Weight loss hints and tips

In planning a meal plan, the most important step is to make efforts to lower your intake of fat, salt and refined carbohydrates.

Some lower carb diet pointers:
* Eat regular meals Most reduced carbohydrate recipes are, you won't be surpised to learn, low in carbs. We all need energy, and carbohydrates are a very efficient energy source. A low carb diet requires more care in monitoring you energy levels, as the energy provided by protein and fat is much slower acting.

* Read food labels Be sceptical of food packaging that claims to be 'low carb' - check the nutritional information figures on the reverse of the tin or packet. Some are only marginally lowered and in some cases still higher than a competitors standard brand. Also, beware of 'low sugar' and 'low fat' labels - 'low sugar' doesn't always mean 'low carb' - usually the carbs are exactly the same.

Lycopene super foods
(includes apricot, papaya & baby jackfruit)

The phytochemical lycopene is a non-synthetic compound used to color foods and member of the same group of phytochemicals as carotene. This chemical is accountable for the deep red colour of quite a few natural foods.

Fortunately, unlike numerous nutrients, it does not become less effective if cooked but is genuinely improved by the cooking process.

. Its most valuable health contribution is that it works as an antioxidant and appears to help lower the risks of cancer.

Lycopene is the most powerful carotenoid quencher of singlet oxygen, which is correlated with aging of the skin. It's also believed to curtail the development of diseases affecting arterial blood vessels.