The art of combining food and exercise to maximize its benefits is not easy, but its nevertheless important for every person who’s passionate about their physical development. The recommendations haven’t changed very much over the years, yet many people still don’t seem to be very up to date in the matter.
Whether you’re just trying to stay fit or you’re a professional athlete, what you eat and when you eat it will have an effect on your performance.
Before working out
You should eat before you work out for two reasons:

Food, mainly food …

People have done fasting for several thousand years, mainly for religious reasons. Nowadays, fasting has become a popular way to “cleanse” your body and lose weight.
However, there are three big problems with cutting out food completely:
1. You will tell your body to store fat.
When you don’t eat for a longer period of time, your body will enter “starvation mode”, and as soon you start eating again it will try to store as much energy as possible for the bad times ahead. And how does it store the energy? Well, as …

Aiming to make 2010 slightly healthier than 2009? Here’s a few foods to get you on the right track.
1. Goji berries
The red goji beriies contains incredible amounts of antioxidants, that will help you stay fit, strengthen your immune system and keep your body from aging. Goji berries also have a low glycemic index.
2. Quinoa
Quinoa is really a super food. It has a very high protein content and contains all nine essential amino acids, making it a popular choice among vegetarians. It’s high in calcium, minerals, vitamins, antioxidants (if you chose …

“A hungry man is not a free man.” – Adlai E. Stevenson
When you’re on a diet, do you ever get hungry? Cutting down on food often results in feelings of hunger and cravings for really unhealthy food. When your friend chews on a quarter-pound hamburger and you’re finishing a salad, being healthy is not very easy.
Then, how do you avoid hunger while being on a diet? It’s easy – just follow these steps.
Protein, fibre and water

The foods that reduce hunger the most in relation to their calorie content are the …

Your brain needs energy. Lots of it. Yet, you can’t just feed it with anything.
Avoid the processed food and the candy bars. Stay away from the vending machine. Instead, fuel up with good fats, antioxidants, fibres and the right carbs. These are some foods that may help you kick-start your brain.

Avocado. Foods rich in magnesium and monounsaturated fats, such as avocado, stabilize and increase the flow of blood to your brain.
Blueberries. Since blueberries are high …

You thought coffee was bad for you? Think again. Studies has shown that two to three regular cups of coffee a day will give you antioxidants, increase the burning of fat and lift your mood without raising your heart rate too much or seriously affecting your sleep.
If you want to maximize the health benefits of coffee, here’s a few tips.

Avoid coffee 8 hours prior to sleep

One of the most documented effects of coffee is that it raises your wakefulness. This is both good and bad. Good in the way that …