Obesity: A problem Increasing By The pound

Copyright (c) 2007 Aiyana Rayne
Successful Office
http://www.SuccessfulOffice.com

No one should be surprised by the large percentage of Americans
over weight these days. With faster than ever growing food chains
and the way our money and appetites respond to walking past
endless, mouthwatering posters in restaurant windows, there's no
wonder why diet has become the talk of the century. As many have
learned, accomplishing "weight loss" as not nearly as easy as
it is to say it.

The facts are that 7.1% of children and adolescents 2-19 years of
age are overweight. That is over 12 and a half million children.
Of the adult population, 32.2% which is over 66 million are
obese; and almost 5% are extremely obese. Significant differences
in obesity between race and ethnic groups have also been
observed. Mexican-American and Afro-American girls were found to
be more overweight than non-Hispanic white girls. Where boys are
concerned, the prevalence of overweight was considerably higher
among Mexican-Americans than among both non-Hispanic black and
Non-Hispanic white boys. Approximately 30% of non-Hispanic white
adults, 45% of non-Hispanic Afro-American adults, and 36.8% of
Mexican-American adults were found to be obese.

A significant difference in age seemed to play a huge part as
well. Younger children are less likely to be overweight than
adolescents, and older adults are more likely to be obese than
younger adults. The weights of adults 80 and over tend to fall
into the same category of adults 20-39 years of age.

Overweight issues are the result of an imbalance between the
amount of food consumed and the amount of physical activity a
person gets. Factors that are considered linked to obesity
include increased potion sizes, eating out often, large
consumptions of sugar-sweetened drinks, excessive television,
computer and video gaming, a change in careers, stress, and fear
of crime; which lessens outdoor activity. Overweight adolescents
usually grow up to become obese adults. People gain weight when
the body takes in more calories than it burns off. The extra
calories are stored as fat. People who are obese are more than
just a few pounds overweight, which means that their calorie
intake has been more than I should have been for years.

A person's gene can play an important role in being obese, for
example, some people burn calories faster or slower than others.
It is odd how obesity works in families; members of a family can
eat the same foods, share the same bad habits and have a similar
mind frame when it comes to weight gain; however, only a few may
have weight problems. In most cases, weight problems come from a
combination of habits and genetic factors. Obesity can seriously
affect a person's health in more ways than a little bit. Of
course it can make a person feel tired and uncomfortable, as well
as wear down joints and put extra strain on other parts of the
body; but there are more serious consequences that come from
carrying extra weight.

Obesity in young children can cause illnesses that usually affect
the adult population, such as high blood pressure, high
cholesterol, liver disease, and type2 diabetes. As they get
older, they are subjected to even more problems such as the heart
disease, congestive heart failure, bladder problems, strokes,
breast or colon cancer, reproductive problems in women, and even
death.

In addition to these things, small tasks such as walking, keeping
up, playing sports, and even breathing can become extremely
difficult. Depression is also very likely among people who are
over weight. They may often feel sad or angry and many people eat
to make themselves feel better, only to feel worse about eating
again.

There is some good news, however; it is never too late for a
person to make changes in their eating and exercising habits.
Powerful health benefits can come from exercising as little as 30
minutes a day, everyday and paying close attention to what we put
into our bodies. Staying away from sugary soft drinks such as
sodas, and juice, and eating more fruits and vegetables can help
significantly. Also, keeping a food diary and developing a better
understanding of the nutritional value and fat contents of food,
changing grocery shopping habits, timing meals, running, and
walking is proven to do wonders for the body. Pills, and programs
that promise instant weight loss or feature severely restricted
diets are usually not effective and can be very dangerous.

A recent study has found that a key ingredient in over the
counter diet pills can increase the risk of stroke in women. Diet
pills are not a permanent solution to losing weight; in fact,
studies prove that almost all consumers regain that were shed.
Many people are initially discouraged during weight loss,
especially if they have put on excessive weight during the years;
but the sooner the change is started, the closer a person will
get to living a happier, healthier life.

----------------------------------------------------------
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Foods Today Have Much Less Nutrition Than In The Past!

Many of us think that we are eating healthy, although there is
no doubt that Americans eat some unhealthy junk foods. An
alarming new study published in the Journal of Food Composition
and Analysis reveals that Americans are getting nearly one-third
of their calories from junk foods.

But even if we are trying to eat as healthy as we can, the
foods that we think are healthy are often far less nutritious
than they used to be. It is no coincidence that the quality of
healthy food has been deteriorating as malnourishment and
illness have been on the rise in the U.S. and other developed
countries.

Here's what several notable experts in the field have to say
about the quality of our food today:

* "Wheat from the US has been rejected at China's ports
because the protein content was so low," states Dr. Michael
Colgan, LaJolla, CA.

* A statement from the Agricultural Testament given to the
Congress of the United States states "the impoverished soil of
America no longer provides plant food with the mineral elements
essential to human nourishment and health."

* Dr. Alexis Carrel, Nobel Prize Winner says, "Chemical
fertilizers, by increasing the abundance of the crops without
replacing all the exhausted elements of the soil, have
indirectly contributed to change the nutritive value of cereal
grains and vegetables."

A recent analysis of a range of staple foods in Canada,
commissioned by The Globe and Mail and CTV news, included
potatoes, tomatoes, bananas, apples, onion and broccoli.

This is what the analysis found for potatoes:

Over the last 50 years the potato has lost:

* 100% of its Vitamin A
* 57% of its Vitamin C and iron.
* 28% of its Calcium.
* 50% of its riboflavin
* 18% of its thiamin

Of the seven nutrients analyzed only niacin levels had
increased. The results were similar for all the 25 fruits and
vegetables tested. One of the worst results was from broccoli
in which ALL nutrients had declined measurably including
niacin, with Calcium down 63%.

Tim Lang a professor at the center for Food Policy in England
says as a further example of how our food has been degraded is
that you would now have to eat eight oranges today to get the
same amount of Vitamin A that your grandparents got from eating
just one orange.

These foods that have low nutritional values play an important
part in obesity and poor health in general. How can the body
function when it doesn't get the good fuel it needs? Many
experts believe that the human body is capable of healing
itself of every disease known to man. However,we must give it
what it requires to heal itself and stop interfering with its
innate healing process.

What can be done about this problem?

* Try to eat organic fruit and vegetables wherever
possible.
* Avoid processed and junk foods! Not only are they
nutritionally empty, but they have harmful ingredients that
poison the body, such as trans-fats due to the hydrogenated
processing methods that are used.
* Take a quality nutritional supplement. A
multi-vitamin/mineral tablet is not adequate because they use
synthetic ingredients with both questionable efficacy and
bio-availability. They isolate a few nutrients and leave out
many other important nutrients. Find a nutritional supplement
that is made of whole foods. It should be raw so you get all
the enzymes you need as well.

The best raw whole food supplement I have ever found is called
FrequenSeaT by ForeverGreen. It is a raw food liquid supplement
based on the powerful nutrition of marine phytoplankton.

FrequenSeaT is comprised of hundreds of species marine
phytoplankton, which make their marine phytoplankton more
powerful than anything you can find elsewhere. The exclusive
extraction process allows them to combine the benefits of
phytonutrients with a natural and balanced composition of sea
minerals.

FrequenSea's ingredients provide our bodies with the essential
minerals, nutrients, vitamins, co-enzymes, enzymes and amino
acids that we need to promote optimum health.

About The Author: For more information on FrequenseaT go to
http://superphyto.com now! Distributors needed! Go to
http://marine-wellness.com for more information on this
exciting home business.

Pregnant Women & Nutrition

Making sure her growing baby is getting the best possible
healthy growing conditions, is of supreme importance for any
pregnant woman. At the top of the list is your diet. Nutrition
is the most important controllable aspect in developing a
successful pregnancy. Because of this it is very important that
expectant mothers are completely in tune proper nutritional
levels in their body. Remember you have another body that you
are feeding!

For mommies to be, the quantity of supplementary calories
needed to be taken in might just surprise you. Believe it or
not, the daily recommended additional calorie intake for
pregnant women is only around 300. Clearly, that's some added
calories, but it certainly isn't the several hundred that many
pregnant women think that they should be taking in each day.
300 hundred doesn't sound like much but it is actually about an
extra meal a day for a full grown adult?

The fact of the matter is that there's a lot more than just
those 300 calories that can accommodate you with weight gain,
which is not recommended for the mother to be or baby. An extra
tuna fish sandwich or bagel with low-fat cream cheese can do the
trick. Steer clear of the impulse to indulge cravings, as hard
as it may be. Don't give in to the myth that a pregnant woman
needs a boatload of extra calories every day…just 300 will do
the trick.

Just because you're expecting does mean does mean you'll need
to take in some extra calories. Protein is one of the nutrients
that you should up your intake of while you are pregnant.
Generally speaking you'll want to take in about 10 grams per
day more than that of a non-pregnant woman or about 60 grams.
Lean meats, chicken and fish are good choices or protein. The
important factor to consider is to understand what type of
serving size produces the amount of protein (or any other
nutrient) that you actually need. For example with protein it
only takes about an ounce and a half to get 10 grams of
protein.

