The Healthy Wat To Lose Weight

By Christopher Rom

Low-fat diet's involve the reduction of fat in a persons diet. Your calorie consumption is reduced for the purpose of ssing weight. Diets of this type include NCEP Step I and II. A meta-analysis of 16 trials of 2-12 months' duration found that low-fat diets resulted in weight loss of 3.2 kg (7.1 lb) over eating as normal. Some low carbohydrate diets such as Atkins and Protein Power are relatively high in fat and protein. They are very popular in the press but are not recommended by the American Heart Association. A review of over 100 studies did not find that low-carbohydrate diets cause weight loss, except when calorie intake was restricted. No adverse effects from low carbohydrate diets were detected.

The low-calorie diets will usually produce a average deficit of 500-1,000 calories per day, and may result in a 0.5 kilogram (1.1 lb) weight loss per week. They include the DASH diet and Weight Watchers among others. The National Institutes of Health reviewed 34 randomized controlled trials to determine the effectiveness of low-calorie diets. They found that these diets lowered total body mass by 8% over 3-12 months.Very low calorie diets provide 200-800 kcal/day, maintaining protein intake but limiting calories from both fat and carbohydrates. They subject the body to starvation and produce an average weekly weight loss of 1.5-2.5 kilograms (3.3-5.5 lb). These diets are not recommended for general use as they are associated with adverse side effects such as loss of lean muscle mass, increased risks of gout, and electrolyte imbalances. People attempting these diets must be monitored closely by a physician to prevent complications.

Loss of weight typically involves the loss of fat, water and muscle. Overweight people, or people suffering from obesity, typically aim to reduce the percentage of body fat. Additionally, as muscle tissue is denser than fat, fat loss results in increased loss of body volume compared with muscle loss. Reducing even 10% body fat can therefore have a dramatic effect on a person's body shape. To determine the proportion of weight loss that is due to decreased fat tissue, various methods of measuring body fat percentage have been developed.

Losing muscle can occur during weight loss but can be restricted by regularly lifting weights (or strength-oriented calisthenics or isometrics) and by maintaining sufficient protein intake. Those on low-carbohydrate diets, and those doing particularly strenuous exercise, may wish to increase their protein intake. The National Academy of Sciences states that the Dietary reference intake for protein is "0.8 grams per kilogram of body weight for adults." Over extended periods of time excessive protein intake may cause liver and kidney problems and may be a risk factor for heart disease. There is no conclusive evidence that moderately high protein diets in healthy individuals are dangerous, it has only been shown that these diets are dangerous in individuals who already have kidney and liver problems.

The energy intake from food is limited by the efficiency of digestion and the efficiency of utilization. The efficiency of digestion is largely dependent on the type of food being eaten, while efficiency of utilization is affected by individual factors, including body weight and hormones. Also the effects of chewing, especially in elderly people, have been shown to affect the intake of micro-nutrients. However, there was no significant effect on the intake of macro-nutrients, such as sugars, fats, and proteins.

Your bodies nutrients are provided from six separate classes: proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, dietary minerals, and water. Carbohydrates are metabolized to provide energy. Proteins provide amino acids, which are required for cell construction, especially for the construction of muscle cells. Essential fatty acids are required for brain and cell membrane construction. Vitamins and trace minerals help maintain proper electrolyte balance and are required for many metabolic processes. Dietary fiber is another food component which influences health even though it is not actually absorbed into the body.

All diet's that fail to meet minimum nutritional requirements can threaten general health (and physical fitness in particular). If a person is not well enough to be active, weight loss and good quality of life will be unlikely.Check out the National Academy of Sciences and the World Health Organization because they publish guidelines for dietary intakes of all known essential nutrients. Sometimes people on a diet will ingest excessive amounts of vitamin and mineral supplements. While this is usually harmless, some nutrients are dangerous. Men (and women who don't menstruate) need to be wary of iron poisoning. Retinol (oil-soluble vitamin A) is toxic in large doses. As a general rule, most people can get the nutrition they need from foods. In any event, a multivitamin taken once a day will suffice for the majority of the population.

