Why Cabbage is a Very Important Vegetable?

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The vegetable cabbage is very easy to grow and is readily available in the market. It is cultivated in most countries worldwide just like other common cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, brussel sprouts and cauliflower which are part of our day to day cooking. Cabbage is famous for its nutritional values, medicinal effects, and other therapeutic properties which earned it a spot in the diet world - the Cabbage Soup Diet.

Vegetable Family and History

Cabbage is from the Brassicaceae or Cruciferae family under the group of Brassica oleracea Capita. It was local to the Mediterranean region coming from a leafy mustard herb. The ancient Romans and Greeks have used the cabbage to prepare some forms of medicine. They have extracted white juice from newly picked white cabbage and used it to relieve painful or irritated eyes. The Romans and ancient Egyptians also took the concoction to prevent intoxication.

"Caboche" is believed to be the root of the English name of cabbage. It is derived from the Normanno Picard word which means "head". Cabbage has proven itself to be one of the most useful vegetables in history. It has earned for itself a very high position in the list of nutritious foods.

Why Cabbage is a Star Vegetable

The cabbage is known the world over. Aside from being inexpensive, it is very easy to prepare and contains a lot of healthy benefits. It is vital for everyone to know the countless benefits of this vegetable.

Nutrition experts all over the world have established the health benefits of cabbage. Cabbage maybe cheap in price but is very high in protective vitamins. It is low caloric and is very rich in nutrients. This vegetable has Vitamin A which can help protect the eyes. It has Vitamin B that aids in the integrity of your nerves and metabolic functions. Vitamin C can also be found in this leafy veggie and is responsible for supporting the mitochondria in fat-burning processes and in keeping your skin in its healthy state.

Cabbage can also help clean your intestines. Fresh cabbage juice can relieve abdominal pain, indigestion, headache, bronchitis, and asthma. Studies have shown that cabbage also prevents the formation or development of cancer cells. Its iron and sulphur contents are factors making it effective in cleaning our digestive system. The cabbage has also shown in aiding the production of more antibodies protecting us from different illnesses.

Varieties of Cabbage

Cabbage comes in many forms. It is often classified according to its shape and maturity. Green cabbages are the most common. Red cabbages are very rich in nutrition and are often thinly shredded to prepare delicious fresh salads. More delicate forms like the Bok Choy, a Chinese variety, can also be found.

There are traditional varieties like the cone-shaped Early Jersey Wakefield, Late Flat Dutch, and the round headed Danish Ballhead. There is also a variant called Napa cabbage famous for its sweetness and is perfect to pair with dry fish.

A cabbage is a usual for different salad preparations. Some dishes use the cabbage whish is prepared by freezing or parboiling the head of the vegetable and filling it with rice and chopped meat. It is also an ingredient of choice to supplement soups or stews. The Cabbage Soup Diet has a great following of those who want to quickly rid themselves of some pounds.

Eating Grains - The Healthy Alternative

Nothing can beat the versatility of the humble grain. The next time you are looking for an entrée or a side dish with a twist, look no further than brown rice, wild rice, quinoa, barley or bulgur wheat.

Excellent sources of vitamins, protein, dietary fiber and iron; these grains pack a nutritional wallop. Moreover, each grain has its own distinct flavor and characteristic, making them nutritious and tasty as well.

All five types of grain are adaptable enough to be added to any dish. Using the same recipe, just use a different type of grain and you've got a dish that tastes completely different. Mix and match the different grains for a unique flavor every time. Couscous and quinoa go together very well and so do wild rice and brown rice. Experiment away! You've got nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Try some of these ideas to incorporate these grains into your diet.

Adding ¼ cup cooked wild rice or brown rice when cooking tomato or vegetable soup will give the soup fullness and flavor.

For breakfast try cooking brown rice or bulgur wheat in a combination of ¼ cup apple juice and ¾ cup water. Sprinkle cinnamon and nutmeg over the hot cooked rice for a deliciously wholesome breakfast.

When making the recipe for meat chili, replace 1 pound of wheat with 1 cup dry bulgur. Sauté the bulgur along with the other vegetables and onion. When you finish sautéing, add liquid and let the chili cook on a slow fire till it thickens.

Here's a hearty side dish that goes well with turkey or chicken. Sauté ½ cup mushrooms and ½ cup onions in I teaspoon olive oil in a non-stick frying pan. Add two cups low-fat, chicken broth and bring the mixture to boil on high fire. Add 1 cup barley to the boiling mixture, stir and reduce heat. Cover the pan and let it simmer for at least 45 minutes. Enjoy!

