Almost fifty per cent of our children today take packed lunches to school. As parents we’re usually happy about that because that way we know what our kids are eating.

We have some control over it and we feel we are giving our kids a healthy meal, but are we? Or are we filling them up on fizzy sodas, cake bars and candy that our kids see on TV and beg us for? After all, ‘EVERYBODY’S Mom lets them eat that!’ Are you tired of hearing that? So tired of it that now you have given in too?

You don’t have to. You can give your children healthy food in their packed lunch boxes – even without them realizing. After all, as parents we often have to pick our battles, don’t we? But a healthy diet should be non-negotiable for us all, including the children in our care. However, there are ways to get your children to eat healthily at lunch time, without all the tears and tantrums.

Here are just a few ideas to provide your children with healthy packed lunches: Use wholegrain alternatives. Many of us with our modern diet of refined and processed foods (children included) lack fiber in our diet.

A packed lunch is easier if they don’t have a gluten intolerance because then you can just use wholegrain bread. Even pita breads, which children love, come in wholegrain varieties. If your child is unable to eat wheat, rice crackers can also be a good and tasty alternative which are low in fat and high in fiber.

Find alternatives to sandwiches: A packed lunch doesn’t have to mean sandwiches. You can include colourful and nutritious pasta salads or rice salads. That can include tiny morsels of vegetables to give your child vitamins and minerals in a format they will enjoy. They may also like celery sticks smothered in peanut butter. I know I do, and my children too!

Cut the fat: Sandwiches don’t necessarily need mayo or even butter. Don’t just put them on there because you always have. If the sandwich filling is moist you probably won’t need butter or mayo. That will go a long way toward cutting the fat in a packed lunch. Choose low fat meats like chicken, turkey or lean ham for a healthy option and add some salad vegetables too. Tuna in brine, cottage cheese, Edam cheese or even a banana are all low fat sandwich fillings that go down a storm with children.

Add some fruit and vegetables: Children love finger foods, and if they can get messy, so much the better. If you cut up brightly colored raw peppers, cucumber and carrots and team it with a tasty, healthy dip made of creme fraiche or even yogurt as its base is a healthy option and one that the kids will have fun with. You can add a dessert of fruit yogurt or dried fruit.

Winter warmers: Now, the winter chills are coming and you’ll probably agree that salads aren’t the most attractive of options when it’s so cold you can see your breath in front of you. That doesn’t mean that you have to go back to giving the kids unhealthy packed lunches. Soups made of heaps of vegetables and perhaps barley for added fiber is a very healthy alternative. They can easily be taken to school in a thermos and it’s very comforting on a cold day to wrap your hands around a warm mug of soup. Kids will love that too, and there are many easy to open kids thermos flasks on the market.

Keep them sweet: Eating a healthy diet does not mean that your kids can’t have any sweet treats. Heavens! If it meant that, not many of us would follow a healthy diet for long, would we?

Fruit cut up into bite-sized chunks are always popular with children. Again, to make them even more attractive, you can include a pot of yogurt, creme fraiche or fruit puree for them to dip the fruit into.

A little of what you love does you good, too. So don’t be afraid to include some chocolate in your kids packed lunches now and then. Chocolate covered raisins are a great option. Home-made wholegrain scones and fruit breads are also healthy and delicious alternatives to sugary, calorie-laden cakes and cookies and children will still love them.

Drinks: Once you’ve done all this good work of making sure your kids eat healthily at lunch time, don’t spoil it by finishing off their meal with a sugary soda packed with caffeine and additives. Instead, pop unsweetened fruit juices or smoothies, unsweetened yogurt drinks or even semi-skimmed milk.

So you can see that sending your children off with a healthy packed lunch that they will love does not necessarily have to be a problem task. You can quite easily give your child food they enjoy which will help to keep them healthy too.

Time 4 Lunch is the authors website that offers the transformers lunch box and the ever popular spiderman lunch box as well as many more kids lunch boxes and bags

Almost fifty per cent of our children today take packed lunches to school. As parents we’re usually happy about that because that way we know what our kids are eating.

We have some control over it and we feel we are giving our kids a healthy meal, but are we? Or are we filling them up on fizzy sodas, cake bars and candy that our kids see on TV and beg us for? After all, ‘EVERYBODY’S Mom lets them eat that!’ Are you tired of hearing that? So tired of it that now you have given in too?

You don’t have to. You can give your children healthy food in their packed lunch boxes – even without them realizing. After all, as parents we often have to pick our battles, don’t we? But a healthy diet should be non-negotiable for us all, including the children in our care. However, there are ways to get your children to eat healthily at lunch time, without all the tears and tantrums.

Here are just a few ideas to provide your children with healthy packed lunches: Use wholegrain alternatives. Many of us with our modern diet of refined and processed foods (children included) lack fiber in our diet.

A packed lunch is easier if they don’t have a gluten intolerance because then you can just use wholegrain bread. Even pita breads, which children love, come in wholegrain varieties. If your child is unable to eat wheat, rice crackers can also be a good and tasty alternative which are low in fat and high in fiber.

Find alternatives to sandwiches: A packed lunch doesn’t have to mean sandwiches. You can include colourful and nutritious pasta salads or rice salads. That can include tiny morsels of vegetables to give your child vitamins and minerals in a format they will enjoy. They may also like celery sticks smothered in peanut butter. I know I do, and my children too!

Cut the fat: Sandwiches don’t necessarily need mayo or even butter. Don’t just put them on there because you always have. If the sandwich filling is moist you probably won’t need butter or mayo. That will go a long way toward cutting the fat in a packed lunch. Choose low fat meats like chicken, turkey or lean ham for a healthy option and add some salad vegetables too. Tuna in brine, cottage cheese, Edam cheese or even a banana are all low fat sandwich fillings that go down a storm with children.

Add some fruit and vegetables: Children love finger foods, and if they can get messy, so much the better. If you cut up brightly colored raw peppers, cucumber and carrots and team it with a tasty, healthy dip made of creme fraiche or even yogurt as its base is a healthy option and one that the kids will have fun with. You can add a dessert of fruit yogurt or dried fruit.

Winter warmers: Now, the winter chills are coming and you’ll probably agree that salads aren’t the most attractive of options when it’s so cold you can see your breath in front of you. That doesn’t mean that you have to go back to giving the kids unhealthy packed lunches. Soups made of heaps of vegetables and perhaps barley for added fiber is a very healthy alternative. They can easily be taken to school in a thermos and it’s very comforting on a cold day to wrap your hands around a warm mug of soup. Kids will love that too, and there are many easy to open kids thermos flasks on the market.

Keep them sweet: Eating a healthy diet does not mean that your kids can’t have any sweet treats. Heavens! If it meant that, not many of us would follow a healthy diet for long, would we?

Fruit cut up into bite-sized chunks are always popular with children. Again, to make them even more attractive, you can include a pot of yogurt, creme fraiche or fruit puree for them to dip the fruit into.

A little of what you love does you good, too. So don’t be afraid to include some chocolate in your kids packed lunches now and then. Chocolate covered raisins are a great option. Home-made wholegrain scones and fruit breads are also healthy and delicious alternatives to sugary, calorie-laden cakes and cookies and children will still love them.

Drinks: Once you’ve done all this good work of making sure your kids eat healthily at lunch time, don’t spoil it by finishing off their meal with a sugary soda packed with caffeine and additives. Instead, pop unsweetened fruit juices or smoothies, unsweetened yogurt drinks or even semi-skimmed milk.

So you can see that sending your children off with a healthy packed lunch that they will love does not necessarily have to be a problem task. You can quite easily give your child food they enjoy which will help to keep them healthy too.

Time 4 Lunch is the authors website that offers the transformers lunch box and the ever popular spiderman lunch box as well as many more kids lunch boxes and bags

Are eggs good for you or are they bad for you? Or are they good for you in small amounts and bad when you eat lots? The old argument has suggested that eggs cause high cholesterol levels and blocked arteries which we know leads to heart problems sooner or later.

In 2005, the USDA’s Dietary Guidelines for Americans suggested that no more than 300mg of dietary cholesterol should be consumed each day. With an average egg containing around 220mg of cholesterol it seems logical that the fewer eggs you eat the better.

However, this perspective is misleading because we need to consider the different types of cholesterol. Not everything in life is black and white!