Weight-loss diets which manipulate the proportion of macronutrients (low-fat, low-carbohydrate, etc.) have not been found to be more effective than diets which maintain a typical mix of foods with smaller portions and perhaps some substitutions (e.g. low-fat milk, or less salad dressing). Extreme diets may, in some cases, lead to malnutrition. So please be very careful with these types if this is what you choose. - 17274

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If you have a few extra pounds you wish to get rid of check this outFree Report

Christmas Breakfasts That You Really Should Try

By Adriana Noton

Christmas is a time for indulgence, decadence and no regrets for all things food. And there is absolutely no reason why this should not be applied to breakfasts as well as everything else.

If you are also having to prepare the Christmas dinner; another huge meal may not be to your liking. And of course, that is fair enough; but this doesn't mean you can't indulge yourself a little.

Simple ideas for breakfasts, that are also sumptuous, include smoked Scottish salmon, scrambled eggs and, (if you want to be particularly extravagant) a grating of truffle. If however this is not really in your budget, a similar taste could be achieved by adding a little truffle oil to your eggs. Served with a lightly toasted bagel, it really is something special.

Another easily made breakfast is a bacon croissant. Place some bacon, (ideally smoked streaky), in your frying pan and fry until just cooked, (but not super crispy). Whilst frying, put your oven on and place two baking trays on the shelves. Meanwhile, slice and butter a croissant and spread a little tomato puree on one side.

Once your bacon is done; place this on the croissant and sprinkle with some grated cheese. Place this on one of the baking trays, and place the second on top; pressing down a little. Put this back in the oven for a few minutes, or alternatively on a sandwich toaster, and serve whilst still hot.

The best of all the breakfasts to have though, particularly at Christmas, is a traditional "Full English Breakfast". Broiled, (grilled) or fried is good; just have it your way.

Traditionally, an "English Breakfast" will comprise bacon, sausages, baked beans, mushrooms and egg; though there really are no limits to what you can add.

These additions include, (but are no means limited to); fried bread, (bring a good portion of butter to a simmer and fry the bread on both sides until golden), fried onions or onion rings, blood (or black) pudding, sauteed potatoes and chopped tomatoes.

The basics of cooking such a meal are quite straight forward; however there are a few tips that you could try to make it one of the most memorable breakfasts ever had by your guests.

For the baked beans, try cooking them slowly with a few added ingredients. Bring them to just before boiling very quickly, and then turn your cooker right down. Add half a cup of milk and a quarter cup of butter per can of beans, along with a squeeze of garlic puree and a good grind of pepper. Simmer gently for fifteen to twenty minutes.

With the fried bread too, a nice little trick is to turn it into "eggy bread". Rather than slather on the butter, thoroughly coat each slice in beaten egg and fry until golden. For a real sense of season; add a sprinkling of cinnamon or nutmeg to the egg.

Of course, if these breakfasts are a little too much; you could always have a nice bowl of oatmeal!? - 17274

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Breakfasts has been claimed to be the most important meal of the day. By eating breakfast, it allows the brain to function better so one can focus more easily. For more healthy recipe ideas, visit us today!

Week Two With HCG Dieting

By Amelia Handley

I think we're pretty much for sure all set. Lisa (my friend that agreed to do the HCG diet with me) and I went ahead and made our orders. Our HCG Diet Direct HCG diet kits are in the mail. We both got the basic formula and I added the cookbook and the B-Total Sublingual to my order.

The B-Total has to give me an edge, but since I made it very clear to Lisa that I was adding the additional products (and actually urged her to do the same) I still feel like the bet is on and it's all fair. She was aware that I ordered it and she decided not to order it. So my "advantage" is fair.

Our online "sharing" of the HCG diet with daily articles means that I need to share the details of our purchase process. It was great. The website was easy to navigate. The checkout process was secure and easy. They take all major credit cards and we got receipts emailed to use right away.

