Protein Power Foods for Men

It goes without saying that oftentimes men don’t always make the best food choices. Although there are those that are avid gym goers, in general a man’s daily diet does not always consist of the food items that will help him lead a healthier life later on down the line. Protein is one factor that is essential not only for proper health but in building muscle, which is undoubtedly one of the main goals for men that work out. However, it is helpful to choose the right food items that contain natural levels of protein aside from a hearty helping of meat.

Many men might be surprised to know that there is more to protein than chucking down steak, hot dogs and hamburgers. There are plenty of natural sources of protein that are found in other foods aside from meat products, which will not only help boost the health of the male body but in a way that is nutritious. The variety of food items to choose from for more protein is ideal for just about anyone’s taste palette, which means that you can easily find one or more food combinations to incorporate into your daily eating regimen.

Men that enjoy power shakes will want to gather together the following ingredients to create a homemade peanut butter and chocolate power shake: 1 1/2 cups of ice, 1/2 cup of low-fat cottage cheese, 1 cup of a chocolate (2%) dairy beverage and 2 tablespoons of peanut butter. Preparing this recipe is a snap and only requires throwing all of these ingredients together into a blender and blending on high for about 30 seconds. Now it is ready to serve!

Instead of stopping by the taco truck and ordering a hefted-up burrito, prepare your own healthier version at home by gathering 1/4 cup of fresh cilantro, 2 tablespoons of salsa, 1/2 cup of lean, diced ham, 1/4 cup of low-fat, shredded Cheddar cheese, 1 large egg, 4 beaten, large egg whites and 1 large, whole-wheat tortilla. To put together this flavorful dish, start off by sautéing the diced ham in a non-stick skillet until it starts to brown. Add the ham to the tortilla then use the skillet to scramble the eggs. Mix with cilantro and add to the tortilla, followed by the salsa and cheese and you’ll be good to go.

Are you a fan of oatmeal? Then you’ll enjoy adding a few protein rich ingredients into this traditional meal. You’ll need 1/2 cup of fresh berries, 1 cup of rolled oats, 1 scoop of vanilla whey-protein powder, 1 cup low-fat milk, sugar (to taste), ground cinnamon and salt (both of which only need a dash). In a large bowl, mix together the milk and oats and microwave for one minute. Stir to thoroughly blend the ingredients together and then microwave for an additional minute. Now add in the sugar, salt, berries and cinnamon. After it has cooled a bit, mix in the protein powder, stirring to make sure it is well blended.

Supplements: Which Kind is Right for You? Do You Even Need Them?

In the past, all people needed to do in order to stay healthy and in shape was hit the gym and eat right. However, the concepts of nutrition, health and wellness have expanded to the point where it takes much more to really guarantee that you are on top of your overall health. Among the many changes that people now incorporate into their daily lives includes the use of supplements.

Fitness and nutrition experts often swear by the use of supplements as a way to increase your energy, provide your body with essential vitamins and minerals and even boost the look and feel of your muscles. However, to the average, everyday person, knowing what role supplements should play in their lives can be difficult to determine. If you don’t know all of the information to help you decide, you could end up using the wrong type of supplement or you may find that you don’t even need them. It is a good idea to do some research beforehand so that you’ll know which supplements, if any, can help you with your nutrition, health and/or exercise goals.

Although most people tend to think of protein supplements and similar products used by gym goers and body builders, these are not the only types of supplements that are available. Perhaps the most basic kind of supplement that everyone can benefit from is the multivitamin. Specially formulated with the proper levels of essential vitamins and minerals, multivitamins make sure that we receive the right amounts of these nutrients on a daily basis. Let’s face it: we’re not always able to eat as healthy as we want and even the best efforts cannot always guarantee that we’re taking in the proper levels of vitamins and minerals. If you happen to lead a hectic lifestyle, have a poor diet or want to make sure that you’re covering all of your bases, then you’ll want to make sure to take your multivitamin once a day or as directed on the label. There are multivitamins for adults, teens and even young children. It is not mandatory to take multivitamins, however, it helps a lot.

Aside from multivitamins, the other types of supplements on the market include those used by fitness enthusiasts, namely creatine, protein and glutamine supplements. You can find these in pill, powder or beverage form. These products serve a number of purposes, including conditioning and strengthening the muscles, tissues and replenishing energy levels during and after a workout. Creatine, protein and glutamine supplements can be purchased at any health food store and vitamin shop as well as online. If you are not an active gym goer, chances are you don’t need these types of supplements.

Some people tend to have a deficiency of some kind. This can include not producing enough of a certain vitamin or mineral in the body. In these instances, specialized supplements are needed. For example, those with a vitamin E deficiency can simply take vitamin E pills to increase their levels and make sure they can avoid the deficiency in the future.

Make the Most of Your Metabolism

In the effort to shed unwanted pounds people diet, exercise and purchase any miracle product that promises fast results. But the main thing many miss is the importance of catering to their metabolism. This part of the human body is the control center for anything weight-related. Just as keeping the body active is crucial for physical fitness, so is keeping the metabolism in shape. You don’t have to be a nutritionist to get a handle on this part of your lifestyle, either. All it involves are small changes that will produce big results.

