Tag Archives: weight loss

Weight Loss Myths Busted!

Weight Loss Myths Busted!

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Losing weight can be challenging more so if we are constantly bombarded with the misinformation about weight loss that have over the years transformed into beliefs without any factual base. I therefore thought these common myths need to be debunked and busted. 

Are you ready?

Let’s investigate..

Myth # 1-Don’t Eat After 7 pm

If you’ve worked out after 7 pm, your body and muscle needs appropriate fuel to revive. If you starve your body after 7 pm, you are harming your muscles instead of helping them develop and recuperate. Your body needs fuel to revive. If they don’t have appropriate nutrition your body will get it somehow. Your body will begin to take advantage of different parts of your body, for example, extraordinary muscles bunches for nutrition, causing your skin to look out of shape.

ETEVON Men_s ‘Air Force_ Soft Big Face Analog Digital Watch Dual Time WaterproofYou should sustain your muscles within 30 min-2 hours after your exercise. With the goal that implies, if your exercise closes at 8 pm, you ought to be feeding your body nutritional nourishment after. This does not mean you should snatch a supersized succulent burger and fries from McDonalds. You should rather be helping yourself with eating lean protein, good fats for example, avocado, olive oil, and complex carbs, for example, sweet potatoes and whole grains. 

Myth # 2-Don’t Eat Carbs

This makes me giggle. Try not to eat Carbs or you will gain weight. This is false and is told by people who doesn’t know excessively about nutrition. Listen folks, complex sugars are not terrible for you, really they give nutritional substance in our regular routine. Yes, carbs are comprised of sugar that is transformed into (glucose) and are utilized as energy. Energy is critical to keep our bodies going for the entire day. You may feel feeble and weak with less intake of carbs. You can find these carbs in beans, peas, entire grain and vegetables. Yes, vegetables are perplexing carbs and are beneficial for you, so don’t float away from carbs.

Myth # 3: Don’t Devour Past 1,200 Calories every Day

A normal body needs 2,640 calories for men and 1,785 calories for ladies just to maintain. Yes I repeat. Just to maintain. In this manner, we are not so much helping our bodies get thinner with just 1200 calories every day. Consuming anything lower suggests we are trying to lose weight at the cost of our well-deserved muscles. Stop harming your body and cheer up! Start consuming healthier foods and intake more calories. 

Myth #4: You Just Need to Work Out

Cardio is super beneficial for you. It assists with weight reduction, more grounded heart, increased bone thickness, diminish push, coronary illness, and eases sadness and nervousness. Working out is not by any means the only thing expected to get more fit. Nutrition is an essential part in weight reduction administration. You may have heard the saying, 80% of your weight reduction is nutrition. Truth be told nutrition plays a key part in our weight reduction and by far, more important than really working out. Nutrition provides our bodies with the required vitality, protein, basic fats, vitamins and minerals to work and develop appropriately. In fact, the right diet and right nutrition will aid in not only developing healthier body but also lose weight. 

At the end of the day, try different fitness and nutrition ideas and see what works best for you. After all, the best project you’ll ever work on is YOU!

Detox Diet For A Healthier You

Detox Diet For A Healthier You

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There are many types of diets to choose from, so what’s the fad about detox diets? First of all, detox is short for detoxification. The goal is to detoxify, or clean out your body. That’s why you will also hear about “cleanse” diets, which mean pretty much the same thing.

Detox Diets and Weight Loss – When you hear the word “diet” you usually assume that it’s a weight loss plan. There’s nothing wrong with this, as many people have this goal. Indeed, if you are overweight this is something you should be focused on for health reasons.

Detox diets, however, are not necessarily about losing weight. Even when you do want to shed some pounds, a detox diet usually has broader goals as well. When you cleanse your body, you aren’t simply trying to get skinnier -you’re improving your health by getting rid of harmful toxins.

So people who are skinny, fat or somewhere in between can all benefit from a good detox diet. It should help to normalize your weight, but this is only one of the goals!

Energy and Well Being – Conventional diets don’t necessarily make you feel better. Some may actually drain your body of essential nutrients. Detox diets, however, are designed to make you feel better in every way.

One caveat is that there is sometimes a short period of time when you feel worse after starting a detox diet. That’s when your body is learning new habits. To put it bluntly, you may be addicted to certain unhealthy foods. In this case you may experience a type of withdrawal when you start eating healthier. This isn’t a bad thing, though it’s uncomfortable.

Youthful Complexion – Detox diets are good for your whole body, including your skin and hair. This makes them great for giving you a younger and healthier appearance. This isn’t to say that you can start a detox diet on Monday and look 20 years younger by Friday. If you stick with the diet for a while, this might happen though!