I even received an email updating my order status to "shipped" within hours of my order. I have to say that I was really impressed. That's efficient service. I'm not sure if Lisa received a similar email updating her shipping status or not because I haven't talked her since we ordered, but I assume she did.

Our products should arrive pretty quickly and we got a great deal on it because not only were most of the HCG Diet Direct products and HCG diet kits on sale, but I found an online coupon code that gave us an additional discount. You have to love that! We expect our HCG diet kits to arrive within the week. And that works out perfect because after studying the calendar we decided it was just too serendipitous that Thanksgiving is right around the corner. It's the perfect "loading" day. The first two days of the diet you are supposed to eat a lot of fatty calories from what I understand. I'll go into further detail once I have the full instructions that should come with the HCG diet kits.

So to sum up...so far we've ordered our HCG diet kits and set a date to start the HCG diet. That would be the very monumental day before Thanksgiving. It won't even be a big deal because the 25 days will be completed right before my favorite holiday, Christmas! At least I tell myself that makes it a whole lot better. But I'm sure it's still going to be really tough. 500 calories per day; I'm starting to think really hard about it right about now with the start date right around the corner. - 17274

About the Author:

Amelia Handley studied exercise science at university with a minor in Nutrition. Yet she still found herself veering from diet to diet in order to control her weight. With HCG Diet Direct she's found a program that allows her to combine her desire to control her own body weight with her education and not feel off balance.

Fish Oil Benefits: Your Body Cannot Live Without Them

By Daniel Fittman

There are so many fish oil benefits, it might make more sense to discuss what it does not do, rather than what it does. Although fish oil may seem nothing short of miraculous, this is for good reason. Fish oil gives your body what it needs for proper functioning.

When it comes to fish oil, not all fish are created equal. The oil needs to be from cold water oily fish such as salmon, cod, mackerel and herring, to name a few. The deeper and fresher the water, the better for your health as the fish will be less likely to contain mercury.

The substances we need from these fish are Omega 3 fatty acids. Our bodies cannot synthesize what we need, so we need to get these from either our diets or by taking a supplement. And, for most of us, it is difficult to get sufficient stores from diet alone.

These fish oil fatty acids are necessary for many systems in the body but one of the most important is the cardiovascular system. Studies have shown that they have an effect on the cholesterol levels in the body, increasing the good cholesterol and decreasing the bad. They inhibit production of artery plaques, therefore helping to protect from strokes and heart attacks. In addition, they help to lower blood pressure.

Omega 3 acids are essential for good brain health as well. They have a direct impact on the cognitive and behavioral functioning of the brain. A deficiency in these acids has been linked to several different disorders including mental illnesses and diseases such as Alzheimers and Parkinsons. Fish oil supplements are proving to have a positive effect on sufferers, including children, of ADD and ADHD.

Fish oil fatty acids play an important role in brain and nervous system development. Therefore, it is an important supplement for pregnant women to aid in proper development of the fetus. There are also studies showing that premature deliveries are less common when supplementing with fish oil.

Omega 3s in fish oil also act as anti-inflammatories and can be used for reducing inflammation and pain in any such condition in the body. Examples of these conditions include lupus, inflammatory bowel disease, arthritis and prostatitis. The anti-inflammatory aspect of fish oil can also work on reduction of wrinkles in the skin. The acids also increase collagen production, which is a further aid in more youthful skin.

There are studies that have found fish oil to be a possible aid for cancer prevention, especially in the colon, prostrate and breast. The fatty acids help to keep normal cells from becoming cancerous, they kill off cancer cells and stop abnormal cell growth.

Another fish oil benefit, but hardly the last, is promotion of serotonin production and inhibition of stress producing hormones. Serotonin is a hormone that basically makes us feel good from an emotional standpoint. Between these two functions, we feel happier and less stressed and, as a result, our immune system is stronger as well.

There are more fish oil benefits that could be added, but the point is made. These fish oil fatty acids are vital for your health. When you look for a supplement, be sure that you find one that has no fillers and no preservatives. You want a high quality supplement made from nothing but cold-water fish. - 17274

About the Author:

Daniel runs a website dedicated to the fish oil and its benefits where you can find information about fish oil side effectsand other fish oil related information.

