Learn About Dieting

Vegetable Diet- pt 1

2010-01-31T14:07:00.000-08:00

People think of a vegetable diet only as a weight loss option. If only they could open their eyes wider, they’d see that it is way more than that. A vegetable diet is really a health option that you should know about. It is the type that helps to keep you healthy in spite of the many antigens in your body.

People are dying of avoidable causes left, right and center. It makes my heart cringe to see it happen. Imagine what a better place this world would be if everyone could just be on a vegetable diet. A lot of the illnesses on this earth would not even exist, and people would not have as many weight issues.

I think the time has come for you to think more seriously about it. Perhaps you have spent your whole lifetime eating anything you felt like simply because you thought you could. When you get to be really concerned about your health, you will find that you need a vegetable diet. At that time it will suddenly occur to you that it really does not matter what ailment you are suffering from, your health is sure to improve when you improve the things that you take in. You need that more than you know. You can get some health coaching any time that you are ready for it, and I’m pretty certain your coach will suggest you try a vegetable diet. There are simply so many health benefits attached to, it would be impossible not for them to. And if you are in doubt about that, you may want to contact a professional dietitian.

Many heart disease patients are put on a vegetable diet to help them recover, or to at least stabilize them. That got me thinking in a way that I had not dared to before. As a consequence, I studied more about vegetable diets and all that they entail. You know what I came up with? It is that fact that I need it too, and so do you. I don't know anyone on this earth who does not need a vegetable diet. Perhaps not all of the time, but on occasion, we could all use the health trip. When you can carry yourself better, improve the immunity of your system against antigens and bacteria; when your heart can beat so much better and stronger, you will agree with me that the vegetable diet was a long time coming, but it was totally worth it.

Without a vegetable diet say, once a year at least, you could be setting yourself up for some serious illness. Seriously, there are just too many toxins in all that red meat you are eating. You might want to consider something a little bit safer, and the vegetable diet is just it. It is simple and complete, and it will bring you back to health faster than you can blink. The best way to lose weight, and to do it fast, is to take on a vegetable diet. The idea behind it is to consume fewer calories with each meal, a lot less fat for a couple of weeks, and you can shave the fat off like a barber’s clippers through your hair. Sincerely, if you don't think that is a good enough reason to endure a vegetable diet, I don't know what else is.People ought to give more thought to something as invaluable as a vegetable diet. Just look around you and you will find that a lot of people are into it already. Guess what, they are very healthy people too. What are you waiting for?

I don't think you should do away totally with every other kind of food. I do think though that you should take vegetable diets from time to time. You body needs it to stay healthy, and without the diet, it is only a question of time before you begin to get all kinds of complications with the way your health is going. I’m pretty certain you don't want that. On occasion, you need to detox. You could have been piling up all kinds of toxins in your body for years; the detox is how you get your body to cleanse itself. It is most possible with a vegetable diet, the type that you regulate to have all the mineral ingredients that are necessary for your heath. Even you can afford to retain a dietitian that can help you with that.

I’m sure you have had dreams of losing weight fast. I’m even certain you have tried on several occasions to make it happen, but you always ended up as big as the last time. What you need is a vegetable diet. You can read up on that any time. I am pretty certain you can get all the information you need about it on the internet, no?

A vegetable diet comprises only of fruit and vegetables. The minerals you get from those are vitamins like you could never have gotten from any other food. In case you don't know it, you need it very badly. I suggest you try it already, like I did, and when the rewards of it start to come back your way, you can say you read about it here first.

13 1/2 pounds

2010-01-21T09:07:00.000-08:00

The weight loss is slowing, which is normal. I did a test- been having trouble with possible allergies to peanuts. Bought Raw, Blanched Peanuts- nothing added. Counted out eight of them, and ate them. Had trouble the next morning, and now have a boil that broke out on my leg.

No more peanuts- EVER!

Raw food diet- the first ten days

2010-01-15T20:15:00.000-08:00

I've been on a 80% raw food diet for ten days now. Here is what has happened so far:

Down 11 pounds as of this morning!
The pain in my right hip is GONE!
I was having trouble walking due to my left knee, but the pain is 90 percent GONE!
Hardly any PMS symptoms this week.
Only one mild headache this week, as compared to 2-3 per day, which was normal for me.
Haven't needed Benedryl in 5 days- my congestion is GONE! I had asthma years ago, and thought I was going to need a rescue inhaler again until I started this.

Assessing the Health of Your Child

2008-12-30T17:13:00.000-08:00

Before you make any personal or environmental
changes in your teen’s life, take a few minutes to
survey what your home life is like. Do you allow
them to lead a sedentary life, and are they given
plenty of chances to over eat at any time? If you
do, then it is important that you bring any changes
in to these areas of their life gradually.
First, look at just how many hours your teen spends
either watching TV, or sitting at their computer.
A teen can spend up to 24 hours a week watching TV.
Log any time that they spend doing either, watching
TV or on the computer, and try to reduce this by
half.
When you have meals, does your family gather around
a table, or do you eat most of your meals sitting
in front of the TV or computer? If you do, then
try and make it a family rule that, in the future,
all food (including snacks) will be eaten in the
kitchen or in the dining room at a table. Such a
small change has been shown to significantly reduce
the amount of over eating that takes place in the
home.
Next, you will need to take a close look at your
fridge and food cupboards. Which foods do you have
that you are most likely to eat when hunger hits
you? If the foods are high in fat, sweetened or
low in nutritional value, then why not try to find
healthier alternatives instead, such as fresh fruit
and vegetables?

Do Not Shame your Child into Losing Weight
Neither adults nor children can be shamed into
losing weight, and an overweight teen will know
that they weigh too much. But what a teen does not
know, is how they can achieve a normal weight, as
well as increase their self esteem. Teens like to
know that their parents love them unconditionally,
whether they are fat, thin or normal.
For any parent, mastering the fine art of loving
our children just the way they are, while helping
them to achieve a healthier body can be difficult.
Any parent must learn to “give time” and believe
that the lessons we teach them will one day come to
fruition.
This means that we can teach our youngsters to
visualize that healthy plate (one which is half
salad or vegetables, a quarter of starches and the
remainder are made up of protein such as fish,
meat, poultry or soy). But you also know that at
some point, they will sneak either sweets or
cookies into the home, and upset the balance that
you have achieved.
A parent can persist in teaching their teens to see
their plate before any food is put on it. This is
helpful, as it creates a sense of portion control
that is helpful when the parent is not around to
monitor what food they are actually having. This
portion control can also be practiced not just at
home, but when visiting a restaurant as well.

Take up some type of Physical Activity as a
Family
The recommended amount of physical activity to be
done by an adult is 30 minutes, and 60 minutes for
children, which should be done several times a
week. However, if you are looking to lose weight,
then more physical activity may be necessary.
A great way of breaking the pattern of the lives
that many families lead is to arrange activities
that involve plenty of movement for the whole
family together. Not only do these types of
activities burn calories, they can also serve as a
setting for parent and child communication. It is
especially important in a child’s teen years, when
such opportunities for a parent to interact with
their teen are at a premium.
Also, there is little or no financial cost involved
in going for a walk or having a bike ride, and many
communities now have either indoor or outdoor
swimming pools which do not cost to much to use.
Just taking the family dog for a walk in the
evening not only makes the dog happy, but will help
to increase the family’s metabolism.

How to encourage the right sort of behavior in
your teen
The best way to help an overweight or obese teen is
through your own behavior. Too often, teens will
do as an adult does, rather than what we tell them.
No parent can ask their child to turn off the TV
when we are actually watching it in another room,
or to stop using the computer when they are
spending hours themselves surfing the net. Nor
should they restrict the portions of food they eat,
when they, themselves, do not watch what they are
eating. Why would any child want to drink water or
munch on fruit or vegetables, when they see the
adults around them drinking sugar laden soda or
having a bag of potato chips?
When looking to lead a healthier kind of life
style, it should be done one day at a time, and the
end result will be well worth the effort.

Factors for Obesity in teens

2008-12-30T17:11:00.000-08:00

The Family
Often children and teens are more at risk of
becoming overweight if they have two overweight
parents. Although in some cases, this may be due
to a powerful genetic factor, or it may be because
they are modeling themselves after what they see
their parents eating. Also physical activities, if
any, they take part in, can indirectly affect the
teen.
In Activity
On average, an American child will spend several
hours each day watching television or on a
computer. Compare this to years ago, when this time
would have been spent doing some form of physical
activity instead. There are a large amount of
teens and children who are now overweight, as they
are expending little energy, and often eat high
calorie snacks while watching TV or playing on the
computer. Today in the US, about 1/3 of elementary
school children carry out some form of physical
education, and less than 1/5 take part in physical
activity programs after school.
Heredity
Recently, information has shown that heredity can
influence fatness in a child and teen. It was
found that children born to overweight mothers have
been found to be less active, and often gain more
weight by the age of 3 months compared to those
children born to mothers who are a normal weight,
which suggests a possible inborn drive to conserve
energy.

When a teen is overweight

2008-12-30T17:10:00.000-08:00

Since the late 1990’s, there has been a dramatic
increase in obesity in Americans, regardless of
age, according to information collected and
analyzed by the National Center for Health
Statistics.
Almost 9 million (15%) children between the ages of
6 and 19 are overweight, and this number is still
growing according to information gathered between
1999 and 2000 (triple the number of 1980). The
information has also shown that another 15% of
children between the ages of 6 and 19 are at risk
of becoming overweight also.
Obesity is defined as having an excessive
accumulation of body fat which will result in the
person’s body being about 20% heavier than their
ideal body weight. So those people whose weight is
above what is considered their ideal range, are
defined as being overweight. Obesity is a common
eating disorder that is associated with teens.
Although teens may have fewer weight related health
issues than adults, those teens that are overweight
now are much more likely to be come overweight as
an adult. Teens who are overweight (in fact people
of all ages that are overweight) are at risk from a
number of different health issues, and these
include:
1. Heart Disease
2. Diabetes
3. High Blood Pressure
4. Strokes
5. Some forms of Cancer
Those teens who are obese may find that they are
not only physically unfit, but their well being is
usually very low as well. Many obese people will
also tend to have a shorter life expectancy than
those who are the right weight for their body size.
Plus, it can also lead to social disabilities and
unhappiness, which in turn may cause them stress
and in some cases, may make them mentally ill as
well.
A study that was carried and details which were
released in May 2004 suggested that overweight
children are more likely to be involved in bullying
than those children who are a normal weight. But
they can not only be the victims of bullying, they
may be the perpetrators as well.
The development of their own personal identity and
body image is an important goal for any teenager.
There are a number of causes for obesity which
center around an imbalance in the teens energy they
put into their bodies, (calories that they obtain
from the food they eat) and the energy they release
from their bodies (how good their metabolism is,
and how much physical activity they take part in).
Often when a teen is overweight, it is
because there is a problem with the nutritional
value of their diet, or it may be psychological,
familial or physiological.

Weight Loss Plan: The Goal to Go For

2008-09-13T20:34:00.001-07:00

Since excess weight puts you at risk for many health problems, you may need to set some weight loss plans to help avoid those risks and prevent disease.

But what should be your long-term goal? And what short-term goals should you set to help you get there? You have a better chance of attaining your goals if you make sure that the weight loss plans that you will use are sensible and reasonable right at the beginning.

Here are some guidelines from the experts in choosing weight loss plans and goals.

1. Be realistic

Most people’s long-term weight loss plans are more ambitious than they have to be.

For example, if you weigh 170 pounds and your long-term plan is to weigh 120, even if you have not weighed 120 since you were 16 and now you are 45, that is not a realistic weight loss goal.

Your body mass index or BMI is a good indicator of whether or not you need to shed of pounds. The ideal BMI range, according to the national Institutes of Health, is between 19 and 24.9. If your BMI is between 25 and 29.9, you are considered overweight. Any number above 30 is in the obesity range.

From this point of view, you will need a sensible weight loss plan that will correspond to the required BMI based on your height, because this is the primary factor that will affect your BMI.

2. Set appropriate objectives

Using a weight loss plan just for vanity’s sake is psychologically less helpful than losing weight to improve health.

You have made a big step forward if you decide to undergo a weight loss plan that includes exercise and eating right so that you will feel better and have more energy to do something positive in your life.

3. Focus on doing, not losing

Rather than saying that you are going to lose a pound this week, say how much you are going to exercise this week. This would definitely make up of a sensible weight loss plan.

Keep in mind that your weight within a span of a week is not completely in your control, but your behavior is.

4. Build bit by bit

Short-term weight loss plans should not be “pie-in-the-sky.” This means that when you have never exercised at all, your best weight loss plan for this week should be based on finding three different one-mile routes that you can walk next week.

5. Keep up the self-encouragement

An all-or-nothing attitude only sets you up to fail. Learn to evaluate your efforts fairly and objectively. If you fall short of some goals, just look ahead to next week. You do not need to have a perfect record.

After all, self-encouragement should definitely be a part of your weight loss plans. Otherwise, you will just fail in the end.

6. Use measurable measures

Saying that you are going to be more positive this week or that you are going to really get serious this week is not a goal that you can measure and should not be a part of your weight loss plan.

This is another reason why you should incorporate exercise on your weight loss plan and focus on it. You should be able to count up the minutes of exercise in order to be successful in your plan.

The bottom line is, people should make weight loss plans that will only remain as it is, just a plan. They have to put it into action by incorporating goals that will motivate them to succeed.

Why Losing Weight is Good

2008-09-13T20:33:00.004-07:00

There is a great benefit acquired from losing weight. Though losing weight is not easy, the long term effects brought by it would probably be of help to anyone considering to shed those unwanted and unhealthy pounds.

The following are a few of the remarkable advantages from losing those excess weight.

Weight loss prevents high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke

That is a three in one benefit from losing weight. It is a fact that heart disease and stroke are one of the primary reasons for disability and death in both men and women in the US. People who are overweight have a higher risk to have high levels of cholesterol in their blood stream as well as triglycerides (also known as blood fat).

Angina, one type of heart disease, could cause chest pains as well as a decrease in the oxygen pumped to the heart.

Sudden death also occurs from heart disease and stroke, and usually this strikes with very little warning, signs and symptoms.

It is a fact that by decreasing your weight by a mere five to ten percent, this could positively decrease the chances of you having or developing heart disease or a stroke. Plus, how your heart functions would also improve as well as your blood pressure, cholesterol and triglyceride count will decrease.

Weight loss prevents type 2 diabetes

Diabetes puts in jeopardy one’s life as well as how one leads his or her life because of the complications that result from having it. Both types of diabetes, type one and type two are linked with being overweight. To those who already have diabetes, regular exercise and losing weight could help in controlling your blood sugar levels as well as the medication you may be currently taking. Increase your physical activity. You could simply walk, jog or dance. It helps get those blood streams moving as well as lose those unnecessary pounds.

Weight loss helps reduce your risk for cancer

Being overweight is linked with a number of kinds of cancer. Specially for women, the common types of cancer that is associated with being overweight include cancer of the uterus, gallbladder, ovary, breast, and colon. This is not meant to scare you, this is only to keep you informed. Men are at risk too from developing cancer if they are overweight. These include cancer of the colon, prostate and rectum. Extra weight, a diet high in fat and cholesterol should as much as possible be avoided.

Weight loss reduces sleep apnea

Or it could eliminate it all together. Sleep apnea is a condition wherein one could temporarily stop breathing for a brief period and then would continue to snore heavily. Sleep apnea could cause drowsiness or sleepiness during the day and – because of being overweight – could result in heart failure. Shedding those excess pounds could help in eliminating this problem.

Weight loss reduces the pain of osteoarthritis

When one weighs heavily, the joints of his or her knees, hips and lower back would have to exert double – if not triple – effort to carry him or her through out his / her waking, walking and moving life. This could cause tension and stress on these joints. Weight loss decreases the load these joints carry thus decreasing – if not eliminating – the pain of one who has osteoarthritis.

Weight Loss Surgery: Preventing the Health Risks

2008-09-13T20:33:00.003-07:00

If you have been watching your weight go up and you are worried about the rising pounds, you may be wondering whether weight loss surgery really works. Is it possible to prevent future weight gain by putting yourself on a well-known weight loss surgical operation?

Today, weight loss surgeries are gradually gaining recognition when it comes to losing weight. Many health experts contend that people who are excessively overweight or has slower metabolism would normally require some surgical operations.

Surgery at Present

The greatest progress in the care of the surgical patient has taken place since the beginning of the present century. An increasing knowledge of disease and disorder as a result of research has permitted the development of many diagnostic aids. Some of these depend upon roentgenograms, laboratory procedures such as chemical, bacteriologic, and pathologic determinations, as well as monitoring devices and computer aids.

Hence, the result is that the diagnosis of disease and disorder is made with more exactness and certainty than was possible from the simple clinical examinations of previous days.

That is why people who wish to undergo weight loss surgery should no longer be afraid of the procedure because high clinical standards are now being implemented in every surgical operation.

The Concept of Weight Loss Surgery

Health experts contend that weight loss surgery is a “major surgery.” One of the most common reasons why people would like to lose weight is to enhance their physical attributes. However, it should not be the underlying motivation that they should undergo the process of weight loss surgery.

What people do not know is that weight loss surgery is especially generated to help obese people live longer, healthier, and better.

That is why it is important for an individual to meticulously analyze his or her situation, do some research about the process, and analyze if weight loss surgery is the ultimate choice for his or her physiological condition.

Moreover, it is important to gather further information about weight loss surgery by consulting an experienced and knowledgeable bariatric surgeon or even just an expert family physician who knows the ins and outs of weight loss surgery.

In addition, the patient should also consult the other health experts such as the psychiatrist and dietician with regards to some psychological advices on long-term goals after the operation.

Generally, patients who have undergone weight loss surgery are said to be successful if they were able to lose 50% or more of their extra body weight and will be able to maintain that condition for the next five years or so. However, the results of the operation may still vary depending on the clinical information of the patient and the skills of the bariatric surgeon.

Normally, the patient will be able to lose at least 30% to a maximum of 50% during the first six months after surgery; and within the year after the operation, the patient has the potential of losing weight up to a maximum of 77%.

Best of all, people who were able to loss weight through surgical operations can actually maintain a continuous weight loss of up to 50% to 60% in the next 10 to 14 years after surgery.

Factors to Consider

As with the other weight loss management programs, there are many factors to consider before the patient should decide to undergo weight loss surgery.

Consequently, the actual weight that will be lost is reliant on the weight before surgery, surgical procedure, patient’s age, capability to exercise, total health condition of the patient, dogged determination to maintain the necessary follow-up nurture, and the enthusiasm to succeed with the help of their family, friends, and their colleagues.

If you have just put on a few extra pounds and want to avoid gaining more, these weight loss surgeries for better health may seem convincing. But, in addition to being convinced, you may also have to take some action to ensure that your weight does not creep upward.

Therefore, it can be concluded that losing weight is not just a question of deciding to be strong-willed and determined or upbeat and positive. Lifestyle changes are where it is at for long-term success with your weight especially after weight loss surgery.

The Advantages of Weight Loss Patch

2008-09-13T20:33:00.001-07:00

Finally, for severely obese people who have been unable to lose weight using traditional means, the utilization of weight loss patch may be an option.

Basically, weight loss patch is a revolutionary device or product that helps people to lose weight effectively. This weight loss patch, also known as “the diet patch,” or the “Slim Form Patch” are the new and innovative weight loss product that are now readily available in the market.

Its manufacturers contend that the ingredients used in weight loss patches are 100% natural. So, people who will use the product can be assured of a safe and effective weight loss regimen.

To know more about these weight loss patches, here is a list of some facts that can help you understand how it works:

1. It is a biological and straightforward process of losing weight.

This means that these weight loss patches are made from 100% natural ingredients that is why manufacturers claim that these products are safe to use. In addition, it is also simple and easy to utilize.

2. It’s not considered as one form of trendy weight loss program.

Because of its viability and clinically proven results, weight loss patches are considered as something that can safely burn calories and fats without having to skip meals or do some crash diets.

Moreover, because it does not advocate people to engage into crash diets, these products have not eradicated certain food groups in one’s diet. This means that the person using it is still eating a well-balanced meal.

3. It employs a “cutting edge technology” known as the Patch technology or the Transdermal.

This new technology states that in most cases, the food that enters into the body passes through the different areas inside. In most cases, there are harmful ingredients that were able to enter the body and yet it may pose greater risks.

The point here is that these substances where already broken down into pieces in areas like the liver or stomach, without passing through the bloodstreams. Hence, it pose greater risk to the person concerned.

However, with patch technology, the substances are easily absorbed and penetrated through the skin. It is in this process that the substances are redirected first to the bloodstream, where they are filtered, before they can go to the liver, stomach, and other parts of the body.

In this way, the harmful substances are already eliminated and that everything that passes through the different parts of the body are effectively utilized by the cells, where it is mostly needed.

Moreover, these weight loss patches contain the active ingredients that can effectively help people lose weight at the same time enhancing their health and well-being.

Therefore, for a revolutionary modification to weight loss regimen, it would be better if you will try using these weight loss patches. Buy now and start your life to a healthier you.

Alternatively, these weight loss patches are available in 30-piece package. It should only be worn once a day. Hence, you have a month supply of these products.

Indeed, with the advent of weight loss patches, losing weight will no longer be considered a game for the chosen few.

Hence, with these wonderful, excellent patches, you can now easily lose weight without the trouble of extreme fad diets. Best of all, these weight loss patches are affordable, so there’s no reason why you cannot try it out.

Losing Weight Rapidly

2008-09-13T20:32:00.002-07:00

Wanting a slimmer and sexier body is no lofty ambition. Many people have succeeded in sculpting their physiques to make them look healthy and desirable. However, this end is not attained in just a snap or skipping one night's dinner. For some people though, patience is not a virtue. They seem not to be able to afford so much attention, time and money to get the body they have always wanted. As a result, these people result to rapid weight loss practices and programs which may not be as effective as these people are led to believe they are.

Fast-track diets are one of these rapid weight loss practices which may not be very inviting as they seem according to research. Fast-track diet programs, as scientific research shows, are only good while they last. Rapid weight loss often results ironically, to rapid weight gain. people who undergo low carbohydrate or low calorie diets normally revert back to old eating habits simply because human beings can not actually live on with this type of diet scheme for the rest of their lives.

Now there is also scientific research showing that rapid weight loss does not imply an individual is losing unwanted excess fat; it is commonly water that is lost with following rapid weight loss practices. This could cause certain alarm but actually, water lost is regained very quickly. So there is actually zero net weight lost after all. So one should not be foolish enough to be so gullible with the advertising of certain diet pills out there in the market; especially those which claim to aid lose a whopping amount of fat in a short time. They will only dehydrate the body. And just so it is clear, the body can only lose two pounds of fat per week, one could be exceptionally lucky if he can lose three, but normally, it's just two.

Another rapid weight loss product out in the market is the slimming soap. Claiming that these soaps are made from a unique concoction of rare chinese herbs and seaweed, they assert to help people using them to shed off body fats by emulsifying them upon application while taking a bath. Some are even specialized like those which promise to give the user "beautiful thighs". The ingredients may prove to improve the quality of the skin but no research has ever come up yet which aids to prove the efficacy of these ingredients in emulsifying excess body fats.

One more rapid weight loss product out there in the market promises to suppress hunger and at the same time help increase the body's metabolic rate. It also claims to be able to accelerate the healing process and reduce certain body pains, all these plus its being a very chic fashion accent. Well they are actually called magnetic weight loss earrings.

The secret of this set of earrings is in the magnet, so it says. Wearing them near the ears balances the magnetism in the body therefore one will experience all the above mentioned effects. Though press releases say that there are actually "studies" to back these assertions up, nothing yet is found in medical journals. Though buying a set may not kill a person, it's probably not a wise investment. One might as well wear a horse shoe earring for a more exquisite fashion statement.

Bottom line is "no pain, no gain". If one wants a beautiful body, one must sweat it out. And as for those rapid weight loss products coming out on the market, if they are too good to be true, they probably are not.

Losing Weight? - Go Herbal

2008-09-13T20:32:00.001-07:00

These days, there is a great need for overweight Americans to lose those excess pounds. Being healthy would not only lead them to have a healthier lifestyle but it will also literally lighten their load, and improve their overall well-being.

There is a long list of dieting options available. There are exercise programs, exercise machines, dietary supplements, dietary food and drinks, diet pills - there are even soaps which claim to help you lose pounds while you bathe.

One other available option to shed off those unwanted pounds is to go herbal.

Herbal weight loss products have been in great demand for people who want to lose weight the natural way. However, when you take herbal supplements to lose weight, you would have to wait for a longer time for the results because of the more subtle effects of medicines which came from plants and natural herbs.

Here are some herbal weight loss options that you might want to consider:

1. Herbal weight loss products

There are a lot of herbal weight loss products available in the market now. You can check out the Internet and you will find a lot of herbal weight loss pills and products.

Be careful, however, as there are some products which claim to be safe and natural because they are herbal, but some actually have side effects because of non-extensive research on the effects of these products.

Here are some ingredients and chemicals which make up some herbal weight loss products that you should watch out for, as they might have harmful effects to your health:

> Senna. This is an herbal laxative. Senna is a main ingredient in weight loss teas, and it works by stimulation the colon. The downside effect of this herb is dehydration. It can also lead to colon problems and can become addictive. Some people, when addicted, are unable to perform bowel movements without it, so watch out.

> Chromium picolinate. This is a synthetic compound found in herbal weight loss products. Chromium is a nutrient which helps regulate blood-sugar level. However, this ingredient, when taken in high doses, may cause damage in the chromosomes. It can also lead to dehydration.

> St. John's wort. This supplement increases the production of a chemical in the brain. If not used properly, it may cause eye and skin sensitivity, mild gastrointestinal distress, fatigue and itching.

Although a lot of herbal products claim to be safe and natural, it is better to scrutinize the ingredients and research about the effects of the product itself before going for these herbal dietary pills.

2. Organic food.

In Wichita, Kansas, organic food has found its way to more homes and restaurants. Organic food devotees believe that consuming organic goodies help their bodies as well as the environment.

A person who buys organically raised eggs and vegetables claim to be healthier, and they are not spending money on doctors and prescriptions as these keep them healthier and away from the hospital. This could also be an option for weight watchers, as organic food is known to be kinder to your weight than chemically-processed food products.

3. Green Tea.

Studies show that intake of green tea, or green tea extracts burns extra calories. Also, green tea with caffeine can increase fat burning by up to 40% thereby reducing fat.

This is one good option for those who want to lose weight. In a study done, people who took green tea were found to lose 2 to 3 times more weight than those who did not drink green tea.

These results show that green tea is a natural product for the treatment of obesity. Thus, it also makes for a healthier dietary option, not to mention the good effects that it has on the body as compared to caffeine. A cup of tea gives an emmediate energy lift without the side effects of caffeine.

3. Caffeine.

Coffee provides an energy boost to increase fat burning. Caffeine also provides a likelihood to be active, which in turn increases your rate of calorie burn.

