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How to manage Bland Diet

What is a bland diet? It is a diet specially set to treat certain gastrointestinal or stomach problems such as heartburns, ulcers and gas.

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An answer to a question, what is a bland diet, is that it is a simple treatment for people suffering from any one or more gastrointestinal disorders such as chronic gastritis, ulcer, esophagitis and dyspepsia.

Bland diet is a dietary regimen for people suffering from stomach disorders. Hence, it is quite understood that ingredients of a bland diet are soft food items, which are easy to digest with a capacity to keep the acidity to low levels. Questions about diet may be asked to your physicians and he/she can suggest the diet or recommend a dietician to do it.

Diet medical questions may include the queries about the food stuffs to eat and food stuffs to avoid during the time while a person experien ces any gastrointestinal disorders. However, before a dietician could decide the bland diet for a person, he/she needs to seek answers to several medical questions related to the person such as any food allergies or irritations associated with any food items and emotions medical questions of people.

Bland Diet:

The diet prescribed as a bland diet will include food items that are easy to digest and low in fiber and acid contents. Even giving up alcohol and smoking is advised while patient is on bland diet. Also a patient is advised to have 4 to 6 light meals after regular interval to avoid heavy and large meals.

Chewing food properly and eating slowly helps in the digestion of the food. Adequate sleep, avoiding smoking and controlling anxiety are supportive treatments for the standard treatment of the problem.

Allowed Food Items:

• Dairy Products
Milk, cheese, yogurt with low-fats and other dairy products are easily digested and hence, can be included as a part of bland diet. However, there is no restriction on ice-creams and one may consume even ice creams during bland diet, but it should not have any product such as nuts that are not allowed in bland diet.

• Fresh Fruits and Vegetables
Fresh vegetables and fruits are allowed to a bland dieter. However, while carrot, squash, green peas are good to eat in a bland diet, broccoli, onions and green peeper should be avoided as it forms gas. In fruits, oranges, grapefruits, and bananas are allowed.

• Proteins
Protein requirement of the body, while on a bland diet should be met with soy products and meat. Fried chicken and greasy hamburgers are not allowed to be consumed, while grilled and baked chicken is allowed.
Low-fat peanut butter and eggs are also efficient to meet the body’s protein requirement in a bland diet.

• Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates are contained in whole grain breads, pasta, oatmeal, corn flakes, white rice and sweet potatoes. All these food items are allowed.

Bland diet is designed for treating certain medical circumstances such as gastrointestinal problems. Hence, to answer what is a bland diet, we can say that this is a diet that aims at improving the digestion with the help of a timed-routine diet and soft to digest food items. Once the problem is controlled patients can return to their normal diet.

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5 Diet Plan Saving Tips !

Guilty and frustrated from cheating on your diet plan? These diet plan saving tips will keep you on track!

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It’s nine thirty at night and you have followed your new diet plan perfectly to a tee all day. A pizza advertisement comes on the commercial break of your favorite show and you notice it is close to your next mealtime.
Up to the kitchen you go to eat your next meal. When in the fridge pulling out your nicelyprepared diet plan meal, you notice some left over Fettuccini Alfredo your wife or roommate brought home. Sure looks good you think as you catch a little bit of saliva about to drip on your shirt!

“Just a little taste won’t hurt my diet plan,” you justify…

“ I’ve stuck to my diet plan all day……”

A little taste and before you know it you tell yourself the extra carbs and calories will be a good boost to your workout tomorrow!

An hour later your gut is stretching and Indigestion plagues you from cheating on your diet plan!!

“I should have stuck to my diet plan!” is going through your head as you lay down to have nightmares of a fat ass! “Tomorrow I’ll stick to my diet plan “, you chant in your head!But you fall from your diet plan only a day or two later!

The occasional stray from your diet plan can really add up!And billboards,tv’s, radios and people are everywhere pushing fast foods and junk to sabotage your diet plan!

Here are five diet plan saving tips to arm yourself against the onslaught of the Cheating War!

Diet Plan Tip #1 – Eat Slowly – Take your time when you sit down to eat.

The chances you will stuff yourself or overeat diminish and you will reach the point of satiety much more quickly if you eat slowly!

The more you are satisfied with what you have eaten the less likely you will continue to think of food. That chocolate Black Forest cake won’t be as tempting either!

Diet Plan Tip #2 – Have Delicious Meals That Fit Your Meal Plan Prepared Ahead Of Time.

Having meals prepared ahead of time makes it convenient to eat according to a plan and on schedule.

You can make it more convenient to stick to your diet plan than it is to eat that bag of candy by having your diet plan meals prepared and available when it is time to eat– and when you gethungry.

Diet Plan Tip #3 – Get Used To Eating For Your Purpose Instead Of For Your Taste Buds.

