Fat Loss And Core Strength - Start With Trunk And Legs

March 31, 2009 by Dan Solaris  
Filed under Weight Loss

Life as we know it these days has become more complicated and this has made our list of daily ‘to dos’ longer. Indeed, the tight schedule most of us keep each day prevents us from maintaining a healthy lifestyle and this is evidenced by recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that says 66% adults in the U.S. are overweight.

The food industry’s successful production of fast gastronomic fare that more often than not fills-up our system with empty calories isn’t making things easier on our bellies either. Buckets of greasy chicken and calorie-loaded shakes are available to us round the clock and they’re taking their toll on our figures.

Since we’re living in a democracy and our government can’t really dictate what stores and restaurants serve, it’s quite obvious that the only way to curb effects of high-calorie dining is through regular exercise. Adopting a regular workout routine even for 30 minutes a day can get us in shape as well as reduce the stresses of the day.

Contrary to traditional weight loss beliefs, daily workout sessions don’t have to last for an hour or two. What’s really important is burning enough calories to create a deficit, meaning using-up more energy than we get from the food we eat each day.

Our body packs on the pounds when we regularly consume more calories than we need for our daily activities. Those ugly love handles are filled with stored energy in the form of fat tissue and the only way to get rid of it is by creating a calorie deficit each day.

Experts discovered that high intensity interval training (a combination of 2 types of cardio exercises) consume the most energy in less time. Since we also have to increase our body’s metabolism and cannot rely solely on cardio exercises for sustainable fat loss, modifying our muscle-building routines to maximize calorie-burn is also a good technique for achieving rapid fat loss.

Involving the most number of muscle groups in a workout will multiply the amount of calories used up and doing core exercises that strengthen the trunk and legs is perfect for that. When the upper and lower abs, the lumbar, oblique and leg muscles are working together, such as lifting weights while trying to balance on the uneven surface of a Bosu ball, you can bet you’re using-up way more energy than if you were on a flat surface.

There are several ways to engage our base muscles and speed-up fat-loss in our workouts. Standing on one foot, while doing curls and presses, or using a Swiss ball as a platform in abdominal exercises will result in instability. The effort made by the core muscles in keeping the body steady results in a more intense workout, a more stable base and ultimately speedier fat loss.

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Look Out! Another Acai Berry Scam!

March 31, 2009 by Caitlin Ryan  
Filed under Weight Loss

Not another one! I was really troubled by the news that there are more supplement scams! Greedy supplement companies are tarnishing the reputation of the beautiful acai berry in a similar manner to the wu yi tea scam.

Given economical troubles, none of us can afford to be scammed by acai berry companies or any other supplement company; however, we all need to do the best we can to be proactive about our health and avoid costly doctor appointments. The acai berry supplements are highly beneficial, so how can we avoid being scammed and still benefit from this Amazon fruit? You need to be informed!

The acai berry scam works similarly to the wu yi tea scam. A person is lured in by a free trial offer with only shipping charges to be charged to their credit card. Who does not want something for free? Of course, it is not and the person has just signed up for an auto shipment program!

Next, they receive charges on their credit card for acai berry supplements that have yet to arrive. Some of the acai berry scams are not even shipping anything, just charging for more supplements!

The biggest problem arrives when the person tries to call and cancel the auto shipments and receive a reimbursement. Often times, they are placed on hold forever only to be told that they will not receive a credit unless they send back the free acai berry trial. There is little they can do and many report that the acai berry companies continue to charge their credit card until the customer gives up and cancels their credit card.

A rule of thumb would be to avoid free trials; however, there may be some free trial companies who are honest and who really do want to prove their product to you through a free trial. So, how do you tell the difference?

Make sure you do two things: Read all the fine print and call the company to verify that you will not be receiving any future charges past the shipping charges. Make sure you get the name of the acai berry representative when you call.

If there is no phone number, or if you are put on hold for a lengthy time to get a simple answer, the company is more than likely fraudulent!

Until the scam has run its course, stick with reputable sites such as Amazon or sites that have been backed by the Better Business Bureau or another reputable consumer agency. What you do not want to do is miss out on acai berry supplements to improve your health!