4. Immortality Herb

This herb, whose scientific name is Gymnostemna Pentaphyllum, is known to have the following benefits:

> increases healthy blood flow
> reduces artery blocks
> aids healthy blood pressure
> increases the rate of fat burning

5. Apple Cider Vinegar

There are pills and food supplements whose main ingredient is apple cider vinegar. Here are the benefits of taking this herbal option:

> weight loss
> improved cholesterol level
> improved high blood pressure
> helps prevent rheumatoid arthritis

The Good of Vegetarianism

2008-08-09T13:59:00.001-07:00

Sometimes the only thing really holding you back from making the big step of becoming a vegetarian is to come to a firm grasp of what good you will get from it. Too often we see eating right and cutting meat from our diet as a drudgery and something we "should do" but we don’t want to. But becoming a vegetarian is a big life change and one that you should make with every intent of remaining a vegetarian for life. The only way to make that kind of life change "stick" is to have some concrete and desirable positive outcomes that you will realize from the change. If there is "something in it for you" besides being seen as a good person because you "should" do it, you will embrace the change more enthusiastically.
One big advantage that a vegetarian lifestyle can bring you is that it is a lot less fuss to life as a vegetarian and it is far less expensive. It doesn’t take a very extensive trip to the grocery store to realize that even a small slab of steak or a pound of hamburger is far more expensive than a head of cabbage or a bunch of carrots. Your food costs can plummet if you simplify your life and eat only meatless dishes. And your food will last longer in storage.
One advantage that many new converts to vegetarianism notice but that don’t get much coverage is how much better their digestive systems will work without the heavy load that meat places on your insides. Not only will you digest your food more easily, you will not feel that "heavy and sluggish" sensation and you will sleep better and even have better sex. That is because the negative impact of animal muscle on your intestines will disappear. You will also notice it in your lower intestines and your elimination. In every way, the functioning of your internal mechanisms will be much smoother when you only give it meatless meals to live on.
The health benefits are probably the motivation that convinces most people to adopt a meat free diet. The simple fact is that science has proven that humans are not natural meat eaters. Yes we can live on meat but our systems are not well suited to digest the heavy food that meat represents in your digestive system.
Many of the most chronic national health problems can be traced to meat consumption. Everything from obesity to cancer to heart disease to aging seems to be linked to the consumption of meat. Because meat is so much more difficult on our internal systems to digest, utilize and eliminate, the impact on your insides is devastating. Vegetarians do not suffer with as high an incidence of colon cancer, heart disease or obesity.
As many high priced weight loss programs as there are, there may be no more effective one and one that can be done for virtually no cost is to just stop eating meat. You rarely meet a fat vegetarian because there is just not very much in a nonfat meal to become fat. Vegetables quickly convert to energy, deliver vitamins to your systems and the remnant leave your system without difficulty so your metabolism will naturally speed up so you lose weight.
The moral, ethical and spiritual reasons for becoming a vegetarian are also well known. Many religions call for a diet of no meat and frequent fasting. A vegetarian diet gives you much greater control over your appetite so you can observe religious disciplines that call for physical denial for a short time and get all of the spiritual good from them.
Besides the spiritual values, more and more people are becoming aware that eating meat is unethical or immoral. It is not "kooky" or crazy to see that the raising of animals for us to kill and eat seems barbaric for an evolved culture such as ours. It is easy to find horror stories of the gruesome ways that animals are slaughtered to become our food. To become part of the solution rather part of the problem is appealing to many people who have a conscience. And vegetarianism is part of the solution that if all of us embraced vegetarianism, it would be a better world for everyone.

Little Secrets Vegetarians Know

2008-08-09T13:58:00.001-07:00

Most people who don’t know anything about the vegetarian lifestyle think that is must be pure drudgery being a vegetarian and giving up meat. That is a misconception because even though meat is not a part of a vegetarian diet, it isn't about what you are going without, it is what is in your diet and in your life that makes a vegetarian lifestyle work so well. If you actually interviewed a vegetarian, the last thing they would say is that they are all about not eating meat. Instead they are about living in healthy way in a way that is at peace with the environment and with their own bodies.
The body of knowledge about vegetarians that most people don’t know is pretty astounding. Most people do understand the basic three reasons someone becomes a vegetarian which are health, animal rights and spiritual or moral reasons. But there are a number of side benefits and little secrets only vegetarians know that if they became popularized, the flood of converts to vegetarianism would be overwhelming. Some of those little secrets include…
. Vegetarians are not depressed as much as others because they know some secrets to overcoming depression naturally.. Vegetarians do not struggle with weight issues as much as others. . Vegetarians are better informed about nutrition and know how to make the most of what they eat.. Vegetarians sleep better, are more energetic and need less sleep than meat eaters.. Vegetarians have a much reduced incidence of cancer, heart disease and digestive disorders.. Vegetarians live longer than meat eaters.
One secret vegetarians know that gets almost no press is the power of walnuts. There is a little known chemical in walnuts called serotonin that is a powerful antidepressant. Now you can get your doctor to prescribe an artificial anti depressant which can cost you a lot of money and put you at risk for chemical dependency. Or you can make a nice hot cup of tea with walnut as part of the mix. About half a walnut shell mixed in with your regular tea brew fills the drink with serotonin. Taken regularly, you will feel the effects of a chemical pick me up that can combat depression very effectively.
Another little secret of vegetarians runs against the normal rules of dieting to get the full value of nutrients you might expect from eating a salad. Diet theory would have you use no salad dressing or at very least a zero fat or low fat salad dressing. Vegetarians who are more in touch with the effects of foods in their bodies know that the real value of eating salad are the natural nutrients in leafy vegetables called carotenoids. But science has shown us that the best way to pull cerotenoids from green vegetables is to use a higher fat salad dressing. So enjoy that fatty dressing because your vegetarian lifestyle will deliver plenty of weight loss value to you even with this small indulgence that can do you so much good.
Speaking of tea, green tea is often a staple of a vegetarians diet because of the little health secrets buried in this amazing drink. Green tea has powers to help your digestive system, help combat depression and to accelerate weight loss that ancient cultures like the Chinese and India have known for centuries. Vegetarians have caught up on this secret of health knowledge ahead of us so its time well learned from their wisdom.
These are just a few of the wisdom of the ancients that have been rediscovered by the modern vegetarian "craze". But it really isn't a craze because once you start living a healthy life cashing in on these many benefits a vegetarian lifestyle will give you, you will never want to go back.

Getting Started with the Hobby of Organic Gardening

2008-08-09T13:56:00.002-07:00

Organic gardening can very well pass up as a hobby for starters. This can be true if you are the type of person who has the passion for gardening. This may not be everybody's cup of tea. So consider yourself lucky if you are among those who can grow green things out of the blue.
Gardening requires certain skills. You have to know the type of soil, what kind of plants you can place on them, how you will take care of those plants, aside from the many other considerations that you must be aware of when you are serious about it.
It may sound complicated enough for the beginners. But if you have been marked as the one with a green thumb and you've already honed you skills on this, then you might as well try the organic way of gardening. This method is particularly special as well as hard. It will require you to double your effort as compared with the regular stuff that you do with the usual gardening tricks.
The Concept
The basic rule on this type of gardening is that you will only use synthetic products in all your endeavor with regards to the task. This will include the important elements such as the fertilizers and the pesticides. You can actually get from the earth what you will then use for your organic venture into gardening. You will use such elements to be able to grow something new, these are your plants, your vegetables or whatever greens you may want to grow. Do you get the picture? To look at it from a bird's eye view, it is like working closely with nature. Or as others may say, this is like being one with nature.
Organic FertilizersIs there such a thing, you may ask? Yes, and you are the one to make it. You can actually perform composting on the materials found on your garden. You can use fallen leaves and twigs, animal manure, but this will depend on the type, and many more.
Organic Pesticides This type of gardening wants, as much as possible, to stay away from pesticides. But if you can't afford to pick the insects one by one by your bare hands, then you can go to your local grocery store and ask for an organic pesticide that is available commercially.
The old way really is to be vigilant with your garden and take off every pest that you see. You should only turn to the organic pesticides when it becomes too many and uncontrollable that you can no longer handle. You can also try to bring in the animals that feed on those pests. This way, you'll have some help in picking those pests up. And that is also helping the other animals satisfy their hunger.
As a hobby, this may be time consuming. So if you cannot devote enough time into it, might as well find a partner or drop the idea until you've found the right time to carry on with the tasks.
Organic gardening really entails a lot of hard work. So you better be prepared to perspire in the process. To ease your tiredness when you are already into it too deep, just think that what you are doing is helping nature. This is your way of giving back what nature has bestowed on you since the day you were born.

Why Is Organic Vegetable Gardening So Important These Days

2008-08-09T13:56:00.001-07:00

Organic vegetable gardening seems to be the trend these days as more people have become conscious of what they are eating. This is because conventional methods which involve the use of harmful chemicals may enter our systems.
In order to control the problem, the US Department of Agriculture has issues a new directive. This encourages farmers to shift to organic farming.
With organic farming, farmers will no longer need to plant crops using genetic engineering, irradiation and sewage sludge. Instead, this will be replaced with crop rotation.
Crop rotation is the practice of planting a different crop in the same area where another crop once occupied. This keeps the soil’s nutrients fertile so it can be used again in the following season.
If you think about it, this approach is easier said than done as farmers are accustomed to the old ways of doing it. To help them change their minds, the government offers incentives and subsidies to farmers who decide to follow this plan. But the main reason why organic vegetable gardening is so important is the fact that the crops harvested have 50% more nutrients and vitamins compared to that of conventional farming methods.
This means the food they consume will reduce the risk of people suffering from a number of diseases like diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and certain cancers.
Children who drink milk will be able to get more anti-oxidants, CLA, Omega 3 and vitamins when this is extracted from pastured grazed cows that will really strengthen their bones and muscles.
You can buy organically grown vegetables from the supermarket. The sad part is the almost everywhere you go, although the packaging comes from Department of Health, Quality Assurance International, California Certified Organic Farmers or the Oregon Tilth Farm Verified Organic, most of these are only 50% to 70% organic.
This is why homeowners who want to eat 100% organic vegetables are encouraged to grow these themselves.
There are two ways to make this happen. First, you buy the seedlings until they grow so you can harvest the. Second, you buy them fully grown and then just plant it into the ground.
Most people prefer the first because it makes them proud to know that what is served on the table was done from scratch.
In both cases, you have to prepare the soil, use compost and make sure that these are safe from threats such as insects, weeds and other animals that will eat what you have planted.
You can fight these with other animals, insects, organic fertilizers, deodorant soap and a few other items which you can find out after doing some research.
For those who don’t have a big garden, they can try growing these organically grown vegetables in containers. They require more water than those planted in the soil so give doses frequently.
There is no doubt that organic vegetables and other products are important these days. If you value your health and those of your family you can buy these from the store or plant it yourself.
For those who decide to buy organically grown vegetables, remember to wash before cooking them. This will remove any harmful substances or residue that may still be there which is invisible to the naked eye.

The Benefits of Eating Organically Grown Vegetables

2008-08-09T13:55:00.000-07:00

If you have gone to the doctor, chances are he or she has told you to watch what you eat. If you have been eating the right amount of fish, meat, fruits and vegetables then you have nothing to worry about. But because some of these contain harmful chemicals, perhaps you should start switching to organically grown vegetables and other food products.
Why should you buy organic food products? Simply because majority of these items have been genetically modified. Farmers have used various techniques, chemicals and fertilizers to make them bigger even if they know that this is dangerous to your health.
No magic or anything fancy is used to make organically grown crops. You only need fertile soil, sunlight, water and some compost to make it work.
A recent study shows that following this simple plan helps vegetables have 50% more vitamins and minerals than those made from conventional methods. If you eat them regularly, you are able to have a healthier life.
You will probably feel like you will live longer too as organically grown vegetables tastes much better. This is because although fertilizers and pesticides have their advantages, they remove essential vitamins and nutrients so you are not getting the required daily allowance that your body needs. In short, you may think you are but in reality, this isn’t what’s happening.
Another benefit of eating organic vegetables and food is that you help the environment. This happens because farmers will no longer use harmful chemicals and put these into the ground.
The land which they have worked on can be planted by the next generation because the land that has been cultivated for so long is still fertile.
When you go to the supermarket, one thing you will notice is that the price of organically grown vegetables and other items are much more expensive than those conventionally grown.
Should you always buy something if it is cheaper? In the case of food, the answer is no because you can’t put a price on the lives of those who eat it.
Surely, you also don’t want to wait until someone you know gets sick so think about the future and go organic.
Eventually, the price of organic items will go down when more farmers decide to sell these in supermarkets. It is only because there is a small section of this available now in the store but when it becomes an industry standard, things will change.
Until that happens, you can probably plant and grow these in your backyard. You just need the supplies especially the seeds or the fully grown plant to help you get started.
Don’t forget to do some research first so you know how to take care of them. After all, sprinkling water every morning is just one of the many things you have to do to help these grow.
Perhaps one of the biggest challenges in organic food is that the US imports a lot of vegetables from countries that are not yet practicing this back to the basics method.
But with a little help and encouragement, they too will come around so everyone not only here but in other countries as well will be able to enjoy the benefits of organically grown vegetables and fruits.

Transform Yourself From the Inside-Out and Look Your Best Naturally

2008-05-12T14:26:00.000-07:00

Sunday, May 11, 2008 by: Charmaine D. Mercado

At some point in our lives we have all suffered from physical insecurities, thanks to the unwitting comments of the people around us, our faulty habit of comparing ourselves to others, and mainstream media's rigid standards of beauty. Depending on our environment, upbringing, and self-image we have either acknowledged or denied our desire to look more attractive. The point is that physical appearance is a universal issue we all have dealt with, whether we have acted upon our desire to look better, have moved on peacefully through self-acceptance, or have scorned this wish as something shallow and embarrassing.

Technological progress sought to address the beauty question by coming up with gadgets and machines that at best changed things only on the surface for a temporary period of time, and at their worst merely pandered to human vanity, obscuring from man the true causes of his cosmetic complaints. But advances in research now point to natural solutions that could help one look better without drugs and artificial procedures. According to this new research, one can tremendously improve his or her appearance through superior health by way of a powerful cleansing diet. If you want a radical improvement in your appearance without going under the knife, then this diet is the answer to your prayers. The health benefits of this diet will make you feel so great you'll start looking it too.

Raw Food Magic

While beauty is relative because it's in the eye of the beholder, there are certain outward manifestations of it regardless of heredity, sex, age, or ethnicity. Rosy cheeks and lips, clear, sparkling eyes, strong, healthy hair, fresh, glowing skin, strong bones and teeth, and a well-developed physique -- such are the physical markers of radiant health. Emerging research has revealed that one kind of diet can help you attain the best of health, and through it, your best face yet: the raw food diet.

Aside from achieving excellent health, refined and enhanced physical features are just some of the wonderful perks one inevitably obtains through the raw diet. Long-time raw foodists even claim that the diet changed their eye color and helped them lose stubborn fat, warts, and cellulite

Fresh, organic, nutrient-dense, and enzyme-rich raw foods can really boost anyone's self-confidence due to the dramatic physical improvements they bring about. And it's a different kind of self-confidence too, the one that feels honest in your bones because you know you didn't cheat. You jacked up your score in the attractiveness meter with discipline, proper knowledge, diligence, perseverance, and natural, nutrient-rich food, not with toxic chemical injections or cosmetic incisions, the a-little-more-here and a-little-less-there kind of artificial procedures. But the mind-blowing thing about the raw diet is that you will look as if you had a face lift or a tummy tuck. Go search the internet for before and after raw transformations for proof. Draw your inspiration from these people who succeeded with the raw food regimen. If they did it, then so can you. The internet is also replete with information on raw food to educate and excite you, not to mention free raw recipes to make your raw journey more fun and enjoyable.

The amazing bonus is that on raw food, a new inner self emerges too. Raw food will purify and transmute your old energy. You will feel lighter and it will be much easier for you to smile, and a smile makes any countenance more attractive. That is because raw food will not just heal you physically; it will also improve your mental, emotional, and spiritual states. People will sense that positive, ineffable 'something' that envelops your being. They won't be able to put a finger on it, but you'd know what that 'something' is: superior over-all health brought to you by the most nourishing foods on the planet.

The rate and degree of your natural make-over will depend on your toxicity level. If you are immunocompromised then your metamorphosis may take longer. Your body will utilize all the nutrients from raw food to heal your disease before it starts taking care of your stretch marks. The process may take longer for others, depending on the person's previous diet and general state of health. The important thing is to persevere. Bear in mind that all successful raw foodists underwent unpleasant, and sometimes unglamorous, detox symptoms. Allow your body to unload itself of old, impacted garbage. Give it time to recover its "old youthfulness," the one that you lost early on in life due to stress, poor diet, faulty thinking, and lack of motion. Educate yourself that you may understand how the body functions to help you stick to the raw diet in spite of the brief cycles of cleansing reactions. But be assured that in between the short periods of detox symptoms you will feel fabulous like you never did on your old cooked and toxic diet, like you never did in your entire life.

Why Raw?

Numerous studies reveal that cooking causes a big drop in a food's nutritional profile. Heating food beyond 118 degrees Fahrenheit kills off all the enzymes and decreases the amount of vitamins and minerals originally present in the food. To look your best you have to get the maximum amount of nutrients you could possibly get from any kind of food. Eating raw food is the obvious best solution to this, as all the nutrients in the food are undiminished and uncorrupted.

Raw food gives your body the "go" signal to do what it really has to. Eating cooked food will make the body use up its enzyme reserves. It takes three metabolic enzymes to produce one digestive enzyme. Those metabolic enzymes that were converted into digestive enzymes could have been used for detoxification, tissue growth and repair, and assimilation of nutrients, not to mention cell production, growth, and rejuvenation -- all the vital processes that would transform you inside out. Don't overtax your body with cooked food and toxic substances. Always carry enzyme supplements with you in case you have to eat cooked food. Just remember that to obtain impressive results, you'd have to be at least 70-80% raw.

The path to natural beauty actually begins in the gut. Yes, your physical transformation is largely hinged on bowel health, not on what you apply topically on your skin. While slathering your face with a fresh, crushed tomato or with your concoction of mashed banana, papaya, and honey will give you smooth, bright-looking skin in 10-20 minutes, natural topical treatments are, at best, only adjuncts to ingested super-nutrients from raw and super foods. You cannot have a healthy digestive system without consuming raw food. Nutrients and fiber found in raw food will loosen and absorb the mucus, grease, and impacted fecal matter in your gut, preparing them for elimination. A dirty digestive tract will not assimilate nutrients well. Moreover, filthy intestines provide a breeding ground for parasites, viruses, and unfriendly bacteria, which rob you of precious nutrients and toxify your body further with their own wastes.

There are other ways to kick out the bad guys from your system aside from following a high-raw and high-fiber diet. One is by taking an all-natural intestinal cleanse formula that would kill off the free-loading parasites squatting in your gut. Increasing the population of good bacteria through probiotic supplementation and consumption of unpasteurized fermented foods such as kimchi, sauerkraut, yogurt, fermented seed and nut cheeses, miso, and natto. Enemas and colonics would also help scrape off stubborn waste matter that have accumulated throughout years of unhealthy eating, washing off the unfriendly organisms as well. Eating foods such as cayenne, ginger, garlic, onion, pineapple, cold-pressed coconut oil, pumpkin seeds, fresh aloe vera gel, and sesame seeds will also antagonize parasites, bacteria, and viruses.

Weight loss takes place when your body starts getting rid of old, un-expelled wastes. The digestive tract alone could be carrying around nine pounds of un-eliminated toxic matter! A lot of obese and overweight people have finally controlled their weight more easily without starvation and hang-ups through raw food. Unlike in other weight loss programs, the skin clings more closely to the bones, obviating the need to have loose flabby skin surgically removed. People who have weight problems also end up more satisfied on the raw food diet since it helps them lose weight more rapidly than any other program. It helps them overcome food cravings and addictions due to the detox process. They are also pleasantly surprised to find out that their favorite evil food actually has a healthy, all-raw version. They never have to count calories again because the enzymes enable the food to be properly metabolized and completely digested.

While going raw will initially lead to weight loss, those who want to gain weight can do so with raw food. Yes, with a few modifications it is possible to gain weight and build huge muscles on the raw diet. Some underweight women actually achieved their more ideal weight through raw food. Some scrawny guys even put on enormous muscle mass through raw food. If you're apprehensive about raw bodybuilding you can check out raw vegan bodybuilders such as Storm Talifero, Charlie Abel, and Stephen Arlin.

You can gain weight and do bodybuilding by increasing your intake of green vegetables, sprouts, raw fats such as those found in coconuts, durian, avocado, nuts, and seeds. A caveat, though: increasing your fat intake doesn't mean you should eat as much as you could. While raw fats can metabolize themselves, too much raw fats will slow down the blood flow and detox process. You can also gain weight by eating a combination of amazing superfoods every day such as raw cacao, unpasteurized honey, bee pollen, wheat grass, spirulina, chlorella, barley grass, blue-green algae, hemp seeds, goji berries, kelp, and acai. Super foods not only clean you up through their high antioxidant content; they also build you up with the best materials because they're great sources of high-quality amino acids.

The thing with raw foods is that, with the right adjustments, you can make them work to achieve your desired result, be it weight loss or weight gain. The beauty of the raw diet is that whether you lose or gain weight, you end up as a healthier individual due to all the intact nutrients working together to give you the best clean-up and remodeling job.

A List of Important Nutrients for a New Improved You

One of the greatest enemies of the human body is a group of noxious substances called free radicals. These are produced in the body from environmental toxins, additives, pesticides, and foods cooked in high temperature. Free radical damage is systemic, and it works its way from the inside out. It accelerates aging at the cellular level, resulting in wrinkles and a host of other aesthetic complaints.

Antioxidants are compounds that arrest and reverse free radical damage in the body, which, aside from faster aging, is a large contributing factor to serious diseases like cancer. Since oxidative damage takes place at the cellular level, the most commonsensical way to fight it is through super-nutrition via antioxidants found in raw food. Free radicals get inactivated through the abundant amounts of antioxidants present in raw fruits and vegetables. Think of the proverbial lemon juice sprinkled on browned, cut-up apples. Antioxidants do the same thing to us. They protect our cells from rapid oxidation. Antioxidants combat free radicals that eat up collagen and elastin, the fibrous materials that support skin structure, thus making the skin firmer, smoother, and softer, with a highly improved tone and texture. They are also powerful keys to longevity, no matter what recent studies have claimed.

Phytochemicals are natural biologically active compounds found in plant foods. They work synergistically with other nutrients and fiber found in fruits and vegetables to fight deadly diseases and to slow down the aging process. So far, more than 900 phytochemicals have been identified, and more shall be added to this list in the future. Phytochemicals have a lot to do with plant pigment, so generally, the brighter the color of the fruit or vegetable, the more phytochemicals and nutrients it contains. Phytochemicals have been known to have antioxidant properties, protecting us from disease and rejuvenating us inside-out.

Amino acids, otherwise known as the building blocks of protein, are greatly needed by the body to repair and form new cells, tissue, skin, hair, teeth, and bones.

The following is a list of nutrients needed by the body to build a healthier, better-looking you:

Glutathione is by far the most powerful antioxidant that can be produced by the human body. It detoxifies harmful substances so that they can be eliminated through the bile. This antioxidant has gotten so much popularity from its well-documented and scientifically-proven properties to reverse aging and promote a fairer complexion. Animal flesh contains the highest concentration of this very potent nutrient, but the rub is that you'd have to consume it raw since glutathione is an antioxidant enzyme. The other natural and more palatable raw sources of this amino acid are spinach, broccoli, walnuts, tomatoes, carrots, grapefruit, asparagus, garlic, avocado, purslane, squash, okra, walnuts, potatoes, and apples. Glutamine, cystine, glutamic acid, and glycine are also needed by the liver to manufacture optimum levels of glutathione. One can also opt to take glutathione supplements that are widely available in the market today.

Superoxide dismutase (SOD) is an anti-aging enzyme that scavenges for free radicals with revitalizing and protective properties. SOD can be found in broccoli, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, and most green vegetables, as well as in superfoods such as barley grass and wheat grass.

Catalase is another antioxidant enzyme that is needed by the body to put free radical activities in check. Leeks, onion, broccoli, bananas, parsnip, zucchini, spinach, carrots, radish, cucumbers, cherries, red cabbage, apricot, and cherries are good sources of catalase.

Coenzyme Q10, a potent anti-aging nutrient, plays an important role in tissue oxygenation. Get your dose of this antioxidant from spinach, peanuts, and fish.

Vitamin A is an antioxidant vitamin that regulates oil balance in the skin and helps prevent and treat acne, psoriasis, and eczema. It is necessary for growth of new cells and helps lessen the appearance of wrinkles. It can be obtained from carrots, egg yolks, dark leafy greens, parsley, arugula, mangoes, watermelon, nettle leaves, watercress, and sweet potatoes. Super foods such as chlorella, spirulina, wheat grass, barley grass, and kelp also have high concentrations of vitamin A.

Vitamin B7, also known as biotin, forms the basis of healthy skin, hair, and nail cells. Biotin is abundant in nuts, soybeans, egg yolks, swiss chard, fish, tomatoes, romaine lettuce, cabbage, onion, almonds, cucumber, cauliflower, and carrots.

Vitamin C is needed by the body to maintain healthy skin, bones, teeth, and gums. This vitamin is invaluable in the replacement and generation of tissue. Best food sources of this toxin-neutralizing antioxidant are citrus fruits, acerola berries, strawberries, rosehips, broccoli, parsley, nettles, and superfoods such as acai, goji berries, camu-camu, and raw cacao.

Vitamin D promotes the use and assimilation of calcium and magnesium for healthy bones and teeth. Very few foods contain enough amounts of this vitamin so exposure to sunlight is needed to help the body create its own vitamin D. Mushrooms, salmon, cod, and certain types of milk fortified with vitamin D are some food sources of this vitamin.

Vitamin E has been known to diminish the appearance of fine lines on the face, repair connective tissue, and, along with vitamin C, increase your skin's protection against sun damage. It also protects vitamins A and C from destruction. Food sources of this powerful antioxidant are goji berries, nuts, berries, green leafy vegetables, egg yolks, wheat germ, soy, and vegetable oils such as olive oil.

Calcium is needed by the body to maintain healthy bones and teeth. Spinach, broccoli, kale, lima beans, apples, bananas, oranges, blackberries, kiwifruit, tomatoes, sardines, dairy, peas, soy products, salmon, seaweed, artichoke, kale, avocado, peanuts, almonds, Brazil nuts, pumpkin seeds, cashew, pistachio, sunflower seeds, strawberries, lemons, and grapes all have ample amounts of calcium.

Copper works in conjunction with zinc and vitamin C to produce elastin. Kiwifruit, apples, lima beans, artichoke, avocado, broccoli, bananas, carrots, cauliflower, cantaloupe, grapes, and cucumber all contain copper.

