Look Great. Feel Great. Shape Your Body

A Spot of Tea-Green Tea for Weight Loss

iamondiet — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:30:08 +0000

With all of the diet tricks out there, it is hard to determine which weight loss methods are legitimate. Some, like green tea for weight loss, sound almost too good to be true. I mean, come on-simply drink the stuff and lose weight? How many people believe that? But scientific research shows that this is, in fact, true. Not only that, but green tea for weight loss has other additional health benefits as well. Green tea has been considered a folklore medicine since the first Chinese Dynasty. They believed that green tea could remedy rheumatoid arthritis, cardiovascular disease, and some immune deficiencies. Although it took scientists until 1994 to publicly acknowledge the benefits of green tea for weight loss, this has not prevented green tea for weight loss from becoming one of the most widely tested theories.

So What Are The Benefits?

Green tea is high in antioxidants; specifically in epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). Scientific studies have shown that EGCG can prevent the growth of new cancer cells, as well as kill some existing cancer cells. EGCG has also been shown to limit the growth of blood clots, which can lead to stroke and heart attack.

Besides these health benefits, green tea for weight loss can help you to lose weight. This is because it increases metabolism and naturally burns fat with the help of catechin polyphenols. Green tea contains high levels of this anti-oxidant, and the compound works to increase levels of fat oxidation in the body. Additionally, green tea for weight loss allows for the slow release of carbohydrates, which will prevent sharp increases in the levels of your blood-insulin. This in turn allows for more fat to be burned. Additionally, EGCG induces the movement of glucose in fat cells, which helps to reduce body fat levels.

The Down Side: Caffeine

One disadvantage that prevents many people from drinking green tea is that green tea for weight loss does contain caffeine. The amount of caffeine found in green tea is significantly less then that found in coffee, sodas, and other teas. If you are interested in trying green tea for weight loss but you hate drinking tea, you are not out of luck. There are many types of green tea for weight loss capsules and supplements that work just as well as green tea itself. Additionally, some of these alternatives supplement the caffeine in green tea with other chemicals. So if you are looking for a legitimate way to lose weight, give green tea for weight loss a try. You have nothing to lose, except your waste line.

Benefits of the Low Carb Diet

iamondiet — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 17:30:04 +0000

Numerous studies have considered that low carb dieting is a healthy way to lose weight. Well, this could be the main reason why many people were greatly drawn to it aside from wanting to have a healthy life.

In general, when dealing with low carb diet, it is not a necessary thing that you count the calories content. In fact, the low carb diet grants you the freedom to eat all you wish to eat, as often as you want, for the purpose of preventing hunger. So you can take food until you are no longer hungry. However, most people often associate hunger with appetite which are absolutely different. When you say hunger, you are dealing with the means your body needs more food, so you really need to eat. On the other hand, an appetite means that you have the feeling that you want to eat, whether your body needs more food or vice versa.

Speaking of the low carb diet, we all know that are some people who are metabolically resistant. It is often considered that in some instances, for such kind of people, decreasing the total food consumption may aid to motivate or even sustain the weight loss. But then, it is not the calories that should be kept low, it is rather the carbohydrates. This is actually the general principle of the low carb dieting.

For those who understand the low carb diet as a high protein diet, you should be aware that the low carb diet is not exactly a high protein diet. Rather, the low carb diet is an adequate protein diet, and the low carb diet is primarily a high fat diet. And since many of the cases about the low carb diet involves the issue on the effect of this kind of diet on the kidneys, the diet experts have considered that there is no evidence that shows that eating lots of protein will ruin healthy kidneys.

So to speak about the benefits that this one of the hottest diet fads gives to the dieters, it is then interesting to know that some of the advantages of low carb dieting include sustained weight loss, stabilized blood sugar which is especially vital for the diabetics, reduce insulin levels, better blood lipid profile or low cholesterol, lowered blood pressure, and more energy. With these advantages, it is no doubt that many people were greatly pulled and encouraged to cater to this kind of diet, and it is then no doubt that the number of low carb dieters is growing rapidly.

Low Carb Recipes

iamondiet — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 05:14:59 +0000

The low carb diet is now considered as one of the commonly applied form of diet among the series of diet fads. It is therefore no doubt that as many people were drawn to it, many companies that are concerned about the low carb diet have developed their low carb services by providing some of them to the people especially to the low carb dieters.

Speaking of the low carb services, many companies are now providing some products like the low carb breads, pastas, drinks, and others along with low carb recipes. With the accompaniment of low carb recipes, the low carb recipes then becomes one of the most favorite low carb services of the consumers. As such, many low carb dieters today often look for some of the available low carb recipes.

As we all notice, low carb recipes even invaded the domain of the internet. During the early times, prior to the advent of the internet, the low carb recipes are only found on several low carb books and other paper based resources. But today, wherever you look at, there are so many available low carb recipes on the web.

Low carb recipes are now one of the common features of most of the online companies that deal with nutrition, foods, health, etc. Many resources for this one of the hottest thing in the diet arena are now opening to provide some of the available low carb recipes. There are even companies that offered this kind of service that even create their own low carb recipes just to serve the recipe junkies. In fact, on the web there are so many low carb recipes that are given for free, but there are also that requires some registration before one can fully access the site.

Since the term "low carb recipes" is such a general term, that it may apply to different areas, it is then interesting to know that some of the accessible collections of the recipes provided by the online companies and even the nutritional and health books and other resources, include some of the low carb recipes that are among the personal favorites, some were even sent to most of the collectors, and others are taken from the best low carb cookbooks.