Bulgur Wheat
Delicious and easy to prepare, bulgur wheat is the main ingredient in the tabbouleh, a Middle Eastern salad that is fast gaining popularity all over the world. It is often used to replace ground beef in vegetarian cuisine, giving the vegetable chili a texture similar to that of ground beef but with far less fat and much more fiber.

Barley
A kernel-shaped, mild-flavored grain, barley is often used for thickening soups and stews and is a great addition to casseroles comprising of winter vegetables such as root vegetables, carrots and onions.

Wild Rice
Not really rice at all, wild rice is the seed of a grass grown in Minnesota. Because of its overpowering flavor, wild rice is usually combined with other grains before serving. It is delicious when used in different kinds of soups.

Couscous
Couscous is actually tiny pasta that is made from fine semolina wheat. It is easy to prepare and makes a deliciously airy bed for fish or chicken kebab.

Quinoa
Its superb nutty aroma and taste make it great for use in soups, salad, pilaf and a variety of side dishes.

Brown Rice
Brown rice is basically just unpolished rice. Using it in any recipe that calls for rice, increases the fiber content of the dish instantly.

The No Diet Way to Lose Weight and Keep it off!

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Yes, you read it right...no diets!

The first step in this weight management program is to gather all of your old fad diets, quick weight loss remedies, and "magic cures". Once you have them all together in a nice, neat pile- throw them into the trash! One thing we have learned in the last 20-30 years is diets don't work and actually can make things worse. Fad diets may provide short term weight loss but they are generally too difficult to stick with for a lifetime. The majority of people who lose weight on fad diets regain that weight within 3 to 5 years. Over time this yo-yo dieting effect can slow your metabolism, the way our bodies burn the calories from the food that we eat. Most fad diets require you to significantly restrict your caloric intake by limiting or even eliminating specific foods from your diet. They lead you to believe that it is these specific foods that are causing you to gain weight. The fact is; a cookie or a slice of French bread is not responsible for weight gain. It is the total number of calories that you consume in a day compared to the amount of calories you use as energy. The calories you don't use as energy turn into stored fat and over time this translates into more body weight.

Yes, its true consuming excess carbohydrates can result in large insulin spikes and cause you to store fat more readily and stimulate your appetite. However, does this mean that everyone in America is eating too many carbohydrates? Not necessarily. Does this mean we need to completely eliminate all carbohydrates from our diet? Absolutely not. It means we need to learn how to eat the right kind of carbohydrates and the right amount.

It's also true that eating excess fat can make us gain weight because fat carries more calories than protein and carbohydrates, but does this mean that everyone's issue is too much fat? Once again, no. Therefore, we must approach weight management on an individual basis because not everyone is eating too many calories from bread. Just the same, not everyone is consuming too many calories from cookies. We are all individuals and our eating habits are all unique which is why the one size fits all diet plans don't work. The ultimate key to success is balance.

Balance is providing the appropriate amount of calories, nutrients, and (don't forget) enjoyment from our meals. In a balanced diet, there are no perfect days, no foods are omitted, and you don't have to starve yourself. It may simply be that you've been eating too many starchy foods and too little fat. This may have stimulated your appetite and caused you to consume more than your body needs. Or vice versa, it may be that you are consuming too many fats and too little fruits and vegetables which can cause you to have a high calorie level with a fairly small intake of food. Perhaps you've been eating the right balance but with too large of portion sizes. These are the kinds of things that throw us off balance and cause us to consume more calories than we utilize for energy.

Let's take an example

Unbalanced Day

Breakfast: skip (too busy)

Large latte

Snack: chips from vending machine

Lunch: (restaurant) hamburger and large French fries

Dinner: 8 oz steak and 2 cups mashed potatoes

Dessert: large bowl of ice-cream (1-2 cups)

Meal Makeover

Breakfast: bowl of oatmeal with blueberries, 1 cup low fat milk

Snack: apple, 1 oz peanuts

Lunch: (restaurant) turkey sandwich on whole grain bread with a bowl vegetable soup

Dinner: 3 oz steak (size of a deck of cards), 1 cup mashed potatoes, and a large salad w/1 TB vinaigrette dressing

Dessert: small bowl of frozen yogurt or sorbet (1/2- 1 cup)

The original meals were heavy in high fat foods, large in portion sizes, (beef, French fries, chips, and ice-cream) and low in fiber. The balance was off. By making these changes we saved approximately 800 calories while still enjoying steak, mashed potatoes, and dessert! Not to mention you get to eat more when you incorporate more plant based foods since they are much lower in calories. We also improved the nutrient content by adding more fiber/vitamins/minerals/and antioxidants with increased fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.