Satisfying your taste buds when you get the urge to gorge down a Big Mac will never develop a healthy, lean, muscular physique! Keep in mind you are eating to develop a lean, healthy muscular physique every time you open your mouth! The temporary taste satisfaction of a jelly-filled donut will be gone real fast but the empty calories you just devoured can defeat a whole day’s worth of bodybuilding effort!

Diet Plan Tip #4 – Be creative with your cooking to make sticking to your diet enjoyable.

Ideally, with proper preparation and some reciperesearch you can create delicious mouth watering meals that meet your diet plan criteria. Learn to cook. Employ spices from other parts of the world. India and China are twocountries with interesting choices to really spice up your diet plan. When you don’t have to force feed yourself with your nose plugged the chances are much higher you can stick to your diet plan more easily!

Diet Plan Tip #5 – Drink Water.

Drinking water between meals can help to reduce your hunger pains temporarily by giving a sense of fullness. For those of you that sabotage your diet plan munching here and there,keeping a water bottle with you wherever you go can really help.Just sip away when its oral satisfaction rather than hunger driving you.

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The Comprehensive Guide to Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates are the body’s primary energy source, akin to the fuel that powers a vehicle. They are the most accessible form of energy, providing the majority of calories in most diets, with starches being a significant contributor. Carbohydrates are essential not only for powering workouts and daily activities but also for maintaining brain and muscle function, even during sleep.

Contrary to some beliefs, carbohydrates, which are sugars, do not inherently lead to weight gain if consumed within daily caloric needs. They are present in a wide array of foods, including bread, pasta, candy, sodas, alcoholic beverages, and fruits. However, carbs from whole grains, fresh fruits, and vegetables are metabolized more slowly, resulting in less dramatic blood sugar fluctuations.

The Benefits of Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates offer numerous health advantages:

They can reduce globulin levels, influencing DHT levels.
Carbs play a role in disease prevention.
They are a source of dietary fiber.
Carbs provide fuel for physical activities and proper organ function.
They allow proteins to be used for growth and cell repair rather than energy production.
Carbohydrates are crucial for metabolism—the building and breaking down of molecules in the body.
Post-exercise, carbohydrates help prevent muscle breakdown.
Moreover, carbohydrates and their derivatives are integral to the immune system, fertilization, pathogenesis, blood clotting, and development. The Institute of Medicine recommends that American and Canadian adults obtain 40-65% of their dietary energy from carbohydrates to mitigate the risk of heart disease and obesity (National Academies Press).

The liver converts carbohydrates into glucose (blood sugar), which the body uses for energy. Simple carbohydrates consist of one or two sugars, while complex carbohydrates contain three or more. Complex carbs, often referred to as “starchy” foods, include whole grain breads and cereals. Simple carbohydrates that naturally contain vitamins and minerals are found in fruits and milk.

Processed and refined sugars, such as candy, table sugar, and syrups (excluding natural ones like maple), as well as regular sodas, are also sources of carbohydrates. However, these refined sugars provide calories without essential nutrients. It’s healthiest to obtain carbohydrates and other nutrients in their most natural form—for instance, from fruit rather than table sugar. Good sources include whole-grain cereals, brown rice, whole-grain breads, fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy.

Carbohydrates in Dieting
For endurance athletes, a carbohydrate-rich diet is advised to maximize muscle glycogen stores. Yet, an excessive intake can disrupt blood sugar levels, leading to energy and mood fluctuations. A balanced diet should include both carbohydrates and protein. High-carbohydrate diets are associated with lower body fat accumulation compared to low-carb/high-fat diets. This could be due to the lower energy density of carbs, their quick effect on satiety, and the inefficiency of converting dietary carbs to body fat.

Research indicates that high-carb diets may reduce the likelihood of developing obesity. For weight loss, a diet plan low in fat, high in healthy carbohydrates, and containing 1200+ calories is recommended, while low-calorie, low-carb diets are generally not advised.

Understanding Simple vs. Complex Carbohydrates
It’s crucial to distinguish between simple and complex carbohydrates. Simple carbs, or monosaccharides, consist of just one sugar type and are often deemed unhealthy in excess. Conversely, complex carbs, or polysaccharides, are composed of various sugar types and are considered beneficial for the body. When dieting, it’s not necessary to eliminate carbs entirely; instead, focus on incorporating healthy carbohydrates into your meals.

While low-carbohydrate diets may lead to quicker weight loss compared to low-fat diets, the long-term effects of minimal carb consumption are still unknown. A varied diet that includes many healthy foods is key to understanding and effectively managing carbohydrate intake.

In summary, carbohydrates are a fundamental aspect of nutrition, and understanding their role can help you craft a balanced and healthy diet. Whether your goal is weight loss, muscle gain, or maintaining energy levels, carbs should not be overlooked.

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