Calcium is another essential element during a pregnancy.
Today's, women who are not even pregnant generally fall short
of the recommended daily amount of calcium intake… so
increasing your calcium is generally a good idea to begin with.
Dairy products are a primary source of calcium you get in your
diet. The use of non fat sources of calcium in your diet, this
will help keep your calorie intake under control as well. For
example green leafy vegetables are for you to get some extra
calcium for both you and your unborn child.

Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium, so a daily supplement
can be a good idea. As the blood volume rises with the advance
of pregnancy, additional iron is required. The daily
recommended amount of iron doubles for expectant mothers from
15 mg/day to 30 mg/day. Make sure you get your iron supplement
because iron is very important! Your healthcare provider will
monitor lab work to see if you need to take an iron supplement.

A good source of iron is red meat, but forget about fish and
poultry as well. On the market today, there are also quite a
few iron enriched cereals that also help to supplement your
iron intake.

Completely vegetarian lifestyles are able to provide all your
required nutrients; the key is finding them in the correct
form. Vegetarians generally must keep a closer watch on their
nutrient levels. However, for the most part this is a regular
task for those who adhere to a vegetarian lifestyle. If you are
pregnant and a vegetarian just be certain to work closely with
your doctor during the course of the pregnancy to ensure you
are getting all the required nutrient supplements you and your
baby need.

Naturally, any expectant woman should consult her physician
early on about dietary changes because each pregnancy is
somewhat to completely different. It is also just as essential
to work with your physician before you become pregnant to make
certain that you are healthy and getting the proper nutrients
in order to have the healthiest beginning you can for a
pregnancy.

Work with your physician in order to provide the best care you
possible can for not only yourself but for your growing child
as well.

About The Author: For more information on living healthy visit
http://www.the-health-hub.com where you'll find information on
health topics such as pregnancy, back pain, fitness, diet &
nutrition & so much more.

Reducing Fat Accompanying Love Handles

There is no magical way to lose the fat that accompanies love
handles and to listen to someone who says there is, is a waste
of your time. To believe there is a magical or any other way to
lose love handles is a fairy tale. There is no way to pick and
choose certain areas of your body to target fat loss.

Consistent exercising will allow you to reduce the love handles
but to lose the fat that accompanies love handles will have to
be dealt with separately. The best way to reduce the fat while
trying to reduce the love handles is to reduce your caloric
intake. While reducing your caloric intake, your exercising
will allow your body to burn more calories. With this scenario,
you are combating fat from two angles. Be mindful that these
angles are not targeting one area of the body alone.

Perhaps you are one of those people who have a difficult time
with just eating three full course meals a day - Breakfast,
Lunch and Dinner. You are one of those people who have to be
snacking between every meal. If this is the case, perhaps you
should think about eating five or six smaller meals. If you
need to eat mini meals, make sure they are low fat meals. It is
very important to your body's health and fitness to keep your
blood sugar steady and to prohibit snacking and overeating.

Changing your habits and your lifestyle can help you to reduce
your love handles. You must pay close attention to your food
intake. The main ingredients for your success in reducing love
handle fat are diet and exercise. With your diet, you must
maintain enough energy to sustain a vigorous exercise routine.
According to some, stored fat is more difficult to lose. It is
best to get rid of fat as soon as it becomes prevalent that it
is too much fat.

Although fat can be used for energy, you must focus on what you
are using that energy for. If that energy is just "pent up"
energy, then you will more than likely increase the fat in your
love handles as well as everywhere else your body stores fat
making your fat reduction that much more difficult. Pay close
attention to your diet, your caloric intake along with the
physical activities you are engaged in.

Water must be a large factor in your diet plan for losing the
fat that accompanies love handles. We must remember to remain
healthy at all times. That makes any diet plan important to the
well being of your body. You must research any diet plan you are
contemplating undertaking. Make sure you are not depriving your
body of any vital nutrients. The fat stored around your torso
is some of the last fat to leave your body when dieting. If you
engage in a vigorous and consistent exercise program along with
the diet plan of your choice, you can help the torso fat
decrease a little at the time. Perhaps by the end of your diet
and exercise plan, you will see those love handles reducing.

You should avoid any diet that gives the perception of quick
weight loss. You must always be cognizant of the fact that your
weight gain came about over time. Therefore, to rid your body of
the weight gain quickly can only give you unrealistic results.
The same holds true for the fat accompanying love handles
around your torso. Motivate yourself into a regiment of stamina
for the long haul. Give yourself a realistic time goal for
losing all the pounds and fat your want to get rid of.

Always remember to consult your physician before beginning any
weight loss plan. Make your battle with reducing love handle
fat one that you can live with.

About The Author: This article was written by an independent
distributor for a major health and wellness company.
http://www.marymshields.usana.com

Dieting? Be Sure To Regularly Take Discount Vitamins

Sticking to a diet is difficult enough, especially at today's
fast-moving pace. Planning healthy meals that supply all the
important vitamins and nutrients you need is challenging and
costly. Instead of spending hours laboring over every meal,
spend a little time finding the right vitamins to supplement
your food. You may find that discount vitamins are the key to a
healthier, happier you.

* As with any new eating plan, consulting with your physician
and finding a plan that suits your needs, health and
preferences is key. But the one aspect of dieting that is
frequently overlooked is ensuring that your body is receiving
the appropriate nutrients needed. Most likely, any diet will
leave you lacking nutritionally. Educating yourself about your
dietary needs is a good first step.

Where's the beef?
Your nutrition may be lacking even if you're not trying to lose
weight. A vegetarian diet, if not properly managed can be
lacking in nutrients. Dietary supplements are highly
recommended for people wanting to go veggie. Some of the
nutrients you may be lacking include:

* Protein - The most obvious vitamin lacking is typically
protein. By eliminating the most common source of protein,
meat, you need to find ways to fulfill this need. A viable
solution to this problem is to take a soy protein supplement.

* Zinc - Absorption of zinc in plant-based foods is not always
effective. Zinc can be found in many multivitamins or as a
stand-alone supplement. Zinc plays a key roll in the growth of
cells and aids in the metabolism of various components in the
body and a number of other functions.

* Vitamin B12 - This vitamin is lacking, especially in the
vegan diet. The best sources of it come from meat, dairy
products and eggs. Among some of the functions this vitamin is
essential, are up keep of the nervous system and the formation
of blood cells. Some soy products are good sources for vitamin
B12 but taking a supplement is your best bet.

* Iron - Again, is a mineral that is not as easily absorbed
through plant sources as it is through meat. Taking this as a
supplement is the easiest solution to this problem.

* Calcium - For vegans, calcium might be lacking due to the
absence of dairy products. A supplement one good option for
receiving this mineral, as well as soy milk.

Battle of the Sexes
Men and women have different needs when it comes to nutrition.
This is an important factor to keep in mind if you are buying
vitamins for you and your significant other, roommate or family
member. There is not one dietary supplement program that is
designed to fit all. As a rule of thumb, some of the important
minerals and vitamins need are:

Women
* Calcium
* Folic Acid
* Fiber
* Iron

Men
* Vitamin D
* Calcium

Whatever your gender, if you are on a diet, you are probably
lacking in a valuable nutrients and minerals. Finding the right
balance is helpful and can also make your dieting efforts more
successful. If you are on a diet that involves low-carbs or
perhaps a Mediterranean-style diet, you are not alone. The
popularity of these two types of diets has reached an all-time
high. Walk down the diet aisle at the bookstore and you can
pick up any number of versions of these diets. Sometimes when
you are lacking in a certain dietary need, you will crave a
certain type of food that may not be on your diet. Maintaining
a proper level of nutrition is essential to your health and
your success.

The Good, the Bad & the Ugly
Incorporating several vitamins into your diet can seem
overwhelming but your local health store may carry everything
you need. It is important to research a brand of vitamins that
are effective and have a solid reputation. Many brands contain
fillers or ingredients that are either low quality or are
included in small amounts, causing their effectiveness to be
minimal.

Often, cost cannot be a determiner. Expensive vitamins do not
always mean they are high quality. For convenience and
cost-effectiveness, there are many reputable Web sites out
there that offer discount vitamins that are extremely high
quality. Most sites will also have tools available to help
guide you in the right direction for all your supplement needs.

Be Your Own Best Resource
Ultimately, your health is in your hands. Taking some time to
really research your dietary needs while you are on a diet is
essential. Your doctor can help you narrow down what
supplements may be best for you. Check out your meal plans and
educate yourself on what is healthy. Then, go online and find
discount vitamins that you can easily fit into your budget.

Dieting does not have to mean deprivation. Ensuring that your
body is receiving all the minerals and nutrients it needs
through food as well as high quality vitamins can lead you on
the right path to wellness. Making discount vitamins an
integral part of your life is easy and eventually becomes
second nature. Your health is in your hands, doesn't it deserve
the best?

