www.allwellbeing.com: 10/30/05

Saturday, November 05, 2005

Protect Yourself From Bad Cholesterol

Cholesterol. It's not only one number you need to know anymore. You will want to know what you LDL (low density lipoprotein) and HDL (high density lipoprotein) levels are too.

You see, cholesterol doesn't dissolve in the blood. It is carried between cells by lipoproteins in the blood. LDL cholesterol is the bad stuff. Too much of this is what causes health problems. On the other hand, HDL cholesterol is the good cholesterol. Your body manufacturers HDL for your protection. You want a high HDL level, and a low LDL level.

Cholesterol is everyone's concern. Even children who have a family history of heart disease and high cholesterol can suffer themselves from high cholesterol. Unhealthy eating habits and not enough physical exercise have the same affect on children they do on adults.

Cholesterol can affect anyone, young or old, thin or fat. It's a common misconception that someone who is thin must be healthier and have low cholesterol. Not true!

The best way to protect yourself and your family from high cholesterol is through sound nutrition and exercise. Choose to eat foods low in saturated fat and cholesterol. Increase your dietary fiber intake. Exercise for at least thirty minutes each and every day.

You'll want to stick with unsaturated fats. These are fats that are derived from plant sources like nuts, seeds and vegetable oils. In that category are the following oils; soybean, olive, corn, safflower, sunflower, canola.

Avoid saturated fats, which are mainly fats derived from animals. This includes whole milk dairy products (ice cream, milk, cheese), red meat, the skin of chicken and egg yolks.

Oatmeal and oat bran is good for you by helping to bring down those bad LDL levels. In fact, the FDA gave oatmeal a "health claim" in 1997. Fatty fish such as tuna, trout, salmon, sardines and mackerel contain high levels of omega-3 fatty acids, good fats. These omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to lower the fat known as triglycerides in the blood stream. Walnuts are also an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids.

About the Author:
This article courtesy of http://www.about-cholesterol.net

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About Anorexia

Ryan Larson

Plainly put, anorexia is an eating disorder where a person starves him or herself. Anorexia mainly affects adolescent girls. They have an intense fear of becoming fat. They think they are overweight, but in fact most anorexics weigh a full 15% below their normal body weight. Anorexia strikes about 1% of adolescent females. This is about one in one hundred women.

Some psychiatrists think anorexia is not just about being thin or fat. It stems from fear a of growing up and losing control. It's about fear of becoming a women, growing up, building relationships, leaving home.
Her body is changing and growing and she doesn't like it and wants to be child sized again. Some psychiatrists think that eating disorders can also be caused by life experiences such abuse.

Some studies have shown that if a mother has anorexia a child is 12 time more likely to develop it than someone with no family history.

The person who suffers with anorexia cannot help herself. She must be treated by a mental health professional experienced in dealing with anorexia. Some receive long term psychotherapy.

The first thing however is to get this girl's health back as best as you can. This person may need to be coaxed to eat, and, may need a supportive caregiver to actually watch to make sure she eats. There are numerous health concerns with anorexia. Some of these are osteoporosis, irregular heart beat and in the most severe of cases permanent failure of normal growth development. Most women sufferers of anorexia will lose their normal menstrual cycle. If an anorexic woman would conceive a child she would be likely to miscarry or have a baby born prematurely.

Without treatment up to twenty percent of anorexia suffers will die. With treatment 60% can recover and maintain healthy weight. However, even with treatment about 20% of people will continue to have an unhealthy lifetime obsession with weight and food.

If you confront a loved one about anorexia get ready to deal with someone in a true state of denial. They will be angry, and may become more withdrawn and depressed. There is nothing that you can do to change your loved one's perception of him or herself. You can't make your loved one eat. There are many organizations that are available to help anorexia sufferers and their families get the help they need.

About the Author:
This article courtesy of http://www.about-anorexia.net

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Changing your life-style can lower blood pressure

Grojan Fabiola

When treating high blood pressure it helps a lot if it is detected in an early phase, because it appears long time before its symptoms and complications do.If it's detected early, much of the damage it does to the organs in the body can be prevented, and lowering blood pressure can be done easier. This is the first step that should be taken in high blood pressure treatment.

Afterwards, when what is called "pre-hypertension" is discovered, several other things should be done in order to lower the blood pressure.For example, patients should change their lifestyle quite often. The doctors recommend this for pre-hypertensive people. They are stating that life-style changes helps lowering blood pressure a lot for them. If your blood pressure reading starts exceeding 140/90 mm Hg, you can treat yourself by changing your lifestyle and taking the prescribed medicines. This, together with quitting smoking and drinking significantly helps lowering blood pressure. People must be made aware of these facts in order to help preventing and/or lowering blood pressure, and to reduce the risks of heart attacks and kidney failures.

As said before the blood pressure reading is very important when trying to prevent hypertension. For example, if you discover that the diastolic pressure is situated somewhere between 85 and 90 mm Hg you must consult a doctor and follow a different treatment, because there have been cases where people with blood pressure of these values suffered from end organ damage, and for some patients aged around 65 years-old the risk of cadiovascular damage increased when their diastolic blood pressure increased.These patients were suffering from diabetes and were smoking. Therefore it is recommended to immediately visit a doctor and lower your blood pressure if the readings indicate such levels.

Besides lifestyle changes of course, proper medication has an important role in lowering blood pressure.Medication should be administered right when high blood pressure is discovered in order for it to have its best effects in lowering blood pressure.If you suffer from high blood pressure and also diabetes there are special drugs that help treating both in the same time. Therefore, the conclusion is that in order to successfully and quickly lower blood pressure it must be discovered and treated while it is still in an early stage.

About the Author:
We all know that certain advice about a natural and correct diet can help us in fighting some diseases in very natural way. Grojan Fabiola is writing this kind of articles for a long time, but the whole 'interesting are' is more larger. She writes from agriculture to finance, even IT researching, but now aiming Health articles. If you would like to find out more about how to natural lower blood pressure please click this link.

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Benefits Of Weight Training

Kirsten Hawkins

Weight training isnt just for Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone anymore. Its really a system of exercise and health benefits that are available to everyone. If you go to a local gym and observe, you can find everyone from teenagers to great-grandmas exercising and strength training.

Weight training doesnt mean just using barbells it involves much more than that and is most often combined with aerobic activity during the circuit.

The natural benefits of weight training include:

- Slowing down bone loss
- Making your bones stronger
- Toning and firm up your body
- Increasing your muscle strength

Most people will tell you that strength training and using weights makes them more energized and happier, along with reducing stress. Its amazing how much better youll feel when working out after a hard day at the office! The endorphins your body creates in response to exercise like this is very much addictive, and youll find that beyond being less-stressed, youll actually crave your workouts and look forward to them!

One of the benefits I have personally found in strength training is that its made my back stronger. Prior to beginning my workout, if I had to lift a lot of boxes or move heavy things, I really felt it the rest of the day, and sometimes the rest of the week. However after just a month of weight training, I found that I didnt need to take an anti-inflammatory medication every time I moved some boxes around.

Of course, all professionals will tell you to consult a doctor before beginning your workout habit; youll want to make sure that there are no impediments to beginning this new part of your daily routine. Most doctors will tell you to use caution and listen to the trainers, but nearly none will eliminate exercise altogether for their patientsthere are simply too many benefits from the exertion.