In the blue corner we have Low Density Lipoproteins (LDL’s) which clog arteries by carrying cholesterol to the sites of fatty deposits. In the red corner we have High Density Lipoproteins (HDL’s) which are the good guys as they clean up LDL’s floating in the blood and transport them to the liver for eventual excretion.

Also, cholesterol is required for cell function, nerve function and hormone function. Trying to eradicate cholesterol completely is therefore an inaccurate and misinformed idea.

Aside from cholesterol eeggs are an excellent source of protein, Vitamin A, Vitamin D, Vitamin B2 and iodine. These substances have many, many uses in the body but I want to focus on their benefits for those looking to lose body fat.

First, protein. You must eat lean, complete proteins 5-6 times per day to maintain / build muscle and to remain satisfied without eating high levels of carbohydrates. In terms of losing body fat protein increases the thermic effect of what you eat which helps burn calories by eating!

Vitamin A aids bone growth and helps regulate your immune system both of which are necessary if you want to be able to train with weights regularly. Again this is essential for creating your best body ever.

This doesn’t mean you need to become a bodybuilder, quite the opposite. Weight training is often avoided by ladies in particular looking to lose fat but they are doing themselves a massive disservice!

Vitamin D aids the absorption of calcium. Calcium is essential for ensuring strong bones for weight bearing activities and general health.

Vitamin B2 not only helps process amino acids (from proteins) and fats but it also helps convert carbohydrates to ATP. Don’t worry too much about what this stands for but know that it is used by the body for energy during very intense exercise.

Finally we have iodine. This helps regulate the hormones responsible for your metabolism ensuring you’re always burning calories efficiently.

As you can see eggs provide a range of benefits for fat loss and maintenance or growth of muscles but the structure of eggs must also be considered.

All of the cholesterol in an egg is found in the yolk. The white provides a source of pure, complete protein.

It therefore seems wise to limit the yolks you eat to one per day whilst you should feel free to eat more egg whites. This will ensure you are getting enough protein – something few people do!

The truth is that it is saturated fats which cause the increasing heart problems in Western society. Eggs therefore can be a main element of any fat loss plan with all other sources of saturated fat being minimised.

Often you will hear people say they don’t eat eggs because they’re bad for the heart. However, the same people will eat high amounts of processed foods, alcohol and other heart-stopping foods and drinks!

The positives provided by egg whites in particular cannot be ignored especially by those who do not wish to eat animal meat for whatever reasons they may have. Vegetarians take note!

Some studies suggest that eating 3-4 whole eggs every day had no effect at all on blood cholesterol but if you are still paranoid, get your cholesterol tested by your GP. You might even conduct an experiment of your own by eating 3-4 eggs per day for 2 weeks then having your cholesterol re-tested to see if there is any effect.

To sum up, don’t believe everything you read or hear in the media as everything will be hyped up and made to sound like the end of the world. Take time to research the truth and you will generally find that there is no need to panic!

Jon Le Tocq created the online Storm Force Fitness concept which continues to produce amazing fat loss and conditioning results without gym membership! You can join the fun at http://www.stormforcefitness.com

Carolyn Ekenstam has limited her coffee and finds herself doing better when she does. She began to do decaf a long time ago and does not miss the caffeine. Try it. You might like the better effects on your BELLY FAT and weight. Check it out.

Jon Le Tocq created the online Storm Force Fitness concept which continues to produce amazing fat loss and conditioning results without gym membership! You can join the fun at http://www.stormforcefitness.com

People use many excuses to give reason to why they are not eating healthy foods. One of the most common of these excuses is that they have no time to worry about choosing the best foods and cooking them for themselves and their families.

These people usually grab fast food or take-out instead of healthier foods, and these quick dinner fixes are full of bad fats and cholesterol, sugar, and empty calories.

However, no matter how little time you have to spend in the kitchen and at the supermarket, there are ways in which you can eat in a healthy way without much time. Learning ways to quickly eating healthily can make all the difference in perfecting your diet.

Eating healthy foods begins with healthy ingredients, but if you are short on time, you may find that spending time in the grocery store does not fit into your schedule. To maximize your time, plan ahead for two weeks at a time. Instead of having to go to the store every time you need an ingredient, make a list and keep your refrigerator, freezer, and pantry stocked with good, healthy ingredients.

You can make your shopping list during a meeting, while eating lunch, or while you are on the phone. A list will also help you cut back on compulsory buying, which is when we purchase a lot of the foods that are bad for us.

Along with planning your shopping list, plan your meals as well. If you find little time to cook during the week, you can instead try making a few healthy meals in advance on the weekend and than putting them in your freezer. Before you go to work in the morning, simply stick the frozen dinner in the refrigerator to thaw and then pop into the oven to cook when you get home from work. This will help you avoid having to pick up fast food.

When you do find yourself in the need of a quick meal and want to order out, look for healthy options. Instead of choosing a burger and fries, for example, look at the chicken breast options. Some fast food restaurants also have salads and fruit, but beware of dressing, which can be tons of fats and empty calories.

Keep healthy drinks on hand at home instead of purchasing a soda as well. Better yet, stick the burger, pizza, and Mexican joints altogether and opt for a sandwich or sub shop instead, where you can choose a wheat bread and ask them to hold the mayonnaise.

Healthy eating on the run will never be easy. However, putting a tad bit more time into is worth that extra effort, because you’ll be living a healthier life in the end. Using these tips will help you to quickly eat as healthily as possible.

For more advice on Healthy Eating, go here:
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Nut allergies are some of the most common food allergies that people can suffer from, both children and adults. Nut allergies can be mild, moderate, severe, and can also be life threatening. A severe reaction of nut allergies is called anaphylaxis, and can be fatal. The symptoms that go along with nut allergies often begin quickly, usually within an hour or even a few minutes after someone coming into contact with a nut.

There is no cure for nut allergies, and the only way to avoid nut allergy reactions is to strictly avoid the allergens. If someone does come into contact with nuts who has food allergies and a reaction starts, treating it quickly will help minimize the potentially serious risks to the person. If the person has a severe allergic reaction, if it is available, they should be given an adrenaline injection right away, and 911 should be called. Time is absolutely critical for people who suffer from nut allergies. If you are well prepared and act quickly to help, the risk of suffering serious problems from a nut allergy is small.

A nut allergy happens when the body over reacts to something that is harmless to others that are not allergic to nuts. Both peanuts and tree nuts can act as triggers for a nut allergy, and can cause these reactions in people. When a person comes in contact with something that they are allergic to, the cells in the body release histamine. This makes the tiny blood vessels in the tissues of the body leak fluids, causing them to swell. Depending on the severity of the nut allergy, the swelling can affect only the lips a little bit or the entire airway of a person. Even though peanuts are not really nuts, most people to place peanuts in the nut allergy category.

Other than peanuts, some of the most common nuts that can cause a nut allergy are hazelnuts, walnuts, cashews, pecans, brazil nuts, and pistachios. With a nut allergy, when the person comes into contact with nuts for the first time in their lives, the immune system reacts and prepares to fight. In this initial meeting with nuts, there is no reaction! It is during the second exposure to nuts that we see a reaction. Children who exhibit symptoms for the first time usually do not do it during their first exposure, but during their second. They usually already have come in contact with nuts through the mother while still in the womb or from breast milk as infants. Although some people do not have a nut allergy unless they eat nuts, others have such a strong nut allergy that they can have a reaction if they are just standing next to someone who is eating nuts, so a nut allergy presents itself differently for different people.

To know more about nut allergies please visit our website.

Your weight problem is a serious business. It cannot be solved by crash diets or medications that make you lose pounds quickly. These do not work if you want to lose those extra pounds permanently.

You have seen those people who lost 20 pounds for a while but gained them back sooner than they like. You have to use a proven method that was tested and recommended by authorities in wellness and physical fitness. Be sure you choose the expert with good credibility in their specialty.

The experts will tell you that you are not alone with your weight problem. According to statistics approximately two thirds of U.S. adults and 60 % of Canadian adults are overweight or obese, moreover approximately 20% to 25% of school-aged children and teens are overweight. Because of prevalence of obesity and the health risks associated with it, it is probably the most serious nutrition problem among developed countries.