Some helpful Web sites Include:

FDA - The Food & Drug Administration has useful information on
dietary supplements as well as what types of vitamins and how
much you should take. http://www.fda.gov/

WebMD - Helpful articles and information to guide you on
finding supplements that work for you. You can even submit
questions and have them answered. http://www.webmd.com/

Discount Vitamins - Discovering what vitamins are right for you
can be important, but it can often be costly. Finding a place to
buy discount vitamins that are high quality is almost as
important. http://vitnetonline.com/ .

About The Author: By a freelance writer for VitaNet ® Health
foods, http://vitanetonline.com/ who sells quality vitamins and
herbs with a wide selection of Discount Vitamins:
http://vitanetonline.com/ that are in stock and ready to ship.
Please link to this site when using article.

Types Of Vitamin And Mineral Supplements

There are many reasons why there are different types of vitamin
and mineral supplements offered in over-the-counter forms.
People might choose to take additional vitamins and minerals
because they are involved in sports, or have a specific skin
care problem that they need to rectify as soon as possible.

The types of vitamin and mineral supplements that are available
in sports nutrition might include nutrients for all areas of the
body. Bodybuilders and weight-lifters require certain types of
vitamin and mineral supplements to grow muscle and find that
growth hormones in pill form will make that happen. These
weight lifters might also supplement their diet with amino
acids, creatine, anabolic, cell volumizers, protein, and other
sports supplements to give their body the refined textures that
they need to be competitive in the bodybuilding challenges.

There are many age groups that are concerned with skin care and
the types of vitamin and mineral supplements that they might
focus on could be used for an acne treatment, anti-aging
barrier and to help reduce wrinkles forming on their faces, or
they might use different types of vitamin and mineral
supplements to repair stretch marks after the birth of a baby
or after they have dropped a lot of weight.

There are many types of vitamin and mineral supplements that
will help in treating hives and rashes on the body. These
lotions and creams are trusted because they are natural and
manufactured for treating that specific ailment. Other types
of vitamin and mineral supplements might be used to help people
in their nail care problems, and moistures that contain all
types of vitamin and mineral supplements can help improve a
wide variety of body area.

Aloe is one of the many types of vitamin and mineral
supplements that people use throughout their life. They may
have an aloe plant in their home that they use specifically to
treat burns, or they might use this supplement in addition to a
sun-block agent to keep skin moist and supplement after sun
exposure.

There are many types of vitamin and mineral supplements that
make fine additions to medicine cabinet supplies to treat
bronchial and throat irritations. Some of these vitamins are
used to treat headaches, and cough and others are offered
specifically in a children's formula to handle irritations
through the use of lozenges that are made with many types of
vitamin and mineral supplements.

These types of vitamin and mineral supplements come in handy
when you are fighting the flu, or when you need to help a child
with their nasal congestion. Some of the types of vitamin and
mineral supplements are offered in cherry, grape and elderberry
flavors to make them taste better.

For people that suffer from anxiety, high blood pressure and
stress, there are types of vitamin and mineral supplements that
will treat those problems quite adequately. Some of these types
of vitamins and mineral supplements will help people achieve
rest and help them to relax. Others are considered natural
sleep aids, and will also help people in their weight control
programs.

About The Author: Linda Polansky writes about
http://www.vitaminsdietshop.com/

The Glycemic Index: Good Carb, Bad Carb

If you're one of those people who can't stand all the counting
and tracking and adding and charting that some diets require,
you could find a refuge in one simple numerical scale: the
glycemic index. On the other hand, you might find it another
maddening way to complicate the simple act of eating.

The glycemic index is a measure of the quality of carbohydrate
foods. It's kind of a good carbs/bad carbs thing, based on how
they affect your blood sugar. Though it's not new, it did start
getting a lot of press when the anti-carb movement took hold.

It works like this: in the glycemic index , pure glucose is
arbitrarily assigned the score of 100; it doesn't mean anything
in particular; it's just a set reference point for how it has
affected the blood sugar by about two hours after eating. Then
all other foods in the index are given a number relative to
glucose and its affect on the blood sugar.

Foods with a low index typically break down slowly and don't
cause drastic fluctuations in blood sugar. Foods with a high
index typically do. For instance, green peas have an index of
39, while corn flakes have an index of 92.

Originally developed to help folks—particularly
diabetics—control their blood sugar, the index includes mainly
carbohydrate foods, because protein and fat don't have much
immediate effect on blood sugar.

But assigning numbers to different foods based on their
glycemic effect just happens to create a scaled list of foods
that ends up being a very useful tool for people dealing with
obesity and other health issues, as well. That's because simply
maintaining a low-glycemic index diet tends to guide people
toward healthier eating and weight loss, even when that is not
their specific goal.

Consider: Type II diabetes, as well as various cancers and
cardiovascular disease, are all highly correlated with high
index diets. There's abundant research that shows that reducing
the overall glycemic index also reduces the risks of those
problems.

That's because almost by default, a low-index diet will include
more fresh fruits and vegetables, more fiber, more dairy, all
foods that offer essential nutrients, that are more likely to
be lower in calories and which tend to keep the body sated
longer, holding off the next hunger spell. All that usually
adds up to weight loss, no matter what the program.

Proponents of the index say it's more helpful than counting
calories or grams of fats or carbs, and actually offers a
simplified approach to learning to eat better, but some experts
caution that people shouldn't get too wrapped up in worrying
about the precise numbers. Instead, they urge that people pay
attention to whether the foods they're eating have a low,
medium or high index.

That's because, as with any rule, there are exceptions to the
fairly consistent physiological rules that underlie the index.
For instance, watermelon has a pretty high glycemic index,
about 75, which is even higher than table sugar. Does that make
it bad for you? No. Because in spite of its high index,
watermelon actually has a pretty low glycemic load. That's a
measure based on the amount of food you'd actually consume, not
just an arbitrary quantity used in testing, as with the index.

The glycemic load of a food can be determined using the
glycemic index number for a food, divided by 100 and multiplied
times the available carbohydrate you'd eat. With most foods, low
index is consistent with low load, but there are the quirky
exceptions. Of course, to find them, you'd be back to doing a
bunch of math again, and that's just not the way people
normally eat.

That's why doctors and nutritional experts encourage people who
are trying to develop a healthy diet to avoid getting caught up
in the numbers game and look more generally at the foods in the
index, leaning toward those at the low end. Anything over 70 is
considered high index, 55 through 69 is medium and below 55 are
foods with a low glycemic index.

And look what's in those groups: high index foods include most
breakfast cereals, white breads and other processed baked
goods, most potatoes, ice cream, candies and table sugar, your
veritable Atkins nightmare.

Lower index foods include cherries, grapefruit, broccoli,
legumes like lentils and beans, most whole grain baked goods
and most dairy foods. So even without counting calories or
keeping track of specific index numbers, you can see that
steering your diet toward the low end of the index is bound to
do you good.

We like to encourage patients to think of glycemic index and
glycemic load as just two more tools that can be helpful in
developing healthier thinking and planning about dietary
habits.

A final thing to remember: there's not one standardized
glycemic index list and most indexes include brand-name items
that people buy on a typical shopping trip, as well as the more
generic items like vegetables and fruits. This is one of the
more helpful aspects of the lists, but only if you get one that
relates to where you live.

If your average Southwest Florida resident looked at an index
created in Australia, it wouldn't be much help, because really,
when's the last time you had a couple Golden Pikelets with a
nice glass of Milo?

THROUGH THICK & THIN

Fruits tend to have a high glycemic index, so I recommend that
people take their fruits with a meal, or with some protein like
cottage cheese or regular cheese. These protein sources help
mitigate the fruits glycemic effect. Don't let a high index
number keep you away from your apple a day.

About The Author: Caroline J. Cederquist, M.D. is a board
certified Family Physician and a board certified Bariatric
Physicians (the medical specialty of weight management). Dr.
Cederquist is the founder of http://www.bistromd.com formerly
Diet To Your Door, a home diet delivery program.

Is Marine Phytoplankton A Superfood?

Our soil is rapidly becoming depleted of its valuable minerals
and especially trace minerals, which affect our food supply and
ultimately our health. Added to this is the tendency we have to
eat fast and prepared foods on the run, and we have a
nutritional crisis going on. This can be seen by the poor
quality of health found in most developed nations. We can take
a vitamin pill, but even if some of it is absorbed, it still
doesn't cover the vast amount of missing nutrients in our diet.

That's why many experts agree that it is important to
supplement your diet with superfoods. Superfoods are whole
foods that have a natural concentrated abundance of nutrition
and phytonutrients in a form that the body can easily absorb
and utilize. Phytonutrients are natural plant-based chemicals
that promote proper metabolic functions, such as: general
nutrition, cardiovascular health, cholesterol, blood sugars,
neurological support, skin care, vision, liver health, and
energy.