And the many collections for the low carb recipes generally include some low carb recipes for treats and desserts, gravies and sauces, meats and entrees, appetizers and snacks, soups and salads, veggies and sides, great egg dishes, beverages and shakes, and breads and pastas. And usually these categories for low carb recipes are even coupled with some of the helpful ingredient equivalents.

Cholesterol levels

iamondiet — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 12:30:07 +0000

You need to pay close attention to your cholesterol levels at all times. One main time is when you are told that you are at risk of have high cholesterol levels because of your family history or from what you are eating on a daily basis. You would be at risk of high cholesterol because of your tree had into problems with high cholesterol in the past.

Even if the family did not have any problem with cholesterol you could still put yourself in danger. One way is by what you eat. You need to keep a close eye on what you are eating on a daily basis because if you are eating a lot of fatty food that would be a good reason for putting your cholesterol levels up.

You would need to consult a physician to find out what the safe levels of cholesterol for you are going to be. If you think that you are in the family tree or dietary line that you are prone to having high cholesterol you would want to mention that to him or her.

If they believe that you may be subject to high cholesterol they will send you for a cholesterol test to see if you are having any problem. Once the test is done and everything is normal they will let you know just what is the best thing for you to do so that you may not have to worry so much about getting high cholesterol in the future.

Yet if it does come back as being high they will tell you if you would have to take a high cholesterol medication or if you change you eating and exercising habit would help it out any. No mater what the results are you would need to make sure that you are eating healthy and exercising properly. If you take these main two steps you could help yourself prevent getting high cholesterol in the near future. But you would still need to see your family doctor at least every year for a check up or a cholesterol test if needed.

Keys To Permanent Weight Loss

iamondiet — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 21:15:10 +0000

Finding an effective eating strategy is serious business if you are considerably overweight and are interested in improving your long-term health. Halting any further weight gain and gradually shedding pounds can have beneficial effects on blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, your risk of having a heart attack or stroke, joint pain, and the energy and ability to do everyday activities.

What you really need is a plan you can stick with for many, many moons. It should be as good for your heart, bones, colon, and psyche as it is for your waistline. It should offer plenty of tasty and healthy choices, banish few foods, and not require an extensive and expensive list of groceries or supplements.

Low carbs

Avoiding carbohydrates, so the thinking goes, forces the body to burn fat. Does this theory translate into actual weight loss? Yes and no – it depends on the individual and the time period. Some people lose a substantial amount of weight on a low-carb diet, while others lose little and some actually gain weight. And for those who lose, the effects typically aren't permanent. After a few months, weight loss tends to slow and reverse, just as happens with most other diet types.

Bottom line: Low-carb diets work for some people and not others. There's no evidence that their short-term effects produce long-term weight loss, while the added expense could lighten your wallet. Equally important, we know little about the long-term health effects of high-protein, high-fat, low-carb diets.

Low fat

Once the main strategy for losing weight, low-fat diets have been elbowed aside by the low-carb frenzy. Scores of low-fat diets have been promoted over the years. One of the best known is Dr. Dean Ornish's Eat More, Weigh Less plan. Since fat contains 9 calories per gram while carbohydrates contain 4, you can theoretically double your food intake without taking in more calories by cutting back on fatty foods and eating more that are full of carbohydrates, especially water-rich fruits and vegetables.

Keep in mind that the Ornish plan doesn't stop at a whole-grain, vegetarian, very-low-fat (less than 10% of calories from fat) diet, but also includes exercise, stress management, and group support.

Bottom line: Low-fat diets have unquestionably helped some people lose weight and keep it off. They've been dismal failures for others, in part because they tend to be less filling, less flavorful, and all around less satisfying than other eating strategies. They also tend to be fairly restrictive about food choices, which can limit your options when dining out.

There are many other options for dieting, including eating correct portions and following the recommended food pyramid guidelines. Before choosing any plan for permanent weight loss, it is recommended that you seek advise from your physician.

Foods to Avoid On the South Beach Diet

iamondiet — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 19:00:09 +0000

The South Beach Diet is a plan that is set for right carbohydrates and right fats for a healthy life. Many considered it as the "big thing" in the series of diet fads today. However, as the number of people who consider the South Beach Diet as a popular diet from different parts of the globe, many people are still not aware about the foods to avoid on the South Beach Diet.

So what then are the foods to avoid on the South Beach Diet?

Before knowing the foods to avoid on the South Beach Diet, one should first know the overall concept of the South Beach Diet. So generally, the South Beach Diet is specifically divided into three different phases. Each phase has its own distinction and limitation. However, knowing the foods to avoid on the South Beach Diet requires a great focus on the phase one of the diet. Why? It is for the reason that the foods to avoid on the South Beach Diet are largely found here.

The phase one of the South Beach Diet is considered to be the strictest phase of the diet. Perhaps, it is for the reason that there are so many foods to avoid on the South Beach Diet. So among the foods to avoid on the South Beach Diet specifically on the phase one are beef rib steaks, honey-baked ham, breast of veal, all yogurts, ice cream, milk including whole, low-fat, soy, and full fat cheeses, beets, carrots, corn, yams, fruits and fruit juices, all alcohol. It is also necessary to remember that aside from those foods to avoid on the South Beach Diet, there are also some sorts that are included in the foods to avoid in the South Beach Diet and these include all starchy foods such as bread, cereal, oatmeal, matzo, rice, pasta, pastries, baked goods, crackers, etc.

As you will notice some of the foods to avoid on the South Beach Diet are really carbohydrates. These mentioned foods are considered as foods to avoid on the South Beach Diet for so many reasons. One of the big reasons is that the theory states that once weight decreases, the followers of the diet begin to metabolize carbohydrates properly and the longing for carbohydrates will consequently disappear. It is also important to know that another version of the such reason for having those foods to avoid on the South Beach Diet is the goal that is to eat three balanced meals a day, and to eat enough so that the dieters don't feel hungry all the time, and the expected weight loss during the phase one of the diet is eight to 13 pounds.

