Brewer’s yeast is touted as truly magnificent stuff–one of the few complete foods. One problem– it doesn’t taste that great.

What is it?

Brewer’s yeast, which occurs naturally as a by-product of the brewing process, has many valuable nutrients that can provide several health benefits and prevent future health problems. It is a natural source of Vitamin B complex and highly concentrated amounts of protein, as well as a wonderful spectrum of other healthy vitamins and minerals.

The simplest way to add brewers’ yeast to your daily diet is to add a tablespoon to fruit juice and drink it, but it can also be added to meals such as meat loaf, salads, casseroles, cereal, soup, and other foods. Consumption of brewers’ yeast is also attributed to several health benefits, such as reduced stress, better metabolism and lower cholesterol. It can also help provide restful slumber and ease fatigue.

I tried it in my oatmeal and my soup. I’m still evaluating that. But if it does all of things it’s suppose to, it is worth using. Maybe you just have to put in juice and slug it down the hatch! I’m told if you’re going to try brewer’s yeast, start slow, with a thimble-full at first. It can cause lots of gas in some beginners. Oh, great!

Any suggestions? What healthy choice will you make today? Let me know.

Metabolism Makeover Quiz

Answer yes or no to these top metabolism questions. For every yes award yourself 10 points. For every no you get zero points. Add up your points then see where you stand and get tips on how to improve.

1. Do you eat breakfast within one hour after getting up in the morning (drinks except for smoothies don’t count)?

2. Do you eat 5-6 balanced mini-meals each day?

3. Do all your meals have more than 10g of protein?

4. Do you drink at least 64 oz. of water per day?

5. Are most of your meals in the 250-350 calorie range?

6. Is dinner the lightest meal of the day?

7. Do you eat a majority of your starchy carbs before 3 p.m.?

8. Do you eat slightly less on less active days and slightly more on more active days?

9. Are you strength training at least 3 times a week?

10. Are you getting 7-8 hours of sleep per night?

11. Bonus points: Do you eat mostly unprocesssed foods?

A score of 100-110 means you are doing everything in your power to boost metabolism. If you want to boost fat burning further try having green tea in the morning and doing a monthly detox for a more effective digestive system. You may also want to try a boot camp style circuit to build more fat burning muscle.

A score of 70-90 means you are doing great but could use some improvement. Try increasing protein by a few grams at each meal. Eat most of your starchy carbs and heavy meals earlier in the day and cycle your calories to match your activity level. You may also try getting a bit more sleep.

A score of 40-60 means you are doing the bare minimum so you’ll hardly get results and the process will be frustrating. If you want to get your body in fat burning mode then never skip breakfast and aim for balanced meals of 250-350 calories (250 for the less active and 350 for the more active). You may also want to add resistance training to your plan and drink lots of water every day.

A score of 10-30 means you are not doing what is necessary to lose weight and burn fat. Perhaps you need to re-consider whether this is the right time to start a diet and fitness plan. If the answer is no then try again later. If the answer is yes then look at your zero score questions and see if you can work on turning 3 of those no answer into daily yes answers.

A score of 0 means you are not ready to lose weight. It may be the wrong time, too stressful, or too painful for you to make changes. Think about the reasons why you would benefit from turning some of those no answers into yes answers then see if you can try to make one positive change over the next month. Hint: Eating breakfast every morning would be a great place to start.

From Monica Neave at  http://www.bellaonline.com

There are lots of gauges as to how much you should drink. Some suggest that you drink at least 64 ounces of water every day. Another guide is to drink 1 oz for every 2 lbs. of your body weight. If you weight 200lbs, divide by 2. You should drink 100 ounces or 12.5 cups. So, the real goal is to drink more than you are drinking now.

What are the benefits of drinking water? For starters, it will:

A.    Increase efficiency of every chemical reaction inside of your body. You need it to live!
B.    Satisfy you and help you eat less. It will also decrease empty calories from sodas and other sugared drinks.
C.     Help detoxify your body.
D.    Boost metabolism – Water makes your metabolism burn calories 3% faster.
E.    And so much more…

How do you increase your water intake? Start slowly if you don’t want to spend your day in the bathroom. I think having a nice cup or water bottle makes drinking water more inviting. It might be thermal cup or a crystal glass or both.

Here are ways to increase your water intake:

1. Start the day off right by drinking a glass of water. You are slightly dehydrated from sleeping. Then have your cup of coffee or tea with breakfast.
2. Drink water whenever you think you are hungry. Many times you are thirsty, not hungry.
3. Drink water when you feel sluggish or fuzzy. You may be wilting from dehydration. Add a flavor to make it more inviting.
4. Swap your soda or fruit juices for water or unsweetened beverages like green tea. Or add seltzer water to fruit juice for a spritzer.
5. Drink water at timed intervals. For example, drink a few ounces at the top of the hour.
6. Eat more vegetables with a higher water content. Water is water! An added benefit is that you will be increasing your fiber intake.

Boy, just writing this is making me thirsty! So just increase the amount of water you are drinking. Your body will start to crave it.  Which one of these ideas are you going to try?