Sugar Cravings = Addiction

For some people sugar acts just like a drug, and like any other drug, it can be extremely addictive. Sugar causes our bodies to release a surge of dopamine, a chemical that controls the reward centre of the brain. Dopamine is vital for concentration, motivation and feelings of reward and this surge of dopamine is partly responsible for the “sugar high” you know so well.

Unfortunately, over time, eating a lot of sugar can cause your brain to become less sensitive to dopamine. When this happens, you need more dopamine just to feel normal, and without your regular “sugar hit”, you feel tired, sluggish, irritable and moody.

How do you know if you’re addicted to sugar? The answer to this simple question will give you a pretty good idea. Imagine you’ve just come home from work to find a plate of fresh baked cookies on the table. You ate a big lunch, you’re really not hungry and you’re going out for a nice meal in an hour or so. Would you eat the cookies?

If you’re addicted to sugar, you won’t even have to think about this question. Your answer will be a definite Yes. You would eat the cookies and you probably wouldn’t stop at one or two. You may even have trouble stopping yourself from eating the whole plate.

So how can you overcome your sugar addiction? One way is to go cold turkey and just stop eating sugar altogether, but that can be every bit as difficult as giving up cigarettes without the aid of nicotine gum or patches. Withdrawal symptoms can be severe and may include anxiety, depression, headaches, dizziness, trembling, cold sweats and extreme cravings for sugar.

A far easier way is to provide your body with the nutritional support it needs to overcome the sugar cravings before you stop eating sugar. A program of vitamins, minerals and natural amino acids can quickly stabilize blood sugar, eliminate cravings and overcome withdrawal symptoms.

Natural Supplements to Control Sugar Cravings

Chromium is one of the most effective nutrients for overcoming sugar cravings. Many studies have shown that chromium helps to stabilize blood sugar and directly reduces cravings for sugar. Sugar addiction often combines with chromium deficiency to create a vicious cycle – sugar robs the body of chromium causing chromium deficiency, which causes increased sugar cravings and a higher
intake of sugar, further depleting the body of chromium. Chromium supplements can interrupt this vicious cycle by building up your levels of chromium and eliminating cravings.

L-glutamine is a natural amino acid (a building block of protein) that the brain can use for fuel when blood sugar levels are low. The next time you feel a craving for sugar, try sprinkling a bit of l-glutamine under your tongue – most people will find their cravings disappear in minutes as the glutamine is absorbed directly into the bloodstream and used immediately by the brain for fuel.

Research has shown that a B vitamin called biotin also helps eliminate cravings and stabilize blood sugar. Several other B vitamins, zinc, omega 3 fatty acids and vitamin E, while less important, can all help maintain blood sugar and reduce cravings.

Once you’ve overcome your cravings, you will find it much easier to stick to your diet. A healthy diet will help prevent sugar cravings from returning -avoid sugar and refined carbohydrates and eat plenty of protein, fresh vegetables, healthy fats and moderate amounts of complex carbohydrates. Protein should be eaten at every meal as it helps maintain blood sugar levels, while fresh vegetables provide a good supply of the vitamins and minerals needed to keep blood sugar stable.

Jane Henderson is the author of Get Help for Depression, a website that offers 13 depression tests to help you find and treat the underlying cause of your depression.

Saving money on gas is another advantage to working out at home, and some car insurance companies are even offering lower insurance rates for less driving. Here are five suggestions for different types of workouts, each with a few examples of recommended programs on DVD.

Walking

Walking is extremely beneficial for your health. In addition to helping with weight loss it improves circulation, helps to prevent osteoporosis, fights depression and the list goes on. One of the best things about walking is that it can be done by almost anyone–even those who are just starting a workout plan–and the intensity can be gradually increased as needed. It’s always nice to get outside and walk; however on days when it’s not convenient to walk the neighborhood, there is an alternative. Leslie Sansone–the guru of walking–has a slew of great indoor walking DVDs, from 1 mile workouts all the way up to 5 miles, designed with various intensities in mind. Recently even more indoor walking DVDs have come out by other popular fitness experts.

