All About Diet

Cleansing Review: My Experience Losing Weight Through Cleansing

2007-05-27T11:32:00.000-07:00

I never would have guessed that I'd lose 31 pounds in one summer from a simple cleansing diet. Before that summer I thought cleansing diets were all about colon cleansing or liver cleansing--I didn't know that people were cleansing for weight loss.

I was 30 pounds overweight and had tried a bunch of things to lose the excess pounds: books, pills, special foods and even... exercise! Everything seemed to have some small effect but nothing came close to helping me lose that 30 pounds.

I started researching online, looking for an effective weight loss plan. In the course of my searching, though, I kept running across something that was hard to believe--I saw story after story of people losing 10, 20, 50, even hundreds of pounds on a specific type of cleansing diet.

Now, I'm a very skeptical guy (ask my wife) and normally I doubt claims that sound anything like hype. But I'm also a very logical guy and I figured if so many people were having success with this type of cleansing diet plan then maybe I should check it out.

What the Heck is Cleansing Anyway?

I knew nothing about cleansing diets before I started my first cleanse. It turns out that there are a lot of different cleansing diets out there but the one thing they all tend to have in common is one or two days where you don't eat anything--instead, you drink a cleansing drink throughout the day. The idea isn't that you lose weight from not eating; it's that you're removing toxins from your body which helps you lose fat.

The cleansing system I used included protein shakes, protein supplements (lots of protein to protect against lean muscle loss during the cleanse) and a specially-formulated cleansing drink. The protein shakes and supplements tasted fine. The cleansing drink, however, tasted like a really sweet tea and I don't like sweet tea (my wife thinks I'm weird) so that took some getting used to.

Having never "cleansed" before, I didn't know what to expect. Let's just say the experience was "different". The days when I was taking only the cleansing drink were challenging at first but I soon learned tricks (like drinking ice water) to keep my mind off the fact that I was temporarily on a purely liquid diet.

The Amazing Shrinking Man: 197, 185, 175, 166...

When I first started cleansing, I weighed 197 pounds. If you had asked me at the time what my target weight was, I would have said 185 pounds. That seemed like a lofty goal for me to shoot for since I recalled that I had once weighed 185 pounds in the distant past.

Well, I hit exactly 185 pounds after that first 11-day cleanse. I was astounded that I could safely lose 12 pounds in 11 days. It's probably not that easy for everyone to lose weight, though--luckily, when it comes to weight, i'm an easy "loser".

I figured if cleansing was that easy and the results were that dramatic, why not try it again? So a little less than a month later I did my second 11-day cleanse and lost another 10 pounds. Doing the cleanse the second time around was a lot less intimidating because I knew what to expect.

At this point I weighed 175 pounds but I still had some pudge around my waist. I figured I could lose another 8 pounds so I revised my target weight to 167 which would put me at an even 30 pounds lost.

I did my third cleanse a few weeks after my second and lost 9 pounds. I weighed 166 pounds which meant I had lost a total of 31 pounds with three cleanses. I thought that was very impressive weight loss over just one summer.

Is Cleansing For You?

Around the time of my third cleanse, people I knew noticed the weight I had lost and started asking me what I was doing. I was happy to share with them the experience I had with my cleansing diet and enjoyed helping them out if they wanted to try cleansing to lose weight.

Overall, my impression of cleansing diets for losing weight is very positive as long as they are done right. There are some cleanses like the lemonade cleanse or Master cleanse which I don't recommend because they don't include any nutrients or protein to keep you from losing lean muscle tissue.

Cleansing diets aren't for everyone. They require some will power to get through the cleansing days. If you have no will power you probably won't succeed with a cleansing diet. And, of course, speak to your doctor before starting any new diet or exercise program.

If you want to give a cleansing diet a try and your doctor says it's okay then I encourage you to do so--I think you'll like the results!

Article Source: http://www.article-outlet.com/

Low Glycemic Index Diets - Are They The Path To Weight Loss?

2007-05-22T03:56:00.000-07:00

The low glycemic index (low-GI) diet splits the difference between the low-carb and low-fat approaches. It maintains the low-carb diet's focus on insulin, but it suggests differentiation of certain carbohydrates over others rather than restricting carbohydrate intake.
The American Heart Association, the American Dietetic Association and other prominent groups endorse a unified set of guidelines for the optimum diet. These organizations exhort that the majority of calories in the daily diet should come from carbohydrates (55% to 60%); fat should provide no more than 30% of total calories; and protein should be kept to 10% to 15%.

In contrast, many popular diet books turn the standard diet on its head. As described in the entry on low-carbohydrate diets, the Atkins diet, the Zone diet, Protein Power, and other alternative dietary approaches turn thumbs down on carbohydrates. Instead, they advocate increased consumption of fat and/or protein. According to theory, the low-carb approach aids in weight loss (and provides a variety of other health benefits) by reducing the body's production of insulin.

The low glycemic index (low-GI) diet splits the difference between the low-carb and low-fat approaches. It maintains the low-carb diet's focus on insulin, but it suggests differentiation of certain carbohydrates over others rather than restricting carbohydrate intake.

All carbohydrates are not created equal when the evidence is examined. Some, such as pure glucose, are absorbed quickly and create a rapid, strong rise in both blood sugar and insulin. Others (such as brown rice) are absorbed much more slowly and produce only a modest blood sugar and insulin response. The proponents of the low-GI diet claim that eating foods in the latter category will enhance weight loss and improve health. However, as we shall see, there is as yet no solid evidence that low-GI diets enhance weight loss.

The precise measurement of the glucose-stimulating effect of a food is called its glycemic index. A food that has less effect in increasing blood sugar level (and therefore insulin) is given a lower glycemic index.

The glycemic index of glucose is arbitrarily set at 100. The ratings of other foods are determined as follows. First, researchers calculate a portion size for the food to supply 50 g. of carbohydrates. Next, they give that amount of the food to at least eight to ten people and measure the blood sugar response. (a group is used rather than an individual to ensure that the idiosyncrasies of one individual don't skew the results.) On another occasion, researchers also give each participant an equivalent amount of glucose and perform the same measurements. The glycemic index of a food is then determined by comparing the two outcomes. For example, if a food causes half of the blood sugar rise of glucose, it is assigned a GI of 50; if it causes one-quarter of the rise, it is assigned a GI of 25. The lower the Glycemic index, the better.

The determination of the Glycemic index has resulted in some surprises. Baked potatoes came back with a reading of 93. This rating is higher than that of almost all other foods, including ice cream (61), sweet potatoes (54), and white bread (70). Based on this finding, low-GI diets recommend that you stay largely away from potatoes. However, the concern regarding potatoes is probably unnecessary. See the discussion of glycemic load below.

A food must be tested to determine its actual glycemic index, but there are some general guidelines that are recognized. Fiber content tends to reduce the glycemic index of a food, presumably by slowing down digestion. Therefore, whole grains usually have a lower GI score than refined, processed grains. Fat content also reduces GI score. Simple carbohydrates (such as sugar) often have a higher GI score than complex carbohydrates (such as brown rice).

But, numerous exceptions to these rules exist. Factors such as the acid content of food; the size of the food particles; and the precise mixture of fats, proteins, and carbohydrates can substantially change the GI measurement. For a measurement like the glycemic index to be meaningful, it has to be generally reproducible between subjects. In other words, if a potato has a glycemic index of 80 in one person, it should have closely the same glycemic index when given to another person. The GI passes this test. The glycemic index of individual foods is fairly constant between people.

Thus, the GI of a food really does indicate its propensity to raise insulin levels. Whether a diet based on the index will aid in weight loss, however, is another story.

A low glycemic index diet is relatively easy to follow. Basically, you follow the typical diet endorsed by authorities such as the American Dietetic Association, but you choose carbohydrates that fall toward the lower end of the glycemic index scale. Books such as The Glucose Revolution give a great deal of information on how to make these choices, but do low glycemic Index diets aid in weight loss? There may be problems with this theory.

There are two primary theoretical reasons given why low-GI diets should help reduce weight. The most prominent reason involves insulin levels. Basically, these books show that low-GI diets reduce insulin release, and then take almost for granted the idea that reduced insulin levels should aid in weight loss. Unfortunately, there is little justification for the second part of this contention. Excess weight is known to lead to elevated insulin levels, but there is almost no meaningful evidence for the opposite: that reducing insulin levels will help remove excess weight.

Books espousing the low-GI diet give another reason for their approach. They claim that low-GI foods fill you up more quickly than high-GI foods, and also keep you feeling full for longer. As we shall see later, there is more evidence against this belief than for it.

A measurement called the Satiety Index assigns a numerical quantity to the filling quality of a food. These numbers are determined by feeding people fixed caloric amounts of those foods, and then determining how soon they get hungry again and how much they eat at subsequent meals. The process is similar to the methods used to establish the GI index.

The results of these measurements do not corroborate the expectations of the proponents of low-GI diets. It turns out, foods with the worst (highest) GI index are often the most satiating, exactly the reverse of what low-GI theory proponents would say.

A case in point, the Satiety Index tells us that potatoes are among the most satiating of foods. However, as noted above, the GI analysis gave potatoes a bad rating. According to the low-GI theory, you should feel hunger pangs shortly after eating a big baked potato. In real life, that doesn't happen.

Other contradictions between research findings and the low-GI/high-satiety theory include one study that found no difference in satiety between fructose (fruit sugar) and glucose when taken as part of a mixed meal, even though fructose has a GI more than four times lower than glucose.

Thus, the satiety argument for low-GI diets doesn't appear to hold up to inspection of the facts. So, is the glycemic index even the right measurement? Is it the wrong way to assess the insulin-related effects of food? The evidence would suggest this to be the case. Rather than making judgements from the GI, a more reasonable approach would be to use the measurement of glycemic load which measures the real effect of the food in question.

Article Source: http://www.article-outlet.com/

How To Lose Weight From A Low Carbohydrate Diet Plan

2007-05-20T02:51:00.000-07:00

With the sudden boom of dieting in the country, different diet programs have been introduced in the country. Although many experts believe that proper exercise and not only diet can lose those pounds in a healthy way, many people still believe in the power of diet programs and diet plans. One of the most controversial kinds of diet plans is the low-carbohydrate diet program, which focuses on the reduction of carbohydrate consumption in the body.

According to the theory, when carbohydrates are no longer being taken in, the body will be forced to use fats and water as alternative sources of energy; thereby helping to shed off those unwanted pounds.

Fats, unbeknownst to many, can actually be converted to energy. The body just doesn't use it as the first priority because it is more complex in structure and therefore, harder to break down and convert into energy. Among the popular low carbohydrate diets in the country is the Atkins diet.

