Healthy Life Resources

Tag: blood sugar

Chia Seeds for Weight Loss: Science-Backed Benefits of This Superfood

Posted on by Betty W. McBryde

Keeping a steady routine that may aid in weight management can be a cumbersome task. You may feel overwhelmed with so many options that allegedly help with managing your weight. One new entrant hailed as a superfood – and rightfully so – is chia seeds. You can unlock the benefits of chia seeds for weight loss if they are carefully included in your daily diet.

Diet plays a pivotal role in your quest for shedding extra pounds. Including a sufficient amount of fiber is one of the many conditions of such a diet. The benefits of the seeds for weight loss are accentuated due to their nutrient profile, appetite-regulating properties, and fiber content (1). Let’s explore the science-based reasons why chia seeds are a valuable addition to a person’s weight loss program. 

What Are Chia Seeds?

Before delving into the benefits, let’s discuss a few facts about this

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Quinoa vs. Rice: Health Benefits

Posted on by Betty W. McBryde

There was a time rice was the only grain in town. Not anymore.

Quinoa has emerged as a healthy alternative. It has already taken rice’s place in many recipes.

But if you love rice, the news isn’t all bad. Both grains have health benefits.

You could argue that comparing quinoa with rice isn’t fair, because quinoa isn’t actually a grain. It’s the seed of the goosefoot plant and a relative of beets and spinach.

But quinoa is known as a pseudocereal because it’s cooked and eaten like a grain and has a similar nutritional profile.

The benefits of quinoa

  • It’s a complete protein.
  • It’s high in fiber.
  • It’s high in minerals.

Quinoa is nutrient-rich and has significant health benefits, including:

It’s a complete protein

For such a tiny seed, quinoa has a lot of protein: One cup cooked has 8 grams. Quinoa is one of the few plant

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5 Health and Nutrition Benefits of Coconut

Posted on by Betty W. McBryde

Low in carbs and high in fiber and fat, coconut is a great choice if you’re on a low carb, paleo, or gluten-free diet. It may help promote blood sugar control, contains powerful antioxidants, and also has antibacterial effects.

Coconut is the fruit of the coconut palm (Cocos nucifera), which is commonly used for its water, milk, oil, and tasty meat.

Coconut trees are considered the most naturally widespread fruit tree on the planet and are native to Southeast Asia and the islands between the Indian and Pacific oceans (1).

Today, coconuts are cultivated around the globe and have become increasingly popular for their flavor, culinary uses, and many potential health benefits.

This article will explore five potential benefits of coconuts, along with some simple ways to add them to your diet.

The raw white meat inside a coconut is referred to as the kernel. It

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11 Benefits of Strength Training Exercises That Have Nothing to Do With Muscle Size

Posted on by Betty W. McBryde

If you want to build bigger biceps or get an elusive six-pack, strength training is an essential component for making it happen. But even if maxing out your muscle size isn’t your objective, strength training might still be the best way to hit your health goals.

Black woman lifting barbell in gymnasium

(Getty Images)

“A lot of people believe that if they don’t want to look like a bodybuilder, they shouldn’t perform resistance training,” says Michael Rebold, director of integrative exercise sciences at Hiram College in Ohio. “So the only form of exercise they do is aerobic – and then they wonder why they’re having trouble making significant improvements in their (overall) health,” he explains.

Plus, building muscle bulk requires specialized and intense training and nutrition, and it doesn’t happen by accident, Rebold adds.

Proven Benefits of Strength Training

Before your next workout, consider these 11 science-backed benefits of strength training:

1. Lower Abdominal Fat
In

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7 Unique Health Benefits of Honey

Posted on by Betty W. McBryde

Honey is rich in nutrients and antioxidants, has antibacterial properties, and can play a role in diabetes management as part of a balanced diet.

Honey is a syrupy liquid that honeybees make from plant nectar. It is a common ingredient in many foods and is available in many forms.

The product also has several potential health benefits and plays a role in many home remedies and alternative medicine treatments.

Here are 7 unique health benefits of honey.

