Womens Health Issues

Body Detox: The Process to Purify Your Life, Mind, and Soul

noreply@blogger.com (iyunk77) — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 13:37:00 +0000

If you have even a passing interest in the topic of body detox, then you should take a look at the following information. This enlightening article presents some of the latest news on the subject of body detox.

Detox is needed by the human body. As today’s environment, as well as highly processed foods contain toxins that are destructive to the immune system. These toxins are any substances which creates harmful and irritating effects to the human body. It can undermine the health or stress organ or biochemical functions.

Such alarming results are due to the side effects of taking any forms of drugs or changes in the physiology patterns that are normally different from the usual functioning. These free radicals usually irritate, inflame, age, and degenerate body tissues. Negative ethers, spiritual and psychic influences, negative emotions, and thought patterns are also considered as toxins. Thus, it stresses the body causing changes in normal physiology that produces specific symptoms.

Keep in mind that the body needs to function in balance. However, it can be disturbed when the body takes more than what it can eliminate or utilize. Toxicity then occurs. It is dependent on the frequency, potency, or dosage of the present toxins. It can produce rapid or immediate occurrences of symptoms as been displayed by some drugs and several pesticides.

The imbalance being caused by these toxins can be distressful to your life which disrupts you of a sound mind and a good soul. Detoxing is very helpful so that you can purify your body from these harmful toxins regaining your beautiful outlook in life.

You may not consider everything you just read to be crucial information about body detox. But don't be surprised if you find yourself recalling and using this very information in the next few days.

Detox also called as detoxification occurs on various levels. Physically, it is a process that can help in clearing illnesses, congestions, and potential diseases improving the body’s energy. Many detoxification processes are helpful in rejuvenating the body and preventing degeneration.

Detoxification of the mind is important. Cleansing the minds from negative patterns can improve the health of a person. Physical detoxification can also alleviate mental stress. It also helps in terms of emotional aspects of the person where he or she can express and uncover feelings particularly hidden anger, frustrations, fear, or resentments, and later on replace it with love, forgiveness, hope, and joy.

Cleansing processes can also enhance the purpose of a person about how they view life on a more spiritual level. Light detoxification within a few days can help the person in feeling better while a longer detox process can allow a deeper commitment on eating better diets and eliminating abusive habits.

Body detox is a portion of the transformational medicine which instills changes in various levels. Evolution and change are the keys to the person’s healing. Enhancing elimination can help in dealing with and clearing problems from the past, childhood as well as parental patterns, relationship or job stress. Toxic build-up elimination can make a person feel lighter and experience a new horizon of the future.

Well, detoxification can be done in simpler ways. Drinking extra quarts of water each day is good in eliminating more toxins. Eating more cleansing foods, vegetables and fruits with higher contents of water, and less protein foods are helpful in reducing congestion problems. There are other levels of progressive detox diets ranging from simple diets to total fasting. Nevertheless, don’t over detoxify yourself. Extreme fasting, enemas, diuretics, colonics, laxatives, and exercise can start losing the body’s essential nutrients. This also results to a negative balance where mineral-vitamin deficiencies occur which can cause problems in the future. Never forget to maintain the balance to have a better life.

Now you can understand why there's a growing interest in body detox. When people start looking for more information about body detox, you'll be in a position to meet their needs.

Body Detox Naturally Remove Unwanted Toxins

noreply@blogger.com (iyunk77) — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 13:36:00 +0000

The more you understand about any subject, the more interesting it becomes. As you read this article you'll find that the subject of body detox is certainly no exception.

Toxicity is one of the greatest concerns in the 20th century. This is because there are several factors contributing in the development of toxins in the human body such as stronger chemicals, water and air pollution, nuclear power, and radiation. Many people are ingesting new chemicals, using all kinds of drugs, eating more sugar as well as refined foods, and abusing themselves with various sedatives and stimulants.

These toxins lead to an increased incidence of acquiring diseases as well. Some of the most dangerous are cardiovascular illnesses and cancer. Others include obesity, allergies, arthritis, and other skin problems. Moreover, it also displays symptoms including fatigue, headaches, pains, gastrointestinal problems, coughs, and other problems associated with weak immune system.

These chronic and acute illnesses can be alleviated through cleansing or detoxification program. This process naturally eliminates the harmful toxins from the body. It can either be a short-term or a long-term procedure. Those people who are addicted to some substances are well benefited by this program. They can temporarily avoid addictive agents and later on withdraw from their abusive habits.

Take note that toxicity can occur on two major levels. It can either be internal or external. External toxicity is acquired from the environment through breathing, ingesting or physical contacts. It also includes the chemical characteristics of foods which affects the health. Most food additives, drugs, and allergens create the body’s toxic elements. In fact, substances such as sodium, many nutrients, and even water have toxicity in particular circumstances.

You can see that there's practical value in learning more about body detox. Can you think of ways to apply what's been covered so far?

On the other hand, internal toxins are internally produced by the body from its daily normal functions. Cellular, bodily, and biochemical activities are producing substances that should be eliminated. These free radicals known as biochemical toxins can cause inflammation or irritation of the tissues and cells which blocks the normal functioning of an organ, cells, or entire body level. All kinds of microbes, foreign bacteria, intestinal bacteria, parasites, and yeasts produce waste products that are metabolic. Emotions, thoughts, and stress also increase biochemical toxins.

Almost everybody needs to detoxify their bodies so that it can function well. Detox or cleansing is a trilogy portion of the nutritional action. Eating balance diets and avoiding excesses will need lesser intensive detoxification. Although the body has its elimination cycle carried out mostly at night and early morning, eating a congested diet with higher fats, refined foods, dairy products, and even intake of drugs can procure lots of body toxins. That is why body detox is needed because some individuals are having this kind of lifestyle.

Fasting is a detox therapy that is sometimes incorporated. It is considered as the oldest and complete natural treatment for humans. Detox processes can help clear dead cells, wastes, and revitalize the natural functions as well as the healing capacities of the body. Well, many people are claiming that cleansing programs have incredible and positive results on their body.

The proper way of eliminating these toxins is very important to the health of a person. Although the body can handle certain amount of toxins, it is always necessary to think of reduction or elimination in case of excess toxin production and food intake occurs. Of course, in the end you will be benefited with a well-working and stronger immune system to prevent diseases from attacking you. In this way, you will live a much better life.

Is there really any information about body detox that is nonessential? We all see things from different angles, so something relatively insignificant to one may be crucial to another.

Advantages of a Detox Patch Foot Patch

noreply@blogger.com (iyunk77) — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 13:06:00 +0000

Have you ever wondered if what you know about body detox is accurate? Consider the following paragraphs and compare what you know to the latest info on body detox.

Today, there are many different toxins and pollutants that can enter your body via various avenues. Providing an outlet to these materials can be a wonderful way of cleansing your body. Detoxifying your body using a detox foot patch is one of the great methods of achieving a cleaner body both in and out.

Take note, waste products which originated in your body are caused by various environmental factors. It includes toxins that are present in the air and foods being ingested. Well, the way to remove these unwanted materials is by using a detox foot patch.

A detox foot patch is an adhesive patch, square in shape attached by individuals underneath their foot keeping it in place overnight. The purpose behind using a detox foot patch as a means of body detoxification is to provide a waste product outlet that may hang around on the individual’s body.

A detox foot patch contains natural ingredients which works in such a way that it detoxifies the body from pulling out different toxins that are causing stress, fatigue and other related health problems. In fact, this kind of foot patch is frequently used in various regions all over Asia. It even influences other continents because of the fantastic results shown. The success of using body detox foot patch for body detoxification is seen on its increased number of usage rate in Asia.

There are several advantages offered by a detox foot patch.

Is everything making sense so far? If not, I'm sure that with just a little more reading, all the facts will fall into place.

- It provides an effective way producing a body detoxification method on treating different symptoms of several ailments. Individuals who are using patches like this one attained a more relaxed, restful feeling and even help in curing minor health problems due to the elimination of large quantity of toxins that are present in their bodies.

- Most individuals who have used a detox foot patch find it comfortable. It also gives them relief. However, their prime reason is that it cleanses their entire body. Remember, overall cleansing of the body help individuals to achieve less stress, great overall health, and restfulness.

- A detox foot patch is convenient to use. Individuals can obtain the detoxification that they need while sleeping or working. Well, there is nothing to worry about even though you are doing other activities.

- A detox foot patch provides a non-messy method of achieving a totally cleansed body, free from toxins. It has no ointments or liquids to apply. You just simply stick it underneath your foot while working or sleeping. It is considered as an inventive and new treatment regimen and it also does not involve invasive procedure to clean the body. So, generally it attracts consumers in various countries although it has already been popular in Asia for so many years now.

- Using a detox foot patch to detoxify your body is very affordable. Reasonable prices can be obtained by purchasing the item. Most often, you can procure the treatment method at around 30 dollars to 40 dollars per box.

In summation, using a detox foot patch method for body detoxification can be a wonderful body cleansing experience. The advantages that it provides the users are great. The results can bring out the best in them. However, the decision lies in you. If you find the method appealing and effective, then it can really be worth trying.

Now might be a good time to write down the main points covered above. The act of putting it down on paper will help you remember what's important about body detox.

