Healthy Hair, Healthy You

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wbcjnydjuwk-josh-dorazio-compressorHave you ever watched a shampoo commercial and thought, How is her hair so smooth and shiny? No one’s hair actually looks like that! You wouldn’t be alone in those thoughts, but if you thought lustrous commercial-worthy hair was only possible thanks to professional products and some not-so-secret video editing, think again. Getting soft, strong, and shiny hair that’s healthy from root to tip is easier than you think. The cold winter weather and direct heat from the hair dryer can be especially rough on hair, but they’re not the only culprits. A poor diet may be the biggest offender, so simply adopting a healthy diet of nutrient-rich foods can do wonders for your hair, turning your dry, dull strands into the luminous locks you envy on tv.

Try incorporating these six healthy foods into your diet and marvel at the transformation of your hair!

1. Chicken Unless you’re a vegetarian, you should definitely be incorporating a healthy serving of chicken into your diet to get the protein benefits it provides. But any old chicken won’t fly. Unfortunately, chicken nuggets and fried chicken are high in fat and lose a lot of their health benefits. Try tossing some grilled chicken into a salad or with some healthy grains, such as quinoa or brown rice, on the side. Chicken is a high-protein food that is rich in the vitamins folate, B6, and B12 that are crucial for maintaining healthy hair. These vitamins aid in the production of red blood cells that deliver oxygen throughout the body so a deficiency of these vitamins could result in stunted hair growth, and weak and brittle strands.

2. Chickpeas Hummus not only tastes great, but it’s great for you as well! Chickpeas, whether ground up into hummus or tossed into a salad, are a perfect healthy snack. Chickpeas are a great protein substitute for vegetarians because they’re high in folate and zinc, as well as keratins, hardened proteins that keep hair strong and durable.

3. Peanuts Salted peanuts may be high in sodium, but eaten in moderation, they are full of the vitamins biotin and folate, both great for healthy hair. Biotin, another B vitamin, contributes to hair growth and a healthy scalp.

4. Beans You know that joke about beans being good for your heart, despite causing flatulence? Well, they really are good for you, and not just your heart, but your entire body…so maybe you should have listened to your mom when she tried to get you to eat your beans! Legumes are high in folate and iron, which both contribute to healthy hair. Folate helps produce red blood cells, while iron helps blood cells transport oxygen and other nutrients throughout the body, together working to prevent hair loss and strengthen your strands.

5. Kale You probably don’t need me to tell you healthy kale is. It’s one of those green superfoods touted by nutritionists everywhere for its health benefits. You should listen up, though, because kale is rich in iron and beta carotene. Beta carotene is converted by the body into Vitamin A, which is needed for cell growth and replenishment. Without enough vitamin A, you’ll be left with a dry, itchy scalp. Vitamin A also produces sebum, a natural oil put out by hair follicles, keeping hair well-hydrated.

6. Strawberries See, this list is really not so painful, right? Strawberries are a sweet, delicious fruit and they also happen to contain a high level of Vitamin C, which helps the keep collagen (the fiber that maintains hair structure) healthy. A deficiency in this vital vitamin can cause dryness and split ends, making hair more prone to breakage. Eight strawberries is all it takes to reach the recommended daily intake of Vitamin C, so fill up on strawberries or each just a couple and wash them down with a swig of orange juice, and you should be good to go!

Who knew that healthy hair and a healthy body were so closely related? A simple diet combining high-protein foods such as fruits, veggies, nuts, and legumes can transform your hair from blah to wow in a matter of days, while keeping you healthy at the same time.

Stress-Eat in Style

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Stress Eat, Josh BezoniSo many of us struggle with stress eating. The struggle of daily life can feel overwhelming and in an attempt to cope, we stuff our mouths and stomachs with fatty comfort foods. Yet, this only exacerbates the issue. As stress mounts, our waistlines expand and our self-esteem shrinks—but what if there were a way to eat and lose pounds? What if there was a way to eat comfort foods that make us feel don’t just make us feel comfortable, but make us feel better?

There is! Seriously. Here are some fantastic healthy alternatives to traditional ‘comfort foods:’

Oatmeal: Oatmeal has carbs, a LOT of them. Carbs tell your brain to make serotonin. Serotonin=happy hormone. Therefore, if you eat oatmeal, you will be happy. Though this is a simple explanation for why oatmeal is such an awesome substitute, it is more or less the extent of it. Oatmeal also coerces a steady blood sugar response, which one, is great for your waistline and metabolism, and two, means steady serotonin.

Oranges: The beloved fruit of Florida decreases cortisol levels in humans. Cortisol is the body’s number one stress hormone. So more oranges equal less stress. Plus, oranges have been proven to reduce blood pressure levels when people are subject to stressful circumstances.

