Friday, February 2, 2007

Eat Organic Foods for Better Health

With the large amounts of toxins in the inorganic foods we eat, we all need to eat organic whenever possible. Every time that you choose conventionally farmed foods or processed foods over organic, you are increasing your cumulative exposure to chemicals and raising your risk of disease.
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Eat Organic Foods for Better Health

It is more important today than ever before to purchase organic foods. Organic fruits, vegetables, meat and dairy products do not have the toxins that inorganic foods have.

With the large amounts of toxins in the inorganic foods we eat, we all need to eat organic whenever possible. Every time that you choose conventionally farmed foods or processed foods over organic, you are increasing your cumulative exposure to chemicals and raising your risk of disease.

For example, consider the differences between regular dairy cows and cows at an organic dairy farm. The cows at a regular dairy are given hormone shots, antibiotics, and live in very poor conditions. The average lifespan of a dairy cow is about seven or eight years compared to the lifespan of 16 years for a cow that is well-cared for.

Cows at an organic dairy are not given any hormone shots or any antibiotics. They are allowed to graze on grassy pastures. They therefore give milk that is not tainted with chemicals, hormones and infections.

By eating organic produce, meats and dairy, you are saving your body from the toxins found in the inorganic produce, meat and dairy. Research has shown that children who regularly eat organic foods have lower levels of toxic chemicals in their bodies than those who only eat conventional foods. Those toxins build up in our systems and can cause a variety of diseases.

Farmers, dairies, and processing plants that use the label "organic" have followed certain criteria prescribed by the government. Only those food items that are truly organic can be labeled as such. By purchasing organic items you can be assured that care has been taken to ensure there are no chemicals or other toxins in the food.

Most commercial meats including pork and beef, unless organic, contain antibiotics, hormones and too many polyunsaturated fats. Therefore, they should all be avoided. The cleanest food is organic food, period.

Of all the meats, it is most important to get organic chicken. Chickens are the most intensely farmed meats and are therefore given chemicals to make them grow faster and bigger. Good organic chicken is full of iron, zinc and vitamin B12, vitamins and minerals that are very important to good health.

One of the best things you can do for your body is to eat at least twelve servings of fresh, organic fruits and vegetables every single day. By eating the certified organic versions of these foods you will benefit from their energy-boosting power even more than eating inorganic.

Studies done on organic produce versus inorganic have shown that organic vegetables contain significantly increased amounts of vitamins and minerals when compared to inorganic produce. Therefore, you can eat smaller servings and still get much more of the vitamins and minerals you need each day than if you ate inorganic.

Today the variety of organic food is astounding. A partial list of organic foods available includes oats, butter, eggs, wheat flour, sugar, milk, meats, and many fruits and vegetables.

For people who enjoy a little dessert, there's nothing unhealthy about a cake made with whole wheat flour, organic butter, free-range eggs - as long as you don't eat the lot at one sitting. Choose organic when you can for ingredients such as sugar, flour, oats, fruits including candied and dried fruits, milk, eggs, and butter.

Organic items often cost more, but the costs of not eating organic can be even bigger as you will likely have higher healthcare bills and a lifetime of disease and illness.

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Carol Stack has written numerous articles on health and related subjects. She lives in the United States with her husband, three children, and various dogs and cats. Carol and her sister Barbara have combined forces to produce a website that focuses on healthy and nutritious foods and recipes. You can visit it at: http://www.healthyrecipesandmore.com

Foods That Help You Detox And Cleanse

More and more people are becoming aware of the mass assault on
our food supply due to chemicals, pesticides and genetically
modified foods all in the name of profit. While stock holders
are happy, what about the millions of people who are
nutritionally deficient and suffering with ailments and disease
needlessly!

The key to good health relies on the correct ratio of
acid/alkaline balance in the body. How one achieves this is by
eating 75% alkaline forming foods and 25% acid forming foods,
preferably organic.

Acid Forming Foods

-All processed foods! This includes pastas, cakes, cookies,
salad dressings etc.
-Meats, including Beef, pork, bird, fish, shellfish, eggs
-All dairy products, including butter, milk, cream, ice cream,
cheese
-Nuts
-Sodas
-Caffeine, coffee, tea
-All breads
-Alcohol
-All foods with sugar
-Vegetables such as asparagus, sauerkraut, chickpeas, brussels
sprouts
-Vinegar
-Lentils
-Plums, prunes, cranberries

Alkaline Forming Foods

-Salad greens
-Fresh fruit
-Dried fruit such as raisins, dates, figs, apricots
-All sprouts
-All vegetables (except the ones listed above) Especially good
are onions and garlic
-Citrus fruits ( even though they are acidic, they have an
alkalizing affect on the body)
-Good fats such as olive and flaxseed oil
-Honey, maple syrup and molasses
-Herbal teas
-Fresh fruit and vegetable juices
-Yogurt and sour cream
-Almonds, brazil nuts

If you look closely at the lists above you can get a pretty
good idea of what you currently may be eating more of, whether
acid or alkaline type foods. To get a more accurate measure
you can buy ph strips from any drug store and see exactly where
you are at and what you need to do create the optimum ph balance
in your body.

In optimum health the body will naturally filter, cleanse,
detox and extract nutrients efficiently.

If you find you are over acidic or alkaline you can take steps
to repair the situation by switching over to the foods you
should be eating on a regular basis.

Water is also extremely important in not only the cleanse
cycle, but in normal daily function. You would be surprised at
how many people are generally dehydrated and suffering
needlessly with pain and fatigue, and it is a very easy fix.
Drink up! Lots of water! You'll feel much better. (This is a
major undiagnosed problem for seniors)

For better health! Enjoy the journey!


About The Author: Willie is a freelance writer and researcher
who's dedicated in bringing information on health related
issues. She is also co-owner of an online store, Clean Body
Detox, which offers detox options and information.

http://www.cleanbodydetox.com

Calcium - The Key To Quick Weight Loss

Are you dieting your way to bone loss?

