How to get started in healthy living — part 3B

Improving your diet and increasing healthy activity

Eating a nutritious, balanced diet is perhaps the lynchpin of healthy living. Not only does it keep all your body systems working efficiently, it also provides energy, protects your heart, helps prevent and fight off disease, maintains a healthy body weight, contributes to healthy skin, hair and nails and even influences mood.

Exercise for a healthy life

Despite myriad campaigns and initiatives, we still aren’t getting out and about nearly often enough to benefit our health. The average person in the UK watches 26 hours of television per week! The latest statistics show that 56 per cent of men and 70 per cent of women aged 16 to 54 fail to reach the recommended levels of physical activity for health benefits. No wonder obesity is such a problem in this country ... But we remain sedentary at our peril: regular physical activity has been shown to reduce the risk of a number of chronic diseases including cardiovascular disease and Type 2 diabetes — as well as the risk of premature death.

Take action

• Stop and think before you make a journey. Could you walk it or bike it instead of driving? If it will take under 15 minutes to get there, then the answer is yes!
• Be more aware of how you use your body. Bend your knees when you pick up heavy objects, sit at your desk properly and try to keep your stomach pulled in and shoulders back and down.
• Find a fitness goal that you can work towards. It could be something as simple as being able to walk up all seven flights of stairs at work, or entering a charity fun run.  
• Think of a sport or fitness activity you loved as a child — perhaps netball or judo, cross country running or ballet — and find somewhere that you can give it a go again. It may rekindle your enthusiasm …
• Avoid labor-saving devices in and outside the home — like the remote control, the food processor, the elevators and escalators, the shopping home delivery service — even the ‘no-scrub’ bathroom cleaning fluid!
• Invest in a pedometer (they are not expensive) and monitor your steps for a full day. The goal is to reach 10,000 steps per day, but if you are like most people, your total may be closer to half of that. Aim to build up by 200 steps per day. 

Drink more fluids

Many of us spend a lot of time in a state of ‘hypo’ hydration. We’re not officially dehydrated but just slightly under-hydrated. This can make you feel sluggish, impair mental function and increase the risk of constipation. It also doesn’t do wonders for your complexion. Experts recommend that we consume 1ml of fluid for every calorie we take in — which means that the average UK woman needs around 2l, the average man needs 2.5l of fluid per day. Happily, at least a third of this comes from the moisture in the foods we eat — but it is still important to ensure you drink fluids regularly throughout the day (it doesn’t have to be water — though water is a calorie-free, sugar-free, additive-free choice). If you exercise, then starting at a level of hypohydration practically guarantees that you won’t perform to the best of your ability — so be especially vigilant if you are active.

Take action

• Keep a bottle of water handy — on your desk, in your bag or in the car — you’ll be surprised how often you take a sip from it.
• Drink a cup of water for every cup of tea or coffee you drink.
• Swap sugary carbonated drinks for sparkling water. Don’t drink too many diet drinks — the acid in them is harmful to teeth and there is still controversy over the safety of the artificial sweeteners they contain.
• Swap at least some of your caffeinated beverages for decaffeinated ones. Caffeine is a diuretic, meaning it makes the body shed water. ‘Water-processed’ decaffeinated coffee is free from chemicals and much tastier.
• If you are exercising for more than 45 minutes, consider drinking an isotonic sports drink instead of water.
• Monitor the color of your urine. If you are adequately hydrated, it should be the color of pale straw. Dark urine, infrequently passed, is a sure sign of dehydration.

Alcohol consumption

Excess drinking has become so much part of our culture that many of us barely notice we are doing it — but health practitioners certainly are – with worrying increases in alcohol related diseases from cirrhosis of the liver to heart problems, stroke, obesity, some cancers and alcohol-related accidents. Stick to the recommended amounts and you can enjoy alcohol without harming your health (there’s some evidence that consuming modest amounts of alcohol is actually healthier than being teetotal) – but unfortunately, many of us are overdoing it. A survey by the Royal College of Physicians found that one in five women aged 25 to 44 had ‘binged’ (defined as consuming more than six units in one session) at least once in the previous week while in 2001, the Chief Medical Officer’s report stated that liver cirrhosis had increased seven-fold in the last 30 years in women aged 35 to 44 and eight-fold in men of the same age group.

