Low-Carb Diets: Are They The Best Way To Lose Weight?

Low-carb, starch-free, no bread – there’s a lot of hype around low carbohydrate diets following an investigation by ABC TV’s Catalyst program last week – but are they any good for weight loss? LiveLighter campaign manager and dietitian Alison Ginn takes a closer look.

 

Low carbohydrate diets often help you lose weight initially because they restrict the amount of energy (kilojoules) you eat. While following a low carb diet you’ll probably skip the office treats, reduce some meal sizes (because there is no bread, potato, rice or pasta) and possibly have fewer snacks, too.

But long term, a low-carb diet is pretty hard to maintain. All of the restriction can lead to binge eating. So while you may lose weight initially, there’s no reliable evidence to say it lasts.

Are they safe?

In a word, no. Carbohydrate foods break down into glucose (a simple sugar) after we eat them. Our body needs glucose to power the brain and many of our organs. 

There is variation across low carb diets in severity of carb restriction and total amount of food. Starchy foods may be replaced with either protein or fat. Fruit and milk may be permitted, limited or forbidden. 

While severe carbohydrate restriction can be dangerous, the main safety issue is missing essential nutrients when skipping an entire food group (or two or three if fruit and dairy are limited).

Apart from energy the other benefits of carbohydrate foods are

• Fibre: you will get some fibre from fruit and veg but wholegrain foods are the highest source.
• Antioxidants: from wholegrain foods and from a variety of colours of fruit and veg.
• Calcium: yoghurts and milk (dairy or fortified alternative) are some of the best sources of calcium in the western diet.

Complete nutritionally balanced meals reduce the need for frequent snacking which can lead to unintended overeating.

The consensus?

Instead of a low-carb diet include vegetables, fruit, wholegrains lean dairy and protein foods every day to help you lose weight and while ensuring you get all the nutrients you need to keep your body healthy.

How to eat a balanced diet
Balanced meals: Try to have some carbohydrates, vegetables and a protein food (such as lean meat, fish, eggs, tofu and low-fat dairy) with each meal. Eating a balanced meal every time you eat will ensure you get all the nutrients you need and help you feel fuller.
Livelighter.com.au has a meal and activity planner and many delicious recipes to help you achieve your goals.

Move more: Regular exercise will help you feel energised and shed those extra kilograms.

Eat less processed food: Though strict carbohydrate restriction is unnecessary, and even dangerous, it is beneficial to watch the amount of processed sugar you’re eating (and drinking) and also limit added fats. Pay attention to limiting sugary drinks, processed snacks and white starchy foods (opt for wholegrain). Eat more vegetables, fruit, wholegrain foods, low fat yoghurt, eggs, nuts and fish. Water is the best drink for your waist and your teeth. 

http://www.bodyandsoul.com.au/weight+loss/diets/low+carb+diets+are+they+the+best+way+to+lose+weightr,34411

8 Beet Benefits: Aphrodisiac, Brain Booster & More

Written by Randy Fritz from Real Food Life.com

A single serving of beets can boost your energy and lower your blood pressure. Eating beets long-term can help you fight cancer, reduce arthritic pain, and lose weight, as well as assisting in a number of other health areas.

Many people don’t like beets or consider it only a special occasion dish, but we think this powerfood should be on your plate every day.

8 Healthy Reasons to Eat Beets:

1.  Weight Loss
Beets taste sweet, but a cup of cooked beet contains only 60 calories and is full of fiber. This is a perfect food for weight management.

The sugars in beets are smart carbs, since they come in a natural whole food form.  Unlike white sugar, the beet calories come with a lot of nutrients and phytochemicals.

2.  Brain and Energy Boost
Beets are high in natural nitrates, which are converted to nitric oxide in the body. Nitric oxide is known to expand the walls of blood vessels so you can enjoy more oxygen, more nutrients, and more energy.

Studies have shown nitric oxide to increase the efficiency of the mitochondria (your energy powerhouses). The results of these studies were impressive.

• A single small serving (70 ml) of beetroot juice reduced resting blood pressure by 2%.
• A single small serving increased the length of time professional divers could hold their breath by 11%.
• Cyclists who drank a single larger serving (500 ml) of beetroot juice were able to ride up to 20% longer.

