Obesity is not the Fault of Individuals - Know about obesity and it's medicine acomplia.

A new report published today supported by the UK government has revealed that individuals should not be held responsible for obesity problems. The news comes just days after the UK health secretary warned that the problem of obesity is 'as bad as climate risk'.

The announcement was made after details from a government study emerged suggesting more than half of the UK population could be medically obese by the year 2050, if the current rising trend of obesity continues as predicted.

"Largest UK study into obesity"
The report is the largest ever into obesity within the United Kingdom and provides shocking news of the economic and social impact the condition is set to have. In the year 2002, those overweight or obese cost the UK economy almost £7billion ($14billion) combining benefits, treatment, reduced efficiency and loss of earnings.
The study predicts this figure to rise to £46billion by the year 2050 and health services are going to struggle with the extra strain placed by overweight individuals. Being over-weight can lead to a range of health problems such as an increased chance of strokes, coronary heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
The predictions from the study for the year 2050 report are that if current trends continue, a shocking 60% of men and 50% of women in the UK will be clinically obese, with a BMI of 30+.

Weight-loss solutions

Whilst a miracle slimming diet or medicine is far from a reality, there have been a number of medications that have taken the weight-loss industry by storm. Most noticeably is the medication Acomplia from pharmaceutical company Pfizer Inc, which had been hailed by many as a blockbuster drug.

Acomplia, which contains the active ingredient Rimonabant, works by reducing the appetite of users helping to promote significant weight loss, especially when combined with a strict diet and exercise plan.

Weight loss drugs such as Acomplia and also Xenical may provide a viable solution to obesity; however they are not medications currently available on the NHS for UK patients and may not be suitable for everyone, including those who are only mildly overweight according to their BMI.

How is obesity measured?

The body mass index scale, more commonly know as the BMI scale, has become the medical standard used to measure levels of obesity in individuals used by most health professionals and researchers.

BMI is calculated based on height and height, and is found by dividing weight in kilograms by height in meters squared. A normal weight range would provide a BMI level of 18.5 - 24.9, with overweight individuals scoring 25-29.9 and obese defined as 30.0 and above.
Sir David King, the UK government's chief scientific adviser and author of the report, stated "there is a danger that the moment to act radically and dramatically will be missed." A combination of convenience and cheap energy-dense foods, along with less manual jobs and more motorized transport has lead to an inevitable increase in obesity.

"It is a problem that is going to get worse every year."

The report helps to shift a proportion of the blame from the individual to society itself and suggests that action must be taken now to prevent Britain from "sleepwalking" into a crisis.

Alcoholic Drinks And Weight Loss

Alcohol and weight is a subject relevant to millions of people who like to drink alcoholic beverages and who also either want to maintain or to lose body weight. It is uncertain whether alcohol leads to increase in body weight or if it does not. Some studies find an increase in body weight, some studies do not, and some find a small decrease among women who begin consuming alcohol. There has been a good amount of research over the last few years about the benefits of red wine and safe limits for alcohol consumption, but what about alcohol when you're trying to diet? The truth may be surprising to you.

Drinking alcohol, whether in the form of wine, liquor, or beer, can negatively affect weight loss. People who try to find the best diet but also drink alcohol have a harder time losing weight than those who do not drink at all. Here are some facts:

Pure alcohol contains about 7 calories per gram, which makes it nearly twice as fattening as carbohydrates or protein (both contain about 4 calories per gram) and only just under the caloric value for fat (9 calories per gram). This means that if you want to lose weight and reduce excess body fat, alcohol is not a good choice.
But how does alcohol make you fat?

The energy from alcohol cannot be stored so it must be oxidised and converted into energy for immediate use by the cells. While our body uses up all the alcohol circulating in the blood, the oxidation of fats, carbohydrates and protein becomes suppressed; because of this more of these macronutrients are forced into storage than under normal conditions without alcohol. Alcohol can make you fat in an indirect manner.

An Occasional Drink

If you want to add an occasional alcohol beverage to your weight loss or weight gain plan, you can add it your plan and consider that these are extra calories. Again, for weight loss, it will add up to extra calories that may slow your progress. You will need to increase your physical activity to make up for it!

Some evidence for this comes from research carried in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Eight men were given two drinks of vodka and sugar-free lemonade separated by 30 minutes. Each drink contained just under 90 calories. Fat metabolism was measured before and after consumption of the drink. For several hours after drinking the vodka, whole body lipid oxidation (a measure of how much fat your body is burning) dropped by a massive 73%.

Don't drink on a fat loss program. Although you could certainly drink and "get away with it" if you diligently maintained your calorie deficit as noted above, it certainly does not help your fat loss cause or your nutritional status. Although wine contains fewer calories than beer, this can also lead to extra calories. Having a glass of wine provides 100 calories, but this is dependent on the glass size. A serving size of wine is 5-ounces. The larger wine glasses hold about 10 ounces turning your one glass of wine into two glasses. To put this into perspective, drinking two glasses of wine each night with dinner will add an extra 200 calories each day. If these calories are not burned through exercise and daily activity it can lead to a 20 pound weight gain in a year.

lowering cholesterol meds

Green Tea Extract And Successful Weight Loss

Is Green tea is good for weight loss?

Yes, believe it or not, more and more often you'll find green tea (or green tea extract) included in the compilations of many of the more popular weight loss supplements today. Tea has been used as an aid for weight loss. Drinking a cup of tea with each meal is a protocol for using tea successfully as a metabolic stimulant. Tea by itself carries only 4 calories per serving, and it's most healthy when consumed with nothing added. The caffeine in tea increases body function to help burn more calories and the polyphenols seem to aid in the digestion of fat, truly making it a Chinese diet tea.

Green tea is recommended for the diet aid mainly because of its multifaceted effects on health. The major active component that attributes the properties to the green tea are the polyphenols such as catechin, epicatechin, epicatechin gallate, gallaogatechin, epigallocatechin, and apigallocatechin gallate (known as EGCG).

Green tea contains high concentrations of catechin polyphenols. These compounds work with other chemicals to intensify levels of fat oxidation and thermogenesis, where heat is created in the body by burning fuels such as fat. Drinking Japanese green tea regularly will increase your metabolism and help burn fat safely and naturally.

In Thailand, India, Japan and China, green tea has been used as a medicine for a variety of conditions from helping with digestion to healing wounds.

But while many in the medical field proclaim the wonders of this much talked about tea, others are quick to point out that there is little or no evidence to support at least some of the claims.

Glucose Regulator

Green tea also acts as a glucose regulator i.e. it slows the rise in blood sugar following a meal, by slowing the action of a particular digestive enzyme called amylase. This enzyme is pivotal in the breakdown of starches that can cause blood sugar levels to soar following a meal.

Green tea contains Vitamin B, C and thiamine. This will ensure that our brain cells have sufficient energy to protect the nervous system from being over stimulated. A good nourished brain will surely help in achieving your weight loss goals.

In November 1999, the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition published the results of a study at the University of Geneva in Switzerland, in which researchers found that men who were given a combination of caffeine and green tea extract burned more calories than those given only caffeine or a placebo.

The study conducted by the University of Geneva on the weight loss benefit of green tea extract implicated that green tea extract can also help thyroid patients. According to dietitian Lynn Moss, M.S., R.D., green tea extract is a healthier choice for people with thyroid who may be too sensitive to stimulants. Green tea extract can promote weight loss by increasing metabolism without over stimulating the adrenal glands.

Bottom Line: Green tea helps you with weight loss by boosting your metabolic rate, regulating your blood sugar, suppressing your appetite and giving you something else besides that high calorie, high sugar coffee beverage to drink in the morning.
While it's not the magic bullet, it can definitely give you a boost in weight loss and in your overall health

Weight Loss - Fast Food And Obesity

Drive-up restaurants, milkshakes, fries, and time-honored burgers and dripping Coney Islands - that's what makes the American cuisine - since the 1950's. This has been America's characteristic manner of preparing food - Fast Food - the epitome of the American life. Yet should tradition hinder improvement?