Take action

Know your units. The maximum recommended amount is four units per day for men (but no more than 21 per week) and three units per day for women (but no more than 14 units per week), necessitating at least two alcohol-free days per week. Keep a ‘drink diary’ to find out how much you are really drinking on a weekly basis.

• Find a glass at home and mark on it with tippex or nail varnish the amount that constitutes a unit of your usual favourite tipple. For beer drinkers, that’s half a pint, for wine drinkers, 125ml and for spirit drinkers, 25ml constitutes a single unit.
• When you’ve finished an alcoholic drink, fill the glass with water and don’t drink another one until you’ve finished the water.
• Don’t get involved in ‘rounds’. You often end up drinking just because it’s been bought for you, even though you already feel you’ve had enough.
• Don’t drink alcohol when you are thirsty. Make your first drink a large soft one, otherwise you will gulp it down too quickly.
• Don’t drink on an empty stomach — either drink with food or eat before you go out.
• http://www.realbuzz.com/articles/how-to-get-started-in-healthy-living-part-3/

The benefits of vitamin D

Are you getting enough vitamin D?

A heated debate seems to revolve around the benefits of vitamin D and the best ways of getting your required daily dosage. Most well known are the benefits of vitamin D for maintaining healthy bones — but did you know that vitamin D can even play a role in preventing everything from schizophrenia to cancer?

Here, we give you the lowdown on the sources of vitamin D and how much of the vitamin you should get.

Where do we get vitamin D?

The main source of vitamin D is sunlight. Vitamin D is called the 'sunshine vitamin' because it is formed in the skin through exposure to ultraviolet rays from the sun. It is estimated that throughout the seasons, around 15 minutes exposure to the sun a few days a week is enough to provide the required amount of vitamin D. You can also get vitamin D through your diet — the main food sources being eggs, liver, milk and other dairy products, in addition to oily fishsuch as sardines, tuna and salmon.

So, getting out in the sunshine is now good for you? We’ve all heard the warnings about the dangers of exposing the skin to sunlight and the risks of skin cancer, and yet we are also being told that some sun exposure can be good for us and can even help fight cancer. Feeling confused? Then keep reading!

So what should you do?

Firstly, don’t get overexcited, as being told that sunlight is good for you does not give you the green light to peel off your clothes and do without sunblock in order to get hours of unprotected exposure to the sun! The risk of skin cancer from the sun is real, and so you should only stay in the sun for as long as is safe and necessary. Fair-skinned people only need around 15 minutes of direct sunlight to produce enough vitamin D to last for several days (although people with darker skin may need more exposure). And it’s not suggested that this exposure to the sun has to be every day; instead, a few short exposures a week is considered to be plenty. These exposures could be fitted into your day-to-day activities — for example, try walking in the sun at every given opportunity or even driving with the windows rolled down. It’s not hard to get your sun exposure if you try to fit it around your daily routine.

But what about those times when the sun is too weak to stimulate vitamin D production? And what about those of us that leave for work before light, spend all day inside and arrive home in the dark? Well, it’s difficult to get your recommended daily amount of vitamin D from food alone, but one way to ensure you get the recommended dosage would be to have a tablespoon of cod liver oil, which would provide you with 1,360IUs (International Units — which are the standard measurement of vitamins). The upper limit for vitamin D is 2,000IUs daily — so one tablespoon of cod liver oil every day should be enough. But if you don’t want to do this, then a vitamin D supplement is an acceptable alternative.

What about light therapy?

Some people turn to light therapy in the dark periods of the year, when they are affected by the so-called ‘winter blues’ of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). The problems of feeling tired and listless associated with SAD are often caused by a lack of light — and while light boxes don’t help to generate vitamin D production (as they do not emit ultraviolet radiation), light stimulation can reduce the effects of SAD. A daily session with a light box can help people feel happier and more alert, and also much more able to concentrate better and be more productive. Of course, full sunlight is the preferred option, as it also brings the added benefit of vitamin D production.

How much vitamin D is too much?

There is a legitimate risk of skin cancer when trying to get vitamin D from sunlight, and overexposure to the sun is certainly not what is being recommended by the experts. What is generally suggested is exposing the hands, face, arms and legs to the sun for around 15 minutes a day a few days a week. This will be enough to generate the required amount of vitamin D without increasing your risk of skin cancer. Longer exposure to the sun than this will mean you’re getting too much vitamin D.

