We have discussed in the past the importance of discovering the hidden fats and calories in the foods we eat. I showed how a salad, sandwich, or any other common type of food can quickly double in fat and calories when the wrong ingredients are included in them. However, there are some things that some of us cannot live without. By this I am speaking of our daily glass of wine, the beer after work, or the fancy mixed-drink with dinner. It seems that the allure of a cool cocktail (or two) awaits us at every avenue of our lives. To the tea-toataler the problem is nonexistent. But the rest of us, drinking can fast become a diet-breaking addition to the bulge.

The problem with the alcoholic beverages is threefold:

First, alcohol packs on and nearly doubles the calorie content of any type of juice, soda, or mixer.

The average one ounce shot of hard liquor contains about 70-75 calories with some darker liquors like bourbon and brandy a little higher. Add one shot of liquor to a few ounces of tonic or cola and the calorie count is in the hundreds. And those exotic pina coladas or margaritas can run even higher than that. By any measure, one drink wont ruin any diet, yet one drink is rarely a common occurrence….

Second, a drink usually leads to two.

The taste of one drink is cool and satisfying. The second is even better, and so it goes. Rarely in any social setting where alcohol is being consumed, does on e stick to a single cocktail. Alcohol lessens our inhibitions, which sometimes leads to more alcohol and thusly, more calories. And after yet even one more drink almost always ends in the worst case scenario….

Third, alcohol almost always leads to eating and overeating

Alcohol, and its effects usually set the stage for binge eating. At only two drinks, your body seeks a heavier and more satisfying type of fare, and you guessed it, yet even more calories. The caloric cycle of almost anyone under the influence of a few drinks can prove to be a hidden diet disaster. The binge eating will almost undoubtedly ensue.

The Fat Mentality in regards to drinking can lead us in many wrong directions. Common misperceptions of alcohol lead to over-use and unknown consumption of hundreds (if not thousands) of calories in a single evening. The number one mistake made by people who are drinking and trying to lose weight is to perceive alcoholic beverages as a liquid ,and thus no harm to ones diet. I cant stress the fact enough….that alcohol leads to fat. The “beer gut” is no wives tale, it truly does exist. Anyone adhering to a perfect diet, yet drinks frequently, is guaranteed to get fat.

The best remedy for anyone who enjoys alcohol, is to educate yourself on the caloric content of what you are consuming: Most wines contain about 90-100 calories per glass. Most full bodied beers contain between 140 to 200 calories per 12 ounce glass, with the light beers at a more reasonable 100-110 calories per glass. And again, most clear liquors contain about 70 calories per ounce, so pair these with diet soda or club soda for the “best choice” of alcoholic beverages. The other best alternatives would be wines or light beer. Steer clear of the detrimental mixed drinks and full-bodied beers.

Another important thing to be mindful of with regards to drinking is to pay attention to how often you do it. The casual daily glass of wine or the few beers here and there add up. Set yourself a schedule so as to monitor how often you are consuming alcoholic beverages. Give yourself a night or two a week to have drinks if you so choose, so as not to over-indulge in these diet-busting pleasures.

Lastly, and sometimes most importantly, be prepared for what you are going to eat after you have had a few cocktails. Yet do the preparations beforehand. Have a healthy and light snack ready to consume after a night of cocktails. This way you will be steered clear of the more tempting of post-drinking options. In sum, a night of drinking loads your body with a good amount of un-needed calories. Do your best to dodge the heavier cocktails at the bar and the heavier fares afterward.

Tomatoes are such a big part of my life and although I would love to always have fresh ripe tomatoes on hand it just does not always work out that way. I do use fresh tomatoes in my cooking but keeping these around and in usable condition is a daily or at least a several times a week task. If I buy too many at one time, surprise, surprise, they go bad. This leaves me frustrated at the fact that I have now wasted money and I still don’t have the tomatoes I need to cook with. That is why having canned tomatoes in the kitchen is a must. However, using canned tomatoes becomes very tricky when you a trying to follow the candida diet. A candida diet is used to treat a condition called candidiasis, an overgrowth of yeast (candida) which can be caused by a variety of external factors. Symptoms of this condition vary widely but are usually characterized by a multitude of seemingly unrelated symptoms. These symptoms can range from something as vague as fatigue to mood disorders.

