Kim LaMantia's blog

Eat to Lose Weight

Posted Mon, 05/14/2012 - 21:51 by Kim LaMantia

Did you know that losing weight can be as simple as eating a handful of nuts before your meal? Here’s why: that little bit of fat helps to slow down digestion before a starchy meal and keeps your blood sugar from spiking which, in turn, helps your body to use fat more efficiently instead of storing it around your middle.

Bone Health for Women

Posted Sun, 05/06/2012 - 09:19 by Kim LaMantia

For women, bone health begins at a young age. A woman acquires about 85 to 90 percent of her bone mass during childhood and adolescence. By age 18, her bones are completely done forming. If there is not enough calcium deposited in her bones during childhood, they may become weak later in life, leading to bone disease such as osteoporosis. Fragile bones easily fracture or break, especially in the hip, spine and wrist.

Spring Cleaning Time!

Posted Sat, 04/21/2012 - 19:16 by Kim LaMantia

It’s when we are at our best that we have the energy to achieve our goals and live the fulfilling life we deserve. And being at our best is inevitably tied to our lifestyle.
Everything is connected; what we eat, what we think, say and do, as well as the environment we live in. All this contributes to a whole that represents what we experience from life. If we want to find happiness, health and success, we have to shift our way of living towards a healthier, more natural lifestyle.

Why Sweating is Good for You

Posted Sat, 04/14/2012 - 23:45 by Kim LaMantia

Sweating is very cleansing for your body. Various cultures throughout time have embraced this fact as demonstrated by the prevalent uses of sweat lodges, bath houses and steam rooms in numerous traditions. When you sweat, your body undergoes a series of processes that allow for the release of toxins and an increase in metabolism.

April is the Month for Cleansing and Detox

Posted Fri, 04/06/2012 - 23:49 by Kim LaMantia

Begin with a cleansing diet. Based on an individual's needs, there are several detoxification programs available to detox your body. For instance, some detoxification programs follow a 7-day schedule, since the body takes some time to get rid of toxins. This program involves having liquids for two days followed by a strict five-day diet to allow the digestive systems to relax.

The Five Meal Ideal

Posted Wed, 03/07/2012 - 22:46 by Kim LaMantia

To optimize metabolism, energy, and mental and emotional positivity, set a goal to eat five small meals per day — do NOT skip meals! Sometimes you will feel like you don’t have the time or the energy to put anything together, but this is critical to your success. Your body and your metabolism are designed to look for cues telling them when to burn and when to conserve. If you miss a meal your body does what it is programmed to do — stop burning. Ideally, the five meals include breakfast, mid-morning snack, lunch, mid-afternoon snack and dinner.

Menus for heart-healthy eating: Cut the fat and salt

Posted Tue, 02/21/2012 - 22:32 by Kim LaMantia

Do you want to adopt a heart-healthy diet, but aren't sure where to start? One way to begin is to create a daily meal plan that emphasizes whole grains, fruits and vegetables, and limits high-fat foods (such as red meat, cheese and baked goods) and high-sodium foods (such as canned or processed foods).

Below are two days' worth of heart-healthy menus. Use them as examples of heart-healthy eating.

Day 1 menu:

Breakfast
1 cup cooked oatmeal, sprinkle with 1 tablespoon cinnamon and chopped walnuts
1 banana
1 cup skim milk

Lunch

You Asked For It, You Got It!

Posted Tue, 02/14/2012 - 23:07 by Kim LaMantia

Veggie Lasagna (No pasta in this dish!)
Recipe courtesy Sandra Lee from the Food Network

I mentioned this dish at my last Nutrition Talk and many of the ladies wanted me to share it with them. It's quite simple to make and I bought the pesto from Fresh N Easy, ready-made so it was that much simpler for me! If you make this dish, let me know how you liked it.. better yet, bring some in for me!

Ingredients
• 2 green bell peppers
• 2 large eggplants
• 1 yellow squash
• 1/4 cup canola oil
• 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Are you Eating Enough Complex Carbohydrates?

Posted Tue, 02/07/2012 - 22:48 by Kim LaMantia

Proponents of low-carb diets claim that eating carbohydrates, not fat, makes you overweight. However, anyone who consumes extra calories, whether in the form of sugar, carbohydrates, protein, or fat, may eventually become obese. Studies indicate that overweight people tend to eat higher amounts of energy and they are not physically active enough to expend this extra energy. Thus, weight gain occurs.

Chew on This!

Posted Sun, 01/29/2012 - 19:00 by Kim LaMantia

An interesting concept to consider when it comes to weight loss is the first Law of Thermodynamics in physics which says that energy can neither be created nor destroyed; it can only change form. Think of your body as a machine- maybe a vintage, high performance sports car. Of course, for this “car” to run you must put fuel, or energy, into it. The fuel source for our bodies is the food we eat. Each day, our bodies need only a certain number of calories in order to run efficiently throughout the day for all our physical activities.

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