Occurrence of Fast food Obesity: According to a report published in Chicago Tribune, fast-food consumption is more in higher-income households, young boys, older children, African-Americans and children living in the south, whereas fast food consumption is found to be low in youngsters living in the West, rural areas, Hispanics, white women and those aged 4 to 8. Due to the increase in the number of fast food outlets, fast food prevails in virtually every segment of the society, including hospitals and schools, as per a study on fast food & obesity by Harvard School of Public Health.

Healthy Weight-Conscious Food Can Be Fast Food

The idea that you need lots of time to prepare and cook healthy meals is a myth and probably one circulated by the fast-food industry. After all, the very name "fast-food" implies that home-cooking is slow-cooking. Not true! It's perfectly possible to prepare healthy weight-reducing meals in minutes. The secret is organisation!

Fast food and obesity are closely linked. Studies have shown that fast foods are very high in energy density (the amount of calories different foods contain weight for weight) and these high density foods can cause people to accidentally eat more calories than they need.

A typical fast food meal has an energy density 150% more than an average traditional meal. A fast food meal contains many more calories than a similar-sized portion of a healthy meal.

It's up to us!

As is expected the fast food industry is not going to think it possible to suddenly change its direction after years of offering poor food choices. It will have to come from the consumer demanding healthier food choices. Our vote comes with where we shop and what we buy. Our children and grandchildren will grow up with weight and other health problems if they continue eating the fast food.

Scientists writing in the current issue of the Lancet report that study participants who visited fast food restaurants twice a week or more gained 10 more pounds and experienced double the increase in insulin resistance compared to subjects who indulged less than once a week.

To get rid of this problem, eat less and exercise more. If you can't bear separation from fast foods, just eat less of them. Add some physical exercise also to keep your weight under control. Remember, fast food obesity is largely caused by lack of exercise.

On their part, fast food manufacturers would also do a service if they served fewer foods that are jam-packed with calories. They should serve more foods that promote "healthy eating."

Alli Diet Pill: Trim Yourself for a Beautiful Tomorrow

Alli - manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline - is a new FDA approved drug that can be bought over the counter. It is lower dosage (60mg) form of Xenical (Orlistat) that helps you to loose weight in an easy way.

Alli is available to anyone who wants assistance losing weight. Alli actually uses the same active ingredient as another diet pill, Xenical, but it is a half dose. Typically, enzymes in your intestines break down fat from food so your body can absorb the fat. But, the active ingredient in Alli attaches to some of these enzymes and prevents them from digesting about a quarter of the fat you eat. Because undigested fat can't be absorbed, it passes out of your body naturally.

Dr. James Anderson, head of the UK College of Medicine Metabolic Research Group said, "This is the first over-the-counter medicine that has proven effectiveness. It is my hope that people will take one capsule before each regular meal, breakfast, lunch, and supper, and alters their fat and calorie intake". Further he added, "If they commit to exercise six days a week, most people can lose weight steadily. All of us are in this for the long haul and need to keep up healthy behaviors, not for days or weeks, but for months and years. Doing regular physical activity and making good food choices will help us be trimmer and give us more energy."

Unlike traditional diet pills, Alli is not an appetite suppressant. Instead, it prevents the gastrointestinal system from absorbing about 25 percent of the fat a person consumes. If you eat more than the recommended 15 grams of fat at a meal, you may experience cramps and the uncontrollable escape of those extra fat grams. Thus this diet pill makes it possible to lose 50% MORE weight than dieting alone. It means that if you were to lose 10 pounds by dieting, you would lose 15 pounds with Alli.

But on the contrary, don't use Alli if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, if you have had an organ transplant. Moreover, if you are taking cyclosporine, or if you are allergic to any of the ingredients in Alli capsules then do not take this drug. And the other important thing is that before using Alli diet pill, discuss your all medical history with doctors because some side effects like- loose or more frequent stools, an urgent need to go to the bathroom, or gas with an oily discharge- may occur.

Foods To Help You Lose Weight

Every year, thousands of dollars are spent on every imaginable diet program, slim-down products, and weigh loss pills. For many women, money is no object since the need to shed those extra pounds far outweighs any concern for finances.

Statistical data from 2003 to 2006 indicate that obesity rates had risen in 31 of the 50 American states. The data came from surveys conducted by different local health departments on the height and weight of people from different states. Another result of the survey pointed out a close relationship between obesity and heart disease among the respondents. Due to the serious health implications of the study, state funding had been allocated to educate people about the dangers of being obese and overweight. The government-sponsored weight loss programs also focused on simple information campaigns about good eating habits. People were provided flyers and other reading materials that contained information on how to make proper food choices. This strategy made sense since there are types of food that can actually curb one's appetite and stop your sugar cravings. These food groups also boost metabolism which helps consume stored fat in the body which, in the process, leads to weight loss. Shown below are some of the "good food" that should be part of a weight watchers eating plan:

1. Beans - Beans contain cholecystokinin, a digestive harmone that acts as a natural appetite suppressant. Beans also keep blood sugar on an even keel and helps stave off hunger longer. High-fiber bean varieties can even lower cholesterol levels.

2. Salad - Eating salad is highly recommended by the American Dietetic Association because the vegetable-based meal is rich in vitamins c and e, lycopene, folic acid, and carontenoids. However, it is best to cut down on the dressing when eating salad. Some salad dressings can actually be high in calories.

3. Eggs - Eaten in moderate amounts, eggs are good for the health since these contain protein that helps prevent spikes in blood sugar. Weight watchers are often advised to eat only egg whites.

4. Green Tea - This type of tea is an antioxidant and helps stimulate metabolism which, in turn, burns fat. Green tea is rich in antioxidants called catechins.

5. Soup - Having a little chicken soup is good for the body because it helps decrease hunger. Chicken soup is considered a folk remedy for colds and flu.

6. High-fiber Cereals - Cereals which are high in fiber help improve digestion and are good for reducing hunger pangs.

7. Tofu - If you eat tofu, you tend to eat less food. Tofu is considered as an appetite-quashing protein.

8. Lean Beef - Lean beef contains an amino acid called leucine which helps provide energy, regulate blood sugar, and repair muscles.

9. Olive Oil - Cooking food in olive oil is healthy because it contains mono-unsaturated fat which is widely accepted as a product that helps prevent cardiovascular disease.

10. Pears - This fruit is a good source of fiber and fructose which does not cause spikes in blood-sugar levels.

11. Nuts - Research released by Purdue University showed that adding about 500 calories of peanuts to their regular diet helped them eat less food that could cause weight gain.

12. Vinegar- Acetic acid found in vinegar slows the passage of food from the stomach into the small intestine, thereby causing satiety (a feeling of fullness in the stomach). Vinegar also helps improve blood glucose control which is needed by diabetics.

13. Red Hot Pepper - A bowl of spicy chili can help a person lose weight due to an ingredient called capsaicin. This ingredient actually helps suppress appetite.

Indeed, being in control of one's weight involves the simple act of choosing to eat good food. Having a regular exercise program and controlling the number of calories consumed each day will go a long way in helping a person win the Battle of the Bulge.

Stress and the pH miracle diet

The pH miracle diet is a new way to look at how you eat. By addressing each food, beverage, supplement, and additive by it's acidic or alkaline signature a balance can be negotiated. Our bodies work according to the pH scale, which works on a range of 1 to 14. A ranking of 1 on this scale denotes a high level of acid while a ranking of 14 indicates that there is a high concentration of alkaline present. A ranking of 7 on the pH scale represents neutrality in pH. The blood in the human bloodstream regulates at the level of 7.35, which is mildly alkaline. The pH miracle diet advocates keeping the intake of food into your body in line with this optimum level. The method of implementation is quite simple, by coordinating an eating planned structured around a comprehensive list of foods, and supplements you can create an effective strategy to lower acidity in your body.

Alkaline intake will counter act this stored acidity by being metabolized and neutralizing them at the source. With balance as the benchmark for a workable health plan; constant monitoring of the body's pH levels is essential. Saliva pH test strips with a base range of 4.5 to 8.5 will allow for accurate readings that can assist you in making the proper adjustments to your diet. Even with all of this knowledge and action there are outside influences that will affect your body's acid production. These outside factors will greatly determine how you will implement the alkalizing foods and supplements. The most significant of these external factors will be stress.