The problem with canned tomatoes and the Candida Diet is that canned tomatoes contain preservatives that have been found to feed candida and therefore exacerbate candidiasis symptoms. The prohibited ingredients most commonly found in canned tomatoes are citric acid and calcium chloride. Since citric acid is the biggest offender and very widely used and since I have found that very few brands of canned tomatoes contain calcium chloride I will only discuss why citric acid is problematic for candida dieters.

Citric Acid is used to flavor and preserve foods. It exists naturally in citrus fruits, but the type used in commercial food products often causes problems for candida dieters. Most commercially used citric acid is produced by fermentation, a process by which yeast is added to convert a sugar form into an alcohol form. This whole process is contrary to the candida diet as adding yeast, sugar and alcohol are all prohibited. So it is not citric acid itself that is the problematic, but rather the process by which it is created. I have seen canned tomatoes with naturally derived citric acid in their list of ingredients all though it is naturally derived from fruit citrus fruit sources it still undergoes the fermentation process.

So what are we candida dieters to do? Must we live with rotten tomatoes and constant frustration? The answer is no. Fortunately I have found a few brands of canned tomato products that do not contain citric acid, calcium chloride or any other preservative. These brands are okay for the candida diet. I have found most brands of tomato paste to be safe. Pomi brand tomatoes have no preservatives and come in sauce and chopped varieties. Cento makes a variety of tomato products without preservatives. Stop & Shop’s Nature’s Promise line also has some canned tomato products without preservatives. Although I use these brands regularly in my candida diet kitchen I urge you to always read product labels as things can change. I hope that this helps fellow candida dieters who were experiencing the tomato dilemma. For more information on the Candida Diet visit Yeast Free Living.

It took me several years of cooking to appreciate the value that chicken broth and stock, as a matter of fact all types of broth and stock, bring to cooking. What was once sort of a specialty item in my kitchen has now become a mainstay on my weekly shopping list. I frequently purchase both chicken and vegetable broth and stock for a variety of my family’s favorite dishes. I have never found it convenient to make and store my own so I rely heavily on commercially available products.

Although there are numerous types of broth and stock available in the supermarket the majority of these contain ingredients that could be hazardous to your health. As I do not want to consume hazardous ingredients and since I follow the candida diet, a diet to help treat candidiasis, picking an appropriate chicken broth can be a challenging task. Candidiasis is a condition in which through numerous external factors yeast (candida) overgrows in the body. This overgrowth of candida can cause numerous health problems. Many times candidiasis patients go for years without any explanation for there ill health. The candida diet is the main form of treatment for candidiasis but one of the prohibited ingredients on the diet is preservatives and commercially available chicken broths and stocks are infamous for containing these.

I have found that the most widely used prohibited ingredients in commercially available broths include monosodium glutamate (MSG), yeast extract and citric acid. All three of these additives are used to preserve and/or enhance flavor. All three also undergo the fermentation process whereby yeast and/or bacteria are added to change the substance into a form that is suitable for commercial use and yeast is a prohibited candida diet ingredient. MSG, yeast extract and citric acid can all be derived from a sugar or carbohydrate source. Many of these original sources are also prohibited on the candida diet. Additionally, MSG has come under fire over the last few decades due to numerous studies that have revealed it causes a wide array of health problems. Yeast extract actually contains MSG so the some concern should be noted. In addition to the three additives already discussed, sugar is another ingredient that is often found in commercially available broths and stocks and is also prohibited on the candida diet.

So how is one to find a chicken broth or stock without MSG, yeast extract, citric acid, sugar or any other preservatives? This is not an easy task but I have found a few brands that are okay to use on the candida diet. More than Gourmet Chicken Stock, Trader Joe’s Organic Free Range Chicken Broth and Imagine Foods Organic Free Range Chicken Broth all appear to have ingredients that are okay for the candida diet. I bought More than Gourmet Chicken Stock from Whole Foods. Imagine Foods Organic Free Range Chicken Broth is pretty readily available in the organic foods section of most supermarkets. Trader Joe’s Organic Free Range Chicken Broth can only be bought in Trader Joe’s. I use the Trader Joe’s Brand the most because it is the most affordable at about $2.29 for 32oz. I hope that these suggestions provide you with the convenience of using commercially available chicken broth and stock without compromising the candida diet.

