Criteria For Evaluating Nutritional Supplements And The Need To Evaluate

A Paradox of Choice - The Need To Evaluate

If you already take nutritional supplements or are considering
starting then you're no doubt well aware of the seemingly
endless array of products and choices in the market.

Supplement consumers face a paradox of choice and they know
only too well that the quality, safety and efficacy of the
thousands of various brands out there are far from equal!

Physicians Management Journal backs this up by reporting that
one in three dollars spent on nutritional supplements is
WASTED!

Because nutritional supplements in the US are currently
regulated under 'food GMP' (and these do not address the unique
aspects of supplement manufacturing) the market has become
flooded with supplements lacking product integrity and making
fanciful performance claims.

Supermarket shelves and on-line stores are filled with
supplements put together by marketers or other unqualified
people trying to cash in on the popularity of the latest
'in-vogue' nutrients and on consumers lack of nutritional
science knowledge.

The majority of people putting together supplements for sale
have little idea of the complex bio-chemistry involved when
ingredients are combined or which metabolic pathways they
follow when assimilated into the body.

So the need to evaluate supplements is clear. Consumers need a
reliable way to evaluate and compare supplements in order to
find products that are safe, effective and which offer the best
value for money. More on this below.

Different Categories of Supplements - Evaluate Them All

Cheap and 'middle of the road' multi vitamin supplements are
currently the most popular category choice for the majority of
supplement users.

Consumers however need to consider the limited health benefits
offered by these types of supplements and that most do not
offer good value for money. They contain large amounts of cheap
vitamins and minerals and excessive amounts of non-active
ingredients (excipients).

While these types of supplements help to 'top-up' deficient
levels of essential micro-nutrients, they are in reality
missing, or deficient in, expensive, key ingredients such as
high potency phytonutrients, standardized herbal extracts and
male and female 'support' nutrients, which are needed to
optimize wellness throughout the body.

At the top end of the market is a small category of the best
vitamin supplements based on synergistic and nutritionally
complete formulas. They have been formulated by highly
qualified bio-scientists using the latest research in
bio-cellular chemistry and nutritional science.

These broad spectrum multi ingredient supplements target all
organs and systems in the body, including the brain, and offer
the strongest of health benefits. They do far more than just
'top-up' nutrient deficiencies but rather take a holistic
approach to wellness by treating the body as a whole.

The consumption of this category of supplement is trending up
worldwide. This is being driven by the aging baby boomers
generation who use them as a form of preventative health-care
to achieve their aim of "staying young and beautiful" as well
as allying their fear of chronic illness, particularly cancer.

Now here is a key point:

The markets' best science-based supplements are not all equal.
There are always varying degrees of efficacy and value for
money.

This is primarily due to factors such as organizational
structure, shareholder pressure and the marketing model(s) and
distribution method(s) of supplement companies. These factors
impact on the type and number of ingredients that manufacturers
can afford to include in their products as well as the potencies
and dose amounts - all of which are key variables when comparing
supplements.

Consumers should always keep in mind that almost all
supplements are manufactured to a price!

So regardless of which price category a supplement falls in it
should be evaluated and then compared to its competitors. This
applies even more for the up market multiples because value for
money varies more-so.

Criteria for Evaluating Nutritional Supplements

A supplement can be broken apart and evaluated by examining it
through 6 criteria. These were taught to me by a bio-scientist
working in the supplement industry.

1. The Formula
2. Ingredient Quality
3. Bio-availability
4. Synergy
5. Manufacturing Standards and Protocols
6. Value for money

Consumers can get a feel for the science behind supplements and
target in on the fine details that manufacturers often love to
keep hidden, by learning how to use each criteria. These will
be covered in upcoming articles. This then allows consumers to
competently evaluate and compare nutritional supplements and
make informed purchasing decisions.

The full 6 criteria can be used with multi ingredient products
while less complex or single ingredient supplements can be
evaluated using only 4 or 5.

About The Author: Brett Seagrott is a health researcher and
author of the website
http://www.nutritional-supplement-truths.com The site explains
the 6 criteria for evaluating supplements and how to use them.
There are evaluations and comparisons of the market's leading
multi ingredient nutritional supplements

Are Discount Vitamins For Everyone?

And the news is --- discount vitamins really are for just about
everyone! Young, old, male, female, healthy or not, vitamins can
enhance almost every person's quality of life. This does not
mean that one single vitamin, or one specific mineral is going
to be the answer for everyone. But it does mean that almost all
of us can benefit from the research and knowledge we have at our
finger tips, to select those discount vitamins that are right
for each of us. Throughout the life cycle, as our bodies grow
and change, our needs for various vitamins and supplements also
change.