Stress is ubiquitous, it is everywhere and it affects everyone. This universal problem has a very traumatic effect on your body. The body works overtime to combat stress that in turn creates more stress. This vicious cycle is propagated by an increase in acid production. As stated previously, acid is a detriment to your body. When the body is overly acidic it does not run well, on the cellular level, the body cannot maintain the immune system. The circulation is adversely affected with the heart having to compensate by working harder. With the heart beating at a higher rate to push this sticky blood through the bloodstream many of these sticky cell clumps break free from the path and attach themselves to the arterial walls creating further slowdowns in the circulation. Your body needs blood to function if the blood reaching the cells and organs are of poor quality this can have serious repercussions. Stress is an acid-producing killer.

There are many techniques in addition to diet that can help in your quest for a balanced pH level. Getting the adequate rest is always the best way to achieve stress relief, as well as meditation which can be two to three times more restful and rejuvenating than actual sleep. Limiting the intake of caffeine and other stimulants also works toward lowering stress in the body by removing these narcotics from the equation. At the heart of stress reduction is eating more foods that are alkaline in nature that will neutralize the acid waste in the body. Exercising is by far the most effective way to receive direct stress relief, and will also help reduce the fat stores of the body where acid waste inhabits in abundance.

Acid reflux treatment

Sugar and the pH miracle diet

The pH diet stresses a balanced approach to eating. By limiting the intake of acidic foods and increasing the intake of alkaline foods one can achieve optimum health. One of the main factors in the fight against acidic pH levels is sugar. Sugar is an epidemic in our modern world. The average American consumes 2 to 3 pounds of sugar each week, that translates to over 135 pounds of sugar per person per year. This alarming number is attributed to the wide popularity of sugar as an additive. Sugar is in everything, hiding in various forms. Sucrose, dextrose, and high fructose corn syrups are active ingredient in all processed food and condiments. These highly refined sweeteners leave a bitter taste in the mouths of those who are starting out on the pH diet due to their universal acceptance as a "necessary evil'

With sugar's radical effect on insulin levels, the body has no fighting chance against the damage. When insulin levels drop; so do the release of growth hormone. These growth hormones depress the immune system that leaves the body open to a host of diseases and maladies. Insulin also inhibits the body's ability to fight off weight gain and elevated triglyceride levels. Put quite simply, the higher in simple sugars a food is, the more likely it will promote fat storage in the body. These stored fat cells play a host to acidic waste that in turn degrade the structure of red blood cells in the bloodstream.

Sugar also fights for control of the cellular development in the body with Vitamin C. From a structural standpoint, Vitamin C and Simple Sugar are quite similar. As sugar levels go up in the body, they compete with one another when they enter cells. If there is a higher concentration of sugar in the bloodstream which will allow more sugar into thirsty cells leaving little to no room for Vitamin C. Without the phagocytizing effects of Vitamn C on cellular structures they are unable to fend off the attacks of viruses and bacteria. Lower white blood cell counts equal a suppressed immune system that isn't strong enough to protect the body.

Sugar is devoid of vitamins and minerals and upon absorption steals vital micro-nutrients to help it metabolize into the system. A deficit is created when these micro-nutrients are not replaced. This deficiency causes fat cells and cholesterol to not be metabolized thus leading to high blood pressure and obesity. The ability of sugar to raise insulin levels artificially eventually leaves the pancreas dysfunctional and the body dependent on sugar. This is commonly referred to as diabetes. Simple sugars have also been attributed to gallstones, mood disorders, heart disease and even asthma. With all of the negative effects that sugars have been clinically linked to, is it any wonder that sugar is also one of the most acidic things you can put into your body.

Cancer is the most dangerous result of heavy sugar dependence. Cancerous cells thrive on lactic acid. This lactic acid produced by fermenting glucose is transported into the liver. A more acidic PH is produced by this buildup of lactic acid in the cancerous cells, the highly acidic nature of cancerous tumors is testament to this. The connection between sugars and unhealthy acidic levels in the bloodstream is clearly drawn through the connection of glucose (sugar) and cancerous cells. Simple sugars are quite simply a poison to the body that will eventually deteriorate the quality of cellular development and suppress the immune system to the point of failure.

By balancing the diet with an 80% alkaline and 20% acid induction of foods, supplements, and beverages you can decrease the risk of disease in the body. By replacing simple sugars with more complex ones or alkaline-based sweeteners such as Stevia, one can decrease the dependence on simple sugars and avoid bad health. Look carefully at ingredient labels and be aware of the many names that simple sugars hide behind. Become educated on how the body metabolizes simple sugars, as well as how carbohydrates can be broken down into simple sugars in the bloodstream. By arming yourself with information you can improve the quality of your life.

The pH miracle diet as a cleansing diet

One of the most important principles in the pH miracle diet is the concept of cleansing your body of the acidic materials that are built up within. The ph miracle diet is a cleansing diet. It performs a cleansing of the body and its tissues and organs. This cleansing is almost like setting the "restart" button on your body. Any conditions you have developed from improper diet and lifestyle will start to dissipate. Cleansing diets like the pH miracle diet will help give your body the nutritional support it needs to function at an optimum level.

To understand what a cleansing diet is you need to understand how the body cleanses itself. The body rids itself of harmful elements through the colon, skin, lungs and bladder. The liver, kidneys and lymphatic system all assist with this cleansing. The liver is the organ in the body that is primarily responsible for body detoxification. When the liver is not functioning properly it cannot change toxins like alcohol, nicotine, caffeine, pesticides, drugs, antibiotics and additives into waste matter. If your liver doesn't work, you are poisoning yourself. The liver can become stressed through improper digestion (eating processed foods), yeast overgrowth, parasites, dehydration and inadequate water intake.

Cleansing your liver is the best thing you can do for your health and for the restoration of proper pH to your body. When you undergo a program, like the pH miracle diet that cleanses the liver it normally requires the liver to work harder than it has before. You must add live enzymes to the diet rather than drawing them from the liver. The live enzymes will alkalize the body and restore your proper pH. You can accomplish this by incorporating organic vegetables into your diet. The proper alkalizing vegetables in the pH miracle diet will support the liver and help restore it to its natural functioning.

If the liver is helped by a cleansing diet, then the whole body will be helped. Once the liver is functioning at proper performance it can begin to do its job of eliminating waste. It will support the other detoxifying organs and perform more effectively in doing its own job.

The pH miracle diet qualifies as a cleansing diet because it performs a cleansing function of the liver and the rest of your body. The diet is made of mostly raw foods, simple proteins (beans and legumes), alternative whole grains and plenty of fresh and pure water. Cleansing diets include, at minimum, five servings of vegetables per day. In most cases, people eat twice that when they are on the pH miracle diet. This is accomplished with the use of fresh vegetable juices. There are four to five servings of vegetables in just two cups of juiced vegetables.

Eating small and frequent meals is also an important part of the cleansing function of the pH miracle diet. The small meals will keep calorie intake up and give you the opportunity to add more vegetables to your day. Although raw vegetables should be favored, lightly steamed veggies are also beneficial. Plant based proteins like beans, soy and nuts should also be included at each small meal for energy and balance.

The effects of the pH miracle cleansing diet depend entirely on your previous level of health. If you've had a diet that consisted of meats, processed foods and other acid forming choices then the cleansing effects may be very difficult at first. Your body will have to adjust to living off of natural elements instead of chemical ones. However your efforts are well worth it. You will be learning the most natural way to eat and teaching your body to live to eat instead of eat to live. Remember that learning to eat in this manner and adopting a cleansing diet will be a process of healing, and not an overnight occurrence. As you take on the principles of the pH miracle diet, you will begin to change your health for the better.

Transitioning into the pH miracle diet

The pH miracle diet is one of the most revolutionary diets to grow in popularity in the past few years. The eating principles of the diet (vegetarian, organic foods) are not new, but the addition of the "pH factor" is definitely something that has not been readily seen in the world of nutrition. The acid/alkaline balance of our bodies is something that many people have never heard of, although the concepts have been part of Chinese medicine for thousands of years. The pH miracle diet may seem strange upon your first encounter, but once you find out more about the concepts and benefits you'll be impressed and motivated to try this way of eating.

