Low Carb Diet - Weight Loss Benefits

A low carbohydrate diet, as the name implies, is a diet that is low, or restricted, in carbs. Scientific research has shown the many benefits of such a diet plan on weight loss.

A low carb diet, as the name implies, is a diet that is low in carbohydrates (bread, rice, sugar, especially the refined variety) and high (or rather adequate) in fats and proteins (meat, eggs, cheese, butter, nuts, etc.). A number of variations of the diet exist (most well known, Dr. Atkins Diet), but the one thing that is common to all is the drastic cutback on the intake of carbohydrates in the diet plan.

Most of these plans substitute the outgoing carbohydrates with fats and proteins. Although different types of these diets may vary in the recommended intake of carbohydrates, fats and proteins, as a general rule a low carb diet is tantamount to a high-fat and moderate protein diet.

In a low carb diet at least 60 to 70% of the daily calorie intake must come from fats, contrary to a normal diet where a major portion of the calories comes from carbohydrates. The carbohydrate calories should not constitute more than 5 to 10% of the daily calorie intake. The remaining 20 to 30% calories can come from proteins.

Why a low carb diet?

How often have you come across overweight people feeling frustrated at not being able to lose an inch of the stubborn abdominal fat in spite of exercising and in spite of being on the traditionally recommended low fat, high carb diet for months? Too often to even remember! The reason, obviously, has to lie in the wrong approach to attack the problem underlying excess weight and excess inches.

Scientific research has shown that dietary fat is not necessarily converted into body fat, whereas carbohydrates readily convert into fat by the action of insulin, a hormone produced by pancreas in response to elevated sugar levels in the blood (as caused by carbohydrates) to allow blood sugar to be used by cells.

However, insulin also aids in fat deposition and stimulates the brain to produce hunger pangs. The vicious cycle of more carbohydrates, more and more insulin repeats, resulting in cells becoming insulin resistant with time. Consequently, excess sugar either stays in the blood (causing diabetes) or starts converting to fat (causing obesity) instead of being used up by cells to produce energy, leading to obesity, fatigue and lethargy.

Benefits of a low carb diet

A low carb diet helps prevent hyperinsulinemia (i.e., elevated insulin levels in the blood) and increases the level of glucagon, a pancreatic hormone that reverses the action of insulin, stabilizes blood sugar levels, and helps burn fat to energy and remove cholesterol deposits from arteries.

And because the body gets into the fat-burning mode, sustained weight and inch loss occurs, accompanied by lowered blood pressure, better lipid profile and raised energy levels.

Due to the consumption of fats and oils, the appetite and hunger pangs stay in control, because fatty foods are more satisfying and take longer to digest. And since limited amounts of complex carbohydrates do accompany the fats (obviously, the healthy types), the body metabolism does not switch to starvation mode. A vitamin/mineral supplement and a fiber supplement may be added if necessary.

Once the body chemistry is back to normal and the excess weight knocked off, complex carbohydrates and some vegetables/fruits can be added to the diet. But if one does not want to go back to the earlier state, one has to kiss goodbye the white bread, pastries, cakes, ice creams and things like that, except for an occasional binge.

About the Author:
Michael J. Harris is an avid weight lifter and adheres to a low carb diet as a part of an overall health routine. Find out more about how a http://lowcarbdietreview.blogspot.com/
Submitted on 2006-11-09
Article Source: http://www.articlesarea.com/

Calorie Definition and Weight Loss

The food calorie is sometimes capitalized as Calorie to distinguish it from the chemistry calorie; however, this capitalization is rarely observed in practice.

The Nutrition Calorie

Nutritionists measure the energy content of food in "calories" (sometimes capitalized and abbreviated as Cal or sometimes C, or abbreviated kcal as if small calories were being used), where each food calorie represents 4,186 joules. This is equivalent to 1000 of the calories used in chemistry, and thus the food Calorie would be called a kilocalorie if small calories were being used. However, in chemistry calories have been deprecated as a scientific unit of measure in favor of joules, and therefore in common modern usage the word "calorie" usually refers to a food calorie.

This situation provides two ways of talking about the amount of calories in food which look quite different but that express the exact same amount of energy. One may say that dietary fat has nine kilocalories (kcal) per gram, while proteins and carbohydrates have four kcal per gram, or, one may say that fat has nine Calories per gram while carbohydrates and proteins have four Calories per gram.

The amount of food energy in a particular food is measured by completely burning the food in a bomb calorimeter, a method known as direct calorimetry. Dieticians recommend counting calories to avoid obesity. The government of the United Kingdom recommends consumption of no more than 2000 Calories (2000 kcal) by women each day and 2500 Calories (2500 kcal) by men each day.

The Physics and chemistry calorie

In physics or chemistry, a calorie (abbreviated cal) is a unit of energy that equals the amount of heat necessary to raise the temperature of one gram of water by 1 degree Celsius, at a pressure of 1 atm. This amount of heat depends somewhat on the initial temperature of the water, which results in various different units sharing the name of "calorie" but having slightly different energy values:

* the 15 °C calorie,

* the 4 °C calorie,da

* the mean 0 °C to 100 °C calorie,

* the International Steam Table calorie,

* the thermochemical calorie,

The slight variations in these units can be seen if you convert them to joules. For example, one 15 °C calorie is the amount of heat necessary to raise the temperature of 1 g of water from 14.5 °C to 15.5 °C. This is approximately equal to 4.1855 J or 3.968×10-3 Btu. The International Steam Table calorie is approximately equal to 4.1868 J and the thermochemical calorie 4.184 J.

Of these various units, what is most commonly meant by calorie in cntemporary English text is the 15 °C calorie.

The nutritional Calorie represents 1000 of these 15 °C calories. Since this could be a source of confusion and error, these units are now deprecated. The International System of Units (SI) unit for heat (and for all other forms of energy) is the joule (J), while the (obsolete) cgs (centimeter gram second system of units) system uses the erg (unit of energy and mechanical work in the centimeter-gram-second system) - From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Before start losing weight and counting calories you must first calculate the number of calories your body needs everyday, because this amount changes from person to person, depending on sex, age, weight, muscle content or height. Averages are situated around 2000 calories for women and 2500 for men. An easy, but not so accurate calculation is that for every 500 less than your normal amount of calories eaten every day you will lose up to one pound (453,6g) per week.

Counting calories must be included as part of your diet, because when you loss weight is best to know how many calories your food has, and so ensuring that the amount of calories burned each day is more than the amount stored. All nutritionists agree that a healthy low fat diet without counting calories could not exists, so take your time and solve that problem with various calorie calculators.

By knowing all the time the amount of calories consumed you can control how much you can eat and how it will affect your body. When dieting and counting the calories you can eat almost anything as long as you do not exceed the number of calories burned every day.

When you eat fewer calories, your body is forced to consume the fat stored to make up the deficit in your calorie count. Nutritionist’s advice is that you must combine psychical exercises with healthy eating in order to create some calorie deficit.

About the Author:
Gerald Njuguna is the owner of WeightLossPerfection.com. The site offers tips on weightloss including fast weight loss advice, nutritional topics plus other informative articles on losing weight. To find out more on this click here: www.weightlossperfection.com
Article Source: http://www.articles2k.com

The G. I Diet and Benefits For Losing Weight

The glycemic index diet or G.I. diet is gaining a reputation as a healthy way to lose weight. Although more of a way of eating rather than a diet, more and more people following the G. I way achieve their weight loss goals. Many health experts agree that the Glycemic Index diet, if followed correctly, can be a great way to weight loss success, especially for those who struggle with conventional low calorie diets or dieters who have trouble controlling their appetite.

The G.I diet is similar to the low carb diet but it is not as strict and targets the types of carbs rather than the quantity of carbs for each meal. There is also a focus on the correct timing of the two basic types of meals – a carb or protein meal. The science behind the timing and types of meal makes G.I dieting a potent way to help lose fat stores, safely and relatively quickly.

The G.I diet is all about Insulin and controlling blood sugar levels.

