Friday, March 13, 2009
Eating Bananas For Weight Loss - Is It For Real?
By Expert Author: Amanda Isbitt
There are many people out there that have tried every diet known to man and still can't lose weight. Some Diets are claiming that you can lose 20 pounds in just 33 days by eating bananas! This has already been done in Japan with enormous success. Exercise and changing your normal daily diet are not even necessary.
Just how amazing is the banana? Most people don't realize just how beneficial bananas are. There are only 95 calories and 0.5 grams of fat in a single banana. Even if you have an ulcer, they are safe. They will soothe your stomach and reduce heartburn. They can reduce blood pressure
, keep your heart healthy, and improve the quality of your skin and hair. They contain large amounts of insoluble carbohydrates. This can help burn excess body fat. They also contain enzymes that will help boost your metabolism, also aiding the fat-burning process.
They do not contain any sodium or cholesterol, therefore great at preventing heart disease and cancer. They are rich in vitamin C and B6, potassium, fiber, and magnesium. There are amounts of serotonin and norepinephrine in bananas that can help people who suffer from depression. Research has shown that eating a banana helps to put you in a good mood! Since very few people are allergic to them, they are virtually safe for everyone to eat. They are a popular food for babies because they are so easy to digest.
So, how does this diet work? You eat 1 or 2 before each meal, then eat whatever you want for the meal. You can occasionally replace your banana with an apple before breakfast or lunch if you're getting tired of them. In Japan, their version of the diet only requires that you eat as many bananas as you want for breakfast with lukewarm water and then whatever you want for lunch and dinner. They do also require that you cut out dessert and get plenty of sleep at night. Whatever the formula, this diet does appear to work. Some individuals have lost nearly 40 pounds by making this minor change to their diet!
Since they are fairly inexpensive, you might find that this is the cheapest "diet" out there today! Because of their affordability, what can it hurt to give it a try? At the very least, you'll likely find yourself healthier and brimming with energy. The extra metabolism boost might just be what you need to become more active and burn off more calories.
Article Source: http://www.articlesphere.com/Article/Eating-Bananas-For-Weight-Loss---Is-It-For-Real-/181563
Friday, October 24, 2008
5 Best Foods For Weight Loss
Do you feel like nothing seems to work for you, despite the number of diets you have tried? Most diets are designed to deprive you of something. Some deprive you of fat, some carbohydrates, and some restrict meat or protein. While they may work initially, eventually your body begins to crave what it is missing. What if I showed you a different way? A way that is not about what you don't eat, but rather encourages what to eat.
What if I also told you that eating more could help you lose weight? If you are like me, you hate to diet. Cutting back on calories just makes you hungry. While science has developed numerous appetite suppression pills, eating more of the right types of foods can act as a natural appetite suppressant. So what are the 5 best foods for weight loss?
The 5 best foods for weight loss contain two very important ingredients that are low in calories and make you feel full at the same time. The two ingredients are water and fiber. By eating the 5 best foods for weight loss, you are getting foods that are high in water or fiber; both of which are low in calories and high at suppressing appetites.
Eating More Fiber Will:
Make you feel full (appetite suppression)
prevent constipation and hemorrhoids
reduce risk of colon and breast cancer
lower your LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol) and total cholesterol
reduce your risk of heart disease
decrease blood sugar levels, thus helping to cope with diabetes
Eating Foods With More Water Content Will:
fill you up (more appetite suppression)
reduce hunger
increase metabolism
lower blood pressure and cholesterol
assists in removing toxins and waste from your body
helps with proper digestion
After careful research, here are the 5 best foods for weight loss that minimize the calories while maximizing the appetite suppressant.
1. Whole Grain Breads - Whole grain breads are high in fiber, as much as four times that of refined grains.
2. High-fiber Cereals - High fiber cereals are, of course, high in fiber, but most are also fortified with numerous vitamins and minerals.
3. Fish - Fish are low in calories, low in saturated fats, and high in heart healthy omega-3 acids.
4. Watermelon - Watermelon is 92% water by weight! Watermelon is also a good source of vitamin C and other vitamins and minerals.
5. Pink Grapefruit - Pink Grapefruit is high in fiber and also 90% water. Grapefruit also have a low glycemic index, which is thought to affect the body's metabolism and increase the use of fat as an energy source.