In recent years, the transition from eating three, square meals a day to consuming five to six smaller meals has gained a strong following. Making this change alone gives the metabolism a huge boost because this forces it to constantly burn calories around the clock. Additionally, eating more often curbs hunger pangs and prevents overeating in one sitting. However, there are even more tips and tricks to be made that can assist the metabolism even more.

By now you know the importance of drinking plenty of water, such as keeping the body hydrated and revitalizing the complexion. But did you know that water also has the ability to help with a person’s metabolism? The more water you drink on a daily basis, the better your metabolism will perform. Studies show that individuals who don’t drink enough water actually burn fewer calories. This is the last thing you want, so why not do yourself a favor and make that bottle of water your best friend? This is perhaps one of the easiest ways to burn calories that doesn’t require a lot of effort or time commitments.

In addition to water, fiber should be your other best friend. You’ve probably seen all of the television commercials advertising some fiber product or another. Although the commercials are obviously trying to sell something, there is method to the madness. The metabolism and fiber go hand-in-hand in terms of weight loss. Individuals that consume a healthy amount of fiber on a regular basis tend to experience the least amount of weight gain over the years. In fact, fiber alone has the power to propel the metabolism to burn fat by as much as 30%. Squeeze in about 25 grams of fiber per day and weight loss will be the last thing to worry about.

Need another way to keep the metabolism revved up? Start adding more spicy foods into your meals, especially green and red chilies. Sprinkle some red pepper flakes onto your favorite foods and while your mouth may feel like it’s on fire, your metabolism will thank you by going into overtime.

Weight loss should definitely include some form of exercise but physical fitness doesn’t always have to mean sweating the pounds off at the gym. Studies have found that people with office jobs that require them to sit for extended periods of time throughout the day, tend to experience significant weight gain. Why? Because such inactivity negatively affects a special enzyme in the body that is responsible for controlling cholesterol and fat as it relates to the metabolism. Translation: get up and move around more often while at work. Doing so will put this important enzyme into action to boost the amount of fat being burned. Schedule a brisk walk every so often, take the stairs or the long way to the bathroom - whatever it takes so that you’re not just sitting on your rump slowing down your metabolism during the day.

Salad Dressings That Are Healthy & Homemade

As healthy as salads are, oftentimes the ingredients we add to them end up becoming anything but nutritious. If you’ve ever read a health-related article about the various types of salads we enjoy, you’ve more than likely come across information related to how fattening some of our favorite salad dressings are. To remedy this problem you don’t have to stick to buying low-fat or non-fat versions. Instead, create your own nutritious and delicious salad dressing. It’s a lot easier than you think.

Any homemade meal is a good meal for a number of reasons, including the fact that using fresh ingredients means consuming the food items in their most natural state, which provides the body with the richest levels of vitamins and minerals needed for proper nutrition. Any perk to putting together your own homemade meals is the fact that you can tailor the flavor to suit your taste buds - not to mention that the directions for preparation literally only take a few minutes, making it convenient, even for those with hectic schedules. When it comes to salad dressing, there are more recipes than one can count. This makes it easy to find the perfect salad dressing recipe for you.

Love ranch but hate how many calories you’re taking in with each forkful of salad? Why not try a buttermilk salad dressing that still gives you the flavor of ranch but without making you feel guilty? Gather the following ingredients together to get started: fresh or premixed bag of salad greens and other veggies of your choice, 2 cups cottage cheese (2%), 3/4 cup of buttermilk and 1 pack of ranch salad dressing mix. To prepare this homemade salad dressing recipe, combine all of the ingredients (except for the salad greens and veggies) in a blender and process until smooth. Pour into a container with a lid or small bowl and refrigerate at least one hour before serving.

Need a salad dressing recipe that is low on sodium? Then you’ll want to bring together the following ingredients: 3 teaspoons sugar, 1 teaspoon garlic salt, 1 tablespoon canola oil, 1 1/2 cups tomato juice (low-sodium version), 2 teaspoons lemon juice, 1/4 teaspoon dried marjoram, 1/4 teaspoon celery seed, 1/4 cup chopped onion, 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce, 1/4 teaspoon dried savory, 2 tablespoons chopped green pepper and 3/4 teaspoon dried basil. Combine all of these ingredients together into a blender and process until smooth. Place in the refrigerator and chill for at least four hours before serving.

Enjoy Dijon dressing and want to make your own nutritious version at home? With the following ingredients you can: salad greens (premixed or fresh), 1/8 teaspoon pepper, 2/3 cup mayonnaise (fat-free), 1 tablespoon sugar, 1/4 cup white wine vinegar, 1 teaspoon dried thyme, 2 tablespoons fresh minced parsley, 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard and 1 minced garlic clove. Set aside the salad greens for now and combine the remaining ingredients together in a bowl. Whisk the ingredients together until thoroughly mixed and refrigerate for at least one hour before serving.