Are you aware that the diet you follow may be depleting your
bones of essential nutrients and increasing your chances of
developing osteoporosis? Popular diets may promise quick weight
loss, but calcium and other important nutrients are often
missing from the menu, which can lead to bone loss.

And women who consistently limit what they eat to avoid gaining
weight may undermine the health of their bones, according to a
study by ARS researchers in California. (1)

The study looked at the eating behavior of women between the
ages of 18 and 50 and found that those classified as
"restrained eaters" had significantly lower bone mineral
density and bone mineral content (key indicators of overall
bone strength and health) than women who said they weren't
concerned about what they ate.

"Exercise and eating a well-balanced diet with adequate
calcium, are two of the best ways to keep your bones strong and
healthy." advise the researchers. Calcium is not only good for
your bones but can help you maintain a healthy, low fat diet
too. There has been increasing media coverage about numerous
studies showing that a diet rich in calcium helps reduce body
fat.

Why is calcium important in weight loss?

Calcium is a fat burner. High-calcium diets seem to favor
burning rather than storing fat. Researchers say this is
because calcium stored in fat cells plays an important role in
fat storage and breakdown.

Calcium changes the efficiency of weight loss . In fact, study
after study has shown that the people with the highest calcium
intake overall weighed the least, and the people with the
lowest calcium intake had the highest percentage of body fat.
(2,3,4)

When overall calorie consumption is accounted for, calcium not
only helps keep weight in check, but can be associated
specifically with decreases in body fat. A low daily calcium
intake is associated with greater tendency to gain weight,
particularly in women. (5)

Researchers found that adolescent girls who consumed more
calcium weighed less and had less body fat than girls who
consumed the same amount of calories from other sources. (6)
Previous studies have shown that a higher calcium intake can
block body fat production in adults and preschool children (7),
but this was one of the first studies to show that it might have
the same effect in body-conscious preteen and teenage girls.

But aren't dairy products fattening?

Some dieters consider dairy products to be fattening, but the
evidence suggests the opposite is true.

Consumption of calcium-rich dairy foods can actually help to
reduce and prevent obesity. Over 20 recent studies show that
milk products actually contribute to weight loss.

A new study in obese adults, presented at the First Annual
Nutrition Week Conference, showed that increasing calcium
intake by the equivalent of two dairy servings per day could
reduce the risk of obesity by as much as 70 percent. (8)

Flax Hull Lignans are very beneficial for many health
conditions. Studies have shown that SDG or lignan
(secoisolariciresinol diglycoside, but for simplicity this
substance will be referred to as lignans)

Does Omega 3 Lowers Cholesterol? Does Flaxseed Oil Prevent
Cancer too? Omega-3 fatty acids are long-chain polyunsaturated
fatty acids (18-22 carbon atoms in chain length) with the first
of many double bonds beginning with the third carbon atom (when
counting from the methyl end of the fatty acid molecule). Read
on for more details on flax seed benefits. Like most vegetable
oils, flaxseed oil contains linoleic acid, an essential fatty
acid needed for survival. But unlike most oils, it also
contains significant amounts of another essential fatty acid,
alpha linolenic acid (ALA).

Flax seeds contain vitamin E and B. The seeds are also rich in
zinc, iron, copper, magnesium, nickel, calcium and many other
essential minerals.

The fiber in flaxseeds may also help against cholesterol, since
it is soluble (similar to that in oats).

The study provided clinching evidence that calcium in low-fat
dairy products can help adjust your body's fat-burning
machinery and help keep your weight under control. In another
study, obese subjects placed on a high-calcium diet, with
yogurt as the calcium source, showed markedly greater fat loss
than those on a low-calcium diet. (9)

Numerous studies have shown that dairy calcium is more
effective in reducing body fat than other forms of calcium.
(10) Why does diary calcium work so well?

Researchers believe that other nutrients found in milk products
act in synergy with calcium to reduce fat more efficiently.

Glycomacropeptides (found in whey proteins derived from milk)
in particular, are known to create feelings of satiety and
fullness and decrease food intake. (11,12,13) Foods that are a
good source of calcium include cheese, milk, ice cream, baked
beans and other dried legumes, dried figs, broccoli, most
dark-green leafy vegetables, and soft fish bones like those in
canned salmon.

Disclaimer: If you are under 18, pregnant, nursing or have
health problems, consult your physician before starting any
weight loss plan. The information here is not provided by
medical professionals and is not intended as a substitute for
medical advice. Please consult your physician before beginning
any course of treatment.

Cancer is less common in communities that eat large amounts of
fish, and the reason is thought to be the presence in fish of
the long chain omega-3 polyunsaturates. These beneficial fats
play important roles in brain, nerve, glandular, and eye
functions. In addition, they are involved in the transport and
metabolism of cholesterol and triglycerides.

But saturated and trans fatty acids are more responsible to the
statement above; while other polyunsaturated fats such as omega
3 fatty acids seem to offer a protective effect.

It may also keep platelets from becoming sticky therefore
reducing the chance of a heart attack. Other independent
researches has also confirmed this finding.


About The Author: Why is Flaxseed called the Miracle Food? More
at http://www.flaxseedfitness.com

Beating The Weight Loss Bandits

If you're on a weight loss program you're under constant attack - attack from the food bandits all around you.

There is food waiting to ambush your weight loss efforts at every turn.

  • It's there on every street corner: available, fast, in huge portions and full of fat.
  • It's there at every checkout: convenient, brightly-packaged and calling "Eat me! Eat me!"
  • It’s there at work for every occasion: birthdays, promotions, leaving parties, "because it’s Friday".
  • It’s there at home brought to you larger than life on every TV set, seductively advertised, calling from the fridge and pantry "I’m here! Come and get me! You know you want to!"

Given that the food bandits are out there, what can you do about them?

Be ready to defend yourself!

