Juicy Blackcurrants.... mmmmmmm

Blackcurrants can REDUCE risk of diabetes, high blood pressure and Parkinson’s disease

THEY'RE a humble berry growing in hedgerows up and down the country but did you know blackcurrants could be the secret to a healthier life?

By Felicity Thistlethwaite Felicity Thistlethwaite

PUBLISHED: 06:20, Fri, Sep 25, 2015 | UPDATED: 09:53, Fri, Sep 25, 2015

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GETTY-Blackcurrants don't get the praise they deserve, and they could be saving lives

Usually associated with drinks or summer pudding, blackcurrants don't get enough high-fives for all the great work they do.

Packed with vitamin C they should really be labelled as a super food - but we all know that branding doesn't really mean anything anyway.

But news scientists in Finland have discovered berries such as blackcurrants may be linked to reducing risk factors associated diabetes.

If we're being technical the berries are actually linked to reducing the risk factors associated with metabolic syndrom -  which is the medical term for a combination of diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity. 

GETTY-It's thought dark berries could work wonders when it comes to various ailments

The study found those who incorporated berries into their diet significantly reduced the levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALAT) – high levels of ALAT usually indicate a damaged liver.

The 23 per cent decrease in the ALAT value in the berry group showed significant signs of enhancing liver function.

In the long term, this reduction could contribute to a decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease - which is a win-win situation.

The juices in berries also affect the enzymes that regulate the so-called ‘happy chemicals’ serotonin and dopamine in our bodies.

Researchers at Northumbria University discovered blackcurrants could enhance your mood, boost energy levels and even combat symptoms associated with Parkinson’s disease and depression.

GETTY- Blackcurrants are linked to reducing depression and even Parkinson's disease

Impressive for a berry most of us associate with squashes and cordials, right?

By incorporating blackcurrants and other deep purple foods into your diet, it's said to enabling the human body to protect itself against a wide array of diseases and infections and fight back when under attack.

British blackcurrants are grown and bred especially for their high level of anthocyanins, which gives them their deep purple colour, and helps to ward off a multitude of different illnesses, from the common cold to cystitis.

Whilst they can only be found fresh during the season, which starts mid-June in Britain and lasts until the end of August, their health benefits can be reaped all year round in the form of blackcurrant juices, cordials, yoghurts and frozen fruit.

Source:http://www.express.co.uk/life-style/diets/602497/Diabetes-symptoms-high-blood-pressure-Parkinson-s-disease-blackcurrants?_ga=1.45495981.865290387.1456944170

Diabetes Breakthrough.

New diabetes breakthrough: Food experts find key to halting the disease 'epidemic'

 

BRITAIN’S diabetes epidemic could be brought to a halt by a new way of making everyday foods healthier, research suggests.

 

By Giles Sheldrick

PUBLISHED: 00:01, Sat, Sep 5, 2015 | UPDATED: 10:11, Sat, Sep 5, 2015

 

GETTY - A change in the way processed food is made could lead to the creation of “diabetic friendly” foods

 

 

 

The breakthrough technique would see favourites like bread, pasta, cakes and biscuits loaded with extra fibre.

Scientists at King’s College, London, say a change in the way processed food is made could lead to the creation of “diabetic friendly” foods.
Increasing the amount of fibre contained in staple foods could also see cases of obesity and heart disease plummet.

Current procedures mean that milling grain to produce flour damages the starch cells, allowing the body to consume them more quickly.
This can lead to a spike in insulin which repeated over time can cause Type 2 diabetes.
By altering milling techniques, the natural structure of dietary fibre can be protected which means the body absorbs the starch more slowly and the rise in blood sugar levels after a meal is delayed, the scientists found.

Their experiments showed eating porridge made from larger fibre particles produced significantly lower blood sugar levels than a bowl made with traditional smooth wheat flour.
Both were made of the same ingredients and had the same nutrient contents, but starch was digested more slowly in the coarser porridge.

Within two hours of eating coarser particles, blood sugar was 33 per cent lower and insulin 43 per cent lower.

Researchers also found people were less likely to experience an undesirable “sugar low” following the earlier peak in blood sugar than when they ate the smooth porridge.
It means inexpensive tweaks could now pave the way for a host of new versions of starchy foods, meaning it might soon be possible to enjoy favourite snacks guilt-free.

Keeping more dietary fibre in processed foods means “diabetic friendly” or healthier versions could have exactly the same ingredients but with a more natural, enzyme-resistant structure around the starch that enables it to be digested more slowly.

Starch is one of the largest sources of calories and an important component of a healthy diet, with wheat being the main source.

Wheat also contains dietary fibre, which forms a complex protective network of cell walls around the starch.

The results suggest developing new milling techniques that maintain the microstructure of wheat could provide healthier versions of white bread, breakfast cereals and biscuits.

Dr Cathrina Edwards, who led the study, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, said: “Our research has shown there is a relatively easy way to limit the availability of starch/calories from food simply by preserving more of the natural structure of plant-based ingredients.