Magnesium is necessary for the production of new cells and for healthy bones and teeth. Good sources of this mineral are raw cacao, kelp, kiwi, bananas, oranges, tomatoes, avocado, summer squash, artichoke, spinach, broccoli, sweet potato, Brazil nuts, pumpkin seeds, pine nuts, almonds, corn, potatoes, peas, kale, and cashew.

Phosphorous promotes healthy teeth and bones and is needed for the acid-alkaline balance in the body. Kiwi, tomatoes, blackberries, asparagus, mushrooms, lima beans, bananas, sunflower seeds, pine nuts, peanuts, walnuts, potatoes, kale, avocado, artichoke, lime, cantaloupe, strawberries, and oranges all contain phosphorus.

Silicon increases bone, skin, hair, and nail strength. It improves wrinkles, skin thickness, skeletal health, and teeth formation. High-silicon content foods include bell pepper, cucumber (with skin), spinach, tomatoes, apples, strawberries, oranges, beets, carrots, radish, romaine lettuce, burdock root, marjoram, and horsetail, which is considered by natural health experts as a super herb.

Sulfur is required by the body for collagen production and maintenance of healthy skin, hair, and nails. Sulfur can be found in broccoli, kale, pumpkin seeds, asparagus, hemp seeds, garlic, onion, watercress, and red peppers. If you feel hard-pressed to eat a lot of natural foods to keep your sulfur levels optimal, you might want to consider taking the supplement MSM or methylsulfonylmethane, which contains high amounts of sulfur per gram.

Selenium enables the body to efficiently use oxygen. This mineral helps maintain healthy skin due to its high protein component. Brazil nuts, mushrooms, onion, garlic, asparagus, tomatoes, broccoli, whole grains, parsley, blackstrap molasses, wheat germ, sesame seeds, poultry, fish and eggs are especially high in selenium.

Zinc maintains and builds healthy collagen, assists in wound and tissue healing, and prevents the formation of stretch marks. Good zinc sources include pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, nuts, parsley, wheat germ, oatmeal, and eggs.

Essential fatty acids prevent skin dryness and inflammation as well as the formation of white heads and black heads. The body needs EFAs but cannot manufacture it; it is therefore important to get your omega fatty acids from food. Ample amounts of omega-3 fatty acids are found in flaxseed, flax oil, safflower oil, evening primrose oil, and cold-water fish such as mackerel, sardines, and salmon. Omega 6 fats on the other hand can be found in sunflower seeds and oil, olives and olive oil, safflower and soybean oil. Fats provide lubrication to the skin and joints, and having dry, flaky skin is a good tell-tale sign of EFA deficiency.

Chlorophyll is an excellent blood builder and purifier. This phytochemical produces in the body an unfavorable environment for bad bacteria. It draws out toxins stored in cells and tissue, dumping them into the bloodstream for proper elimination. Chlorophyll is also highly alkalinizing. Get the benefits of this powerful cleanser by eating green leafy vegetables and seaweeds, and superfoods such as chlorella, wheat grass, spirulina, and barley grass.

Carotenoids such as beta-carotene, lutein, lycopene, are pigments responsible for the colors of many orange, yellow, red, and green fruits and vegetables. Carotenoids are known to slow down the aging process. Get your beta-carotene from orange and golden-colored fruits and vegetables such as mangoes, papaya, apricots, carrots, sweet potatoes, pumpkins, and the superfood goji berry. Green vegetables such as spinach, kale, and broccoli are also great sources of beta-carotene. Lutein can be obtained by eating green vegetables such as kale, collards, spinach, broccoli, romaine lettuce, swiss chard, and brussels sprouts. The highest amount of anti-aging and cancer-fighting lycopene can be found in raw sun-dried tomatoes, then in cooked tomato products such as tomato sauce and paste, followed by fresh, raw tomatoes. Watermelon, red peppers, and pink grapefruit also have significant amounts of lycopene.

Bioflavonoids are known to have chelating properties, binding to toxins and eliminating them safely out of the body. Like other antioxidants they have the ability to neutralize highly unstable and reactive molecules that are responsible for premature aging. They also help treat varicose veins, bleeding gums, bruises, and hemorrhoids. Get your medley of primary bioflavonoids such as rutin, resveratrol, hesperidin, quercetin, and anthocyanins from buckwheat groats and leaves, rosehips, broccoli, citrus fruits (lemon, oranges, grapefruit, tangerines) berries (blueberries, strawberries, blackberries, raspberries), papaya, cantaloupe, cucumber, garlic, onion, cherries, plums, apples, tomatoes, kiwifruit, grapes, red wine, and green tea.

Pycnogenol is known to be fifty times more powerful than vitamin E and twenty times more effective than vitamin C. Pine bark and grape seeds are high in pycnogenol.

Alpha-lipoic acid increases the power of other antioxidants such as vitamins C and E. This antioxidant is naturally present in peas, swiss chard, collards, broccoli, spinach, and tomatoes.

Alanine is an amino acid that aids in the development of skin, hair, and scalp. Like zinc and sulfur alanine speeds up wound healing. Alanine is available in apples, avocado, almonds, olives, and cucumber.

Arginine aids in the healing and repair of skin and connective tissue. It facilitates weight loss by helping your body increase muscle mass. Arginine is important in the formation of new bone and collagen. Dietary sources of this amino acid are cacao, carob, hemp seeds, celery, coconut, peanuts, wheat germ, soy, dairy, walnuts, almonds, cucumber, sunflower seeds, beets, and oats.

Aspartic acid helps build healthy bones and teeth. Find it in almonds, grapefruit, hemp seeds, lemon, sprouts, cucumber, and apples.

Cystine contains sulfur, a mineral that helps build strong nails, healthy skin and hair. It promotes skin elasticity and assists in the production of collagen. This amino acid is very important in detoxification because it destroys free radicals and binds to heavy metals so that they can be safely eliminated from the body. Poultry, egg yolks, red peppers, apples, yogurt, alfalfa, garlic, onion, hazel nuts, broccoli, brussels sprouts, oats, wheat germ, and cucumber all contain cystine.

Glutamine plays the biggest role in the body's metabolic processes among all the other amino acids. It is therefore no coincidence that glutamine is the most abundant amino acid in the body. This amino acid is also a precursor of glutathione, one of the much-raved antioxidants in the world of both conventional medicine and natural health. Glutamine prevents muscle loss, making it a vital nutrient among bodybuilders. Glutamine food sources include spinach, beans, parsley, dairy products, and fish.

Glycine is needed by the body to build proteins and other amino acids, repair damaged tissue, and accelerate healing processes. Glycine can be found in fish, dairy, almonds, okra, figs, raspberries, lemon, oranges, and beans.

Lysine aids in building muscle mass, tissue repair, and collagen formation. Deficiency symptoms of lysine include hair loss, bloodshot eyes, and retarded growth. Increase your lysine intake by consuming lima beans, dairy products, fish, potatoes, yeast, soy products, and eggs.

Methionine is an essential amino acid that contains a high amount of sulfur, the fourth most abundant mineral in the body. This amino acid is vital in collagen formation and in building strong hair. Like glutathione, methionine is also a powerful antioxidant that neutralizes free radicals and detoxifies the body from heavy metals. Get your dose of methionine by consuming more garlic, dairy, onions, fish, soybeans, lentils, and other seeds.

Proline helps in the breakdown of fats. Coconut, avocado, almonds, olives, and cucumber are good sources of proline.

Phenylalanine helps the body get rid of waste matter. Cacao, tomatoes, pineapple, cucumber, apples, carrots, fish, poultry, eggs, dairy, nuts, millet, sweet potatoes, avocado, spinach, corn, millet, green peas, chards, and potatoes are all phenylalanine-rich foods.

Serine is needed for muscle growth and tissue detox. Eat pineapple, papaya, apples, cucumber, and radishes, which all contain serine.

Tryptophan helps the body generate new cells and tissue. Get your tryptophan from peanuts, soy, dairy, celery, beets, fennel, carrots, spring beans, fish, eggs, and oats.

Threonine is also an essential amino acid that plays a vital role in the formation of collagen, muscle tissue, and elastin. Soy, chickpeas, lentils, wheat germ, fish, egg yolks, flaxseed, and peanuts are all rich in threonine.

Tyrosine affects hair color, tissue, and cell growth. Apricots, cucumbers, bananas, lima beans, pumpkin seeds, almonds, green pepper, strawberries, fish, oats, avocado, and sesame seeds all contain tyrosine.

Valine, an essential amino acid, is needed by the body for proper muscle metabolism and tissue repair. Valine can be found in mushrooms, dairy, peanuts, soy, and grains.

Additional Tips for a More Successful Natural Make-over

1. A certain step you can take to have a dramatic improvement in appearance in a matter of days is by fasting. When you fast your body re-allocates its energies from digestion to detoxification more than it does on a regular high-raw or all-raw diet. You may opt for a cleanse that is either milder or stronger, like the one that removes a lot of fiber from the food to further accelerate the body's cleansing rate. There are several kinds of fasting that you can do: water fast, lemonade fast (or the master cleanse), mono-meal fast, juice fast, and the juice feast. The difference between the juice fast and the juice feast is in the amount of juices you can consume. In the former you can only drink a limited number of servings, while the latter would require you to drink at least 2 gallons of juice everyday. Whichever fasting program you choose has to be 100% raw. It is good to do your own research and to consult an expert on fasting to help you decide the type and duration of the fast that is right for you.

2. Intensify your body's inside-out make-over by detoxifying your mind. Raw food and natural beauty guru David Wolfe put it so eloquently in an old but currently unavailable interview published online: "True beauty comes from the inside out. It emerges from proper thinking, as well as proper nutrition, and exercise. Thoughts -- positive or negative -- etch themselves in the face and record themselves in the character of the individual... The habitual presence of high and noble thoughts polishes the face, defines the stature, and builds the countenance. High purpose and genuine enthusiasm create an immaculate beauty. Thoughts alone can overwhelm the influence of clothing and cosmetics." Negative thoughts and emotions acidify the system. Unfired food will eventually alter your thought patterns and emotional make-up for the better, but you can also diffuse them with the help of exercise, acupressure, or any activity that you enjoy doing. Such activities will trigger the release of feel-good chemicals that would facilitate your mental make-over.

3. Opt for a low-sugar and low-sodium diet. Say no to highly-processed foods and refined sugars. Foods with high glycemic indices promote insulin secretion. High levels of this hormone in the body leads to premature aging, breaking down collagen along the way, the fibrous protein responsible for your skin's firmness and contour. A high-sodium diet on the other hand causes weight gain, cellulite, dark eye circles, and water retention.

4. Improve your circulation through regular exercise, massage, acupressure, and dry skin brushing prior to taking a bath. These will all improve both blood flow and lymphatic drainage. By stimulating the lymphatic system metabolic wastes and toxins trapped in the lymphatic fluid more easily move to the bloodstream, allowing them to be eliminated from the body. Also, daily dry skin brushing with a natural brush will help remove cellulite and reveal a softer, smoother skin.

5. Sweating is a good way to get rid of toxins through the skin, the body's largest organ of elimination. Work up a sweat by doing your favorite aerobic exercise or by going to a sauna for a pampering detox treatment.

6. Steer away from deep-fried food. Plant oils subjected to high temperature get oxidized. Oxidized fats inside the body cause free radicals to proliferate, so choose wisely when you eat outside, and be extra wary because some restaurants don't change their oil to cut down costs and keep using oxidized oil over and over again. Barbecued, charred, and broiled food will also result in increased free radical activity in the body.

7. Consider hiring a raw food coach to help you personalize your new healthy diet. He or she can guide you in making the right food choices by asking you questions about your family history, previous diet, and the goals that you want to achieve through the raw diet. A raw food coach can also give you the encouragement and support you'll need as you step on the marvelous but often-misunderstood world of raw food. He or she will help you plan strategies to maximize results and give you advice to overcome problems and issues that you might have on the raw diet. Attend raw food seminars and potlucks not just to immerse yourself in the world of raw food but also to meet people like you who want to improve all aspects of their life through superior nutrition.

8. Minimize your consumption of meat if you still feel that you must eat animal flesh. Raw or cooked, animal flesh is acidifying. Acidosis leads to accelerated aging. Raw animal flesh contains parasites, and cooked meat encourages the growth of worms through putrefaction in the intestines. Avoid unhealthy animal fat such as those found in red meat. That bacon or pancheta may look so tempting to you but if the human body stores its metabolic wastes and toxins in the fat cells then guess where the animal's poisons are found.

9. Quit smoking. Smoking will give you dark lips, crow's feet, wrinkles, a sallow complexion, and dark eye circles. Smoking will also exhaust your vitamin C supply due to increased oxidative stress.

10. Learn to relax and let go of tension. Physical stress and lack of sleep force the body to work much harder and disrupt hormonal activities. Weight gain, hair loss, wrinkles, gray hair, oily skin, dark eye circles, dandruff, murky skin tone, acne, dry skin, eye bags, and a haggard appearance are all side effects of having too much stress in your life. Fight stress through exercise, deep breathing, and a healthy diet. Try to connect with others and with that part of yourself that needs to be acknowledged, appreciated, and cared for.

11. Control your alcohol intake. Liquor burdens the liver and therefore interrupts the detox process. Red wine may be considered raw and may have a lot of antioxidants, but alcohol is alcohol and would still have to pass through the liver.

12. Drink plenty of water. Water not only helps flush out toxins and helps promote weigh loss; it is also needed by all the nutrients to do what they're supposed to. The body's metabolic processes rely on water to be carried out smoothly. Water hydrates tissue and cells. It fights off cellulite, dry skin, constipation, and edema brought about by a high-sodium diet.

13. Get yourself your own aloe vera plant. Aloe vera is a wonder plant that can heal wounds, burns, infections, and lacerations. It contains around 200 phytonutrients as well as vitamins, minerals, enzymes, amino acids, and essential fats. Aloe has properties that can restore tissue. It also boosts the potentiality of antioxidants. The quality of aloe tends to deteriorate upon exposure to air, so mix the gel last to your favorite raw smoothie or juice with a spoon and consume immediately.

14. Some foods have greater antioxidant power than the others, so you may want to include them in your diet on a more regular basis. This is determined by ORAC values, which stands for Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity. ORAC measures the in-vitro ability of foods to destroy free radicals. Studies reveal that antioxidants found in foods raise the antioxidant power of the blood. Raw cacao has the most phenomenal ORAC value. All other super foods, as well as prunes, raisins, blueberries, blackberries, kale, spinach, strawberries, raspberries, Brussels sprouts, plums, oranges, red grapes and alfalfa sprouts, fare very well in ORAC assays. Among the nuts, pecan, pistachio, and almonds have the highest ORAC ratings.

15. Coffee has been reported to cause wrinkles in spite of all its publicity as a high-antioxidant drink. Coffee beans are roasted even before you "cook" them in your cup with hot water, which goes to mean that coffee has a greatly-reduced antioxidant capacity. If you eat a mainly raw diet, which provides more octane than heat-treated caffeine, then you wouldn't need coffee. Super foods will also provide a lot more energy than your daily caffeine fix.

16. Go natural as often and as much as you can. Toxins from your creams, lotions, make-up, perfume, shampoo, soap, and additive-laden foods will convert into free radicals once they have entered the gut or bloodstream. Anything carcinogenic will lead to free radical damage.

John Robert Powers said that beauty is every woman's birthright. A rejoinder to this is that beauty is everyone's birthright, male or female, young or old, black or white. The concept of radiant health has made us rethink the traditional idea of physical attractiveness. The raw food philosophy teaches that beauty is everyone's privilege no matter where the person is coming from, since anyone can attain outstanding health by eating more raw food and by adopting positive lifestyle changes. If one really thinks about it, health, happiness, and beauty are truly inseparable from each other. Enjoy the journey to a healthier, happier, and better-looking you!

References:

Phytochemicals: Another Reason To Eat Your Fruits & Vegetables. N.d. (www.tonytantillo.com/reference/phyto.html) .

Calbom, Cherie, and Keane, Maureen. Juicing for Life. Health Harmony 2004.

Kenton, Leslie and Susannah. Raw Energy. Century Publishing 1984.

Mc Bride, Judy. Can Foods Forestall Aging? March 16 2007.
((http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/archive/f...) .

Moffat, Denice. Amino Acids. 2006. (http://www.naturalhealthtechniques.com/) .

Antioxidant List And Best Bet Foods. 2006. (http://www.naturalhealthtechniques.com) .

Petrosino, Steven. Dietary Sources of Glutathione. N.d. ((http://www.nutritionadvisor.com/glutath...) .

Rose, Natalia. The Raw Food Detox Diet. Regan 2005.

Wolfe, David. The Latest Word on Raw Food: Raw Chocolate! N.d. ((http://www.sunfood.com/b2c/ecom/ecomEnd...)

Three Age-Defying Secrets of the Beauty Diet. N.d.
((http://www.davidwolfe.com/Articles/Secr...)

for life. Some got cured of acne for good; others found their hair growing back and turning from gray back to its original color. But all have been told that they look younger than their real age.

About the author

Charmaine D. Mercado is a freelance writer who is passionate about natural health, nutrition and well-being.

Exciting new weight-loss product-Hi-Tech Lipodrene with Ephedra

2008-04-04T16:25:00.000-07:00

Last week, a good friend told me about Hi-Tech Lipodrene with Ephedra. I had heard of the appetite-suppressing powers of Ephedra before, but was not aware of this particular product. She had achieved a loss of almost nine pounds her first week, her clothes were already fitting better, and she felt more energetic.

Doing the research before buying the product is always a good idea. Hi-Tech Lipodrene with Ephedra contains a full range of the most effective natural herbs and fat-burners designed to jump-start your weight loss efforts, along with exercise and a low-calorie, low-fat diet. Ephedra, a natural herb from China, revs up your metabolism, causing you to burn up more calories. Hoodia, used by natives of Africa for centuries as an appetite suppressant, gives your will power a helping hand, and helps you say no to extra helpings or between meal snacks. Green Tea Extract, which is not only a weight loss aid but also a powerful antioxidant, is another of the powerful but all-natural ingredients in this weight loss formula. Hi-Tech Lipodrene with Ephedra also helps you burn fat from the problem areas such as the thighs, stomach, hips, and buttocks.

If you stick to a good diet and exercise plan, and do not exceed the recommended dosage, Hi-Tech Lipodrene with Ephedra is a safe way to lose ugly and dangerous excess weight. For more information, please visit Lipodrene with Ephedra .

Get Your Kids to Exercise

2008-01-17T10:12:00.002-08:00

Today’s children tend to be grossly overweight in many areas. While steps are being made to prevent this epidemic from continuing, the real battle is on the home front. If you can give your kids healthy, low-fat meals and get them to exercise, you shouldn’t have any problems with overweight youngsters. The big problem is how to get them moving.

Kids love to play and if you can have them play active games, they will automatically exercise! There is no need to force pushups and squats on your children, they don’t need to follow a typical adult workout routine (although many kids enjoy dancing along with exercise dance videos). Just being outside, running around the back yard is perfect for them.

If you don’t have a good yard to play in, you can make a point of taking the kids to a nearby park or playground. The toys on a playground are built for exercise and your kids will automatically start climbing and running and sliding when they have the opportunity. However, even in the absence of cool playground equipment, there are a few ways to encourage exercise and active movement.

Balls are the perfect prop for getting kids to exercise. They can throw it, kick it, and bounce it, whatever they wish. And you need no other equipment. Kids can easily make up their own games or set up goals, marked by rocks or jackets and play their very own version of soccer. Smaller children will simply enjoy running after the ball as it rolls away!

If there are hills near where you live, introduce your children to the joys of rolling down a hill. You remember the game, you lay flat at the top of a hill and then start to roll down it. At first, you need to push yourself over, but if the hill is steep enough, you just pick up speed and tumble over and over down the hill. It is wonderful fun, but the exercise part comes when the kids have to climb back up the hill again to try again.

If you have three or more children together, organize a game of tag. This gets everyone running around and laughing and is a great hit among younger kids. There are other versions of tag as well, including freeze tag and TV tag. See if your children can’t come up with more ideas.

A dog offers endless possibilities for adding exercise to your daily routine. While you shouldn’t get a puppy for that reason alone, it is certainly a big help. The whole family can participate in walking the dog around the block, plus children will enjoy playing and rolling around on the floor with their new pet, all great forms of exercise.

Kids these days don’t get enough exercise and the best way to motivate them to move is to set a good example. If you are constantly on the move, walking and exercising from the time the kids are small, you shouldn’t have a problem. The trouble begins when kids are allowed to sit on the couch and watch TV all day!

Secrets to Post-Partum Weight Loss

2008-01-17T10:12:00.001-08:00

Having a baby is a wonderful event, but many a mother wonders if her body will ever return to normal after having changed so drastically during the pregnancy. The truth is, no. Your body will always be slightly different, perhaps the hips are wider, the breasts saggier, it all depends on the person. However, there is no need to continue carrying around baby pounds for years after the birth! A healthy weight loss is possible for every mother with a bit of patience and time and the right techniques.

The body has natural methods of weight loss and one of these is breastfeeding. If you can manage to breastfeed even for the first three months, you will experience far faster weight loss than if you bottle feed right from the start. The baby is taking nutrients that your body has stored up in the form of fat cells, thus depleting the fat cells and returning your body to its original shape . . . more or less. Also, breastfeeding stimulates uterine contractions and the uterus will shrink back to its pre-baby size much faster, which helps with that extra tummy bulge.

Getting a good night’s sleep might seem impossible during those first few nights, but if you can manage to nap with the baby and try to stay well rested, you will be able to lose weight faster as well. This might mean leaving some of the housework for later or asking for help, but it is very important that you have enough sleep so your body can recuperate and get back to its regular metabolism faster.

Eating a healthy diet is important not only for you, but also for the baby. Instead of splurging on fast food and sweets just because you are too tired to cook, look for healthy alternatives. Frozen vegetables only take a few minutes to microwave and a chicken breast or two sprinkled with parmesan cheese doesn’t take much time to cook up, even if you are dead on your feet. This all helps move you in the direction of post-partum weight loss.

Showing off your new infant is the perfect excuse to get some exercise and promote weight loss. Get out with the baby in a front carrier or sling and go for a walk every day. Invent errands if you like, the point is to get out of the house and to enjoy taking a little exercise with your child. The walking will help return your body to its pre-baby state faster as well.

There are also special weight loss exercise classes and yoga classes meant for moms with babies. These involve everything from going for a jog in the park to doing stretches and lifting your baby on your legs. These classes are a great way to get in shape while bonding with your newborn and are usually not very expensive.

A complete weight loss is not going to happen overnight. You do need to take your time to recover, and give your body the nutrients and rest it needs. Then the weight loss will happen almost on its own!

HERBS FOR DIABETES

2008-01-17T09:24:00.000-08:00

Since antiquity, herbs have been used to treat diabetes symptoms and root causes. Particularly in Chinese medicine where such common plants as dandelion and licorice root as well as ginseng has been used for centuries. Herbs for diabetes, when used under the care of a naturopathic practitioner can quite possibly cure Type I Diabetes and hold off the onset of Type 2 Diabetes. Other herbs for diabetes are efficacious in treating symptoms rather than root causes.

Generally, any herb that strengthens the pancreas or liver will be helpful for diabetes treatment. Herbs for diabetes include Pterocarpus Marsupium, Gymnema Silvestre, Momordica Charantia, Allium Cepa, Allium Sativum, Trigonella Foenum-Graecum, Vaccinium Myrtuillus, Asian Ginseng, Bilberry, Stevia, Ginkgo Biloba, cinnamon and barberry.

Pterocarpus Marsupium is also known as Dragon’s Blood, Kino, Pitasara and Venga. The gum resin of this Indian tree has the look of dried blood, hence the name. An alcohol extract of the resin and the flavonoid epicatechin extracted from the bark of the tree both have been shown to prevent pancreatic alpha cell damage in rats and to actually regenerate beta cells. These pancreatic cells directly or indirectly control metabolic processes to balance glucose in the blood stream.

Gymnema Silvestre reduces the desire for sweets. It helps in the production of insulin in Diabetes Type 2 and reduces the blood sugar levels for both types 1 and 2. 500 mg per day of Gymnema extract is a substitute for oral medications to lower blood sugar for both Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes.

Momordica Charantia or bitter melon is also known as balsam pear. It is widely cultivated in Africa, Asia and South America as a vegetable and as a diabetes treatment. Several compounds in bitter melon are confirmed as effective in treatment of diabetes. Charantin is a hypoglycaemic agent; Momordica contains a polypeptide which is confirmed by clinical trials to reduce blood sugar when injected subcutaneously.

Allium Cepa and Allium Sativum are respectively onion and garlic. Both foods are helpful in diabetic treatment plus have the added benefits of being beneficial in treating cardiovascular problems. Both substances lower blood sugar levels.

Trigonella Foenum-Graecum is also known as Fenugreek. Fenugreek contains an anti-diabetic compound via the defatted portion of the seed.

Vaccinium Myrtuillus is commonly called blueberry. A concoction of the leaves of the blueberry plant injected is only slightly less effective but less toxic than insulin. Its beneficial effects can last several weeks. The active ingredient is myrtillin, used to improve the functioning of the vascular system and effective in preventing diabetic retinopathy—an eye disorder associated with diabetes.

Each of the other herbs for diabetes mentioned above is helpful in treating particular symptoms of the disease. Particular mention should be made of barberry—one of the best liver tonics available and cinnamon which make insulin three times as effective as without the use of cinnamon.

Continuing research into the use of herbs for diabetes may well result in a cure for the disorder. In the meantime these herbs for diabetes have been shown to be helpful in treating the disease or its symptoms.

Early Symptoms of Diabetes

2008-01-17T09:23:00.000-08:00

Diabetes mellitus is a disease affecting 20 million Americans at present and the incidence of adult onset diabetes continues to rise. Simply stated, diabetes is the inability of the body to either make or use insulin. Insulin is a hormone produced by the body to assist in the breakdown of sugars in the food to become fuel for the body. Before food can be utilized, it must be broken down by the hormones produced in the pancreas and liver into sugars. When the body doesn’t accomplish its assigned task of producing or utilizing insulin, the blood stream and the urine become full of the sugar molecules called glucose.

The cells cannot use the glucose in this form, so they are starved for fuel and in the meantime the blood is thickened by the glucose. The blood sugar counts may be either too high or not high enough. Although diabetes may creep up on a person gradually, there are some early signs of diabetes which will help you begin an active containment program of the disease. Although diabetes is not curable at present, the disease can be monitored and controlled by the patient who takes an active role the treatment.

The most common of the early symptoms of diabetes is excessive thirst. Because the glucose in the blood captures the moisture in the cells, the body interprets the condition as dehydration and sends the third signal to the brain. You’ll also find early symptoms of diabetes reflected in the frequent urination. Because the person with diabetes is drinking more, and the cells are not absorbing the water because the glucose is moving it through the blood stream to the kidneys and bladder, frequent urination is common.