A few of the many popular superfoods right now are:

Blueberries-- which are high in antioxidant compounds called
anthocyanins that reduce free-radicals in the body, which may
help to slow the aging process.

Leafy Dark Green Vegetables-- such as spinach, kale, swiss
chard and romaine lettuce. They contain beta-carotene, lutein
and zeaxanthin that work together to support overall health, as
well as vitamin B and some minerals.

Omega-3 Fish-- Cold-water fish like cod, wild salmon, tuna and
trout contain beneficial omega-3 fatty acids. Research shows
that consumption of EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids may reduce
the risk of coronary heart disease.

Sea Vegetables (Seaweed)-- have anti-inflammatory and
stress-relief qualities, as well as the ability to lower the
risk of heart disease. Certain types of seaweed, such as kelp,
also have very high levels of iodine, which is essential in
regulating the thyroid -- the gland that controls most of the
body's physiological functions. Some varieties of sea
vegetables can be a great sources of vitamin B, magnesium,
iron, folate, and calcium.

All these powerhouse foods, and others like them, are important
to consume on a regular basis. Even if you eat a well balanced
organic diet, and are getting most of what you need, a trace
mineral could be chronically missing from your diet. Without
this mineral, you could find it hard to stay energetic and may
even effect your weight your moods your hormones and many other
areas of your health. So supplementing with superfoods may be
the answer.

One of the most complete whole food superfoods in the world is
marine phytoplankton. Phytoplankton are collectively known as
micro algae. These single-cell plants are the basis of all
other life forms on planet earth, they are the 'vegetation' of
the ocean. Phytoplankton are responsible for making up to 90%
of Earth's oxygen.

Marine phytoplankton have the unique ability to transform
sunlight, raw inorganic minerals, and carbon dioxide into
invaluable superfood for living things. Phytoplankton have all
the vitamins, minerals (from 200 sea vegetables), essential
fatty acids, antioxidants, amino acids that are required for
good health. And since they are so nutrient dense, very little
is required to achieve significant nutritional benefit.

Marine phytoplankton are a better source of minerals than any
other vegetable because they contains all the minerals found in
human blood, because the minerals in sea water are similar to
those found in our blood, with nearly identical concentrations.


The best source of marine phytoplankton is in an amazing
product called FrequenSeaT. With over 200 types of diverse
chlorophyll rich plankton nutrients for achieving maximum
health benefits, FrequenSeaT is one of the best tasting and
healthiest supplements ever made.

FrequenSeaT is processed with an exclusive patented AMP
Technology (Aqueous Molecular Partitioning) - a process for
emulsifying the whole plant in it's integrity, in water,
without the use of any chemicals or heat. It combines the
benefits of marine phytoplankton's phytonutrients with a
natural and balanced composition of sea minerals. This new
process has made all the ingredients completely and easily
assimilated and bio-available. It is a raw living food.

FrequenSeaT gives your body what it needs most and is an
optimum solution for a high impact total food. The body
requires key elements in order to perform as intended and the
natural elements in marine plankton provide critical nutrition
elements to our bodies and feed our cells with exactly what
they want and need most.

FrequenSeaT contains marine phytoplankton specially blended
with other key superfoods such as frankincense, astaxanthin,
ionic sea minerals, aloe vera, sea vegetables, cranberry and
blueberry.

About The Author: To learn more about Frequensea go to
http://superphyto.com now.

Vitamins Are The Spice Of Life

Many people have busy schedules and do not have the time to eat
properly. Their diet does not contain the right ingredients to
provide vitamins and nutrients that the body needs to function.
To fill this need, there are vitamins available for people to
take to supplement the lack of vitamins in their diet.

These vitamins are supplied in pill form, liquid elixirs,
liquid vitamin supplements, and powder form. Some of these
vitamins are sold in a multi-vitamin tablet form and contain
all of the necessary supplements that a body will need to
function properly. These multi-vitamins are sold by many
manufacturers and in many doses, but the most popular dosage is
500 mg tablets.

There are commercial advertisements that ponder whether you
have enough milk in your diet. Vitamin D is found in milk
products and is said to help prevent people from getting
diseases like multiple sclerosis. Calcium vitamins are sold in
two varieties, calcium citrate and calcium carbonate. For
calcium carbonate to be effective it must be taken with meals.
These vitamins can be taken at any time of the day.

Many people wonder what the benefits are in taking vitamins and
herbal supplements. They think their diet is sufficient in
vitamins and nutrients and can not justify spending more money
on something that they have plenty of in their bodies. The fact
is that our bodies do not get enough vitamins, even if we eat a
well-balanced diet.

People take vitamins because they help prevent many diseases
and help slow the effects of aging too. Some vitamins are not
manufactured properly and may lose their potency if they are
exposed to heat and light. Vitamins that are found in meat,
vegetables and other food groups loose their effectiveness when
exposed to heat when they are cooked on a stove.

Vitamins are virtually useless to drug abusers because vitamins
can not be absorbed into the body properly. Cigarette smoking
affects the way a body absorbs vitamins into the body. Many
junk foods contain no nutritional value at all. Fast food
restaurants serve food that is high in fat content and low in
vitamins. Without the proper amount of vitamins in their diet,
children do not grow to their full potential.

Some vitamins will affect how the body absorbs iron into the
body. Milk is one of the food sources that hinder iron
absorption. If people plan to take iron pills, then they will
have to take them when milk is not being ingested. A two to
three hour wait is sufficient between dosages.

People rely heavily on the US RDA requirements that are placed
on many food packages to determine whether their dietary intake
is sufficient to have a healthy life. People do not understand
that US RDA requirements might be well below what your body
actually needs to live and function properly. The scale that
is listed on the food product packets and boxes might be for
just one day of nourishment, not a yearly consumption level, or
might not consider the total nourishment level different age
groups might need to live a healthy life.

About The Author: Linda Polansky writes about
http://www.vitaminsdietshop.com/

.

Why Weight Loss Is As Simple As A Calorie Deficit

If you're like most people, you've probably tried every product
that has come along and was "guaranteed" to make you lose
weight. You've also sampled the supposed tried-and-tested diet
programs that weren't really appropriate for you or your
lifestyle or your goals. You are now at a loss as to what to
do.

After all these diet plans and tricks, what do you know? The
secret to weight loss is actually very simple and someone has
already coined a term for it - calorie deficit. When you
realize what it is, you'll probably shake your head and say,
"why didn't somebody explain it this and sooner?" It could've
saved you from all the headaches that you had to go through.

What is calorie deficit?

You often hear about calories being mentioned in the same
breath as losing weight but haven't really absorbed its
importance, although in practice you have probably realized its
significance. Calorie deficit is the difference between the
calories you actually consume on a regular basis and the number
of calories you take in. It may also mean "calorie restriction"
in which case you reduce the calories in your ideal calorie
requirements for the body. Pretty simple, isn't it?

It can be viewed in three parts: First, you try to decrease the
calorie requirement for the body by as little as 500 to as much
as 1000 calories. You just have to make sure that your body
does not suffer from this change. Second, weight loss is
guaranteed if you don't consume additional calories on top of
the regular calorie requirement of the body. Third, if you have
excess calories, you then have to consider a new diet program
combined with an exercise or workout routine to prevent these
calories from turning into fat or stored energy and thus bring
down the calorie count to manageable levels.

How do you take advantage of calorie deficit?

Your body consumes a specific number of calories daily in order
to function well. If your body is small and your weight loss
needs are minimal, you may consider the calorie restriction
method. You just maintain a slightly lesser calorie intake
without sacrificing the body's needed nutrition.

Depending on your lifestyle and activities, either you burn
them to a degree that there's a deficit in the number of
required calories in your body (which is why it's called
calorie deficit) or you don't burn them so they turn to fat or
stored energy. If you're the type that almost always burns the
regular allotted calories either from your lifestyle or from
your metabolism, you're in danger of calorie deficit and you
need to replace these lost calories in order to prevent your
other internal organs from losing their required nutrition.
Definitely, you'll experience weight loss if you don't get your
regimen back on track. You may even experience tiredness and
irritability if the balance is not met. Maintaining a healthy
balance of calories will help you preserve the ideal and
healthy weight for you.

If, on the other hand, you're the type with excess calories,
the only way to lose weight is to deal with those. It will
greatly help if you don't put any additional calories when you
already have excess ones. Weight loss will not be achieved in
this scenario. What you can do is determine your ideal calorie
requirement, drop them by a notch and plan the calories that
you're going to be taking in. This is where the proper diet and
a good workout program come in. You still need to plan which
foods to control when it comes to your calorie intake. If you
need to burn 1000 calories, try not to cut down on your fruit
supply but rather on your fast food appetite. Junk food always
hampers your bodily functions in addition to keeping your fat
stored. The changes that you apply to your regular diet will
ultimately help you live longer and healthier.

Participating in a good cardiovascular workout will surely help
you lose those unwanted pounds. Cardio exercises burn calories
much faster than dieting and if done right, will increase your
metabolism rate even while you're at rest.