• Biggest Loser Powerwalk
• Denise Austin’s Blast Away the Pounds-Indoor Walk
• Any of the Leslie Sansone Series

Dancing

Dancing is another very enjoyable way to work out. Zumba, the latest fitness craze is not only an intense calorie burning workout, it’s a lot of fun and the excitement is contagious. The kids will probably want to get in on it too, no matter what their ages. A recent study in California reported that the average number of calories burned doing one hour of Zumba was over 800. For those who like other styles of dancing, there are a number of various dance workout DVDs on the market, from ballet to hip hop, and everything in between.

• Zumba Fitness Total Body Transformation Workout
• So You Think You Can Dance: Get Fit Cardio Funk
• Element: Ballet Conditioning

Step aerobics

Step workouts have been around since the 90′s but are still one of the most effective methods of burning calories and building endurance. We all know that aerobic activity helps increase oxygen in the body and gets the heart pumping faster. Step workouts involve using an elevated platform to increase the intensity of the workout. Another benefit is that step workouts improve balance. Adjustable platforms are recommended for gradually building up the intensity.

• Gilad Step Aerobics
• Classic Kathy Smith Step Aerobics
• Everybody Steps: A Guide to Step Aerobics

Pilates

While Pilates is a workout that concentrates on the core, it is an effective method of toning the entire body. Some of the benefits of Pilates are balanced muscle development, strength building, increased flexibility and joint health. The Pilates method uses breathing techniques to lessen stress and permit oxygen to flow to the muscles. A Pilates workout may look easy because the movements are done slowly, but it is a challenging workout that can be intensified even more over time.

• Denise Austin Shrink Your Fat Zone Pilates
• Karen Voight Pilates Core Power
• Kristin McGee’s Weight Loss Pilates

Lifting Weights

Using weights is an effective way to build and tone muscles, especially in the upper body. There are a number of DVD workouts that use weights. One very popular type is working out with Kettlebells. Kettlebell workouts combine strength training with cardio moves in order to get an extremely effective workout in half the time. Another advantage to kettlebells is that they are adjustable–more weight can be added on as strength increases.

• Jillian Michaels Shred it With Weight (kettlebell workout)
• Cindy Windmarsh 101Ways to Work Out with Weights
• 30 Minutes To Fitness: Weights Workout with Kelly Coffey-Meyer

Getting in shape has so many benefits in addition to feeling more energetic and looking great. Remember that health insurance comparisons are getting better because these companies are taking fitness into consideration when determining cost of premiums. Even for those stay-at-home moms who can’t always get to the gym, all that’s needed is a DVD player and some simple equipment in order to get started. With all the choices in workouts, it shouldn’t be difficult to get started on an appropriate one right away!

Author Bio: Jessica is a stay-at-home mom herself and trains women throughout the day at her home gym. She also does a lot of marketing work for car insurance companies. She helps clients to attain lower health insurance premium.

Depending on the treatment you choose you can remove up to 95% of the frizz giving your hair added shine and helps fight scalp humidity keeping your hair healthy and manageable.

However, choosing between the two treatment options is not an easy task.  Before deciding on Brazilian Blowout or Keratin treatment, spend more time researching the application process of each product and what they can do to improve the condition of your hair.

Brazilian Blowout

A relatively new keratin based treatment; Brazilian Blowout is a smoothing option that is completed by professional hair stylists.  During the straightening process the hair is meticulously shampooed and carefully hand dried with a towel until minimal moisture remains.  The product is then lightly applied thoroughly applied to the hair starting at the roots.  Once the product is applied, the hair is blow dried and flat ironed at approximately 232 degree Centigrade (450 Fahrenheit). It is at this stage that the proteins in the product bond with the cuticles of the hair protecting them from damage. The hair is then rinsed until the product is removed, and a layer of concentrated conditioner is applied and then rinsed after one minute before the hair is blow dried for the final time.

Keratin Treatment

Similar to Brazilian Blowout, Keratin treatments such as Keratin Complex are well-known and highly recommended by professional stylists.  The application process is extremely similar to that used by Brazilian Blowout, but there are a few important differences. After having Keratin treatment applied to you hair, you will need to wear a cap for 20-30 minutes for the product to penetrate the hair shaft to improve results.  Next, you will need to keep the product on your hair for three days before rinsing it, and the hair will have to remain completely flat or lasting impressions, or dents, might be made in your hair.

