When you’re in a rush or can’t decide what you want to eat, it’s tempting just to reach for a supermarket sandwich, ready meal or takeaway –but just how many calories exactly do these foods contain?

With obesity becoming an on-going problem, we need to start to consider fat contents and calories in common takeaway foods. We know that they’re bad. But how bad exactly, are they?
The average Indian takeaway consisting of: chicken tikka masala, pilau rice and a plain naan contains a whopping 1,338 calories and a huge 55g of fat. That one meal contains around two-thirds of the daily calories and 80% of the fat a woman should consume in a day. Wow.

Creamier dishes such as korma, pasanda and masala are even worse- but starters and sundries can do a similar damage. For example, one single onion bhaji contains 190 calories and 16g of fat, while a poppadom contains 65 calories and 5g of fat. These amounts are ridiculously high for such foods that you tend to eat as a snack, even before the meal has started. Can it possibly get any worse?

Yes. A Chinese takeaway of prawn crackers, crispy duck, chicken balls and spring rolls contains 2,832 calories – this is equal to two days’ worth of food if you’re trying to lose weight. What’s more shocking is the fat content. The typical Chinese take-away contains around 132.5g of fat – This is equal to a wine glass full of lard.

Pizzas vary in their calorie and fat content depending on their size, base and toppings used – and where you buy them from of course. So this information may come in useful when deciding where to eat in the future.

A regular margherita from Pizza Hut has 53% more calories than its equivalent at Pizza Express, for example. Pizza Express’s pizza contains around 664 calories compared to Pizza Hut’s regular 11-inchmargherita which contains a whopping 1,020 calories. Ouch.

Of course, different toppings need to be considered when looking at fat content etc. The worse toppings (and the ones to steer clear of) include: pepperoni, salami, spicy sausage and extra cheese.

Most of us know that a trip to McDonald’s spells the end of the diet – but it’s not just the Big Mac and fries that do the damage. Enjoying a large chocolate milkshake after the end of your meal and you’ll be drinking more than a meal’s worth of calories and fat.

Around two weeks ago I went to McDonalds myself. It’s not until I started writing this article that I was interested in how much calories I had eaten in just one of my three meals in that day. Using the McDonalds nutrition guide, I was able to accurately calculate my calories, fat and saturate content. I was not impressed! For a Large Chicken Legend meal (with cool mayo large fries and a large strawberry milkshake) and a Crunchie Mcflurry I had found that my total number of calorie intake for that one meal had been 1830 kcal, my fat had be 64g from which 20g was saturated. That is shockingly bad!

Worried about your stomach after a night on the town? Don’t be. Try drinking strawberry daiquiris.

Researchers have found the strawberries can help protect the stomach from the effects of alcohol. This is highly important as it gives us hope of improved treatments of stomach ulcers.

The finding was discovered when scientists gave ethanol to laboratory rats. The team found less ulcerations in the stomachs of those rats which had eaten strawberry extract (40mg/day per kilo of weight) for 10 days before being given alcohol.

Scientists say a diet which is rich in the fruit can help prevent gastric illness and slow down the formation of stomach ulcers.

The scientists said that treatments for stomach ulcers needed antioxidant properties, and that strawberries could be the answer to this.

Researchers were studying the mucous membrane, which contains special cells that produce acid and enzymes- helping the body to break down. It also excretes mucus; this protects the lining of the membrane from the acid.

Inflammation of the stomach membrane is related to alcohol consumption but can also be caused by viral infections or anti-inflammatory medication (like aspirin.)

Maurizio Battino, coordinator of the research group explained: ‘In these cases, the consumption of strawberries during or after pathology could lessen stomach mucous membrane damage. This study was not conceived as a way of mitigating the effects of getting drunk but rather as a way of discovering molecules in the stomach membrane that protect against the damaging effects of differing agents.’

Strawberries

Picture courtesy of Geekpulp

Have you ever considered just how much you spend on Anti-aging creams every year? The answer? Too much. Half of the times, these wrinkle creams don’t even work. However, a pot of Active Chilean Rainforest Honey is proven to reduce wrinkles fast.

The product, retailing at £8.49, is to target lines on the face and neck and help reverse the signs of ageing. People, who are trying out the new beauty scheme, use it as a face mask twice a day, for around 20 minutes.

But anti-aging isn’t the only beneficial property of the honey. The honey has also been proven to be twice as efficient as normal moisturisers in reducing stretchmark’s and preventing sun burnt skin for peeling.

Beauty fans having been rushing to buy the honey in the US and now that it has finally hit the UK it is sure to sell out.