So, stop fad diets and start balancing your meals for lifelong weight loss. You have nothing to lose but lasting results, improved energy and better health!

© Meri Raffetto, 2004

The History of Cabbage - Understand The Cabbage Soup Diet

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When you are into the cabbage soup diet, you will be acquainted with the cabbage for one long week. It will be nice to know how it came to be. After all, a week of cabbage soup with this plan will make you drop around ten pounds and give you more confidence to face the world.

Agricultural experts have made significant changes to the crops that we eat today. Some of these changes are intentional to produce better vegetables or fruits. Examples of improvements are the terms of size and shelf life.

Some of the changes though are not intentional. Our ancestors for example could have gathered the seeds of their favorite plants and produced them more frequently than less superior quality crops. The cabbage, popular for its medicinal effects, is a vegetable that have evolved through simple long term selection process with no specific purpose in mind.

Cabbage belongs to the species of Brassica oleracea like the kale, kohlrabi, cauliflower, broccoli and Brussels sprouts. Notable differences among them are products of thousands of years of human cultivation and selective propagation. Man has been planting and using cabbage for more than forty centuries.

The Celts are said to be the travelers who brought cabbage to Europe. The common vegetable in Asia began to impress and conquer the households of Europe around 600B.C. The early cabbage was not the large, solid head we take for granted today, but rather a more wobbly leafy vegetable.

Early Uses of Cabbage

Records exhausted from the medieval times show that cabbage has been a staple together with whatever meats are available. Catherine de Medici might have introduced the Savoy cabbage to France to win the heart of the heir to be

The Dutch are thought to be the originators of the coleslaw as kool means cabbage and sla means salad. Cabbage is a well known vegetable in Europe. Houeholds in Russia, Poland, Germany, and Hungary have been cabbage lovers long ago. Colcannon, an early dish of the Irish, is a combination of cabbage and potato. Cabbage has also been pickled by the Germans and Americans thus the name sauerkraut.

Cabbage on the High Seas

Captain Cooks journey have been thankful to the cabbage. One time, the voyage met a storm while on the sea and many crew members were injured. The doctor of the ship made poultices of cabbage to treat the wounds. The captain was also known for storing choucroute on his ships. Choucroute is an ancient German dish made mostly from cabbage.

Recent Years

Cabbage is a regular dish in many nations across the globe. It keeps us warm during the chill of the winter and refreshes us when served chilled during the summer.

Many studies were conducted to explore the medicinal value of the cabbage. It is a proven anti cancer vegetable. It also aids in digestion and fat burning process thus the cabbage soup diet is very effective.

Health buffs have resorted to the cabbage soup diet to quickly drop around ten pounds of weight. This is done by utilizing the low calorie property of the cabbage soup. It also boosts our immune system and helps us fight diseases while on the diet.

The King of Soup - A Tasty, Fat Burning Food

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Vegetable soups are an easy, delicious, and filling way to help the body burn off stored fat. As vegetables and ingredients in meatless soups provide consumers with a rich array of nutrients, vitamins, proteins, fibers, and other essential compounds, these soups may be one of the most powerful and effective fat burning foods available for dieters seeking fast and effective weight loss results!

Because this healthy meal option is available in restaurants and can alternatively be easily made in one's home, vegetable soups are a convenient, delicious, and consistent fat burning food choice.

The Fluid Benefits of Veggie Soup

One of the primary reasons vegetable soup helps boost the body's weight loss abilities is its natural water-based benefits. As the body's metabolism requires a steady intake of water in order to function effectively, dieters should always be drinking water or taking in water-rich foods to keep the body's metabolism running at optimal speed. With its high water content, vegetable broth is an excellent natural source of hydration.

Protein and Fiber Perks of Vegetable Broth

In addition to the water and metabolic benefits of vegetable soup, the main ingredients are rich in fiber and protein, which are essential agents for boosting weight loss results. As both fiber and protein help dieters feel fuller longer because these foods are processed and digested more slowly, fiber and protein allow dieters to decrease their overall intake of food by controlling the signs and symptoms of hunger.

Working as effective appetite suppressants, the protein and fiber included in vegetables should help dieters experience stabilized energy levels, decreased food cravings, and less temptations to indulge and/or overeat. With this support, dieters decreasing their average food intake will be able to burn off stored body fat in order to provide their bodies with essential energy. As food typically serves as "fuel" for the body, fat cells become an alternative energy source when a body's total intake of food is reduced.