The effects of too much vitamin D

Getting too much vitamin D has been associated with nausea, vomiting, poor appetite, constipation, weakness, and weight loss. It could also cause long-term damage to your liver and kidneys. But don’t worry: consuming too much vitamin D through diet alone is not likely unless you routinely consume large amounts of cod liver oil or you are loading up on too many vitamin D supplements. So, you will just need to monitor how long you stay in the sun!

http://www.realbuzz.com/articles/the-benefits-of-vitamin-d/

The benefits of vitamin D

Are you getting enough vitamin D?

A heated debate seems to revolve around the benefits of vitamin D and the best ways of getting your required daily dosage. Most well known are the benefits of vitamin D for maintaining healthy bones — but did you know that vitamin D can even play a role in preventing everything from schizophrenia to cancer?

Here, we give you the lowdown on the sources of vitamin D and how much of the vitamin you should get.

Where do we get vitamin D?

The main source of vitamin D is sunlight. Vitamin D is called the 'sunshine vitamin' because it is formed in the skin through exposure to ultraviolet rays from the sun. It is estimated that throughout the seasons, around 15 minutes exposure to the sun a few days a week is enough to provide the required amount of vitamin D. You can also get vitamin D through your diet — the main food sources being eggs, liver, milk and other dairy products, in addition to oily fishsuch as sardines, tuna and salmon.

So, getting out in the sunshine is now good for you? We’ve all heard the warnings about the dangers of exposing the skin to sunlight and the risks of skin cancer, and yet we are also being told that some sun exposure can be good for us and can even help fight cancer. Feeling confused? Then keep reading!

So what should you do?

Firstly, don’t get overexcited, as being told that sunlight is good for you does not give you the green light to peel off your clothes and do without sunblock in order to get hours of unprotected exposure to the sun! The risk of skin cancer from the sun is real, and so you should only stay in the sun for as long as is safe and necessary. Fair-skinned people only need around 15 minutes of direct sunlight to produce enough vitamin D to last for several days (although people with darker skin may need more exposure). And it’s not suggested that this exposure to the sun has to be every day; instead, a few short exposures a week is considered to be plenty. These exposures could be fitted into your day-to-day activities — for example, try walking in the sun at every given opportunity or even driving with the windows rolled down. It’s not hard to get your sun exposure if you try to fit it around your daily routine.

But what about those times when the sun is too weak to stimulate vitamin D production? And what about those of us that leave for work before light, spend all day inside and arrive home in the dark? Well, it’s difficult to get your recommended daily amount of vitamin D from food alone, but one way to ensure you get the recommended dosage would be to have a tablespoon of cod liver oil, which would provide you with 1,360IUs (International Units — which are the standard measurement of vitamins). The upper limit for vitamin D is 2,000IUs daily — so one tablespoon of cod liver oil every day should be enough. But if you don’t want to do this, then a vitamin D supplement is an acceptable alternative.

What about light therapy?

Some people turn to light therapy in the dark periods of the year, when they are affected by the so-called ‘winter blues’ of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). The problems of feeling tired and listless associated with SAD are often caused by a lack of light — and while light boxes don’t help to generate vitamin D production (as they do not emit ultraviolet radiation), light stimulation can reduce the effects of SAD. A daily session with a light box can help people feel happier and more alert, and also much more able to concentrate better and be more productive. Of course, full sunlight is the preferred option, as it also brings the added benefit of vitamin D production.

How much vitamin D is too much?

There is a legitimate risk of skin cancer when trying to get vitamin D from sunlight, and overexposure to the sun is certainly not what is being recommended by the experts. What is generally suggested is exposing the hands, face, arms and legs to the sun for around 15 minutes a day a few days a week. This will be enough to generate the required amount of vitamin D without increasing your risk of skin cancer. Longer exposure to the sun than this will mean you’re getting too much vitamin D.