Do Diet Plans That Helps Maintain Lean Tissue and Reduce Stubborn Fat Really Exist?

By Josh Wintrop

Have you experimented with a variety of exercise programs, weight loss products, diet plans, and pricey exercise equipment throughout the years? Were you able to reach any of your weight loss goals through their use? In reality, the majority of these weight loss products will only produce short term results, which may be the source of the problem. If your goal is not only losing the extra weight, but maintaining that weight loss for the long term, then a "lifestyle change" is actually what will be required to help you realize success.

Now, when looking for this type of a weight loss program, there are a few things that you need to take into consideration. Another benefit of going for a weight loss plan which burns the fat while feeding the muscle is that it is a generally healthier way to lose weight.

If you've ever noticed how athletes who are lean tip the scales just right, it is because their bodies are made up of lean muscle and they have very minimal body fat. With a fat loss program, it is only the fat which is being lost - not your water weight - and you are also performing steps to build up muscle mass at the same time.

Let's compare methods that involve losing fat with those that target the loss of water weight. Fat-burning weight loss programs help you to lose weight due to excess fat slowly and will allow you to achieve results that can be maintained for the long term.

With weight loss programs, although you may be temporarily pleased with the quick results, in combination with the water weight that you will be losing, you will also be shedding lean tissue and fat. You will be exclusively losing fat, not water weight, with a fat loss program, while simultaneously working on building up muscle mass.

Lean athletes who are able to maintain the proper weight, can do so because they have extremely small amounts of body fat and their bodies are composed of mainly lean muscle. A plan that concentrates on fat burning has the added advantage of being a healthier method of losing weight while feeding your muscle.

There are several things to take into account when choosing a plan for weight loss. It's important to ascertain that the author has thorough knowledge of the subject. You can gain some insight into the effectiveness of the weight loss and exercise program by browsing online reviews and feedback from previous users.

If you really want to shed off the excess pounds that you have and keep them off on a long-term basis, you need to look for a something which can be considered as a 'lifestyle change'. Over the years, how many exercise programs, diet plans, weight loss products and expensive exercise equipment have you tried? Did any of them actually help in achieving your weight loss goals? After all, your goal in following such a weight loss program is to live a healthier lifestyle while shedding off the excess pounds that you have at the same time - and the best way to accomplish just that is by burning the fat and feeding the muscle at the same time. - 17274

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Learn more about how you can burn the fat while maintaining your muscles with Burn the Fat Feed the Muscle Review

What an Abs Program Must Have to Get You a Six Pack

By Chuck Brady

If you have been searching for the right abs program, there is a good chance that you have been searching for a while. Probably you didn't imagine that it would take as long as it has. What's even worse is that you most likely haven't even found anything that works yet! Why is it so hard to obtain six pack abs? Because of all of the assumptions that have been made about how to achieve them.

Wasting your time on an abs program is pointless. You know what you want, but do not know how to get it on your own. Some of the most athletic people struggle with obtaining and maintaining six pack abs. The reason why is because of the false information they have been led to believe. If you're abiding by all the wrong rules, you're going to fall flat on your face. When people search for an abs program, they need to stop and think about what they are doing. More over, they need to know what they want from the program. Obviously, you want the six pack abs, but how much are you willing to put into it? Setting realistic expectations is the best thing to do. And when we say realistic, we are not talking about doing hundreds of crunches per day.

How about your diet? Have you ever noticed that most programs out there require you to cut out whole food groups? There is no way that you muscles can grow without the proper nutrients. The way to staying overweight is to starve yourself and the way to six pack abs and an astonishing figure is to keep your body nourished. If more people could understand that, then a lot more of them would have those flashy abs and mesmerizing figures that they dream of.