Finding the Right Body Detox Product to make you Clean Inside

noreply@blogger.com (iyunk77) — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 13:04:00 +0000

The following paragraphs summarize the work of body detox experts who are completely familiar with all the aspects of body detox. Heed their advice to avoid any body detox surprises.

Are you clean in side?

Are you 100 percent sure about it?

All of us are exposed to a host of chemicals and deadly toxins on a regular daily basis. Even though you may think that you are leading a healthy lifestyle, you are still subjected to many toxins that is found everywhere, even in your own homes. Toxins can be found in the water we drink, the food we eat and the air we breathe. We can not just totally eliminate those factors as those are the essential things we need to survive.

With the advent of medical science and the many discoveries in medicines, man has found ways to prolong life and eliminate painful symptoms that many diseases carry, but these same pharmaceutical drugs can leave traces of toxins in our body. Plus, sedatives and stimulants that we take do the same job as well, polluting our bodies. Also, man today has been consuming record amounts of processed foods and sugar that has never been recorded before. This just all add up to the toxins that lie in our body.

Why all the fuss about toxins?

All these toxins that are left uncared for can lead to indigestion, producing more toxins. As these toxins build up, they will eventually turn into parasites, small flesh eating monsters that could cause many diseases.

How can you put a limit on learning more? The next section may contain that one little bit of wisdom that changes everything.

Although our liver and kidney may be helping out in detoxifying our body, our body is not capable of totally cleaning them out.

That’s why there is a need for outside help. Aside from the many diets and exercises plus the healthy lifestyle we may subject ourselves into to eliminate or at least decrease the amount of toxins in our body, we may resort to a body detox product to help eradicate all of those toxins.

Some of these body detox products come in the form of herbal medications which doesn’t leave any toxins behind, unlike the chemical drugs. These herbal body detox products may come in different forms, such as teas, mouthwashes, shampoos, capsules, softgels, chewables, liquid drinks an a host of others.

Each one of them targets an individual part of the body for detox. That is why it is imperative that before taking a body detox product, a consultation with a doctor should be done.

A lot of these body detox products could be found in the internet. While most of them would claim that they are truly effective and doesn’t have any side effects, a lot of scientists have also dispelled some of these body detox products.

Many people would go to great lengths to seduce you with their body detox products. It would be best to get a second, third or even a fourth opinion. A little bit of research would do a lot of good. You wouldn’t want to waste your money on just some useless drinks that only quenches your thirst and nothing more. You wouldn’t want to be buying something that might just add up to your toxin pile up.

So when you feel a little sluggish and you seem, to have lost a lot of pep, this could be because of a massive toxin build up in your body. Consult with a doctor immediately and see which body detox product would be right for you.

Now that wasn't hard at all, was it? And you've earned a wealth of knowledge, just from taking some time to study an expert's word on body detox.

Healthy Eating with Detox Recipes for your Body

noreply@blogger.com (iyunk77) — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 13:03:00 +0000

So what is body detox really all about? The following report includes some fascinating information about body detox--info you can use, not just the old stuff they used to tell you.

You probably know by now what detoxification is and the ways that it can be done. A detox diet provides the simplest way to detoxifying yourself. A rule of thumb in detox diets: the more fiber and water, the better. Eat lots of vegetables and fruits, beans and nuts. On the other hand, steer clear of caffeine, carbonated drinks, sugars like chocolates, alcohol and yeast.

Dr. Kiki Sidhwa recommends going on a monotrophic diet after a three-day fast. By monotrophic, we mean eating only one type of fruit for every meal. Example, for breakfast, you can eat apple. For lunch, try out oranges or pineapples. Eat until your hunger is satisfied. You can squeeze in a grapefruit juice at around 4 pm for your snack. And in the evening, eat only apples, pears, grapes or bananas.

Of course, this is just one of those do-it-yourself diet plans that you can take on when you’re on a detox program. For most people, however, detox recipes are the best way to go. These detox recipes are especially designed to provide you with the necessary nutrient in the body and at the same time, providing you with the necessary antioxidants and substances that will cleanse your body from toxins.
For more fluid intake, you can try Ginger Healing Tea with Turmeric. What you need are the following: 2 cups of water, ½ teaspoon of powdered ginger, ½ teaspoon of tumeric, 1 tablespoon of maple syrup and lemon extract. To make your special healing tea, add powdered herbs to boiling water and let it simmer for 10 minutes. Strain the tea into a mug and add maple syrup and lemon extract. Stir and whalaaah--- you can start drinking!

Knowledge can give you a real advantage. To make sure you're fully informed about body detox, keep reading.

For breakfast, you can try the vegetable super juice. This juice gives you the needed energy boost for your senses, wakens your digestive system and can keep you going until lunchtime. For starters, you need 1 whole cucumber, 4 celery sticks, 2-4 handfuls of spinach, 8 lettuce leaves. You can also add other green vegetables like parsley and fresh alfalfa sprouts. The process is easy and simple, juice all ingredients and add distilled water. You can also add lemon juice for better taste.

And now for lunch, try the Alkalising RAW Soup. All you need are 1 avocado, 2 spring onions, ½ red or green pepper, 1 cucumber, 2 handfuls of spinach, ½ clove of garlic, 100 ml of light vegetable Bouillon, lemon or lime juice and Bragg Liquid Aminos for added taste. Just like our vegetable juice, the recipe is simple and easy to do. Blend the avocado and stock to form a light paste. Add other ingredients and blend. And then you can start eating!

Our dinner treat is Warm Broccoli Soup. All you need is ½ avocado, 6-8 broccoli heads, 1/3 red onion, 1 celery stick, a big handful of spinach, inch of root ginger, cumin and bragg liquid amino for added taste. Lightly steam the broccoli for 5-6 minutes. After steaming, blend all the ingredients together and add garlic and pepper to taste. This is perfect for a cold winter night.

Feeling hungry still? These recipes are just few of the hundred other detox recipes available on the net. The key here is to pack yourself with enough water and nutrients to keep you going without ingesting a plateful of additives, sugars and food preservatives. So what are you waiting for? Start eating healthy!

Hopefully the sections above have contributed to your understanding of body detox. Share your new understanding about body detox with others. They'll thank you for it.

Detox- Cleansing the Body Inside Out

noreply@blogger.com (iyunk77) — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 12:58:00 +0000

If you're seriously interested in knowing about body detox, you need to think beyond the basics. This informative article takes a closer look at things you need to know about body detox.

Detoxification has been a lengthy discussion ever since. Whether to detox or not, is up to you.

Even though you are 'healthy' this does not mean that you don't need to detox. Sure our body does this on a continual basis, our kidneys and livers are constantly working by cleaning out all the pollutants (smoke, caffeine, chemical-based products etc) in our body. Detox strengthen our organs back to optimal function.

Basically, this is done through fasting, therefore resting the organs and stimulating the liver by pushing away the toxins from the body. Nourishing the body with healthy nutrients is also done to maintain optimum health. It has been practiced for centuries around the world by different cultures.

Although a lot of people want whole body detoxification, some wants to have a detox on a particular organ only, such as the kidney, liver or colon. During kidney cleansing, herbal supplements and juices are used to dissolve and wash out kidney stones; particular foods are consumed in liver cleansing causing the gall bladder and liver to remove fatty deposits and toxins out of the body. Colon cleansing on the other hand, gently flushes the colon with water providing a pathway for the release of toxins.

There are also techniques used in whole body cleansing such as:

Fasting. Water or juice fasting is applied for a period of time to lessen toxic loads in the body causing the body to heal itself and nourish inside out.

Parasite cleaning. Right amount of pills or tinctures made out of bitter herbs are consumed to build an unreceptive environment for the parasites inside the body.

Contrast Shower. The contrast among hot and cold water enhances circulation, helps in detoxifying thus having a stronger immune system. This also helps by bringing oxygen, nutrients and immune cells towards damaged and stressed tissue and flushes metabolic waste and other toxins.

Sauna, yoga, exercise, raw food dieting and dry skin brushing also enhance the body's natural cleansing process.

Now that we've covered those aspects of body detox, let's turn to some of the other factors that need to be considered.

Other Detoxifying aids

There are a number of safe products that helps in the cleansing process such as cleansing supplement packages (with easy-to-follow instructions), detox foot patches, commercially prepared detox teas, Epsom salts, high-class multivitamins for daily intake and antioxidants like Q10 and E that can be found at health food stores.

Before and after side effects:

As the procedures differ, so do the benefits.

During the detox, you'll most likely feel the side effects that take place during the first few days such as headaches, feeling weak, sore muscles, cranky moods and unable to sleep soundly.

There are also a number of positive side effects days after the cleansing process. You will feel energetic, mental clarity improved, skin is clearer, improved sleep, and have a positive attitude in life for a fresh start.

Detoxification is safe and beneficial for our health. It is suggested that each one should at least have a short detoxification program yearly. However, children, nursing mothers, and patients with cancer, chronic degenerative illness and tuberculosis should consult their physician first for approval and supervision or find someone who is familiar with detox.

If you decide to award your body with holiday, find a nutritional therapist who is familiar with detox.