The effects of too much vitamin D

Getting too much vitamin D has been associated with nausea, vomiting, poor appetite, constipation, weakness, and weight loss. It could also cause long-term damage to your liver and kidneys. But don’t worry: consuming too much vitamin D through diet alone is not likely unless you routinely consume large amounts of cod liver oil or you are loading up on too many vitamin D supplements. So, you will just need to monitor how long you stay in the sun!

http://www.realbuzz.com/articles/the-benefits-of-vitamin-d/

The Health Benefits of Drinking Tea

A number of scientific researchers have been investigating the possible health benefits contained within the hot drink. And now it appears there’s a growing body of evidence to suggest that drinking tea could actually ward off some very serious conditions, including cancer, obesity and dehydration.
Studies have suggested that drinking three or more cups of tea a day could actually be better for you than drinking the same amount of water, with the antioxidants contained within tea boosting the body’s health, at the same time as rehydrating it.

The main health benefits of tea drinking ...

Here are some of the key health benefits that scientists reckon tea drinking can have on the body:

• Tea reduces the risk of heart disease — Tea can potentially improve the blood flow around the body, by widening key arteries and reducing the risk of clots. Tea also contains antioxidants called ‘flavonoids’, which may slow down the onset and risk of heart disease.

• Tea hydrates the body — Although water is the prime fluid for rehydrating the body after exercise or a long day in the office, some scientists believe that drinking tea could be equally useful. Although high in caffeine, tea is still great for hydration as it provides a rich and flavorsome source of water.

• Tea prevents tooth decay — Believe it or not, a regular supply of tea can really strengthen your teeth and lower the risk of tooth decay. Tea is a great source of fluoride, which can bolster tooth enamel. The antioxidants contained within a cuppa have also been known to fight against bacteria and gum disease. So get slurping!

• Slimming through tea drinking? — Some scientific studies have suggested that regular tea drinking can help to keep body fat down by speeding up the burning of calories. If nothing else, it’s less fattening than sipping on a soft drink ...

• Boosting memory power with tea — Many scientists believe that certain types of tea, such as green tea, can strengthen memory cells in the brain, and offer protection from the development of dementia and even Alzheimer’s Disease. No wonder old people drink so much tea ...

• Beating cancer through the power of tea — Some high-profile studies have recently suggested that tea drinking could seriously help your chances of avoiding cancer. Although research is still developing in this area, reports indicate that prostate, mouth and breast cancer cases are much lower amongst those who regularly drink five or more cups of tea a day.

Types of healthy tea

With so many potential health benefits, there’s never been a better time to put the kettle on. But which form of tea is the most beneficial to you? Is that large cup of creamy, sugary black tea really going to help your body feel better? Let’s find out ...

• Green tea — In addition to the numerous health benefits mentioned above, green tea has also been found to boost the performance of the liver, and prevent arthritis by strengthening bones. However, to get the most benefit from your green tea drinking, try and brew it from loose leaves rather than the tea bag. It’ll add flavor, and allow more antioxidants to be released into your cup!

• Black tea — Whilst green tea often grabs the headlines, black tea also possesses many of the health bonuses mentioned above. Offering a strong source of antioxidants, it is great for preventing viruses in the mouth and gums and has also been known to widen impaired arteries by as much as 50 per cent, preventing blood clots.

• Wu long (or oolong) tea — This Chinese tea is said to be the best for burning off calories, as well as boosting the body’s immune system. Unlike green tea, wu long tastes sweet instead of grassy. It therefore offers a much more welcoming taste, in addition to its myriad body benefits.

So don’t be ‘tea-total’ ... Brew up a healthy cuppa today and you’ll be feeling tea-rrific in no time!

https://uk.lifestyle.yahoo.com/health-benefits-drinking-tea-133231527.html

Green Vegetables Packed Full of Benefits for Nutrition

Whilst I encourage people to have a rainbow of colors on their plate, greens should dominate. Why?

The color green is actually associated with life, vitality and renewal. Greens are essential for ensuring certain cells in your skin as well as your gut function properly. Green leafy vegetables are among the most nutrient dense foods available.

An example of a green leafy vegetables list is:

Spinach
Swiss chard
Kale
Mustard leaves
Collard
Buk choy
Radicchio
Rocket
Lettuce
Watercress
Wheatgrass
Even your non-leafy green vegetables are packed full of nutrients and vitamins.