In addition to the specific foods mentioned here, increasing your consumption of all types of fruits and vegetables will dramatically increase the amount of fiber and water consumed as part of your diet. Some suggest having fruits and vegetables comprise 50% of what you eat. The benefits are many: higher energy levels, better complexion, less disease, and lower body weight are some of the many reasons to increase your fruit and vegetable consumption.
Exotic diets are not a sustainable solution to anyone's weight problem. By eating more of the right types of food, those high in fiber and water content, you can eat more, feel more satisfied, and watch the pounds melt away.
Scott Pettigrew is the editor of the Capstone Health and Fitness NewsletterHe is also the author of the ebook Real Six Pack Abs
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Scott_Pettigrew
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Lose Weight with Water
The human body is mostly water trapped inside the fragile walls of cells. We drink water to maintain the optimum level of hydration in our bodies, to flush the toxins out and cleanse the body, to cool off, to keep the joints working and to help the food digestion process. The minimum daily recommended water intake is 2 liters, because this is how much water the body uses throughout the day through sweating, urination and other bodily functions. Without replenishing lost water, the body goes into dehydration and all functions start to suffer, which is why dieting professionals recommend abstaining from food, but never from water.
Like many other bodily functions, the metabolism is dependent on water to work properly. Without enough water, the process of breaking food down and converting it to energy slows down dramatically, which means that too few calories are burnt and that too little weight is lost. Not drinking enough water can be compared to “running of fumes” and if you’re dieting and you seem to have hit the plateau, then you are probably not drinking enough water. When the metabolism slows down, weight loss slows down even more dramatically, especially since exercising becomes less effective as the body’s energy levels diminish.
Water also plays an important part in the process of digestion and elimination of residues. Not drinking enough water is a one-way ticket to constipation and a host of other problems of the intestines. Poor digestion means that you will not get enough energy from the food you’re eating. This will prompt the body to ask for more food and this is how the weight loss process stops and the weight gain process begins. A dehydrated body sends out fake hunger pangs, thus tempting you to forget about the diet and eat more food than you should.
Not to mention that water is also a good filler. If you want to eat less food, drink a tall glass of water half an hour before every meal. The water will fill a large part of your stomach and the body will be content to feel that the stomach is not empty. This is not idle speculation, but a sound advice whose effectiveness can be confirmed by many dietitians and weight loss experts. Nobody can overeat with half of the stomach filled with water and with the body telling him/her: “Seems like we’re almost full. We don’t need that much food, so cut it short this evening”.
Keep in mind that in order to reap the benefits of drinking enough water, you will want to spread the intake throughout the day. Don’t drink 2 liters of water all at once because the body will simply flush the excess and a lot of it will simply be wasted. Also, you don’t need to restrict yourself to water. Fruit juices, weak tea and coffee count as liquids that can be used by the body for hydration. Alcohol is out of the question, because alcohol has the opposite effect on the body. And, ladies, don’t be afraid that drinking a lot of water will make you retain it. It’s dehydration, not abundance, which forces the body to hang on to what it has.
Friday, September 12, 2008
Traffic Light Food Program
Daily during driving we see all the time the Traffic Light. The Traffic Light is playing important role in our streets to organize the cars when to stop, when to be ready and when to go forward. So Why we don't make Traffic Light for our daily meals and our food to be organized as well.The Traffic Light Diet relies on what may probably be the best-known color code around to teach the user which foods should be avoided and which should be consumed in greater proportions. This diet focuses on cutting down the amount of calories contained in the daily food, instead of carbohydrates. Nothing new here, for that matter; a lot of diets are based on low-calorie foods. The cabbage soup diet, the Cambridge diet or the Ann Collins 14-day Diet come to mind when discussing this issue.
According to the Traffic Light principle, the foods are split into three categories.
1) Red Light foods are high-calorie foods which contain few nutrients and should be avoided.
2) Yellow Light foods are high in calories, but also high in nutrients, which makes them good to have around in moderate quantities.
3) Green Light foods, of course, have plenty of nutrients for only a low amount of calories.
