Wednesday, November 29, 2006

How To Choose The Right Weight Loss Supplement For You

How many people who struggle to control their weight are actually seeking ways to get enough nutritional value from the foods that they eat, instead of just trying to do away with calories?

Most people to not get the proper nutrients they need to stay healthy while dieting. Even though we change our eating habits and make better food choices, we sometime eliminate those foods that contain the vitamins and minerals we need most. To prevent this from happening we can add a weight loss dietary supplement to our daily routine.

Taking a daily weight loss vitamin supplement, in conjunction with a well balance diet and exercise, can give the body what it needs to fight off most illnesses. Just remember that there are risks involved with these types of supplements due to the fact that they contain substances other than vitamins and minerals. The best thing to do when adding weight loss vitamins to your diet is to consult a physician, or other healthcare provider, and educate yourself on the different supplements available.

Weight loss vitamins are a supplement and should not replace meals. Also, a doctor, nutritionist or dietitian could help decided what would be the best supplement after taking into consideration health history and current state of health. There are quite a few on the market and they come in a variety of forms. For those who are not all that interested in taking pills, there are powders and energy bars. Another thing to think about is the type of medications that you may have been prescribed by your doctor.

People who do have conditions that require medications should find out if the supplement they choose has any adverse reactions. This can be done by searching the internet websites or contacting organizations that compile information on various weight loss supplements. If you choose to consult a dietician or nutritionist, it is best to let them know what medications you have been prescribed.

Also, different people experience different side effects. Find out what the risks are for a particular supplement and if you experience any one of them, call your doctor right away. Make sure that you do not take these supplements in place of other medications prescribed to you. Doing this could have adverse effects. Also talk to a doctor about taking weight loss vitamins if you have just had surgery or plan on having surgery.

Dieting is viewed as a way to maintain a healthy lifestyle. But denying the body the vital vitamins and minerals it needs to ward off illness can do just the opposite of what we are trying to accomplish. Weight loss vitamins can help prevent that from happening. Just remember to choose them wisely. Talk to your doctor, or healthcare provider, before taking anything and do your own research.

About the Auhtor:

Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Beach, Florida. Find more about this as well as weight loss supplements at http://www.zefarilhealth.com
http://www.theinternetmarketingsecrets.com

Posted by: Best Weight Loss Program

Wednesday, November 22, 2006

The Whole Truth About Supplements?

I get asked all the time about supplements. And in the past I

have taken my share of them. But to be quite honest I don’t

take them anymore outside of an occasional protein drink as a

meal replacement if I am in a hurry. A lot of people seem to

think by spending all this money they will get in better shape.

This is not true. Although the advertisers would make you believe

differently. I have never taken a pill or protein powder that made

me go wow! When you look at what the “Native Indians” lived on

berries, fruits, and nuts all fresh whole foods and a lot of them had

bodies of greek gods, and tremendous endurance. They lived off the

fat of the land so to speak.

When you look at the word “supplement” it means in addition too

your already balanced diet. To add something extra. Not to

replace. If you need some extra protein it is ok to down a shake

or a bar, if your on the road or pressed for time but your focus

should be on the food you eat.

Another part of the equation is when you eat food you have to

chew it, which brings a certain amount of satiety to the table.

Our bodies were made to eat food, as a staple of good health.

And no supplement is ever going to replace that.

I know myself if I don’t eat regular food I am not as satisfied

and usually still hungry after having a meal replacement drink.

All these powders are just ground up food anyway. So the next

time you think about spending your hard earned money what is your

purpose to replace or add too.

Author:

Herb Daly Jr.
To ask the DIET TIP GURU a fitness question
go to: http://Askyourfitnessquestion.com

Posted by: Best Weight Loss Program

Tuesday, November 14, 2006

Weight Loss Is a Cakewalk With Xenical

Have you ever wondered why you always seem to outgrow your last size and
never vice versa. You never fit in your last year's jeans and as a
result your apparel bills keep rising all the time. If all this is
true, then it's high time that you do something about your weight gain
before it's too late! According to recent estimates, more than one
billion adults are overweight and at least 300 million of them are
clinically obese. Current obesity levels range from below five percent
in China, Japan and certain African nations, to over 75 percent in
urban Samoa.



Did you know that one cup (225 grams) of fruit is the
size of a baseball, one ounce (28 grams) of snack foods, such as
pretzels equals a large handful, and three ounces (85 grams) of meat is
the size of a deck of cards? With rising incomes and urban lifestyles,
diets high in complex carbohydrates give way to more varied diets with
a higher proportion of fats, saturated fats and sugars. In addition,
there is a radical shift towards less physical activity with the
increasing use of automated transport, technology in the home, and more
passive leisure pursuits.