Antioxidants are very important for preventing disease and acai berries are loaded with them and other highly beneficial nutrients such as essential amino acids and omega 3 fatty acids.

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Fast Abs Workout - Round Surfaces Melt Bellies

March 30, 2009 by Dan Solaris  
Filed under Weight Loss

The hugely successful food industries in North America and Western Europe have caused approximately 65% of their populations to become overweight, statistics show. Efficiency in food production- especially in meats and sweets has made it difficult for most people to maintain healthy eating habits.

With all the activities we have to do in our daily schedule- go to the office, browse the net and socialize, it’s no wonder a lot of people have given-up exercising regularly. This combination of lack of exercise and over indulgence in food will of course yield dangerous results and the cases of obesity and heart disease are on the upsurge.

A lot of those that manage to find time to squeeze in exercise programs into their hectic daily schedules eventually get bored and stop after a few months. Reason for this is loss of motivation that comes about from inadequate workouts and insignificant results.

Most people hit the gym to lose weight and get a six-pack. A fast abs workout that effectively tones-up the midsection in a short time will solve issues of boredom and keep people motivated and exercising continuously.

To speed-up the effects of working-out and see something come out of your fat-loss efforts in a shorter amount of time, modified exercises that isolate the core muscles should be done. A program that develops core strength together with body-fat busting cardio exercises is the key to fast abs and a lean physique.

The muscles around or midsection make up our core. These include the muscles in the lumbar area as well as those on the side of our waists and of course, the upper and lower abdomen. Most people make the mistake of doing conventional ab isolation exercises thinking it’s enough. Neglecting the other core muscles, especially those in the lumbar region can actually lead to back pain.

A faster abs workout that can give you a stronger core in less time can be attained through the use of tools like a Swiss ball or a Bosu ball. Both of these have round surfaces which when used as support for the body when executing abdominal or other resistance exercises will force the core muscles to work harder. The effort of trying to keep steady while working out on an unstable surface means more calories burned and improved core strength faster.

The amount of calories burned while doing abdominal exercises on an exercise ball or other round surface is increased significantly compared to doing sit-ups and crunches flat on one’s back. Studies show that more muscle fibers are engaged in activity when a person is lying on a round surface. The wider range of motion means more calories spent and hence a faster abs workout.

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Berry found To Have Cancer Fighting Compound

March 29, 2009 by Natasha King  
Filed under Acai Berry

The acai berry extract triggered a self-destruct response where in 86 percent of the cases it destroyed leukemia cells where this information was originally printed and published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.

A abundant source of antioxidants which fight and prevent harmful toxins from entering the body can be found in the acai berry. This research has strengthened the hypothesis that adding an acai berry extract can be very beneficial to the human body.

An very important thing to note here is that this study did not intend to demonstrate that the elements found in the acai berry can prevent leukemia in humans.

This study was never intended to raise any false hopes that the acai berry is a cure for leukemia. The results are still very positive however. The human body has shown promising results with compounds that have been tested under the cell-culture model.

Other fruits have proven similar results in killing cancer cells like mangoes, grapes and guavas. Scientist are still unsure what role antioxidants play in fighting cancer cells as there are other factors that come into play as well.

Acai berries is are perishable and must be eaten immediately after picking. The process to preserve acai berries have only been available for about five years, so researchers in many parts of the world have had little or no opportunity to study them.

Acai berrys are produced by a palm tree known scientifically as Euterpe oleracea, common in floodplain areas of the Amazon River. When the berry is ripe, it is purple and about the size of a grape. It’s contained in a thin layer of an edible pulp surrounding a large seed.

Historically, Brazilians have used acai berries to treat digestive disorders and skin conditions. Acai berry can help in reducing weight, lowering cholesterol and gaining more energy.

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Studies Show Brain Loss Reverses with Acai Berry

March 28, 2009 by Dr. Jerimiah Crossderd  
Filed under Acai Berry

In an innovative study that is sure to initiate further research, matured laboratory rats that consumed a diet loaded in the acai berry compound pterostilbene performed superior than those in the collection of animals that did not eat the enriched acai berry diet.