Here's how:

You can call your friends who are into health foods and alternative medicines, ask them for a person who they can refer. Another way is to search in the yellow pages under nutrition or by looking for ads in health publication in your locality. Get the name of someone you found whose name appears in more than one place and check for his profile, like from which school he/she attended the training and if it's an accredited one. Also ask how long he's been in practice.

As your knowledge about body detox continues to grow, you will begin to see how body detox fits into the overall scheme of things. Knowing how something relates to the rest of the world is important too.

How Detox Wrap Works Miracles to Your Body

noreply@blogger.com (iyunk77) — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 14:33:00 +0000

Feeling good about oneself is not just about making a beautiful outward appearance. Most people still believe that beauty shines from within. Being pretty on the outside is not an assurance that you have a beautiful inside too.

It is but natural for people to eat different kinds of food, drink alcohol, smoke cigarettes, take oral contraceptives, and many more. And you're probably one of those people who still don't know the harm caused by these things or just chose to ignore them.

When a person drinks alcohol, or eat foods with preservatives/additives, drink too much alcohol, etc. toxins are readily taken into the body. Toxins are considered as chemicals, but the body has its own natural way of detoxifying it, and this is exhibited when a person urinates, and through his stool.

In the long run, these toxins can build up inside your body. The body's natural way of detoxifying these toxins will not be enough, and so it becomes inefficient. That is why you will need to aid the detoxification process. Otherwise, you will soon acquire hormonal imbalances, nutritional deficiencies, and insufficient metabolism.

If you experience symptoms like lethargy, allergies, occasional pains, and dull skin, then most likely you need a body detox because toxins inside the body have already accumulated.

Body wraps are now offered for people who want to undergo the detoxification process. Body wraps are specially-formulated to draw out all the toxins in the body. It is made from sea clay which acts as a huge poultice; and the clay draws out the toxins, compressing the soft skin tissues which regain the skin's elasticity. You can expect for a muscle base that is firmer and smoother.

How does a body wrap detox the body? For many years, the toxins inside your body have already built up around and between fat cells. And these toxins are usually gaining in number depending on a person's lifestyle.

The body detox wrap shapes your entire body, repositioning the body's fat cells, which further results to inch loss. People who want to lose inches from their thighs, buttocks and other particular body parts can use a body wrap to achieve weight loss almost immediately.

The body wrap enter the pores of your skin until it finally reaches the toxins. The toxins comes either back through the bandages or flushed out. You must take note however that the sea clay is concentrated, and after a few days, you can actually the inches lost from your body.

Don’t worry if you still drink plenty of water because the body wrap does not dehydrate the body. You can still drink still drink plenty of water without gaining weight; you need not wash off the wrap-solution.

Once the toxins are out of your system, they will never come back. However, with your lifestyle, your body will again start to build up toxins, whether you like it or not.

You can choose among the many body detox wraps available, they also come in different brands. Some offer money back guarantees to promote their product, and most of them offers a 30 days to inch-loss promise.

Not all people can take advantage of the body detox wrap. Those that have phlebitis or emphysema, as well as pregnant women, can't utilize a body wrap.

With all the diseases that are spreading all throughout the world, its time to get rid of those unwanted body toxins. Detox now through a body wrap.

Is there a Full Detox Plan for Body, Mind, and Spirit?

noreply@blogger.com (iyunk77) — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 14:32:00 +0000

Spirituality plays a vital role in your daily life. If you believe in God, you know that there are certain things that you should and should not do. Holistic living is gaining more popularity these days. It means that a person should live a healthy and spiritual life.

People with strong faith in God will likely say that a healthy life is worth nothing if your spirituality is at its lowest. These two aspects should always compliment each other to achieve full body detox.

Most people will say that you should live your life to the fullest, and so why not achieve a full body detox? Detox or detoxification is a process to eliminate all the harmful toxins that have accumulated inside the body. The body, mind and spirit go hand in hand, why? The body will not function (or even not exist) without the mind, and the spirit.

It is a sad fact that many people have very little time to ponder about their spiritual aspect of life. They are too busy looking for ways to stay healthy, paying the bills, making more money, and meet work deadlines. This may be so, because people have a choice. They can freely choose how to live their lives, as they see it fit.

If you want to begin holistic living, start by full body, mind, and spirit detox.

The body has its own natural way of detoxification, but if the toxins are too much, it needs some help. There are a lot of detox products available almost anywhere in the world.

Detox products aid the body in the detox process making you feel more revitalized and energized. There are also other benefits of body detox including healthier skin and normal bowel movements.

The mind should also undergo detoxification. You must free your mind from all negative thoughts. There is the so-called Psychoneurimmunology that has been in existence for many years now in the eastern culture; it believes that the mind and body are linked to each other.

Patients who undergo this treatment are taught how to focus the mind, and visualize the flowing healing-energy into the body's organs which needs healing. If you are successful in doing this treatment, the healing process is said to move at a faster rate. Visualization is the key to unite the mind and body, and achieve results. You can only do this if you get help from the professionals who are into this kind of mind detox. Of course, there are also other types of mind detox that you can make use. Choose one that you think will work best for you.

Spirituality is also one aspect in a person's life that should also be given equal attention. Prayer is the most familiar form of exhibiting spirituality. It is part of almost any religion found in any part of the world.

There is no established 'right' way to pray. In fact, you can pray anywhere you like, any position you like, just as long as it comes from the heart and you have deep faith to your creator. All you need to do is to find the right way of praying, one that will work best for you.

It is then possible to get full body, mind, and spirit detox and these are just simple ways. Getting a professional help can greatly help you in achieving real and tangible results.

Detox by Bruce Fife to Detoxify Body, Stop Disease, Reverse Aging, and Improve Health

noreply@blogger.com (iyunk77) — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 14:32:00 +0000

All the wealth in the world is useless if you're unhealthy. You can't enjoy your life if your body is weak and unable to function properly. You can miss all the wonderful things offered by our world today. Too exaggerated? Well, not likely. As much as you want to enjoy your life to the fullest, your body is constantly bombarded with harmful chemicals.

Where do these chemicals come from you might ask. In you don’t know it yet, your body is loaded with harmful chemicals that came from the food you ate, the beverages that you've drank, the things you use to put up with your daily hygiene, the smoke from cars and cigarettes, and many more. Every day you are exposed to these harmful chemicals found all around you.

Although the body has a natural way of healing itself, and freeing itself from these harmful chemicals, sometimes it can't handle the process alone. Most especially if the body already has acid build ups. If you lived an unhealthy lifestyle for many years now, you can expect that you have developed acid build ups, whether you like it or not.

It's high time that you detoxify your body, and the time to act is now. Don’t postpone it for later, otherwise you'll find yourself experiencing many symptoms of diseases and other illnesses.

If you don’t want to develop further any dreadful disease or illness, why not purchase a book by Bruce Fife. The second edition of his book on body detox costs no more than $20. If you want to start detoxifying your body, buy now, and you'll get help from the expert.

Fife's book has gained high ratings in many consumer reviews. The book is able to impart what detox does to your body. Regimens are usually followed to help you get rid of harmful and toxic substances from your body. As you know by now, toxins can be inhaled from the air that you breathe, and from the foods that you ingest. Some toxins are also produced inside the body, and if the body is not properly functioning, these toxins can't be ousted which later on can cause certain body problems.

The book contains complete information as to how you are to go about your home detox program. The body's system for natural detoxification needs some sort of support in order to function properly, and this home detox program can greatly help in restoring the body's health, stop certain diseases that you now have, and reverse the signs of aging that you've been experiencing all this time. The body is rejuvenated, and you'll be alive and kicking once again.

A diet which consists of all-natural foods is also featured in the book, including fasting among its chapters. The book teaches you how to go about fasting and other natural way of body detox.

There are however certain drawbacks on the book, like the author being a vegetarian. Some of the issues regarding eating only toxin-free foods which most people think as impossible and being a vegetarian himself were reflected in some of his biased discussions in some chapters of the book.

If you want to try complete home body detox, purchase the book. You'll get a lot of help and important information.

Home Body-Detox Programs for Losing Weight

noreply@blogger.com (iyunk77) — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 14:31:00 +0000

Having a great body is probably what all people are trying to achieve, and this includes the fat and thin people. Struggling to lose or to gain weight can oftentimes be very frustrating. It seems that no matter what you do, you can't get things right. You still find difficulty in achieving the perfect body and the right weight.

Since our birth up to the present, our body has accumulated many toxin build ups. Some of the chemicals from all the foods and beverages that you've taken in your entire lifetime will build up because the body can't handle the detoxification process alone.

Have you heard of detox programs? Many people are into this kind of programs because they claim that they have finally found the solution to their unhealthy way of life.

When you say unhealthy, it means that you are doing things which are somewhat harmful to your body, and even to other people. A typical example is cigarette smoking and drinking alcohol. Cigarette and alcohol have many harmful chemicals that are considered toxins once they entered a person's body.

Through a detox program, you can expect to gain higher energy levels, relieve symptoms of asthma/diabetes, and slow down your aging process. But the very main reason why many people are into detox programs is to lose weight.