Fatigue is another of the common early symptoms of diabetes. Because the cells of the muscles are not getting the fuel they need on which to run, the brain interprets the condition as fatigue. In addition to fatigue caused by lack of the energy sources the body needs, the thirst and frequent urination during the night means that the sleep which is received is not the deep and restful sleep required for healthy bodies.

Flu-like symptoms such as headaches, muscle aches and pains are all part of the symptoms of diabetes. The dehydrated cells throughout the body are demanding nourishment, the blood is sluggish with unmetabolized glucose, and the brain, liver and pancreas are not being healed. Is it any wonder the brain recognizes the sensations as being the same as the flu? Headaches and muscles aches and pains cause the sleep patterns to be even more disrupted, and it’s a vicious circle.

Frightening vision problems are part of the onset of diabetes. The dehydrated condition of cells in the eye can mean heavy blurring of vision. Worsening early symptoms of diabetes means a potential for blindness. During the course of diabetes, the body may form new blood cells over the retina. This will cause permanent loss of the eyesight.

100 Christmas and Children's Tales- $1!!!!!!

2007-12-17T15:38:00.001-08:00

HO, HO, HO, and Merry Christmas! I am practically giving away this great package of tales to read to the little ones just in time for the holidays:

BIG BOOK OF CLASSIC CHRISTMAS TALES
Christmas at Fezziwig's Warehouse - Charles Dickens
The Fir-Tree - Hans Christian Andersen
The Christmas Masquerade - Mary E. Wilkins Freeman
The Shepherds and the Angels - Adapted from the Bills
The Telltale Tile - Olive Thorne Miller
Little Girl's Christmas - By Winnifred E. Lincoln
A Christmas Matinee - M.A.L. Lane
Toinette and the Elves - Susan Coolidge
The Voyage of the Wee Red Cap. By Ruth Sawyer Durand
A Story of the Christ-Child (a German Legend for Christmas Eve) - Elizabeth Harrison
Jimmy Scarecrow's Christmas - Mary E. Wilkins Freeman
Why the Chimes Rang - Raymond McAlden
The Birds'Christmas (founded on fact) - F.E. Mann
The Little Sister's Vacation - Winifred M. Kirkland
Little Wolff's Wooden Shoes - Francois Coppee, adapted and translated by Alma J. Foster
Christmas in the Alley - Olive Thorne Miller
A Christmas Star - Katherine Pyle
The Queerest Christmas - Grace Margaret Gallaher
Old Father Christmas - J.H. Ewing
A Christmas Carol - Charles Dickens
How Christmas Came to the Santa Maria Flats - Elia W. Peattie
The Legend of Babouscka - From the Russian Folk Tale
Christmas in the Barn - F. Arnstein
The Philanthropist's Christmas - James Weber Linn
The First Christmas-Tree - Lucy Wheelock
The First New England Christmas - G.L. Stone and M.G. Fickett
The Cratchits' Christmas Dinner - Charles Dickens
Christmas in Seventeen Seventy-Six - Anne Hollingsworth Wharton
Christmas Under the Snow - Olive Thorne Miller
Mr. Bluff's Experience of Holidays - Oliver Bell Bunce
Master Sandy's Snapdragon - Elbridge S. Brooks
A Christmas Fairy - John Strange Winter
The Greatest of These - Joseph Mills Hanson
Little Gretchen and the Wooden Shoe - Elizabeth Harrison
Big Rattle - Theodore Goodridge Roberts

AND

50 Children’s Christian Stories-that teach values from the Bible

Daddy the Superhero
Sharks
The Window in Time
Bad Imaginary Friend
The Rumor with Furry Feet
Fat Wally and the Piggies

AND MANY MORE!!!

CLICK HERE TO ORDER NOW FOR ONLY $1 BEFORE THE PRICE GOES UP!

Master Cleanse / How to make the lemonade

2007-11-17T09:19:00.000-08:00

The Master Cleanse detox diet, also known as the Lemonade Diet was created by Stanley Burroughs in 1941 and made popular by Peter Glickman through his book Lose Weight, Have More Energy and Be Happier in 10 Days, which promotes Burroughs' regimen to a modern audience.

BUY the Master Cleanse book (ebook format) for only $3! (Normally sells for $10-20)

Self-talk

2007-10-31T19:37:00.000-07:00

If you have tried every diet on the planet, every exercise
program from the latest fitness guru and repeatedly failed to achieve
your weight loss goals you probably need a “check up from the neck
up.”
Successful weight loss doesn’t just happen. It took more than a
few days to reach the point where you are at right now. Give yourself
a break and expect it to take awhile before you see measurable
results. Take a leap of faith and follow some basic principles.
Begin with your “self talk.” This is the conversation that runs
through your brain continuously. What kind of conversation do you
have with your self talk? What type of negative self talk has kept you
from reaching your goals in the past?

Falling in love again- my new love

2007-10-27T11:07:00.000-07:00

I've fallen in love- very unexpectedly. At my age, it's unusual to have this happen, especially so suddenly.

(Sighs, swoons, smiles and hugs self)

But, things crept up and I made some lifestyle changes
and now, I have fallen in love

- with RAW PAPAYA!!!!!

HA-HA! I am sitting here laughing, imagining all the people who are reading this and freaking out thinking that Jim and I had split up. HA-HA-HA-HA-HA!!

Yes, I bought a 5 pound raw papaya at Publix earlier this week, and it has fed me for three days. I got the idea from seeing Joanna Lumley on a British TV show similar to "Survivor" except she was on an island alone. She is a vegetarian, and after several days of rice cooked in veggie bouillon, she dug up a wild Yam and found wild Papaya growing in the island. it really looked lush when she cut it open, and I remember her saying "That's the best food in the world" when she took a bite! It really ranks up there as at least one of the best. Also satisfies my sweet tooth, and contains papain, which is a natural digestive enzyme.

Noticing no chest pains and very few headaches this week. Not even my "Normal" headache of the day. BIG change from when I was eating mostly Bertolli frozen pasta dishes. I still cook them for Jim, and have a tiny tea saucer with a bit, so I don't feel deprived. I'm about 75-80 % raw foods.

I got paid today, so I will be back for more papaya later today. YUM-O!

Raw food diet- starting week two

2007-10-26T10:16:00.000-07:00

So, I am still feeling pretty well. Got my Chocoloate flavored protein powder from the Raw Reform store. I was looking forward to mixing it up with ice and cold water and making something like milkshakes. UGH!!!! It was so bitter. It is made from raw Brazil nuts, raw hemp seeds (heh-heh) , raw cacao, raw maca powder, and a few other wonderfully healthy foods. A spoon full of honey went a long way to making it something palatable.

Blood pressure feels like it's down- keep forgetting to have a reading taken. Headaches are not as severe and no chest pains so far this week- very minimal chest pains last week. Compared to a month ago, this is a miraculous improvement, especially done by diet only and no surgery or prescription drugs.

Raw Food Diet- day seven

2007-10-26T10:14:00.000-07:00

So, it's day seven. My daughter came for a surprise visit today! Cooked for Jim and Becca, who came down from Gainesville, and wasn't tempted to eat what they did. Had mostly raw fruits and veggies- whole box of grape tomatoes and a banana today, and some sushi. Sushi is partially cooked, and I do notice the difference after eating it- blood pressure goes up a bit, usually comes down when I drink a bunch of water. it would be best to go 100 percent raw, but my body isn't ready for it on a long term basis- so, I am sticking with 70-80 percent raw for right now. Still haven't eaten bread for a week, no milk products except for a teaspoonful of Jim's Pumpkin eggnog (so I could taste it and not feel deprived). Noticing that I can take a TASTE of something and then leave it alone without eating or drinking the whole thing. That's different!
Watched part of another Angela Stokes video over the weekend. It made a good point-quoted from the Essenes that "if you eat life you get life, and if you eat death, you get death".

Raw Food Diet- day six

2007-10-22T18:35:00.000-07:00

Had some sushi last night, as a dinner treat. Not entirely raw- the veggies and seaweed roll inside were raw but the rice and crabmeat filling were cooked. Felt a little sleepy after I ate it- maybe the carbs from the rice.
Body is still detoxing- had that funny metallic taste in my mouth when I went to sleep.Little bit of nausea in the afternoon that prevented me from donating blood. Probably just as well- the giveaway was a free buffet at Homer's, and I don't know how I would have reacted when confronted with the dessert cart, the home-baked breads, etc. Jim told me when he got home that there wouldn't have been much there that I could have eaten on a raw food diet anyway-salad, some peaches, and that was about it.

Ordered some goodies from The Raw Reform Food Store- some chocolate-flavored power made from all kinds of raw food sources (plant, not diary). Figured it would help me with my chocolate cravings. Also ordered raw pistachios (my favorite nut) and pepitas with a Mojito flavoring-YUM-O!

Interview With Angela Stokes

2007-10-21T09:57:00.001-07:00

Raw Food Diet- day five

2007-10-21T07:24:00.000-07:00

It is SO nice not to have my heart thumping like it is going to jump out of my chest when I go to bed. I'm going to check my blood pressure today, but I know it is down. For the first time since I started this, I had a little bit of ice cream craving, but it was mouth hunger, and I stayed the course.

Think I will not post every single day. The transition went smoothly.

Ordered some goodies from The Raw Reform food store- some chocolate-flavored power made from all kinds of raw food sources (plant, not diary). Figured it would help me with my chocolate cravings. Also ordered raw pistachios (my favorite nut) and pepitas with a Mojito flavoring-YUM-O!

Just can't believe how peaceful and kind I feel.

Raw Food Diet- day four

2007-10-20T07:21:00.000-07:00

OK, so it's day four. I've modified things to result in an 80% raw food diet. This is the way the woman who inspired me did it when she started out. Probably better, because yesterday was another day of body detox. REALLY glad I work from home!

One thing I have been reading about is how a raw food diet helps to "raise your vibrations". This fits in with all of the Secret/Law of Attraction works I have been reading and studying. For the last two years, I've been trying to program my mind with better thoughts through psycho-cybernetics, and the old Law of Attraction texts by Wattles and Atkinson, upon which "the Secret" is based. I've noticed that the more raw food I eat, the kinder and more at peace I feel. Those of you who know me from the business world are very familiar with my competitive Type-A personality and my not taking "No" for an answer when I get a sales prospect on the phone. It's almost like a new personality for me-more relaxed and happy and accepting. But it's on a much higher spiritual level than my college stoner/partier personality that my OLD friends remember from 30 years ago. My head is clear, and it's a real inner peace, not a chemically-induced one.

I did have a (cooked) salmon salad on raw greens with raw string beans from Panera Bread yesterday, with an apple as my side dish. Yum-O!! I noticed after I ate the salad that I felt sleepy and took an afternoon nap- thinking there was sugar in the dressing. Had a tiny headache and a little nausea in the evening, but much less than the day before.

Raw food diet- Day three

2007-10-19T06:55:00.000-07:00

Well, it's Day Three. Had to take a BC powder yesterday, as the "platter of discomfort" resting on the top of my head became a "manhole cover of pain" as the day wore on.

I've noticed that I am moving around more easily. I didn't have to brace myself against the car door and seat and push my self out of the car last night- I stepped out normally. Also, my exercise routine is easier- I was able to do 50 jumping jacks in the pool in one set- usually, it is 20 to 30, and three to four sets to make 100.

I laid off the carrots yesterday and didn't have the funny metallic taste or the nausea. Maybe I ate too much of a good thing. Got some bananas last night, which contain potassium - good for the heart! Also, the chest pains have pretty much disappeared- a huge improvement over two- three weeks ago, when I thought I was going to the hospital.

So, I'm off to find raw sunflower seeds in Sebring. I'm missing New Port Richey-talked to Jim about moving back there last night before we went to sleep, but with the way the real estate market is now, we are pretty much stuck here until we win some lottery money.

Raw Food Diet- day two

2007-10-18T06:17:00.001-07:00

Well, it's day two. I have read that my body will go through a detox and cleansing for the first week or so of doing this, and that is what is happening today. I'm glad that I work from home.

I woke up with a mild headache this morning- nothing like the grinding migraines that I get from my neck injury. Just feels like a platter of discomfort (can't really call it pain after what I have been through) is resting on top of my head.

Noticed that when I went to bed last night, I felt better- more alert, lighter. I haven't felt hungry enough to eat yet today, but will probably dive into the celery after I finish this blog posting. I did notice a funny metallic taste in my mouth, kind of like a bitter carrot. Woke up in the middle of the night with some nausea, which subsided. Maybe I will lay off the carrots today and eat the apples and celery instead. Also noticed that I moved around more easily and I didn't have as much stiffness in my joints as before I started this.

So, we will do this thing one day at a time.

Saving my Life

2007-10-17T08:22:00.000-07:00

I am going to try a raw food diet. It is the only thing I know to do to try and save my life. The last two weeks I have been plagued with chest pains, including a couple I thought were going to be the "widower-makers". I felt the numbness in my left arm once, and the funny feeling in the left side at the back of my skull, meaning that I was having a mini-stroke.

This is a clear warning that if I am going to have very much of a future at all, I need to change my ways. I need to lose a lot of weight. I can't do low-carb any more, as I have griping muscle spasms after only five days- pity, because I lost 60 pounds on low-carb a few years ago, and was never hungry. I no longer smoke pot- it's been two years now- so, that helps with my breathing. But when I was up in NJ for Shane's wedding, it was a challenge to get around in the airport and pick up my baggage, and then getting up and down the stairs more than once or twice a day to get to the room I was staying in got to be a real chore. I dress well for an overweight woman, but I would look a lot better if there were less of me.

However, vanity isn't the main motivation here. I don't want to end up like my mother, who was only four years older than I am now when she had her first major heart attack. I've already dealt with the results of a "mild" stroke. It took me two years to recover, and I am still not the same and will never be the same.

I'm trying to avoid open heart surgery. I have had friends and "frenemies" who have had bypass surgery. One woman who was my age died a few years later because the stents we not put in correctly and they leaked. She left behind a grieving partner and two young children. My kids are adults, but I think they still want me around. I know that my husband does.

So, today for our main meal, I cooked Bertolli Shrimp and Pasta. It will be my last cooked meal until the Thanksgiving Holiday. I am going 100 percent raw foods, in an effort to save my life, bring down my blood pressure, get rid of about 90 pounds, stop wheezing and snoring when I sleep (according to Jim), and hopefully keep my heart from giving up and going on strike. I will do this the same way that I gave up smoking pot after 31 years of heavy use- one day at a time.

Here's a good web site, if anyone wants to know more:
Raw Foods Diet made EZ

As I listen to the wonderful voice of Paul Potts, I know that I literally have One Chance to get this right before my excesses kill me.

Weight Loss Surgery: Preventing the Health Risks

2007-10-16T13:24:00.000-07:00

If you have been watching your weight go up and you are worried about the rising pounds, you may be wondering whether weight loss surgery really works. Is it possible to prevent future weight gain by putting yourself on a well-known weight loss surgical operation?

Today, weight loss surgeries are gradually gaining recognition when it comes to losing weight. Many health experts contend that people who are excessively overweight or has slower metabolism would normally require some surgical operations.

Surgery at Present

The greatest progress in the care of the surgical patient has taken place since the beginning of the present century. An increasing knowledge of disease and disorder as a result of research has permitted the development of many diagnostic aids. Some of these depend upon roentgenograms, laboratory procedures such as chemical, bacteriologic, and pathologic determinations, as well as monitoring devices and computer aids.

Hence, the result is that the diagnosis of disease and disorder is made with more exactness and certainty than was possible from the simple clinical examinations of previous days.

That is why people who wish to undergo weight loss surgery should no longer be afraid of the procedure because high clinical standards are now being implemented in every surgical operation.

The Concept of Weight Loss Surgery

Health experts contend that weight loss surgery is a major surgery. One of the most common reasons why people would like to lose weight is to enhance their physical attributes. However, it should not be the underlying motivation that they should undergo the process of weight loss surgery.

What people do not know is that weight loss surgery is especially generated to help obese people live longer, healthier, and better.

That is why it is important for an individual to meticulously analyze his or her situation, do some research about the process, and analyze if weight loss surgery is the ultimate choice for his or her physiological condition.

Moreover, it is important to gather further information about weight loss surgery by consulting an experienced and knowledgeable bariatric surgeon or even just an expert family physician who knows the ins and outs of weight loss surgery.

In addition, the patient should also consult the other health experts such as the psychiatrist and dietician with regards to some psychological advices on long-term goals after the operation.

Generally, patients who have undergone weight loss surgery are said to be successful if they were able to lose 50% or more of their extra body weight and will be able to maintain that condition for the next five years or so. However, the results of the operation may still vary depending on the clinical information of the patient and the skills of the bariatric surgeon.

Normally, the patient will be able to lose at least 30% to a maximum of 50% during the first six months after surgery; and within the year after the operation, the patient has the potential of losing weight up to a maximum of 77%.

Best of all, people who were able to loss weight through surgical operations can actually maintain a continuous weight loss of up to 50% to 60% in the next 10 to 14 years after surgery.

Factors to Consider

As with the other weight loss management programs, there are many factors to consider before the patient should decide to undergo weight loss surgery.

Consequently, the actual weight that will be lost is reliant on the weight before surgery, surgical procedure, patient s age, capability to exercise, total health condition of the patient, dogged determination to maintain the necessary follow-up nurture, and the enthusiasm to succeed with the help of their family, friends, and their colleagues.

If you have just put on a few extra pounds and want to avoid gaining more, these weight loss surgeries for better health may seem convincing. But, in addition to being convinced, you may also have to take some action to ensure that your weight does not creep upward.

Therefore, it can be concluded that losing weight is not just a question of deciding to be strong-willed and determined or upbeat and positive. Lifestyle changes are where it is at for long-term success with your weight especially after weight loss surgery.

Raw Food Weight Loss

2007-10-14T07:29:00.000-07:00

Footage from the BBC News of Angela Stokes' remarkable weight loss transformation on raw foods. She lost around 160lbs (11.5 stone) with a raw lifestyle and shares this powerful message of healing with the world through her website.

Obesity a Problem in HIV Population

2007-10-05T06:58:00.000-07:00

By ALICIA CHANG – 1 day ago

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Early in the AIDS epidemic, people infected with the virus often lost a dangerous amount of weight, at times looking gaunt and ghostly. Today, they are facing the opposite problem. Many who have HIV, but not full-blown AIDS, are struggling with obesity, which has overtaken "wasting syndrome" as the top concern.

AIDS researchers and advocacy groups say the waistlines of HIV patients are growing right along with the girths of uninfected Americans as the disease shifts from a death sentence to a chronic condition.

Exact numbers are hard to pin down. But new research suggests that nearly two-thirds of the HIV population may be overweight or obese, mirroring the U.S. population.

Doctors say there's a growing need to screen people with the AIDS virus for obesity, which raises the risk of diabetes, high blood pressure and cholesterol problems.

"We used to worry that they would lose weight and become wasted," said Dr. Nancy Crum-Cianflone of TriService AIDS Clinical Consortium in San Diego. "Maybe we should redirect our concerns to making sure they are maintaining a healthy, normal weight."

About a million people in the United States are living with HIV or AIDS, federal statistics show. At the height of the epidemic, many had wasting syndrome, the uncontrollable loss of 10 percent of body weight along with other symptoms like fever or diarrhea.

A turning point in the AIDS crisis came with advances in modern medicine. Powerful drugs that keep the virus at bay also boost the body's immune system. The result is that more HIV patients are living longer than their counterparts two decades ago, and may be prone to poor eating habits and lack of exercise.

Some experts offer psychological explanations. Since the hallmark of HIV has been weight loss, some patients may be piling on the pounds to avoid looking abnormally thin.

"It's very clear now that HIV is no longer a wasting disease in America," said Dr. John T. Brooks, an epidemiologist in AIDs prevention at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Brooks did not participate in the study.

Crum-Cianflone became interested in the problem after noticing her patients were steadily getting fat and decided to study how common obesity was in the HIV population.

She and her colleagues pored through medical records of 663 patients with HIV at Navy hospitals in San Diego and Bethesda, Md. Researchers analyzed medication records, duration of HIV infection and whether patients had a history of diabetes or high blood pressure.

Sixty-three percent in the study were overweight or obese. Only 3 percent were underweight and none were considered to be "wasted." Among those with full-blown AIDS, about 30 percent were overweight or obese.

The numbers are particularly striking because most of those studied were in the military (some were military spouses) and tend to be in better shape than the rest of the population. Previous research had suggested about 40 percent of HIV patients are overweight.

Researchers did not find a connection between the AIDS drugs and excess weight. When patients gained weight, they tended to put on an average of 13 pounds over a decade. Those who became infected younger, those who had the virus for a longer time, or those who had high blood pressure were more likely to get fat.

Results were to be presented Thursday at an infectious disease meeting in San Diego.

"These folks are in more ways than not becoming like everyone else. If they're overeating, they're going to get fat," said Dr. Michael Saag, director of the AIDS Center at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, who had no role in the study.

"It would be very sad to survive HIV and die of something else that was preventable," said Brooks of the CDC.

At AIDS Project Los Angeles, pudgy HIV patients outnumber the very thin.

"Many of our clients don't even know what wasting is. They never knew that look," said Janelle L'Heureux, a nutritionist with the AIDS service group.

The problem is more evident in those who are poor, because they more often eat junk food and don't have money to join a gym. To help obese HIV patients, the group offers classes on how to read nutrition labels and cook healthy meals.

Jack Gebhardt, 56, of Los Angeles, said he started packing on the pounds after he quit smoking shortly before he was diagnosed with HIV 12 years ago. After working out three times a week, Gebhardt, who is 5-feet-8, went from 217 to 172 pounds.

A diabetic who is on disability, Gebhardt currently cannot afford a gym membership and has seen his weight creep back up to 182.

"I'd still like to lose a lot more weight," he said.

Walking for Fitness - Weight Loss - Exercise

2007-09-21T09:52:00.000-07:00

The benefits of running vs walking Walking for weight loss Exercise walking can help control disease progression and relieve symptoms. Regular exercise including walking decreases your risk of death.

The Master Cleanser

2007-09-08T10:38:00.000-07:00

The original Master Cleanser diet/fast otherwise known as the Lemonade Diet is a complete body detoxifying cleanse that has been around for over 60 years. The most successful of any diet of its type, has recently been made famous by Beyonce Knowles, Robin Quivers, and Isaac Hayes. Originally developed by Stanley Burroughs in 1941, the program was first used to treat ulcers. Later it was discovered to be a successful treatment of many other diseases, a disease preventative tool, and a contributor to maintaining overall good health. It's the easiest way to regain your vitality, and to give a rest to your digestive organs, allowing your body to repair and clean out.

My Weight Loss Journey

2007-09-01T13:32:00.000-07:00

These are pictures throughout my weight loss.

Diet Mentality - Stop dieting...unless you wanna get fat!

2007-08-25T14:08:00.000-07:00

Human beings were meant to eat in accordance with their body's natural wisdom and so remain as slender as animals in the wild.

Free Weight Loss programs

2007-07-28T16:23:00.000-07:00

The race to fitness is on and a lot of people are getting into the band wagon. Some people do it to achieve a sexy body, some people just do it because they are embarrassed with the body they have now, while others do it simply to remain fit and healthy. As such, many fitness programs are out in the internet, in gyms, spas and fitness centers all over. Some are too expensive to afford that one may even lose weight just by trying to work out the money needed to pursue these fitness programs.

One may not have to go to the gym or the spa or any fitness center and spend much just to slim down to obtain that longed for sexy body. There are many books available in the bookstore which offer weight loss programs which are convenient and for free, of course the books are not though. These weight loss programs, or diet plans are gaining immense popularity with so much publicity, testimonials and reviews that one may be confused which exactly to follow. So before choosing which weight loss plan to follow, try reading these summaries about the most popular diet programs out today.

Atkins' New Diet Revolution by Dr. Atkins. This weight loss program encourages high protein diet and a trim down on the carbs. One can feast on vegetables and meat but should fast on bread and pasta. One is also not restricted against fat intake so it is okay to pour in the salad dressing and freely spread on the butter. However, after the diet, one may find himself lacking on fiber and calcium yet high in fat. Intake of grains and fruits are also limited.

Carbohydrate Addicts Diet by Drs. Heller. This diet plan advocates low carbohydrate eating. Approves on eating meats, vegetables and fruits, dairy and grain products. however, warns against taking in too much carb. "Reward" meal can be too high on fats and saturated fats.

Choose to Lose by Dr. Goor. Restrains fat intake. One is given a "fat" budget and he is given the liberty on how to spend it. It does not pressure the individual to watch his carbohydrate intake. Eating meat and poultry as well as low-fat dairy and seafoods is okay. A go signal is also given on eating vegetables, fruits, cereals, bread and pasta. This weight loss plan is fairly healthy, good amounts of fruits and vegetables as well as saturated fats. Watch triglyceride levels though; if high, trim down the carbohydrates and tuck in more of the unsaturated fats.

The DASH Diet. Advocates moderate amounts of fat and protein intake and high on carbs. Primarily designed to lower blood pressure, the diet plan follows the pyramid food guide and encourages high intake of whole wheat grains as well as fruits and vegetables and low-fat dairy. Some dieters think it advocates too much eating to procure significant weight loss.

Eat More, Weigh Less by Dr. Ornish. Primarily vegetarian fare and strictly low-fat. Gives the go signal on the "glow" foods but warns to watch it on non-fat dairy and egg whites. This diet is poor in calcium and restricts consumption of healthy foods like seafoods and lean poultry.

Eat Right for Your Type. Interesting because it is based on the person's blood type. recommends plenty of meat for people with the blood type O. Diet plans for some blood types are nutritionally imbalanced and too low in calories. And for the record, there is even no proof that blood type affects dietary needs.

The Pritkin Principle. Focused on trimming the calorie density in eating by suggesting watery foods that make one feel full. Eating vegetables, fruits, oatmeal, pasta, soups, salads and low-fat dairy is okay. Although limits protein sources to lean meat, seafood and poultry. Although it is healthy by providing low amounts of saturated fats and rich amounts of vegetables and fruits, it is also low on calcium and limits lean protein sources.

Volumetrics. For low-density calorie eating. Recommends the same foodstuff as Pritikin but restricts fatty or dry foods like popcorn, pretzels and crackers. This plan is reasonably healthy given the high amounts of fruits and vegetables as well as being low in calorie density and saturated fats.

The Zone. Moderately low on the carbs yet moderately high on the proteins. Encourages low-fat protein foods like fish and chicken plus veggies, fruits and grains. It is also healthy but lacking in grains and calcium.

Weight Watchers. High carbohydrates, moderate on fats and proteins. A very healthy diet plan and very flexible too. it allows the dieter to plan his own meal rather than give him a set to follow.

Dieting and Fitness

2007-07-15T12:00:00.000-07:00

When it comes to living a long and healthy life, there are two necessary ingredients: diet and fitness. While some believe that they are one thing all together, nothing could be further from the truth. It is quite possible to have a perfectly healthy diet with deplorable fitness habits. It is equally possible to be very physically fit with less than savory eating habits.

