The Importance of a Balanced and Nutritional Diet

Whether you are looking to lose weight or just to improve your nutrition, there is one factor that is vital to being successful. For any nutrition plan to succeed, you must achieve a balanced diet. A balanced diet is an eating plan that successfully balances each of the food groups.
Whether you are looking to lose weight or just to improve your nutrition, there is one factor that is vital to being successful. For any nutrition plan to succeed, you must achieve a balanced diet. A balanced diet is an eating plan that successfully balances each of the food groups. By finding the best balance of food groups, you can achieve better results than you ever have before.

One of the biggest misconceptions among people trying to lose weight is that eating less or not at all will make losing weight quicker and easier. In reality, this is far from the truth. By completely stopping eating, your body will actually lash out against you. If you deprive your body of food, it will try to hold on to any nutrients that it possibly can. This means that the fat you have, however little, is going to be retained by your body. This process occurs because of the body's natural instincts. Your body does not know that you are choosing to deprive yourself of food, therefore, it reacts as if you were starving. The "starvation diet" is one of the most counterproductive methods of weight loss that you can try.

Instead of attempting to deprive your body of any and all food, you should instead make a conscious effort to improve your diet. In order to improve your diet, you need to make sure you are getting a solid balance each day of all the necessary nutrients each and everyday. Although it may seem difficult to determine between good and bad food, there are a few easy tips you can follow to ensure a more balanced diet.

First of all, there are certain foods that should be avoided as much as possible. These include foods high in fat, which includes almost all fast food. Additionally, snack items like greasy potato chips should also be avoided. If you need a snack, opt for something like yogurt or an apple. When it comes to meals, just use common sense. Carbohydrates from foods like rice are good, while carbs from less nutritious sources should be avoided. It is also important to include as many fruits and vegetables in your diet as possible. Fruits and vegetables provide essential nutrition, along with virtually no excess calories.

Many people constantly struggle with trying to find the right diet. Although it may seem silly, following something as simple as the Food Pyramid can help put you on the right track. When it comes to making proper food choices, common sense usually prevails. If something seems unhealthy, then it probably is. By trusting your instincts and doing a little research when in doubt, you can find the diet that is right for you!

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What Are The Advantages Of The Medifast Diet ?

There are all kinds of weight loss programs and diets on the market these days. What makes the Medifast diet special ?
There are all kinds of ways to lose weight, including diet pills, fitness clubs and weight loss programs and diets.

If you are one of those people who have tried every method of losing weight under the sun, consider the benefits of the MediFast diet, a healthy new diet product on the market that is designed to help you quickly shed pounds the safe and wholesome way. If you are looking at it right now, or have ever considered it, or even if you are looking at some other type of diet to help you with your weight loss needs, consider the three benefits this regimen has when you're trying to lose weight.

1. The MediFast Diet is Convenient
This weight loss program is convenient. You never have to worry about counting up points or checking the labels of your food for their carbohydrate content. And, you don't have to count points, pop pills, or drink tea either. This diet helps you lose weight by doing what you know how to do best - eat! The MediFast diet isn't the type of diet that requires one to sit down to a meal every night.

If you are on the go, it is okay for you to be on the go because MediFast has a variety of things that the diet allows you to choose from, from snack bars, to puddings, and soups. There is no need to have to kill yourself with the temptation that grocery shopping can bring, as the MediFast diet doesn't require you to ever have to set foot in the grocery store.

2. You'll Never Be Hungry Again
MediFast is not one of those programs that cause you to be constantly starving. These diets don't work for people simply because they cause them to work against what feels natural for them. Their body is telling them that it is hungry and needs food to fuel itself, and certain diets have you ignoring this impulse.

You will be happy to know that you can eat not twice, not three times, but five times a day. The diet helps to constantly fuel your body so that it can effectively and efficiently burn calories and fat, helping you to lose weight faster and easier.

3. The MediFast Diet is Healthy
There are a lot of diet options out there for a person to choose from when they are looking at their weight loss options, and the MediFast diet is just one of them. The thing that sets this diet apart from the rest is the fact that it makes you eat and put nutrients into your body rather than depriving your body of the all-important nutrients that are required to help the body operate efficiently and burn fat efficiently.

There are no foreign chemicals that you are ingesting into your body to help the body to burn off fat that you have to worry about being recalled later. The MediFast diet is all about You. It is about real food, safe food that is good for your body and helps to keep you nourished and healthy.

This weight loss program is a great diet option for people who need something different to spur their weight loss. If you are having a hard time losing weight or you have reached a weight loss plateau, consider the benefits of the MediFast Diet for yourself today.

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Why The FDA Banned Ephedra

The FDA is not always thorough in their approval of drugs or herbs! They don't always make sure that pharmaceutical and herbal supplement companies perform thorough studies.
The FDA is not always thorough in their approval of drugs or herbs! They don't always make sure that pharmaceutical and herbal supplement companies perform thorough studies. They often let them rush to put their products on the market. Consequently this results in the banning of products later on. Such was the case with Ephedra.

Ephedra is a botanical that has many uses and purposes in the medicinal field. There are more uses for ephedra available today, however, science has not yet developed it into its full potential. Science, herbs and medication do go hand in hand when combined properly. To eliminate any of these would be a major mistake. To invest in further development is a wise thing to consider especially when the future of our health is at stake.

Any medicine, scientific drug, natural or man made or herb that causes a rapid heartbeat is a risky substance for the body. This is the primary reason the FDA placed a ban on Ephedra in the first place. Now that we have established some basics, let's take a further look at what the FDA did regarding Ephedra and why?

Lets look at Ephedra through the eyes of the Consumer Advisory Board and the US Food and Drug Administration, FDA. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advises consumers to stop using any dietary supplements containing ephedra. In order to protect consumers, the FDA published a final ruling on April 12, 2004 that bans the sale of dietary supplements containing ephedrine alkaloids. This was the active ingredient in Ephedra.

After careful review of evidence about the risks and benefits of Ephedra in supplements, the FDA did find that these particular supplements present an unreasonable risk of illness and or injury to the consumers. The information showed little evidence of Ephedra's effectiveness, except in short-term weightloss use. This evidence also confirmed that this substance raises blood pressure and stresses the heart. The increased risk of heart problems and the risk of strokes negates any benefits of short-term weightloss.

This information is correct and very much on target to help and prevent heart as well as nervous system conditions. So we can see how the FDA does intervene and take action against botanicals that can have harmful effects on the body when consumed, especially in high quantities.

Ephedra and its uses need to be reconsidered. What its purpose is. What it can safely be used for. And most importantly, what it should not be used for. These issues and more are currently being addressed with research.

Disclaimer - The information presented here should not be interpreted as or substituted for medical advice. Please talk to a qualified professional for more information about Ephedra.

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The Mediterranean Diet - Lose Weight without Sacrificing Taste!

There’s a popular book out right now that explores the reasons why ‘French women don’t get fat’. It’s certainly not for lack of eating delicious food! The same might be said for the Mediterranean diet – the traditional foods that are prepared and eaten around the Mediterranean region of Europe.
There’s a popular book out right now that explores the reasons why ‘French women don’t get fat’. It’s certainly not for lack of eating delicious food! The same might be said for the Mediterranean diet – the traditional foods that are prepared and eaten around the Mediterranean region of Europe. The people there may not be model-skinny, but here are few if any seriously overweight people who live the traditional lifestyle and eat traditional Mediterranean foods.

It all comes down to great tasting, natural food. Forget what you think you know about Italian cuisine, for a start –yes, pizza and pasta do figure heavily in some regions of Italy, but not in the Mediterranean region. By the sea, people subsist on what they can catch from the sea and grow in their gardens. The result is natural, delicious food that is a pleasure to prepare and an even greater pleasure to eat.

Of course, we all naturally think of tomatoes – and it’s a fact that tomatoes grown in the Mediterranean sun are far superior to any that we might find elsewhere in the world. The Mediterranean basin is the home of the tomato, and the place where it grows best. But that’s just the beginning. There are a variety of other vegetables that the Mediterranean kitchen abounds with, and many of them happen to be dark green, red or orange in color. Believe it or not, that does matter – quite a bit, in fact. Studies have shown that dark green, red and orange vegetables have a higher concentration of anti-oxidants, making them powerful cancer fighters. Also, these tend to be more flavorful and satisfying than many other vegetables – especially when prepared according to Mediterranean recipes – and that means that you are more likely to fill up on vegetables. And that, of course, is one of the best things you can possibly do for maximum weight loss.

Meat is part of the diet, but it’s served rather sparingly. Fish is much more common, given that the Mediterranean life is oriented around the sea. Fish are grilled, or prepared as part of various cooked dishes that also contain vegetables. Forget the batter-covered English style fish and chips, though – Europeans living in the Mediterranean regions have much better things to do with their fish, with greatly superior results! Fish is often quite low in fat, as well as being an excellent source of protein. Even when the fat content is a little higher, however, don’t worry – fat that comes from fish is ‘good’ fat, healthy for your heart and bones.

Speaking of ‘good’ fat, you can’t get much better than olive oil for cooking, drizzling on salads, or as a condiment of sorts. Olive oil has none of the harmful effects that some oils have when they are heated – it’s a good, clean oil that adds flavor, and if you’re using good quality olive oil, a little goes a long way! Try to buy cold pressed extra virgin olive oil from Italy, Greece or Spain, or maybe from a lesser known olive oil producer such as Croatia or Albania. In all of these countries, olive groves that are sometimes up to a thousand years old continue to produce olives for eating and oil production. Olives and olive oil are as much a part of the culture as any other aspect of Mediterranean cuisine.