Despite arguments from its critics, low carbohydrate diet has proven its effectiveness in terms of losing that extra weight. To date, it counts millions of followers not only in the country but also outside America.

Actually, cutting down on carbohydrates in the diet is a practice that people have been doing for years. When people cut down on their rice or bread or do not eat rice at all, they are reducing their carbohydrate intake. Of course, because it is not an official diet plan they are not really restricting themselves completely. When you are under a diet plan, you are not allowed to eat any kind of carbohydrates.

One of the advantages of low carbohydrate diet is the fact that it can actually increase the levels of good cholesterol in the body. This is really good news to people who have a heart problem. This is perhaps the reason why Atkins diet was used for cardio patients. This diet plan can also reduce the amount of triglycerides in the body. Triglycerides can be dangerous when combined with a high level of LDL or bad cholesterol. Both can increase the risk for heart attack and heart disease.

Low carb diet plans are also found to be good in balancing mood swings. They will not be prone to extreme lows such as depression or extreme high. People who are under the program are found to have fairly stable energy levels unlike those with high carbo levels.

LOW CARB DIET 101

Indeed, a lot has been said about various diets and how these work for some people. There' s the Atkins Diet, the South Beach, the After-Six Diet plan and so on goes on the list of diet crazes that swept the western world and even Asian regions. Among all these, one type of diet has become popular than the others it's called the Low Carb Diet.

Basically, low carb diet actually emphasizes cutting down on from a person's daily food intake. This diet allows the dieter to take in all foods except those that have carbohydrates. Although there are many testimonies that prove that low carb diet really works, you must be very knowledgeable first about its pros and cons before deciding to go with the hype.

People who have tried low carb diets say that its advantages include:

1. Faster and quicker weight loss compared to fasting.

2. The diet may result to higher protein intake and absorption.

3. It stabilizes blood sugar levels and is extremely beneficial to those who suffer from diabetics.

Experts say that the disadvantages of low carb diets may include:

- High cholesterol levels due to the lack of protein-rich and fatty foods that has saturated fats.
- Increased blood pressure due to elimination of whole grains products that help lower blood pressure.
- It can lead to osteoporosis because there will be no enough supply of calcium.
- In some cases, this diet can lead to diarrhea, constipation, and severe headaches.
- Low carb diets increase the possibility of lower mental acuity.
- Instead of losing weight, this diet can lead to weight gain.
If you are planning on taking low carb diet, here are some helpful tips to keep you in track:

1. Make sure to drink lots of water to avoid dehydration and constipation.

2. Consider taking in more fiber and vitamin supplements.

3. Cease from consuming products that has sugar.

4. Cut down on taking in products that contain caffeine.

5. Monitor your daily carbohydrate intake.

6. Don't mind calories, they are allowed in this diet.

7. Acquire a carbohydrate counter to keep you updated.

8. Do regular physical activities and exercise to reach ketosis easily.

9. Brace yourself for diarrhea that may last for a couple of days.

10. If possible, avoid eating foods that have saturated fats.

Article Source: http://www.article-outlet.com/

Hoodia The Safe Weight Loss Solution - Hoodia Diet

2007-05-19T03:44:00.000-07:00

Many individuals complain virtual starvation is a necessary evil of dieting, and sticking to a weight loss plan is extremely difficult. Thus, when a product like Hoodia hits the market, someone probably becomes an instant millionaire.
With over 50% of North Americans fighting the battle of the bulge, the advent of a promising weight loss aid becomes an instant success. While the pounds seem to increase simply by looking at food, losing the weight is often an exercise in futility.

Many individuals complain virtual starvation is a necessary evil of dieting, and sticking to a weight loss plan is extremely difficult. Thus, when a product like Hoodia hits the market, someone probably becomes an instant millionaire.

Called Hoodia Gordonii, the plant responsible for the newest weightless craze looks like a desert cactus. However, the plant is actually a succulent found only in the Kalahari Desert: Any of various plants having fleshy leaves or stems that store water. Cacti and the jade plant are succulents.

Succulents are usually adapted to drier environments and display other characteristics that reduce water loss, such as waxy coatings on leaves and stems, fewer stomata than occur on other plants, and stout, rounded stems that minimize surface area (succulent). According to tradition, natives have been using the plant as a natural hunger suppressant for centuries.

Living in the Kalahari Desert is definitely not like living in a populated area. When people in North America get hungry, a fast food restaurant or a quick shop is virtually around the corner. Groceries stores cater to frozen meals ready in 5 minutes, and recipe books are filled with 30-minute meals. Conversely, people in the Kalahari have been in situations where food and water is not readily available, and traveling distances required going without for unbearable lengths of time. Supposedly, the natives learned Hoodia suppressed both appetite and thirst during difficult periods.

Introduced in North America in 2004, Hoodia claims to provide a natural way to curb appetites, so people can stick to weight loss plans.

Not hungry, individuals will be less likely to cheat or fall off the bandwagon altogether. In addition, since the product is totally natural, the supplement is presumed safe for human consumption, with little/no adverse side effects. With some dieting aids being pulled from shelves, after dieters have suffered severe health complications, all-natural aids are gaining popularity.

With little science to back up the claims of a safe weight loss supplement, the product is literally flying off the shelves. Internet sales are making savvy entrepreneurs wealthy, as a month's supply is often $35 or more. Based on word of mouth, individuals are assuming the dietary aid is nothing but a long-awaited miracle.

According to WebMD, "Because it is sold as a dietary supplement, Hoodia escapes the level of scrutiny the FDA gives prescription drugs and medications sold over the counter" (Doheny). So, the question remains: Does Hoodia really produce the desired results safely, or are individuals simply wishfully following the latest diet craze?

In search of an answer, 60 Minutes correspondent, Leslie Stahl, traveled to Africa to see the amazing plant, and find out if the plant's appetite suppressant properties are true. With a local aboriginal guide, Ms. Stahl is introduced to the dieting miracle in its natural habitat. After cutting off a stalk and removing the sharp spines, she is offered a bite of the bitter cucumber-like plant, to see if the plant really works. "Stahl says she had no after effects" no funny taste in her mouth, no queasy stomach, and no racing heart. She also wasn't hungry all day, even when she would normally have a pang around mealtime. And, she also had no desire to eat or drink the entire day.

"I'd have to say it did work," (Stahl). According to one research study, consumers of Hoodia actually consumed an average of 1,000 less calories per day. Combined with a proper diet and exercise, individuals could conceivably lose approximately 2 more pounds per week.

Therefore, regardless of the absent research statistics, proponents will continue to purchase Hoodia as fast as the supplement can be produced.

In summary, Hoodia is the latest craze in dietary supplements meant to help fight the battle over obesity among North Americans. Found in the Kalahari Desert, the spiny succulent plant has been part of the bushman's diet for centuries. In recent years, the appetite suppressant properties have found a home in pills and milk additives.

Supposedly completely natural, Hoodia consumers swear by its ability to reduce calorie intake, and keep dieters from cheating or giving up on a weight loss program altogether. While the jury is still out on Hoodia, people are willing to pay a hefty price to win the battle of the bulge.

Article Source: http://www.article-outlet.com/

Why Herbal Weight Loss Is A Highly Effective And Natural Diet

2007-05-18T11:43:00.000-07:00

Before ingesting any herbs as part of a herbal weight loss programme it is important to check they are recognized medically as been safe for human consumption. There are some substances which should not be consumed, as they contain highly toxic properties which are potentially very dangerous for our vital organs.
I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but there is no magical overnight pill which will shed those stubborn pounds. Having said that, there are a number of organic materials which might be more effective than you would think. Yes, that's right, many dieters across the world have chosen to go with a herbal weight loss programme, to great results. There are certain types of herbs which manage to effectively suppress the appetite and leave the body feeling fuller on less calories. That way, you aren't tempted to eat as much, as so you ultimately lose weight through going about your daily life. Some herbs contain natural stimulants which help keep you active and off that sofa, whilst some suppress the appetite for those who find their sweet tooth so hard to ignore.

Before ingesting any herbs as part of a herbal weight loss programme it is important to check they are recognized medically as been safe for human consumption. There are some substances which should not be consumed, as they contain highly toxic properties which are potentially very dangerous for our vital organs. That aside, herbal weight loss is a proven method of reducing weight quickly, leaving you looking and feeling great, whilst helping rid your body of those unwanted toxins which hinder the immune system.

A good herb for those looking to lose weight is cayenne. If you don't mind the spicy, try cayenne with your meals, which helps speed up the metabolism and increase heart rate safely to get you burning those calories without lifting a finger. Another good herb to try is seaweed, which is great for clearing the toxins in the bloodstream, and is also a fantastic source of vitamins and minerals to help the body remain fit and healthy. Also, why not try green tea as a healthy stimulant with a high vitamin C content to get you up and moving and keep your insides gleaming?

If your looking for particular herbs to avoid, you should pay particular attention to herbal laxatives which can cause serious problems for the bowel and the digestive system if used on a frequent basis. Also avoid ephedra which has been proven to increase blood pressure to a dangerously high level and have a negative impact on the central nervous system.

As long as you take care to avoid dangerous substances, herbal weight loss is a highly effective natural method for slimming down. If you are unsure about what herbs are safe to consume, check online for a brief run down, or consult your physician for more information. He will be capable of explaining the risks and benefits of certain herbs, and will be able to make recommendations based on your general state of health and wellbeing. It is always a good idea to visit your doctor before embarking on any weight loss measures, so this would be a good opportunity to air any concerns you may have, and suppress any anxieties about your weight or the dietary methods you are considering.

Article Source: http://www.article-outlet.com/

low cholesterol diet

2007-05-17T05:42:00.000-07:00

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

Article Source: http://www.article-outlet.com/

A Dieting Tip To Keep The Weight Off

2007-05-16T05:41:00.000-07:00

When my father was told he needed to lose 28lb in two months, it was a real challenge. He did it and when anyone asked for his dieting tip, he said it was very simple. He had one dieting tip and this was it, all the food and drink you really like, don't eat, all the food and drink you don't really like, that is what you eat.

Mind you, he loved all the wrong foods for himself or for most people that is. Unfortunately, food cooked in rendered fat has a flavor that cannot be replaced. If you have never had food cooked in fat then you won't know this flavor, you are one of the fortunate ones. For the foods that used to be cooked in fat, like roast dinners, fried foods etc, these were replaced with grills and roasts on racks, this way the fat drained away and no extra fat needed to be added. i was so young when my Dad needed to lose the weight, that my body cannot tolerate foods cooked in fat of any kind.