Do you know what it is that you want in an abs program? If you're willing to do numerous amount of crunches per day and eat next to nothing, then more power to you, but you're very likely to become discouraged. Want to know a secret? It's impossible get a six pack by doing a lot of crunches. The reason is because you are supposed to treat your abdominal muscles like every other muscle group in your body.

A good abs training program shouldn't involve hours of heavy training and a strict diet regimen. Again, that may work, but who is going to stick to something like that? Those types of programs are the exact reason why so many other abs programs have such a bad reputation. Have you ever seen those ab machine and crunch devices? Pretty pathetic, right? You've probably owned a couple yourself. The people on television make them look so effective, but when you receive them in the mail, they're really a piece of crap. Not to mention, most are very complicated to use and when you finally do go to perform a movement, you can't even feel it! Why? Because they really don't work. You don't need any fancy equipment to look good. Those ab devices are just other people's ways of making a quick buck because they know that millions of people want a quick and easy way to get six pack abs, so they lie to you to get you to buy their cheap and ineffective equipment.

If you want to know the truth, a good abs program should be informative. Once you know what to do, then you are all ready to go. You should also treat your abs like every other muscle group in your body. When sculpting and toning your arms and legs, do you do 1000 repetitions? Of course not! It's common sense really. If you look hard enough, you'll find the right program, just remember to be aware of what to watch out for because it's really not as hard as it seems. - 17274

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A good flat abs fitness program stimulates you both physically and mentally, and really gets that six pack you want! Discover the truth about the successful abs program that is achieving huge popularity because it works!

Are You Sure You Want to Deal with HCG Diet Clinics?

By Amelia Handley

I like the sound of the HCG diet so far. I've just started posting daily articles of my progress as I research, plan and then actually DO the HCG diet. At first I thought I should probably look into HCG diet clinics. What I noticed was that there wasn't one convenient to my home. I was supposed to be there daily. And I was supposed to pay to be there daily. (I hate paying for office visits!)

It didn't take me long to decide HCG diet clinics were not for me. My next step was to look into online options. After searching around and reading up on companies I decided to work with HCG Diet Direct. I already published several articles throughout the research and preparation modes of the diet. And I already went through the various products offered by HCG Diet Direct to see which ones I felt would help me navigate the diet successfully.

I limited myself to two additional products (the homeopathic HCG weight loss formula is vital of course). I decided on the cookbook because it would give me a bit of variety with different recipes. And I chose the B-Total Sublingual because I read great reviews about it being beneficial in weight loss and I had heard of it prior to looking into HCG.

Because I felt bad that there were a lot of really fabulous products that I didn't choose (not because I didn't want to; but because I don't have access to unlimited amounts of money) I have to mention the other products before moving on! The first one I noticed was HCG Diet Metabolizer and Energy Supplement. It's got Green Tea in it as well as Potassium. It's also designed specifically for this particular type of diet.

It's all natural...which is just natural since that's a big deal at HCG Diet Direct. Their formula is also all natural. The HCG Diet Metabolizer and Energy Supplement provides extra energy, boosts the metabolism, and includes vitamins and minerals for the HCG dieter. It also decreases the probability of muscle cramps.

While I personally didn't pick it to go along with my HCG diet drops (didn't mean to diss it; I just couldn't buy EVERYTHING) other people have used it to help them successfully complete the diet. One user thought this particular HCG diet vitamin supplement was vital. She said she looked everywhere for a vitamin supplement specific to the HCG diet and she had a really hard time finding one. She said that it gave her more energy and decreased her hunger while on the diet.

Another woman that offered a testimonial suggested that it was a vital aspect for her during maintenance after she completed the HCG diet. She said she wouldn't have made it through maintenance without the added energy and the lowered cravings.

And after telling you how fabulous it is I'm starting to doubt my choice of products again, dang it! But I'm going to stick to my guns. It seems to pack a really big punch: vitamins, energy, less hunger cravings. So it's definitely one to consider! - 17274

About the Author:

Amelia Handley majored in exercise science in college with a minor in Nutrition. Yet she still found herself veering from diet to diet in order to control her weight. With HCG Diet Direct she's found a program that allows her to combine her desire to control her own body weight with her education and not feel off balance.

