27 February 2018

Don't Depend on Weight Loss Supplements To Lose Weight


Relying on over the counter weight loss supplements that promise or guarantee almost everything related to losing weight (and even staying young!) are a waste of many many times. Plus they are not healthy for you. Diet pills (even herbal supplements) can cause organ damage over time.



There are literally thousands of branded (and unbranded) diet/weight loss supplements being sold in health stores across the country, and especially on the Internet. Whatever the source of the weight loss supplement, you have to be extra careful and extra vigilant about the claims and guarantees being given by the ones selling these pills and capsules.

It is a common practice for marketers and online stores to overpromise just so they can sell stuff; only a handful of online stores actually take time to explain to you how specific active ingredients in products work.

And even then, you have no guarantee that these things will actually work. A significant percentage of the diet pills being sold online have not been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

And here's the thing - manufacturers don't have to get their products evaluated by the FDA at all. So, technically, anyone can combine a bunch of chemicals and brand the newfangled stuff as a diet supplement.

As long as the manufacturer doesn't claim that their product can cure anything, small and big manufacturers can happily produce and market their "diet pills" to the unsuspecting public. Unless your doctor specifically prescribes an anti-obesity medication to control your weight, steer clear of commercially available diet pills and supplements.

Some people think that herbal diet supplements have the double benefit of being safe and potentially effective. If the supplement doesn't work, then there's no harm done right?
Wrong!

There is a general consensus among the medical community that herbal supplements are by no means safer than non-herbal diet supplements that are being sold, unregulated, in the market today.

Both kinds of supplements can cause harm to the human body, especially if you use them without the advice of a healthcare provider (such as your family doctor). Of course, this warning does not extend to regular supplements such as vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, etc.

I'm referring specifically to diet pills that promise things such as "8 inches off in 7 days." The grander the promise of a diet product, the poorer the results are. Experts agree that most of the things being sold as diet pills contain nothing more than diuretic agents and caffeine.


weight loss by Nutritional Tips For Conquering Cravings



Caffeine is a stimulant, which in essence keeps you going even if you don't eat regular meals. Diuretic agents, on the other hand, encourage urination, which can actually harm the delicate balance of electrolytes in the body. Electrolytes are chemical compounds in the body that help maintain regular body function. If this delicate balance is disturbed, you can be hospitalized.

And here's the thing about diuretics - people generally don't realize that they are dehydrated until it's too late. And if you use diuretics, the chances of becoming dehydrated are high. Would you risk fatal dehydration just to temporarily lose a few pounds of water weight? I didn't think so.

Ask any doctor worth his or her medical degree, and he/she will tell you that most commercially available diet pills are quick fixes. I know many folks find the idea of instant weight loss very, very inviting, but I invite you to consider this concept of weight loss for just a moment, before you buy any OTC diet supplement.

Weight loss in itself can be a beautiful thing because you will end up being healthier, and, over the long term, weight loss can actually help you live longer. Weight loss through proper means can strengthen the body so much that your body age can actually be reversed.

What does this mean? Well, if you successfully lose weight when you are in your forties your body age can be thirty or twenty-five. Some folks who exercise regularly and eat sensibly can be in their sixties but still register a body age of twenty-one.
That sounds a little batty but it's true - if you take care of your body well, it will take care of you. Abuse it, and you can expect repercussions, because the body can only give back what it has been given.

The "diet experts" who promote such diets can defend their position all they want, but it still remains that the true authorities in the field still disagree.

I have a tendency to agree with medical experts because, in the end, even those who staunchly advocate strange, and potentially dangerous, diets will still go to the hospital for help when something goes wrong. Doctors still do their best to repair what damage dieting has done to the human body.

This is one of the reasons why I chose to advocate the baby food diet - because it gives you the freedom to cut down on calories sensibly, and at the same time add great food items to your regular diet. Don't worry - we'll get to the baby food diet soon enough!

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Summertime Cat Care


Summer is the time to get outside with your cat. Just note that your cat will feel the heat before you do.


As the summer months progress it is vital to ensure your cat stays cool as the temperature rises. Below are a few helpful tips that are sure to keep you cat comfortable and healthy.


Make sure you cat has a full bowl of clean and cold water. Nothing is more refreshing than an ice-cold drink of water on a balmy summer day. Your cat feels the same way. On really humid and steamy hot days, place a few ice cubes in your kitties bowl to keep the water cold. Don't neglect to change the water daily to prevent against bacteria and algae.

Cats love a game of ice hockey. On a smooth floor, toss an ice cube toward your cat. Swat it back to him if he returns your serve. Continuing the volley until he loses interest is a foolproof way to keep your cat cool and have some fun at the same time.