Insulin is a hormone that helps regulate our blood sugar; actually it lowers blood sugar levels by stimulating cells to absorb any excess sugar from the blood. The problem with Insulin is it also causes fat cells to take up excess fatty acids from the blood. Often we ingest a meal which includes both sugar and fats so if any meal includes foods which have a high Glycemic Index then the fat from that meal can be easily stored on the hips.

There is an established theory that if one can control insulin levels then one can control how much fat the body will store from each and EVERY meal. Fat can only be stored when Insulin is present, and Insulin is only released when blood sugar levels become elevated.

What raises blood sugar?

Carbohydrate in foods will raise blood sugar if it is absorbed too rapidly. The types of foods which cause rapid absorption of sugar are all those with a high G.I index rating.

The basics of the G.I index

The Glycemic Index ranks carbohydrate foods by assigning them a number ranging from 0 to 100. The number indicates the rate at which the food raises blood glucose levels during its absorption. The higher the value the quicker the sugar is absorbed.

A high Glycemic index food has a value of 70 and above. A G.I value of 56-69 is considered medium and any foods lower than 55 are considered a low Glycemic index food. Foods with a low G.I are best as they digest more naturally and help provide a steady supply of energy over the course of several hours, it also makes us feel fuller for longer.

Is the G.I Diet simple?

The diet sounds simple because foods are generally chosen from the low G.I food list, but it gets complicated when you create a meal made up of many different food items, each with a unique G.I value. The idea is to make sure most items which make up every meal have a low Glycemic index, thus the overall G.I of the meal stays within the low to medium range.

Gaining complete nutrition

There are some foods which have a high G.I rating but are considered a healthy nutritious food. In these cases healthy high G.I foods can be combined with low G.I foods to maintain low-medium G.I value, plus help create a complete nutritional intake. An example is baked potato (high G.I) topped with baked beans (low G.I). There are also low G.I foods which should be limited. Fresh meat and poultry contains no sugar so the G.I. will be very low, however, they do contain lots of fat and protein so the energy content will be high. Remember calories do still count!

One positive point about the G.I meal plan is it’s possible for dieters to enjoy the odd “treat” item once or twice each week, maybe an occasional dessert after a light dinner. As long as these “bad” items are NOT eaten alone it should not ruin the diet plan.

Benefits of G.I. way of eating:

1. Enjoy tasty foods but limit storage of fat
2. Enjoy some favourite foods AND still lose fat
3. Increased energy level and wellbeing
4. Control of blood sugar
5. Less hunger feelings
6. Less craving for sugary foods
7. Less bloating feeling after meals
8. Ability to eat more food if desired
9. Less risk from diabetes and other diseases
10. No strict calorie reductions

About the Author:
Wayne Mcgregor has written hundreds of articles on effective ways to lose weight. His website provides tons of free weight loss information and help, including lists of G.I foods.
http://www.weightlossforall.com
This article was posted on October 20, 2006
Article Source: articlecity

Lose fat easily with didrex

Everyone is talking about fat and obesity these days over and over again. Not because they want to participate in a beauty contest or act in Hollywood but simply because they want to make life easier. Statistics reveal that almost half of the world population are getting wider and fatter, their lives are getting shorter by years. As anyone who is overweight or obese will tell you, being fat is quite a traumatic thing because it brings on the intense ridicule and scorn of the society. Today, thanks to this 'world-wide' phenomenon, chronic diseases and health problems like heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke, gall bladder complications, etc. have made a place for themselves in our lives.

Losing weight isn’t easy if you don’t have motivation and self control to exercise and eat right. What’s more is finding enough time to do act out the motivation. Though drug therapies and supplements remain the last thing in one’s mind, today more and more people are turning to the diet pill for their weight loss program. After all, why go through all the strenuous activities of exercising when you can just take a pill that can complement your obesity treatment. Diet pills are not new. However, with so many diet pills saturating the market today, trying to find the best and most effective diet pill can be very tedious.

In comes Didrex diet pills, the proven formula for weight control that can change life for the better. Most of its users who buy Didrex online, vouch for the fact it is the most efficient and effortless method of attaining real time term weight loss.

Studies have proved that Didrex contain certain substances (Benzphetamine) that have been scientifically proven effective to help people maintain their ideal weight and curb fat accumulation in the body with minimal side effects that can include dizziness. These diet pills are effective in increasing the metabolism of the body, thereby, initiating weight loss and suppress one's appetite. Often Didrex is used as a short-term supplement to diet and exercise in the treatment of obesity.

With the introduction of cheap Didrex to promote weight loss, more and more people claim that this is the easy way to easily melt away fats and cellulites. Who needs to tone those abs and biceps with a disciplined exercise program when a diet pill can do it for you?

Life is a gift, and yes it is important to try and make it comfortable, but losing oneself over it is not worth it. The worth of a pill cannot be measured by size, they say, but in this case it definitely can make difference to your waist.

About the Author:
Rob Albert is a contributing author to the Slimtour.com for distinct article sites/journals. Visit the website www.slimtour.com for more information on Didrex Diet Pills.
Article Source: http://www.articlesnetwork.com/

Close Kept Secrets to Weight Loss

Discover secrets to overcome food addictions by releasing negative thoughts and reframing with powerful affirmations, and manifest all that is yours by Divine right.

My name is Tami Close and my intention is to empower women to realize they are responsible for their own health and well-being.

Why am I doing this? Years ago I became very ill and wrote down the foregoing statement while reading a book by Mark Victor Hanson entitled Dare to Win. I knew that I went through the illness for reason and now am manifesting my purpose. Through this illness I was led on a journey to discover Me!—the Me! who was hidden beneath all the childhood trauma of not feeling loved. With the help of an energy practitioner, I finally released the childhood stuff and it was life-changing.

You, too, can release your childhood issues and have a miraculous discovery of self. Many women suffer needlessly with unwanted pounds and I was told I am to work with women to help them love themselves unconditionally. As an integrative body therapist using Rapid Eye Therapy and Emotional Freedom techniques, I help women release their stuff so they make new, healthy choices in their weight loss goals. These healing modalities are quick and easy to use and get results. Once you’re able to see yourself as pure love, the results will be astounding! You’ll attract those things that keep you focused on a positive lifestyle and the pounds will begin to shed. Watch the miracles that show up for you as a result! No more thong envy here!

Many women showed up for me to help me and I, in turn, will show up for you to hold your hand and guide you through your transformation. It’s no accident you’re reading this. Know that my intentions are to help you take control of your health.

Look what has manifested in my life as a result of peeling back my own layers. I became a co-author in a book with Mark Victor Hansen, Deepak Chopra and Wayne Dyer and several others. The book, Wake Up….Life the Life You Love Finding Personal Freedom, was just published in March and can be purchased at Barnes and Noble. On April 1, 2005 (No April Fools joke) I met Mark Victor Hansen and he signed my Dare to Win book. I would not have manifested these amazing things if I didn’t release my pain which was keeping me stuck. I am on purpose!! I am living my dream of helping women and loving every minute of it.

Check out http://www.tamiclose.com.

About the Author:
Tami Close
tamiclose.com
Added: Sat Apr 09 2005
To find other free health content see e-healtharticles.com

Low Carb Diet Secrets Revealed!

You may be considering a low carb diet program, but wonder if they really work, and if so, how well?

Let's take the mystery out of low carb diets by giving you the 3 most important elements to their success.

First, you need to bring your carboydrate cravings under control. Some diet programs argue that most of us are addicted to carbohydrates. Others take a more moderate
approach and link it to the glycemic index.

All of the low carb diets are consistent on this one fact though - you need to overcome short-term cravings to ensure long term weight loss success.

There is definite scientific proof linking simple carbohydrates, such as sugar, to cravings you have for more food.

Second, you need to focus on better carbs versus the worse carbs. What that means is simply that you must consider which carbohydrates result in more glucose spikes being
created by your body.

Simple carbs are quickly absorbed and result in significant glucose spikes which, can result in more fat being stored in your body. Low carb diets balance overall carbohydrate
input with the quality and type of carbohydrates.