As you can see, the Mediterranean diet is not necessarily a low calorie one, though it certainly can be – you can adjust the calorie content without sacrificing taste, because natural ingredients make up so much of the diet. If you are interested in eating healthily but not necessarily in losing weight, you can add in some of the ‘extras’ – red wine, some cheese and home baked bread, or the occasional dessert. Even without those extras, though, the Mediterranean diet is easy to follow and stick to because it simply tastes great.

Assuming that you are not living in a Mediterranean country (in which case you would probably be eating like this already), find a quality source of tomatoes, peppers and other vegetables in your community. Try to find Greek or Italian grocery store, too, for more obscure ingredients. The Mediterranean diet is good eating for life, as well as being relatively easy and fun to follow.

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Cutting Down On Dangerous Fats Through Low Fat Diets

Through the years, statistics continues to show that 95 percent of people who try traditional diets fail. These studies also show that improper dieting have caused miserable suffering to those have tried it because they underwent drastic food restriction and deprivation.
Life is constantly providing us with new experiences and resources even when we are reduced to immobility. And without stressing too much on the adage health is wealth, it is very important to live by the rules of healthy living.

It is known to many that proper diet, regular exercise, and utmost discipline are the basic ingredients in achieving balanced and healthy living. But more often than not, people who are either obese of morbidly obese do not adhere to these guiding principles on how to achieve those weight loss goals and often experience severe results.

ALL ABOUT LOW FAT DIETS

Through the years, statistics continues to show that 95 percent of people who try traditional diets fail. These studies also show that improper dieting have caused miserable suffering to those have tried it because they underwent drastic food restriction and deprivation. Aside from the depression caused by failed diet and failure of short-term weight loss goal, these people have also developed chronic illnesses.

One of major reasons why people become obese is that they have high blood cholesterol levels due to fat intake. If you want to achieve your desired weight, make sure that you familiarize yourself first with fats. Basically, there are two major types of dietary fats the saturated and unsaturated fat. Saturated fats may lead to the increase of cholesterol in the blood while eating unsaturated fats or oils can help decrease cholesterol levels. Fats are also categorized as "low fat" which has 20 to 30 percent of calories derived from fats and "very low fat" that has 0 to 19 percent of calories from fats.

Experts say that fat has more than twice the calories as the same amount of protein or carbohydrate this is why a good low fat diet can be helpful in the reduction of weight gain and lowering blood cholesterol as well. Over the years, health authorities and experts agree low fat diets are the best because these enable people to control over weight through lowered fat consumption.

The most typical low fat diets include the Ornish Diet, the Pritikin Diet, Hip and Thigh Diet, Scarsdale Diet, F-Plan Again Diet, Mayo Clinic Plan, Rice Diet, Weight Watchers Diet, Jenny Craig Diet, The 3-Hour Diet, and Anne Collins Diet Program that offer different low fat diets.

Here are some ways to eat less fat:

1. Try eating fewer fried foods. Instead of eating fried foods, opt for grilled, boiled, baked, poached, steamed or dry roasted foods.

2. Stop adding butter, lard, and margarine to food while preparing and cooking. Also, spare yourself from spreads.

3. Cut down on visible fat from meat.

4. Eat less fatty meat products like sausages, burgers, meat pies, and pasties.

5. Consume semi-skimmed or skimmed milk instead of drinking whole milk.

6. Try eating low-fat or reduced-fat varieties of cheeses.

7. Eat lesser high-fat foods like crisps, chocolates, cakes, pastry products, biscuits, and pizzas.

8. Drink low-fat or natural yogurts or creams.

Since cutting down is just the tip of the iceberg, the person must also be ready to get into an exercise program. The patient will also have to consult with a doctor to make sure it is safe.

Many people are advised to enroll in a gym. With the help of a trained professional, the individual will be able to increase the metabolic rate in the body and lose weight.

Eating at home and working out in the gym can be enhanced further by also doing other things in between.

1. The individual can park the vehicle in the far end of the lot to be able to enjoy the walk to the office.

2. If the employee works in an office building, the person can take the flight of stairs instead of using the elevator to get to the right floor.

3. The patient can also engage in some sport such as basketball after work with people in the office or with friends. Those who prefer to work out alone can do brisk walking or jogging in the morning that will also increase the heart rate and make the person lose some calories.

4. If the individual is used to bringing the vehicle to the carwash, for a change, this can be done at home by simply getting a bucket of water, soap and a piece of cloth. This is just one of the many household chores that can save some money instead of having it done by someone else.

Taking control of one's diet is the only way to be healthy. The only thing that doctors, family and friends can do is to encourage the individual into making some lifestyle changes.

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Weight Loss Diets: Fact And Fiction

The weight loss industry is a booming industry worth billions of dollars annually. It therefore should be no surprise that we are constantly being bombarded with new 'miracle' products and weight loss programs that will shed the pounds quickly and without much effort. Navigating the plethora of dieting information to distinguish between fact and fiction can be difficult, but it is certainly not impossible.

A good starting place to discover the truth is actually to uncover the fiction. Once we know what isn't true, we can concentrate on genuine information that supports weight loss.

Here are four of the most common weight loss myths:

Skipping Meals Will Help You Lose Weight

The idea behind this is that if you eat less food, you will automatically lose weight. While on the surface this sounds like it should work, it doesn't take into account the body's metabolic response to what it sees as starvation. It slows right down to give you the best chance of survival. This means that you burn fewer calories. The truth of the matter is, eating more often but smaller healthy meals raises the metabolic rate and aids weight loss.

You Can Eat What You Want As Long As You Exercise

You have to do an awful lot of exercise to burn off a chocolate bar. The value of exercise is not so much that it burns calories (although that certainly helps), it is that it raises the metabolic rate so that you burn more calories faster all through the day. If you need to lose weight, you cannot eat what you want. You do need to exercise discipline while you shed those extra pounds.

Diet Pills Will Make You Slim

Diet pills do not make you slim. Most diet pills are designed to suppress hunger and it is not eating as much that helps you lose weight. However, diet pills do not control the calories or fat content of the food you do eat, so you might eat less food but still the wrong food. Furthermore, pharmaceutical diet pills have unwanted side effects that can have long term affects on your health. Some natural diet pills such as hoodia gordonii have the advantage of suppressing appetite without side effects, so if you must go down this path, they are the preferred option. Nevertheless, simply eating less will not guarantee weight loss unless the food you are eating is healthy and calorie controlled so that you can lose weight and maintain good health.

Calorie Restriction Is The Best Way To Lose Weight

The Calorie Restriction Diet is a controversial diet founded on the belief that severe calorie restriction slows the aging process. Many people believe that substantial calorie reduction will reduce metabolic stress and in so doing, increase life span. Calorie counting on its own is not good dietary practice. While it is true that counting calories can be very helpful in managing energy intake, the quality of those calories is very important. The nutritional impact of the food eaten is very important and will affect all aspects of health, including weight stabilization.

Now that we have looked at some very common fallacies, let's take a look at some important weight loss facts. These facts can make a huge difference to your ability to achieve your weight loss goals and then maintaining your new weight in a healthy manner.

Weight Loss Takes Time

Genuine, healthy, permanent weight loss takes time. It is a gradual process and it is not going to happen overnight. Extreme weight loss diets that promise quick results do not promote good health and even if the person does lose weight quickly, more often than not, they gain more back than they lost. This manner of dieting actually causes weight gain in the long term.

Weight Loss Requires A Lifestyle Change

The first thing that has to change if you want to lose weight is your diet; not only what you eat, but how much you eat. A lot of people take in more calories every day than they actually use. If this continues over time, a person can gain a lot of weight and yet not appear to be overeating. Effectively, to lose weight you have to burn more calories than you eat. To be healthy in the process, these calories have to have a high nutritional value. Exercise should also be included in this lifestyle change. Exercise will burn calories while you are engaged in it, but more than this, it will raise your metabolic rate so that you burn more calories throughout the day.

You Do Not Necessarily Have To Eat Less

To lose weight, you may not have to eat less food. Many people are overweight, not because they eat too much, but because they eat food high in calories. A person who eats a large heaped plate of salad will consume fewer calories than a person who eats a small bucket of chips. A person who drinks water with their meals will consume fewer calories than someone who drinks a sugary soda. There is also substantial evidence that diet sodas can prevent weight loss and contribute to weight gain, not because of calories but because of the effect of chemicals. This means that calories are not the only consideration in choosing foods. Nutritional value and health benefits need to be primary considerations in order to get the best long term health and weight loss results.

You Should Eat Regularly

It is important to eat regularly for two reasons. Firstly, hunger is the number one enemy of weight loss so it is important to avoid more than mild hunger. If you get too hungry, you can be tempted to just grab anything and totally blow your daily goals. When we fail, it is easy for discouragement to set in which can cause us to give up altogether. Secondly, eating a number of small regular meals throughout the day will increase your metabolic rate so that you burn more calories.

If you avoid the fiction and stick to the facts, then your weight loss journey has every likelihood of success. It is hard to lose weight in our modern world with its fast-paced stressful lifestyle and fast food fixes. That is why we really have to reject this lifestyle to be successful. More than anything, if you want to lose weight you need to change the way you live, not just the amount of food you eat.

Diet Tips To Lower Your Cholesterol Levels Naturally

What is the first thing to consider in a low cholesterol diet? You have to know why some foods are safe to eat and why some are not. Here are some tips for you to follow so that you will be able to maintain your cholesterol diet.
Are you gaining weight? Does this make you worry about your cholesterol level? Do you feel like you need to do something about your eating habits particularly your cholesterol diet?

What is the first thing to consider in a low cholesterol diet? Knowing the purpose of a low cholesterol diet will make you adhere to it more sincerely. Then before indulging in any strict diet, low cholesterol diet included, you have to know why some foods are safe to eat and why some are not. However, a lifestyle change that would include a good cholesterol diet as a first step would work best.

