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Weight Loss Exercise

Energy Bars – What to look for in Energy Bars

Many of us eat energy bars, protein bars or the like, I found this short article at  eVitamins  and though I would throw it in. The mighty energy bar is a great thing to eat and makes a really good meal replacement.

Energy Bars   What to look for in Energy Bars

Meal Replacement Bar

Energy bars are fortified foods containing a blend of protein, carbohydrates, fat, fiber, vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients. The primary source of protein in energy bars is usually soy or milk, with fiber provided from grains, oats, apple pectin, or other sources.

Some bars also contain additional herbs or nutrients thought to enhance energy, promote weight loss, or increase endurance. Energy bars can be consumed before, during, and after athletic events to ensure sufficient energy and replace expended nutrients. They may also be used as a snack or meal replacement.

Varieties of Energy Bars

Energy bars come in a wide variety of flavors and textures. They may be high in protein, high in carbohydrates, low in fat, or contain a balanced ratio of these nutrients. They may have a taffy-like texture, or may be baked for a cookie-like consistency. Many are coated with chocolate, carob, vanilla yogurt, or other flavors. Natural energy bars with natural sugars, flavors, and colors are also available.

Buying and storing tips
Look for energy bars in the snack foods or supplement section of health food stores, or in the specialty foods section of most supermarkets. Store energy bars in a cool, dark location for 6 to 12 months. of course being a perishable product you need to follow the labels and the expiry date for the energy meal replacement bar.

Preparation, uses, and tips
Combine natural energy bars and a handful of grapes or cherries for a fast breakfast or healthful mid-day snack. Energy bars are easy to transport, so if youre going for a long bike ride or hike, pack some energy bars to satisfy your snack attacks.

Energy Bars and Hunger Study Results

There was a study a couple of years ago that compared the value of eating energy bars compared to drinking a meal replacement for breakfast. Apparently these bars will help you avoid getting hungry quicker.

Hunger ratings and desire to eat remained significantly below baseline for 5 hours following consumption. Stomach fullness scores were significantly above baseline for 5 hours. Thirst scores were significantly below baseline for 3 hours. In conclusion, although the meal replacement diet bars contained only 30 additional calories than liquids, they provided an additional 2 hours of hunger suppression from baseline that may have an impact on overall weightloss success. These results support superior short-term hunger control with solid meal replacements.

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Weight Loss Exercise

Cardio Tennis


Read a great review of the Fat Loss for Idiots program. See if you can lose 9 pounds in 11 days and what Cycled Eating is

Cardio Tennis

Cardio Tennis

As we all know tennis is great exercise for brief periods of time. When I was younger I played a lot of tennis and really enjoyed the sport becase of the competition, skill, startegy and also because it was the funnest way that I knew of to get some good exercise. If you play tennis for an hour you could expect to burn 500 calories if you were running you would burn over 1100 calories so tennis is not the best workout from a caloric burning standpoint.

Enter Cardio Tennis.

I was listening to a interview on an online health radio station today and heard a great interview with on of the people involved with Cardio Tennis.

Cardio Tennis is a series of drills that you do as a group that instead of really correcting your game instead the goal is to make you burn more calories. Cardio Tennis was recognized at the US Open tennis championships last year and is a great new way of getting great exercise and still having a lot of fun. If you are a tennis player already then Cardio Tennis si a great way to improve your fitness and stamina for your game. If you are not a tennis player then you get a nice hard workout and because of the way the workout is set up you will not have to be a good player to start with.

The website has a fair amount of information on the workouts and there are certified trainers that can get you started and conduct classes

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Weight Loss Exercise

Blueberry Power


Read a great review of the Fat Loss for Idiots program. See if you can lose 9 pounds in 11 days and what Cycled Eating is

The health benefits of blueberries have made the news in recent years. Some of the reported benefits of eating blueberries include improved vision, cleared arteries, strengthened blood vessels, enhanced memory, stopped urinary tract infections and reversed age-related physical and mental declines.

Nutrients in Blueberries

Blueberry Power

Blueberry Power

According to LSU AgCenter nutritionist Beth Reames, blueberries and other brightly colored berries contain vitamins, minerals, dietary fiber and phytochemicals that help protect against disease, including certain cancers and heart disease.

 

Phytochemicals are nonnutritive substances in plants that promote health and prevent chronic disease. Antioxidants are phytochemicals that help neutralize harmful byproducts of metabolism called free radicals that contribute to heart disease and other diseases.
Blueberries are nature’s number one source of antioxidants among fresh fruits and vegetables according to the USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University in Boston. Anthocyanins, the pigments giving blueberries their deep blue hue, act as antioxidants, which may provide many health benefits.

Blueberries are Low Cal and healthy

Blueberries also are a low-calorie food – only 40 calories per 1/2 cup. Blueberries are low in fat, sodium-free and a source of fiber, beta-carotene, vitamin C and potassium.

Blueberries contain compounds that may help to prevent urinary tract infections (UTIs), The compounds, called condensed tannins, can keep the bacteria responsible for UTIs from attaching to the linings of the urinary and digestive tracts.

Reames says to look for berries that are dark blue, with a frosty bloom. Store fresh blueberries in your refrigerator for up to two weeks, and wash them just before you use them; washing and then storing makes them mushy. Loose-pack frozen blueberries are available year-round, and you can use them in any recipe that calls for fresh blueberries. Since they are washed, they can be used right from the package.

How to Choose Blueberries

Fresh blueberries should be plump and firm with a dark blue color and waxy, silvery “bloom.” Sweetness varies by variety. Blueberries do not ripen after harvest, so as soon as you buy them, you can eat them. One pint of berries will provide four to five servings of fresh uncooked fruit.

Just like any other fruit we know that fruit is better fresher then frozen so go out and pick some fruit if you are in a place where that is possible

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