But what is it that makes this honey so different from normal supermarket honey. Firstly it isn’t pasteurised. This means that it hasn’t been stripped of all vitamins and minerals. It is also naturally acidic, high in antioxidants, and contains a variety of enzymes which help break down scar tissue and help make aged and sun-damaged skin more elastic.

Jamie Christie, The Active Honey Company, explained: “Active Chilean Rainforest Honey is a wonderful product as it can be used in such a variety of ways. It’s one of the most exciting skincare products to hit the shelves in Britain for a decade, no question. Chilean Rainforest Honey does have one, small drawback when used as a face cream – it’s a bit sticky.”

Active Chilean Rainforest Honey i

When it comes to losing weight there are only two things which will achieve this, eating less (cutting calories) and exercising, fad diets etc., weight loss drugs and other ‘health’ things won’t ever really help you successfully lose weight and keep it off.

Cutting your daily intake of calories is quite an easy way to get you started on weight loss, by cutting as little as 100 calories a day you will find that it will have an effect on your weight loss. In fact you could save around 36,500 calories a year and this could help you lose up to ten pounds. That’s before you even think about exercising.

It’s a lot easier to cut 100 calories a day than you may think, swapping simple things or cutting down or other things is the place to start:

Cutting out spread/butter on your bread, go nude only add your jam to toast or sandwich filler instead.

Switch your milk from semi skimmed to skimmed and knock any fattening coffee to go drinks on the head and opt for a standard coffee or tea.

For part of your five-a-day go for fresh fruit rather than fruit juice, it may seem like an easier way to get your fruit but juices and Smoothies can have a lot of sugars in them which equates to calories.

Cut down on the olive oil, although the Mediterranean diet may be healthy, olive oil does contain quite a few calories, so try and restrict your intake for example cut it out of your salad dressings.

Say no to the alcohol and fizzy drinks, it can be quite hard to do without when you’re out but at home cutting down on fizzy drinks and alcohol, swapping them for water will help cut the cals!

Healthy tinned fish contain the Omega 3 oils which are good for your health, cut the cals with these by buying fish in spring water rather than sunflower oil and olive oil.

Steaming is best for your veg, although a stir-fry may seem like a healthy option the oil or butter people use to fry their veg in adds cals which is why steaming is better!

Cut out the fat by choosing lean cuts of meat, or cut off any visible bit and you should be able to reduce your calories which also goes for chicken skin too!

Part two

Scrub up well

How do you get the healthy glowing celebrity skin that you admire so much? Body scrubs are perfect for achieving this look, along with making your bod silky smooth to the touch. It’s very important to exfoliate your skin. Your body sheds skin cells at an amazing rate every minute of every day. If you don’t get rid of them, they’ll just keep lying on your skin making you look dull. No matter how much lotion you use, you’re will never achieve glowing skin if you don’t exfoliate. Grab a body scrub and hit the shower! Gently rub your exfoliator in circular movements on your entire body from the shoulders down, focusing on the legs. (You’ll want a facial exfoliator for your face and neck.) After this, rinse clean. Continue to do this 2-3 times a week for beautiful shiny skin.

Fake tan

Ok so here it is, you knew this one was coming, but if you’re a fake tan virgin fear not. Now technology is so advanced and the products so diverse (gradual self-tan moisturisers, wash-off, gels, sprays, lotions) that a fake tanning is virtually foolproof. But, just in case. We have included the top tips of how to apply fakebake successfully!

-Exfoliate properly- Exfoliating is important as a patchy tan is simply due to the skin flaking off at different intervals. Exfoliation gets rid of the dead skin cells and provides an even canvas for a tan to be applied to.
-Avoid waxing- If you’re waxing, do it the day before. Not only will it take off the tan if you do it afterwards,
-Pick your spot! – People always put fake tan on in the bathroom where the light is not particularly great.
-Take your time! –The key to perfect coverage is to give yourself enough time for the entire process including: moisturising, application and, crucially, drying time. This might be as long as an hour.
-Moisturise- Dry areas of the body, such as the knees, elbows, wrists, ankles, feet and hands, soak up more fake tan, making them darker. So apply a moisturiser to make sure your tan is as even as possible.
-Equip yourself- Only a beginners use bare hands to apply a tan. Always wear latex or vinyl gloves to protect my hands and to ensure that you get a streak-free finish.
-Work upwards-To avoid smudging the bits that you’ve already done, work from your feet upwards and do your arms last of all.
-Let it dry- Your tanning product will tell you how long you should leave it to dry. Mousses will generally dry quicker than creams or lotions.

TIP: If your tan is still tacky, use a hairdryer on a cool setting to gently blast your body and help it dry.