The basic idea is to eat as much Green Light food as you like, eat some Yellow Light foods and only touch Red Light foods once in a while, when the urge becomes unbearable. The less Red Light foods you eat, the more successful your weight loss process is going to be. We all know that sticking to a diet is hard, but if you really want to lose weight, then there are ways of motivating yourself and going through the whole diet. Not to mention that Red Light foods are not banned outright, but accepted in small amounts. This means that, yes,it’s OK to have some cake once in a while.
The list of Green Light foods includes
1) vegetables
2) fruits
3) fish (white meatonly), seafood, yogurt and low-fat milk.
Yellow Light foods are
1) potatoes
2) cheese (the low-fat version)
3) oily fish,
4) lean meat,
5) bread
6) cereals (high- fiber)
7) pasta
8) rice
9) seeds
10) nuts,
11) beans
12) poultry.
Red Light foods are everything else. The best thing about this diet is the fact that it’s easy to understand and also easy to follow. It’s not based on any kind of complex reasoning that requires the help of a trained professional every step of the way and it’s not based on foods that no store from your neighborhood has ever thought to market. If you manage to stick to the diet’s principles you can expect to lose at least 1 pound a week, which means that you will probably shed the actual fat and not the water stored in your body.
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Weight Loss - How Eating a Side Salad With Every Meal Can Melt the Fat Away
We all know that eating salads and fresh veggies is healthy for us. Eating that salad can not only keep you healthy, it can also help you lose weight by increasing the amount of fat you burn. Even if you decide to eat an unhealthy meal, eating a salad along with it can help to prevent further weight gain.
The key to the fat burning element of a salad is found in the "pH level" of the dark, leafy greens. Dark, leafy, green vegetables tend to be "alkaline", falling on the higher end of the pH scale. In contrast, most standard American foods are highly "acidic", falling on the lower end of the pH scale. pH level of the food you eat is important because your blood is slightly alkaline.
Acidic foods include: dairy, meat, vinegar, breads, sugars, soft drinks, and many fruits. These deadly acids can burn a hole right through your blood vessels if left un-buffered! In order to keep you alive, your body will bind these acids with fat, neutralize the acids and then store them in your fat storage area (i.e. hips, butt, mid-section, love handles, etc.).
Now remember, opposites attract! The green veggies are alkaline and will bind with the acidic toxins that you are storing in your fat deposits and eliminate them from your body. The more alkaline foods and drinks you consume, the easier it is for the excess fat to melt away.
Even if you chose to eat a "bad" meal, at the very least have a salad with it. By eating an alkaline salad with your acidic meal, you will help to neutralize the acids that you are eating and minimize the potential of packing on the pounds.
When eating your salad, try to avoid the typical salad dressings as these are usually very acidic. Traditional salad dressings often contain a lot of vinegar, sugar, or dairy which are all acidic and fat forming. Instead, use some extra virgin olive oil and lemon juice which are both alkaline. You can also add some sea salt, pepper, or other herbs and spices to give your salad the flavor you enjoy.
So, if your goal is to lose weight and eat healthier, start by increasing your salad and fresh vegetable consumption. You can start by having half of your plate be salad and the other half can be a small sandwich, or whatever it is that you normally eat. Eventually, you want to increase the size of the salad so that it takes up about 70-80% of your plate. Once you are eating 70-80% alkaline foods and drinking alkaline fluids, the fat on your body will have no choice but to "melt" off.
Want to lose weight but don't know where to start? Get FREE weight loss coaching from expert health educator and physical therapist, Dean Teitelbaum. This FREE coaching program will guide you down the path of better health through pH balance. Go to http://www.GetFreeWeightLoss.com to get started today. Expert advice for FREE, you can't go wrong.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dean_Teitelbaum
What Foods To Eat To Lose Weight
These days it is common for people wanting to lose weight to ask questions on how many calories they should or should not eat in a day. Fact is you need to understand how much weight you lose and how quickly you lose is dependent on how overweight you are and if you are metabolically challenged and not on the amount of calories that you are consuming.
Calories count but they are not the only solution to a weight loss plan. Remember also that you cannot lose weight overnight just as you did not gain your weight overnight. Dieters often look to quick and easy way to lose weight and yet not having to starve themselves or to do strenous exercises.
