Food for Muscle

Whether your goal is to get a six pack, get strong for a sport, or get a body like Jay Cutler’s, the key to achieving your goals remains pretty much the same: pack on some lean muscle.

Even if you’re looking to lose weight and get “ripped”, you still need to pay attention to your lean muscle mass – lose too much weight too quickly, and you’ll end up looking small, skinny, and soft, which is not the look you’re going for!

Building lean muscle is simple. All you have to do is lift heavy weights, and eat the right foods in the right quantities. A lot of people manage the lifting bit, but end up burning out because they don’t see results after a few weeks. The lack of results is usually down to bad judgement in the kitchen, rather than in the weight room. Here’s a few tips to help you get things right in the kitchen.

Eat For the Body You Want, Not the Body You Have

Before you can figure out what you need to eat, you need to decide your goals. If you want to lose weight, you’ll have to eat differently to the way you’d eat if you wanted to pack on some lean muscle mass.

Photo by: pdstahl

The first thing you need to do is figure out your current BMR (Base Metabolic Rate), and your maintenance calories (which is based on your BMR, and your usual daily activity level). Once you’ve worked that out, you can figure out how much you need to eat to achieve your goals. If you have a lot of weight to lose, start by eating around 500 calories fewer per day than your maintenance, this should lead to you losing about 1lb of weight per week, and most of that should be fat loss, rather than lean muscle loss.


If you have only a few pounds to lose, shoot for 250 calories fewer per day than your maintenance. This will lead to slower weight loss, but again, it should be mostly fat loss.

If you want to gain strength and “bulk up”, eat around 250-500 calories more than your maintenance each day, and try to eat a lot of protein.

Proteins, Carbohydrates and Fat

Photo by CleanseAndBlend

Proteins, carbohydrates and fat are the three “macro-nutrients” that make up your diet. The first thing you need to remember is that none of those macronutrients are the enemy. Fat doesn’t make you fat, and neither do carbs. The reason people think that carbs and fat are bad is because fat is so calorie dense, and carbohydrates are also calorie dense, and tend to not leave you feeling full for long. When you’re trying to lose weight, what matters is the number of calories you consume. Some foods are more satisfying, and therefore a better choice for someone on a calorie restricted diet, but no food is “evil”.


If you’re trying to gain strength and build muscle, then eating a lot of protein is a good idea. Chicken, turkey, tuna, and lean cuts of meat are all good choices. Snacking on nuts and cheese can also help with your protein intake. A good goal is 0.8g of protein per lb of lean body mass. If you’re struggling to reach that through food, try having a protein shake post-workout.

Don’t neglect vegetables, however. Green, leafy vegetables are a good source of nutrients, and very low in calories too. No matter what you’re training for, there’s a lot of value in a balanced diet.

This post was written by James Harper on behalf of Slimming.com who have great ideas to help you build lean muscle.

Food Help Us to Maintain Our Health

Everyone is familiar with food is and how it benefits us. Food is anything that we can consume for fulfilling our nutritional requirements. It helps us to grow and is our primary source of energy. But even though we get energy by consuming almost all kinds of food, not every consumable food is good for our body. Some foods are statistically more nutritious compared than others which are low in nutritive value. Some food are more beneficial for our body while some can make us ill. The spectrum of benefits and disadvantage of food is so wide that we are still unable to understand the advantages and disadvantages of all the available food items properly. Nevertheless we don’t give much thought while munching a handful of cashews, biting a piece of steak, or drinking a glass of milk.

A simple way to determine which food is better than the other is by determining its nutrients and calorific value. Food is made up of nutrients such as proteins, fat, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals such as calcium, iron, zinc, sodium, etc. Any food that is obtained from plants or animals contain a combination of the above mentioned nutrients but their proportions vary. Some food items are rich in vitamins while some are rich in fat; some has greater proportions of iron whereas some contains more calcium. The varying combination of these elements and compounds in each food item makes it difficult for us to realize which food item is more nutritious then the other.

Our body requires these elements in the right propitiation's for staying healthy and a majority of diseases and syndromes gets activated when there is either a deficit or excess of these components in our body. Deficiency or overdoes of minerals and nutrients can lead to mild or severe illness and syndromes. Diseases caused by deficiencies or overdose generally don’t occur abruptly and takes a longer time to develop without your notice. For instance if you consume food rich in fat and calories, there are pretty good chances of you suffering from obesity and cardiovascular diseases in the future. Hence determining the nutritive value of your food is important if you desire to stay healthy and look forward to gain most of the food you consume. Perhaps the best way by which you can save yourself from deficiency or overdose is by eating a wide range of food items in the right proportions. Food items that are rich in nutrients and minerals are often recommended by doctors for regular consumption so that we can replenish our body properly.