Know your weak spots – those food temptations you find hard to resist, and plan to

1. Avoid Them

Keep away from fattening food as much as you can. Don't drive past fast food outlets even if it means a detour. Keep tempting high-fat snacks out of your home. Give TV ads a wide berth – in fact give TV a miss altogether and get out and do something. Walk away from offers of food, declining as politely and firmly as possible. "No thanks, I’m not hungry just now" should be enough.

2. Use humour

Treat your encounter with food bandits with a sense of fun. Make a note in your mind that you’ve spotted one "Alert! Food bandit on left flank. Eyes right! Defeat!"

3. Don't let them upset you

If you succumb once in a while to the food bandits, don't let it get you down. Brush yourself down and be ready to come out fighting against the next lot.

4. Celebrate your successes no matter how small

Be delighted each time you spot and overcome a food bandit. Feel proud that you were able to show who's in charge. You're the boss!

Once you recognise the food bandits for what they are, they lose their power. Each time you take them on and defeat them, you'll notice their influence over you diminish.

Gradually you get into the habit of ignoring the bandits. Long term result? – a slimmer, healthier, beautiful you, in total control of the food you eat.

About The Author

Janice is the publisher of a monthly newsletter "Think Slim" full of information on losing weight and keeping it off. See her website www.weight-loss-motivation-program.com for details and more resources for diet, fitness and weight loss.

Plan The Shop & Lose Weight!

Flaxseed, called linseed in some countries, is a good source of
dietary fiber, omega-3 fatty acids, and lignans. Flax seed oils
is the form in which the oil was extracted from the seed.
Omega-3 fatty acids which contain the majority of flax seed
health benefits are very susceptible to heat.

You can either buy the seeds just like that, or you can buy the
flax supplements in pill form. Whatever you fell more
comfortable with.

Another study has found that omega-3 fatty acids, and by
extension, flaxseed, can reduce the risk of macular
degeneration, which is an eye disease that destroys vision by
damaging nerve cells in the eye. In one study men with prostate
cancer who ate an ounce of ground flaxseeds (almost three
tablespoons) a day as part of a very-low-fat diet were able to
slow the progress of their cancers between the time they were
diagnosed and the time of surgery.

Empower Your Shopping Experience

Healthy living begins with healthy eating and healthy eating
begins with healthy shopping...

Regardless of what nutritional program you are following -
whether it is low fat, no-sugar, low carbohydrate, or based on
some other method - there are always healthier choices that can
be made when you are shopping. Support your nutritional program
week-by-week and day-by-day by ensuring that you stock up on
the wholesome foods you need for your meals and snacks. Having
the right food on hand helps you avoid eating the wrong things
such as food, which are too high in fat, calories, sodium, and
sugar. Additionally, shopping wisely helps you eat more of the
good things like fibre, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.

Use the suggestions below to avoid supermarket "traps" and help
stay on track...

Plan The Shop & Shop The Plan

Put on your 'thinking cap' and make a list of the foods you
need before you shop and stick closely to it. Plan your
shopping around your favourite meals and recipes & don't be
tempted by those wayward specials that may fall outside of the
foods best for your program. HALT! Don't Shop When You're
Hungry-Angry-Lonely-Tired

Heed this word and make sure to eat before you shop to avoid
impulse buying or stocking up on items you may regret later.

Begin With Colours Fill up your shopping cart first in the
produce section with lots of vitamin-rich vegetables and
fruits. Select a variety of colours, flavours and textures to
add interest and variety to your meals. Be adventurous and go
for exotic fruits or vegetables that you may not usually
choose.

Choose Individual Servings

When buying chicken, fish or meat, get single meal-size
servings that you can freeze and use as needed. That way you'll
always have good-quality fresh protein on hand and won't be
tempted to eat more than your body wants. Likewise, buy fresh
vegetables like mini carrots in small packages too. They'll
stay fresh and make convenient "on-the-go" snacks.

Read Labels

Like the omega-3s found in fish, it appears to reduce the risk
of heart disease and numerous other ailments. The primary
sources of omega-6 are corn, soy, canola, safflower and
sunflower oil; these oils are overabundant in the typical diet,
which explains our excess omega-6 levels.

Diets high in lignans can lead to a lower chance of getting
colon, prostate, and breast cancer. Flax is 100 times richer in
lignan than most whole grains. The lignan constituents of
flaxseed (not flaxseed oil) possesses in vitro anti-oxidant and
possible estrogen receptor agonist/antagonist properties,
prompting theories of efficacy for the treatment of breast
cancer.

Flax seeds contain vitamin E and B. The seeds are also rich in
zinc, iron, copper, magnesium, nickel, calcium and many other
essential minerals.

Supermarket aisles are avenues to greater nutritional knowledge
as the food label offers more complete, useful and accurate
nutrition information than ever before. Become a fervent 'label
reader' and scrutinize packaged foods, dressings and sauces
before purchasing.

Avoid The "Aisle Of Weakness"

In all honesty, everyone has their "aisle of weakness"-be it
the ice cream, cakes or sweet section. Do yourself a favour and
avoid mouth watering temptation by steering completely clear of
the entire area. And this "aisle" (or "aisles") is usually
found in the centre! So, shop the perimeter of the store first,
which is where you find the healthier foods.

Tantalize & Excite Your Taste Buds

Stimulate your palate and your recipes with the inspiration of
fresh herbs like basil, ginger, lemongrass and cilantro. In
addition, stock up on spices that can literally transform an
ordinary meal into an exotic dish. Actively pursue variety.
Expand your range of choices and explore new tastes, within and
among food groups. Eating a wide variety of foods not only
promotes optimal nutrition but also provides us with the
'pleasure factor'.

Don't Feel Deprived

Even though there are certain foods you'll want to avoid on
your nutritional program, the supermarket is packed with a
great variety of health-friendly food items. By choosing a
variety of the foods you enjoy, and watching your portions, you
need never feel deprived -no matter what foods you choose. Make
moderation your goal, you decide how much and how often.
Healthy eating doesn't mean feeling deprived or guilty.