Turkey: The staple of Thanksgiving boasts an amino acid that goes by L-tryptophan, and L-Tryptophan also triggers serotonin release which means it triggers happy for you.

Salmon: Salmon and many other types of fish have a very large count of omega-3 fatty acids. Although ‘fatty acids’ may not exude undertones of fresh, healthy, nutrition, these do. In fact, they incite a reduction in stress levels when consumed in appropriate servings. According to a study published in none other than the respected Diabetes & Metabolism, omega 3s prevent cortisol events from peaking. Another study conducted in Michigan went so far as to say that omega 3s decrease anxiety by an astounding 20%.

Avocados: Everyone’s new favorite food has wonderful nutritional benefits when consumed in moderation. Their high potassium content helps reduce stress-induced spikes in blood pressure. Although bananas may get all the credit for potassium, avocados actually have more!

These are just a few foods that provide a tremendous alternative to more generic comfort foods. The next time you open the freezer to look for a gallon of ice cream, consider eating something that not only tastes good, but is good for you.

Late Night Snack that Burns Fat & Fights Stress

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Yes, you read correctly, the the title of this article is “Late Night Snack that Burns Fat & Fights Stress.” I bet you never thought you could use all of these awesome adjectives to describe one food item, did you? Do you want to try to guess what it is? I’ll give you a few hints: it’s a fruit from Barbados, it’s citrusy, it’s slightly pink, and it’s delicious. If you guessed a grapefruit, you just won the lottery my friend, and I’ll tell you why!

This healthy snack will revolutionize the way you snack throughout the day and especially late at night. Let’s start with the never-ending list of health benefits that grapefruits provide. Grapefruits contain 26% more vitamin C than oranges. These leads them to be an excellent source of antioxidants that will promote healthy skin, hair, nails, and bones. Grapefruits also possess anti-aging properties that promote youthfulness and a healthy glow. Moreover, grapefruits fight stress due to the fact that vitamin C significantly lowers levels of a stress hormone called cortisol. Cortisol is also a fat-storing hormone that is directly linked to increased belly fat, so the fact that all that vitamin C found in the grapefruit lowers the hormone quantity means that it will not only help you combat stress, but it will also help you burn fat simultaneously. Can it get any better than that?

Yes it can! Grapefruits also serve as an appetite suppressor and a cravings crusher. Researchers from the Vanderbilt University found that when people added fresh grapefruit to their diet they automatically consumed 500 less calories per day and their weight loss rate increased over 13%. If you’re not convinced, I totally understand; it’s hard to believe, but grapefruits are the real deal! In another study, researchers from Scripps Clinic in California discovered that over the course of 12 weeks, overweight people who ate fresh grapefruit before meals lost five times more weight than individuals who didn’t. If that doesn’t convince you, I don’t know what will. So go ahead, add this low-glycemic, this low-sugar carbohydrate, this amazing fruit to your late snack sessions and your overall diet and begin to enjoy all of the benefits that will soon result from it.

Snack Away Stress

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One of the most common culprits that cost us our waistline is stress eating. Whether cramming doughnuts and coffee to get through the workday or easing into a large pizza and tall beer after the day is over, food is our best friend and worst enemy when it comes to stress eating. However, there are alternatives that help us snack away the stress without stacking extra pounds. These guilt-free snacks are perfect for anyone looking to sneak a little flavor into their diet, and still enjoy the sweeter things in life Here are some of the best snaJosh Bezonicks you can use to battle stress.

Oranges: It’s a little-known fact that Vitamin C helps to reduce the levels of Cortisol, the hormone responsible for fat retention. Sweet and full of juice, an orange makes an excellent substitute for candy or other sweet treats.

Blueberries: Being low on the glycemic index and chock-full of Vitamin C isn’t the only benefit to these little snacks. Each berry is teeming with antioxidants, perfect for relieving stress and calming down with a little something sweet.

Turkey: High in protein and packed with natural flavor, turkey makes a great snack, especially around midnight. When reaching for something to slake your late-night hunger, the L-tryptophan in each bite of turkey will surely help you get a restful sleep.

Salmon: Rich in nutrients and omega-3 fatty acids, fish is an excellent dish to fight stress. A study conducted at the Ohio State University showed that omega-3 fatty acids have the ability to reduce stress by 20%.

Almonds: Nothing says, “stress relief,” better than a good crunch. Almonds are excellent sources of vitamins and minerals, including but not limited to magnesium, zing, and Vitamins B and E. Almonds can also help you sleep according to a recent study. Zinc and magnesium were shown to shorten the time it took subject to fall asleep, leading to fuller, longer rests.

Snack Better

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It’s amazing what eating the right foods will allow you to do on a diet. After organizing a healthy diet and workout routine, you absolutely can enjoy the sweeter things in life without fear of recourse or rebounding. The world won’t come crashing down because of one candy bar or cookie, but it takes determination to keep that one snack from becoming a binge. Below are some tips to keep you snacking better.