An example of a non-leafy green vegetables list is:

Asparagus
Broccoli
Celery
Beans
Okra
Peas
Brussels sprouts
Artichokes
Cucumber
At the end of the day regardless of whether you opt for green leafy vegetables or non-leafy green vegetables, they are both still great for you. One of my absolute favorite green vegetables is - spinach.

In the words of Popeye, "I'm strong to the finish when I eats me spinach." This is so true. I have spinach in salads, with my eggs for breakfast, in juices and smoothies. There are many more ways you can get the goodness of greens into you. You just need to find what suits you, and especially those of you who have children!

My young nieces weren't a huge fan of having greens when they were little. So I involved them by getting them to help me make my Green Power Smoothie. Adding some sweet fruits to the mix is great for kids as that's what they love - something sweet! So not only did they have fun, they had some greens to get the essential nutrition.

Greens are high in Iron, Magnesium, Calcium, Potassium, Phosphorous, Zinc, vitamins A, C, E, K, Folate, Chlorophyll, enzymes and many other phyto-chemicals or plant nutrients.

Greens really bring so much to the table to help support your inner ecosystem. Green vegetables benefits are vast. They have been shown to:

Boost immune function
Provide steady energy
Promote healthy intestinal flora
Improve liver, kidney and gallbladder function
Help reduce inflammation
Keep disease away
Help clear congestion
Purify the blood
Improve circulation
According to a study published in the International Journal of Cancer, researchers found that increasing intakes of green leafy vegetables were associated with a 41% decrease risk of skin cancer. The study also showed that people who previously had skin cancer had a 55% decrease in skin cancer by increasing their intakes of green leafy vegetables.

Disease flourishes in an acidic body. The ability to alkalize our body is one of the most powerful and important ways of interrupting carcinogenic incubations. Green leafy vegetables have that ability as they alkalize the body. That alone should have you piling the greens on your plate.



http://ezinearticles.com/?Green-Vegetables-Packed-Full-of-Benefits-for-Nutrition&id=8773856

Raw Food Promises Longevity

Do you ever wonder what the cliché, "An apple a day keeps the doctor away" really means? According to book aficionados, the phrase came from a Welsh folk proverb dated 1866 that means eating an apple before bedtime will keep the doctor from earning his money.

The writer of that phrase was not just referring to apple per se, but to all kinds of fruits because these are beneficial to the body, especially when eaten raw.

Fruits help our bodies flush out toxins. This is why vitamins have a fruit base.

Best Eaten Raw

Doctors specializing in end-stage cancer and other terminal diseases recommend eating raw food over cooked food, as the former will helps the body resist cancer cells. In fact, they would classify food cooked at high temperature as dead food that feeds the body's bad bacteria and nourishes its cancer cells.

Moreover, surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation will not improve the health condition of a cancer patient who refuses to eat healthy food according to specialists.

The only way to destroy the bad bacteria that nurtures cancer cells is by opting for organic food that did not undergo multilevel food preservation methods, which are designed to destroy the microorganisms of a food product including its good bacteria that aides the body in fighting diseases.

A survey of 10 women with breast cancer reveals that three of them decided to change their diet to fruits and vegetables, and after three months with no meat and just raw fruit and vegetable recipes, their disease vanished.

According to three successful women who almost succumbed to cancer, their macrobiotic diet helped them beat the cancer cells. While a macrobiotic diet only constitutes of fruits and vegetables, one of them heeded the advice of her doctor to include raw beef liver and pork pancreas in her daily menu. She was the first to be cleared of the disease.

Natural Cure for Cancer

Actress and thigh trainer Suzanne Somers is another breast cancer survivor who opted out of chemotherapy in favor of the natural healing process. She grew vegetables in her backyard and had them every day apart from Iscador, an extract from mistletoe, and just like that, her breast cancer was gone.

It is not wrong to have faith in modern medicine, but even the best doctors advise their patients to match their radiation and chemotherapy sessions with a healthy diet. They added that bromelain and pexoxidase, which are enzymes found in pineapple, are among the best nutrients that can kill cancer. Broccoli, on the other hand, is rich in phytonutrients that prevent prostate cancer.

Meanwhile, strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries are rich in ellagic acid that reduces the risk of heart and liver diseases.

