We all know that water is the healthiest drink, but sometimes we need a change. There are many beverages that claim to boost your health, and many that can hinder it! Here are 10 of the healthiest drinks, and 5 drinks to avoid.
10 drinks for a healthier life (and 5 drinks to avoid)
We all know that water is the healthiest drink, but sometimes we need a change. There are many beverages that claim to boost your health, and many that can hinder it! Here are 10 of the healthiest drinks, and 5 drinks to avoid.
Freshly squeezed fruit juice
Fruit juices have loads of vitamins and nutrients. But be careful, not all juices are created equal. There is difference between “100 percent juice” and “made with real juice”. It’s best to choose a fruit juice with lots of pulp, for added fibre that can help you feel fuller and eat less. With fresh squeezed, organic juice, you can be sure that you’re getting the best possible option.
Vegetable juices
Vegetable juice is every bit as nutritious as fruit juice but with about half the calories. Most vegetable juices are also rich in fibre which can help make you feel full and in turn eat less. Just go easy on the Bloody Marys.
Yoghurt-based smoothies
Smoothies are ideal fuel-on-the-go for breakfast, an afternoon snack or dessert. Mix up a delicious batch of smoothies using your favourite fruits, skim milk and yoghurt. The thickness of the smoothie kills your appetite, plus yoghurt is full of beneficial active cultures that help prevent bad bacteria from taking up residence in your body. What’s more the calcium in yogurt helps you burn fat and it also limits the amount of fat your body can make.
Green tea
Like coffee, green tea contains plenty of helpful antioxidants. It also helps to boost your metabolism if consumed on a daily basis, which can help to speed up your body’s fat-burning mechanism — as much as a 40 percent increase in some cases!
Black coffee
Coffee is rich in antioxidants that can help boost your mood, improve concentration, reduce the risk of diabetes and cancer, as well as many other benefits. What’s more, black coffee contains no calories! It is adding large amounts of cream and sugar to coffee drinks that makes coffee detrimental to the waistline.
Fat-free milk
Milk is an all-round good source of energy and protein. It is full of bone-strengthening calcium that doctors call vital in preventing arthritis and osteoporosis. Another benefit of calcium is that it can boost weight loss by increasing fat breakdown in fat cells. Adding a small amount of skim milk to your diet in moderation can increase the rate of fat you lose through diet and exercise. Look out for 100 percent organic where no hormones have been used to promote growth, no antibiotics have been used, and the dairy cows have been fed 100 percent organic feed.
Coconut water
Coconut water contains more electrolytes than most fruit juices and energy drinks without the extra sugar and artificial flavourings. It also naturally speeds up your metabolism and gives you more energy so you can work out longer with more intensity to lose weight faster.
Pomegranate juice
A 250ml glass of pomegranate juice contains approximately 50 percent of an adult’s recommended daily allowance (RDA) of the vitamins A, C and E, 100 percent RDA of folic acid, and 13 percent RDA of potassium. As with any herbal or dietary supplement, talk to your doctor about pomegranate juice before you start drinking it regularly as a supplement. The primary health benefit of pomegranate juice is a significant increase in the output of blood from your heart to the rest of your body.
Cranberry juice
For those who like it, cranberry juice has a number of health benefits, such as prevention of urinary tract infections and respiratory infections, the delay of ear infections, and a special strain that stops bacteria from sticking to red blood cells. Just make sure you opt for the unsweetened variety of cranberry juice.
Ginger tea
In Asia, ginger tea is usually used to prevent colds and to aid digestion, and also as a home remedy for nausea and sore throats. Ginger tea is ideal in assisting digestion and can ease morning sickness. It is easy to make it home. Simply peel some ginger, and slice it into thin slices. Bring the water to a boil in a saucepan. Once it is boiling, add the ginger. Cover and simmer for 15-20 minutes. Strain the tea. Add honey and lemon or fresh mint for flavour.
And five drinks to avoid: “Fruit” juice
Juices from concentrate, “juice beverages”, “drinks” or mixes should be avoided. Look for one kind of juice if you want health benefits: those with the 100 percent juice label. Also check the label for sugar and artificial sweeteners that may pack a calorie punch.