The Doctor’s Health Press publishes monthly newsletters and e-bulletins on a wide range of health topics and breakthroughs in health, focusing on natural and alternative medicines. It is the health publishing division of Lombardi Publishing Corporation.

A Food Database Can Hold the Key to Weight Loss

Everyone who’s ever been overweight is familiar with the desire to find a quick fix for your weight problem. You may have tried diet pills that were advertised to help you burn fat without changing how you eat, or even tried a fad diet or two. The problem with all the hype and advertising is that there is no real quick fix to weight loss, but there is a guaranteed way to lose weight. A mobile calorie tracker can help people lose weight because it helps you to create the calorie deficit that is required in your body in order to burn fat.

The secret to weight loss really can be found in your mobile calorie counter. Your body needs to burn 3500 more calories than you ingest in order to lose 1 pound of fat. Over a week’s time that is 500 calories each day that your body needs to burn. Of course, that’s 500 more than you take in. so if your BMR is 1500 and you eat a 2000 calorie diet, even with 500 calories of exercise you are simply maintaining your weight. That’s why most people who want to lose weight have to go on a restricted calorie diet.

You can lose weight with your mobile food diary because it will tell you what your BMR is likely to be and allow you to track the calories that you eat and the calories that you burn. A BMR is the number of calories that your body burns every day just to function. So if your BMR is 1500 and you restrict your calorie intake to 1200 calories a day, you would still need to burn 200 more calories in exercise every day to lose 1 pound per week. Of course, if you eat an additional 200 calories that day because you’ve burned 200 thought exercise, you won’t be helping yourself to lose weight at all. 


Once you understand how your body loses weight, it becomes easy to use your mobile food journal to implement that weight loss plan. You can carefully track the calories that you take in every day, as well as the calories that you burn. Your diary will tell you if you have reached the required calorie deficit on any given day to reach your goals. With all the tools right at your fingertips, it’s no wonder that people who use a mobile journal lose twice as much weight as those who do not.


 Ryan Newhouse is a longtime health writer, avid cyclist and general outdoorsman. He has traveled extensively and appreciates sourcing local ingredients for healthy meals and drinks.

Stay Healthy By Tracking What You Eat

What you eat is what you are. You’ve heard that your whole life and you know that it is true. If you eat fast food, in the largest sizes, every day, you probably are not in the best of health (or you are very young and lucky). We will get this out of the way right now; do not go on a diet. Diets trick you into thinking that you will sacrifice the things you love for the next six month or a year or whatever amount of time you choose to get into good shape and then go back to living normally. This doesn’t work for anyone. You need to change the thought of dieting to a way of thinking that changes your eating habits.

Start off by tracking what you eat. Don’t make any major changes to your diet yet. Just use your iPhone as a little notepad and type in that you ate a quarter pounder with fries and a Coke at McDonald’s for lunch. Put that you skipped breakfast but had three cups of coffee. Then write whatever you have for dinner. Do this for a few days and then look at your eating patterns. Look up some of the calorie counts on what you have been eating. Look at what that caffeine spike does to you in the morning, look up everything. Just do some research and see what you are doing to your body.

Now that you are used to tracking what you eat and you have seen what you are doing to your body, it is time to start changing things out. The biggest mistake you could possibly make is changing everything at once. Instead, change your McDonald’s lunch to something you make at home and bring to work. Make a salad, or sandwich, or a stew that has that homemade custom touch that fast food places can’t compete with. Keep tracking what you eat and after a week or so, see what a difference this one change has done for you.

Starting to feel a little better about yourself and your health? Now add in a little extra time for breakfast and find something healthy. You don’t need anything huge to start your day, some toast, a bagel, a few hardboiled eggs or a parfait can all do the trick. Keep tracking your daily eating habits for a while and see what things look like in a couple of weeks.

Now for the final change (which your body has probably already forced you to make); start eating lighter dinners earlier in the evening. When you sleep your metabolism slows down. You will want some food in your gut as you lay down to drift off to slumber land, but you shouldn’t be full. Give yourself time to digest a good portion of the food in your system and then crash with less for your body to work through. Now, after a couple of weeks compare the list from when you started this adventure and the list from today. Words can’t express how much better you are going to feel about the changes in your eating habits.

Candy C. is a writer for HowDoIBe.com. If you are interested in a career in wellness, take a look at this site for more information.

10 Real Life Health Concerns

We all know about diabetes, the importance of exercise, and healthy eating. This article isn’t to point of
the obvious but to point out things that we do every day that really does affect our health and overall
our lives. These are things we might over look and even think as harmless habits but in reality it’s really
bad for us.

1. Drinking Coffee- Although having coffee every now and again is not bad for you if you’re having a coffee craving you’re addicted. Coffee in moderation's is good but if you’re finding yourself needing a cup you’re addicted to the caffeine and it can have bad affects on your health. It can increase your heart rate and blood pressure. Although coffee does have its benefits if you aren’t careful it can be the reverse.