The compound has proved to reverse harmful aging patterns associated with brain functions and behavioral performance.

The tests were separated into two sections to determine if pterostilbene would be effective in reversing the age of elderly rats.

The first part of the study dealt with testing seven different compounds in a cell culture where they determined that pterostilbene was the most effective in hindering oxidative stress.

additionally, they began to prepare a diet to feed the mature rats that had the following criteria: a controlled diet that would comp[rise of either a small dose or large dose of pterostilbene.

The results were that the mature rats who had high doses of pterostilbene were successful in turning back aging symptoms such as a decline in cognitive skills as well as improved memory skills that were all linked to the compound pterostilbene.

The research is just the latest in a series of test that is looking into various associations to nutrition and declining brain functions.

On top of acai berry, there are additional berry compounds showing parallel potential- this will continue to be examined in further animal and cell studies at a latter time.

There are no governmental standards on how to consume acai berry extracts-Like vitamin C, it should be consumed in small amounts.

The study was published recently in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.

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Cranberry Juice: An Anti-Aging Drink?

March 28, 2009 by Borgon Trocepticlon  
Filed under Diet

Cranberries are small red fruits from the berry family and usually a low-growing vine. These small fruits have organic acids that cause its acidic properties responsible for the disruption of bacterial membranes. Vitamin C is also found in cranberries, making them good for the immune system. Aside from that, they also contain some fibers necessary for digestion. Studies have shown that cranberry juice can bring a lot of benefits to the body, especially in preventing diseases.

Mouth problems, specifically gum problems can be remedied by drinking cranberry juice. Usually, bacteria that thrive in the mouth are eliminated by the acidic environment brought about by drinking cranberry juice. This prevents formation of cavities that cause infections in the mouth. Dentists often include the drinking of cranberry juice in the health teachings that they provide to their patients.

Having a good skin is one of the concerns of women. And this is what cranberry juice can provide them. A woman who is in her middle adulthood may already be experiencing some major changes in her physical appearance such as wrinkles. However, by drinking cranberry juice, you can actually maintain skin that will look young and soft. Cranberry juice eliminates the free radicals in the body that causes cells to be damaged or dead. Cranberries also promote rejuvenation by replacing the old cells with new cells.

The most common benefit that cranberry juice brings is the treatment of urinary tract infections. You often hear your doctors advising you to drink cranberry juice because it helps in preventing bacterial infections in the urinary tract. Urinary tract infections are common among women because they have a shorter urinary tract compared to men. Urinary tract infections cause painful urination. A patient with a urinary tract infection may also experience fever, pain in the lower portion of the abdomen, and even bleeding episodes.

The main reason why cranberry juice is effective is that it eliminates bacteria that cause the infection in the urinary tract. Since cranberry juice is acidic, it has the ability to destroy the membranes of bacteria which kills them. Aside from that, cranberry juice is also known to prevent infections in the kidney and bladder.

You may have heard of foods that are helpful in preventing cancer. These foods are said to have anti-oxidants which suppress the growth of cancer cells. Among these foods is the cranberry juice that has photochemical with an anti-oxidant effect. This also aids in preventing various heart diseases because it helps in fat emulsification.

Vitamin C is necessary to boost the immune system. Cranberry juice contains certain amounts of Vitamin C that can prevent the incidence of respiratory ailments such as cough and colds, especially among children and elders. Doctors often suggest that one to three glasses of cranberry juice per day are enough to prevent certain diseases. Children are also advised to drink this juice during meal time.

These are only some of the advantages of drinking cranberry juice. With all the good effects that it has to bring, it will not cause any harm if you try to make it as a routine drink. Make it a habit and you’ll surely have a healthy life ahead.

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The Benefits of Whey Protein

March 28, 2009 by Corona  
Filed under Diet

A GLANCE AT WHEY PROTEIN:

A by-product of cheese created from cows milk, whey protein is an incredible protein source. Whey has the highest BV (biological value) of any protein source. A high BV means that it’s absorbed and put to use by our body’s in a very quick and efficient manner. Whey protein contains an incredible 18 different amino acids, including all of the essential aminos. This fact makes whey one of the best sources of amino acids.