On the second phase the foods to avoid on the South Beach Diet then reintroduced back into the diet, so in this phase up to the last phase, the presence of the foods to avoid on the South Beach Diet are not at all a necessity. However, if we will look at the overall principle and rules of the South Beach Diet, we can see that the South Beach Diet advises those looking to lose weight to be aware of such foods to avoid on the South Beach Diet. The logic for these foods to avoid on the South Beach Diet holds that the fat are replaced with carbohydrates, and are therefore still fattening.

Cholesterol Testing and the Meaning of it

iamondiet — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 00:00:01 +0000

You should start on your life's work in regards to cholesterol testing at about the age of 20; while it is likely that your levels should be normal at that time of your life, it would provide a baseline for your doctor. A test can follow every five years until symptoms of high cholesterol become evident when cholesterol testing would become more frequent. The lipoprotein profile shows levels for good and bad cholesterol.

Helpful Cholesterol

Despite its bad reputation, cholesterol is necessary to the working of the human body. It helps to build and maintain the membranes of the body's cells and may act as an antioxidant. Cholesterol helps make bile and digest fat. Your cholesterol testing takes a look at the amount of cholesterol that is present in the blood at the time. In most people, about 85% of the cholesterol was made by the liver and the rest comes from food.

Cholesterol found in the blood is a joining of the fatty cholesterol made by the body with protein molecules. Good cholesterol has a higher ratio of protein to fat, while bad cholesterol has a higher ratio of fat. Your cholesterol testing measures both types. Low density lipoprotein (LDL) is bad cholesterol. It develops plaque in the arteries and causes clogging which constricts the blood flow and results in heart disease.

High density lipoprotein (HDL) is the good cholesterol which does all of the good work including some unclogging of the LDL problems. Your cholesterol testing shows the balance between the two.

While cholesterol testing shows how much of each type of cholesterol is present in the body, it does not show why cholesterol is high or low. Genetics can go far in determining how one's body deals with cholesterol. Some people can have high cholesterol while on a low fat diet and vice-versa. Your cholesterol testing also measures the fats that travel through the bloodstream.

This fat is triglycerides and is made up of excess calories, alcohol and sugar. Since this fat is directly from the diet, cholesterol testing can help show what can be done to decrease it and prevent coronary artery disease.

Regular exercise of just half an hour a day can raise good cholesterol and lower bad cholesterol. Limiting fats, especially saturated fats and trans fats will deal with the 15% of cholesterol that comes from outside the body. If those methods are tried and further cholesterol testing shows little improvement, then medicine can be added to the regimen. The whole cycle begins with cholesterol testing and can end with improved odds for a long, healthy life.

Keys To Permanent Weight Loss

iamondiet — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 04:15:03 +0000

Low carbs

Low fat

Keep in mind that the Ornish plan doesn't stop at a whole-grain, vegetarian, very-low-fat (less than 10% of calories from fat) diet, but also includes exercise, stress management, and group support.

South Beach Diet and Alcohol

iamondiet — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 14:45:00 +0000

The South Beach Diet continues to create its own name in many parts of the world. Along with its rapid widespread, many issues surrounding the relationship between the South Beach Diet and alcohol came to surface. With this fact, the number of studies concerning the South Beach Diet and alcohol increases and as such, still many unanswered questions are left.

Speaking about the issue on the South Beach Diet and alcohol, it is commonly noted that the relationship between the South Beach Diet and alcohol is best explained when referring to natural principle behind the South Beach Diet and alcohol. This simply means by looking to every detail mentioned in the South Beach Diet principles and relate it to the function of the alcohol in the diet.

The South Beach Diet in the first place is an eating plan that bears the principle for right carbohydrates and right fats for a healthy life. As such, the South Beach Diet is generally divided into three different phases. With this division, the existence of the somewhat bond between the South Beach Diet and alcohol becomes evident.

According to many studied, the relationship between the South Beach Diet and alcohol is best explained when knowing that the South Beach Diet does not really favor the intake of alcohol in the diet. This explanation between the South Beach Diet and alcohol is in fact shown that during the first two weeks of the South Beach Diet, alcohol is not allowed along with other cookies and goodies. But many people that were given such explanation between the South Beach Diet and alcohol often question the real reason for such restriction. Well, the real reason for such restriction for alcohol in the diet holds that alcohol cause swings in blood sugar that make the South Beach Dieters hungry. This is in fact the purpose of the first two weeks of the diet - to eliminate the dieters' cravings for food.

Along with such explanation for the relationship of the South Beach Diet and alcohol, another support is given that the alcohol is eliminated in the diet knowing that it has a high level of sugar will hinder the goal of losing weight for about eight to thirteen pounds.

Numerous studies conducted for the relationship between the South Beach Diet and alcohol however shows that a moderate alcohol intake is not that really bad. It is for the reason that it help in slow stomach emptying, and therefore slows the rise and fall of blood sugar, which is the main goal in the South Beach Diet. However, in the relationship between the South Beach Diet and alcohol, it is noted that an excess in alcohol intake doe turn into sugar and can be a diet buster.

So if you absolutely have to have one, it is then necessary to go for a low-carbohydrate version. Another study that shows the relationship between the South Beach Diet and alcohol have shown that hard alcohols have less potential to raise the blood sugar, though they certainly are not that virtuous. But still it is commonly noted to best stay away from it for better health.

