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 carbohydrate diet guidlines:
* Eat regular meals Most low carb recipes are, you won't be surpised to learn, low in carbohydrates. Your body needs energy, and carbs are a highly efficient source of energy. A lower carbohydrate diet requires more care in monitoring you energy intake, as the energy provided by fat or protein is less efficient.

* Food labels can be misleading Watch out for food packaging that boasts to be 'low carb' - check the nutritional information on the back of the package. Many are only a little decreased and in some instances still greater than a competitors usual brand. Also, beware of 'low sugar' and 'low fat' labels - 'low sugar' doesn't always mean 'low carb' - usually the carbs are the same.

Lycopene superfoods
(includes watermelon, red bell peppers and rosehip)

The chemical lypcopene is a non-synthetic coloring agent and part of the same family of phytochemicals as carotene. This chemical is the reason for the deep red color of many fruit, vegetables and pulses.

Intrestingly, unlike many other healthy agents, lycopene is not damaged during the cooking process, but is actually strengthened by going through the cooking process.

. Lycoprene's key value is that it is an antioxidant and is believed to help to lower the probabilty of cancer.

This useful phytochemical is the most effective quencher of singlet oxygen, which is correlated with aging of the skin. It is also thought by nutritionalists to slow down the development of atherosclerosis.