The food poisoning signs and symptoms vary according to the kind of bacteria that affected the food you consumed (contaminant). The severity of food poisoning also depends on your age, overall health and immune system. Most of the times, the symptoms of food poisoning appear after a few days of the consumption of poisonous food. But, sometimes the symptoms start appearing within hours after the consumption of poisonous food. Food poisoning outbreak can occur if a number of people consume the contaminated food, like people consuming poisonous food in the cafeteria or in a party. If a person consumes food containing mayonnaise, like coleslaw or potato salad which was kept in the refrigerator for a long time, then it can cause food poisoning.

     Some of the severe signs and symptoms of food poisoning are pain in the chest, weak or rapid pulse rate, shallow breathing, clammy, cold and pale skin, sunken eyes, low blood pressure and increased heart rate and breathing.

     What is Food Poisoning?
     The consumption of germs affected food which affects our body in a negative way thus affecting our overall health is referred to as food poisoning. Food poisoning is also referred to as bacterial gastroenteritis. The most commonly observed sign of food poisoning is diarrhea and vomiting. Continue Reading »

     Now that the meal plan-related disclaimer has been done with, let us proceed to a couple of sample meal plans for weight loss and muscle gain. There is a common factor involved in both of them, and that is ‘multiple small meals’ instead of few large meals. Keeping this principle in mind, here are a couple of meal plan options.

     Meal Plan #1
     Start your day with a good, filling breakfast. You could choose between different breakfast options such as a bowl of cereal with a cup of skimmed milk, fruits such as apples or pears, or an omelette, a low fat peanut butter sandwich (using whole wheat bread), bagels, etc. A good breakfast sets you up for a good day ahead and prevents you from overeating at lunch. If you end up feeling hungry a few hours after breakfast (and prior to lunch), you can consider having an orange or a couple of crackers and a cup of coffee. Lunch options could range from a bowl of vegetable soup, mushroom soup, lettuce salad, garden salad, steamed vegetables, grilled or broiled chicken breast, turkey breast, pita bread, etc. If you feel a bit hungry during the early part of the evening, and dinner is still a few hours away, then you can stem the hunger by snacking on a protein bar or eating a few almonds, walnuts, etc. Also, have a glass of fresh orange juice if you can. Dinner should always be a light meal. Possible dinner options could be low fat pasta, macaroni, spaghetti, brown rice, low fat butter or margarine, a bowl of strawberries with low fat yogurt, etc. Read more on healthy diet plan.

     Meal Plan #2 Continue Reading »

     Leeks are mainly used in soups and broths, but, can also be used in various other food recipes. cooking leeks in soup enhances the flavor of the soup. You can steam, boil, stir fry, bake or roast leeks, as per requirement. Young leek leaves can be chopped into very small slices and can be used in salads. Unlike green onions, leeks have to be cooked carefully, so as to avoid under cooking, which makes it inedible, overcooking, which makes it slimy and mushy and browning, which makes the vegetable tough. As leeks are more solid and crunchy, when compared to green onions, cooking is done to make it softer and milder (in flavor). The following tips are about how to cook leeks in different ways.

     Preparing Leeks for Cooking

     Now, you know that leeks can be cooked in various ways, like, steaming, boiling, stir frying, etc. You have to purchase fresh leeks and clean it before cooking. Leeks come in bundles of two to four pieces. Go for the thinner ones, as leeks, which are wider than four inches can be tougher. You have to peel off the outer white layer and the discolored leaves. Even the dark green-colored leaves at the top part are also removed. Remove the roots and cut the vegetable through its center (vertically). The next step is to clean it under running water. Slightly pull apart the leaf sheaths, so that the soil inside is removed. Once the vegetable is cleaned, you can cut it as per the requirement. After chopping or slicing, clean it once again, by putting the pieces in a colander and keeping it beneath running water. Read more on how to cut leeks.

     Cooking Leeks in Butter Continue Reading »

     Eating healthy is important when you diet. Diet does not mean having to starve yourself, and to eat less. In fact, diet involves eating fresh fruits and vegetables. Also, poultry, eggs and fish are included in a healthy diet. Foods can be made delicious, as well as healthy, with smart buying tips and smart utilization of foods. Many of us think that diet can be an expensive option. Moreover, you may think that eating healthy foods can prove to be hard on your pockets, however, this is not the case. With the help of proper merchandising tips and healthy recipes, one can help you solve the question of how to diet on a budget. Read more on how to diet properly.

     How to Diet and Lose Weight on a Budget

     It is true that cooking healthy meals is a daunting task. However, with smart tips and tricks, you can easily follow a good and healthy diet and bring about weight loss effectively. The very first thing you need to do is to cut down on processed foods and juices. The processed foods and juices are unhealthy, as well as expensive. Processed juices have excessive sugar and people on diet must avoid eating sugar as it may not be very helpful in losing weight. Also, there are many artificial preservatives in processed foods which must be avoided when you are on a diet. You will definitely lose weight, if you replace the processed foods for natural and fresh ones. Fresh fruits and vegetables have ample amount of fibers and nutrients which help in losing weight fast and ensuring that you answer the question of how to diet successfully. Continue Reading »