Emotional Benefits – When toxins are removed from your body, you feel better mentally and emotionally as well as physically. Unhealthy foods such as sweets and other junk foods tend to wreak havoc with your blood sugar and brain chemistry. So when you detoxify, you are less prone to mood swings and depression.

We aren’t saying that a detox diet is the cure for a serious emotional disorder such as clinical depression. It can, however, help balance out your emotions.

These are just some of the potential benefits of a detox diet. Before you go on one, however, you should do a little research. You want to find a program that’s right for you. Just because it has words like “detox” or “cleanse” in it doesn’t mean it’s great.

Fasting and Detoxing – There are different types of detox diet plans. Some are very short term, such as various types of fasts. These can help you cleanse your body every so often, but you should be careful if you’re not accustomed to fasting.

Start out with a short fast of no more than 2 or 3 days. Make sure you’re drinking plenty of fluids and not doing anything too strenuous. A juice fast is good for this, because you’re getting some healthy nutrients and not starving yourself.

You should not try to use fasting as part of a weight loss strategy. You will probably lose weight after fasting, but then you will gain it back again when you return to your normal diet. The objective of a fast is to clean out your body; the temporary loss of weight is only a byproduct of this.

If you attempt to use fasting as a weight loss tactic, you are moving in the direction of a starvation diet. This is not detoxing and it’s not healthy!

Long Term Detox Diets – I suggest having the goal of finding a moderate, long term detox diet. This means eating in a healthy yet reasonable manner -hopefully for the rest of your life! Rather than try to gain some dramatic results in a short time, think of this as part of a larger plan to transform your life.

I’m not saying that short term detox diets, including fasts, can’t be beneficial. Yet they aren’t going to help that much if you normally eat an unhealthy diet. In other words, you can’t binge most of the time and expect to make up for it by fasting or detoxing every so often!

Exercise and Lifestyle – Diet is only one aspect of a healthy lifestyle. While the focus of this article is on detox diets, you also can’t ignore the importance of exercise. Regular exercise if vital for good health, as more and more research indicates. Exercise is great for detoxifying your body, and this goes hand in hand with a healthy diet.

You don’t necessarily have to join a gym. You don’t need to engage in activities that you hate. All that’s necessary is to engage in regular physical activity. This can be walking, sports, hiking, riding a bike, swimming, playing tennis or anything that you like.

You should also get as much physical activity as possible in your normal, everyday life. Try to walk more and rely less on cars, elevators, escalators and so forth. When you have free time, get outside and so something rather than being a couch potato!

Rest and Releasing Stress – Sleep is another crucial factor in a healthy lifestyle. This is also important for detoxifying your body. If you don’t get enough rest, you are putting your body under stress, which is definitely not good for your health.

Speaking of stress, this is an often unrecognized source of toxins. We can even say that all toxins are a type of stress. Yet right now I’m talking about stress in the usual way -getting tense, upset or feeling negative emotions.

Eating a healthy diet, exercising and getting enough rest can help you feel more balanced and reduce stress. Yet if stress is a problem for you, it’s essential to take a close look at this and find a solution. You may have to change your outlook or the way you interact with others. If you cannot do this on your own, you should look into counseling of some kind.

Detoxifying Your Life – This has been a general overview of what detox diets can do for you. I haven’t tried to push any specific diet, but rather discussed why this type of diet is worth considering.

Hopefully, you will also understand that no diet on its own can transform your life. It’s certainly a step in the right direction, but you are really better off if you take steps to improve things in all areas of your life. That way, you will get the maximum benefits from a detox diet!

Here is a simple lemon detox diet – a recipe that really works!

So folks what are you waiting for? Now that you know the benefits of detox diet, plan it right. Be consistent and you will see real results come through!!  

 

 

Lose Weight Naturally

Lose Weight Naturally

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Everyone has a desire to rid themselves of their weight as quickly as they can. Many of you must have wondered out there if you had a magic wand that would help excess fat to be gone forever. But this simply is not the case.

Here are some easy to follow weight loss tips to help you slowly and methodically get to your goal. So I hope you enjoy reading these weight loss tips.

Weight Loss Tips #1: Sincerely Want It!

In order to be successful at weight loss you have to want to lose the weight. You must commit to this want, not just say that you want to lose the weight. The best way to commit to losing weight is to make a goal, then stick to it.

A goal does not have to be just about the weight you want to lose. You could write a goal using your body measurements or percentage of body fat lost, or it may be your desirable clothing size. Set your goals in a way that they are attainable. For example, you may want to drop 2 dress sizes by your sister’s wedding.

Once you have set your larger goals, you need to set smaller ones to make sure you are on schedule to achieving your long-term goal. Keep track of your goals by using a weight loss chart, a food journal, or an exercise chart. You can even track how you are feeling throughout the day. This will help in knowing whether you are eating because of a particular mood or not. Whatever it is, stay committed to your weight loss regime.