The detox program can also aid your body's natural detox process. Since almost any person has some sort of 'bad' eating habit, not to mention their 'other' unhealthy ways of life, the body can't cope up with all the toxins that need to be removed causing an imbalance in the body.

Detox programs can be done at home. There are home body-detox programs which can be easily followed, for a period of two weeks or more. These programs are focused in helping you lose weight, enhance circulation, increase body elimination, colon cleansing, detox diet, and provide nutrients for the liver. If you still don’t know yet, the liver is the main organ of the body which is responsible for the detoxification process. So you really need to protect and support this body organ.

People who have undergone this type of home body-detox programs say that they were able to lose weight much more quickly than other weight-loss products. Aside from that, they noticed that they now have clearer skin, improved digestion, improved energy, normal bowel movements, etc.

Home body-detox programs also teach you what foods are right for the body. Fresh vegetables and fruits are great for almost any weight loss program, most especially with a home detox. You can eat broccoli, onions, and sprouts, green and red veggies.

Virgin oils, lemon water, rice milk, wheat products, and non-caffeinated drinks (like tea) are also good for a home detox program. Drinking at least eight glasses of water everyday is also advisable.

A good home body-detox program will help a person restore his/her body's balance, and efficiently removes all toxin build ups. But this doesn’t mean though that you will no longer be able to get toxins into your system. If you continue with your unhealthy lifestyle, over time you will again build up toxins in your body.

Start by slowly changing your lifestyle now. There are many resources which you can make use to aid you in changing little by little. This might take a long time, but your body will thank you for your efforts to change to a healthy way of life.

Using Herbs as Your Home Remedy for Body Detox

noreply@blogger.com (iyunk77) — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 14:29:00 +0000

The accumulated toxins inside your body must be cleared in order for it to function well. Your body needs to be healed to regain energy. There is one effective way of clearing your body from these unwanted toxins and it is called body detox or body detoxification using natural herbs. However, it is not taken as a single step but a continued process so that the natural ability of your body is supported for the effective dispelling of toxins everyday.

Another process being incorporated in body detox together with using herbs is limiting the toxins which enter your body. Eliminating or restricting the use of the usual culprits such as refined sugar, caffeine, alcohol, tobacco, drugs, household chemicals, and petroleum or synthetic-based body paraphernalia is a very good way of starting.

You should start eating organic natural diet foods, getting regular exercise, and drinking adequate amounts of water to facilitate your detoxification. Your body can adjust easily in a gradual change that is much better compared to other practices.

The following herbs that have known to be effective for many years can be used as a home remedy. These are the natural way of body detoxification.

• Psyllium seeds and husks contain high fiber which can gently act as a natural laxative. You can utilize it by soaking the seeds in water. Psyllium is generally considered as adaptogenic which supports the healthy function of your bowel. It is also useful in treating diarrhea and other irritable bowel diseases. It is a very good choice for body detoxification since its gelatinous substance after soaking absorbs toxins.

• Hydrangea root and the Joe pye weed (gravel root) helps in preventing, dissolving, and expelling stones and crystals in the bladder and kidneys. It is good to keep your kidneys free from any obstructions to stay in good working condition essential in effective elimination of toxins.

• Cascara Sagrada is used also as natural laxatives. It could be safe even for longer duration of usage where it strengthens your colon’s muscles.

• Alder buckthorn’s barks are also used but it must first be dried and be stored for at least one year since its fresh barks are so strong which can be considered toxic.

• Juniper berries also promote the urinary system’s overall health. It detoxifies and strengthens your urinary tract, bladder, and kidneys. It is excellent for cleaning purposes but prolonged usage is not recommended because it can cause some overtaxing in your kidneys.

• Nettles also have detoxifying properties which can be extended not just in your urinary system. Nevertheless overusing it can display similar effects as the juniper berries.

• Burdock seeds and roots are similar to nettles. It has mild and cleansing diuretic action but has stronger effects. Heavy metals inside your body can be removed by using burdock.

• Basil, cypress, celery, grapefruit, lemon, fennel, rosemary, thyme, and patchouli contains essential oils effective for flushing out toxins underneath your skin and stimulating circulation of your lymph.

• Dandelion root and milk thistle help in cleansing and strengthening your liver. Milk thistle has silymarin which does not only protect your liver but helps in regenerating itself. Dandelion root helps in removing waste products from your gallbladder and kidneys.

You would never have any problems if your body needs detoxification at home. You can try using these wonderful herbs to obtain their natural remedies. Rejuvenate yourself and feel good about it.

Procedures Taken For Natural Body Detox

noreply@blogger.com (iyunk77) — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 14:28:00 +0000

Setting up a cleansing or detox program is not an easy task. You need to undergo various procedures. It includes health history evaluation, physical examinations, biochemistry tests, mineral level tests, dietary analysis and other related specific tests to diagnose your entire health status. These are helpful in determining the appropriate natural procedure that you should take to clean up your body.

Take note, analyzing your present health status, disease, and symptoms as a result of your lifestyle, familial or inherent patterns, and diets can help in creating a body detox plan that is best suited for you. Remember, any healing procedure needs a plan that must be followed accordingly to achieve positive results.

1. Proper Diet. People who are lacking energy and nutrients need a diet which is high in protein and nutrients for improving their health. Mineral deficiencies, fatigue, and low functions of organs should have a much supportive diet. However, in this particular circumstance, short cleaning of the body for three days can help in eliminating old debris. It also prepares your body for building healthier blocks.

If you feel congested with travel, stresses, and different foods, drink juices or eat lightly for a few days. It can display a huge difference. You could also eat low protein foods, high-rich-carbohydrate foods, and vegetarian foods for a couple of years. Mild detox can consist of vegetable meals which add proteins in your body. Fresh fish with a lot of vegetables can also energize you.

2. Using natural herbs. There are different body organs which are prone to the high development of toxins. One of them is your colon. Keep in mind that large intestines can accommodate much toxicity which can result to its sluggish functioning. So, detox programs are created to solve this problem. Fiber supplements cleansing diet are incorporated for cleaning and toning colons. It includes herbal laxatives like psyllium seed husk used alone or combined with agents such as betonite clay, acidophilus culture, and Aloe Vera powder. Enemas using herbs, diluted coffee, or water can be used for cleaning your liver, another important organ of your body.

3. Regular exercise. Exercise stimulates sweating thus it eliminates toxic wastes through your skin. It improves general metabolism and aids in your overall detoxification. Aerobic exercise done regularly can maintain your body to stay non-toxic because you are prevented from bad habits. However, exercising can also increase toxic productions in your body so it must always be accompanied with antioxidants, adequate fluids, mineral and vitamins replenishment as well as other related detox principles.

4. Regular bathing. It is very essential in cleaning your skin from accumulated toxins. Sweats and saunas are most often used in purifying your body via more enhanced skin elimination. Dry brushing your skin using the right skin brush is often suggested before bathing.

5. Massage therapy. It is very useful in supporting detox programs. It stimulates body functions and elimination promoting a more relaxed feeling clearing you from worries, tensions, and mental stresses.

6. Recharging, relaxing, and resting. This is important in the rejuvenation process. It helps your body in rebalancing your attitude and mind which sometimes interferes in natural homeostasis. Practicing yoga is a powerful exercise related to breathing regulation and awareness helping you to obtain a more balanced and active aura.

Choose the right procedure you need to incorporate to clean your body from toxins in the proper way. It can make you feel much better and healthier.

Pros and cons of the Atkins diet

noreply@blogger.com (iyunk77) — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 16:10:00 +0000

The Atkins diet is one of the most popular low carbohydrate diets on the market today. Its popularity has sparked dozens of look-a-like diets who center on the same principles of high-protein, low-carbohydrate eating. There are a lot of fish in the sea when it comes to choosing a low-carbohydrate plan.

Studies have shown that low-carbohydrate eating has many benefits. There have been scientific results that low-carbohydrate diets like Atkins do create significant weight loss without having to restrict calories. People who use the Atkins diet have also reported this. There are studies that show that low-carb eating improves triclycerides, reduces blood glucose for diabetics and pre-diabetics and increases good cholesterol (HDL). Low-carbohydrate dieting has been scientifically proven to improve insulin sensitivity, decrease blood pressure and lower blood insulin levels. When compared with low-fat diets, low-carb dieters lose less muscle mass.

Although not scientifically proven, there are many common benefits reported by Atkins dieters and other low-carb dieters. These include an increase in energy, a reduced craving for sweets, better concentration, improved mood and an lessening of depression type symptoms.

However, there are also some benefits that are specific to the Atkins diet. If you have been a low fat dieter in previous years, you’ll enjoy eating all of those “forbidden foods” that you once had to go without. Steak, butter and cream are a regular part of Atkins dieters’ meals. There is a certain pleasure that goes along with eating foods that were once off limits. Atkins dieters are encouraged to eat their full of rich meats, cheeses and fats and oils.

Atkins is also simple to use, compared with some other low-carb diets on the market. There are some basic food carbohydrate counts that you’ll need to learn, but after that, you are free to eat from the acceptable food lists.

Dr. Atkins also emphasized finding your own personal carbohydrate level. Different people have different levels of carbohydrate tolerance. While some gain weight on just 90 carbohydrate grams a day, others can live comfortably at 120 carbohydrate grams. During the ongoing weight loss phase and pre-maintenance phase of the diet, you will learn your personal carbohydrate count that will help determine your carbohydrate goal for life.

