Sunday, April 17, 2011

The Best Diet to Control Your Cholesterol - A Study on the Low-Carb Diet

Although the best diet for controlling cholesterol is still up in the air, many contenders for the title have already popped up left and right. In this article, we will provide a brief review on the benefits of low-carb diet based on research and studies conducted by individual institutions.
In the study conducted by a group of researchers from Veronica Atkin's Foundation, where 322 participants were outsourced in an Israeli nuclear plant, it turns out that those participants who were put on a low-carb routine undergone more significant weight loss at an average of 10.3 pounds within two years. Those who participated in Mediterranean and low-fat diets only lost an average of 10 pounds and 6.5 pounds respectively.
On another study by Ronald Krauss and colleagues which was published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, they were able to come up with the same result. In comparison to other weight plans, low-carb achieved better weight loss and cholesterol reduction than other diets. Similar results were gathered in other independent studies.
So what do these scientifically-sound studies imply?
For one, these imply that low-carb plans are effective in controlling cholesterol levels in the body. This is true since diets low on carbohydrates allow for a drop in triglycerides--the stored body fat-that does not only reduce fat in the body but also decreases the chances of developing stroke or heart diseases. Another benefit of a diet that has minimal carbohydrate content is that the HDL or the so-called "good cholesterol" tends to increase under this condition, which is a good thing.
In terms of LDL or the bad cholesterol, however, studies have shown that this type of routine can also become instrumental in lessening the LDL level as well as in increasing the particle size of the cholesterol--Another plus factor on the part of the diet.
With these proofs at hand, it seems like low-carb plans in general are winning the battle for being the best plan to control cholesterol.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Faviano_Torres

Mediterranean Diet Foods

The remarkable health of the people from the Mediterranean region has always been a wonder to researchers. The people in the Mediterranean region are known to have a very active life style. Of course physical activities is essential for good health, but good health is based on food habits as well. In other words, the Mediterranean diet is a healthy diet rich in plant food; especially grains, cereals, vegetables, fruit, nuts, legumes and olives. All ensure good health with less chance to develop heart disease.
The Mediterranean diet includes all kinds of foods that are recommended on a normal, low to moderate basis. This method is explained on the traditional Mediterranean diet pyramid. The pyramid has classified various foods depending on their nutritional and lists whether a food is to be eaten daily, a few days a week or a few times a month.
The food consumed on a day-to-day basis contains cereals, vegetables, bread, beans, potatoes, leafy vegetables and other plant products. Interestingly, nuts rich in essential fatty acids, vitamins and minerals are also included in the daily diet. The diet does not encourage too much processing of food, as it can deprive the nutritious value of the food. For instance, over cooked vegetables are only good as roughage(it contains fibers), as it loses essential vitamins in the cooking process. The food is cooked, garnished or dressed in olive oil, a rich source of low saturated fat. It is consumed moderately and is known to play a vital role in preventing heart diseases.
Milk and milk products such as cheese and yogurt are consumed daily on a low to moderate amount. But butter, high in saturated fat is a total no-no in the Mediterranean diet's recommended food list. Wine is allowed daily on a moderate basis.
Food from animals especially chicken, eggs, and seafood are allowed weekly on the Mediterranean diet. For instance, eggs are consumed four days a week. But red meat, high in saturated fat, is a part of the diet only few times a month. The diet recommends veal and lamb to beef because the fat content is comparatively lower than in beef. The meat is cleaned of visible fat and is often roasted or grilled. Sweets and desserts are also a part of the weekly diet. The most preferred dessert is fruit.