Calorie choices

It's not that difficult to determine where to adjust with your
calorie requirements. You simply have to cut down on high
calorie foods and if possible and available, shift to
low-calorie substitutes, especially with dressings and sauces.
If you also eat less but with more frequency, it helps to
control your metabolism. Try to avoid impulse foods, especially
when you're stressed or emotional.

About The Author: http://www.weight-loss-resources.com,
http://www.creatine-facts.com,
http://www.hoodia-gordonii-facts.com,
http://www.fish-oil-facts.com, http://www.calcium-facts.com,
http://www.glucosamine-information.com, and
http://www.green-tea-facts.com.

Glyconutrient Supplementation Is Essential To Your Health!

These all natural nutritional supplements are not vitamins,
minerals, herbs or homeopathics. They are quite literally the
operating system of the human body. The eight vital
glyconutrients are the alphabet of life, the language that
every cell in our body uses to communicate with other cells.
This technology is based on Nobel Prize winning science. The
fact that we only get two of the eight necessary glyconutrients
in our Western diet has led to the epidemic of chronic
degenerative disease as well as immune system dysfunction.
These dietary supplements work at the cell level to restore
normal cellular communication and function. This allows the
body's own innate defense and repair mechanisms to function as
they were designed to. In this way, glyconutrients address the
CAUSE of the problem rather than just suppressing the SYMPTOMS.
They also dramatically increase our body's production of Stem
Cells for tissue repair and regeneration. The medical
implications of this discovery are phenomenal.

The Facts

First of all this is now a medically established fact. In 1996,
Harper's Biochemistry, a prominent medical text book added a new
chapter called Glycoproteins.

Second, researchers who study this cellular communication
proclaim it to be the most important discovery in the history
of medicine.

In addition, MIT's Technology Review , February 2003 issue
says: Glycomics, the study and application of these vital
sugars to be one of the Ten Emerging Technologies That Will
Change The World.

Also, the process to make the 8 glyconutrients is very complex
and requires a host of enzymes and micronutrients to complete
the action. Scientists believe that our modern, nutrient
deficient diet, along with toxins and stress interferes with
this process, leaving us lacking in these life-giving
molecules.

For example, without these cell surface sugars, your body's
operating system ''breaks down'' .Your body might decide to
attack healthy good cells, resulting in autoimmune diseases
such as MS, Lupus, fibromyalgia and arthritis, while bad cells
like cancer are left to grow and multiply.

Another important thing is that Physicians' Desk Reference for
Non Prescription Drugs and Dietary Supplements lists these
sugars. Clinically proven to be absolutely safe, glyconutrients
are exactly the same sugars your body produces, making it
physiologically impossible for them to interfere with
prescription drugs, or harm you in any way.

Last but not least, no other product, natural or artificial has
ever been clinically proven to stimulate the body's production
of stem cells. Doctors at the Fisher Institute for Medical
Research were perplexed by the numerous reports from around the
world of Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and stroke sufferers making
remarkable recoveries and diabetics producing insulin again.

With proper cellular communication, your body has the a ability
to reverse any health condition.

About The Author: Daniela Riess is a wellness consultant from
Florida USA http://www.decide2behealthy.com

.

Facts About Nutrients For A Healthy Back

There is hope for people with chronic back pain. Yes, you can
use nutritional supplements to control back pain, and finding
the right supplement is the key to a successful rehabilitation.

Many people believe that one of the answers to back issues is
the use of nutritional supplements. They believe that by taking
certain daily supplements you can help to relieve a person's
problems and the pain they cause. As a matter of fact, the
feeling is that nutritional supplements will strength the
cartilage as well as a person's bones. It will diminish
inflammation and help to loosen the muscles. As long as you
understand that these supplements will not work overnight, they
are an answer to back pain that means investing in a long-term
solution, then there is not a reason not to try them. As long
as you understand that nutritional supplements are for those
who have chronic back pain not for those who suffer the
occasional pain problem.

Understanding the Types of Supplements

Supplements are divided into two groups. One works hard to
strengthen different areas in your back and in this way helps
to eliminate pain by giving your back a better defense system.
The other group is pain relievers. If you have chronic,
constant, back pain they can be of use as well. When taking any
of these supplements be careful to read the instructions. Some
are hard on the stomach and so need to be taken with food,
others must be taken on an empty stomach and some cannot be
mixed with others. Read the labels and take them exactly as
directed if you want them to work for you. Even nutritional
products can be detrimental to your health if used wrongly.

Nutrional Supplements Need Time To Work

Most of the supplements take a few months of use before you
will see any improvements at all. If you are going to use a
Calcium and Magnesium mix, often sold in one pill, then you
should also use Boron. While it's the job of the Calcium and
Magnesium to strengthen bones the Boron will help your body to
better absorb the other two. Vitamins C and D as well as
Glucosamine Sulfate are for building stronger cartilage,
strengthening the bones and helping the muscles. Another
supplement to help with muscles strength is
S-Adenosylmethionine

The other supplements work to relieve pain in a variety of
ways. Some of them diminish the inflammation. This would
include Bromelain, Devil's Claw, Turmeric, Flax Seed, Boswellia
and White Willow Bark. Bromelain is often suggested for use in
athletic injuries, following surgery or if the person suffers
from any type of arthritis.

Pain Releif With No Side Effects

Some of these have dual purposes. For example, Devil's Claw
also has the ability to make the effects of medications
prescribed by your health care provider work better. Cayenne
has the ability to improve blood flow. This is very important
as improved blood flow promotes healing. It is taken by mouth
for that purpose but it can also be used as a cream to help
with the pain of strained muscles. White Willow Bark is a good
pain reliever with all the same effects of aspirin without the
potential side effects and Niacinamide is used to help promote
the healing of cartridge.

You now know some basic information about Nutritional
Supplements and helping you with your back pain. Now is the
time to do your own research and find a supplement that will
help in your back care recuperation.

About The Author: Ron Keegan is a successful Webmaster and
publisher of http://ArticleBankOnline.com a Health/Lifestyle
Directory with up to date information on health and lifestyle
issues. treatment for back pain at
http://www.articlebankonline.com

Disease & Illness, We Have Contaminated The Supplier

Contamination of the supplier is not only happening because of
high speed processing techniques that uses high temperatures
and chemical additives, but also because of the appalling
growing and harvesting techniques used in modern farming and
agriculture.

These so called "Saviour" techniques all focus on quantity and
profit rather than on quality.

The fact of the matter is, due to the unhealthy way that our
food is being produced:

. We are fat!
. We are unhealthy!
. We are diseased!

And this is happening at such alarming rates that it's making
the world become a disease hotspot.

We have all heard of and eaten in one of the big fast food
joints and we have seen the government health warnings about
their food.

I do hope that you take heed of what they said. They speak the
truth (sometimes).

Have any of you seen the documentary "Super Size ME" By Morgan
Spurlock?

That was a bit of an over the top example of what can happen if
you eat only McDonalds for a month straight and do no exercise.

All in all, it wasn't supposed to be an attack solely on
McDonalds, it was a window into the average American lifestyle
and McDonalds just happens to be symbolic of that. That's
right, the AVERAGE AMERICAN. That's YOU.

What you fail to realise is that you are doing the same as he
did, even though it may be on a smaller level. But just because
the effects are not instantaneous, does not mean that they are
not damaging your body.

Do you really think that your body was created to take in the
amount of rubbish that you are eating?

Do you think that your grandparents would have known what a
"triple deluxe waffle cheeseburger meal" is? If there is not
one of these, I'm sure there will be one very similar soon.

The answer is NO. Of course it's bloody NO. This "hidden
butchery" is only a few decades old.

Why do we think that we can eat like this without any
repercussions?

It doesn't stop there. We are all guilty of pushing the
boundaries on what are bodies are capable of coping with. Yet
we continue to abuse our body and jeopardise our health for the
long term.

We fail to see the consequences of our actions. We are not
living our life to its fullest because being ill and being
unhealthy is holding us back from being the people we are meant
to be. Damn, I really don't like this.

Our stupid, greedy & uninformed actions are creating a whole
host of shocking diseases that the First World Nations have
come to think of as normal. These diseases are relatively
unknown in the developing world and could be avoided in those
countries altogether.

According to D. P Burkett a world renowned Surgeon:

"Many of the commonest diseases in the economically more
developed communities are characteristic of Modern Western
culture. Evidence is presented suggesting that they represent a
failure of adaptation to the dramatic changes in diet that have
been associated with the emergence of Modern Western Culture."

"These disorders can be considered to be manifestations of how
we have not adapted to a new environment."

"Over the last three decades, the concept of Western disease
has become well established. Medicine has approached this group
of diseases by searching for new cures but has achieved
relatively little success."

What each and every one of us is not realizing is that Modern
medicine is FAILING us.

Most of us still view our doctor as "God" and are frightened
into submission by them, to take whatever drugs they give us.
This is a perfect prescription for a 'Medical Dictatorship'.