Take your fruit whole or extract its juice. No matter what your preference is, just make it a point to include a fruit in your daily diet to keep cancer and other deadly diseases away.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Raw-Food-Promises-Longevity&id=8665538

The Health Benefits of Drinking Tea

A number of scientific researchers have been investigating the possible health benefits contained within the hot drink. And now it appears there’s a growing body of evidence to suggest that drinking tea could actually ward off some very serious conditions, including cancer, obesity and dehydration.
Studies have suggested that drinking three or more cups of tea a day could actually be better for you than drinking the same amount of water, with the antioxidants contained within tea boosting the body’s health, at the same time as rehydrating it.

The main health benefits of tea drinking ...

Here are some of the key health benefits that scientists reckon tea drinking can have on the body:

• Tea reduces the risk of heart disease — Tea can potentially improve the blood flow around the body, by widening key arteries and reducing the risk of clots. Tea also contains antioxidants called ‘flavonoids’, which may slow down the onset and risk of heart disease.

• Tea hydrates the body — Although water is the prime fluid for rehydrating the body after exercise or a long day in the office, some scientists believe that drinking tea could be equally useful. Although high in caffeine, tea is still great for hydration as it provides a rich and flavorsome source of water.

• Tea prevents tooth decay — Believe it or not, a regular supply of tea can really strengthen your teeth and lower the risk of tooth decay. Tea is a great source of fluoride, which can bolster tooth enamel. The antioxidants contained within a cuppa have also been known to fight against bacteria and gum disease. So get slurping!

• Slimming through tea drinking? — Some scientific studies have suggested that regular tea drinking can help to keep body fat down by speeding up the burning of calories. If nothing else, it’s less fattening than sipping on a soft drink ...

• Boosting memory power with tea — Many scientists believe that certain types of tea, such as green tea, can strengthen memory cells in the brain, and offer protection from the development of dementia and even Alzheimer’s Disease. No wonder old people drink so much tea ...

• Beating cancer through the power of tea — Some high-profile studies have recently suggested that tea drinking could seriously help your chances of avoiding cancer. Although research is still developing in this area, reports indicate that prostate, mouth and breast cancer cases are much lower amongst those who regularly drink five or more cups of tea a day.

Types of healthy tea

With so many potential health benefits, there’s never been a better time to put the kettle on. But which form of tea is the most beneficial to you? Is that large cup of creamy, sugary black tea really going to help your body feel better? Let’s find out ...

• Green tea — In addition to the numerous health benefits mentioned above, green tea has also been found to boost the performance of the liver, and prevent arthritis by strengthening bones. However, to get the most benefit from your green tea drinking, try and brew it from loose leaves rather than the tea bag. It’ll add flavor, and allow more antioxidants to be released into your cup!

• Black tea — Whilst green tea often grabs the headlines, black tea also possesses many of the health bonuses mentioned above. Offering a strong source of antioxidants, it is great for preventing viruses in the mouth and gums and has also been known to widen impaired arteries by as much as 50 per cent, preventing blood clots.

• Wu long (or oolong) tea — This Chinese tea is said to be the best for burning off calories, as well as boosting the body’s immune system. Unlike green tea, wu long tastes sweet instead of grassy. It therefore offers a much more welcoming taste, in addition to its myriad body benefits.

So don’t be ‘tea-total’ ... Brew up a healthy cuppa today and you’ll be feeling tea-rrific in no time!

https://uk.lifestyle.yahoo.com/health-benefits-drinking-tea-133231527.html

11 Ingredients That Make You Lose Weight

Who knew weight loss could be as easy as adding eleven items to your shopping list?

Start cooking with these fat-destroying ingredients, and you’ll be losing weight before you know it.Special spices can speed your metabolism (RealBuzz)

Saffron

Saffron is a versatile spice that should be in every cook’s arsenal for its taste alone, but it could also help you with dropping those unwanted pounds. Saffron contains a compound that increases your body’s production of the ‘happy hormone’ serotonin, which also helps to regulate your appetite and make you feel full for longer.

Dark chocolate 

Sweet tooths rejoice – chocolate can help you lose weight. Natural dark chocolate was investigated in a study published in the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry, and its high levels of antioxidants were found to lessen the build up of fat cells. There’s a couple of caveats of course – the chocolate needs to be dark, and contain no added sugar for the fat-blasting properties to work.