3.  Nature’s Viagra
One of the first known uses of beets was by the ancient Romans, who used them medicinally as an aphrodisiac. Many plants have been considered an aphrodisiac by some culture at some time, but in this case it may be more than just wishful thinking.

As noted above, beets can increase blood flow due to their nitrates. Increased blood flow to the genital areas is one of the mechanisms Viagra and other pharmaceuticals create their effects.  Beets also contain high amounts of boron, which is directly related to the production of human sex hormones.

4.  Super Antioxidant for a Long, Healthy, Pain-Free Life
Antioxidants help to reverse the daily accumulated wear and tear on the body, known as aging. Beets are a very good source of commonly known antioxidants like vitamin C and manganese, but it is their lesser-known antioxidants which give them their true value.

The blood-red color of beets comes from a powerful group of antioxidants called betalains. There are hundreds of studies on the positive health benefits of betalains.  A short summary of the results shows that they help in the areas of cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and inflammation. If you go to Google Scholar and type in ‘betalains,’ you will see 3790 scholarly references on this subject.

5.  Anti-Inflammatory Benefits
The inflammatory response is a natural function of the body which saves our lives when it responds to the acute stresses in our lives, like bacterial infection and injury. Due to the constant stress in our modern lives, however, this inflammation becomes chronic. It is as though our body is constantly in a battle. Inflammation has been linked to a number of symptoms and diseases including:

Wrinkles

Susceptibility to infections

Cancer

Arthritis

Bronchitis

Chronic pain

Diabetes

High blood pressure

Osteoporosis

Heart disease

Candidiasis

The blood-red betalains in beets have been shown to reduce chronic inflammation.

6.  Cancer Prevention
Preliminary tests suggest that beetroot ingestion can be one of the useful means to prevent lung and skin cancer. Other studies have shown that beet juice inhibits the formation of cancer-causing compounds called nitrosamines.

7.  Cell Detoxification and Cleansing
The antioxidants in beets have been shown to support what is called phase 2 cleansing.  In phase 2 cleansing, unwanted toxic substances are chemically combined with a small nutrient group. This combination neutralizes the toxin and makes them sufficiently water-soluble so they can be excreted through the urine.

This is therefore deep cleansing on a cellular level, that may have long term health benefits.

8.  Improved Mental Health
The betalains in beets has been used in certain treatments of depression. It also contains tryptophan, which relaxes the mind and creates a sense of well-being, similar to chocolate. Enjoy!

Concerns:
Beet greens are one of the many high-nutrient foods that contain measurable amounts of oxalates. Individuals with known or suspected kidney or gallbladder problems are recommended not to eat these high-oxalate foods. This is a much-disputed subject, however. (See Oxalic Acid Controversy.)

Some individuals are concerned when their urine and stool turn red after consumption.  This condition, called beeturia, is not considered harmful and occurs in 10-14% of the population. Individuals with iron metabolism problems are more likely to experience this situation.

Suggestions:

• Raw beetroot juice is one of the most powerful ways you can consume it. It is rather intense by itself, though, and tastes much better mixed with other vegetables. We have thus included a great juice mixture recipe below.
• The nutrients in beets are more susceptible to degradation from long cooking times than other foods, so if you are cooking it, the ideal time would be 15 minutes steaming, maximum.
• Beetroot tops and stems contain much of the same benefits as the root, but with the additional nutrients and phytochemicals associated with green leaf vegetables.

“For pink pee, eat a beet! Children are notorious for refusing to eat their fruits and vegetables, but what child can resist the allure of orange, pink, and even green pee?” — Pee Funny by Benjamin Picard

http://www.healthy-holistic-living.com/8-beet-benefits-aphrodisiac-brain-booster.html

9 Foods That Actually Help You Lose Weight

 

Source: body and soul 

         

Yes, we all know the whole healthy diet and exercise part of weight loss, but did you know there are certain foods out there that help you shed kilos? Whether they've got metabolism-boosting powers or even help you stay fuller for longer, these foods will help you on your quest to losing weight. 

