19Apr, 2018
    Why is Bread so Addictive?

    Bread is a notorious diet-buster. The flavor, texture and
    high carbohydrate content make it difficult to stop eating
    bread once you’ve started. In fact, many people undergo a
    chemical process while eating bread that triggers them to
    eat more and more.

    It’s no wonder many diets advise us to stay away from
    bread, especially bread made from refined white flour.

    Are you a bread addict? Here are some of the signs of
    bread addiction:

    * Strong cravings for bread products (including pastries,
    cakes, crackers and cookies)

    * A compulsion to eat bread products instead of other
    foods

    * The inability to stop eating bread products when full

    * A feeling of calmness and well-being after eating bread
    products

    * A drive to eat more bread products soon after finishing
    a meal

    If you answered yes to most of those questions, you might
    have a bread addiction. The good news is that you’re not
    alone; it’s been estimated that up to 75% of all
    overweight people have an addiction to bread and other
    carbs.

    Now that you’ve figured out whether or not you’re addicted
    to bread, let’s move on to the next question: Why is bread
    so addictive?

    After all, isn’t it made from grains? Doesn’t bread
    contain healthy fiber and carbohydrates? How can a natural
    food cause addiction-level cravings in so many people?

    Different people react to bread in different ways. Some
    individuals can happily eat a dinner roll or a slice of
    toast and go about their day without any repercussions.

    Others find themselves obsessing over baked goods,
    sneaking carb-laden snacks to quell their cravings, and
    then eating more bread with their next meal.

    For the latter group, bread is as addictive as a drug.
    When these people eat bread, their bodies release too much
    insulin, also known as the hunger hormone. Insulin
    stimulates appetite, making it easy to overeat.

    Over time, a bread addict can develop insulin resistance.
    Insulin resistance occurs when a person’s body stops using
    insulin properly. This malfunction causes glucose, which
    normally fuels the internal organs, to stay trapped in the
    bloodstream. Type 2 diabetes can result.

    High blood glucose levels also trigger hunger, which makes
    the person crave high-carb foods. Eating these foods
    causes more insulin to be released and ignored by the
    body, thus making blood glucose levels to spike higher.
    It’s an unhealthy cycle, no doubt.

    Add to this the psychological effect of eating bread, a
    popular comfort food, and it’s easy to see why bread is so
    addictive. Since the act is strongly associated with
    feelings of well-being, many people eat high-carb foods,
    like bread, when they are feeling lonely, stressed out,
    sad or bored.

    Needless to say, the bread is only a temporary fix and
    does not address the person’s real underlying needs.
    People who self-medicate in this way are prone to
    overeating without finding true satisfaction from the
    food.

    It’s important to note that whole-grain bread, which
    contains complex carbs, doesn’t seem to have the same
    addictive properties as ultra-refined white bread. This is
    because the body digests white bread much more quickly –
    essentially unable to differentiate between a slice of
    white bread and a slice of cake.

    Both are broken down into sugar, causing blood glucose
    levels to spike. After this rapid digestion, blood glucose
    quickly plummets, resulting in hunger and additional carb
    cravings.

    Breaking a bread addiction can be challenging, but the
    health benefits are worth it. Start small by giving
    yourself a two-week break from bread. You might find that
    your cravings disappear altogether after a week or so.

    When you do eat bread, eat a small amount of multigrain or
    rye bread instead of white. Also, make sure to indulge in
    your favorite treats occasionally to keep yourself from
    feeling deprived. Then get back on your diet plan
    immediately to avoid cravings that might keep you off
    track all day.

    Diet is 80% of effective and healthy weight loss, and if
    you can nail your diet then you’ll never have to worry
    about your weight again.

    Here’s a free resource to help bust those cravings.

    It’s a totally free how to eat for a faster metabolism and healthier body
    Grab it now.

    Eat well,

    Pam

    29May, 2017
    Copy Cat Appetizer Favorites – The Easy Way To Impress Your Guests

    Have you ever wondered if there is an easy way to create dazzling appetizers that will go over well with your weekend guests?

    Some people spend hours creating fancy appetizers that they may find quite tantalizing.  The trick is this, will your weekend guess find your appetizers as mouth watering as you do? How can you be sure that your guess will like the fancy appetizers that you’re preparing?

    One sure fire way to find appetizers that will get the job done is to use copycat restaurant recipes. These recipes have been developed by skilled chefs that mimic some of the best entrees,appetizers and desserts from America’s most popular restaurants.

    This is always a great way to insure that the appetizers that you prepare will appeal to the greatest number of your guests. Most people have several appetizer dishes that they order when they frequent their favorite restaurants. As you read this article, a few appetizers that you enjoy may come to mind.
    Many copycat appetizer recipes are quite easy to follow, and use common ingredients that may be purchased from any local grocery store. Instructions for creating these scrumptious appetizers are usually very straight forward and easy to follow.

    You’ll find everything form unique chips and salsa recipes to the more elaborate appetizers that can lend themselves to combination appetizer platters. Many of these recipes also include a wide range of supplemental sauces and dips that accompany these recipes that can add additional taste and savor to the recipe.  You can also augment these recipes with your own dips and sauce recipes to further spice things up.

    Many of these recipes can be whipped up in less that an hour and augmented with attractive garnishments that will dazzle your guests and appeal to their taste buds. Simply choose a few appetizers that cover a wide range of tastes and you’re in business.

    Bottom line; don’t spend hours and hours developing appetizer items that may not appeal to your guest.  Simply copy recipes that are proven winners as well as time savers and feel confident that you’re serving appetizers that are solid winners.

    25Jan, 2017
    Can Pizza Actually Be Healthy For You?

     

    Daria-Yakovleva / Pixabay

    This article may come as a surprise to you, especially if you follow a healthy and nutritious diet…

    It’s about pizza, the weakness of many people including me. I love pizza- always have. I make sure I eat it in moderation, but it’s still one of my favorite foods.

    Now there’s good news for pizza lovers.

    According to Men’s Health magazine, research concludes that pizza can be good for you.  It’s important to point out, however, that we’re talking about real pizza- not the kind you get from Pizza Hut, Dominoes or the frozen food section of your supermarket.  By real, I mean pizza made with real crust, real tomato sauce and pure olive oil.

    According to Men’s Health, scientists writing in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that eating pizza can reduce your risk of a heart attack.  In a 4-year study of nearly 1,000 Italians, those who ate pizza at least once a week were 30 percent less likely to experience a heart attack than the folks who didn’t partake of the pie.

    This is contributed to pizza’s cardio protective ingredients, including olive oil and tomato sauce.  Here’s a way to make the pizza even healthier: top it with vegetables, part-skim cheese and use whole wheat crust.  You’ll then have a meal that is actually good for you.

    Can you get this kind of a pizza in a pizzeria?

    ponce_photography / Pixabay

    You might be able to find some that offer whole wheat crust, but I doubt you’ll find any that offer part-skim cheese. What you can do is buy the ingredients at your local grocery store and make the pizza yourself.  Speaking from experience, this can be a fun thing!

    Enjoy the experience of making your own pizza and savoring a nutritious meal.  After all, feeding your body with nutritious meals is the number one thing you can do for better health.