2. Worry/Stress- Stress is a killer! It causes a lot of the “good”  things in your brain to decrease and allows the “bad” stuff to take the wheel. It can cause health issues such as anorexia, bulimia, organ damage, depression, suicide, etc. It also causes you to age much quicker. Try doing a sport you love and taking 30minutes to an hour of your busy day to De-stress.




3. Eating junk foods/artificial sweeteners – Nothing is good about replacing natural sugar with artificial sugar aka chemicals. How’s that healthy? If you eat junk food it gives you the extra calories no one needs and helps your insides become exactly what you eat...junk.

4. Not chewing your food- This is bad in several ways. Sometimes we are so hungry that we just scarf down our food without really chewing. You’re body prepares for digestion by first having your saliva breakdown your food and chewing also makes your stomach secrete bile. No chewing means you’re going to choke, have a tummy ache, and you might not see something beautiful come out next time you decide to visit “the throne”.

5. Constipation- Constant constipation means that you aren’t eating the right foods and that you might have digestive problems that can become quite serious in the future. If you suffer from constipation every now and again go to the doctor and keep track of the foods you eat. It may be an indication of something more serious.

6. Lack of sleep- Your body must recharge every night and if it doesn’t you’re headed for disaster. Your brain will begin to shut down and it can be very dangerous. You’re supposed to shut those eyes as soon as you hit your bed and feel drowsy.

7. Over counter the medicine dependency- In today’s world taking medication is the easy solution for a lot of things. It’s best to stay away from medication and try more natural remedies. If you have a headache try and eat some starchy foods, if you’re tired take a nap, etc. usually a headache means you are lacking something in your daily regime and your body is letting you know. Stress can also cause migraine and headaches. To avoid these pains De-stress everyday and be aware of what you do.


8. House work every day – Although a clean house is a good house cleaning everyday can be bad for you. It exposes you to chemicals everyday and also doesn’t keep your body up to date with the latest germs. You body fights illnesses and bacteria by recognition that’s why you get sick when you are around someone that’s sick. Their germs are different than yours and catch your body off guard. But after few days your body knows exactly what to do and is ready for a fight at anytime.




9. Cancelling plans for alone time- If you have too much alone time its actually bad for you. If you go out and socialize its actually very healthy and good for you. Research shows that having few friends and only going out from time to time is like smoking 15 cigarettes a day. Its bad for you and decreases your longevity. So go out and have fun!

10. Soft drinks and sugar – Drinking carbonated drinks erode tooth enamel and promotes kidney stones! Not only that but sugar is only good if you need quick spurt of energy but if you down candy all the time your body turns that into fat and can even become plaque stuck in your artery walls ew!

Priscilla covers health and wellness topics for the Term-Life Insurance blog because living a healthier lifestyle helps to keep life insurance premiums lower.

Get Fit Fast

Life is busy.  Sometimes, it’s too busy to exercise.  However, getting in a short workout is better than no workout at all.  This 20-minute interval workout is an effective tool to lose weight and relieve stress. 

An interval workout is a timed workout that combines all out exertion with short rest periods.  Intervals are four minutes in length.  Within that time, you complete eight sets. Each set consists of working hard for 20-seconds then resting for 10 seconds. During each four-minute interval, your exercise of choice remains the same, whether it's jumping jacks, squats, jumping rope, sprints or something else. Repeat that exercise for each set. Once you have completed the four-minute interval, you choose a new exercise for the next interval.

Here's a sample workout.

Warm-up for 4 minutes (walk to easy jog)

Interval 1:
20 seconds: Jumping jacks
10 seconds: Rest
Repeat 8 times

Interval 2:
20 seconds: Push-ups
10 seconds: Rest
Repeat 8 times

Interval 3:
20 seconds: Burpees
10 seconds: Rest
Repeat 8 times

Interval 4:
20 seconds: Squats
10 seconds: Rest
Repeat 8 times

In order to get the maximum effectiveness out of this, you must push yourself during the 20-second work interval each and every set trying to complete as many reps as possible for each set.  Both cardio and strength exercises can be used during the intervals.

This workout can be adjusted as your fitness and endurance increases.  This can be done a couple of different ways.  You can increase the exercise interval beyond 20 seconds.  Or, you can add more intervals and exercises.

It’s important to take time for yourself.  By taking as little as 20-minutes a day to exercise, you can lose weight, relieve stress, increase your muscular endurance as well as improve your heart health. It’s a small change you can make to improve your life.

Freelance writer Phyllis Edson provides a variety of writing services including blogs, social media posts, copy writing, ebooks and web content--- www.phyllisedson.com

Hidden Calories

credit: sigalonhealth.soup.io

Although losing weight is very rewarding and potentially life-changing, it can be a very
frustrating process. The most common reported frustration is when you feel that you are
doing all of the right things but the weight just won’t come off. This can leave you feeling
down and useless, and could potentially lead to the end of the diet. But why does it happen?