        

1. Coconut oil

Coconut oil contains medium chain fatty acids (MCFA), which is a type of saturated fat that behaves differently from other fats. MCFA fats can be absorbed straight into the cell where it can immediately be burned up as energy, making it a fabulous energy source. Coconut oil is considered a thermogenic food that helps boost metabolism and increases fat burning. Adding coconut oil into the diet can also help to balance blood sugar levels, which is also beneficial for weight loss. Coconut oil is ideal to cook with, use in baked goods, protein balls or added to smoothies. 

 

2. Chilli

 

Adding chilli to meals can help speed up your metabolism too. Chillis are also packed with antioxidants and immune boosting vitamin C and beta-carotene. 

 

3. Maca

 

Maca is a root vegetable native to Peru, which has been used for thousands of years as a nutritious food staple. This Peruvian superfood works wonders for boosting energy levels and is popular with athletes to improve endurance. Maca contains plenty of B vitamins that are vital for energy production in the body. Maca can help give you that added energy you need to motivate you to exercise more, which will help you burn more fat and encourage weight loss. 

 

Source: body and soul

4. Ginger

 

Ginger is also a wonderful thermogenic food that also has the benefit of promoting healthy circulation, reduces inflammation in the body and supports healthy immune function. Add fresh ginger to veggie juices, curries, stir-fries and soups, or drink fresh ginger tea. 

 

5. Protein

 

Including healthy protein–rich foods with each meal and lowering your carbohydrate intake is beneficial for healthy weight loss. Having a higher protein diet is more thermogenic. Protein also keeps you full for longer and helps to keep blood sugar levels more balanced, which in turn helps prevent overeating and weight gain. Healthy protein-rich choices include raw nuts, seeds, fish, chicken, eggs, and legumes. 

 

Source: body and soul

6. Cinnamon

 

Adding some cinnamon to smoothies, warm drinks and porridge can help assist with weight loss. Not only can it help boost your metabolism and keep blood sugar levels balanced, it also improves circulation and is a very good source of antioxidants. 

 

7. Apple cider vinegar

 

Apple cider vinegar is another great thermogenic food that can help speed up your metabolism. It also helps boost digestion and improves the absorption of nutrients from foods eaten. 

 

Source: body and soul

8. Fibre

 

Consuming foods rich in fibre does wonders for helping you lose weight. Fibre gives you a sense of satiety after a meal so you are less likely to snack on unhealthy foods. Fibre-rich foods also have a lower GI. Eating low-GI foods is beneficial for helping keep blood sugar levels balanced and for weight loss. 

 

9. Green tea

 

Drinking a few cups of green tea a day has been found to be effective for assisting with weight loss. Green tea is rich in antioxidants, helps boost energy levels and can increase thermogenesis.

 

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/lifestyle/health/foods-that-actually-help-you-to-lose-weight/story-fnivsuep-1227110859608?nk=271a484b00af7104d86289aeb2842308

How Much Is Your Fad Diet Costing You?

In Australia, your average under-35-year-old spends around $105 per week on food and drinks — that might include a meal out and a few (too many) cheeky bevvies. According to the most recent data available from Australian Securities and Investments Commission's (ASIC) MoneySmart program, if you're sharing the cost with your significant other, you're looking at closer to $207 per week between the two of you.

But it seems like everyone has pledged allegiance to one of the change-your-life diet and nutrition plans signed, sealed and delivered by the grand high priestess of #cleaneating.
Anyone who's given the latest "healthy" diets a spin will tell you maintaining them can be as draining on your bank account as it is on your willpower, and there's sufficient evidence to suggest that a significant lifestyle change will see you fork out more than you normally would. Sure, we all want to look like Miranda Kerr, but can we really afford the $216.75 it costs to purchase all the ingredients we need to make her breakfast smoothie (above)?

Guidelines from the Australian Government's Department of Health recommend we consume 8700 kilojoules (2000 calories) daily to maintain a healthy diet, which averages out to around $15 per day for an individual twenty- or thirty-something Aussie.
We decided to see how the fads stack up, and if they're really worth the cost.