The pH miracle diet is a definite transition from the standard American diet. If you are embarking on a journey to health and plan to use the pH miracle diet you will definitely experience a transition in your life. This diet requires you to think about food and eating in an entirely new way. You'll be challenging old stereotypes about nutrition, such as meat is an important part of every meal and milk is beneficial to your health. It can be difficult to make a completely 180-degree turn in your way of eating and cooking.

However, in order to have success on the pH miracle diet, you don't have to make that 180-degree turn in just one week. The book outlines 7 specific steps for dietary change. They do not all have to be done at once. If you radically change your diet and are eating unfamiliar foods, cooking unfamiliar recipes and missing out on your favorite meals, you will not stay on the diet for very long, no matter how healthy it is. The best approach to adapting the pH miracle diet is to do it slowly and at your own pace.

Taking a slower approach is also helpful because it will help you understand how the diet is affecting your body. Even if you've read the book a dozen times and understand all of the science behind the acid/alkaline balance, you won't really know it well until you've done it yourself. Incorporating this new way of eating into your body step by step will allow you to feel the effects of the acid/alkaline process. You can measure the science against your personal opinion and how your body responds.

Everybody is different and you may find as you start the program that certain aspects of the program don't work for you. Maybe you cannot go vegetarian completely, or you find it difficult to go without certain acid-forming fruits. Testing out the principles of the pH miracle diet on your own body will allow you to decide what works and what doesn't. The goal of the diet is find a balance of 70% alkaline and 30% acid foods. This means that you can still enjoy the foods that you love as long as they are balanced by alkalizing foods.

The transition to an ideal pH diet balance is something you should take at your own pace. This is particularly true if you have had a diet full of acid-forming foods or if you have any major health problems. Your body will need time to respond to this new way of eating and adjust to operating on natural foods. The transition into pH balanced eating is a journey that should be traveled in incremental steps.

How to Maintain Your Proper Weight

There are so many different ways to achieve the proper weight. From specialized diets to workouts and even supplements there is no shortage of ideas offered to assist in the weight loss craze. What is often left out is a maintenance program. If you don't know how to maintain your proper weight then there is little hope that your weight loss success will be long term.

When you are trying to reach or maintain your proper weight you need to be eating right. A proper diet that includes fresh fruits and vegetables is important for overall health and well being. If you need to lose weight the best thing you can do for yourself is to eat fresh, whole foods daily. Whole grains and fresh fruits and vegetables not only have the nutrients and energy we need, they also have fiber. Fiber will help with weight loss. Fiber also helps to fill you up. When you eat whole, natural foods you will feel satisfied and you will have more energy.

Our bodies also need protein and fats. These items are important components of a balanced diet. Protein can be derived from plants or animals. Lean protein is best. You do not need large amounts of protein. An adult only requires 2 to 4 ounces of meat a day. Fats should comprise a very small portion of our daily caloric intake. Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids are in fats and they are vital to your metabolism as well as your brain, without them you won't be able to think well.

Activity is another important key to maintaining your proper weight. Staying active, even when you are busy with work, kids, and everything else that life sends your way, is important to your health and your weight. If you have very limited time you can add some physical activity into your life by walking up the stairs at work or parking in the back of the parking lot when you go shopping. Increasing your physical activity is important. You should also strive to exercise 3 to 5 times a week for 30-50 minutes at a time. This is a total of 150 minutes a week that you need to be spending doing a physical activity. During this exercise your heart rate should increase and you should breathe deeply, but not pant. Over exertion is not necessary.

Another thing you can do to maintain your weight is take care of your general health. You should visit your doctor annually for a routine exam and blood work. This will let you know if you are on the right track or if you need to step up your plan a bit. There might be medical reasons that you are having difficulty with your weight. Your doctor can make suggestions for any modifications your diet or exercise plan may need to help you achieve and maintain your proper weight.

Keeping yourself active, eating wholesome foods, and going to annual checkups with your physician are all ways to help you maintain your proper weight.

The Miracle of Green Tea

Is any other food or drink reported to have as many health benefits as green tea? The Chinese have known about the medicinal benefits of green tea since ancient times, using it to treat everything from headaches to depression. In her book Green Tea: The Natural Secret for a Healthier Life, Nadine Taylor states that green tea has been used as a medicine in China for at least 4,000 years.

Today, scientific research in both Asia and the west is providing hard evidence for the health benefits long associated with drinking green tea. For example, in 1994 the Journal of the National Cancer Institute published the results of an epidemiological study indicating that drinking green tea reduced the risk of esophageal cancer in Chinese men and women by nearly sixty percent. University of Purdue researchers recently concluded that a compound in green tea inhibits the growth of cancer cells. There is also research indicating that drinking green tea lowers total cholesterol levels, as well as improving the ratio of good (HDL) cholesterol to bad (LDL) cholesterol.

To sum up, here are just a few medical conditions in which drinking green tea is reputed to be helpful:

cancer

rheumatoid arthritis

high cholesterol levels

cariovascular disease

infection

impaired immune function

What makes green tea so special?

The secret of green tea lies in the fact it is rich in catechin polyphenols, particularly epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). EGCG is a powerful anti-oxidant: besides inhibiting the growth of cancer cells, it kills cancer cells without harming healthy tissue. It has also been effective in lowering LDL cholesterol levels, and inhibiting the abnormal formation of blood clots. The latter takes on added importance when you consider that thrombosis (the formation of abnormal blood clots) is the leading cause of heart attacks and stroke.

Links are being made between the effects of drinking green tea and the "French Paradox." For years, researchers were puzzled by the fact that, despite consuming a diet rich in fat, the French have a lower incidence of heart disease than Americans. The answer was found to lie in red wine, which contains resveratrol, a polyphenol that limits the negative effects of smoking and a fatty diet. In a 1997 study, researchers from the University of Kansas determined that EGCG is twice as powerful as resveratrol, which may explain why the rate of heart disease among Japanese men is quite low, even though approximately seventy-five percent are smokers.

Why don't other Chinese teas have similar health-giving properties? Green, oolong, and black teas all come from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. What sets green tea apart is the way it is processed. Green tea leaves are steamed, which prevents the EGCG compound from being oxidized. By contrast, black and oolong tea leaves are made from fermented leaves, which results in the EGCG being converted into other compounds that are not nearly as effective in preventing and fighting various diseases.

Other Benefits

New evidence is emerging that green tea can even help dieters. In November, 1999, the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition published the results of a study at the University of Geneva in Switzerland. Researchers found that men who were given a combination of caffeine and green tea extract burned more calories than those given only caffeine or a placebo.

Green tea can even help prevent tooth decay! Just as its bacteria-destroying abilities can help prevent food poisoning, it can also kill the bacteria that causes dental plaque. Meanwhile, skin preparations containing green tea - from deodorants to creams - are starting to appear on the market.

Harmful Effects?

To date, the only negative side effect reported from drinking green tea is insomnia due to the fact that it contains caffeine. However, green tea contains less caffeine than coffee: there are approximately thirty to sixty mg. of caffeine in six - eight ounces of tea, compared to over one-hundred mg. in eight ounces of coffee.

Vegetarianism and the pH miracle diet

The pH miracle diet is a program for restoring balance in the body by eating alkaline foods. The body's cells are slightly alkaline and by eating alkalizing foods you can support your body's natural function. In addition to eating alkalizing foods, Dr. Robert Young, the creator of the diet, also recommends avoiding acidifying foods like meat, wheat and dairy. Those that want better health, according to Dr. Young, should become vegetarians.

The standard American diet certainly isn't alkalizing and definitely isn't vegetarian. Animal protein is a mainstay of most people's diets. However, the necessity for animal protein is a not.

There is a prevailing belief in out society that consuming a lot of protein encourages health and especially physical fitness. Men especially are expected to eat massive quantities of meat in order to have strength and vitality. This myth has prevailed as far back in history as many can remember. In the beginning of the twentieth century, scientists began to believe that consuming meat equaled physical strength, especially in the world of sports. This specific belief, the link between sports and protein, has been one of the driving forces behind meat consumption in the last 100 years.

In actuality, the body's need for protein is actually a lot less than many people think. There are plenty of sources for vegetarian protein that are alkalizing, and acceptable on the ph Miracle diet.