In some, rarer cases, it is a case of the body’s metabolism catching up with the dieter and
simply refusing to lose any more weight. Ironically, the main reason this happens is that the
dieter is taking in too few calories so the solution would be to add a few more calories into
the diet to kick-start your metabolism.

For most, this isn’t the issue. For most, it is the opposite; they are taking in too many
calories. The main culprit in this tale is hidden calories. Hidden calories are the enemy of the
dieter and are the root of all the frustration and anger that you are feeling. So where are these
calories and how do you bring them out into the open?

The main perpetrators of hidden calories are the foods and drinks that you think are healthier
choices. When we start our weight-loss plan the first thing that many of us do is to look for
healthy alternatives to the snacks and drinks that we thought were making us overweight.
However, shop bought fruit smoothies are often packed full of calories. They are nutritious
and full of vitamins but they can have just as many calories as a full-fat can of fizzy pop. The
reason? All of those fruit sugars that make the smoothie so tasty! The tropical fruits often
used in smoothies, such as mango, pineapple and banana, are full of natural sugars and are
also relatively high in calories. So, although you should make sure to eat plenty of fruit,
enjoy these varieties in moderation.

Salads can be full of hidden calories too. Lettuce, tomato and cucumber are super low in
calories but the added meat, dressing, croutons, cheese and avocado that can dramatically
raise the calorie content. In fact, a salad such as a traditional Caesar with chicken, bacon,
croutons, cheese, and a creamy dressing can potentially have more calories than a burger! So
be sensible – go for vinaigrette dressings and drop some of the fattier elements such as the
cheese and bacon.

As far as food goes, one of the worst things you can eat when on a diet is pasta. Pasta can be
a healthy choice as it is virtually fat free and relatively good for you but, unfortunately for
those trying to lose weight, it is packed full of calories. Even a small serving of pasta can
have as many calories as a bucketful of couscous, for example, so avoid it when you can.

Finally, you should look at your drink choices. You may have swapped out sugar for
sweetener but you need to also consider skimmed milk in your hot beverages rather than
semi-skimmed or whole. This will save you calories with every mouthful. Also, look out for
alcohol. Although it’s hard to cut out alcohol completely, there are no low calorie alcoholic
drinks and you would be shocked at how many calories there are just in a glass of wine.

So hidden calories are everywhere but they can be beaten. You just need a little knowledge,
and maybe the help of an online calorie counter, and you can understand what’s really in
your food.

Written by Kat Kraetzer, an experienced blogger working in the health-care industry.

Ten Simple Ways To Be Happy In Life

We often feel depressed and want to be happy but we cannot see that even the smallest changes around us can make us happier. So, here are ten ways by which we can be a more happier person than before.

1. Sleep Properly

Happiness means fighting off stress and stay fresh and fit. If you are not sleeping enough you feel more fatigued, stressed hungry and much more. Sleeping make you stress free, heels your damages. More sleep means less hunger so you have a lesser weight and good looks which obviously make you happy from inside.

2. Practice mindfulness

Mindfulness is waking up, connecting with ourselves and connecting with every moment of life. It is the trending topic in western psychology as it is effectively reduced stress, increase self awareness, enhances emotional intelligence and handles negative thoughts and feelings. It means paying attention in a particular way, in the present moment and none judgmentally which is one more way to make you happier.

 

3. Stretch

As soon as you get up, throw your arms to the sky and inhale deeply. Bend down and try to touch your toes. Loosen up your body that’s been still for an entire night. Do a few jumping jacks. Move your neck around in circles. Stretch!

    Stretching makes your muscles relax and reliefs from the pain. You will feel more stronger from inner self when you stretch and bend. You will find that you understand and work with your body. Take time to listen to your body as we many times we ignore what it wants to say. It will definitely make you happy.

4. Laugh out loud

Joy is contagious and you can totally spread it. Laughing makes you relief from the stress and as I mentioned earlier makes you more happy.

5. Go Outside

Go outside into the sunlight; light deprivation is one reason that people feel tired. Research suggests that light stimulates brain chemicals that improve mood and increase motivation. If you cannot go outside daily as I can't due to busy schedules, try to go occasionally.

6. Just say no

We should learn to say NO to the things we really don't like. It's better to not doing than badly doing.

Don't force yourself to do things which you haven't interested in. Eliminate activities that aren’t necessary and that you don’t enjoy. After all, you have your own priorities and needs, just like everyone has his/her own needs. Saying no is about respecting and valuing your time and space.

7. Social around

Meet your loved ones once in a week or as it suits you. One of the most powerful ways to better your relationship with happiness is to surround yourself with people who want to make a difference. When we feel safe and supported, we don’t have to narrow in on survival tasks like responding to danger or finding our next meal. We are able to explore our world, which builds resources for times of stress and adversity.