Weight Loss Tip #2: Keep it in the Kitchen

One of the worst habits that people have is not eating at the kitchen table. They are either standing to eat while doing other things or they are in front of the television. Experts say that generally people who eat while watching television eat larger servings of food. Our focus is on what we are watching, not what we are eating.

We need to move away from our family rooms and back into the kitchen or dining area. During this time eat slowly and spend some time with your family. Talk to the spouse and children. Pay attention to what you are eating as well as how much you are eating. When you eat slower, your stomach will have the time needed to signal you that you are full and you will not have over-eaten and feel miserable.

Weight Loss Tip #3: Throw Out Temptation

In order to remain faithful to your weight loss regime, you must remove all temptation from your cabinets, freezer, and vehicle. Replace the candy and fatty foods with the right foods. Sugar-free gelatin and pudding is a wonderful way to take care of that sweet tooth in a correct portion without adding a lot of calories. Low-fat popcorn or low-fat flavored popcorn is another wonderful replacement to fatty snacks.

Try not to eat unhealthy snacks for a couple of weeks. Keep a bag of crunchy vegetables, like carrots handy to help with hunger. Most crunchy veggies tend to satisfy you more and are lower in calories.

Weight Loss Tip #4: Add Variety

Variety is the spice of life. This goes for food too. You will get bored eating the same thing week in and week out. Once this boredom hits, you will slip back into your old habits. Eat a little something from each of the major food groups, including fruits, vegetables, protein, dairy, whole grains, and fats.

In order to stay energized, eat five to six small meals everyday. This also helps your metabolism. Eat a protein with most meals, including eggs, beans, lean cuts of meats as well as fish. We need to try to eat a minimum of five servings and up to nine servings of fruits and vegetables daily. If you are watching your sugars, also watch the amount of fruit you are consuming. You really need to eat more vegetables than fruit. Also you need to eat a variety of both fruits and vegetables. Don’t just eat the same foods daily. Remember the key is variety.

The bread, pasta, and cereals you consume needs to be whole grain. If you have never had whole grain pasta, then mix with regular pasta and gradually add more and more whole grains until you are used to it. It holds true for bread especially if you make your own. The complex carbohydrates and high fiber in whole grain bread and pasta help to speed up your metabolism. The dairy products you consume should be low-fat or fat-free.

Also make sure you are eating good fats, such as olive or flaxseed oil. Your body needs a certain amount of the good fats. Make sure that you read your labels and stay away from foods that have trans-fats. Trans-fats are extremely bad for you.

Weight Loss Tip #5: Satisfy the Sweet Tooth

On your weight loss journey there will be times when you will crave something sweet. If you want it then have a small piece of whatever you are craving. It is better to have a small piece of it than ignoring your craving and then bingeing because you have deprived yourself from it for so long. Don’t get into a habit of eating this way daily though. It is okay to give into the craving from time to time, but not daily.

Weight Loss Tip #6: Watch What You Drink

Of course the number one choice to drink is water clean of chlorine. You need a minimum of six glasses of good clean water. You can also drink green tea. Consumption of green tea can help with weight loss.

Several people do not track or think about the amount of calories in their beverages. A regular flavored cola has more than 100 calories and 10 teaspoons of sugars. Fruit drinks are also high in sugar and calories. Switch to diet drinks and drink more green tea and water.

Beware of your alcohol consumption. Most alcoholic drinks have lots of sugar and are high in calories. Alcohol turns to fat and sugar in your body. Limit how often you have a drink. Save it for special occasions and try to consume lower calorie beer or wine.

Weight Loss Tip #7: Get Active

Getting active is an import key to weight loss. We need to get moving if we want to lose weight and keep it off. However, sometimes when you start an exercise program, you go from couch potato to exercise fanatic. You want to gradually start the exercise regime over time.

Start off with just walking. Walking takes no special equipment other than a good pair of shoes. Walk at a pace that is good for you and walk for twenty minutes, three times a week. As time goes on, walk a little faster and add more time. You can add strength training twice a week. Start with something light and then gradually move to light hand weights.

Exercising will burn excess fat and calories. The strength training helps build lean muscle mass. The more lean muscle mass you have the more calories you burn due to your higher metabolic rate.

Grab A Cup Of Healthy Matcha Tea!

Grab A Cup Of Healthy Matcha Tea!

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There can’t be enough said about the wonders and the benefits of the Matcha Tea. This finely powdered green tea is a Japanese original. The organic matcha green tea has a number of benefits and uses. Some of them are-

  • Helps to Lose Weight

This form of green tea is rich in catechins and has thermogenic properties which help to increase the fat oxidation in the body. Thermogenesis is the rate at which the body burns calories and this is slated to be at an all time high of 8-45% when compared to the daily energy expenditure. And did you know that if you exercised immediately after drinking matcha tea it helped burn 25% more fat? Now, isn’t that simply wonderful? It not only burns fat but also helps to maintain the metabolism of the body.