The popularity of Atkins is a double-edged sword for dieters. There is a lot of information available on the diet, which makes it easy to find resources and support. There have been many, many Atkins books written and there are endless amounts of websites that offer tips and group support. However, everyone has heard of Atkins and probably has an opinion on it. There are some big misconceptions out there about the nature of the diet, and you’ll no doubt have to defend your new way of eating from time to time.

There are some other minimal downsides to using the Atkins program. You do need to count carbohydrates in everything you eat to make sure that you are staying within your personal carbohydrate range. There is also the issue of Induction, the most hotly debate aspect of the plan. Induction can be difficult to get through if you’ve had a diet that centers on carbs and sugar. Also, many people try Induction and mistakenly believe that this is the way that the whole diet is going to be. They end up quitting before they get into the actual Atkins plan.

Sometimes, although it is not common, people will experience a carb crash on the 3rd to 5th day of the diet. This reaction is a result of their body finally experiencing ketosis, or running on fat instead of carbohydrates. The effects are transient, but many people have sworn off low-carb diets entirely because of this happenstance.

Overall, with the minor drawbacks considered, Atkins is one of the most popular low-carb diets for a reason. It works. Thousands of people have had success with the Atkins approach to the low-carb way of living.

Planning for Atkins

noreply@blogger.com (iyunk77) — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 16:09:00 +0000

When it comes to the Atkins diet, your success will lie in your planning. Making sure you have the proper foods on hand when you begin your diet will go a long way toward your ongoing weight loss. There are many suggestions for Atkins diet meals in the Atkins books, and there are plenty of resources online for Atkins and low-carb recipes.

Planning your meals and snacks will be an important part of your life when you are on this diet. That advice really goes for any diet. When you eat whatever you like, you gain weight. Your current weight and health problems are a direct result of letting your eating habits go unchecked for so long.

As with all diet plans, becoming used to the Atkins way of eating is going to take some time and adjustment. The standard American diet relies heavily on carbohydrates and other restricted foods. Many people grew up on carbohydrate heavy favorites like spaghetti and meatballs, meat and potatoes and pasta casserole. It is going to take some effort and patience to get used to eating in an entirely new way.

There are two different approaches you can take in adjusting your diet. You can find replacements for your favorite foods with “mock” carbohydrates. For example, lasagna made with eggplant or zucchini instead of pasta is much more carb-friendly than the regular variety. Spaghetti squash noodles make a good substitute for spaghetti noodles. There are also many low-carb or carb-free replacements for bread, pasta and sugar products.

The second approach is to find out how to make new recipes that center around meats and other low-carb foods. There are a wide variety of meats that are acceptable on the Atkins plan. If you are used to just eating ground beef or chicken on a weekly basis, you’ll be surprised by the variety of meats that are out there. Try incorporating pork, lamb and ham into your weekly routine. You can also experiment with game fowl like Cornish hen, quail and pheasant. If you’ve never been a fan of fish, try a different variety. Some people who don’t like trout find they have a love of salmon or another fish. Don’t forget shellfish like mussels, clams and shrimp. These foods are all acceptable and can add variety to your diet.

Make sure to have some easy to prepare foods on hand for snacks and quick meals. For example, thin sliced cucumbers, radishes and celery mixed with lemon mayonnaise makes a great low-carb meal or dinner salad. Fried peppers, mushrooms and garlic served on arugula with feta cheese is another good option.

Research and try out different low-carb recipes so you have a good base of knowledge of what to prepare for meals. The most important step you can take in losing weight is planning. Getting a good arsenal of easy to prepare meals will prevent you from hitting the drive through or going to a restaurant and breaking your diet.

If you have delicious food to look forward to everyday, you’ll be less bored with your diet. Even during the restrictive induction phase, there are many food combinations that you can use. At first glance, the vegetable and meat options may seem restrictive. But this is only in comparison to what you have been used to eating. With a little planning and creativity, you can find something interesting to eat everyday.

Overcoming plateaus on the Atkins diet

noreply@blogger.com (iyunk77) — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 16:08:00 +0000

If you are experiencing a stall or plateau in your Atkins weight loss efforts, you are not alone. This occurs from time to time. However, you first must make sure that you have actually reached a plateau point.

A plateau means that you have gone an extended period of time without losing weight or inches. It’s important to take your measurements before you start your weight loss plan, in addition to your weight. On some weeks it may not seem like you are losing any at all on the scale. But a quick look at your measurements will prove otherwise.

On the Atkins diet you are replacing fat with muscle, which is denser and heavier. You might actually gain a little weight because you are building muscle to replace your fat. The result will be an increase on the scale, but a decrease in your inches. Your body will be smaller and leaner, but you may weigh the same.

Before you start your program, measure your chest, waist, hips, upper arms, thighs and calves. You never know where you may be losing inches, so it’s important to have these comprehensive measurements to refer to. It is normal to go through periods where you body is readjusting. Remember that you are reforming the composition of your body and this process will take some time. Check your measurements once a week, just like your weight, and you can track your overall progress.

There may be periods of 3 to 4 weeks where you have a stall in weight loss, but a loss in inches. Or vice versa. Using both methods to track your fat loss is the best assurance for an accurate measure of your progress. These stall periods are not a reason to quit or to give up. They are natural parts of the weight loss process.

Stalls may occur more frequently if you are 5 to 10 pounds away from being at your goal weight. By following a low-carb, high-protein way of eating you have created a lot more muscle in your body. Your muscle-to-fat ratio is higher than ever before, so your body might be resisting losing anymore fat. It may be time to rethink your goal weight. Perhaps your body is trying to tell you something and its time to start maintaining your weight loss rather than trying to lose more.

There are some other possible causes of stalls and plateaus on the road to weight loss. If you’ve gone four weeks with no change in weight or measurements and you are nowhere near your goal weight, you can try a few different methods to get yourself out of the rut. First, make sure your carbohydrate level is in check. If you are eating too many carbohydrate grams per day, your weight loss will stall. Look for hidden carbohydrates in packaged foods, dressings and sauces to make sure they aren’t the culprits in your plateau.

Check your daily water intake. When you are dehydrated, your body will retain water and that can mimic a plateau. Water will also help flush ketones from your system and make more room for new fat burning ketones.

Undereating can also be a cause for weight loss plateaus. Make sure not to let yourself go hungry and eat smaller, more frequent meals. Remember, you are on a carbohydrate-restricted diet, not a calorie-restricted diet. Make sure to have some protein with every meal and snack. Never go more than 5 hours without eating something (except overnight of course). Also, eat freely from the acceptable foods. Don’t try to count calories or restrict your calorie intake. When your body gets too few calories, it goes into starvation mode and will hold onto fat cells.

Increasing your exercise level can help get you through a plateau as well. As your muscles get used to working out at a certain level, you’ll have to increase the duration or the intensity in order to keep challenging your body. Add a new exercise into the mix, or try increasing weight in resistance training.

Trying one of these methods will most likely get your weight loss back on track. Remember that occasional stalls are normal, but they do not have to last.

Is Atkins right for you

noreply@blogger.com (iyunk77) — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 16:07:00 +0000

The Atkins diet is very popular, but is it right for you? Before you start down the low carb road, you should take some time to decide whether low carb is the right way for you to lose weight. Just because it has been effective for others doesn’t mean it will be right for you. No specific diet works for everyone, and you may even find that a type of low carb diet that works better for you than another. There are many things to consider before you start the Atkins diet.

First, evaluate your past dieting history. If you’ve been trying to lose weight for a long period of time, you’ve no doubt tried a wide variety of diets. Take note of the different diets you’ve tried over the years. Write down the basics of each diet, what worked and what didn’t. Also, write down why you didn’t stay on the particular diet. Evaluate your experience with high carbohydrate diets. These types of diets include most low-fat and calorie controlled diets. How did you feel while on these types of diets? Were you hungry, obsessed with food or experiencing negative reactions? Or did you feel full of energy and generally good?

If you’ve had experience with low carb diets, write that down as well. Past the negative effects of the first week, how did eating low carb make you feel? Why did you stop using the low carb diet?

The answers to these questions will help you decide whether Atkins is right for you or not. If you’ve had good experiences with low-fat diets and bad experiences with other low carb diets, then Atkins is probably not for you. If other low-carb diets have worked but not without difficulty, then you may have been on the wrong type of low-carb diet and Atkins might work better. If you’ve had bad experiences with both types of diets, then you may have better success with a modified Atkins diet.

Your food and eating behaviors can also give you a clue to whether or not Atkins is a good choice for your weight loss efforts. Carb sensitivities are indicated by a certain set of behaviors. You may be carb sensitive if you feel like eating right after you’ve finished a meal. You will also feel strong urges to eat throughout the day. You may feel dizzy, fuzzyheaded and fatigued without getting a boost from sugar or another carbohydrate. Carb sensitivity is also shown when you feel sluggish after eating. This occurs especially after you eat a meal rich in sugars and carbohydrates. If you experience these symptoms frequently, you may have carb sensitivities. Try paying close attention to how carbohydrates affect you and if you continue to experience these symptoms, try doing a low carb diet.