Adding salt to food will enahnce the flavor also and salt is considered not good for you either. We do need salt in our diet, but not to excess. Another dieting tips of my Dad's was, don't overdo the salt. If you have some added to the food while it is cooking, then don't add salt to the food before you eat it. So his salt dieting tip was, choose which is the better for you, either while your food is cooking or after but not both, whichever you can get used to, which way is the best for your body.

Another dieting tip from my Dad was to stay away from the puddings. Today what, when he was young, were considered desserts, were rich puddings and pastries. Full cream milk, fresh cream, wonderful pastries and tarts were served with most main meals of the day. Ice cream was homemade and made with real cream. He was brought up on that type of cooking and foods, so it was hard for him to change his eating habits.

Yes, that's right, it is our eating habits we need to change. That was really my Dad's big dieting tip. Change your eating habits and you will never have to diet again. Dieting is not just cutting out the fat and salt from your diet. Many of the low fat and low salt foods that are available today have been compensated in the flavor department by the addition of carbohydrates and sugars. This can be as bad for you as the fat that has been taken out.

There are many diets around, all promising you will lose weight. Many of them you will lose the weight promised but unless you have gained good eating habits using the diet, then the weight will not stay off.

Another excellent dieting tip from my Dad was, see your physician first. Be guided by his advice as to what your healthy weight should be. He will be able to provide you with a calorie chart and how many calories you need to eat each day to lose the weight in a timely and safe manner. you will also find that dieting this way, you will not be hungry and there will be foods that you never would have tried and found you enjoyed eating without dieting.

Eat as little processed foods as you can. Fresh is best, fresh fruit and vegetables, fresh meats, fish and poultry. Always trim the fat from the meat before you cook it, the same with poultry. Check the carbohydrate content on the labels of everything you buy. Use the low-fat butters, milks and creams if you have a sweet tooth and like desserts.

Above all, get into a healthy eating habit, eat your three meals each day, maybe cut down on the quantity and keep in mind the no-fat, low-fat, check carbs foods rules. If you can eat your main meal in the middle of the day, then that is the best time as your body will burn off any excess during the afternoon activities. You can have your morning and afternoon tea and supper if you wish, just make sure you are sensible about what you eat then.

Well, my Dad's dieting tip became a few dieting tips. He did lose the 28lbs in the two months and through sensible eating, kept it off and felt so much better and I know we had the pleasure of his company for many more years than the medical experts predicted.

Diet Soda; Is It Good Or Bad If You Are On A Diet?

2007-05-13T04:37:00.000-07:00

The debate over whether diet soda is a dieter's friend or a dieter's enemy seems to become more heated every day.

One side is saying it is a great beverage for people trying to lose weight and who want something more exciting to drink than water. The other side is saying it won't help you lose weight but can actually make you gain weight.

I wish I could give you a definitive answer and say either, "Yes, diet soda is fine to drink when you are trying to lose weight." Or "No, diet soda will not help you lose weight." But I cannot find enough clear cut evidence to wholeheartedly support either statement.

What I have gleaned from my research is this:

Setting aside the issue of whether or not diet soda will aid or impede your weight loss is the issue of the chemicals it contains and whether or not you want to be ingesting them on a daily basis in significant quantities.

There's also the issue of diet soda that contains caffeine. If you are mainlining Diet Coke, you have most likely formed a dependency to caffeine which will cause a period of headaches, when (or if) you decide to break that dependency. Large amounts of caffeine can also disrupt your sleep, can make you jittery, and can speed up your heart rate.

Some people complain of fluid retention when drinking diet soda and blame the sodium content in the it. Most diet soda/pop is very low in sodium. The culprit in fluid retention might be the artificial sweetener. Some recent research is showing that people react differently to artificial sweeteners, causing fluid retention in some people.

If you don't want to give up diet soda but it is making you retain fluid, try switching to a soda with a different artificial sweetener in it and see if that makes a difference. For example, if you are currently drinking one sweetened with Aspartame, try switching to one sweetened with Splenda or saccharine (NutraSweet). Also try drinking no diet soda for a least a week.

Drinking diet soda does seem to make some people think they can have that candy bar (ever had a Diet Coke and a king size snickers bar?) because they are saving calories with the diet soda/pop so the higher calorie food is okay. Likewise, some people will order a diet soda/pop after super-sizing their fast food meal. Drinking it lulls some people into thinking that switching out regular soda for diet means they can eat more food, but what usually happens instead is weight gain, which is then blamed on the diet soda/pop.

Personally, I get cravings for salty foods when I drink a lot of diet soda. My physician thinks it's the artificial sweetener that's causing those cravings. So instead of drinking a 12 pack of Diet Coke every day like I used to (yes, I'm being serious) I now try to have just one can of regular soda a day. I'm not always successful at doing that and sometimes drive to the store for an "emergency 12 pack of Diet Coke, Diet Pepsi, or Diet Mountain Dew, but eliminating most diet beverages from my day-to-day diet has calmed my cravings.

So you'll have to make the judgment call for yourself on whether or not to include diet soda/pop in your weight loss or weight management plan. Some people say it helps them with weight management; others say it's a weight gaining tool. The only way to know for sure what it is for you is to try it and see.

Article Source: http://www.article-outlet.com/

The Sonoma Diet - The New Mediterranean Diet

2007-05-12T02:33:00.000-07:00

The Sonoma Diet was a book written by Connie Gutterson. It is one of the most balanced and moderate diets to appear in a long time. There are no dramatic restrictions on food groups, no calorie counting, and has all of the flair of a gourmet Mediterranean diet.

What is the Sonoma?
The Sonoma diet is a uniquely flavorful weight loss plan that brings together the art and science of food. Sonoma is a region in California, USA that is well regarded for its quality vineyards. The author and registered dietitian Connie Gutterson has been consulting with the Olive industry for a number of years. The nutritional credentials she has have enabled her to write a book that provides some of the most balanced and sensible weight loss advice. The Sonoma diet was not born in a lab much like other weight loss programs; in fact, it was born from two of the most agriculturally abundant and vital regions of the world: The coast of the Mediterranean Sea and of course Sonoma Valley California. These two regions share a festive approach to eating - a heart felt love of great food that turns every meal into a celebration of life. These wonderful foods make these areas into a paradise of healthy living and are the heart and soul of the Sonoma Diet. Members of the Sonoma diet experience this joy of eating. There are wide selections of recipes that are essential to Sonoma Diet member's success.

The 3 Waves
Wave 1: lasts for approximately 10 days, and you'll immediately begin eating delicious breakfasts, lunches, and dinners prepared with healthful foods. A benefit of this wave is that you will be able to eat all of your favorite foods and your online meal planner and recipe database will provide all the options you will need to be satisfied. One of the positive notes is that unlike other diets, this phase does not restrict carbohydrates but does include whole grain cereals and breads.

Wave 2: This wave is the major part of your diet. This here will be the eating plan that you stick with until you reach your target weight. Wave 2 is about variety with a broad range of foods including wine and fruits.

Wave 3: The third wave of the Sonoma Diet begins the day you finally reach your target weight. Once your ideal weight has been reached, this is the life - long maintenance phase where they teach you how to keep the weight off that you lost as well as teach you how to stick with the healthy eating lifestyle.

Portion Control
The secret is enjoying the right foods in the right amounts. If you think about it, that is really the only healthy way to lose weight. Aren't you tired of counting calories, and dealing with severe food restrictions? The main premise of the Sonoma diet is that food should be enjoyed even when dieting. The problem with most weight loss programs out there is that so many teach and cause the dieter to hate and fear food. Sonoma introduced a concept called 'plate and bowl'. All of the meals are assigned a specific plate size, with detailed instructions on how the plate should be filled. I was amazed while reading the book that it provided a wine guide to help select the best matching wine to accompany the meal.

Top 10 Power Foods
It's important to know what the top 10 power foods are. When you start to eat the Sonoma way, you'll be eating this way for the rest of your life. The Sonoma Diet book contains 300 recipes. The on-line program contains an additional 500 recipes. The top 10 power foods are.

* Almonds
* Bell Peppers
* Blueberries
* Broccoli
* Grapes
* Olive oil
* Spinach
* Strawberries
* Tomatoes
* Whole grains

One of the best features of the Sonoma diet is how interactive it truly is. The online program features on-line dietitians, live support, shopping lists, customized meal plans, and message boards. All subscriptions do come with a required fee, and subscribers must pay for a minimum of 5 weeks; however, if at any time you want to cancel your program there is not a cancellation fee. The Sonoma Diet is very popular and comes highly recommended by us and its users. This diet is now in 2007 considered to be in the top 5 diet programs. We at Flex Your Health consider this diet to be in the top 2 of all weight loss programs offered. If you try this program I am sure you will find a new healthier lifestyle with fantastic gourmet meals that will impress even the most sophisticated pallet.

Ready to try the Sonoma Diet and change your life from the regular to sophistication? If so, click the following link to find out all you need to know about the Sonoma Diet and other popular weight loss programs. http://www.flexyourhealth.com/index.html

Article Source: http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/author.cgi?C=51839

blood type diet

2007-05-10T03:12:00.000-07:00

Several years ago, a very interesting new idea with regard to weight loss became all the rage: eating for your blood type. This concept answered the age-old question of why not all eating plans work for all people. That much seems undeniable – people are very different with regard to the types of food that works for them, as well as the type of exercise program. A weight loss regime that works for one person won’t necessarily work for someone else – that much we know.

Some experts started to link this to blood type. There are four main blood types, and according to this way of thinking, each type represents a body type. If you eat the food that is right for your type, you will lose weight effortlessly. Conversely, most weight problems are the result of eating the food that’s wrong for your type. As well, there are types of exercise that are suitable for some types and not for others.

Though mainstream science ridiculed this idea, thousands of people followed the eating plan for their blood type and many had excellent results. This is the theory: the different blood types evolved at different times in human history, and even nowadays people with those types have traits that are specific to humans at that stage of evolution. This may sound confusing, but it’s clearer with an example: According to this theory, ‘o’ type blood, because it’s the simplest type, evolved first. At that time in human history, people had not yet developed agriculture. They were primarily hunters, and ate meat and greens; they ate no wheat, and no dairy, because those foods developed later on with the advent of farming. Humans at that time in history also exercised vigorously.