8. Accept yourself

If acceptance feels so good, then why don’t we accept ourselves? We hate ourselves for being fat to get ourselves to diet. We judge ourselves unfavorably with the hope it will motivate us to change. Does this work? Hardly.

    Acceptance allows change. The "acceptance mode" includes everything, even my judgments. It allows me to be okay now, even before I reach my goals.

9. Befriend Failure

Do not be afraid of failure. Always remember failure is the key to success. I’m not going to say you will ever reach the point to where you will actually enjoy failure, but with each mistake you make there is always a lesson to be learned. As soon as you accept it you will be more happy.

10. Choose happiness

We always hand between the past and future and do not focus on present. Learn from your past decisions and actions and make your present beautiful. Of course, there are things in our lives that we cannot control, yet for the most part, your actions or lack of them is responsible for your present circumstances.

    There is no formula to be happy but we can be happy simply by understanding our self what makes us happy.

Ways to Detoxify Your Body

Do you often feel lethargic? Or out of sync? Do you have skin problems, aches and pains, or any digestive problems very often? Are you straying from your healthier habits lately? Do you have trouble in losing your weight? It might be time for a body detox.

This technique is being proficient for hundreds of years by several cultures all around the world — together with ayurvedic and Chinese drugs systems — in detoxification we help our body for resting, cleaning and nourishing from inside. By removing and eliminating toxins from our body, and then feeding your body with healthy nutrients, detoxifying helps protect you from disease and renew your ability to take care of optimum health.

How detoxification works?

Basically, detoxification means to clean the blood. It is done by removing impurities from the blood within the liver, where toxins are processed for elimination. The body conjointly eliminates toxins through the kidneys, intestines, lungs, lymph and skin. However, when this technique is compromised, impurities are not properly filtered and each cell within the body is adversely affected.

How detoxification can help the body's natural cleaning process :

1) By fasting for the rest for the organs
2) By stimulating the liver to drive toxins from the body
3) By promoting abolition the toxins through the intestines, kidneys and skin
4) By improving circulation of the blood
5) By refueling the body with healthy nutrients.

How To Make Sure You Don’t Ditch The Diet On Holiday

If you’ve ever struggled to do up your plane seat belt after a particularly wonderful holiday, you will know the peculiar feeling of revulsion, worry and frustration that accompanies your fruitless yanking. Especially if you’ve dieted for months before to ensure you look your best...

However, it doesn’t have to be this way, ladies and gents. If you’ve got a dollop of self-control and an ounce of discipline, you can still have a great time on holiday without undoing all your hard work. Firstly, there are plenty of opportunities to take a holiday that allows you to get as active as possible. British holiday parks offer you the chance to roam around the UK’s beaches, explore pretty coastal beaches, get active with your family, and avoid sitting on your backside drinking sickly cocktails all day. Not only will you tone up after spending a day swimming, throwing a frisbee around, or hiking along some breathtaking coastal walks, but you’ll also tire yourself out enough to ensure you sleep well. Everyone’s a winner.

Secondly, if you are heading somewhere with warmer climes, why not take a look at what’s available at your hotel, or complex? Plenty of hotels have gyms, as well as swimming pools. Many also boast tennis courts. If you want to really enjoy your evening meal all night with no guilt, it’s worth burning off some calories during the day. Also, don’t snack! If you fancy something substantial at lunchtime, fine - but don’t binge on ice creams, chips, and other sweet snacks. A good rule of thumb is to have a big drink of water, then re-evaluate your hunger. Sometimes, the body confuses hunger with thirst, which can lead to overeating.

Everyone loves a drink. Well, nearly everyone. Either way, it’s a very popular activity. However, booze is effectively liquid fat, so try to limit your intake if you want to save your figure. If you must overindulge in the evening, avoid cocktails or anything with a high sugar content. Drink a glass of water for every alcoholic beverage you drink, and don’t do shots - you run the risk of becoming more inebriated that you want to (foreign drinks are normally much stronger than UK ones), plus, your waistline won’t thank you.

If you’re on a boozy girls’ or lads’ holiday, you’re probably worried about looking like a bit of a killjoy by refusing drinks or not having a dessert every night. The truth is, people are probably more concerned with making sure that they’re having as much fun as possible, so your lack of drunkenness probably won’t filter through to them. If anyone does pick up on your good behaviour, don’t be shamed into spoiling your resolutions by giving in to temptation! Remember, you want to walk off the plane in the UK feeling refreshed and ready to go, not bloated and sick.

If we’ve told you once, we’ve told you again - exercise! To shift stubborn pounds, make yourself take a 15 minute swim every hour that you’re by the pool for. It’ll also stop you getting burned and encourage you to reapply more sun tan lotion, which is never a bad thing.