Obesity is caused by several factors:
1. Widespread marketing and availability of appealing food combined with a lifestyle with little need of physical activity.
2.Bad Eating Habits. Taking large amounts of sodas, chips snack foods and high caloric desserts can contribute to your extra weight problem..
3.Genetics- inherited metabolic makeup that allow individuals to store fat more efficiently than others can also play a role in obesity. Neuro-endocrine problems like Hypothyroidsm , Cushing’s syndrome and poly cystic ovary syndrome disorders are some of those associated with obesity.

A medical check up by your family doctor is a good advice before you undergo a weight reduction program. If your obesity is due to the above mentioned syndromes, then you can be medically treated.

Being overweight carries a lot of problems, some are health risks. Are you frustrated when you look at yourself at the mirror, when your beautiful dress won’t fit anymore and your choices are limited to extra-large sizes when you shop to get a dress for a special occasion?

Are you being treated for high blood pressure problem, knee and ankle pains ? Do you have some difficulty breathing while ballroom dancing? If your heart is normal then your weight problem is the culprit.

Medically speaking, your obesity can be associated with hypertension, coronary heart disease, sleep apnea Type 2 Diabetes, infertility, gallstones, and osteoarthritis. Social discrimination and poor self-image has been also associated with obesity.

So how do go about solving your weigh problem ? 1.Consult your family doctor first. Be sure that you do not have an endocrine problem like Hypothyroidism, or Cushing’s Syndrome. If you do, you then can be treated accordingly.

2.Identify what is the cause of your weight problem.
If the cause is bad eating habits, you are the most important person responsible to solve it. If your problem is partially caused by physical inactivity, you can definitely correct that unless you are wheelchair- bound. The common saying “If it’s going to be, it’s up to me” is true in this situation.

3.Choose the physical activity that is best for you. You have to choose the program that fits your lifestyle. Tennis is an excellent cardiovascular exercise but you need a tennis court and a partner. Running and jogging are advised by some, but these can be detrimental to your knees, ankles or feet. Fast or brisk walking is an effective exercise and it can be done easily and readily without any necessary equipments.

I chose martial arts as my exercise program, because it is a scheduled, and structured regular exercise program , done indoors which I like because the studio is air-conditioned and my Master and other students are constant encouragement of my progress.

I lost 60 pounds in 6 months doing Martial Arts. The other important thing that helped lose my extra weight was correcting my bad eating habits.

4.Seek the advice of reliable authorities in wellness, nutrition and physical fitness.The American Heart Association recommends simple activities like walking or riding a bike as important tools to losing and maintaining weight loss. My favorite book is Fit to Lead by Christopher Neck, et al.

5.Maintain the desired weight that you have achieved.
After I achieved my ideal weight I maintained it by exercising at least three times a week, even just walking a couple of miles a day. I choose what I eat.

I am guided by my simple principle that the amount of calories I take in should be countered with the amount of calories I spend by physical activity. So If I want to lose weight, I have to spend more calories than what I take in.

I would like to tell you a little secret about reducing my caloric intake. I substitute just one apple for one of my full meals during the day. I do this daily and it works well for me.

6.Remember that exercise plus good eating habits with nutritious food,and being conscious about your caloric intake are most important factors for the solution of your weight problem. One does not usually realize that one hour of intense physical activity will make you spend about two hundred calories, but if after you exercise you eat two pieces of doughnuts and a bottle of soda, you put back in more than 200 calories.

7.Take vitamins, minerals, antioxidants.These are important for our body functions and immune system.They cannot be adequately provided by the food, vegetables and fruits that we eat so you have to get them from reputable companies.

8.Some herbal products that are good for weight loss and colon cleansing. .My favorites are Dr. Miller’s Tea and Acai Slim Berry.

After you have achieved your ideal weight by whatever means, the goal becomes maintenance of the loss. Instead of thinking of of weight control in terms of dieting, which is a temporary practice, you must think of it as a permanent lifestyle change.

You should never return to the old eating habits, or the weight will be regained. Maintain the level of physical activity that you have found effective.

Apply what you learned here and you will benefit from the proven methods of wellness and physical fitness. You will realize that the solution to your weight problem will be the answer to your frustrations. and inability to function the way you want.

For completeness of this article, I want to mention that weight management programs for severely obese patients ( more than 30 % above ideal weight) make use of four modalities: diet and nutritional counseling, behavior therapy, drugs and sometimes Bariatric surgery. This is managed by medical specialists dedicated to the management of weight loss, physical fitness and anti-aging, specialized medical doctors with offices throughout the United States and other countries. I highly recommend the services of these specialized physicians especially if you are not progressing with your personal weight loss and physical fitness program.

Dr. Ariston P Awitan is a physician, retired orthopedic surgeon and a Marketing Consultant with a passion to help serious network-marketers.
To find out how he
helps serious networkmarketers at his website which is at
http://aawitan.marketingmerge.com/guide

Polynesian Noni products are said to be made of some of the best stuff on earth. The Pacific Islands are known for many things and now we can add noni juice benefits to the list. More researchers in the Western world are following in the footsteps of the ancient Eastern medicinal beliefs as to how Polynesian noni products can help you and enhance your health and well being.

Why Polynesian Noni Products are Superior

The Polynesian noni fruits are grown in the rich volcanic soil of the Pacific Islands. When it is organically grown there are a variety of noni juice benefits one can derive from adding this type of product to a daily health regimen. So many of the foods and beverages we consume today are filled with chemical additives and it is thought that this is why we are becoming a society that is prone to a variety of medical conditions and diseases. Adding a pure product such as Polynesian noni juice to your daily routine can only increase your good health and well being.

If You Have a Sweet Tooth

Those that have a sweet tooth know that indulging that whim can not only have you gaining unwanted pounds, but it affects your skin and your teeth as well. Drinking Polynesian noni juice is one way to satisfy that sweet craving yet derive a variety of benefits instead of guilt and shame. It is a delicious as well as nutritious addition to your diet that you can feel good about drinking as there are so many noni juice benefits you can reap.

Eat Like the Ancients

The ancient societies of the Pacific Islands have been indulging in pure Polynesian noni juice for centuries and we here are just now finding out how many noni juice benefits there really are. Our researchers are just now finding out what the ancient Pacific Island cultures have known for years; that a diet that includes pure Polynesian noni juice can have you looking and feeling better than you ever thought possible.

Isn’t it true that the people native to the Pacific Islands have a unique and particular beauty? Do you think it could because they indulge and indulge often in drinking Polynesian noni juice? Captain Bligh lost his crew to the Tahitian Islands and it is no coincidence that the beautiful women were consuming unbeknown to the English, pure Polynesian noni juice.

So get on the Polynesian noni juice bandwagon. Find out what for yourself what the researchers are saying and what current users of noni Polynesian juice are reporting about how they look and feel. Many have said their skin and hair look better than ever and that their energy levels can go through the roof. Isn’t worth a look see into what adding pure Polynesian noni juice might do for you? All you can do is feel better and if you don’t, most dealers of Polynesian noni juice will give you a money back guarantee for their product. Try some today and feel better tomorrow.

Zach Thompson is a Pure Noni Juice Representative. His clients range from actresses to pro athletes. You can get a free consultation by visiting Pure Noni Juice.

An effective under counter water filter can cost as much as $800. But, you can buy under counter water filters that are just as effective for less than $200. You just have to look for a product that does not include a reverse osmosis step.

Reverse osmosis or RO was originally designed for large industries and public treatment facilities. Eventually, it found its way into homes having brackish wells, as it was the only method to reduce the sodium content.

Today, companies like GE are producing less expensive “trimmed down” versions of the original designs for use in homes with publicly treated supplies. Now, some companies have gotten the bright idea that RO is a good idea for an under counter water filter. At one time, it was the only effective way to insure cyst removal, but that is no longer the case.

Under counter water filters with a submicron particle-filter can remove more than 99% of all cysts, for a fraction of the cost. Ion exchange can be used to reduce sodium content for brackish wells. In under counter water filters, it is used to remove lead, copper and other metallic traces.

Lead, even at low levels, is bad for your long-term health. Copper simply spoils the taste. Minerals and electrolytes, on the other hand are good for your health.

If an under counter water filter includes a reverse osmosis step, it will spoil any naturally occurring mineral-content. Ion exchange “balances” the mineral content to get rid of hard-water problems, but will not affect a naturally occurring mineral content.