If you go to a chiropractor, ask him or her how strength training and weight lifting can help you and what specific exercises would benefit your back and joints. Again, s/he will probably have some specific suggestions for your body and spinal issues, but generally, a chiropractor will tell you that strengthening back and abdominal muscles will benefit you greatly.

If you do find that you overdo it initially, scale it back just a bit until youre ready to move on. You can use cold and heat to minister to the aching muscle(s), and take an anti-inflammatory agent to help in the recovery. But if you do ache a bit, dont take it as your bodys way of saying that you shouldnt workout. What your body is telling you is that you havent worked out enough and that its not used to the exertion!

If you plan your workout well, you will find that weight training machines can be a great part of your exercise plan and your health will improve greatly in very short order.

About the Author:
Kirsten Hawkins is a nutrition and health expert from Nashville, TN. Visit http://www.popular-diets.com/ for more great nutrition, well-being, and vitamin tips as well as reviews and comments on popular diets.

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American Heart Association Recommendations

Kirsten Hawkins

The American Heart Association recommends that you eat a variety of foods from the different food groups. In order for women to lose one to two pounds a week, they should consume between 1200 and 1500 calories a day. Men should consume between 1500 and 1800 calories a day if they want to lose one to two pounds a week. Lets examine the different food groups the American Heart Association suggests you consume.

Meat, Poultry, Fish - You should consume no more than 6 ounces of meat, poultry, and fish per day. Lean cuts of poultry and fish have fewer calories than fatty red meat, but you can find lean cuts of red meat in your supermarket.

Breads, Cereals, Starches - This food group includes bread, cereal, pasta, rice, and starchy vegetables like potatoes and corn. You can have six servings from this food group a day. A serving size is 1 slice of bread, 1 cup of cereal, and 1cup of rice, pasta, or to cup of starchy veggies. So, if you eat Remember here, that whole grain is best. When you can, choose whole-grain bread, brown rice, and whole-wheat pasta instead of their white counterparts that have been stripped of nutrients and fiber.

Vegetables and Fruits - Fruits and vegetables are essential parts of your diet because they contain a variety of vitamins and nutrients. You can have five or more servings a day of fruits and vegetables. A serving size is cup to 1 cup of cooked and raw vegetables, cup of fruit juice, or one medium piece of fruit. Aim to choose a variety of colors in your diet because they have different vitamins and minerals. Lets examine the colors you should include in your diet every day.

Red - Red fruits and vegetables contain nutrients that help keep your heart and urinary tract healthy. They also help with your memory and lower your risk of some cancers. When it comes to red, choose from apples, cherries, strawberries, tomatoes, red peppers, and radishes, to name a few.

Yellow/Orange - Yellow and orange fruits and vegetables contain antioxidants that keep your heart, vision, and immune system healthy. Some yellow and orange fruits and veggies include apricots, lemons, peaches, cantaloupe, yellow squash, carrots, and sweet potatoes.

Green - Green fruits and vegetables help lower your risk of some cancers and keep your bones and teeth strong. Choose foods like green grapes, broccoli, avocados, spinach, green apples, and limes.

Blue/Purple - Blue and purple fruits and vegetables lower the risk of some cancers and keep your urinary tract healthy. They also help maintain your memory function. Some delicious blue and purple foods are blackberries, blueberries, raisins, plums, eggplant, and purple cabbage.

White - White foods promote your heart health, and if you already have healthy cholesterol, theyll help maintain those levels. Bananas, pears, cauliflower, mushrooms, and garlic are tasty options you can fit into your meal plan.

Milk Products - If you love dairy products, the good news is that you can still eat them and lose weight. However, choose low-fat or fat-free products. They contain the same vitamins and minerals, taste good, and lower your cholesterol all at the same time. Adults aged 19-50 should have three servings of milk products per day. A serving of dairy is 1 cup of fat-free or low-fat milk, 1 cup of fat-free or low-fat yogurt, 1 ounce of low-fat cheese (stay away from fat-free cheesesthey have too much sodium) or a cup of low-fat cottage cheese.

Fats - You should have no more than five servings of fats a day in the form of oil, nuts, seeds, olives, avocado, and mayonnaise. Fat servings include one teaspoon of oil, three teaspoons of nuts or seeds, 5-10 olives, 1/8 of an avocado and two teaspoons of mayonnaise. If you love the taste of butter on your vegetables, use a fat-free imitation butter spray. It really doesnt taste that much different.

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Advanced Nutritional Products - What Are They?

David Buster

Advanced nutritional products are substances that have been shown by clinical studies to provide important health benefits. Advanced nutritional products that support the health of the heart, eyes, brain, immune system, joints and so on are being proven by studies on an ongoing basis. We are living longer, and we want those extra years to be active ones full of optimism, energy and health.

The foundation for good health is a lifestyle that includes a sensible diet with nutritional supplements, sufficient quality sleep, reasonable exercise and weight management. Taking high-quality, anti-aging advanced nutritional products helps fill in the dietary gaps that everyone will have. The essential nutrients that your body needs are extensive and complex. Vitamins and minerals are just the beginning. Other nutrients that provide significant anti-aging benefits are the key to improved energy, better health and freedom from disease.

Here are examples of advanced nutritional products:

Resveratrol - this phytonutrient is an antioxidant found in the skins of red grapes, in red wine, red grape juice and mulberries. Studies suggest that it is an effective antioxidant that reduces mortality in cardiovascular diseases and cancer, that it inhibits the replication of herpes simplex virus, may be beneficial in atherosclerosis, may be helpful in lowering cholesterol levels, increasing HDL cholesterol levels, preventing damage to blood vessels and as alleviation of menopausal symptoms.

Quercetin - is a bioflavanoid and one of the advanced nutritional products that supports the immune system, connective tissue and blood vessels.

Alpha Lipoic Acid - this antioxidant (ALA) enhances effects of other antioxidants to fight free radicals in the body and enhance recovery. May enhance insulin sensitivity, improving the body's ability to add lean mass and reduce fat. May be beneficial in persons suffering from type II diabetes and hyperglycemia.

Acetyl-L-Carnitine - occurs naturally in the body and is one of the advanced nutritional products. It is used for prevention and treatment of Alzheimer's disease, age-related memory deficits, senile depression, Down syndrome, alcoholism-related cognitive deficits and after-stroke treatment as it increases cerebral blood flow.

L-Carnosine - may play a role in preventing atherosclerosis, joint inflammation, formation of cataracts, Alzheimer's disease and stroke.

Policosanol - comes from sugar cane and has been studied and published in over 80 clinical studies, more studies than for most prescription drugs. Policosanol significantly lowers total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and increases high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol without the side affects associated with the statin drugs.

Lutein - is found in leafy dark green vegetables. Studies suggest it may offer protection against cancer and degeneration of the eyes and skin by sunlight.

Zeaxanthin - increasing dietary intake of the advanced nutritional products lutein and zeaxanthin may reduce the risk of developing age-related macular degeneration.

DIM 3,3' - diindolylmethane is found in the cruciferous vegetables such as cabbage, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower and broccoli. Diindolylmethane may be used for preventing breast and uterine cancer, preventing benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) and for premenstrual syndrome (PMS).

Turmeric - is an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant herb used for bronchitis, colds, chest infections, leprosy, fever, kidney inflammation and cystitis.

And there are more! Is it possible that advanced nutritional products can slow the aging process? Absolutely! Numerous clinical studies have shown and are still discovering the health benefits of many of these nutrients. Slowing the aging process includes providing your body ALL the nutrients it requires. You can try to design your own supplement plan and take many different supplements individually. However, designing your own supplement program is not the best way since this means taking many different substances and will not provide the best results.