We might begin to think about a baby before it is born, and how
that baby's mother can benefit from taking a top-quality
discount multivitamin. Whatever nutritional needs a pregnant
woman has that are not met by what she eats can be met by the
judicious addition of a multivitamin each day. Also, we have
learned that folic acid, which is the B9 vitamin, is
particularly essential during pregnancy. Folic acid assists in
the formation of the brain and spinal cord of a fetus. Pregnant
women who do not have enough folic acid are much more likely to
give birth prematurely or to have babies who have a low birth
weight.

Once a baby arrives, parents can provide discount multivitamins
for their children. Children who begin solid foods at the age of
six months are known to benefit from an easy-to-take liquid form
of multivitamins. Infants who have an adequate supply of
vitamins and essential minerals are less susceptible to
viruses, which cause the common cold, as well as secondary
infections. Overall, these infants are healthier, their bodies
are better able to grow and mature, and they are better
equipped to resist disease.

In the age of fast food restaurants and highly processed foods,
parents can relax when they are assured that a child is still
getting the proper vitamins. Our intentions to feed our
children well, on a daily basis, can sometimes be thwarted,
either by choice or by chance. When we look to discount
vitamins, those of top quality as well as economical, to
supplement our children's diets, we are making a wise decision.

As children go through various growing phases, their
nutritional needs, and well as their food preferences, can
change rapidly. How many of us have seen a child who decides to
eat only one or two favorite foods for what seems like months?
Because children's bodies and immune systems are not as
developed as those of adults, the effects of vitamin
deficiencies are sometimes magnified. For instance, babies who
do not get enough vitamin D can suffer from brittle bones,
delayed teething, or bowed or knocked knees.

Teenagers also need specific vitamins and minerals. The U.S.
Food and Drug Administration stresses the importance of
adequate iron and calcium in the teen years. Inadequate iron in
the diet can result in anemia, and negatively affect a youth's
alertness and energy levels. Bone mass increases in these
formative years requires an adequate supply of calcium. For all
teens, the Mayo Clinic offers of the guideline of at least 1,300
milligrams per day of calcium

As adults, we need to be aware of the role of vitamins in
disease prevention. Vitamin A, for instance, contributes to the
healthiness of our skin and mucous membranes, which serve as
barriers to bacteria and viruses. Vitamin E in conjunction with
vitamin C has been shown to improve cholesterol levels and to
slow progression of heart disease.

Women, as they age and have decreasing hormone levels, are
vulnerable to a thinning of the bones and osteoporosis. Calcium
and additional vitamin D can offset and help avoid these
problems. While men do not run as great a risk of osteoporosis
as women, adequate calcium intake and utilization is important
to both men and women to avoid high blood pressure. Colon
cancer has also been linked to long term insufficiency of
calcium.

The Fred Hutchison Cancer Research Center, a non-profit
organization, studied men's use of multivitamins and their use
of vitamins A, C, E and calcium, iron and zinc. Men who took
daily doses of vitamins C or E had over a 20 percent lower risk
of prostate cancer. Men who had taken zinc daily decreased their
risk by 45 percent. The Center notes that while the results of
their testing need to be investigated further, the study does
support the idea that some vitamins and minerals may influence
prostate-cancer risk.

More and more people, from children to older adults, are
interested in maintaining a vegetarian or more-nearly
vegetarian diet. While this can lead to healthy decrease in
consumption of saturated fats, it can also make a person more
susceptible to certain vitamin deficiencies. Most plant derived
foods do not contain vitamins A, B6 and B12. These vitamins,
which are essential to the body, are especially needed in times
of rapid growth and physiological stress. Whatever the age of
the vegetarian, supplementing such a diet with discount
vitamins can lead to better overall health and prove economical
as well.

As we age, the risk for Alzheimer's disease (AD) increases.
With people living longer, AD now presents a major health
problem. Antioxidants, including vitamins E and C, can help to
reduce the incidence of AD in the elderly. While citrus fruits
and fresh vegetables are the best dietary sources of these
vitamins, it appears they do not contain enough to prevent
Alzheimer's. With discount vitamins, which are even more
affordable than ever for those of us on a limited income, we
can take steps to avoid this tragic and late-life disease.

Staying aware of scientific discoveries and research, to assist
us in making wise health choices, is more important than ever in
a complex and changing world. Maintaining our health and the
health of those we love is one of the most important things any
one of us can do. Throughout the life cycle, beginning in the
womb, and continuing through old age, we can all benefit from
discount vitamins and supplements.