Your success on the Atkins diet can also be determined by your medical and family history. If you have any pre-diabetic symptoms, or diabetes itself, a reduced carb diet like Atkins may be right for you. Significant weight gain can also be helped by the Atkins diet. Normally, the more overweight you are, the more likely you are to have high blood pressure, high triglycerides and high blood glucose.

If any member of your family has diabetes or is significantly overweight, this can also put you at risk for these conditions. Your tendency toward these conditions on a genetic level can mark a necessity for a low carbohydrate diet like Atkins. The Atkins plan has been shown to improve weight and control blood sugar issues. If these are problems in your family history, then you may want to consider the Atkins diet.

There are a lot of good reasons to try the Atkins diet. Whether you have responded well to other low carb diets in the past or you have a medical history that warrants a controlled carbohydrate diet, the Atkins diet can meet your needs.

Common mistakes of Atkins dieters

noreply@blogger.com (iyunk77) — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 16:05:00 +0000

The Atkins diet is one of the simplest weight loss plans to follow. Although the principles are clearly set out in the books, there are some common misconceptions that occur for dieters. These mistakes can make a big difference in the amount of weight you lose and effectiveness of the diet overall. If Atkins isn’t working for you, or you find yourself suddenly gaining weight after weeks of effective dieting, make sure you aren’t making any of these common mistakes.

First, make sure to be patient with your weight loss. If you lose 8 lbs per week on the Induction phase and then slow down once you enter ongoing weight loss phase, this is perfectly normal. The level of carbohydrate grams that are acceptable on the Induction portion of the diet are not meant to carry you through the rest of your dieting experience. Induction is meant to break you of carbohydrate cravings and detoxify your body from sugar. Starting with the ongoing weight loss phase, you will begin introducing small levels of carbohydrate grams each week. This may slow down weight loss a bit from the level it was at during Induction, but this is completely normal.

Also, people are different and react differently to the diet. Some people lose weight in spurts, and other lose weight more steadily. A plateau can last for a few weeks and then voila, you’ve lost five pounds in a matter of a few days.

Make sure you are avoiding caffeine in all of its forms as well as aspartame, a common artificial sweetener. Both of these chemicals can impact blood sugar levels negatively. Look out for caffeine in coffee and diet sodas. Watch out for aspartame in diet sodas and sugar-free gelatin. These can cause cravings for sugar and take your body out of ketosis after just one serving.

Watch your daily intake of cheese. Although cheese is on the acceptable foods list, it does have small amount of carbohydrates. Your best bet is to limit your cheese intake to 4 oz per day. You can have more on special occasions, but it should not be used as your mainstay for protein. Meats, eggs and tofu are much better choices and don’t contain carbohydrate grams.

Remember to emphasize vegetables during Induction and beyond. Your carbohydrate grams should be primarily derived from leafy, green vegetables and other acceptable vegetable choices. Vegetables fill you up without spiking your blood sugar. They provide essential fiber and nutrients that help your weight loss efforts and overall health. After induction, you should have 3-4 cups of salad and 1 cup of cooked vegetables each day. Make sure the vegetables you are using are on the acceptable foods list. Eliminating vegetables from your diet can shut down your metabolism and cause your weight loss to stall.

It is also very important that you eat regularly while you are on the Atkins plan. Never go more than five waking hours without eating a combined snack of protein and fats. Two things happen when you skip meals. First, you cause a blood sugar drop that will have you craving carbohydrates like bread and sugar. Secondly, continued periods of not eating will slow down your metabolism and make it even harder to lose weight.
Finally, make sure you are drinking enough water each day. Water has a myriad of benefits for every human being, not just those on the Atkins diet. Thirst can sometimes be masked as hunger, so staying well hydrated will keep you from craving foods you shouldn’t be eating. Water also helps you avoid constipation, which is an occasional side effect of the Atkins diet. Drinking 8 eight ounce glasses of water per day will also help you flush out the toxins from your system that are produced when you burn fat.

These common mistakes can make people frustrated with the Atkins diet when there is no need to be. If you are just starting out on the diet, make sure to prepare yourself for these mistakes. If you’ve been on the diet for some time, evaluate your eating habits and make sure you are following the program correctly.

Carbohydrate Substitutes for the Atkins diet

noreply@blogger.com (iyunk77) — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 18:00:00 +0000

Cutting down on carbohydrates with the Atkins diet is easy when you see the wide variety of proteins and vegetables that are on the acceptable foods list. However, it does take some time and adjustment to get used to this new way of eating. A lot of the American diet centers around complex carbohydrate foods like breads and pastas. Snack foods are full of sugars and refined carbohydrates. This new way of eating will challenge your old habits. However, there are many carbohydrate substitutes that can fill in the gap.

Some of the most popular replacement items are sugar substitutes. These can be good or bad depending on how you react to them. Each person has a different reaction to artificial sweeteners like aspartame and Splenda. They can be helpful in baking low-carbohydrate treats and making things taste sweet without risking sugar use. However, many people find that using artificial sweeteners makes them crave sugar even more. If you find you want more sweet treats after drinking a diet soda or eating a snack made with Splenda, its best to eliminate them entirely from your diet.

Bread is the number one challenge that Atkins dieters face when looking at their new diet plans. Bread is a staple food for many people, and eliminating it can be somewhat of a problem. There are some low carb breads available out there, but you have to watch for hidden carbohydrates and other unacceptable ingredients. If you are ambitious, you can try making your own bread out of almond flour or other non-traditional flours.

Many people say that they love pasta, but people vary rarely eat it plain. The best part about pasta is the topping. So taking those toppings (meat, cheese and vegetables) and putting them over something else is an easy solution. Many people who follow the Atkins plan have found that squash makes a good pasta substitute. Spaghetti squash, a yellow orange gourd with stringy insides, is a natural base for homemade meat sauce. Zucchini is also a good pasta substitute. You can grate in into fine pieces or chunk it up into sections to act as a base for sauces. Lasagna is easily made with large pieces of eggplant as a substitute for the noodles. The meats and cheeses used in lasagna are low-carb so there’s nothing to worry about there.

Another common problem for Atkins dieters is finding a good substitute for rice. One popular solution is to use cauliflower. Simply place the cauliflower florettes in a food processor and chop them until they are rice sizes pieces. Then microwave the “rice” without water. The pieces will come out fluffy and ready to be used in casseroles or as part of a side dish.

Cauliflower is also a popular potato substitute for Atkins dieters. This time, puree the cauliflower until it is smooth and creamy, just like mashed potatoes. You can add your favorite low-carb topping to it like bacon, sour cream and cheese.

Pizza is a favorite food for many people, but there are Atkins friendly solutions for homemade pizzas that taste just as good. You can make small pizzas using low-carb tortillas as the crust. You can also use the same method with large Portobello mushrooms. If the alternative crust options don’t sound good to you, you can also try a pizza casserole with all of the ingredient layered in a casserole dish.

These substitutes will help you avoid indulging in your high-carb favorites while on the Atkins diet.

Carbohydrate Cravings and the Atkins diet

noreply@blogger.com (iyunk77) — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 17:58:00 +0000

Carbohydrate cravings are difficult to deal with, especially when you are trying to maintain a low carbohydrate way of life. However, carbohydrate cravings are not just a matter of will power. As Dr. Atkins points out in his book, carbohydrates produce a flood of insulin and a rise in blood sugar. There is indeed a physical trigger for carbohydrate cravings, and it is one of the reasons that it is so easy to develop a high-carbohydrate, low protein way of eating.

There are many signs of physical carbohydrate cravings. You will experience a compelling hunger for carbohydrate rich foods. Overtime, you will develop a growing need for starches, snack foods and sweets. Additionally, you may experience cravings and weight gain after using some of the carbohydrate act-a-likes such as sugar substitutes and alcohol.

High carbohydrate foods are everywhere, which makes the cravings even harder to overcome. Eating the high-sugar, refined starch foods will feed your cravings and create more, much like a drug habit. In fact, high levels of carbohydrates produce high levels of the brain chemical seratonin, which is the chemical found in Prozac and other anti-depressants. So eating high levels of carbohydrates is self-medicating. People with low levels of seratonin are prone to using carbohydrates like a drug.

Tension and stress can also lead to overeating carbohydrate-laden foods. When we are tense, the adrenal gland creates more cortisol. Cortisol is a hormone that stimulates production of a brain chemical that causes carbohydrate cravings. It also stimulates insulin, which leads to blood sugar dips and more fat storage.

Considering all of these factors, it may seem impossible to live on a low-carbohydrate diet. However, following the Atkins plan is one of the best ways to break the cycle of carbohydrate addiction and take back your life and your health. The Atkins plan helps you take control of your cravings and rid yourself of years of damage caused by eating too many carbohydrates.

While on the Atkins diet, you may experience some carbohydrate cravings from time to time, especially during the initial phases of the diet. However, these will lessen as your body becomes more used to eating a protein-centered diet. In order to keep your cravings in check, eat small meals or snacks that contain protein every few hours. This will keep your blood sugars stable and avoid the “crash” you feel when you go hungry. Skipping meals will cause drops in blood sugar and leave you craving sweets.