So, if you have ‘o’ type blood, your body is similar to this early human physiology. If you eat a lot of carbohydrates and don’t exercise vigorously, you will have weight problems and other health problems, because you are not eating and exercising in the way that is right for your blood type and body type. To lose weight and be healthy, if have ‘o’ type blood, you have to eat plenty of red meat and vegetables, and very little wheat or dairy. You should also have a strenuous physical activity, like running or weight lifting, that you practice several times a week.

But if you are a type ‘a’ or ‘b’, for example, that advice would be all wrong for you. These types developed somewhat later, after agriculture was established, so these individuals can and should eat more fruits, vegetables, and grains. People with ‘ab’ type blood are lucky; their type evolved last, after humans had incorporated all types of food into their diet. So ‘ab’s can basically eat anything – within reason – and not gain weight.

Over the past six or seven years, many people have followed this plan and lost a lot of weight. There are a few problems with it, though. First of all, as mentioned before, there is no hard scientific evidence that shows that people with different blood types are physiologically different. It’s an appealing idea, but it can’t be proven as yet. Also, some of the blood type diets (particularly the diet for type ‘o’) are very restrictive. In fact, the type ‘o’ diet is rather like Atkins at its most restrictive, and some nutritionists feel that this might lead to problems with high cholesterol in the long run. On the other hand, proponents of the diet argue that type ‘o’ people are precisely those who can afford to eat a lot of meat without negatively affecting their cholesterol level. If someone with a different blood type ate in this way, it might be a problem, but not for “o’s”. And it is certainly true that some people develop or don’t develop cholesterol problems seemingly regardless to their dietary intake.

If the theory has no basis, though, how would we explain the weight loss that so many people have experienced? It may be simpler than you think, actually. Any one of the four blood type eating plans, if followed correctly, would have you eating healthier, more natural food. Some, like the ‘o’ diet, are also quite restrictive. It seems likely that these diets make you lose weight in and of themselves, regardless of what blood type you are!

Article Source: http://www.article-outlet.com/

The SouthBeach Diet

2007-05-09T04:02:00.000-07:00

The SouthBeach Diet is a very popular weight loss program that, for the most part, is also very healthy. It's based on the same principle as most effective diets: carbohydrates, especially simple carbs, must be avoided in order to control blood sugar, stabilize insulin levels, and end cravings. This basic principle is why diets like The Zone and Atkins work for so many people.

Despite the title, The SouthBeach Diet was not created by some fitness guru from Miami. In fact, it was designed by a doctor from Mt. Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach. It was originally an eating plan that would improve the cholesterol and insulin levels of his patients with heart disease. He was frustrated with his patients' lack of progress on the popular diet plans so, with the help of a nutritionist, he decided to create his own. The idea is to avoid all starchy carbs and fruit at first and then, once significant weight loss begins, to reintroduce healthy carbs in small amounts.

Here is an overview of The SouthBeach Diet:

The first 2 weeks of the diet involve avoiding all breads, pastas, cereals, rice, fruits, etc. During this first phase your diet mainly includes lean proteins, low-fat cheese, vegetables, nuts, and healthy fats. This phase of the southbeach diet actually helps to cleanse you body,and you will notice that your cravings for starchy and sugary food has disappeared. After 2 weeks you should lose between 8 and 13 pounds

The second phase of The SouthBeachDiet allows small amounts of whole-grain breads, fruits, and other low-glycemic carbs. By the Second Phase you should have much fewer cravings for sweets and starchy carbs. Weight loss is slower during the second phase, about 1-2 pounds per week. You will stay on phase two until you reach your goal weight.

The Third Phase, which is the long-term phase of the diet, involves more starches, fruits, and even occasional white flour/sugar treats. The Third Phase is designed for weight maintenance but, if you begin to gain weight again, it's recommended that you repeat the first 2 phases. By the way, the SouthBeach Diet book contains many recipes and practical diet tips. While some people feel this diet, like all low-carb diets, restricts healthy (ie whole grain) breads and rice too much, it's actually much more balanced than Atkins and its low/no-carb variations. The SouthBeach Diet plan is very effective at helping people get their cravings under control while losing a good amount of body fat and learning to eat healthily for the rest of their lives.

The SouthBeach Diet is a delicious,doctor designed, foolproof plan to improve your blood chemistry, by correcting your cholesterol and insulin levels, which has a side effect of fast healthy weight loss.

Healthy Weight Loss: Creating a Weight Loss Plan

2007-05-08T02:53:00.000-07:00

Creating a Weight Loss Plan Before you begin any weight loss program, it is important that you draw up a specific plan to help you stay on track. As a prelude to making your weight loss plan, you will need to do a little homework.

First, you will need to set a weight loss goal. In other words, what specific weight do you want to get to and when is your target date for reaching your goal? To arrive at this number, find out what your ideal lean body weight should be for someone your age and sex and multiply that number by 1.15 for men and 1.2 for women. This will give you your ideal body weight which includes your lean body mass plus an acceptable body fat percentage.

Second, a determination of your resting metabolic rate would be very helpful. Your resting metabolic rate is the number of calories you burn at rest. This information will assist in determining your optimal calorie intake and give you an idea of how slow or fast your metabolism is. Your calorie-needs are the amount of calories you need to maintain your weight. To lose weight, you must burn fewer calories than you take in. For example, 1 pound of body weight is roughly equal to 3500 calories. So if you wish to lose 1 pound of weight per week, you must reduce your calorie-needs by 3500 calories a week or 500 calories a day. To lose about 2 pounds a week, reduce your daily calorie-needs intake by 1000 calories.

Once you know how many calories to aim for, you can create an eating plan to help you lose weight. Write down a plan for your meals and a shopping list and stick to it. Without a written list you are vulnerable to impulse purchases, which torpedo weight loss. Plan to shop after you've eaten and not when you're hungry.

Exercise is essential for weight loss, diet-motivation and future weight maintenance. Make a realistic exercise plan for yourself and ideally find an exercise buddy to join you. The weight loss fitness program you choose to do - vigorous activities such as running or moderate-intensity activities such as walking or household work - will increase the number of calories your body uses. The key to successful weight control and improved overall health is making physical activity a part of your daily life. An excellent exercise regimen is outlined in the Metamorphic Weight Loss system.

For the greatest overall health benefits, experts recommend that you do 20 to 30 minutes of vigorous physical activity three or more times a week and some type of muscle strengthening activity, such as weight resistance, and stretching at least twice a week. When including physical activity in your weight-loss program, you should choose a variety of activities that can be done regularly and are enjoyable for you. Also, if you have not been physically active, you should see your doctor before you start, especially if you are older than 40 years of age, very overweight, or have medical problems.

Instead of weighing yourself once a week, a better way to track your progress is to measure your waist and thigh circumference. A more important concept than "weight loss" is body composition. Body composition is the ratio of lean body weight versus weight from body fat. Ideally, you want to see a reduction in your overall body fat while you increase lean muscle mass. A recent ABC News report indicated that maintaining 5 pounds of lean muscle will burn over 96,000 calories. That amounts to about 26 lbs of weight loss.

It's Time To Get In The Zone Diet

2007-05-08T02:17:00.000-07:00

The best advice is to go with something that's safe, and something that is proven to really work, like the In The Zone diet plan. With the In The Zone diet, there are no magic pills, or recipes for success, other than the simple 40:30:30, which ensures a daily balance of all the right foods to keep your body ticking healthily.
The Zone Diet, or the In The Zone diet is a revolutionary new concept in dieting. It holds that you can eat freshly prepared natural foods every day, and snack in balance to lose weight. The concept of balance extends throughout the diet and lifestyle of those following the In the Zone diet, and follows the key ratio of 40:30:30 - that is 40% of every meal or snack is composed of carbohydrates, 30% of proteins and 30% of fats.

This emphasis on protein, which is almost double the average daily of consumption of most, works on similar principles as the Atkin's programme, although is considerably less risky through providing a balance of the other essentials in the diet. The In The Zone diet ratio is backed up by leading institutional research which promotes proteins as the most effective composite in weight loss, and ties in with the idea that a perfect balance between all component parts of a healthy diet is key to losing weight.

It is sometimes hard to know who to believe. There are so many diet plans out there, and so many lifestyle recommendations that are constantly spread across the media and the internet, it's hard to know what actually works. The best advice is to go with something that's safe, and something that is proven to really work, like the In The Zone diet plan. With the In The Zone diet, there are no magic pills, or recipes for success, other than the simple 40:30:30, which ensures a daily balance of all the right foods to keep your body ticking healthily. Not only that, but when combined with exercise, the diet also helps increase muscle mass, and is also very good for the heart and other internal vital organs, so it's advantages all round.

And it doesn't have to be expensive. You can buy the foods in any grocery store, and even shop as normal, so long as every meal is within these proportions. Although there are certain restrictions, and it's not a good idea to continue to load up on chocolate and sugars, as long as you follow the guideline ratio and stick to drinking heaps of water, you'll start to see the effects of safe and healthy weight loss in no time at all.

To see maximum effects, it's good to combine this balanced nutritional programme with balanced exercise. Some light to moderate activity will suffice to melt that fat, and provided you stick to the In The Zone diet, you'll definitely see the results. Why not try walking in the park with friends, or a leisurely cycle to work? There are so many cheap and cost effective lifestyle changes you can make to balance your health and your diet, and you don't have to fork out big bucks for the latest fad or for any exercise equipment. Just live your life in a balance, with proportionate exercise to rest, proportionate carbs to fats to proteins, and soon you'll see the effects of your healthier, body-friendly lifestyle.

Article Source: http://www.article-outlet.com/

The Raw Food Diet

2007-05-07T05:06:00.000-07:00

Have you started hearing about the Raw Food Diet? It's gaining popularity and buzz, not just as a diet to lose weight, but a diet for a long and healthy life. We eat so much in the way of processed food that we don't even stop to think about what we're putting into our bodies, and how far we've come nutritionally from our ancestral, agrarian roots.

A raw food diet means consuming food in its natural, unprocessed form. There are several common-sense rationales for why this is a good idea. Processing and cooking food can take so much of the basic nutritional value away. Think of some of the conventional wisdom you've heard about for years, such as: If you cook pasta just to the al dente (or medium) stage, it will have more calories, yes, but it will have more the nutritional value in it than if you cooked it to a well-done stage. Or you probably remember hearing not to peel carrots or potatoes too deeply, because most of the nutrients and values are just under the surface.

The raw food diet means eating unprocessed, uncooked, organic, whole foods, such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, legumes, dried fruits, seaweeds, etc. It means a diet that is at least 75% uncooked! Cooking takes out flavor and nutrition from vegetables and fruits. A raw food diet means eating more the way our ancient ancestors did. Our healthier, more fit ancestors. They cooked very little, and certainly didn't cook or process fruits and vegetables. They ate them RAW. Their water wasn't from a tap; it was natural, spring water. Maybe they drank some coconut milk on occasion.