Just by reducing the simple carbs in your diet such as sugar, milk, some fruit you can make a big difference in curbing your cravings for more food.

Third, you must gain confidence in the delicious foods you are able to eat on low carb diets so that you stick with the change. You cannot expect to achieve long term success
with your diet program if you are not educated or satisfied with the amazing alternative foods at your disposal.

Low carb diets can lead to weight loss, health benefits and an entire lifestyle change - however you don't have to give up everything you enjoy in order to experience rapid weight loss.

By focusing on foods that trigger chemical and biological reactions in your body resulting in cravings, you can burn fat and increase your health at the same time.

About the author:
Jeff Smith
Discover the Ultimate Weight Loss Resource Center. You Really Can Lose MORE Weight FASTER -- and keep it off. Find our more about Low carb diet programs, Weight Loss programs, products, diets, recipes, pills and more...Right here:
http://www.rapid-weight-loss.com
Circulated by Article Emporium

Diet Considerations for Hemochromatosis Sufferers

When the diagnosis of hemochromatosis is made it is important to adjust the diet so that too much iron is not being absorbed because of an improper diet. However such adjustment need not be at the expense of enjoying life and good food.

The biggest considerations are not to take medications which contain iron, consume too much alcohol or Vitamin C. Excessive alcohol consumption which has shown to greatly increase iron absorption in those with hemochromatosis is set at a level of 60g a day. Thus it is important to stay well below this level. The limit should be 30g a day in men and 20g a day in women. When a patient has two copies of C282Y and drinks excessive alcohol there is a multiplying affect – not an additive affect – on the absorption of iron. It is deadly to drink too much alcohol if you have hemochromatosis. The effect of excessive alcohol consumption on hemochromatosis cannot be overstressed.

Vitamin C enhances the absorption of iron. It is wise only to consume a moderate amount and not take Vitamin C tablets. Vitamin C has been known to precipitate heart palpitations in those with hemochromatosis.

The ingestion of black tea has been shown to decrease the absorption of iron. African tea which is becoming popular may contain iron so too much should not be consumed.

Patients with hemochromatosis should not take supplements unless there are documented deficiencies. There is evidence that those with hemochromatosis may also have an increased ability to absorb other heavy metals. While iron may be removed by bleeding it is very difficult to remove other excess heavy metals.

Don’t take milk thistle which has often been touted as good for the liver. It can cause severe problems in those with hemochromatosis. It is best to avoid herbal medicines with hemochromatosis as the joint effects have not been adequately studied.

Don’t eat raw shellfish. They may be contaminated with Vibrio vulnificans which thrives in an iron rich environment. There have been fatalities in the northern hemisphere. Cooking inactivates this organism.

Vitamin E – as an antioxidant may be of some help because too much iron may act as an oxidant. However it is probably important not to exceed 400 to 800 IU a day of Vitamin E.

It is non-heme iron or the iron found in sources such as vegetables that is excessively absorbed in hemochromatosis. Thus a patient with hemochromatosis may consume a steak and not be overly concerned. Meat and blood are sources of heme iron.

It is important not to believe that those with hemochromatosis should overly restrict their diet. With the exception of the above pointers restriction of iron intake doesn’t help that much in hemochromatosis. A very strict diet with removal of all other sources of iron will help keep the ferritin level down, however no more than could be achieved by one phlebotomy every 6 months. So it is important to enjoy your food – hemochromatosis is not a barrier to that.

About the Author:
Dr. Chris Whittington is a Clinical Associate Professor of Family Practice at the University of British Columbia, practices in Abbotsford, British Columbia and is a Past President of the British Columbia College of Family Physicians. She is ca recognised expert in and is currently engaged in ongoing research into hereditary hemochromatosis. Dr Whittington contributes to http://www.ironic-health.com, a web site she controls with her brother Peter and can be contacted at admin@ironic-health.com.
This article was posted on October 27, 2006
Article Source: articlecity

Detox Diets for a Lifetime Fitness

Our body is comparable to a complex machine. In fact, our life is the outcome of several complex machines performing their designated functions at their own pace and rhythm. One important function of our body involves the removal of toxins from the system.

The body's response to the rising toxin level in the body. Our body is designed in such a way that toxins are effectively removed and excreted by the liver and kidneys within hours of consumption. But what happens if our body accumulates toxins beyond the permissible level? As the toxins enter our body through various sources, the cells are instantly at work to render them harmless. But there is a huge supply of toxin, the body uses up most of its energy in dealing with them and as a result other functions are neglected. The net result is: body can not cope up with this loss of energy and that is reflected through the poor functioning of liver and kidneys.

How detox can help?
That is why we need to cleanse our inside through the process of detoxification. Detox on the one hand stops further overloading the body with toxic chemicals and on the pther hand systems starts to be provided with the right nutrients to help boost up body's natural ability of elimination. As a result, the cells resume their functions once again with renewed energy. As the cells are rejuvenated once again, you are back to your energetic self once again.

Plan your detox diet
According to the WHO experts, if we stick to healthy and balanced diet, our body will be able to detoxify the system naturally. Healthy diet includes the elements like Vitamin A, C & E, antioxidants and other nutrients. These are the substances that help us to fight against minor infections as well as serious terminal diseases like cancer and heart diseases. They also prevent premature aging and complexities related to it.

There is no conflict between an antioxidant and vitamin rich healthy diet and detox diet.The typical detox diet is rich in anti-oxidants and the ideal detox foods are fresh fruit and vegetables that are extremely rich in vitamins, antioxidants and other helpful nutrients. Since substantial parts of the nutrients are destroyed in the process of cooking, the detox diets typically include raw fruits and vegetables in its fold. Thus the detox diet is extremely healthy and nutritious retaining all the qualities of foods in its original form. Along with the raw foods, the juices and soups also come with same nutritious qualities and extremely efficient in cleansing your inside.

So if you wish to stay fit for all your life, always follow a balanced and healthy diet that will assist your body to naturally remove all the waste products from your body. Plenty of fruits, salads made of raw vegetable, low calorie soups, herbal tea and plenty of water...make them the permanent feature of your normal diet and see how efficiently your body works for eliminating all the harmful substances from your body.

About the Author:
Jason Uvios writes about "Detox Diets for a Lifetime Fitness" to visit : colon cleansing kits, colon detox kits and colon cleanse.
Submitted on 2006-10-22
Article Source: http://www.articlesarea.com/

Useful Tips to Reduce Weight

It is true that once the weight is reduced and brought down to the desirable level, food intake must be slightly increased. But see that the intake is not too much to start increasing the weight once again. To ensure stability in the weight, make it a practice to weigh yourself once a week. It is essential that you weigh yourself in the same type of clothes each time.

Models of Diet

You can loose weight on a diet of 600 calories a day if you are engaged in sedentary work and on 1200 calories if you are an active working woman. Distribute the types of food in all your four meals. Eat what you normally do but less. Look in for the food stuff

which provides the least calories (refer calorie chart for common cooked or Processed Foods given earlier in this section), but include all the fundamental food requirements to complete the calories.

I. The following slimming diet provides about 600 calorie food per day :

(A) Early Morning: One glass of warm water with 1 tsp of lemon juice.

(B) Morning Breakfast : Any one or two of the following items :

1.One cup of tea or coffee with a little milk (use artificial sweetness instead of sugar).

2.Any small fruit (except banana or mango).

3.Two or three small tomatoes or cucumbers.

4.Non-vegetarians can take an egg.

(C) Mid-Day Meal :

1. Two or three small tomatoes or cucumbers :

2. One small chapati.

3. Half bowl of any calorie vegetable.

4. Half bowl of moong soup.

5. Non-vegetarians can take a small piece of meat (fatless) or fish.

(D) Afternoon tea/early evening: As per the morning breakfast.

(E) Super : As per the mid-day meal, except for the fact that a small bowlful of rice or khichree can be taken instead of rice.

II. The following slimming diet provides about 1,200 calorie food per day :

(A) Early Morning: One glass of warm water with 1 tsp of lemon juice.