Final Check

Before you check out, ask yourself (honestly!) if there is any
item in your shopping cart that you could remove to better
support your program. Put yourself and your optimal nutritional
program before all else.

When you shop healthily, it is a great contributor to the 'feel
good factor'!! Additionally, consider clearing your cupboards
and fridge of any foods that don't support your program. With
only great-tasting nutritious foods around you can cook up a
healthy storm and enjoy your meals & snacks to the fullest -and
enjoy the pleasurable aspects of eating and... living!

The truth is that although the odds of surviving bypass surgery
have improved since the operation was introduced, bypass surgery
kills anywhere from 2% to 4% of the patients on the operating
table, and more within a few months. Why is Flaxseed called the
miracle food? Find out at http://www.flaxseedfitness.com Avoid
or limit these oils. Omega-3, meanwhile, is typically found in
flaxseed oil, walnut oil, and fish. However, flax seed oil is
the best oil where Omega-3 and Omega-6 are balanced.

Essential fatty acids are further metabolized into hormone-like
substances in the cell known as prostaglandins. Prostaglandins
are involved in the regulation of many important physiological
functions.

Let me first address the issue of fat. Fat seems to receive a
lot of reprimand but the fact is we all need fat; fat helps
nutrient absorption, nerve transmission, maintaining cell
membrane integrity etc. However, when consumed in excess
amount, fat contributes to weight gain, heart disease and
certain types of cancer.

Does Omega 3 Lowers Cholesterol? Does Flaxseed Oil Prevent
Cancer too? Most of the nutrients are contains in the flax
seed. So from a nutritional standpoint, flax seeds are the way
to go. BUT, the flax seed oil gives you a concentrated source
of the "good" fats we are looking for. Which would give the oil
an edge!

About The Author: Why is Flaxseed called the miracle food? Find
out at http://www.flaxseedfitness.com

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Fat Burning Foods That Burn Fat Fast

Victoria, I am so confused... I have no idea what to eat any
more. With all the diet information out there right now, I
don't know what to do. I just want to know what to eat to burn
fat fast?
- Caroline R.

Caroline, I am so excited about your question. If you have ever
struggled with dimply junk on the back of your legs and butt,
then just take your time and soak up every word in this
article. There are many gems that you can take away and begin
today to start smoothing out that rocky road.

Your question reminded me of the time when I was getting ready
for a fitness championship and I had a total melt down. I was
looking good, so I thought. I was so excited because I had been
posing at home in my bathroom mirror and I just could not wait
to see how my much better the definition in my muscles would be
under "posing lights" at the gym. Posing lights are special
lights that are designed to make your muscles look more cut,
defined and striated. Those are bodybuilding terms for looking
"HOT and BUFF"!

I gathered up my swimsuit, posing oil and a scrunchie to pull
back my hair so that it would not cover up one beautiful
striation of hard earned muscle.

I went to the gym I was training at that had a perfect set of
posing lights installed by the head trainer, a NPC Body
Building champion.

Ok, I get to the gym, run in the women's locker room, put on my
skimpy competition posing suit and oiled myself up. I slipped
into a comfy robe to cover myself as I walked across the gym to
the room we used for posing. I confidently took off my robe and
gracefully walked across the room as if I was walking on stage.
I believe that we should always be "on" and rehearsing in our
mind and with our body what we want to be.

I walked to center stage, did a customary quarter turn to face
the mirror, which was my private audience, and stood in
prejudging form. My first reaction was, "sweet, I look
awesome". I hit some poses and did a few dance moves to try out
my suit. Then I did my rear lat spread facing the back of the
room. In this room you could see yourself from every angle
because it had a three way mirror effect and that's when the
horror hit me.

AAAAHHHHH! I was so lean, so cut and so perfectly symmetrical
in every direction and at every angle except when I turned
around there were these horrific little dimply dents,
cellulite, as we women have come to refer to it, on MY PERFECT
BODY!

I was so upset, I broke out into tears, grabbed my robe, ran
back into the locker room and threw on my sweats I wore on the
way over to the gym. I did not even bother to take off all the
oil I had on and my sweats became an oily mess which then made
my car seats a spotted mess. I did not care one bit about my
clothes or my car. I could buy some more sweats and I could buy
a new car if I wanted to, but I had to do something fast to get
those dimples off the back of my thighs and butt. I only had
two weeks to get contest ready.

I called an associate I knew and asked her for help. She gave
me a referral to a nutrition scientist in Arizona. I made a
distress call immediately and he promptly began to tell me
about certain foods that help your body go into a positive fat
burning state and he also told me how some of the foods would
act as a diuretic and help me lose trapped body water under my
skin to make my body appear more lean and less dimply.

YES, there is a God in Heaven and He answers prayers I thought.
I took copious notes and then. do you know that he actually sent
me a mini diet plan written on a piece of notebook paper. Not a
science manual, not a registered FDA document, or a two hundred
page book like most people sell today. It was almost illegible
because like many scientists and health professionals they
scribble when they write.

Well the plan not only worked, it was amazing how fast my body
responded to the foods I began eating and I ended up winning my
competition!

So... that plan that I received years ago, that worked wonders
for me, is what I am going to share with you today.

Now keep in mind, I am not a scientist. I am a published
author, professional trainer of certification programs for
fitness trainers and a top selling DVD Celebrity Fitness
Personality. I am all of the above but the most important
attribute I am teaching you with today is, I am an ex-fat
person who was over sixty pounds heavier who had cottage cheese
thighs and dimply butt... and now it's gone! I bring you today
my personal experience as I share with you what I have found.

FOODS THAT HELP BURN FAT FAST

Thermic Effect Principle

Foods have a thermic effect. The term "thermic effect of food"
is used to describe the energy expended by our bodies in order
to eat and process (digest, transport, metabolize and store)
food. We expend energy by living which is metabolic
functioning, breathing, working, exercising and anything else
that uses muscular contractions. This is what causes your body
to burn calories. Excess fat in your body is actually stored
energy, whether it is on your belly or on your legs and butt.
It's fat, energy, and it has to be burned and removed in order
to remove those dimples. So remember, your not fat, you just
have a lot of extra energy!