“The way in which foods are processed clearly has a big impact on how much of the nutrients/calories are absorbed from that food.”

The lives of four million people are now blighted by diabetes and the scale of the epidemic gripping Britain is so great that treating the condition costs the NHS £10billion a year – £1million an hour.
Diabetes can lead to a number of serious long-term health problems like blindness, heart and kidney disease and stroke and the furring and narrowing of blood vessels.

Estimates show 11.5 million Britons are at risk of developing lifestyle- driven Type 2 diabetes because of unhealthy carbohydrates and cholesterol.

Dr Richard Elliott, of Diabetes UK, said: “We already know changing the way starchy foods are produced and prepared can affect their influence on blood glucose levels when eaten.

“Over time, high glucose and high insulin levels can contribute to insulin resistance and Type 2 diabetes, so following the approach used in this study to create new versions of staple starchy foods could potentially be one way to help prevent and manage Type 2 diabetes.”



Source:http://www.express.co.uk/life-style/health/603127/Diabetes-breakthrough-halt-everyday-foods-healthier-research



 

For People who Live to Eat!!

12 Weight Loss Tips That Have Nothing To Do With Giving Up Food

For people who live to eat.

 

 

• Kate BratskeirFood and Health Editor, The Huffington Post

Life's short and food is glorious. 

If you're trying to hit weight loss goals in the new year, you may have decided all those tantalizing office snacks and dinners out are off the table. But luckily, losing weight doesn't have to require giving up your favorite foods. Often, just a slight tweak to your environment or behavior, rather than changing the actual menu, is all it takes. 

Check out the 12 tips below, which can help you stay on top of both your food bucket

1. Eat off a Plate, not out of the bag.

Seeing is believing, so it's important for portion control that you see how much of a snack you're ingesting before you dive in. Otherwise, you could consume way more than you mean to. If you're truly devoted, you might divide a snack into individual portions even before you get munching (store the rest for later in sealable plastic bags). This'll help you stick to one serving.

 

2. Make that plate a small plate.

Many studies have examined if eating from a smaller plate helps people consume fewer calories. According to a recent analysis published in the Journal of the Association for Consumer Research, reducing plate diameter by 30 percentreduces the amount of food eaten by 30 percent. Simply changing the size of the plate from which you serve yourself could help you cut calories. Pretty cool. 

 

3. And a blue one.

This suggestion is based off a series of studies that found when a food's color contrasted with the plate on which it was was served, fewer calories were consumed. In one experiment, researchers found that people ate more spaghetti and marinara sauce when it was served on a red plate that matched the sauce than when it was served on a white one. The contrast, according to the scientists, makes the portion appear larger. Experts often recommend blue because not many foods are blue, but if blue doesn't fit in with your kitchen decor, fear not. To put this trick to work, just make sure your plate doesn't match the color of your 

4. Drink out of a tall, skinny glass.

 Cocktails may look fancy served in a short, wide glass, but that may prompt an over-pour of calories. One study found that people pour 30 percent more liquid into short glasses compared to tall, skinny glasses of the same volume, overestimating how much they're really pouring. With that big pour, your also getting 30 percent more calories.

5. Skip the commercials.

Seeing food on TV will make you want food in your belly. Research published in Health Psychology examined the effect of food-based television advertisements and concluded the impact was big: Exposure to food advertisements caused people watching TV to snack more. The snackers were not necessarily driven to eat the product being promoted, but snack food in general. Similarly, watching cooking shows for recipe inspiration has been linked with a greater risk for obesity. Switch off "Top Chef" and record your favorite shows -- thereby gaining the power to fast forward through ads -- to defeat TV's almighty power to induce hunger.

6. Hide your junk food.

Out of sight, out of mind. Just as seeing food on TV induces cravings, not seeing food may help reduce them. One experiment published in the International Journal of Obesity found that office workers ate fewer candies from a bowl when the bowl was opaque or covered compared to when it was clear. You can implement this trick at home by putting your junk food in colored containers or placing it behind healthier options in the pantry.

7. And put your healthy food in plain sight.

Organize your fridge like a mullet: Business in the front, party in the back. The office candy bowl study found that when food was more visible and accessible, people tended to eat more of it. And in a separate study, researchers compared the consumption of apples and popcorn based on proximity, finding that people ate more of whichever offering was closer. Replacing the candy bowl with nutritious foods like fruit, and get your better offerings front and center. 

8. Chew, for goodness' sake.

 This is a simple one: Make a point to chew your food well rather than slug it down. Chewing will make you eat your meal more slowly, which research shows will make you ingest fewer calories. Taking time to chew your meal gives your body more time to register fullness, so you can stop when you feel full rather than when you're stuffed.