About The Author: By a freelance writer for
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.

Can Green Tea Help You Lose Weight?

Many of us are interested in losing weight. Weight loss
products are huge sellers – even when they make ridiculous
claims. But there is evidence to suggest that some substances
can help speed up our metabolism.

We all know that a faster metabolism means more calories burned
in a day – and that can easily translate into weight loss.

One substance that does seem to have promise in the battle of
the bulge is green tea. First of all, green has caffeine, which
does speed the metabolism somewhat. What's special about tea is
that, for some reason, the caffeine in tea doesn't appear to
raise the heart rate or blood pressure rate the way other forms
of caffeine do.

This makes tea an effective way to speed up the metabolism
without worry for those who are caffeine sensitive.

Green tea also seems to be helpful for weight loss because of
its potent anti-oxidants. Tea's polyphenols have been shown to
have many health benefits because they combat free radicals in
the body that can cause cell damage.

These polyphenols also seem to work with other chemicals in the
body to intensify fat oxidation and thermogenesis. This creates
fat burning heat in the body. It also helps depress leptin
production in the body. Leptin is a protein hormone that
regulates our appetite and our fat storage.

Lower levels of leptin mean a smaller appetite, but overweight
people often produce too much leptin, which may be why they eat
too much. If polyphenols can decrease your leptin levels, you'll
automatically eat less.

One of the biggest problems found in those who are obese is
this overproduction of leptin along with an underproduction of
the hormone that tells us we're full.

If green tea can help regulate these hormones, it may take us a
long way to helping the chronically obese get their weight under
control.

Another advantage to green tea in terms of weight loss and
maintenance is the fact that green tea seems to help with our
insulin levels. Green tea helps the carbohydrates that we eat
be released more slowly, keeping our insulin at a steady level.

This helps reduce our chances of storing fat. If we can keep
our insulin levels steady throughout the day, we can lose
weight, or keep it off, more easily.

Too many carbohydrates often cause our insulin levels to drop
in a hurry, so more of our food is stored as fat rather than
burned as energy. For these reasons, green tea is thought to be
helpful for patients with diabetes, as well.

One important study reported by the American Journal of
Clinical Nutrition supports these thoughts. This study
concluded that green tea does promote fat oxidation – and in a
more significant way than simply its caffeine content would
suggest.

This study looked at a cross section of men, with varying
lifestyle habits. Some were of normal weight and some were
overweight. The participants were divided into three groups.

The first group was given a green tea extract that contained 50
mg of caffeine. The second group received a placebo and the
third group received 50mg of caffeine – but not from green tea.
During the course of the study, the participants ate the same
diet and had the same level of activity.

The participants who took the green tea extract had at least a
41% greater expenditure of calories than the other
participants, even the ones who took the caffeine. So, while we
do know that caffeine stimulates the metabolism, green tea
obviously has other fat burning properties, as well.

Other studies have echoed these findings. One study indicated
that lifelong tea drinkers tended to be of a healthier weight
overall than those who did not drink tea regularly.

Of course, green tea is not a magic pill. To reach and maintain
a healthy weight you must make changes to your diet beyond just
adding tea. In addition, you'll need to get exercise to burn
calories and build muscle.

However, a faster metabolism is what we're all striving for. As
we age, our metabolism naturally slows down, so anything that
can help us improve it is welcome, indeed.

By incorporating green tea to increase our metabolism and
weight bearing exercise to compensate for the muscle loss that
we also experience as we age, we can keep ahead of those pound
that normally pile on as we get older.

Over time, no doubt there will be more studies that help us
pinpoint exactly how green tea promotes thermogenesis and how
we can harness its power to help with our growing obesity
problem. But, in the meantime, green tea is a wise addition to
your diet for many reasons.

Green tea's anti-oxidants have also been shown to prevent
diseases, including high cholesterol, heart disease and high
blood pressure. All of these diseases are ones that plague the
overweight.

Drinking green tea may help your fight to stay healthy by
helping you lose the weight – but also by getting a jump start
on minimizing weight related medical conditions.

Try adding green tea to your diet to help lose pounds naturally
and reduce any weight related health concerns that have shown up
along with those extra pounds.

Even though more research is needed, you can be assured that
you're doing something positive for your overall health – and
quite possibly you'll notice it in your waistline as well.

About The Author: Marcus Stout is President of the Golden Moon
Tea Company. For more information about tea, green tea and wu
long tea go to http://www.goldenmoontea.com

Body Detox 101: The Good And The Bad

Detoxification, or detox as it's commonly known these days, is
a method used by many to rid their bodies of all the toxins
that build up over months and years of eating and drinking the
wrong things and bad living habits. A body detox is one way to
get rid of all the gunk that's accumulated, but there are good
ways and bad ways to do that.