(B) Morning Breakfast : Take any one or two of the following items :

1. One cup of milk or one cup of tea or coffee with a little milk (use artificial sweetener instead of sugar).

2. One small fruit.

3. One Khakra or a slice of bread.

4. One egg.

5. Two or three small tomatoes or cucumbers.

(C) Mid-day Meal:

1. Vegetable or non-vegetarian soup of your liking (Flour should not beUsed for preparing any soup)

2.Four or five tomatoes or two or three cucumbers.

3.One small bowl of vegetable.

3.Two small chapatis or a slice of bread.

4.One small bowl of moong or any other similar cereal.

5.Non-vegetarians can take some meat (fatless) or a fish.

(D)Afternoon/Early evening: As per the morning breakfast.

(E) Supper: As per the mid-day meal except for the fact that one small bowl of khichree or rice can be taken as a substitute for chapattis or bread.

III. Substitute foods:

1.Grains Following are the substitutes of 30 gm rice.

30 gm of wheat flour

30 gm of ragi/vari/sago

30 gm of jowar

30 gm of rice flakes (poha)

30 gm of bajra

30 gm of puffed rice (kurmura)

2.Cereals

Following are the substitutes of 30 gm red gram dal (Tuvar dal)

30 gm of black gram dal

30 gm of moong/moong dal

30 gm of lentil/lentil dal

30 gm of field bean/field bean dal

30 gm of dry peas

3.Fats

Following are the substitutes of one teaspoon of vegetable oil

One spoon of butter

One spoon of ghee (pure)

One spoon of cream

One spoon of ghee (vegetable)

4.Bread-Biscuits Etc.
Following are the substitutes of a small bread (30 gm) :
Two small khakras
One and a half cup dhani
Two small chapatis
One cup of popcorn
Two or three small plain biscuits
One small boiled potato
One and a half spoonful of rice.

About the Author:
This article is written by Robert E. Dallas, Ph.D: Author is a health and fitness consultant in Las Vegas He has a experience of 10 years in diet concelling people. He is the owner of website www.harmonicinnerprizes.com/. He formulated all the heath supplements keeping in mind the health problems faced by today's generation.
Article Source: http://www.articlesnetwork.com/

Five Secrets To Weight Loss

Weight loss – such a “big” topic! Every month another book is out by another expert on weight loss. Everyone wants to know the secret to losing weight.

I certainly don’t have THE secret, but I do have some secrets, and I want to share them with you in the hope you find them helpful.

Weight used to be a major issue for me. Losing weight was never out of my thoughts, and I can’t tell you how many different diets, pills and programs I tried until I discovered some “secrets” that have worked for me for many years now.

So here they are. I hope they work as well for you as they have for me.

1. Change your focus from losing weight to achieving great health.

I grew up as a sickly child and I was a sickly young adult. I hated being sick and never having energy to do all the things I wanted to do. So I decided to learn about what creates great health.

First I read tons of books on nutrition and became convinced that I needed to switch to organic foods. That was quite a challenge in 1961! There was one coop health food store that I had to follow around Los Angeles because it kept moving locations. But it was worth it! My rule of thumb now is – if they didn’t eat it 100 years ago, then I won’t eat it now. This cuts out most packaged and processed foods and leaves natural, organic food.

2. Learn to read your body signals regarding what feels good to your body and what feels bad.

I no longer read about all the different diets because I’ve learned to tune into MY body so that I know exactly what my body needs for great health. Since my body needs different things than your body, no single food plan will work for everyone. Your job is to learn to tune into what gives you energy and what robs you of energy, and what foods create calmness and which ones create agitation. Once I learned what my body needs for great health, I lost weight and kept it off easily.

3. Find a form of exercise that you enjoy and that you can do at least 5 times a week.

I discovered that I love to walk in nature, so I take a fast half-hour walk every day. However, this can be a problem if you have physical limitations or chronic illness. Losing weight with chronic illness or physical limitations is not impossible, but it can be a much bigger challenge.

4. Learn to discern which part of you determines what and when you eat, as well as how much you eat.

We all have a wounded part of ourselves that uses various addictions as ways to deal with feelings of loneliness, aloneness, helplessness, anxiety, depression, fear and anger. Some people may use alcohol, drugs, spending, TV, gambling, sex, and so on to avoid their pain, while other use food. While food may work to pacify painful feelings for the moment, in the long run all addictions backfire and create the very pain you are trying to avoid. Yet our wounded self keeps choosing addictive behavior as a way of managing pain. As long as the wounded part of you is making your food choices, you may continue to have a weight problem.

The part of us that is capable of managing painful feelings in healthy ways and making healthy choices is the loving Adult. The loving Adult is the part of us that has a deep desire to learn about and take loving action in our own behalf. Developing a loving Adult is a major aspect in creating health and wellbeing, as well as in losing weight and maintaining a healthy weight.

5. Learn to connect with a spiritual source of wisdom, strength, love and guidance.

The loving Adult is that part of us that is connected with a spiritual source of guidance rather than being governed by the mind. The mind, bring programmed from childhood, is the home of the wounded self. You are being a loving Adult at those moments when you choose to be guided by a source of wisdom beyond your mind. This source will always guide you toward your highest good. You just need to learn to open and listen.

It is very likely that you will not only lose weight, but will also move into more physical and emotional health and wellbeing if you embrace these “secrets” into your life. We offer you a free course (see the resource box) to help you with developing your loving Adult. Once you have developed a powerful loving inner Adult, you will be able to lose weight. If you really want to lose weight, there is a way!

About the Author:
Margaret Paul, Ph.D. best-selling author of eight books, and co-creator of the powerful Inner Bonding healing process. Visit her web site for a FREE Inner Bonding course: www.innerbonding.com or email her at mailto:margaret@innerbonding.com
Article Source: http://www.freearticlesdirectory.com

New Herbal Nutritional Supplements for Weight loss!

Weight loss if difficult. There is no disputing that fact.
There are thousands of methods of weight loss that claim to be the most effective on the market.

Everywhere you turn, everything you read, and everything you watch has an ad for some type of weight loss program, product or exercise equipment that will assist you in meeting your weight loss goals.

There are diet pill and diet supplement, but you have to know your body type and fat ratio. There are meal and meal replacement shakes and products, but those can be very expensive and the meals are usually high in sodium and preservatives. It is all to confusing. For some they just give up. It is just too difficult to try and understand.

There are some people who want to lose weight, but do not want to take chemicals to achieve their weight loss goals. They are afraid of the side effects that come with some of them.

For them, there is an answer. Herbal nutritional weight loss supplements.
Herbal weight loss is a method to lose weight using a combination of herbs and botanicals grown around the world.

Throughout the centuries certain combination of herbs have proved to have the qualities that assist in weight loss. As with any weight loss program, it is recommended that you consult a physician before starting any weight loss program.

There are herbal weight loss nutritional supplements on the market today that naturally suppress hunger and cravings for all the foods that have made some people gain weight.

One herb that is contained in some herbal weight loss supplements is Bitter orange. When used as an herbal weight loss agent, bitter orange can speed up the metabolism to help burn calories faster. People who have a slow metabolism use this. Only the skin of the bitter orange is used as an herbal weight loss remedy.

Researchers are studying the herbal weight loss benefits to capsaicin the heat ingredient found in cayenne pepper. Capsaicin increases the heat in a body thereby speeding up the metabolism and burning more fat and calories.

Green tea is another herb that is used in herbal weight loss. It is A natural stimulant and works like caffeine. There are hundreds possibly thousands of herbs and botanicals that are used in herbal weight loss.

Another herbal weight loss product is ephedra. In recent years, ephedra has caused a lot of controversy. It was taken from the market after being banned by the Food and Drug Administration citing that it was dangerous, and could be responsible for many deaths across the United States.