When trying to design your own supplement plan, it's easy to end up with a dozen or more individual substances to take daily, which is both a hassle and expensive. Besides, if certain substances are out of balance, it's possible they can combine to produce other unwanted compounds that can be harmful. There is one manufacturer that combines the advanced nutritional products in one broad high-quality supplement. Nutrient quantities are combined according to the latest research and the individual ingredients are even linked to the relevant clinical studies.

Learn as much as you can about what finding the best advanced nutritional products really means. Your health, energy and wellness is the issue. Before spending your money, be informed about the anti-aging products you'll be taking every day.

Copyright 2005 InfoSearch Publishing

About the Author:
Read more about the best nutritional supplements at http://www.safemenopausesolutions.com/vitamins-for-women.html - David Buster is VP of InfoSearch Publishing and webmaster of http://www.safemenopausesolutions.com - a website of natural health articles, reliable sources of nutritional supplements and related health resources.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Weight Loss And Diets

Frequently Asked Questions About Weight Loss And Diets
Kirsten Hawkins

If youre on a diet, or considering going on one, youre in luck. Weve put together ten of the most frequently asked questions about diets and weight loss and compiled them here. Enjoy!

1. How much should I weigh?
Your doctor can answer that question most accurately. More important than how much you weigh is your body/mass index, which measures your height against your weight.

2. What's the best diet for losing weight?
Any diet that provides all the nutrition that you need for health, and in addition, provides fewer calories than your body burns regularly.

3. How can I keep off the weight that I lose?
If you lose weight gradually and re-educate both yourself and your body about food, you'll have a good start. The secret to keeping weight off is to balance your energy needs with your food intake. Eat enough calories to supply your body's energy needs, but not so many that your body stores the excess as fat.

4. What's the story with obesity and diabetes?
Obesity increases the risks of a number of chronic health conditions, and diabetes is one of them. People who are more than ten percent overweight increase their risk of developing type 2 diabetes substantially.

5. How do I decrease my intake of sugar?
Obviously, you can decrease your intake of sugar by cutting out sweets and refined snacks, but you should also watch out for 'hidden' sugars. Check ingredients. High fructose corn syrup and sucrose are both simple sugars that add lots of calories and little nutrition.

6. How often should I weigh myself?
Most diet experts recommend that you weigh yourself no more than once a week. Some go so far as to tell you to throw out the scale entirely! A more accurate measure of your loss is your clothing size. If your clothing is feeling looser, you're doing great.

7. Do I really have to exercise?
You don't HAVE to, but it will be a lot harder to lose weight if you don't. A half hour of moderate exercise daily is the minimum activity level for healthy weight loss. You can get it walking, running, cleaning your house - anything active burns calories.

8. What's a calorie?
A calorie is a measure of energy. Foods are rated with calories based on the amount of energy they provide to the body when consumed.

9. Can I lose weight without changing my diet?
Weight loss results when you burn more calories than you consume. If you only need to lose a small amount of weight and your diet is generally healthy, you can lose weight by increasing your activity level to burn more calories. If your diet is poor, or if you're more than a few pounds overweight, you really need to learn a new, more healthy way or eating, or you'll put the weight back on when you go back to 'normal' eating.

10. Should I eat fish on my diet?
Unless it's expressly forbidden by your diet, absolutely. Fish is high protein, low saturated fat, and high in omega 3 fatty acids. Some doctors recommend eating as much as 10 servings of fish per week.

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Should You Join A Fitness Club?

Kirsten Hawkins

If you feel a little intimidated about exercising with men in a big sweat-infused gym room, consider joining a ladies fitness club. Dont worry- not all the ladies in the club are trim and physically fit. Thats why theyre there. Youll find ladies of all shapes and sizes at the gym, and youll make some wonderful friends.

If you have a buddy that you can go with - talking during the exercise makes the time go by much faster, and the accountability is helpful on those days you dont feel like dragging yourself to the club.

One benefit of working out at a gym is that you have trainers who can show you how to do the exercises correctly. People can spot you during some exercises, if necessary, and guide you in correct form and to avoid injuries.

Another benefit is that you will usually find a large number of exercise machines that you may not be able to afford yourself. If you tried to stock your basement or garage with the same equipment, youd run out of space and spend thousands of dollars, to boot.

Downsides include the cost of a membership. While it can be costly, if you go as many times as possible/practical during your week, you lower the effective per visit cost. If your schedule doesnt allow you to exercise during the time the club is open, it might be better to find another club or another mode of exercise.

Some people are intimidated about exercising in form of others and prefer the privacy of home. If you can move past this and realize that no one is watching you and that everyone looks just like you when theyre on the same machine you are, youll derive great benefit from a gym membership.

Try to find a health club as close to your home as possible. If you have to drive very far to get to the club, youre likely to find less time to make the trip. Youll find on cold winter days that its preferable to take a nap over driving to a gym and having to drive back home when youre done.

Many gyms will allow you to come in and try out the machines for a few days before deciding on joining. This is a very good way of getting the feel for a place and seeing if you like the style of workout youll get. Youll also be able to ascertain the mood of the gym and what sort of music they play, etc. This may seem like a small thing, but it can make a big difference in your workout and energy levels while there.

Another option is to find a fitness trainer. This person can help you do your exercises correctly and can also show you different ways to do exercise in case youre in pain or pregnant. When looking for a trainer, you want to ask where they were certified (and check the certification paperwork). Look for someone with whom you feel comfortable. A good trainer will explain things and is patient as you learn.

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Low-Carb High Protein Diets

Kirsten Hawkins

This type of diet became very popular as of recently due to the promotion of the ever-popular Atkins Diet Craze. This diet is very popular because there is no calorie counting involved, and many foods that many people love to eat are allowed on the diet. Further, the Atkins diet is a high-protein diet, which means that weight lost during this diet will not result in lost muscle mass, since protein is the main nutrient needed for maintaining healthy muscle tone. This diet basically eliminates carbohydrates, which are simple sugars or foods that break down into simple sugars. These serve as empty calories in your diet, providing no nutrients yet many calories.

While we wont cover the Atkins diet here, we can give you basics of the high-protein, low-carb diet. First let us identify carbohydrates. Sugar, including powdered sugar, granulated white sugar, brown sugar, or any type of sugar you can think of, is the main carbohydrate that you would need to eliminate. All types of pastas count as carbohydrates, meaning all noodle and spaghetti products must be eliminated. Starches of any type, such as white rice, potatoes and potato chips, need to be eliminated. Cereals are mostly carbohydrates and should be avoided entirely during the diet phase. Because of the low-carb craze, there are many low-carb options of sodas, milk, ice cream, bread, beer, and wine available in the average supermarket. If you do consume these, be sure to do so only occasionally and in moderation, even if it is a low-carb type. Otherwise, the aforementioned foods should be eliminated entirely when not of the low-carb type. Beware of foods that contain hidden sugars, like bacon, barbeque sauce, ketchup, salad dressing, cough syrup, and fruit juice. As strange as it may seem, fruits and fruit juices should be eliminated while in the weight loss phase of this diet, as they are nearly pure carbohydrates. Anything made with flour needs to be eliminated during the weight loss phase, since as mentioned earlier they are high in carbohydrates.