This is so amazing! Processing protein requires the greatest
amount of energy. Estimates range as high as 30% above your
resting metabolic rate. Dietary fat, on the other hand, is so
easily processed and turned into body fat that there is little
thermic effect, perhaps only 2 or 3% above your resting
metabolic rate. The amount of energy required to process
carbohydrates falls between that of protein and fat. A range of
around 10% is usually used to account for the thermic effect of
food you eat.

Most of us have never heard about thermic effect of food so we
just grab whatever is convenient when we are hungry

Protein causes your body to burn hotter which helps you burn
more calories. So now that we know that, we have to choose the
best protein sources to keep our furnace burning hot and strong
all day long.

Choose low-fat protein sources

Meat, poultry and fish along with egg whites and egg
substitutes are some of your best sources of protein. But be
careful to choose lower fat options, such as grilled or baked,
not fried or breaded. Choose milk such as skim milk rather than
whole milk and always select skinless chicken breasts rather
than fried chicken patties.

Fish is another good alternative to high-fat meats. Some types
of fish - such as cod, tuna and halibut - have less total fat,
saturated fat and cholesterol than do meat and poultry. And
certain types of fish are heart healthy because they're rich in
omega-3 fatty acids. These fats may help lower blood fats called
triglycerides and may reduce your risk of sudden cardiac death.
Omega-3 fats are most abundant in fatty, cold-water fish, such
as salmon, mackerel and herring.

Catabolic Foods

Catabolic foods burn up more calories than they supply.
Catabolic foods are the opposite of Anabolic foods. For example
a medium sized apple (which is catabolic), would provide an
average of 85 calories, however your metabolism would require
an additional 99 more calories to metabolize it. As a result,
you burn more calories than you are ingesting for a overall net
loss.

To help maintain your weight it is helpful to eat a minimum of
ten servings of catabolic foods each day. In addition to
catabolic foods you can eat proteins and other carbohydrates in
moderation without gaining weight.

High grade catabolic foods are more effective than others. It
is best to spread the consumption of your catabolic foods over
the course of the whole day. You can eat these items to your
heart's delight. You don't have to go around counting calories
or skimping on volume and quantity with theses catabolic foods.
I like to combine my proteins from my list above with the
vegetables listed below for my meals and then for my snacks I
go to town on the fruits and vegetables listed below. I also
drink two to three quarts of water per day to keep flushing my
system.

HIGH GRADE CATABOLIC FOODS

FRUIT:
Black/Blueberries
Grapefruit
Oranges
Plums
Strawberries
Lemons
Raspberries
Limes
Pineapple
Cantaloupe
Oranges
Watermelon
Pears-Bartlett

VEGETABLES:
Artichokes
Parsley leaves
Asparagus
Cucumbers
Peppers
Tomato
Broccoli
Eggplant
Celery
Sweet Potato
Radishes
Zucchini
Brussels Sprouts
Leeks - cooked
Spinach
Carrots
Lettuce

There you go, this is the beginning of the entire process that
can help you burn fast faster. It is enough to get you started
today on your journey to a whole new you.

God Bless and make it the Best Week Ever!

Victoria


About The Author: Victoria Johnson is a Fitness Celebrity and
Life Coach with over 23 Video/DVD Titles and her best selling
Quick Start Energy Program. Visit her web site at
http://www.victoriajohnson.com to sign up for her free weekly
email newsletter full of all the latest insider celebrity diet
secrets!

Banning Trans Fats: Out Of The Frying Pan, Into The Fire

Copyright (c) 2007 Debbie Fontana

Studies have shown that trans fats reduce our levels of HDL
(the good cholesterol) and increase our levels of LDL (the
bad cholesterol). All of which may be bad for your heart.

So cities across the US have either already banned trans
fats from their restaurants or are considering doing so.
All in the name of protecting the public health.

Also, many food companies are reformulating their foods to
eliminate trans fats. But then they have to. Otherwise,
they'll be portrayed as the bad guys trying to make a buck
off the poor, unsuspecting public by poisoning us with
their unhealthy foods.

The campaign to raise public awareness of the dangers of
trans fats has led many consumers to believe that a ban
will be healthy for them. So there are many people who are
all for it.

**But The Hype Has Just Begun**

In fact, a recent study actually tried to link trans fats
to infertility.

Even nutritionist Marion Nestle, PhD, MPH, a professor at
New York University, expressed skepticism about that
conclusion in an article recently published on WebMD.

So are city governments justified in banning trans fats
from our foods? Or are these local governments making a
mistake because of all the anti-trans fat hype?

Regardless of how you feel about the government legislating
what we eat, here's the problem.

Trans fats are being replaced in many foods by a new type
of fat called interesterified fats.

But according to the results of a study published in the
journal, Nutrition and Metabolism, interesterified fats may
be even more dangerous for us than trans fats.

You see, interesterified fats also lower our levels of HDL
(the good cholesterol). Just like trans fats. So there's
still a heart health issue.

**But Now There's A New Health Risk**

Interesterified fats were found to significantly increase
blood sugar and depress insulin. Which may increase your
risk for diabetes. Or cause potential problems for you if
you already have diabetes.

If you remember, trans fats replaced saturated fats years
ago because saturated fats were supposed to be unhealthy.
At the time, trans fats were believed to be healthier.

So much for that conclusion. But it gets worse.

These new interesterified fats were found to increase blood
sugar by 20% more than good old saturated fats.

That was in a mere four weeks. Imagine what would happen
over a longer period of time.

**Out Of The Frying Pan, Into The Fire**

It seems like every time the food police insist on changing
the type of fats found in our food, they introduce new and
potentially more dangerous health risks for us.

If you're concerned about this new diabetes risk, you can
check the ingredient list of your foods if it's available.
Interesterified fats are labelled as "fully hydrogenated
oil."