Not all whey protein is the same. There are three main types of whey:

-Whey Concentrate: Not the most effective form, with a low percentage of protein by weight (29-89%). The remainder is mostly carbohydrates from lactose, with low levels of fat and cholesterol.

-Whey Isolate: Most of the fats and lactose are removed to form whey isolate. After processing, there’s around 90% or more protein by weight. Whey isolate is, in my opinion, the best form to use as a supplement.

-Hydrolyzed Whey: Partially digested (chemically), This type of whey is typically the more expensive type. The benefit to the cost, is easier digestion. The other forms of whey, are slower to digest than hydrolyzed whey. Other than cost, one downside is taste. Hydrolyzed whey tends to have a less desirable taste than the other two forms of whey.

BENEFITS OF WHEY:

With there being so many benefits to whey protein, I will have to give you a summary rathere than a paragraph for each.

Physical Performance: -Amazing combination of amino acids that assist in improving athletic performance and body composition.

-Great source of leucine, an essential amino acid. Leucine is key in promoting muscle protein synthesis.

-Increases levels of glutathione, an antioxidant that is required for a healthy immune system.

-High levels of Branched Chain Amino Acids (BCAA’s). combined with carbohydrates following resistance training, increases insulin output by 221%. This is extremely important in protein synthesis.

-Easy to digest and gentle on the digestive system.

-BCAA’s and other aminos promote better wound healing through protein synthesis.

Weight Management:

-Protein requires more energy to digest, resulting in more calories being burnt after a high protein meal.

-Whey isolate is nearly pure, with little to no fats or carbohydrates. A great compliment to low glycemic index diets.

-Leucine preserves lean mass while promoting fat loss.

-Protein helps stabilize blood glucose levels, reducing hunger.

BCAA’s:

Whey protein contains high levels of Branched Chain Amino Acids (BCAA’s). BCAAs make up about one third of skeletal muscle in humans, and play a very important role in protein synthesis. It has been shown that BCAA supplementation, along with carbohydrate consumption following resistance training, increases insulin output by 221%. That means more macro-nutrients being pushed into your muscle cells, resulting in better recovery and hypertrophy.

MOST IMPORTANT TIMES TO TAKE WHEY:

Whey is an amazing protein source, but it’s not always the best form of protein. The times when whey will provide your body with the most benefit are whenever you need a quick absorbing form of protein (i.e. When you first wake up in the morning, or right after a workout.). You definitely do not want whey over some other forms of protein before bed. Just before going to sleep, you should drink a protein that will last throughout the night. Whey would be processed by your body in less than an hour, thereby starving your body while you sleep. Prior to sleep, your best bet is either casein (a slow digesting protein), or a combination of fast and slow digesting proteins. Just prior to a meal, is a great time to take whey.

IN SUMMARY:

Whey is best taken after any period of time that your body has used up or been starved of food/protein. By drinking whey, you will kick start your metabolism again. That will put a stop to any catabolism (when your body starts breaking itself down for protein as a source of energy) your body is experiencing.

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Choosing the Best Weight Loss Supplement

March 27, 2009 by Adrian Alexa  
Filed under Weight Loss

If youre planning to lose excess body weight and you have organized an exercise schedule with a healthy and balanced diet plan, you can complement this new lifestyle change by looking for a weight loss supplement that can help to meet your goal weight. Unfortunately, looking for the best weight loss supplement is not an easy task. Since there are hundreds of supplements for weight loss in the market, you can become overwhelmed by the choices you will face. In order to locate the best weight loss supplement for your condition, you need to distinguish your choices and understand how each affects your body. There are several kinds of supplements for weight loss, such as thermogenic or stimulant-free fat burners, carb or fat blockers, thyroid hormone increasers, appetite suppressants and cortisol products. By understanding how each kind of supplement works, you can find the best weight loss supplement based from your individual needs.

