Tip 12: Sweet Potatoes, Sweet Success!

It has long been thought that the sweet potato is a perfect food, possessing incredible nutritional value, an amazing quantity of fiber, and an incredibly sweet flavor. The versatile sweet potato can be baked, broiled, boiled, sliced into a casserole, made into a moist, sweet bread and combined into a delectable dessert pie. Inexpensive to purchase and simple to store, the sweet potato appears to be a jewel of a vegetable choice and is excellent as an addition to any meal.

Originally used as a vegetable choice or casserole offering at North American holiday meals beginning with early Thanksgiving meals, the sweet potato has moved into the mainstream of vegetable choices and can now be found any time of the year, in almost any capacity.

Naturally sweet even when cooked by itself, the glorious natural taste of the potent sweet potato is ultra-satisfying. It is even showing up as a regular side order vegetable order at major North American restaurant chains, baked and served as a regular baking potato would be, and dressed in butter and brown sugar; the latter adornment not enhancing the healthful nature of the sweet potato, but adding greatly to its incredible taste!

Do you have any sweet potato meals that you want to share with us?

Tip 11: Eat 5 Small Meals a Day

Evidence from Dietary and Nutrition Research Shows the Benefits of Eating 5 Small Meals Daily!

Recent scholarly studies and informal reports all show that the consumption of 5 small meals each day improves human metabolism and overall health. Persons eating several small meals daily are in a better position to manage their hunger pangs and food portions. Their systems become accustomed to satisfying their hunger and nutrition needs more frequently and with smaller portions.

It is also believed that enjoying 5 small meals prevents the body from storing as much fat as it would otherwise. Because the body burns calories as it consumes and digests them, having fewer to digest and burn at one time enables the body to make better use of the calories and have fewer left over to store. This enhances the overall metabolism of the body, the rate at which it works efficiently.

Eating frequent, small meals keeps the body’s blood sugar stable and gives the body an on-going source of energy with which to carry on its life processes—what we usually call its metabolism. Frequent small meals enable the body’s metabolism to function at a constant, healthy rate. Making use of the energy from the small, frequent meals prevents a spike in blood sugar, thus supporting a steady metabolism.

2010 Philippine Yoga Asana Championship and Manila Fitness Online Promo

When I first tried doing yoga two years ago, the first style of yoga that I got to try was Bikram Yoga. It wasn’t easy, but it was definitely addicting. I admired the men and women in that class. They exuded a certain calmness in mind, body and spirit, but at the same time, a level of confidence and control was seen. I wanted to be like that. I wanted to feel that way.

There are a lot of men and women out there who have heard and seen the benefits of all styles of yoga, from Bikram, Ashtanga, Iyengar and to Vinyasa Flow, but have not dared to try a single class. I tell you, just by watching these yogi and yoginis go through their poses is quite an amazing sight to behold. Seeing people go through demanding and rigorous yoga poses will inspire you. This coming November 7, 2010, at 2 pm in the afternoon, do try to watch the 2010 Philippine Yoga Asana Championship at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza, Makati City.

2010 Philippine Yoga Asana Championship

Of course for the experts in this field, please do join and share your talent with the world. A lot of Filipinos are curious to see what yoga and these yoga poses can do for the body. For those who wish to join, you can contact Bikram Yoga Manila at 889-0126 or email the organizers at bikramyogamanila@yahoo.com to get the forms.

Tickets will be available for sale starting 2nd week of October at any Bikram Yoga Manila studio (www.bikramyogamanila.com).

Bikram Yoga Manila and Manila Fitness Online Promo

Since Bikram Yoga Manila and Manila Fitness’ goal is to help spread the word about yoga and its health benefits, we are giving away 2 raffle tickets each to 10 lucky contestants. In order to qualify for the raffle, all you have to do is:
(1) Like Bikram Yoga Manila’s Facebook Fanpage
(2) Share this post in FB and tag Manila Fitness and Bikram Yoga Manila’s FB fanpages in your post
(3) and comment on this post to tell us why you want to join this promo!

We will announce the winners on October 8, 2010.

Lots of luck to those joining! :)

Tip 10: Healthy Diets: Avoid the Junk Food Section of the Supermarket

There are a number of methods to eat a more healthy diet. Although there is not one specific “junk food area” in the supermarket, there are methods of avoiding foods which seem to pose the most temptations. Areas containing chips, candies and processed snacks are typically classed as junk food areas and are thus good areas to stay away from.

Nutritionists maintain that shopping the aisles at the perimeter of food stores enhance a shopper’s chances of leaving the check-out lane with healthier dietary choices and less junk food. These “perimeter” aisles typically contain vegetables, meats, and dairy products–all fresh foods having a minimum of processing to make them more “appealing.”

Aisles to avoid in order to skip processed, sugary foods which are usually higher in calories than they are in nutrition are the processed, sweetened cereals, cookies, chips, desserts, and sugary snacks. Foods now have a nutrition statement on the packaging indicating the percentage of nutrients; it is wise to consult these labels to understand what you and your family are eating in order to protect your health from junk food.