But maybe it's time to consider another course. Maybe we
shouldn't be reformulating our foods after every study. And
we certainly shouldn't be banning foods unless we're sure
the alternatives are safer.

Most importantly, maybe it's time for the food police to
get off their high horses and quit telling the rest of us
how to eat. They don't exactly have a good track record.

**Should We Stop The Trans Fat Bans Before It's Too Late?**

I'm not arguing that trans fats are healthy. But I think
it's a foolish mistake to reformulate all of our foods
until more studies have been done. We need reasonable proof
that we've found a safer alternative.

If you're concerned about the health risks from these new
fats, you may want to get in touch with your local
legislators. And stop the ban on trans fats until we know
for sure that we aren't jumping out of the frying pan and
into the fire.


----------------------------------------------------
Debbie Fontana is a full-time author and business owner who
specializes in writing about health, weight loss, and
nutrition. She invites you to visit her blog and post your
comments about the ban on trans fats. Do you agree?
Disagree? Do you think the food police are helping or
hurting us? Please post your comments at
http://www.ILoveToCheatDiet.com/blog/trans-fat-hysteria

Spices - Antioxidant Source Throughout the Ages

Spices - Antioxidant Source Throughout the Ages
Spices are the most antioxidant-rich of all food types and
they contain other important compounds that have had
profound health benefits on mankind throughout the ages.
The evolution of spices in our diets is a fascinating story
that shows how important spices are to our health as much
today as they were eons ago.

Thousands of years ago our hunter/gatherer forebears were
forced to adapt to a wide range of climatic and other
environmental conditions. Thus, before agrarian societies
developed, humans consumed a wide variety of plant species.
Some of these plants contained the basic macro and
micronutrients needed for survival (carbohydrates, fats,
proteins, vitamins and minerals). Many of the pungent,
stronger-tasting, and richly coloured plants also contained
an array of "non-nutritive compounds" that had profound
health benefits.

Today we know that the piquant flavours and bright colours
characteristic of spices are hallmarks of the important
phytochemicals these plants contain. The resilience that
characterizes many spice plants means that, during times of
famine, pestilence and drought, these are often the last
edible plants to survive. When taken alone many of them may
be very unpleasant to eat. However, these foods, in the
absence of tastier alternatives, were frequently the only
forms of nourishment available to our ancestors. This was a
fortuitous dietary hardship and one which resulted in
unwitting, but important, self-medication.

However when agrarian communities began to form, the
variety of plant species consumed by these societies
decreased and they became dependent on a small selection of
crops and a limited variety of wild plants. As our
forebears were forced to eat "spicy" foods out of
necessity, they probably enjoyed the intense flavors of
these plants. Another factor that influenced their
palatability was the relative strength of flavors between
different foods. To understand this, it is necessary to
consider that most of the fruit and vegetable species eaten
by early societies were stronger tasting and less sweet
than they are today. In fact, the majority of modern
plant-food cultivars bear very little resemblance to those
varieties that grew thousands of years ago: the bitter,
sour and astringent flavors that characterized fruits such
as apples, melons, pears and many others have been bred out
by generations of selective propagation.

As hunter-gatherer peoples began to be replaced by agrarian
societies, motives for the consumption of spices began to
change. Among settled societies, spices were the source of
flavorings and colorings that could be used to augment the
more monotonous diets based on a restricted number of
crops. Also, in order to establish food security, these
societies began to store the plants they grew or animals
they killed. Drying of food was one solution, as was the
use of the refrigerant effect of the low temperatures found
at higher altitudes and latitudes. However, until recent
times, the desiccation and freezing of food was not a
viable option for those living in hot, humid climates;
these societies discovered chemical preservation, in the
form of salt and spices. As the former was only available
in certain areas spices were often the only other option to
protect food from insect infestation and microbial
putrefaction.

We now know that many of the strongly flavoured
phytochemicals which give plants protection against insect
and microbial attack are the same compounds that "preserve"
our bodies, by protecting us against degenerative diseases.

Today spices are consumed in much greater quantity and
variety in warm, humid countries than in colder climates.
India and Thailand have the highest consumption of spices;
the warm Mediterranean countries follow somewhat behind
these and other Eastern countries but are ahead of the
United States. Chilly Scandinavian countries have the
lowest spice consumption of all. Moreover, the importance
of spices in helping to prevent chronic degenerative
disease can be seen to correspond to the varying levels of
spice utilization that occurs across different temperature
zones. Cold countries - typically the most developed
countries - tend to have much higher incidences of chronic
degenerative diseases when compared to hotter regions.

The dearth of spices in the diets of those of us living in
most Western countries means that we are depriving our
bodies of the important compounds that have, since time
immemorial, been used by our physiological and homeostatic
mechanisms to protect us from many diseases. We need to
consume lots of spices on a daily basis as they can make us
feel better, think better, age more slowly, and help us to
resist the onslaught of scourges like cardiovascular
disease, cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer's disease and other
chronic degenerative disorders.


----------------------------------------------------
Dr Keith Scott is a medical doctor with a special interest
in nutrition and complementary therapies. He has written
several books including "Medicinal Seasonings, The Healing
Power of Spices" and "Natural Home Pharmacy". Find out why
spices are the "Missing Links" in nutrition at:
http://www.medspice.com

What Is An Effective Low Cholesterol Diet?

If you've been given notice by your doctor that you possess an
elevated cholesterol level you may want to consider rethinking
your current eating habits and look into creating a low
cholesterol diet. First and foremost, any diet must include
healthy food, exercise and be something you can stick too.

A Low Cholesterol Diet - What Is It?

In a nutshell, any decent low cholesterol diet will include
healthy foods and regular exercise (i.e. walking continues to
be one of the best exercises).