But why does the program specifically forbid animal protein? Animal protein, like meats, eggs and dairy products all have acidifying effects on the body. These effects become even more prevalent when you consume non-organic meats. Consuming conventionally processed meats can expose you to hormones, drugs and other chemicals that have been given to the animals before they were killed. There are no conclusive studies about the safety of hormones, but there are perceived risks. Animals are routinely given antibiotics as well, which will increase your consumption of antibiotics and will reduce helpful bacteria in your body. The reduction of these helpful bacteria will allow more metabolic acid to accumulate in your system, and create disastrous health effects.

The elements in meat that are good for you (protein, vitamins and minerals) can be obtained from vegetarian sources without all of the dangers. Just one cup of tofu, an alkalizing protein source, has 20 grams of protein. The average man or women needs less than 40 grams per day. Protein needs can easily be met without eating acidifying meat.

Making the switch to vegetarianism is more of mental struggle than a physical one. The body runs much more efficiently without the acidifying presence of animal protein. Eating meat is a habit and the benefits of eating it are a culturally propagated myth. There is no physical need for meat. The most difficult part of eliminating it from your diet will be opening your eyes to the wide variety of new foods that can replace meat.

When you follow the pH miracle diet, you'll notice that Dr. Young recommends a balance of 70% alkaline foods and 30% acid foods. This means that there is some leeway for eating foods on the acidic list. Although it may be tempting to eat animal protein as part of this 30%, your body will be in better balance if you choose something that is just slightly acidic, like eggs, oats or pasta, instead of highly acidic meats.

Becoming a vegetarian on the pH miracle diet is certainly your choice. But you owe it to your health to start reducing the amount of animal protein in your diet.

Overcoming plateaus on the Atkins diet

If you are experiencing a stall or plateau in your Atkins weight loss efforts, you are not alone. This occurs from time to time. However, you first must make sure that you have actually reached a plateau point.

A plateau means that you have gone an extended period of time without losing weight or inches. It's important to take your measurements before you start your weight loss plan, in addition to your weight. On some weeks it may not seem like you are losing any at all on the scale. But a quick look at your measurements will prove otherwise.

On the Atkins diet you are replacing fat with muscle, which is denser and heavier. You might actually gain a little weight because you are building muscle to replace your fat. The result will be an increase on the scale, but a decrease in your inches. Your body will be smaller and leaner, but you may weigh the same.

Before you start your program, measure your chest, waist, hips, upper arms, thighs and calves. You never know where you may be losing inches, so it's important to have these comprehensive measurements to refer to. It is normal to go through periods where you body is readjusting. Remember that you are reforming the composition of your body and this process will take some time. Check your measurements once a week, just like your weight, and you can track your overall progress.

There may be periods of 3 to 4 weeks where you have a stall in weight loss, but a loss in inches. Or vice versa. Using both methods to track your fat loss is the best assurance for an accurate measure of your progress. These stall periods are not a reason to quit or to give up. They are natural parts of the weight loss process.

Stalls may occur more frequently if you are 5 to 10 pounds away from being at your goal weight. By following a low-carb, high-protein way of eating you have created a lot more muscle in your body. Your muscle-to-fat ratio is higher than ever before, so your body might be resisting losing anymore fat. It may be time to rethink your goal weight. Perhaps your body is trying to tell you something and its time to start maintaining your weight loss rather than trying to lose more.

There are some other possible causes of stalls and plateaus on the road to weight loss. If you've gone four weeks with no change in weight or measurements and you are nowhere near your goal weight, you can try a few different methods to get yourself out of the rut. First, make sure your carbohydrate level is in check. If you are eating too many carbohydrate grams per day, your weight loss will stall. Look for hidden carbohydrates in packaged foods, dressings and sauces to make sure they aren't the culprits in your plateau.

Check your daily water intake. When you are dehydrated, your body will retain water and that can mimic a plateau. Water will also help flush ketones from your system and make more room for new fat burning ketones.

Undereating can also be a cause for weight loss plateaus. Make sure not to let yourself go hungry and eat smaller, more frequent meals. Remember, you are on a carbohydrate-restricted diet, not a calorie-restricted diet. Make sure to have some protein with every meal and snack. Never go more than 5 hours without eating something (except overnight of course). Also, eat freely from the acceptable foods. Don't try to count calories or restrict your calorie intake. When your body gets too few calories, it goes into starvation mode and will hold onto fat cells.

Increasing your exercise level can help get you through a plateau as well. As your muscles get used to working out at a certain level, you'll have to increase the duration or the intensity in order to keep challenging your body. Add a new exercise into the mix, or try increasing weight in resistance training.

Trying one of these methods will most likely get your weight loss back on track. Remember that occasional stalls are normal, but they do not have to last.

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Planning for Atkins

When it comes to the Atkins diet, your success will lie in your planning. Making sure you have the proper foods on hand when you begin your diet will go a long way toward your ongoing weight loss. There are many suggestions for Atkins diet meals in the Atkins books, and there are plenty of resources online for Atkins and low-carb recipes.

Planning your meals and snacks will be an important part of your life when you are on this diet. That advice really goes for any diet. When you eat whatever you like, you gain weight. Your current weight and health problems are a direct result of letting your eating habits go unchecked for so long.

As with all diet plans, becoming used to the Atkins way of eating is going to take some time and adjustment. The standard American diet relies heavily on carbohydrates and other restricted foods. Many people grew up on carbohydrate heavy favorites like spaghetti and meatballs, meat and potatoes and pasta casserole. It is going to take some effort and patience to get used to eating in an entirely new way.

There are two different approaches you can take in adjusting your diet. You can find replacements for your favorite foods with "mock" carbohydrates. For example, lasagna made with eggplant or zucchini instead of pasta is much more carb-friendly than the regular variety. Spaghetti squash noodles make a good substitute for spaghetti noodles. There are also many low-carb or carb-free replacements for bread, pasta and sugar products.

The second approach is to find out how to make new recipes that center around meats and other low-carb foods. There are a wide variety of meats that are acceptable on the Atkins plan. If you are used to just eating ground beef or chicken on a weekly basis, you'll be surprised by the variety of meats that are out there. Try incorporating pork, lamb and ham into your weekly routine. You can also experiment with game fowl like Cornish hen, quail and pheasant. If you've never been a fan of fish, try a different variety. Some people who don't like trout find they have a love of salmon or another fish. Don't forget shellfish like mussels, clams and shrimp. These foods are all acceptable and can add variety to your diet.

Make sure to have some easy to prepare foods on hand for snacks and quick meals. For example, thin sliced cucumbers, radishes and celery mixed with lemon mayonnaise makes a great low-carb meal or dinner salad. Fried peppers, mushrooms and garlic served on arugula with feta cheese is another good option.

Research and try out different low-carb recipes so you have a good base of knowledge of what to prepare for meals. The most important step you can take in losing weight is planning. Getting a good arsenal of easy to prepare meals will prevent you from hitting the drive through or going to a restaurant and breaking your diet.

If you have delicious food to look forward to everyday, you'll be less bored with your diet. Even during the restrictive induction phase, there are many food combinations that you can use. At first glance, the vegetable and meat options may seem restrictive. But this is only in comparison to what you have been used to eating. With a little planning and creativity, you can find something interesting to eat everyday.

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Pros and cons of the Atkins diet

The Atkins diet is one of the most popular low carbohydrate diets on the market today. Its popularity has sparked dozens of look-a-like diets who center on the same principles of high-protein, low-carbohydrate eating. There are a lot of fish in the sea when it comes to choosing a low-carbohydrate plan.

Studies have shown that low-carbohydrate eating has many benefits. There have been scientific results that low-carbohydrate diets like Atkins do create significant weight loss without having to restrict calories. People who use the Atkins diet have also reported this. There are studies that show that low-carb eating improves triclycerides, reduces blood glucose for diabetics and pre-diabetics and increases good cholesterol (HDL). Low-carbohydrate dieting has been scientifically proven to improve insulin sensitivity, decrease blood pressure and lower blood insulin levels. When compared with low-fat diets, low-carb dieters lose less muscle mass.