The basic of cholesterol lowering diet is the decrease in the total intake of saturated fat, calories, and cholesterol in the body to decrease weight. These types of foods are mainly fruits and vegetables. Fruits and vegetables have very high fiber content; this soaks cholesterol like sponge and disposes it out of the body. Apples, oranges and pears are high fiber foods. This includes oats and carrots. Pasta, whole grains and potatoes are samples of complex carbohydrates.

If you want to go on a cholesterol diet you should minimize your intake of the day’s total saturated fat calorie by 7% and fat by 25-35 percent. Limit your sodium intake by 2400 milligrams daily.

Remember, cholesterol lowering diet and maintaining a daily exercise are major factors in lowering the cholesterol level.

Here are some tips on cholesterol diet approaches:

•Taking fiber-rich foods such as whole grains as your primary source of carbohydrates. This should go hand in hand with an increase intake of fresh fruits and vegetables such as berries, oranges, apples, pears, grapes, bell peppers, broccoli, kale, cauliflower, tomatoes, dark leafy greens celery, squash and eggplant among others.

•Staying away from saturated fats which are mostly found in animal foods such as meat, poultry and dairy products is a good cholesterol diet. Opt for unsaturated fats instead, specifically omega-3 fatty. Good sources of these would be the vegetable and fish oils.

•Source out protein from soy protein, poultry, and fish instead of meat.

•Major lifestyle change as a part of cholesterol diet would mean weight control, exercise, and quitting smoking.

If you want to dine out and still stick on your cholesterol diet, here are some tips for you to follow so that you will be able to maintain your cholesterol diet.

•Find out which restaurants have low saturated fat and have a low cholesterol menu.

•Sharing your dish with your companion or taking some home is advisable, better yet, you can also ask for appetizer-size servings or a side dish.

•Ask to separate the gravy, butter, rich sauces and dressings. You can control your cholesterol and saturated fat much easier that way.

•Ask the extras (salad, fries, baked potato) to be left off or substitute them.

•If you are craving for pizza, order the one that has vegetable toppings (green pepper, onions, and mushrooms) instead of meat or extra cheese. Or to make it easier for you, order it with half of the cheese or no cheese at all.

•If your dining on a fast-food restaurant, order salads, grilled skinless chicken sandwiches (fried and breaded are a no no), regular-sized hamburgers or roast beef sandwiches. Avoid large burgers, sandwiches and french-fries.

•Choose the dishes that are cooked on a low cholesterol method (broiled, steamed, au jus, garden fresh, baked, roasted, poached, tomato juice, dry boiled and lightly saturated)

•Be mindful of dishes that are high in saturated fat and cholesterol. (butter sauce, fried, crispy, creamed, au gratin, au fromage, escalloped, parmesan, hollandaise, béarnaise, marinated, stewed, basted, sautéed, casserole and pastry crust)

Take note that if you lose weight, your calorie needs will also be lowered. It will decrease the amount of saturated fat and the fat that you will be able to consume on the cholesterol diet.

If you are having a hard time of making changes with cholesterol lowering diet, consult a nutritionist or dietitian so that you can work up some sample diets. Visit Lower Cholesterol Guide

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Understanding Fats and carbohydrates and their role in a healthy diet

In recent times it would give the impression that fats and carbohydrates have both gotten a bad rap. First it was fat that was the culprit in all dietary ills, and low fat diets were all the rage. Then the two switched places, with carbohydrates being the bad guys and fat reigning supreme.
Both fats and carbohydrates play an important role in nutrition, and both are vital to a healthy diet. It would be impossible and unwise to remove all fat from the diet, since fat is important for the production of energy, and for carrying valuable fat soluble vitamins like vitamin D, vitamin E and vitamin K, throughout the body. In addition, fat plays a very important role in regulating various bodily functions. Even though some fat is essential to a healthy body, too much fat can be harmful. Excessive levels of dietary fats have been implicated in heart disease, stroke, high cholesterol levels and even some cancers. Most nutritionists suggest limiting daily fat intake to less than 20% of calories, although taking that level lower than 10% is not recommended.

The type and amount of fat in the diet makes all the difference. A diet high in saturated fats, trans fats and cholesterol has been associated with a variety of ills, including heart disease, stroke and other related diseases. In addition, many long-term chronic problems, such as obesity, are associated with high levels of dietary fats. Food labels do make the complex process of choosing the right fats somewhat easier. For instance, trans fats will be listed on the ingredient list of foods that include them. In general, trans fats are found mainly in processed foods. When limiting your daily intake of fat and cholesterol, it is good to have an understanding of nutritional labels. This government mandated labels could be a huge help to those who take the time to read and be aware of them.

Carbohydrates are an important part of a healthy diet as well, and carbs are necessary for providing energy and many vital nutrients. Carbohydrates are found in fruits and vegetables, in grains and in milk and dairy products. It is important to choose carbohydrates carefully, however, since not all are equallyhealthy. Keeping saturated fats and trans fats to a minimum is important to a healthy diet. Trans fats, which are solid at room temperature, are most often found in highly processed foods like cookies, cakes and other baked goods. In addition, trans fats are often found in fried foods and in salty snacks like potato chips. While these foods are fine in moderation, it is best to avoid large quantities of such snacks.

As with many products, less is often more when it comes to choosing foods rich in carbohydrates. For example, less refined whole grain bread is generally more nutritious than white bread, which has gone through a greater amount of refining. That is because the refining process tends to decrease nutrient content over time. Of course, there are some elements in the diet that should be limited. Two of these elements are sugar and salt. Most Americans consume too much salt and sugar, and this has led to epidemics of obesity, diabetes, heart disease and other ills. Limiting sugar and salt, while choosing good fats and unrefined carbohydrates, is a great way to make the most of the nutritional value of the foods you eat.
There's a lot to understand about Fats and carbohydrates. We were able to provide you with some of the facts above, but there is still plenty more to write about in subsequent articles.
Visit Healthydiet

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Atkins Diet Induction Menu - Eat All The Stakes You Desire And Still Lose Weight

Low carbohydrate diet invented by Dr. Atkins remains to be possibly one of the most popular low carb-high protein diets on the market today. Low carbohydrate Dr. Atkins diet status has helped spark dozens of similar diets who utilize the matching values of low carb, high protein diet. In the present day overweight people have numerous low carbohydrate diets to choose from.

Tests have verified that low carbohydrate eating has countless helpful effects as well as produce sizeable loss of weight with no need to limit calories. People who make use of the high-protein, low-carb diet by Dr.Atkins have been reporting this. Lots of medical studies have shown that high protein diet enhances triclycerides, reduces blood sugar for people with diabetes problem and pre-diabetics and improves good cholesterol (HDL). Low-carb, high-protein dieting has been constantly confirmed to increase insulin sensitivity, cuts down blood pressure and cut blood insulin levels. When we contrast it against low fat diets, protein high dieters also lose not as much of muscle size.

Even though not proven by medicine, there are a lot of diverse positive consequences stated by people using low carb, high protein Dr. Atkins diet. Some of these include more energy, lower appetite for sugar, better focus, better temper and decrease of depression kind of signs.

However there are also a few benefits that are particular to the low carb, high protein Atkins diet. If you have been a low fat dieter before you will like eating all previously not allowed that once you had to go without. Cream, steak and butter are a everyday element of high protein diet devised by Dr. Atkins. You will without a doubt find it very pleasing to once again eat food that you like. People on high-protein, low-carb diet by Dr.Atkins are allowed to eat their full of meat, cheeses and fats and oils.

Diet invented by Dr. Atkins is also easy to apply if balanced against some other high-protein, low-carb diets available today. There are some of basic carbohydrate calculations that you are going to have to learn, but behind that, you are going to be free to eat a meal of any food you want from the acceptable food listing.

Dr. Atkins furthermore highlighted the importance of finding your own personal carb level. Various people have diverse degree of carbohydrate tolerance. While some of us put on pounds with barely 90 grams of carbohydrates a day, other people can live comfortably at 120 carbohydrate grams. For the period of your ongoing dieting phase and pre-maintenance stage of the low carb, high protein Dr. Atkins diet, you are going to find out your personal carb count that is going to help you ascertain your carbohydrate goal for life.

The popularity of high protein diet by Dr.Atkins can in reality make your weight loss much harder then it should be. Since there is a great deal of info offered on the low carb Dr. Atkins diet, which makes it simple to find resources and support, but can also confuse you. There have been lots of Atkins books written and what is more there are scores of internet websites that supply you with tips, group support and information. However more or less everyone you know has heard of diet invented by Dr. Atkins and certainly has his or her own belief on it. You must know that there are many mistaken beliefs around the world about the character of the diet by Dr.Atkins, and you are going to, surely, need to defend your newly discovered way of eating now and then.

Besides that there are also a few of the other downsides to using the high protein, low carb diet invented by Dr. Atkins. You should calculate carbohydrates in your every meal to be assured that you are staying within your personal carb range. Furthermore, there is the matter of Induction, the most hotly debated phase of the diet devised by Dr. Atkins. Induction can often be tricky to go through if you have attempted a diet that concentrates on sugar and carbs. Furthermore, many individuals attempt Induction and by mistake consider that this is the way that the entire diet is going to be. They end up quiting before they even start the genuine diet devised by Dr. Atkins.

Occasionally though if it does not happen often, some individuals will be subjected to a carbohydrate crash usually on the 3rd and up to 5th day of the diet devised by Dr. Atkins. Such sort of reaction is a result of their body entering the ketosis phase or burning fat for fuel as a substitute for carbohydrates. The reaction is passing however numerous people have quitted on low carbohydrate, high protein diets entirely because of this small happenstance.