There's a plethora of low cholesterol diets to choose from.
Simply pick one to your liking and most importantly - stick to
it. And don't worry, there's no need to go into withdrawals at
the thought of giving up all the foods you love because that
won't be necessary. You will however, need to eliminate foods
that are high in saturated fats, because saturated fats are one
of the leading contributing factors of elevated total
cholesterol levels.

Try and eat according to the following general guidelines:
Limit daily sodium intake to 2400 milligrams, get less than 7%
of your daily calories from saturated fats, total daily
calories from fat should be between 25% and 35% of daily
calories, limit daily dietary cholesterol to less than 200
milligrams and don't overeat but rather consume just enough
calories to achieve or maintain a healthy weight.

Because everyone is unique you need to find out what is best
for you so go to your doctor to hear what you should do to
lower your total cholesterol level. Another idea is to find a
good nutritionist to help you put together a good low
cholesterol diet.

Remember, there are plenty of good resources available that you
can take full advantage of, but like any worthwhile endeavor it
will take a little effort on your part to check them out. Also,
don't forget to bounce ideas off friends and family because you
should be able to lean on them through this whole process. One
of them may have already gone through this whole process and
can provide you with good advice, point you in the right
direction and provide encouragement along the way.

Tip - For information on the best cholesterol options, check
out the links below.

About The Author: Visit http://www.cholesterol-gateway.com or
http://www.cholesterol-gateway.com/links.html or
http://www.cholesterol-gateway.com/sitemap1.html for more
information on cholesterol.

Don't Be A Weight Loser

The words you use have power. If you say "Dieting never works",
guess what, you're right. But if you say "Dieting works for me"
it will always work for you.

Be mindful of the words you use because your words get planted
into your subconscious. Each time you make a negative statement
about yourself or your body it grows stronger with each failed
attempt.

The term "weight loss" has its own faults. If you LOSE
something like your keys you obviously want to find them. So
why are there hundreds of articles about "weight loss"? Your
unconscious mind will help you find what you lost --- your
weight!

The most successful weight reduction programs for adults and
children are those that consistently involve the entire family.
A healthy whole food diet with supplementation as well as a
family that exercises together is the key to a family's success
for good health and optimal wellness.

Starting today be mindful of your words. Go on a "Weight
Release Program". One of the biggest buzzes right now for diets
is Dr. Chong's Wu-Long TeaT. It's been used for centuries in
Asia to promote health, wellness, weight loss and increased
metabolism.

Wu-long tea, also know as oolong tea, has been called "The
world's most powerful fat burner" and it's gaining credibility.


How It Works

Wu-Long Tea has been proven to increase your energy and boost
your metabolism. In the intestine, triglycerides (a type of fat
your body stores) are split into glycerol and fatty acids which
can then move into your blood vessels. These triglycerides are
rebuilt in the blood and become lipoproteins, which deliver the
fatty acids to and from fat cells.

The rich antioxidant polyphenols found in Wu-Long Tea increase
the metabolism of triglycerides. This means that you will burn
these triglycerides as energy instead of storing them as fat.

Wu-Long Tea also increases your body's energy expenditure as
well as your body's fat oxidation to promote weight loss.

Change Your Life Today

Everyone knows how hard it is to lose weight, especially when
diets require such a change in your lifestyle and tons of
dedication.

But with most people having such a hectic lifestyle, dedication
to family, work or school becomes more important than dedication
to your diet.

People have already discovered the power of wu-long tea and
it's ability to help lose weight and keep it off. Here is what
Wu-Long Tea may do for you: Boost your metabolism, Burn fat,
Increase your energy, Flush-out your fat, and Cut the effects
of carbs.

Copyright © 2007 OurFamilysHealth.com. All rights reserved.


About The Author: Wayne McDonald is a contributing editor for
http://OurFamilysHealth.com. To learn more about the many
health benefits of Wu-Long Tea visit
http://www.ourFamilysHealth.com/Wu-Long_Tea-Info

The World's Greatest Diet For Weight Loss And Health

Yes, Virginia, there is such a thing as the world's
greatest diet. Allow me to explain.

First of all, what would be the attributes of the world's
greatest diet?

1. It would be comprised of easily available foods.

2. It would NOT require any fancy measuring or fixing.

3. It would be easy to follow at a friend's dinner party,
a fine restaurant, or Mickey Dee's (McDonald's to old
fuddy-duddies like me).

4. It would not just help with weight loss and weight
management, but with health in general.

5. It would be made up of our favorite foods.

HMMMMMMM! TEACHER! I SEE A PROBLEM!

Okay, you can put your hand down. I see it too. It's that
"favorite foods" thing, isn't it?

Everybody has different "favorite foods", and we won't even
get into gourmet, regional, or ethnic cooking. I'll leave
that to my daughter and her husband. (Psst! Seen the
pictures of my grandkids?)

Anyway, let's see if we can put together the world's
greatest diet for health and weight loss...for you!

You see, there's the rub, as my good friend, though
somewhat older than me, Billy Shakespeare would say.

We are all different. We are different ethnically,
environmentally, educationally, genetically (ran out of
e's), and, dare I say it, sexually. All of these things
are important, because they exercise an influence on the
results of any diet that anybody tries out.

Hey, there's a good word, "try". How many people do you
know who actually stay on a diet...especially for the rest
of their lives? I guess we need to add another attribute.
The world's greatest diet would have to be one:

6. You could and would stay on for the rest of your life.

WHY THE REST OF MY LIFE?

Simple. I don't care what diet you go on and how well it
works. If it does work and you stop eating according to
that diet, over time you will find yourself right back
where you are now and wondering where you put this article.

So, to build your "world's greatest diet" we have to go
back to the title of this article, "The World's Greatest
Diet For Weight Loss And Health". I put "weight loss" AND
"health" in there for a reason. There are diets that don't
really help you lose weight, there are diets that are not
good for your health, and weight loss does not
automatically equal health...particularly if that weight
loss is accomplished thru dieting.

Here we go. It doesn't really matter what foods you eat.
You like apple pie, have some apple pie. You like popcorn,
have some popcorn. Filet Mignon? Sure, why not.