High humidity coupled with high temperatures can put your cat at risk of heatstroke. On extremely humid days, try to keep your home cool with fans or air conditioning. In the yard, providing an inexpensive water mister or sprinkler can give cats relief from the heat.

Give a little more TLC to special needs cats. We must remember that similar to humans, senior cats, very young kittens, and sick or debilitated animals are more sensitive to hot weather. Keeping these cats cool at all times and watch them closely for signs of heat-related illness. Scheduling your veterinary appointments and outside activities early in the morning or in the evenings can prevent rides in the sweltering car during the hottest part of the day.

Never leave your cat alone in a car. Quick trips to the store always take longer than you expected and leaving windows cracked won't help keep him cool, and can be very dangerous. On an 85 degree summer's day the inside car temperature can reach 120 degrees (F) in a matter of minutes even with the windows slightly open.

Look for tears in your screens and secure them. Cats favor the windowsill to stay cool, especially during warmer months. A loose or improperly fastened screen may fall or rip further. Use safety screens on all open windows and make sure they are installed properly.

Monitor your cat for symptoms of heatstroke. Heatstroke is medical emergency. If you believe or your pet is showing signs of heatstroke you must act quickly: Immediately move your cat to a cool place and immediately contact your veterinarian.


Symptoms of heatstroke include:


Panting

Drooling

Red tongue and lips

Dullness

Weakness and collapsing

Convulsions

Vomiting


Keep in mind, summer is a time for fun for all animals alike. With just a few precautions, you can be sure you and your cats will beat the heat.

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26 February 2018

Top Budgie Diet Mistakes


In this day and age we all know how important it is to eat healthily, but many budgie owners give their budgies a poor diet through ignorance. Unfortunately, this means that many budgies die before their time, and their owners have to suffer a heart ache which could have been easily prevented.


Let's take a look at some of the most common budgie diet mistakes, so you can avoid them and keep your bird healthy, so they have a long and happy life with you.

Mistake 1: All Seed Diet

It's an easy mistake to make to think that all your budgie needs is seed. After all it's sold in the pet shop as bird food, and everyone knows that birds eat seed. But feeding a budgie only on seed is like you or I eating only potatoes, or rice. That might been fine for the occasional meal, but you certainly don't expect to get the nutrients you need from it.

The truth is that your budgie needs a balanced diet, just like you do, in order to stay healthy. Unless your budgie gets all the vitamins and minerals it needs, along with the proteins, fats, and carbohydrates, its body will stop working properly.

Sadly, that's what happens to many pet budgies. A simple lack of vitamins causes their body to break down. Perhaps the central nervous system stops working, perhaps their kidneys or liver break down. And there's no doubt this bad diet contributes to the average budgie lifespan of 5 years, when they're easily able to live 10-15 years in captivity.

You can avoid this by making sure your budgie gets a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, as part of its diet. You see, by the time the bird seed gets to your budgie it's lost most of its nutritional value, so we need to feed them vegetables, even though they wouldn't really eat them in the wild.

It can be quite a challenge to get your budgie started on fruits and vegetables, but the effort is well worth it when you enjoy your budgie's company for ten or more years.

Mistake 2: All Pellet Diet

Many people rave about pellets as the ideal replacement to seed. It's certainly true that they're a much healthier option, since they're designed to have the same mix of nutrients that your budgie would get in the wild.

The problem is that many people believe the marketing hype, and don't bother to give their budgie a balanced diet anymore. Breakfast cereal manufacturers add many vitamins and minerals to their products, to convince parents to buy them for their children, but I've yet to hear a doctor recommend a diet of only cheerios.






Even if your budgie's on pellets instead of seeds, they still need a good variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, to ensure they're getting all the nutrients they need.

Mistake 3: Bad Hygiene

It's amazing how people would refuse point blank to accept an unhygienic situation in their own life, but then assume it's just fine for their pet.

Food and water dishes need to be washed daily, with warm soapy water, just like you wash your own dishes. You wouldn't eat dinner off the same plate for a week without washing it, but it's bizarre how many people think that's okay for their budgie.

Without regular cleaning, food and water dishes are ideal places for germs and bacteria to spread, and be ingested by your bird. You can save them a lot of suffering, and yourself some large veterinary bills, if you take a few moments to wash the dishes each day, when you change their food.

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Managing Diabetes for a Lifetime


When you find out you have diabetes, that can be shocking news. However, there is a lot you can do to manage your diabetes in a way that makes sure you have a good life in spite of the disease. 


