Diet hints and tips

In deciding on a diet, it is essential to attempt to lower your consumption of fat, salt and refined carbohydrates.

Some reduced carb diet tips:
* Fiber is crucial Cutting the carbs in your meals often leads to fiber reduction also. Check for low carbohydrate recipes that are rich in fiber to restore the balance.

* Make reduced carb bread crumbs for breaded foods. Although you can sometimes buy reduced carbohydrate breadcrumbs, you may make them yourself by simply using low carbohydrate bread. All you have to do is toast the low carb bread in a gas or electric oven on a sheet of baking paper. When it is quite hard and crispy, grind it in your blender. Keep in an airtight jar or container.

Lycopene foods
(includes melon, red peppers and tomato puree)

The chemical lypcopene is a natural coloring compound and one of the phytochemical group known as 'carotenids'. It is the agent responsible for the vivid red hue of a good number of fruits and vegetables.

Intrestingly, unlike many nutrients, lycopene not only survives being cooked, but is essentially strengthened by cooking.

. Its most important benefit is that it works as an antioxidant and is believed to be of use in the fight to lower the risks of cancer.

This useful phytochemical is the most powerful fighter of singlet oxygen, which is associated with skin aging. It is also believed to prevent the progression of atherosclerosis.