Doesn't it just make sense that this is how our bodies were meant to eat? It's a way of eating that's in harmony with the planet and in harmony with our own metabolisms. Our bodies were meant to work, and need to work to be efficient. That means exercise, certainly, but it also means eating natural, raw foods that require more energy to digest them.

Why The Raw Food Diet

Because cooking takes so many nutrients and vitamins OUT of food, you automatically start feeding your body what it needs when you stop cooking food and start eating uncooked, nutrient-rich foods. A raw carrot has exponentially more nutrition than a cooked carrot.

Cooking also alters the chemistry of foods, often making them harder to digest. Why do we have so many digestive problems in this country? Because we're putting foods into our bodies in a form that we weren't designed to absorb. High fiber, high water content fresh produce abolishes constipation of the bowels, cells and circulatory system. Obstructions are cleared and blood flow increases to each and every cell in the body. Enhanced blood flow is significant for two reasons: as mentioned above, blood delivers nutrients and oxygen to living cells, and carries away their toxic metabolites.

Obesity is endemic in this country. The diet industry is more profitable than the oil companies. Why? Because the way we eat and prepare our food practically guarantees that we'll overeat. Psychologists tell us that we overeat because our souls are hungry. But in reality, our bodies are hungry, even though we may feel full. When you start giving your body the nutrients it craves, overeating will cease.

Eating raw foods is a boost to your metabolism as well. It takes a little more energy to digest raw foods, but it's a healthy process. Rather than spending energy to rid itself of toxins produced by cooking food, the body uses its energy to feed every cell, sending vitamins, fluids, enzymes and oxygen to make your body the efficient machine it was intended to be.

You'll naturally stop overeating, because your body and brain will no longer be starving for the nutrients they need. A starving brain will trigger the thoughts that make you overeat. The brain and the rest of your body don't need quantity; they need quality.

Source: http://www.article-outlet.com/

All about Abs Diet

2007-05-06T02:58:00.000-07:00

Going through diet after diet, sooner or later everybody ends up thinking that there's nothing more to learn. Frankly, it doesn't take long to get exhaustive hands on experience with just about all the major dieting concepts and to learn in which way each of them is supposed to influence the body. And once you're familiar with all the pros and cons of dieting, it's only fair to think that nothing could surprise you anymore. Well, this is where the Abs Diet comes in with a rather strange take on the old concept of losing weight through exercises. And, no, there are no magic pills to swallow.

The basic idea is much simpler than that. It goes something like this: the body has to expend energy in order to keep the muscles and internal organs alive and in shape. This means that every addition to the muscle mass will force the body to spend more energy. Therefore, instead of lowering the daily food intake in order to lose weight, this diet focuses on increasing the "energy bill" above the normal level. The extra muscle mass is supposed to absorb all the calories that would otherwise be stored as fat and also force the body to burn existing fat in order to keep up with the effort.

Every 1 pound of muscle added to the body costs the body 50 calories per day on top of everything else. It's pretty easy to see that 10 pounds of muscle are going to keep busy 500 calories of your daily intake every single day. This is enough to make you lose 1 pound per week, which is not bad at all. It's interesting to notice that the diet is based on achieving a snowball effect: the more you exercise, the more muscle you put on; the more muscle you put on, the faster you lose weight, which allows you to exercise harder and lose even more weight. Once you get the snowball rolling it will turn into an avalanche on its own.

The food users are allowed to eat consists of 12 nutrient-rich power foods. These are supposed to provide all the minerals, vitamins and fiber your body needs to stay healthy over the six weeks of dieting. The 12 foods are: beans and peas, spinach and a couple of other green vegetables, almonds, instant hot oat cereal, wholegrain breads and cereals, berries, eggs, low-fat dairy products, lean meats (such as turkey), peanut butter, olive oil and protein powder. All other foods are to be shunned during the diet.

Sticking to this diet might seem a little hard, especially for as long as six weeks. However, the mandatory exercises should make a big difference. Not only that you lose weight, but you also get to show off a nice set of abs and a far better toned body than before. One extra thing on your side is that part of the fat will be replaced by muscle, so even if it seems that you're not losing much weight, you're actually shifting weight from fat to muscle. Nevertheless, you can expect to get rid of up to 12 pounds in the first two weeks of dieting.

Best Diet - 3 Key Features Your Diet MUST Have For Weight Loss Success

2007-05-06T01:44:00.000-07:00

In order to have rapid weight loss success, you have to find the best diet for you. Planning is critical to your success. Choose your diet with these 3 key features in mind and you're already halfway to your weight loss dreams.
So you've made the resolution that THIS is the year you're going to lose weight and get in the best shape of your life. You're not going to settle for second best - you're going to achieve that dream body you've always wanted.

Great news - this is actually the best time to make that commitment. Why? Because you can take advantage of the powerful momentum and energy a New Year brings to achieve your weight loss dreams.

But there's nothing worse than committing to lose weight, only to get lost among the 5 gazillion diets out there. It can get confusing - you may end up wasting a lot of money and effort. You may end up wondering which diet is really the BEST diet for you.

In order to have rapid weight loss success, you have to find the best diet for you (a.k.a. the diet that will speed you towards your dream body at lightning pace). There are millions of diets - but only a few that are best for you and your lifestyle.

The best diet for you will have the 3 key features listed below. Choose your diet with these 3 key features in mind and you're already halfway to your weight loss dreams.

#1 Proven Success Rate

Are there before and after pictures of people who have lost weight with that particular diet? Are there customer testimonials? Have there been independent studies done on the diet's success rate?

The diet you choose doesn't have to have all three of these but try to find at least some kind of proven success rate before choosing that particular program.

Finding a diet with a proven success rate not only lets you know that the diet works but it also helps give you the confidence that the diet will work FOR YOU.

Confidence is one of the most underrated factors in a successful weight loss program. If you've tried and failed with diets before you especially need that extra boost of confidence to carry you through the more difficult times in the diet. By reminding yourself that this diet has been proven to work - you'll be able to keep going and reach your weight loss goals.

A related feature that gets extra points is if the diet has been recommended by an expert or a physician. Again this boosts your confidence that the diet is safe and effective.

#2 Affordable.

Losing weight should not cost you thousands of dollars (unless we're talking about surgery here and that's an entirely different article). The best diet will be affordable for the average person.

If the diet costs too much, be very suspicious and look elsewhere. There are too many shady diets out there and as a consumer, it pays to be cautious.

I'll give you an example of what I mean:

A close friend of mine went to a well-known weight loss clinic in our area and was told she had to pay the yearly fees up front (around $1000 NOT including food). They also told her she had to buy their food in bulk (like $500 for a year's worth of chocolate). When the chocolate gave her heart palpitations and she had to take it back, they told her it was non-refundable. She was out the money for the chocolate. Plus, she feels she can't leave the program because she's paid the yearly fees (which, you guessed it, are also non-refundable).

She unfortunately made the mistake of ignoring her instincts and paying way too much money for a diet program. If you notice you're being asked for hefty fees right out of the gate, warning lights should be flashing in your mind.

Now on the other hand, the best diet WILL cost you something. It actually is better if you put some cash on the table for your diet program. Why? Because when we invest in something we're more likely to stick with it. When we invest in something we are more likely to follow through and get the results we want.

For example I did a liver detox several months ago. I'm not really into liver detoxing but I read an article and figured I'd try it.

The detox kit cost me a whopping $50 and when I opened the instructions they told me I had to give up junk food for two weeks. In any other universe I would have laughed and simply forgotten about detoxing my liver. But because I'd shelled out $50, I was invested - I decided that I hopefully wouldn't starve from lack of junk food over two weeks and suffered through it.

If I'd gotten the detox kit for free there's no way I would have followed those instructions. But because I was invested, I followed through and now have a healthier liver thanking me for it.

So when searching for the best diet, putting out some money on yourself and your dreams of a better body is actually a healthy thing. Just keep in mind that you shouldn't have to spend thousands of dollars on it.

#3 Compatible with Your Tastes and Lifestyle

This is THE most crucial step however it's the one where most people go wrong. When choosing a diet, they simply pick one and go, without considering if it is compatible with their tastes and lifestyle.

For example, if you hate feeling deprived or empty you might want to choose a program that lets you eat many times during the day so you don't feel hungry. If you get bored easily you want a diet program that gives you tremendous variety and flexibility. If you don't do a lot of cooking or food preparation, you'll want to look at a program where the food is pre-made for you.

Diets are like cars - there are hundreds of different models out there, each with their own unique features. And they can get you where you want to go. But your personality might fit better with certain features than others.

Dieting is hard enough. Don't make it harder on yourself by choosing a diet not compatible with who you are. Setting yourself up for success will also guarantee that you'll stick it out until you reach your goal.

And one other thing, the best diet will be one that you can get excited about. Choose a diet that you enjoy, that you believe in, that may actually be - gulp - fun.

Emotional excitement will fade in time, yes. But it can give you enough of an emotional push to get you over the initial hump. By that time your first few pounds will have come off and will serve as your continuing motivation.

So those are 3 key considerations when looking for the best diet. Keep them in mind and you will progress in leaps and bounds towards your dream body. Remember, planning now may seem boring - but it's the key to your future weight loss success.

Source: http://www.article-outlet.com/

Liquid Calories Count!

2007-05-05T04:33:00.000-07:00

Think about this. Early man survived by eating one hundred percent of his calories and drinking plain water. No liquid calories! Today, the average American receives more than one fifth of their calories from soft drinks, fruit juices, milk, alcohol, and recently sports drinks, coffee and tea.

Since the 1970s, calorie intake from all of these liquids have increased dramatically, contributing somewhere in the neighborhood of 150-300 extra calories per day. Unless you increase your activity or eat less, that many calories adds up to an extra pound of body fat every 20 days or so. Milk is about the only source of liquid calories that has decreased in the last 30 years.

How has this impacted our health? According to Dr. Barry Popin of the University of North Carolina School of Public Health, studies have shown that people who shift from non calorie drinks to sweetened drinks gain weight, probably because they do not compensate by eating less. Popin says that drinking calories in liquid form does not register with our appetite controls.