No matter what type of diet you are trying to follow most diets require you to give up or severely limit the foods that you love the most. The candida diet is no exception. The candida diet is the cornerstone of treatment for a condition known as candidiasis. Candidiasis is an overgrowth of typically benign yeast, candida albicans, in the digestive tract. This condition often occurs due to a variety of external factors but the main causes tend to be overuse of antibiotics, birth control, steroids and diets high in sugary and processed foods. These external factors cause an imbalance in the digestive system and the candida diet helps to restore this balance. The candida diet eliminates sugar and yeast laden foods, glutinous grains, fruit, cheese and processed foods that are thought to exacerbate candidiasis. There are many other foods that are also omitted on the diet. So is it possible to still enjoy your favorite foods when there are so many limitations on this diet? With a little creativity you certainly can.

Tacos are one of my favorite foods that traditionally made do not work for the candida diet. From the taco shell to the shredded cheese topping many traditional taco ingredients are just plain offensive to the candida diet. So how do we make a tasty taco that is yeast free and hence okay for this diet?

The first step is to make or find yeast free gluten free taco seasoning. There are many taco seasoning packets in the store but the majority of them have ingredients that are not allowed on the diet, such as monosodium glutamate (MSG), yeast extract, citric acid and sugar. If you do want to use a store bought taco seasoning packet read the label carefully. You may be able to find a yeast free variety at your local health food store or Whole Foods. I have found it much easier to create my own taco seasoning mix using yeast free spices from my pantry. A blend of chili powder, cayenne pepper, sea salt, black pepper, onion powder does the job just as well as any store bought variety.

The second step is to make or find gluten free yeast free tortillas. There are a variety of gluten free tortillas on the market. These are usually available at your local health food store, Whole Foods or Trader Joe’s. The most common type that is both yeast free and gluten free are the brown rice tortillas. However, in my experience these do not seem to work so well for tacos, as the crumble very easily under the weight of the taco filling. There are other gluten free options but these usually contain yeast or some other ingredient off limit to candida dieters. I have found it easiest and tastiest to make my own. There are some great recipes online for gluten free tortillas. Do a search and make sure to substitute yeast free ingredients for any problematic ones.

The third step would be to prepare yeast free gluten free taco fixings. This is the easiest and most fun part. Once you have seasoned meat and a taco shell you get to pile on the toppings. Although things like cheese and sour cream are off limits you can still compile a great taco. Some of my favorite yeast free taco fixings are tomatoes, avocado, lettuce, homemade salsa, plain unsweetened yogurt and organic canned beans.

For more information on living yeast free by following the candida diet visit Yeast Free Living.

Three days – minus 3.5 kg!

I think you know this sense when you are invited to the party and want to go there in your favorite dress to look smart but there is some extra weight you have to get rid of to wear your new amazing dress! But no time! The party in 3 days! Don’t feel upset! There is a very effective diet for such cases!

Following Carrot Diet you will lose 3.5 kilograms in 3 day and you will go to the party and will impress everybody with your slim body! Carrot diet is very useful and simple! The main dish is a salad made of carrots.

Here is 1 variant of this salad.

You need:

– 1 kilogram of carrots;

– 1 lemon;

– 1 tablespoon of honey.

Grate the carrot on a medium grater, add honey and lemon juice and stir well. That’s all!

Divide this salad into three meals, you can also have some fruit that you like. On the fourth day, you can add some chips and a slice of bread. In the morning you can drink a glass of milk or yogurt, it will help the carrot nutrients absorb better.

You can follow this diet in 3 days too or to add carrots in your daily meal! For example, if you eat it near or at the beginning of every meal a carrot does not leave room in the stomach for cheesecake or extra ice-cream at the end of the meal. So, you will save about 500 calories a day, which translates to a weight loss of about a pound a week.

Health Benefits

Carrots are an excellent source of antioxidant compounds, and the richest vegetable source of the pro-vitamin A Carotene. Carrots’ antioxidant compounds help protect against cardiovascular disease and promote good vision, especially night vision. It is also the richest source of beta-carotene. This is of great benefit in the fight against cancer. Studies show that eating carrots reduces the incidence of cancer and may even reverse symptoms. Carrots are also beneficial for skin and lungs.