Understanding your Choices

If youre looking for the best weight loss supplement, you should never be contented with your friend or familys recommendations. This is because there is no single supplement that could work for all types of people. For an effective weight loss, you need to consider your health condition in buying supplements. One of the most popular weight loss supplements is thermogenic fat burners. These kinds of supplements have no ephedra, which can make a person jumpy or hyperactive. Ephedra-free weight loss supplements are best for people with heart problems or other medical conditions. Thermogenic fat burners work by increasing metabolism and burning fat.

However, if you want to avoid stimulants and caffeine, you should go for stimulant-free fat burners. Although results may vary, people who consume these supplements lose an average of 5 to 10 pounds. On your journey of looking for the best weight loss supplement, you will likely be faced with carb or fat blockers. Carb blockers are usually used alongside a balanced diet, exercise and other fat-burning products. On the other hand, fat blockers work similarly to carb blockers ” binding fats in the digestive system, trapping unwanted fats to avoid fat build-ups.

Thyroid hormone increasers are the best weight loss supplement for people who are overweight due to thyroid problems. They work by regulating the thyroid to increase its performance and replace thyroid that your body normally produces. People who are usually stressed with work, academics or other factors can benefit from cortisol products that prevent bad eating patterns when you experience stress.

The best weight loss supplement will largely depend on your personal needs, lifestyle, age and sex, health condition and other factors. However, without regular exercise and a healthy diet, these supplements will not work effectively.

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information About Diet Pills|6 ways For You In Finding The Right Diet Pills

March 27, 2009 by Tanya  
Filed under Weight Loss

Do you genuinely want to shed some weight off yourself? Are u being addressed an obese or heavy in the terminology of medical community? Are prescription diet pills the response for your situation? In the following article we will try and get out the response of these doubts and also some facts about prescription medicine slimming pills. There a different prescriptions that physician prescribes on an every day basis. Some of them are stimulants that rev up your metamorphosis while some works as appetite suppressants. There are some prescription diet pills that work as both. slimming pills are very enchanting stuff if one wishes to thin, particularly if one had tried several other inevitable and conventional weight loss means to fall back that extra weight from your body but didn’t bring in any success. There are hundreds of diet pills brands and slimming products unrestricted in the market today.

Each diet pill has its own method of action. Some diet pills suppressed the appetite making you take in smaller amount of food. Other type hurries body metabolism taking to swifter burning off of calories. There are also those which inhibit the absorption of fats. These several activities will lead to the same objective of loosing weight, you can pick out what is acceptable and more homelike for you.

Some diet pills use Citrus aurantium (CA) and green tea extract (GTE). CA, also known as Bitter Orange, comes from manadarin orange peels off, seville orange juice, and reliable types of potatoes. Some of its important live components, synephrine, acts similar to ephedrine in the body. Scientists have said that combining synephrine, caffeine and other substances discovered in weight-loss products, can head to high blood pressure, heart attacks, and strokes. To The Highest Degree health professionals agree that the hazards of synephrine far outweigh any likely weight loss profits. GTE is ephedra-free. Recent reports have found that it may represent a purpose in excitant thermogenesis (fat burning) and raising calorie consumption. GTE carries catechins, which increase norepinephrine degrees in the brain and develop the body for “fight or flight.” In high doses, GTE and caffeine may consequence in heart shakinesses, insomnia, and other negative results.

One particular variety of diet pills - Fat binders are also known as fat magnets. They involve to be fit to lower cholesterol and contribute to weight loss. These products commonly contain chitosan. It is derived from chitin, a polysaccharide encountered in the exoskeletons of shrimp, lobster, and crabs. Chitosan is supposed to cause weight loss by cover fats in the stomach and forbidding them from being digested and drawn. Although chitosan can diminish fat absorption, the amount in fat burners is too small to have much consequence on cholesterol levels. Your doctor can dictate a number of drugs which can actually lower cholesterol. Both the British Advertising Standards Authority and the FDA have gained suits against advertisers of chitosan. As a result, advertisers must make pure in future that the product had not been proved to aid losing weight or keep weight addition.