Now what can you eat? Well, the good news is that you can eat all meats, fish, poultry and seafood, except prepared meats like bacon and honey baked ham, which are high in sugar. Skip the bread and have meat and salad, or meat in your salad. Eggs are very low-carb friendly, but be sure to skip the mayonnaise or salad dressing unless it is low-carb type mayonnaise or dressing. Any type of vegetable is fine, but be sure to realize that when making that salad that tomatoes are actually a fruit, and you want to limit your consumption of them at least during the weight loss phase. Choose brown rice as your starch replacement, as it is low in carbohydrates comparatively to potatoes, bread or white rice. Cheese is good in limited amounts, as this is a high-protein, low-carb food. Butter and cream can be used, but should be consumed in limited amounts. One complex carbohydrate that is good is fiber, as it does not break down into simple sugar, and helps the body with elimination. Further, fiber fills you up quickly without adding significant calories, so hunger pangs are fought off successfully.

Finally, make sure you are drinking at least eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day minimum in addition to any other liquid you may consume. Dehydration often masquerades as hunger and causes overeating. Of course, again exercise is a necessary and vital part of your diet plan, which we will cover in the next section on exercise.

Once you lose the weight that you set out to lose, the weight loss phase of your diet is over. Of course keep in mind that you are making lifestyle changes, not going on fad or binge diets. This means that you will not go back to your old eating habits. Instead you will introduce certain foods back into your diet in moderation. For example, you may add a couple of strips of bacon once a week to your meal plan. You can enjoy small portions of deserts of any kind, simply in moderation. It is best to avoid soft drinks all together, or opt for the low-carb type permanently. If you do introduce any other carbohydrate-laden foods, be sure to do so only at one meal, and in small portions. Reducing carbohydrates will become a lifestyle to you when following this plan, one is very likely to boost your overall energy level and help you keep the weight off.

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No Excuses Exercises

Kirsten Hawkins

It's old news that exercising is the single best way to spark up your weight loss efforts. The activity perks up your metabolism, and eats up more calories. In addition, the more you exercise, the better the effect. Exercising builds muscle mass, which is denser and more compact than fat. That means your body has to expend more effort to pump blood through it, and it requires more nutrients to keep it healthy. The end result? Even at rest, your body naturally burns more calories.

Unfortunately, the prospect of exercising tends to elicit groans from most people. There's all the logistics to work out - the time, equipment, expense and the sheer, utter boringness of it all. Negative thinking about exercise can sabotage all your good intentions. Here's a list of answers for some of the most commonly used excuses not to exercise.

I don't have time to exercise!

Exercise could be one of the most important things you'll do for your health today. MAKE time to exercise. If you're doing traditional workouts - move those weights and mats right out into the family room and make use of your television time. Instead of flopping down in a chair while you watch the news or your favorite show, be active. Run in place, do leg lifts or heft weights. Use time in your car to tighten and tone muscles with isometric tummy tighteners. Walk up the stairs instead of using the elevator. Exercise doesn't have to be a solid hour at the gym. Anything that revs up your motors is great for your body.

I don't have the right equipment at home.

You don't need equipment to exercise. A brisk walk around the block is good for you - and burns over 200 calories. Vacuuming your carpets can burn nearly as much. Flip on your radio or pop in your favorite high-energy CD and dance. Don't fool yourself into thinking that your 'exercise' has to be a carefully planned workout to work all the right muscles in the right order with the right tension. Exercise means being active. Just do it.

I can't afford a membership to the gym.

If you'd rather exercise at the gym (and have access to their fitness machines, whirlpools, swimming pool and trainers), there are a lot of ways to make it more affordable. Check with your health insurance company to see if they offer incentives. Most of the major health insurance companies, including Blue Cross, cover part or all of fitness club memberships as part of your benefits. If yours doesn't, or if you don't have health insurance, call your local YMCA or YWCA. Most offer 'scholarships' or sliding fee scales for memberships to their facilities.

But exercise is such a chore!

Says who? Make getting your daily exercise fun. Play a game. Go dancing. Grab a few friends for a weekend hike in the state park. Exercise doesn't have to be routine. Stop thinking of it as a chore and start thinking of it as recreation. You'll be amazed what a difference it makes.

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Friday, November 04, 2005

Supporting Your Weight Loss Goals

Joey Dweck

As anyone who has ever been on diet knows, trying to lose weight is hard enough without any added pressures. While having your own personal weight loss coach would certainly help matters, for many people that is simply an unaffordable daydream.

Never the less, success stories around the world have proven that the most issue regarding successful weight loss is not the type of diet that you undertake, but rather the presence of moral support to help you along the way.

Moral support provides a number of useful benefits while attempting to lose weight. One of the most important of these benefits is motivation. The very act of letting others know that you intend to lose weight automatically makes you more accountable to lose the weight. While you may feel its okay to renege on your goals when its only you involved; you will be far less likely to break a promise to others. That in itself can be a strong motivator. In addition, a support network can make the time you spend exercising and dieting more enjoyable and feel less like a chore.

There are a number of ways that you can gain the moral support you need to make your weight loss program a success. One of the easiest ways to do this is to find a weight loss buddy. This individual may be someone within your own home or family or even someone in your community or at your job; however they do not necessarily need to be participating in a weight loss program as long as they support your goals in a healthy manner.

This individual can support you by going to the gym with you or even accompanying you during a daily walk. In todays hectic world it can be difficult to find time to catch up and bond with the important people in your life, but this provides an excellent way to spend time with those close to you as well as gain the needed emotional support to succeed at your weight loss goals.

A support partner can also help motivate you by encouraging you to stick with your commitments. Even someone who does not live within your area can help by picking up the telephone to ask how things are going.

Beyond finding a personal weight loss buddy, you can take advantage of the benefits offered through moral support by joining a weight loss support group. During the last few years, these groups have become quite popular and boast numerous success stories annually. Some of the most well known programs, such as Jenny Craig and Weight Watchers, combine weight loss support with specific diet regimens. For a specified fee members meet on a regular basis to evaluate progress and does what works and what does not.

While many of the most well known weight loss support programs also combine specific diet regimens, not all support programs provide strict dietary guidelines. Some support programs are just about the support. Taking Off Pounds Sensibly, often referred to as TOPS, is one of these groups. With more than 200,000 members in North America; TOPS was founded 50 years ago for the purpose of providing ongoing support to dieters.

Online diet and weight loss forums also provide important moral support for those engaged in weight loss efforts. Numerous websites have sprung up all over the net for the sole purpose of encouraging dieters to meet up in cyber space to discuss matters related to weight loss. The accountability factor related to weight loss forums may not be quite as strong as a weight loss buddy or local weight loss and support program, but it can help dieters to connect with like minded individuals on a host of issues related to diet and weight loss.

Regardless of the type of support system you choose, the important issue at hand is to make sure that you surround yourself with individuals who will motivate and encourage you during an admittedly difficult time. With the right combination of support, nutrition and exercise you can accomplish anything.

About the Author:
Joey Dweck is the Founder & CEO of WeightLossBuddy.com a website committed to 24/7/365 support, expert advice, and helping people find a buddy(s) who will support their effort to lose weight, while changing to a healthier lifestyle. And it's all Free. Sign up for the Free 4-Part E-Course Losing For Good http://www.weightlossbuddy.com

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Dont Fall For These Weight Loss Gimmicks!

Kirsten Hawkins

Have you heard about the new weight loss patch? You wear it behind your ear, and it speeds up your metabolism and helps you control your appetite. It sounds pretty reasonable, doesn't it? After all, if someone had told you five years ago that you could quit smoking by sticking a circle of fabric on your skin would you have believed them?