Fennel

Because of its unique taste that is often compared to licorice, fennel can help to do away with your cravings for sweet and unhealthy foods. Fennel seeds are great as well because they are a potent carminative, which means they regulate the expulsion of gas from your intestines and reduce bloating.

Cinnamon

A recent study published in Diabetes Care found that one of the best ways to balance blood sugar levels and lose weight is to opt for a dash of cinnamon. In the research, cinnamon was shown to improve response levels to insulin in the liver, which led to improved blood sugar balance and increased weight loss.Coconut: The oil of all goodness (REX)

Coconut oil

Coconut oil is a fantastic weight loss tool because of its high levels of SMCFAs and MCFAs – short and medium-chain fatty acids. MCFAs in particular are easily digested, which means when they’re broken down in your liver they give you an instant energy boost and increase your metabolism. As an added bonus, the most abundant of these MCFAs, lauric acid, has been linked with a strengthened immune system and increased disease resistance.

White kidney beans

If you can’t stop wolfing down carbs, add some white kidney beans to your next meal. White kidney beans contain a natural enzyme inhibitor that helps to level out the blood sugar spikes caused by carbohydrate consumption. A study published in Obesity found that this lead to 74% of participants losing weight and maintaining their new weight for at least 6 months.

Green coffee beans

Before they go through the roasting process, coffee beans are known as ‘green’. Because of their high levels of chlorogenic acid (which is mostly burned away if the beans are roasted), green coffee beans were found to accelerate weight loss in a study at the University of Scranton, where the average participant lost 8kg and saw a 16% reduction in body fat. The taste isn’t anything to write home about, so you can also consider mixing green coffee bean extract with regular black coffee to enjoy the same benefits.

Vinegar

Slow things down the next time you eat by splashing some vinegar on your food. Swedish researchers discovered that when participants ate food with vinegar on their satiety levels were higher than those who ate plain food. It’s thought that the acetic acid in vinegar actually increases the amount of time it takes your food to move from your stomach to your intestine, so you’ll still feel full well after your meal.

Hemp seeds 

Perfect sprinkled onto a salad or mixed into sauces, hemp seeds are a fantastic weight loss tool according to a study published in the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry. That comes as no surprise when you consider hemp seeds are packed with protein and fibre to keep you feeling full, and have a slightly sweet taste to dull your cravings. Indian spice turmeric has also been linked to cancer-fighting (REX)

Turmeric

New research carried out at Tufts University claims that turmeric is useful for far more than spicing up curries. The study discovered that curcumin, one of the key compounds in turmeric, can speed up your metabolism and decrease body fat percentage. It’s thought that this is because curcumin stimulates the enzymes needed for fat oxidation.

Grapefruit

Say hello to the perfect weight loss appetiser. When eaten before meals, grapefruit was found to lead to 0.5kg of weight loss every week in a Californian study. Grapefruit is such a strong fat burner because it contains a compound that regulates insulin levels and prevents fat storage.

https://uk.lifestyle.yahoo.com/11-ingredients-make-lose-weight-080020286.html

Can Obesity Lead to an Early Death

There are so many unhealthy habits that we can, unfortunately, pick-up all too easily. Drinking, smoking, and overeating can all be extremely dangerous to your health. What's really more unhealthy, lighting up a pack of cigarettes per day or packing on a few extra pounds? New research conducted by the National Cancer Institute in Maryland indicates that both may be equally as hazardous for your health. Just as cigarettes can shave years off of your life, obesity can do the same.
For a long time, being overweight was considered to be more of a cosmetic or vanity issue opposed to an actual health concern. This was until researchers started discovering that fat cells were not cells that did absolutely nothing. Instead, these fat cells were performing actual functions throughout the body. More specifically, fat cells were releasing hormones that were interfering with the body's immune system. These hormones were harming the body's ability to fight off foreign invaders -- including cancer cells.
The negatives of packing on extra pounds don't stop at the body's immune system. Obesity is also associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke, diabetes, high blood pressure, osteoarthritis, sleep apnea, reproductive problems, gallstone and more.
Scientists calculated the number of years lost from a person's life from morbid obesity. This was calculated based on BMI or basal metabolic index. For instance, an individual with a BMI between 40 and 44.9 has the potential to lose 6.5 years from their life. A BMI of 45 to 49.9 has the potential to lose 8.9 years from their life. Individuals with a BMI of 50 to 54.9 could potentially lose 9.8 years of life. For those with a BMI of 55 to 55.9, the potential loss of years can range from 10 to 13.7 years.
Researchers also uncovered that men who were extremely obese had a higher death rate than women who were extremely obese. (856 deaths compared to 663 in deaths per 100,000 per year). Comparing this to those with a normal BMI, there were only 347 deaths in men and 281 deaths in women. Researchers have found these findings to be quite significant when it comes to obesity and loss of life.