Did you know that our bodies are polluted on a daily basis? Are
you aware that in the United States alone, trillions of pounds
of over 9,000 different chemicals are produced every year?
Where does it all go? Most of it eventually ends up in the air,
the water and the ground. We are now technologically able to
measure the amount of pollutants in our own bodies, and you
won't like what you hear. Which is why a body detox suddenly
becomes an appealing suggestion.

For first timers considering a body detox, there are some
things you should know. A body detox is mainly designed to
cleanse the colon, where everything that the body doesn't need
or use ends up anyway. The colon is also commonly known as the
'sewer system of the body'. A body detox should be performed,
according to those who swear by it, when certain signs tell you
it's time for one: frequent fatigue and low energy, recurring
headaches, excess weight, frequent colds, gas, bloating, skin
problems like rashes and a protruding belly or what most women
refer to with a scowl as a 'pooch'. These are just a few of the
signs that can be indicators that you're polluting your body. Be
aware however, that many of these signs can also be a sign of
illness. Listen to your body.

A body detox is performed by completely changing eating and
drinking habits, and for some, this is a life-changing event.
There are many different kinds of body detox methods and it's
up to you to decide which is right for you. For your body
detox, should you use herbal pills or merely drink tea or water
for a few days? Two of the most popular body detox methods are
DrNatura and the Master Cleanse body detox diets. These have
both fans and detractors and it's up to each individual to
decide whether any body detox method is safe or healthy.

Be aware that most doctors frown upon current body detox
methods, with good reason. Physicians know that the body is
more than capable or ridding itself of wastes without any help
from the outside or a body detox. Many body detox methods
require drastic diets and measures that can't be good for a
person over the long run. Doctors also suggest that by just
changing eating and living habits, we can achieve the same
results as a body detox method. These changes include eating a
proper and well balanced, nutritional diet and maintaining a
regular exercise regimen. Quitting smoking or drinking is one
of the best things we can do, they suggest, as well as laying
off the high-fat, high-sugar diets that we've all become
accustomed to. Whichever method you decide to choose for a body
detox, use common sense and listen to your body.

About The Author: Are you considering a total body detox? Find
out more about the body detox and if it's right for you at
http://DetoxRevealed.com/bodydetox.html__,_._,___

Why We Hate Diets

Over the years I've made many observations of thin people,
overweight people and the entire "diet culture" that we have
here in America. It seems that overweight people never reach
their goals of becoming thin, and that many thin people
eventually become overweight. The diet industry and the medical
care providers profit greatly from this problem. What about the
rest of us?

I personally don't believe that the diet industry is trying to
do Americans a disservice. There are many people who lose
weight permanently through dieting, but they have to continue
doing what made them thin for the rest of their lives. Most of
us can't imagine being on a permanent diet or extreme exercise
program (although I do feel that consistent exercise is needed
to maximize your long term health). That's why the diet
industry is so huge - it's one big merry-go-round. People
finish one diet, gain back all the weight they lost (and then
some), and jump onto the next diet fad.

We are all searching for the diet that will give us permanent
weight loss. There's only one problem with that - it doesn't
exist! There are only permanent diets! It only makes sense that
if you lost weight on a low fat, low carbohydrate or low calorie
diet, that you are going to have to continue similar eating
patterns on the "maintenance" phase of each of these diets.
That means permanent deprivation. I don't know about you, but
the phrase "permanent deprivation" is not a big motivator for
me. And, looking around at our ever-fattening population, it
seems that a lot of people feel the same way I do.

So where does that leave all of us that want to lose weight,
but can't? I thought maybe the best place to start on my quest
for permanent weight loss was with observing people who are
naturally thin. You know who I'm talking about - the people you
love to hate!

We all know people who don't pay attention to what they eat,
but never to seem to gain any weight. Welcome to my world! One
fat Dad living with 4 naturally thin people. How could this
have happened? Well, I made some observations that I'd like to
share with you.

One evening while I obsessed over the meaning of life at the
dinner table, which is the sort of thing that overweight people
obsess about while they're waiting to start their next diet, I
looked around at my dining companions. Across from me was my
wife, who weighs the same now as the day I met her 22 years
ago. To my right was my son (a bottomless pit when it comes to
food), the owner of a true six pack for abs. Beside him was my
oldest daughter, who'd never been on a diet (nor, needed to be
on one) and was heading off for college. Across from these two
was my youngest daughter who'd lost ten pounds earlier in life,
and had never had a weight issue since.

