Merry Christmas

Christmas is a time where we spend time with our loved one and enjoy their company, share laughter's...

Head 2 Toe Inspirations, wishes you a very Merry Christmas. Enjoy and don't forget to stay healthy!

XoXo :*

What is Lean Meat?

We always hear that choosing lean meats plays a very important role in our health. But what is lean meat.
Below I share with you what exactly lean meat is and how to choose the right meat for a health diet.

What is lean meat.

Lean meat is meat that has less the a total of 10 grams fat. Protein is the a very important element of our daily diet and for the overall growth of muscle, bones, skin, etc... Even though we also find this protein in nuts, peas and beans, it is no doubt that meat is the complete source of protein.

Here is a least of leaner cuts of meat:

Leaner cuts of beef:

• Arm Roasts
• Bottom Round Steaks 
• Chuck Shoulder Roasts 
• Eye Of Round
• Leg Cuts

Leaner cuts of pork:

• Bone-In Rib Chop 
• Bone-In Sirloin Roast
• Bone-In Sirloin Roast

Leaner cuts of lamb:

• Arm 
• Leg Of Lamb
• Loin

Leaner Poultry:

• Chicken
• Skinless Breast Meat
• Lean or Extra Lean Ground Chicken

Find the whole list at Nourish Health Kids.

5 Amazing Health Benefits of Pineapples

Pineapples are irresistibly juice and are a great add on to puddings and smoothies. They belong to the Bromeliaceae family originated in America.

The important thing about pineapples is that they are packed with nutrition that are much needed for a healthy body. Let us look at some of their amazing health benefits:

1. Builds Strong Bones

Pineapple are rich in manganese. Manganese is necessary for building strong bones and connective tissues. It also has anti–inflammatory properties which when taken regularly, helps to reduce the pain associated with arthritis in elderly people.

2. Fights Cold and Flue

Pineapples are rich in vitamin C which helps fight colds and flue.It also has a nutrient called  bromelain which helps in suppressing coughs and prevent mucous build up in your throat.

3. Reduces Morning sickness

If you are pregnant pineapples should be your best friend.

4. Keeps your Gums Healthy

Including pineapple in your diet will make your gums strong which will keep your teeth healthy and strong.

5. Helps with Digestion

The bromelain found in pineapples work to neutralize fluids to ensure that they are not too acidic and helps keep the digestive track healthy.

Health Benefits of Cinnamon Sprinkles

Cinnamon.. Who doesn't like a sprinkle of it on that milk tart or cinnamon toast ( I'll share the recipe tomorrow) not forgetting to sprinkle it on a pancakes topped with banana and honey... It tastes so good!!

As good as its health benefits. Lets find out what wonders a sprinkle of cinnamon can do for your body...

1. Helps digest food

 Cinnamon reduces the uncomfortable feelings associated with IBS ( Irritable Bowel Syndrome ) especially the bloating it also aids with  heartburn or indigestion.

2. Aids weight loss

Cinnamon increases blood circulation, increased blood flow  boosts your metabolism therefore helping you loss weight. This blood thinning property of Cinnamon also helps it in acting as an anti clotting agent especially for those suffering from heart disease.

3. Reduces PMS

According to the University of Maryland web site women who ate 5.6 mg of manganese in their diets each day had fewer mood swings and cramps compared to those who ate only 1 mg of manganese. These results suggest that a manganese rich diet may help reduce symptoms of PMS.

4. Reduces pain linked to arthritis.

5. Food preservative

Cinnamon is a natural food preservative,when added to food, it inhibits bacterial growth and food spoilage.

6. Reduce heart disease

Cinnamon is an excellent source of calcium and fiber. The two components help to bind and remove bile salts from the body--salts that have a damaging effect on the colon. When the bile is removed from the body, it has to break down cholesterol to generate new bile, having a positive impact on atherosclerosis and heart disease prevention.

7. Aids yeast infection

Cinnamon helps to stop medication-resistant yeast infections.

8. Blood Sugar Regulator

9. Cures stomach bug and flu

Cinnamaldehyde contain in cinnamon helps cure stomach bug and reduce symptoms of flu.

10. Packed with good nutrients and a great anti - oxidant

Cinnamon is packed with nutrients such as fiber, calcium, iron, and manganese. Reach in anti - oxidants which reduce the forming of " Free Radicals " that cause cancer.

Fighting Constipation

Yes I said - Constipation - the one topic that everybody shies away from. If you are suffering from this problem here are the causes and the solutions that will help you get rid of this uncomfortable situation.

What causes constipation:

Constipation is caused by the slow passing of stool and the lenght it spends in our colon. Our colon absorbs too much liquid from our stool making it hard, this makes it difficult for our rectum muscles to push it out of our bodies.

The common causes of constipation are:

• Lack of water intake
• Low fibre diet
• Lack of exercise
• Depression
• Stress
• Eatting a lot of dairy 
• Over use of laxatives
• Some medications such as pain medication and iron supplement

How to treat constipation

• Eat ffods which a filled with fibre like fruits, vegetables and bran muffins.
• Drink water and soups
• Engage yourself in daily exercises

Eggs for Life ( Health benefits of Eggs)

Image : landolake.com

When i was in senior primary my mother use to stuff me with eggs. Soon I came to hate anything that had eggs in it. But recently I have become quite a fan of these precious eggs after stumbling across these interesting benefits that they add to your health.

1. Good for your eyes

I'm a heavy reader and I spend most of my time infront of a computer. So it was lovely to learn that just one egg a day can prevent macular degeneration - a medical condition which usually affects older adults and results in a loss of vision.

2. Aids in weight loss

A breakfast which contains eggs will keep you fuller for longer.

3. Reduces risk of getting cancer.

The egg yoke is packed with a nutrient called choline. High intake of choline reduces the risk of breast cancer; choline also protects our livers from accumulating fat, helps regulate the nervous system, the brain and cardiovascular system.

4. Promotes healthy hair and nails

Eggs are high in sulphur and contain a wide array of vitamins and minerals which help keep your nails and hair healthy.

5. Protects your heart

Eatting two eggs a day increases your HDL the good cholesterol which protects your heart.

5 effective ways to Boost your Metabolism

 

 

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Our metabolism is the rate at which our body burns off food. a speedy metabolism helps us burn fat faster. Here are a few ways in which you can increase your metabolism and burn calories faster.

1. Always eat breakfast

I always stress to people the importance of eatting breakfast because its the one meal that keeps us from starvation eatting and kick starts our metabolism.

2. Caffiene (Coffee or Black Tea)

Caffiene  helps your body release more fat burning hormonesand helps you burn more fat when working out.

3. Morning workouts

Working out in the morning gives you a long lasting calory burning effect which will help you burn more calories through out the day.

4. Eat more protien

Your body burns huge amounts of calories while digesting protiens.

5. Spice things up

Spicy foods don't only increase your heart rate but it also speeds up your metabolism.