There's a clever little line in the Jimmy Buffet song "Fruitcakes" when his 'lady' is lamenting:
"I treat my body like a temple
You treat yours like a tent"

I can't help but think of this line whenever I think about all the people around the world who are going on these garbage in, garbage out diet plans hoping to achieve the weight loss success of those who are endorsing these products.

To be completely honest, it is possible to shed pounds through diet alone. It is difficult but possible. It is also possible to be physically fit and have a few extra pounds hanging around. To a large degree we are what we eat. If we consume a high fat low substance diet our bodies are going to lack the fuel required to burn the fat. At the same time if we aren't providing our bodies with the tools it needs to build muscle it doesn't matter how many weights we lift.

When it comes to diet and fitness, the best results are achieved when they work together rather than separately. Use your fitness routine to burn excess calories and use your diet in order to properly provide your body the nutrients and fuel it needs to build muscle. I've heard many times in my life that a pound of muscle weighs less than a pound of fat. While this is not true at all, a pound is a pound regardless; a pound of muscle occupies less space on the body than a pound of fat. Pound for pound, I would much rather mine be composed of muscle than fat. Dieting alone does not build muscle and that is something you will do well to remember in your efforts.

You should also realize that as you are building muscle you may be shedding inches while not showing a great deal of progress on the scale. It is very important that you keep this in mind throughout the weight loss process. Do not measure your progress by the scales alone or you will achieve misleading results. The problem is that far too many people do just this and get frustrated and give up when they are actually making progress. Do not allow yourself to be a victim of the scales. Look in the mirror, try on your tight pants, and measure your waistline. Measure your success by how you feel after climbing a flight of stairs not by how many pounds fell of the scale this week.

By incorporating fitness into your diet routine you are also enabling your body to burn off any extra calories you may have consumed during the day. This means that if you want to have a small 'cheat' during your day, you can make up for it by burning a few more calories than normal in the evening. This isn't something that should happen often but an occasional occurrence isn't going to make or break your diet.

You should also look at dieting and fitness as a ball and glove type of relationship. While you can play ball without the glove, it seems to work so much better if you have both. Diet and fitness when combined can create fantastic weight loss results for those who take them both seriously. The thing to remember is that neither works as well alone and neither will work unless you are willing to do the work. You must make this a priority in your life in order to achieve the best possible results.

Dieting and Diabetes

2007-07-15T11:59:00.000-07:00

Very few people realize the profound effect that weight has on diabetes. Even instances of gestational diabetes are much greater in patients that are overweight than in those that are not. Type 2, or adult onset diabetes is more commonly found in overweight people than those that are within their 'ideal' weight ranges. In fact, almost 90% of those with Type 2 diabetes are overweight. If you are suffering from Type 2 diabetes, the best gift you could possibly give yourself just might be the gift of getting your weight under control.

Among those that suffer from Type 2 diabetes almost 40% have high blood pressure, which is another condition that is believed to be exacerbated by excess weight. Being overweight might also lead to a condition known as insulin resistance in which the body no longer responds to the insulin that is needed to assist the body in using sugar and glucose as fuel on a cellular level.

There are some things you can do to help yourself out if you have been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes or labeled at risk for this devastating condition. First of all, take off the pounds. I know this is much easier said than done. Dieting is never easy and rarely fun for the average person. However, if you do not begin to take drastic steps toward procuring the best possible health for yourself you may not be able to enjoy the quality of life you had planned for your golden years. Let your condition be your motivation and make plans to enjoy watching your grandchildren and great grandchildren graduate college.

Fight it standing up. Don't sit down and let Diabetes control you. Stand up and take control of your body back. This is a fight to the finish and if you let it, diabetes will be your end. If you fight it standing up, lose the weight, get out there and exercise, listen to the doctor's orders and follow them. Find the strength within you to battle this disease head on. You'll be amazed at what happens when you decide to stand up and fight for your health.

Get active. Find activities that you enjoy and get out there and do them. Don't make those activities passive activities either. Even if it's just going out to play shuffleboard everyday get out there and play. Enjoy your time in the sun. Pick flowers with the little ones. Take up golf. Do whatever it takes to get up and moving each and every day in order to remember why you want to live forever in the first place.

Watch what you eat. Garbage in, garbage out, right? You have strict dietary requirements once you've been diagnosed with diabetes. This means that you absolutely must follow your dietary restrictions. Learn to live within those limits in order to live and enjoy life to the fullest you can. The amazing thing is that there are all kinds of foods available that are friendly to those with diabetes that weren't around just a few short years ago. It is quite possible to live and eat quite nicely with diabetes if you stick to your plan. The most important thing about dieting with diabetes is that you never lose sight of how crucial it is to do so.

Avoid Dieting Make Positive Changes Instead

2007-07-15T11:58:00.000-07:00

Why is it that merely saying the "D" word, you know "diet" brings immediate thoughts of failure to the minds of many men and women around the world? Could it be that we have all learned through trial and error that diets simply do not work? I know many of you are sitting back with jaws dropped at the moment. After all, this is an article about dieting, right? It is and it isn't. Dieting is the kiss of death for many while a new phase in your life or lifestyle adjustment may be just the thing that will mean success for you and your fitness and health goals.

Eating for some is an addiction. Unfortunately, you can't exactly give up eating all together as a smoker can give up cigarettes. I'm not applying by any means that giving up cigarettes is easy but how much more difficult would it be if you were forced to have three a day? At that point you may as well enjoy them every time the urge hits right? The same holds true for food. You must eat in order to survive. You cannot live without eating. This means that if food is a problem in your life, you must find a healthier way of viewing food.

Isn't this where diets generally come in handy? The short answer is no. This is where diets often fail. Diets do very little to change how we view food. In fact, most diets only serve to tell us which foods are good, which foods are bad, and which foods (typically most of the foods we enjoy most) are strictly taboo. Diets begin by forcing people to feel deprived or punished. And no one likes to feel either of these things.

Even worse however, is that we punish ourselves further when we slip along the straight and very narrow pathways upon which our diets place us. This means that we are going to wallow in guilt over every little misstep we make until we give up all together and decide to over indulge once again and ignore the guilt all together.

In order to have real success you must make a lifestyle change. This is the only way that you will be able to shed those unwanted pounds without experiencing the horrible guilt that so many dieters go through each and every step of the way with their diets. Set goals for yourself. Keep them aggressive but realistic for fitness, dropping pounds, and eating new healthy foods. Even if your goal is as simple as eating 5 vegetable servings a day it is a great place to start.

Change your way of eating. Then change your way of seeing food and you will experience amazing changes in your attitudes toward your health, your body, and even your fitness level. As the first pounds begin to drop you will begin to experience more energy and less pain when exercising. This should help keep you motivated to do even more as time goes by.

Do not think that long term weight loss goals will be as easy to achieve as the first five or ten pounds. Consistency is vitally important when making these lifestyle changes. Take each day as it comes and begin again the very next day. This means that even if you fall completely "off the wagon" today, you can start over tomorrow. The trick is in staying the course more days than not and learning moderation and balance when it comes to straying from the straight and narrow.

There are many ways to fail when it comes to dieting and I know people who have failed in almost every one I can possibly imagine. There is no way to fail, however, when you are making positive changes in your life that are getting positive results. It may take weeks, months, or even years to reach your goal. As long as you are making steady and continuous efforts and progress, you are doing many great things for your health and well being.

LOSE WEIGHT AT TURBO FAT SPEEDS

2007-07-07T13:30:00.001-07:00

I lost 14# in just under three weeks on the Kimkins Weight Loss System, and the weight just continues to come off. I don't feel deprived or hungry. I'm not taking any expensive drugs. I'm not buying any special foods. I do feel better. I am wearing smaller clothes. I am proud of what I have accomplished in such a short time. If you also want to look and feel better as soon as TOMORROW, click here now.

Weight Watchers Dieting

2007-07-03T04:21:00.000-07:00

When it comes to dieting there are very few organizations that have achieved the lasting success of Weight Watchers. They have been around quite a while and show no signs of stopping. More importantly, their success stories speak volumes for those who join and stick with the program. So what makes this program so successful when many others come and go?

Community

Believe it or not, one of the most important things about Weight Watchers secret to success, so to speak, is the sense of community that is forged between the men and women who are trying to lose weight. There is something humbling and exciting about standing in front of the scale week after week and sharing not only your personal successes and failures but also the failures and successes of others.

Far too often we those who are dieting simply do not have an adequate support system at home. The bonding that is done during the Weight Watchers meeting is a strong bond of men and women who may come from different backgrounds and walks of life but who share a common goal for their futures-weight loss and better health. That is not a bond to be taken lightly particularly when they laugh and cry together. They are in their own way going through the trenches together and the success of this type of program for motivating and encouraging is nothing short of phenomenal.

Evolution

Weight Watchers has a pattern for success but they are not beyond evolving with the needs of the time. While they will be the first to state that the most successful participants typically attend the meetings, Weight Watchers also offers alternatives for those with busy schedules and even those that are simply too afraid to go to the meetings. For these people there is the anonymity of online forums, message boards, and support groups.

Weight Watchers hasn't limited its evolutionary process to this alone, they've also in recent years added a points system that allows dieters participating in their program to more easily gauge how well they are doing by their dietary standards and requirements without needing to count every single calorie or weighing their food. We live in a world of busy people and it is often more hassle than many dieters find to be worth the effort to count every single calorie (particularly when dining out).

The Weight Watchers website is another example of their commitment to evolve and accommodate the diverse needs of the men and women participating in their program. If you haven't checked it out in a while you really should take a look and see what amazing insights and information they have to offer.

Commitment to Fitness

Weight Watchers knows that it isn't just diet that gets results. When you combine diet with exercise the results are much more immediate and more profound. The fact that Weight Watchers stresses the importance of exercise and physical fitness in addition to proper nutrition and changing your way of thinking when it comes to food is yet another reason for their widely known success.

Weight Watchers is just one of many different weight loss and dieting programs in the market today. The fact that they have made a name for themselves and stand out above the rest in many ways is nothing to take lightly. It seems that there is a new weight loss program cropping up every other month or so and yet Weight Watchers continues to achieve visible and sustainable results in those who really work the program. Very few programs can make that claim for as long as Weight Watchers has been able to.

When you combine all of the things mentioned above with the pre packaged foods that are offered by Weight Watchers, the extensive recipes that are available for Weight Watcher's participants, and a solid track record for success you would be robbing yourself of the potential for lasting success if you didn't at least see what the plan has to offer you.

3 Hour Dieting

2007-07-02T11:01:00.000-07:00

When it comes to the world of dieting you will find that there are many diet, weight loss, and fitness plans on the market. It takes years for some to become a contender and others remain a best-kept secret of sorts. One such 'best kept' secret would be the 3 Hour Diet that was designed by Jorge Cruise. I am sure that there are many reading along and chuckling under your breath that there is no way one can lose weight by eating every three hours however the science behind the theory is fairly common and Jorge Cruise is a mainstay in the fitness industry.

The long and short of this diet operates with the knowledge that if you do not feed your body accurately and regularly your body will go into what is called 'starvation mode'. In this mode your body holds onto the fat rather than burning it up and consuming it for use. This means that your body is burning muscle rather than fat to take the energy it needs in order to function.

With the 3 Hour Diet you will not feel hungry all the time, in fact, there are many who claim they are constantly setting alarms and reminding themselves to eat. You will also learn the proper foods to eat in order to achieve the best possible results. The key is in learning which foods are right for you when dieting with this plan. You can purchase the book The 3-Hour Diet by Jorge Cruise and you can sign up online for more information about the weight plan itself and how to incorporate it into your busy routine.

I do recommend purchasing the book if you are seriously considering this as your method of dieting as there are many wonderful hints, tips, and tricks that are mentioned in the book to help you keep things going no matter how busy and hectic your lifestyle may be. One thing you need to keep in mind is that dieting with a program such as this is no small commitment. You need to stick to the timetable as much as possible in order to achieve the results this plan is famous for. If you aren't willing to eat every three hours then this plan really may not be the plan for you.

Otherwise, if this is something you would be interested in, I highly recommend it. There are special considerations based on the amount you weight currently and the amount of weight you are hoping to lose. It is best if you are honest throughout the process in order to achieve the best possible and most immediate results. The claim is that you can lose as many as 10 pounds in the first two weeks and there are those that have claimed to do just that over and over again. This is a diet that even many celebrities endorse for quick and immediate results.

The good and the bad about 3 hour dieting is that it is effective but takes a very real commitment on the part of the one that is dieting. This diet is one that is taking the world by storm. If you haven't heard of it before now, please take the time to check it out and see if this is something you could incorporate into your life. The results that have been reported as a result of this diet as nothing short of phenomenal. If there were one diet I would recommend above others for those who hate feeling hungry, it would be this diet.

Atkins for Dieting

2007-07-01T17:15:00.000-07:00

Most people around the world by now have heard of the Atkins diet. It has been one of the most highly touted and highly controversial diets of our time. Those who love it have nothing but great things to say about it but those who are critical are not shy about their opposition either. The largest criticism when it comes to the Atkins, or low carb diet would be the near absence of whole grains, which are considered the cornerstone to a healthy diet by many.

Dieting with the Atkins diet involved eliminating a large degree of carbohydrates from your diet. In the past there hasn't been as much of an emphasis on fitness and exercise with the Atkins diet as there seems to be currently. This is good news however as an active fitness regime is as essential to successful weight loss as cutting calories and in this case cutting carbohydrates.

You should take great caution that you are getting accurate information when it comes to Atkins dieting if this is something you are considering in order to meet your fitness and weight loss needs. There is a great deal of misleading and incorrect information that is floating around out there when it comes to the Atkins diet and weight loss plan. First of all, weight loss is the direct result of burning more calories than you consume. It doesn't matter how many or how few carbs you enjoy or deny yourself during the day if at the end of the day you've consumed a few thousand calories too many.

The notion that you can eat anything you want during the day as long as there are no carbs is simply incorrect. Calories still put on the pounds whether you are using the Atkins plan for weight loss or not. That being said there are some interesting insights in this diet and a good man of the foods that are eliminated are those that have the most complex sugars for the body to dispose of. For this reason there are many who have followed the honest to goodness plan to tremendous results.

If you are considering dieting with the Atkins plan you should realize that this is a lifelong commitment in order to achieve the maximum benefit of the plan. There will be lesser restrictions as you reach the maintenance phases of the plans but you are making a conscious decision to pretty much sacrifice a good deal of the carbohydrates that many of us have enjoyed throughout our lives. This is a concept that is much easier said than done over an extended period of time and especially in a society when most of us cannot commit to a mate for that long.

At any rate, dieting with the Atkins plan has produced results for a good deal of people around the world. The news of these results has made it one of the most talked about, tested, and tried systems for dieting on the planet and many people have mixed reviews. Those who love it and feel that it is effective are enthusiastic in its support though those that are honest will admit that you do feel as though you are sacrificing a good deal for the sake of your dietary needs. Those who hate it hate it, and there is nothing that is going to change their opinion. The only way to know for sure is to try for yourself.

I got tired of being morbidly obese- not being able to move right, struggling to breathe, snoring at night. I looked at myself in a full-length mirror and faced reality- I JUST LOOKED GROSS! Worse if I did not make a change soon to lose 100 pounds, I would be dead of a heart attack in a few years. Following this great system. I have lost 14 pounds my first week. Keep in mind that I am morbidly obese, and your results may be different from mine. Curious?
Head on over to http://tinyurl.com/3c84xf

Imagine yourself thin...

2007-06-22T13:50:00.001-07:00

Imagine if You could then use Your mind to manifest these decisions - without wavering - because it's crystal clear where you need to be and what you need to do.

Imagine if You could Create this Life of Your Dreams.

Imagine thousands of lives benefiting from your new creation - whether it's a book, a work of art, or a business.

Imagine creating jobs, changing lives, creating products that benefit humanity.

Imagine being a shining light - a bringer of wisdom and enlightenment to your community.

Follow this link to get started.

The Calgary Sun - Over-the-counter diet pill OK'd for U.S.

2007-06-17T07:43:00.000-07:00

The Calgary Sun - Over-the-counter diet pill OK'd for U.S.

Over-the-counter diet pill OK'd for U.S.

UPDATED: 2007-06-16 01:55:35 MST

By AP AND CP

WASHINGTON -- The first over-the-counter diet pill approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration goes on sale in the U.S. today.

Alli works by blocking the absorption of about one-quarter of any fat consumed.

In clinical trials, the FDA says people using Alli lost an additional two to three pounds for every five pounds lost through diet and exercise. But manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline is frank about some unpleasant gastrointestinal side effects, including gas, diarrhea, leakages and oily discharges.

The company is also taking a cautious marketing approach, emphasizing that people taking Alli also need to diet and exercise.

So far, Alli is not available in Canada. A GlaxoSmithKline official says the company plans to file for licence approval in Canada.

Tactics for Weight Loss

2007-06-12T06:44:00.000-07:00

Tell me, does this describe you? 'I tried a zillion diets in
fits and starts and was never successful.' Just going on a diet
will not give you a complete healthy persona. I finally paid
attention to what everybody was saying, but I was too lazy to
do.

I added exercise and fitness to the equation. We also need to
stay fit as well as diet to lose weight. Our true wealth is our
health. Isn't it worth your time bring it into peak condition
and maintain it? Diet fitness is all about an accurate mix of
diet and an appropriate fitness program.

This basically includes three levels of consideration:

Find out more at Easy Weight Loss, Health and Fitness

Lose weight to stop snoring

2007-06-11T07:21:00.000-07:00

Lose some weight There is nothing good about being an obese. It causes several health risks and of course, it causes that load noise you create while asleep. Lose some weight by getting regular exercise and taking, eating the right diet, and living a healthy lifestyle.
Find out more at Easy Way to Stop Snoring

The Best Diet Pills for Sale

2007-06-10T18:54:00.000-07:00

The Best Diet Pills for Sale

Diet Pills Researched by The Weight Loss Institute

The effectiveness of diet pills has been intensively studied by many international organizations and research institutes. Unfortunately this research has never been published in a suitable way to help the patient compare the different diet pills and weight loss products available on the market.

It has therefore been very difficult for patients to conduct their own research on the effectiveness, safety and quality of the many diet pills available on the quickly changing market. The Weight Loss Institute has conducted extensive research on a large number of different diet pills. Below we are publishing an overview based on the results of this research. As expected by the institute's research team, a large number of diet pills that have been researched have proven to be ineffective or even have serious side effects. On the other hand, our research team has identified a number of diet pills that offer the consumer very good value for money in combination with no or few side effects.

Xerisan ASA

Price: 69.50 USD

According to the Institute's initial research, "Xerisan ASA" is one of the most promising new diet pills available on the US market. One of the main ingredients in Xerisan, Phaseolus Vulgaris, has in recent studies been shown to act as an effective blocker of the alpha-amylase enzyme, which is an enzyme required for the metabolism of carbohydrates. The Institute considers this one of the main reasons for the remarkable early test results of Xerisan. Although Xerisan has just been launched on the US market in January 2006 the effects of some of the ingredients have already been published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. The Weight Loss Institute considers this product to have a significant potential without adverse effects, and recommends Xerisan ASA without restrictions. Ephedra Free.
More information

Beating procrastination

2007-06-09T07:19:00.000-07:00

The surest way to know that you can do something is to have done it before. When you set daily goals for yourself, you develop the habit of getting things done. When the procrastination demon appears, you know how to force yourself to push ahead because you've done it before. If you feel like you're losing the battle against procrastination, one of the most effective strategies for taking charge of your life is to get in the habit of accomplishing daily goals.

Set a goal for your exercise and diet program every day, and achieve it. It's easy to get discouraged when your projects don't seem to be going anywhere. We all need a long-term vision to guide our day-to-day efforts, but many people with high goals develop a negative attitude when they think they're not making progress. That's why it's important to set achievable goals every day. The more goals you achieve, the more positive your attitude will be. Find out more about beating procrastination

How Exercise Can Improve Your Sex Life

2007-06-08T09:43:00.000-07:00

How Exercise Can Improve Your Sex Life

Candlelight dinners, sweet gifts, and soft music are some things people do to initiate intimate relations. But can exercise work just as well and contribute to a healthy sex life? According to the American Council on Exercise it can. Heating your sex life can be accomplished through maintaining a good exercise regimen improving sexual function in both men and women. Exercise is not only a physical but mental activity much like sex is. Exercise can enhanced sexuality because of the benefits gained in muscle strength, endurance, and cardiovascular functioning. Increased performance of blood flow and increased levels of testosterone levels all lead to a robust and energetic sex life.

Find out more at Easy Health and Fitness

LOSE WEIGHT BY CREATING A LOW GLYCEMIC INDEX

2007-06-06T14:27:00.000-07:00

Low Glycemic Index foods burn off calories slowly. Your body feels fuller longer which helps you from eating those foods that you shouldn’t eat just to satisfy a craving.

When people decide that they want to lose weight, they expect it to come off immediately. Rarely does this happen, especially if you have hit middle age. But with a Low GI diet you can see results in a very short amount of time.

Check out the Low GI Diet Breakthrough by Wesley Atkins to find the right answers. No fluff. Just the real answers you want to know. You'll discover a proven blueprint for losing all the weight you want quickly and easily... not to mention all kinds of exciting tips, tricks, and questions & answers.

Click here to get information on the Low GI Diet Breakthrough by Wesley Atkins

Elaine Flanigan

Change Your Mind ... About Dieting

2007-05-27T19:36:00.000-07:00

Change Your Mind ... About Dieting

There sure are a lot of myths out there when it comes to dieting! It’s hard to know what’s right or wrong about dieting and what’s helpful or not.

Thanks for the great info! Every little bit of correct information does help when it comes to dieting.

But, what do you do when you have all the correct information, but it doesn’t help?

I think that sometimes, even though we have all the correct information, we can still have trouble dieting!

Why?

Because I think that what we choose to eat is also based on how we feel about ourselves. (Well, I know for a fact (from personal experience) that how I feel about myself does affect what I choose to eat on a particular day. I have a great day and I eat well (or not as much); I have an awful day and eat a lot of junk. Not necessarily a wise choice!

I think when we change our feelings (i.e change the way we feel about ourselves) we can get better control over what we eat. Where do our feelings come from? Our feelings come from our thoughts. If you can change your thoughts then you can change your feelings.

I just ran across a course that talks about how changing what you think can actually transform your body!?

Sounds interesting doesn’t it?

Check it out at: Renew Your Mind

Medical Breakthrough -- War on Your Waistline: 5 Diet Myths Debunked

2007-05-27T14:19:00.000-07:00

Medical Breakthrough -- War on Your Waistline: 5 Diet Myths Debunked

Do you eat after eight p-m?

Do carbs make you fat?

Medical Breakthrough has some surprising advice from a leading obesity researcher.

War on Your Waistline: 5 Diet Myths Debunked

You've probably tried at least one.

"I once did the soup diet, and all you would eat is this cabbage soup three times a day."

"Not eat at all for a week, or I take fat-burning pills."

More than 70-million Americans are currently on a diet. But there's a lot of myths out there -- number one -- don't eat after eight p-m.

The truth -- according to Temple University Obesity Researcher Gary Foster, calories don't know time.

"There's nothing magical or mysterious about when calories go into the body, how they process them. It's really about how much energy goes in over 24 hours and how much energy is burned over 24 hours," he says.

Number two -- eat a big breakfast when you wake up to boost metabolism.

"It tends to be a very small increase and a very short-lived one."

But eat a small breakfast and often enough so you don't overindulge.

"Keep your tank between about a quarter full and three-quarters full," says Dr. Foster.

MYTH NUMBER THREE -- CARBS MAKE YOU FAT.

It's calories that make you fat, whether they are from carbs, fat or protein. You also don't get fiber from most processed carbs -- like white instead of whole grain pasta -- so you may not feel as full.

Number four -- ignore the scale. Research shows people who weigh themselves daily do better at keeping the pounds off.

And number five -- if you exercise, you can eat whatever you want. You actually need to burn 35-hundred calories to lose just one pound of fat.

"But it's important to note that exercise is the single best predictor of who keeps weight off and who doesn't," says Dr. Foster.

And by knowing the facts -- hopefully you'll be able to keep the weight off too.

If you cut 500 calories out a day you'll lose a pound a week.

To lose weight men typically need to eat between 16-hundred and 18-hundred calories a day.

Women need between 14- and 16-hundred.