Taken as a whole, with the several small snags considered, high-protein, low-carbohydrate Atkins diet remains to be one of the most used low carbohydrate diets for one good reason. It works. Scores of people have succeeded with the high protein, low carb diet devised by Dr. Atkins and the low carb style of eating.
Toni Rok

Weight Loss Quickly Easily

How can you lose weight quickly and easily? Now, before I say this one word, just remember one thing. I have used this method and it really works! OK, here's the word...Hypnosis. I know what you're thinking. Oh gosh, she's a nutcase. She believes in all that hocus-pocus hypnosis stuff. First, I'm not a nut case, but I do try to be very open-minded. And yes, I do believe in hypnosis. Why? Because I've used it and it does work.

I think a lot of people think that hypnosis is like what you see on televisison and movies. Where the person is totally "out of it" and the therapist can make them do or say anything they want. That's just not the case. If you go to a good hypnotist, your experience should be quite relaxing. First, you will talk to the hypnotherapist and tell them why you are there. You tell them what your eating habits are like, such as having a craving for chocolate, or eating uncontrollably if you're upset. You then will sit or lie down and relax. You'll listen to the therapist's voice. He or she will very softly say things like "I want to eat healthy foods" and "I choose to eat foods that have no chocolate in them."

That's all there is to it! Your session will probably last around 20 minutes. The only negative thing I can say about going to a hypnotist or hypnotherapist for weight loss is that you may have to go back more than once. It just depends on how easily you can be hypnotized and how good your therapist is and how deep set your problems are.

Personally, I can't afford to go to a hypnotherapist over and over, so I've always liked to use subliminal tapes. Now you can even download the program right onto your computer! I think that's great! You can listen to it any time you're on the computer. Downloading tapes is no different than going to a hypnotherapist's office. Well, actually, it is. It's better. You can have privacy, and you only have to pay for them once and then you can enjoy them over and over.

You may be thinking right now, "I'll just try another diet pill." Stop and think first. How many diet pills and fad diets have you already tried? Did they work? Obviously not, or you wouldn't be reading this right now.

karen vines

Diet Pills: Solution to weight Loss

Obesity is a disease that has spread its tentacles all over the world. Fast foods and hectic lifestyle have acted like catalysts for the spread of obesity. Obesity makes a person fat and susceptible to many diseases. Obesity also has a psychological impact on the person. An obese person has low self esteem and self confidence. Obese people also have low motivation and desire to achieve their goals.

Obese people also have desires like any normal individual. However, an obese person is unable to perform as a normal can due to body weight and mass. More over an obese body does not attract attention and is subjected to ridicule most of the time. An obese person cannot assume positions in love making which enhance the desire of an individual. Hence it is important to reduce weight for a healthy life style. Weight reduction also lessens the risk of diseases such as heart problems and diabetes.

Obesity can be overcome by avoiding fatty foodstuffs and the right exercise. Right exercise can include cardiovascular exercises and weight work outs. And the diet pills are like some helping bodied. These pills help in the development of muscles which in turn increase the metabolism of the body. It's important to motivate yourself to lose weight in order to have a normal life.

There are many pharmacies online that provides sufficient information about diet pills. One can take advantage of these growing pharmacies and the diet pills provide by them in turn they need very genuine supports form your side as these are resources of cheap diet pills so one can buy online.

The Online diet pill provider keeps track of your privacy. They sends these drugs in safe way that ensures safety for losses in shipping etc.

John Smith

Zone Diet Menus

Break Fast Menu

* Buckwheat Blini With Ricotta And Apples
* Cranberry Orange Muffin - 4 Oz
* Cream Cheese And Jelly French Toast With Eggs
* Eggs Benedct With Canadian Style Bacon
* Farina With Maple Syrup & Sausage
* Florentine Omelette With Potatoes
* Maple Nut Steel Oatmeal With Scrambled Egg
* Pesto Egg Pie With Prosciutto Ham
* Potato Cheddar Frittata
* Shirred Egg With Cheese Sauce And Asparagus
* Sweet Potato Pancakes With Turkey Bacon And Egg Substitute
* Tomato Basil Omelette With Sliced Potatoes
* Soldier Salad With Turkey

Lunch Menu

* Portabella Napoleon
* Grilled Chicken Blt Club Salad
* Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad
* Chef's Salad With Fresh Apple On The Side
* Chicken Satay Salad
* Cobb Salad With Swiss Cheese
* Balanced Delight Salad With Smoked Turkey
* Beef Negimaki Salad
* Blackened Chicken With Creole Salad
* Baked Cod With Dijon And Lentils

Dinner Menu

* Breast Of Chicken Verdure
* Almond Crusted White Fish
* Chicken Cacciatore With Red Pepper Polenta
* Chicken Parmesan With Artichokes
* Grilled Pork Loin With Barley Pilaf & Green Beans
* Grilled Scallops With Swiss Chard & Escalloped Potatoes
* Pork Loin With Kraut
* Sloppy Joe Hoagie
* Stuffed Peppers With Chick Peas
* Spanakopita

Snack Menu

* Stuffed Artichoke Hearts With Fresh Mozzarella
* Raspberry Swirl Cheesecake
* Seafood Stuffed Mushroom
* Pork Cutlet Minanese With Broccoli
* Lobster Ravioli
* Low Carb Pretzels
* Macaroni And Cheese
* Orange And String Cheese
* Orange Cranberry Cheesecake
* Orange Cranberry Mini Muffin
* Peach Cobbler
* Fruit Crudite With Dipping Sauce
* Fruited Gelatin
* Granola With Honey And Yogurt
* Greek Salad
* Double Chocolate Chip Cookies
* Eggplant Rollitini
* Cheese Bake
* Cool Ranch Soy Crisp With Dip
* Crab Cake
* Chili Tostada With Beef
* Chocolate Cheesecake
* Apple And String Cheese
* Baked Apple With Ricotta
* Banana Mini Muffin
* Bbq Soy Chips With Dipping Sauce
* Blueberry Mini Muffin

source : http://www.zonedietinfo.com/menu.htm

Tips - Do's and Dont's while Zone Dieting

Let Zone Diet Info give you a "hand" with the Eyeball Method.
PROTEIN

Tip: To determine the amount of protein in your meal, look at your hand. The amount of protein you should consume at each meal should be equal to the size and thickness of your palm. This category includes chicken, fish, beef, turkey, egg whites, low-fat cheeses, tofu, veal or low-fat pork.

CARBOHYDRATES

Tip: When choosing more favorable carbohydrates, such as fruits or vegetables, your portion size can be determined by curling your hands into 2 loose fists. When choosing less favorable carbohydrates, such as those with higher levels of sugar or starch, allow yourself only one fistful.

FATS

Tip: Give fats a “thumbs up!" Additional fat added to your meal equals the size of the tip of your thumb. This category includes butter and olive oil.

FOODS THAT GET THE THUMBS DOWN

Tip: Sugar in all forms, Breads, Pastas, Potatoes, Rice, Bagels, Cereals, Juices, Sodas, Alcohol and Foods or Beverages containing caffeine. Although these foods get the thumbs down Remember you can have them in moderation from time to time.

FRUITS THAT GET THE THUMBS DOWN

Tip: Although no foods are forbidden in the Zone, some fruits that are high in sugar and should be consumed only in limited quantity are: Bananas, Figs, Prunes, Raisins and Grapes.

VEGETABLES THAT GET THE THUMBS DOWN

Tip: Some vegetables should be eaten in moderation for they contain higher sugar content than most other veggies. These vegetables are: Potatoes, Peas, Carrots and Corn.

TYPICAL LUNCH TIPS

Turkey, Fish, Beef, Chicken or Tofu over a bed of lettuce with mixed vegetables and salad dressing (oil & vinegar). Side of fresh fruit. Use the eyeball method.

GOING OUT TO DINNER

Tip: Eat as much salad as you would like with a moderate amount of dressing. Next, always choose your protein (chicken, fish, beef, veal, Iamb or low fat tofu). If you are offered a breadbasket, you can always politely decline. Steamed vegetables are best. Order fresh fruit for dessert.

ALCOHOL

Tip: If you choose to drink alcohol, it is best to have some food in your stomach before you drink because the food will slow down the absorption rate of the sugar into your bloodstream and will help to keep your insulin levels in check. Remember that you will need to eat fewer carbohydrates at that meal if you choose to drink alcohol.

source : http://www.zonedietinfo.com/tips.htm

Hoodia Gordonii | Hoodia Diet Pills

Hoodia diet pill kills the appetite and attacks obesity, is organic with no synthetic or artificial appetite control agents, has no known side effects, contains a miracle molecule (up to 100,000 times more powerful than glucose). Perhaps the most talked about weight loss breakthrough has been the Hoodia diet pill (you've seen it on 60 Minutes, BBC News, Good Morning America, and Fox News). Hoodia has been clinically proven to suppress appetite and increase energy with no side effects. Scientists discovered a safe, naturally occurring molecule called P57 which is found in Hoodia. That fools the brain into believing you are full, and even stops you from thinking about food. But it actually does MORE
by Rumen

Zone Diet

What if I don't need to lose weight?
Weight loss is only one of many reasons to eat in the Zone. There are countless other benefits associated with the Zone, such as improved health, greater energy, and better mental clarity.

What is the average weight loss?
The average dieter may lose approximately 8 to 10 pounds per month.

How long before I can expect results?
Many Zone dieters report higher levels of energy and a significant decrease in hunger and fatigue within the first five days. In the first week, you may lose up to 4 lbs. of water weight and body fat. Although everyone is different, most people lose approximately 1 1/2 to 2 lbs. of body fat each week thereafter. It is important to remember that "weight loss" should not be your primary objective; rather loss of body fat should become your goal. You can tell you are accomplishing fat loss by the second week when your clothes should start to fit more loosely.