Sexy Nutrition, It Does a Body Good

For centuries, couples have experimented with various food items, especially those known for being aphrodisiacs. Although this practice undoubtedly continues today, many people chalk the idea of a connection between food and sex as a myth. However, there is truth to this topic and if you and your significant other are seeking a delicious way to improve your sex life, the following food items mentioned below will definitely want to be added to the grocery list.

While there are a score of well known foods that are often turned to for aphrodisiac purposes, the good news about the particular food items discussed here are not only proven to stimulate physiology to enhance sexual pleasure and desire, they are also nutritious and ideal for keeping your health - as well as your sex drive - on the up and up.

Snack foods aren’t just good for settling a case of the munchies or to h

ave handy while watching a movie. The next time you want to spice things up in the bedroom, turn to the right type of snacks to get things going. Couples will want to reach for raisins, celery and peanut butter in particular. These may not sound like sexy foods, but the reality is that consuming these items results in quite a potent effect when it comes to sex.

Even though raisins are small, they contain high levels of antioxidants. In skincare and anti-aging, antioxidants are commonplace ingredients. However, in terms of sex, the presence of antioxidants found in raisins stimulates blood flow to a woman’s nether regions. Additionally, raisins are rich in lignans, which serve the purpose of balancing out a woman’s hormones.

Each time you bite into a stalk of celery, pheromones get released. When this occurs, it causes the body to produce odor molecules that influence the level of attraction and creates a high level of arousal - not just for yourself but your significant other as well. While you’ve got your pheromones running rampant by eating celery, why not add a touch of peanut butter? This popular food item has been shown to be especially beneficial for men when it comes to sex drive. This includes raising testosterone levels through the consumption of peanut butter’s monounsaturated fats and providing the body with an amino acid known as arginine, which enhances blood flow throughout the body, including the penis.

Want breakfast in bed? Then you’ll want to throw together a helping of scrambled eggs, sandwiched between two slices of an English muffin. Believe it or not, eggs pack a strong punch when influencing sexual desire in both men and women. Niacin is part of the vitamin B family and has the ability to produce histamine in the body, which is ideal for causing strong orgasms. In addition to niacin, eggs are rich in zinc. In men, the presence of zinc allows for the production of semen. On the flip side, eating foods high in zinc can help keep a woman naturally lubricated during sexual intercourse.

As you can see, it doesn’t take a three course meal to achieve sexual desire using the aphrodisiac approach. Obtaining more of a boost in this category is as simple as eating a hearty breakfast or snacking your way into the sack.

Oils: Good, Bad, What’s the Deal?

The word “oils” typically conjures up a bad image for most people. From the kind of oil that is known for causing breakouts on a person’s complexion (sebum), to the oils people consume that could result in high cholesterol, it seems that oils in general are given a bad rap. But before unfairly judging oils, it is a good idea to see which ones we should stay away from as well as which ones we should include more of in our lives.

There is such a thing as “good” and “bad” oils, especially when it comes to cooking healthy, nutritious meals. In general, “bad” oils are described as those containing trans fats and is listed on the label as having more than two grams of saturated fat per tablespoon. What makes this characteristic bad for oil is the fact that such properties are known for increasing a person’s cholesterol and, in some cases, their blood pressure, which is very unhealthy. Corn oil in particular is a culprit that is guilty of such crimes. It is best to avoid using corn oil in your cooking altogether.

The good news, however, is that there are more “good” oils than bad. Some of the most notable ones to add to your kitchen pantry include, but are not limited to: olive oil, walnut oil, almond oil, flax seed oil and canola oil. Peanut oil also makes the list of good oils but due to the fact that there are many people with peanut allergies, it is best to avoid using this oil for cooking. Or at least make sure to ask if anyone you’re preparing food for has such an allergy. Remember, even foods that have been exposed to, or come into contact with, peanut oil are strong enough to trigger a negative (even deadly) allergic reaction.

So what makes these healthy oils so good to use when it comes to cooking? For one thing, these oils are rich in natural antioxidants, which we all know contains numerous health benefits, including the ability to prevent or decrease a person’s chances of developing certain types of cancers. Other good oils are also known for having the natural ability to improve heart function overall, as well as lower bad cholesterol while raising levels of good cholesterol. Medical studies done over the years have also shown that individuals who included a moderate level of good oils in their daily diets were able to lower their risk of stroke by over 40%.

Of course it is important to know that too much of anything can still be bad for you, even if they are good oils. Always use these oils in moderation and avoid consuming too much, too often. When shopping for these oils, don’t take the labeling too seriously, either. For example, light olive oil does not mean it contains fewer calories. In fact, light olive oil has the same amount of calories as regular olive oil. The only difference is that the oil is lighter in flavor and color.

When cooking with these oils, make sure it doesn’t get too hot to the point where it starts smoking. When this happens, it causes the oils to break down, which can be toxic when consumed because it automatically targets the joints and arteries, causing them to become clogged. So use the appropriate temperatures when sautéing, grilling or microwaving and you shouldn’t have any problems.