The question I asked myself was, "What made me different from
all four of my dining companions?" It seemed very strange that
one fat person lived with these four individuals. Why, why, why
was I so different? I decided to watch them eat.

My wife put the amount she wanted to eat on her dinner plate
and didn't really have seconds. My daughters had seconds of
what they liked, my son ate as much of everything as was
humanly possible, and I did the same thing as my son except he
seemed to be enjoying his food. I ate well past the point of
hunger, well past the point of nourishing my body, well past
the point of enjoying what I ate.

Studying the difference between the members of my family and
myself, would ultimately lead me to discovering the "secret" to
permanent weight loss.

I can't put my entire book in this article, but I can share
what I think is the most important thing you can do to eat more
naturally:

Slow Down! Enjoy your food and the entire dining experience.
Our fast food mentality has lead us to simply shove food into
our mouths without experiencing the pleasure of eating. Food is
supposed to taste good and a meal is something to be enjoyed.

Constant dieting has screwed us up so bad mentally and
physically, that we do many things that make no sense. We eat
bland, tasteless food that we don't want, but it's "on our diet
plan." We spend countless hours in the gym because we know we
have to exercise to get and stay thin (most of the natural
eaters I know don't exercise). And, we turn mealtime into a
meaningless experience - we don't truly enjoy the food we're
eating. We either feel guilty because it tastes good and we
think we shouldn't be eating it, or it's so tasteless that
we're fantasizing about the "non-diet" foods we like.

Is this really any way to live? And, is it really making us
thinner in the long run? I think not.

About The Author: Paul Clark of
http://www.finallyfitandthin.com is the author of the book,
"Naturally Thin." This book is based on his failures at dieting
and his subsequent observations of people who were "naturally"
thin. It is also based on his experiences while helping his
daughter to lose weight naturally.

Help For Achieving The Best Results From A Healthy Weight Loss Diet

Not only can a healthy weight loss diet help you get into
better shape, but it can also lessen your risk for certain
disorders such as heart disease, diabetes and high blood
pressure, to name just a few. And a healthy plan for losing
weight can also lessen the damaging effects of certain ailments
that one may already be stricken with as well. To help you
achieve the best results from a healthy weight loss diet, keep
the following strategies in mind.

The first thing to remember is that in order to lose those
extra pounds, your calorie intake has to be less than the
amount your body is actually burning on a daily basis. This may
seem like an obvious statement, but it's worth mentioning
because that seems to be the one major point people take for
granted. If you're eating more than you're burning off, no
matter which healthy weight loss diet plan you follow, the
pounds are just not going to come off. This is one of the
reasons people get frustrated when they don't see the results
of their dieting efforts. So think about what you're consuming
every day in relation to your level of activity. This could
very well lead you to one of the answers you're looking for in
terms of your weight loss or lack thereof.

Secondly, realizing that getting into shape is not solely based
on a healthy weight loss diet alone will be another step in the
right direction toward achieving your desired results.
Incorporating exercise into any diet regimen will not only
ensure that certain areas of your body will decrease in size,
but also that they will become more fit and firm. Exercising
along with your healthy eating habits will also speed up those
results as you'll be burning more calories and fat than you
would by just dieting alone.

Keep in mind that there is really no quick fix for weight loss.
By doing so, it will help you hold stead-fast to your plan
because once you realize that the pounds are not going to
miraculously melt off over night, you can take some peace of
mind in knowing that you are working towards a goal and making
the efforts that will eventually result in achieving the
success you're after. Something else to remember is that things
like crash dieting, surgery and diet pills are only temporary
fixes because if you're still not eating right and exercising
after you've dropped the weight, those pounds will eventually
be right back where they were before, and might even show up in
a few new places as well. So, it's very important to consciously
and consistently live a nutritiously balanced and active
lifestyle regardless of your choice of healthy weight loss diet
plans.

And a great benefit of sticking to your plan and then
experiencing the positive results of your efforts is that it's
also a wonderful way to boost your self-esteem. Consider the
pride you'll feel once you achieve the level of success you're
after in terms of getting into shape. You'll not only look
better, but feel better as well because you did something good
for yourself. Give yourself that well-deserved pat on the back
and move forward confidently as you maintain the new and
improved lifestyle that you achieved, all on your own, by
committing to your healthy weight loss diet efforts.

About The Author: Get all the latest information about Healthy
Diets, from the only true source at
http://www.1healthydietinformation.com.

Be sure to check out
our keyword here pages.