Energy drinks
Energy drinks are one of the unhealthiest beverages you can consume. They don’t hydrate the body, they lead to poor teeth and weakened bones, and calorie for calorie, they have nil in the way of nutrients. Some contain up to 500mg of caffeine in one serving. This has led to some people even being hospitalised for over consumption, which results in “nausea and vomiting, high blood pressure, tremors, dizziness, and numbness” according to WebMD.
Fancy coffees
When your coffee of choice is a caramel cappuccino, more than just a few calories sneak into your daily calorie allowance. Even a seemingly innocent blended iced coffee can have almost 200 calories—and that’s one of the lower-calorie coffee drinks.
Soft drinks (including diet soft drinks)
Sometimes our bodies crave sugar, and we answer the call by drinking a sugary carbonated drink instead of choosing a healthier alternative. Even diet drinks can adversely affect weight loss. The artificial sweeteners can leave you craving more sweets, which may sabotage your efforts to eat healthier. Instead reach for mineral water with a slice of lemon or lime. This drink will help rehydrate you and not leave your taste buds asking for more sugar.
Alcohol
Your social life shouldn’t run dry when you are trying to lose weight. You just need to be smart about your choices. Avoid frozen drinks like margaritas, daiquiris and pina coladas, which have enough calories to count as a meal. Instead chose a light beer, dry wine or liquor mixed with soda water instead of sugar-loaded beverages. Even better, don’t drink alcohol at all and opt for water.
Chocolate? Pizza? Hot chips? What’s your food obsession? Tara Diversi looks at the difference between normal and potentially dangerous food cravings and how to free yourself of them forever.
Check in with the 97 per cent of women who experience food cravings and you will hear the following four foods mentioned over and over again — chocolate, chips, pizza and ice-cream.
You see, when it comes to cravings, these are the big four. This may well be because, as children, these foods were often associated with love, fun and relaxation.
So, it makes sense that when we are feeling unloved, bored or stressed, we think (even if subconsciously) that these foods will make us feel better.
Yet food cravings can trigger binge eating, resulting in weight gain, guilt, feelings of worthlessness or worse, unhealthy compensations such as excessive exercise or vomiting — the risk factors for eating disorders.
Yet not everyone satisfies cravings with binges. If cravings don’t negatively affect you, accepting them as a part of life is the first thing to do.
“For most people, food cravings are normal,” says psychologist Dr Eva Kemps, who researches food cravings at Adelaide’s Flinders University.
“For others, they can be mentally debilitating. They can’t focus on what they are doing because they can’t keep their mind off the food they’re craving.”
Food fixes
Although we eat food when we’re not hungry, cravings for sweet food can be related to irregular sugar levels, which can upset our hormones.
Too much processed carbohydrate, sugar and even sugar substitutes can fuel sweet food cravings.
To have the lowest impact on sugar levels, choose carbohydrates that are unprocessed and have a low glycaemic index (GI), such as wholegrain breads, crackers and legumes.
Combine these with protein — low-fat dairy, lean meat, chicken, fish and nuts — and be careful with your portion size.
Craving comfort foods is also very common. Studies have found that eating warm food increases feelings of comfort and fullness.
So, eating cooked meals with plenty of vegetables is one way to curb these types of cravings. Snack cravings can be warded off by a cup of vegetable soup or herbal teas such as peppermint or chamomile.
Behaviour fixes
It is easy to think that by simply taking those foods off the menu, your cravings would be controlled. Unfortunately, it’s not that simple. It seems that we only have a limited supply of willpower.
The more you restrict yourself, the more likely you are to get cravings for your favourite foods. Research shows that those who rely on willpower end up eating about 40 per cent more kilojoules when they do indulge than those who allow themselves occasional treats.
That’s why it’s a healthy choice to include your favourite foods in your dieting plan. A good guide includes your favourite treat and a “free” meal once a week. When it’s on the allowed list, you’re less likely to binge and feel guilty when you do eat these foods.
HOW TO KICK CRAVINGS
Eat protein-rich breakfasts and lunches (eggs, tuna, chicken).
Eat warm foods with plenty of vegetables.
Eat low-GI and high-fibre carbohydrate foods (think grainy bread, wholegrain pasta and brown rice).
Eat treats away from home and work.
When trying to lose weight, always schedule your favourite foods.
Put treats behind closed doors.
Practise deep-breathing exercises.
Visualise images that are not food.
Identify your feelings when you crave.