Protein and fat, which are the focus of the Atkins plan, will give your body extended energy. Make sure you are getting enough levels of the essential fats. Sometimes an Omega 3 fish oil supplement will help stave off carbohydrate cravings.

Cravings for foods can sometimes be caused by dehydration. It’s a good rule of thumb to drink a glass of water before reaching for any type of snack. Sometimes thirst can mask itself as hunger. When your body is properly hydrated, it will run more efficiently and you will see a decrease in cravings.
Recognize that there is a physical addiction to carbohydrates that will need to be broken. Don’t worry if you feel overwhelmed with cravings for carbs after the first few days on the plan. This is normal. Your body is used to running on a diet full of sugar and carbohydrates. It will take some time to adjust to this new way of eating. Normally, these feelings don’t last more than the two-week induction period. Stay committed to this new way of eating and you will see the benefits quickly.

Atkins Snack Choices

noreply@blogger.com (iyunk77) — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 17:57:00 +0000

We live in a society of nibblers. Long gone are the traditional three square meals per day. Today, people eat at their desks, catch a snack in the afternoon and eat late night goodies. Most, if not all, of these snacks are carbohydrate based and full of sugar. This poses a challenge to people who are trying to follow the Atkins plan. Snacking is a necessary part of keeping your blood sugar up, but most packaged snack foods are forbidden on the plan.

Sweet snacks are high in calories, full of empty carbohydrates and offer no nutritional value. But they sure are popular. There is actually a Snack Food Association that tracks sales of packaged snack foods. It is estimated that Americans eat 3.1 billion pounds of chocolate. Snacking has increased more than a third since 1988. Sales of snack foods gross over $30 billion a year.

If you’ve been a snack food junkie you’ve become used to eating carbohydrates of the worst kind. Snack foods are made from highly refined carbohydrates like white flour, white sugar, corn meal and corn syrup. They are high in trans-fats (which is a contributor to clogged arteries). All in all, they are probably one of the worst food choices you could be making.

But there is hope! You can conquer your love of snack foods by making Atkins-friendly snacking choices. Before you can make the switch, make sure to educate yourself. Understand just how dangerous trans fats can be by reading up on them. Then read the ingredients label of your favorite snack foods. You may be shocked to discover how many trans fats, artificial flavorings and preservatives that you are eating.

Next, get rid of all of the snack foods in your house. If its not there, then you can’t eat it. Junk food is not good for anyone in your home so ignore your family’s complaints and do what is best for the health of everyone.

Now you’ll need to replace those snack foods with some better choices. Giving up your snack foods is not the same as giving up snacks. Snacks should be a part of your daily eating plan because it will help you from becoming too hungry and indulging in high-carbohydrate treats.

There are plenty of low carbohydrate snacks that are easy to make and simple to have around the house. String cheese sticks or small cheese rounds are very easy to keep in the refrigerator. Meat snacks are also a good choice. You can buy jerky strips and other meat products that keep well for long periods of time. When you buy cheese or meat sticks, make sure to read the labels carefully for hidden carbs.

There are low carb instant soups available that are very easy to make and satisfying if you are craving something hot. Low carb soy chips and celery can help with “crunchy” cravings. Try adding peanut butter or cream cheese spread to add more protein to these snacks. Also, you can’t beat a handful of nuts for a high-protein, quick snack.

All of the previously mentioned snacks are good for the initial phases of the Atkins diet and beyond. If you are past the induction phase, you can enjoy berries with cream as a snack. There are also many acceptable fruits that make good snacks for the pre-maintenance phase.

Atkins Shopping Tips

noreply@blogger.com (iyunk77) — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 17:56:00 +0000

When you start the Atkins diet, you are entering a new world of eating. And nowhere is that more apparent than at the supermarket. Suddenly, all of your stand-by foods like macaroni and cheese, pasta and bread are no longer on your shopping list. When you go shopping for the first few times you may feel like a fish out of water. However, with a bit of practice you’ll feel just as comfortable as you were with your previous shopping lists.

Successful Atkins shopping starts before you reach the store. There are many resources for shopping lists online and in Atkins books. Before you head for the store, make a list of the week’s recipes and then decide what you’ll need to make each meal. Make sure to purchase low-carb snacks for in between meals.

Also, plan for modifications to the meals for other people in your home. You won’t be able to make totally different meals for yourself and your family for the long term. The best approach is to use the main meat dish for your meal for the entire family and then a carbohydrate side dish for your family. For example, if you are eating meatloaf you can add half a potato for the other members of your family.

Once you’ve made your meal plan for the week, its time to hit the store. When you arrive, buy your protein items and produce first. This may sound very simple and like it won’t make much difference, but it will. Once you’ve filled your cart with all of the acceptable foods, there won’t be room for much more.

Consider buying your meat in bulk. This will save you lots of money if you know where to get family sized packages of meat. When you buy meat in large quantities, you can also cook it in bulk as well. Taking time a few days per week to cook meat makes it simple to follow the Atkins plan. You can cook your meat before hand and have it ready to go when you need it. You can purchase ground beef, chicken pieces, small steaks and even seafood in bulk.

Cheese, if you can tolerate it, can also be purchased in bulk. Many stores offer store-brand cheese in large bricks. You’ll need to make sure to read the labels before you purchase any cheese. Make sure that when you eat cheese to eat some fiber (salad or raw veggies) as well. Having large blocks of your favorite cheeses on hand can make it easy to grab a quick snack between meals.

As you walk around the store, stick to the outer edges. The outer aisles have the freshest food. Think about your neighborhood grocery store. Most often the deli, the meat counter and the produce section are all along the sides of the store with the packaged items in the aisles. This is especially important if you are in the initial phases of the Atkins diet. You’ll want to stay away from all packaged foods during induction, even if they are low carb packaged foods. Once you add more carbohydrate grams to your daily limit, you can start to experiment with low-carb packaged foods.

That leads to the next important tip – read the labels! Just because an item says it is low carb, it may have hidden sugars. Do your investigative work at the grocery store so you won’t get home with products that cause you to gain weight.
Shopping for the Atkins diet will take some time to get used to. You’ll be navigating parts of the grocery store that you may not be familiar with. You’ll also be purchasing items you’ve never cooked before. However, with planning and dedication low carb shopping will become easier. Just remember to make a list before you visit the store and stay toward the outer aisles of the grocery store. In no time, you’ll be an experienced low carb shopper.

Atkins Pre Maintenance Phase

noreply@blogger.com (iyunk77) — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 17:55:00 +0000

After experiencing the Induction and OWL phases of the Atkins diet, your next step is to enter the pre-maintenance phase. This phase will set you up for a lifetime of healthy and balanced eating and living. You should begin this phase as you come within 5 to 10 pounds of your target weight goal. Your weight loss will be slowed down even further but it is for a purpose. You want to learn the practices and habits that will determine your long-term success.

In the OWL phase, you will be adding carbohydrate grams to your daily count in the increment of 5 grams per week. During pre-maintenance you will increase that to 10 grams per week. As long as you are continuing to shed weight (no matter how slowly it is coming off) you will continue to add grams. Ideally, toward the end of the pre-maintenance phase you will be losing less than one pound per week.

According to the Atkins book, you should continue this phase until you get to your goal weight and can maintain it for a month. This process may take anywhere from 1 to 3 months. Your goal is to reach a state called “carbohydrate equilibrium.” This is your ideal carbohydrate intake and it will cause you to maintain your weight perfectly.

During pre-maintenance you’ll get to try a wider variety of foods. Make sure to introduce new foods slowly and increase your carbohydrate intake at a measured pace. Don’t add 20 or 30 carb grams a week. Measuring out the increases in increments of 10 will give you a better idea of your personal carbohydrate count. Knowing this number will help set you up for long term weight management.

Make sure to check with a carbohydrate counter resource book or a trusted website before you add a new food to your diet. Some examples of 10 carbohydrate gram foods include 1/3 of a cup of legumes, ½ an apple, ¼ cup of potatoes and ½ cup of plain oatmeal. These foods can be included on a daily basis, and then increased the next week.

Pre-maintenance is not a perfect process. It takes a delicate balance of carbohydrate counting and exercise to slow weight loss yet still move it forward. You’ll need to pay even closer attention than you have before to make sure that your carb gram increase is not resulting in an increase in weight. There is a fine line between gaining, maintaining and losing, and during pre-maintenance you are trying to find out just exactly where that line is.

If you aren’t able to add carbohydrates without stalling your weight loss, you may have a high metabolic resistance. You will benefit from increasing your exercise regimen to get your metabolism burning at a higher level. For you, the pre-maintenance phase will resemble OWL more closely.

Some people do a variation on pre-maintenance that allows them to have a treat once a week. Instead of adding 10 grams per day, they allow themselves a 20 to 30-carbohydrate gram treat a few times a week. Examples of the treat could be a piece of a fruit or a serving of sweet potatoes. A glass of white wine or beer also qualifies for this treat. This is a fun way to reward yourself and still be on the plan.
Yet another way to do pre-maintenance is to average out your carbohydrate intake for the week. Since life is sometimes unpredictable, it can be helpful to have a bit of flexibility in your eating plan. For example, if your current carbohydrate level is at 70 grams, you can limit yourself to 50 grams one day. Then the next day, you can splurge a bit on a meal and have 90 grams for that day. However, only follow this method if it doesn’t create carbohydrate cravings. Sometimes excess carb grams on one day can make you crave them even more the next day.