Although not scientifically proven, there are many common benefits reported by Atkins dieters and other low-carb dieters. These include an increase in energy, a reduced craving for sweets, better concentration, improved mood and an lessening of depression type symptoms.

However, there are also some benefits that are specific to the Atkins diet. If you have been a low fat dieter in previous years, you'll enjoy eating all of those "forbidden foods" that you once had to go without. Steak, butter and cream are a regular part of Atkins dieters' meals. There is a certain pleasure that goes along with eating foods that were once off limits. Atkins dieters are encouraged to eat their full of rich meats, cheeses and fats and oils.

Atkins is also simple to use, compared with some other low-carb diets on the market. There are some basic food carbohydrate counts that you'll need to learn, but after that, you are free to eat from the acceptable food lists.

Dr. Atkins also emphasized finding your own personal carbohydrate level. Different people have different levels of carbohydrate tolerance. While some gain weight on just 90 carbohydrate grams a day, others can live comfortably at 120 carbohydrate grams. During the ongoing weight loss phase and pre-maintenance phase of the diet, you will learn your personal carbohydrate count that will help determine your carbohydrate goal for life.

The popularity of Atkins is a double-edged sword for dieters. There is a lot of information available on the diet, which makes it easy to find resources and support. There have been many, many Atkins books written and there are endless amounts of websites that offer tips and group support. However, everyone has heard of Atkins and probably has an opinion on it. There are some big misconceptions out there about the nature of the diet, and you'll no doubt have to defend your new way of eating from time to time.

There are some other minimal downsides to using the Atkins program. You do need to count carbohydrates in everything you eat to make sure that you are staying within your personal carbohydrate range. There is also the issue of Induction, the most hotly debate aspect of the plan. Induction can be difficult to get through if you've had a diet that centers on carbs and sugar. Also, many people try Induction and mistakenly believe that this is the way that the whole diet is going to be. They end up quitting before they get into the actual Atkins plan.

Sometimes, although it is not common, people will experience a carb crash on the 3rd to 5th day of the diet. This reaction is a result of their body finally experiencing ketosis, or running on fat instead of carbohydrates. The effects are transient, but many people have sworn off low-carb diets entirely because of this happenstance.

Overall, with the minor drawbacks considered, Atkins is one of the most popular low-carb diets for a reason. It works. Thousands of people have had success with the Atkins approach to the low-carb way of living.

Diabetes diet and health

Diabetes is an unceasing disease associated with abnormally high levels of sugar in the blood. People with diabetes should avoid using nicotinic acid. It is an unpredictable disease which causes a high glucose level and can cause kidney failure - this develops in about 20% of all patients with diabetes. High blood sugar also called diabetes mellitus. Diabetes can occur when your body doesn't make enough insulin to keep your blood sugar controlled. This is called Type I diabetes. In overweight individuals, diabetes is often caused by insulin resistance, where insulin levels may be elevated, but the body's tissues are resistant to its effects. This is also known as Type II diabetes. Diet acts an important role in controlling the diabetes. The diabetic diet may be used alone or else in combination with insulin doses or with oral hypoglycemic drugs. Main objective of diabetic diet is to maintain ideal body weight, by providing adequate nutrition along with normal blood sugar levels in blood. The diet plan for a diabetic is based on height, weight, age, sex, physical activity and nature of diabetes. While planning diet, the dietician has to consider complications such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels. Here the patients require something which can provide all the information about the calories, sugar level that can calculate the calories and sugar level.

Effective diabetic-management requires a healthy regular lifestyle which should include-

Working towards obtaining ideal body weight

Regular balanced diet & following a diabetic diet

Regular exercise

Sensible weight control

Diabetic medication if needed

Diabetes can be controlled by the daily activities, patient should know that what, when, and how much eating will affect the blood glucose level. Following are some advices that are very beneficial for the diabetes -

Eat the same amount of food each day.

Eat at about the same times each day.

Make sure the gaps between your meals are short.

Take the medicines at the same times each day.

Exercise at the same times each day.

Drink a lot of water that will help flush the toxins off your system.

Take good sleep daily.

Every day, choose foods from these food groups: starches, vegetables, fruit, meat and meat substitutes, and milk and yogurt. How much of each depends on how many calories is need a day.

Limit the amounts of fats and sweets each day.

There are many types of equipment or calorie counter that provides the all counts which are required. But getting the best is the more important because it's all about the health. Patients need to check nutrition information, sugar level and other things that generate the diet according to all these information.

News Report on Hoodia

Imagine this: an organic pill that kills the appetite and attacks obesity. It has no known side-effects, and contains a molecule that fools your brain into believing you are full.

Deep inside the African Kalahari desert, grows an ugly cactus called the Hoodia. It thrives in extremely high temperatures, and takes years to mature.

The San Bushmen of the Kalahari, one of the world's oldest and most primitive tribes, had been eating the Hoodia for thousands of years, to stave off hunger during long hunting trips.

When South African scientists were routinely testing it, they discovered the plant contained a previously unknown molecule, which has since been christened P 57.

The license was sold to a Cambridgeshire bio-pharmaceutical company, Phytopharm, who in turn sold the development and marketing rights to the giant Pfizer Corporation.

Fortune cactusA molecule in the cactus makes you feel full

When I traveled to the Kalahari, I met families of the San bushmen.

It is a sad, impoverished and displaced tribe, still unaware they are sitting on top of a goldmine.

But if the Hoodia works, the 100,000 San strung along the edge of the Kalahari will become overnight millionaires on royalties negotiated by their South African lawyer Roger Chennells.

And they will need all the help they can to secure the money.

Currently, many bushmen smoke large quantities of marijuana, suffer from alcoholism, and have neither possessions nor any sense of the value of money.

The truth is no-one has fully grasped what the magic molecule means for their counterparts in the developed world.

Blood sugarAccording to the British Heart Foundation 17% of men and 21% of women are obese, while 46% of men and 32% of women are overweight.

So the drug's marketing potential speaks for itself.

Phytopharm's Dr Richard Dixey explained how P.57 actually works:

"There is a part of your brain, the hypothalamus. Within that mid-brain there are nerve cells that sense glucose sugar.

"When you eat, blood sugar goes up because of the food, these cells start firing and now you are full.

What the Hoodia seems to contain is a molecule that is about 10,000 times as active as glucose.

"It goes to the mid-brain and actually makes those nerve cells fire as if you were full. But you have not eaten. Nor do you want to."

Clinical trialsDixey organized the first animal trials for Hoodia. Rats, a species that will eat literally anything, stopped eating completely.

When the first human clinical trial was conducted, a morbidly obese group of people were placed in a "phase 1 unit", a place as close to prison as it gets.

All the volunteers could do all day was read papers, watch television, and eat.

Half were given Hoodia, half placebo. Fifteen days later, the Hoodia group had reduced their calorie intake by 1000 a day.

It was a stunning success.

The cactus testIn order to see for ourselves, we drove into the desert, four hours north of Capetown in search of the cactus.

Once there, we found an unattractive plant which sprouts about 10 tentacles, and is the size of a long cucumber.

Each tentacle is covered in spikes which need to be carefully peeled.

The San will finally throw off thousands of years of oppression, poverty, social isolation and discrimination

Roger Chennells, lawyer

Inside is a slightly unpleasant-tasting, fleshy plant.

At about 1800hrs I ate about half a banana size - and later so did my cameraman.

Soon after, we began the four hour drive back to Capetown.

The plant is said to have a feel-good almost aphrodisiac quality, and I have to say, we felt good.

But more significantly, we did not even think about food. Our brains really were telling us we were full. It was a magnificent deception.

Dinner time came and went. We reached our hotel at about midnight and went to bed without food. And the next day, neither of us wanted nor ate breakfast.

I ate lunch but without appetite and very little pleasure. Partial then full appetite returned slowly after 24 hours.

The futureMr Chennells is ecstatic:

"The San will finally throw off thousands of years of oppression, poverty, social isolation and discrimination.

"We will create trust funds with their Hoodia royalties and the children will join South Africa's middle classes in our lifetime.

"I envisage Hoodia cafes in London and New York, salads will be served and the Hoodia cut like cucumber on to the salad.

"It will need flavoring to counter its unpleasant taste, but if it has no side effects and no cumulative side-effects."