Salads- Low Carb

2007-05-17T17:43:00.000-07:00

Ginger Salad Dressing Serves:6
CarbsPerServing:1.83g Effort:Easy
Ingredients:
¼ cup chopped onion ¼ cup peanut oil
2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar 2 tablespoons water
1 tablespoon ginger root – chopped 1 tablespoon chopped celery1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 ½ teaspoons tomato paste 1 ½ teaspoons splenda
1 teaspoon lemon juice 1 Dash salt and pepper
How to Prepare:
Combine all ingredients in blender container or wok bowl of food
processor fitted with steel knife; process until almost smooth. May
be kept refrigerated up to one week.
Greek Salad Serves:10
CarbsPerServing:no counts provided Effort:Easy
Ingredients:
1 head lettuce torn into bite sized pieces 1 jar marinated artichoke hearts
½ small tomato choppe (optional) A few black olives (optional)4 oz feta cheese depending
on how much you – (4 to 8 like it
6 oz chopped ham 1 bottle Ken’s Steakhouse Greek Dressing
How to Prepare:
Mix all of the ingredients including the dressing and let sit for 10 minutes before
serving. This salad is AWESOME!!! I have made it for years for parties and at
home and it has become a staple in our family.
Grilled Chicken Salad CarbsPerServing:31g total
Effort:Easy
Ingredients:
¼ cup soy sauce ¼ cup olive oil
2 pounds skinless boneless chicken breast – cut in bite size chunks
garlic powder – to taste 2 cups lettuce1 large tomato
1 medium cucumber ½ red onion
black pepper – to taste balsamic vinegar – to taste
How to Prepare:
Heat oil in non-stick fry pan Saute chicken with garlic powder until just starting to
turn a golden brown. Add soy sauce. Simmer on low heat for about 5 to 10
minutes. The oil will float a little to the top. That’s okay.
Make salad with the remaining items. Sprinkle with black pepper. NO
SALT! That’s what the soy sauce is for.
When salad is ready, pour the hot mixture of chicken,oil and soy onto the salad.
Add balsamic vinegar to taste and toss. The lettuce will wilt a little. You will love
it!
‘Honey’ Mustard! Serves:One CarbsPerServing:About 3
Prep Time:Less than one minute! Effort:Easy
Ingredients:
1 Tbs. Dijion Mustard
1 Tbs. Spicey Brown Mustard2 Tbs. Heavy Whipping Cream
1 Packet Splenda
How to Prepare:
Mix all ingredients and serve! Origionally, I thought this up as a
dip for chicken, but it also makes the BEST salad dressing. If
you’ve been missing honey mustard dressing (It’s my personal
favorite!) suffer no more!
Hot Chinese Chicken Salad CarbsPerServing:no counts provided
Effort:Easy
Ingredients:
For two large salads: 2 chicken breast – cooked with desired seasoning
2 large bowls of lettuce Tomatoes (optional)
Crumbled bacon (optional) Hot peppers (optional)
Slivered almonds (optional)Desired shredded cheese(I like cheddar)
Dressing (the best part):
½ cup oil 1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
1 TB soy sauce (low sodium)
2 packets Equal – Splenda 1 Dash ginger
1 Dash pepper 1 Dash garlic salt
How to Prepare:
Bring ingredients of dressing to a boil in a pan and stir with wisk. Once all
ingredients are well-blended, pour over salads.
Hot German Turnip Salad CarbsPerServing:4g total
Effort:Easy
Ingredients:
1 cup mayonnaise 3 Tablespoons white wine
2 teaspoons vinegar ½ cup bacon grease
½ teaspoon fresh dill2 packages artificial sweetener – sweet n low
¾ teaspoon salt 1/8 teaspoon pepper
bacon strips – crushed 2 teaspoons onion
How to Prepare:
Whisk all ingredients together. Makes about 2 cups. Use about ¼ to ½ cup per large turnip,
boiled until soft. Add crushed bacon and 2 tablespoons onion sauted in bacon grease.
Italian Cauliflower Salad Serves:6
CarbsPerServing:23g total Effort:Easy
Ingredients:
3 cups cauliflower 2 tablespoons diced green
bell pepper 2 tablespoons diced onion
¼ cup water 3 tablespoons italian salad
dressing1/4 teaspoon salt 1/8 teaspoon oregano – dry
1/8 teaspoon basil – dry 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
How to Prepare:
Combine all ingredients in pan. Cover and cook over
medium heat, stirring once in a while till ‘flower is
tender crisp, about 10 mins Chill thoroughly.
Italian Mushroom Salad CarbsPerServing:11g total
Effort:Easy
Ingredients:
3 tablespoons italian salad dressing 1 tablespoon Parmesan
cheese 2 cups sliced mushrooms thinly sliced
How to Prepare:
Mix dressing and cheese.Stir in the mushrooms. Chill several hours.
NOTES : Counts for italian dressing not included in totals.
Kentucky Derby Salad CarbsPerServing:no counts provided
Effort:Easy
Ingredients:
Boston or Iceberg lettuce apple cider vinegar
4 strips bacononions brown sugar twin
sesame oil
How to Prepare:
Fry bacon very crisp, shred lettuce, dice or slice the onions warm 3-4
tablespoons sesame oil,crunch up bacon, put on lettuce and onions, twin brown sugar to taste,
vinegar to taste.
Lemon Dressing CarbsPerServing:13g total
Effort:Easy
Ingredients:
2 teaspoons salt 4 teaspoons Splenda
1 dash pepper 1 dash Paprika1 1/3 cups salad oil
8 tablespoons vinegar 8 teaspoons lemon juice
1 teaspoon grated lemon rind – zest
How to Prepare:
Combine all ingredients in a jar with a tight fitting lid
and shake until well blended. Refrigerate.
Lime and Cilantro Viniagrette CarbsPerServing:7g total
Effort:Easy
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar 2 tablespoons lime juice
¼ teaspoon black pepper ¼ cup cilantro leaves, whole
1 clove garlic1 tablespoon egg substitute, liquid – (or 1 egg yolk)
2 teaspoons prepared mustard ½ cup oil
1 pinch salt
How to Prepare:
Put everything but half the cilantro and all of the oil in a
blender. Process until smooth. With the blender running, slowly pour
in the oil until it’s well blended. Chop the remaining cilantro very
fine and stir into the dressing. The cilantro taste is very strong.
Start with just 2T if you like. The vinaigrette is an excellent
marinade for ribs or fish. If you like a stronger lime flavor(for
marinades) add 1T lime zest to the blender as well.
Low Carb Version Waldorf Salad CarbsPerServing:90g total
Effort:Easy
Ingredients:
2 cups jicama – peeled and cubed 2 tablespoons lemon juice
½ cup strawberries – cut into ¼s ½ cup celery – sliced
½ cup mayonnaise – more or less to taste2 packets splenda
3 tablespoons slivered almonds
2 tablespoons blue cheese crumbled(optional)
4 cups romaine lettuce – shredded
How to Prepare:
Toss Jicama cubes with lemon juice and let sit 5 minutes. Mix in remaining
ingredients. Refrigerate 30 minutes or more before serving. Divide lettuce
among 4 plates and spoon ¼ of the salad over the top of each.

Insulin Secretion Predicts Weight-Loss Impact of Diets - CME Teaching Brief® - MedPage Today

2007-05-16T09:02:00.000-07:00

OSTON, May 16 -- A simple test of insulin secretion may predict which obese patients would be better off with a low-glycemic load diet than a low-fat one, researchers here found.

Young, obese patients with high insulin levels on a glucose tolerance test had significantly more weight loss and body fat reduction with a low-glycemic load diet than a low-fat diet, said David S. Ludwig, M.D., Ph.D., of Children's Hospital, Boston, and colleagues.

In a randomized trial, participants with lower insulin secretion had similar results with both diets, they reported in the May 16 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

The results may help explain inconsistent findings in other diet studies, the investigators suggested. Differences in individuals' insulin responsiveness to glucose may account for variations in efficacy, they explained.

Therefore, they speculated that a low-glycemic load diet in which saturated fat was kept low, such as by substituting vegetable for animal fat sources, would yield a benefit for all three cardiovascular risk factors rather than just two as was seen in the study.

The study was limited by self-reporting of dietary intake and use of tabulated glycemic index values.

However, "Because this study used dietary counseling rather than meals prepared in a metabolic kitchen, these findings should have direct relevance to the management of obesity in routine clinical practice," the researchers wrote.

