Your Ticket to Raw Foods

Your Ticket to Raw Foods!

            So with all these diet trends out there you hear some pretty crazy things. Like the maple syrup, cayenne pepper and lemon juice cleanse. I don’t recommend that one. But one trend that is really taking off is the Raw Foods diet.

The idea of the diet is to basically eat raw plant foods rather than cooked or processed foods. This way you keep in all of the foods nutriants. This sounds all well and good, but what is really involved in pulling this off?

First, the Raw Foods diet is made up of 75% fruits and vegetables. A lot of the foods people on this diet eat are seaweed, sprouts, whole grains, beans, and nuts. Usually people who follow this Raw Food diet are vegans, meaning that they do not eat any animal products. However, if you decide to take of this diet, eating eggs, cheese and milk are perfectly acceptable…if its all raw or unpasteurized.

So do you just eat apples and carrots all day? Don’t worry there are plenty of recipes and websites out there on how to prepare foods for a raw diets. You can juice, dehydrate and much more.

The research is still out of whether this is the way to go. Scientist have noted that vegetarians and vegan do tend to have lower cholesterol and better glucose levels. And studies do show that eating raw can reduce risks for a number of cancers.

HOWEVER, there are several downsides. Studies have shown that people

who live a raw foods lifestyle have B12 deficiency which can lead to anemia and neurological impairment. B12 is essential for red blood cell growth and nerve development. And B12 is only found is animal products. This means if you go raw, you still need to be sure to eat meat, eggs, cheese, or milk. (I don’t recommend eating raw meat or eggs).

            There are plenty of benefit to at least a semi raw diet, but if you decide to go all the way raw you should follow these guidelines from the American Dietetic Association:

• Eat almost twice the iron as nonvegetarians. Good sources of iron are tofu, legumes, almonds and cashews.
• Eat at least eight servings a day of calcium-rich foods like bok choy, cabbage, soybeans, tempeh, and figs.
• Eat fortified breakfast cereals, nutritional yeast, and fortified soy milk for B12. Supplements are a good idea.
• Eat flaxseed and walnuts. Use canola, flaxseed, walnut, and soybean oil. These are all sources of omega-3 fatty acids. You may also want to take an omega-3 supplement.

Fat Burning Foods

Let's face it, it's already Spring time and the bikinis and short shorts have been on the racks in the mall for quite some time. Still haven't knocked off those extra pounds from winter? Well the gym is a great place to get back in shape but what you put in your belly matters too. The following foods are proven to burn body fat and leave you feeling full and satisfied.

1. Pickles. You'll burn calories digesting these salty snacks. About a medium sized pickle is around seven calories. But don't go around eating a whole bunch of pickles since the sodium will make you bloat.

2. Peanut Butter- Substitute that Nutella for some creamy or crunchy peanut butter. Peanut Butter is a great source of magnesium, plus it raises your metabolism.

3. Olive oil- Monounsaturated fats keep your cholesterol from skyrocketing and can control cravings. Olive oil is a great substitute for butter when eaten with bread.

4. Eggs- Research from Louisiana State University held a study and proved that people lost more weight while eating eggs for breakfast everyday than the ones who just ate bagels. Eggs have B12 vitamins and can jump start your metabolism.

5. Avocado- These green veggies are a great source of fiber and like olive oil, contains monounsaturated fat.

6. Iced Tea- Tea has antioxidants and is a great metabolism booster. Research has proven that tea drinkers burn 266 calories more than non tea drinkers. Tea is a great substitute for sodas but skip the bottled teas, those teas have been processed and have been stripped of their nutrients.

7. Oatmeal- A great breakfast meal, this stuff stays in your stomach for hours and leaves you feeling full until lunchtime. Stay away from the oatmeal boxes that contain the processed sugary flavors. You can always add fruits as a natural sweetener.

Campus Rec! Your ticket to healthy eating!

Your Ticket to Weight Loss!

So spring is here and bikini season is fast approaching….YICKS! Most college students are trying to do what we can to get into shape so that we are beach ready this summer. If you’re trying to loss weight and it’s not working you might be sabotaging yourself and not even realize it.

Most of us try to eat healthy, but what about our drinks? You might be surprise about exactly how many calories and fat grams are in your drinks.