The Mediterranean Diet

Getty Images

Favouring fresh, seasonal produce, fish, grains and even a splash of vino, the heart-friendly and oh-so-exotic Mediterranean became a fast favourite among fad dieters. It counts Jennifer Garner, Elizabeth Hurley, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Heidi Klum among its devotees and, let's be real here, they all look pretty dang good.

While the "Mediterranean Diet" has been around for about 20 years, the Mediterranean diet has actually subsisted for millennia, with residents of Greece and its surrounds averaging six or more servings of antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables per day.

An average day will see you chowing-down on chickpea salads and chicken kabobs, and there are no real curve balls in terms of what you'll be adding to your grocery list — chances are, you'll just need more of it. Katherine Hobson of US News & World Report estimated the cost of the average Mediterranean diet at around $18 per person per day — which, for the cost of your morning coffee, is a small price to pay for good heart health, improved brain function and a longer life.

Clean Eating

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Let's be honest, you probably saw the hashtag before you knew what it was about. While its online incarnation has come to envelop everything there is to love about being healthy and #blessed, the diet itself works on the relatively simple principle of ditching the drive-through and processed fare in favour of leafy salads, raw vegetable smoothies and lean unprocessed meat.
 
Some online commentators have wondered if one needs a celebrity salary simply to eat clean — Kim Kardashian and our Nicole Kidman are among the diet's recruits — but it's not that bad. The team over at Clean Eating Recipes estimate that maintaining their diet (that is, eating three meals and a few snacks every day) would set you back anywhere between $80 and $100 per week, or a very reasonable $13 per person per day.

But you'll find that basic cost quickly creeps up as you incorporate the recommended organic meat and produce — recent analysis of supermarket prices by Suncorp Bank found that organic food is 79 percent more expensive than conventional produce, so you could be liable for up to $25 per person per day. What's more, significant servings of superfoods such as chia seeds, which clock in over $4 per 100g at Woolies or Coles, will also add to the cost. You could be forgiven for thinking chia seeds are actually made out of gold.

Paleo

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Oh, Paleo — everyone seems to have an opinion, but very few people seem to understand what the Paleo Diet is about. Also known as the "Caveman", "Stone-Age" or "Primal" Diet, the idea is that you'll unravel human evolution, arriving at a time before we invented the wheel. Paleo purists and "extensive scientific research" will tell you we should only be ingesting the fare our ancestors ate, which might mean you're eating steak and eggs for breakfast (no, really), soup for lunch, and meat-and-three veg for dinner.

Yep, you're about to become a meathead in every sense of the word. Lean game meats (like kangaroo) and offal like liver and tongue are encouraged, seafood and shellfish are your friend, while eggs, some fruit, nuts, seeds and certain oils all appear in varying quantities.

Estimates based on Dr Loren Cordain's The Paleo Diet and Paleo Diet Cookbook will see you fork out around $43 in "set up costs" — that is, purchasing staples you'll use in your daily food preparation on a daily basis — and you can expect to spend just over $130 per week, or $19 per person per day, on your groceries.

Meat, good. Cost, bad.

Author: Kristen Amiet. Approving editor: ..


http://lifestyle.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=8921705

8 Unknown Health Tips That Can Literally Save Your Life

“Prevention is better than cure.” This old idiom has been passed down from generation to generation. It’s always preferable to nip a health problem in the bud before it manifests in the body.

The Financial Cost of Treating Health Issues

Living a healthy life is just not confined to the body, the psychological health of people is equally important. The body must be treated as a whole entity to prevent future health problems from arising. There are many inexpensive options for the health conscious person who wants to cut down on future trips to a healthcare practitioner. Let’s examine some affordable options available that anyone can implement on a daily basis to ensure health and wellness. Preventative medicine is the future of health care.

“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” – Benjamin Franklin.

1. Avoid Refined Sugar

Today refined sugars can be found in almost all processed food and beverages. The following foods all contain refined sugars.

• carbonated beverages
• fruit juice
• donuts
• barbeque sauce
• cakes
• salad dressing
• pizza
• ketchup
• cereal

Western food is highly processed with refined sugar. A major reason for the high rate of diabetes and obesity is because of excess sugar intake. Refined sugar comes from cane sugar which grows prevalently in the Caribbean. Sugar is processed using sulfur dioxide. The bleaching process of raw sugar is known as “mill white”. The outer coating of the raw sugar is washed away leaving raw syrup. Phosphoric acid and calcium hydroxide are combined to precipitate calcium phosphate. The impurities are removed before the whitening process is filtered traditionally using bone char.