One tablespoon, or 20 grams (g) of honey contains (1):

  • Calories: 61
  • Fat: 0 g
  • Protein: 0 g
  • Carbs: 17 g
  • Fiber: 0 g
  • Riboflavin: 1% of the Daily Value (DV)
  • Copper: 1% DV

Honey is essentially pure sugar, with no fat and only trace amounts of protein and fiber. It contains small amounts of some nutrients, but most people typically don’t consume enough honey for it to be a significant

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Proven health benefits of fasting

Posted on by Betty W. McBryde

It is fasting time in churches again. Despite its numerous spiritual benefits, not many people are used to it. Most times, the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. However, both – the spirit and the flesh – benefit from fasting. Over the years studies have continued to find many health benefits of fasting, making it a two-for-one exercise.

The well-known spiritual benefits of fasting, which involve exchanging what we need to survive for what we need to live for God, include the following identified by religious experts:

Soul cleansing: Fasting is a great time to remember the spiritual connection we have to our physical bodies. Without the toxins we put in our bodies, we not only give our bodies a break from the digestive process, but we also allow our spirits to be detoxed.  Fasting is a faith-move, an expectation we have that God will fill us with

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Health Benefits of Dragon Fruit

Posted on by Betty W. McBryde

Dragon fruit is a part of the cactus family and it’s native to northern South America. Although there are several varieties of colors (yellow, red, white inside, or pink inside) there aren’t many nutritional differences among them. These dragon fruits get their name from their exterior, which is full of overlapping “fins” that resemble a dragon’s scales, and their also commonly known as pitaya.


Dragon fruit is rich in fiber and antioxidants linked to protection against cancer, diabetes, and heart disease, as well as respiratory, gastrointestinal, and urinary diseases.


Keep reading to learn more about the fruit’s benefits and simple, healthy ways to enjoy it.



Dragon fruit can enhance gut health in two key ways. The fruit is high in fiber, which supports healthy digestion and helps prevent constipation. One cup of yellow dragon fruit provides 5.58 grams (g) of fiber, 20% of the Daily Value (DV).


Dragon fruit also

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Health Benefits, Nutrients per Serving, Uses, Safety Information, and More

Posted on by Betty W. McBryde

Chia seeds (Salvia hispanica), also called Salba chia or Mexican chia, are the edible seeds of a flowering plant from the mint family. Native to Mexico and Guatemala, the seeds have a long history. They were a vital crop in ancient Aztec and Mesoamerican cultures. The seeds had medicinal applications and made up an important part of the peoples’ diets.

Today, chia grows commercially in many countries including Mexico, Guatemala, Peru, Argentina, Australia, and the United States. The seeds are widely recognized as a nutrient-dense addition to healthy diets.

Chia seeds are an excellent source of vitamins, minerals, and powerful antioxidants. Some of these antioxidants include:

  • Caffeic acid
  • Chlorogenic acid
  • Kaempferol
  • Quercetin

These nutrients help provide many significant health benefits.

Reduced Free Radicals

Antioxidants found in chia seeds can help to fight free radicals in your body. Free radicals cause oxidative stress and cell damage. Eating foods rich

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Benefits Of Having Black Sesame Seeds

Posted on by Betty W. McBryde

Black sesame seeds are often referred to as gingili, or til. They are from a particular in their taste, mildly nutty with a tinge of bitter taste. They are quite oily as well.

Because they preserve their unique taste, texture, and scent, black sesame seeds are substituted for white sesame seeds. They make excellent gluten-free flour when finely grinded. Black sesame seed paste is frequently used in many cuisines to give foods like ice cream, macaroons, pastries, and noodles an extra taste boost.

But nowadays, you can even purchase goods that contain the complete black sesame seed! These tiny seeds have played a significant role in Asian societies for centuries because of their culinary versatility, health advantages, and use in many different sorts of meals. This is true not only of Chinese culture but of many other Asian cultures as well.

In this blog, we’ll talk about black sesame seeds,

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Potassium Benefits, Sources And Its Side Effects

Posted on by Betty W. McBryde

Potassium, the alkali metal is a highly reactive element essential for the proper health and functioning of the human body. The human body requires potassium because it works in the form of an electrolyte and helps in conducting electrical charges. Apart from conducting electrical charges, potassium also helps in promoting cardiovascular health by reducing the chance of stroke. It helps in lowering or controlling high blood pressure and is also important for the health of the bones. Bone formation can effectively increase by having a balanced diet that is rich in its content of potassium.

Potassium

Potassium is one important mineral considered essential for the life of an individual. It is one of the most important minerals needed for the proper functioning of the kidneys, the heart and other important organs of the body. It is one out of the seven significant macrominerals which include magnesium, calcium, sodium, phosphorous, sulfur

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