To address this growing problem, a panel of leading nutrition experts calling themselves the Beverage Guidance Panel was organized by Dr. Popin. The Panel has issued the following recommendations for beverage intake:

Amount / day Beverage based upon a 2,200 calorie diet

0-8 oz Calorie-Sweetened Beverages like soda or juice 0-8 oz Fruit Juices 0 oz Whole milk sparingly: Sports drinks for non athletes 16 oz Sports drinks for endurance athletes 0-1 drink Alcohol for women 0-2 drinks Alcohol for men 0-32 oz Diet drinks 0-16 oz Low fat, skim, or soy milk 0-28 oz Unsweetened tea/coffee (can replace water) 20-50 oz Water

If you need to lose some weight and think liquid calories might be contributing to your problem, start by reading your labels carefully. Do not forget that total calories listed on product labels are expressed per serving size, and more often than not containers include 2 or even 3 servings. Since liquid calories are so easy to overlook, you may have to write down everything that you drink, making sure that the portion sizes are accurate.

How many soft drinks do you drink? A U.S. Department of Agriculture Survey found that the average American guzzles 53 gallons of carbonated soft drinks in a year. That is 18.6 ounces every day, 365 days a year. Males between the ages of 12-29 years average 28.5 ounces every day!

A 12 ounce can of soda contains 10 teaspoons of sugar at 15 calories per teaspoon. The average American that drinks 18.6 ounces of soda per day is getting around 232 calories. That is the energy equivalent of 2 extra pounds of fat every month, or 24 extra pounds in a year.

According to the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, people eating 1,600 calories a day should not take in more than 6 teaspoons of refined sugar a day- from any source! If you eat 2,200 calories a day you should limit sugar to 12 teaspoons. That is 5-8% of your total daily calories. The Food and Drug Administration is slightly more lenient, recommending no more than 10% of your daily intake of calories from sugar.

Besides the extra calories, the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) blames soft drinks in the American diet on a number of other health risks. Osteoporosis, tooth decay, heart disease, and kidney stones are all associated with excessive soft drink consumption, not to mention potential problems caused by caffeine and other additives.

To be fair, not everyone agrees. The Sugar Association accurately points out that sugar is pure carbohydrate and low in calories when compared to fat. The FDA confirms that sugar has never been identified as an independent risk factor for heart disease. In terms of dental health, the Sugar Association says the frequency of exposure to carbohydrate foods is more important than the amount. Sticky foods are more of a problem than soft drinks because contact with tooth enamel is prolonged.

So some sugar is OK, especially if you are an athlete in need of extra calories. It improves the taste of food and drink and is not nearly as calorie dense as fat, but common sense should tell you that too much is not a good idea.

The FDA recommendation of limiting your sugar intake to 10% of your total calories is a good one. That is 200 calories if you eat 2,000 calories per day. Eighteen ounces of soft drinks takes you to that limit, if you eat or drink no other sugar from any other source.

Atkins Diet Recipes Add Some Variety To Your Diet

2007-05-05T03:02:00.000-07:00

The Atkins diet claims you will lose weight by cutting out carbs and eating more meat. The diet is based on the majority of those who are overweight do in fact eat too many carbohydrates in their diet. By cutting down on the carb's that you eat daily and increasing the amount of fat and protein then the body will lose more weight as it burns off the stored body fat much more efficiently.
The Atkins diet relies on the person eating a diet that relies heavily on proteins and fat. The basis of the diet includes red meat, fish, which included any kind of shellfish, chicken, cheeses and you are able to cook with butter if you wish - not bad for a diet.
Carbohydrates however should be mainly cut out of the diet, the diet allows you around 20 grams of carb`s per day. During the first two weeks this is important and is what gives the diet its boost. During this time you will lose weight if you stick to the plan even though you will not have to count how many calories you eat. In fact you could well be eating more calories than you were before which is one reason why people stick to it.
Following the first couple of weeks you can then gradually add a few carb`s back into your diet, however you have to be sensible regarding this.
Here is a sample of a phase one Atkins Diet recipe for "Bones To Be Chicken Wingettes"
Wingettes range considerably in size, from six to 18 pieces per pound. If yours are smaller, theyll have greater surface area, so you may need to use more of the spice mixture. Use more or less cayenne depending on the heat tolerance of your ghoulsor guests.
2 tablespoons chili powder
2 tablespoons Atkins Quick Quisine? Bake Mix
1 to 2 teaspoons cayenne
2 teaspoons dry mustard
2 teaspoons salt
2 pounds wingettes, rinsed and dried
Heat oven to 450F. Line a jelly-roll pan with foil, and spray with nonstick cooking spray.
Combine chili powder, bake mix, cayenne, mustard and salt in a large resealable bag. Add half of the wingettes, and shake to coat. Transfer to pan, and repeat with remaining wingettes.
Bake, turning occasionally, until crisp, browned and cooked through, 30 to 35 minutes. Transfer to a platter, and serve.
For people who have had success with the Atkins diet is comes down to variety. Being able to come up with new ways to eat the same thing will help you lose weight and feel good doing it. You can find all of the Atkins diet recipes at their website here: http://www.atkins.com/recipes

Cabbage Soup Diet – For Dieters who Don't like Cabbage!

2007-05-04T05:29:00.000-07:00

When anyone starts dieting they want to see results quickly and that’s exactly what the cabbage soup diet achieves - but if you hate cabbage don’t worry, today many heath food shops are now offering pills with the same nutrients.

The Cabbage Soup Diet is a low-fat, high-fiber diet that will help you kick start your weight loss program. It also provides plenty of motivation - when anyone starts dieting they want to see results quickly and that’s exactly what the cabbage soup diet achieves.

There is a recipe for cabbage soup at the end of this article, but if you hate cabbage don’t worry, today many heath food shops now offering pills with the same nutrients, and lets face it there are a lot of people who don’t like cabbage!

Where the daily instructions mention cabbage soup, you can substitute cabbage diet supplement pills, if you prefer.

Following the cabbage soup diet. Follow it EXACTLY for a week and the pounds will melt away!If you don’t follow it exactly you will completely defeat the object of the diet - keep in mind it’s only for seven days and is well worth it. Here are the basics of the diet and some ways to maximize your results:

Day One: Fruit: Eat all of the fruit you want (no bananas). Eat only your soup and the fruit for the first day. Drinks - unsweetened teas, cranberry juice and water.

Day Two: Vegetables: Eat any fresh, raw or cooked vegetables and as much as you want. Try to eat leafy green vegetables and stay away from dry beans, peas and corn. Eat all the vegetables you want along with your soup. At dinner, a big baked potato with butter can be eaten. Do not eat fruit.

Day Three: Mix Days One and Two: Eat all the soup, fruits and vegetables you want but No Baked Potato.

Day Four: Bananas and Skim Milk: Eat up to eight bananas and drink as many glasses of skimmed milk as you want on this day, along with your soup.

Day Five: Beef And Tomatoes: Ten to twenty ounces of beef and up to six fresh tomatoes can be eaten. Drink at least 6 to 8 glasses of water this day to wash the uric acid from your body. Eat your soup at least once this day. You may eat broiled or baked chicken instead of beef (no skin-on chicken). If you prefer, you can substitute broiled fish for the beef on one of the beef days (but not both).

Day Six: Beef and Vegetables: Eat to your heart's content of beef and vegetables this day. You can even have 2 or 3 steaks if you like, with leafy green vegetables. No Baked Potato. Eat your soup at least once.

Day Seven: Brown rice, unsweetened fruit juices and vegetables: As much as you want.

It’s over, and you will have lost weight! If it sounds easy, but wait until you try it! The cabbage soup diet is not easy for many dieters but the results are well worth the effort. One week only.

The Cabbage Soup Diet is full nutritious vegetables and fruit, and is extremely low in fat, but to stress again: This diet is for one week only. The cabbage soup diet is too low in complex carbohydrates, protein, vitamins and minerals to continue for a long period of time. You need to resume normal eating patterns for at least two weeks before trying it again. Six things to keep in mind

1. Follow the diet EXACTLY - if you don’t, then it wont work

2. Drink at least 4 - 6 glasses of water per day

3. Keep motivated! - Keep in mind that it's only for seven days

4. Complement the diet with a multivitamin and mineral tablet

5. Eat plenty of soup - as much as you want! If you hate the soup use over the counter pills.

The cabbage soup diet is one of the most effective ways to kick start a weight loss program. It provides quick results and although not easy, dieters know they only need to do it for seven days and can have a break before resuming if necessary. Finally, it provides plenty of motivation to keep losing weight, once quick weight loss has been achieved. Here is a recipe for the cabbage soup diet:

Cabbage Soup Diet Recipe. Ingredients: 6 Large Green Onions, 2 Green Peppers, 1-2 Cans Diced Tomatoes, 1 Bunch of Celery, 1 Package Lipton Onion Soup Mix, 1-2 Cubes of Bouillon (if desired), 1 Cabbage Head. Directions: 1) Cut the vegetables into small pieces and cover with water, you can also use V-8 juice. 2) Boil the ingredients fast for 10 minutes. 3) Reduce to simmer and continue cooking the cabbage soup until all of the vegetables are tender. Season the cabbage soup to taste with salt, pepper, garlic powder, parsley, or whatever spice you want to add.

Source: http://www.article-outlet.com/

The Secrets to Weight Loss After Pregnancy

2007-05-04T04:27:00.000-07:00

The time right after the birth of a child can be quite challenging. While it is certainly a good idea to eat healthy, you’ll need to pace yourself as far as weight loss is concerned. Over time, you should be able to lose the weight you gained during your pregnancy. It’s a good idea to set weight-loss goals, but don’t go overboard.
Sarah is a pregnant mother of three who continues to breast-feed her 18-month-old. After each of her pregnancies, she has had difficulty losing weight. With all of her responsibilities, weight loss isn’t a priority. Still, she wishes that, once this pregnancy is over, she will be able to return to her pre-marriage weight.

The average woman gains more than 25 pounds during her pregnancy. The procedure of childbirth may result in a weight loss of up to 14 pounds, which means that new moms still have considerable weight to lose once they leave the hospital. However, some women simply assume that this “baby fat” will never go away. Yet, it is entirely possible to lose weight during the post-partum period.

A number of medical experts recommend easing into a weight loss program after the birth of your baby. This means that you will not start dieting until about three months following birth. You should combine a low-fat diet with moderate exercise in order to achieve weight loss.

Don’t expect instant results. It will take you a good nine months to get back to your weight prior to pregnancy. A go-slow approach is best because you need to give your body time to recover after childbirth. Certainly, you might be able to lose weight faster, but you might be sacrificing valuable nutrients as a result.