Moderation: As with most things in life, too much of something can turn and bite you. That goes double for allowing yourself to snack during a diet. The temptation to reach for one more chip or cookie when you’ve passed your allowance is easy, and products are designed to keep you reaching for just one more. A creative way to combat this trend is to reach for a single, larger snack. Instead of a sleeve of Oreos, try a gourmet cookie. Usually larger than a softball and in a variety of flavors, you can enjoy an oatmeal raisin cookie that fills you up without sending you into a sugar spiral.

Understanding: A reason that some people diet incorrectly is that they don’t uJosh Bezoninderstand the foods they are putting into their body. Though small and oftentimes difficult to read, food labels will become a big part of your life when embarking on a diet. Read each label, and put down the foods with overly complicated chemicals and corn syrups. Those products are designed to keep you hungry, and make for particularly hard snacks to set aside mid-diet.

Meal Maintenance: Though snacking is great, what allows these little trysts away from your diet is having a well planned and healthy meal schedule. Three square meals a day, each packed with the necessary vitamins and nutrients are a must when dieting, and to forgo such a necessary step will only spell trouble on your road to progress.

100-Calorie Lies

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When entering the supermarket on a diet, it’s important to arm yourself with as many facts as possible. Advertisers aren’t looking to help you, they want your money, and nothing sells quite like “diet food.” With all their promises of measured calories and healthy ingredients, which slogan do you trust? Starting a diet is hard enough, but choosing to eat healthy also means spending a little more time in each aisle to be sure the food you’re putting into your body isn’t poison.

We’ve all seen the 1-calorie snack packs at the local grocery store. Whether mini-muffins, pretzels, or chips, they are everywhere, and promise a small escape from our diets with healthy, portion controlled snacks. Do not buy what they are selling! These little sacks of sweetness do little more than remind you of the food you should be avoiding, while leaving your stomach empty for more. I’ve seen, more often than not, that those little packs are consumed en mass rather than their recommended serving size.

Josh BezoniWhy is that, though? Why are we motivated to over-indulge on our delightful little packages of managed calories? These snack-packs, oftentimes filled with foods that provide zero nutritional value, don’t have the ability to fill us up as normal food can. Just enough to tickle our tastebuds with the promise of sugar and leave us wanting more, this is like a smoker attempting to quit and sneak in the occasional menthol.

Additionally, dieting does not mean that you can’t enjoy yourself. Smart snacking on veggies or snack with natural ingredients can fill you up for longer and keep you from rebounding on your diet. For peace of mind and a flat stomach, be aware of the foods you decide to dine on. We’ve established that a corporation won’t do it for you, so own your diet and your inevitable success. It’s a hard road, but one that gets easier with each step.

 

The Best Snack for Satisfying Cravings

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AlmondsWe have all been there. It’s 3:30 in the afternoon, and you’ve long since forgotten about what you ate for lunch. You’re feeling a little lethargic, your stomach is starting to grumble, and you want to reach for something quick to satisfy your craving and get you through to the end of the work day.

Everyone gets cravings, and every now and then, we all give into them. You’re human! I’m not here to guilt trip you. But one of the best defenses again succumbing to your daydreams of chocolate chip cookies and oily potato chips is to have a few smarter (i.e. healthier) snacks at your disposal.

One of my favorite, guilt-free snack foods is inexpensive, requires no prep, and is easy to take on the go. So what’s this amazing mystery food?

Almonds!

Whether it’s the slight grumble of your tummy or just because you’re in need of something salty, almonds are a great go-to snack. Unfortunately, our cravings often leave us reaching for the closest bag of potato chips or pretzels, which aren’t exactly helping you achieve your weight loss goals. They’re also not going to fill you up for very long, and you’ll likely end up snacking on something else before the day is through.

Almonds are loaded with healthy fats and protein that will satisfy your hunger pangs, keep you feeling full for hours, and help you scratch that salty craving itch, without undoing all the hard work you’ve been putting into your diet and exercise routine lately.

Pro tip: separate out your servings ahead of time, so you have a pre-portioned snacks ready to go. While almonds are great, it’s easy to overeat any food you’re grabbing straight out of the container. Research has shown that people will eat two to three times more of a food when eating out of the container compared to eating pre-portioned food out of a bowl or ziplock bag.

At the beginning of the week, separate out 5 bags of almonds for yourself and bring one with you each day. You’ll feel better knowing you have a snack at your disposal that you don’t need to feel guilty about digging into.

One ounce is the perfect amount to set aside for a great fat-burning snack that will satisfy your cravings while holding you over until your next real meal.