2000 Calorie Diet Menu and Meal Plan

The 2000 calorie diet plan limits a person's daily intake of food to 2000 calories. This is almost close to the normal amount of calories a person consumes in a day. But the difference between a 2000 calorie diet plan and a normal everyday eating is that the 2000 calories from a diet plan come chiefly from fruits, vegetables, nuts and other nutritional food stuff rather than from foods that contain saturated fats. Following the 2000 calorie diet will keep you hale, healthy, energetic and brisk. With this 2000 calorie meal plan, your odds of reducing your weight and maintaining it at the desired level is more because you don't have to worry about adjusting calories and food stuffs after the weight is lost. Against normal conceptions, a healthy diet like this can also be very tasty and so sticking to the diet plan will not be a difficult task at all. Consequently all the pieces those are required to achieve a healthy weight loss and to maintain a perfect body shape fall into their places correctly with the 200 calorie diet plan.
Sample 2000 calorie diet plans:
In general terms, a 2000 calorie diet plan can be made up using two servings from the fruit group, seven servings from the grain group, eight servings from the vegetable group, three servings from the dairy group and eight servings from the meat and bean group. This comes to around six ounces of grains, two and a half cups of vegetables, two cups of fruits, five and half ounces of meat and beans, three cups of milk and six tea spoons full of oil. In a 2000 calorie meat plan, you should limit the sugar intake, avoid trans fats, eat lots of whole grains, limit the intake of saturated fats by consuming mono-unsaturated and poly-unsaturated fats. Moreover around 20% to 35% of your calorie intake per day should come from dairy products. Now we will have a look at two simple, tasty 2000 calorie diet plans which will give you an idea of how the actual diet must be framed.
Sample Diet 1:
Breakfast:
Two scrambled eggs, two slices of bacon, two slices of whole wheat grain toast, a single cup of skimmed milk and one serving of jam and preserves will make the ideal breakfast for a 2000 calorie diet plan.
Morning Snack:
The morning snack can be anything of your choice but the total calorie content of your morning snack should be around 100 calories.
Lunch:
You can dine on anything you like as long as the total calorie count for lunch comes around 450 calories. Three crunchy tacos would be an excellent choice for lunch.
Afternoon Snack:
Enjoy any dairy product for an afternoon snack. Low fat cottage cheese, low fat cheese and low fat yoghurt are a few suggestions. Just a keep an eye on the calorie content so that it does not exceed 110 calories.
Dinner:
Three ounces of steak (oven roasted, grilled or pan roasted), a small baked potato, margarine, half a cup of beans (baked), whole grain bread and a mixed salad made of lettuce or spinach with a little lemon, a table spoon of shredded cheese, a slice of tomato and cucumber and a 60 calorie salad dressing of your choice.
Bedtime Snack:
You can have a bedtime snack of a cup of skimmed milk blended with half a cup of strawberries.
Sample Diet 2:
Breakfast: (570 calories)
Omelet from three egg whites and one yolk with chopped onions and garlic, two slices of whole wheat bread with jam, natural fat-free yogurt and a small piece of fruit. This will make up the mouth watering breakfast for a 2000 calorie diet plan.
Lunch: (530 calories)
Lunch comprises of chicken pasta salad, four tablespoons of whole wheat pasta and fruit juice worth 90 calories.
Snack: (200 calories)
Two slices of malt loaf with a thin smear of butter.
Dinner: (800 calories)
Chili Con Carne, salad with light dressing, and one small low-fat fruit trifle.
Whatever the diet you follow make sure that you drink lots of fluids. Water is the best option to keep your body hydrated. You can also drink liberal amounts of green tea and other zero calorie beverages. Always say a strict no for alcohol, coke and even diet coke. Drinking a lot of calorie less fluids cleanses your body of all toxins and it keeps your body's metabolism ticking.
This 2000 calorie diet plan does not supply very low calories like other diet plans and hence are considerably trustworthy to follow. But it is always safe to consult with your doctor or dietician and tell them about your diet plans and get their approval of the same before you start with your diet. This will put your mind at ease as you will be sure that you are headed on the right path. Happy Dieting!
 

The Acai Berry Colon Cleanse Diet

The acai berry and colon cleanse diet have both been a hot commodity to many dieters. The high antioxidant content in the acai gives you a boost of energy to the body and helps the body burn unnecessary fats. The colon cleanser removes hardened fecal matter and harmful bacteria.
Many celebrities have featured the acai berry on their programs. Oprah Winfrey and her Dr. Oz have both explained the attributes of the acai berry. The studies by the University of Florida has proven that treatment with the product for twenty four hours can suppress cancer cells. Rachael Ray on the Food Network has also used it as a healthy way to diet.
As the acai berry cleans the system of waste, the colon cleanser will flush the intestines for an effective method to keep losing weight. I have found a few product review sites that have provided genuine feedback comments which have reflected a positive relationship with their provider.
Colon cleansing can be done in many ways, although not every method is safe or as effective. The few methods that provide a safe and effective result are quite simple. A daily regiment of the colon cleanser supplement will produce surprising results. The colon contains the most waste throughout the whole body, pounds and pounds of it. This waste needs to be dealt with for a healthy body and mind.
Each of these products will provide surprising results in a matter of days. With both the acai berry and colon cleanse diets fantastic results are achievable
Many testimonials from customers are positive and provide important feedback. A few customers have taken both the acai berry colon cleanse diet to increase their weight loss potential.
With both the acai berry and colon cleanser working simultaneously the body could instantly shed pounds of pure waste that's been building up inside your body for years!

Fatty Liver Diet Recipes - Will I Have To Give Up The Foods I Love If I Have Fatty Liver Disease?