According to a study, obesity accounts
for 2-6 percent of total health care costs in several developed
countries. However, some estimates put the figure as high as seven
percent. The true costs are undoubtedly much greater as not all
obesity-related conditions are included in the calculations. The
non-fatal, but debilitating health problems associated with obesity
include respiratory difficulties, chronic musculoskeletal problems,
skin problems, and infertility. The more life-threatening problems are
cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, cancers, and gallbladder
diseases.


Forget energy drinks and caffeine kicks. Get your regular
meal plan sorted out this year, and you will be on a high every day of
your life. Scoring the perfect diet is really not that difficult. And
it doesn't have to be boring either. According to a recent study,
regular feasting on a combination of garlic, dark chocolate, almonds,
fruits, vegetables, and fish, all washed down with moderate amounts of
red wine could add five years to your life, and slash the chances of
heart disease by a whopping 76 percent.



In addition to a healthy diet and exercise regime, you can try out some diet pills, such as Xenical or Reductil, which can help about one-third of obese patients with modest weight loss and can assist in long term maintenance of weight loss. While Reductil reduces food intake by
promoting a feeling of having eaten enough, Xenical reduces the body’s
absorption of fat from foods, thereby reducing weight and cholesterol.
With so many brands of diet pills available in the market, you can easily get cheap Xenical. In addition, you can buy Xenical online at your own convenience.

Posted by: Best Weight Loss Program

Wednesday, November 08, 2006

Weight Loss with Ephedrine

Ephedrine Weight Loss; Can I really lose weight by using Ephedrine products?
Ma Huang (Ephedrine) has been shown to increase the effectiveness of thermogenesis (fat burning) in the body. It contributes to the release and blocks the re-uptake of the neurotransmitter norepinephrine. This gives norepinephrine the ability to continuously stimulate receptors in your body, causing fat cell “flood gates” to open and facilitate fat loss resulting in weight loss.

Not only does ephedrine increase the rate at which fat is lost, it preserves muscle at the same time, making it an ideal dieting aid for athletes. The most comprehensive look at ephedrine for weight loss is a recent meta-analysis published in The Journal of the American Medical Association. This meta-analysis was done by the request of the US Department of Health and Human Services. It reviewed 44 controlled trials on the use of ephedrine for weight loss. It found that on average, it increased weight loss 1.3 lbs. per month more than placebo. However, combinations of ephedrine or ephedra with caffeine or herbs containing caffeine resulted in an average weight loss of 2.2 lbs. per month. Through nutrient repartitioning, ephedrine promotes fat loss while preserving fat-free mass.

One of the reasons why it is such a powerful weight loss agent is that it operates through a variety of mechanisms, including increasing levels of norepinephrine, epinephrine, and dopamine, and stimulating both alpha and beta adrenoreceptors. It (through facilitating the release of adrenaline and noradrenaline) stimulates the alpha(1)-adrenoreceptor subtype, which is known to induce hypophagia (appetite suppression). It is estimated that appetite supression accounts for 75-80% of the weight loss with ephedrine.

What is Ephedrine?
Ma Huang (Ephedrine) is known as one of the world’s oldest medicines. Ma Huang (Ephedrine) is a member of the family of herbs known as the Ephedraceae. Ma Huang is a shrub-like plant found in desert regions throughout the world. It is distributed from northern China to Inner Mongolia. The dried green stems of the three Asian species (Ephedra sinica, Ephedra intermedia, Ephedra equisetina) are used medicinally. The North American species of ephedra, sometimes called Desert Tea or Mormon Tea, does not appear to contain the active ingredients of its Asian ephedra counterparts.

Ephedrine is a naturally occuring central nervous system stimulant obtained from the plant Ephedra equisetina. Ephedrine is produced by chemical synthesis, the synthetic product being marketed in the form of its salt, ephedrine sulfate; it occurs as a white crystalline powder with a bitter taste, soluble in water and very soluble in alcohol. Ephedrine’s peripheral stimulant actions are similar to but less powerful than those of epinephrine (also called adrenaline), a hormone produced in the body by the adrenal glands.

What is Ephedrine used for?
Ephedrine has been used in China for more than 5,000 years to treat symptoms of asthma and upper respiratory infections. It has also been used in the treatment of headaches, fevers, colds, and hay fever. Today, compounds derived from this herb are commonly found in many over-the-counter (OTC) cold and allergy medications. Ma Huang is also found in some weight loss and energy products. For dieters, Ephedrine suppresses the appetite and stimulates metabolism through a process known as thermogenesis. Recently, Ma Huang has been the subject of scientific research for obesity because of this thermogenic fat-burning effect. It is used to increase heart rate, blood pressure and performance. This is normally released by your body under stress to enhance sports performance.

Ephedrine has moderately potent bronchial muscle relaxant properties, and therefore is used for symptomatic relief in milder cases of asthmatic attack; it is also used to reduce the risk of acute attacks in the treatment of chronic asthma. Ephedrine is also used to treat low blood pressure, because it constricts blood vessels and stimulates certain actions of the heart.