Most diet pill companies are engaged in intensive searches in trying to discover or invent one genuine solution to the problems of overweight and obesity. They have worked intensively on amphetamine-type diet pills, now they are exploring on diet pills that work in the brain to suppress appetite, or in the intestines to inhibit the amount of fat and calories digested. So the day is not very far when people will be free of over weightedness.

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Words of Wisdom From Peoria

March 24, 2009 by Nate Rifkin  
Filed under Weight Loss

This morning I checked my email and an article caught my eye — one that had been forwarded by a member of my mailing list who lives in Peoria, Illinois. I had to laugh, even though I have never been anywhere near Peoria. The cause of my amusement was my memory of something one of my instructors from medical school used to say to one of my classmates way back when. “Bob, what will they think of this in Peoria?” Or, the alternate: “Bob, if you don’t watch out and start picking up speed, it’s quite possible you could end up with a practice in Peoria.

My instructor was a bit biased as to what cities were worth practicing in. In his mind, New York City and Boston were the only options, so Peoria certainly would have been out of the question.

I have a feeling that Bob knows that Peoria does actually have fully functional medical practices, and specialists as well.

For the first time ever, this year, the cardiologists from St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria held a Cardiology Cookout, which they are planning to hold each year from now on.

The cardiology staff members wanted to make a few points during this event: that cooking can be enjoyable and that food that tastes good does not have to be food that is unhealthy.

The event was a success, with over one hundred people attending. Each attendee was offered samples of heart-healthy foods to taste, and they given the opportunity to take home recipes that teach them how to prepare those healthy foods in their own kitchens or backyards.

To me, that idea is commendable.

The St. Francis cardiology staff had some excellent suggestions, and one in particular that I think is especially good.

People are always asking how many calories they should consume.

The way to figure that out is to multiply your weight by 15.

Say you weigh 170 pounds. You multiply that by 15, which equals 2550 calories. To maintain that weight, that’s how many calories you would consume daily.

For someone who wants to drop weight, they need to multiply their weight by 13 instead of 15. Using the 170 pound example, this totals 2210 calories. That equals a daily decrease of 340 calories. Two easy suggestions for dropping the daily calorie count: One, if you drink two sugar-filled sodas a day, make the change to plain tea, or water. This shaves off 220 calories right there. Two, try switching to mustard, instead of mayonnaise on your sandwich, and you will have pretty much taken care of the 340 calories that you are trying to take out of your daily diet. Follow those easy guidelines, and in one week you will have decreased your caloric intake by 2380, which pretty much equals a whole day of calorie consumption.

This doesn’t even take exercise into account.

Weight loss does occur without exercise, but doing both will speed up your success.

The St. Francis cardiology staff also advises taking fish oil supplements that contain omega 3 fatty acids. The best supplements are those that are made from fish that are low on the food chain, like sardines and anchovies. This way, there is less of a chance of contamination from environmental elements.

Now is something I know more than a little bit about, since I have an enteric-coated, pharmaceutical-grade essential fatty acid softgel of my own. The sofgels have the highest concentration of EPA/DHA that you can buy. The fish oil in the supplements comes from fish that live deep in the arctic waters of Norway, and are free of mercury, cholesterol, and PCBs. My softgels are exceptionally pure, meeting the high standards set both nationally and internationally.

A cardiologist from St. Francis, Kent Wise M.D. says, “We are not convinced that other supplements like vitamins E or C or folic acid actually have a positive impact on heart health.”

He goes on to say, “We are convinced that fish oil has an impact on lowering triglycerides, one of the detrimental fats found in the blood. Furthermore, some evidence has shown that fish oil can lower the risk of sudden death.

Additional advice:

Stay away from fast food (pack your own healthy lunch, instead).

Cut down on your salt consumption. This means avoiding foods like pretzels and chips and other packaged salty foods.

Eat plenty of fiber, including beans, barley, fruit and vegetables.

Whenever you can, visit your farmers’ market for fresh produce.

No matter if this advice comes from New York, Boston, or Peoria — it’s all good.

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