Carrot Salad (the second recipe)

Ingredients List:

1 ½ lb. of carrots, peeled and grated.

¼ cup of non-fat mayonnaise.

2 ½ tablespoons of lemon juice

1 tablespoon of maple syrup.

Pinch of salt.

Directions:

In a bowl, mix together the mayonnaise, lemon juice, maple syrup and a pinch of salt. Add the carrots, tossing to mix and allow to stand for about 45 minutes. You can also decorate salad with greens! Bon appetite!

Have you ever heard of teff flour? I hadn’t either until I started experimenting with gluten free flours to use on the candida diet. Teff grass, botanical name Eragrostis tef, is an ancient grain that can thrive in a variety of extreme weather conditions, which makes it a very reliable grain choice. Teff grass is native to Ethiopia where it has been used for centuries as food for cattle and a component of building materials. Teff is the smallest grain in the world but despite its small size it is an extremely versatile grain. In Ethiopia today it is milled into flour and used to make a flat bread call injera, porridge and as an ingredient in alcoholic beverages. Although teff has proven to be a reliable grain it has gone pretty much unrecognized and unused in North America until now.

Increasing awareness of medical conditions such as celiac disease, autism, gluten allergies/sensitivities and candidiasis in which eliminating gluten from one’s diet is necessary or may be beneficial has brought non-glutinous flours such as teff to the forefront in North America. As we search for alternatives to our staple gluten filled grains, wheat, barley and rye, we are starting to search the globe far and wide for useful alternatives. Using teff flour as part of your diet to treat these conditions is of particular interest because teff flour has a very impressive nutritional profile when compared to that of other flours, both glutinous and non-glutinous. Teff flour contains a large amount of bran and germ which makes it an excellent source of dietary fiber, protein and iron. Teff is also a good source of calcium. Since teff flour does not contain gluten, is such a nutritional powerhouse and is slightly lower in carbohydrates than some other grains it is an ideal choice for the candida diet also known as the yeast free diet.

The candida diet is used to treat candidiasis, an overgrowth of yeast in the intestinal system. This is why it is often referred to as the yeast free diet, as the goal is to eliminate all foods and ingredients containing yeast and ingredients that feed yeast, in order to reduce the amount of yeast in the intestinal system. The biggest offenders tend to be sugar, processed foods, quick-acting carbohydrates, vinegar and fermented foods. Many candida diet resources also suggest giving up glutinous grains such as wheat, rye and barley because they are not only hard to digest, which puts an added burden on an already compromised digestive system, but gluten may also contribute directly to the yeast overgrowth problem by feeding the yeast. Symptoms of candidiasis include but are not limited to digestive problems, mental confusion, premenstrual syndrome, depression, eczema and acne.

The cornerstone of treatment for candidiasis is the candida diet. The candida diet is the most important part of the treatment but can be the most difficult part because of the amount of foods that are eliminated. Having options such as teff flour opens up new possibilities on the candida diet. Using teff flour along with other non-glutinous flours can help the candida dieter to create a variety of yeast free dishes. You can substitute teff flour for about one fourth of the flour called for in a recipe.

For more information on living yeast free by following the candida diet visit yeast free living.

Xanax is a pill that is used as a short-acting drug to deal with moderate to severe anxiety disorders, panic attacks and clinical depression.

While it may seem odd to think of something that fights depression as a diet pill, there have been some individuals who have reported losing weight while taking it.

While there is no clinical evidence that this has caused significant weight loss in individuals, there are several who report that it does have that effect on people. Despite this, it should be advised that taking Xanax for anything but what a doctor may describe as depression, panic attacks or anxiety, is something you should only due after talking to your doctor.

There is a risk with taking this form of diet in that you can become addicted to Xanax, as well, it may have unusual side-effects on your body if you are considered to be a well-balanced person with no need to take a drug that is meant to deal with unbalanced problems.

While weight loss can be seen as a possible side-effect, there are also side-effects like drowsiness, depression, hallucinations, dizziness, fatigue, speech problems, constipation, dry mouth, memory loss, tremors and rapid heartbeats to name a few.