Brazilian Blowout vs Keratin Treatment

While the application process and chemicals used are similar, there are a few things that differentiate Brazilian Blowout vs Keratin treatment.  Most Keratin products are extracted from sheep’s wool and, based on the feedback of users, the extracted proteins provide amazing results.  Keratin treatments are often preferred because of the alleged formaldehyde contained in the ingredients of the Brazilian Blowout.  However, Keratin does contain amounts of formaldehyde to aid in the bonding process.  On the other hand, the Keratin application process is however more cumbersome and requires three days while avoiding all moisture that could leave an impression on your hair.

Brazilian Blowout vs Keratin treatment is something that many women searching for the best way to keep their hair silky and smooth are interested in researching.  While both products promise amazing results, they do have their downsides.  Before making any final decision, discuss your options with your stylist and spend time reading reviews written by women with hair types and situations similar to your own.

Brazilian Blowout vs. Keratin Treatment which product will you choose?

A yeast infection is caused by an overgrowth of the Candida albicans fungus. Despite popular belief, a yeast infection does not only occur in a woman’s vaginal area; a yeast infection can develop in a variety of places throughout the body including the genital areas in both men and women, the mouth, the skin, and in the intestines.

Since the company’s inception in the 1920s by founder Guccio Gucci, this Italian enterprise has grown steadily. Let’s take a look at why our love affair with Gucci hasn’t faded over the last century.

1. Prominent Branding

When Gucci customers pay a premium for a GG item, they are just as interested in the impression they will make as in the beauty and quality of the item. Because every item is prominently marked with either the GG logo or the Gucci scripted signature, no one even has to ask if the item is from Gucci. Add in other traditional Gucci-specific features like horsebit-styles, bamboo components, and the trade-marked striped webbing, and Gucci products clearly stand out from other brands.

In fact, Gucci pioneered the strategy of prominent branding back in the 1950s before any fashion designer ever thought of putting their name across a pair of jeans or a T-shirt. Because the Gucci brand signifies elegance, quality, and success all rolled up in those two little letters, the wearer of a Gucci product feels that others will view them in the same way.

2. Celebrity Exposure

While many of today’s celebrities are frequently seen wearing a Gucci product, it was actually the two icons of American style and beauty that added to Gucci’s early reputation. Grace Kelly and Jackie Kennedy are probably as close to royalty as you find within the United States and were found many times on American society pages. Grace Kelly, who went on to become the Princess of Monaco, made the Gucci Flora silk scarf famous, while Jackie Kennedy sported the famous Gucci Jackie O shoulder bag. Both items were considered must-haves for wealthy women of that era.

3. Gucci Quality

With all the hype about the name, it’s easy to lose sight of why Gucci became successful in the first place. Remove the brand and the publicity, and what’s left? A top quality product that will last the typical customer a lifetime! In fact, if you can afford one, you can find vintage Gucci products that look just as elegant as the day they were originally placed on a store shelf. Because these items can actually appreciate, many Gucci customers view their purchases as an investment.

While the world is full of imitations, it doesn’t take an expert to quickly recognize the difference. Rip-off artists can slap a fake logo on anything, but they can’t duplicate the quality and craftsmanship that an authentic Gucci product delivers. It seems that, while the company has evolved over the years and added many new product lines, the legacy of the little Italian leather maker from a long-gone era has survived.

Of course, as a dedicated Gucci fan, you probably have your own reasons for loving your collection of GG favorites. As you add to your stockpile of Gucci-branded shoes, purses, and jewelry, each new purchase only increases your sense of fulfillment!

Jessy is a lifestyle blogger for Life Insurance Finder, the free tool to find top life insurance online.

Image Credits: 1, 2.

College requires many hours of sitting, both in class and while studying. College also requires an unusual schedule of staying up late to cram and waking up very early to make it to class on time. Students become slaves to their schedule and scholastic requirements. Their own nutrition is barely thought of.

To avoid the almost guaranteed unwanted pounds that college brings, read on for figure-saving tips.