The $800 under counter water filters requires extensive maintenance, regular cleaning and replacement of three different cartridges at various times throughout the year. The brand that sells for less than $200 requires no maintenance other than replacing the dual cartridges every six months.

It comes with an installation kit and is relatively easy to install. The faucet can simply replace your sprayer or you can drill an additional hole in your sink. There are good, bad and mediocre products on the market. I would not buy from a company that does not provide complete product performance data.

I would suggest that you look for an under counter water filter that is certified by the California State Department of Health. To get that certification, a company must provide complete testing data from an independent laboratory, such as Underwriter’s.

The National Sanitation Foundation will also provide certifications for companies that apply. Consumer Reports rates products annually and some under counter water filters receive the highest ratings.

Not too many companies make an under-the-counter system. So, that makes shopping a little easier. Now, that you know that you do not have to spend $800, you might also want to consider a showerhead system. Cancer-causing chemicals become airborne in the shower and chlorine vapors trigger asthma attacks. It’s also bad for your skin and hair.

Hopefully, this information will help you find an effective under counter water filter and save money, too!

Stop drinking contaminated water. Find out which water purifiers gives you the safest healthiest water in your home

Glyco nutrients refer to the 8 essential sugars such as glucose, mannose, galactose, fucose, n-acetyl galactasomanine, n-acetyl glucosamine, n-acetylNeuraminic acid and xylose. They provide monosaccharides that have been proven to be essential for human health and address the fundamental structure of the body.

Glyco nutrients are derived from various plants. The main nutrient extracts come from the aloe vera plant. Others come from exotic plants around the world. All of these nutrients extracts are vital to your body’s functions.

Glyco nutrients work naturally in the body. How? Let’s use the example of growing a rose plant. To ensure that the rose plant grows well, you need to plant it on rich soil, give enough water, expose to good sunlight, and make sure that it is not infected with insects. If you use commercial method to maintain your plant, you spray insecticides and use artificial fertilizer to make your plant healthy and produce a lot of flowers. If you use the organic way, you may use organic fertilizer which derives from decayed matter or waste. This will help your plant grow healthy and bear flowers the naturally way.

Just like the plant in the example, Glyco nutrients work on your body in an organic way. It may be a long and tedious process, but it does not disrupt the natural balance of your body. They are not something that will cure everything in an instant as how commercial pesticides work on insects in plants.

Glyco nutrients will provide the nourishment that the body needs in order to grow healthy. They penetrate inside the body where each component naturally performs its specific function, repairing, regenerating, or building cells. Healthy cells in the body are our natural defense against illness and diseases.

Glyco Nutrients have been widely recognized as a major health breakthrough. Although the praises are sung loudly, their function is extremely elementary. Your cells use them to communicate with each other. When you cells are able to communicate, your body is able to repair and defend itself naturally. When you provide your body with natural means to protect itself, you generally feel healthier.

The breakthrough of this new discovery can be a good alternative to costly medicines that are sold in the drugstore. By taking these Glyco nutrients, an adverse side effect caused by chemical drugs can be avoided thus achieving a healthy body is possible in a natural way.

Zach Thompson is a Glyconutrients Representative. He has worked with clients ranging from actresses to pro athletes. Get a free Glyco nutrients consultation.

Hypertension affects approximately 73 million Americans over the age of 20 in the United States. This statistic has alarmed doctors and health experts in the U.S. Some have developed diet plans for hypertension sufferers to combat the problem. Certain ones can significantly reduce blood pressure in those afflicted.

Hypertension is defined medically as blood pressure that is chronically higher than or equal to 140 over 90. A person whose blood pressure is being controlled by medication is also considered to have high blood pressure.

Today doctors are also concerned for patients who appear to be predisposed to or showing signs of developing a condition known as pre-hypertension. It is defined as blood pressure that is chronically higher than or equal to 120 over 80.

High blood pressure is a major concern because it can lead to a number of serious conditions. Heart attack is one. High blood pressure in pregnancy can result in pre-eclampsia and eclampsia. It can also exacerbate existing conditions, like kidney and liver disease and diabetes.

Diet plans for hypertension aim to reduce blood pressure in sufferers. Doctors and health experts have long recommended diet as a means to control conditions like these. Doctors may advise patients in pre-hypertensive states to adjust their diets to avoid high blood pressure before medication becomes necessary.

Diet plans for hypertension are largely based upon common sense eating. They typically include high amounts of vegetables and fruits. Low or non-fat dairy products and small amounts of lean meats are also allowed. However, the bulk of most of these plans is heavy in vegetables and fruits.

Many of these dieting protocols have attained buzzword status in the battle against blood pressure problems. However, most of these types of plans are not new. Some have become well-known in the fight against high blood pressure because of a recent recommendation; such as those recognized in the 2005 version of the “Dietary Guidelines for Americans.”

The “Dietary Guidelines for Americans” is published every five years by the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Agriculture. Its purpose is to help Americans understand how to eat optimally to preserve health and well-being. Options may be found there for an effective diet plan for hypertension.

Most of the more preferred plans are founded on principles of low-fat, high-fiber eating. They are less of a “fad diet,” and more of a lifelong guide to healthy eating. Certain ones have been shown more effective at reducing blood pressure than others.

The concept is not a new one; as mentioned earlier, but are easy for the average American to understand and follow. It can be customized to a particular lifestyle, as well as likes and dislikes. These are some of the more common reasons that this type of protocol has come to be recommended by the federal government.

Diet plans for hypertension are only as effective as the dieter. They require long-term change in order to significantly reduce and maintain blood pressure. Those with a commitment to healthy eating may see results within a few months. Some may even be able to reduce or eliminate medication.

Tom Moore, MD is the founder of the Dash For Health
program and a best-selling author. To find out more about how you can lose weight with No Pain and to claim your free DASH Eating Profile Now, visit us at:
DASH DIET

The acai berry is native to the Amazon Rainforest and look like a small round purplish blueberry. The acai berry is mostly pit with a small amount of pulp surrounding it.

The berry must be handled carefully before it can be eaten. Acai berries are processed for consumption by being agitated in a machine with water. The process separates acai pulp from the pit and produces a thick pulp puree that can then be used in many products.

Acai berries have a unique tropical flavor and provide many nutritional benefits. They contain high levels of vitamins and antioxidants as well as amino acids, Omega fatty acids, iron, and fiber. Acai pulp is often mixed with guarana seed which provides energy and heightens mental clarity with caffeine like effects.

Natives in the Amazon region of Northern Brazil have made acai pulp a part of their regular diet because of its nutritional value, healing, properties, and wellness powers. The many health benefits of the acai berry are beginning to spread from Brazil and become popular in the rest of the world.

Acai pulp has many health benefits and contains many properties that make them an important addition to any health regime. They contain antibacterial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimutagenic, properties all of which improve overall health. They also have many antioxidants that combat free radicals and improve the signs of aging.

Acai pulp are also a source of flavonoids called anthocyanins similar to the ones found in red wine and have the same health benefits. Acai pulp also contains high amounts of essential fatty acids which have been proven to lower LDL cholesterol (harmful cholesterol) and maintain HDL cholesterol (beneficial cholesterol).

Acai pulp is full of organic vegetable protein that does not make cholesterol
during digestion like animal protein and is easier to digest and used by our muscles than animal protein. Acai pulp is also rich in carbohydrates which give your body energy.

Acai berries contain antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals as well as carbohydrates and fiber. They are a very balanced food that has a high nutritional value, making them an ideal addition to your diet.

Acai juice and extract helps to boost energy levels because it contains so many important nutrients. It also helps to regulate digestive function and strengthens your immune system.

The antioxidants found in acai berries are very effective in helping eliminate harmful free radicals from the body which can cause many health problems and have even been studied for use in fighting certain cancers.

Acai berries are high in carbs so they give the body
that added energy specially during work or while
engaging in sports. Acai will also regulate cholesterol levels and promote healthier and younger looking skin. See more about this fantastic product @
http://abme1-llc.com

Finding a cancer cure in the cupboard is not as outlandish as you might think. Stunning developments in science are pointing towards foods and natural molecules that attack tumors and inhibit cancer cell growth in a number of ways. Further research will hopefully pave the way for a nationally recognized preventive cancer diet.

Patients can look into the existing research to determine whether or not to incorporate several anti-cancer foods into their diet. It’s a good idea for healthy people to consume these foods regularly. They could prevent cancer from occurring unexpectedly.