This article provides you with some tips to make sure you are managing your diabetes in the most positive way you can.
1. Know about your disease. This is absolutely critical. Don't just take your doctor's word for how your body is working. 

Check out diagrams and information available to help you understand what is going on in your body. This will demystify the disease for you, which will allow you to do your blood testing and insulin administration with a full understanding of why those actions are important and what the results and amounts mean to you.

2. Realize the changes you are making are permanent lifestyle changes. You are going to have to make some changes when you become a diabetic. That is known by almost everyone. However, what you must come to terms with is the fact that the changes you make are going to have to last you an entire lifetime. 

That means that you really have to get comfortable with what you are doing and make sure that it is sustainable through the years. For example, if you decide to only eat the same few foods to not upset your blood sugar, realize that is perhaps not the wisest thing to do unless you plan to live the rest of your life that way.

3. Spend time looking at your diet. There is no specific diabetic diet. That means that you can eat almost every single food there is. The key is moderation and monitoring your blood glucose level to see what sets those levels soaring. Don't think that you can no longer enjoy foods you like--simply realize that you may have to decrease how much you have, and you may have to have the food only after eating a protein, for example.







4. Exercise regularly doing something you enjoy. No one really wants to exercise when they start. It makes the body sore and it can seem boring. However, after two to three weeks most people love exercise and how it makes them feel. Diabetics especially can benefit from exercise, since weight loss contributes to a more level blood glucose level. 

The trick is to find an exercise program that you find enjoyable. That can be anything from ballroom dancing to a game of tennis. Find something you like to do, and that will make you more likely to stick with it. Even better, start exercising with a friend so you can be each other's motivation. Your friend will keep you moving and you will appreciate the inspiration.

You don't have to miss out on life if you have diabetes. In fact, you can live even better since you have a reason to keep your body healthy. Using the information in this article, your life can be even richer in spite of your diabetes.

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Vitamin C Rich Fruits for a Healthy Diet


Vitamin c is a very important nutrient that the body needs. It is known to enhance the body's immune system that fights against flu and the common colds and is known to rebuild damaged tissues, blood vessels and bones. 


The body can better synthesize calcium and minerals with the help of vitamin c.

Because we need to have strong immune systems to battle all kinds of diseases, we need vitamin c in our daily diet. Individuals with inadequate vitamin c intake from their daily diet can be prone to vitamin C deficiency diseases like scurvy. Wounds also heal faster with the help of vitamin c. Getting adequate vitamin c intake is necessary for a stronger body and immune system. The following are vitamin c rich foods that can make you healthy and strong.

Strawberries

Apart from being delicious, strawberries are very high in vitamin c. It is a healthy and delicious vitamin c rich fruit that is commonly used for desserts and drinks. Amazingly, just a serving of strawberries already provide you half of the daily vitamin c requirement of the body. It also reduces stress because of its high content of fiber and antioxidants which also help in preventing heart diseases.

Citrus fruits

Citrus fruits like oranges, lemon and grapefruits are very high in vitamin c. They are also rich in other nutrients like potassium, thiamin, calcium, vitamin B6, magnesium, phosphorus, riboflavin, copper, niacin, glycaemic, and folate.

Bananas

Eating a banana will provide you a quarter of vitamin c needed by the body every day. It is recommended to choose red bananas as they contain higher vitamin c than the yellow banana.

Tomatoes

About 120 grams of tomatoes can provide 23 mg of vitamin c. They also contain lycopene which can help in giving you a healthy heart.






Grapes

Grapes can provide you sufficient vitamin c in your diet. It can give 20% of the recommended daily consumption of vitamin c. As they come in different varieties, you can always find it delicious to have them as part of your daily source of vitamin c.

Mango

Mango is one of the delicious fruits that is a good source of vitamin c. Green mangoes provide a higher level of vitamin c and the more ripened the mango the higher it contains vitamin c and beta carotene.

Pineapple

Being one of the best sources of vitamin c, pineapple is also full packed with other nutrients like calcium, fiber and potassium. Whether you eat them fresh, canned or frozen, you can benefit from eating a low in fat and low in cholesterol fruit from pineapples.

Avocado

If you want to meet at least 34% of the daily recommended intake of vitamin c, as serving of avocado would be sufficient.

Papaya

Papayas can provide you 100% nutrition of vitamin c in addition to vitamin a to your diet.

Grapefruits

Aside from being high in vitamin c, grapefruits can give your body sufficient dose of potassium. You get a healthy skin and a natural cleaner of your digestive tract and urinary system.