You do not have to go hungry to shed off your pounds, if only you know what foods to eat and how to go about eating them. Fundamentally you need to eat foods that are metabolism-friendly, one that has carbohydrates with a low glycemic index or with both low and moderate glycemic indexes.
Foods that are high in protein generally are low in carbohydrates and also have a low glycemic index for examples eggs, chickens, turkey, ostrich, all kinds of fish, red meat. To cut out the fat, be certain to choose lean cuts of meat or remove chicken skin. Soy products such tofu, soy milk, soy yogurt, soy burgers, soy powder.
Vegetables and salad greens are naturally low in carbohydrates and fat and high in minerals, fiber and vitamins. If you eat vegetable raw, it has a lower glycemic index than if you eat it cooked, and has higher antioxidants and vitamins.
Starchy vegetables also have low to moderate GI, however be aware that white potatoes have relatively high GI. Yam, sweet potatoes and taro root have a lot of carbohydrates that are unrefined and contain a lot of fiber.
Bread and pastas have generally moderate to high GI, but those with the highest GI includes bagels, tortillas, white bread, pita bread and should be aware of that. Look out for bread with 6 to 8 grams of fiber per large slice and 4 grams per small slice and that contains no refined flour, added sugar or honey.
Most plain dry or cooked cereals have a moderate GI. You need to look out for those with low GI such as oatmeal. Crackers generally have a high GI, even if they are whole grain , this is because they are made from finely milled grains which raises the GI. Brown rice has a high GI but it is still better than white rice due to its minerals and vitamins.
Fruits generally have a moderate GI and although they are high in sugar, most have it in the form of fructose which is not converted to glucose. They are also high in fiber. Avoid ripe bananas because they have high GI compared to unripe banana because the starch in them turns to sugar. Go easy on high GI fruits such as pineapples, mangoes and melons. Go for apples instead.
Once you start becoming aware of what foods make for a high glycemic index, you will begin to eat more wisely and not compromising on your weight loss effort. If you are overweight you still need to consult your doctor on your overall health and weight status and get proper guidance.
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Shafir Ahmad is an Infopreneur bringing you the best information.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Shafir_Ahmad
Friday, September 5, 2008
Losing weight fast with apples!
Research indicates that regular intake of apples may reduce the risk of different types of cancers such as prostate, lung, and colon and also facilitate in recovering from heart disease and cholesterol related problems.
You must have heard the age-old adage – An apple a day keeps the doctor away. But there is more to this magical fruit than just therapeutic properties. Apples, which happen to be one of the most underrated foods offered by nature, are a perfect snack for dieters. Apples tend to make you feel full faster thereby helping you to control the binging habit. In addition, there is nothing called as an unsuitable time for eating apples. Eat them any time of the day to fill your stomach with minimal calories.
Farmers refrain from feeding apples to their pigs, as they would feel full faster and not gain the desired weight. This secret can be used in case of human beings and anyone on an apple diet can lose weight quickly in a healthy manner. Apples have so much to offer to mankind, as they are full of goodness and offer amazing health benefits.
Research indicates that regular intake of apples may reduce the risk of different types of cancers such as prostate, lung, and colon and also facilitate in recovering from heart disease and cholesterol related problems. Apples contain a group of chemicals that play a vital role in protecting the brain from conditions that may result in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and senile dementia. Apple phenolics, naturally occurring antioxidants, that are found in fresh apples are very beneficial for the nerve cells and protect them from neurotoxicity.
Apples have become very popular among dieters and suitable for practically any type of diet plan you may follow. There is no better source of dietary fiber than apples. Apples also happen to be a great source of micro-nutrients, moisture, and vitamins. Not to mention its amazing flavor and color that has made it an irreplaceable ingredient in a variety of pies, soufflé, and salads. Apple flavor aids our appostat reaction or the neurological reaction to send a signal to the body to stop eating.
If you are serious of getting your weight down, then consuming three apples a day would be a good idea. Do not have your meal until you have had an apple so that you will automatically start feeling full and eat lesser than the usual quantity. You can snack on apples and have an apple in between meals or drink a glass of apple juice to stop those nasty hunger pangs from bothering you.
