6 Reasons to Love Mangoes

While they’re one of the most popular fruits in the world, mangoes are still considered exotic in the US. If you’re unfamiliar with all this fruit has to offer, read on to learn 6 surprising facts that might make you mad for mangoes.

1. Mangoes may help whittle your middle

They may seem more like a decadent dessert than a healthy fruit, but mangoes are diet-friendly. Because they’re naturally sweet, eating them can help quash your cravings for candy or other sugary foods. A one-cup serving of fresh mango has 100 calories, and because that same serving has three grams of filling fiber, you’ll feel fuller on fewer calories. In fact, mangoes are 83% water by weight, and research from Penn State University has shown that eating foods that have a high water content (and lower energy density) help to keep you fuller while eating less. In fact, one of their studies found that eating a piece of fruit before a meal reduced the calories consumed at that meal by 15 percent.

2. They pack a powerful nutrition punch

Bursting with over 20 vitamins and minerals, mangoes are loaded with good nutrition and health benefits. Just one cup provides 100% of our daily vitamin C needs, helping to strengthen our immune system, keep our teeth and gums healthy, and support collagen formation–hello, beautiful skin! Mangoes are also rich in fiber, a nutrient that helps you to fill up—not weigh you down.

3. Mangoes may temper inflammation

Mangoes contain several anti-inflammatory compounds, including vitamin C and beta carotene. And a recent study published in the journal of Molecular Nutrition & Food Research, found that mango has the potential to enhance the diet as a source of gallic acid and gallotannins which may possess anti-inflammatory and anti-carcinogenic properties.

4. They’re easier to cut and peel than you think

Stumped about the best way to slice a mango? Just place the fruit on the cutting board stem-end down and hold. Then, take a sharp knife and cut just off-center, about ¼ of an inch.  Repeat on the other side so that you have two mango cheeks. Take the first half and cut parallel slices or a checkerboard pattern into the mango flesh, being careful not to cut through the skin. Scoop the slices or cubes out with a spoon. If you want smaller cubes for a recipe, simply make the cuts closer together. Easy!

5. Red doesn’t equal ripe

A red mango isn’t always a ripe mango! To know if it’s ready to eat, squeeze it gently. A ripe mango will give slightly. Like more familiar fruits, such as peaches and avocado, mangoes also become softer as they ripen. If a mango is firmer than desired, set it on the countertop, where it will continue to ripen. To speed up the process, place mangoes in a paper bag at room temperature. Once ripe, mangoes can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

6. Fresh mangoes are available year-round

Good news – whether you need your mango fix in June, December or any month of the year, you’ll likely be able to find at least one of the six main varieties. Each variety has a unique flavor and texture, so try different ones throughout the year.

So, consider adding mangoes to your fruit line-up – there’s no limit to how you can use them. You can whip up a tropical mango salsa to use as a topper for grilled fish, create a crab-mango crostini hors d’oeuvre, mix with low-fat yogurt and ice cubes for a refreshing smoothie, treat yourself to a light and delicious mango sorbet or slice this versatile fruit into thin strips and roll with a slice of deli meat. You can also purée mango and drizzle over grilled chicken or fish for a splash of color and blast of vitamins and minerals—the possibilities are endless!

By Katherine Brooking

http://blogs.webmd.com/food-and-nutrition/2016/06/6-reasons-to-love-mangoes.html

Learn Which Dietary Fats Can Actually Help You Lose Fat

It sounds contradictory, but consuming certain dietary fats can help you lose body fat. But you need to know what you're doing. Here's your guide.

Fats and cholesterol are the building blocks of key hormones such as thyroid hormone, oestrogen, testosterone, and cortisol. Under normal circumstances, when fat accounts for less than 15 percent of total calories, the production of those hormones begins to suffer. This has negative consequences for everything from fat burning and muscle growth to fertility and mood. Inadequate fat intake also impairs absorption of essential fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, and K), each of which has an important biological role.