What's the Solution to Our Obesity Problem?
It is important to remember that this is not the only study that demonstrates a correlation between certain unhealthy habits and early death rates. It seems people are ignoring the dangers of obesity. The one thing that this study did not consider is that other causes of disease and death that traditional medicine is not taking into consideration.
Some believe that one of the reasons for such prevalence when it comes to obesity is major changes to our food supply. Medical doctor William Davis, who is a cardiologist and author of the bestseller, Wheat Belly, indicates that genetically modified wheat ends up causing an addiction-like substances that are active in the brain. This is related to the desire to continuously eat more and more wheat. This does have the potential to contribute to morbid obesity; especially since the glycemic index of wheat is high and the food contributes to higher than usual release of insulin each time wheat is consumed. This release of excess insulin has the potential to cause diabetes.
What Can You Do to Help Keep Obesity Away?
The answer may just be as simple as take care of yourself. Regular exercise and a healthy diet can help to keep you at a healthy weight. Receiving routine medical care can also help to prevent and detect disease.
To stay on top of the latest changes occurring in society, consult your chiropractor. Your chiropractor has an extensive background in a wide-variety of health-related concerns. Your chiropractor likely attends regular conferences and continuing education to help them stay on top of all the latest issues that may affect your health; including obesity. Your chiropractor will be happy to share information with you and develop a plan so that you are leading a healthy lifestyle.
http://ezinearticles.com/?Can-Obesity-Lead-to-an-Early-Death&id=8675663

The Ingredient for Weight Loss

While there are tons of different diets out there, filling up on fiber is perhaps the healthiest and most successful way to shed the pounds. A groundbreaking study at Harvard showed the importance of fiber as it relates to weight loss. The study, which spanned over 12 years, showed that the women who increased their fiber instead of decreasing it, were half as likely to become obese. Simply adding fiber to their diet changed everything for their health. Not only will fiber help you lose weight, fiber also helps to prevent nasty illnesses like heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. (via Fitness Magazine)
What is fiber anyways? Fiber is found in all plants, but not meat or dairy. Fiber helps you to feel full for longer as it keeps blood sugar levels stable, keeping those cravings to a minimum. It is important that women get at least 25 grams of fiber per day in the form of both soluble and insoluble fiber. Soluble fiber dissolves in water and is responsible for lowering cholesterol, maintaining a healthy colon, and preventing digestive problems such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome and diarrhea. When mixed with water in the body, soluble fiber becomes a sticky gel-like substance that healthily slows the digestion of food. (via Dietitians of Canada) Be sure to add these soluble fiber foods to your diet:

• oatmeal
• lentils
• apples
• strawberries
• nuts
• flaxseeds
• beans
• blueberries
• psyllium
• carrots

Insoluble fibers can be described as the “roughage” of the digestive tract. It adds bulk to the diet and has a laxative effect in the body, helping to prevent constipation. Insoluble fibers are found mostly in whole grains and vegetables. (via WebMD)

Add these high insoluble fiber foods to your grocery list:

• whole wheat bread
• seeds
• brown rice
• zucchini
• broccoli
• tomatoes
• dark leafy vegetables
• raisins
• fruit
• root vegetable skins

The awareness that fiber is essential for weight loss is becoming better known, and big companies that produce processed foods are picking up on it,but beware. Many companies are creating “faux fibers” that are synthetically made in a laboratory or highly processed. They add this faux fiber to their products as a ploy to lure in consumers. This fiber does not have the same beneficial qualities as fiber found in plant based foods. So if you’re looking to up your fiber intake, it is best to stick to real, whole foods. (via Prevention)
http://www.skinnymom.com/2014/07/28/the-1-ingredient-for-weight-loss/