Let's back up for a minute. A "diet" is simply a list of
the foods you eat. In the last few decades, the word has
gotten loaded down with all kinds of extra stuff like the
pancakes at IHOP. A doctor can give you a "diet" to help
you avoid hives, get over a stomach upset, or even to gain
weight if that is what is needed for your health.

If that doctor gives you a "diet" that says you can only
eat seven foods, he or she would be doing you a grave (pun
intended) disservice. In order to get the nutrients your
body needs for health AND for weight loss, you need a
diversity of foods...and that diversity can range from soup
to nuts...or Filet Mignon! You don't have to just eat
cabbage. You NEED to eat cabbage, hamburgers, biscuits,
broccoli, apples, apple pie, chicken, fish, carrots...you
get the idea. You can deny yourself a lot of the foods you
like, take a lot of enjoyment out of your life, and even
damage your health without even losing any weight by trying
weird fad diets and strange pills that cause your body to
act in an unnatural manner.

Your personal "greatest diet in the world" is going to be
the foods you normally eat and enjoy eating.

THERE'S GOT TO BE A "BUT" HANGING AROUND SOMEWHERE!

Absolutely. It's not about WHAT you eat. It's about two
other things:

1. How MUCH you eat, and

2. How you live the rest of your life.

You see, weight loss and health is about balance. The
weight loss balance has been known for years. Eat more
calories than you use, the excess gets stored as fat.
Attempt to use more calories than you eat, your body burns
the available fat and abracadabra you have weight loss.
However, simply cutting calories down to the bone denies
your body nutrients necessary to health and does not allow
for the activity that helps keep a body healthy.
Exercising (the way we most commonly burn extra calories)
while continuing to eat excess calories not only makes it
harder to lose weight, but still creates a condition in
which our health can be threatened by that excess anyway.

A balanced program for health and weight loss does not deny
you the foods you like to eat, it merely tasks you to
realize what you are doing to your body and use some self
control and limit yourself when food is offered or
available. As far as the exercise side of the equation is
concerned, "exercise" scares people, so let's just talk
about activity. Your exercise program can be gardening,
swimming, bicycle riding, yoga, tai-chi; or gardening on
Monday, swimming on Tuesday, bicycle riding on Wednesday,
yoga on Thursday, and tai-chi on Friday!

There is an old saying: Keep doing what you have been
doing, and you will keep getting what you have been getting.

Makers of diet pills and sellers of diet books know that
you realize this, so they offer you something that seems to
change that no-win equation. The problem is that without
actually creating an actual change of the manner in which
you eat and exercise, these diet pills and fad diets at
best will only temporarily seem to change the actual
equation and allow you to lose weight for a short time if
at all. They will not make a permanent change in your life
or your health, and their "weight loss" effects, if any,
will wear out quickly, often leaving you in a worse
situation than when you started.

An article such as this is much too short to get into all
the various aspects of weight loss, diets, exercise, and
health, but the basic equations are simple. Too much
weight can adversely affect your health in a multitude of
ways. Losing weight in an unhealthy manner may leave you
in as bad a state as you were in when you started...or even
worse. Combining formal exercise or enjoyable physical
activity with a sensible enjoyment of food so that calorie
intake and calorie use can be balanced will result in
weight loss, health and a lifestyle that will continue to
bring benefits for years.


----------------------------------------------------
Donovan Baldwin is a Texas writer. He is a University of
West Florida alumnus, a member of Mensa, and is retired
from the U. S. Army. Learn more about weight loss and
health at http://informationclickdepot.com/health/ .

Healthful Snacking

A calorie is simply a calorie regardless of whether it comes
from carbohydrates, protein, or fat. If you consume more
calories than you use, you will put on weight. It iss as
simple as that. In order to avoid weight gain, the number of
calories in must equal the number of calories out. If you take
the time to plan and sort out what you are going to eat, you
will find it easier to ensure that you choose a wide variety of
foods from all food groups and thus follow a healthier eating
plan.

These days most of us lead hectic, busy, frenetic lives. We are
juggling a variety of roles and trying to somehow fit everything
into a seemingly-insufficient 24 hour day. It's not surprising
that healthy eating loses priority when we are rushing to get
to work, to get the kids to school, going to meetings, getting
home chores done. At times like this people are more likely to
miss meals altogether and substitute them with junk food. By
snacking on healthy foods, you can to some extent, compensate
for the damage you are doing to your body when you don't eat
properly. Similarly, eating small meals throughout the day can
help provide necessary nourishment.

Eating food in its raw state, meaning as unprocessed as
possible, ensures that you are getting the food's full vitamin
and mineral content, as none will be destroyed during the
cooking process. Cooking modifies the food molecules thereby
destroying their nutrients and enzymes. When you eat raw food,
you may need to chew more to break the food down. By doing this
your body sends signals to the digestive tract to produce an
adequate amount of digestive enzymes.

Another healthy eating tip is, where possible, try to grill or
bake your food instead of frying it. If you do need to fry or
sauté, use half the recommended amount of fat. Keep in mind
that brown bread and rice is nutritionally better than their
white counterparts. Whole grain bread is an excellent
convenience food. If you get your kids used to brown bread in
their earlier years, avoiding white bread altogether, you'll be
glad you did.

When it comes to hot and cold beverages, there are innumerable
choices when it comes to the wonderful world of herbal teas.
They may not be to everyone's taste but if you try, you are
more than likely to find one that suits you. They are also
exceedingly beneficial for you. If you are a coffee lover, you
might try a coffee substitute such as dandelion coffee.

In addition to cutting down on coffee and tea, you should
reduce your salt and sugar intake as well. At present there are
many types of vegetable stock cubes and vegetable bouillion
powders available in health food shops for added flavor. Also,
using both fresh and dried herbs can help increase the flavour
of a dish without needing to add much salt.


About The Author: Linda Williams writes for several popular web
sites, including http://nedod.com and http://bosiv.com