Carb Gram Counter

2007-05-15T08:26:00.001-07:00

Carb Gram Counter
Food item Total Carbs (gFiber (g)Net Carbs (g Fat (g)Protein (g)Calories
CHEESES
1.00 piece American Cheese, 2/3 oz. slice 0.3 0 0.3 6.6 4.7 79
2.00 tbs Blue Cheese, crumbled 0.4 0 0.4 4.8 3.6 60
2.00 tbs Cheddar Cheese-Shredded 0.2 0 0.2 4.7 3.5 57
2.00 tbs Cream Cheese 0.8 0 0.8 10.1 2.2 101
0.50 cup Creamed Cottage Cheese-
Small Curd
2.8 0 2.8 4.7 13.1 109
2.00 tbs Feta Cheese, crumbled 0.8 0 0.8 4.0 2.7 49
2.00 tbs Fontina Cheese-Shredded 0.2 0 0.2 4.2 3.5 53
2.00 tbs Goat Cheese-Soft Type 0.3 0 0.3 6.5 5.7 82
1.00 oz-wt Mascarpone Cheese 0.6 0 0.6 13.2 2.0 126
2.00 tbs Monterey Jack Cheese-
Shredded
0.1 0 0.1 4.3 3.5 53
2.00 tbs Mozzarella Cheese-Whole Milk-
Shredded
0.3 0 0.3 3.1 2.7 40
2.00 tbs Muenster Cheese-Shredded 0.2 0 0.2 4.2 3.3 52
2.00 tbs Parmesan Cheese-Shredded 0.3 0 0.3 2.7 3.8 42
1.00 oz-wt Provolone Cheese-Diced 0.6 0 0.6 7.5 7.3 100
0.25 cup Ricotta Cheese-Whole Milk 1.9 0 1.9 8.0 6.9 107
2.00 tbs Swiss Cheese-Shredded 0.5 0 0.5 3.7 3.8 51
MILK, CREAM & BUTTER
1.00 tsp Butter 0.0 0 0.0 3.8 0.0 34
1.00 cup Buttermilk, 1% lowfat 13.0 0 13.0 2.5 9.0 110
2.00 tbs Half and Half Cream 1.0 0 1.0 3.0 1.0 40
2.00 tbs Heavy Whipping Cream 0.8 0 0.8 11.0 0.6 103
1.00 cup Milk, 2% 11.7 0 11.7 4.7 8.1 121
1.00 cup Milk, Whole 11.4 0 11.4 8.1 8.0 150
2.00 tbs Sour Cream 1.2 0 1.2 6.0 0.9 62
1.00 tsp Whipped Butter 0.0 0 0.0 2.6 0.0 23
1.00 cup Yogurt, lowfat, plain 17.2 0 17.2 3.8 12.9 155
1.00 cup Yogurt, whole milk, plain 11.4 0 11.4 8.0 8.5 150
BEEF & VEAL
6.00 oz-wt Beef Brisket 0.0 0 0.0 43.2 41.8 569
6.00 oz-wt Beef Chuck 0.0 0 0.0 31.6 50.1 498
6.00 oz-wt Beef Eye Round 0.0 0 0.0 24.0 45.2 410
1.00 oz-wt Beef Jerky 3.1 0.5 2.6 7.3 9.4 116
6.00 oz-wt Beef Short Ribs 0.0 0 0.0 71.4 36.7 801
6.00 oz-wt Beef Tenderloin 0.0 0 0.0 41.8 40.7 551
6.00 oz-wt Beef, Ground, Chuck 0.0 0 0.0 44.0 38.9 562
6.00 oz-wt Beef, Ground, Round 0.0 0 0.0 28.1 46.7 454
6.00 oz-wt Calf Liver 10.4 0 10.4 9.9 40.5 304
6.00 oz-wt Chuck Eye Steak 0.0 0 0.0 41.1 46.2 568
6.00 oz-wt Corned Beef Brisket 0.3 0 0.3 33.8 33.3 449
6.00 oz-wt Cubed steak 0.0 0 0.0 8.3 53.9 306
2.00 oz-wt Frankfurter, Beef 1.1 0 1.1 16.6 7.2 185
6.00 oz-wt Ground Veal 0.0 0 0.0 12.9 41.5 293
6.00 oz-wt Meas Raw Boneless: Beef
Steak-Shell-All-Lean-1/4"Trim-
Brld
0.0 0 0.0 11.8 36.0 261
6.00 oz-wt Prime Rib 0.0 0 0.0 56.4 36.9 667
6.00 oz-wt Rib Eye Roast 0.0 0 0.0 37.8 42.4 522
Portion
6.00 oz-wt Rib Eye Steak 0.0 0 0.0 19.9 47.7 383
6.00 oz-wt Roast Beef, Deli 2.3 0 2.3 5.2 34.3 193
6.00 oz-wt Shell Steak 0.0 0 0.0 21.3 64.9 469
6.00 oz-wt Sirloin Steak 0.0 0 0.0 13.6 51.7 344
6.00 oz-wt Skirt Steak 0.0 0 0.0 54.7 61.6 758
6.00 oz-wt Top Loin 0.0 0 0.0 12.1 51.0 327
6.00 oz-wt Top Sirloin 0.0 0 0.0 30.4 44.2 463
6.00 oz-wt Veal Arm Shoulder 0.0 0 0.0 13.1 40.4 291
6.00 oz-wt Veal Breast 0.0 0 0.0 33.5 39.6 472
6.00 oz-wt Veal Cutlet 0.0 0 0.0 30.4 53.4 502
6.00 oz-wt Veal Loin 0.0 0 0.0 30.4 53.4 502
6.00 oz-wt Veal Rib Chop 0.0 0 0.0 22.2 38.0 362
6.00 oz-wt Veal Round Steak 0.0 0 0.0 7.0 47.6 265
6.00 oz-wt Veal Scallops 0.0 0 0.0 6.3 52.2 279
6.00 oz-wt Veal Shank 0.0 0 0.0 7.9 43.4 256
6.00 oz-wt Veal Stew Meat 0.0 0 0.0 13.4 40.2 292
LAMB
6.00 oz-wt Ground Lamb 0.0 0 0.0 30.3 38.2 436
6.00 oz-wt Lamb Rib Chops 0.0 0 0.0 50.3 37.6 614
6.00 oz-wt Lamb Shoulder 0.0 0 0.0 12.6 46.2 312
6.00 oz-wt Lamb Stew Meat 0.0 0 0.0 15.0 57.3 379
6.00 oz-wt Leg of Lamb, bone in 0.0 0 0.0 8.2 30.0 203
6.00 oz-wt Rack of Lamb, bone in 0.0 0 0.0 9.9 19.5 173
POULTRY
6.00 oz-wt Chicken Breast Cutlet 0.0 0 0.0 12.7 48.7 322
6.00 oz-wt Chicken Breast, boneless 0.0 0 0.0 12.7 48.7 322
1.00 each Chicken leg 0.0 0 0.0 15.4 29.7 265
1.00 each Chicken Thigh 0.0 0 0.0 9.6 15.5 153
6.00 oz-wt Chicken Thigh, boneless 0.0 0 0.0 34.6 39.2 479
6.00 oz-wt Chicken Thigh, skinless,
boneless
0.0 0 0.0 8.9 44.6 270
1.00 each Chicken Wing 0.0 0 0.0 6.6 9.1 99
6.00 oz-wt Chicken, ground 0.0 0 0.0 22.5 40.2 374
6.00 oz-wt Chicken, light and dark,
roasted, chopped
0.0 0 0.0 12.6 49.2 323
6.00 oz-wt Chicken, whole 0.1 0 0.1 14.7 29.8 260
2.00 oz-wt Chicken/turkey sausage 0.3 0 0.3 6.4 9.6 97
6.00 oz-wt Cornish Game Hen 0.0 0 0.0 26.1 31.9 372
6.00 oz-wt Duck breast, skinless 0.0 0 0.0 9.6 45.0 279
6.00 oz-wt Duck, whole 0.0 0 0.0 89.2 26.1 916
6.00 oz-wt Goose, whole 0.0 0 0.0 23.6 27.1 329
6.00 oz-wt Turkey breast cutlet 0.0 0 0.0 1.5 59.3 266
6.00 oz-wt Turkey Breast, skinless,
boneless
0.0 0 0.0 1.5 59.3 266
6.00 oz-wt Turkey, ground 0.0 0 0.0 21.2 44.1 378
6.00 oz-wt Turkey, whole 0.1 0 0.1 12.2 36.1 264
PORK
3.00 piece Bacon 0.1 0 0.1 9.4 5.8 109
3.00 piece Canadian Bacon 0.9 0 0.9 5.9 16.9 129
6.00 oz-wt Ground Pork 0.0 0 0.0 33.4 41.4 478
6.00 oz-wt Ham, boneless 0.0 0 0.0 15.3 38.5 303
2.00 oz-wt Kielbasa 0.8 0 0.8 17.2 7.6 191
1.00 oz-wt Pancetta 0.2 0 0.2 14.0 8.6 163
6.00 oz-wt Pork Chop, center cut 0.0 0 0.0 9.7 34.9 237
2.00 oz-wt Pork frankfurter 1.4 0 1.4 16.5 6.4 181
6.00 oz-wt Pork Loin Chops 0.0 0 0.0 32.4 27.9 412
6.00 oz-wt Pork Loin Roas 0.0 0 0.0 19.7 36.4 333
6.00 oz-wt Pork loin, boneless 0.0 0 0.0 24.9 46.1 422
2.00 each Pork Sausage 2.0 0 2.0 34.4 26.8 433
6.00 oz-wt Pork Spareribs 0.0 0 0.0 51.5 49.4 675
6.00 oz-wt Pork Tenderloin 0.0 0 0.0 8.2 47.9 279
6.00 oz-wt Prosciutto 0.9 0 0.9 13.0 37.4 281
LUNCH MEATS
3.00 oz-wt Beef Bologna 0.7 0 0.7 24.2 10.4 265
3.00 oz-wt Beef Salami 2.4 0 2.4 17.6 12.8 223
3.00 oz-wt BeefPastrami 2.6 0 2.6 24.8 14.7 297
3.00 oz-wt Deli ham 1.5 0 1.5 2.3 13.7 91
3.00 oz-wt Pork Bologna 0.6 0 0.6 16.9 13.0 210
3.00 oz-wt Pork Salami 1.4 0 1.4 28.7 19.2 346
3.00 oz-wt Turkey Bologna 0.8 0 0.8 12.9 11.7 169
3.00 oz-wt Turkey Breast 0.0 0 0.0 6.0 21.3 162
3.00 oz-wt Turkey Roll 0.5 0 0.5 6.1 15.9 125
SEAFOOD
1.00 oz-wt Anchovies in Oil-Cnd-Drained 0.0 0 0.0 2.8 8.2 60
6.00 oz-wt Bluefish 0.0 0 0.0 9.3 43.7 270
6.00 oz-wt Catfish 0.0 0 0.0 17.2 35.3 306
6.00 oz-wt Clams, canned 8.7 0 8.7 3.3 43.5 252
6.00 oz-wt Cod 0.0 0 0.0 1.5 38.8 179
3.00 oz-wt Cod, salted 0.0 0 0.0 2.0 53.4 247
6.00 oz-wt Conch 26.4 0 26.4 1.4 81.1 468
6.00 oz-wt Crab meat 0.0 0 0.0 3.0 34.4 174
6.00 oz-wt Crab, canned 0.0 0 0.0 2.1 34.9 168
6.00 oz-wt Crab, steamed 0.0 0 0.0 3.0 34.4 174
6.00 oz-wt Halibut 0.0 0 0.0 5.2 47.2 249
6.00 oz-wt Lobster meat 2.2 0 2.2 1.0 34.9 167
6.00 oz-wt Lobster, whole 2.2 0 2.2 1.0 34.9 167
6.00 oz-wt Mackerel 0.0 0 0.0 30.3 40.6 446
6.00 oz-wt Mahi mahi 0.0 0 0.0 1.6 42.0 193
6.00 oz-wt Mussels 8.4 0 8.4 5.1 27.0 195
6.00 oz-wt Oysters 12.5 0 12.5 3.5 11.8 134
6.00 oz-wt Salmon steak 0.0 0 0.0 24.6 45.1 415
6.00 oz-wt Salmon, smoked 0.0 0 0.0 7.3 31.1 199
6.00 oz-wt Scallops 3.9 0 3.9 5.4 27.7 182
6.00 oz-wt Scrod 0.0 0 0.0 1.5 38.8 179
6.00 oz-wt Shrimp 0.0 0 0.0 1.8 35.6 168
6.00 oz-wt Smoked fish 0.0 0 0.0 34.3 30.0 437
6.00 oz-wt Snapper 0.0 0 0.0 3.0 46.5 227
6.00 oz-wt Squid 7.0 0 7.0 3.1 35.3 209
6.00 oz-wt Trout 0.0 0 0.0 12.2 41.3 287
6.00 oz-wt Tuna filet 0.0 0 0.0 2.2 53.0 245
6.00 oz-wt Tuna steak 0.0 0 0.0 2.2 53.0 245
6.00 oz-wt Tuna, canned, oil packed 0.0 0 0.0 14.0 49.6 337
6.00 oz-wt Tuna, canned, water packed 0.0 0 0.0 1.4 43.4 197
EGGS
1.00 each Egg White 0.3 0 0.3 0.0 3.5 17
1.00 each Egg Yolk 0.3 0 0.3 5.1 2.8 59
1.00 each Egg, whole 0.6 0 0.6 5.3 6.3 78
FATS, OILS & DRESSINGS
1.00 tsp Corn Oil 0.0 0 0.0 4.5 0.0 40
1.00 tsp Mayonnaise 0.1 0 0.1 3.7 0.1 33
1.00 tsp Olive Oil 0.0 0 0.0 4.5 0.0 40
2.00 tbs Salad Dressing, blue cheese 2.3 0 2.3 16.0 1.5 154
2.00 tbs Salad Dressing, caesar 0.6 0.1 0.5 10.5 2.8 107
2.00 tbs Salad Dressing, Italian 3.0 0 3.0 14.2 0.2 137
2.00 tbs Salad Dressing, ranch 1.4 0 1.4 11.3 0.9 109
2.00 tbs Salad Dressing, thousand
island
4.8 0 4.8 11.2 0.3 118
1.00 tsp Sesame Oil 0.0 0 0.0 4.5 0.0 40
TOFU
8.00 fl oz Soy Milk 4.4 3.2 1.2 4.7 6.7 81
4.00 oz-wt Tofu, firm 4.9 2.6 2.2 9.9 17.9 164
4.00 oz-wt Tofu, silken 3.3 0.1 3.2 3.1 5.4 62
BEANS
0.50 cup Baby Lima Beans 21.2 7.0 14.2 0.3 7.3 115
0.50 cup Black Beans 20.4 7.5 12.9 0.5 7.6 114
0.50 cup Blackeyed Peas 17.9 5.6 12.3 0.5 6.6 100
0.50 cup CA Red Kidney Beans 19.8 8.2 11.6 0.1 8.1 110
0.50 cup Chickpea/Garbanzo Beans 22.5 6.2 16.2 2.1 7.3 134
0.50 cup Great Northern Beans 18.7 6.2 12.5 0.4 7.4 104
2.00 tbs Hummos/Hummus 6.2 1.6 4.6 2.6 1.5 53
0.50 cup Lentils 19.9 7.8 12.1 0.4 8.9 115
0.50 cup Navy Beans 23.9 5.8 18.1 0.5 7.9 129
0.50 cup Pink Beans 23.6 4.5 19.1 0.4 7.7 126
0.50 cup Pinto Beans 18.0 7.0 11.0 1.0 7.0 110
0.50 cup Soybeans 9.9 3.8 6.2 5.8 11.1 127
NUTS & SEEDS
2.00 tbs Almond Butter 6.8 1.2 5.6 18.9 4.8 203
2.00 tbs Almonds, slivered 3.3 1.6 1.7 8.6 3.5 102
2.00 tbs Almonds, whole 3.6 2.2 1.4 8.9 3.7 106
6.00 each Chestnuts, roasted 26.7 2.6 24.2 1.1 1.6 124
2.00 tbs Hazelnuts, Chopped 2.4 1.4 1.0 8.7 2.1 90
2.00 tbs Hazelnuts, Whole 2.8 1.6 1.2 10.3 2.5 106
2.00 tbs Macadamia Nuts 2.3 1.4 0.9 12.7 1.3 120
2.00 tbs Peanut Butter, natural 6.9 2.1 4.8 15.9 7.7 187
2.00 tbs Peanut Butter, regular 6.2 1.9 4.3 16.3 8.1 190
2.00 tbs Peanuts 3.4 1.7 1.8 8.9 4.7 105
2.00 tbs Pecans, chopped 2.1 1.4 0.6 10.7 1.4 103
2.00 tbs Pine Nuts 2.4 0.8 1.7 8.6 4.1 96
2.00 tbs Pistachio Nuts 4.7 1.6 3.1 6.9 3.3 88
2.00 tbs Pumpkin Seeds 3.1 0.7 2.4 7.9 4.2 93
2.00 tbs Sunflower Seeds 3.4 1.9 1.5 8.9 4.1 103
2.00 tbs Walnuts, chopped 2.1 1.0 1.1 9.8 2.3 98
2.00 tbs Walnuts, halves 1.7 0.8 0.9 8.2 1.9 82
BAKING PRODUCTS
2.00 tbs All Purpose White Flour 11.9 0.4 11.5 0.2 1.6 57
1.00 tsp Atkins Thicken/Thin 1.5 1.5 0.0 0.0 0.1 6
1.00 oz-wt Baking Chocolate,unsweetened 8.0 4.4 3.7 15.7 2.9 148
0.50 tsp Baking Powder 0.6 0.0 0.6 0.0 0.0 1
0.50 tsp Baking Soda 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0
2.00 tbs Chocolate Chips, semisweet 13.3 1.2 12.0 6.3 0.9 101
0.50 tsp Cinnamon 0.9 0.6 0.3 0.0 0.0 3
0.50 tsp Cocoa Powder, unsweetened 0.5 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.2 3
2.00 tbs Coconut Milk-Canned 0.8 0.3 0.5 6.0 0.6 56
2.00 tbs Coconut, dried, unsweetened 2.4 1.6 0.8 6.3 0.7 64
2.00 tbs Cornmeal 13.4 1.3 12.1 0.3 1.5 63
1.00 each Gelatin, unsweetened 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 6.0 23
1.00 tsp Ghee 0.0 0.0 0.0 4.2 0.0 37
1.00 tsp Margarine 0.0 0.0 0.0 3.8 0.0 34
1.00 tbs Molasses 12.5 0.0 12.5 0.0 0.0 48
1.00 tsp Sugar, brown 4.5 0.0 4.5 0.0 0.0 17
1.00 tsp Sugar, white 4.2 0.0 4.2 0.0 0.0 16
GRAINS
0.50 cup Bulgur Wheat-Cooked 16.9 4.1 12.8 0.2 2.8 76
2.00 tbs Cornmeal 11.7 1.1 10.6 0.5 1.2 55
0.50 cup Couscous-Cooked 18.2 1.1 17.1 0.1 3.0 88
0.50 cup Hominy-Cooked 11.8 2.1 9.7 0.7 1.2 59
0.50 cup Kasha-Cooked 74.3 9.4 64.8 2.7 11.6 343
0.50 cup Millet-Cooked 28.4 1.6 26.8 1.2 4.2 143
2.00 tbs Oat Bran-Dry 7.8 1.8 6.0 0.8 2.0 29
0.50 cup Pearled Barley-Cooked 22.2 3.0 19.2 0.3 1.8 97
0.25 cup Quinoa Grain-Dry 29.3 2.5 26.8 2.5 5.6 159
0.50 cup Rice, brown, cooked 22.4 1.8 20.6 0.9 2.5 108
0.50 cup Rice, white, cooked 22.3 0.3 21.9 0.2 2.1 103
0.50 cup Rice, wild, cooked 17.5 1.5 16.0 0.3 3.3 83
2.00 tbs Wheat Germ-Toasted 7.0 1.8 5.2 1.5 4.1 54
CEREALS
1.00 cup Corn Flakes 24.2 0.8 23.4 0.2 1.8 102
0.50 cup Cream of Rice Cereal-Cooked 13.9 0.1 13.8 0.1 1.1 63
0.50 cup Cream of Wheat -Cooked 15.8 1.4 14.3 0.2 2.2 77
0.50 cup Oatmeal-Cooked 12.6 2.0 10.6 1.2 3.0 73
1.00 cup Puffed Wheat Cereal 11.1 0.6 10.5 0.2 2.1 51
1.00 cup Raisin Bran 47.1 8.2 38.9 1.5 5.6 186
1.00 cup Rice Krispies 22.8 0.3 22.5 0.3 1.7 100
PASTA
0.50 cup Noodles, egg, cooked 19.9 0.9 19.0 1.2 3.8 106
0.50 cup Pasta, spinach, cooked 18.3 2.5 15.9 0.4 3.2 91
0.50 cup Pasta, whole wheat, cooked 18.6 2.0 16.6 0.4 3.7 87
0.50 cup Pasta/Noodles, dry, cooked 19.8 1.2 18.6 0.5 3.3 99
4.00 oz-wt Pasta/Noodles, fresh, cooked 28.3 2.0 26.3 1.2 5.8 149
BREADS, ROLLS &
CRACKERS
1.00 each Bagel, 2 1/2 oz 38.0 1.7 36.3 1.1 7.5 195
1.00 each Biscuit, 2 oz 27.6 1.0 26.6 6.9 4.2 191
1.00 each Blueberry Muffin, 2 oz 27.4 1.5 25.9 3.7 3.1 158
1.00 each Bran Muffin, 2 oz 23.8 4.0 19.8 7.3 4.0 164
1.00 each Breadsticks, sesame, small 2.2 0.1 2.1 0.5 0.4 15
1.00 each Corn Muffin, 2 oz 29.0 1.9 27.1 4.8 3.4 174
1.00 piece Cornbread 2.5 x 2.5 x 1.5 pce 22.7 1.9 20.7 4.9 4.0 152
5.00 each Crackers, butter-type 51.4 1.5 49.8 18.3 5.8 393
5.00 each Crackers, rye wafers 44.2 12.6 31.6 0.5 5.3 184
5.00 each Crackers, saltines 10.7 0.5 10.3 1.8 1.4 65
5.00 each Crackers, water 10.0 0.6 9.4 0.0 1.3 44
1.00 each Croissant 27.0 0.0 27.0 17.0 4.0 270
1.00 each English Muffin 26.0 1.5 24.5 1.0 4.4 133
1.00 each Hard White Roll 30.0 1.3 28.7 2.5 5.6 167
1.00 piece Italian Bread 15.0 0.8 14.2 1.1 2.6 81
1.00 each Pita Pocket Bread, 6
1/2"diameter
33.4 1.3 32.1 0.7 5.5 165
1.00 each Popover 10.4 0.3 10.1 1.5 2.6 67
1.00 piece Pumpernickel Bread 12.4 1.7 10.7 0.8 2.3 65
1.00 piece Raisin Bread 13.6 1.1 12.5 1.1 2.1 71
1.00 piece Rye Bread 15.5 1.9 13.6 1.1 2.7 83
1.00 each Soft Hoagie Roll 32.0 2.0 30.0 4.5 7.0 200
1.00 piece Sourdough Bread 13.0 0.8 12.2 0.8 2.2 69
1.00 each Tortilla, corn 12.1 1.4 10.8 0.7 1.5 58
1.00 each Tortillas, flour, 8" 25.3 0.0 25.3 3.1 4.4 146
1.00 piece Wheat Bread 11.8 1.1 10.7 1.0 2.3 65
1.00 piece White Bread 14.9 0.7 14.2 1.1 2.5 80
1.00 piece Whole grain bread 11.8 1.1 10.7 1.0 2.3 65
PANCAKES, WAFFLES &
FRENCH TOAST
1.00 piece French Toast-Frozen 18.9 0.7 18.3 3.6 4.4 126
1.00 each Pancakes-Frozen-Ready To
Eat-6 inch
31.8 1.3 30.5 2.4 3.8 167
1.00 each Pancakes-Homemade 6" 21.8 1.1 20.7 7.5 4.9 175
1.00 each Waffles-Frozen-4" square 13.5 0.8 12.7 2.7 2.1 88
1.00 each Waffles-Homemade-7" diam 24.7 1.1 23.6 10.6 5.9 218
GRAVIES & SAUCES
2.00 tbs Barbecue Sauce 4.0 0.4 3.6 0.6 0.6 23
0.25 cup Gravy, au jus 1.5 0.0 1.5 0.1 0.7 10
0.25 cup Gravy, canned (chicken, beef,
turkey, etc)
3.2 0.2 3.0 3.4 1.1 47
2.00 tbs Hollandaise Sauce 0.3 0.0 0.3 9.1 1.0 85
0.25 cup Spaghetti/Marinara Sauce 5.1 1.0 4.1 1.3 0.9 36
0.25 cup Sweet & Sour Sauce 15.1 0.1 15.1 0.0 0.2 59
2.00 tbs Tartar Sauce 1.2 0.1 1.1 16.4 0.4 149
2.00 tbs Teriyaki Sauce 5.7 0.0 5.7 0.0 2.1 30
0.25 cup Tomato Sauce 4.4 0.9 3.5 0.1 0.8 18
ALCOHOL
12.00 fl oz Beer 13.2 0.7 12.5 0.0 1.1 146
1.00 fl oz Bourbon-80 Proof 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 64
1.00 oz-wt Brandy-86 Proof 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 71
1.00 oz-wt Brandy-86 Proof 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 71
1.00 oz-wt Gin-80 Proof 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 65
4.00 fl oz Medium White Wine 0.9 0.0 0.9 0.0 0.1 80
4.00 fl oz Red Wine 2.0 0.0 2.0 0.0 0.2 85
1.00 oz-wt Rum-80 Proof 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 65
1.00 oz-wt Tequila-80 Proof 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 65
1.00 oz-wt Triple Sec Liqueur-1 Shot 12.5 0.0 12.5 0.1 0.0 100
1.00 oz-wt Vodka-80 Proof 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 65
1.00 oz-wt Whiskey-80 Proof 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 65
MISC.
1.00 each Atkins-Low Carb Tortilla 12.0 9.0 3.0 2.0 5.0 60
2.00 tbs Chicken Liver Pate-Canned 1.7 0.0 1.7 3.4 3.5 52
DESSERTS & PASTRIES
1.00 piece Cake, angelfood, 1/12 cake 29.4 0.1 29.2 0.2 3.1 129
1.00 piece Cake, chocolate layer, 3 oz
slice
38.0 2.0 36.0 16.0 2.0 300
1.00 piece Cake, coffeecake, 2 oz slice 29.6 0.7 28.9 5.4 3.1 178
1.00 piece Cake, pound cake, 1 oz slice 13.8 0.1 13.7 5.6 1.6 110
1.00 oz-wt Chocolate, dark 17.9 1.7 16.2 8.5 1.2 136
1.00 oz-wt Chocolate, milk 16.8 1.0 15.8 8.7 2.0 145
1.00 each Cookie, chocolate chip, 1/2 oz 10.3 0.2 10.0 4.1 0.9 79
1.00 each Cookie, oatmeal, 1/2 oz 12.4 0.5 11.9 3.3 1.1 81
1.00 each Cookie, peanut butter, 2/3 oz 11.8 0.4 11.4 4.8 1.8 95
1.00 each Cookie, sugar, 1/2 oz 10.2 0.1 10.1 3.2 0.8 72
1.00 each Doughnut, glazed 26.6 0.7 25.9 13.7 3.8 242
1.00 each Doughnut, plain 19.0 1.0 18.0 11.0 3.0 180
0.50 cup Ice cream, chocolate 18.6 0.8 17.8 7.3 2.5 143
0.50 cup Ice cream, fruit 18.2 0.2 18.0 5.5 2.1 127
0.50 cup Ice cream, vanilla 15.6 0.0 15.6 7.3 2.3 133
1.00 piece Pie, apple, 1/8 of 9" pie 57.5 2.2 55.3 19.4 3.7 411
1.00 piece Pie, cherry, 1/8 of 9" pie 69.3 2.7 66.6 22.0 5.0 486
1.00 piece Pie, lemon meringue, 1/6 of 8"
pie
53.3 1.4 52.0 9.8 1.7 303
1.00 piece Pie, pecan, 1/8 of 9" pie 63.7 6.1 57.6 27.1 6.0 503
1.00 piece Pie, pumpkin, 1/8 of 9" pie 40.9 4.2 36.7 14.4 7.0 316
SNACKS
10.00 piece Potato Chips 10.6 0.9 9.7 6.9 1.4 107
10.00 piece Pretzels 47.5 1.9 45.6 2.1 5.5 229
0.50 oz-wt Soy Nuts 4.5 2.5 2.0 2.0 6.0 60
10.00 piece Tortilla Chips 11.3 1.2 10.2 4.7 1.3 90
SOUPS
1.00 cup Broth, beef 1.0 0.0 1.0 1.4 4.8 38
1.00 cup Broth, chicken 1.5 0.0 1.5 1.5 3.1 31
1.00 cup Soup, black bean 19.8 4.4 15.4 1.5 5.6 116
1.00 cup Soup, chicken noodle 9.4 0.7 8.6 2.5 4.0 75
1.00 cup Soup, cream of potato 17.2 0.5 16.7 6.4 5.8 149
1.00 cup Soup, cream of tomato 22.3 2.7 19.6 6.0 6.1 161
1.00 cup Soup, minestrone 11.2 1.0 10.3 2.5 4.3 82
1.00 cup Soup, New England clam
chowder
16.6 1.5 15.1 6.6 9.5 164
1.00 cup Soup, onion 8.2 1.0 7.2 1.7 3.8 58
1.00 cup Soup, vegetable 19.0 1.2 17.8 3.7 3.5 122
CONDIMENTS
1.00 tsp Atkins low carb jam 0.3 0.0 0.3 0.0 0.0 3
1.00 tbs Balsamic Vinegar 2.3 0.0 2.3 0.0 0.1 10
1.00 tbs Capers 0.4 0.3 0.1 0.1 0.2 2
1.00 tsp Chili Powder 1.4 0.9 0.5 0.4 0.3 8
1.00 tbs Cider Vinegar 0.9 0.0 0.9 0.0 0.0 2
2.00 tbs Cranberry Sauce 13.5 0.3 13.1 0.1 0.1 52
1.00 tsp Cumin 0.8 0.7 0.1 0.5 0.4 9
1.00 tsp Dijon Mustard 0.6 0.1 0.5 0.5 0.3 6
1.00 each Dill Pickle 2.7 0.8 1.9 0.1 0.4 12
1.00 tsp Fish Sauce 0.2 0.0 0.2 0.0 0.3 2
1.00 each Garlic 1.0 0.1 0.9 0.0 0.2 4
1.00 tbs Ginger, Root Slices 0.9 0.1 0.8 0.0 0.1 4
1.00 tsp Honey 5.8 0.0 5.8 0.0 0.0 21
1.00 tsp Horseradish-Prepared 0.6 0.2 0.4 0.0 0.1 2
1.00 tsp Jam 4.6 0.1 4.5 0.0 0.0 19
1.00 tsp Jelly 4.5 0.1 4.4 0.0 0.0 18
1.00 tbs Ketchup/Catsup 4.2 0.2 4.0 0.1 0.2 16
1.00 tbs Maple Syrup 13.4 0.0 13.4 0.0 0.0 52
1.00 tbs Miso Paste 3.0 0.4 2.6 0.8 1.9 27
5.00 each Olives, black 1.4 0.7 0.7 2.3 0.2 25
5.00 each Olives, green 2.5 0.0 2.5 5.0 0.0 50
1.00 tbs Pesto Sauce 1.0 0.4 0.6 7.1 2.8 78
1.00 tbs Pickle Relish 5.4 0.2 5.2 0.1 0.1 20
1.00 tsp Preserves 4.6 0.1 4.5 0.0 0.0 19
1.00 tbs Red Wine Vinegar 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0
1.00 tbs Rice Vinegar, seasoned 3.0 0.0 3.0 0.0 0.0 12
1.00 tbs Salsa, green 0.6 0.1 0.6 0.0 0.2 4
1.00 tbs Salsa, red 0.8 0.1 0.7 0.0 0.1 4
1.00 tbs Sherry vinegar 0.9 0.0 0.9 0.0 0.0 2
1.00 tbs Soy sauce 1.0 0.1 0.9 0.0 1.9 11
1.00 tbs Soy Sauce-Low Sodium 1.4 0.1 1.2 0.0 0.8 8
1.00 tbs Tahini 3.2 0.7 2.5 8.0 2.6 89
1.00 tbs White Wine Vinegar 1.5 0.0 1.5 0.0 0.0 5
1.00 tsp Worcestershire Sauce 0.9 0.0 0.9 0.0 0.0 4
HERBS
1.00 tbs Basil, fresh 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.1 1
1.00 tbs Chives, fresh 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.1 1
1.00 tbs Cilantro (Chinese Parsley) 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.1 1
1.00 tbs Dill, fresh 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0
1.00 tbs Parsley, fresh 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.1 1
FRUIT & FRUIT JUICES
1.00 each Apple, medium 21.0 3.7 17.3 0.5 0.3 81
0.25 cup Applesauce 6.9 0.7 6.2 0.0 0.1 26
0.25 cup Apricots, dried 24.9 3.6 21.3 0.2 1.5 96
1.00 each Apricots, fresh 3.9 0.8 3.1 0.1 0.5 17
1.00 each Avocado 14.9 10.1 4.8 30.8 4.0 324
1.00 each Banana, small 23.7 2.4 21.2 0.5 1.0 93
0.25 cup Blackberries 4.6 1.9 2.7 0.1 0.3 19
0.25 cup Blueberries 5.1 1.0 4.1 0.1 0.2 20
0.25 cup Cantaloupe 3.3 0.3 3.0 0.1 0.4 14
0.25 cup Cherries 4.8 0.7 4.2 0.3 0.4 21
0.25 cup Cranberries, raw 3.0 1.0 2.0 0.0 0.1 12
0.25 cup Currants, dried 26.7 2.4 24.2 0.1 1.5 102
0.25 cup Dates, chopped 32.7 3.3 29.4 0.2 0.9 122
0.25 cup Figs, dried 32.5 5.8 26.7 0.6 1.5 127
1.00 each Figs, fresh 9.6 1.7 7.9 0.2 0.4 37
0.50 each Grapefruit Juice-Canned-
Unsweetened-Cup
9.2 1.4 7.9 0.1 0.7 37
0.25 cup Grapes 7.1 0.4 6.7 0.2 0.3 28
0.25 cup Honeydew Melon 3.9 0.3 3.6 0.0 0.2 15
0.50 cup Juice, apple 14.5 0.1 14.4 0.1 0.1 58
0.50 cup Juice, cranberry 18.2 0.1 18.1 0.1 0.0 72
0.50 cup Juice, grape 18.9 0.1 18.8 0.1 0.7 77
0.50 cup Juice, grapefruit 11.1 0.1 10.9 0.1 0.6 47
1.00 tbs Juice, lemon 1.3 0.1 1.3 0.0 0.1 4
1.00 tbs Juice, lime 1.4 0.1 1.3 0.0 0.1 4
0.50 cup Juice, orange 13.4 0.2 13.2 0.1 0.8 56
0.50 cup Juice, tomato 5.1 0.5 4.7 0.1 0.9 21
1.00 each Kiwifruit 11.3 2.6 8.7 0.3 0.8 46
0.25 cup Mango 7.0 0.7 6.3 0.1 0.2 27
1.00 each Nectarine 16.0 2.2 13.8 0.6 1.3 67
1.00 each Orange 16.3 3.4 12.9 0.1 1.4 64
0.25 cup Papaya 3.4 0.6 2.8 0.0 0.2 14
1.00 each Peach, medium 10.9 2.0 8.9 0.1 0.7 42
1.00 each Pear, medium 25.1 4.0 21.1 0.7 0.6 98
0.25 cup Pineapple 4.8 0.5 4.3 0.2 0.2 19
1.00 each Plums 8.6 1.0 7.6 0.4 0.5 36
0.25 cup Prunes 26.7 3.0 23.6 0.2 1.1 102
0.25 cup Raspberries 3.6 2.1 1.5 0.2 0.3 15
0.25 cup Seedless Raisins 32.6 1.7 31.0 0.2 1.3 124
0.25 cup Strawberries 2.7 0.9 1.8 0.1 0.2 11
1.00 each Tangerine 7.8 1.6 6.2 0.1 0.4 31
0.25 cup Watermelon 2.8 0.2 2.6 0.2 0.2 12
VEGETABLES
1.00 each Artichoke 13.4 6.5 6.9 0.2 4.2 60
1.00 each Artichoke hearts, marinated 1.0 0.0 1.0 2.5 0.0 25
6.00 each Asparagus spears 3.8 1.4 2.4 0.3 2.3 22
0.50 cup Beans, green 4.9 2.0 2.9 0.2 1.2 22
1.00 cup Bok Choi 1.5 0.7 0.8 0.1 1.1 9
0.50 cup Broccoflower 3.1 1.6 1.5 0.2 1.5 16
0.50 cup Broccoli 3.9 2.3 1.7 0.3 2.3 22
0.50 cup Broccoli rabe 2.0 0.0 2.0 0.0 1.3 10
6.00 each Brussels sprouts 10.9 3.3 7.6 0.6 3.2 49
0.50 cup Cabbage, green 1.9 0.8 1.1 0.1 0.4 8
0.50 cup Cabbage, red 1.9 0.8 1.1 0.1 0.5 9
0.50 cup Cabbage, sauerkraut 5.1 3.0 2.1 0.2 1.1 22
0.50 cup Cabbage, savoy 2.1 1.1 1.1 0.0 0.7 9
1.00 each Carrots, medium 7.3 2.2 5.1 0.1 0.7 31
6.00 each Cauliflower 4.4 2.9 1.5 0.5 2.0 25
1.00 each Celery stalk 1.5 0.7 0.8 0.1 0.3 6
1.00 tbs Celery, chopped 0.3 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.1 1
1.00 each Chili Pepper 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 20
1.00 tbs Chilies, green, chopped 0.5 0.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 3
4.00 oz-wt Collards 7.3 4.1 3.2 0.4 3.1 37
0.50 cup Corn 16.0 2.0 14.1 0.4 2.3 66
1.00 each Cucumber, English 4.0 1.1 2.8 0.3 0.9 19
0.50 each Cucumber, small 2.5 0.7 1.8 0.2 0.6 12
0.50 cup Daikon 1.8 0.7 1.1 0.0 0.3 8
0.50 cup Eggplant 3.3 1.2 2.0 0.1 0.4 14
0.50 cup Eggplant, Italian 3.3 1.2 2.0 0.1 0.4 14
0.50 cup Endive 1.8 1.4 0.4 0.0 0.4 8
0.50 cup Escarole 0.8 0.8 0.1 0.1 0.3 4
0.50 cup Fenned 3.2 1.3 1.8 0.1 0.5 13
1.00 cup Greens, mixed 1.6 1.2 0.4 0.1 0.9 9
0.50 cup Jicama 5.7 3.2 2.5 0.1 0.5 25
0.50 cup Kale 3.7 1.3 2.4 0.3 1.2 18
1.00 each Leeks 12.6 1.6 11.0 0.3 1.3 54
1.00 cup Lettuce, butterhead 1.3 0.6 0.7 0.1 0.7 7
1.00 cup Lettuce, romaine 1.3 1.0 0.4 0.1 0.9 8
0.50 cup Mushroom, potobello 1.4 0.4 1.0 0.1 1.0 9
2.00 tbs Mushrooms, dried 8.9 2.9 6.0 0.7 5.6 64
0.50 cup Mushrooms, fresh 1.4 0.4 1.0 0.1 1.0 9
4.00 oz-wt Okra 7.5 2.5 5.0 0.3 1.9 34
1.00 each Onions 9.5 2.0 7.5 0.2 1.3 42
0.25 cup Onions, green 1.8 0.7 1.2 0.0 0.5 8
0.50 cup Peas, edible podded 5.6 2.2 3.4 0.2 2.6 34
0.50 cup Peas, green 9.9 3.4 6.5 0.3 3.8 55
0.50 cup Pepper, green 4.8 1.3 3.4 0.1 0.7 20
0.50 cup Pepper, red 4.8 1.5 3.3 0.1 0.7 20
1.00 each Peppers, jalapeno 0.8 0.4 0.4 0.1 0.2 4
0.50 each Peppers, roasted 2.4 0.4 2.0 0.1 0.3 10
1.00 each Potato, sweet 22.4 3.1 19.2 0.1 1.8 95
0.50 cup Potato, white 15.4 1.5 13.9 0.1 1.4 66
0.50 cup Pumpkin 9.9 3.6 6.3 0.3 1.3 42
0.50 cup Radicchio 0.9 0.2 0.7 0.1 0.3 5
6.00 each Radishes 1.0 0.4 0.5 0.1 0.2 5
0.50 cup Rhubarb 2.8 1.1 1.7 0.1 0.5 13
0.25 cup Shallots 6.7 0.3 6.4 0.0 1.0 29
1.00 cup Spinach, raw 1.1 0.8 0.2 0.1 0.9 7
0.50 cup Squash, acorn 14.9 4.5 10.4 0.1 1.1 57
0.50 cup Squash, butternut 10.8 2.9 7.9 0.1 0.9 41
0.50 cup Squash, spaghetti 5.0 1.1 3.9 0.2 0.5 21
0.50 cup Squash, summer 2.5 1.1 1.4 0.1 0.7 11
1.00 each Squash, zucchini 5.7 2.4 3.3 0.3 2.3 27
0.50 cup Swiss chard 0.7 0.3 0.4 0.0 0.3 3
1.00 each Tomatillos 2.0 0.6 1.3 0.3 0.3 11
1.00 each Tomato, plum 4.2 1.0 3.2 0.3 0.8 19
1.00 each Tomato, small 4.2 1.0 3.2 0.3 0.8 19
0.50 cup Tomatoes, canned 5.2 1.2 4.0 0.2 1.1 23
6.00 each Tomatoes, cherry 4.7 1.1 3.6 0.3 0.9 21
0.50 cup Tomatoes, chopped 3.5 0.8 2.6 0.2 0.6 16
0.25 cup Tomatoes, sun dried, oilpacked
6.4 1.6 4.8 3.9 1.4 59
0.50 cup Turnips 3.8 1.6 2.3 0.1 0.6 16
0.50 cup Waterchestnuts 8.7 1.8 7.0 0.0 0.6 35
0.50 cup Watercress 0.2 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.4 2

Herald News Daily

2007-05-14T08:28:00.000-07:00

Herald News Daily

DIET: Thin people may be fat inside

Staff and agencies
14 May, 2007

By MARIA CHENG, AP Medical Writer Fri May 11, 5:37 PM ET

LONDON - If it really is what‘s on the inside that counts, then a lot of thin people might be in trouble. Some doctors now think that the internal fat surrounding vital organs like the heart, liver or pancreas — invisible to the naked eye — could be as dangerous as the more obvious external fat that bulges underneath the skin.

According to the data, people who maintain their weight through diet rather than exercise are likely to have major deposits of internal fat, even if they are otherwise slim. "The whole concept of being fat needs to be redefined," said Bell, whose research is funded by Britain‘s Medical Research Council.

"Just because someone is lean doesn‘t make them immune to diabetes or other risk factors for heart disease," said Dr. Louis Teichholz, chief of cardiology at Hackensack Hospital in New Jersey, who was not involved in Bell‘s research.

Of the women scanned by Bell and his colleagues, as many as 45 percent of those with normal BMI scores (20 to 25) actually had excessive levels of internal fat. Among men, the percentage was nearly 60 percent.

According to Bell, people who are fat on the inside are essentially on the threshold of being obese. They eat too many fatty, sugary foods — and exercise too little to work it off — but they are not eating enough to actually be fat. Scientists believe we naturally accumulate fat around the belly first, but at some point, the body may start storing it elsewhere.

"BMI won‘t give you the exact indication of where fat is, but it‘s a useful clinical tool," said Dr. Toni Steer, a nutritionist at Britain‘s Medical Research Council.

Experts have long known that fat, active people can be healthier than their skinny, inactive counterparts. "Normal-weight persons who are sedentary and unfit are at much higher risk for mortality than obese persons who are active and fit," said Dr. Steven Blair, an obesity expert at the University of South Carolina.

2007-05-10T15:18:00.000-07:00

Low Fat Foods DON'T WORK.

You cannot lose weight using Low Fat Diets. Low fat foods have been popular for more than 15 years, but yet our society is getting more overweight as each year passes. This fact alone should tell you that eating a purely low fat menu is not the answer to losing weight.

Low Calorie Diets DON'T WORK."You won't lose weight using a Low Calorie Dieting Plan either. In fact, eating low calories is the worst thing that you can do to your body

Low Carb Plans DON'T WORK.

You'll probably find it extremely difficult to get slim using a Low Carb Dieting Plan. Low carb diets have recently become popular over the last couple years, but the problem with low carb menus is that they are too strict and TOO HARD TO FOLLOW for average people.

What about Weight Watchers and Jenny Craig Dieting Plans?

Weight loss programs such as Weight Watchers (and Jenny Craig) usually involve slower dieting progress over a longer period of time, since such programs generally promise only 2-3 pounds of weight loss per week. Also, programs such as Jenny Craig usually involve buying special meals and/or dietary supplements during the initial phases of the program.

Click Below for Info:

Low Fat Foods DON'T WORK.

Did you know…

2007-05-04T11:15:00.000-07:00

* Cholesterol comes from two places: Our body, and the food we eat

* Our liver makes ALL the cholesterol we need

* There is good cholesterol and bad cholesterol

Did you also know…

* Playing golf can lower your cholesterol

* Eating five fruits and vegetables can lower your cholesterol

* Even nuts can help!

Find all these tips and more by grabbing your copy Of 51 Ways to Lower Your Cholesterol -- Today!
CLICK HERE NOW AND GET THREE OTHER BONUS REPORTS!!

Four Tips to Release Weight Faster

2007-04-26T14:38:00.000-07:00

Are you frustrated with how slow your weight is coming off?

Here are some unusual tips to speed things up:

1) Double the amount of meals that you eat during the day.

       In other words, eat more! (Of course, this means you can
       eat more healthy foods, not junk).

       This is due to the fact that our bodies burn calories on a
        'per meal' basis and not on a daily basis. The more
        meals you eat per day, the more calories you can burn.

2) Eat food that 'satisfies' your brain.

       Be sure to include 'satisfying' foods in your everyday eating.
       These are foods that tell you brain, hmm...I'm full! Then you won't
       be so hungry and prone to eat more and more.

3) Make your glucose levels go down after each meal.

       If your blood glucose levels are super low after meals, then
       your body naturally seeks out and destroys fat cells! Less
       fat cells means less fat on your body.

4) Make sure some of your calories are self-absorbed!

      This doesn't mean that they are self-centered - it means
      that these calories will 'disappear' when you eat them
      because it takes more energy to absorb certain types
      of foods.

For more details on how you can be 10lbs. slimmer in 10 days, click here.

Middle-Aged Weight Loss

2007-04-02T12:33:00.001-07:00

One day I woke up only to realize I was middle aged and fat. I felt horrible about myself, and the old saying goes you have to like yourself before you can expect people to like you/. I thought to myself well I am not going to sit here and just mope, I am going to do something about this.

Being overweight was an issue since I was a child. My parents were heavy set since I can remember. So I never did learn to eat healthy.

It was on a Monday that I committed to myself that I was going to lose weight. I started out with a small bowl of corn flakes and a glass of orange juice. For lunch I had a salad, and for dinner a baked piece of chicken a small portion of mashed potatoes and a veg.

I then decided to join a gym. It cost me 30 dollars a month but figured it would be worth it if I could lose weight. Every morning I went to the gym and exercised an hour each day.

Then one day I was getting dressed and realized my pants were getting a little bit big on me. I thought to myself well maybe they just stretched. I decided to weight myself. Thats when i found out I had lost 10 pounds. I was so happy. That gave me the encouragement to keep on going.

At night after dinner my husband and I would take a walk. I noticed my legs were getting firmer and my belly was disappearing.

