Health and Diet Articles

Archive for January, 2009

Can A Hot Bath Help You Lose Weight?

Wednesday, January 28th, 2009

Research has shown that high levels of toxicity can lead to weight gain and an increased accumulation of fat throughout the body. Because fat helps to buffer the body from dangerous toxins, when there is a perceived toxin overload, more fat is generated in order to provide greater protection. Until now, in order to combat this, people would have to go on a detox diet or simply live with an overloaded system.  However, this is not necessary. There are other, far easier ways to rid the body of toxins and jumpstart your body’s natural weight-loss processes.

One way to accomplish this is to soak in a hot bath with Epson salts.  These salts are often used to sooth tired, achy and sore muscles. However, this is not its’ only benefit. Epson salts can also help users lose weight by decreasing the amount of toxins in the body.

Magnesium sulfate, another name for these salts, helps to increase the amount of Magnesium in the blood by nearly 30%. Magnesium is used by the body to create quinone reductase and glutathione S-transferase, which are enzymes that help get rid of toxins that come from chemicals.  Magnesium also aids in guarding the body against stress.  When we are stressed, our bodies may over manufacture the hormone Cortisol. This hormone can cause fat around the belly to develop.

Another trick is to add 2 cups of baking soda and kosher salt to a hot bath.  This will change the pH levels of the bath water which will aid in decreasing inflammation on the cellular level. Such inflammation can also lead to weight gain.

Many people have tried different diet plans with not too much success. There is a program called the Diet Solution that has many people raving. They show you how to burn off 10% of your weight in 30 days. They have a unique method of doing this that no one has attempted before. It’s fast and easy and we recommend you check it out if you are serious about losing weight. Check it out here.

Seaweed is another great way to decrease the amount of toxins in one’s body. It helps to pull toxins out of the cells because of its’ strong ionic charge. Seaweed can also help reduce the appearance of cellulite and can aid the body in releasing fat that has been trapped.  It also contains a lot of iodine which helps to increase the metabolism and improves the performance of the thyroid gland, both which can help out with weight-loss.  Seaweed also helps to manufacture lipase which is an enzyme that burns fat.  Soaking once a week can have a tremendous effect and help you reduce toxins in the body.

Having an overabundance of toxins in the body can lead to a number of problems, namely, weight gain, illness, chronic disease and even death. It is important to do what you can to decrease these levels. Doing so, will help you live a healthier and leaner life. Today, it is possible to decrease the levels of toxins in the body without starving yourself and going on a detox diet. By using ingredients that you likely have in your cupboard already or those that you can quickly and easily purchase at your local Wal-Mart or Drugstore (minus the seaweed), you can detoxify your body and jumpstart your metabolism. Seaweed, Epson salt, baking soda and sea salt are all that you need to begin the process of ridding your body of toxins.

Can Dairy Help You Burn Calories and Lose Fat?

Wednesday, January 28th, 2009

eggsThere has been a raging debate regarding whether or not dairy can actually help individuals lose weight. Obviously, the dairy industry believes that there is a connection between weight loss and calcium intake and they are not shy about touting this discovery to the millions of people looking to lose weight. 

 However, there are those who believe that this simply is not true and such information is peddled to make money.  You will be able to find studies that support each contention. In this post, we are going to discuss the evidence supporting that dairy and calcium helps individuals lose weight and burn fat.

The consumption of cheese, milk and yogurt by people who are looking to lose weight is being encouraged by some weight loss experts.  Even though caloric intake is most important when it comes to weight gain and weight loss, some studies have shown that persons who consume 3-4 servings of dairy were able to lose a lot more fat and weight then persons who did not, even when they ate the same amount of calories.

One researcher found that individuals were able to double the amount of fat and calories they burned by simply eating foods that contained a lot of dairy.  Right now three to four servings per day, seems to be the optimal amount if you’re looking to lose weight.

The reason that calcium is so effective in helping individuals lose weight is because of the effect that calcium has on the body’s calorie burning mechanisms.  By consuming dairy products and calcium, persons can lose a good deal of weight without having to go on a restrictive diet.  Many diets fail because it’s very difficult to live on a low calorie diet plan for very long. Eventually, people end up binging and gaining back the weight that they lost. This is because it is not realistic, nor safe to eat too few calories for an extended period of time.  Individuals must find a more well-rounded approach to losing weight and this includes making changes in diet that will enable them to burn more calories and fat. These types of foods don’t require persons to severely restrict their diets.

Being able to eat foods such as cheese, milk and yogurt within an otherwise healthy and low-fat diet can aid individuals in losing a lot more weight then if they attempted to only cut back on calories. Calcium helps to break down the fat in the fat cells. Experts are not sure why this is the case but it has proven to be very effective. However, they have a few ideas.

There is some belief that perhaps the magnesium and phosphorus in dairy products works with the calcium in the body to help burn more fat and calories.  Now, it is important to note that just because dairy products can help with weight loss, you do still have to consider how many calories you eat. After all, weight gain is about calories.  If you consume too many, you will gain weight. Therefore, you need to a look for either low-fat varieties of dairy or keep your portion sizes small if you choose to consume whole dairy products.

Is The Raw Food Diet Right For You?

Wednesday, January 28th, 2009

vegetablesThere are a number of ways to lose weight. Low carb, no carb, high protein and detox diets are a few methods that people use to aid their weight loss efforts. The Raw Food Diet is fairly new.  Initially, it was touted by Hollywood stars such as Pamela Anderson, as a healthy and effective way to lose weight and keep it off.

 

This weight loss plan requires only the consumption of foods that are not cooked or processed. Most foods must be plant based. Nuts, vegetables, fruits, nuts and seeds are all allowable options.

 

Proponents of this diet contend that cooking food significantly reduces its’ nutritional value. Anything higher then 116 degrees breaks down the food enzymes that help people absorb food.

 

The raw food diet has a number of tremendous benefits. It helps you lose weight quite easily because raw foods such as fruit and vegetables typically contain less calories then processed foods and meat. Eating this way can help give you more energy and also decreases the onset of chronic disease. This is largely because plant based foods have less saturated and trans fats, which can lead to heart disease and heart attack.

 

To follow a raw food diet, you need to get 75% of your calories from raw foods. Purified water, nuts, fruit, dried fruit, beans, fruit and vegetable juices, organic foods and grains are all allowable. If you do choose to cook, make sure that you keep the heat below 116 degrees.

 

There are a number of ways to prepare food without breaking the rules. You can juice your fruit and veggies. Dehydrating your food is also acceptable.

 

While the raw food diet is great for some people, it is not for everyone. If you are nursing or are pregnant, then you should forgo it. It also is not appropriate for young children.If you are not committed to adopting this lifestyle, even for a short amount of time, then it won’t work.  It will require you to give up foods that you are used to eating. Sometimes you will have to get creative when coming up with and preparing meals.

 

You will also need to make sure that your body gets all of the nutrients that it needs while you are on this diet. As a result, you may need to take vitamins and supplements. This diet may not enable you to get enough calcium, protein and b vitamins. Therefore, you must find ways to get enough protein. Beans and peanut butter are good substitutes.

 

The Raw Food Diet is one of many weight loss options. While it can be extremely effective, it is not for everyone. It will require that you drastically change your eating habits. Most of the foods that you eat will be raw and can not be cooked. Understanding this beforehand will enable you to make an educated decision about whether or not this is a diet plan that you can adhere to.