If you are looking for a diet that is not proven, with several side effects, then trying the Xanax Diet Pill may be for you. However, it is very important that before you even consider this diet, you talk to your doctor to find out what kind of side-effects will be caused on your body because the last thing you want is to cause long-term damage when you are attempting to lose weight and feel better about yourself.

The Xanax Diet Pill is unproven, but that is not to say it does not work. Before attempting it, do your research and find out what you can.

Can you imagine eating a hamburger, hot dog or mom’s meatloaf without ketchup? Okay even if ketchup is not your thing most of us enjoy our favorite foods with some sort of condiment. I have seen hot dogs piled high with mustard, ketchup, mayonnaise, soy sauce and relish. A little ridiculous to me, but I am sure very tasty to many. It can be extremely hard not to use condiments but many of us who are trying to adhere to the candida diet are tasked with this very challenge.

The Candida diet is a diet used to treat candidiasis, an overgrowth of yeast (Candida) in the intestinal system. The diet suggests eliminating or reducing a variety of foods and ingredients that exacerbate this condition. Condiments are eliminated on this diet because they usually contain a variety of Candida diet prohibited ingredients. The biggest offender is vinegar but corn syrup, sugar, salt, citric acid, monosodium glutamate and artificial flavors are all very common ingredients in condiments. All of these ingredients help exacerbate candidasis by feeding the Candida. Sugar and additives are common food sources for Candida. This is why commercially available condiments are not allowed on the Candida diet. Although we will not be indulging in any hot dogs on the Candida diet because they are also prohibited there are meals that we can create such as yeast free meatloaf in which we may want to utilize a condiment. So are there any commercially available condiments that we can use on the Candida diet? To be honest, I have not found many but I have come up with the following ideas for condiments.

I am a huge friend of Chinese food so I had to find a Soy Sauce substitute to use with the yeast free Chinese food that I created. Traditional soy sauce contains salt and corn syrup both problematic ingredients for the diet. Fortunately, Bragg Liquid Aminos is an excellent yeast free soy sauce substitute. It is contains only soy beans and purified water. Additionally it is gluten free and contains no preservatives.

It is difficult to find a yeast free Ketchup substitute. Ketchup contains a variety of ingredients and spices and when you are used to the taste of Heinz it can be extremely difficult to get used to something else. I create my own ketchup substitute using lemon juice tomato paste. This seems to work for me. I have looked for a commercially available vinegar free substitute but have not found one, as even the organic variety of ketchup in the store contain vinegar.

Mayonnaise is another condiment that I have not found available without vinegar. Mayonnaise however is very easy to make at home and homemade mayonnaise tastes much better than the store bought ones.

Although I have never done it Mustard can be made at home too and I am sure adapted to make Candida diet friendly. It requires mustard seeds and powder and you can substitute lemon juice for the vinegar.

There has been some misconception about the Scarsdale diet portion sizes in the diet. Some have been led to believe there are no diet portion sizes and you are free to eat as much as you want. The Scarsdale diets are founded on the principle that you eat until your hunger is satisfied (or you are in other words full) and then you stop eating. You should not eat until you are stuffed. This is where the confusion begins with the Scarsdale diet portions and sizes.

Some people take the phrase “eat as much as you want” to mean there are no Scarsdale portions, however this is not correct.

In order to help folks know how much they can eat, here is a list of Scarsdale diet portion sizes; broken down into food groups; with a portion size comparison for you to follow. Hopefully this will guide those who want to have maximum weight loss while on this diet.

Scarsdale Portion Sizes for the Carbohydrate Food Group

The main component of the diet carbohydrate group is the protein bread. A serving here is one thin slice. The goal is to consume a protein bread that is greater than 4 grams of protein and less than 12 grams of carbohydrates.

There really are no other Scarsdale portions for the carbohydrate food group that you will need to measure.

Scarsdale Diets Portion Sizes for the Meat Food Group

The meat food group receives a lot of attention in this diet portion sizes you will measure. Since meat is a protein and the Scarsdale diet is high in protein you will be eating meat at a lot of you meals.

A good rule to use when measuring portions and sizes for the meat food group is to have a serving of meat about the size of your palm. This will roughly give you the required Scarsdale portions and sizes for the meat food group.