Read more of this story in the August issue of The Australian Women’s Weekly.
Your say: Do you have any secrets for beating cravings?
Tougher and more ruthless than any man, Tilly Devine and Kate Leigh ruled the mean streets of ’20s and ’30s Sydney with iron fists and trusty blades. Larry Writer visits their haunts, the inspiration for the latest Underbelly series.
As long as she lived, Maggie Baker never forgot her initiation to Razorhurst. It was 1933 and the rookie policewoman’s first assignment was to patrol the lanes of Sydney’s Darlinghurst.
“I turned the corner and came face to face with Tilly Devine, who was blocking the footpath,” she recalled. “She said, ‘You’re the new copper, ain’t you? Well, you’re not comin’ down this bloody street …’ She grabbed me and shook me.
“Then a woman wearing a big black hat got off a tram. It was Kate Leigh. She came up and hit Tilly, then sat on her in the road.”
Yet Tilly could handle herself. “Oh, she was a dirty fighter and very strong. I saw her and Kate have a blue in Oxford Street. Tilly had Kate’s hat off and was pummelling her on the ground.”
Today, Kings Cross, Paddington, Darlinghurst, Woolloomooloo and Surry Hills are chic suburbs hosting million-dollar homes, cafes, restaurants and galleries, yet anyone venturing there in the 1920s and ’30s took their life in their hands.
For that was when Tilly Devine, Kate Leigh and the razor gangs rampaged through East Sydney — aka Razorhurst — with its unsanitary, ramshackle slums teeming with criminals, alcohol and drug addicts, and those too desperately poor to escape to the city’s burgeoning outer garden suburbs.
Razorhurst has now been recreated as the setting for Underbelly: Razor, screening on the Nine Network in August. Danielle Cormack plays Kate Leigh and Chelsie Preston Crayford is her arch-enemy Tilly Devine.
Crime paid handsomely for brothel madam Tilly and sly grog and cocaine dealer Kate. In their pomp, they were among Sydney’s wealthiest citizens.
It is thought to be unprecedented in criminal history that two women divided and conquered a city’s underworld.
They ruled the traditionally male-dominated domain of organised crime, simply because they were more ruthless and violent, and much smarter than the men.
Each notched up more than 100 convictions and served more than 30 prison terms, but after every incarceration, they cheerfully threw themselves back into the fray.
In the early 1930s, Tilly Devine ran as many as 30 brothels. She sported platinum-blonde sausage roll curls, blood-red lipstick, mascara when few women wore it and full-length furs in summer.
She had numerous homes, but her main residence was a stately brick bungalow with candelabra, a state-of-the-art wireless and grand piano at Maroubra, a beachside suburb.
From its shuttered veranda, her husband, Big Jim Devine, shot rival gangster Gregory Gaffney dead.
Tilly paid her gang well and provided food and shelter, and took care of doctors’ bills for her sex workers. Yet, if they betrayed her by not handing over half of their earnings or defecting to another madam, she punished them with her ring-bedecked fist or the razor she kept hidden in the luxuriant folds of her silver fox stole.
“I’ll cut her guts out!” she once shrieked at a wayward prostitute. “I’ll cut a hole right through her!”
The TV series Underbelly: Razor is based on Larry Writer’s book, Razor, published by Pan Macmillan, $24.99.
Read more of this story in the August issue of The Australian Women’s Weekly.
Jack Vidgen stepped onto the stage of Australia’s Got Talent and emerged a YouTube sensation. Bryce Corbett talks to the determined 14-year-old who wants to be a bigger star than Justin Bieber.
There’s arguably not enough room on Planet Pop for two Justin Biebers, but local boy Jack Vidgen is nevertheless ready to give superstardom a red hot go.
Since he burst into our living rooms in the opening week of the television talent quest, Australia’s Got Talent — assaulting our senses with a voice that soars and a fringe that flops in all the right places — the hot money has been on the Sydney teen to take out the TV show title.
Last night Jack did just that, beating magician Cosentino in the tense finale. He won $250,000 and signed a record contract on the spot.
Jack eventually calmed down enough to express how excited he was to win the talent show.
“It’s so incredibly, amazingly, everything,” he said. “Words can’t describe how I feel.”