  • Strengthens the Mind

If you can get your hands around some wholesale organic matcha tea, then it really will do wonders for you as this tea is also known to increase mind power or strengthen the mind. It is because organic matcha green tea contains up to 5 times more L-theanine which is an amino acid that is capable of increasing alpha wave activity in the brain. This alpha wave activity can reduce the stress which is produced by the beta wave activity of the brain. This leads to relaxation, less tension and mood uplifting.

  • Long Life

It is a well known fact that Japanese people live a very long life when compared to other countries. And this is especially seen in places like Okinawa. It is said that the secret to this is that the residents of Okinawa drink matcha and Green Tea Genmaicha tea on a very regular basis. Genmaicha is also a green tea that is combined with roasted brown rice. They are powerful anti oxidants that help to fight diseases and increase life. It is better if you could buy Genmaicha with Matcha tea as the combined effect of the two is increasingly beneficial for the body.

  • Detoxification

We have known that Chlorophyll is a great body purifier. Matcha is always grown in the shades and it is a known fact that plants grown in shade are richer in Chlorophyll and greener in color. This Chlorophyll is one of the greatest agents in body detoxification and can easily clear the toxins, poisonous food and stabilize the functioning of the body. This tea is much better than any other body detoxifier in the market especially if you can combine it with Genmaicha.

  • Energy Booster

Wholesale organic matcha tea is a great energy booster and much better than coffee, especially without the side effects. Genmaicha with Matcha tea can help you to get through a very tiring day quite well. It will help you focus, concentrate better on the task at hand and work efficiently as it also clears the mind and body in the process.

So next time when you think of having a cup of coffee, grab a cup of matcha tea instead!!

Longevity and The Mediterranean Diet

Longevity and The Mediterranean Diet

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Six Reasons Why the Mediterranean Diet Contributes to a Longer, Healthier Life

Over the course of many generations, observers have been able to discern that the people who populate the region around the Mediterranean Sea live longer lives than do men and women in some other parts of the world. Historically, the reason most often attributed to the longevity of the people of the Mediterranean region was climate. However, as researchers became more adept and as scientific methods became more sophisticated, it became clear that while the weather patterns of the Mediterranean area generally were pleasant and inviting, it was the diet of the people in the region that accounted for their longer lives.

There are a number of specific factors related to the Mediterranean diet that nutritionists and medical experts believe contribute to longevity. The more important of these elements are discussed within the confines of this article for your information and guidance.

1. Restorative Effects of the Mediterranean Diet

Many of the specific food items that are part of a Mediterranean diet regimen are high in anti-oxidants. Scientifically speaking, anti-oxidants are important compounds found in certain foods and beverages that work to neutralize the destructive nature of oxidants or free radicals that are found in the human body. Oxidants or free radicals are produced when the body burns oxygen to produce energy. In other words, oxidants really can be considered waste that pollutes the human body.

Over time, the accumulation of oxidants in the body accelerates the aging process. Cells wear and lose their elasticity. Organs end up functioning less efficiently and effectively. Indeed, recent scientific research has demonstrated that oxidants clog arteries raising the threat of stroke. Oxidants are found to contribute to cancer, heart disease and diabetes — the major diseases most responsible for causing people to have premature deaths.

The types of fruits and vegetables that form the foundation of the Mediterranean diet — including richly colored and leafy green vegetables — which are high in anti-oxidants, have a restorative and life prolonging effect on the typical human body.

2. Reducing Cancer Risks

In most parts of the world, cancer of various types is the leading cause of premature death. Studies undertaken by researchers in Europe, Japan and the United States in the past thirty years have demonstrated that the Mediterranean diet effectively reduces the risks of certain types of cancers.

A diet that is high in fresh fruits and vegetables has been shown to be effective in reducing the risks of a wide array of different types of cancers. As has been noted previously, the Mediterranean diet includes the generous consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables.

The Mediterranean diet includes very little animal fat. There is a direct link between the consumption of animal fat and colorectal cancer, one of the deadliest forms of the disease that oftentimes takes the lives of people in their forties and fifties.

Olive oil (truly the foundation of the Mediterranean diet) had been shown to reduce the risk of breast cancer.

By reducing the risks poised by cancer, the lifespan of men and women has been shown to increase appreciably in studies that have followed groups of people over time.

3. Reducing Coronary Heart Disease Risks

Coronary heart disease is one of the top three causes of premature death throughout the world — except in the Mediterranean region. Researchers have concluded that diet has played a large and important role in reducing the risk of coronary heart disease amongst the people who populate the countries surrounding the Mediterranean Sea.