Giving your body sufficient boost of vitamin c through a healthy diet will help you become physically fit. Vitamin c can be an effective stress buster that gives your body sufficient immunity against diseases.

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Minor Changes That Can Lead to Weight Loss


Losing weight often seems like a daunting task that must be an all-consuming part of your life if you're going to have any chance of successfully reaching your goal weight.


While it's true that when you're to the point of trying to get rid of those last five or ten pounds of stubborn body fat it will require a considerable level of discipline, and more finely tuned tactics, these things aren't as important to the average person that has twenty or more pounds they need to shed.

If this describes you, I have good news for you! Losing weight can be broken down into a few simple steps that, when consistently applied, can get you down to a healthy and fit weight.

In fact, I'm going to give you four steps that can be implemented by virtually anyone who has the desire to get down to a healthy weight, regardless of where you're starting from.

Timing Your Carbs

Carbohydrates are viewed as the "evil nutrient" by those who are trying to lose weight, but the truth is that carbohydrates are getting a bad rap that isn't really fair.

You need to understand that simply eating carbohydrates doesn't necessarily lead to fat gains. The problem stems from eating carbohydrates in excessive quantities, eating them at the wrong times, and eating a high amount of processed carbohydrates.

I won't go into great detail about the effect carbohydrates have on the body in this article, but when carbs are consumed, they are converted to glucose (sugar), which is transported to the blood stream.

If this sugar energy goes unused it will be stored on the body in the form of fat, which is obviously undesirable for anyone that is trying to lose weight. 

One of the primary ways this sugar energy can be used up is by being used for fueling the muscles while they're performing physical activities. Glucose is also used to replenish the energy stores of the muscles after exercise.

While the muscles will first rely on glucose in the blood for their source of energy, they also keep a "sugar energy reserve" for times when the level of glucose in the blood isn't sufficient to meet their needs.

This sugar energy that is stored in the muscles is in the form of glycogen - a derivative of glucose.

When you exercise for an extended period of time the glycogen that was stored in your muscle tissues will have been depleted to a certain degree and will need to be replenished.

So, by timing the majority of your daily carbohydrates so they are consumed within 2 hours of your workout (before and/or after) your body will use the majority of the converted glucose sugar energy to fuel your workout and replenish your glycogen reserves and it won't cause you to gain fat.

Eat Natural Foods

Processed foods are not only typically higher in calories, but can slow your body's ability to naturally burn fat.
Preservatives, and other additives in processed foods, must be broken down by the liver. When the liver is bogged down with having to break down processed foods it will be less efficient at one of its other primary functions - oxidizing body fat.

So by eating natural foods the majority of the time your body's natural fat burning engine will be running in high gear.
Also, since natural foods are generally less dense calorically you'll be consuming fewer calories per day, giving you the optimum opportunity to maximize your fat loss.

Your grocery list should consist of plenty of fruits, vegetables, rice, meat, poultry and fish. It isn't realistic for most people to eat natural foods all the time, but doing so as often as you can will go a long way towards your short and long-term weight loss results.



Monitor Your Calories

Monitoring calories is something that everyone should be doing. Even if you don't know the exact number of calories you're consuming each day, you should at least have a general idea.

Why is this important?

Well, the obvious reason is the fact that you will need to make sure that you're burning more calories than you're eating if you want to continually lose fat.

The other reason is so you can adjust your diet whenever your fat loss slows or stops so you can continue making progress towards reaching your goal weight.

For instance, if you know that you've been eating roughly 2,000 calories per day for a full week, and haven't lost any weight, you will then know that it's time to reduce your daily caloric allowance if you want to continue losing weight.

When it's time to decrease your calories I recommend making small reductions versus larger ones. Reducing calories to a large degree can cause greater feelings of hunger, making it harder for you to remain committed to your diet.

Plus, extreme caloric deficits have been shown to cause muscle loss, lagging energy levels and decreased immune system efficiency, among other less than desirable symptoms.

Exercise for 3 Hours Each Week

No plan for weight loss would be complete without including the always-important aspect of exercise.

Diet controls your caloric intake, while exercise creates a caloric deficit, boosts your metabolism, stimulates the muscle fibers (priming them for growth), increases endurance and is essential for optimal health.

I'm not going to list specific exercises that you should perform, but you definitely want to avoid the common mistake of neglecting weight training and making cardiovascular exercise your sole method of exercise.

Weight training is essential for enabling you to build muscle mass and also leads to an increase in metabolism for many hours after you've finished lifting weights.

Besides, once you lose the weight I promise you're going to want to have some muscle on your body.