The day The Weekly catches up with Jack at an inner-Sydney photo studio, he’s fresh from Year Nine classes at Balgowlah Boys High School. Accompanied by his mum, Rachel, and dressed to self-conscious teen perfection in black jeans and black-and-white striped shirt under a black hoodie, he tells me he’s spent the day learning about Pythagoras’ theorem.
“I don’t really understand it,” Jack admits, “but then, I’m hoping I’m not going to need it all that much.”
If all goes to plan — and make no mistake, the kid has a plan — the only people needing to be well acquainted with the particulars of Year Nine maths will be Jack’s accountants.
“I want to be a singer,” he says, matter-of-factly. “I want to be an artist. I look at people like Justin Bieber and Katy Perry and Lady Gaga, and I think it would be great to be as successful as them.
“I like the look on people’s faces when I sing. It’s just the best feeling to stand up there in front of an audience.”
Though his face is new to most of us, Jack has been a fixture on the pre-pubescent music scene of Sydney’s northern beaches for the better part of the past four years — hauling his angelic smile, blond mop and four-octave range from school spectacular to singing Eisteddfod to the local Carols by Candlelight. It’s been a concerted slog to which he’s applied the same determination that saw him become a self-taught guitarist and pianist.
Watch him work the camera in the photo studio and you’d think Jack was born to do it. Listen to him wrap his now famous vocal chords around a tune (as he did for The Weekly’s video cameras) and you forget how young he is. Yet he is young — so young. In fact, he considers Whitney Houston old.
“I like a lot of the older soul singers, like Whitney Houston,” he says without a hint of self-consciousness. “I mean, I like Lady Gaga and Katy Perry, and that kind of stuff, but I definitely love singing R&B and soul.”
Your say: Do you think Jack Vidgen has what it takes to make it in the music industry?
Exotic-sounding fruits like mangosteen, acai and goji are the caped crusaders of the nutrition world. However, most ‘superfruits’ are more like Clark Kent than Superman — they’re so unassuming we don’t notice their healing powers.
Red grapes: Red grapes — as opposed to green ones — contain resveratrol, a phytochemical which shows great promise in the fight against premature ageing, diabetes, several types of cancer, and heart disease. Those with the thickest, darkest skins, such as Concord, have demonstrated benefits in lowering blood cholesterol levels, boosting brain power, and even preventing the amyloid protein deposits that lead to Alzheimer’s disease, at least in animal studies.
Mangoes: These are high in carotenoids, dietary antioxidants, and minerals, as well as prebiotic fibre — the type needed to encourage the growth of ‘good’ bacteria in the gut which enables the correct digestion of food and assimilation of nutrients. Of most interest to researchers, however, are two constituents that are unique to mangoes, mangoferin and mango lupeol, with studies showing extracts of these two may have specific antibacterial and cancer-preventive properties, respectively.
Figs: Exceptionally high in both insoluble and soluble dietary fibre, figs are not only a time-honoured cure for constipation, but — thanks to their high levels of vitamins A, C, E and K — they also support heart health, specifically optimal blood clotting and the strength of blood cell walls, veins, and arteries. Extracts from figs and fig skin — which is unusually rich in antioxidants — are also being tested as possible treatments for skin and digestive disorders, and the diabetes precursor, metabolic syndrome.
Oranges: Familiarity may not breed contempt, but it probably means we take this ubiquitous fruit for granted. For example, you already know that oranges have high levels of vitamin C — but did you also know they are a good source of calcium and potassium? Not to mention quercetin (in the pith), which strengthens blood vessels, hesperidins and citric acid (both in the pulp), which inhibit inflammation, regulate blood cholesterol levels, and are being investigated as possible allergy treatments? And don’t waste the peel — it contains d-limonene, which improves digestion.
Strawberries: Not just a pretty face, strawberries get their appealing red colour from an abundance of anthocyanins, flavonoid pigments which lower the risk of a variety of diseases, including thrombosis, high blood cholesterol, chronic inflammatory disorders, several varieties of cancer, and problems associated with premature ageing, notably poor eyesight. Strawberries also contain good quantities of manganese, which is necessary for strong bones, optimal muscle function, and thyroid and sex hormone health, and omega-3 fatty acids which reduce blood cholesterol and also appear to play a role in reducing anxiety.