That's right, and the unfortunate truth of the matter is. You
all know this is going on and yet you simply know no other way.
Lack of education about how our body works is one of the reasons
why.

The Pharmaceutical Industry has shown that it is not capable of
providing balanced and informative pharmaceutical advertising.
Their interests lie in praying on the vulnerabilities of people
and exploiting them. Wake up, look at what is happening to the
planet, and look at what you are being fed.

Rarely does a pharmaceutical advertisement provide balanced
disease education or information. The less we know the better
for these giants of industry.

We as a society almost always associate knowledge with wisdom
and we have been conditioned to accept without questioning.

The results of doing this are catastrophic. We approve, we
fight over, we kill for the latest sure fire drug that is going
to change the world, but has it come? Will it come? And what
will we do if it doesn't?

The recipe that we use For our Life Is Killing Us.

We are systematically destroying the human race.

Dr. Neal Beard, M.D. in his book, Food For Life states the
following about the American diet.

"The results are tragic. There are 4,000 heart attacks every
single day in this country. The traditional four food groups
and the eating patterns they prescribed have led to cancer and
heart disease in epidemic numbers, and have killed more people
than any other factor in America. More than automobile
accidents, more than tobacco, more than all the wars of this
century combined."

It's time to open our eyes and see what is actually going on
around us.

I assume you have noticed people that are getting sick around
you and in your community. I would imagine you have someone
close to you that is also ill, maybe even yourself.

Any guesses why?

Instead of getting healthier, which we should be, as a result
of the modern world, we are actually getting sicker! Diseases
are reaching epidemic levels.

And the amazing thing is that disease has become commonplace
now. We are accepting the emerging disease state as
commonplace.

In the U.S., chronic conditions affect about 125 million people
and are the leading cause of illness, disability, and death.

An estimated 60 million people have two or more chronic
conditions. Bloody hell, look at the number, do they not tell
you something drastic is happening.

Cardiovascular Diseases and degenerative diseases, which are on
the rise, like Cancer, Obesity, and Diabetes, are increasing at
an alarming rate.

Heart Disease is the biggest KILLER in the entire world.

And, It's not only happening to Adults!

What is even more frightening is that these diseases are now
attacking our children.

Cancer is now the number one killer among children aged 1 to 14
and Cancer rates in children has risen by 20%.

That's alarming; but its not just cancer that is threatening to
kill our children. We also have to worry about other diseases
such as child hood Diabetes, Heart Disease, Digestive Diseases
and Obesity, etc.

Drug dependency used to be a thing that you heard from the
point of view of adults, not anymore, kids, young children are
now becoming dependant. Oh, how the coffers in the
pharmaceutical companies are rattling.

A healthy immune system will survive the onslaught of these
diseases, if kept to a minimum.
But that's exactly what is NOT happening.. We are not keeping
it to a minimum and our body is punishing us!

Why is this happening?

We live in a world full of major technological advances. Are
they not supposed to provide an answer and help keep us
healthy?

I at least thought they were not meant to make us sick.

But we should have known, technological advances, medicine,
etc. have been and continue to be driven by Big Business and
GREED!

We are getting sicker simply because we are suppressing our
immune system by polluting our bodies with chemicals and
pesticides produced by the multinational warlords.

We are producing and consuming food too rich in sugars, fats,
and proteins, but nutritionally deficient in vital disease
fighting nutrients such as phytochemicals, antioxidants, and
polysaccharides.

According to Dr. Chen

"The best doctor in the world is our immune system"

In order for the Immune System to get back into shape, we do
not need the medicine of the Pharmaceutical Companies that are
suppressing our immune system. We need those medicines that
naturally occur on this planet. This is what the Health Warrior
is about. Not about artificially made garbage that we shove into
every orifice in our body.

Disclaimer

The author of this material believes in a natural, no drug
approach to creating vibrant health, energy and vitality
throughout life. A main part of his views are placed on
promoting and maintaining the perfect balance within the human
body.

The author realizes that within medical and scientific fields
there are widely differing opinions and attitudes. This
material is written for the sole purpose of sharing educational
information and scientific research gathered from the studies
and experiences of healthcare professionals, scientists,
nutritionists, informed health advocates and the author.

The information contained in this eBook is for informational
and educational purposes only. It is not intended to constitute
medical practice nor medical advice. It is not intended to
diagnose, prevent, treat, or cure any disease, nor is it
intended to prescribe any of the techniques, materials or
concepts presented as a form of treatment for any illness or
medical condition.

Please, before beginning any practice relating to health, diet
or exercise consult a suitably licensed & qualified physician,
medical practitioner or healthcare provider about the
appropriateness of any opinions or recommendations in regard to
what symptoms you have or your own medical state.

Should you choose to make use of the information contained
herein without first consulting a health care professional, you
are prescribing for yourself, which is your natural right.

However, the author assumes no responsibility for which choices
you choose to make after your review of the information
contained herein and your consultation with a licensed
healthcare professional.

None of the statements in this article or in the book have been
evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA), or the
American Medical Association (AMA).

About The Author: You have many choices to make about your
health, do the right thing and visit
http://www.The-Health-warrior.com/freedisease&illnessebook for
your free ebook "Disease & Illness, The Truth Revealed, The
Lies Unveiled". A Final Word; don't waste your time if you are
not going to do anythin

Can Green Tea And Caffeine Help You Maintain Weight Loss?

Copyright (c) 2007 Marcus Stout

Weight loss and maintenance is no laughing matter. Today, 60% of
American adults need to lose weight, and many of them feel
defeated by their struggles. In addition, for many people,
keeping weight off after weight loss is even more difficult than
losing it in the first place.

These difficulties are the reason that sales of diet aids are so
consistently high. People who are trying to lose weight are
constantly looking for any help they can find to increase their
weight loss and maintenance success.

If you need to lose weight, it's critical that you make changes
to your diet and your physical activity level. The following
suggestions can help you to begin shedding pounds without
resorting to extreme dieting measures:

* Substitute fish and chicken for beef and pork most days of the
week.

* Eliminate white flour from your diet. Eat whole grains, such
as 100% whole wheat bread instead.

* Eliminate refined sugar from your diet. Use artificial
sweeteners and natural sweeteners like honey instead.

* Eat lots of fresh fruits and vegetables. Fresh fruits and
vegetables will provide more anti-oxidants and fiber, along with
fewer calories than processed vegetables, particularly those in
sauce.

* Increase your fiber intake - Extra fiber will help you feel
full longer, helping you to reduce the number of calories you're
eating without feeling deprived.

* Watch the fat- Reduce the saturated fat in your diet. Avoid
any food with hydrogenated fats or trans fats. Get your fats from
olive oil, canola oil, fish and nuts.

* Get 30 minutes of aerobic exercise most days of the week.
Walking is a great way to get in your exercise, and it's
convenient because you can do it anywhere. You should also get in
strength training 3 times a week for 30 minutes each session.
Strength training will help you build muscle, which will help you
burn more calories even when resting.

Making these changes should allow you to lose weight gradually
without feeling hungry. Only when you make changes that you can
sustain for the long term will you be able to take off the weight
and keep it off.

However, while it's critical to understand that diet and
exercise will always be the keys to maintaining a healthy weight,
it's always nice to find little tricks that make losing weight
and keeping it off just a bit easier.

One substance that does seem to hold promise in weight loss is
green tea. Many studies have shown that the consumption of green
tea along with a healthy diet can help you lose more weight than
dieting alone.

It is believed that green tea's potent anti-oxidants combined
with the caffeine in the tea help speed up the metabolism and
burn fat. In addition, some studies have even shown that green
tea can inhibit the absorption of dietary fat, meaning that less
of the fat you eat ends up as body fat.

However, one interesting study suggests that green tea's
effectiveness may be negated if you consume too much other
caffeine in your diet. A study conducted by Maastricht University
in The Netherlands attempted to show how green tea would affect
participants attempting to maintain a recent weight loss. It
showed less promising results regarding the consumption of green
tea, particularly when the participants were high consumers of
caffeine overall.

In this study, 104 overweight and moderately obese men and women
were put on a low calorie diet for 4 weeks. During the four week
period, the participants lost an average of 7.5% of their body
weight. During the 13 week maintenance period, the participants
were fed either green tea or a placebo. The participants did not
show statistically different results between the group receiving
green tea and the group receiving the placebo.

However, the study did show that participants who had overall
high caffeine consumption regained more of the weight they lost
than those who had a lower overall caffeine consumption.* When
you consider these results compared with other studies where
additional caffeine consumption was restricted, and a correlation
between the use of green tea and weight loss was observed, it
suggests that excess caffeine use may negate green tea's
possible positive effects.

If you look at the entire body of research on green tea's
ability to enhance weight loss, it seems very promising, in spite
of the results of this particular study. And, the good news is,
that even if green tea doesn't help you lose weight, it's very
healthy for you and has no side effects.