What to Consider When Choosing an Exercise Video

iamondiet — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 00:38:42 +0000

Are you interested in losing weight? If you are, you may be interested in starting your own weight loss program. Of course, you can join a local weight loss program or even an online weight loss program, but many individuals prefer to do their own, at-home weight loss programs. If you are one of those individuals, you may be interested in buying exercise videos. Exercise videos, also commonly referred to as workout videos, are a great addition to any weight loss program.

Although you may have bought workout videos before, have you even done so when seriously trying to lose weight? In the United States, a large number of individuals buy exercise videos just because. Just because exercise videos are a lot different than exercise videos that are a part of a weight loss plan. That is why you should shop for them differently.

When it comes to buying exercise videos for yourself, as a part of your weight loss program, there are number of important factors that you may want to take into consideration. These factors will not only make buying exercise videos for yourself easier, but they will also help to ensure that you choose the exercise video or videos that are best for you and your own personal needs. A few of the many factors that you should take into consideration, when buying an exercise video are outlined below.

One of the many factors that you will want to take into consideration, when buying exercise videos as a part of your weight loss plan, is the type of exercises that you want to do. For instance, you often get to choose between traditional aerobic videos, yoga, Pilates, kickboxing, and so forth. To spice up your weight loss plan and to keep it fun and exciting, you may want to think about buying a collection of exercise videos, particularly a mixture of them.

Another one of the many factors that you will want to take into consideration, when buying an exercise video for your weight loss program, is difficulty. What you need to remember is that many workout videos come in sessions. For instance, it is possible to find kickboxing videos that are designed for beginners, those at the intermediate level, as well as those at an advanced level. You want to make sure that you choose the right video for yourself. If you are not careful, you may end up with an advanced workout video that you cannot even use, as you are unable to keep up with the instructor.

Cost is another factor that you may want to take into consideration, when buying workout videos or exercise videos for yourself. In your search for exercise videos, you will find that they are sold for a wide range of prices. Some are affordable, others are a little bit more costly, and many are downright expensive. Of course, the expensive workout videos may be worth the cost, but you never really know until you order them. One way to help make sure that you are spending your money wisely is to search for exercise video reviews online. This can often be done with a standard internet search.

The above mentioned factors are just a few of the many that you may want to take into consideration, when buying exercise videos to incorporate into your at-home weight loss program. Most times, you will find that any exercise video is better than no video at all, but taking the time to find the perfect one will likely make your weight loss program much more enjoyable.

Low Carb Friends

iamondiet — Wed, 27 May 2009 08:30:01 +0000

Are you familiar with the term "low carb friends"? Or, this is the first time that you hear such word. Well, if so there is no problem. Below are some of the helpful facts about the low carb friends and the story behind it.

As the low carb diet becomes so popular that most people were actually drawn to it, the development for some supporting resources for low carb diet continues to grow. It is then no doubt that today, the concept for low carb friends emerged, and is then became a common part of the low carb arena.

Low carb friends, as far as I know, are basically certain groups of low carb fanatics that act as a support for those who are into the process of low carb dieting. Today, many of our pizza eating pals have now joined the ranks of the low carb friends in many part of the world. And with that, the presence of the low carb friends is then now evident even online. In fact, they established their own domain and named with the exact term itself "LowCarbFriends.com".

You know why I have mentioned the word pizza in this article? Well, it is for the reason that it is a very fact that the mere mention of pizza in relation to low carb friends may send you low carb friends dashing to message a support group that is filled with their new low carb friends who can help them in avoiding the temptation for the invitation of pizza after work.

So if such situation happens in which you are finding yourself surrounded by trendy low carb friends these days, you definitely have two alternatives. One of those alternatives for dealing with yout low carb friends is simply to move along and look for another group of new friends who greatly have no intention of ever joining any of the existing support groups. And if you are asking for the other option for you, it is given that you better surrender and bond with your low carb friends by simply signing up for one of those hip or trendy support groups known as such.

And whatever of the low carb friends you choose, the important thing to consider is to be true to yourself. It is just then necessary to consider the cost of such support group solutions from every aspect. It is indeed a fact that the price of friendship can be higher than what every people might have thought.

Misconceptions Abound About Weight Loss

iamondiet — Sun, 24 May 2009 13:45:03 +0000

A number of misconceptions persist about weight loss. These are quite serious, because they could affect not only an individual's weight, but also his or her general health as well. The more you know about the misconceptions about weight loss, the more likely it is that you will end up following a suitable weight reduction plan.

One popular misconception is that any product that has been labeled "natural" is safe. In fact, you should be aware of the fact that these products often do not undergo vigorous scientific tests. For instance, ephedra, which has been included in some weight loss products has been banned by federal authorities because it has been determined to be unhealthy. Even those products that do not contain ephedra can be dangerous because they have components that are like ephedra. As a result, you should consult your doctor before using herbal weight loss products. Your physician is in the best position to know whether a weight loss pill or other product is appropriate in your case.

Another misconception is that you can still lose weight, even if you eat whatever you choose. Actually, you need to be careful about how many calories you consume and increase your exercise in order to ensure that you burn more fat than you take in. Also, it is important that you limit portions in order to ensure that you do not add extra weight. If you select low-calorie foods and you eat smaller portions, while enhancing your physical activity, you should be able to lose weight. However, you may still be able to eat some of the food you like best-provided you eat it in moderation or, if high in calories, only sparingly.

Yet another misconception is that, because a food item is labeled low-fat, it has no calories to speak of. While low-fat foods may indeed be low-cal, some processed low-fat food products have just as many calories as the high-fat types. In fact, they may be loaded in sugar or flour, increasing the total calorie count. As a result, it is important for you to check the nutrition labels on food packages in order to determine the exact amount of calories per serving. It is also imperative that you find out what constitutes a serving size so that you will not be tempted to overeat.

