panel of 22 experts in diet and nutrition, as well as specialists in diabetes and heart disease, said it was heart-healthy and nutritionally sound. DASH looked like an All-Star, according to the rankings, and though obscure, beat out a field full of better-known diets. In addition to helping deflate high blood pressure, the plan will likely help dieters shed pounds, too. Three diets tied at No. 2: the Mediterranean Diet, the TLC Diet, and Weight Watchers. The goal of the Best Diets rankings is to help consumers find authoritative guidance on healthful diets that will work for them over the long haul, said Lindsay Lyon, U.S. News's Health News Editor.

–Best Diets

–What Is the 'Best Diet' for You?

Best Diets Methodology: How U.S. News Rated Them

Diets come and go, teasing and tempting with visions of that new, hot, slimmed-down body sculpted in a flash from the old, formerly pudgy and mirror-averse You. Eat what you want Pounds melt away The reality, as legions of frustrated dieters can affirm, is that dieting is hard and that most diets don't work. Some, in fact, could put your health at risk. Getting at the facts about diets and dieting has long been grueling enough to burn off a pound or two by itself.

Now, though, Best Diets cuts through the clutter of claims and half-truths to deliver the facts about 20 diets, including many, such as Weight Watchers, that are household names and others, such as the DASH diet, that should be.

A U.S. News team spent six months researching the diets, mining medical journals, government reports, and other sources. An in-depth profile was then drawn up for every diet that explains how it works, whether its claims add up or fall short, and what risks it might pose, along with insights into living on the diet, not just reading about it.

A carefully selected panel of 22 recognized experts in diet and nutrition and specialists in diabetes and heart disease reviewed the U.S. News profiles. Then the experts rated each diet from 1 to 5 in seven categories: short-term weight loss, long-term weight loss, how easy it is to follow, its nutritional completeness, its safety, its ability to prevent or manage diabetes, and its ability to prevent or manage heart disease. U.S. News also asked the panelists to comment on which aspects of each diet that they particularly liked or disliked and to weigh in on what they think people considering the diet should know. [Read more: Best Diets Methodology: How We Rated Them.]

–How to Stay on a Diet to Lose or Maintain Weight

–Best Diets Overall

Don't Just Diet–Exercise to Lose Weight, Too

What you eat is only one part of the weight-loss equation. Diet alone may help you drop pounds, but you'll have trouble keeping them off if you don't exercise. And that's not to mention the added benefits you'll miss out on, from improved mood, to better sleep, to disease prevention. The exercise has to be there, says Jim White, a registered dietitian and personal trainer certified by the American College of Sports Medicine.

Most experts recommend at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise, such as brisk walking, most or all days of the week. Typically, 30 minutes a day offers disease-prevention benefits, while 60 minutes helps with weight maintenance. Working out for 90 minutes a day helps on both fronts–and melts additional pounds. Regular exercise also cuts the risk of heart disease and diabetes, improves blood pressure and cholesterol levels, promotes better sleep, and builds healthy bones, muscles, and joints.

Some diets offer specific exercise routines–Jenny Craig members get programs tailored to their individual fitness level, for example–while other diets do no more than recommend it. If that's the case, remember that exercise need not be drudgery. Take a Zumba dance class, go hiking, jump rope, or bounce on a trampoline. Try kayaking, pilates, or swimming; vigorous household chores and yard work count, too. For the best conditioning, switch up your routine every 12 weeks, including frequency, intensity, and type. And avoid an all-or-nothing mentality: It's better to take a 30-minute walk five times a week than to run half a marathon on just one day. [Read more: Don't Just Diet--Exercise to Lose Weight, Too.]

–5 Mind-Blowing Benefits of Exercise

–10 Excuses for Not Exercising, and Why They Won't Fly

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I will like to know what kind of recipes the plan has. Tips for getting over the initial shock of no salt (for my diet). Things like that.

For some recipes and other related links for the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension plan: www.dashdiet.org and just click on 'recipes'. Stay well