An important study in seven countries (Italy, Greece, Yugoslavia, Finland, United States, Netherlands and Japan) demonstrated that those people who followed a Mediterranean diet regimen were less likely to have coronary heart disease and were less likely to have their lives cut short because of serious and ultimately fatal heart conditions.

4. Reducing Hypertension

On some level, the jury is still out on the direct effects between diet and hypertension or high blood pressure. With that said, it clearly has been demonstrated that hypertension and high blood pressure is responsible for premature deaths the world over. In addition, there is strong evidence to suggest that eliminating certain items from a diet — like processed salts — can work to reduce the risk of hypertension.

Additionally, there is evidence to support the proposition that a diet high in fiber and low in animal fats (like that of the Mediterranean region) works to reduce the threat of hypertension and premature death from this disease.

5. Diabetes Prevention and Control

The Mediterranean diet is well suited to staving off the serious effects of diabetes. The incidence of premature death because of diabetes is lower in those regions in which the Mediterranean diet is practiced. Because diabetes is a disease that can be controlled through diet, electing to utilize the Mediterranean regimen can work to add literally years to a person’s life.

6. The Cumulative Effect of the Mediterranean Diet

It is important to note that the beneficial effects of the Mediterranean diet appear to be cumulative over time. In the other words, the longer a person practices the dining habits of the Mediterranean plan, more of inherent physical benefits of this healthy eating regimen will be ingrained into a person’s makeup. Simply put, the benefits of a Mediterranean diet literally are stored up over time, increasing a person’s lifespan and adding to his or her overall health and well being not only now but well into the future.

Recommended Daily Actions To Reach The Weight Of Your Dreams

Recommended Daily Actions To Reach The Weight Of Your Dreams

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The 3 Week Diet

When you are ready to lose weight you will need two things: dedication and an understanding of what will work for you. Any large changes to your lifestyle will cost you time, money, and create a lot of stress, so be ready if you decide to take this route. If you decide you can’t handle it, you can still see great results by making small changes over time. Below are tips and ideas to help you find the weight loss lifestyle that will work for you.

To increase your motivation to meet your weight loss goals, post pictures of yourself on the refrigerator. You can post a picture of yourself when you were at your ideal weight on the refrigerator. This will help keep you on track during those times when you are tempted to raid the refrigerator for something that isn’t on your acceptable foods list.

Losing weight can seem like an unsurmountable goal, especially when you have a high amount of fat to lose. If you try to think of the whole thing at once you may quickly find yourself becoming overwhelmed and so you should instead break up your main goal into smaller stages. For example, why not just try to lose one pound per week? It doesn’t sound like a lot – but after one year that amounts to 52 pounds!

Before giving in and having a snack when you feel hungry, try drinking a glass of water to see if your hunger goes away. One of the most common mistakes people make when trying to lose weight is confusing thirst for hunger. The fact is, many times when you feel hungry, your body is actually trying to signal that it is thirsty instead.

To help in avoiding temptation to eat foods which can sabotage your weight loss efforts, make a grocery list and stick to it when shopping for food. Don’t deviate from the list when you are in the grocery store and try to withstand the urge to go down the candy and snack aisles. If you must go down the snack aisle, walk on past the sugary stuff and go straight to the nuts or other healthy snacks.

Don’t deprive yourself too long of those unhealthy foods that you love. This could lead to binging and a loss of self-control. Allow yourself to partake of your favorite foods every few days, but only in moderation. Knowing you have the freedom to treat yourself without having to wait forever, will help you to control food impulses.

If you are following a very controlled or rigorousness diet or meal plan then it can be incredibly beneficial to purchase some type of weighing instrument for your kitchen. The most common and practical one is a common kitchen scale as it is small and will allow you to know the weights of your food.

A dash of cinnamon is going to add some low-calorie flavor to many foods. You can use this in oatmeal or on fresh foods as a way to add flavor, without using sugar. This can give the foods, a dessert kind of a taste, without all of the fat and calories of a real dessert.

Here is a simple formula for weight loss:
1. Every morning, on a empty stomach, half an hour before breakfast, and again at night before sleeping, mix honey and cinnamon powder in one cup boiling water. Drink this mixture.
2. If taken regularly, it reduces the weight of even the most obese person.
3. also drinking this mixture regularly does not allow the fat to accumulate in the body, even though the person may eat a high-calorie diet.

If you have been working hard to lose weight, then you need to reward yourself for each goal you meet. When you look forward to something, you are more likely to focus on getting the good things. Also, if there are times when things didn’t go as you had planned, don’t get down about it. Just focus harder and move forward.

Try not to become obsessed with losing weight. Focusing too much on making the scale go down can lead to a dangerous situation where one is willing to try almost anything. Instead, focus on making better choices in the areas of food and exercise. Over time you will become a healthier and slimmer individual.