Finally, late-night snacking, even after a relatively-sober night, can add more calories than you’d like. If your family/friends/other half drags you to a kebab shop, opt for a wholemeal pitta with heaps of salad and hummus. If you’re feeling particularly naughty, a bit of halloumi doesn’t go amiss, but steer clear of mayo, dressings, and any kind of meat that looks like it’s floundering in grease.

Benefits And Risks Of Meal Replacement Shakes

Meal replacement shakes are a great way to lose weight. These are usually liquid shakes that have extra protein and nutrients that are used in place of one or two meals. Many of these are pre-made, so you simply shake and drink. Others are in powder form and you mix with milk or water.

There are many great benefits to using meal replacement shakes, along with proper meals and exercise to help lose weight. These benefits include:

* Convenience

These are convenient to take with you on the go and are also quick to drink, so no matter what your day consists of, you can always find time to drink your meal.

* Control

You can easily control the amount of calories you intake by using meal replacement shakes in your daily routine. All the nutrient information is displayed on the can or box of powder, so you can easily plan your meals.

* Energy

These shakes are packed with nutrients and vitamins that you need to keep your energy up throughout the day. Different shakes have different nutrients, so you should look at different labels to find the best fit for your needs.

Along with the benefits, there are also some risks from using these shakes. These risks include:

* Obesity risk

If you do not use the shakes as described, you could gain weight. These are to be used instead of a meal. If you consume three or more meals and snacks per day, along with drinking these shakes, you could gain more weight.

* Stomach pains

These shakes contain whey, lactose, soy and other products. If you have an intolerance for any of these ingredients, you should not use these shakes, because you could have digestive problems.

* Long-term Safety

There could be some long-term problems from using these shakes. Long-term safety has not been tested and could also have a bad effect on the liver and kidneys.

For the most part, meal replacement shakes are a great way to help you lose weight. If you are concerned about risks, talk to your doctor. Make sure you read all information on the product and follow directions.

Mandi writes health-related topics dedicated for patients who have had laparoscopic gastric bypass surgery to promote proper weight management and healthy lifestyle.

Say No To Fast Foods To Lose Weight

Weight loss meal plans are huge hits amongst the diet conscious people. With the problem of obesity taking the shape of an epidemic, more and more people are growing health conscious. Balanced meals with adequate proportions of nutrients are the healthiest ways of losing weight.

Tips For Weight Loss

1. Balanced diet- A basic necessity

This rising problem of obesity is largely caused due to our unhealthy lifestyle. The way we live today and the bad food habits that have become a part of our lives are mostly responsible for obesity. Instead of living on fast food and fatty meals if we switch to balanced, healthy diets we would be amazed to see the positive results that we are bound to derive.

2. Prepared plan food

Our hectic schedules and busy lifestyle do not leave us with any time to cook healthy meals. As a result of which most of us prefer to gorge on fast food. But if you truly wish to lose the excess pounds and lead a healthy life- then go for the prepared weight loss balanced meals.

3. Are they effective?

Surely, they are if you pick up the correct diet plan for yourself. For this purpose, you should consult your dietitian and make chart of the diet plan that you need to follow. Your next step would be to find a reliable company that has the expertise to prepare to quality balanced meals for weight loss purpose. These meals are measure, optimized and would be customized as per your needs and requirements.

These special planned meals meant for weight loss purpose have proved to be of great help. But then one needs to complement it with regular workout sessions and a healthy lifestyle. Generally these meal plans are followed for two to three months. For sustainable results from weight loss meal plans, stick to healthy eating habits even after the span of the balanced diet is over.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/4820298

Raise Your Metabolism With The Help Of Food

Here's a list of specific foods that raise your metabolism and help burn body fat.

Cayenne Pepper -

Oxford Polytechnic Institute proved that cayenne pepper stimulates the metabolism approximately 20%. It not only stimulates the body's metabolic rate, but also cleans fat out of the arteries. Cayenne pepper also adds great zip to foods such as spaghetti sauce and soups.

Salsa -

Salsa was proven at the Oxford Institute to stimulate the metabolism approximately 15 to 20%. It's also America's number 1 condiment now. You can throw it on anything from baked potatoes and scrambled eggs to beans and even veggies. It's going to help because it is a natural thermogenic food that increases your metabolism. Of course, the hotter the better, but only choose what best suits your taste buds.

Hot Peppers -

Dr. Henry at Oxford University proved that hot peppers were very effective at stimulating the metabolism by adding just 3 grams of chili peppers to a meal consisting of 766 calories. The peppers led to what Dr. Henry calls "a diet-induced thermo effect". "It doesn't take much", he says, "but I caution that you must listen to your taste buds."