It is important in this era of available processed food and fast food to avoid eating junk food as much as possible. Heading for the nutritious parts of the grocery store—those containing fresh wholesome foods that have not yet been processed or added to—is the best way to avoid falling into the junk food trap!

Winner for the Nokia : My Life Promo of Nokia Philippines & Manila Fitness

Announcing the Winner of the Nokia Philippines & Manila Fitness Nokia: My Life Philippine Promo

Manila Fitness and the rest of the Manila Blogs Family (Manila Blogs, Manila Reviews, Manila Shopaholic, Manila Mommy) would like to thank everyone who has joined our contest.

We do hope that this contest, aside from giving you a chance to own the wonderful Nokia 3720, has introduced our website to you. We have featured and will continuously post articles on fitness, health, nutrition and beauty. We hope that you will forever keep us in mind and follow our site.

An Inspirational Site Shall Soon Be Launched

Are you looking for your own inspiration for an endeavor that you have thought of or you are currently doing? During the past years, we have met a lot of interesting people — from fitness enthusiasts to advocacy leaders to online business tycoons. All of them have inspired us. With this new and upcoming site, we hope that these people will touch your lives and inspire you in the same way they have touched our lives. Watch out for this brand new site that we will be launching soon!

Announcing the Winner

Now down to business — for Manila Fitness (alone), there were 86 people who joined, and a total of 519 raffle tickets. I had to do some Excel acrobatics but I was able to finish everything (and with a migraine to boot). I listed all the raffle entries and used Random.org to randomly select the winner:

Manila Fitness Random Pick

and the winner for ManilaFitness.com is Esvimin C. Faelnar!!!

Manila Fitness Congratulations to ...

Manila Fitness Congratulations to ...

(Esvimin C. Faelnar, we will be in touch with you via email so please be sure to check your email!)

Again, thank you to everyone! and Congratulations to Esvimin C. Faelnar!!

Tip 9: Eat More Fiber-Rich Food to Increase Metabolism

Eat more fiber-rich food to improve the way you feel and the way your body works! Eating a high fiber diet can enhance your total health picture and can also make you feel full and satisfied after eating. While it is possible to purchase dietary fiber supplements to enhance your diet and promote digestive health, the preferred method to consume a high fiber diet is through the foods you eat on a daily basis.

It is possible to make simple changes to your usual diet to ensure that you consume more high fiber foods. It is possible to increase your fiber by switching to brown rice instead of white rice, whole-grain cereal and flour instead of items made from white flour, and to fresh fruits for dessert instead of processed, sugary dessert items.

Prunes are considered a high fiber fruit, but apples have a good amount of fiber, as do raisins, oranges and grapefruits. Most vegetables have an adequate amount of fiber as well. You do not have to go overboard in changing your diet to pursue a high fiber meal plan. Strive for balance when planning your menus; you will be pleased with the results.

Eat more fiber-rich food to enhance your entire diet. With a little careful planning and some label reading, you will find it simple to increase the fiber in your diet, as well as your enjoyment of meals. Eating high fiber foods will enhance your health without increasing your calories, and will make your meals more appetizing!

Tip 8: Eat Sunflower Seeds as Snacks for a Healthy Alternative!

Sunflower seeds are the “fruit” of the sunflower plant. Versatile in nature, they are variously used in planting new sunflower plants, in salads and dishes for their crunch and flavor, and as healthy snacks for the munching person!

Sunflower seeds are eaten in both hulled and de-hulled versions around the world. It is most common to find the de-hulled variety outside of Mediterranean countries or Mediterranean-style cooking. They are often salted during processing to enhance their nut-like flavor.

Sunflower seeds are astonishingly tasty and satisfying. They are relatively low in calories, coming in at a rate of 190 calories for ¼ cup of the seeds. That same ¼ cup contains a whopping 7 grams of protein, making this little snack amazingly healthy for its size and content. While ¼ cup does not sound like much, it works out to be a generous and filling amount as a wholesome snack!

In addition to providing protein, the seeds provide 10% of the body’s minimum daily requirement of iron. The seeds do not contain any Trans fats and a minimal amount of carbohydrates (4 grams) in the ¼ cup serving. The serving does, however contain 2 grams of dietary fiber.

For the health-conscious snacker, sunflower seeds are an ideal snack. They are wholesome and enjoyable. They provide a convenient source of some vital nutrients and are a more healthful choice for snacking than the usual empty-calorie choices!

Health and Mindfulness in a Mat

kids yoga
In today’s society where childhood obesity is becoming profound and almost inevitable, a way to keep it from happening without compromising the fun and enjoyment of our children is considered a miracle aid. Kids yoga gives just this. It is a form of exercise, much similar to the conventional yoga that adults know of. The difference lies in that kids yoga allows for freedom of imagination and expression. Children can pose as different animals, trees, or even inanimate objects. Kids yoga caters to their mental exercise, enhancing mindfulness at an early age. It also allows room for creative thinking through the most vivid poses coming from a kid’s imagination.