So, you have nothing to lose by trying green tea as a weight loss
supplement. Green tea's anti-oxidants may hold significant power
in helping you avoid diseases like cancer, heart disease and
Alzheimer's. In addition, regular consumption of green tea may
reduce the signs of aging and help you live a longer and
healthier life. And, in addition, you may find your weight loss
efforts easier and more effective than ever.

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Marcus Stout is President of the Golden Moon
Tea Company. For more information about tea,
(http://www.goldenmoontea.com/greentea)
green tea (http://www.goldenmoontea.com/blacktea)
and black tea go to http://www.goldenmoontea.com

Facts About Vitamin Nutritional Supplements

Vitamins are a very important part of a healthy balanced diet.
They are essential for speeding up chemical reactions in our
body and are also needed to prevent certain diseases. Fresh
fruits and vegetables are the main sources of nearly all kinds
of vitamins. Eggs and milk also provide a lot of vitamins.
However, when we don't eat enough of these foods, it can cause
vitamin deficiency within our body. This vitamin deficiency can
be cured by taking a handful of multivitamin nutritional
supplements. Vitamin supplements are important because other
nutrients, such as minerals, work with the vitamins in the form
of enzymes and coenzymes to help fight against certain diseases.

A few years ago people thought that eating a healthy diet was
sufficient enough to keep an individual fit and healthy.
However, recent research has shown that taking supplements is
beneficial even for people that eat a healthy diet. This is
because modern methods of farming reduce the overall quality of
vegetables, add to this the amount of time the vegetables sit on
the shelves and it's no wonder that the amount of nutrients in
these vegetables is reduced.

It has been established that water-soluble vitamins, like B
vitamins (B6, B12 and folic acid), and vitamin C are the ones
that get absorbed by the bloodstream and often leave the body
when we urinate. As a consequence, even healthy diets alone are
not enough to keep these vitamins at a certain level in order to
maintain a healthy lifestyle which is necessary to keep a person
fit and healthy. There are no clear symptoms to detect vitamin
deficiency in body. However, you can correct vitamin deficiency
if your daily food intake does not conform with a prescribed
healthy and balanced diet.

Although it's very important to consult a diet professional
before consuming any kind of vitamin or mineral food
supplement, it's also necessary that you do a little research
of your own to find out how to choose a particular nutritional
supplement product.

There are some precautions that you must consider before
choosing which nutritional supplements you should take. First
of all, you need to know that there's nothing like a properly
functioning and healthy body. Vitamin supplements are no
comparison for natural foods, but if you think you need vitamin
supplements, always put quality first. Don't go for cheaper
products merely because they are cheap. Expensive products are
often the ones that contain natural substances which and nearly
as effective for the body as natural food sources. Your body's
nutrition is very important; it is worth investing in.

Always choose supplements which use ingredients that have been
suggested by renowned scientists and dietitians. A combination
of Flavonoids and Phytochemicals, along with the necessary
vitamins and minerals, is thought to provide a balanced
supplement and is useful for improving the overall health of an
individual. Green tea is an excellent source of Flavonoids. Just
another thing that we can thank the Chinese for! If supplements
have to be consumed, make sure they are made out of
concentrated plant material.

One of the quality measures is to see if these vitamin products
are coated with a colored or sugar coating to make them
attractive. Don't go for these types of products, since they
probably don't contain the essential substances that should be
a part of any nutritional supplements. Good nutritional
supplements are often composed of large tablets that smell of
compressed plant-like material.

Always make sure that the company you are going to buy a
vitamin supplement from is an authentic one and is either
licensed or certified in providing health services. You can
e-mail them or telephone them directly to ask some questions
about their product. If they are accessible and provide
satisfactory answers to your questions, you can consider buying
their product. Your body is your temple, so when choosing
supplements choose ones that you can trust!

This list of tips is by no means comprehensive, other tips and
precautions must be considered before choosing the correct
nutritional health supplement. Make sure that you buy a quality
product that will prove to be useful for your body in the long
run.

About The Author: Christopher DiCicco is the owner of the
online Nutritional Supplements Store
http://www.Flexhealthnutrition.com/ and has been involved with
health and nutrition for over 20 years. He has written many
articles on such topics as Nutritional Supplements,
Bodybuilding & weightlifting supplements.

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Detoxification And Your Health: The Bodies 7 Channels Of Elimination

If you want to be healthy you need to understand the seven
systems that the body uses to eliminate waste and toxic
matters. When these systems are working effectively the result
is good health. When they are compromised all types of
complications can result. If you want to understand
detoxification you need to have a clear understanding of the
bodies channels of elimination.

When the body confronts a toxin or foreign substance it uses
these channels of elimination to purge the toxin as quickly as
possible. They key to excellent health is knowing these 7
channels of elimination like the back of your hand and doing
everything possible to keep them functioning optimally.

In 1904 a Russian Naturopathic Physician by the name of Eli
Metchnikof discovered that the body would recycle any toxin
that it was not capable of purging. In the recycling process
the body would utilize all 7 channels of elimination to try and
get the toxic substance removed from the body. This is important
to understand because if your health has been compromised it
would stand to reason that one or more of the bodies channels
of elimination are not working effectively.

Most people cannot even name the bodies seven channels of
elimination. If you value your health do everything you can to
understand these seven vital cleannsing systems.

Liver - The Liver is the bodies factory. It metabolizes food,
filters toxins and converts ingredients into substances that
are needed in all parts of the body. Your liver is one of the
largest and most important organs in your body. The Liver when
healthy will store vitamins, sugars, fats and other nutrients
from the food that you eat. The Liver builds chemicals that
your body needs to stay healthy and breaks down harmful
substances, like alcohol and other toxic (poisonous) chemicals.
It also removes waste products from your blood and makes sure
that your body has just the right amount of other chemicals
that it needs.

Learn about the Liver by picking up a basic book on health and
supplement accordingly.

Lungs - Your LUNGS rae in charge of breathing so you better
take care of them. The best way to take care of the lungs is to
give them lots of exercise. The best way to keep your lungs
healthy is not to smoke. Smoking isn't good for any part of
your body, and your lungs especially hate it. Deep breathing of
fresh air is the best exercise for the LUNGS. Spend 15 minutes
each day doing deep breathing exercises.

Lymphatic System - Regular exercise is the best treatment that
your lymphatic system can receive. The Lymphatic is the bodies
filter system which supports immune function. A healthy
lymphatic system filters out bacteria and other foreign
particles. A natural herb by the name of arabanogalactan is a
natural cleanser of the lymphatic system.

Blood - The blood is a liquid organ which transfers and
transports substances throughout the body. It is what delivers
the needed nutrition to those areas that are in need. Red
Clover and Chlorella are wonderful natural cleansers of the
blood system. A regular exercise routine stimulates the blood
system and assists the body in eliminating waste.

Skin - The Skin is the bodies largest organ. By sweating
naturally you assist in cleansing the skin and keeping it
elastic and healthy. Going to a Sauna and sweating is a
wonderful health regimen for the skin.

Colon - The colon is vital to effective health because it
serves the function of transporting waste out of the body.
Hydration of the digestion system will improve Colon Health.
This can be done by drinking an equivalent number of ounces of
water to your body weight every day. Also, hydrating the colon
through Colon Hydrotherapy has proven to be very beneficial to
re-etablishing health.

Kidneys - Your chances of developing a kidney stone in your
lifetime are 1 in 10? In 1995, more than 3 million people in
the United States had some type of kidney condition such as an
infection, kidney stones or cancer. More than 300,000 people
suffer from renal failure each year and undergo dialysis or
await a kidney transplant.

The kidneys produce urine which is the waste in the body. Often
kidney problems are the result of dehydration. A natural
supplement that cleanses and provides needed nutrition for the
kidneys is Corn Silk.

If you want to understand good health you ned to understand
these seven channels of elimnation. I urge you to understand
these seven channels of elimination and do everything possible
to assist them in your pursuit of excellent health.

About The Author: Charles O. Palmerson is the webmaster for
http://www.eConstipation.com an online Constipation Information
Resource created to resolve poor digestive health.

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How Do You Know If You Need A Vitamin Supplement?

Billions of dollars are spent every year by millions of people
around the world on vitamin supplements. In 2004 alone, it is
estimated, nearly $20B dollars went to supplements. A lot of
the people spending their hard-earned money on vitamin
supplements believe they are warding off cancer, heart disease,
or other conditions just by taking vitamins. Most people don't
know, however, that it is not possible to stock up the
nutritional value of many vitamins. Water soluble vitamins and
minerals like vitamins B and C are actually eliminated each day
(don't ask me to go into details about how that happens!).

Other vitamins are "fat-soluble" meaning they dissolve in fat.
Those include vitamins A, K, D, and E. The fat-soluble vitamins
can be more dangerous than water-soluble. What is not used by
the body actually ends up in the liver, where it can build up
and could potentially be toxic.

You should check with your doctor or healthcare practitioner
about whether or not you can absorb the vitamins you want to be
taking. That's the first place to look when deciding what
supplement may be right for you. If you are not absorbing a
vitamin or mineral as it naturally occurs, you will want to
supplement it. Don't supplement vitamins you are already
supplying your body in adequate quantities.