So, when at the gym, your goal should be to spend 20-30 minutes lifting weights, with very little time of rest taken between each set to keep your heart rate elevated, followed by 20-30 minutes of some kind of cardiovascular exercise.
You need to do this at least three days each week to see any kind of noticeable results.

If you have extra days throughout the week that you can devote to exercise, do some weight training and cardio (as described above), if you have the time to do both.
If your time is limited, just get in some cardio for as long as you have available to workout.

Keep it Simple

If you're diet is crap, and you currently don't exercise at all, even these relatively simple steps can seem like a tough task.
But losing weight requires changes - there's just no way around it.

However, my goal with this article was to keep things as simple as possible and provide you with a realistic solution to losing weight by focusing on the four factors that will have the greatest impact on your results.
Now go put them into action!

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25 February 2018

Your Body Is a Miracle

Our body is truly a miracle, when it is given what it needs to function at it's optimal it will do it!


In simple terms all the body needs is clean air, clean water and clean healthy food. If we give the body these things that it requires then it can take care of itself.

Our bodies have built in systems like the lymphatic and immune systems that have the capability to remove environmental toxins from the body and also combat disease. Therefore it has the natural ability to keep itself healthy and clean.

So the question I have for you is, why aren't our bodies healthy and clean these days?

Well I believe it is because we are not giving it the right fuel.
We are feeding our bodies chemically processed, genetically modified foods and our body is having difficulty maintaining it's natural detoxifying mechanisms. For example our liver, it is the best filter known to clean out the impurities. 

The liver however needs to do it's job properly and requires sufficient nutrients to do so. If the liver receives the nutrients required it can roughly filter about 2000 litres (540 gallons) of blood in the day. When the liver receives the right fuel for the body, it is self-repairing, self-maintaining, and self-cleaning power plant.


So if you are consuming chemically processed food and nutritionally deficient foods, our body will have a tough time maintaining it's natural detoxification system. Lots of these foods taste great but they don't leave us feeling good. Even many fruit and vegetables grown today don't have the nutrient value they had years ago, as the soils nutrients are depleted by the pesticides and herbicides. The soil doesn't have the nutrients it once had.


This is not rocket science but why not look after your body. Flood it everyday with high grade, absorbable organic nutrients that provide the ultimate catalyst for the body to handle the constant bombardment of toxins.
You may feel like you can't help it, how are you supposed to not breathe the air or eat the vegetables that have had chemicals sprayed on them?







Just take precautions and cleanse your body each day. Take a cleanse drink in the morning and one cleanse drink at night. Cleanse your body for a full day each week, then cleanse your body for two days in a row each month. By doing this you are constantly flushing the toxins out of your body.
By doing this your body will perform it's functions properly like it was meant to do.

Look after your body and it will look after you!

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African Mango - Worth the Hype?


A vast majority of the population is looking for that miracle product that will help them lose weight and feel great without posing health dangers or causing a jittery feel. 



That is a pretty tall order, but it seems to be the same request over and over again. If you are like many others, you have likely tried a vast array of diet pills with little or no positive, long-term results, so you are probably skeptical to try yet another one, right? Do African Mango weight loss supplements really work, or is it all just a lot of hype?

What is African Mango?

The first thing to understand is that African Mango is not a synthetic drug manufactured in test tubes in some laboratory. This is an all-natural extract taken from a tropical food found in the beautiful rainforests of Cameroon, nestled in Africa's west coast.

For centuries, natives to the area have appreciated this fruit for the medical benefits it offers. This brightly colored fruit is not found anywhere else in the world, and it is quite fortunate that it was even discovered at all. Most visitors would look at this as just another piece of exotic and delicious African fruit, but it took a genius to get the idea to put it to the test.

What it Does

Through an extreme amount of research, scientists have discovered the African Mango offers a long list of benefits, including:

Weight Loss - An average of 28 pounds was shed by both men and women in a 10-week trial. Individuals given a placebo for the same amount of time only shed an average of 2 pounds.

Fat Burning - Thermogenic fat burning effects are produced, especially when African Mango is paired up with ingredients, such as black pepper, caffeine, caralluma fimbriata, cayenne, green tea extract, guggul extract, raspberry ketone and vitamins B6, B12 and C.








Appetite Suppression - Those who find themselves snacking throughout the day will appreciate the way that appetite is suppressed with these supplements.

Increased Energy - One of the biggest pitfalls of dieting is lack of energy. When you start decreasing calories, you are typically feel sluggish, which makes it difficult to even find the motivation to exercise. Well, although you do not have to exercise to experience African Mango weight loss, you will have the energy to want to be more active, so you may find yourself getting up a little early to fit in a walk before work in the morning.