Top tip: Buy organic fruit wherever possible, but especially when it comes to picking strawberries. According to the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), they are among the ‘dirty dozen’ of fruit and vegetables, meaning they are most likely to contain high levels of pesticides and herbicides.
Also, a study in the Public Library of Science has shown that organic strawberries contain much higher amounts of antioxidants, vitamin C and polyphenols than conventionally-farmed ones; plus they have better flavour, last longer and contain more ‘matter per volume’ — that is, more actual fruit, rather than water.
Video: A new study has found fruit juices may be doing more harm than good. Find out which types to avoid here
To me, my mother had the perfect wedding dress. It was a dress I would have worn myself if I hadn’t grown-up to tower over her, and a dress that in my mind, no-one else could top, until Catherine Middleton wore a better version of it on her wedding day.
When it comes to the competition of which princess wore the best dress in what will be remembered as the-year-of-the-royal-weddings, Catherine may have outshone both Charlene and Zara in a way all brides-to-be secretly dream of, but they weren’t far behind.
While Charlene Wittstock’s wedding dress was a demonstration in fantasy (her custom-made Giorgio Armani Privé silk dress took 2500 hours to create, with 40,000 Swarovski crystals, 20,000 mother-of-pearls and 30,000 gold stones all hand-stitched on), it was also a model of luxurious simplicity perfectly suited to compliment her athletic frame.
We all knew there would be the obvious comparisons with Grace Kelly, Charlene’s late mother-in-law, which will undoubtedly continue throughout her reign as Her Serene Highness Princess of Monaco. However, Charlene seems to be taking to her new role — which requires constant camera-readiness — like like a duck to water.
Adapting her style from a nonchalant South African beach babe to an aptly attired royal consort and poised princess-to-be, she is successfully finding her own sense of style, which on her wedding day showed the world that you can be both athletic and elegant, without having to give either one up.
Zara Phillips settled on a more traditional gown made by the Queen’s own couturier Stewart Parvin, and for a woman once dubbed the royal rebel with some very questionable outfits to match, she looked wonderfully grown up with just the right amount of elegant sophistication.
Also an athlete, Zara’s corset on her simple and romantic dress gave her a small waist, while her broad shoulders were softened by the sheer silk tulle straps.
These princesses not only delivered wedding dresses that exceeded anyone’s expectations, they pulled off a fairytale wedding wearing gowns fitting their vastly different personalities and body shapes — something other soon-to-be-brides should take close note of.
Your say: Did you prefer Kate Middleton, Zara Phillips or Charlene Wittstock’s wedding dresses?
Video: Zara Phillips talks about her royal wedding
Singer Jennifer Lopez has spoken for the first time since her split with husband of seven years Marc Anthony.
Talking to Vanity Fair magazine the 42-year-old mother-of-twins says she is eternally optimistic when it comes to love.
“That was my biggest dream, and I really worked hard at it. We both did,” she said of the marriage.
“Sometimes it doesn’t work — and that’s sad. But I remain an eternal optimist about love. I believe in love.”
The American Idol judge, who has had relationships with Sean “P Diddy” Combs and Ben Affleck, says love is still her “biggest dream”.
“I am positive — determined to move forward with my life, bring up my babies, and do the best job I can as a mother, entertainer, and person. I now look forward to new challenges. I feel strong,” she said.
Following their split, multiple sources spoke out about Marc’s treatment of Jennifer, saying that he controlled her and was jealous at times.
Although she didn’t go into detail about his behaviour during their relationship, J-Lo did say that she has always loved who she is.
“Sometimes we don’t realise that we are compromising ourselves,” she said.
“To understand that a person is not good for you, or that that person is not treating you in the right way, or that he is not doing the right thing for himself … if I stay, then I am not doing the right thing for me. I love myself enough to walk away from that now.”
The pair, who have three-year-old twins Max and Emme together, say they are not bitter with one another over the break-up.
“I will always respect Marc as a singer and performer,” she said.
“We actually work great together, and he was always very supportive. Together we could make magic and we did. He will always be in our lives. He will always hold a special place in my heart as the father of my children.”
Struggling to get out of bed in the morning? Can’t keep your eyes open and head off the desk at work? The good news is there are easy ways to boost your energy levels and beat fatigue, says nutritionist and exercise physiologist Caitlin Reid.