Healthy Breakfast Foods Explained

By Jamis Hartley

At the start of each day it is essential to give our bodies the nutrients needed to keep our bodies functioning through the daily demands. If we don't eat what our bodies need our body will begin to tell us so and most likely you will end up eating something you shouldn't. Skipping breakfast is not an effective way to lose weight or manage health.

Getting the right start to the day means that you don't get that let down feeling about ten o'clock that has you reaching for the doughnuts, the candy bar, or something equally lacking in nutritional value. The fast things we put into our mouths are generally not only unsound nutritionally, but offer us empty calories that pack on the pounds more easily.

The healthy breakfast foods are those full of nutrient rich ingredients. Whole foods, like fruits and vegetables and whole wheat grain products are full of nutrition that will sustain your body with the need energy. Those foods advertised as fast and convenient are usually low in substance with add-in vitamins that look good on the box but there is nothing to them. Your stomach never gets full because there is no substance.

Think about those foods that are typically offered for a quick breakfast and you're going to find processed sugars by the ton. Typical cold cereals may have high sugar, high fat aspects that give you edgy fluctuations in the glucose levels in your body later that morning. It's probably better to select something else, although you won't hear that from the ad agencies.

Healthy breakfast foods are going to be those that are more slowly broken down by your digestive system. Unlike the sugary cereals that boost your blood sugar to give you that boost but let you down, whole foods will fill your tummy and give you the sustainable energy to work and play and not snack and wait for the next meal. Real food with real ingredients and not just sugar and vitamins will keep your blood sugar steady and provide the nutrition your muscles and bones need.

When you think healthy breakfast foods, think higher in fiber, higher in whole grains, added protein, extra iron. Bran cereals, whole wheat, high fiber foods are going to give you the edge that you want when it comes to your breakfast. - 17274

About the Author:

While looking for healthy breakfast foods please consider the experience and expertise of Doctor Grandma. DoctorGrandmas.com has been a providing premium healthy breakfast foods and healthy eating tips. Find recipes and great eating tips for FREE at www.doctorgrandmas.com

How I Was Able To Increase My Vertical Leap...

By Brayden Fisher

Hey, how's it going today? I appreciate you visiting my website. Since you are reading this article, you are probably interested in information on how to increase your vertical leap. You are definately in the right spot.

My name is Brayden Fisher. I'm no one special, just a regular guy and an athlete who loves fitness training. However, one question that I get asked all the time is......"How are you able to jump so high?". You see, with some SERIOUS HARD WORK, I was able to increase my vertical leap by 12 inches in seven months! I am writing this article to help others out and let them know how I was able to do it. So let's get started.

How I Was Able To Increase My Vertical Leap From 31 to 43 Inches

I know, I know, you want the exercises...but we need to learn the basics before we get started. The more we understand HOW we should train and WHY we are training this way, the faster and better our results will be.

When it comes down to it, I was able to improve my vertical jump by focusing on two things. Improving my POWER and EXPLOSION.

Alright, Brayden that's nice but what are you talking about when you say...POWER? The definition of power in our case is your STRENGTH X SPEED. During the jumping process, your power is the amount of force that you are able to apply to the ground to launch you into the air. The more power you have the higher you are going to travel.

I used a combination of strength training and plyometric exercises to get the best results.

Most people spend WAY TOO MUCH TIME focusing on their calves when trying to improve their vertical leap. These are not the muscles you should be worried about. 80 percent of your jumping power comes from the quads and hamstings. Since these are the muscles that give us most of our power, we are going to focus on improving their strength.

Alright, we have covered the basics. Now for the good stuff...

The Best Exercises I Used to Increase My Vertical Leap

If you implement these exercises into your workouts you WILL increase your vertical leap. Just remember, it isn't going to happen overnight. You will have to train HARD and lift really HEAVY weight to get the results you want.