To make a long story short in the last 6 months I have lost 75 pounds. I have another 25 to lose but I know I will accomplish that. I now feel young again. I feel alive and I have more energy than I have had in a long time

Old Fashioned Weight Loss

2007-03-31T11:16:00.000-07:00

I have been trying to diet for the last 9 years. Trying this diet and that one with out any success. I have tried the diet drinks, pills, and diets with out any success.

One day I was sitting and thinking about what to do next. I figured I would stop spending my hard eared money on these diet things and do it the old fashioned way. Watch what I eat, exercise, and no after dinner snacks.

Well I did that for about a week and noticed I was starting to feel better. I got on the scale and noticed I lost 6 pounds. I thought to myself wow its working

For the next 2 weeks i added walking to my exercise routine. Lord and behold at the end of two weeks I had lost a total of 20 pounds.

Well to make a long story short at present time I have lost a total of 50 pounds and need to lose another 10 before I make my goal. Go figure the easy way usually always works.

Nutritious Eating is More Difficult Today than Ever Before

2007-01-13T20:33:00.000-08:00

Once upon a time, stay-at-home mothers had the time and the focus to create three balanced meals a day, including nutritious side dishes. But in today's world, there are many more single-parent homes and families where both parents work.

Meanwhile, children are also busier than ever before, with more homework, more after-school activities, more rushing from here to there. In today's hectic world, who has time to cook, especially when it is far easier to fall into the trap of picking up a quick meal at a fast-food restaurant or pizza joint on the way home.

"Healthy Eating for Kids" was written with the busy family in mind. Most recipes can be prepared in 15 minutes or less, which is less time than you might spend waiting in line for a hamburger and fries.

The recipes in "Healthy Eating" also come in kid-sized portions. If your child is a picky eater and refuses to eat the dinner that you are preparing for the rest of the family, you will be able to whip up a healthy alternative in minutes. On the other hand, if you would like to make a "Healthy Eating" recipe for the whole family, it is simple to do, since it is far easier to multiply the recipe than it is to sort out the portions for just one person.

CHECK IT OUT!!! CLICK HERE!

Pay Day Loans EXPOSED!!! Don't fall into this trap!

2007-01-05T12:20:00.001-08:00

Pay Day loans may seem like a boon and a blessing to you when your paycheck doesn’t stretch until the end of the month, or when an emergency comes up. But, in the long run Pay Day loans are a bane and a burden to most borrowers who take one out. They can ruin your credit, too!

You work hard for your money. The last thing you need is to fall into a trap set by a predatory lender to drain you of your hard-earned cash.

Don’t let yourself be tricked by some slick advertising into entering a nightmare of ever-increasing debt!

http://cgi.ebay.com/Pay-Day-Loans-EXPOSED-Dont-fall-into-this-trap_W0QQitemZ120071438546QQihZ002QQcategoryZ102486QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item120071438546

New low-carb cookbook almost ready

2007-01-02T13:18:00.001-08:00

A new low-carb cookbook with almost 500 pages of delicious recipes will be launched this weekend.

Stay tuned!!!

New Product that helps you Lose Weight!!!

2006-12-30T02:25:00.000-08:00

How Much Is Effective Weight Loss That’s Permanent Worth To You?
Discover the Revolutionary New Point-and-Click Software that puts an end to the dieting game once and for all, keeps you motivated to stay on track, and will have you losing weight faster (and keeping it off) the very first day you use it!

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It's time to start a Healthy life

2006-12-25T18:42:00.001-08:00

How many times have you gone to sleep at night, swearing you'll go to the gym in the morning, and then changing your mind just eight hours later because when you get up, you don't feel like exercising?

While this can happen to the best of us, it doesn't mean you should drop the ball altogether when it comes to staying fit. What people need to realize is that staying active and eating right are critical for long-term health and wellness -- and that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. The more you know about how your body responds to your lifestyle choices, the better you can customize a nutrition and exercise plan that is right for you. When you eat well, increase your level of physical activity, and exercise at the proper intensity, you are informing your body that you want to burn a substantial amount of fuel. This translates to burning fat more efficiently for energy.
In other words, proper eating habits plus exercise equals fast metabolism, which, in turn gives you more energy throughout the day and allows you to do more physical work with less effort.

The true purpose of exercise is to send a repetitive message to the body asking for improvement in metabolism, strength, aerobic capacity and overall fitness and health. Each time you exercise, your body responds by upgrading its capabilities to burn fat throughout the day and night, Exercise doesn't have to be intense to work for you, but it does need to be consistent.

I recommend engaging in regular cardiovascular exercise four times per week for 20 to 30 minutes per session, and resistance training four times per week for 20 to 25 minutes per session. This balanced approach provides a one-two punch, incorporating aerobic exercise to burn fat and deliver more oxygen, and resistance training to increase lean body mass and burn more calories around the block.

Here's a sample exercise program that may work for you:

* Warm Up -- seven to eight minutes of light aerobic activity intended to increase blood flow and lubricate and warm-up your tendons and joints.

* Resistance Training -- Train all major muscle groups. One to two sets of each exercise. Rest 45 seconds between sets.

* Aerobic Exercise -- Pick two favorite activities, they could be jogging, rowing, biking or cross-country skiing, whatever fits your lifestyle. Perform 12 to 15 minutes of the first activity and continue with 10 minutes of the second activity. Cool down during the last five minutes.

* Stretching -- Wrap up your exercise session by stretching, breathing deeply, relaxing and meditating.

When starting an exercise program, it is important to have realistic expectations. Depending on your initial fitness level, you should expect the following changes early on.

* From one to eight weeks -- Feel better and have more energy.

* From two to six months -- Lose size and inches while becoming leaner. Clothes begin to fit more loosely. You are gaining muscle and losing fat.

* After six months -- Start losing weight quite rapidly.

Once you make the commitment to exercise several times a week, don't stop there. You should also change your diet and/or eating habits,' says Zwiefel. Counting calories or calculating grams and percentages for certain nutrients is impractical. Instead, I suggest these easy-to-follow guidelines:

* Eat several small meals (optimally four) and a couple of small snacks throughout the day
* Make sure every meal is balanced -- incorporate palm-sized proteins like lean meats, fish, egg whites and dairy products, fist-sized portions of complex carbohydrates like whole-wheat bread and pasta, wild rice, multigrain cereal and potatoes, and fist-sized portions of vegetable and fruits
* Limit your fat intake to only what's necessary for adequate flavor
* Drink at least eight 8-oz. glasses of water throughout the day
* I also recommend that you take a multi-vitamin each day to ensure you are getting all the vitamins and minerals your body needs.

Enjoy life, we all deserve it.

GYMNEMA

2006-12-25T18:10:00.001-08:00

GYMNEMA
(Gymnema sylvestris, Wildcrafted leaf)

Affects:

Tongue and intestines.

Uses:

Reduces appetite for sweet food. Reduces absorption of sugars by the intestines.

Free Holiday E-Book

2006-12-10T09:43:00.001-08:00

I have a nice ebook about holiday traditions that I would like to give to you absolutely FREE of charge. Please email me dottye789@earthlink.net to get your copy.

Thyroid Disorder

2006-12-07T17:39:00.001-08:00

Some people say there’s no such thing as a low blood pressure. But the common belief is that blood pressure below the normal range of 120/80 may result in fatigue and weakness. Blood pressure in the normal range is rare. Either the systolic or the diastolic reading is liable to show lesser than the normal range in most individuals. You just simply can’t do away with this low B.P as most of your activities will hamper due to your fatigue and weakness. Thyroid problem can also lad to low BP. So get your thyroid treated through Thyromine and enjoy a cheerful life!

Handy Tips For Healthy Permanent Weight Loss

2006-12-07T17:34:00.001-08:00

The key to successful healthy weight loss is to make some permanent, realistic eating and lifestyle changes.

Don’t starve yourself.

Eating small healthy meals throughout the day lessens the chance that you’ll start snacking on candy or fat-laden fillers. Try to eat five small meals per day, instead of three large ones. That way you avoid becoming too hungry and there’s less danger of you reaching for something sweet when your blood sugar levels are lower.

Anorexic

2006-12-07T17:23:00.000-08:00

There are many ways of which to obtain weight loss and some of these techniques are excessive exercise, intake of laxatives and not eating. Some people submit themselves to starving – this is what you call anorexia. These are the people who believe that they would be happier and most successful if they were thin. Anorexia is an eating disorder that usually begins in young people around the onset of puberty, mostly for teenage girls, but it can also appear to teenage boys and adult men and women. Typically, anorexic have extreme weight loss which is usually 15% below the person’s normal body weight. People suffering from anorexia are very skinny but are convinced that they are overweight.

Low Carb Holiday Treats

2006-12-04T20:58:00.000-08:00

Think I'll rush out to the store tomorrow and get the ingredients for a batch of these- YUM!!!

Cream Cheese Balls

8 oz. cream cheese
6 packets Splenda
1/4 cup finely chopped pecans
1 oz unsweetened baker's chocolate
2 tbsp. butter
2 tbsp. heavy cream
1/2 tsp. vanilla
6 packets Splenda

Instructions:

Cream the cream cheese and six packets of Splenda. Add pecans Chill
until cheese will form balls. Melt the chocolate and butter together,
(SLOWLY! over low heat) Take off heat and add heavy cream, vanilla
and Splenda. When you have rolled the cream cheese into balls,
drizzle chocolate mixture over each.
Chill until chocolate hardens enough to pick up.

Total Carbohydrates: 35g 1 ball is less than 2 g

Goal Setting for Weight Loss

2006-12-02T08:06:00.000-08:00

“The greater danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it.” – Michelangelo

The most important thing you need to do before starting any weight loss program is to sit down and write out specific goals you want to accomplish. A goal is the purpose toward which an endeavour is directed; an objective. It is not enough to say to yourself that you want to lose weight. You need to write it out and be as specific as you can. Without a clear goal, you run the risk of failure in your weight loss efforts. Having a well-written goal it can help to keep you focused and motivated to achieve your target.

Obesity

2006-11-30T17:12:00.001-08:00

medication, exercise, healthy diet, none of these things will effectively cause

permanent weight loss until a person is ready to be happy with their body and their overall self.

You cannot successfully lose weight if you think your life is suddenly going to get better after the

weight is gone. You have to want to do it because you love yourself and you want a healthier

body. I think this is the most important thing I have finally learned about life and about myself. I hope

that in the future there will be a time when people are not judged by their appearance, therefore

those that think a different body will make them happy, will finally be able to be believe their

worth is based on who they are and not what they look like.

Weight Loss for Women

2006-11-29T16:37:00.000-08:00

Carrying around extra pounds influences your health and wellness in many more ways than you might imagine. Extra weight increases risk for everything from heart disease to gallstones and may have a negative impact on your sex life!

Do you need to lose 10, 15, 25 pounds or more? If carrying even the smaller amounts of 10 or 15 extra pounds may not seem like much, think again. Try lugging around with you an equivalent weight all day. How about a 10-pound sack of potatoes? See how you feel at the end of the day and imagine the impact this extra weight has on your body day after day.

Click Here for a Better Body!

So, how did Thanksgiving go?

2006-11-27T17:32:00.000-08:00

Boy, I went off of my diet! Fell asleep watching TV in the middle of the afternoon, too. This is what happens when I eat carbs, especially sweets.

Got right back on track the next day. Thanksgiving was a "planned cheat".

Here's a nice low-carb dish that's easy and a break from turkey leftovers:

EGGPLANT PARMESAN
1 pound eggplant
Salt
Oil
Garlic powder
6 tablespoons tomato sauce
3 ounces mozzarella cheese, shredded
2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese, grated
Slice the eggplant into about 12-13 thin slices. Salt both sides of each piece and place in a colander, in the sink, for 30 minutes. Pat dry with a towel and arrange on a greased, foil-lined baking sheet. Brush with oil and broil for a few minutes per side until slightly browned, oiling the other side after flipping. Arrange 6 slices on the baking sheet; sprinkle with garlic powder and spread each with about 1/2 tablespoon of the tomato sauce. Top with a little mozzarella, then top each with another piece of eggplant. Repeat toppings and finish with a sprinkle of parmesan on each. Bake at 350º for about 10 minutes, until cheese is melted.
Makes 6 servings
Per Serving: 113 Calories; 9g Fat; 5g Protein; 5g Carbohydrate; 2g Dietary Fiber; 3g Net Carbs

Sculpting Your Body-Drop Weight

2006-11-24T18:52:00.000-08:00

 If you want to drop weight fast, many people will tell you to shun all animal fat - some will even say that all animal products, whether the meat is lean or fatty, are not good for you.

I disagree. Take a walk through your local vegetarian health food store, and you will see mostly fat people. Sure, you'll see a few rastafarian dreadlocked
wafishly lean people but overall, the majority are either fat or look like heroin addicts.

Now, to be fair - if you go to Red Lobster, Olive Garden, or Outback Steakhouse
and look around - you'll see a ton of fat people, too.Such is life in America these days.

So what's the real issue of concern?

Well, for starters, there are certain kinds of meat that have a thermogenic or fat burning effect on your body. Some of these meats are lean; some are fatty. Eat them  in the right combination with other foods,you will lose weight.

Not only that, but the so-called dengers associated with the eating of animal flesh quickly go away when you eat these kinds of meats - and do so in the proper way.

Key thing to remember is this: Lean animal protein can be good for you; same goes for fat animal protein. Provided, of course, that you're eating the right kinds
of meat.

Exercise and its Importance in Weight Loss

2006-11-23T19:51:00.000-08:00

If you think diet alone can give you the body you want, especially after age 40, you are just fooling yourself! Being lucky enough to live in Florida, in a house with an in-ground pool, I now exercise in the water. The benefit of doing this is increased resistance with little to no stress on the body's delicate joints.

In 1990, I was in a car accident that left me permanently disabled. I have five herniated discs- three in my lower back, and two in my neck. This year, I have been working on losing weight and becoming more physically fit. As a young woman in my twenties, before the accident, when I worked out vigorously, I could eat anything I wanted, and still fit into my size five jeans. When I didn't exercise, I was fat. So this year, I got the idea of doing the exercises I did in PE class in the pool. This is how I am starting out with my program. It will get more complicated as I progress.

People with severe arthritis may benefit by exercising in warm water. Your body weight is supported and the resistance of moving through water boosts muscle strength and endurance. Activities such as stretching or walking through water can exercise the joints without putting them under strain.

Locations that may run warm water exercise classes include recreation centers, fitness centers, public swimming pools and retirement villages. See your doctor before embarking on any new fitness program.

The benefits of warm water exercise:

A study published in the American College of Sports Medicine's journal, Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, found that water exercise improved the health of elderly participants. In the study, women between the ages of 60 and 75 years were divided into two groups: one group participated in water exercise for 12 weeks, while the other didn't. The health benefits for those who exercised in water included:

* Increased muscle strength * Improved oxygen intake * Greater flexibility * Loss of excess body fat * Increased agility * No exercise-related injuries.

Before you join a class:

* Always check with your doctor before starting any new exercise program. For example, you may need to avoid certain movements if you have had joint replacement surgery. * Contact the various fitness and recreation centers in your local area to find out what sorts of water classes are offered. * Think carefully about the location. Public swimming pools, for example, generally have cooler water temperatures, which means you could feel cold while exercising. * Assess the location. For example, is the pool easy to access? Is there a locker room? Is it accessible and comfortable? * Before choosing a class, make sure it is appropriate to your level of fitness and ability. You may like to watch a class or two from the sidelines before you commit to joining.

For more information about diet and exercise, please visit my website: http://www.learnaboutdieting.net.

Importance of Potassium in the Diet

2006-11-21T12:47:00.000-08:00

My mother died due to a series of strokes brought on by not eating after my father's death. It was found while she was in the hospital that her levels of Potassium, an essential mineral for heart function, were very low. Why the doctor did not order an intravenous supplement of that precious life-giving mineral, I'll never know.

Potassium is vital for proper muscle function, the heart being one of the largest and most important muscles in the body. One thing about being on a low-carb way of life is to make sure and get this mineral. I havae been awakened in the middle of the night with horrible pain due to "charley-horses" in my legs, which is indicative of a lack of Potassium. It is important, then, to lose the fat but at the same time preserve and build muscle tissue.

Potassium also helps to keep the blood pressure lower, which is important as we get older, especially if we are overweight and/or have hypertension. Diets rich in fruits, veggies and whole grains may help prevent stroke and heart attacks, especially in people with high blood pressure. Of course, a low-carb diet, especially in the beginning, cuts out the grains and the high glycemic-impact fruits. One banana is a great source of potassium, but is an entire day's worth of carbs!! Tomatoes are better, as their glycemic impact is lower. Of course, you can also take potassium in pill form. As with anything, please consult your doctor before doing this.

Negative Calorie Foods

2006-11-20T13:05:00.000-08:00

When we eat more calories than we burn up, we gain weight and get fat. Everybody knows this.
There really is no such thing as negative calorie food, or not until these particular foods have been eaten. What happens after that however, may come dangerously close to what could ultimately be interpreted as truly a fat loss response on the part of resulting internal metabolic processes. Foods such as:

cranberries
grapefruit
lemon
mango
orange
pineapple
raspberries
strawberries
tangerine

and many more are thought of as negative calorie foods.

By sticking to thse foods, people say that it is possible to drop up to 14 POUNDS in only 7 DAYS! Is this true? You decide!
CLICK HERE!!

30 Pounds gone!!

2006-11-18T10:58:00.000-08:00

OK, so it's been about two and a half months since I started the low-carb routine. I've dropped about 30 pounds. HOORAY!!!

I've found that I can't go for long periods of time in ketosis. My body starts to act funny: I have no immunity, I get headaches, etc. However, I find that when I do eat a piece of bread or other product containing wheat, I get horrible indigestion and start to wheeze. There is probably an underlying food allergy at work here. I can go for about a week in ketosis, then I need to break the cycle and take a day off. That does NOT mean that I can go crazy with ice cream, etc!! In fact, I have lost my taste for ice cream.

I've been using Carb Solutions shake mix as a mainstay of my program. The chocolate flavor tastes good, and fills me up. The vanilla flavor is a nice change, plus I can add other flavorings to it. However, the last two days, I have had raging headaches after I have my Vanilla shake. This does not happen with the Chocolate. I wonder why? Anybody who may have an insight here, please reply. I have about 60 more pounds that I would like to get rid of, and don't want to stop now.

MOTIVATION, THE HEART OF SELF IMPROVEMENT

2006-11-16T14:05:00.000-08:00

Pain may sometimes be the reason why people change. Getting failing grades make us realize that we need to study. Debts remind us to look for a better source of income. Being humiliated gives us the ‘push’ to speak up and fight for ourselves to save face from the next embarrassments. It may be a bitter experience, a friend’s tragic story, a great movie, or an inspiring book that will help us get up and get just the right amount of motivation we need in order to improve ourselves.

With the countless negativities the world brings about, how do we keep motivated? Try on the tips I prepared from A to Z…

A - Achieve your dreams. Avoid negative people, things and places. Eleanor Roosevelt once said, “the future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”

B - Believe in your self, and in what you can do.

C – Consider things on every angle and aspect. Motivation comes from determination. To be able to understand life, you should feel the sun from both sides.

D – Don’t give up and don’t give in. Thomas Edison failed once, twice, more than thrice before he came up with his invention and perfected the incandescent light bulb. Make motivation as your steering wheel.

E – Enjoy. Work as if you don’t need money. Dance as if nobody’s watching. Love as if you never cried. Learn as if you’ll live forever. Motivation takes place when people are happy.

F – Family and Friends – are life’s greatest ‘F’ treasures. Don’t loose sight of them.

G – Give more than what is enough. Where does motivation and self improvement take place at work? At home? At school? When you exert extra effort in doing things.

H – Hang on to your dreams. They may dangle in there for a moment, but these little stars will be your driving force.

I – Ignore those who try to destroy you. Don’t let other people to get the best of you. Stay out of toxic people – the kind of friends who hates to hear about your success.

J – Just be yourself. The key to success is to be yourself. And the key to failure is to try to please everyone.

K – keep trying no matter how hard life may seem. When a person is motivated, eventually he sees a harsh life finally clearing out, paving the way to self improvement.
L – Learn to love your self. Now isn’t that easy?

M – Make things happen. Motivation is when your dreams are put into work clothes.

N – Never lie, cheat or steal. Always play a fair game.

O – Open your eyes. People should learn the horse attitude and horse sense. They see things in 2 ways – how they want things to be, and how they should be.

P – Practice makes perfect. Practice is about motivation. It lets us learn repertoire and ways on how can we recover from our mistakes.

Q – Quitters never win. And winners never quit. So, choose your fate – are you going to be a quitter? Or a winner?

R – Ready yourself. Motivation is also about preparation. We must hear the little voice within us telling us to get started before others will get on their feet and try to push us around. Remember, it wasn’t raining when Noah build the ark.

S – Stop procrastinating.

T – Take control of your life. Discipline or self control jives synonymously with motivation. Both are key factors in self improvement.

U – Understand others. If you know very well how to talk, you should also learn how to listen. Yearn to understand first, and to be understood the second.

V – Visualize it. Motivation without vision is like a boat on a dry land.

W – Want it more than anything. Dreaming means believing. And to believe is something that is rooted out from the roots of motivation and self improvement.

X – X Factor is what will make you different from the others. When you are motivated, you tend to put on “extras” on your life like extra time for family, extra help at work, extra care for friends, and so on.

Y – You are unique. No one in this world looks, acts, or talks like you. Value your life and existence, because you’re just going to spend it once.

Z – Zero in on your dreams and go for it!!!

Fighting Fat at Fifty!

2006-11-14T20:56:00.000-08:00

OK- I woke up one morning a few months ago and found myself at the HALF-CENTURY mark! I am FAT!!! I am middle aged and obese!! HELP!!!

The struggle with a weight problem has been a constant most of my life, even as a child. It didn’t help that Hubby presented me with the first of many birthday gifts to mark this special milestone-CHOCOLATE CHIP PANCAKES! Yes, he was trying to be sweet. But, I sometimes think he is “killing me with kindness”. Does your spouse/partner do this, too? Is he/she an “enabler”, meaning part of the problem, and not part of the solution?

However, I cannot blame him. This problem started in childhood. It is MY responsibility to change this scenario by eating less, exercising more, and cutting out sweets and starches.

     When a person becomes 50 years young, they are not exactly
 at the age in which  the body’s metabolism is a bullet train.
 The metabolism is more like the
“Hooterville Cannonball”, from “Petticoat Junction” a popular 60’s
show that most  of us Baby Boomers grew up with. So, the trick is to
 give the metabolism a boost by including exercise in the
 daily routine. This can be as simple as walking the
dog in the morning or in the evening- or both!

     Swimming is a good exercise for anyone, especially
those who are obese. The stress on the joints is less than
walking or running. I live in Florida, and
am blessed with an in-ground pool which I can use almost
year-round. Yogais also good for those who are just starting
to get back into shape-gentle asanas –yogic positions-
first thing in the morning help to focus the
mind and energize the body, as well as getting the
kinks out from being in a sleeping position.

   Whatever form of exercise you choose to do-
start doing SOMETHING every day!

 http://www.ezniche.com/data/article.php?l=120

Welcome to my health blog!

2006-11-14T20:50:00.000-08:00

Often we take our health, or the absence of illness, disease, or injury for granted, until we become sick. It is then that we recognize the worth of health, which is more than being without disease. It is then that we appreciate our health, and feeling strong, robust and healthy. Being healthy and, being physically and mentally sound, is associated with one's satisfaction with life.
Developmental health psychologists - specialists who study the interaction of age, behavior, and health and gerontologists - specialists in the science of aging -- are piecing together the details of diet, exercise, personality and behavior that make it practical to shoot for 80, or even 120. People approaching middle age can expect a bonus of several years of extra healthy living thanks to continuing medical progress against cancer, heart disease and stroke. An important aspect of this is weight control.
So, welcome to this blog, and let's share some ideas about dieting and healthier living!

Learn About Dieting

Vegetable Diet- pt 1

13 1/2 pounds

Raw food diet- the first ten days

Down 11 pounds as of this morning!

Assessing the Health of Your Child

Factors for Obesity in teens

When a teen is overweight

Weight Loss Plan: The Goal to Go For

Why Losing Weight is Good

Weight Loss Surgery: Preventing the Health Risks

The Advantages of Weight Loss Patch

Losing Weight Rapidly

Losing Weight? - Go Herbal

The Good of Vegetarianism

Little Secrets Vegetarians Know

Getting Started with the Hobby of Organic Gardening

Why Is Organic Vegetable Gardening So Important These Days

The Benefits of Eating Organically Grown Vegetables

Transform Yourself From the Inside-Out and Look Your Best Naturally

About the author

Exciting new weight-loss product-Hi-Tech Lipodrene with Ephedra

Get Your Kids to Exercise

Secrets to Post-Partum Weight Loss

HERBS FOR DIABETES

Early Symptoms of Diabetes

100 Christmas and Children's Tales- $1!!!!!!

Master Cleanse / How to make the lemonade

Self-talk

Falling in love again- my new love

Raw food diet- starting week two

Raw Food Diet- day seven

Raw Food Diet- day six

Interview With Angela Stokes

Raw Food Diet- day five

Raw Food Diet- day four

Raw food diet- Day three

Raw Food Diet- day two

Saving my Life

Weight Loss Surgery: Preventing the Health Risks

Raw Food Weight Loss

Obesity a Problem in HIV Population

Walking for Fitness - Weight Loss - Exercise

The Master Cleanser

My Weight Loss Journey

Diet Mentality - Stop dieting...unless you wanna get fat!

Free Weight Loss programs

Dieting and Fitness

Dieting and Diabetes

Avoid Dieting Make Positive Changes Instead

LOSE WEIGHT AT TURBO FAT SPEEDS

Weight Watchers Dieting

3 Hour Dieting

Atkins for Dieting

Imagine yourself thin...

The Calgary Sun - Over-the-counter diet pill OK'd for U.S.

Over-the-counter diet pill OK'd for U.S.

Tactics for Weight Loss

Lose weight to stop snoring

The Best Diet Pills for Sale

Diet Pills Researched by The Weight Loss Institute

Beating procrastination

How Exercise Can Improve Your Sex Life

LOSE WEIGHT BY CREATING A LOW GLYCEMIC INDEX

Change Your Mind ... About Dieting

Medical Breakthrough -- War on Your Waistline: 5 Diet Myths Debunked

Salads- Low Carb

Insulin Secretion Predicts Weight-Loss Impact of Diets - CME Teaching Brief® - MedPage Today

Carb Gram Counter

Herald News Daily

DIET: Thin people may be fat inside

Did you know…

Four Tips to Release Weight Faster

Middle-Aged Weight Loss

Old Fashioned Weight Loss

Nutritious Eating is More Difficult Today than Ever Before

Pay Day Loans EXPOSED!!! Don't fall into this trap!

New low-carb cookbook almost ready

New Product that helps you Lose Weight!!!

It's time to start a Healthy life