Get eight hours of sleep
Getting more sleep may seem like an obvious solution for a lack of energy, but many of us continually cut back on this important pastime. Sleep helps repair and recharge our bodies and recharge so we can function at our best the following day.
When it comes to sleep, quality is just as important as quantity. Constantly being woken up by beeping phones or tossing and turning due to work-related stress doesn’t give you the quality you’re after. Turn off your phone and clear your mind before hitting the sack each night.
Say ‘no’ more often
Many of us take on more commitments than we have time for. While saying “no” isn’t always easy, it’s perfectly fine to do so particularly when these tasks are creating unnecessary stress or cutting into your siesta time. By losing the things you take on out of guilt you’ll have more energy for the activities that really make you happy.
Go low-GI
Eating a diet containing low-GI carbohydrates help maintain energy levels in between meals. Foods with a lower GI such as oats, wholegrain bread and pasta cause lower spikes in blood glucose levels than high-GI foods (think white bread, jasmine rice and lollies) making them better options for prolonging energy levels. Include a low-GI food in each meal and snack.
Manage your stress
Being stressed to the max weighs you down and drains your energy levels. It can interfere with sleep quality and increase the likelihood of illness. Reduce stress and maintain your energy levels by identifying your stress triggers and implementing strategies to help keep you calm. One great way to help reduce stress is by practising yoga — the breathing helps to calm you while the movement energises you.
Limit caffeine intake
It’s well known that caffeine gives you a boost, but too much can interrupt your sleep, reducing energy levels the following day. Caffeine elevates levels of the stress-hormone cortisol, which overtime can lead to negative effects such as impairments in cognitive function, lower immunity and higher blood pressure. Limit caffeine intake to 300mg per day, which is equivalent to three instant coffees or five teas.
Get active
When you’re feeling fatigued the last thing you feel like doing is exercising, but research suggests exercise may be the best thing for you. Exercise increases energy levels and reduces fatigue even among people suffering from chronic medical conditions associated with fatigue such as cancer and heart disease. So forget the energy drinks and go for a jog instead.
Years ago, after leaving my long-term partner, I moved in with a friend, Sarah. We had known each other for about 10 years but had never been very close. However she offered me a room, which I saw as an out so I took it. Mostly we got along well, but she had a cat which I hated intently.
Sarah had a boyfriend who lived in another suburb and about three or four times a week she went and stayed at his place. Leaving me with the cat.
She rarely fed it, always forgetting to buy its food and worst of all hardly ever emptied its festering, stinking litter tray. I resented how she just expected me to look after this cat I despised. She never took much interest in it, even when she was home she rarely remembered to feed it and if she was out of food she simply locked it outside so she didn’t have to listen to it cry.
The cat was a little strange as well, having all kinds of crazy attacks where it would bolt around the house for 30 minutes and then proceed to meow for about half an hour, trying to rub up against my legs incessantly, leaving its fur all over my clothes.
Goodness knows why, when I never showed it any attention, but it would also always try to sit on me if I was watching TV and often it would sneak into my room and hide under my bed and then refuse to come out. To put it mildly, the cat irritated the living daylights out of me.
After living there for six months, I had finally had enough, so when the cat had another one of its attacks I decided it was time to take action.
I packed the cat into a pet carrier and went for a drive. I drove for about an hour, finally coming to a stop in a small town. I pulled up in a park, made sure no one was around and opened the cage. The cat bolted out of the cage into the park. I quickly shut the door, got back in the car and drove off.
When I got home I made sure I put the pet carrier back in the same spot it had been before, and went about my day.
When Sarah came home that night, she didn’t seem to notice the cat missing. I didn’t say a word. It wasn’t until about three days later she asked me “have you seen the cat?”
I said I had seen it the day before but not since. She frantically rang animal shelters and vets, but the animal was not micro-chipped or registered, so she of course had no luck.
It took her a week to come to grips with the fact that the cat had simply vanished. I did feel a little bad because she had paid a lot of money for it but mostly I was just relieved that I no longer had to put up with its noise, fur and smells or the burden of taking care of it when she wasn’t there. I actually hope it found a new home, with someone who wanted it and fed it daily.
To this day she still thinks that it was stolen, or killed and I’ve never said a word to make her think otherwise. Thankfully she hasn’t been tempted to replace it, yet.
Your say: Have you had a similar experience? Share your stories and thoughts below.