Unfortunately, this one isn't true. According to Dr. Michael Myers, who maintains the popular web site weight.com, it's just another of the hoaxes that clever promoters are using to bilk you out of your money. Weight loss is a gold mine, and unscrupulous operators will use any gimmick to convince you that their product is the magic cure that will melt away your pounds without any effort on your part.

Here are a few of the current weight loss gimmicks and the truth about them.

The Diet Patch

Transdermal delivery of medication is a reality, and there are certain medications that are absorbed readily through the skin. However, the most common active ingredient used in diet patches on the market is 'fucus vesiculosus', a seaweed that is a major source of iodine. Iodine was once a recommended treatment for obesity, because it helps promote healthy thyroid function. It was abandoned because of side effects and the untoward effects when treatment with iodine ceases. In other words, it's an outdated medication being revived for delivery in a new way.

Wash your fat away with slimming soap!

The claim is that this is an ancient Chinese soap that contains a unique blend of ingredients derived from seaweed which will 'emulsify' the fat. Further, it comes in several different versions, including one that is specifically meant to give you 'beautiful thighs'. In all truth, the ingredients sound like they'd do a lovely job of softening and toning your skin, but there's not an ounce of research quoted anywhere that can be checked for the results. Until I see the proof, I'll just figure that any weight loss resulted from vigorous scrubbing - not the ingredients!

Magnetic Weight Loss... earrings

Yes, earrings. According to the press, it's another ancient Chinese Secret that has to do with balancing the magnetism in the body. By wearing a magnet near the ear, you can suppress hunger, increase metabolism, speed up the healing process and reduce pain. Again, though there's mention of 'studies', none are cited, and I couldn't find any in any medical journals. It won't kill you, at least, and the earrings are pretty, but I wouldn't put much stock in their weight loss properties.

All of these new weight loss discoveries should be filed in the Yeah right file, right next to sauna wraps, copper bracelets, and electro-slimming belts. If it sounds too good to be true, remember, it probably is. The only gimmick to weight loss is to eat less and move more!

About the Author:
Kirsten Hawkins is a nutrition and health expert from Nashville, TN.Visit http://www.popular-diets.com/ for more great nutrition, well-being, and vitamin tips as well as reviews and comments on popular diets.

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Basic Meal & Menu Planning

Kirsten Hawkins

As a basis for meals and menu planning, refer to the pyramid information mentioned earlier to make sure you have the basic food requirements met for all family members. Then cross check and plan by looking over basic food categories to target healthy foods to fit the lifestyles and health of everyone. For example, if someone has depression, add some foods mentioned above to his or her dietary plans that aid in the healing and prevention of depression.

Meal planning also depends upon several factors like the number of people eating, meal times, special dietary concerns, budget, available foods, recipes on hand and likes and dislikes of everyone who will be eating. Begin by choosing foods and recipes that you like and know how to prepare well and that fit into everyones dietary plans. If one or more people have special needs, like diabetics, plan ahead for substitutions either in the food preparation or food substitution for that individual or for those individuals.

There are a few things to note when making meal choices and menu planning. First, some foods may be advertised a certain way, but that doesnt mean you cant experiment. For instance, eggs and sausage can be served for dinner, not just breakfast. And waffles can be made from healthy wheat grains and eaten for lunch with fresh fruits instead of sugary syrup and heavy butter for breakfast.

Add variety, too. Have other family members jump in and prepare meals some nights and on weekends. Kids enjoy making macaroni and cheese, so host mac-n-cheese night on Wednesdays, for example. Then alternate different vegetable combinations, colors and textures to vary the menu on a weekly basis (no need to let boredom take over on Wednesdays with the same routine!)

To help with family food budget concerns, clip coupons from newspapers, weekend inserts, and any place you can find them. Downloaded coupons from the Internet to save money, too, from places like CoolSavings.com and CouponCart.com. RefundingMakesCents offers an affordable subscription to a neat print magazine for coupon deals, trades and lots more, with a secret code to their website for Internet coupon-codes for lots of online companies like Amazon.com (cookware) and Barnes and Noble (cookbooks).

Also note seasonal food selections for savings. Create menus and meals based upon whats on special that week or month. Hint: stock up and store or freeze special-priced items and family favorites when possible and storage room and the budget allows. But dont over do it. With convenience stores and supermarkets for food shopping in practically every neighborhood anymore, there is no need to hoard. An old saying, Haste makes waste might apply if you see a great buy, purchase multiple items, then let them become outdated and have to toss them out.

One fun way to save is by trading coupons and working out food deals with friends, family, neighbors, your church group and anyone else whod like to join in. Food cooperatives and farm markets available in your area may offer special pricing to groups or large purchases. So team up for better purchasing power and split everything up between group members. If youre not into that much organization, go one-on-one with a neighbor, other friend or relative. Buy a huge bag of potatoes, onions, oats, and / or other foods, then share.

Here is one special item to note with regards to dietary planning. Its unfortunate, but fast foods, especially those that are high in fat content (fried, greasy foods), are often cheaper than good, healthy food choices. For example, lean beef costs more than high-fat beef; cereals high in nutritional value are often priced much higher than the low-cost, sugary brand names. And low income and homeless people are particularly victims of this situation, many times needing to turn to the less healthier food choices for survival. So whenever possible, your plans might want to include donating a portion to homeless shelters and churches who would probably be more than willing to take extras off your hands.

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Diet Food Doesnt Have To Be Boring!

Kirsten Hawkins

Not too long ago, my mother and I were talking about food and diets. "Your grandmother used to feed you pasta five nights a week," my mother insisted.

"She did not!" I exclaimed, stung. After all, I remembered my grandmother as a wonderfully varied cook who could make anything taste wonderful. She served all sorts of meals, not just pasta! There was spaghetti, of course - she was Italian, after all. But she also made Ziti with vegetables. And Linguine. And tuna casserole with. ..elbow macaroni. By the time I'd finished naming off a typical week's worth of menus, I had to concede my mother's point - but I made mine as well. "But... it didn't FEEL like we were eating pasta every night!"

There's a point to this story, I promise, and here it comes:

One of the biggest reasons that people slip off their diets and eating plans is BOREDOM.

It's very easy to look at the foods allowed on your diet and see it as restrictive and boring. Chicken four nights a week. Fish three times a week. Green leafy vegetables till they're coming out of your ears. Who wouldn't get bored?

The answer is - anyone with a good set of cookbooks and a healthy imagination. Perk up your cabinet with spices and fill your refrigerator with fresh fruits and vegetables, then look for novel ways to combine them.

Here are a handful of tips for non-boring, healthy, low-cal eating

1. Spice it up!

Spices are one of the quickest ways out of the diet doldrums. Rosemary and fennel with chicken, mint rubbed into pork, pepper and lemon mint on fresh fish - the 'blander' the food, the higher the effect of the spices.

2. Dress it up.

Fruit vinaigrette dressings make wonderful marinades for meats and dressings for warm or cold vegetables. Try broccoli drizzled with raspberry vinaigrette or cabbage spiced up with apple vinegar and pepper.

2. Herb-infused olive oils - tarragon, ginger, fennel and more.

3. My brother the chef gave me a set of three oils for Christmas one year and it completely changed the way Ill cook forever!

4. Low sodium soy sauce is a great way to flavor up just about anything.

5. Fruit

The bitterness of dark leafy greens like spinach were practically designed to be eaten with mandarin oranges, raspberries or chunks of pineapple.