Obesity Conspiracy and How to Outsmart it

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Make the Right Choices Today!

Making the right choices is extremely important when it comes to maintaining a healthy diet in previous post there has been plenty of exposure to shady food and things like unnatural “Frankenfoods’. Moreover, lets take some time to discuss why removing these additives from your diet is important. Better yet, lets discuss how to outsmart obesity. definitely beneficial

josh bezoni

Top 7 Additives That Should be Removed From Your Diet

1. (This ones a given) CARBOHYDRATES: sugar, flour, enriched white flour, white flour, enriched bleached flour, enriched wheat flour, wheat flour, semolina flour, white rice, maltodextrin, glucose, high fructose corn syrup (HFCS), fructose, sucrose, dextrose, and levulose) Just REMOVE IT ALL FROM YOUR DIET.

2. Artificial Sweeteners: Splenda, Nutra Sweet, Sunette and even Sweet ‘N Low

3. Added Caffeine: When added in soft drinks or energy drinks is extremely bad for you. In comparison, a few cups of coffee or green tea a day is harmless.

4. Saturated Fat: Also known as hydrogenated oils and trans fats

5. Monosodium glutamate – A compound that occurs naturally as a breakdown product of proteins and is used as a flavor enhancer in food

6: Alcohol: Too much is no good, 1 – 2 drinks a week if you must.

7. Salt and Sodium: AKA chips, crackers, canned food items, pickles, various cheeses, pretzels, condiments, and salted nuts.

 

The Belly Blast Diet Cook Book

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7 Day Belly Blast Diet is not a diet but a new way of living. Josh Bezoni’s cook book provides you with more that 100 recipes that can be easily created by anyone. You’ll endure devilishly delicious meals, you’ll enjoy staying on track and not worrying about obesity or bad health. You’ll discover the variety and the simplicity of meals that will help with the satisfaction you need to have a healthy, attractive body fora life time. Now doesn’t that sound like a dream come true?

 

Josh Bezoni

Highlight Recipe 

 

Blueberry Pie(servings)

Ingredients

4 (6-ounce) baskets of blueberries, washed

5 tablespoon ZSweet®

¼ teaspoon fresh lemon juice

2 – 3 teaspoons cornstarch mixed with water

1 (7-ounce) can fat-free Reddi-wip®

8 low-fat graham cracker sheets (4 crackers per sheet), ground into crumbs.

Directions

1. Place blueberries in a medium saucepan and cook over medium-high heat, mash with a wooden spoon until juice is release then proceed to Remove from heat.

2. Add ZSweet®, lemon juice, and starch. Return to heat and cook until thickened. If the blueberry filling is too thin, remove from heat and add more starch. If the mixture is too thick proceed to add some water.

3. Assemble individual desserts by placing a layer of graham cracker crumbs in the bottom of a glass dish followed by a layer of the blueberry filling. Place in refrigerator to cool. Top with Reddi-wip® before serving.

Who knew Blueberry Pie could be so tasty, and only 220 calories!

 

Josh Bezoni

 

Big news! Butter is NOT the enemy!

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Big news! Butter is NOT the enemy!

Eliminating saturated fats like the butter you schmear on your multigrain toast and melt on your baked sweet potato is one of the first things that get tossed from the fridge when adopting a well-balanced, nutritional diet. Saturated fats can lead to belly fat and heart disease, so it’s obvious they need to be eliminated, right?

Wrong. It’s time to look at butter differently.

Studies have shown that there are some saturated fats, like coconut oil and organic butter from grass-fed cows, can actually reduce levels of bad cholesterol as well as stomach fat when taken in moderation. In fact, they are better at blasting flabby fat than polyunsaturated vegetable oils like soybean oil and canola oil that we often mistake as being “healthier” for us!

A 12-week study of women aged 20 to 40 were randomly split into two groups of twenty. Each group was virtually given the same instructions: follow a reduced calorie eating plan and walk 50 minutes each day. They only differed in that one group received approximately two tablespoons of coconut oil, while the other was given approximately two tablespoons of soybean oil.

Results of the study showed that the group given coconut oil had increased their good cholesterol, reduced their bad cholesterol, and had significantly reduced their stomach fat, otherwise known as their waist circumference. The soybean oil group had, essentially, the exact opposite results on their cholesterol levels and didn’t see any stomach fat loss.

Unfortunately, consumers often fall for misleading advertising which make them fear organic sources of fat and instead fill themselves with processed vegetable oils that cause inflammation in the body. They aren’t realizing that natural sources of fat like coconut oil, organic butter, and even macadamia nut oil are full of nutrition and sources of good fat and are much better for you.

So the next time you’re making a delicious stir-fry full of fresh veggies, don’t be afraid to saute them in some coconut oil for a delicious flavor full of nutrients and saturated fats that are good for you!