Some individuals believe that fast food is inherently bad and cannot be eaten while following a diet program. However, if you are knowledgeable, you can actually eat at fast food restaurants and still lose weight. It's best, for instance, if you do not indulge in supersize combo meals. You might, however, consider splitting a combo with your spouse or friend. Avoid soft drinks and drink water instead. Consider eating a salad or a grilled chicken breast sandwich. Keep the condiments-such as mayonnaise and salad dressings-to a minimum. Ask the restaurant not to put bacon or cheese on your sandwich, and avoid eating French fries or fried chicken. If you go to a Mexican restaurant, try a taco that is made with salsa rather than cheese or sauce. Following these simple recommendations can make your visit to a fast food outlet worthwhile-and non-fattening.

Some people operate under the misconception that dining after 8 p.m. always leads to weight gain. No doubt it is possible, but what matters most is how many calories you consume and how much fat you burn off. While it is a good idea to avoid snacking in front of the television, you might be able to have a nightly snack, if you haven't consumed that much high-calorie food during the course of the day.

Other individuals believe that lifting weights is harmful because it will cause you to add weight to your frame. In actuality, weightlifting can enable you to lose weight. This is because lifting weights assists you in building muscle, which burns more calories than fat. Engaging in strength training twice or three times a week can be an effective part of your overall weight loss program.

Obviously, misconceptions about dieting are plentiful. That is why it is so critically important that you consult a registered dietician or other health professional before beginning any major weight loss program.

Choosing the Best Weight Loss Supplement

The Importance of a Cholesterol Test

iamondiet — Wed, 13 May 2009 15:30:04 +0000

The advances made by medical science truly cannot be underestimated. Diseases that terrified humanity hundreds of years ago are now cured, controlled or wiped out. The modern lifestyle includes vaccinations, safe housing, accessible medical care and vitamin supplements as well as good health information. People are living longer, healthier lives. One exception to the benefit of the modern lifestyle, however, is the modern diet.

Where mankind once lived on small meals of fresh fruits and vegetables supplemented with roasted meat, now an average person eats three or more meals a day of foods heavy with flavor-filled fats and artificial ingredients. Our diet changes more rapidly than medical science can assess the effects. Fortunately, one addition to the modern lifestyle is the cholesterol test.

Why Test it?

Your cholesterol levels are an indication of potential heart disease. High levels of bad cholesterol, HDL, can foretell the hardening of arteries that can result in heart disease or a heart attack. As serious as high cholesterol is, there are no symptoms that can warn someone of a problem.

And following a diet filled with foods low in cholesterol and foods that can lower cholesterol is no guarantee that your body is not making too much HDL, either. The only way to know your cholesterol levels is to take a cholesterol test. Of course, the results of a cholesterol test are not the only indication of a problem or the lack of one. Your doctor will also want to listen to your heart, check your heart rate, take your blood pressure, ask about your medical history and perform a full physical exam. That's because your levels don't tell the whole story.

What your cholesterol test does tell is the level of low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL - the "bad" cholesterol), the level of high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL - the "good" cholesterol), triglycerides (very low density lipoprotein) and the total cholesterol level.

If your cholesterol is too high, your doctor can discuss options to help lower it. You would probably be told to change your diet and exercise habits and if the numbers are very high or you have a contributing condition like diabetes, you may be put on medication. Doctors recommend that everyone over the age of 20 take a cholesterol test at least once every five years.

Even though medical science tries to control cholesterol levels through foods low in cholesterol, most cholesterol is made in the body itself. The best way for your doctor to understand how your body is dealing with cholesterol is through your cholesterol test.

"Losing Weight the Healthy Way"

iamondiet — Mon, 11 May 2009 20:15:01 +0000

Almost 108 million Americans were overweight or obese in 1999. Until now, obesity continues to be a serious problem and is predicted to reach epidemic levels by the year 2020.

One way to prevent this scenario is to make people aware of the risks of being overweight or obese.

Here are some diseases that you are putting yourself in risk of if you are carrying a lot of extra pounds:

1. heart disease
2. stroke
3. diabetes
4. cancer
5. arthritis
6. hypertension

Losing weight helps to prevent and control these diseases.

The quick weight loss methods which have spread like fire these days do not provide lasting results. More often than not, dieting methods which involve dietary drinks, foods and supplement or pills do not work. If they do, the results are just temporary.

It is better to rely on a healthy weight loss option which will provide lifetime results. You have to set realistic goals and not expect to lose a lot of pounds in a short span of time.

Here are some tips on how you can lose those unwanted pounds the healthy way:

1. Do not starve your self.

The key to a healthier way of losing weight is: Do not diet.

You may seem happy and feel that you are losing those unwanted flabs on your belly and thighs by skipping meals. But remember that this would not last long. Your body cannot tolerate having insufficient food to fuel the energy that you use up everyday.

If you get used to skipping one or two meals a day, your stored calories will be used up instead of the energy that should have been provided by your meals. So if you just eat one huge sandwich in one day, it will end up straight to your problem area (i.e. highs, buttocks, hips).

2. Start your day right.

Mothers always say that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Have a healthy meal in the morning to jump-start your metabolism.

Your food intake after you wake up will be used to burn fat all day long.

3. Eat small, healthy meals frequently.

Five small-serving snacks per day is better than three hearty meals. Eating more frequently, and in small servings, can prevent over-eating. This will also increase your metabolism and make calories burn faster.

4. Decide on how much weight you want to lose.

Keep your goals realistic. In the long run, it is virtually impossible for you to lose 40 pounds in 2 weeks. Have a mindset that you want to eat healthy to stay healthy for the rest of your life.

