Healthy Eating & Living

You always hear people talking about calories, such as the caloric content of the foods you eat, but do you really know what a calorie is? Calories measure the energy in food and other substances. The technical definition is "the amount of energy it takes to raise the temperature of 1 gram of water by 1 degree Celsius." We need energy to survive, thus we need to consume a certain amount of calories every day in order to remain healthy.

How many calories am I supposed to consume each day to stay healthy?

The number of calories you need to eat each day to stay healthy depends on several factors, in including your sex, weight, height, age, and activity level. For example, an average sized 30 year old female 5'6 140 lbs who is moderately active should consume about 2100 calories a day according to most calorie calculators. You should never go below 1200 calories per day unless on a diet plan confirmed by your doctor.

Why is healthy organic food more expensive than bad food?

The main reason why organic food is generally more expensive than regular food is because it is simply more expensive to produce. Most other foods are grown using agrochemicals, which make the mass production of vegetables, fruits, and other consumables easier and less expensive. The result is a cheaper product that doesn't taste as good, and isn't as healthy for you. Most "bad foods" are made using ingredients produced using agrochemicals. You are basically consuming more toxins when you eat bad foods as compared to organically grown, healthier foods .

Why do experts say that drinking red wine in moderation is good for you?

Red wine contains a substance called resveratrol, which is an antioxidant. Resveratrol helps prevent free radicals from attacking the body. The resveratrol in red wine has been proven to improve cardiovascular health and lower the risk of heart disease. However, you should always drink it in moderation. Drinking too much wine can affect you negatively in several ways, such as causing you to gain weight due to all of the empty calories.

What are the best foods to eat if you need to move your bowels and quick?!

The first thing you want to do is drink plenty of water throughout your day. Water hydrates your body and helps loosen your stool so that you can get things moving. Then, you should eat plenty of leafy greens, which are high in fiber, such as spinach, collards, and cabbage, as well as beans, apples, and whole wheat products. A bowl of bran cereal in the morning couldn't hurt. The key to getting your system moving quickly is to cut the bad carbs, like white bread and pasta out immediately. You also want to cut down on the cheese products, as these have a tendency to bind you up.

Sources:

http://www.weightlossresources.co.uk/calories.htm

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/organic-food/NU00255

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21478144/

http://www.cfpc.ca/English/cfpc/programs/patient%20education/constipation/default.asp?s=1