9. Get some sleep.

When in doubt, sleep. Sleep appears to be a miracle solution for ailments across the board: It can boost your mood, improve your performance at work and even hamper headaches. Extensive research has shown that people who sleep fewer hours are more likely to be overweight. When you're running on empty, you feel hungrier than you would with quality rest.

10. Play Tetris.

If you've got a food craving, treat yourself to a good old-fashioned game of Tetris rather than attempting to "wait it out." A 2014 study revealed that visual-based tasks like playing a game decreases feelings of cravings (Angry Birds will probably work, too). Researchers say much of a craving is image-based, so distracting your mind with something else that is visual can minimize the strength of a craving.

11. Stop wearing sweats.

"Wearing stylish clothing that makes you feel attractive -- as opposed to comfy sweats and lounge wear that hide your body -- will encourage you to eat in a way that shows you care about your appearance and your body,” clinical psychologist Katie Rickel told Grandparents.com. Dressing the part can serve as a good reminder of your goals.

12. Take the proverbial chill pill.

Chronic stress can be a major cause of weight gain, so it's in your best interest to relax a little. Pinpoint the root of your stress and address it: Consider talking your problems out with a friend or therapist, and be proactive about mitigating them. You might consider participating in some stress-reducing activities: Deep-breathing, yoga, listening to music and taking a nap have all been shown to help calm nerves.

 

 Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/weight-loss-tips-still-eat-like-a-boss_5695318ee4b05b3245da8423

 

HYPNOTISED

Biker couple HYPNOTISED to lose weight…and now their leathers don't fit!

A BIKER couple claim hypnosis helped them shed nine stone after their daughter had a heart attack.

By FELICITY THISTLETHWAITE

PUBLISHED: 12:10, Tue, Dec 15, 2015 | UPDATED: 12:30, Tue, Dec 15, 2015

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PA REAL LIFE
A biker couple have spoken out about their amazing weight loss

Gail Barrett, 46, and husband Steve, 54 – known as Big Steve - admit they were both "pretty chunky" when they met back in 2004.

In time, they fell into a cycle of unhealthy eating, with Steve admitting he often chomped through an entire loaf of bread a day. 

But when Gail's daughter Paige, 26, suffered a shocking heart attack, the couple were forced to examine their own health and realised it was time to act. 

But neither of them are the dieting type - so they decided to hypnotise themselves into losing nine stone. 

Speaking about her new diet, Gail said: "In March this year, I was at a spa day for my friend's birthday and one of the ladies there mentioned she'd dropped six dress sizes with this app.

PA REAL LIFE

The couple had a shock when Gail's daughter had a heart attack

"I was like, 'What? How the hell do you lose weight with a phone app?' It was bizarre, but it interested me."

She added: "Looking back, we were ballooning. My knees were starting to feel it and I became flat-footed with the weight," said Mrs Barrett.

"We loved a few drinks – we still do – but food was the big issue. We had platter-sized plates at home, and we'd pile them high. We served up massive helpings and actually stuffed ourselves until it hurt.

"You're talking pork pies, bacon, chocolate bars, crisps, bagels. When I went shopping, I'd fill the trolley up with snacks, there'd be no real food at all."

Eventually, the couple's wake-up call came in the form of a phone call telling Gail her daughter Paige had suffered a heart attack in Melbourne, Australia, where she and her boyfriend at the time, were on a gap year.

Her mother explained: "She was in an induced coma in hospital to minimise any damage to her brain, as it had been 18 minutes before they could restart her heart."

Paige, who now has a defibrillator fitted, made a complete recovery, but it was certainly a turning point in her mother's attitude to health and fitness. 

After hearing about EasyLoss, the £5 weight loss app which had helped her friend slim down, Gail downloaded it herself back in March of this year.

Unbeknownst to his wife, Big Steve had also begun worrying about his weight, so she suggested they try the app together.

It works by delivering daily 40 minute hypnosis sessions, eventually working up to a virtual gastric band operation – which is all about training yourself to eat less by visualising that your stomach is smaller. 

Now, the couple have lost nine stone between them in just eight months. Currently, Gail is down to 10 stone 6 and her husband is down to 16 stone.

In August, they realised just how far they'd come when the Isle of Man Classic TT - a biker festival - for their holidays.

She said: "We realised we needed new leathers – not because ours were too small, which used to be the problem, but because they were so big they were hanging off us."

Gail and Steve's Daily Diet

Before

Breakfast: (Steve) Four Weetabix, (Gail) Bagels or butter with toast

Lunch: Ham sandwiches, a packet of crisps, a chocolate bar

Dinner: Chinese/Indian takeaway or a full roast dinner with potatoes and veg

Now

Breakfast: (Steve) One Weetabix, (Gail) small bowl of muesli/granola, and natural yoghurt

Lunch: A bowl of chopped veg and small portion of tuna or mackerel

Dinner: Fish and vegetables, or chicken and veg – no potatoes unless it's sweet potato, or the odd jacket potato

Source: http://www.express.co.uk/life-style/diets/626922/Weight-loss-hypnosis-couple