Once you have decided on a weight loss plan or program, stick to it and make sure that you follow your own set of dieting rules.

5. Drink lots of water.

Your body needs sufficient water to burn fat and keep your cells hydrated and healthy.

6. Avoid too much sugar.

Plan your meals around lots of fruits and vegetables, some bread, rice or pasta for that carbo fix that you need, plus lean meat and protein rich-foods. Sweets, sodas and pastries should be once-in-a-while indulgences only.

7. Watch your fat intake.

Fat is not the culprit to being overweight. You need this to keep your weight at the proper level.

There is such a thing as healthy fats. Olive, peanuts and canola oil have them. Tuna, salmon and mackerel have omega-3 fats which is good for the heart.

8. Exercise.

Leave your car if you are only going a few blocks from home, take the stairs instead of the elevator, jog, cycle or skate. Use these activites and other home chores if you are too lazy to go to the gym and take exercise classes. Make sure that you do this regularly and you will not even notice that you are already shedding pounds with these mundane activities.

It does not matter how much weight you plan or need to lose. What is important is that you set realistic goals for yourself.

Go slow. If you have already lost 5 or 6 pounds, give yourself a break then try to lose the next 5 pounds.

Eat healthy, drink lots of water, have enough sleep and exercise. This will give you a higher chance of losing weight and improving your health, which would result to a new, healthier you.

Low Carb Chicken Recipes

iamondiet — Sun, 03 May 2009 06:00:00 +0000

Do you have an interest in cooking? Or, are you interested for some of the low carb chicken recipes? If so, then you have found the right page for your need. Why? Obviously, it is for the main reason that in this article you will find two of the favorite low carb chicken recipes that you can add to your low carb chicken recipe collection. It is also interesting to know that these provided low carb chicken recipes are taken from the most trusted resources on low carb chicken recipes. So read on for your great advantage.

So here is one of the great low carb chicken recipes that will give you a sense of satisfaction before and after preparing it. Well, this low carb chicken recipe is named as Crunchy Pecan Chicken. Generally, this low carb chicken recipe is a skillet chicken recipe that has a coating of ground pecans and Parmesan cheese. This is basically composed of one cup of ground pecans, 1/2 cup of grated parmesan cheese, 1/2 teaspoon of garlic salt, 1/2 teaspoon of dried leaf basil that is crumbled, lemon juice for dipping, 4 boneless chicken breast halves that are also pounded to make flat and even in thickness, and 2 tablespoons of olive oil.

In terms of the procedures involved in this low carb chicken recipe, all you need to do is to combine the pecans, cheese, garlic salt and basil in a huge low dish. Then put the lemon juice in another low dish; dip the chicken in juice and then coat with pecan mixture. After that, you heat oil until moderately hot, and then add the chicken. The average period for each piece of chicken to be cooked is 3 to 5 minutes on each side or until golden. As simple as that!

The other notable low carb chicken recipe is what is known as Smacking Wings. Accordingly, this low carb chicken recipe is about wings that are tangy and sweet version of Buffalo wings. This is basically composed of 16 chicken wings, 1/2 cup of salad oil, 1/4 cup of balsamic vinegar, 1/4 cup of honey, 2 tablespoons of brown sugar, 2 tablespoons of cane syrup or dark corn syrup, 1 tablespoon Tabasco sauce, 1/2 teaspoon of red pepper flakes, 1/2 teaspoon of dried thyme, 1 teaspoon soy sauce, 1/4 Worcestershire sauce, 1/4 teaspoon cayenne, and 1/4 teaspoon of ground nutmeg. The directions for this low carb chicken recipe are just so simple and brief. You just need to cut off and discard the bony wing tips, and cut the remaining wings in half. Then in a large bowl combine the remaining ingredients and blend well. Marinate the wings in this mixture for one hour in the refrigerator and then grill in a medium heat for 15 to 20 minutes.

Sources for South Beach Diet Results

iamondiet — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 08:00:01 +0000

The South Beach diet, though a glamorous name, only entails a simple and straightforward explanation for a much better understanding. Well, this diet is considered to be the newest trend in the world of diet. It was invented by the Florida based cardiologist Dr. Arthur Agatston and was named after the popular southern Florida beach hotspot.

Today, the South Beach diet made its way to the zenith of popularity when many people were drawn to it, applying the South Beach diet into their lives. With this event many people especially those who are just planning to engage in such form of diet, often look for many South Beach diet results as the basis for their growing interest.

So today, there are so many South Beach diet results presented in hundreds of thousands South Beach diet web sites on the internet, and all of those South Beach diet results are particularly showing every aspect of the diet. However, with these massive production of the South Beach diet results, there are still some instances that the people will ask if the South Beach diet really get results. Well, it is interesting to know that the South Beach diet has does have one of the lowest diet drop out rates that have been reported to be around 5 percent during tests. In fact, the diet is the most searched among the series of diet fads on the web.

Speaking of the South Beach diet results, it is important to learn that the South Beach diet results are best found on the reported actual experiences of many dieters with this diet program. Fortunately, the South Beach diet results through those experiences are now offered from different user groups and some of the South Beach diet results are presented as success stories.

As one of the best source for the South Beach diet results, the success stories are also a great source for motivation. However, it is commonly noted that these source for the South Beach diet results also give pointers what has worked for the other people.

It is then interesting to know the role that South Beach diet results play in the lives of many dieters. So considerably, when thinking about beginning on a diet program, many people often read the success stories section. This action is commonly noted for the reason that the success stories as one of the best source for South Beach diet results provide many times insights to the mentality of the diet follower, plus it have pointers on some of the hard portions on following the diet plan.