Many of the foods aren’t particularly unusual and can be picked up at any health food store. Let’s take a look at some of the research. Remember, this is just a summary. You may wish to delve into it more. The author concedes there are many foods not herein covered. Let’s take a look at some potent anti-cancer foods, and you’ll get one step closer to crafting a cancer treatments diet.

Be sure to always check any new medical information with a licensed medical professional before attempting any dietary changes. It’s best to see a doctor for information about cancer treatments, however, the diet part can begin at home anytime.

The cruciferous vegetables of broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, brussels sprouts, bok choy and kale contain substances like glucosinolates, crambene, indole-3-carbinol (I-3-C) and isothiocyanates. Cruciferous vegetables appear to regulate a network of enzymes in the body that regulate certain types of cancer.

For example, looking at just one component, indole-3-carbinol, we see a number of healing properties. Studies show that I-3-C inhibits proliferation of human breast cancer cells, reduces the activity of tumor-promoting enzymes, and accelerated apoptosis in some cancer cell lines. Apoptosis is the technical term for programmed cell death. It appears to work by stimulating the enzymes the body uses for breakdown and detoxification of chemicals and carcinogens. What seems like an anecdote of funny folklore from a Roman statesman, Cato the Elder (234-149 BC), may have slight merit. He says, “If a cancerous ulcer appears upon the breasts, apply a crushed cabbage leaf and it will make it well.”

Besides the in vitro laboratory studies and studies of animal populations, there are large scale epidemiological studies that conclusively point to a link between consumption, or lack thereof, or cruciferious vegetables and certain cancers. Studies associate diets high in cruciferous vegetables with lower risk for lung, stomach and colorectal cancers.

When observing lots of people over time, scientists ascertained that diets high in cruciferous vegetables were linked with dramatically lower rates of prostate and bladder cancer. It’s important to take supplements to get the right amounts of the good molecules. For example, the Department of Agriculture analyzed 71 broccoli plants and discovered a 30 fold difference in the amount of Glucoraphanin. Sulforaphane is a product of Glucoraphanin, and Sulforaphane has been shown to stimulate enzymes that deactivate carcinogens and inhibit tumor growth in laboratory animals.

The author’s recommendation is to make a smoothie with all the cruciferous vegetables a couple of times per week. Throw in a couple apples, oranges, or 1/2 cup of blueberries to sweeten. Add about a 1/2 cup water and use a high-powered blender like a Vitamix TurboBlend 4500. Vegetables in the cruciferous family also have the antioxidants, Lutein and Zeaxanthin, and they’re thought to decrease prostate cancer.

Some other foods that have anti-cancer substances are noteworthy, and you may want to include them in a smoothie or two daily. Dandelion, turnip greens, carrots, collards, canteloupe, sweet potatoes, and apricots have the highest levels of beta-carotene. Beta-carotene has been shown to reduce lung, mouth, throat, stomach, intestine, bladder, prostate and breast cancer.

Flax, a great source of fiber, should be consumed daily to facilitate healthy bowel movements and decrease the risk of cancerous changes. Simply grind up a tablespoon in a coffee grinder and drink with juice in the morning. Flax has lignans that block and suppress cancerous changes. The Budwig Diet extensively focuses on flax seed oil and cottage cheese, the elimination of some foods, and other dietary changes to stifle cancer.

Chili peppers, garlic, sea vegetables, rosemary, licorice root, grapefruits, figs, dark leafy greens and many other plant foods have anti-cancer qualities.

Of course, foods are just one of the many, many options to pursue when seeking to prevent cancer. A cancer treatments diet is ideal for almost anyone looking to lessen the likelihood of cancer onset. Most foods are safe unless you have some rare condition, allergy, or unusual contraindication.

Visit the DirectoryGold Article Directory for more articles on Nutrition. For links to sites about Nutrition and places to buy Nutrition products, visit the DirectoryGold Web Directory.

Recently, I stumbled upon an interesting article about a holly-wood celebrity who is in love with detoxification diet, or detox diet in short. She is not the first, but in fact, one of the many who recently joined in the global “detox diet wave”.

So what exactly is this detox diet? A detox diet basically involves the removal of any excess toxins that are stored in the human body. This is done through eating and/or drinking organic products, which in turn clears these unwanted substances as waste from our bowels.

The good part of it – Those who faithfully follow Detox diets often claimed to receive results such as weight loss, an enhancement of complexion, improvement on our organs’ functions and rejuvenation of our mental health.

The bad part of it – There aren’t many drawbacks to detox diets. It is rather evident that the pros far out-weigh the cons. However, it is important to note that such diets do not provide all the nutrients that our body requires. Therefore, the longer the body go on a detox cleansing diet, the longer it will be without some nutrients it need. For that reason, a detox diet should not be practiced on a long-term basis.

What should you eat? Fruits, vegetables, juices (with no sugar), beans and lentils, oats, potatoes, brown rice, steamed fish, unsalted seeds and nuts, natural yogurt, herbs, herbal teas.

What should you not eat? Red meat, chicken, dairy products, eggs, butter and margarine, wheat products, breads, pastries, chips, chocolates, sweet, sugar, processed foods, take-away, alcohol, coffee and tea, sauces, soft drinks.

To top the chart, I shall commit a one-day detox diet recipe for my readers! Enjoy!

One-Day Detox Diet (Volume can be adjusted according to preference)

Detox Breakfast – Breakfast fruit smoothie (Pear, Orange, Kiwi, Apple, Plum). Add them and mix them! You may want to add more ice if you find the taste too sour. A word of caution: If you have a weak stomach, it is best to replace a few of such citrus fruits such as orange with pears or strawberries.

Detox Lunch – Green Gaia (Steamed broccoli with sesame seeds and Lemon juice on brown rice). Add sesame seeds with broccoli and steam it until it is cooked. It is best to remove the seeds, squeeze the lemon by hand and add them to the brown rice.

Detox Snack – The Popeye Solution (Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Garlic, Onion, Carrots, Celery, Water, Bay Leaves, Spinach). Heat the olive oil first, then add in Garlic, Onion, Water, Bay leaves and leave it to boil for an hour. Thereafter, add the spinach and boil it till it wilts.

Detox Dinner – Messy Healthy (Salad with mixed greens, red peppers, artichokes and sprouts drizzled with salad dressing of garlic, lemon juice and olive oil). Just mix and stir them!

You may want to consume multivitamin supplements to enhance the detoxification effect.

To achieve an overall balance for our body, patience and moderation are required. Here’s a toast to you and may you enjoy success in your journey of body detoxification. Cheers!

Author: Colin Tan, certified personal trainer.
For more information about weight loss, losing weight and fat loss, visit http://www.nutritionpark.com .

Green juice is a mixture of green vegetables combined together in a delicious combination of juice. All you need is a juicer and some good quality greens.

Juicing helps in the absorption of nutrients, if your digestive system is less than optimal, it can be difficult to absorb all of the nutrients when eating greens. Juicing will break down the cell walls of vegetables so that they are pre-digested for you. This means that all of the nutrients go straight into your system.

Juicing means that you can eat more greens. You probably are not going to eat a whole head of celery in a day, but you can easily drink a whole head of celery juice. Juicing also allows you to consume a wide variety of greens all at once. You most likely wouldn’t have kale, cucumber, celery and parsley for breakfast, but you will enjoy it as a juice.

Juicing is a great way to get loads of chlorophyll, which is the building block of our bodies. Chlorophyll is what makes plants green, and it is perhaps the most powerful element that exists in the universe. It is medicine for our bodies and is why I am huge proponent of wheat grass juice. It increases the flow of oxygen to all parts of the body, which means we release more carbon dioxide, toxins and stress. Plenty of oxygen means that our bodies become an aerobic environment where disease cannot live. An anaerobic environment is where disease thrives.

Green vegetables contain nearly all of the trace minerals we need, as most people are seriously lacking in essential minerals which mean that our bodies are not equipped with the necessary resources to fight disease and feel fantastic. Green juice is a great way to get all of the vital minerals for vibrant health.

Juicing makes greens taste great. As mentioned above, juicing can make greens more palatable. This is because they can be sweetened with an apple or carrot. It is essential not to overdo it on apples and carrots because they can raise blood sugar levels, but adding a carrot or apple to a green juice transforms it into a delicious juice that most people will enjoy.