Still need some help? Here is a list of the absolute best cookbooks on the market to help you fight those diet boredom blues!

The Mediterranean Diet Cookbook
This cookbook features polenta, couscous and more!

Lauries Low-Carb Cookbook
This everyday chef shares recipes that are so easy to do!

Low Carb Meals In Minutes
Use this book and get six weeks worth of complete menus that include shopping lists.

Dr. Atkins New Diet Cookbook
This ones from the creator of the Atkins Diet

The South Beach Diet Cookbook
This book is packed with more than 200 recipes for delicious low-fat foods

Moosewood Restaurant Low Fat Favorites
If meat isnt your thing, this cookbook shares recipes from one of the most famous vegetarian restaurants in America

American Heart Association Low-Fat Low-Cholesterol Cookbook
Are you trying to lower your cholesterol or take care of your heart? This book has great tasting recipes that are good for youand your heart!

American Heart Association Meals in Minutes
If youre constantly eating fast foods because you simply dont have the time to create great tasting healthy meals, check out this book!

Joslin Diabetes Center's Vegetarian Diabetic Cookbook Meatless and vegan recipes that are low fat, high fiber, and delicious

The Guilt-Free Gourmet Famous cruise ship chef Sam Miles put together this wonderful cookbook from his six years traveling on ships as a cook.

So, now youve got some ideas and some resourcesthere should be no reason that you have to live with boring foodseven if you are on a diet!

About the Author:
Kirsten Hawkins is a nutrition and health expert from Nashville, TN.Visit http://www.popular-diets.com/ for more great nutrition, well-being, and vitamin tips as well as reviews and comments on popular diets.

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The Magic Of The Thyroid Diet

Mark Dodd

Health & Fitness are considered most important in our daily life and our every day diet plays an important role in it. The Thyroid Diet has magical secrets of weight loss. Thyroid diet includes food you want to eat and lose weight overnight. Thyroid diet is the best for people who have weight challenges due to thyroid conditions. It helps us to return to a healthy weight, without a rigorous change in our diet and exercise.

The Thyroid Diet explores brands, mixtures and dosage of thyroid medicines right for us considering the other lifestyle issues and supplements that help to optimize thyroid treatment. It resolves nutritional deficiencies, treats depression and corrects brain chemistry imbalances, reduces stress, combats insulin resistance, treats food allergies and sensitivities, and exercise.

Thyroid diet recommends a very low-calorie diet for weight loss in cases of hypothyroidism but it is necessary to maintain metabolism. Low calories and lower metabolism sends body into hoard mode, which is a process, thyroid patients are susceptible to. Thyroid diet suggests breaking up calories into multiple "mini-meals" per day. The Thyroid Diet manages metabolism for Lasting Weight Loss. These thyroid conditions result in metabolic slowdown. The Thyroid Diet gives diagnosed and proper thyroid treatment for successfully loses weight.

This diet has many frustrating impediments for weight loss. It offers both conventional and alternative solution for help. The Thyroid Diet has optimal dietary changes. Thyroid sufferer have to focus on a low-glycemic, high-fiber, lower-calorie diet, optimal timing of meals for maximum hormonal impact, thyroid-damaging foods to avoid, helpful herbs and supplements. They face unexpected weight gain, despite diet and exercise showing symptoms as:

- Fatigue and exhaustion
- More hair loss than usual
- Moodiness
- Muscle and joint pains and aches

Hyperthyroid leads to metabolism that stores every calorie even after rigorous diet and exercise programs. Even optimal treatment doesnt help weight problems plague for many thyroid patients. For the majority of thyroid patients, treatment alone doesnt seem to resolve our weight problems. Thyroid diet is a simple, understandable way that offers you the support, encouragement and information to pursue the right diagnosis and treatment.

About the Author:
Mark's blog is online at http://dietblogsite.com/.

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Do You Know Your Body Mass Index?

Kirsten Hawkins

For some, the need to lose weight is clear. Those whose body weight places them into the obese or morbidly obese categories are well aware that they are carrying too many pounds. But what about the borderline overweight? Is that ten pounds over the ideal weight raising your risk of health complications? Are you just 'big-boned'? How do you decide if you really need to lose weight - and how much you need to lose?

Doctors have a number of different ways to measure the need to lose weight. Long gone are the years when they relied on an insurance company chart of 'ideal weights'. The most commonly used measure is the Body Mass Index (BMI). The BMI measures your weight relative to your height. It is generally an accurate representation of muscle-to-fat ratio, though there are some limitations.

1. It may overestimate the BMI of an athletic person, because muscle is denser and weighs more than fat.

2. It may underestimate the BMI of an older person, or others who have low muscle mass.

There are many BMI calculators available online that will allow you to check your own BMI. The table for determining risk factors associated with obesity is:

Below 18.5 - Underweight
18.5 - 24.9 - Normal
25.0 - 29.9 - Overweight
30.0 and up - Obese

If your BMI is above 25.0, your doctor or other medical professional can advise you on the best weight loss plan for you. You should know that there are great benefits to losing even a moderate amount of weight. Some of those include:

* Lowering your risk of diabetes. According to the American Diabetes Association, a weight loss of as little as 10 pounds can decrease the chances of pre-diabetes developing into diabetes by 58%.
* Lower your risk of heart disease. The American Heart Association states that coronary problems are directly correlated to weight. By losing weight to bring your BMI to within normal ranges, you significantly lower your risk of developing heart problems.
* Reduce your risk of arthritis and pain from arthritis. A number of forms of arthritis are related to weight. Losing weight substantially decreases the strain that additional weight places you your knees, hips, back and ankles.

Are you motivated to get started? Here are three ways that you can start losing weight today:

Get active.

If you do nothing different in your life but exercise for one half hour daily, you will lose 5-7% of your body weight per year.

Cut out white breads and sugars.

Substitute whole grains for refined flours and sugars, and you'll automatically reduce the number of calories that you consume daily.

Eat more fresh vegetables.

Fresh vegetables, especially raw, are a significant source of many of the vitamins and minerals that your body needs daily. They're high in nutrition, while low in calories. By increasing the amount of fresh vegetables that you eat and reducing the amount of processed, refined foods, you'll cut calories and carbohydrates significantly.

About the Author:
Kirsten Hawkins is a nutrition and health expert from Nashville, TN.Visit http://www.popular-diets.com/ for more great nutrition, well-being, and vitamin tips as well as reviews and comments on popular diets.

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Diabetes And Weight Loss

Kirsten Hawkins

Did you know that you can be 'just a little bit diabetic'? The condition is technically called 'pre-diabetes', and it is characterized by persistent high blood sugar levels. Pre-diabetes is a serious condition, though its symptoms may be so subtle that you don't notice them affecting your life. More importantly, it's an indicator that there is something seriously wrong with your body. Left untreated, over 50% of those diagnosed with pre-diabetes will develop Type 2 diabetes within ten years.

If your doctor has told you that you are one of the more than 16 million Americans who has pre-diabetes, the American Diabetes Association has some very good news for you. In March 2005, the ADA released the results of the multi-year Diabetes Prevention Project. In a study that followed thousands of patients across the nation who had been diagnosed with pre-diabetes, the Diabetes Prevention Project found that patients who lost a 'moderate' amount of weight reduced their risk of developing full-blown diabetes by over 58%. Even more encouraging, many of those patients had managed to reverse their condition, and their blood sugar levels were well within normal ranges.