As soon as you start to see some progress with your weight loss goals, reward yourself with a little shopping trip. You don’t have to spend a lot of money. Just buying a new pair of pants or a new shirt will go a long way toward motivating you to continue. Soon you will see even more changes!

In the end, listen to your body. Pushing yourself too hard is a road to failure, but giving up on your commitment will also get you nowhere. Find what’s right for you and stick to it and you’ll thank yourself in the end. There’s no downside to living a fuller, more energetic life.

Use these tips to guide your weight loss, but don’t stop there. Find out as much as you can about your body and your health and the part that weight plays in each. The more information you have, the better you will understand your body and the more weight you can lose.

Vitamin D Can Help You With Weight Loss

Vitamin D Can Help You With Weight Loss

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Vitamin D has been a hot topic in both conventional and alternative medicine lately because Vitamin D is related to so many health concerns like diabetes, osteoporosis, depression, stroke, cancer (including breast cancer), heart disease and drum roll weight loss as well! Believe it or not, most people are deficient in this important nutrient.

Body produces vitamin D when exposed to daylight. Vitamin D is really a precursor hormone that is a building block of a steroid hormone known as calcitriol. An amazing amount of research of late has been surfacing showing the surprising connection between vitamin D and the prevention of most chronic diseases. Vitamin D promotes cell growth throughout your body, maintaining hormone balance and a healthy immune system. Vitamin D slows down the growth of fat cells further. However, when Vitamin D is deficient, as it’s in most folks, the cells don’t seem to be ready to behave properly and are vulnerable to those serious health problems as well as weight gain and obesity.One study by Britain (Aberdeen University Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, 2008) showed that individuals who were overweight had lower levels of vitamin D. The study found that low levels of vitamin D within the blood interfered with the functioning of a hormone known as Leptin, that tells the brain when you are full. Researchers at Aberdeen University found that obese people produced 10p.c less vitamin D than individuals of average weight. The study additionally found that excess body fat absorbs vitamin D, stopping it from getting into the blood stream.

Another Study in Britain (Ortega RM, Aparicio A, et al, Br J Nutr 2008) using sixty overweight/obese girls aged twenty-thirty five years that had adhered to an occasional calorie diet, showed that those with higher Vitamin D levels lost a lot of weight and fat. Now, these are just two studies, and the conclusions are primarily the same – Vitamin D helps with weight loss and weight gain.

How does Vitamin D help with weight loss?

As mentioned, extra body fat holds on to Vitamin D that the body cannot use it. This perceived deficiency interferes with the action of the hormone Leptin. If you’re not in a position to acknowledge when you are satiated, you’re additional doubtless to overeat. Taking Vitamin D together with Calcium, helps to properly assimilate food and regulate traditional blood sugar levels. So watch your food intake, exercise and take your Vitamin D with Calcium for optimal success.

What is that the suggested dosage?

Although current guidelines recommend a daily intake from 400-600 IUs, research analysis shows the dosage is too low. A higher dosage between 2,000 and 4,000 IUs every day will have a much more therapeutic result, boosting your overall health, help in prevention of illness and chronic disease and promotion of fat loss. Supplement with Vitamin D3 not D2. D2 may be a artificial by-product and not simply absorbed.

This Is The Newest Diet Craze – What Is It?

This Is The Newest Diet Craze – What Is It?

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The Dukan Diet is quickly gaining notoriety as one of the surest ways to lose weight and keep it off for good. The Dukan Diet’s creator, Dr. Peirre Dukan, studied and modified his diet method with his own patients for 25 years before he originally published it in 2000. It has become the number 1 diet in France, and in April of 2011, the book based on the diet was released to North America to much fanfare. It has had extensive publicity since rumors of celebrities such as Jennifer Lopez and Kate Middleton were using it to lose weight.

Nutritionists hate The Dukan Diet because it doesn’t promote a balanced diet, but there are many doctors who support it as a short-term weight loss method.

If you follow the diet correctly and pay special attention to the amount of water you drink, the health risks are minimal. Just remember to return to a healthy and balanced diet after you have achieved your goal – you don’t want the weight to come back!

To know more about The Dukan Diet, here is an article by Samantha Caldwell who is a weight loss coach and has been providing her clients over the years with successful weight loss strategies. Comment and share the article and let me know what you think.

If 5 million people are losing weight with The Dukan Diet, will it work for you too?

Although Dr. Pierre Dukan began working with his patients to lose weight 30 years ago, The Dukan Diet really started spreading through word of mouth 10 years ago when Dukan first published his ideas in France, his home country.

What is it that 5 million people like about the Dukan diet and makes it unique?

It promises lightning fast results
Provides a special formula to create permanent weight loss
Works on the idea that the body has a hard time gaining weight eating only one food group
How does The Dukan Diet get lighting fast results?