Green juice provides us with the Enzymes that we need to cleanse, detoxify and renew at a cellular level. Enzymes are also needed to digest food. We cannot have amazing health without enzymes. Cooking and processing of any type destroys all enzymes, so raw food, especially greens, is absolutely essential to maintain healthy enzyme levels. A daily green juice is a sure way to maintain enzyme levels.

Juicing can help arthritis sufferers. Black cherry juice parsley, broccoli, and spinach can assist in the treatment of arthritis, since these contain beta-carotene, along with carrots, apples, and ginger, all of which contain copper.

Other juices that can help include bilberry, celery juice, green barley juice, aloevera juice, and boswellia extract. Birch cortisone can also help reduce inflammation of joints

Arthritis sufferers should avoid nightshade vegetables, so named because they grow in the shade of night rather than during the day. Nightshades contain an alkaloid called solanine, which seems to have a negative effect on calcium balance, and can even cause headaches.

If you have never juiced on a regular basis, I highly recommend to give it a try. Change is not always easy, but incorporating juicing into your lifestyle is so very worth it.

Joni Bell has many years of extensive study in the area of natural cancer prevention and treatment. He has numerous success stories of people being diagnosed and now living cancer free with use of alternative methods. Ask Joni Bell

Living in today’s world where health and weight maintenance are a growing paranoia, you’ve most likely heard the words ‘whole grain’ in every conversation regarding health foods that you’ve ever had. You’ve also most likely heard that although health foods are good for you, they are seriously lacking in flavor. Now, this might put up a red flag for you, but don’t turn down whole grains just yet.

Many of your very favorite foods either contain or can be substituted for a yummy whole grain substitute. Plus, there are a large number of health benefits when you supplement whole wheat into your everyday diet. Don’t believe me? Go ahead and read on to know why it’s so great to go grain crazy.

The Skinny on Whole Wheat

So, by now I’m sure you’re wondering just why whole wheat is so good for you. Whole wheat contains complex carbohydrates, which are groups of three or more sugar molecules, or starches, linked together. Now, I know most people associate carbohydrates with weight gain, but that’s not completely true. Simple Carbohydrates, which are two starch molecules linked together, are what you really must watch out for.

You see, although you should eat any carbohydrate in moderation, complex carbohydrates pack a special kick by containing more fiber and vitamins, so it takes much longer for the body to digest. As for simple carbohydrates, the simple carbohydrates cause blood sugar to rise, and as a defense mechanism your body will send an S.O.S. to your pancreas to produce an abundance of Insulin. What does this mean for you? Well, Insulin is the body’s natural fat storing system and I’m sure you can understand this means everyone’s biggest fear: weight gain! Yikes.

So just make sure to watch out for candy, table sugar (sucrose), milk sugar (galactose), glucose and fructose (fruit sugar). Just remember, all those names rhyme with what word? Gross! So you should really eat them in moderation, and enjoy some complex carbohydrate rich foods like – you said it! – whole wheat products. Yum!

Sneak Attack!

Yes, it is natural to be skeptical of changing anything in one’s life if it’s been a routine for a while, especially when it comes to your diet. I’ll let you in on a little secret, though. If you’ve ever done your health food homework, you would know that whole grains are found in allot of every day foods that every one in the world eats such as:

- Popcorn
- Breads
- Pasta
- Rice
- Oatmeal
- Pastries
- Pancakes

Basically anything that requires baking can use whole wheat! So don’t be afraid to substitute some of your favorite foods for whole wheat options, you won’t notice any difference in the taste of your meals, but a big change in how you feel and look!

3 Servings a Day Keeps the Doctor Away!

So now that we’ve covered the main course, its time for our dessert. You know now that whole wheat prevents weight gain and some seriously tasty foods contain whole wheat and that whole wheat can prove as a healthy and delicious substitute for many baking options. I’m sure you didn’t also know, however, that grains are a super powered when it comes to fighting disease.

Whole grains have been proven to decrease the risk of heart disease by erasing cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood coagulation. Not to mention it also helps cure cancer. Studies have also shown that whole grains can lower blood glucose in those suffering from diabetes, and that people who eat three servings of whole wheat daily weigh less than those who consume less. Gooo super food!

Dr. Grandmas sells nutritious whole wheat mixes and wheat berries (aka: wheat kernels). To learn more about whole wheat foods and to find some great wheat berry recipes visit http://www.doctorgrandmas.com

A B-12 Deficiency has been known to hurt your brain function. Without the right fuel in the right amount at the right time, your cells will begin to die. The first sign that you’re not getting the nutrients you need is fatigue.

Nowadays, fatigue is the most common complaint we hear in a clinic, from our friends and families, and even from people we barely know!

B-12 Deficiency and Brain Erosion

The body’s cells carry out an endless stream of functions. Some deal with basic survival of the cell itself. Other functions deal with building and sustaining the overall health of the body.

When a cell doesn’t have the nutrients it needs it becomes imbalanced. And when imbalanced, the cell tries to compensate for its nutrient deficiency by only using its available energy for basic survival.

The cell stays in this mode until it can get the necessary nutrients. Then, it can go back to both taking care of itself and making contributions to our overall health.

However, if a cell does not get the nourishment needs within a specific time frame, it will die. When cells die, many are replaced by new cells; but some are not.

Cell replacement happens in your brain as well.

However, if the number of cells dying exceeds the number of new brain cells being made, you end up with a deficit called “brain erosion”. That’s why it’s so important to have all of the nutrients you need for brain health in your system every day. They’re essential for repairing or replacing either injured or dying brain cells.

Many people lose 10 to 25 percent of their total brain volume to this type of erosion before they are 60!

The Neuropathology Medical School research has shown that brain erosion affected some people, mostly older ones with dementia. However, as the years passed, researchers began seeing brain erosion in younger and younger people.

The journal Neurology (March 2005) said that, whole brain volume changes, were found in people as young as 30!This means that brain function can be lost because a person simply does not have the nutrition needed to repair or replace dying brain cells.

Look at the people you know. Don’t you see evidence of this? Don’t you see people with more anxiety, depression, irritability, forgetfulness and “brain fog” than ever before? The reason may be brain erosion.

Get the right nutrients

According to the journal Brain Research (March 2008) people with greater B-12 intake, had greater volume in their brains! Vitamin B-12 serves as brain fuel. It helps repair the forgetfulness, irritability, brain fog and mental exhaustion associated with brain erosion. It seems that we need B-12 for a healthy brain and energetic mind.

Of course, we need more nutrients in our bodies and brains than just B-12. To maintain our overall health, we also need:

Vitamins and minerals
Omega-3 fats
Antioxidants
A balanced diet
Daily exercise
Peaceful sleep

With these needs in mind, I suggest a variety of supplements to help build a strong foundation of nutritional support: a whole-food multiple vitamin and mineral supplement, a balanced Omega oil supplement, and Vitamin C.

Adding these particular nutrients to your routine of 7 to 9 servings of fruits and vegetables daily, 30 minutes of daily activity, and 7 to 9 hours of sleep every night, will give you what you need to help slow brain erosion and improve your life.

Don’t let a B-12 Deficiency rob your mental energy! Repair irritability and burn through the brain fog with a proper diet and sufficient amounts of B-12!

Mike Schantz is a BA with TriVita, a Nine Year Old Health and Wellness company. For more Information on TriVita and there focus on B-12 as it relates to good health. See them at: Http://www.getsuperb.net/13182443

Low-Carb Diets, such as the Atkins Diet and the South Beach Diet, can be extremely effective for fat loss and weight control. You’ve no doubt known or heard of someone going on a low-carb diet and dropping 10 pounds or more in a week. Low-carb diets are very popular for their rapid results. Who wouldn’t want fast results like this?!

As popular and effective as low-carb diets are, how can there possibly be a significant downturn in the low-carb diet’s popularity? After all, aren’t low-carb diets supposed to allow people to eat as much low-carb food as they want still lose weight?

Low-carb backlash (people turning against low-carb dieting) and low-carb diet failure is a reality and I’m going to tell you the reasons why. Before I do, I want to make one thing perfectly clear: I believe low-carb diets do have their place in nutritional science. They can be a very valuable dietary strategy and can be very effective for fat loss. I actually incorporate proper low-carb eating into my fat loss program “Metabolic Surge – Rapid Fat Loss!” It’s the misinformation and bandwagon profiteering currently becoming associated with low-carb diets that really create the problems we’re seeing now with low-carb diets.