This was a result that the researchers had not expected. Diabetes (and pre-diabetes) is the result of changes to cells in the pancreas that reduce the amount of insulin that they can produce. Doctors have always believed that those changes are irreversible. Now however, the research seems to suggest that losing weight with a healthy balance of exercise and diet can actually heal those early damages caused by diabetes.

Here's the even better news. Those results were achieved by people who lost 'moderate' amounts of weight - from 5-7% of their total body mass. In other words, if you weigh 200 pounds and have been diagnosed as pre-diabetic, losing just 10-15 pounds can more than halve the risk of developing full-blown diabetes, and may reverse your condition entirely.

Here are some healthy weight loss tips from the American Diabetes Association:

1. Keep your diet balanced. Eat a variety of foods in all food groups, with an emphasis on grains, starches and fresh vegetables and fruit.

2. Learn to eyeball portions. Portion control is far more important than restricting what foods you eat. A 'portion' of raw vegetables may be considerably larger than a portion of the same vegetables cooked. There are some handy reference guides on their web site at http://www.diabetes.org

3. Add one half hour daily of moderate exercise to your daily routine five days a week. This one single lifestyle change seemed to be the key to both weight loss and the beneficial effects derived from it. It was the single significant difference between the two groups in the study.

The results of the Diabetes Prevention Project only confirm what has been the best advice in dieting circles for years - losing weight with a balanced diet and exercise is the healthiest way there is. For more information on the diet recommended by the American Diabetes Association, visit their web site at http://www.diabetes.org

About the Author:
Kirsten Hawkins is a nutrition and health expert from Nashville, TN.Visit http://www.popular-diets.com/ for more great nutrition, well-being, and vitamin tips as well as reviews and comments on popular diets.

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7 Simple Weight Loss Feasting Tips for the Holiday Season

Tracy Lee

Here comes Halloween... and the start of the "season of feasting" for a lot of folks around here.

It's become a sort of time-honored "tradition" for Americans to put on weight between Halloween and New Year's Day. Some would even say it's to be expected -- "After all, it's the holidays!", they say.

Now, I love the holidays. And I bet you do too. Who wouldn't love all the great treats and wonderful foods that just seem to spring up around us during the holiday season, right?

But don't you just hate it when you step on the scales after the holidays, and discover you've put on weight?

Fret not, for I'm here to show you how you can have fun during the holidays and enjoy all your favorite holiday treats, _without_ putting on any extra pounds.

Here are 7 Simple Weight Loss Feasting Tips for the Holiday Season...

1. Give yourself permission - Go ahead and eat anything you want during the holiday season. Halloween, Christmas, New Year's, it doesn't matter. Yes, you can have all your favorite foods. Isn't it refreshing to know that you don't have to abstain from your perennial favorites? You see, we tend to want more of what we cannot have. The more you try to stop yourself from eating something, the more you want to eat it. And when you do give in to the temptation, you'll tend to overeat. Here's the secret: It's not "all or nothing". Have anything you want, as long as you remember not to go overboard and consume too much.

2. Be clear of your goals - There must be a reason why you want to keep your weight down. If you don't already have a reason, now's the time to sit down and think of as many as possible. This step is critical if you want to be able to enjoy your holidays and maintain your weight throughout. You need to be crystal-clear about your "Why". Why do you want to lose weight? How would you feel if you end up putting on weight? Conversely, how would you feel if you can go through the holidays and yet maintain your current weight? Think about these questions carefully, and build up your arsenal of "reasons why". The next time you are tempted to overeat, recall these reasons again and they'll help you to stay in control.

3. Have a little of everything - Remember how it's not "all or nothing"? The secret to enjoying all the great food without the subsequent guilt is to have a little of everything. Just remember to control your serving portion sizes. You have permission to eat all kinds of food, but this doesn't mean you can go out there and devour extra- large portions of everything with super-generous gravy toppings, ok?

4. Be careful of the little nibbles - Sometimes, it's not the big-time party or pig-out feasting session that causes you to gain weight. On the contrary, it's exactly the opposite -- it's the little candy and chocolate bar that you pick up to nibble on, everything time you open the fridge or walk past the office candy bowl. All these little snacks in between meal times can (and will!) add up to a lot of extra calories. This sneaky little problem is something that has caught many women off-guard. And now that you know this, it's easy to catch yourself in the act the next time it happens to you!

5. Be smart - They're certainly trying, but don't be fooled by the retailers and their fancy packaging and labels. Have you noticed a lot of the packaging now screams out phrases such "fewer calories", "low fat", "less sugar", "low carb" and etc? Whilst all these claims are true, it does NOT mean you can eat more and have bigger portions. Remember: "fewer/low/less" doesn't mean "Zero/None/Without". Also, it's pretty usual that when something comes with less of one thing, it has more of the other stuff e.g. lower carb, but more calories.

6. Use the healthier versions - Many of the sweets and treats offer you a choice of healthier versions. So when you can, please do opt for the low-calorie, reduced sugar, or lower fat varieties.

7. Choose the right chocolate - And if you must have chocolate, please go for dark chocolate and avoid the milk chocolate. By far, dark chocolate is the best choice as it has antioxidant properties that can protect the body from damaging oxidative stress. So there you have it, consuming a moderate amount of dark chocolates is actually healthy for you!

So, who says you can't have your cake and eat it too?

Copyright 2005 Tracy Lee

About the Author:
Tracy Lee is the owner of the "Weight Loss for Women Over 40" site. Get the latest news, tips & tricks that can help women over 40 to lose weight safely and permanently, and your complimentary copy of our Special Report "9 Little-Known Insider Weight Loss Secrets To Help Women Over 40 Make Those Extra Pounds Disappear" instantly here:

http://www.weight-loss-for-women-over-40.com/insidersecrets/

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Discount Vitamins Online And Buying Precautions

David Buster

Discount vitamins online ordering can be easy, efficient and cost-effective. However, there are certain precautions to take. In fact, whether you order discount vitamins online or buy in a store, cheaper is likely not better! Here are some considerations when buying discount vitamins on the internet:

Does the online store value your privacy and confidentiality? Is their privacy policy available to read if you'd like to see it? Be sure your email address wont be sold and they will maintain your personal details in the strictest privacy.

How long have they been in business? You may feel more comfortable with an online store that has been in business for some years.

Does the discount vitamins online store have a way to contact them? Legitimate companies will make it easy to contact them in several ways.

What if youre unhappy with your purchase -- do they have a refund policy? A refund policy of at least 30 days is great and even longer is better. If theres no refund policy, stay away.

As for the products, keep in mind that vitamin manufacturers are not regulated. Since buying discount vitamins online is about your health, pay attention to finding the best value, not just the cheapest price. Buying discount vitamins online presents many possibilities, but in general, you'll get what you pay for.

Discount vitamins are a poor value when they consist of cheaper, lower quality ingredients and will not include other beneficial nutrients known to provide major health benefits. These kinds of discount vitamins tend to use high quantities of cheaper ingredients, which can even lead to an unhealthy imbalance of nutrients. In the case of nutrients, more is not always better. And the cheapest part of nutritional supplements are the vitamin and minerals.

When buying discount vitamins online, try to feel comfortable with answers to these questions:

1. Is the price low because cheap, inferior ingredients are used? There can be huge differences in the quality and costs of individual ingredients. Since your health is the issue, priority should be given to quality since the final product is only as good as the raw ingredients used. For example, most beta carotene used in supplements is synthetic and contains only about 3% beta carotene that costs about $60 per kg. However, a much more effective higher potency 98% natural beta carotene costs about $2,800 per kg. The more effective natural form of Vitamin E d-alpha tocopheryl succinate costs more than the synthetic version called dl-alpha tocopheryl.