With the advent of the internet, many of the South Beach diet results are then evident in various sites on the web. There are so many success stories presented in those sites that are concerned mainly of the South Beach diet. And aside from that, there also came the online magazines, blogs, South Beach diet reviews, and discussion forums, all acting as best sources for the South Beach diet results. All of these sources generate the bulk of available South Beach diet results information that is mostly found on the web. So if you are one of those who are looking for related sources to find some South Beach diet results as basis of your decision, then these sources are all accessible on the internet.

Losing Pregnancy Weight

iamondiet — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 20:37:25 +0000

Losing weight after pregnancy presents a special type of problem. At no other time in a woman's life is she likely to gain as much weight in as short a period. And after having a baby, especially your first baby, life changes drastically. You might find it hard to make time to exercise. If you're nursing, you can't restrict calories. It seems as though many of the usual avenues to losing weight have been cut off.

Though experts recommend that a woman gain no more than about 27 pounds during pregnancy, for some of us, that's easier said than done. Some women report that they gained weight during pregnancy regardless of how carefully they controlled their eating, even if they made a point of exercising. Some pregnancies just seem to demand weight gain - interestingly, this seems to be particularly true of women who are naturally thinner than average to begin with. For a naturally 'skinny' woman to gain what might seem to be a huge amount of weight - sometimes up to sixty or even seventy pounds - during pregnancy seems to be a rather common phenomenon. Pregnancy seems to change the way that food is metabolized and fat is stored. The amount of weight you gain during pregnancy may even be genetic.

Of course, pregnancy food cravings also have something to do with it! We've all heard of some of the bizarre cravings that pregnant women can get, but in fact, most crave the nutrients they need the most. It's not uncommon for a woman who is normally a vegetarian to have strong cravings for meat while she is pregnant, for instance. These are cravings you can and should give in to, because your body is telling you what it needs.

Some women also find that they need to eat during the first trimester, because it keeps morning sickness at bay. 'Morning sickness' is actually a bit of a misnomer, as it can happen at any time of day or night. It tends to happen the most when your stomach is empty and your blood sugar is low. Some women pack on the pounds during these first few months of pregnancy just to keep from feeling sick all the time.

So, for one reason or another, many women find that it's very difficult or impossible to control their weight gain during pregnancy. That's not to say that you shouldn't try, of course, but if you know that you're eating healthy foods and the weight is coming on regardless, let it. You'll do more harm than good by trying to diet during pregnancy. As long as you aren't binging or eating unhealthy foods, rest assured that your body has its own wisdom and you are gaining weight because you need to.

Though only about ten or fifteen pounds are lost during delivery, there are plenty of opportunities to lose weight after the baby is born. For one thing, if you give it a month or so, you might find that most of the weight disappears on its own during nursing. In fact, that's one of the reasons why women are programmed to gain weight during pregnancy - after the baby's born, you need that extra weight. It all gets converted to milk to feed your baby. In fact, nursing full time burns about 500 calories a day - the same as a good workout. At that rate, you could lose a pound a week without even trying.

That having been said, there may come a time when you do have to put some effort into losing those last few pounds. After your baby is weaned, that natural means of weight loss isn't there anymore. It's time to start adding some workouts to your daily schedule. If you don't have the opportunity to exercise without the baby, take him along - that's why jogging strollers were invented. Or boost your calorie burning by carrying your baby in a front or back carrier while you go for a walk or hike. The babies love it, and for you, it's like carrying a constantly increasing weight around with your for hours at a time - great for burning fat.

After you have a baby, you may feel as though the baby has taken over your entire existence. It doesn't have to be that way. Take the time to reclaim your body and your time, and you'll have more energy to take on the hectic schedule of a new mother.

Recognizing Food High in Cholesterol

iamondiet — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 18:15:01 +0000

Keeping your cholesterol levels low is vital for keeping your heart healthy. If you are a normally healthy person, your body makes all of the cholesterol that it needs. Adding too much more cholesterol on a regular basis can lead to heart disease or a heart attack. By recognizing food high in cholesterol, you can limit your ingestion of it. Combined with regular exercise, this is the most effective way to fight high cholesterol.

Label-Reading

A diet low in cholesterol shouldn't have too many labels. Lots of fresh fruits and vegetables are the key to a low cholesterol diet. When your food does come with a label, you should be looking at the most important items to spot food high in cholesterol. First, remember that all the numbers are based on the serving.

Some foods seem to deliberately make their bad numbers seem small by defining a serving size as something less than the average person would eat. For instance, when a 16 ounce beverage bottle claims to contain two servings, you may wonder what they are thinking. Just remember that no matter how small the package is, if it claims to contain two servings, double all of the numbers.

Look at the calories and calories from fat. This will tell you the percentage of fat it contains. You should have fewer than 30% of your daily calories from fat. That's easier to accomplish if each serving you have sticks to that figure. The listing of total fat shows the number of grams of fat per serving. The percentage is not the percentage of the serving is fat but the percentage of your daily fat allowance is contained in one serving. Look at the amount of saturated fat and trans fat is in the food.

This is where you will find whether this is food high in cholesterol. Both types of fat increase bad cholesterol. Your daily allowance for these is zero. The nutrients are good for you. Look for high percentages of these. Fiber is good for controlling cholesterol. If your food should have fat, salad dressing for instance, look for fat-free, low fat, reduced fat, and cholesterol free and so forth.

Menu-Reading

Eating out may mean a break from cooking but it doesn't mean a break from healthy eating. Study the menu to avoid food high in cholesterol. Stick to low-fat choices. Clear soup instead of creamy, steamed or broiled instead of fried, dressing on the side are all good ideas. Choose lean meat, fish or chicken. Chicken should be skinless. Vegetables should have no butter or cheese. Be careful at the salad bar. Food high in cholesterol is bad even on a salad. If you stick to your guns, you can keep your heart healthy for a long time to come.