The pre-maintenance phase will give you the tools for long-term success. By learning to slowly increase your carbohydrate grams, you’ll have a better hold on the amount of carbohydrates that is right for you.

Atkins OWL Phase

noreply@blogger.com (iyunk77) — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 17:53:00 +0000

The second phase of the Atkins diet is called Ongoing Weight Loss or OWL. After the rapid weight loss of the 2-week Induction phase, you’ll be slowing your weight loss down just a bit. You’ll add in specific carbohydrates that will make your diet a little easier and your weight loss just a bit slower. However, you will continue to lose weight at a steady even pace with ease.

During the OWL phase you will boost your body’s ability to burn fats. Although you’ll be adding carbohydrates slowly, you’ll still remain in the state of ketosis. You will continue to use your excess fat as fuel for your body, and the pounds and inches will continue to come off.

The OWL phase will also teach you to make better carbohydrate choices. The recipes and guidelines for OWL will increase your knowledge about nutritious food. You’ll replace the poor carbohydrate choices that you relied on in the past with new and better choices.

You’ll also learn how many carbohydrates you can consume and still lose weight. The process of the OWL phase is an experiment in what your specific body does with carbs. During the OWL phase, you’ll gradually increase your daily carb intake from the 20-gram level that you used in induction. Each week you’ll try adding another 5 grams of carbs and then take note of what happens. When weight loss slows too much, you’ll know that you’ve exceeded your personal carb limit.

OWL also prepares you for your permanent weight management program (called maintenance). The habits and practices that you develop during OWL will go a long way toward your long-term success. Treat this period of your diet as training for the real “test” – your post diet life.

During the OWL phase, you’ll still be getting most of your carbohydrates from vegetables (just as you do during Induction). It’s important to continue to eat a wide variety of vegetables, as they are good for your overall health and good for maintaining intestinal health during the Atkins diet. You will be able to add more portions of vegetables, and then gradually be able to add nuts, seeds and even berries. However, the main focus of the diet will still be protein.

In a way, the Induction phase is easier than any of the other phases of Atkins. The strict plan always works and always produces weight loss. As you enter the OWL phases, you’ll need to be more mindful of your carbohydrate count and keep better track of your weight. You’ll have more choice and that may lead to more temptations, which could result in a stalling of your weight loss or even weight gain.

Counting carbohydrate grams is critical in your OWL success. If you don’t count, you will end up consuming more carbohydrates than you should. However, there are many tools available that can help you with counting. There are several handy, portable books that will tell you the number of grams of carbohydrates in certain foods. Over time, you’ll know the “carb count” for your favorite foods instantly.

Counting carbs is also essential during the OWL phase because you are playing detective. You are investigating to find your personal carb count, the amount of carbohydrate grams that you can eat daily and still lose weight. During the first week of OWL, you’ll move from 20 carbohydrate grams to 25. It is recommended that you add this in the form of more vegetables, like asparagus or cauliflower. You’ll continue at the 25-gram level for a week, and then move up to 30 grams a day.

As you increase your carbohydrate gram level, watch your weight closely. If you experience too much of a slowdown, you know you’ve gone too high. You’ll find your maximum carbohydrate gram level when you stop losing weight at all. When this happens, you’ll know you’ve reached your limit. Once you discover your personal carb count, drop down below that number if you want to continue losing weight.

Atkins Maintenance

noreply@blogger.com (iyunk77) — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 21:15:00 +0000

The final phase of the Atkins diet plan is lifetime maintenance. This is the time to continue your new eating plan at a maintenance level and keep yourself at your goal weight. The habits you have created will now become a permanent way of life. During the third phase, pre-maintenance, you learned exactly how many carbohydrate grams your body can tolerate and still maintain your ideal weight. In this phase, you’ll put this approach into practice and learn to live with your ideal carb count on a daily basis.

During lifetime maintenance you will continue to expand your food selections and eat more carbohydrate grams than you did previously. Depending on your specific metabolic needs, you can eat some of the foods that you enjoyed prior to starting your weight loss program. If you do choose to eat these foods, they must be moderated and used sparingly.

Keeping your daily carb count right around your ideal carb count is the easiest way to maintain your weight loss. You weight may fluctuate by two or three pounds from time to time, but this is perfectly normal. This weight fluctuation is due to hormonal changes in your body.

During maintenance you’ll also learn how to overcome your previous bad habits. Losing weight and keeping it off means dealing with real-world situations. You’ll develop coping strategies for stress eating, emotional eating and holiday eating. You’ll also develop plans for dealing with eating out in restaurants. The challenges during the maintenance phase are many, but they can be overcome.

It’s all about preparation. When you’ve followed the Atkins diet plan for a long time, you’ve learned exactly how many carbohydrate grams you can handle. You’ve also learned what foods trigger carbohydrate cravings and which foods lead to binges. You’ve developed coping strategies over the course of your OWL and pre-maintenance phases that you will have to use in lifetime maintenance.

To prepare yourself for lifetime maintenance, make a promise to yourself never to go back to your previous weight. Make the commitment by donating all of your “fat” clothes. This way, if you do start to gain more than five pounds, you’ll know that you have to buckle down and eat better. Also, write down in a journal or in a list format all of the benefits of being at your new, thinner size. Write about how much better you feel and how healthy you are. This will cement your new way of life into your mind and your heart.

Choose your lifetime maintenance weight goal range. This is a range of weight that is acceptable to you. For example, if your initial weight loss goal was to be 165 lbs, your lifetime maintenance goal will be 160 to 170 pounds. If your weight starts to creep up toward 170 pounds, then you know that you are being too lenient with your carbohydrate grams. Never let your weight vary more than 3 to 5 pounds in either direction.

Make a commitment to weigh yourself at least once a week. This once-a-week weigh in will give you a good idea of how you are doing on your maintenance program. Use that weekly weight as a guideline for your approach in eating for the following week.
In addition to these guidelines, make sure to continue an exercise program. Your metabolism depends entirely upon the amount of exercise that you are getting. Making the commitment to exercise goes hand in hand with the commitment to keep eating correctly.

By following these guidelines, you can make lifetime maintenance simple and easy.

Atkins Induction Rules

noreply@blogger.com (iyunk77) — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 21:14:00 +0000

The Induction phase of the Atkins diet is one of the most important stepping-stones to successful weight loss. In addition to the list of acceptable foods, there are a few rules that are important to follow during this period of the diet.

During Induction, you need to eat three regular-sized meals per day or four to five smaller meals. If you find yourself jittery and hungry between meals, try breaking down your meals into smaller portions and eat more frequently. In order to stave off carbohydrate cravings, you’ll need to constantly keep your body running on the proteins and vegetables on the plan. Never skip meals and never go more than six waking hours without eating.

You can eat freely from the list of acceptable foods. Do not restrict your fats and proteins. Eat as much of them as you like. Remember, the Atkins diet is not a calorie-restricted diet. The only thing you need to worry about is your level of carbohydrate grams. Make sure to count your carbohydrate grams when you eat vegetables, cheese and beverages with Splenda. At least 12-15 grams of your allowed carbohydrates should be from your vegetable list. While it may be tempting to eat them all in cheese, vegetables are important to your digestive system (especially while on this diet).

Avoid all fruit, bread, pasta, grains and starchy vegetables (like cauliflower or squash) during this initial period. These foods will be slowly introduced throughout the course of the pre-maintenance phase. Although beans are high in protein, they also include carbohydrates and should be avoided during this phase. If you feel that you must have some grain products, you should limit yourself to high fiber low-carbohydrate products. However, this may slow down your weight loss process.

Anything that isn’t on the acceptable food list is forbidden during the Induction phase. Don’t be tempted to just have “one bite.” Your one bite may turn into two, and then before you know it you’ll end up ruining your diet.

Remember to adjust the quantity of acceptable foods to suit your appetite. At the beginning of the Induction phase, you may find yourself eating much, much more than you will toward the end of the phase. As your body breaks its addiction to sugar and carbohydrates, you will be less hungry throughout the day. When this starts to happen, make sure to eat only what you need. Eat until you are satisfied and not overly stuffed.

Always read the labels of packaged products, even if they claim they are “carb free.” You may find that some products have hidden carbohydrates. The law allows manufacturers to round off to zero if a product has fewer than .5 grams of carbohydrates. Look at the list of ingredients for manufactured products to determine if there are hidden carbs. You’ll also need to watch out for hidden carbohydrates when you eat out. There are small carbohydrate amounts in gravies, sauces and salad dressings. The best bet is to eat your meat without sauce and eat your salad with olive oil and vinegar dressing.

Remember to drink 8 eight-ounce glasses of water, in addition to anything else you might drink. This will keep your body hydrated and help you avoid constipation. You’ll also be able to flush out the by-products created by fat burning.

Keep all of these guidelines in mind when you start the induction phase and you’ll be setting yourself up for long-term success with the Atkins diet.