Energy Drinks Vs. Natural Energy Boosters

Do you want a natural energy solution to building better energy
reserves? Do you drink more and more coffee and energy drinks
each day and still feel drained? Americans consumed $3.5
Billion dollars in energy drinks in 2005 and it does not look
like we are slowing down.

We used to get our energy with the food we consumed and an
occasional cup of coffee or tea. Along with that, just forty to
fifty years ago our soils were not depleted. Our farmland's
topsoil contained all the trace minerals needed by our cells to
keep our body functioning properly. Now, with technology,
companies are producing "instant energy gratification" in the
form of quick acting energy drinks and high powered espresso
drinks.

There seems to be a Starbucks on every corner and multitudes of
energy drink options in every convenience store. Many Americans
are getting through their day by guzzling several energy drinks
or iced lattes.

Want to be able to increase your activity? Or, have enough
energy after a day of work to go work out? Do you want
improved energy, have more focus and boost your immune system?

Here are several natural ingredients that will rebuild your
energy levels allowing you to cut back on those energy drinks
and coffee.

Cayenne
Cayenne is a pepper well known for its benefits to the
circulatory system. Cayenne also boosts metabolism. It aids the
body to balance pressure levels and resist abnormal bleeding.
Cayenne also nourishes the digestive system. This plant assists
in the body's utilization of other herbs, when used in an herbal
combination.

Alfalfa
Alfalfa is a well-known herb to health-conscious consumers. It
is high in nutrients, which are drawn into the plant from deep
in the soil. The richest land source of trace minerals, the
roots of Alfalfa plants have been known to reach as much as
thirty feet deep! The leaves of the alfalfa plant are rich in
minerals and nutrients, including calcium, magnesium,
potassium, and carotene. They are also a source of protein,
vitamin E and vitamin K. Alfalfa nourishes the digestive,
skeletal, glandular, and urinary systems. Alfalfa contains
chlorophyll, which is renowned for its cleansing qualities.

Bee Pollen
Bee pollen is a rich source of many nutrients, including amino
acids. Bee pollen contains easily assimilated protein and
lecithin, which nourish the brain and nervous system. Bee
Pollen nutritionally supports the body in many ways, including
assisting with vitality and a feeling of well-being. It has
been used by athletes to maintain energy and stamina.

Kelp/Spirulina
Kelp contains nearly thirty minerals which nourish the glands
(especially the thyroid and pituitary). By enhancing the action
of the glandular system, it helps balance the body's metabolism
and rate at which it burns calories. Kelp, also known as
seaweed, grows in the rich ocean beds, far below surface
pollution levels. Because of its high nutrient content, this
herb is reputedly beneficial for a wide range of applications.
It is known to nourish the sensory nerves, brain membranes,
also spinal cord and brain tissue. Kelp contains alginic acid
which can help protect the body against the effects of
radiation. These energizing "super foods" are some of the most
nutrient-rich substances produced by nature.

Ginseng, Schisandra and Licorice
Siberian Ginseng can be used in cases of stress, depression and
low libido. Siberian Ginseng and Schisandra and Licorice, are
herbs known as adaptogens. Adaptogens help us to cope with the
changes in our environment both emotionally and physically;
they support and ultimately promote overall health and by
promoting our physical and mental strength; they help our body
adjust to variances in diet and environmental factors. Licorice
supports the adrenal glands and plays a crucial role in
countless metabolic steps to convert fats, protein and
carbohydrates into energy. It is included in every adrenal
boosting product on the market and many times taken by itself
to boost the adrenals.

Guarana
>From seeds of an Amazon vine plant. Guarana is a tonic very
similar to caffeine and boosts the adrenal glands and
stimulates cerebral functions. It provides energy and
alertness. It has a very similar chemical structure to that of
caffeine, but releases its energy more slowly into our system
making it a little better for your system than regular
caffeine.

Maca
The South American country of Peru hosts a great variety of
beneficial plants, including Maca, a legendary sex-enhancing
root passed down from the Inca. It provides energy benefits to
both men and women. It has been called "Peruvian ginseng," even
though it bears no relation to ginseng. But like ginseng, the
plant is employed to increase strength, energy, stamina, libido
and sexual function.

Yohimbe
Yohimbe. The benefits of yohimbe are a subject of much
controversy. Yohimbe is used to help build muscle, improve
sexual function, reduce anxiety, elevate mood, and prevent
heart attacks. Because it stimulates the central nervous
system, it has been used to treat narcolepsy and for weight
loss. It is a great metabolism booster. Yohimbe increases fatty
acid mobilization, decreasing fat synthesis, which means it not
only aids in weight loss, but actual fat reduction. Yohimbe is
popular with bodybuilders. By stimulating the production of
testosterone, it can help build muscle mass. Be careful with
Yohimbe, as this herb will naturally get your heart racing
fast.

About The Author: Marty Meshek is a natural cleansing and
energy specialist. He operates the website:
http://www.EnergyForToday.com dedicated to free information on
natural energy boosters and the power of cleansing.

Losing Weight With PCOS

One of the major obstacles facing women with PCOS is the weight
gain that has become synonymous with it. Approximately 50 to 60%
of all women with PCOS are classified as obese. One of the major
reasons why obesity is common in PCOS sufferers is the body's
inability to process insulin. Insulin is a hormone that
regulates the conversion of sugar, starches and other food into
energy for the body to use or into fat for the body to store.
Women with PCOS make too much insulin; therefore a special diet
must be adhered to in order to prevent weight gain. In healthy
women, studies have shown that losing just 5% of your body
weight can lead to an improvement in skin clarity, improve the
regularity of menstrual cycles and decreased insulin levels. So
for women with PCOS, losing even a small amount of weight can
have massive benefits.