Reward Your Way to Weight Loss

iamondiet — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 12:15:03 +0000

From an early age, we are conditioned to reward ourselves with food. It might have begun in kindergarten, when we were treated to cupcakes at the annual Halloween party. It may have continued through junior high and high school, when we reached for the cookies after a hard day at school. In adulthood, we may buy a high-calorie frappucino to celebrate a success on the job.

But the problem is, food was not designed to be a reward. It exists simply to give us energy. When we look at food as a reward, there is a great temptation to overeat. We believe that we deserve it, that we've earned this opportunity to indulge. We feel gratified when we eat food that might otherwise be forbidden.

Our food-as-reward culture has had calamitous consequences. An increasing number of us are overweight, and getting fatter by the year. We suffer from a myriad of health problems as a result of our obesity. We may feel lethargic and unmotivated-too stuffed to engage in exercise. We have become a nation of couch potatoes.

Yet, we don't have to continue living this way. We can simply stop rewarding ourselves with food. However, it may not be that simple. We will have to change our mindset-to develop alternative systems of rewards. While this may seem difficult at first, it can be accomplished in time.

Here are some ideas for rewards that do not involve food:

* Give yourself a day at the beach. This can clear your mind and can be wonderfully invigorating.
* Schedule some play time. Your play might involve tennis, video games, or blowing bubbles-whatever activity that will get your mind away from the daily routine.
* Go shopping at a dollar store. You won't spend much, but you could pick up some tremendous bargains.
* Share some quality time with your dog or cat. Grab some pet toys and have some fun.
* Go to the cosmetics counter of your local department store and indulge in a makeover.
* Spend a day at a spa. It can be wonderfully relaxing to be pampered with massage and aromatherapy.
* Volunteer an hour or two at your local elementary school. Being with children, even for a short time, can be a rewarding experience.
* Take your children to the playground, a roller rink, or a swim club. The activity can leave you feeling refreshed and energized.
* Buy a new CD from one of your favorite musical artists. Then make sure you spend an hour or two listening to it.
* If you play a musical instrument, sit down and play a few tunes. Music can be a great mood-elevator.
If you don't like the idea of developing an alternative reward system, consider simply varying your routine. If you've become accustomed to rewarding yourself with a high-calorie cappuccino in the morning, spend some time in quiet prayer or reflection instead. If you feel as if you'll be tempted to raid a candy store on your way home from work, take an alternate route instead. In general, keeping busy can prevent you from indulging in food rewards. For instance, you might be so busy reading or knitting that you simply don't have time to reach for a snack.

Making a conscious decision to no longer use food as a reward is certainly counter-cultural. We have been conditioned to believe that there should be a plate of brownies at the end of the rainbow…that heaven is just one hot fudge sundae after another. While food itself isn't bad, our expectations about food can be. The first step to ending a food addiction may be to recognize that food can no longer serve as our reward.

While it can be rough getting out of the food-as-reward habit, it is well worth the effort. If we no longer view food as the prize, we will organize our day differently. We'll devote our mealtimes to food, and the rest of our day to something else. We will eat only those foods designed to help us stay healthy-and we'll be in better shape as a result.

Reward Yourself for Weight Loss Successes

The South Beach Diet and Diabetes

iamondiet — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 07:30:05 +0000

Developed by Dr. Arthur Agatston, the South Beach Diet is the latest version of decreased carbohydrate diets like the Atkins diet and the Zone diet. However, the principles behind the South Beach Diet are not at all fresh for they are tried and tested.

Today, many people often question the connection between the South Beach Diet and diabetes. Perhaps it is for the fact that the South Beach Diet is originally developed for the purpose of lowering the levels of cholesterol for heart patients and those with diabetes. With this fact, the connection between the South Beach Diet and diabetes intensifies.

So what then is the connection between the South Beach Diet and diabetes?

As it is stated above, the obvious reason for showing the connection between the South Beach Diet and diabetes is that the South Beach Diet is primarily developed for heart patients and those with diabetes. Speaking with the nature of diabetes to better show the bond between the South Beach Diet and diabetes, it is important to know that diabetes is mainly divided into two major types: the Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.

It is noted that the bond between the South Beach Diet and diabetes is shown for the fact that the main cause for diabetes is the low level of insulin and with that the South Beach Diet is believed to give more levels of insulin to the body. Another notable connection between the South Beach Diet and diabetes is the fact that the diabetes greatly develop with people who are overweight. As such, the best advice to reduce the risk of developing diabetes is by losing weight, and with that the role of the South Beach Diet plays a part. Why? Well, it is for the main reason that the South Beach Diet is a weight loss program and as such the diabetic patients engaging in South Beach Diet may lose weight, and eliminate cravings without feeling hungry. So with this clear connection between the South Beach Diet and diabetes, it may then be possible for the doctor to decrease the amount of medication that the patients need.

Besides, the connection between the South Beach Diet and diabetes is one of the major subjects of most researches. And with those available resources, the South Beach Diet and diabetes are fully given much emphasis. Also of important consideration that shows the connection between the South Beach Diet and diabetes is the fact that the diabetes is said to be caused by a high level of cholesterol. So with that, the South Beach Diet will then help the diabetic patients to lower their cholesterols and so reduce their risk of diabetes. With this main connection between the South Beach Diet and diabetes, the diet is then known as the "updated version of the Atkins diet".

With the bond between the South Beach Diet and diabetes, numerous resources were able to state that if someone is a diabetic patient, he or she has little choice but to accept the long-term change. In fact, the South Beach Diet will be effective is someone will just stick to it and follow the set guidelines for a better result.