The next thing to consider is if your nutritional needs have
changed due to medical conditions like pregnancy or more time
spent bodybuilding. These and other conditions have special
requirements and you may not be naturally getting enough of
certain vitamins and minerals.

Check with your doctor on potential interactions between your
supplement, and any medication you are on. It is also prudent
to talk to him about whether or not you even need a particular
supplement vitamin.

Doctors can find out a lot about your nutritional needs by
taking a simple blood sample. She can then see what you may be
deficient in, and need to supplement. You don't want to be
taking something you don't need.

Perhaps moreso in the vitamin supplement world than in other
areas of your life, "buyer beware" is an important thing to
remember. Vitamin supplements are largely unregulated by the
government (in the USA, and even less elsewhere). You will be
bombarded with messages about how this or that supplement will
keep you safe from cancer or other diseases, with little
research to back up such claims.

Be careful, and don't rely on the supplement manufacturer's
claims alone. The internet is a great place to research
different supplement companies and supplements, and of course
your doctor is a trained professional. The US Government (FDA)
and other agencies also provide free information on supplements
they have tested.

About The Author: Learn about vitamin supplements and which you
should take... if any! Many vitamin supplements are
unnecessary. Look before you leap. Visit
http://www.vitaminsupplementvitamin.com today.

Can Oolong Tea Help Men Lose Weight?

Copyright (c) 2007 Jon M. Stout

It seems that we're all fighting the battle of the bulge.
Especially as we get older, it seems to get harder to keep the
pounds at bay. We often think of women as being the dieters, but
in fact, men are just as subject to weight problems as women.

As you're looking for ways to make weight loss easier, consider
the research that has been performed on the health benefits of
tea. Tea has long been used in Asian cultures to prevent illness
and protect health, and it seems that science is proving what
Asians have believed all along: tea is good for you.

Lifelong tea drinkers have lower incidences of heart disease,
high cholesterol and some forms of cancer. They are also less
likely to suffer from diabetes or be overweight. Tea protects
your teeth and may even have potential to prevent diseases like
Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. We are beginning to learn a lot
about the benefits of tea, but clearly there is much more to
learn, so that we can pinpoint exactly how we can best use tea to
help with medical needs.

One of the most promising areas of tea research centers on tea as
a weight loss aid. Much research has shown that tea seems to
speed up the metabolism and promote fat oxidation. Other studies
have shown that lifelong tea drinkers are less likely to be
overweight, have a lower percentage of body fat and have a lower
waist to hip ratio. In addition, studies have shown that when tea
was part of a sensible diet and exercise plan, subjects lose more
weight than those subjects who used a diet and exercise plan
without tea as a supplement.

One study that is particularly interesting was conducted by the
Beltsville Human Nutrition Center in Maryland in conjunction with
the University of Tokushima in Japan. In this study, twelve men
between the ages of 25 and 60 were evaluated. All participants
were in good health, and the study was conducted over a period of
one month. The target participants were those who consumed the
caffeine equivalent of 2-4 cups of coffee each day.

Prior to the beginning of the study, each participant was
evaluated with regard to their calorie expenditure per day
without caffeine or tea. During the study, each participant was
placed into one of four study groups. One group received a
supplement of water, one group received water with caffeine, one
group received half strength oolong tea and one group received
full strength oolong tea. For three days, the participants were
fed the exact same diet. The diet was low calorie and free of
caffeine, other than the caffeine in the beverage supplements.
The beverage supplements were given to the participants five
times per day.

This study found that the participants who drank full strength
oolong tea and caffeinated water burned more calories in a day
than the subjects who drank water or half strength tea. Drinking
caffeinated water increased energy expenditure by 3.4% over those
participants who drank water alone. Drinking full strength tea
increased energy expenditure by 2.9% over drinking water alone.
Drinking half strength tea did not significantly increase energy
expenditure over drinking water alone.

So, why not just drink water with caffeine?

You might ask why we wouldn't just drink water with caffeine to
help increase our metabolic rate. Well, according to this study,
you could do just that. However, when you consider the many other
studies that have touted the many other benefits of tea
consumption, it's clear that getting your metabolic boost from
tea is far healthier than adding caffeine to your water.

Tea is full of anti-oxidants, which is believed to be why it
prevents illnesses and protects health. Anti-oxidants are
powerful fighters of free radicals in the body. Free radicals are
oxygen containing molecules that are created as a by-product of
our digestion process. These free radicals damage our cells and
DNA if left unchecked. However, consuming anti-oxidants combats
these free radicals before they can harm our bodies. Scientists
have shown that consuming a diet high in anti-oxidants helps us
to avoid serious illnesses and slows down the aging process.

In addition, there have been other studies that have suggested
that tea promotes more weight loss through fat oxidation than
other caffeinated beverages. It is believed that this too is the
result of anti-oxidants. It appears that the combination of
caffeine with the anti-oxidants in tea is a more powerful weight
loss supplement than caffeine in other beverages.

Finally, research has shown that the caffeine in tea seems to be
better tolerated than other forms of caffeine. Many people who
are caffeine sensitive find that they can drink tea without the
usual side effects of caffeine. The caffeine in tea often does
not produce the irregular heart rate and nervous jitters that
caffeine sensitive people experience from other caffeinated
beverages.

So, adding tea to your diet plan may be a great way to speed up
your weight loss. Tea is healthy, refreshing, inexpensive and
readily available. So, why not add tea to your diet routine?

* http://jn.nutrition.org/cgi/reprint/131/11/2848

----------------------------------------------------------
Jon M. Stout is Chairman of the Golden Moon
Tea Company. For more information about tea,
(http://www.goldenmoontea.com/greentea)
green tea (http://www.goldenmoontea.com/blacktea)
and black tea go to http://www.goldenmoontea.com

.

Everyone Benefits From Nutritonal Supplements But Just How Much.

A supplement, by definition, is something that accompanies
something essential. But, in some cases, nutritional
supplements can themselves be an essential part of a healthy
nutrition regimen.

Whether because of a busy life style, or an individual genetic
or physiological condition, there are those who benefit from
nutritional supplements.

Everyone requires a certain amount of vital biochemicals, with
the proportion varying within a narrow range for almost
everyone.

But diet doesn't always supply those amounts, even when a
sincere effort is made to eat properly. Some have rigorous
exercise routines, others are forced to a more sedentary
lifestyle because of work and family life.

Most importantly, every individual is unique and therefore
requires a particular amount of nutrient that differs slightly
from others.

B-complex vitamins, for example, are essential for everyone.
But the proper amount will vary depending on weight and unique
physiology.

For some, an all-purpose daily vitamin pill is enough to supply
any needed amount that doesn't come from a balanced diet. The
body has a well-tuned ability, in most cases, to absorb what's
needed and slough off the rest.

For others, added amounts or specialized types are a
requirement for good health.

Vitamin C is eliminated in the urine when consumed in excess
amounts. But what is excess one day may not be enough the next,
requiring tomorrow's deficit to be made up through diet or
supplements.

Taking Vitamin C once helped eliminate the dangers of scurvy
and rickets. That's rarely a problem in developed countries
today, but there is strong evidence that it helps boost the
immune system, leading to fewer colds and infections. Past
claims overstated the facts, but Vitamin C remains a needed
element.

Many people as they get older consume much less calcium. To an
extent, that's normal and healthy. Young adults don't require
anywhere near the amounts that they did when they were infants
or young children.

But the curve picks up again later in life, as bones become
less able to manufacture the appropriate amount.

For many who are lactose intolerant, or simply don't care for
the taste of cow's or goat's milk, getting calcium in the form
of a supplement is a great way to get that essential mineral.

Omega-3 are essential fatty acids that help reduce inflammation
and prevent heart disease, to name only two benefits.

But one of the main dietary sources - fish - isn't to
everyone's taste. It's also unfortunately the case that
sometimes the local fish supply is temporarily unsafe. In those
circumstances a nutritional supplement is an excellent
alternative.

There are dozens of supplements that can help balance out
hormonal deficiencies that many women and some men suffer from.


Soy is one that can smooth out imbalances and help reduce PMS
(Premenstrual Syndrome) or menopause symptoms. Others are
helpful for thyroid imbalances.

Cortisol is another example. Naturally produced by most people
in the proper amount, some people have a deficiency due to a
gland weakened by disease, age or genetic condition.

Those low in cortisol can suffer from fatigue, aching joints
and other symptoms. Taken in the proper amounts, it can make a
huge positive lifestyle difference.

Each person should undergo rigorous testing before taking
anything more than an average daily vitamin or one of the more
common supplements.

Ginko, for example, can lead to excessive bleeding in some. You
need to know which are safe for you. But once you have the
results, taking nutritional supplements can make the difference
between mediocre and optimal health.

About The Author: http://Ydiets.com is an excellent place to
find weight loss and diet resource, links and articles. For
more information visit:www.ydiets.com

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