By doing a simple google search, you will find millions of sites dedicated to herbal weight loss. In these sites, you will find testimonials of actual people who have achieved and maintained weight loss using herbal weight loss methods. One of the best sites to use as a resource is 4 star nutrition. They only carry 4 star products and have real information and reviews to help you in your buying decision.

http://www.4starnutrition.com

About the Author:
Casey McCarthy http://www.4starnutrition.com/
Article Source: ArticleToGo.com

Zone Diet Meals "How To Choose A Plan That's Right For You"

If you like pumpkin pie than you’ll like zone diet meals. In fact, if you like a lot of things you’ll like a zone diet. That is because you can eat almost anything you want, as long as it’s in the right proportions.

Unlike weight loss diets that focus on cutting one thing like calories or carbohydrates, zone diet meals use a strict proportional guide of 40/30/30. This means 40 percent of the calories you take in should be from carbohydrates, 30 percent from proteins, and 30 percent from low fat foods.

You can probably already see how confusing and time consuming it would be to carry on this kind of diet. And it is if you’re just doing it on your own. But as the scientific community began realizing how effective zone dieting can be many companies caught on and have produced some great products that make it much easier for you to diet zone style.

Depending on how much time you have or how much money you’re willing to spend (you usually have to choose one or the other) there are programs that go from giving you a cookbook or diet meal plans and let you run with it to delivering fresh, gourmet meals to your door at 5 am every morning.

Do It Yourself and We’ll Help

Most of these companies work similarly to the Weight Watcher’s plan. You eat what you want from a zone diet cookbook and instead of counting points, you’ll be counting food blocks of protein and carbs.

The founder of the zone diet system, Dr. Sears, currently sells this type of system. If you join his program you’ll receive all the resources you need like a shopping list generator, personalized meal planner and even a nutritionist that will answer your questions via the internet.

This works for dieters who enjoy cooking and only want to worry about one meal for their whole family. The cost is usually much lower (for example $4 a week for Dr. Sear’s service compared to $25 a day for a lower end delivery program). But it will take a considerable amount of time to research, cook and keep track of everything you need to to make a zone diet meals.

Snacking Zone Style

You can purchase snack bars and shakes that follow the zone diet rules. If you decide to go this route remember that you need to use the right recipes when you aren’t using the supplements to be able to lose weight.

Since you can only replace one or two meals a day with snack bars or shakes, a good company will show you how to do this and even provide free recipes. If not, you can find recipes online through search engines.

Diet Food Delivered

If you don’t have a lot of time, don’t like to cook, get groceries and don’t want to research all the nitty gritties of a zone diet (and believe me there are plenty) there are many companies that provide your zone diet food delivered. It is easy to spend a lot of money on these plans so you’ll want to look at several to see where you’ll get the most value.

The Formula Zone has family plans so you don’t have to think about something different to make for dinner. And some plans allow you to customize the meals for your tastes. The DineWise Diet program offers plan flexibility so you can even decide how many calories you want to take in every day.

When you are looking for a good home delivery program, make sure you check to see if their website offers advice on maintaining a healthy lifestyle beyond the foods you eat, if there are extra delivery charges, and what kind of flexibility they have when you need to skip some meals to go out of town. Customer service is also key because the company you choose will have a large part in your life.

If you’re struggling with diseases like Diabetes that effect what you need to eat or like to stick to a vegan, vegetarian or kosher diet, than you might consider zone dieting as an option. Many companies make meal plans specialized for these circumstances so you don’t have to compromise to go on a diet.

About the Author:
Karen Gates offers free information on hundreds of different weight loss methods. She also provides honest and unbiased dieting and weight loss product reviews. Go to Best Weight Loss Program also found at http://www.BestWeightPrograms.com.
This article was posted on October 12, 2006
Article Source: articlecity

The Most Nutritious And Tasty Diet Foods

When considering what to include in a weight loss diet, there are two factors that you should always consider early. The first is whether or not your chosen diet will be sufficiently nutritious to keep you healthy. The second is if the diet will be tasty enough to maintain your interest, rather than for you to opt out through boredom.

It is possible to address both of these concerns at the same time by considering health food vitamins, and in so doing you may be in for some pleasant surprises. Much will depend in your tastes in food, but with experimentation, you should be able to construct a diet, within the guidelines of your nutritionist and doctor, that is also interesting enough to enable you to not only stick to the diet but enjoy it also.

If you are able to end up with a diet that you can really enjoy, then there is a chance that it will become a lifelong habit. It is possible to make permanent changes; I know that from personal experience. Initially, it can be difficult to make drastic changes, but it can be done much easier if you are enjoying the food you are eating. In many cases, drastic changes may not even be needed, but that is something it is best to discuss with your doctor in relation to your own health and weight problem.

I have selected five of my best diet foods, health foods rich in vitamins and other nutrients, which will provide you with some of the most important nutrients to sustain you during your diet:

Tomatoes

I find tomatoes one of the most versatile and useful foods for cooking, and can be used to add interest to all sorts of meals, such as curries, casseroles and soups. Tomatoes go well with lean meats, or mixed with other vegetables, when used for cooking. They are also delicious raw, if you can find good tomatoes rather than the insipidly flavoured tomatoes you may find in the supermarket.

Tomatoes also happen to be one of the most valuable health foods, rich in lycopene, plus vitamins A and C. Lycopene is a powerful antioxidant, which is why much scientific attention has been paid to tomatoes in recent years. Lycopene’s ability to neutralize free radicals that cause cell damage has been the centre of attention, due to the possible potential in cancer prevention.

Tomatoes also have one other special asset. That is, that the nutrients are not destroyed during cooking, and even processed tomato products such as tomato sauce or ketchup, and canned tomatoes, retain the nutritional benefits. Tomatoes are therefore my health food super hero.

Garlic

When it comes to making boring foods tasty, garlic is way up there amongst the best. Along with tomatoes, garlic is an important part of the Mediterranean Diet. Like tomatoes, it can be used with just about any other cooked food, so whatever your diet regime is, you should find you can utilize garlic widely to satisfy your palate.

Garlic has some important nutrients too, such as calcium, vitamin C and vitamin B6, phosphorus and selenium, plus antibiotic properties.

Basil

Basil is a humble and popular herb that can be used liberally to bring its distinctive flavour to other foods. What you may not realize is that basil also packs a punch when it comes to calcium, phosphorus, vitamin A and vitamin C. Also, basil is a good source of iron, potassium and magnesium, and carotenoids such as beta carotene.

How about tomato and basil soup, with a touch of garlic? A super combo of health foods that will fit into most diets.

Strawberries

The mention of strawberries seems like a self indulgence; their flavour to some can seem too good to be true (me included). Well, indulge, because the strawberry is a great health food too, with some nutrients you may not have anticipated. Strawberries contain Vitamin C, vitamin K and manganese, folic acid, potassium, riboflavin, vitamin B5, vitamin B6, copper, magnesium and omega-3 fatty acids.

Strawberries are best fresh and eaten on their own. (Please read carefully. I did not say strawberries should be eaten laced in sugar with a dollop of clotted cream.)

Spinach

Many may turn their noses up at the mention of spinach; I know I did as a child. However, once you discover its true flavour, spinach does make an excellent food as a side vegetable, in a soup or in a curry. All the old stories about the goodness of spinach were true, as it contains Vitamin C, iron, beta carotene and calcium., plus vitamins E and K, fibre, lutein and zeaxanthin (carotenoids).

Those are just a few ideas for healthy foods, rich in nutrients, that can add flavour and interest to your diet, as you set out to make a permanent lifestyle change to lose weight.

About the Author:
This best diet food article was written by Roy Thomsitt, owner and part author of the Routes To Self Improvement website.
Article Source: http://www.articles2k.com

Bowel Cleansing Diet Tips

If you have been looking around for the information about detoxing, you might have found these words many a places that "detox begins with the healthy bowels".

If you have been looking around for the information about detoxing, you might have found these words many a places that "detox begins with the healthy bowels".

Having a regular and healthy bowel movement is the precondition for a problem free life. It is the bowels that are the most potent source of toxins in the body. So at any cost, we should keep the bowels clean, otherwise the whole body will be toxified once again.