2. Does the manufacturer conform to pharmaceutical standards in their manufacturing processes? Very few manufacturers do so. High-volume discount manufacturers can cut costs by shortening the mixing time and by mixing at higher speeds. This can mean that the product must be tableted harder, which can result in a vitamin that will be more difficult to dissolve and may pass right through your system unused.

3. Besides basic vitamins and minerals, does the discount vitamins online product contain other essential nutrients that your body needs? Your body requires and will use a wide array of anti-aging nutrients - amino acids such as L-Carnosine, alpha lipoic acid and acetyl L-Carnitine plus antioxidants, bioflavanoids, neuronutrients, certain herbal extracts, enzymes and so on. And these nutrients have to be in the correct proportions to each other.

There ARE manufacturers designing and making supplements available online that provide high quality at very reasonable prices. There is one in particular that uses pharmaceutical grade ingredients, many supported by clinical studies. Ingredients are linked to the related clinical studies on their website. Their multivitamin/nutrients supplement is so complete, you can eliminate having to take numerous supplements individually.

Buying quality discount vitamins online is about improved health and energy, freedom from disease, improved sexual vigor and slowing the aging process. Learn as much as you can about what finding the best discount vitamins online really means. Before you spend your money, be informed about the nutrients and substances you'll be putting into your body every day.

Copyright 2005 InfoSearch Publishing

About the Author:
Read more about the best women's vitamins at http://www.safemenopausesolutions.com/vitamins-for-women.html and best vitamins for men. David Buster is VP of InfoSearch Publishing and webmaster of http://www.safemenopausesolutions.com - a website of natural health information and resources.

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Daily Intake Vitamin - Are Daily Vitamins Really Absorbed?

Olinda Rola

A good daily intake vitamin crucial issue is related to how absorbable the vitamin supplement really is. The majority of daily vitamin and mineral supplements dissolve in the stomach, and that's a problem. So what's the problem?

When you swallow a tablet, capsule, or take a supplement liquid, what happens is the active ingredients are released in the stomach. Stomach acids attack the ingredients and break them into smaller particles. Depending upon the ingredient, most of it is destroyed by the acids. And poor quality tablets made with cheap binders can pass through both the stomach and the intestine and out of the body with little or no absorption.

The 'delivery system' that provides the best daily intake vitamin absorption uses a process called "enteric coating". This delivery system is state of the art and is usually only found with advanced pharmaceutical products. This coating which is made up of pH sensitive polymers attaches to the tablets and remains intact in the acidic environment of the stomach. Once it passes through the stomach, the coating disintegrates in the small intestine where the highest percentage of ingredients can then be absorbed.

In an ideal world, recommended daily intake vitamin and nutrient requirements would be supplied from your diet. However, many people make poor food choices every day. Junk food, processed food, sodas and sweets are the basis for the diet of millions. Even with a well-balanced diet, studies have found the nutrient values of foods have been declining for decades because of soil depletion.

Choosing one of the high-quality, broad-spectrum daily intake vitamin supplements helps fill the 'nutritional gaps' that everyone has. Daily vitamin essential nutrients that the body requires are extensive and are much more than just vitamins. When considering which daily intake vitamin to take, remember that the least costly ingredients in a daily vitamin are the vitamins and minerals. Your body also needs a wide array of anti-aging natural substances proven to provide specific health benefits.

High quality daily intake vitamins should include nutrients such as amino acids, antioxidants, bioflavanoids, neuronutrients, certain herbal extracts, enzymes and specialized substances such as L-Carnosine, alpha lipoic acid, acetyl L-Carnitine and so on. Nutrients such as these have been proven by clinical studies to provide important anti-aging benefits. And these nutrients have to be in the correct proportions to each other based on the latest research.

Finding highly absorbable daily intake vitamins can be difficult but there is a quality manufacturer that incorporates enteric coating in their vitamin supplements. Read more and understand the significance of the term 'bio-availability' as it applies when vitamins, minerals and nutrients are being taken every day. After all, it's your health and wellness that's at stake.

Copyright 2005 InfoSearch Publishing

About the Author:
Read more about best women's vitamins and supplements at http://www.safemenopausesolutions.com/vitamins-for-women.html and best vitamins for men. Olinda Rola is President of InfoSearch Publishing and webmaster of http://www.safemenopausesolutions.com - a website of natural health articles and reliable sources of nutritional supplements.

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Thursday, November 03, 2005

Can Fasting Help Me To Lose Weight?

Dada Vedaprajinananda

One way to lose weight is to just stop eating. It sounds simple but in reality you have to know what you are doing to get any long term weight loss benefits from fasting. Lets look at the weakness and strengths of fasting for weight loss.

Like most forms of dieting, fasting can be used to bring about dramatic but temporary reductions of weight. You can go on a long fast, taking nothing but juice or eating grapes or taking some other low calorie meal substitute for several weeks, and while you are on the fast you will certainly lose weight. However, during the fast you may not be able to carry on your normal social interactions. Its not so easy to sit around sipping carrot juice while the rest of your family is eating a normal meal.

Another problem with long fasting is that your body requires vital nutrients (vitamins, minerals, protein) and your favorite juice may not contain them. Long fasting without proper medical supervision can be dangerous.

Finally, a major problem with this kind of fasting is that once you stop fasting and resume eating your normal diet, you are likely to gain back all the weight that you have lost during your crash weight loss fast.

So, does fasting have any place in a weight loss plan? Yes it does. Periodic fasting is one of the secrets of a long and healthy life. Our bodys digestive organs require a rest from time to time, just as we require days off from work. One-day fasting done in a methodical and regular manner provides the kind of rest that helps our digestive system, aids in the elimination of toxins from our body, and, yes, also helps us to lose weight in a healthy and sustainable way.

How to Do Proper Fasting

Here is a method of doing one day fasts, taking no food and (if your body is strong) no water in a period from the sunrise of one day to the sunrise of the next day.

Successful fasting has three stages: preparation, the actual fast, and breaking the fast. Each one of these stages is important.

Preparation

If you are not prepared both mentally and physically you will find it difficult to go one day without food. The mental preparation is simple, but very important. The night before the fast you have to take a firm determination that tomorrow you are going to fast, that you are not going to eat any food. If you fix your mind in advance then you will not start deliberating during the fasting day whether you should continue or not to continue. If you are undecided or waffling you can always find a hundred reasons why you should start eating!

Physical preparation is also important. The day before you fast you should eat a normal amount of food and take a good amount of liquids (especially if you are going to be fasting without taking any liquids). If you miss some meals on the day before fasting, then you may start feeling hungry during the fasting period. If you do not take enough liquids, especially during the night before the fast, then you will feel uncomfortable when you are fasting.

If you are physically and mentally prepared you will not feel very hungry while you are fasting. Once you decide to fast, your hunger just shuts off for the fasting period. This sounds hard to believe, but if you do it a few times you will see that it is true.

The Fasting Day

It is best to do light physical tasks and concentrate more on intellectual and spiritual work during the fasting period. It is not a good idea to spend your time thinking about what you are going to eat tomorrow! If you have prepared yourself properly this shouldnt be a problem and you can use the time that you gain by not eating to do some constructive things that you normally dont get ti