1. Manufactured Low-Carb Junk Foods Are Sabotaging Low-Carb Diets

One of the major reasons people used to lose so much weight on low-carb diets was that there was a very limited selection of foods to choose from. These foods (like fish, meats, poultry, salads, vegetables, etc.) are primarily unprocessed and natural.

Enter: big business. Spying the chance to make a profit, big food manufacturers (and even little ones) saw a way to create a whole new market for themselves in the form of manufactured low-carb foods. Out came the low-carb cookies, cakes, chips and desserts. Basically, all the garbage foods that a person wasn’t previously allowed to eat on a low-carb diet suddenly became available to eat again.

So we’re right back to square one with people eating junk food. The problem is, now people think they can eat as much of it as they want because it’s “low-carb!” If this sounds to you like the “I can eat all the ice cream I want because it’s zero fat” attitude commonly found with low-fat foods, you’re absolutely right.

Just because a food is “low-carb” doesn’t necessarily mean it’s good for you or that you can eat as much of it as you want. It’s most likely not going to be low-calorie and don’t be fooled…even on a low-carb diet, calories do count. If you take in more calories than you burn, you’re not going to lose fat, you’re going to gain it.

The next time you’re at the grocery store, look at the nutritional information on the label of a low-carb food package, specifically serving size. One small low-carb cookie could give you 10 grams of carbs with another 10 grams in sugar alcohol. The person who is buying low-carb cookies to satisfy their craving for carb foods is not going to eat just one cookie. A few cookies later, they’ve eaten their entire carb allotment for the day and what nutritional redemption do they have to show for it (and creme-filled goodness doesn’t count)!

With the current tremendous availability of low-carb junk food, a person doesn’t have to eat fish, meat, eggs, salads and vegetables, which should be the focus of a low-carb diet. They can eat the same garbage that got them fat in the first place.

This is one of the main reasons low-carb diets are starting to fail and why there is a growing resentment towards low-carb dieting. Unknowingly, people have undermined their dieting efforts by supporting food manufacturers who make highly-processed, low-carb junk food. People want to believe that they can continue to eat the same foods they’re comfortable with and still lose fat.

The problem is, you just can’t keep doing the same things you’re doing and expect different results.

As an aside, not only are these foods sabotaging low-carb diets, they actually cost a lot more than their normal counterparts (I’ve seen a small loaf of low-carb bread for six dollars)! People are paying more money for products that are screwing up their diets.

2. Too Much Emphasis on Unhealthy, High-Calorie, Fatty, Low-Carb Foods

A low-carb diet is not a “bacon and butter diet.” A low-carb diet is not a “sausage and Diet Coke diet.” Granted, the fat in these foods is not as much of a problem when eating low-carb, but you should NOT base your eating habits on preservative-loaded, saturated-fat-packed, high-sodium foods. Just because you CAN eat them doesn’t mean you SHOULD.

Dr. Atkins, in his diet program, actually discourages overuse of foods like this. He focuses more on unprocessed meats, fish, poultry, eggs, salads and vegetables, etc., rather than the bacon, butter and sausage. The general public seems to only get the sound-bite message from the “don’t-confuse-us-with-the-facts” popular media, which is “eat all the bacon and butter you want and still lose weight.” This is not and should not be the focus of any low-carb diet.

Why is eating fatty foods like bacon and sausage contributing to a downturn in low-carb dieting? Because when it comes right down to it, these foods will never be healthy and should not be consumed in quantity. Not only are they full of saturated fat and preservatives, the high fat levels mean they are very high in calories. As I mentioned before, calories do count, even on a low-carb diet. If you take in more calories than you burn (which can easily happen when you eat 500 calories worth of bacon for breakfast) you’re not going to lose, you’re going to gain.

3. Turns Out Carbs Are Not Actually Evil

Carbs are everywhere. They’re in many of the foods we love to eat. They’re also in many of the very nutritious foods we SHOULD be eating. There is no denying that the human body is designed to efficiently use carbs for energy. Carbs are NOT inherently evil nor do all carbs need to be avoided like the plague.

The problem most people have with carbs is that they eat the wrong types of carbs. Enriched, pulverized, processed, sugary carbs are the carbs people have fattened themselves up on for years. These are the carbs that should be avoided and/or minimized.

Fruits, vegetables and whole grains are not the problem. They contain nutrients that are extremely important to the body and contribute to health and athletic performance. Look to high fructose corn syrup and enriched white flour and you’ll find the source of the problem.

Most people truly WANT to eat carbs and SHOULD eat (proper) carbs, which makes it that much harder to stick to a low-carb diet. This is another major reason we’re seeing resentment towards the low-carb lifestyle.

4. Missing Nutrients

The low-carb diet is a very unbalanced diet. Only eating from certain food groups will catch up with a person in the long run (potassium deficiency can be a BIG problem with low-carb diets). The body functions best when fed a variety of healthy foods and people on low-carb diets should be very careful to be sure they’re getting enough varied nutrition. Unfortunately, as we know, most people aren’t that careful.

If what you’re eating is not giving your body the nutrition it needs, it will let you know. You will get strong cravings for the foods you’re missing and you may even develop nutrient deficiencies. Not a good situation. For most people, a diet that can leave you vulnerable like this, if you’re not careful, is not going to be effective in the long run.

If you are currently on a low-carb diet, be absolutely sure you are at the very least taking a good multivitamin!

5. Sugar Alcohol – The Great Pretender

Sugar alcohols simply DO NOT exist in nature in the quantities found in low-carb foods these days. When a body ingests a large amount of a substance it’s not familiar with in large quantities, what’s its reaction? Bingo – flush it out the other end as quickly as possible.

In fact, if you read the small print on some of the foods that contain sugar alcohols (such as maltitol and sorbitol), you’ll see a little notice that reads: “Warning: excess consumption of this product may have a laxative effect.”

Maybe it’s just me but in my opinion, unless you’re eating something like prunes where you know what you’re getting into, the foods you eat shouldn’t have a laxative effect (and “laxative effect” is the nicest way of putting it!). This reaction is the body’s way of saying something is not supposed to be there.

Another point is this: foods that contain sugar alcohol also contain calories, which need to be accounted for in a fat-loss diet. Even though the “impact carb” count may be low, those non-impact carbs still have calories [the term "impact carb" only refers to carbs that affect insulin levels in the body] that can make you fat if you eat too many. You may be looking at a low-carb bar that contains 200 calories yet has only 1 gram of “impact” carbs! Those calories have to go somewhere.

You can just imagine there being resentment towards a diet that has you eating foods that have you sitting on the toilet half the day. You’ll lose weight, certainly, but it’s not going to be how you thought. Move over Olestra!

6. The Dreaded Low-Carb Plateau

What is the main reason people go on a low-carb diet in the first place? Results. So what happens when the results slow down and stop? That major motivation for being on the low-carb diet in the first place is gone.

If you’re on a diet that is not only not working but is actually uncomfortable, expensive and, depending on how you’re doing it, unhealthy, chances are you’re not going to stick it with very long.

And this is what we’re seeing quite a lot of. People are making the mistakes that I’ve outlined here by eating manufactured low-carb foods filled with sugar alcohol. They’re missing carbs (and the nutrients associated with carbs) both mentally and physically. Their results are slowing down and stopping.

A significant downturn in the popularity of low-carb dieting is on the way and, unfortunately, it’s leaving a lot of people more confused than ever about how and what to eat to lose fat and stay healthy.

My advice to you: if you’re on a low-carb diet, leave the low-carb manufactured foods on the shelf and focus on unprocessed, natural foods. If you’re not on a low-carb diet, do the same thing! Regardless of what type of diet you’re on, a focus on foods that are unprocessed and closer to their natural state will help you burn fat and keep your body healthy.

Nick Nilsson is Vice-President of BetterU, Inc. and has been inventing new training techniques and exercises for 17+ years. Nick has written many training books including “Muscle Explosion! 28 Days To Maximum Mass” & “Metabolic Surge – Rapid Fat Loss” – http://www.fitness-ebooks.com

The use of fat burning foods, while helpful, certainly is not the answer to losing weight effectively. Unfortunately, fat burning foods, as an effective and consistent weight loss measure, are a fad. It’s not that they don’t work, it’s just that one cannot depend entirely on one or another type of food to result in significant weight loss. It is also sadly ironic that so many people want to find another food to consume, rather than starting and continuing a daily exercise program, in order to lose or maintain their weight.