Your Weight Loss Surgery Options

Are you looking to lose weight? If you are, you likely already know that you have a number of different options. For instance, you can go about losing weight naturally, with the use of exercise and healthy eating. You can also lose weight with the assistance of weight loss products, like diet pills. Another option that you have is weight loss surgery. Although all of the previous weight loss methods are popular, weight loss surgery is rapidly increasing in popularity.

If you are interested in undergoing weight loss surgery, you are not alone. As previously mentioned, weight loss surgery is increasing in popularity. If you have never considered weight loss surgery before, you may be wondering what all of your options are. While there are a number of different weight loss surgical procedures that you can undergo, you will find that there are two main procedures. These procedures, which include gastric bypass surgery and lap-band surgery, are outlined below.

Gastric bypass surgery is a weight loss surgery that involves the stapling of the stomach. That is why this procedure is also commonly referred to as stomach stapling. When undergoing gastric bypass surgery, your surgeon will portion off some of your stomach, making a smaller pouch. Your intestine will then be rerouted, making it so that your food consumption only impacts a portion of your stomach. This is what makes it possible for you lose weight with gastric bypass surgery.

Although gastric bypass surgery is a great weight loss surgery to undergo, it isn't right for everyone. Most physicians require their patients to be around eighty pounds or more overweight. In some rare instances, those who are less than eighty pounds overweight are able to undergo gastric bypass surgery if their health is at risk or if they have other medical problems, such as diabetes.

As previously stated, lap-band surgery is another weight loss surgery that is increasing in popularity. Lap-band surgery is similar to gastric bypass surgery. When undergoing lap-band surgery, your stomach pouch is made smaller. One of the few differences is that your stomach is not stapled, but an adjustable band is used. That is one of the reasons why lap-band surgery is so popular, as the band used can be completely removed or easily adjusted.

Lap-band surgery and gastric bypass surgery are not the only weight loss surgeries available to you, but they are two of the most popular. Thousands of Americans have undergone these two weight loss surgeries. For many individuals, weight loss surgery is a last resort. Many who undergo weight loss surgery have not had success with losing weight any other way. If you are interested in undergoing a weight loss surgical procedure, you will want to speak with your physician.

One of the many reasons why it is important to speak with your doctor or another healthcare professional is because weight loss surgery isn't right for everyone. In addition to being at the "right," weight, you also need to have the willpower to reduce your food consumption. If you eat too much food, namely too much food for your stomach to hold, you can not only harm your weight loss progress, but you can also put your health at risk. That is why your weight loss surgery decision is not one that you can make alone; it is one that must be made in conjunction with a healthcare professional.

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Weight Loss - Drink Goji Juice for weight loss

Modernization is wonderful, but there are also other factors in the modern life we live in that may subject our bodies to harm. Understanding what can harm us and what will help us will be our best defense.

Goji juice is juice from the goji fruit or berry and is more and more accepted as having a great health potential. You can buy this elixir in health food stores as well as online. However, watch out for more scams! There a many of them out there.

When we say "goji juice scam" we normally mean one out of two very different scams. One of these would relate to the quality of the advertised goji juice. Let's say that an advertisement did not mention Himalayan goji berries. This could be seen as a goji juice scam as only the Himalayan berries have a nutritional profile that includes close to one dozen different ingredients.

While there is at least one goji juice scam that deprives consumers of a good quality goji juice, there is yet a second, no less dangerous form for this kind of scam. The second goji scam concerns the nature of information regarding one mineral in the goji juice. The second scam leaves out all of the available information about a mineral called selenium.

What do you think is their secret?

Introducing goji juice, made from goji berries grown in the remote and unpolluted hills and valleys of Tibet and Mongolia. Experts who want to save the people who live in this modern society studied what must be wonderful about these Himalayan diets and why do they live so long and free from diseases. Their studies prove that their diet perpetually include goji berries.

Further studies on goji berries prove that they are nutritious and contain vital nutrients necessary to combat free radicals.

Goji juice contains potent vitamins, and minerals like no other berry.

Goji juice also contains 18 amino acids, 8 of which are essential for our bodies, but having all 18 adds to the beneficial characteristic of this wonderful red juice.

Based on studies by numerous health professionals including Dr. Earl Mindell, the author of The Vitamin Bible, goji juice made from goji berries can give your body all the nutrients it needs to help keep a healthy and happy life.

Goji juice aside from the 18 amino acids also has 21 trace minerals, vitamins B1, B2, B6 and Vitamin E. All of these can help give you healthy and active life.

Some of the beneficial effects of drinking goji juice are:

Energy and Strength - goji juice is considered as an adaptogen. It increases exercise tolerance, stamina and endurance. Goji juice may also enhance the recovery of ill patients.

Cholesterol level balance - goji juice may also help manage your cholesterol level because it contains beta-sitosterol, which can help in your cholesterol level balance. It will also help avoid cholesterol deposit in the blood vessels, thus heart problems may be eliminated.

Normal Kidney Function - your kidney is the vital organ that may possibly control the brain and other organs in the body. It is thus essential for better health that you keep your kidneys functioning properly. Goji juice is believed to be helpful in keeping this essential organ functioning properly.

Supports General Health - as mentioned earlier, free radicals harm our body in many ways. Thus, eliminating this natural enemy will help keep our body strong and avoid illnesses. Goji juice is a potent antioxidant that may keep our body healthy.

Other beneficial factors which may come from goji juice are enhanced sexual function, blood sugar level balance and vision problems.

Goji juice is available with several health stores and a lot of these have online shops. The recommended dosage is 2-4 ounces per day; however, there are no known side effects of exceeding the dosage. Most people are able to see and feel the positive effects of Goji juice within one month of regular consumption. The bottled juice sold by health stores should not contain artificial colors or sweetening agents. A one-liter bottle of Goji juice may contain the nutritional equivalent of two pounds of fresh Goji berries.

Easy Fast Weight Loss Ideas - How To Lose Weight Fast

In today's world, where everybody is getting conscious about looking good, it has become all the more necessary to keep oneself in shape. Many argue diet- or weight loss programs offering fast weight loss to be questionable and consider them "too good to be true". While this is true with most diet pills and magic weight loss formulas, research shows that loosing weight fast is an important part of long lasting weight loss.

Most scientists agree the most important factor for lasting weight loss is a change of lifestyle. This change may sound like a walk in the park, but don't be so easily fooled, old habits are hard to get rid of.

Many aspects of the lifestyle contribute to a person's overweight. Changing just one, or a few, won't be enough. More often than not, you need a complete change in lifestyle.

The most important reasons for overweight are;

Your diet

What you eat is, of course, the single most important factor when gaining weight. If you eat more than you spend, you will gain weight. Some people can eat more and fattier foods than others, it's in the genes. Focusing on eating food with less fat, more fibers and nutrition as well as fruits and vegetables is a must of you want to loose weight. When you eat is also important. Eating just before bedtime isn't the best idea while regular meals will help you keep your weight.

Exercise

Just sitting in front of a desk all day won't burn much fat. You need to get more active in your daily routine. Just increasing your daily, physical activity the slightest will have a great effect on you and your weight. It is better to exercise lightly and often, than it is to work out hard at the gym twice a year. Any actual exercise is better than the greatest intentions.

Smoking

Smoking will kill you! It's as simple as that. In the long run, smoking will cause many diseases, but in the short run it'll make you fat and lazy. There are reasons you rarely see an athlete smoke, it's disastrous for you and your health. There are several places online to quit smoking, if you are a habitual smoker - quit today.

ncrease the percentage of raw food in diet

- The number one thing you can do to extend health and vibrant living

is increase raw food. Living food for a living body.

Eat natural unprocessed food

- Eat natural unprocessed whole grain foods and unrefined oils.

- Educate yourself on what is truly natural and what is often a

marketing ploy. Read the ingredients; do not be fooled by labels.

Well there you have it, as an experienced trainer I wouldn't recommend this type of program to my clients. The weight loss is just too quick and the program would be very hard to maintain owing to the very low caloric intake.

I advise my clients to decrease their calories by just 500 per day (and no more) below their maintenance levels and they will be losing 1 - 2 pounds of body fat every week, safely, without craving and without too much disruption to their lifestyle.