Interestingly enough, breastfeeding actually enhances weight loss. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has found that breastfeeding leads to the release of hormones which enable your uterus to return to its normal size. However, breastfeeding alone won’t bring down your weight. You need to combine it with a sensible diet and a moderate exercise program. Keep in mind that you need to have at least 1800 calories a day while breastfeeding in order to keep yourself and your baby healthy. Still, stay clear of junk food during this period. You should rely on food with high nutritional value to maintain the proper level of calories each day.

There are many good reasons to exercise during the post-partum period. In addition to helping to accelerate weight reduction, exercise can help alleviate post-partum depression, improve your mood, and boost your confidence. Exercise can also “clear your head” so that you’re better able to meet the demands of motherhood. You might consider joining a “Mommy and Me” exercise class so that your baby can exercise right along with you. Another helpful hint is to enlist the help of a friend or relative to act as your exercise buddy so that you’ll have some emotional support while exercising. An added bonus of exercise is that it should boost your energy level, which is quite important when battling the fatigue which comes from caring for a newborn.

Your diet should generally be low-fat but not fat-free; vitamin rich; and high-fiber. Under no circumstances should you go on a fad diet. Such a diet could be quite harmful to your health and could actually slow your recovery from childbirth. It’s a good idea to set weight-loss goals, but don’t go overboard. Recognize that there’s a limit to the amount of weight you can lose during a given period of time.

You may see a number of actress-moms gracing the covers of magazines shortly after the birth of their children. They appear svelte and elegant, totally devoid of baby fat. In the accompanying article, they may even talk about exercising right after childbirth. Such articles send new mothers a dangerous message: that you must do all you can to become thin as quickly as possible after your baby is born. Such a philosophy is not only ridiculous, it’s also unhealthy. As a result, you’ll need to “tune out” such messages from the media and stay the course with your own gradual weight loss plan.

The time right after the birth of a child can be quite challenging, taxing both your physical and emotional strength. While it is certainly a good idea to eat healthy, you’ll need to pace yourself as far as weight loss is concerned. Over time, you should be able to lose the weight you gained during your pregnancy. In fact, you might find that you’re actually healthier after your baby is born. Weightloss Diettips

Article Source: http://www.article-outlet.com/

Five Quick Ways to Start Losing Weight Fast

2007-05-03T05:22:00.000-07:00

Some people find it hard to stick to diets and consistently fail to lose weight. They try nearly every kind of new dieting idea that comes along hoping that one of them would finally work, but the miracle never happens. Naturally, these people tend to overlook their own mistakes and fail to understand what prevents them from losing weight. The human brain displays a remarkable ability of ignoring the things it does not want to face, so it's not hard to understand why some people eat all manner of things and still claim they haven't touched anything but salad for a whole week.

But there are ways of working around these problems and if you don't want to become one of these people, then you should stick to these pointers. Their purpose is to make eating a conscious act in order to avoid giving in to compulsions and temptations. The easiest thing to do is to carry around a notebook and a pen and to write down everything you eat. And I mean every little thing. Have you finished that half a slice of pizza that your partner couldn't eat anymore? Write it down. At the end of the day look over the list and you'll be surprised at how many things you actually eat on a regular basis.

Since eating and drinking are, for the most part, acts that bypass rational thinking you should try to bring them out of the twilight zone. So every time you reach out for a drink or some food, stop and ask yourself "Why am I doing this?". You may be thirsty, hungry, bored, lonely, depressed, tired or stressed, but out of this list of reasons only thirst and hunger are legitimate. Put the bottle down if you're not thirsty. Put the food back on the shelf or on the table if you're not hungry. Do you crave sweets because you're tired? Get some sleep instead. Do you feel the need to eat because you're lonely and depressed? Go to the cinema or visit a friend. Read a book, watch a movie or listen to some music. There are options.

Never starve yourself. This is one of the big mistakes in dieting. Unless you have enough willpower to qualify for Nietzsche's Overman status you will break down sooner or later and eat the first thing that you can get your hands on. Such as snacks or fast food. Starvation also makes the body go into power save mode by limiting your energy levels and hanging on to the existing fat. The body makes no difference between dieting and actual starvation and will behave as if in danger. Therefore you must eat three meals a day, plus snacks consisting of fruit and vegetables. This is the best way to lose weight.

Don't try to banish your favorite foods completely because you will only sap your own willingness to stick to a diet. The key to dieting is moderation, not denial. Do you like ice cream? Well, have a couple of spoonfuls of ice cream every Sunday. Take a break from whatever it is you're doing and enjoy this special treat. Don't feel like you're cheating on the diet and keep any guilt pangs away. You're just dieting, not preparing for admission to a convent or monastery. So have a bit of forbidden food every five days or so and enjoy the moment.

And, of course, you must exercise. If you're not used to exercising and are a bit scared of all the effort and sweating, then start small. There's no need to rush into hour-long training sessions. Five minutes per day will do for starters. Get a treadmill and a pair of dumbbells and make your own schedule. Two minutes and a half of running and two minutes and half of curls. Every week increase the time spent exercising by another five minutes and add new exercises. Your goal should be to spend at least 30 minutes every day working out your body. Sixty minutes is even better, but it will come in time. It's OK to start small.

What is Cabbage Soup Diet?

2007-05-02T04:22:00.000-07:00

I often hang out in online weight loss and fitness forums, reading and answering questions. On of the the questions that I answer most is "What is the Cabbage Soup Diet?".

Some of the common questions about this diet are: Is there really a Cabbage Soup Diet? Is the Cabbage Soup diet healthy? Does it really work? How long can I be on it?

Since there are so many questions surrounding this diet, I have decided to put together this article which will not only answer a few of your questions but will also give you instructions on how to prepare and cook the ever puzzling Cabbage Soup. The you can decide for yourself if you would like to try this diet to shed a few pounds.

The Cabbage Soup diet only lasts 7 days and is quite filling even then, during the seven days you might find yourself a bit irritable, your stomach and digestive system may produce an abundance of gas and you may feel possibly a little light headed. If you have a tendancy to get gas from vegetables or especially cabbage, I suggest that you purchase an anti-gas product such as Beano, otherwise you might find yourself feeling uncomfortably full and bloated and you may find yourself without friends for a few days, due to full blown flatulance.

If you stick to the Cabbage Soup diet for the full 7 days you will find youself losing weight after the second to third day. Remember that this will be water weight and not actual fat. By the sixth day (if you make it that long on this diet) you wil start to see real fat loss.

As with other fad diets, the Cabbage Soup diet works because the meals ar so boring that you only eat when actually hungry. You really won't be tempted have this soup as a mid-night snack. The Cabbage Soup diet also works becuse even though your calorie consumption is very low, this diet is full of fiber which keeps your metabolism rate up, and also keeps you feeling fairly full most of the day.

Now that we have discussed briefly a little about the Cabbage Soup diet, let's get into the actual preparation and cooking for your seven day diet.

Your shopping list:
1 -container of mushroons which is approximately 12-16 ounces
1/2 of a large head of cabbage or 1 small head. You may use red or green cabbage
1 -bunch of celery or 2 bunches of celery hearts
2 -medium sized green peppers, or you may use 1 red and 1 -green pepper
6 -large onions
3 -average sized carrots
1-2 cans of diced,whole or chopped tomatoes
1 -package onion flavor dry soup mix such as Lipton
12 cups of water

Optional ingredients:
1 -48 ounce can of V8 or other tomato juice brand
Bouillon, beef stock, salt, pepper or fresh herbs for a more satisfying taste.

Soup Preparation:
Using a large stock pot, first spray with a non-stick coating such as Pam then add your water. If you have decided to also add tomato juice, you may want to use only 6-8 cups of water instead of the full 12 cups. If using, add your tomato juice now.
Once you slice or chop your vegatables add them to your stock pot.

Chop your cabbage into bite sized pieces, removing any wilted or brown edged outer layer leaves. You may also want to chop the cabbage center into smaller pieces or discard the hard center.

Wash your celery, chop into 1/4 inch slices and add to the pot.

Slice or dice your peppers. Remember to discard the seeds and any white membrane that may be inside the peppers.

Cut your mushrooms into nice thick pieces as they cook quickly and will shrink while cooking.

Scrub, but do not peel your carrots, then chop them into nice bite sized pieces.

Cooking:
Once all of your ingredients have been added place your stock pot over a high heat until it starts to boil. Once it reaches the boiling temperature reduce the heat to a simmer, and simmer for 2 to 2 1/2 hours or until all of your vegetables are tender.
During the last hour of cooking add your bouliion, herbs and spices to taste. Remember that herbs and spices add flavor, not calories so let your imagination run wild.

The Diet:
Now that your soup is cooked it's time to start the day as directed below.

Day 1
On day one you may have all of the Cabbage Soup that you like, along with as much fruit as you like and sugar free jello. However, you may not have any bananas. Also avoid any caffeinated drinks. Be sure to drink plenty of water and along with water you may have sugar free juices or decaffeinated tea or coffee.

Day 2
Today, along with your soup you are allowed as many vegetables as you like, but avoid corn, peas or beans. The best way to prepare the vegetables is to steam them, but if you don't have a steamer you may microwave, or stove cook. You may have as much vegetables as you like as long as you do not add any butter or sauces. You may not have any fruit or fruit juices today. As a snack, have a large baked potato, again without butter or sauces.

Day 3
Today in addition to your soup you may have as much fruit and vegetables as you like, but you may not have any potatoes. Remember to drink, drink, drink water all day long while you are on this diet.

Day 4
Ok, are you still with me or have you given up by now?
Today, in addition to your soup, water, decaffeinated drinks and sugar free jello you may have as many bananas as you like, trying not to have more than 8.
No fruit or vegetables today.

Day 5
Just when you thought that you couldn't make it this far, we add meat. You may have up to 20 ounces of lean meat, cooked without fat or sauces or skinless chicken. You should also have tomatoes (up to 8). The tomatoes will make your body very acidic, so you must drink a minimum of 8 full glasses of water during the day. Be sure to always spread your water out during the day and don't guzzle it-sip it.

Day 6
We're almost there.
Today's a good food day. Along with your soup you will have as much vegetables (no potatoes) as you like and up to 20 ounces of lean meat or skinless chicken.

Day 7
WooHoo, your last day.
Today in addition to your last bit of soup, you will be eating brown rice and unsweetened fruit jiuces. You may eat of of the brown rice that you like, but you may not have any white rice,long grain or wild rice.

Day 8
Today is the day that you weight yourself to see how much weight you have lost.