How to Make Fat Burning Vegetable Soup

When preparing fat burning vegetable soups at home, dieters should purchase high quality fresh or frozen ingredients. While many shoppers commonly believe that freshly picked items are best, most dietitians assert that frozen fruits and vegetables provide as many, and sometimes even more, nutrients. Fruits and vegetables that are frozen were picked at their peak of ripeness, and thus, frozen natural ingredients are able to hold onto more vitamins, minerals, and other beneficial elements. While the fresh foods are still tasty and nutritious, dieters interested in making their own fat burning vegetable soups should peruse both the fresh stands and the freezer isle to compare items, prices, and options.

To prepare simple fat burning vegetable soup varieties, dieters can begin by purchasing a base broth. The only caution dieters should heed while purchasing broth is to look out for high salt contents of broth varieties. Many organic and health-oriented broths now provide consumers with low-sodium alternatives, which are the best options to boost weight loss results. After picking a base broth, dieters can choose from their favorite vegetables. Really anything can be added, as the soup will to be designed to cater to your own tastes! Once a dieter has obtained all essential ingredients, the soup can be easily prepared in just four steps:

· Clean, prepare, and chop vegetables to a desired size. Sauté intense vegetable flavors (such as onions, leeks, or garlic) in the soup pot with a tiny splash of olive oil.

· After sautéing intense flavors, add in all cans of broth, followed by all of the firmer vegetables (potatoes, beans, carrots). Reduce heat to low-medium and leave on the stove until firm vegetables have reached their desired texture and consistency.

· Add in softer, fast-cooking vegetables (corn, celery, tomatoes). Simmer on low until desired texture of vegetables is achieved.

· The soup is essentially done at this point and can be removed from the heat. Dieters can finish this fat burning food item off by adding any flavor enhancing herbs, such as pepper, basil, and dill.

Vegetable soup works as a highly effective fat burning food [http://www.bestfatburningfood.com] - not to mention one that is delicious and hearty too!

Diet for Diabetes

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Diabetic diet is extremely important in all diabetes types and it must be respected regardless the medical treatment followed.

In order to be efficient, diet for diabetes must be personalized according to age, sex, physical activity, alimentary preferences, and according to other complementary diseases as well (obesity, high blood pressure, kidney problems etc.).

Here are, for the beginning, some general recommendations concerning a diet for diabetes:

- calories: a diabetic person having normal weight needs the same caloric values as a healthy person, but calories come from different proportions of lipids, sugars, proteins. Overweight people will follow a diet for diabetes with low number of calories, whereas underweight people will follow a diet based on high number of calories.

- sugars: 50-55% of the calories content (about 300g/day) avoiding simple sugars, with rapid absorption and refined products like sugar and sugar based food;

- Proteins: 12-15% of calories (about 1g/kg/day); in the case of kidney problems, you won't exceed 0.8g/kg/day;

- Lipids: 30-35% of calories (about 125g/day);

- Alimentary fibers: 30-35 g. /day taken from vegetables, fruit, cereals;

- Salt amount: less than 7 g/day and people who suffer from high blood pressure won't exceed 3 g.

A diabetic person must eat less, but more often than a healthy person (5-6 meals per day); to respect meal time and dinner must be taken at least 2 hours before going to bed.

Food permitted to a diabetic patient:

- Tomatoes, green pepper, mushrooms, cucumbers, cabbage, egg plants, leek, lettuce, carrots, celery, beetroot, onion, garlic;

- Watermelon, lemons, strawberries, cherries, black currants, nuts;

- Meat, fish and food based on them;

- Milk and dairy products (cheese, cream, butter);

- Eggs;

- Soft drinks sugar free.

Food containing much sugar, prohibited to diabetic people:

- Sugar, honey;

- Biscuits, cakes made with sugar, candies, chocolate;

- Figs, raisins, dates, dried plums, grapes, jams, marmalade;

Food which has to be weighed before consumption:

- White bread;

- Graham bread;

- Potatoes, beans, peas;

- Rice.

For a young adult 170 cm tall, having a weight of 70 kg, who performs average physical activity (energy consumption 40cal/kg/day) an example of diet for diabetes can be the following:

Morning: white coffee (250 gr.), bread (60 gr.) light cheese (100 gr.) and green pepper

Snack: bread (40 gr.) and butter (20 gr.) and some sausage, low in fats (100 gr.), fruit (100 gr.)

Lunch: vegetable soup with croutons (bread 100 gr.), vegetables and mashed potatoes (150 gr.)
lettuce, bread (60 gr.), compote (100 gr. fruit)

Snack: salty cheese (50 gr.) tomatoes and bread (40 gr.), fruit (100 gr.)

Dinner: salad, bread (40 gr.), rice and meat pudding, custard (a cup)

Supper: milk (250 ml.) and bread (20 gr.)