Chili Sauce / Mustard -

British investigators added about 3/5 of a teaspoon of hot chili sauce or ordinary mustard to a meal, and the hot stuff caused average metabolism in 12 subjects to shoot up 25%! The subjects burned off an extra 45 calories in the next 3 hours. Mustard and hot sauces such as Tabasco, caused one person to burn off 76 calories!

Ice Water -

High water intake reduces fat deposits and rids the body of toxins. Simply drinking eight 16 oz. glasses of water throughout the day, cooled to 40 Fahrenheit, will burn 200 calories; that's equivalent to running 3 miles! Ice water will burn more calories since your metabolism will increase to warm the water to body temperature. It is also very effective for reducing cravings. If you're not a water fan, we suggest you experiment with purified, spring or reverse osmosis water. If you're still not convinced, add a little juice for flavor. Don't drink Ice Water with meals as it dilutes digestive enzymes. A little warm water or herb tea is a good choice then.

Green Tea (Iced or Hot) -

Studies have shown that green teas that contain both Cannatic Extract and Gymnemic Acid, reduce absorption of sugar into the blood, and lessen the craving for sweets. More importantly, green tea inhibits the action of amylase, a primary digestive enzyme of carbohydrates and therefore, moves food more quickly through the digestive system, raising the metabolism quicker, and burning more calories. Green tea is best consumed before a meal to aid digestion. Other advantages include links to cancer prevention and health benefits for people with diabetes.

Apple Cider Vinegar Drink -

An excellent fat burner, apple cider vinegar assists in the reduction of excess weight. Make a potent cocktail consisting of: 1 % teaspoons of apple cider vinegar (unpasturized) in a glass of pure water. Take twice daily.Organic apple cider vinegar has the best flavor. Apple cider vinegar has received glowing reports from both Patricia Bragg MD, Ph.D. and C. Scott. If a person who is too stout takes 1 teaspoon in a glass of water first thing in the morning and then during one other meal, he/she observes that in 2 months his/her waistline has been reduced by 1 inch. In 4 months, 2 inches and so on. Inch loss is evident but it does not always reduce weight.

The cider vinegar treatment will allow surplus fat to gradually disappear, whether it is a double chin or love handles. It is best to drink for 2-3 weeks, then go off for a week, so your body does not become immune to it. Works great for plateaus! Do not use this drink if you have Candidias.

* Thermogenic Cocktail - According to a group of Oxford researchers, hot spices can boost your metabolism by an extra 25%! A thermogenic cocktail, for instance, cayenne pepper, will assist your body not only by burning off calories, but will also give you more energy. An excellent thermogenic cocktail is a glass of V-8 or tomato juice sprinkled with cayenne and tobassco. Stir with a celery stick. Now your body is going to be cremating calories.

Not all fat burning foods have to be hot, though. Vegetables (preferably raw) and most fruits also increase your metabolism. Okay, maybe you haven't been too keen on veggies in the past, but many of them are very tasty and some fruits are as sweet as candy. All vegetables are good, but the most effective for flushing out the system are the following:

Cabbage -

Red or green cabbage should be shredded, raw or steamed. Start including cabbage in your diet as it is a longevity food. Studies in the United States, Greece and Japan have shown that people who eat a lot of cabbage are less likely to develop colon cancer, and also have a lower incidence of disease-related death. Try coleslaw instead of green salad with your next meal.

Celery -

Celery takes more energy from the body to absorb and digest than the calories it provides. Celery has also long been used as a nerve tonic; it's a good, crunchy raw vegetable to chew on if you are stressed out. Celery will calm your nerves, help flush fat out of your system, and make you sleep better. Try eating celery with low-fat yogurt dip.

Brussel Sprouts -

If you are a fan of these mini cabbages, you are in luck. Dr. Wattenburg's research concluded that brussel sprouts are an ultra-nutritious vegetable, extremely high in vitamin C and richer in protein than any other vegetable. Dr. Wattenburg recorded that healthy young people given a diet rich in brussel sprouts and cabbage improved the functioning of their metabolic systems.

Broccoli and Cauliflower -

Both broccoli and cauliflower rank number 1 as America's favorite vegetable, according to a poll by the Epcot Center. Your bones will love them, as they are one of the few calcium-containing vegetables. A cup of broccoli provides over 150 mg of calcium. Broccoli and cauliflower are both great in stir-fries or casseroles.

Lemon or Vinegar -

A small amount of vinegar or lemon juice (1 tablespoon), because of its acidity has a powerful slowing effect on stomach emptying, thereby slowing down the rate of starch digestion. Have a glass of water with lemon in the morning. It's a great way to keep your blood sugar balanced.

Vinaigrette Dressing -

A vinaigrette dressing (1 tablespoon vinegar and 2 teaspoons of oil) with your salad can lower the blood sugar response to the whole meal by up to 30 percent. Best vinegars for this are red or white wine vinegars. For other delicious low­fat salad dressings, please refer to my 201 Fat Burning Recipe Book.