Fat Loss In General

Most of the fat in my diet comes from a combination of nuts and
flax seed oil. However, it is well known that flaxseed contains
a much higher concentration of Omega -3 oil. Flax Seed Oil is
also known as Linseed Oil. FlaxSeed is a blue flowering plant
that is grown on the Western Canadian Prairies for its oil rich
seeds. FlaxSeed oil is highly recommended for the general well
being, whole body nutrition and helps in restoring body's
natural balance of good and bad prostaglandins.

But now let's talk about the nutritional values of flax seed.
They are the best source for Omega 3 fatty acids, which is
great for the brain and concentration. Adding flax seeds to
your diet can increase your ability to concentrate better and
think faster.

A comprehensive approach to treating cognitive disorders should
include foods and supplements that benefit the overall health of
brain cells. These include omega-3 fatty acids found in flaxseed
and fish. Like olive, canola, and most other plant oils, flax
seed oil is highly unsaturated and heart-healthy.

FAT LOSS: The Truth on Fat Loss and how to Achieve it!

Fat Loss in General

This morning I conducted a search engine "search" on the word
fat loss. "Fat Loss" and "Fat Loss Supplements", being the most
popular keywords, came up with a combined 1800 links, in one
search engine. I went to the next search engine I ran a word
count on "fat loss" rather than a link count. The results came
up as 46106! WOW! Why is it that fat loss / losing body fat
related information and products are so much in demand, yet
obesity and being overweight are on the up and up, and are
actually at the highest rate ever. With the health and fitness
industry booming it seems absurd that this is occurring.
Doesn't it? Temptation and Obstacles Effecting Your Attempts at
Fat Loss

The fact is that losing body fat or fat loss is not easy. We
are tempted every day with fast fatty and sugary foods with
super deals of quick easy meals involving drive through access
and home delivery. These fast food meals are "fast" and often
"affordable" with meal deals for a family of four sometimes
costing under $10 - $12. Who wouldn't pass this up! Before you
know it, it's the end of the day, the family is hungry, dinner
time is drawing nigh and your beat. I can fully understand why
people choose this option when our lifestyles are so hectic.

The Alcohol "Social and Relaxation" Temptation An odd heading
for this paragraph, I know, but I needed to draw your attention
to the fact that alcohol will not help your fat loss efforts. I
know we hear the saying so often that "doctors say that it's
healthy to have one or two wines per day", however this is in
regards to the properties of red wine assisting in the
prevention of clogged arteries - not a fat loss miracle! If red
wine is necessary for medicinal purposes and perscribed by a
doctor then obviously your health comes first. However the
topic here is fat loss........................

My views are "everything in moderation". BUT I DO KNOW THAT if
you want to make a genuine effort to lose body fat that a
couple of alcoholic drinks per day could easily effect your fat
loss attempts. So unless your's is the case above then I would
seriously think about "cutting back".

Since I began as a trainer years ago I have found that it is
usually junk food or alcohol that prevents my clients from
losing body fat. Just going without those few EXTRA drinks
after work or consuming less alcohol at social gatherings will
make a considerable difference to how much body fat you lose.

Quit Fooling Yourself

Do not fool yourself by thinking that if you just fat burn or
exercise for one extra session per week you can rid yourself of
all those extra calories and fat from alcohol and food.
Unfortunately our bodies aren't that easily fixed.

Why Most People Don't Succeed at Losing Body Fat

Other than the temptations mentioned above people tend not to
succeed at fat loss because they are either not committed, not
well informed on fat loss or they are committed for the wrong
reasons. In other words you either aren't abiding by the rules,
or have been mislead by some other belief or you are trying to
lose body fat because you are trying to keep other people happy
by doing so rather than yourself. Making Sure You are Trying to
Lose Body Fat to Please YOU, Not Everyone Else.

Think about why it is you want to lose body fat. Make sure you
really want to put in 100% effort.. You want to feel great
about making this decision not obliged to do it. Losing body
fat can help increase your self-esteem as well as boosting your
health so giving it your best shot with a positive frame of mind
is always the "way to go".

Things that You Should Do Before You Get Started!