Scarsdale Diet Portions for the Fruits and Vegetables Food Group

The vegetable food group is another one that gets a great deal of consumption in this diet. Vegetables offer fiber, vitamins and minerals without consuming a lot of calories. However corn, potatoes, peas and beans (not veggies anyway) are not allowed. Other vegetables such as green beans, carrots, mushrooms have a Scarsdale portion size of about what will fit in one cupped hand. Spinach, lettuce cabbage and other leafy vegetables are two cupped hands.

If you have a big appetite though, the vegetable category is so low calorie these diet portions and sizes are the ones you want to increase and fill up on. You get fuller, with a lot fewer calories.

The Scarsdale portion sizes for fruit are always ½ a grapefruit and a medium fruit about the size of your fist for all others. If the fruit is cut up, generally what will fit in your cupped hand will give you the Scarsdale portion sizes for fruits.

Scarsdale Diet Portions for the Fat Food Group

Fats themselves (such as butter, margarine, and mayonnaise) are not allowed on the diet; so you have no need to worry about the Scarsdale diet sizes for this one!

Remember you should always consult your health care provider before beginning any diet regimen. Hopefully this has helped clear up any confusion you may have had regarding Scarsdale diet portion sizes. If you follow this guideline; you should fall within the desired 850-1000 calories per day for optimal weight loss.

Loading up on vegetables is a terrific dieting strategy. Vegetables are filled with essential vitamins and nutrients and are a great choice for any healthy diet but are all vegetables created equal? Believe it or not some vegetables may not be appropriate for certain types of diets. The candida diet is one of these diets in which you must pay particular attention to what type of and how much of certain vegetables you eat. To understand what types and why you must eliminate or reduce certain vegetables you must first understand what the goal of the candida diet is.

The candida diet is the cornerstone of treatment for a condition known as candidiasis. Candidiasis is a condition in which Candida albicans, a typically benign type of yeast become and opportunistic organism in the intestinal system. Candida albicans is an innate part of the microflora of the intestinal system which ideally will work in accord with “friendly” types of bacteria to keep the body healthy. Unfortunately, external factors such as overuse of antibiotics, steroids, oral contraceptives, stress and a diet high in processed foods/sugar foods often cause an overgrowth of Candida albicans. When this happens an abundance of toxins are released into the body and cause a variety of seemingly unrelated health problems. Symptoms of candidiasis include but are not limited to chronic yeast infections, chronic sinus infections, irritable bowel syndrome, anxiety, depression and fatigue. The candida diet seeks to cut off the food supply of the Candida albicans by eliminating food that encourages its growth. While the main culprits are sugar, vinegar, fermented foods, glutinous grains and quick acting carbohydrates there are other foods that candida diet guidelines suggest consuming in moderation. Complex grains and high starch vegetables fall under this category because all though they do not break down into sugar as quickly as the simple carbohydrates they do in fact break down into sugar and feed the candida. So which vegetables can we eat freely and which do we eat in moderation on the candida diet?

Vegetables to Eat Freely

Bulb vegetables such as chives, garlic, leeks, onions, scallions, shallots and water chestnuts are all great choices for the candida diet. This group of vegetables can be used to add flavor and texture to meals and onions and garlic in particular have antifungal properties which help combat Candida albicans. Inflorescent vegetables such as artichokes, broccoli, broccoli rabe and cauliflower make great side dishes. Use leaf vegetables such as arugula, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, chicory, collards, endive, lettuce, kale and spinach to complement main dishes and to create delightful salads.

Fruit vegetables, which include avocados, cucumbers, eggplant, okra, peppers and squash will help you to create delightful yeast free meals. Stalk vegetables such as asparagus, celery, chard, fennel and kohlrabi also have a wide variety of uses on the diet.

Vegetables to eat in Moderation

The two types of vegetables that you should eat cautiously on the candida diet are root vegetables and tuber vegetables. Beets, carrots, parsnips, radishes, rutabaga, cassava, potato, sweet potato and yams all belong to this group. You can still enjoy these vegetables on the candida diet but plan meals so that you are not overloading on these types of vegetables.

For more information on living yeast free by following the candida diet visit Yeast Free Living.