Apples - A low-glycemic, low-insulin food loaded with pectin, apples leave you feeling fuller, longer. According to Dr. James Anderson, apples prevent hunger pains by guarding against dangerous swings or drops in your blood sugar levels. An average-sized apple provides only 81 calories and lowers blood sugar and blood pressure. Because of their high fiber content, apples are also a heart-healthy food.

Grapefruit -

Grapefruit is not a diet myth. It actually helps dissolve fat and high cholesterol, as proven at the University of Florida, by Dr. James Cerda. Grapefruits are loaded with over 15 grams of pectin, which helps curb your appetite by expanding in the body and making you feel fuller, longer. It is rich in natural galacturonic acid, which adds to the potential to fight fat and cholesterol. Try sprinkling cinnamon on your grapefruit to reduce the tart taste, or a little fructose if you have a sweet tooth. For a unique taste, sprinkle the grapefruit with cinnamon and broil for a few minutes; it makes a nice appetizer for a meal.

Berries -

Berries are one of the best rate reduction foods. They have a natural fructose to satisfy your cravings for sweets, but enough fiber so you can absorb fewer calories than you eat. British researchers found that the high content of insoluble fiber, found in most berries and vegetables, reduces the absorption of calories from foods enough to promote weight loss, without hampering your nutrition. Berries are also an excellent source of potassium which is effective for your blood pressure control. Enjoy berries; they make a great dessert when topped with low-fat yogurt. In the summer, drink fresh berry juice with

a protein powder, for a light snack..

Due to their high glycemic measure, fruits to consume only occasionally include:

Apricots - Raisins - Watermelon - Papaya - Bananas - Mango

In large quantities, these fruits drive your blood sugar to the sky, but they are fine to mix in with a salad or be eaten with other foods, to help neutralize the glycemic effect.

On the other hand, the following foods actually slow digestion and absorption for a more balanced blood sugar level. The fiber from these fruits also binds with some fat to prevent its absorption. High fiber foods are beneficial for speeding up bowel transit time and to taking some stress off the liver as less toxins form, allowing the body to metabolize more efficiently.

- Apples
- Berries
- Cherries
- Grapes
- Grapefruit
- Oranges
- Peaches
- Pears

Fatty Fish -

Fighting fat with fat may sound paradoxical, but not all fats make people fat. Omega 3 fatty acids, found in salmon, mackerel, tuna and other fatty fish, can increase the metabolic rate, rid the body of excess fluids and increase energy levels. Dr. Joel Krener, University of Florida, discovered that daily supplements of EPA (found in health food stores) brought dramatic relief for inflammation and stiff joints from rheumatoid arthritis. Other essential fats for a healthy metabolism are Omega 6 fatty acids, especially Gamma Linolenic Acid (GLA). Good sources are evening primrose oil, borage seed oil and black current oil. If you are not a fish lover, fish oil capsules and flaxseed (either in seed form or as an oil) are great sources of Omega 3 essential fat. In fact, flaxseed may play a role in the prevention of heart disease and cancer. You can also use flaxseed oil as a salad dressing.

Soup -

Forget the salad before a meal; have soup instead. A study by Dr. John Foreyt of Baylord College of Medicine, found that people who consumed a bowl of soup before lunch or dinner lost more weight than dieters who didn't. This is because soup fills you up better than salad, since salad generally consists of 75% water.

Oatmeal -

Oats drive down cholesterol. 23 out of 25 studies prove that a large bowl of oatmeal did the job. Oatmeal is a great, long chain molecule food that expands in the body and makes you feel fuller, longer. Oatmeal also releases glucose into the blood stream, slowly but surely. Add buckwheat to your bowl and you'll get a double whammy.

Pumpernickel Bread -

Studies at Michigan State University show that some breads reduce the appetite and others did just the opposite. The reason for these study results is that white and whole-wheat varieties are high on the glycemic index, and elevate the blood sugar greatly, which in turn stimulates fat production in storage.

Breads that are dense, high fiber breads, do just the opposite. Researchers found that subjects who ate dark, high fiber breads, compared to those who ate white bread, were less hungry on a daily basis and

- lost five pounds in just two months without doing anything else differently.

A key to choosing dark breads, such as pumpernickel, mixed grains and some whole-wheat's, is that the more chewing the bread requires, the more density and fiber it contains. If the bread melts in your mouth, it is a high glycemic food.

By the time you are 30 years old - 60 percent of living better and longer is attributed to the choices you make on a daily basis, not your genes. By the time you are 50 - it is up to a staggering 70 percent. Learn how to slow the aging process with the best HGH human growth hormone supplements. Your longevity and health are not necessarily hard wired in your genes. Supplementing with the best HGH can help slow the entire aging process.

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