Spice up your life

They say, “You are what you eat!” so be a hottie in more ways than one by eating that natural fat burner, chillies. Chillies are really easy to incorporate in a meal, whether you blend them for a spicy chillie sauce or chop them up within a pasta dish!

Oils

From body oils to give you a hot glow to hydrating oils to leave your skin silk smooth, there are many oils out there available to buy which can help enhance your appearance… just get looking!  Feeling stressed? Why not try a healing balm? And for irritated skin, try adding a few drops of pure lavender, tea tree or myrrh to plain lotion, witch hazel or aloe vera gel to soothe everything from spots to sunburn. At this rate you’re going to be scrum-diddly-umpcious on that beach!

And finally…

Body envy affects us all even if you say it doesn’t (and even the celebs!) so resist the urge to keep comparing yourself to other women laid on the beach. Whether it’s your soft skin, gorgeous smile or your strong legs, be happy for the things you do have and try and forget about the other things that you’re maybe not so happy about. Always remember the important rule, as long as you feel beautiful, you look beautiful!

Part one

For most of us girl out there, the summer holidays and the sunshine is what we crave. Whether you chilling on the beaches, or shopping in the sun, it’s important to look your best. Here’s some tips and advice that we have put together to ensure you look as hot as you possibly can this summer!

Size wise

Firstly, the right suit for your shape is essential to looking killer on the beach. Which is easier said than done, right? Has anyone else had the awful experience of searching for that one swimsuit/ two piece that’s just right for you, but instead spent hours trailing around shops and trying on endless alternatives that all make you look disgusting?

The key is understanding what body shape you are and what type of bikini looks good on you.

For those who are small on top; you may not want to try the smaller Brazilian-type swim suits as they seem smaller on top,. You could also look for a top with underwire, padding, or a top with a demi-bra style. Avoid tops with too much fabric or tops that don’t fit properly and try to look for separates because then you can mix-and-match your top and bottom sizes. The perfect alternative for you is the ruffled tops or tops of the bandeau band style.

For those who are big on top, what you need is support! Underwire and halter tops are perfect for providing this whilst providing you with cleavage! Look for a one-piece with a structure bust, this style really compliments your body shape and helps balance out your body. Avoid strapless and bandeau tops and again, it is a good idea to buy separate top from bottom sets.

Those with short legs or short bodies look best in suits that are high cut on the thigh, this makes your legs look instantly longer! Vertical stripes and block colored bottoms paired with printed tops are perfect for attracting attention upwards and adding instant inches onto your height. Alternatively, a bloc swimming costume with a ‘plunge’ neckline can also achieve this look! It is very important for smaller people to avoid boy shorts and ‘frilly’ bikini bottoms.

Long body shapes look brilliant in horizontal strips or block bright colors- very ‘in’ right now! Boy shorts are beautiful bikini bottoms are just the thing for you! Although If you prefer wearing a costume rather than a bikini, go for one which has ‘cut-out’ areas as it will break up your body.

If this all seems like a bit too much, why not pass the stress onto a professional? Debenhams Personal Shoppers are the perfect people to search and bring you the best alternatives and are experts in matching up body shapes to swimsuits. They also stock a great range of sizes and best of all the service is free with no pressure to buy.

Get groomed

Great grooming is a sure way to look good and feel confident. A wide range of treatments are available and practical to achieve at home and a variety of methods mean there is something simple and easy out there to suit everyone. If you don’t fancy doing all the work yourself, or you have enough cash to splash-out and book an appointment at a beauticians where a wide range treatments are available ranging from eyebrow waxes to cellulite and stretch marks.

Grab a brew

Throughout the day, try to sip green tea as appose to the regular earl grey. Green tea helps rid your body of fluid and make you feel less bloated. If you can’t stand the bitter taste, you should try a blend made with citrus, which helps promote cleansing in the body and the removal of toxins. Green tea has many other long term benefits such as helping prevent conditions such as: cancer, arthritis, high cholesterol levels, cardiovascular disease, infections and immune problems.

Yoga

Even after just one class we can guarantee you on your way to a firmer stomach, not to mention relaxed body and mind. Along with classes before you go, why not see if there are any at your holiday destination. Otherwise learn a few simple moves so you can do some stretches before you hit the beach!