What if I have high cholesterol?
High cholesterol, in contrast to popular belief, is not a result of eating foods high in cholesterol. This soft waxy substance is essential to brain chemistry, memory, and necessary to form cell membranes, hormones and other tissues of the body. Cholesterol has gotten a bad rap through the years. But it is only harmful when it becomes plaque; a thick, hard coating that builds up in the arterial walls. The cause of the build up is not dietary cholesterol, rather the intake of unfavorable carbohydrates that initiate insulin, a pro-inflammatory hormone that causes a cascade of reactions eventually leading to arterial damage.

What if I have diabetes?
The Zone Diet is actually a wellness as well as a weight loss program. It was originally developed to help people with diabetes and heart disease. The Zone is the perfect diet for someone with Type II diabetes. The number of Americans with Type II diabetes is increasing at an alarming rate. Accompanying this issue is low HDL's, hypertension, and high triglycerides, all risk factors to heart disease. Zone Diet addresses all of these and is the answer to better health because it corrects elevated insulin levels. Type I diabetes sufferers will also benefit from Zone Diet, however as with all diet programs, you are requested to see your physician regularly and adjust all medications accordingly.

What if I'm pregnant or nursing?
Most doctors recommend that pregnant women and nursing mothers eat a well-balanced diet, increasing their food intake by about 25-30%, which would translate to consuming an "extra" block of protein carbohydrate and fat at each meal. It is recommended that you eliminate difficult to digest and gassy foods during pregnancy.

What if I'm on medication?
We encourage you to see your physician before making any dietary changes. You may, in fact, need to lower the dosage of certain drugs as you reach your wellness and weight loss goals. Certain medications actually increase insulin levels, "sabotaging" your weight loss efforts. Talk to your doctor about drugs that may have less deleterious effects on insulin. Never make any changes without consulting your physician for advice.

Should I eat three meals and two snacks even if I am not hungry?
Absolutely YES! The Zone is all about the hormonal responses to food. Think of food as a drug. Your body needs to process this "drug" in a particular way in order for you to attain your weight loss goals. Not being hungry is a great indicator that you are losing body fat and getting into "the Zone". Another important rule is to always eat breakfast within an hour of waking.

What if I'm not hungry?
Keep an appointment with food; it's all in the planning! Since a Zone meal “regulates" your body's response to insulin, you must eat on a regular basis. Although everyone is different, a Zone meal should stave off hunger for approximately 4-5 hours, a snack, approximately 2 hours. Remember to eat your 3 meals and 2 snacks no matter what. Not being hungry indicates that you are accomplishing your goals and losing body fat.

Should I take supplements?
Yes! In order to survive and maintain health, we all need to consume foods abundant in essential nutrients. We need to eat foods rich in vitamins, antioxidants, photochemical and minerals. Unfortunately, the modern food supply is often devoid of these sources of life due to processing, poor farming practices, the use of pesticides and other damaging chemicals, polluted air and water. There is no doubt that there is a direct relationship between the composition of the food we consume and the composition of our body. Because it is basically impossible to get what we need to be healthy from today's food supply, we all need to increase our nutrient intake through vitamins and other supplements.

Should I eat before working out in the gym?
Definitely! Eating a Zone snack 30 minutes before working out assures that you will access the hormonal benefits of being in the Zone, which means that you will burn body fat, which is essential to weight loss. Aerobic exercise reduces insulin levels, the key to getting trimmer. Anaerobic exercise builds strong muscles. Muscles are a more metabolically active tissue than fat. Even if the scale doesn't move, your clothes will fit better and you will look and feel better. Exercise is an important component to helping you achieve your goals and we highly encourage it. Just remember to start: off slowly and build from there to avoid injury.

Is it ok to eat rice, bagels or pasta ever again?
Of course! What makes the Zone Diet so wonderful is that no foods are excluded. However, when consuming carbohydrates, the best choice is always vegetables and fruits, which are loaded with vitamins and nutrients. All carbohydrates are composed of sugar. Rice, bagels, pasta and sweets have lots more sugar (called the glycemic index) than the more beneficial carbohydrates found in vegetables and fruits. Another point worth making is that many people do not digest grain based foods well and often find that the results of eating these foods are bloating and other digestive disorders. When choosing the grains and other starchy foods, consume very small amounts.

Isn't having 30% fat in my diet too much?
One of the greatest medical myths of the past half-century, especially the last 20 years, is that fats are evil. Fats (more properly referred to as lipids) are essential to good health. Now, some fats are better than others, and no one is encouraging you to eat saturated or hydrogenated fats. However, never make the mistake of lumping all fats together into one negative grouping. Good fats, especially monounsaturated fats, actually have significant health benefits. Contrary to present thinking, it takes dietary fat to burn body fat. Fat actually slows the entry of carbohydrates into the blood stream and are responsible for initiating certain hormones that give you a sense of satisfaction and signal you to stop eating. Some of the fattest people on earth are the ones who try to eat '"fat free!"

Should I be concerned about calories?
The Zone is not about calories. It is about the hormonal response to food. Being in "the Zone" means you're not hungry and not craving, even though it may appear at first to be a low-calorie diet. Women who diet in the Zone should consume 1100-1200 calories daily while men should consume 1400-1600 calories per day. But because blood sugar levels are balanced, if you are like most people, you will be enjoying greater energy levels, less fatigue, the ability to think more clearly, and fewer cravings while attaining your weight loss goals.

Will I gain weight back once I complete the program?
A diet is something you can go off and on. We prefer to think of the Zone Diet as a lifestyle, which teaches you new habits and a new way of looking at (eating!) food. We encourage people to maintain the diet on their own by using what we call the eyeball method.

Can I drink milk if I’m concerned about calcium?
Another unfortunate food myth is that milk is the perfect food. Well, it might just be if you're a 300 lb. calf! In reality, the majority of the world's population finds it quit difficult to digest milk. Most of us do not have the enzymes necessary to “break down" milk. We often refer to this as "lactose intolerance." Calcium is important in the formation of strong bones and teeth, in the maintenance of a regular heartbeat, and in the transmission of nerve impulses. It has even proven to be important in preventing colon cancer. This much-needed mineral can be found in lots of the good foods, especially green leafy vegetables. For added insurance, it is always best to include a calcium supplement in your vitamin regimen.

When do I eat?
It has often been said that timing is everything! If you think of food as a drug, you'll begin to understand how important it is to regulate your body's use of macronutrients - proteins, carbohydrates and fats - throughout the day. A Zone Diet meal should keep your blood sugar regulated for approximately 4 to 5 hours, a snack about 2 hours. By eating on a "regular" basis; 3 meals and 2 snacks each day, you will control insulin and lose body fat Always eat your Zone breakfast within an hour of rising and schedule your remaining meals accordingly. Also, remember to eat before you become hungry.

What can I drink?
Water should always be your beverage of choice. Burning fat is a very dehydrating process, which is why constipation is often a complaint when starting the program. Drinking lots of water is important. Juices are loaded with sugar and should be avoided. By adding a bit of sparkling water you can learn to wean yourself off juice by slowly changing the ratio to more water than juice and retraining your taste buds until you've readjusted to drinking only water.

Can I drink alcohol?
Alcoholic drinks are derived from grains or fruits. They are high glycemic, high-sugared carbohydrates. Alcohol increases insulin levels, which sabotages your weight loss efforts. Think of a 4 oz glass of wine, a bottle of beer or 1½ oz of liquor as one block. That means that if you're a male, consuming 4 blocks of carbohydrates (36-40 grams) at a meal you would need to eat one block less of carbohydrates in order to have that drink at that meal. There are many inconsistent reports coming out of the scientific community regarding alcohol consumption. Some studies show that alcohol is toxic to the cells, accelerates the aging process and has been linked to breast cancer. Other data show alcohol to be heart friendly (in small amounts). If you don't drink, don't start now. If you do, always drink in moderation.

Can I drink coffee?
Coffee contains caffeine and caffeine is a stimulant, which causes insulin resistance. If you must drink coffee, it is best to drink water-processed decaffeinated coffee. And remember, if you add milk or half-and-half to your coffee, you are adding a few extra carbohydrates to your daily intake.

What about artificial sweeteners and diet soda?
Although artificial sweeteners advertise that they have only one calorie, they stimulate carbohydrate cravings, which sabotage your program. Remember, the Zone is not about calories; it's about the hormonal response to food. Aspartame has been linked to headaches, dizziness, anxiety and depression. Diet soda contains artificial sweeteners along with high levels of phosphorous, which interferes with calcium absorption. Calcium depletion has been associated with osteoporosis (bone loss). It is best to cut out the soda.

source : http://www.zonedietinfo.com/zone-diet.htm

5 Suggestions for What to Eat When Dieting -Diet Foods

After you read this short article, you will feel a little more focused on how exactly to go about making a healthy and attractive lifestyle change.

Okay, so let's assume you've made the wise choice of keeping your hard earned money in your purse and you're going to begin your healthy and attractive lifestyle the traditional way. First of all, eating should be viewed as one of life's necessities in order to live. This may not be unconventional and exciting, but experts agree that it will provide you with the best long term results.

Now, you're going to need to develop an exercise regimen, but that's an article for another day. What we want to focus on here is what you should eat. A balanced diet is the key to optimal, healthy and attractive living. It will also help you fight cravings and the urge to cheat by making sure you're never hungry.

One of the main ingredients to losing weight and being attractive is to lower your daily caloric intake. The general rule of thumb is that in order to lose one pound a week you need to lower your caloric intake by 500 calories, i.e. if you normally eat 2,000 calories a day you need to start eating only 1,500 per day.