Also, the type of exercises that worked best for me, may not be the exercises that work the best for you. For example, if you already have very strong quads and hamstrings, performing really heavy squats may not give you the best results. In this case I would recommend focusing on more plyometric exercises and developing your speed and fast twitch muscle fibers.

Although, as a general rule, if you can't squat at least twice your body weight then hit the weights. If you can, then focus on more plyos. Here are a few of the top exercises I recommend:

- Squats - Deadlifts - Good Mornings - Hamstring Curls - Calve Raises - Knee Ups - Depth Jumps - 50 and 100 Yard Sprints - Use the Jump Rope

When doing the strength exercises we want to make sure we are lifting as heavy weight as possible and do no more than 3 sets of 8 reps. Try to train with 80-85% of your one rep max. This will insure that you are recruiting all of your muscle fibers and motor units.

I obviously can't tell you everything you need to know about how I was able to increase my vertical leap from one small article. So I recommend checking out my other sites that are listed below: - 17274

About the Author:

If you are interested in getting more information on how I was able to increase my vertical leap, then head over to my website at: www.40inchvertical.net for the latest training and workouts.

Learning About Healthy Food

By Amy Smith

he 10 healthiest foods differ depending on the country you live in. In the United States of America, there is some debate over the 10 healthiest foods by experts. However, one thread consistent is that the foods all meet a standard in terms of nutrition. The foods referenced in this article are recommended by clinical sources.

One recommended food is the apple. The saying "An apple a day keeps the doctor away" should not be taken in vain. The apple is a wonderful source of Vitamin C. They are also high in fiber. Almonds are another extremely healthy food. Like apples, almonds are high in fiber. They are also an excellent source of vitamin E. Blueberries are a good source of fiber and vitamin C. They are also crucial in promoting healthy aging and preventing infection. Broccoli is said to be another very healthy food. It is known as a great source of vitamins A and C. Broccoli also helps prevent diabetes and heart disease. Beans are an excellent source of fiber and protein. They are very low in fat and cholesterol and help prevent against cancer.

Another of the 10 healthiest foods is salmon. While most fish is known to be healthy, salmon is loaded with omega-3 fatty acids. It also reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease and an excellent source of protein. Like broccoli, spinach has high levels of vitamins A and C. It is also said to promote healthy nails, skin and hair. Sweet potatoes are misleading because of the amount of sugar people think they contain.

They are actually very good sources of potassium, vitamins B-6, C and E. Vegetable juice is a wonderful way to capture of the nutrients and vitamins of whole fruits and vegetables that are lost during cooking. There are many varieties and people tend to find it easier to drink juice than find servings of cooked vegetables and fruit throughout the day. Another of the 10 healthiest foods is wheat germ. Wheat germ has good levels of potassium, vitamin E and iron.

While the 10 healthiest foods are debatable, it is important to keep in mind that the way the food is prepared could be just as important as what the food actually is. Food that is eaten whole has the best nutritional value. If the food has to be cooked, steaming is the best method to preserving nutrients. - 17274

About the Author:

I love to give health and psychic advice on my free psychic reading daily.

Avoiding the Flu

By Dr. Jason Fowler

Since mid-Fall TV commercials have been trumpeting the horrors of the "flu season". "It's never too soon to begin fighting this year's bug" they blare. Public health announcements urge us to get our "yearly flu shot", as if this is something we have got permanently scheduled in our Blackberries. All the leading over-the-counter pain medications offer special seasonal "flu" mixtures, and their ads deluge daytime and prime-time broadcasting.

For the health consumer, namely us, it seems as if this annual "war on the flu" is received wisdom. We are just defenseless human beings at the mercy of the all-powerful flu virus.

What's wrong with this picture?

What is never mentioned in the "flu warning" marketing is the versatility and adaptability of our remarkable immune system. We're the lucky owners of a built-in state-of-the-art biowarfare system, on-the-job 24/7 to combat microscopic foreign invaders of our health and well-being. Once our immune system has detected a foreign protein it mounts an immediate defense, attacking and destroying the alien molecules. And, the memory of that particular invader is permanent, enabling a future immune response to be swift and effective.1

The big issue with influenza is that new strains appear each year. We have never encountered these germs before. But, the whole basis and strength of our immune system is flexibility. It is specially designed to respond quickly to new attackers. And, for the most part, it does this very, very well.