The common sense diet that most healthy people use to lose
weight might not work for many PCOS sufferers. Adding extra
carbohydrates to your diet, especially in the form of sweets,
white bread and white rice, also know as refined carbs, will
rapidly turn to sugar in the body and cause higher levels of
insulin. High levels of insulin have been known to cause a
myriad of health problems for PCOS sufferers. A better way to
approach dieting for women with PCOS is a low glycemic diet
(Low G.I). This is essentially any diet that limits foods that
the body can quickly turn into sugar.

Once you've cut down on the amount of refined carbs in your
diet, it may take some guesswork to find the optimal balance
for your body. There are several dietary suggestions available,
such as the food pyramid, which states that you should receive
approximately 55% of your calories from carbs, a diet called
"The Zone", which says 40% is the desirable target and even
diets like Atkins which say no more than 20% of your calories
should be from carbs. There is no way to say which dietary plan
will work for you, personally. Every woman is different, and
that difference is amplified with PCOS.

Recent studies have shown that for women suffering from PCOS, a
diet with approximately 50% of calories from carbs is
recommended, but only if you're not obese and you exercise
regularly. If you're obese and you've shown to be resistant to
insulin, you shouldn't consume more than 40% of your calories
from carbs, or even less depending on your degree of carb
resistance. These, however, are only guidelines. The most
important thing you can do before staring a dietary regimen is
to consult a doctor who is knowledgeable about PCOS.

A good way to tell if the diet is "working" is if you have
fewer cravings and a higher energy level, weight loss,
decreased insulin levels in the body and regular periods.

Please be aware that some of the popular diets out there tell
people to replace carbs in their diets with fat. This isn't a
wise choice for women with PCOS, since PCOS raises a woman's
chances of heart disease and a high fat diet seriously raises
the risks further. Make your diet as healthy as possible, it'll
be easier to follow and the results will be better for you!

For more information on living with and treating PCOS discover
the PCOS Matters Gold Audio Interviews. By listening to these
interviews you will learn:
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About The Author: If you are looking for more ways to
experience
http://treatpcos.com/blog/2006/12/14/losing-weight-with-pcos/
please go to http://treatpcos.com where you can sign up for a
free newsletter.

Weight Loss Programs - Which Diet Is Best ?

We are lucky to live in an age when information is readily available to help us find a solution to almost any problem that we may be facing. Healthy weight loss is a perfect example of this. There are many weight loss programs that will suit almost any type of person and their lifestyle.

An important thing to consider when choosing the right program is to find one that educates you long term on how to lose weight and keep it off for good. Below are some of the most popular weight loss programs on the market today:

The Diabetes Diet: The Diabetes diet is not so much a diet as an education on what foods are healthy and what foods cause the diabetic to have an increase in glucose in the blood. Each person differs in the way that their body and metabolism burns up glucose, so the diabetic diet differs among those who use it. The Diabetic diet is less like a diet and more like a healthy weight loss program that can be used by anyone who wants to benefit from a healthier lifestyle.

The South Beach Diet: The South Beach diet is known as one of the most popular, healthy weight loss diets of our time. A cardiologist named Dr Arthur Agatston, at a hospital in South Beach, created this diet. He originally developed the diet for patients who were overweight and had heart problems. Dr Agatston has been quoted as saying that the South Beach Diet is not a low carb eating plan or a low fat eating plan, but you can be assured that it is both healthy and really works.

NutriSystem Nourish Program: The Nutri System Nourish Program works by controlling the foods that you eat, as well as your portions. There are a few good things about this diet. The first is that the food is already prepared and shipped right to your front door - healthy weight loss without the dishes, much like Jenny Craig. The other benefit of the NutriSystem Nourish Program is that it is very affordable, even if you are not a Hollywood star.

The Zone Diet: Barry Sears PhD created the Zone Diet and according to recent studies, it has been found to be the most successful diet from among such diets as the Atkins diet and other high carb, low fat diets. The diet itself is said to be quite tricky to understand and works on a formula of 40% carbs and 30% of both protein and fats, for every meal. If you can understand the Zone diet, you will have a great success rate from being on it.

The Atkins Diet: The Atkins Diet has been around since the 70s when Dr. Robert Atkins wrote the book, The New Diet Revolution. This diet became very popular a few years ago, but that popularity is beginning to dwindle. The Atkins Diet works on the principal that you are allowed to eat proteins and fat, but must avoid eating carbs in your eating plan.

This particular way of eating has created a lot of controversy and the results have been mixed. It is said that the Atkins Diet is not for everyone, but research suggests that many people have achieved short-term weight loss from this diet.

Negative Calorie Diet Plan: This program is said to be a fad diet that is a thinly disguised low calorie diet. The Negative Calorie Diet works by eating foods that take more calories to digest than what they contain. There have been mixed results with the Negative Calorie Diet Plan, but, as a rule, many people have had a short-term weight loss solution on this diet.

The Three-Day Diet: The three-day diet claims that those using it will lose up to 10 pounds in 3 days by sticking to the meal plan for the three days. It is based on a very low calorie-eating plan. A low calorie plan can be of little use for shedding pounds if used over a longer period than three days because, after this time, your body will begin a starvation mode and slow down your metabolism. Because the diet is based on a low calorie-eating plan, you may also feel drained of energy and hungry. This may cause many people to stop using this eating plan.

There are many other weight loss programs or diets that can help you lose weight, however it is always best to check with your doctor first before changing your eating habits or taking any diet pills.

Ken Black is the owner of http://www.Weight-Loss-Discovery.com, a site with lots of information about Healthy Weight Loss.