An apple is perhaps the only fruit that has so many medicinal properties and can be consumed by anybody irrespective of his/her health condition. Apple is looked upon as a heart protector due to its pectin content that helps in reducing blood cholesterol. It can also help in bringing blood pressure under control and in regulating blood sugar levels in the body. Apple juice can destroy infectious viruses and acts as a blood purifier and a liver toner. Apple can also help the body in combating various illnesses such as jaundice, constipation, diarrhea, arthritis, anemia, skin eruptions, and lymphatic system disorders. A medium sized apple contains: calories - 81 Kcal, fat – 0.5 g, carbohydrates – 21.1 g, calories from fat 5.6 %, and dietary fiber – 2.8 g. So, incorporate an apple in your diet to add taste and color and watch those pounds melt away slowly.
Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Mike Lombardy is a web publisher and fitness enthusiast. Don't forget to get a 50 % discount code on his the idiot proof diet review website. With the idiot proof diet you can lose 9 lbs in 11 days. Get started today !
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Weight Loss Drinks And Foods That Help You Lose Weight
It's not easy to find credible weight Loss drinks and foods that help you lose weight. But they are out there and this article will show you just where to get them. But before we get into the topic itself, it is important to note that most diet foods and weight loss drinks are lies. They do not work.
Statistics constantly show that diet foods including weight watchers meals, low carb foods and most other mainstream products do not work. And when it comes to drinks that help you lose weight, the same can be said. Most diet drinks with low calories and low carbs are also false and do not work. To find the foods and drinks that do help you lose weight, you have to go natural. So let's begin.
Weight Loss Drinks
1. Apple cider vinegar. This isn't the tastiest drink but it's VERY powerful when it comes to weight loss and most of all health improvement. In addition to having many healthy nutrients and vitamins, apple cider vinegar also helps remove undigested food in your body. This will not only get rid of undigested food that will cause weight loss, but it will also prevent any weight gain in the future because it will continually clean your body from the inside. Generally apple cider vinegar should be consumed 2-3 times a day with 1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar mixed with a cup of water. No less, no more.
Results may vary but in general most people can see weight loss and health improvement results within less than a month.
2. Water. Now earlier I had said to avoid drinking low calorie, low carb drinks but this is just plain water. Water has and always will be the source of life and refeshment. Therefore it is very important that your body be "fed" with water because 70% of your body contains it! The cleaner and more natural the water is, the better your body functions. With it you can lose alot of weight. Some of the most healthiest celebrities such as Halle Berry say their secret to looking good is drinking alot of water. It's a simple procedure! Just drink 8 glasses of water daily and you'll see results in less than a month as well!
3. Cranberry juice. This is one of the most powerful weight loss drinks in existence today. It is also as powerful as water. The health benefits of canberry juice are explained below in the foods section. But if you're confused as to how much water and cranberry juice to drink, don't worry! Mix it up. Drink water one day and cranberry juice another. The most important thing here is that you drink more of the above drinks and less of the processed mainstream drinks. Then weight loss will happen very quickly!
Foods That Help You Lose Weight
1. Flaxseeds. Flaxseeds are small seeds that when eaten help digest food better, stoping constipation, bloating and more. In addition this will help digest the foods you eat better causing weight loss to occur. In addition flaxseeds contain omega 3's which help with blood circulation which also help in weight loss.
2. Cranberries. Cranberries contain man health benefits including many vitamins and nutrients that help prevent urinary tract infections, diseases such as cancer and heart disease. How does this lead to weight loss? The more canberries you eat, the healthier you body gets. The healthier your body gets, the better it's metabolism. And fast metabolism = weight loss.
3. Lemons. They may be sour but they are VERY powerful. Though I can't go into the full details of lemons and weight loss, I can however state that they are one of the best ways to lose weight. Lemons cleanse the kidney and many other areas of the body. Cleanse means the cleaning of the body from the inside which can lead to 10-20 pounds of weight loss in a week. More information on lemon cleanses are explained on the page linked below!
The products described above are just a tiny sample of the healthy foods and drinks out there that you can use to lose weight and improve your health at the same time.
If you'd like to discover more foods, drinks and diets which help you lose weight fast, then click here to find the most powerful all natural diets, products and methods, all of which will help you lose weight, keep it off and improve your health!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Vitaliy_Gershfeld