Total calories: 2800/day

You can alternate these foods, with yogurt, tomatoes soup, cabbage salad, fruit jelly, fish, carrots, apples or semolina pudding.

Actually any individual can personalize his or her diet for diabetes as long as they know the list of foods which are permitted and the rules they have to respect.

The Detox Diet Menu - A Sample Day

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Other clinical studies, however, have indicated that diet-based illnesses can be reduced or even eliminated through, of course, a change in diet. A detoxification, or detox diet menu, can be highly effective in erasing the damage done by a nutritionally-deficient, toxin-laden diet. While a detox diet menu may not be appropriate for everyone, if you get checked out by your doctor in advance and get the all clear, a detox diet menu may be the answer to a great many of your health issues.

What To Expect From A Detox Diet Menu

When you are following your detox diet menu, the types of foods and beverages you can consume will be restricted for between two and four weeks. During that time you'll be eating and drinking things chosen to flush accumulated toxins from your system and to jump start the process of cellular renewal.

You will begin each day of your detox diet menu by drinking one cup of freshly squeezed vegetable or fruit juice, used to wash down a tablespoon of ground flaxseed. On days one and two, you will also eat a half-cup of fresh fruit one-quarter to one-half hour before eating a serving of whole grains (except for wheat). You can choose brown rice or rice cereals or pasta, millet, buckwheat, oats, quinoa, or amaranth. If you prefer, you can make a smoothie from rice milk, rice protein powder, and any fruit of your choice.

Mid-Morning Snack And Lunch

You'll be steaming your vegetables for many of your detox diet menu meals, and for your morning snack you can drink one of two cups of the water in which they were steamed, with a cup of fresh fruit juice, and some celery sticks with hummus.

Lunchtime on the detox menu diet could be vegetable soup from some of that same steamed vegetable broth, with your choice of chopped veggies and herbs mixed in. Or you could have a bowl of your favorite steamed veggies, rinsed in a mix of one part vinegar to three parts filtered water, and cooked with skin and leaves. Freshly made applesauce is a great dessert.

Afternoon Snack And Dinner

It's more fresh fruit for your afternoon pick-me-up on the detox diet sample menu, and dinner is basically a repeat of lunch, with the addition of quinoa with curried lentils, and a vegetable salad with garlic, olive oil, and fresh lemon juice. You should vary the fruits, vegetable, grains, herbs, and spices you eat throughout the detox diet menu program, both to keep things interesting and to ensure that you are getting a wide range of vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients. Getting plenty of antioxidants is especially important, because they will defend you body against toxins and free radicals.

How to Beat the Classic Diet Traps

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Losing weight can be hard work and there are common diet traps that we've all fallen into along the way. However, with a bit of awareness you can overcome them, lose weight and keep it off. Here are some classic dieting mistakes you'll probably recognise.. and the easy ways to avoid making them.

Too tired to diet The problem:
Feeling exhausted can be a trigger to reach for food as your body tries to compensate for lack of energy.

The solution:
Choose foods that will fill you up and give you slow release energy without lots of calories. Good options for meals are porridge, pasta, chicken or fish sandwiches made with grainy bread, or vegetable soup. Snack on nuts, dried or fresh fruit and low fat yoghurts. A moderate caffeine hit at lunch time (a cup or two of coffee) will help you through that afternoon dip, but don't overdo it.

Getting emotional The problem:
You've just had a blazing row with your partner so you reach for the biscuit tin.

The solution:
Occasional comfort eating isn't a major problem if you get back on track and don't beat yourself up about what's happened. But you can't solve a serious emotional eating problem unless you tackle what's causing the unhappiness in the first place. You may need help from a dietitian who specialises in emotional eating disorders.

Feeling guilty The problem:
Many of us feel so hung up about eating 'naughty' food (like chocolate or cake) that we eat large amounts quickly, and guiltily, without really enjoying the experience.

The solution:
Start loving food again by noticing which foods genuinely please and satisfy you, and which make you feel sick or uncomfortable. The welcome outcome is that you'll learn to stop eating food when it stops tasting good, or when you're full. Remember no one food is 'bad', it's your overall diet that counts.

Eating on the runThe problem:
A sausage roll grabbed here, a packet of crisps there.. It's really hard to find healthy food on the run, and that can spell disaster for your waistline.

The solution:
Always carry healthy snacks, for example fruit, nuts, a wholegrain sandwich or a yoghurt, so you're prepared. But don't miss proper meals if you can avoid it. It's the sure way to put on pounds as you'll be too hungry to make sensible choices when you do get to eat.