This article will give you the steps and total instructions for losing weight on a consistent, healthy and efficient basis. There will be no attempt to expound on the possibilities of finding a miracle weight loss product or method that is not realistic and questionable in it’s healthy attributes. There are no “special” foods or “fat burner” pills in this program. This is basic, “in-your-face” loss of weight, fat reduction and healthy living. With it comes the old “change your lifestyle if you want to lose weight” redundancy and, like it or not, it is the “truth.”

If you are searching for a weight loss method where you can lie around and watch TV or sit at the computer all day, this will not be that program. If you can find a realistic one that works, you will be rich overnight. Until then, quit using so much energy trying to find a “lazy person’s ” diet and just live with reality for a few months. Once you get in the habit of exercising, it will become natural for you and you’ll be able to eat without having to worry too much about gaining weight.

Are you ready? Still here? Ok, here we go.

Step 1:

You need to determine your Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR). Your BMR is a calculation that tells you the number of calories you would burn every day if you did absolutely nothing but sat in a recliner watching TV or even just didn’t bother to even get up in the morning. In order to determine this number, you can simply visit a bmr calculator site by entering the term “bmr calculator” into a search engine. This should direct you to a site where you can enter the appropriate information and it will calculate your BMR for you.

Once you have calculated your BMR it will be easy to figure out exactly how many calories you will need to take in every day in order to maintain your current weight.

Now, wouldn’t it make sense that if you want to reduce your current weight instead of maintaining it, you would need to decrease the number of calories you consume each day? Ok, this is what you do. Just take the number that you got for your BMR and reduce it by 15% to 20%.

For example, let’s say your BMR is 2550. Now multiply 2550 by 0.15 which = 382.50 (just round it off to 383). Then take 255 and multiply it by 0.20 which = 510.

Now, take 2550 and subtract 383, which = 2167. Again, take 2550 and subtract 510 = 2040. So, your 15% to 20% range is 2040 to 2167. Now, plan your meals so that you eat no more than 2040 to 2167 calories per day. If you do this, you WILL lose weight. Guaranteed.

Step 2:

If you eat the right foods, in addition to reducing the amount that you eat, you’ll lose weight. That’s a promise. You see, when you go on a diet you are probably going to actually lose quite a bit of muscle in addition to the fat loss.

In order to minimize this muscle losing effect, one needs to consume more protein and consume less calories. If you lose muscle tissue your body fat percentage will have to be reduced in order that your body appears as thin as a person who actually holds on to their muscle tissue. Also, when the body loses muscle, it causes the body to reduce its metabolic rate which, in turn, slows the calorie burning way down.

The proper formula for protein to body weight is for every pound of body weight, you should take in at least one gram of protein to prevent muscle wasting.

Step 3:

After protein, the two remaining nutrients are fat and carbohydrates. Keep the two of them balanced. Keep in mind that although you hear so much about going “low carb,” the healthy thing to do is not to overdo the carbs and don’t completely avoid fats either.

Fat is an important nutrient and if balanced, both fats and carbohydrate nutrients are maintained appropriately and they keep the body healthy. What you do want to reduce though is “saturated fats” and “trans fats.” As far as carbs go, avoid all refined sugars and glycemic index carbs.

Forget anything that contains high fructose corn syrup or bleached wheat flour. The artificial sweeteners, though tasty, are not your friend because even though they aren’t real sugars, they do affect the body’s insulin levels. If possible one should avoid any processed foods by preparing and eating fresh foods at home and try to stay away from fast food restaurants as they tend to load up their foods with ultra-processed ingredients and LOTS of refined sugar products.

Step 4:

Everyone should take a multi-vitamin (MV) and not just any MV. They should make sure that the MV contains all the essential natural ingredients and then some. Do some research. Many of the over-the-counter supplements are lacking in the very best nutrients. Use only the best vitamins.

On the subject of minerals, keep this in mind: without plenty of minerals, vitamins are useless so if you’re going to go to the expense of taking high value vitamins, be sure that they include essential minerals as well. Most MVs don’t include much in the way of minerals. Good minerals mean that those great MV supplements will absorb appropriately.

Also, your body does not produce its own essential fatty acids. You have to get those through supplementation. Walnuts, flax seeds and its oils and salmon are the best natural sources of these nutrients. If you get them fresh, your way ahead of the game.

Step 5:

Forget the old “three meals a day” routine and start dividing your meals into 5 or 6 meals every day. Don’t gorge yourself each time, just eat small meals and allow your body the time to both digest and use up and burn the amount that you have already taken in. If you keep this steady rate going, you’ll never get exceptionally hungry and your calorie “burn” will continue throughout the day.

If you do chance to eat things like red pepper, cinnamon or ginger on your meals, you’ll keep the body burning calories for longer periods of time.

Step 6:

Sorry, but you’re just going to have to get active. Period. We’re talking about a minimum of 30 minutes per day of exercise. What kind of exercise, you ask? Well, that would depend on the weight you’re carrying and your general overall health status. Start out with just walking for half an hour every day…that’s not a whole lot. Then either increase your length of time to 60 minutes a day or increase your walking to a light jog.

Another method might be to walk for two minutes and light jog for two minutes for half an hour. Whatever type of exercise you use, get a nice mixture of aerobic and anaerobic exercise. By aerobic, we mean the kind of exercise you get when you either walk or job.

Anaerobic exercise means the kind of exercise where resistance training, such as weight lifting, is involved. If you will do this for just 30 minutes a day, you will see tremendous results, starting in just a week or so. Just keep it up. Make exercise a habit and you’ll never have to worry about eating too much.

Check your BMR about every two or three months. It will change and you can change either your exercise routine or your consumption habits as an adjustment to what it tells you. Challenge yourself a little! Don’t eat more than your BMR allows. Keep that minus 15% to minus 20% intake in mind at all times.

Here’s a nice thing you can do for yourself: on one day every week, eat whatever you want. Anything, just don’t overdo it. Stay within your calorie intake parameters and don’t get back into bad habits. Use this one day as your reward day. Reward yourself for all your hard work.

Hang in! You’ve got to hang in there and keep this up. Make a statement. Show the world that you’re the kind of person who is strong enough to care about yourself and stick with it. Make an example of yourself for others. There are no secrets to weight loss and there are no miracle diets that are going to make you thin. You’re just going to have to have the willpower to do it yourself. Quit wasting your time looking for miracles and cure-alls.

Give yourself time. Don’t think that you’re going to do this all in two weeks. That’s not going to happen. You’re going to do it if you’ll just make up your mind and ignore anything negative that says you can’t. YES, you can. That’s a promise!

Things To Remember

You should not reduce your calorie intake excessively. Do not cut your calorie intake below 80% of your metabolic rate. This can cause a loss of metabolism due to muscle loss. It’s difficult enough to reduce your intake amount so trying too hard will cause self-discouragement. Don’t overdo it.

On your day of rest (the day you eat anything you want) don’t get ridiculous. Control yourself and avoid eating too much of anything. Eat the “things” you like but keep the size of the portions under control.

Please, whatever you do, do not buy into the diet drugs fad. Remember that these products are drugs, not nutrients. They are NOT good for you. They can become a bit addicting and there’s the possibility they may be very dangerous for you. You never know.

One last thing for you to remember: carbohydrates are the first and by far most frequently used form of nutrient to be stored as a fat. You can reduce the amount of carbohydrates to enhance your weight loss but if you begin to feel like you’re slowing down or getting sluggish, this could mean that you need to increase your carbohydrate intake somewhat. Again, don’t overdo it but make yourself comfortable, otherwise you won’t have the energy to work out and we don’t want you to use that excuse now, do we?.

Now, go out there and lose that weight the right way. Forget about the fad diets and the diet pills and do it right. This way you should live a long and healthy life without the constant diet searching. It’s your life, what are you going to do with it? Spend all your time worrying about how you look or change your lifestyle a bit and continually look great? Your choice.

Gary Vaughn is a Master RN with many valuable years of experience. Researching and writing about health care and dieting products is his specialty. His website can be located at
Repair My Weight Loss.com