Cooking Tips Archive

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Stress

You can experience both positive and negative stress. The positive stress affects the creative side of your nature and keeps you going, whereas negative stress can give you headaches and reduce your concentration.
You can avoid negative stress:
Decide what is important to you.
Develop a routine with which you are happy.
Think about when you need to rest and relax.
Learn to say "no". You may need practice, but it is OK to use the word.
Let others help you when they offer or when you need help.
Go for a walk. This will help you relax and reduce the stress.
Do not skip meals. Take time to eat.
Do not forget to breathe. Take some deep breaths to help you relax.

Water

You might be able to survive without food for quite a while, but you cannot live long without water. It is important that you include an ample amount of water in your diet, especially if you eat a lot of fruits and vegetables. Although you obtain fluid through 
food, it is important that you also drink enough water. Your body uses water in its transportation of nutrients. Make a conscious effort to drink plenty of water each day.

Healthy Dressing
Choose a healthy dressing for that healthy salad. It is a good idea to have raw vegetables each day. A tasty dressing for a good salad can be very enticing. Vinegar is not always ideal for a dressing, as it is acidic and requires a neutralizer. A good compromise for a good salad dressing is lemon juice and a little salt which reduces the sour taste of the lemon. Add a little olive oil, a little finely minced garlic and/or mustard powder, a touch of sugar plus some of your favorite herbs, and you have a healthy, tasty dressing for a good salad. As an added bonus, lemon juice contains Vitamin-C.

Check Your Food Intake.
Are you tired of feeling "heavy" and uncomfortable after eating? Check your food 
intake. Your food should consist of a varied diet which includes carbohydrates, 
protein, and fiber. If a steak and French fries or a pasta with a cheese sauce feels like a heavy weight in your stomach, try to change your diet. Fish is a light food and can be accompanied by a variety of fresh vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, green beans or carrots. The vegetables can be steamed and served with just a touch of olive oil or plain. A wonderful change is the herb bouillon added to the vegetable with a very small amount of water. Bouillon cubes (stock cubes) give a wonderful flavor to the vegetable. A small portion of boiled rice or wholemeal pasta can fill out the meal quite nicely for a change.

Ulcers - Acidic Food.
Ulcers can sometimes result because the stomach lining becomes thin as a result of intake of too much acidic food.  When the lining of the stomach becomes thin, a particular bacteria has the chance to develop and go to work.  Sometimes too much coffee and alcohol can produce too much acid in the stomach.  Research has shown that milk, sugar, carbonated soft drinks and beer can also provoke and contribute to the development of ulcers.  Drink plenty of water;  it helps thin out the acid.

Winter Habits

Research has shown that many people tend to overeat or eat more during the  dark winter months. Further research has shown that people tend to smoke and drink more during the winter months. Try using more light in your house during the winter evenings or join a gym to get out of the house in the evenings.  It may help you cut down on your food intake.


Colon

As we grow older, we are more prone to develop cancer. One of the most common places for cancer to develop is in the colon.  Studies have shown that garlic helps protect the colon from developing cancer.  So eat a bit of garlic each day.


Sugar Intake
Do you reach for the sweets or soft drinks when you feel your energy level dwindling? If you want to increase your blood sugar dramatically, go for a piece of fruit or juice. You should try to limit your sugar intake to about 2 ounces per day. Just one small bag of candies can easily pass 2 ounces of sugar into your body's system. A candy bar contains about 1-1/2 ounces of sugar, likewise a bottle of coke can contain 1-1/2 ounces of sugar or more. If you consume more sugar than the body can use, the sugar is stored as emergency fuel or more aptly expressed, FAT. By consuming sugar, you become satiated and are less interested in eating healthy food.
Oil Spray
If you are trying to cut down on oil when cooking, invest in an oil sprayer.  You fill the container with oil and spray a little oil when you need it.  It can be used to spray a frying pan, muffin pans, baking tray, casserole dish and spray a little on food before you cook it.  It cuts down a lot on oil use and still allows you to cook with oil.

Get an oil sprayer from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/external-search?tag=eclecticcooki-20&keyword=
oil%20sprayer&mode=kitchen

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