You can do this by taking the following steps:

Suggestion for What to Eat When Dieting #1 Follow these guidelines

Eat foods that are low in calories Eat less high fat foods Eat smaller portions Avoid second helpings

In order to do this, you're going to have to learn how to read the packaging on foods. All come with a label that lists the caloric, fat, carbohydrate, protein, and nutrient content. It may take time to better understand what exactly the label means. To help you get started, you should consider focusing on the following foods.

Suggestion for What to Eat When Dieting #2 Eat more vegetables and fruits

Make sure they are fresh and not canned. Canned often comes with fattening preservatives that defeat the whole purpose of weight loss.

Suggestion for What to Eat When Dieting #3 Eat pasta, rice, breads, and cereals

Make sure you buy the kinds that have little or no sugars or fats added, i.e. avoid buying white bread, which is chocked full of sugar, and buy wheat. In fact, whole grain is the best way to go with all four of these food types.

Suggestion for What to Eat When Dieting #4 Eat some fatty foods

Not much, though. Fat is not completely unhealthy for you. You do need it in order to get energy and help absorb some nutrients. However, too much of a good thing can completely throw off your healthy and attractive lifestyle. Eating too much high fat foods can lead to high cholesterol and heart disease in the long run. No more than 15% of your diet should consist of fatty foods.

Suggestion for What to Eat When Dieting #5 Avoid sugar and salt

A little is okay, but just as is the case with fatty foods, too much of a good thing can lead your healthy lifestyle astray. You only need about one teaspoon of salt per day. As far as sugar goes, you should try avoiding it as much as possible. You may want to consider using sugar substitutes, such as Equal or Splenda instead. You should avoid alcohol as well. There is enough sugar and carbohydrates in a six pack of beer to equal an entire loaf of bread. If you insist on drinking, then stick to light or low carb beer.

These guidelines will help you get started. Remember, there are hundreds of ways to mix and match food to help keep it interesting. If you start doing this from the beginning, then you can better avoid those unhealthy late night cravings. By changing your eating habits, you can better ensure that once you begin living a healthy and attractive lifestyle, you will continue to do so for good.

Yuki Shoji

The Diabetic Diet: How diabetics count calories and plan their diets

There are several aspects in the treatment of diabetes, each one with a very important role.

The mainstays of Diabetes Treatment are:

1. Working towards obtaining ideal body weight
2. Following a diabetic diet
3. Regular exercise
4. Diabetic medication if needed

Note: Type 1 Diabetes must be treated with insulin. This involves injecting insulin under the skin for it to work. Insulin cannot be taken as a pill because the digestive juices in the stomach would destroy the insulin before it could work. Scientists are looking for new ways to give insulin. But today, shots are the only method. There are, however, new methods to give the shots...Insulin Pumps are now being widely used and many people are having great results. A new page on insulin pumps will be on line soon.

Working towards obtaining ideal body weight.

An estimate of ideal body weight can be calculated using this formula:

For women: Start with 100 pounds for 5 feet tall. Add 5 pounds for every inch over 5 feet. (If you are under 5 feet, subtract 5 pounds for each inch under 5 feet). This will give you your ideal weight. If you have a large frame, add 10 percent. If you have a small frame, subtract ten percent. ( A good way to decide your frame size is to look at your wrist size compared to other women's)

Example: a woman who is 5' 4" tall and has a large frame.

100 pounds + 20 pounds (4 inches times 5 pounds per inch) =120 pounds.

Add 10% for large frame (in this case 10% of 120 pounds is 12 pounds).

120 pounds + 12 pounds = 142 pounds ideal body weight.



For men: Start with 106 pounds for a height of 5 foot. Add 6 pounds for

every inch above 5 foot. For a large frame, add 10%. For a

small frame, subtract 10 percent. (See above for further details).



The Diabetic Diet

Diet is very important in diabetes. There are differing philosophies on what is the BEST diet but below is a guideline with some general principles.

Patients with Type 1 diabetes should have a diet that has approximately 35 calories per kg of body weight per day (or 16 calories per pound of body weight per day). Patients with Type 2 diabetes generally are put on a 1500-1800 calorie diet per day to promote weight loss and then the maintenance of ideal body weight.. However, this may vary depending on the person's age, sex, activity level, current weight and body style. More obese individuals may need more calories initially until their weight is less. This is because it takes more calories to maintain a larger body and a 1600 calorie diet for them may promote weight loss that is too fast to be healthy. Men have more muscle mass in general and therefore may require more calories. Muscle burns more calories per hour than fat. (Thus also one reason to regularly exercise and build up muscle!) Also, people whose activity level is low will have less daily caloric needs.

Generally, carbohydrates should make up about 50 percent of the daily calories ( with the accepted range 40-60 percent). In general, lower carbohydrate intake is associated with lower sugar levels in the blood. However the benefits of this can be cancelled out by the problems associated with a higher fat diet taken in to compensate for the lower amount of carbohydrates.. This problem can be improved by substituting monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats for saturated fats.

Most people with diabetes find that it is quite helpful to sit down with a dietician or nutritionist for a consult about what is the best diet for them and how many daily calories they need. It is quite important for diabetics to understand the principles of carbohydrate counting and how to help control blood sugar levels through proper diet. Below are some general principles about the diabetic diet.

Understanding Food Groups

There are three basic food groups: fats, proteins and carbohydrates. The carbohydrates are the foods that can be broken down into sugar. It is essential to have all three food groups in your diet to have good nutrition.

1. Why count carbohydrates?

Carbohydrate makes your blood glucose level go up. If you know how much carbohydrate you've eaten, you have a good idea what your blood glucose level is going to do. The more carbohydrates you eat, the higher your blood sugar will go up.

2. Which foods contain carbohydrate?

Most of the carbohydrate we eat comes from three food groups: starch, fruit and milk. Vegetables also contain some carbohydrates, but foods in the meat and fat groups contain very little carbohydrate. Sugars may be added or may be naturally present (such as in fruits). The nutrient term for sugars can also be identified by looking for -ose at the end of a word ( i.e. glucose, fructose, sucrose, etc. are all sugars). Look for these on food labels to help identify foods that contain sugar.

Food	Amount	Carb grams	Food	Amount	Carb grams
1 % fat milk	1 cup	12	yogurt fruited	1 cup	40
Bran Chex	2/3 cup	23	yogurt fruit	1 cup	19
Frosted Flakes	3/4 cup	26	Raisin Bran	3/4 cup	28
fruit juice	1/2 cup	15	bread/toast	1 slice	15
banana	1/2	15	sugar	1 tsp.	4
pancake syrup	2 Tbsp.	30	pancakes - 4	2	15
low-fat granola	1/2 cup	30	sugar-free syrup	2 Tbsp.	4

To make things easy, many people begin carbohydrate counting by rounding the carbohydrate value of milk up to 15. In other words, one serving of starch, fruit or milk all contain 15 grams carbohydrate or one carbohydrate serving. Three servings of vegetable also contain 15 grams. Each meal and snack will contain a specific total number of grams of carbohydrate.

For example: Each gram of carbohydrate provides 4 calories. A diabetic on a 1600 calorie diet should get 50% of these calories from carbohydrate. This would be a total of 800 calories or 200 gms of carbohydrate (at 4 calories per gram) spread out over the day. At 15 grams per exchange, this would be about 13 exchanges of carbohydrate per day.

The amount of food you eat is closely related to blood sugar control. If you eat more food than is recommended on your meal plan, your blood sugar goes up. Although foods containing carbohydrate (carb) have the most impact on blood sugars, the calories from all foods will affect blood sugar. The only way you can tell if you are eating the right amount is to measure your foods carefully. Also, it is important to space your carbohydrates out throughout the day to avoid sugar "loading." Measuring your blood sugar regularly also provides important feedback on how high your sugar went based on what you ate and your level of activity.



Where do you get carbohydrate information?

The "Nutrition Facts" label on most foods is the best way to get carbohydrate information, but not all foods have labels. Your local bookstore and library have books that list the carbohydrate in restaurant foods, fast foods, convenience foods and fresh foods. You will still need to weigh or measure the foods to know the amount of grams of carbohydrates present.

How do you count carbohydrate?

Carbohydrates can be counted in number of grams or can be counted as exchanges. One carbohydrate exchange equals 15 grams of carbohydrate. A good reference for learning how to count calories in this manner will be on line here

soon including a calorie computer.

Free Foods:

These are foods that you can eat without counting. A free food or drink is one that contains less than 20 calories and 5 grams or less of carbohydrate per serving. If your serving or a food contains more than 5 grams of carbohydrate, you should count it in your meal plan.

Examples of free foods:

Bouillon or broth
Carbonated or mineral water
Club soda
Coffee or tea
Diet soft drinks
Drink mixes, sugar-free
Tonic water, sugar free
Sugar-free hard candy
Sugar-free Jell-O
Sugar-free gum
Jam or jelly, light or low-sugar, 2 tsp.
Sugar free syrup, 2 tsp.

You should spread out free foods throughout the day and not eat them in one sitting.



Fitting Sugar in Your Meal Plan

It is commonly thought that people with diabetes should avoid all forms of sugar. Most people with diabetes can eat foods containing sugar as long as the total amount of carbohydrate (carb) for that meal or snack is consistent. Many research studies have shown that meals which contain sugar do not make the blood sugar rise higher than meals of equal carbohydrate levels which do not contain sugar. However, if the sugar-containing meal contains more carb, the blood sugar levels will go up.

Does this mean I can eat cake and not worry about it?

No! A slice of white cake with chocolate icing ( 1/12 of a cake or 80 gram weight) will give you about 300 calories, 45 grams of carb and 12 grams of fat. That is three starch servings and over 2 fat servings. Before you have a slice of cake, ask yourself the following questions: Will that small piece of cake be satisfying or will I still be hungry? How it will fit into my meal plan? Do I have 300 calories to "spend" on this? Are there other choices I could make which would contribute less fat? A 1/12 slice of angel food cake has less than 1 gram of fat and only 30 carb. This may be a better choice.

