The benefits and risks of crab cycling There are benefits and risks associated with everything, and just like anything else, before you make carb cycling an intrinsic part of your diet, it is important that you look at both faces of the coin. Benefits of carb cycling It is good for metabolism Alternating between low and high carb days helps in weight loss and ensures that the body gets the right amount of essential macronutrients. This switch, more importantly, helps in maintaining metabolism. Formation of lean mass of muscles As the body’s fat percentage is cut and enough fuel is provided for muscles to regrow, carb cycling helps in the creation and restoration of lean mass. Production of insulin During high-carb days, insulin is released by your body into the bloodstream, which further carries carbs either to muscles or the liver. Carb cycling pre-exercising is good Research has shown that the consumption a specified amount of carbohydrate 3-4 hours before physical activity can improve performance. If the right amount of carbs are coupled with the right amount of protein just before exercise, it would lead to muscle protein synthesis. Carb cycling post exercising is even better Taking the right amount of carbs after workout stimulates glycogen re-synthesis at a faster rate, which increases muscle protein synthesis.

“You are what you eat” — this statement emphasizes the importance of following a healthy diet. To be precise, what we eat determines the composition of our cell membranes, bone marrow, tissues, hormones, skin, and hair. So, it is essential to consume a balanced and healthy diet to reduce the risk of chronic diseases. But when a person already suffers from a chronic condition, they need to modify their diet to accommodate their body’s needs and eliminate foods that can trigger an adverse reaction. For instance, people with high blood pressure are asked to avoid the consumption of salt or pickled foods as these can elevate their blood pressure. People who have high blood pressure cannot consume a regular diet, irrespective of how healthy it is. A DASH diet is recommended for such people as it helps them maintain normal blood pressure levels and keeps them healthy. What is a DASH diet? DASH stands for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension. It is a proven way to prevent and treat hypertension. Adhering to this diet helps in reducing the risk of heart disease in the long run. This diet came into being after researchers observed that high blood pressure is less common in people who follow a plant-based diet.

The paleo diet, commonly referred to as the caveman diet, is a dietary plan that can be traced to have similar characteristics to the diet followed in the paleolithic era. It can be dated back to nearly 10,000 years ago and is based on the idea that the body can be effectively fueled with foods as eaten by our ancestors in the Stone Age. Those foods that could be obtained through gathering, fishing, or hunting. It majorly comprises of meats, fish, vegetables, and fruits, while eliminating dairy, legumes, beans, sugar, and more. This diet revolves around returning to the way the early humans ate their meals. Paleo diet experts reason that the modern diet does not go down too well with the human body genetics. The emergence of the practice of farming led to additional staples in the human body, a mismatch that is believed to contribute to several modern-day health issues. A Paleo diet may be followed by anyone looking to lose weight or wanting help with planning meals effectively. The restricted diet intake can also have its own ill-effects: Limited intake of carbs : The paleo diet excludes the intake of cereal grains. Foods like barley, oats, brown rice, and wheat contribute to several functions in our body, lower the cholesterol levels, and control body sugar levels, while also helping fight chronic diseases.

Your little one is growing, in mind and body, which means appetites are often demanding to meet each stage of physical, social, emotional, and intellectual development. As children grow, there’s no doubt appetites will flare and little ones will get hungry between meals. However, instead of reaching for processed and packaged snacks filled with loads of sugar, artificial flavors, and empty carbohydrates, why not opt for a snack that’s healthy? Here’s an assortment of healthy snack options to fill growing tummies with goodness: 1. Veggie sticks and hummus Dice up a colorful array of raw vegetables. Try celery, carrots, bell peppers, cucumbers, mushrooms, grape tomatoes, broccoli, and cauliflower for all the veggies of the rainbow. Kids love pairing their veggies with a dip, and luckily there are plenty of healthy dip options! For instance, hummus offers a thick, creamy dip option that sticks well to sticks…and it’s made with more healthy ingredients (i.e., chickpeas, lemon, garlic) off of which offer a healthy triad of fiber, folate, and antioxidants. If your kids don’t like hummus, try a yogurt based dip and mix with garlic, dill, and lemon. 2. Peanut butter and banana toasty quesadillas Quesadillas are more than just savory. You can whip up a sweet and satisfying dessert quesadilla for the kiddies by spreading a whole wheat tortilla with creamy or chunky peanut butter and sliced bananas.

As new parents we want to give our newborns the best the world has to offer. For many parents and caregivers that starts with the foods your baby eats. Organic foods are often considered the best option because the ingredients are grown without the use of synthetic pesticides or fertilizers to safeguard crops from pests, molds, and disease; and the foods are packaged without artificial ingredients and additives. Read on to learn more about the benefits of opting for organic baby foods and baby formulas: 1. Limit pesticide substance exposure While conventional ingredients in baby food must meet certain government safety standards for food production when it comes to pesticide residue, parents who feed their little ones organically wish to banish all traces from baby food and formula. The understanding is that newborns and small infants may be more susceptible to harm from these toxins compared to older children, teens, and adults. For instance, in order to be deemed organic, these foods and formulas must meet the high standards established by the USDA’s National Organic Program, which means no artificial flavors, preservatives, or coloring is used, no ingredients are treated with chemical pesticides, and no proteins are derived from animals fed any growth hormones or antibiotics.