Peanut Butter on a Low Fat Diet

It is no secret that Americans love their comfort foods. Peanut butter, according to a recent study, was stocked by 83% of the 1,700 American households surveyed. With its convenience, great taste, nutritional value and ability to satisfy adults and children alike, it's no wonder most people eat it...a lot. Unfortunately, peanut butter is also loaded with fat and calories and has always been considered a major diet no-no...until now.

Peanut butter is a staple in many households, but at 16 grams of fat and around 200 calories per two-tablespoon serving, peanut butter is obviously not a low-fat, low-calorie food. But before we cross peanut butter off our list, there are some pluses that mean we can spread some on our toast or sliced apples from time to time. Apart from being a good source of vitamin E, folic acid, niacin, and phosphorous, most (but not all) of the fat in peanut butter is the heart-healthy monounsaturated kind; plus, it contains no cholesterol.

Historically, peanut butter has been in that class of foods that just doesn't have a palatable low fat alternative. Similar to the low fat versions of mayonnaise, cheeses, butter spreads and sour creams, the taste of low fat peanut butters left an awful lot to be desired. Better 'n Peanut Butter has undeniably remedied that and they have more than a few testimonials to prove it.

It is high in fat but it is also extremely high in protein so if you're working out, it will help you build muscle and raise your metabolism. If you don't get much exercise than it probably isn't a good idea but if you are building muscle and keeping track of your fat intake you should be fine a little peanut butter!

Saturated Fat in Seafood

You may be aware that a high cholesterol level in the blood is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (including heart disease and stroke) due to the build-up of fatty deposits that block or weaken blood vessels. By eating a healthy diet, you can help lower your blood cholesterol level.

Recent studies have shown that most species of shellfish are a good source of omega-3. In particular, crab, oysters and mussels contain as much omega-3 as some oil-rich fish. Omega-3 has been shown to provide benefits to heart health.

In a very small number of people (about 1 in 100) high blood cholesterol can be caused by a genetic condition called Familial Hypercholesterolaemia (FH) or Familial Combined Hyperlipidaemia (FCH). Those with this condition often need to be more cautious in their consumption of high cholesterol foods.

Researchers have found that a diet rich in fish, seafood, and grains -- also called polyunsaturated fats -- is better at preventing heart disease than a diet containing olive oil, nuts, and avocados -- called monounsaturated fats. Although both types of fats are healthy, people should probably include more of the first than the second in their diet to keep a healthy heart, the scientists say.

Fish contain a type of essential fatty acid called the omega-3 fatty acids.

Wild-caught cold water fish, like salmon, are higher in omega-3 fatty acids than warm water fish.

In addition to being an excellent source of omega-3s, these fish are an excellent source of selenium, a very good source of protein, niacin and vitamin-B12, and a good source of phosphorus, magnesium and vitamin-B6.

One Teaspoon Equals How Many Grams Sugar?

One teaspoon of granulated white sugar is equal to about 4.2 grams. There are approximately 4-8 grams of sugar in a teaspoon of sugar, depending on its granularity. If you are buying a bottle of cola with 44 grams of sugar, you would divide 44 by 4.2 which is equal to about 10 teaspoons of sugar.

So, how about tablespoon?

It depends on what you're measuring.

What's the tablespoon holding? Butter or oregano? Sugar or salt? Molten lead or feathers?

Grams are a unit of mass (or weight) and a tablespoon is a unit of volume. Therefore it depends entirely on what you are measuring -- it depends on the density of the substance. A tablespoon of lead will be much heavier than a tablespoon of feathers (although a gram of lead and a gram of feathers weigh exactly the same!). Similarly, a tablespoon of butter weighs a different number of grams than a tablespoon of salt.

See the Web Links for a handy automatic conversion calculator. Just enter the food item, the units you have, and the units you want... and presto!

For instance (for US tablespoon):
1 tablespoon of water weighs 14.79 grams
1 tablespoon of table salt weighs 18.25 grams
1 tablespoon of butter weighs 14.19 grams
1 tablespoon of oil (canola or soy) weighs 13.62 grams
1 tablespoon of sugar (granulated) weighs 12.5 grams
1 tablespoon of sugar (brown) weighs 13.8 grams (packed)

Some other useful conversions:

16 tablespoons = 1 cup

3 teaspoons = 1 tablespoon

28.35 grams = 1 dry ounce

1 US tablespoon = 14.7867648 ml

Low Carb Diet Tips & Basics

Read about various low-carb diets, or zero in on one. Ideally, read one of the books and become familiar with the principles. Above all, don’t fall for the common myths about eating low carb – such as that there are no vegetables or fruit, that it can’t be healthy, that it has to be boring, etc. Like other ways of eating, low-carb eating can be healthy or not, balanced or not, and there is certainly no reason for it to be boring. Rest assured that science is on the side of cutting carbs – perhaps not for everyone, but for many of us.

This misconception is the idea that a “low”-carb diet must be really really low in carbohydrates. You will read that low carb diets attempt to “eliminate carbohydrates,” for example.

Fact: Not one low-carb diet author advocates this. Even Atkins Induction, which is very low in carbohydrates, is not “no carb,” is only meant to last two weeks, and actually can be skipped altogether, according to the Atkins Web site.

Fact: Diet authors who recommend reducing carbs have all sorts of different ideas about carb levels.

Fact: The carbohydrate level should be adjusted to the individual.

Fact: Over the years, the “nutritional establishment” has been gradually lowering the range of recommended carbohydrate in the diet, at the same time condemning reduced-carb diets, some of which may be recommending the lower end of the new “accepted range,” or close to it. Example: Dr. Dean Edell, a prominent media physician, once stated that the Zone Diet, a 40% carbohydrate, low saturated fat diet, “could be dangerous” because it is too low in carbohydrates. The National Academy of Sciences recommends that 45% to 65% of the diet be carbohydrate, depending upon the individual.

How to Lose Breast Fat Fast

The female breast is composed of different structures including fat. It is basically a mass of fibrous, glandular and fatty tissues. In younger women this amount of fat present is low and the tissues percentage is more. As women get older, the fat percentage increases in the breast because the lobes present shrivel and are replaced by fat. This occurs due to the hormonal changes in women as they age. After menopause specially, the breast is mostly composed of fat, and weight fluctuations in the body can be visible on the breast too. It is this fatty tissue which gives the breast a soft feel.

Consume a diet low in sugar and calories to lose breast fat. As with any other weight loss venture, getting rid of fat requires a nutrient-dense diet of lean meats, fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Avoid fancy coffees, sodas, pastries, cakes and processed foods, which add unnecessary calories to your diet. Eat smaller portions throughout the day to boost your metabolism and prevent overeating.

Cut back on the saturated fats. Eat less red meat and switch to low fat dairy products. It will make a huge difference in your fat intake and help you to lose more weight faster. You don't have to eliminate meats and dairy, just have a bit less in lower fat varieties. Avoid "choice" meats because they contain more fat, and go for lean meats. Ground turkey is a nice alternative to ground beef. Search online for some low fat recipes. Switch to extra virgin olive oil if you use vegetable oil to fry. Also, use half the margarine or mayonnaise that you usually do, and switch to low fat varieties.

Exercise daily at home or a gym. Chest exercises such as push-ups, pull-ups or rowing can help target breast fat. These targeted exercises will help increase muscle tissue in the chest, which will give more overall support to the breast.