Now in the extreme cases of toxicity, tools like enemas or colonic irrigations are used to displace the long impacted fecal matters from the walls of colon and intestine.

But without going through these procedures, you can get the same result through diet. Only it may take a bit longer to produce the same effect as an enema or colonic. Following a detox diet, the normal flora in the intestines may be completely washed out. You should be extremely patient in helping the bowel regenerate them with the help of probiotics to restore that balance.

Constipation and irregular or slow bowel movements are the result of unthinking loading of wrong foods and sedentary lifestyle. If the wastes are not eliminated adequately, the toxins remain in the body and are reabsorbed by the liver for recycling and elimination. This increased toxic level does not only raise the cholesterol level, it also leads to the growth of pathogenic microorganisms which soon outnumber the natural bowel floras. But once the bowels starts to move properly again, everything else will fall into other things are taken care of.

The simplest way to induce the bowels moving once again is by consuming a high fiber diet. High fiber diet typically consists of fresh fruits and vegetables. If you want to increase the fiber content of your diet, you can have psyllium husk powder by mixing it in one glass of water. The additional fiber contents in the food add volume to the stool on the one hand and on the other hand it helps to reduce the time of bowel movement. This results in better and more toxin elimination. As more amount of toxins start to be flushed out from the system, the overall health improves.

The herbals provide the best solution for improving the bowel functions. There are many types of herbal bowel cleansers. Some of them work as bowel stimulants. Others work as laxatives.

As for example, the slippery elm is a good laxative, while the herbs like cascara sagrada or aloes and senna act as the bowel stimulant.

Herbal bowel combination formulas are considered to be the ideal solution for bowel cleansing, for these products not only encourage the bowels to move, but nourish the natural floras so that bowels resume their normal movement on their own.

About the Author:
Jason Uvios writes about "Bowel Cleansing Diet Tips" to visit : detox diet plans, natural colon cleanse kits and natural colon cleanse.
Submitted on 2006-10-22
Article Source: http://www.articlesarea.com/

Weight Loss Diet Pills – the best is Phentermine

As overweight and obesity spread to the all sections of the society, a number of weight loss diet pills have arrived in the market. Each of the weight loss diet pills has its own merits and demerits.

However, among all the weight loss diet pills, phentermine diet pills have established its superiority compared to others. In spite of some side effects, phentermine pills are mostly recommended by the doctors for oral treatment of obesity and overweight.

In cases when body weight reaches to a danger level, a doctor should immediately be consulted to start a weight loss program with phentermine diet pills.

Some times the body condition may not be suitable to take phentermine pills which a doctor can only judge as there are some suitability criteria for recommending the medicine.

If the doctor recommends, you can order phentermine from a prescription store.

Alternatively, if you are sure about the quality, you can buy phentermine on line by logging in to the web site selling the medicine.

There are thousands of web sites selling phentermine on line. Probably you have received hundreds of e mail messages for on line medicines from these web sites.

In the over the counter stores also you will get cheap phentermine compared to that from a prescription store. These may be generic versions of the branded drugs. However, before ordering or , you should check the quality and effectiveness of the medicines.

Let us now discuss about the effectiveness of using phentermine pills as weight loss diet pills.

Phentermine diet pills work on the central nervous system of the body. The effect of phentermine diet pills cause suppression of appetite and make a sense of fullness in the body reducing the urge for taking more food.

Everyone knows that major reason for excess body weight is due to the practice of taking food more than requirement over a long period of time. Continuous overeating for prolonged period results in accumulation of excess fat in the body causing obesity and overweight in the body. In a number of situations, the body weight reaches alarming level warranting immediate weight reduction through weight loss diet pills.

As such, by using phentermine diet pills overall food intake in the body is drastically reduced and the good result of this you can see in abrupt body weight reduction .within a few weeks.

To get best results of use of phentermine diet pills, and continue weight loss program till one’s body weight comes to the approved limits, our recommendation will be for maintaining controlled nutritious diet, doing physical exercise regularly and using Phentermine diet pills. By the combined effects of the above three, the body weight will gradually come down to the acceptable limit making it disease free.

The side effects are not unusual for phentermine compared to other kinds of the weight loss diet pills. This can be easily overcome if the medicine is taken under the supervision of an experienced doctor.

Only caution from our part, when you use phentermine diet pills for your weight loss, is that when you are under treatment with phentermine, try to avoid heavy and complicated work like driving or operating machinery etc.

The quick results in reducing the body weight make the medicine superior to other similar drugs.

About the Author:
Stuart William is an associate editor to the website http://www.phenterminehome.com. The website offers complete information on weight loss through breaking news, personal views, and articles on weight loss. We also provide requisite information about the numerous weight loss pills such as phentermine, adipex & didrex.etc…Your feed back comment and suggestions will be highly appreciated at editor@phenterminehome.com .
Added: Thu Nov 23 2006
To find other free health content see e-healtharticles.com

Acomplia launched in many European countries

Acomplia, the much anticipated miracle obesity drug (Rimonabant) went on sale in Sweden this month, but the far-more exciting news for manufacturer Sanofi-Aventis was that the cost of the weight-loss pill will be reimbursable by Sweden's public health service.

The health services in Denmark and Ireland have also agreed to reimburse patients for the drug, but in Germany - the European Union's largest market - the regulatory body that decides which medicines will be covered by insurers classified Acomplia as a "lifestyle" drug not eligible for reimbursement.

With the addition of Sweden, Acomplia is now on sale in eight European Union countries as well as in Argentina. It has been approved for sale in Mexico, but will not be available there until the start of 2007. Sanofi-Aventis said it expects to begin selling Acomplia in Mexico by January 2007.

Acomplia diet pill is still stalled at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. UD FDA has asked Sanofi for some more additional information before it can get permission for sale. Sanofi has responded with full details in the month of October and analysts hope to hear from FDA either in two months or it might take another six months for the decision to come by. Acomplia has not been approved in Canada.

The Mexican Ministry of Health approved the Acomplia diet pill not only as an adjunct to diet and exercise for obese patients or overweight people at risk of diabetes and heart disease, but also said Acomplia can be used with standard treatments metformin or sulfonylurea to improve blood sugar levels in diabetics.

There have been speculations that Rimonabant, while on sale in Europe as Acomplia, would be marketed under some other name in the United States - probably Zimulti or Acomplia aft.

Acomplia, the weight loss diet pill, from Sanofi, blocks a cellular receptor found in the brain and fat cells involved with experiencing pleasurable sensations. By blocking this receptor, Acomplia dampens appetite. It's now the first drug to prove that it can help obese people take weight off and keep it off for more than one year according to the new research. Beyond this consideration, it also fights nicotine addiction, and can improve cholesterol levels and various other heart disease risk factors.

With obesity affecting 100 million people in the United States and Europe, analysts say such a drug could generate up to $6 billion a year in sales by the end of the decade. That would put Acomplia on the top shelf of the medicine cabinet, with the likes of Pfizer's Lipitor and Merck's Zocor cholesterol treatments.

The magic bullet is still being tested and not yet proved itself but it is already a rage and has favorable reports. Acomplia information is available on online pharmacies offering to buy Acomplia (Rimonabant) online. There are many Acomplia pharmacies in UK where one can order Acomplia diet pills online. To buy cheap Acomplia (Rimonabant) online could be dangerous as they could be imitations of the original. So be sure you buy the right drug.

About the Author:
Steve Jackson is an associated editor and a contributing author to the Eu-internet-pharmacy.com for distinct article sites/journals. Please feel free to visit http://www.eu-internet-pharmacy.com for more information on Cialis, Acomplia.
Added: 17 Nov 2006
Article Source: http://articles.simplysearch4it.com/article/43179.html

Adipex vs. Phentermine - is there a difference?

Obesity is a disease which is eating much of the population the world over. There has been an unprecedented growth in the number of obese people in the recent past. The trend is increasing even now. There have to be something which can move the world away from this trend.