Pierre Dukan believes the only way to have lasting weight loss is to see encouraging results immediately. His methods focus on losing weight by eating 100 pure foods, most of which are lean protein. According to Dukan, the perfect formula to get fat is to eat a balanced diet of 50 percent carbohydrates, 30 percent fats, and 20 percent protein (a formula resembling mother’s milk).

The Dukan Diet has grown in popularity in France and 20 other countries. It’s outstanding results come from the theory that eating only one food group (protein in this case) makes it hard to gain weight and causes you to burn fat at a lightning speed.

Dukan got his start helping people lose weight back in the 1970s when one of his patients came to him with the complaint that he had tried everything to lose weight and was willing to do whatever Dukan told him as long as he didn’t have to give up meat.

Dukan obliged by putting his patient on a lean meat diet, which went against everything Dukan had learned in school and read about nutrition.

But Dukan’s patient lost weight at a rate of a pound a day and kept it off for the first time in his life. Dukan spent the next 30 years honing his methods and working with his patients to come up with what he thinks is the winning formula or “the promised land,” as he calls it.

By putting his patients on a plan with four mini diets, the first which focuses on eating protein rich foods, Dukan found they were happier, healthier, and most importantly for looks, thinner with glowing skin.

Naysayers of The Dukan Diet claim there is no science to back up his plan, but Dukan insists his methods will work for you and has 30 years of case studies to supplement his methods.

What is science, after all, besides guessing and checking?

You Are What You Eat

You Are What You Eat

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Super foods are now becoming recognised worldwide for their health benefits and the ability to help us lose weight. These natural foods go beyond the ‘common’ variety as they are rich in phytochemicals and antioxidants which slow down the ageing process and help your body lose weight.

Here are the ten best foods for weight loss and why they provide everything you need for optimal health.

1. Blueberries

These yummy little berries are rich in antioxidants. Also full of flavonoids and proanthocyandins they help protect memory and cognition. A popular addition to any fat loss program, they taste great whipped up in a low fat smoothie, used in whole-wheat pancakes or muffins or just to add a new dimension to your fruit salad.

2. Broccoli

Broccoli has an abundance of health boosting properties. It contains isothiocyanantes which stimulates the body’s production of cancer fighting enzymes. It has as much calcium as a glass of milk and more vitamin C than an orange. In addition, it is one of the richest sources of vitamin A in any fruit or vegetable. The only catch is you do need to eat it raw to benefit from all this goodness. If you cannot handle it raw, then just lightly steam before tossing through a salad or stirring through whole-wheat noodles.

3. Ginger

Used throughout history for medicinal purposes, ginger helps protect against cancer as well as boosting the immune system. It helps fight infection in our body, increases digestive enzyme activity and is one of the natural weight loss foods that speed up the metabolism and burn fat. Ginger is also a popular remedy for nausea, making it a safe natural choice for pregnant women. Sip hot ginger tea with a drizzle of honey, use in Asian stir fries and grate a little through healthy marinades and sauces.

4. Linseeds

Linseeds contain the essential omega 3 fatty acids which reduce cholesterol. Not only do they have anti cancer properties but they also can help manage menopausal symptoms. They are good for bowel health and soothe digestion. Just a tablespoon of linseeds a day will give you the omega 3 fats that you require. Sprinkle them over your cereal or stir through soups and casseroles. Linseeds should be stored in the fridge.

5. Oats

Containing large amount of soluble fibre, oats help lower cholesterol levels. They have a low GI (glycaemic index) which means they make the perfect breakfast to supercharge your day. Oats are a popular recommendation in most weight loss programs.

6. Salmon

A fantastic source of omega 3 fats, protein and vitamin D. Healthy fat loss programs recommend eating salmon twice a week, as it reduces triglyceride levels. Any leftover calories that your body does not burn are turned into triglycerides, which are a type of fat. Poach or grill salmon, and serve with a leafy salad or steamed vegetables. Combine tinned salmon with mashed sweet potatoes to make healthy patties – kids also love them.

7. Soy

Soy protein contains antioxidant isoflavones which counteract the build up of cholesterol in blood vessels, reducing the risk of heart attack and blood clots. It is also great for bone health and preventing osteoporosis. Make sure you choose soy products that are not genetically modified. Use soy protein or tofu instead of burgers and chicken in recipes. Enjoy soy milk over your cereal or in tasty fruit smoothies.

8. Tea

Numerous studies have shown that the powerful antioxidant polyphenols in tea reduce the risk of cancers and also lower cholesterol levels. In addition, drinking tea helps lower the stress hormone cortisol. Green tea in particular has had much discussion regarding its weight loss benefits. Ideally drink your tea without milk to receive the most benefit.