Starbucks Java Chip Frap – Grande

Calories 460

Smoothie King The Hulk Strawberry – Large

Calories 1928

Dairy Queen – Caramel Moo-Latte - Large

Calories - 870

Cold Stone – PB&C - Large

Calories – 2,010

And these are just a few examples. Just think if you have one of these drinks everyday, that’s at least 167900 extra calories a year. That’s an extra 48 pounds you could loss in one year. So the moral of the story, if you want to reach your weight loss goals, think before you drink!

Your Ticket to Campus Rec - Erin

Foods That Boost Your Metabolism

Have you ever entered your kitchen and opened the fridge and nothing looked appealing to you? Then you drift off to the pantry and it's the same story. Nothing appealing. So you go back to the fridge and expect something new to be sitting on the shelf, or you've lowered your standards for what you're hungry for. First ask yourself if you're really hungry, because it could just be thirst. People commonly mistake hunger for thirst or boredom, so they go and grab a bag of chips or make a sandwich. If it really is hunger, then you should reach for sustenance that will raise your metabolism. Listed below are the best foods that will raise your metabolism and keep you full for a long time.

Liquids

●Water- Avoid the sugary drinks like sodas and reach for a glass of water. It's a natural appetite suppressant and it washes away all the toxins from your body.

●Coffee- A cup of java is a great way to start the day with a good breakfast. It keeps you alert and raises your metabolic rate by 8%.

●Green Tea- Green tea has a laundry list of benefits for your body. It's a mood enhancer and it raises your metabolism by 12%!

Foods

●Almonds- These nuts are loaded with protein and lots of good fats that your body needs. These are a great snack and give you an energy boost.

●Apples- Eat just one and feel full longer and eat less!

●Eggs- Great source of protein, boosts weight loss.

●Grapefruit- Burns fat!

●Salmon- Loaded with Omega 3 acids.

●Yogurt (low fat)- Great source of calcium and protein.

Campus Rec, your ticket to healthy eating!

The Best Running Shoes

The Best Running Shoes

By Simone Gardner

Popular brands such as Nike, Adidas and Puma are all categorized as the best running shoes by today's athletes. They're great running shoes but may cost you a pretty penny. In a running shoe, you get what you pay for, but it's always important to have a supportive heel and great durability even if it does break the bank a little. Listed below are the top rated running shoes reviewed by Runner's World.

●Adidas Adizero Rush $100

-very lightweight

-comfortable outer lining

-great for marathon runners

-available in a variety of colors

●Puma Faas 800 $100

-great stability

-great price for a Puma shoe

-great for heavier runners

-recommended for athletes who have flat feet

●Nike Zoom Elite 5 $105

-great cushioning

-lightweight support

-great for marathon runners

-comes in a variety of colors

●New Balance 890 V2 $110

-great durability

-very cushiony

-Like Nike, New Balance is always updating their products for its customers

●Kswiss Blade Max Glide $125

-great heel support

-great cushioning

-great for endurance runners

-great for off-road runs

Campus Rec, your ticket to... stylish running shoes!

Your Ticket to a Healthy Heart

A few months ago I went to the dentist, and for whatever reason they take your blood pressure. Something about not dying while you’re getting your teeth cleaned…I don’t know really. Anyways, I had just drank about a gallon of coffee, I had to hurry there to get there, I almost got into a wreck, and I had a presentation in my class right after, oh and I absolutely hate go to the dentist (I mean when they say just a little poke they mean, excuse me while I stab you in the mouth with a prison shank). So needless to say I was a hot mess when I got there, and my blood pressure was a tad bit high. Well they left me alone for a few minutes and let me breath, so when they took it again it was back to my normal 110 over 55 (which yes I know is low, but I’m anemic, it happens)

So this got me thinking, what are some common misconceptions about high blood pressure?

1) There is nothing you can do to prevent high blood pressure.

False: Even if high blood pressure runs in your family you can do a lot to prevent getting this condition. You can eat right, exercise and not smoke.

2) Using kosher or sea salt is better for your heart.

False: Ummmm salt is salt…that’s why it’s called salt. No matter what your preference it is the same thing, and it all goes towards your daily sodium intake.

3) I feel fine. I don’t have high blood pressure.

False: High Blood Pressure is called the silent killer. Yicks. Most people don’t know that they have it, so even if you feel fine, it’s important to check yourself.

These are just a few things to keep in mind. I know that most college students aren’t even thinking about high blood pressure yet, but with today’s stress levels and our eating/exercise habits, it never hurts to be prepared.

Your Ticket to Campus Rec - Erin