On the flip side, getting more than 40 percent of total calories from fats can come at the expense of protein and fiber. Excessive intake of fats—which are the most calorie-dense nutrient at 9 calories per gram—can lead to unwanted weight gain, especially in people not accustomed to higher-fat diets.

The official recommendation from the American Dietetic Association is to get 20-35 percent of total calories from fat.[1] Based on my review of the literature, 0.3-0.5 grams of fat per pound of your goal body weight is adequate for optimizing hormone levels and meeting other physiological needs such as the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins, structure and funtion of cell membranes, blood clotting, wound healing, and brain and neuron function.

Dietary fat also helps suppress appetite by activating specific hormones in the gut and by slowing digestion.[2] Fats can also slow the release of nutrients from the small intestine, helping to promote stable blood sugar and a healthy glucose metabolism.

Choosing The Right Fats For Fat Loss

Certain types of fats are more beneficial for fat loss than others. A diet high in monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids, such as avocado, nuts, and fatty fish, has been shown to reduce insulin resistance. Insulin resistance is a dominant risk factor for type 2 diabetes and is often associated with obesity and high blood pressure.[3]

Omega-3 fatty acids are a type of polyunsaturated fat found in fatty fish, flaxseed, chia seeds, and walnuts. Omega-3's have been shown to enhance the health benefits associated with regular exercise, as well as reduce hunger cravings. Both can help you achieve your fat-loss goals![4,5]

Avoid trans fats, though. Found in processed foods containing partially hydrogenated oils, these fats are a significant risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Go easy on the saturated fat, too. Too much of it, along with inadequate intake of monounsaturated and omega-3 fats, can hinder fat loss. And it just might increase your risk of insulin resistance, obesity, and metabolic syndrome.[3] All can lead to type 2 diabetes.

While trans fats should be avoided completely, we do need a minimum amount of saturated fats for hormone regulation, cell messaging, and immune function. Certain saturated fats, like coconut oil, are rich in MCTs (medium-chain triglycerides) which can increase fat oxidation and may be beneficial for weight management. Other sources of saturated fats, like egg yolks and butter, are rich in essential fat-soluble vitamins, like A, D, E, and K.

Nevertheless, the current consensus among health authorities like the Harvard School of Health and the American Dietetic Association, based on reviews of all the available research, is that saturated fat should be limited to 10 percent or less of total calories.[1,6]

Still Fuzzy About Fats?

• Monounsaturated fats: olives and olive oil, canola oil, avocados and avocado oil, almonds, macadamias and most other nuts, sesame seeds, and pumpkin seeds
• Polyunsaturated fats (including omega-3): salmon, sardines, mackerel, herring, ground flaxseed and flaxseed oil, chia seeds, walnuts and walnut oil, and canola oil
• Saturated fats (limit to 10% total calories): coconuts and coconut oil, palm oil, butter and ghee, egg yolks, grass-fed red meats, free-range poultry, and full-fat dairy

The Bottom Line

Consuming all the "fat-loss foods" in the world will not reduce body fat unless you're eating fewer calories than you burn. You've probably heard it before, and the science still holds true: Calorie deficit is the chief requirement for fat loss.

Start by figuring out your total caloric requirements (factoring in exercise), reducing calories by 15-30 percent for fat loss, subtracting your protein and fat requirements, then using nutrient-dense carbohydrates to fill your remaining energy needs.

By Sarah Wilkins

References

1. Kris-Etherton, P. M., Innis, S., & Ammerican, D. A. (2007). Position of the American Dietetic Association and Dietitians of Canada: dietary fatty acids. Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 107(9), 1599-1611.
2. Little, T. J., Horowitz, M., & Feinle-Bisset, C. (2007). Modulation by high-fat diets of gastrointestinal function and hormones associated with the regulation of energy intake: implications for the pathophysiology of obesity. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 86(3), 531-541.
3. Riccardi, G., Giacco, R., & Rivellese, A. A. (2004). Dietary fat, insulin sensitivity and the metabolic syndrome. Clinical Nutrition, 23(4), 447-456.
4. Parra, D., Ramel, A., Bandarra, N., Kiely, M., Martínez, J. A., & Thorsdottir, I. (2008). A diet rich in long chain omega-3 fatty acids modulates satiety in overweight and obese volunteers during weight loss. Appetite, 51(3), 676-680.
5. Hill, A. M., Buckley, J. D., Murphy, K. J., & Howe, P. R. (2007). Combining fish-oil supplements with regular aerobic exercise improves body composition and cardiovascular disease risk factors. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 85(5), 1267-1274.
6. "The Truth about Fats: The Good, the Bad, and the In-between - Harvard Health." Harvard Health. N.p., 7 Aug. 2015. Web. 02 Aug. 2016.