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7-Keto Benefits a Weight Loss Regimen


As a naturally occurring active metabolite of the hormone DHEA, 7-Keto-DHEA plays an important role in several processes in the body. 



7-Keto-DHEA levels decline throughout life, but levels can be brought back to normal with supplementation. Users receive classic 7-Keto benefits including lower cortisol, improved immune function and an easier time losing weight and keeping it off.

How 7-Keto-DHEA Works

7-Keto-DHEA increases the rate of weight loss primarily by increasing body temperature through the process of thermogenesis. Thermogenesis is also increased by other supplements, such as DHEA, caffeine and ephedrine, but these substances often carry unwanted side effects, such as high blood pressure. Enhancement of thermogenesis, without the side effects, is one of the most important 7-Keto benefits.

 Adding to its advantages is the fact that 7-Keto can be used even in very large dosages without causing toxicity. One study found that test animals suffered no ill effects while taking the equivalent of 40,000 mg a day, which is about 200-400 times the standard dosage of 100 or 200 mg daily recommeded dose.


The increased metabolic rate brought on by 7-Keto-DHEA allows dieters to continue to enjoy benefits long after starting their diets. Instead of suffering from sluggish metabolism brought on by a low-calorie diet, users experience steady metabolic elevation and avoid hitting a plateau in their weight loss.





The thyroid hormone T3 is also increased by 7-Keto. Some weight loss supplements, such as l-tyrosine, increase fat burning by raising T3, but T3 levels eventually crash with their use. On the other hand, 7-Keto keeps T3 levels high in users, letting them shed pounds continually. Scientists have noted that this rise in T3 remains within the safe, normal range, letting users reap the rewards of heightened T3 while avoiding the downfalls associated with having too much.


7 Keto Benefits for Weight Control Issues


On its own, 7-Keto-DHEA is not a miracle weight loss supplement that causes users to lose fat with no effort at all. Combined with a diet and exercise program, however, primary 7 Keto benefits of reduced cortisol, raised T3 and enhanced thermogenesis combine to make weight loss far easier. 


7 Keto benefits include lowering cortisol, letting individuals train harder and more frequently during their regimens. This is just one more way that 7-Keto-DHEA facilitates weight loss.
Along with its other advantages, 7-Keto-DHEA also improves the body's use of insulin, preventing fat gain. Compared to other modern weight loss supplements, 7-Keto covers more aspects to give dieters a serious edge in their fitness efforts.

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Weight Loss Through The Power Of Positive Thinking


Many people want to lose weight and continually try with results that leave them feeling like they are on a roller-coaster. It seems despite the myriad diets tried in trying to drop the weight; the weight is either gained back or the results are disappointing.


One of the main reasons this happens to so many people trying to lose weight is due to their beginning the process with a mindset of failure instead of success. Even if the mindset is not necessarily negative there is still a lack of confidence as well as that of planning and goal setting, critical in achieving any milestone in life.

I once heard a gentleman that I know say something very profound. Not quoting him, basically he said that anyone can do anything as long as they are willing to step a little outside of their comfort zone. 

For example, most people can learn to play guitar, but many don't because they will not venture beyond the comfort zone. Stepping beyond the comfort zone in this scenario is actually taking the time, one hour or even half an hour daily to physically do something, in this case practice. It requires effort. Not a lot, just consistent.

Just like learning a new instrument or skill, losing weight is going to require some effort, a stepping outside the comfort zone. Unfortunately, the battle is lost before it begins, because it was lost in the mind with negativity. 

A thought creeps in like "I've tried so many diets and nothing works for me," thus ringing the death knell of the diet. The mind is a very powerful tool which can work for us or against us. Have you ever known someone who, when cold and flu season arrive, confidently informs everyone they are quite certain they are going to become sick; and in short order they in fact actually become ill with a cold or flu?

Thinking this way is not only counterproductive to moving forward in any endeavor, it is dangerous in the implications it can have upon interpersonal relationships, ability to cope with stress, and self-image. For the person who is trying to lose weight, these types of thought processes are diet killers and weight gain fillers.

How then shall we think? This is by far the greatest challenge and yet the most powerful tool in the battle of the bulge that so many desperately want to win. Change your thinking. This will take focused and concentrated effort. It requires practice just like learning guitar or how to become a skilled craftsman.

When the negative thoughts enter your mind, immediately replace them with positive thoughts that support and encourage. Think not of the number of diets tried and failed but rather of the success you are going to have. 