Controlling all carbohydrates

It is important to realize that sugar is not the only carbohydrate that you have to "control". The body will convert all carbohydrates to glucose - so eating extra servings of rice, pasta, bread, fruit or other carbohydrate foods will make the blood sugar rise. Just because something doesn't have sugar in it doesn't mean you can eat as much as you want. Your meal plan is designed so that the carbohydrate content of your meals remains as consistent as possible from day to day.

A word of caution:

Although sugar does not cause the blood sugar to rise any higher than other carbohydrates, it should be eaten along with other healthy foods. If you choose to drink a 12 ounce can of a sugar-sweetened soft drink, that would use up about 45 grams carb - and you wouldn't have gotten any nutrition (protein, vitamins or minerals). What a waste of calories! High sugar foods are more concentrated in carb. Therefore the volume would be smaller than a low sugar food. High sugar foods might not be a good choice if they will just tempt you to eat more. If you would rather eat larger portions, select low sugar choices. Look at the differences in portion size you get for equal amounts of carbohydrate in these cereals!

Granola	Frosted Flakes	Corn Flakes	Cheerios	Puffed Wheat
1/4 cup	1/3 cup	3/4 cup	1 cup	1 1/4 cup

In addition, many sugar-containing foods also contain a lot of fat. Foods such as cookies, pastries, ice cream and cakes should be avoided largely because of the fat content and because they don't contribute much nutritional value. If you do want a "sweet" - make a low-fat choice, such as low-fat frozen yogurt, gingersnaps, fig bars or graham crackers and substitute it for another carbohydrates on your meal plan.

source : http://www.endocrineweb.com/diabetes/treatment.html

The Ten Best Diet Foods In Existence

The Ten Best Diet Foods In Existence
By Kirsten Hawkins

What you eat and what you eat will have a big effect on how quickly you take off pounds, and more importantly, how long you keep those pounds off. There are certain foods that you really should be eating on a regular basis, for lots of good, healthy reasons. They come from all food categories, but every one of them has one thing in common: they pack a lot of nutritional punch into their calories. Here's a list of five diet foods that will help you stay healthy and lose weight.

1. Whole grain breads

If you've been paying attention, you know that evil carbs are the current diet buster. If you just stay away from all carbs, some of the diets proclaim, you'll lose weight no matter what else you eat. That's not only wrong, it's downright dangerous for both your health and your diet. There's a reason that the Bible refers to bread as 'the staff of life'.

Instead of cutting out carbs, you should be aiming to reduce them to a healthy portion of your diet - which most doctors agree is about 50-60% of your caloric intake. That means that if you're on a 1500 calorie a day diet, you should be striving to get about 900 calories a day from grains, fruits and vegetables. Whole grain breads pack a lot of nutritional value. Replace your two slices of white toast with 1/2 a cup of oatmeal or whole grain cereal, and for about the same number of calories, you'll be getting three times the vitamins, amino acids and roughage that your body needs to function. You'll feel full far longer, too - because you've given your body something to work on that will take a while to digest.

2. Fish

Eat at least three servings of fish per week, say many major medical associations. Fish is low in fat, as high in protein as red meat, and provides something that most other proteins don't - omega 3 fatty acids. Omega 3 is one of the main building blocks in your cells. If your body doesn't get enough Omega 3, it will try to build cells from other fatty acids. The problem is that those cells are not as flexible, and not quite the right shape. Among the cells that aren't quite right are the ones in your brain that help control impulses and tell your body what it needs. By providing enough Omega 3 for your body to use, you'll be healing the damage done through years of poor diet. And since fish, as a general rule, has fewer calories than most meats, you'll be saving calories, too. Just remember that you're REPLACING portions of meat with fish, not adding them to what you already eat.

3. Spinach

At 13 calories and 2 grams of carbohydrate in 2 cups of chopped raw spinach, this is one of the lowest cost sources of nutrition you can give your body. Every serving gives you folic acid, manganese,beta-carotene, protein, lutein (a potent anti-oxidant), magnesium, vitamin C and vitamin K. You can eat it raw in salads, steamed as a side dish, or sautéed in a tiny bit of oil for a different taste, and still get all the nutritional benefits.

4. Olive Oil

Your body does need a little fat to process vitamins and use them properly. Olive oil is a mono-unsaturated fat that is the primary source of fat in the so-called Mediterranean diet. It contains antioxidants, flavonoids, beta-carotene and vitamin E, among other things. One tablespoon has a whopping 125 calories, but drizzled on a 13 calorie spinach salad with a little lemon juice and some garlic, you still have a meal with less than 150 calories - and a whole lot of healthy fuel for your body.

5. Pink Grapefruit

With only 40 calories in half a grapefruit, you're getting 45 mg of vitamin C, lycopene, pectin, beta-carotene and potassium. It's versatile and tasty. Eat it as is for breakfast, or toss it into a salad with spinach for an extra punch to perk up the nutritional quality of your diet.

Most importantly, don't base your diet around any single ONE ingredient. The best way to lose weight is to eat a healthy variety of foods to make sure that you get all the essential nutrients that you need each day.

by Kirsten Hawkins

Detox Diet

Rather than following an extreme detox plan that limits just about every food except fruit and veg while at the same time getting you to down a nasty ‘detox’ drink every day, this plan is safer and more sensible and shouldn’t leave you short on nutrients if you follow it for just one week.
Foods to include in the plan

Your plan can include:

* Fruit – your plan can include any fruit including fresh, frozen, dried or canned in natural fruit juice. This includes apples, bananas, pears, oranges, grapefruit, satsumas, sultanas, raisins, pineapple, mango, kiwi fruit, strawberries, raspberries, blackcurrants, nectarines, peaches, melons, star fruit etc

* Fruit juice – either make homemade fruit juices or smoothies from fresh fruit, or drink ready-made juices. Make sure ready-made juices are labelled as being ‘pure’ or ‘unsweetened’.

* Vegetables – eat any vegetables including fresh, frozen or canned in water (without salt added). This includes carrots, onions, turnip, swede, sprouts, cabbage, peppers, mushrooms, sweetcorn, peppers, leeks, courgettes, broccoli, cauliflower, salad, tomatoes, cucumber, spring onions etc

* Beans and lentils – eat any beans, including those that have been dried or canned in water. This includes red kidney, haricot, cannellini, butter, black eye, pinto, red lentils, green lentils and brown lentils

* Tofu and Quorn

* Oats – sprinkle oats over fresh fruit or use to make porridge, sweetened with honey and fresh fruit

* Potatoes – all types

* Brown rice and rice noodles

* Rye crackers, rice cakes and oatcakes

* Fresh fish – eat any fresh fish including cod, plaice, mackerel, salmon, lobster, crab, trout, haddock, tuna, prawns, Dover sole, red mullet, halibut, lemon sole, monkfish, swordfish etc. Canned fish in water is suitable too eg salmon or tuna

* Unsalted nuts – eat any including Brazil, peanuts, almonds, cashew, hazel nuts, macadamia, pecans, pine nuts, pistachio, walnuts etc

* Unsalted seeds – eat any including sunflower and pumpkin

* Plain popcorn – without sugar or salt

* Live natural yoghurt
* Extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar
* Garlic, ginger and fresh herbs

* Ground black pepper

* Honey

* Water – at least 2 litres a day. Tap or mineral water is fine.

* Herbal or fruit teas

Foods to avoid during your detox

* Red meat, chicken, turkey and any meat products like sausages, burgers, and pate

* Milk, cheese, eggs, cream

* Butter and margarine

* Any food that contains wheat including bread, croissants, cereals, cakes, biscuits, pies, pastry, quiche, battered or breadcrumbed foods, etc

* Crisps and savoury snacks including salted nuts

* Chocolate, sweets, jam and sugar

* Processed foods, ready meals, ready-made sauces and takeaways

* Alcohol

* Coffee and tea

* Sauces, pickles, shop bought salad dressing, mayonnaise

* Salt

* Fizzy drinks and squashes, including diet versions

Detox Plan Breakfasts

* Banana porridge
Porridge made with water and topped with natural yoghurt, banana, raisins and sweetened with honey.

* Fruit salad with yoghurt and oats
Fresh fruit salad with natural yoghurt and a sprinkling of oats.

* Fresh fruit smoothie
Fruit smoothie made from fresh fruit, natural yoghurt and honey to sweeten if needed.

* Muesli and yoghurt
Homemade muesli made from oats, seeds, nuts and dried fruit served with natural yoghurt.

* Fresh fruit and yoghurt
Fresh fruit and a pot of natural yoghurt sweetened with honey.

Detox Plan Lunches

* Vegetable soup and oatcakes
Large bowl of vegetable or lentil soup (either homemade or supermarket ‘fresh’) with oatcakes.

* Tuna and sweetcorn jacket potato and salad
Jacket potato topped with tuna (canned in water) mixed with sweetcorn and natural yoghurt and served with salad.

* Mediterranean salad with rice cakes
Rice cakes served with rocket, avocado, tomatoes, fresh basil and black pepper. Plus a handful of unsalted nuts.

* Guacamole with crudités
Homemade guacamole made from avocado, lemon juice, fresh chilli, tomatoes and garlic served with vegetable crudités and oatcakes.

* Tzatziki with crudités
Homemade tzatziki made from natural yoghurt, garlic, cucumber and lemon juice served with vegetable crudités and oatcakes.

* Avocado and prawn salad
Fresh avocado served with prawns, salad, balsamic vinegar and lemon juice.

* Jacket potato with grilled cod
Grilled cod fillet served with jacket potatoes and lightly steamed vegetables.