Another advantage of kids yoga is that, in its technical sense, it is a form of physical exercise. This helps fight the growing population of overweight and obese children. Kids yoga isn’t a vigorous activity but it permits enough physical activity to help maintain a good body image. Kids yoga also allows the channeling of extra energies into positive outlets. This helps avoid anxiety buildup, often seen in toddlers and small children.

Developing the brain power of a child is possible in kids yoga. Aside from studying at school and reading books, the power of imagination helps them dive into more possibilities and develops their creative and analytical abilities.

Parents who think of this as a good experience for their children should check out Magic Yoga Mat products. These will help them assist their children to have meaningful body and mind exercise for optimal health and development. The good thing about this is that it can be done wherever the family chooses: at home, outdoors, at the park, at school, or even with other classmates and friends as a group activity. Kids yoga is a perfect activity for both the physical, social, and mental health of your children.

For those who are interested in teaching their kids Yoga at home, check our this eBook. It is very helpful.
Click Here!

*Image from: PHOTO

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3308/3438199509_09e708ec7c.jpg

WEEK 4 of the Manila Fitness Nokia: My Life Promo – Win a Nokia 3720!

Thanks again to everyone who has joined! I am sure that a lot of you are now excited for mid-September to come. We are, too! I hope that you read my new articles, too, though when you visit Manila Fitness. :P  Please continue to come back to this blog even after the contest, however, so we get to share ideas on health, nutrition, wellness, and beauty! :)
(BTW, I sent an email with instructions on how to verify your identity so that Nokia can identify you — please be sure to follow the instructions in that email!)
And now… Welcome to WEEK 4 of the Nokia: My Life Promo!
Poster ManilaFitness Week 4

our Week 4 Nokia My Life Poster!

This Week’s Poster
For this week, you can earn additional raffle entries!!!

  1. 1 raffle entry = (1) Upload the above poster to Facebook and (2) tag 10 friends (hopefully 10 who you did not tag in Weeks 1, 2, and 3, you don’t want them to hate you for spamming them ). Make sure that this post is visible to everybody so that we can verify it. Please double check your link before you post it and make sure that the link works!
  2. 1 raffle entry = Tweet about the promo and make sure to include a link to http://manilablogs.com

IMPORTANT: Please leave a comment on this page once you have done the above. Please make sure that you also write the links to the Facebook Upload and to the Tweet. If you do not include the links we will not count your entry. If your links do not work, we will also not count your entry.


Note that you are still eligible to get additional raffle entries by performing the mechanics for Week 1 ( if you have not yet done so).
We also invite you to check the raffle in our other blogs — make sure you read the mechanics for each as there are slight variations!

ManilaBlogs.com (Nokia C3)

ManilaMommy.com (Nokia 7230)

ManilaReviews.com (Nokia 5230)

ManilaShopaholic.com (Nokia C5)

PS – Also, please note we have sent emails using the email address you used to comment for this promo. We need information to confirm your identity. Please make sure to follow the instructions in that email. If you do not reply by September 14, 2010, we will disqualify your entry. Please note that we will not share any information you give us to anyone else. We will only share the winner’s information and only with Nokia Philippines. Thank you!
We will be announcing the winner on September 18, 2010! Good luck, y’all!

Tip 7: Want a Natural Fat Burner? Answer the Question of Whether Ginger Increases Thermogenesis

Ginger has been used as a potent medicinal and cooking herb for thousands of years. Its spicy taste and scent have long been prized for everything from motion sickness and digestive troubles to a favorite topic and taste during Christmas in the form of gingerbread cookies and a gingerbread house for the kids!

Ginger has long been a favorite natural dietary aid by natural foods aficionados. Available as a pure whole root for flavoring, a tea for enjoyment and helping stomach upsets, and in pill form for those wishing to take it in that manner, it is said to produce a “punch” of energy for those taking it.

Current dietary practices have seized on the concept of Thermogenesis—fat burners—as a way of helping the human body to eliminate fat. The actual acknowledged truth about diets in general and Thermogenesis in particular, is that there are actually no substances capable of actually burning fat without the dieter making modifications to her/his calorie and fat intake and increasing her/his exercise at the same time. So, it cannot be truthfully stated that ginger by itself increases Thermogenesis, or fat-burning.

However, ginger when used as a dietary supplement may give the dieter an added punch which results in increased activity. Using ginger to enhance the flavor of foods may make lower calorie foods more appetizing. Thus, while ginger does not by itself have a fat-burning magic about it, it may indeed go hand in hand with a successful weight loss program because of its other beneficial qualities.

To read more about the benefits of ginger, you might want to read this eBook, Eating In Freedom! Overcome Overeating!
Click Here!