Engage in positive self-talk combined with audibly spoken positive affirmations. In other words, talk to yourself in a positive manner, and speak out loud to yourself statements that enforce what you are trying to achieve and are encouragements to yourself. These must be unique to you and your situation of which only you can know. 

To provide an idea however, something like, "I am excited that I am going to lose this weight", or "I am strong and confident and will achieve my goal." These are general but they provide the type of thinking to enforce.

There will be mental effort, physical effort, and emotional battles all well within your ability to overcome and rise above; especially if you repeat this to yourself every day, out loud for several minutes while engaged in daily tasks. When a person repeats an activity every day for thirty days, they will have achieved a habit. If you continue your audible affirmations for ninety days, you will have changed your thinking.








Keep in mind that this positive change in thinking, as healthy and uplifting as it is, will not shed the weight if there is no change in sedentary habits and diet. It is obviously important to get up and move which includes anything from taking a walk to a rigorous physical exercise program. The important point here is to prepare the mind to control the body. Bring the flesh into submission.

When considering your diet, instead of focusing on food you should avoid, which is promoting negativity, think instead of the exciting changes in what, when, and the way you eat. This promotes a more positive thinking process. Embracing the challenge of weight loss and adopting a new lifestyle of diet and exercise is exciting and positive. It is filled with discovery of different dishes and cooking styles, including new things and even tastes.

The most rewarding part of this whole process is that you will become more confident and self-assured. Why? Because you're changing the way you think and building upon those positive attributes. Additionally, by changing your diet to that of healthy foods filled with nutrients and vitamins, such as fresh fruits and raw and slightly steamed vegetables, overall health and wellness is going to get better and better, and that feels great!

Of course when entering into any type of exercise and diet program, there are many other factors that must also be considered. Every individual is different and has various circumstances that are unique to them. So take on the positive challenge, but do so with good research and preparations, asking questions of your doctor or nutritionist to ensure you are doing what is personally best for you. 

Just keep in mind something very important about other people; with everything in life you undertake that is positive, somewhere out there is what my beloved sister used to refer to as "energy vampires". I have always called them "negative nillies". Remember not to allow them to steal your thunder; stay the course, stay positive, and stay outside that comfort zone and you will succeed, and that is the whole point of all of this. Live happily, eat healthily, and be well.

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The Health Benefits of Cashews


The health benefits of cashew nuts are numerous. The cashew nut contains important nutrients such as copper, manganese, tryptophan, magnesium and phosphorus. The cashew tree is native to Northeastern Brazil, but is enjoyed by people from all around the world.



The copper found in cashew nuts is an important component of many enzymes and also plays an important role in many bodily functions such as iron utilization, elimination of toxic free radical molecules, the development of bone and connective tissue, and the production of skin and hair. Copper is also important for energy production.

The manganese found in cashew nuts is extremely important for healthy bones. It is also important for regulating nerve and muscle tone and helps keep our muscles relaxed.

The tryptophan found in cashew nuts is one of the 20 essential amino acids and the body uses tryptophan to make serotonin. Serotonin is thought to result in healthy sleep and a stable mood. Therefore, if you want to get a good night's sleep then you should consider having a small handful of cashews before going to bed.

The magnesium fond in cashews is important for several different reasons. Not having enough magnesium in your diet can contribute to high blood pressure, muscle cramps and fatigue which makes eating cashews extremely important.

The phosphorus found in cashew nuts is also extremely important for human health and is the most abundant mineral in the human body. It works together with calcium to build strong bones and strong teeth. In addition, phosphorus helps filter out waste in the kidneys and plays an essential role in how the body uses energy. 

Phosphorus also helps reduce muscle pain after a hard work out which is why you might consider eating a handful of cashews after working out. Other functions that phosphorus is needed for include growth, maintenance, and repair of tissues and cells. It also protects the genetic building blocks of life which are DNA and RNA.


You may be interested to know that Portuguese settlers spread cashew seeds to the east coast of Africa where the plants immediately took to the land after being originally grown in Brazil. In addition, unlike other nuts and seeds cashews do not grow within the fruit but instead grow on the outside of it. It hangs from the base of a crab apple called the cashew apple. Either way, the cashew nut is certainly a healthy snack for all to enjoy.

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The Components of the Food We Eat: Energy Why Energy?


Energy is needed for the body to survive and function properly. Food provides the energy, which is used to power bodily functions (even at rest and while asleep) and physical activity - e.g. walking, running, lifting, etc.