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Weight Loss Advice and Tips To Lose weight

There are lots of different diets, diet pills and other weight loss products on the market which can help you to lose weight. But not all of these weight loss products will help you to maintain your weight loss. And not all will help you to lose weight in a healthy way. One needs to have a clear goal in mind to be successful in weightloss endeavors. One needs to have clearly defined goals for achieveing the desired weightloss. You can supercharge your weight loss program by learning successful ways to take hold of your life as well as your thoughts and feelings. You didn't get that excess weight overnight, and you will not experience substantial or permanent weight loss overnight either.

When you put together quality nutrition with the right fitness program, you have a excellent recipe for losing weight. A person can gain extra caloric and fat loss by increasing the pace and rhythm of your walks. When it comes to fat loss exercise, a great many folks turn to aerobics. Using "high intensity interval training" to shed the fat and burn more calories is also greatly beneficial. It burns a vast amount of calories which assists with losing weight. The equation goes something like this: Increasing the metabolism will cause fat loss so increasing metabolism is a must.

Consistent exercise is one of the keys to targeting fat loss. Fat will never turn into muscle, but you can cause fat to burn at a faster pace when you use a bodybuilding workout as help for weight loss. You can't possibly achieve sustained weight loss success without a daily fitness program. Your fitness program, as part of your weight loss program and combined with a healthy diet, will cause you to burn that extra weight and you'll notice the results within a few short weeks. The single biggest problem with most weight loss or fitness programs is that they are not enjoyable! You're more likely to persevere in your efforts if you enjoy yourself. Swimming can be a great fat loss program, because it is easy on the joints.

Weight loss methods

Creating a weight loss plan does not simply mean eating less food. On the other hand, it means consuming dietary food that enhances physical fitness and improves your health considerably. A healthy body can turn us into a better human being so you should at anytime treat yourself with excellent weight loss plans and techniques. Weight loss can include weight loss surgeries, taking dietary pills, natural methods like walking, talking and exercising, performing aerobics, and eating normal diet at regular intervals.

Lastly, make sure you're enjoying yourself. If you force yourself to go to the gym every week you probably will eventually cave and just stop going. Finding ways to eat well and exercise can be a challenge when you first decide to commit to those activities. There is a learning curve to maintaining a healthy lifestyle, but like all things in life, it just takes some practice.

Best food for weight loss some foods help lose weight

No food alone could ever cause us to lose weight, there is no such thing as the best single weight loss food. We all understand that weight loss is the result of the energy consumed from all various foods within the diet, and that a diet's total energy must be lower than the energy used by the body. Some foods make it really difficult to lose weight. They create their own self-sustaining cravings ("Betcha can't eat just one!") and play havoc with your blood sugar and, ultimately, your waistline. But other foods do just the opposite.

Statistical data from 2003 to 2006 indicate that obesity rates had risen in 31 of the 50 American states. The data came from surveys conducted by different local health departments on the height and weight of people from different states. Another result of the survey pointed out a close relationship between obesity and heart disease among the respondents. Due to the serious health implications of the study, state funding had been allocated to educate people about the dangers of being obese and overweight. The government-sponsored weight loss programs also focused on simple information campaigns about good eating habits. People were provided flyers and other reading materials that contained information on how to make proper food choices. This strategy made sense since there are types of food that can actually curb one's appetite and stop your sugar cravings. These food groups also boost metabolism which helps consume stored fat in the body which, in the process, leads to weight loss. Shown below are some of the "good food" that should be part of a weight watchers eating plan:

1. Beans - Beans contain cholecystokinin, a digestive harmone that acts as a natural appetite suppressant. Beans also keep blood sugar on an even keel and helps stave off hunger longer. High-fiber bean varieties can even lower cholesterol levels.

2. Salad - Eating salad is highly recommended by the American Dietetic Association because the vegetable-based meal is rich in vitamins c and e, lycopene, folic acid, and carontenoids. However, it is best to cut down on the dressing when eating salad. Some salad dressings can actually be high in calories.

3. Eggs - Eaten in moderate amounts, eggs are good for the health since these contain protein that helps prevent spikes in blood sugar. Weight watchers are often advised to eat only egg whites.

4. Green Tea - This type of tea is an antioxidant and helps stimulate metabolism which, in turn, burns fat. Green tea is rich in antioxidants called catechins.

5. Soup - Having a little chicken soup is good for the body because it helps decrease hunger. Chicken soup is considered a folk remedy for colds and flu.

6. High-fiber Cereals - Cereals which are high in fiber help improve digestion and are good for reducing hunger pangs.

7. Tofu - If you eat tofu, you tend to eat less food. Tofu is considered as an appetite-quashing protein.

8. Desserts: You have to try and keep your sweet tooth under absolute control and avoid desserts.

9. Olive Oil - Cooking food in olive oil is healthy because it contains mono-unsaturated fat which is widely accepted as a product that helps prevent cardiovascular disease.

10. Pears - This fruit is a good source of fiber and fructose which does not cause spikes in blood-sugar levels.

11. Nuts - Research released by Purdue University showed that adding about 500 calories of peanuts to their regular diet helped them eat less food that could cause weight gain.

12. Watermelon - Who doesn't love diving into a crisp, juicy slice of watermelon when it's hot outside?

"Half of the watermelon comes from water. ...It's a wonderful way to satisfy thirst and a yen for something sweet," says Moores.

To keep your cool and cut your time in the kitchen, start with prepared produce, such as cut-up fruit and washed greens. Add rotisserie chicken, prepared soups, and pre-threaded kabobs when you need something a bit heartier. Pre-prepped foods may cost a little extra, but they save time in the kitchen.

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Have A Gala Time With Your Yoga Equipments And Make Yourself Healthy.

Yoga Equipments

Yoga is a way of life that helps to control mind and helps in developing your personality. Most people in the eastern and western parts of the world too are now practising yoga. Even though, yoga is a simple exercise you need to be serious about it and perform it safely.

For better performance and safety reasons, you can also buy yoga equipments. Most of them are of good quality but are also highly priced. You can buy yoga equipments from many sources. Some of them offer quality yoga equipments at low cost.

If you want to practice yoga, you can do so in the privacy of your own home with the help of yoga equipments. Below are some guidelines for home yoga practitioners and some recommended yoga equipments and products.

Guidelines for proper yoga exercising

The following guidelines about yoga exercises will help you to perform in a more effective and a better way.

• Ideal time for practice

There is no set time frame for practicing yoga. You can do it anytime your stomach is empty, preferably four hours after lunch or early morning when your stomach is empty.

• Practice the sessions continuously

When you perform yoga exercises, do it at a stretch. Do not divide your yoga exercises in two sessions namely in morning and evening.

• Place

Make sure that you perform yoga and set out your yoga equipments in a spacious, airy, pollution free, and warm place with no bright artificial lights.

• Clothes

The clothes you wear during yoga sessions should be light. Tight fitting clothes are strict no-no during yoga exercises.

• Accessories Used

There are many yoga equipments or accessories. They make performing yoga simpler and easier. You can make use of these yoga equipments for better resistance and balance.
Some of the must-have yoga equipments are yoga mats and yoga balls; however, the latter are for more advanced yoga practitioners.

Remember there are many yoga equipments but you do not have to buy them all. The Complete Yoga Kit has all the yoga equipment you will ever need for your yoga exercises and daily yoga workouts, for novices as well as professionals. Some of them are as follows:

• Yoga Mat
• Yoga Mat Bag
• Full Yoga Block
• Yoga Belt
• Burst Resistant Swiss Ball with Pump
• Resistance Band Kit

If you are beginner, all you will need is yoga mat. For better balance and performance during yoga exercises, you will need a yoga mat. The latest craze is for yoga mats that are 6mm thick and made of anti-slip material. Many thoughtful manufacturers came up with a new phenomenon or trend of blue yoga mats. It is said blue is the colour of calm seas and serene skies and therefore they sooth the body, mind, and soul. For yoga exercises, which unite you body, mind, and soul, what is better than blue yoga mat? If you want a yoga mat, seek a yoga mat, which has a cool blue effect and is 6mm thick for better results.