Grocery Shopping Instead of Fast Food

College campuses are swimming with fast food stands and all night eateries. Don’t give in. Indulging in just one convenient and quick fast food meal is the beginning of a slippery slope that will lead to unwanted fat. At the beginning of your freshman year, vow to become even healthier than you currently are. Take this as a personal challenge to keep your waistline the same size all year long. Go to the grocery store daily if you have to. Whatever it takes, avoid the fast food trap.

Walk Every Morning & Evening

Not only do you need exercise to keep a trim and fit body but sitting for long hours is unhealthy for other reasons. Blood clots and cramped muscles can result from long periods of sitting. Even though you may think it is more important to get your paper written on time, manage your schedule so that you can also take frequent walking breaks. The best way to keep moving is to start and end every day with a short ½ hour walk.

Become A Rigid Schedule Keeper

Write out a weekly schedule for yourself and stick to it like glue. Since you will know of all your due assignments and projects at the beginning of the week, plan out the rest of your life around these due dates. Be sure to write in time for working out and meal breaks.

No Mindless Munching

School is terribly stressful. Food is possibly the biggest source of comfort that students succumb to. Do not allow yourself to have snacks around you when you study or are on a break. It is easy to think, “I deserve this since I studied for the last three hours.” Just remember: a moment on the lips is a lifetime on the hips. Is this sort of reward really worth it? Instead, treat yourself to a long break away from the books and get outside for some fresh air. Take time each day to forget all about your studies and your assignments.

It is ironic to feed one’s mind and body with junk food at a time when optimal brain and body power are demanded, such as the college years. There are some theories that sugar is good for your brain when you study. Don’t listen to this theory. Sugar is not your friend and certainly won’t give you long term energy. For a truly successful college career, become a lean, mean productive machine. Let your college years set the tone for the rest of your life and career.

Peter Savage is a career consultant and content contributor for SuperScholar, a site with incredibly thorough information, reviews, and even top online mba programs.

Choose to breastfeed

Breastfeeding offers numerous benefits for baby. Studies have shown breastfeed babies have stronger immune systems and grow up healthier. Breastfeeding also burns up to 500 calories, which can help a woman return to her pre-pregnancy weight faster.

Exercise

Exercise is one of the most important things that mothers can do to maintain a healthy body weight. It helps burn calories and builds lean muscle. Women who have normal deliveries can start exercising within two weeks of giving birth. However, a woman should consult with her doctor before she becomes active again.

It can be very difficult for a woman to exercise with a new baby. However, there are many creative ways that new mothers can get activity into their day. A mother can go for a jog and take her baby with her. In fact, there are strollers that have been designed specifically for jogging.

Mothers may also want to consider buying exercise DVDS or equipment so that they can work out without leaving their homes. Additionally, everyday household activities such as mopping, sweeping and dusting also help burn calories. Women should exercise everyday for at least 30 minutes.

Eat right

Health experts agree that a fit, healthy body starts in the kitchen. That is why women should make sure that they are extremely cautious with their diets. Foods that are high in saturated fat, sugar and sodium should be limited. A woman should make sure that eats plenty of whole grains, fruits, vegetables and other foods that are rich in fiber.

Additionally, new mothers also make sure that they drink right. Women who drink lots of sugar-containing beverages will experience difficulty losing weight. If a woman consumes a lot of water, it will be much easier for her to return to her pre-pregnancy weight. Water is a natural fat burner and helps boost metabolism.
Having a baby changes a woman’s life forever, but it does not have to permanently change her body. Women who breastfeed, exercise and eat a well-balanced diet will be able to return to their pre-pregnancy size.

Authour BIO: Stephen Flanagan works as a part time writer and enjoys blogging about many different topics including health, fashion, travel etc.

Whichever is the case, a self-storage unit can help make the transition to a new lifestyle smoother or provide instant relief from space problems created by an unanticipated event.Below are some of the reasons for which a storage unit may supply an ideal solution.

Moving

Moving across town, across the state, or across the country can be stressful. You may have a situation where temporary housing is obviously smaller than your previous abode. Storing some of the extra can give you time to figure out what is essential and what you might want to consider getting rid of altogether. In other instances, a storage unit might permit you to make a more leisurely move by starting to move things you are sure you can live without temporarily and not have to do all the moving over the course of a two day marathon weekend.