First you may want to make notes on what time of the day, when
and where that you will most probably find it the most
difficult to stick to this program. If, say for instance,
"calling in at the drive thru for fast food on the way home
from work or picking the children up" is where you find that
you are most likely to go wrong then be prepared for it by
making the appropriate changes. eg Having a meal which is
already partly prepared in the fridge so that it will only take
an extra 10 - 15 minutes to cook. Being organised with food
preparation is very very important. It is exhausting coming
home after a long day and realising you have to then organise
something for dinner (amongst other things) You can bet the
children would jump for joy if you offered them Mac's - so you
do - at least there is no washing up the dishes after dinner
either...Sound familiar? In large doses, or when taken with
inadequate water, flaxseed may precipitate bowel obstruction
via a mass effect. The effects of flaxseed on blood glucose
levels are not clear, although hyperglycemic effects have been
reported in one case series. Diets high in lignans can lead to
a lower chance of getting colon, prostate, and breast cancer.
Flax is 100 times richer in lignan than most whole grains.

But you should be drinking a lot of water after consuming the
seeds.

Flax Hull Lignans are very beneficial for many health
conditions. Studies have shown that SDG or lignan
(secoisolariciresinol diglycoside, but for simplicity this
substance will be referred to as lignans) Like the omega-3s
found in fish, it appears to reduce the risk of heart disease
and numerous other ailments.

Re-orgnanising Your Lifestyle - Don't Make it Difficult on
Yourself!

Re-orgnanising your lifestyle may be quite a challenge for most
people and families. But if you want to succeed at fat loss I am
sure you want to be able to do it without tearing your hair out.
Your goal is to re-arrange and plan your day so that you, your
family and your new lifestyle can run smoothly. Such as
planning your low-fat meals and recipes in a diary. Planning
your grocery shop with a shopping list to prevent you from
buying unnecessary junk food is also a great idea.
Pre-preparing meals, making appointments for your exercise time
slot etc all needs to be written into your appointment book or
diary. You can tick each appointment off as the day progresses.
When planning your shopping list remember, that unless you have
the time, don't go getting all creative with lowfat banquets
etc for lunches and dinner. Choose simple to prepare
ingredients and meals.

What Exercise Should I be Performing to Burn Body Fat? There
seems to be alot of controversy over what to do and what not to
do when it comes to "fat burning" exercise. Mostly it depends on
your fitness level and if you have any type of injuries, back
pain or medical conditions that may affect what you can and
can't do. Make sure you check with your doctor first before
starting any type of exercise or eating program, so he / she
can indicate and provide you with a letter verifying that it is
"ok" for you to start exercising and at what level.

Different Types of Exercising for Fat Burning

Does Omega 3 Lowers Cholesterol? Why is Flaxseed called the
Miracle Food? Treadmills, indoor cycles, cardiovascular
machines etc any of these are great for performing fat burning
exercise, provided your doctor says it's cool to go ahead with
it. If you enjoy being outdoors then walking and cycling are
also great. Finding a program that suits your bodies needs and
fitness level is important. Make sure you add variety to your
fat burning program as you advance adding hills, inclines and
speed rather than increasing the time. A reasonable time for
fat burning is approx 20 - 30 mins.

You should also know that if you increase the time of your fat
burning session, and not the intensity and other variations,
you will find that as you advance your program your sessions
may become too long. This will only encourage you to think that
your exercise is becoming too time consuming and a chore - which
will lead you to "throwing in the towel". So keep up the variety
to keep it interesting. The Wrong Program for You: A Common
Mistake that Leads to Lack of Fat Loss

Have you ever read a successful fat loss story that you, and
everyone else you know, tried only to find that it didn't work
that well for you or them? Did you stop to think that maybe the
person in the success story had their program specifically
designed for their body type, not yours! If you really want to
"kick some fat loss butt" you need a program that is designed
to suit your body type and fitness level. Don't expect super
results from a program that someone else used, remember they
may have had a different metabolism, fitness level, body shape
and eating program to you, which makes it very difficult for
you to reach the same levels of fatloss as they did.

FREE FAT LOSS EXERCISE Sample Program:

This program is a sample program to give you an idea of the
variations you can use for your fat burning programs.

Where to go from here.............

After reading this article you should have a greater knowledge
of where you may be going wrong with your fat loss or how to
get started on a new fat burning program.

I look forward to seeing you again soon.

There is nothing as profitable to a drug company as a patient
who is forced to take some drug for the rest of his life -
heart medications fit in that category.

Men who eat fish frequently have a lower risk of prostate
cancer. Stomach and intestinal cancers also appear to be less
common in fish eaters.

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

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

Omega 3 benefits are wide-ranging and proven by clinical
studies. Understanding the best omega 3 sources means you can
include more of these healthy foods in your daily meal
planning.Why is Flaxseed called the miracle food? Find out at
http://www.flaxseedfitness.com

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

Are Weight Loss Supplements Right For You?