You've started, so you'll finish The problem:
Otherwise known an 'all or nothing syndrome', this is what happens when you tell yourself you've blown it with just one slice of chocolate cake? so you finish the whole thing.

The solution:
A lapse isn't a collapse! Just get straight back on track with healthy eating. If allowing yourself a small portion of your favourite indulgence is too hard, you may need to keep foods that are a weakness completely out of the way for a while.
Relax? You need to eat over 12 Mars bars (3500 calories) to put on 1lb of fat. So one bad day isn't going to spell disaster.

Keeping that weight off When you've lost your weight, how do you keep it off? Researchers in America interviewed thousands of dieters who have lost more than 10 per cent of their body weight and kept it off for at least a year. They came up with the following advice:

Be physically active for an hour or more daily.
Severely limit the fatty and sugary foods you consume and keep a check on overall calorie intake.
Always eat breakfast.
Weigh yourself once or twice a week.
Maintain a consistent eating pattern across weekdays and weekends.

Cabbage Soup Diet Recipes

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Cabbage soup diet recipes can be tasty as well as nutritious. The cabbage soup diet is a plan that you can follow to lose about ten pounds in a week. It really does work as a short-term weight loss plan. Now you'll want a long-term plan to follow too, a plan that combines exercise with sensible eating. But for a fast motivational loss of several pounds, this soup diet may be just what you need.

The cabbage soup is only part of the diet plan. For each of the seven days of the diet you eat specific foods. During the week you will eat fruits, vegetables, meat, rice, and other foods. No pastries and sweets, but a good variety of foods are allowed during the week. But you can eat all the soup want. And you can vary the recipes to suit your tastes. Use stocks as a base and spice to your preferences. With the cabbage soup you can always be full, not hungry. And remember the plan is only for one week, then you can go on to your long-term plan.

Here's a favorite of the many soup recipes.

Green Cabbage Soup


One half green cabbage

3 large onions
1 head celery
1 large green pepper
One can diced tomatoes
1 pack onion soup mix
3 vegetable bouillon cubes
8-12 cups of water

*Optional - 1 8 oz. can V-8 juice;
*Optional seasonings: salt,
pepper, garlic powder, cilantro, parsley, basil, oregano

Place washed and chopped vegetables in large stockpot. Add
water, stir in soup mix, bouillon and tomatoes. Add water to fully
cover all the vegetables. Simmer until vegetables are soft.

As you can see this is a fast and easy recipe that you can modify to make your very own variation.
Get started on a weight loss program with the cabbage soup diet and move toward your weight loss goals.

Healthy Breakfast Ideas for Busy People

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Breakfast is the most important meal of the day! Or is it? This is the type of advice that everyone takes for granted, but in reality, most people make breakfast the WORST meal of the day because they eat food that causes them to gain fat and lose muscle. Here's some healthy breakfast ideas to start your day off on a good foot.

The Problem With Breakfast

So why do I think that people are going about breakfast all wrong? Well, let's take a look at what most people eat for breakfast during the week, when we are rushing around to get ready to go to work:

Cereal and milk

And here's what we eat on the weekends, when we go out for breakfast or make a big one at home:

Pancakes and syrup

So what's wrong with this picture? Well, sugars and other refined carbohydrates such as cereals and flour have been found to cause insulin resistance, a state in which the body is continually storing fat away in the body, day and night. So if you want to start the day healthy, make sure you ditch these types of foods.

Breakfast Ideas for the Weekdays

First of all, many people aren't hungry in the morning and force themselves to eat anyway. This is wrong. You need to listen to your body and only eat when you are hungry. You shouldn't feel guilty about skipping breakfast.

That being said, if you are hungry in the morning, it's important that you start the day out with real, whole, unprocessed foods. That means cereal is out, so what are you to eat? Since you are in a hurry, it's probably best to make breakfast the night before, or to make a big batch of food earlier in the week that you can warm up. Here's some of my favorites:

Last night's leftovers: Most people are weirded out by the thought of eating dinner for breakfast, but if you made a healthy meal emphasizing unprocessed meats and vegetables, it will be just as good in the morning.
Hard-boiled eggs: Most people don't eat enough protein in the morning and therefore feel hungry in just a couple hours. Hard boil a dozen eggs at a time and you'll have a quick breakfast ready to go at a moment's notice in the refrigerator.
Fruit: Berries and cream, melon and cottage cheese, even just a half of a grapefruit are all excellent ways of getting plenty of vitamins and antioxidants first thing in the morning.

By avoiding the sugars and processed carbs that are so common in most breakfasts and making it ahead of time, you will be able to start the day off right with these healthy breakfast ideas.