9. Tomatoes

Tomatoes, which are low in calories, are a versatile health conscious ingredient for any weight loss program. Just add tomatoes to your pasta sauce to boost your antioxidant intake and to lower your risk of chronic diseases, particularly prostate cancer. They are rich in lycopene, which fights damaging free radicals and also high in vitamin C. There are so many exciting ways you incorporate tomatoes into your meals. Whether it be pureed into sauces, chopped through summer salads or thrown into a whole-wheat tortilla, this fabulous super food is a must.

10. Yogurt

Yogurt is a favourite with many dieters. Not only does its creamy texture help satisfy cravings, it is a great source of calcium, protein, vitamin B12 and riboflavin. What is more it contains probiotics which promote a healthy gut and protect the immune system. Use sugar free, low fat yogurt as a substitute for cream in sauces, curries, and desserts. It is fantastic as a ‘quick snack’ on the run and can be cooked in both savoury and sweet recipes.

Make sure you incorporate these ten best foods for weight loss into your weekly weight loss eating plan and enjoy the increased energy and unlimited health benefits.

I am passionate about regular exercise, healthy food and relaxation. Through combining these three things our bodies can become whatever we want them to be.

A quick recap then..get at least 30 minutes of exercise 3-4 days per week consisting of light cardio and some weights and or calisthenics, cut out sugars and things that contain high fructose. 

Seaweed Powder: The Secret Ingredient To Beat The Cellulite

Seaweed Powder: The Secret Ingredient To Beat The Cellulite

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Many people who would like to lose weight quickly and cannot stick to normal diets are turning to weight loss supplements to see results. Using this method of weight loss can show results in a matter of days and weeks rather than months. Most of these supplements come from totally natural sources, meaning they are not harmful to your body. They usually take the form of powders, tablets or drinks and contain these supplements.

The use of sea vegetables being rich sources of vital nutrients make them the healthier alternative and a natural power food. The ocean water has up to 92 minerals and can be absorbed by the plants growing in the sea. This makes sea vegetables as one of the most nutrient dense foods on the planet. Seaweed–compared to land vegetables–is one of the best vegetable sources of calcium, which is fantastic for muscle and bone development, strength and growth.

Don’t worry if the idea of eating seaweed grosses you out. Your health food store will have different seaweed granules that you can use as a salt substitute and you’ll never know the difference.

I’ve just come across this interesting article by Alice Miller where she is talking about how seaweed can help reduce absorption of body fat. Please share and comment and let me know what you think about this article. 

According to research conducted at Newcastle University UK, scientists have discovered that a fibre found in seaweed is more effective than most weight loss supplements in respect of preventing the body absorbing fat from food.

During their research, nutrition experts investigated 60 different types of seaweed fibre for how good they were in preventing the body from absorbing fat. Their lab tests reported that the alginate fibre won hands down.

According to researcher Dr Iain Brownlee, “Our initial findings are that alginate significantly reduces fat digestion. This suggests that if we can add the natural fibre to foods commonly eaten on a daily basis, such as bread and biscuits, up to 75% of the fat contained in that meal could simply pass through the body.”

In powder form, this alginate is colourless and flavourless. The biochemists at Newcastle University added this kelp fibre powder to bread to see if they can develop foods that aid weight loss as you consume them, and researches reported that it actually made the bread taste better.

However, this breakthrough is not exactly new. A Scottish chemist, E. Stanford discovered alginates from British kelp in the 1880s. The name is based on “algae”, which comes in many species. The most common being brown seaweed.

Early claims about seaweed and weight loss centred on its iodine content. Iodine was first isolated from brown seaweed in 1811.

World War II stimulated the alginate industry, when production units were set up in Scotland, Ireland and California, harvesting local seaweed resources of wrack and kelp. This sea kelp fibre is currently used by manufacturers in small quantities to thicken and stabilise food.

Alginates are gel-forming gums that provide a wide range of functional properties in foods and beverages-from providing gelling for desserts and dairy products to thickening sauces and serving as gelatine replacements.

This seaweed fibre also known as alginates, ammonium alginate, calcium alginate, potassium alginate and sodium alginate is a gelatinous substance obtained from certain seaweeds and used as stabilizers and water retainers in beverages, ice cream, ices, frozen custard, emulsions, desserts, baked goods, and confectionery ingredients.

It is also a clarifying agent for wine, chocolate milk, meat, toppings, cheeses, cheese spreads, cheese snacks, salad dressings, and artificially sweetened jelly and jam ingredients.

As reported in the Consumer’s Dictionary of Food Additives. Crown Publishers, Inc., New York. 1978, alginates are used also as stabilizers in gassed cream (pressure-dispensed whipped cream). The alginates give a creamy texture and prevent formation of ice crystals in ice creams.

The question is. If it works on bread and biscuits, would it also work on other treats? Could this open the possibility that all those forbidden foods that we love, but pay us back by piling on the pounds, could now actually help in our weight loss program? Imagine being able to tuck into the cookies, buns, and dare I say it….chocolates, and still lose weight?