This makes EFA's an important part of your diet. Other sources
of these fats are fish and nuts. The best manner of extracting
the oil while maintaining all the health benefits of the
omega-3 fatty acids is by cold pressing the seed. In this form
of oil extraction the flax seed oil is pressed out of the seed
and not exposed to heat.

But now let's talk about the nutritional values of flax seed.
They are the best source for Omega 3 fatty acids, which is
great for the brain and concentration. Adding flax seeds to
your diet can increase your ability to concentrate better and
think faster.

The types of fats present in the brain influence its structure
and function. How well your mind works depends, in the long
run, on what you eat.

Besides lignans, flaxseeds and their oil are also the best food
sources of an essential fatty acid, alpha-linolenic acid.
"Essential" means we must consume it, because our bodies cannot
manufacture it.

Are Weight Loss Supplements Right For You?

The debate about whether supplements for weight loss are
healthy or not will go on and on for years to come. There are
good and bad points to using weight loss supplements. One of
the bad points is that once you stop taking them you gain
everything back that you lost to begin with.

Most doctors will tell you that weight loss supplements are not
necessary and that only a good controlled diet along with daily
exercise is the only thing one needs to lose weight. This is
true. however with today's working society with 2 parents
working and trying to raise children at the same time who has
time for exercise? Who has time to plan good nutritional meals?

I know first hand what this is all about. My wife is probably
around 60 pounds over weight. Now before we go any further I
would just like to say that I love her just as much now as I
did when we first met. Her weight does not bother me. She is a
beautiful person both inside and out. But I know inside she is
hurting. And for the last several years she has struggled with
her weight almost daily. And the biggest problem as I mentioned
above is time. Time to prepare good quality nutritious meals
both for her self and the children. Time to do sufficient
exercise in order to burn off calories.Our schedule is chaotic
to say the least. She works from 9:00 AM till 5:00 PM. I work
from 3:30 PM till 12:00 AM . When I'm not with the kids she is
with the kids. Only on weekends do the kids have both parents
home at the same time.

Flax Hull Lignans are very beneficial for many health
conditions. Studies have shown that SDG or lignan
(secoisolariciresinol diglycoside, but for simplicity this
substance will be referred to as lignans) The effects of
flaxseed on blood glucose levels are not clear, although
hyperglycemic effects have been reported in one case series.
However, this should not deter you from getting healthier with
flax seed oil!

Researchers found low incidences of breast cancer and colon
cancer in populations that have high amounts of Lignan in their
diet.

There are many benefits to adding flax seeds to your diet. Well
for instance they can get rid of your constipation problem.

But that should come as no big surprise, since any highly
unsaturated oil will do that, particularly if substituted for
saturated fats.

Back to supplements. First they will not work if you do not get
the proper diet and at least exercise once per week. My wife has
tried supplements and they did work for her. What supplements do
is to help speed up your metabolism rate decreasing the need for
daily exercise. They also supplement the nutrition needed that
you may not be getting from your diet for proper weight loss.
Weight loss supplements actually regulate your blood sugar
level, this helps you overcome severe sugar and carbohydrate
cravings that sabotage even the most strong-willed weight loss
efforts. So are weight loss nutrition supplements right for
you? When my wife lost 40 pounds using supplements she felt
great. She was happy and gained allot of self esteem back. Not
to mention that she had allot more energy. If you have a hectic
schedule and cannot find enough time in the day to prepare
proper nutritional meals and get regular daily exercise then I
suggest you give supplements a try.

My opinion is that if they help you to lose weight and make you
feel good about yourself again then go for it. What do you have
to lose except a few pounds. There are hundreds of products on
the internet you can try. A couple of my wife's favorites can
be found at the following web page.
http://weight-loss-nutrition-supplements.com

You can also get good information on dieting and weight loss at
this site along with a very handy calorie calculator. Heart
disease is by far the #1 killer in the U. S., although 1/3 of
those deaths could be prevented if people exercised more and
followed better diets, the American Heart Association said in
an annual report.

Avoid or limit these oils. Omega-3, meanwhile, is typically
found in flaxseed oil, walnut oil, and fish. However, flax seed
oil is the best oil where Omega-3 and Omega-6 are balanced. Flax
Seed muffins pregents Cancer? Find Flax Seed Recipe today!
Omega-3 for health!

Essential fatty acids are further metabolized into hormone-like
substances in the cell known as prostaglandins. Prostaglandins
are involved in the regulation of many important physiological
functions. Randomized clinical trials have shown that omega-3
fatty acid supplements can reduce cardiovascular events (death,
non-fatal heart attacks, non-fatal strokes). They can also slow
the progression of atherosclerosis in coronary patients.

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

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