Suggestions on Losing Weight and Eating Right: Based on An Article in the February 2010 Issue of Reader's Digest

(Based on an article by Joe Kita and Anne Mullens

I read recently that the WHO released an internationally-based report in October of 2009 that said more people worldwide die from overeating than starvation. The following is taken from an article that exemplifies several ways (taken from the February 2010 issue of Reader's Digest) foreign countries act in the interest of controlling their diet and weight.

Thailand: spices -spices are a tasty addition to food and not only do they increase your metabolism, but they also slow your eating. Slower eating is better, as France advocates through family meals.

France: leisure family meal-92% of French families eat dinner together. These meals last half an hour to an hour depending on the day of the week. A study shows it takes twenty minutes for your brain to realize your full from the time that you actually are. Which is why eating with a family leisurely and patiently puts a leash on the hunger and prevents you from eating less. Over the last twenty years, Statistics Canada has shown that there has been a decline in the length and frequency of the family dinner.

Netherlands: Biking. Swap the car for the bike! Saves money and boosts activity.

Brazil: Eat rice and beans. A lot of Brazilians traditionally eat rice and beans with almost every meal. This dish is low in fat and high in fiber and this balances out blood-sugar levels.

Poland: Eat home more than you eat out. Poles eat out on only 5% of their family budget, not a lot, right? Like biking, it saves you money. People are more likely to eat unhealthy food when they eat out than when they're at home.

Germany: Breakfast. 75% of Germans eat their breakfast! This includes fruit, breads (whole wheat of course), and whole-grains cereals. British researches have shown that if you haven't eaten your breakfast, the first sighting of a high-calorie food will make you want to indulge.

Hungary: Crunch more pickles. Also, bell peppers, cucumbers, cabbage and tomatoes. The vinegar that is in these products contains acetic acid, which lowers blood-pressure and formation of fat.

Japan: Nap. Sleep deprivation has two effects: lower leptin levels, and higher ghrelin levels. Leptin is a hormone that makes the brain sense when you are full, and ghrelin is a hormone that triggers hunger. A good sleeping pattern and a 20-30 minute daily nap will keep your system level.

Mexico: The Mid-day buffet. Eat most of your day's calories at mid-day. If you eat less and at night you feel hungry in the morning and eat a bigger breakfast. This is helpful in weight control.

AS A BONUS:

Here are some top fat-burning foods:

Tomatoes
Oatmeal
Fresh fruits
Lemon juice and honey
Almonds
Yams
Wheat and grain products
Chicken and turkey breast (non-fried)
Skim milk
Green veggies

Hope you all learned something! Now use it!

Super Easy Chicken Curry Recipe

Yo folks!

I haven't updated my blog in a while...I know my apologies.

Here's a really simple chicken curry recipe I perfected the first time I tried it. I got off a site that no longer exists so I thought I'd share it with you. This recipe is for beginners and those who don't want to buy a lot of ingredients or are afraid they won't know what to buy and how much of it because the modern grocery store bombards you with a plethora of variations of the same item. So first, I'll start with what you will need (these are all very easy to find!):

salt
turmeric
cumin
coriander
boneless/skinless chicken breast (they're usually four pieces in a package)
cream (like the kind you put in coffee)
1/4 curry paste
garlic (just one of those)
medium sized onion (about the size of 2 golf balls)
olive oil

...and that's it.

Cooking instructions:

1. So first we want to cut the onion, garlic, and chicken breast down to size. I suggest you whistle while you work, or have the radio on. This will make you feel like a pro. We want the onion to be chopped into little bits, little tiny ones. Prepare about a handful of those tiny pieces. We want to do the same with the garlic, except just use one clove (a single garlic is made up of 6 I believe). Leave these both aside for later. If you get 4 chicken breasts in the package you buy, cut them each in half, giving you 8 pieces. Put these aside.

2. Put a pan on the stove, light it up to medium heat. Put 3 tablespoons of olive oil into the pain and add the onions and let them simmer and squeal for a minute.

3. After the minute is up...add the chicken and torture it until is white on the outside. This is evidence that it is edible. This should take 5-6 mins.

4. After your chicken has become Caucasian, add the garlic and stir it with the chicken for 2-3 minutes. Everything in the pan should turn golden brown.

5. After the 2-3 mins are up, add the spices (tumeric, cumin, coriander) and a bit of salt if desired. Add about a quarter tablespoon of each except the cumin, add 1/2 a tbspn of that.

6. Stir (d'uh)

7. Remember that cream and curry paste that was on your ingredients list? Guess what, throw them in...they're not getting away that easy. Stir everything and you should see a delicious preparation of chicken curry from your own hand in less than 2 minutes.

BON APPETITE!

NOTE: You may wish to add salt to the cooked dish if desired.