What are the side effects of use and Ephedrine Weight Loss?
Some of the more common side effects people experience from taking the drug are nervousness, dizziness, tremors, rapid heart rate, headaches, jitters, palpitations, insomnia, increased blood pressure. When taken at higher levels, ephedra can cause drastic increases in blood pressure, as well as cardiac arrhythmias. Discontine use if you experience any side effects.

Do not use this ephedrine weight loss product if you are now taking a prescription containing Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitor (MAOI) (Certain drugs for depression, psychiatric or emotional conditions, Parkinson’s disease) or 2 weeks after stopping the MAOI drug. If you are uncertain whether your prescription drug contains an MAOI, consult a health professional before taking this product. Do not store above 30 degrees C (86 degrees F). Protect from moisture.

What is an ECA stack?
The ECA Stack is a component found in thermogenic weight loss pills, composed of ephedrine, caffeine and aspirin working to speed up the metabolism and thus cause calories to burn faster and result in weight loss. Anyone with high blood pressure or heart problems should not take the stack.

Benefits of Ephedrine (Ephedrine Weight Loss)
* ephedrine increases metabolism
* ephedrine suppresses appetite
* ephedrine preserves muscle tissue
* ephedrine treats symptoms of asthma and upper respiratory infections

What about the law and Ephedrine use?
Laws for Ephedrine use differ in every country. It is your responsiblity to check with your Customs office if Ephedrine and Ephedra products are permitted in your country.

Author: Chester is a health nutrition consultant and is the owner of AstroNutrition - a provider of premium health nutrition and sports supplements.

Posted by: Best Weight Loss Program

Friday, November 03, 2006

Weight Loss Product Warnings -- How to Spot Fat Bu

This is the second article in the series, Weight Loss Product Warnings. How to Spot Fat Burning Diets teaches you how to analyze a diet's fat burning potential. The ultimate goal is for you to trust your own judgement and not rely on the words of a face less affiliate website promoting the latest and greatest fat burner.

Why is this important? Because burning fat is the only way to healthy weight loss. Marketers of weight loss products know about burning fat and, as a result, have flooded the net with fat burning advertisements. It is my goal to teach the five easy steps used to analyze a diet's fat burning potential.

Fat Burning Diets...The 5 Step Analysis

1) Check the Rate of Losing Weight

How fast do dieters on this specific diet lose weight? The rate of losing weight should not exceed a maximum of 2 pounds per week. The classic fast weight loss ad is similar to, "Lose X pounds in Y time." Calculate the amount of weight loss per week, given the information in the ad.

Here's an example (a real ad placed in 2003)...

"Lose 10 Pounds and 4 Inches in 10 days!"

At one pound per day, the week's weight loss is 7 pounds. This is way over the 2 pounds per week maximum and simply is not healthy.

2) Check the Reduction in Total Calories

A diet plan that reduces total calories by more than 500 calories per day is promoting unhealthy weight loss. Did you know that cutting out only 250-500 calories, without doing anything else, will lead to a pound per week of weight loss? That's it. No fancy nutritional calendar, no weight loss pills, not even a highly guarded secret is needed. Just drop 250-500 calories from your diet and you will lose fat.

To analyze a diet program for calorie restrictions, look for any statements referring to the total calories you would eat on a typical day. To find this information, you might have to dig a little deeper and research several websites. But you'll find it.

If the diet calls for a reduction greater than 500 calories, it's not healthy weight loss.

3) The Diet's Exercise Plan

Does the diet have an exercise plan? Yes, good. As long as it's not a rapid weight loss diet or promoting extreme calorie restrictions, healthy weight loss is a good bet.

I can not stress enough the importance of a resistance training program as part of your exercise plan. Think muscle. Follow these three simple "muscle" rules when trying to lose weight...

  • Don't lose it
  • Tone it
  • Build it
I only make two guarantees to my dieting patients. One of them you'll hear about soon, the other is this...follow the three simple rules for muscle, and I guarantee you'll lose weight and keep it off! The truth is never a secret.

4) Analyze the Amount of Fat Intake

To lose fat you need to eat fat. But it needs to be the right kind of fat. When analyzing a diet for the types of fat you can eat, look to see if they list healthy fats. For a listing of healthy and harmful fats, check out How to pick a diet and make note of the good fats.

5) The Amount of Protein Intake

An adequate amount of protein must be included with any diet plan. How much protein? Depends. Make sure the diet you're analyzing has at least the normal daily requirement of 1 gram of protein per kilogram of weight per day but no more than 1.5 grams per kilogram per day (up to 2 grams/kg if body building).

Author: Michael Smith, MD

Posted by: Best Weight Loss Program