Healthy Miso Soup Recipe

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I am a purist when it comes to eating. I have eliminated processed foods from my life and have accomplished this by experimenting with various recipes and flavors. To my delight, it has been simpler than I thought to eat clean. But, like anyone, I also like my meals to taste great. This soup recipe is a Japanese classic. It is full of pure ingredients and simple to prepare.

Miso soup contains the lately controversial ingredient, soy. Recently some negative press has surfaced about soy. It is important to note though that the soy products that have been shown to be a potential health issue is adulterated soy. It is important that you stick to eating organic, non-GMO soy. This is "safe" soy. Steer clear of processed soy products and foods that are not organic including those that are contained in supplements.

Organic soy contains phytochemicals and is such a beneficial food. It has been proven to have a profound benefit to human health. Soy promotes healthy bones and heart health. It can relieve or eliminate menopausal symptoms and has been shown to prevent cancer.

Soy beans are rich in protein. They are the only vegetable source that contains all of the essential amino acids. Soy beans are chock full of calcium, iron, zinc, phosphorus, magnesium, B-vitamins, omega 3 fatty acids and fiber. Enjoy soy in this easy recipe.

Ingredients:
2 - 4 tablespoons organic white miso paste (to taste)
2 - 3 ounces firm tofu (2 handfuls), chopped into 1/3-inch cubes
a handful of well washed organic baby spinach
2 green onions, tops removed and thinly sliced
a small handful of chopped cilantro or dried cilantro to taste
a pinch of red pepper flakes

Method:
Boil 4 cups of water in a medium sauce pan. Once boiling, remove the pan from the heat. In a separate small bowl, pour some of the hot water. Whisk it together with the miso paste to thin it out. This will keep the miso paste from becoming lumpy. When the miso paste is dissolved, stir the bowl of dissolved miso back into the larger pot. Taste it. Slowly add more miso by using the same method. A little bit at a time until the soup has the miso flavor you like. This process will become second nature after a couple of tries. You will get to know exactly how much miso to add each time you prepare this soup.

Miso paste comes in lots of different varieties. You may choose to vary the types of miso that you use. Some miso pastes are not as salty as others. Again, trial and error is important with this broth. If the miso you like is not salty, you can make it taste saltier by adding some sea salt, soy sauce or Bragg's to your broth to taste.

Once the broth for this easy recipe is developed, add in the tofu, remove the soup from the heat and let it sit for a minute or two. Then add the baby spinach, cilantro and red pepper flakes and serve.

Serves 2 - 3.

The Healthy Weight Loss Diet For Vegans

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Even though one does not eat meat it does not mean to say that you won't gain weight. Vegans that are overweight need a healthy weight loss diet and here are a few tips to help you on your way to health and happiness:

• One needs to control the amount of food intake as an average serving should be half a cup which will be a certain amount of calories. For the first six months try and avoid eating out in restaurants as they usually serve huge portions of food or just eat your required portion and take the rest home.

• Male sure you eat breakfast every day as this will keep your blood sugars stable as well as eliminate sugar cravings. Your breakfast should consist of high protein and low calories such as a scrambled tofu with spinach and soy and include a slice of toast with a cup of herbal tea. Or you could have a bowl of muesli with fresh fruit and soy milk.

• For lunch you can have a salad that contains onions, tomatoes, cucumber, tofu, dark greens, olives and nuts and have this with whole grain crackers. Make up your own salad dressing by using olive oil and balsamic vinegar.

• For dinner you can alternate with a tofu casserole or any of the soy products such as patties, sausages or soy mince. Include lots of vegetables such as mushrooms, broccoli, pumpkin etc. or make yourself a large pot of vegetable soup of which you can have a small serving every evening in addition to your main meal. Have a fruit salad for desert.

Make sure in between your healthy weight loss diet you eat snacks such as nuts, dried fruit or raw vegetables. Make your diet has adequate vitamin, minerals and especially Vitamin B12 and D.

Festive Turkey Soup - A Change From Chicken Soup Recipes

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There is no doubt that chicken soup is a comfort food. Whether you prefer your chicken soup recipes thick and creamy, or thin with homemade noodles, this is one dish that is guaranteed to lift your spirits and soothe your soul.

What about the times when you fancy something comforting but also a little different? Turkey soup is a great alternative to chicken soup if you feel like a change. It is similar in some ways but also has a different flavor.

If you have cooked a turkey for thanksgiving or Christmas, you might be left with a turkey carcass. Turkey soup is the perfect way to use the carcass and it will give so much flavor to the soup. Add some fresh vegetables and herbs and you can make the most mouthwatering turkey soup recipe.