Detox Plan Dinners

* Chinese vegetable stir fry
Stir fry a selection of vegetables such as bok choi, spring onions, mushrooms, bamboo shoots and beansprouts in a little olive oil with garlic and ginger. Serve with brown rice.

* Baked salmon with jacket potato
Bake a salmon fillet and serve with a jacket potato and steamed vegetables.

* Tuna and prawns with noodles
Gently fry a selection of vegetables such as onions, mushrooms, peppers, courgette and leek in a little olive oil. When lightly browned, add a handful of prawns. Cook for a few minutes, then add canned tomatoes, tomato puree, black pepper and tuna canned in water. Bring to the boil and simmer until the sauce thickens. Serve with rice noodles.

* Sweet and sour stir fry with rice
Gently fry a selection of chopped vegetables such as onions, peppers, baby sweetcorn and mushrooms. Add canned pineapple (in fruit juice), canned tomatoes, tomato purée, white wine vinegar and honey. Bring to the boil and simmer until the sauce has thickened. Serve with brown rice.

* Potato and bean casserole
Gently fry a selection of typical casserole vegetables such as onion, carrots and parsnip in a little olive oil with garlic. When browned, add diced potato and fry for a few minutes. Add fresh vegetable stock, black pepper and your favourite beans. Bring to the boil and simmer until the casserole thickens.

Detox Plan Snacks

* Fresh fruit or fresh fruit salad
* Natural yoghurt mixed with honey
* Plain popcorn
* Handful of unsalted nuts or seeds
source : http://www.weightlossresources.co.uk/diet/detox/plan.htm

Who Should Follow a Low-Carb Lifestyle?

Your Mileage May Vary

One of the most common short-hand notations found on most diet newsgroups is YMMV (Your mileage may vary)! And this is most certainly true of the low-carbohydrate way of eating. Not everyone will lose weight at the same speed. Some people reach plateaus in their weight loss (as with other diets). And some people experience some minor "withdrawal symptoms" as their bodies adjust to using fat for energy instead of carbs. Most of the negative side effects reported, such as tiredness, constipation, diarrhea, or headaches are only temporary. Most will disappear in a week or so. Some authors advise starting the diet slowly, by gradually reducing the number of carbs in order to minimize side effects. For most people, however, going "cold turkey" is the best approach.

So who should follow the low-carb lifestyle? Well, it wouldn't hurt for anyone who wants to lose weight to give it a try. But those who have developed hyperinsulinemia are perfect candidates for the low-carb diet. In fact, a low-carb diet is the ONLY treatment for hyperinsulinemia. Hyperinsulinemia usually leads to insulin resistance and its associated symptoms and disorders. It is often called Syndrome X.

Syndrome X

Syndrome X is manifested by some or all of the following symptoms and conditions:

* Hypoglycemia
* High blood pressure
* High LDL cholesterol
* High triglycerides
* Anxiety/Panic disorder
* Irritable bowel syndrome
* Binge eating
* Digestive disorders
* Obesity
* Heart disease
* Type 2 diabetes

If you have any of these symptoms or conditions, a low-carb diet may be the best treatment. In fact, it is the only way to actually treat the CAUSE of all these symptoms and conditions -- hyperinsulinemia. Medications and other diets can only treat the symptoms themselves, not the underlying cause.
Is there anyone who should not try a low-carb diet?

Recent scientific studies have shown that a low-carb diet is safe and effective. Therefore, anyone who desires to lose weight or who needs to bring their blood chemistry back into line, should try a low-carb lifestyle. However, there are those who, for whatever reason, cannot stick with the low-carb diet. It is very difficult (though by no means impossible) for vegetarians to follow a low-carb diet. Also, those who just do not like a lot of meat, eggs, and cheese may find this way of eating difficult to stick with for a long time. But for those who love steaks, shrimp, fish, chicken, omelets, cheese, and pork chops, and who don't mind giving up the bread, potatoes, and desserts, the low-carb alternative can easily become a life-long way of eating -- especially since your cravings for the high-carbohydrate foods will go away after a couple of weeks of low-carb eating.

source : http://wilstar.com/lowcarb/

What are the benefits of a Low Carb Diet?

A Healthy Way to Lose Weight

In general, on a low-carb diet it is not necessary to count calories. Eat all you want, as often as you want, in order to prevent hunger. Don't stuff yourself, just eat until you're no longer hungry. Remember, there is a difference between being hungry and having an appetite. Hungar means your body needs more food, so you need to eat. Having an appetite means you have the feeling that you want to eat, whether your body needs more food or not.

In some cases, for those who are metabolically resistant, reducing total food intake may help to stimulate or maintain weight loss. But it's the carbs, not the total calories that must be kept low. See the Diet Plan for more details.

Because you are consuming fats and oils, your appetite stays under control, because fatty foods are very satisfying. Eating a high level of fat actually causes you to lose weight faster than if you were fasting! That is because, during a fast, your body thinks it is starving, so it kicks into a very high efficiency state of metabolism. This slows down weight loss. But with a high fat diet, combined with very low amounts of carbohydrates, your body knows it is not starving, and metabolism is maintained at a normal level. Although consuming fats is necessary for a healthy diet, try to limit consumption of trans-fats (margarine and shortening). Good fats include olive oil, flax seed oil, canola oil, oils found in nuts, and also real butter. Most fats should be the monounsaturated and saturated fats. Avoid the polyunsaturated fats when possible, except for those containing the essential omega-3 fatty acids contained in fish. (Why?)

But isn't a low-carb diet high in protein and doesn't eating a lot of protein damage the kidneys? First of all, a low-carb diet is not necessarily a high protein diet. It's an adequate protein diet. It's primarily a high fat diet. But the answer to the second part of the question is no, there is no evidence that eating lots of protein will damage healthy kidneys

Advantages of Low-Carbing

* Sustained weight loss
* Stabilized blood sugar (especially important for diabetics)
* Lower insulin levels
* Better blood lipid profile (low cholesterol)
* Lowered blood pressure
* More energy

Vitamins and Minerals

But isn't a low-carb diet deficient in vitamins and minerals that are found in fresh fruits and vegetables? A low-carb lifestyle used to control diabetes and not to lose weight can be quite balanced--just stay away from refined carbohydrates. However, most low-carb diets used for weight loss are not "balanced" in terms of providing all the essential micronutrients. That is why it is extremely important to supplement your diet with good-quality vitamin and mineral products. It is also important to take a fiber supplement.

Look at it this way: All your life your body has been constantly subjected to high "doses" of sugar, in the form of refined carbohydrates. Your body recognizes only one carbohydrate -- sugar. All carbohydrates you eat, except fiber, are converted into sugar. Eating a diet that is 70% carbohydrates means that most of what you eat is sugar. That type of diet is also unbalanced. The purpose of a low-carb diet is to bring your body chemistry and insulin sensitivity back into balance. To do that, you must eat a diet that is unbalanced in the opposite direction of they way you have been eating for years.

Once the weight is off, and your blood chemistry, blood pressure, and energy levels are back in the normal range, then you may start adding some more complex carbohydrates back into your diet. By eating a moderate amount of foods like vegetables and berries, and a limited amount of grain products, such as whole-grain breads and beans, your diet will then be balanced and you can stop taking the supplements, if you wish. Besides, the low-carb diet is not as unbalanced as you might think. Meats, butter, nuts, cheese, and eggs contain a lot of essential vitamins and minerals.

source : http://wilstar.com/lowcarb/

How does a Low Carb Diet work?

Burning Fat

Much research has proven that dietary fat is not necessarily converted into body fat. Carbohydrates, on the other hand, are readily converted into fat by the action of insulin. According to many experts, most overweight people became overweight due to a condition called hyperinsulinemia -- elevated insulin levels in the blood. When you eat a high-carbohydrate meal, the increased blood sugar stimulates insulin production by the pancreas. Insulin is the hormone that allows blood sugar to be used by the cells. However, a side effect of insulin is that it also causes fat to be deposited, and it stimulates your brain to produce hunger signals. So what do you do? You eat more carbohydrates, and the cycle repeats. In time, your body cells become resistant to insulin, meaning that your pancreas has to work overtime, producing up to four or five times as much insulin just to keep up with the demand. It has been shown that high levels of insulin have a deleterious effect on the body, including premature aging.

Restricting the intake of carbohydrates puts a halt to this vicious cycle. When you restrict your carbohydrate intake, your insulin levels decrease and the levels of glucagon increase. Glucagon is a hormone that causes body fat to be burned and cholesterol to be removed from deposits in the arteries.

If you severely restrict carbs, your body goes into a state of ketosis--burning fat with the subsequent production of ketone bodies in the bloodstream. The condition is called "ketonuria" if ketones are spilled out into the urine. The result of ketosis is that your blood sugar levels stabilize; your insulin level drops; and because your body is burning fat, you lose weight! You can easily test to see if your diet is inducing ketosis with the use of inexpensive ketone test strips.

When your diet causes your body to go into a state of ketosis, you are said to be on a ketogenic diet. For most people, restricting your carbohydrate intake to fewer than 30 grams a day will induce ketonuria. Most people on ketogenic diets lose weight fairly quickly. However, although some diet experts believe that ketosis is a safe condition, it is not necessary to be in ketosis to lose weight. Keep in mind, however, that when you choose a higher level of carbohydrates than what is needed to bring on ketosis, you may have to limit your total food intake (calories) somewhat in order to lose weight.

Also, for diabetics who are not obese, it certainly is not necessary to induce ketosis to reap the benefits of a low-carb diet. It is quite possible to bring your blood glucose levels under control without being in ketosis. However, if you must lose considerable weight, a ketogenic diet is the most efficient method for bringing your weight back down to where it should be.
source : http://wilstar.com/lowcarb/