The body derives energy from the main constituents in the diet i.e. carbohydrates, fats, protein and even alcohol. The first three are referred to as energy nutrients. Energy is measured in Calories (kcal) or kilo-Joules (On food labels, energy is shown in kilo-Calories kcal and kilo-Joules kJ). in the same way that weight is measured in stones and pounds or kilograms. For simplicity, energy is generally referred to as calories. In this article, all units of energy are expressed as kcal.


In the body, energy is released gradually from food by a series of steps (each carefully controlled by an enzyme). This energy is used to perform muscular work (mechanical energy), maintain body temperature (thermal energy) and digest, absorb and metabolise food (specific dynamic action of food) in addition to powering processes such as breathing. But it is worth bearing in mind that a considerable amount of energy is lost as heat. The energy provided by carbohydrate, fat, protein and other constituents can be measured and used to calculate the energy value (calorific value) of any food, diet or recipe or even a meal.

Energy Value of Food

1g (gram) dietary carbohydrate provides 3.75 (4) kcal
1g dietary protein provides 4 kcal
1g dietary fat provides 9 kcal
1g dietary alcohol provides 7 kcal

In addition to the above there are Nutritive sweeteners such as polyols (e.g. sorbitol, maltitol, xylitol, isomalt and mannitol) which also provide energy. Furthermore, a small number of calories can be derived from organic acids such as citric acid in fruits and acetic acid in vinegar, with each gram providing approximately 3 kcal. Vitamins, minerals, fibre and water do not provide energy. For some people, sweets, deserts and fizzy and alcoholic drinks represent significant sources of energy. 

Knowledge of the above values is quite essential as they help in identifying the source/s of calories in the diet. For instance, one may be eating a healthy, well-balanced diet, but still experience some weight problems if alcohol intake isn't taken into account.

Sources of Energy in the Diet

Almost all foods are composed of protein, fat, carbohydrate and water in varying degrees. Foods which contain a large amount of water such as salad, vegetables, fruits and clear soups usually contain little protein, fat, or carbohydrate and hence little energy (kcal).

Conversely, dry foods such as cereal grains, breakfast cereals and foods rich in fat are good sources of energy (N.B. one gram of fat provides more than twice the energy of one gram or protein or carbohydrate). Sugars are also concentrated sources of energy. This clearly indicates that reducing calories means reducing the consumption of both energy dense foods (i.e. those containing high proportions of fat and sugar) as well as portion sizes - a practical approach that works and continues to work very well anywhere. The following nutrients are usually present in the food we eat, albeit to a varying degree:

CARBOHYDRATE

Carbohydrates supply the body with energy and some vitamins, and may also be converted into body fat if taken in excess of the body's needs. Three major categories exist under this group; (a) starch, (b) sugar and (c) non-starch polysaccharides (NSP). Sugars and starches are major sources of energy for humans all over the world. Non-starch polysaccharides are known collectively as fibre.



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FAT

The term fat includes both fats and oils and provides energy in a more concentrated form than carbohydrate as indicated above. Fats derived from food can easily be converted into body fat and stored in adipose tissue if consumed in excess. Two types of fat exist; (a) saturated fat and (b) unsaturated fat (monounsaturated and polyunsaturated).

PROTEIN

Protein can originate from both animals and plants. It provides the body with amino acids that are essential for growth and repair. It can also be converted into carbohydrate (glucose) and used to provide energy, especially when energy intake is severely restricted and/or during starvation.

MINERALS

These include macro-minerals like Calcium, Magnesium, Manganese, etc and trace metals such as Zinc, Copper, Selenium, etc. They are required for tissue growth and repair and to regulate various body processes.

VITAMINS

Some are 'water soluble' such as the B-complexes and Vitamin C and some are 'fat soluble' and include vitamins D, A, K and E. Their prime role is to regulate body processes.

WATER

Like oxygen, water is also essential for life. However, it is not usually considered as a food or nutrient.
OTHER CONSTITUENTS OF FOOD:


The group of carbohydrate compounds, collectively known as 'fibre' or non-starch polysaccharides, are not strictly nutrients but have important, positive effects on health.

On the other hand, alcohol is considered as a food because it provides energy, even though it has no other nutritive value.

Iron (Fe) from cooking utensils is regarded as a nutrient as it may be incorporated in foods and consequently used to renew red cells.

Clearly, there is hardly any food that contains only one nutrient. The majority of foods are very complex mixtures of a variety of different nutrients, which consist mainly of carbohydrates, fats and proteins, together with water. 

Minerals and vitamins are usually present in smaller amounts despite their overriding roles in metabolic processes. On the basis of this illustration, there is more in food than just calories.

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