Age old methods like doing exercises and having a controlled diet program are some of the best methods available to reduce weight. But the process is so slow that in this fast pace of life it is not opted by many. Liposuction and surgery are other methods available but are costly and repetitive as one has to go for re-surgery after some time.

For long, medical science has been in look out for a better solution to get a person get out from obesity. There has been some development in the formulation of weight loss drugs. Prominent amongst them are Phentermine, Adipex, Ionamin and other weight loss drugs which are branded drugs from different manufacturers but all having property as of Phentermine.

Phentermine is a weight loss drug which was approved by FDA (Food and Drug Administration) as early as 1959. First it was the Phentermine resin which was made available in the US and later Phentermine Hydrochloride was available in the early 70’s. There is no difference between Phentermine and Adipex as Phentermine is the generic name of the drug and Adipex is the brand name of Phentermine manufactured by Gate Pharmaceuticals.

Adipex diet pills like Phentermine diet pills are sympathomimetic amine similar to amphetamine. It is used as a short-term supplement to workouts and controlled diet regimen for treating obesity. Both Adipex and Phentermine work as appetite suppressing drug. As the appetite is suppressed the food intake is lowered. And when the body needs energy it starts breaking down the fat accumulated in the body thereby making an obese person lose his fats.

In case of medication for any of these weight reduction drugs consultation with a doctor is a must. Pregnant women, breast feeding mothers, person with heart problem, high blood pressure, glaucoma, history of drug or alcohol abuse, epilepsy, diabetes, hypertension, allergy etc. should take proper advice from a doctor if they are to take the drug.

Side effects like blurred vision, irritability, stomach upset, dry mouth may occur in the initial phase of taking the drug. It can also increase heart rate and blood pressure. The normal dose of these drugs is a pill a day with a glass of water but in case a doctor prescribes other way one should follow his or her instructions.

To buy Adipex or to buy Phentermine one can go for a local store or get it from an online drug store. In most of the online drug stores the rates are much cheaper than the physical drug stores.

Phentermine and Adipex are short term weight loss drugs and not a permanent solution to reduce obesity. To reduce obesity permanently one has to follow a strict diet regimen and do physical activities plus one has to have willpower to do both of these.

About the Author:
Joseph Jones received training as a healthcare scientist. He has been working in the same field and writes informative articles for weight loss subject. To find Phentermine, Adipex diet pills, buy phentermine, phentermine diet pills, buy Adipex, weight loss pills visit http://www.onlinephentermine.net/
Article Source: ArticleToGo.com

The Atkins Diet...what is it?

You're probably wondering how a diet like this could actually lead to weight loss. According to the late Dr. Atkins, it's all about limiting carbohydrates. As Americans, we eat a large amount of carbohydrates. These are foods that contain white flour and refined sugar. In other words, most of the packaged foods we eat such as pasta, bread and cereal are carbohydrate-rich. According to the core principle of the Atkins diet, by limiting carbohydrates in a four-phase process your body is forced to burn its stored fat, rather than carbohydrates, for fuel.

In 1972, Dr. Robert Atkins first published his book, Dr. Atkins New Diet Revolution, which suggested a new way to diet. Up until this time, dieting consisted of lowering the number of calories eaten per day or lowering both the amount of fats and carbohydrates eaten. But, Dr. Atkins' diet was strictly focused on limiting carbohydrate consumption. So, what are carbohydrates?

You have probably heard of "carbohydrates" and "complex carbohydrates." They come in many forms including rice, pasta, bread, crackers, cereal, fruits and vegetables. Carbohydrates provide your body with its basic fuel. You can think about the relationship between your body and carbohydrates in much the same way you would consider the relationship between a car engine and gasoline.

There are four main benefits participants gain from following the Atkins plan:

Weight Loss - When you cut down carbohydrates, your body converts from using carbohydrates for energy to burning fat as the primary energy source. This results in weight loss.

Weight Maintenance - Each individual has a level of carbohydrate intake at which they will neither gain nor lose weight. The Atkins plan allows the body to determine this amount through the eventual increase in the amount of carbs you can eat.

Good Health - Atkins dieters are encouraged to eat nutrition-rich foods with vitamin and nutritional supplements as needed.

Disease Prevention - Lowering carbohydrate intake and, in turn, insulin production may help prevent diseases like diabetes.

About the author:
Mike Yeager
http://www.a1-diet-4u.info/
Circulated by Article Emporium

Women, Dieting and The Search For Perfection

The whole question of dieting or not dieting is inseparable from us, women, because of our ambivalent relationship with our body--we love it and we hate it. In essence, mind has been exiled from body. I have known heavy women who face their unhealthy weight problem by eating more; I have seen women who are by all standards slender and beautiful agonize over the slightest thickening of midriff and thighs. For most women, our waists are never small enough, our bellies never flat enough and dieting seems to be the golden route to a kind of cultural icon of perfection.

We worry excessively about every ounce we gain or we give in uncontrollably to eating binges. This hunger or denial of hunger is the reason for the dramatic increase in obesity in North America and also the reason for yet another weight loss book on the market. As Jennifer Workman states so emphatically in "Stop Your Cravings", "Why are we the most diet-crazed country in the world and yet also the most overweight, and apparently the most frustrated by our failure (xiv)?"

It is obvious that diets recommending food deprivation do not work. Weight issues involve more than food issues. Weight issue is a body acceptance issue and our obsession with weight is a symptom of our inability to honor the body, to give the body its due as a living, individual being. The authors of three books on the market explore this issue of body acceptance and provide suggestions on how women can re-think their relationships with their bodies.

In their book, "It's Not About Food," authors Carol Emery Normandi and Laurelee Roark, founders of Beyond Hunger Inc, state that women in our culture " have an enormous pressure on them to be perfect"(6) and it is this pressure that is creating eating disorders, addictive behavior, depression and even death in women. Our hunger is not for food, but for internal guidance--"having the right to choose what we feel is right for ourselves and learning to hear the voice within that knows what we need"(16). Listening to this internal guidance means being comfortable with who are, even if it means accepting a body that is ten pounds more than what we think it should be.

This re-focusing on the internal and spiritual basis of hunger and food addiction certainly sheds new light on the meaning of "dieting." A diet traditionally carries the meaning of food deprivation for the purpose of shedding excess weight. Unfortunately as well, the word also carries the connotation of starvation and hunger. In this sense, a diet is only a temporary, band-aid solution to the problem of obesity. To arrive at long term success, we have to look at the diet not as a temporary measure, but as a lifelong revision in attitude and lifestyle, which is only possible when we can get to the root of our ambivalence about our bodies.

Such is the case in "Love Hunger" authored by a group of expert physicians. In one case delineated in the book, a patient recognizes that her relationship with food comes from an unresolved conflict with her parents. When patient Barbara comes to realize that her issue with food is about her relationship with her parents--an authoritarian father and an overly-dependent mother, she begins the journey towards change and resolution. As a child, Barbara functioned like a "scapegoat spouse" (29) to both her parents. Her problem, rooted in family dysfunction which created a vacuum in her heart, is typical of many overeaters :"people with heart hunger will stuff their stomachs"(30).

The same suggestion that we look beyond the prescriptive diet to the person's total body consciousness can be seen in "Addiction to Perfection," in which Marion Woodman examines how the eating problems of the modern woman are rooted in an addiction that deprives her of being able to love herself for what she is. The problem that confronts a woman addicted to perfection is that she cannot accept herself for being human. The body in this instance is often sacrificed to the idealism of the mind. Only through bodywork and soulwork can she redeem her center--when her body is not pitted against her mind but can coexist as one unit: "I am body and mind. I may be tossed about like a sailboat in a cyclone, but through thick and thin I am able to hold my standpoint here at the center…because I now have eyes to see and ears to hear" and " I can surrender. Life can happen; life can pour through me."(75)

The solution suggested by these authors comes from re-defining the parameters of perfection. What is a perfect woman? A perfect body? Perfect--by whose standards and definition? We need to understand perfection not in terms of standards dictated by cultural media, but by our own internal guidance. This means that a woman is perfect when she is empowered enough to choose the avenue by which she defines herself. That's when dieting or not dieting becomes an irrelevant issue because she has worked out the dynamics of healthy body and purposeful living for herself.