Healthy fatty liver diet recipes do exist and the good news is you'll have plenty of variety to keep your taste buds from getting bored. The good thing about a diet plan for fatty liver is that it isn't much different from a highly nutritious, healthy diet for the average person.
In most cases, you won't have to completely give up the foods you love. You'll just have to be more conscious about how much you're eating, paying special attention to the amount of fat you're consuming. More fat in your diet leads to more fat congestion in your liver. What you want is a nutritious, vitamin-rich and balanced diet where nothing is eaten in excess.
In her ebook, "The Fatty Liver Diet Guide", veteran liver nurse, Dorothy Spencer, offers up over 30 fatty liver friendly diet recipes. These range from simple appetizers like salmon spread to main courses such as Caribbean shrimp 'n peas. Even mouth-watering dessert recipes are included. Dorothy states, "The goal of this cookbook section is not to present you with gourmet dishes, but with healthful meals that fit within the dietary needs of a fatty liver patient."
So as you can see, there are plenty of fantastic foods you can enjoy while you work on reducing fat in your liver. However, as you create your daily meals, there are some important considerations you should keep in mind in regards to the foods you eat.
Your main goal will be to reduce excess fat consumption. Most medical professionals agree fat should make up no more than 30% of your overall daily caloric intake. This means if you're consuming 1500 calories per day, then no more than 450 of those calories should come from fat.
9 calories is equivalent to 1 gram of fat, so to put it in easier to measure terms, you shouldn't consume more than 50 grams of fat for a 1500 calorie diet. A 1200 to 1500 calorie diet will help you lose weight while reducing fat in the liver.
Here are some additional tips to keep in mind:
  • Go for brown rice and whole grains instead of white rice or white bread.
  • Opt for pasta instead of egg noodles.
  • If you don't want to give up sweets, then opt for pies over cakes. Try to avoid things like doughnuts, cookies, and other high-fat sweets.
  • Focus on foods high in complex carbohydrates and avoid foods rich in simple carbohydrates like candy.
  • Substitute 2% and whole milk with 1% or skim milk.
  • Go for saturated fats over unsaturated fats, but consume all fats sparingly.
  • Avoid high fat salad dressings and other condiments. Seek out low-fat and non-fat alternatives.
  • Choose lean white meats (chicken, turkey, fish) over dark meats (pork, beef). Cut all excess fat off meats before cooking or eating and try to avoid meats from high fat areas such as ribs and wings.
  • Include foods high in fiber and eat plenty of vegetables and fruits.
  • Avoid alcohol consumption and drink soda, high sugar fruit juices, and energy drinks sparingly.

The Truth About the Side-Effects of HCG Diet System


The HCG diet is the result of research and studies made by Dr. Simeons during the nineteen fifties. The efforts to control the eating activity and fat storage resulted in experimentation with HCG. HCG is an acronym for "Human Chorionic Gonadotropin", a protein hormone that is generated by pregnant females in early stage of pregnancy. The main function of this protein hormone is to supply nutrients to the fetus inside the womb. This hormone is applied for weight loss program and many dieters are going with this system.
Like other supplements and medicines, the HCG has many detractors. There are allegations that HCG injections can cause blood clots in our veins. Some people even claimed that blood pressure is also affected. These side effects are not proven medically. The only danger about injection is caused by a little pain of needle. There are some side effects from the injections and therefore you are required to be supervised by doctor. These negative side effects can be avoided if you are very careful.
The safer technique to perform the HCG diet is by the oral HCG drops. The HCG drops is very safe and can be taken with minimum supervision of your doctor. With the oral drops method, you can simply put 15 drops of HCG liquid under your tongue. You must perform this for 30 seconds and 20 minutes before eating. This method is very safe and you can't feel any pain.
The HCG drops is very effective in helping people to drop their extra weights and they achieved the result in a short period of time. The overweight people have great interest on the HCG diet drops because they discovered that they are more convenient with HCG diet system. The method is very easy, dieters can take it by dropping it under the tongue and shortly it dissolved into the blood. Dieters feel no pain with HCG sub-lingual drops.
The dieters must remember that before going with this weight loss program, they must consult their doctors or dietitians. This move must be made seriously and the dieters must follow the advice of their doctor.

Saturday, April 16, 2011

Medifast Diet Program - Does it Work?

The purpose of this article is to answer the question "is the Medifast diet a good diet for most people?". This will be achieved by sharing common experiences, opinions, and feelings about it. If you are considering this diet as a weight loss solution over the Christmas and New Year period, this article will help you make your decision.
The Medifast weight loss program places your body in a metabolic state called ketosis. This is when your body is deceived into turning on itself and burning its own fat reserves. That's the reason you eat so often on this diet. It keeps your metabolism regularly burning fat over a longer period of time than can be achieved on many of the fad diets.
The Medifast diet is an incredible way to lose weight and to keep the weight off for the long-term. Not only can it help you to drop the pounds, it also can help you if you are experiencing physical health problems such as diabetes. Diabetics regularly need to lose weight in order to preserve their health. However, since it is also essential to eat certain types of food because of the way your body creates insulin, it can be difficult to settle on the best way to lose weight.
This diet has a wide variety of comprehensive meal plans and an extremely helpful support structure. You are likely to find that losing weight with Medifast is much easier than any other diet you may have tried previously. If you're ready to finally get the weight off, be sure to read as much information in advance. Make sure to consult your physician before taking the plunge into better health for you and your family's future happiness.
The Medifast company points out that on it's popular 5 plus 1 plan it is common to lose two to five pounds per week. On the upper end, you may lose up to 20 pounds in 1 month. If you're on the very lower end, you may lose approx 8 pounds. Either way, these figures show that's you can achieve your goals with this diet. Most people would be very happy with these results. If you lost "only" eight pounds per month steadily, that would be 96 pounds in a years time, or 48 pounds in six months. For overweight and morbidly obese people, this is enormously life changing.
Are you still asking yourself the question "is the Medifast diet regime a good diet or not?". The answer is a definite yes. Medifast is the finest diet and weight loss system this author has seen in action, in terms of ease of use, convenience, and effectiveness. It has become a way of life now for so many people struggling daily with grind of being overweight or obese.
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