A few things that you should know about the Cabbage Soup diet:
1. Before starting this diet you should consult with your health care professional to see if it is safe for you to go on this diet. He/she may also want you to check in with their office while you are on this diet.
Although, for a perfectly healthy person this diet is fine to be on for 7 days, you may have an underlying health issue that would prohibit it's use.
2. This diet will give you a quick boost to your weight loss goals, but it did not train you to eat properly. You still must learn to eat less and to rely on healthy foods not junk food.
3. There are different variations of this diet circulating. I suggest that you check out a few since you might learns some tips here and there.
4. Adding exercise will add to your burning of calories and fat, but if you feel tired don't push yourself.

In ending, I want you to remember that fad diets may be ok, for just a few days, but never, ever go on any fad diet longer than one week. In doing so you may cause long term damage to your body. A healthy body looks so much better than one that has been on countless fad diets.

Article Source: http://www.article-outlet.com/

When Selecting Your Dietary Supplements, Watch Out For These 3 Key 'Bad Boys'

2007-05-01T04:06:00.000-07:00

Sometimes we all need a little extra push in the right direction. Even when carrying out a weight loss plan of consistent exercise and a healthy diet, an extra aid may be that extra boost we're looking for. Dietary supplements can offer a leg up. Supplements can, in conjunction with your other efforts to lose weight, assist in reducing appetite, burning fat and carbohydrates, and supplying you with extra vitamins for energy and effective weight control. However, when searching for the best dietary supplement for you, there are a few things that should be considered.

Not all weight loss supplements are necessarily effective, and certainly not all are healthy and safe. There are 3 key things that are especially important to watch out for when selecting a dietary supplement.

1.) Ephedra is Extra Bad - In 2004, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned the sale of ephedra-containing dietary supplements. Also known as ma huang, the Chinese name, ephedra became a particularly concerning substance in the late 1990s with serious complaints of adverse side effects and even several deaths attributed to use of the substance. It functions as a stimulant (stimulants are known to suppress appetite), and has been proven to lead to short-term weight loss, but it is highly unlikely to yield long-term benefits. Even though ephedra is outlawed by the federal government, it still exists in prescription drugs and as ma huang, and could even be found in some less-known dietary supplements. Better to stay away from it.

2.) Caffeine is Lousy - Caffeine is what starts at least a good half of our nation out in the day, and as a standalone substance is not bad. But relying on caffeine to suppress appetite is an ineffectual and unhealthy way to approach weight loss. We all might have our cup or two of coffee in the morning, which won't hurt us at all. But start taking a dietary supplement which has at least the equivalent amount of caffeine as those two cups, and we double our daily intake of caffeine. High dosages of caffeine are potentially dangerous. A sustained level of excessive caffeine intake can lead beyond just extreme urination: diarrhea, high blood pressure, and addiction aren't the best places to look to lose weight. So, keep drinking your cup of coffee, and look for a caffeine-free dietary supplement.

3.) Dietary supplements just plain aren't for everybody - Some individuals will react better to dietary supplements than others. Certain chemicals or unique herbs may respond negatively to other substances already present in a person's system. If you are taking medication, or have diabetes, it would be wise to consult your physician before deciding on a dietary supplement. In fact, it may be best to consult your doctor when you choose a dietary supplement anyway - he or she may have a suggestion that they feel might work especially well for you.

Not all dietary supplements are bad. In fact, there are a lot of good ones out there - ones that are safe, effective, and will work for you and your unique system. Keep these three guidelines in mind, and you may just be able to get an extra boost to send you on your way to looking and feeling great.

source : slimstuff.com

The Importance of a Balanced and Nutritional Diet

2007-04-22T16:32:00.000-07:00

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!

Article Source: http://www.article-outlet.com/

What Are The Advantages Of The Medifast Diet ?

2007-04-22T15:24:00.000-07:00

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.

Article Source: http://www.article-outlet.com/

Why The FDA Banned Ephedra

2007-04-21T16:22:00.000-07:00

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.

Article Source: http://www.article-outlet.com/

The Mediterranean Diet - Lose Weight without Sacrificing Taste!

2007-04-21T13:38:00.000-07:00

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.

Article Source: http://www.article-outlet.com/

Cutting Down On Dangerous Fats Through Low Fat Diets

2007-04-20T23:06:00.000-07:00

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.

Article Source: http://www.article-outlet.com/

Weight Loss Diets: Fact And Fiction

2007-04-20T20:54:00.000-07:00

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

2007-04-19T15:21:00.000-07:00

Understanding Fats and carbohydrates and their role in a healthy diet

2007-04-19T14:36:00.000-07:00

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

Article Source: http://www.article-outlet.com/

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

2007-04-14T16:20:00.001-07:00

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

2007-04-14T06:09:00.000-07:00

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

2007-04-12T14:24:00.000-07:00

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

2007-04-12T06:32:00.000-07:00

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

2007-04-12T05:17:00.000-07:00

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

2007-04-11T23:29:00.000-07:00

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

2007-04-10T11:16:00.000-07:00

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

2007-04-09T13:35:00.000-07:00

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

2007-04-09T08:03:00.000-07:00

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

2007-04-08T02:22:00.000-07:00

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

2007-04-07T11:29:00.000-07:00

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?

2007-04-07T04:38:00.000-07:00

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?

2007-04-07T04:31:00.000-07:00

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?

2007-04-07T04:29:00.000-07:00

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/

What is a Low Carb Diet?

2007-04-07T04:21:00.000-07:00

The Basics...

People diet for two primary reasons, to lose weight, or to improve health--or both. If you are a healthy adult who is not overweight and who has no family members who are obese, the food pyramid recommendations of the USDA will work fine, as long as you remember that the carbohydrates that are recommended are those contained in whole grains, fruits, and vegetables. However, even those who are healthy and who are not overweight can maintain their health and vitality by following a reduced carbohydrate lifestyle. (See Syndrome-X, below).

For those who are overweight, or who have diabetes, the low-calorie and low-fat diets recommended by the government do not work well. In fact, for diabetics, they can actually worsen the condition. The only diet that strikes at the real cause of obesity, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, hypoglycemia, and type 2 diabetes is a low-carbohydrate diet. Many doctors and nutritionists are now starting to recognize this.

There are many different versions of the low-carb diet, such as Dr. Atkins New Diet Revolution, Protein Power, Neanderthin, The Carbohydrate Addict's Lifestyle Plan, Life Without Bread, and others. All of them, however, have one thing in common -- a very strict reduction in the consumption of carbohydrates. Most low-carb diets replace carbohydrates with fats and proteins. Although diets vary in their recommendations, as a general rule, a low-carb diet is synonymous with a high-fat and moderate protein diet. Those on a low-carb diet should get at least 60 to 70 percent of their daily calorie intake from fat. Carbohydrates should make up less than 10 percent, and in some cases, less than 5 percent of your daily calorie intake.

After being told for years to eat a low-fat, high-carbohydrate "balanced" diet, Americans are now the fattest people on Earth, and getting fatter every year! The occurrences of adult-onset diabetes is also increasing. We now know, because research has shown, that fat is not the enemy -- carbohydrates are.

On a low-carb diet, you can eat until you're full, as long as you eat only allowed foods. Allowed foods are meats, fish, poultry, eggs, and cheese, plus a limited amount of green vegetables. Stay away from foods that are on the "Not Allowed" list.

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

Five Things About The Vegetarian Diet That You Should Know

2007-04-05T02:53:00.000-07:00

The explosion in obesity and disease of lifestyle in the world is costing the economies of various countries millions of dollars. Lifestyle diseases such as obesity, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidaemias, high blood pressure, coronary artery diseases and cancers are very common in industrialised countries. Vegetarian diets could offer some positive leads towards the epidemic of lifestyle diseases.

1. Vegetarian Diet and Today's Lifestyle diseases

There is evidence that a vegetarian diet is beneficial for various lifestyle disease such as, diabetes, high blood pressure, coronary artery diseases, cancers, etc. The reason for this might be due to various factors such as low fat content of the vegatarian diet compared to the omnivores diet, there could also be lifestyle changes for the vegetarians such as non-smoking, non drinking behaviors, general heightened health consciousness of the vegetarians. The increased fibre content of the vegetarian diets also play a role especially in the prevalence of colon and breast cancers.

2. Vegetarian Diet and Diabetes

Vegetarian diets are usually rich in fibre and complex carbohydrates and are restricted in fat. Several studies have proven that this diet improves control of blood glucose, delay glucose absorption, lower insulin requirements, aid in weight control and lower blood pressure in diabetic patients.

3. Vegetarian Diet and Cardiovascular Disease

An association between a vegetarian diet and a decrease in the incidence of myocardial infarction, heart diseases, angina, has been established. This association is due to an increase in the consumption of fruit and vegetables, especially consumption of soybean, legumes, nuts. The whole reduction in these incidences are as a result of reduced fat content (hypolipidaemic effect), and also vegetarian diets reduce weight and blood pressure and cholesterol levels thus providing further cardiovascular prevention.

Vegetarian diets are also rich in anti-oxidants such as vitamin E, vitamin C, B-carotene and flavanoids as well as folic acid, which all have a protective effect to the cardiovascular system.

4. Vegetarian diet and Cancer

Vegetarian diets rich in fibre and other dietary components associated with high intake of whole grains, vegetables and fruit lead to a reduction in colorectal cancer. There is mounting evidence that this kind of diet is also beneficial in reduction of the incidence of breast and prostate cancers too.

Again the reduction in the prevalence of cancers in vegetarians is postulated as due to the presence of the same antioxidants mentioned above.

5. Other effects of Vegetarian diet

Vegetarian diets tend to be lower in Vitamin B12 and there has been several reports of VitB12 deficiencies amongst vegetarians. The major effect of vegetarian diets that are high in fibre and leguminous seeds is increased intestinal gas production, resulting in more flatulence

It is very unlikely that weight management and diseases prevention processes could be regulated or controlled instinctually as was the case in our previous times. At the moment, weight management have to be a cognitive skill and as people we need to find ways and methods of ensuring that we create an environment that supports healthy behaviors.

As a starting point in our quest to lead a long healthy life aspects of the vegetarian diet could be the first step in a thousand mile journey. We could also augment our lifestyles with a gradual increase in physical activity........throw away the TV remote control, use stairs instead of lifts, park far from the shopping mall entrance, gradually increase physical activity coupled with diet control to at least 30 minutes of vigorous exercise most days of the week, let us not use the drive thrus or better let us demand more healthy take-aways or stop take aways altogether.

Let us not supersize our meals, let us only buy foods with full information on the labels pertaining to energy and all the other 'nutritional'content.

by Hlombe Makuluma

Copyright 2007 . Please feel free to pass this article on to your friends, or use it in your ezine or newsletter. It's a shareware article.