Recipe for Hearty Turkey Soup

If you want to make the soup base ahead, simply make it to the stage where you sieve it, then let the soup cool completely and keep it in an airtight container until you are ready to use it.

This is a very healthy recipe and the simple flavor of turkey, vegetables and herbs combine to make a heavenly soup, which will definitely lift your spirits. The kitchen smells wonderful while this soup is cooking too. Feel free to use different vegetables. If you have a turkey carcass to use up, you are likely to have leftover vegetables too!

You will need:

1 turkey carcass
4 cups chopped turkey
3 chopped stalks celery plus leaves
1 bay leaf
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 minced garlic cloves
1 peeled, chopped turnip
2 chopped onions
3 chopped carrots
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
Salt and black pepper, to taste

How to make it:

Heat the vegetable oil in a soup pot over a moderate heat. Add half the carrots, celery, and onions. Cover the pot and cook the vegetables for five minutes, stirring them a few times. Add the turkey carcass and cover it with enough water to cover it. Turn the heat up to high and boil the turkey carcass.

Skim off any fat from the top of the water. Add the bay leaf, thyme, parsley, salt and pepper. Turn the heat down to low and simmer the turkey soup uncovered for two to four hours, adding water if you need to, to keep the turkey carcass covered. Sieve the soup and discard the solids. Let it sit for five minutes, then skim the fat off the top.

Melt the butter over a moderate heat in a soup pot and add the rest of the carrots, celery, onions, garlic, and turnips. Cover and cook the vegetables for six minutes, stirring a few times. Add two quarts of the soup base and the fresh parsley.

Bring the soup to a boil. Turn the heat down to low and simmer it until the vegetables are soft. This will take about an hour. Stir in the turkey meat in the last five minutes of the cooking time. Season the soup with salt and pepper to taste, and then serve it hot.

Cabbage and Chicken Soup Diet - Recipe and Diet Plan

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The Cabbage and Chicken Soup diet achieves its weight loss goal by severely reducing the number of calories that are consumed. It is a variation of the famous Cabbage Soup Diet and offers an alternative to those who require more variety in their meals and makes it easier for users to stick to the plan.

Recipe:

The cabbage and chicken soup is prepared by using a head of shredded cabbage, four stalks of chopped celery, two green peppers, five carrots, a 16oz can of tomatoes, two onions, two cups of vegetable juice, two cups of chicken broth, and half a pound of green beans. Saute the onions in a pot (use spray oil for this) then add all the ingredients above and heat to boil. Towards the end add any herbs and spices that suit your taste. Simmer until cooked.

Diet Plan:

A cabbage and chicken soup diet works best when you follow the rules and eat as much soup as you want for a period of seven days.

Avoid eating bread and consuming alcohol or sugary drinks, such as sodas. Drink plenty of water as this not only helps the diet but is important for your health.

Breakfast Day 1:

Combine a cup of vanilla non-fat yogurt with half a cup of chopped fruit salad. This can be sprinkled with wheat germ.

Breakfast Day 2:

Combine half a teaspoon of sugar with 1 cup of ricotta cheese and a sprinkling of cinnamon.
Two pieces of wheat-grain slices of toast.
Three dried figs.

Breakfast Day 3:

One and a half cups of whole cereal.
Half cup of orange juice, preferably calcium enriched.
Half cup of non-fat milk.

Breakfast Day 4:

A small whole-meal bagel with an ounce of low fat, melted cheddar cheese.
Half a cup of prune juice.

Breakfast Day 5:

One and a half cups of cooked Wheatena Cereal.
Half a cup of non-fat milk.

For subsequent days, choose any breakfast from the list above. You may eat any one of these breakfast dishes each day and, for other meals, as much of the cabbage and chicken soup as you want. Bananas and skimmed milk may be added on day four. On the fifth day 10-20 oz of chicken may also be added to your eating plan.

Staying on the diet beyond seven days is not recommended. This is a diet for losing weight in the short term (3-5 days).

Special Concerns:

Because of the low consumption of carbohydrates, blood sugar levels will be low and this can cause hypoglycemia. Symptoms include headache, drowsiness, sweating, irritability and and anxiety. If this happens, eat a sandwich with whole-grain bread, a slice of ham and a piece of low fat cheese. Do not use butter or margarine. An alternative is a low fat cheese and tomato sandwich. If these symptoms persist, consult your doctor.

The cabbage and chicken soup diet is not intended as a continuing diet plan, so after one week you must be prepared to move on to a safer, more sustainable and healthier eating strategy. There are some excellent programs available for long-term use which continue the work you have started to get your body into shape.