Combining Households

Moving in with a significant other presents an opportunity where a storage unit might come in extremely handy. You probably don’t need two of everything. Refrigerators and major appliances for one thing, furniture and cooking utensils for others are items that can be stored until a final decision is reached. Most people don’t come anywhere near doing enough laundry to justify two washers and two dryers.

Growing Family

Preparing for a new arrival can bring the need to store items in order to make room for a nursery. Bedroom furniture, mattresses, home office equipment and exercise machines often must make way for the space requirements that go along with a baby.

Selling a Home

Realtors often tell clients to be brutally efficient when preparing to sell a house in terms of cleaning out clutter that makes a house seem smaller to prospective buyers. This process is referred to as staging and storage units can be a good option where time to make a final decision regarding years’ worth of accumulation of various possessions is needed. A storage unit serves a double purpose for this event by making the move to a new home less of a fire drill and more of a well-planned, smoothly choreographed process.

These are just a few of the reasons why a self-storage unit for temporary or even long-term use might serve you interests well. There are others, certainly, such as estate liquidation and business relocations, but the main point to keep in mind is that renting a storage unit is like getting an automatic two room addition to your life, as well as extra time to make logical decisions.

Image by angeladudek, and licensed through Creative Commons.

Sasha Smith is an associate at Boston self storage facility, EZ Storage. EZ Storage has three convenient locations in the Boston area, which include Framingham, Natick and Newton.

A very good place to start is by choosing your flower colors. A general trend for this year is wedding flowers in very soft and romantic palettes, which happens to tie in perfectly with the pastel blossoms that symbolize the spring season. Think about the colors you choose in conjunction with the bridesmaid dresses and bridesmaid jewelry. For instance, shades of pink tulips would be very pretty with dresses in the popular blush color. Combine the same tulips with flowering cherry blossom branches for very romantic centerpieces.

Exercising Could Be Key to Curbing Hunger

The next time you find yourself in the kitchen searching your cupboards or raiding your fridge, you might want to consider taking a jog around the block or popping in a workout DVD instead. Research is showing that exercise can actually help curb hunger pangs.

According to the author of the study, the hunger-stimulating hormone ghrelin can be lowered for the short term by a bout of intense exercise. At the same time, the hormone that helps to suppress hunger, peptide YY, is actually increased. How intense does the exercise need to be? If you can still chat with a friend while you work out, you need to raise your intensity level. According to the study, the more intense the workout, the longer the appetite-suppressing effect lasts.

So what’s the bad news?

Eventually this effect is going to wear off. When it does, you might find yourself hungrier than before. Be careful not to sabotage yourself. One common mistake made by many people is feeling like they deserve a “treat” following such an intense workout. While your body probably does require some help recovering after a challenging workout, be sure to choose the right kind of nutrients for your body. Some great choices for post-workout recovery include:

A banana with a protein drink

Whole-wheat pita bread with hummus

Fresh berries stirred into yogurt

What do these foods have in common? They combine protein and heart-healthy fats with carbohydrates to give you a good balance of the nutrients your body needs. This makes for a more complete snack that will help your body to recover and keep you full and satisfied longer. Keep portion sizes small, so you don’t accidentally undo all your hard work.

The benefit of regular exercise

If you work out on a regular basis, your appetite hormones will level out and stabilize. You will also gain a better understanding of your body’s signals, so that you can be aware of when you are really hungry. Learning to tune in to your body’s needs will allow you to sustain your weight loss and maintain your new weight.

How much hard work did you really do?

People often make the error of being a bit too optimistic about how many calories they burned during their workout session. While you’re feeling sweaty, out of breath and virtuous, it’s easy to assume that you worked your body much harder than you actually did. This could lead to a calorie-laden binge later in the day thanks to the assumption that you have such a deep calorie deficit and are therefore free to eat to your heart’s content.

Before you start trying to guess how many calories you actually burned, take the time to check a reliable calorie-counting tool, like the one offered by the Mayo Clinic. Our free weight loss calculator can help you too. It will show you how long it will take to lose the weight, as long as you keep to your calorie counts. Find more tips on living a healthy, low fat lifestyle and LowFatDietPlan.org.