Copyright (c) 2006 Mary Desaulniers

About the Author:
Mary Desaulniers Ph.D will be exploring the issue of body image and perfection on VoiceAmerica 7th Wave Network Internet Radio show "Reclaiming The Body's Wisdom" beginning October 5/06 . Get details at http://www.GreatBodyat50.com.
This article was posted on October 19, 2006
Article Source: articlecity

Easy Weight Loss Diets

It is a fact that over half of Americans are overweight. With most of us having busy schedules, it’s not so easy to stick to diets or work out on a regular basis. But, all hope is not lost. The following advice should help you lose those unwanted bounds easily by following a safe diet plan and exercising.

The first piece of advice deals with exercising. Always exercise on an empty stomach first thing in the morning. Talk a walk on a treadmill or around the block a few times. Ten minutes will make a difference by burning stored energy – namely fat.

The second useful tip is not eating late night snacks. If you avoid snacking three hours before bedtime, you wont be storing fat, and you will be amazed at the results.

Tip number three suggests that if you are going to drink coffee, make it black. Fancy coffee flavored drinks with cream and sugar are loaded with calories, as opposed to zero in a good old cup of black coffee.

Tip four recommends that you eat four or five small meals a day rather than the traditional three. Your metabolism needs constant fuel to burn fat. If you feed it in small amounts several times, your metabolism stays high and burns more calories.

Finally, cut down on your carbohydrate intake. This will make a huge difference in how much and how quickly you will lose weight. Eliminate as much bread and other starches as you can from your diet, and you’ll see why it works when you step on the scale. Take this advice, and you’ll see what easy weight loss dieting is all about.

Weight Loss Diets provides detailed information on Weight Loss Diets, Fast Weight Loss Diets, Weight Loss Diet Pills, Easy Weight Loss Diets and more. Weight Loss Diets is affliated with Free Weight Loss Programs.

About the Author:
Jason Gluckman
Added: Wed Apr 05 2006
To find other free health content see e-healtharticles.com

Evaluating and Choosing the Best Diet Plans

For any diet plan to be successful, it must include four elements: avoiding cravings, avoiding hunger, increasing activity level, and must be one you can live with over a lifetime. The best diet plans will include all four elements and will result in safe, effective long term weight loss.

There are so many diet plans available today that it could make your head spin trying to figure out which are the best diet plans to follow. Diet plans that promise quick weight loss or require you to avoid certain foods should be avoided like the plague.

When evaluating and choosing the best diet plans, look for those plans that include these four elements:

1. Avoiding food cravings
2. Avoiding hunger
3. Increased activity level
4. A plan you can live with for a lifetime - not just a few weeks

Avoid Food Cravings
Any diet plan that requires you to avoid certain foods will ultimately lead to food cravings and will be unsustainable in the long run. A craving is when you desire a certain food even when you're not hungry. When you finally cave into this desire you will likely overeat, and consequently pack on more weight.

Cravings are caused by your body's needs for the six essential food ingredients: carbohydrates, fat, protein, vitamins, minerals, and water. When a diet plan requires you to strictly avoid one of these ingredients, your cravings will only increase because you're denying your body something it wants. The best diet plans will not only give you the flexibility to include all six ingredients in your diet, they'll require it.

Avoid Hunger
Hunger is different than cravings in that your body desires not just one of the six ingredients, but all of them at the same time. In other words, it just wants food - any food! If a diet plan causes you to be hungry all the time, you will inevitably overeat. To avoid this, the best diet plans will help you curb your appetite.

The best way to curb your appetite and avoid hunger is to keep your stomach full. The best diet plans will encourage you to eat 5-6 smaller meals throughout the day instead of 3 larger meals. Those meals should consist of fruits and vegetables, which have fiber, along with foods with protein and good fats. Each meal should be well-balanced and include as many of the six ingredients as possible.

Protein and fats are especially effective in suppressing appetite. The best diet plans will not require you to avoid fats. All fats are not the same. There are good and bad fats, and it's the good fats that your body needs. The good fats are monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. Keep your intake of saturated fats to a minimum.

Increase Activity Level
You need to exercise to lose weight. When you exercise, you increase your metabolic rate, which is the rate at which you burn calories. You cannot achieve long term weight loss success without exercise. Any diet plan that claims you can lose weight simply by changing your diet alone or popping a weight loss pill should be avoided at all costs. The best diet plans will stress the importance of diet AND exercise. You need them both for sustained, long term weight loss.

A Plan You Can Live With For a Lifetime
This is probably the most overlooked element by dieters as they look for the best diet plans, yet it is one of the most important elements. If you cannot live with a diet for life, you simply will not be able to keep the weight off over the long term. It's that simple. Talk to any elderly person who has managed to stay fit all their life and ask them what kind of diet they've had over their lifetime. You can bet they will not say Atkins, Negative-Calorie, or some other short-term fad diet.

The best diet plans will encourage a balanced diet that includes all the six ingredients. You've heard of the phrase, "all things in moderation," and it especially holds true when it comes to a life-long diet. Those fad diets will work in the short term, but if your goal is to keep the weight off for good, then avoid them all together.

About the Author:
Looking for a diet plan you can live with for life? Check out some of the best diet plans at Travis Van Slooten's site at http://www.mens-total-fitness.com
Submitted on 2006-12-01
Article Source: http://www.articlesarea.com/

Loosing Fat and Getting in Shape - Take Responsibility and be Direct with Yourself

Do you feel like you are fighting a loosing battle when it comes to burning fat and getting into shape? Maybe you purchased a few books, videos or workout equipment claiming to be the magic bullet to make you look thin “in 30 days”. Well I think that you are not alone and many of us have been down this road.

One suggestion I have is that if you want all these things to work you should be direct with yourself. Being blunt with your self is a powerful thing. I believe it helps people have a change of heart. Having a change of heart is key when it comes to fat loss and maintaining your health because you have to let go of the bad habits and acquire healthy habits. Everything starts from within and you are ultimately responsible for executing your nutrition and exercise plan. Here are a few things to look at to help you take responsibility for your self.

Accept that it takes hard work and persistence to reach your fitness goals. Don’t look for instant gratification. It’s not in your best interest to think that eating right and working out is a temporary action. Think about trying a different routine. The one you are doing now is not working for you, so try something different for the next month. You may find a routine you enjoy more.

Stop making excuses for every little thing that keeps you from exercising and eating right. The excuses we allow ourselves to not be healthy should be entirely unacceptable to you. If you feel you do not have enough time to take care of your self, think of this: Everyone that works or has responsibilities is pressed for time. Yet some people rise above their daily grind and make fitness a part of their life. Ultimately they stay healthy. If they can do it, you can do it.

Another thing I would like to discuss is that you should accept the fact that there are things in our society that we cannot control. One example is the food industry. We live in a world surrounded by large portions and greasy food. These foods will stay on the market because people will buy them. Think about how to work around these things and how to make healthier choices when eating. Don’t give in if you want to follow a healthy lifestyle.

Finally, the trends of today demand us to take the time to take care of ourselves. One trend I know of is that more people have sedentary jobs now as opposed to the past, when we had more jobs available that required physical exertion. Also, with all these new drugs that have been launched in the recent years, it seems like we depend on modern medicine to keep us healthy and alive. While modern medicine is great and has made some advances to make our lives longer, we still need to allow ourselves to take responsibility for our health.

Even though you feel like you are fighting a loosing battle to stay healthy and lean. There are many diet and nutrition programs out there to help you achieve your goals. However, you must accept the responsibility to find the path that is right for you and execute. Or these things will not help you achieve your best health.

About the Author:
John Purfield
To really learn on how to create your fitness goals and achieve them, read our review of the burn the fat feed the muscle e book at www.addfitness.com. The burn the fat feed the muscle book will provide the no frills physical fitness information you will need.
Article Source: http://www.articlesnetwork.com/