Bananas mainly consist of sugars and fibre, which makes them brilliant for an instant, in addition to a slightly pro-longed, energy source. Bananas are frequently over looked as a fruit when it comes down to providing nutritional value and should be incorporated into the diet more, whether it be sliced up and combined with cereal, blended in a smoothie, or even consumed whole as a quick snack! It is recommended that the banana ought to be eaten as part of a nutritious diet at least 4 times a week…

Some of the health advantages of bananas include:

-Decreasing Depression: Bananas contain a specific amino acid that the body converts into serotonin, resulting in an improved mood.
-Bananas are also high in iron, helping the body’s haemoglobin functions work.
-Due to their content of fibre, bananas help to maintain a constant, usual bowel function.
-Bananas contain substances which help our body absorbs more calcium, meaning stronger bones (green bananas are better for this!)
-It has been proven that Bananas act in a significantly protective way towards the kidney.
-Bananas are high in Potassium and extremely low in Sodium… providing the perfect balance for maintaining a constant blood pressure.
-Help minimise heartburn
-Bananas can help those trying to quit smoking as they are high in B6 and B12 vitamins which help the body recover from nicotine withdrawal!
-Good for stress relief!
-Can help reduce the risks of strokes.
-It is well known that 3 portions of fruit a day can help better your eyesight!

Over the past year or so, the popularity of coconut water has increased, for decades it was known for its health benefits however until recently, (thanks to a spate of celebs seen drinking/promoting it) it has become hugely popular. Which is not surprising really as it has numerous health benefits, such as being rich in minerals; sodium, calcium, magnesium, iron, copper, phosphorus, potassium, proteins C and B and glucose. Coconut water also contains no fat and even though it tastes sweet it doesn’t have any sugar in it either.

Although it can be expensive to buy here in the UK (probably because we can’t produce coconuts) it is worth while adding it to your diet. Drinking it on a regular basis provides you with numerous health benefits:

-boost your immune system
-fight viruses
-boost poor circulation
-aids digestion by removing toxins
-boost thyroid health
-keep body at proper temperature
-carry nutrients and oxygen to cells
-help break up kidney stones
-great for liver problems such as hepatitis
-reduce urinary problems
-helps eliminate swelling in hands and feet
-good for burns
-good for hangovers

It’s no surprise reading the health benefits of coconuts that for centuries those who live in tropical clime have been drinking the coconut water to boost their immune systems and gain vitality.

Dieting can be quite hard for many people, it takes a lot of dedication and willpower, however there are certain foods that can give you a helping hand when it comes to loosing lbs! Basically to lose weight you need to restrict calories you eat and increase calories you lose through exercise.

Eating oats – Having oats for breakfast is a great way to start your day, they are rich in fibre which helps increase your metabolism and they also break down slowly releasing energy slowly, so you don’t crash after eating.

Adding more eggs – Contrary to popular belief, eggs are actual very good for you and have a range of health benefits, they are easily digested, a great source of protein, making you feel fuller for longer which means you reduce your calorie intake. Great for breakfasts and if you want to cut out as much fat as you can opt for using just the egg white, if you can.

Detox with lemons – Lemon is great at eliminating toxins in your body, which cause you to store more fat and hold more water, leading to water retention. Adding lemon to hot water, dressings, food and other dinks will help reverse the problems above.

Spice up with chillies – Hot, hot, hot chillies might not feel that great on your tongue but they are good for you, they help increase your metabolism as well as being calorie free, bonus! Try adding a chilli to your diet every day, from salads to stir fries, even to your egg white omelette on a morning.

Eat your greens – A lot of people keep away from green, put off from childhood, no doubt, however adding plenty of greens to your diet is a great way of filling up without adding lots of lbs. Greens such as spinach, kale, watercress and rocket are packed full of nutrients and enzymes which are very, very good for you, so try to eat as much as you can on a daily basis.

In the US consumer watchdog Public Citizen issued a petition to the US Food and Drug Administration calling for a ban on the class of drugs called orlistat, which are known as Xenical and Alli. Both are they only FDA approved weight loss drugs in the US; however it’s believed that they can cause liver damage, pancreatitis and kidney stones.

Speaking about the weight loss drugs, Dr. Sidney Wolfe, director of Public Citizen’s Health Research Group said: “These drugs have the potential to cause significant damage to multiple critical organs, yet they provide meagre benefits in reducing weight loss in obese and overweight patients.”

Recent studies suggest that taking Xenical or Alli would only help people lose 4 to 6 pounds more than they would with only diet and exercise. According to Wolf “The benefit was never that great, but many people thought they’d take their chances.”

Worldwide it’s estimated that around 40 million people have taken either Xenical or Alli in the last decade, however GlaxoSmithKline who make the drug are finding a decrease in sales. According to a report released by Public Citizen Alli sales dropped from $145 million in 2007 to $84 million by mid-2010.

The weight loss drug Xenical was sold on prescription in 1997 and was touted as a breakthrough weight loss drug and in 2007 Alli became an over the counter approved weight loss drug. In the past the FDA have banned two previous market leading weight loss drugs, Fen-phen and ephedra, because of potentially fatal side effects. So it may only be a matter of time before they do the same again.