http://www.bodybuilding.com/content/learn-which-dietary-fats-can-actually-help-you-lose-fat.html

#1 Fat Burning Tip: Burn Body Fat and Lose Weight Fast (2 Week Challenge)!

Like it or not, this guy Alpha. M has got some great advice. Let me know what you think below.


The number one way to reduce your body fat the fastest, easiest, and safest is doing cardio 1st thing in the morning on an empty stomach. Doing it for 30-minutes first thing in the morning is the same as an hour-and-half later in the day. 


The body dips into your fat stores as the energy to keep going. You have to do the cardio in your target zone: 


220 - your age = number That number is multiplied by .6 as well as by .75

3 Fat Loss Breakfast Recipes

Some great breakfast ideas for those looking to keep lean and lose weight, leave a comment below and let me know what you like for breakfast!? 

3 Fat Burning Foods to Eat at Your Desk

No one can afford not to know this information! 3 essential ways of staying full, beating this bad snack cravings at work and also burning body fat all at the same time. That is what I call winning.

The 5 Commandments Of Smart Dieting

To really see best results from any diet plan you choose to use, you need to learn a few ‘diet commandments’. These are guidelines that must be followed if you are going to see superior results that will help propel you forward.

Sadly, many people miss out on one or more of these and it greatly costs them their success.

Want to learn more? Check out the list of five commandments below.

Thou Shall Eat More Protein

Of all the foods that you could eat while on a fat loss diet, protein is perhaps the most important. Protein helps combat hunger, it helps stabilize blood glucose levels, and it helps prevent lean muscle mass loss. This in turn helps speed up your metabolism and accelerates the process of fat loss.

Don’t let your diet intake fall short. Aim to eat some protein in each and every meal and snack that you consume.

Thou Shall Eat Regularly 

While the concept that your metabolism will increase the more often you eat isn’t entirely accurate — as the boost you get after a meal is directly related to the size of that meal — eating regularly does help to keep hunger at bay.

By feeding your body frequently throughout the day, you’ll help avoid food cravings, energy lows, and make it that much easier to stick to your diet program.

Thou Shall Prioritize Fresh Foods 

When selecting your foods, eating fresh is a must. We live in a world where processed foods are around every corner and just waiting to cause us weight gain.

Eliminate these and you’ll really give your diet a boost. Focus on foods in their natural state — fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, healthy fats and oils, and lean proteins.

If you only make one change to your diet plan, make it this one.

Thou Shall Set Short Term Goals 

One diet rule that you should abide by and follow is to always set short term goals for yourself. Think about what you are doing in the here and now, not months from now. It’s too easy to lose sight of your goals if they are going to take place six months to a year down the road.

Try thinking in three-week segments. Three weeks is about how long it takes for good habits to form, so is the perfect amount of time to you build behaviors that will stand the test of time.

This is precisely why The 3 Week Diet was created. It will help you stay motivated and consistent until you don’t even have to think about making those changes any longer — They’ll just be automatic.

Thou Shall Stop Comparisons 

Finally, stop comparing yourself to others. Realize that this is your own journey and your own body. It’s unlike anyone else’s so you simply can’t expect to see the same results as everyone else.

Instead, start comparing yourself today to yourself from yesterday. That will give you all the details you need to know. If each day you are getting better, you are successful in your journey.

So keep these diet commandments in mind. Focus on these and you can feel confident that you are headed in the right direction.