Of course, no one wants their dinner companion to sneeze in their plate of pasta, as Elaine did on an infamous episode of "Seinfeld". Through a typical cascade of unfortunate events, Jerry's and George's comedy pilot was almost scuttled because the network executive was Elaine's date, and he got violently ill by being on the receiving end of her blast of micro-bugs.

In the real world, our immune systems can be weakened due to life habits, circumstances, and stress. Stress is a notorious compromiser of immune defenses.2 And, of course, being human, there is plenty of stress from dawn to dusk. If worry and anxiety pile on top of not-enough-sleep or sub-optimal nutrition, getting sick is a pretty likely outcome. So, developing and maintaining healthy habits of living and successful strategies for managing stress is really the key.3

If you do the simple things that keep you healthy and well, in the winter months you can pretty much "let the flu go around you". You can be confident, knowing you have done the work to fight off the latest flu threat. Someone else's germs are their germs, not yours. If your immune system is on the job, you're far less likely to "catch" something.

And, even if you do succumb, you've a much better chance of getting well again quickly.

1Sompayrac L: How the Immune System Works, 2nd ed. Blackwell, 2002. 2Wein H:Stress and disease - new perspectives. NIH Word on Health, October 2000. 3The Truth About Your Immune System - What You Need To Know. Harvard Health Publications, 2007. - 17274

About the Author:

For more information on health feel free to contactDr. Jason FowlerDr. Jason Fowler

The Grapefruit Diet Just A Hollywood Fad Diet

By Ron Cripps

One of the popular fad diets in Hollywood was the grapefruit diet. It dates back to the'30s, and many Hollywood stars of the time swore by it. It remained popular until the mid-1970s, when it became one of the diets that was sent from fax machine to fax machine, creating a phenomenon known as xerox lore. The diet is credited to the Mayo Clinic, which clearly states that it has nothing to do with the diet and that this diet is not healthy.

The grapefruit diet is essentially like the Atkins diet with the addition of a grapefruit before each meal. There are no snacks allowed on this strict three meals a day diet. The diet made astounding claims lose a pound each day for 10 days.

The distribution was just as far fetched no weight loss for four days then five pounds lost all on the fifth day. It was based on the claim that grapefruit contains fat burning enzymes, something that has never been proven.

In 2004 a scientific study determined that it is possible that the grapefruit diet helps people lose weight. 1/2 grapefruit with each meal helped people lose 3.6 pounds in only 12 weeks. Those who drank the serving of grapefruit juice at each meal lost just slightly less weight in the same period of time. Some people lost as much as 10 pounds in the 12 week study.

Researchers attributed the weight loss to decreased insulin levels caused by eating grapefruit. However, all the participants slightly enhanced their exercise programs, which may account for the lost weight.

Here's a typical grapefruit diet:

- Eight 8 ounce glasses of water each day, this is a must. - Stop eating when full. - Eat all the food listed at each meal, skipping food interferes with fat burning. - Grapefruit is the key so eat that as specified. - Drink only up to 1 cup of coffee at meals. - No snacking. - Butter is OK. - Do not eat desserts, breads, white vegetables, or sweet potatoes. - Meat and vegetables are fine. - Eating more will actually result in more weight loss. - Follow the diet for 12 days, skip two days, then start again. - Eat one half grapefruit, or drink' ounce glass of grapefruit, with each meal.

The grapefruit diet may be for you if you like this regimented lifestyle. ut to me you need some flexibility in your diet and at least some foods that you like to eat. - 17274

About the Author:

This article on our health blog is for those that are Looking For The Grapefruit Diet there are numerous things to consider before starting any diet. Check out our in depth articles on numerous diets found online such as the Fat Loss 4 Idiots Weight Loss Program and Diet Center.