 

The filtering process leaves refined sugar devoid of any nutrients. Studies have shown excessive sugar intake has a detrimental effect on the brain leading to impaired cognitive function. Sugar is an empty refined starch that leaches vitamins and nutrients from the body. The process used to refine sugar is toxic to the human body and should be avoided if at all possible. Refined starches and empty calories have no business being in the human body.

2. Drink Alkaline Water

Reducing your alcohol intake is a no-brainer. Not only is alcohol bad for your liver but it changes the body’s pH level to acidic levels. The liver is the second largest organ in the body responsible for cleaning the blood. A healthy liver can break down alcohol when imbibed, however excess liver consumption will overload this vital organ. Fatty liver disease results in a buildup of fat in the liver cells. Another fatal disease is cirrhosis which can cause liver failure.

 

The first step in remedying liver damage is to eliminate alcohol immediately. The second step is a complete change of diet, this means drinking alkaline water and eating organic food that is not sprayed with pesticides. Reversing certain types of liver damage is possible with the aid of a healthcare or naturopathic practitioner. Choosing to shift to an alkaline diet that will not tax the liver and getting of certain pharmaceutical drugs that are toxic is also necessary.

3. Avoid or Reduce Dairy Consumption

Dairy can be found in most processed foods. For the lactose intolerant it can be difficult to avoid dairy products.

 

Dairy derived products:

• Butter
• Cheese a byproduct of milk
• Casein a milk phosphoprotein used as a binding agent in many processed foods
• Whey found in many protein supplements
• Mono diglycerides found in chocolate bars the by product of milk
• Recaldent a casein derivative found in dental products
• Lactose used in many processed foods

“The focus of natural health is to find the cause of disease not simply to just treat it. The body mind and soul must be treated as one. “- naturopath quote

4. Eat Organic Fruits and Vegetables

“An apple a day keeps the doctor away,” is the common phrase mentioned by great grandmothers. The antioxidants present in many fruits repair the damage to our cells. The antioxidant value of foods is expressed using the ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) value system. Old school wisdom was around long before modern medical science caught up. Antioxidants are the key to protecting our bodies from free radicals produced by the oxidation process.

 

Fruits have a cleansing and energizing effect on our health. Eating organic fruits and vegetables on a regular basis does the body good. Eating fruit early in the morning cleanses the body and the vegetables you eat during the day maintains your energy levels.

5. Bend That Spine

The flexibility of your spine is the key to retarding the aging process. Doing an entire series of Hatha Yoga or Ashtanga Series asanas is not necessary upon waking up in the morning. A few simple downward dogs, planks and uttanasana (standing forward bend pose) performed every morning and before going to bed will do wonders for your posture. The more flexible your spine is the better you will look and feel. Yoga and Pilates are the fountain of youth for people who don’t mind a quick workout in the mornings.

6. Go Herbal

The definition of a drug is any substance taken by the mouth, injected into the muscle, the skin or a cavity of the body to prevent a disease or condition. Drug induced liver toxicity is the leading cause of acute liver failure (ALF) according to the FDA.

 

Setting up a consultation with a naturopath can give you some options when it comes to reducing or eliminating certain pharmaceutical medications. A word of caution people who are currently taking medication should only see a naturopath after consulting with their healthcare practitioner first.

7. Detox

Just like you change the oil in your car every 3 months your body also needs to be detoxified of waste products and the pollution we face everyday. Detoxing by going on a temporary or permanent raw food diet while temporarily using certain herbs like dandelion root to cleanse the liver is just one of numerous ways people can cleanse the body.

8. Keep Your Teeth Healthy

You can keep your teeth healthy in a number of ways. The obvious one is simply brushing your teeth. But also teaching your child to floss properly is important. The time to start flossing your child’s teeth is when they first come in. Brushing alone can not remove all food particles in the mouth left over after a meal. The more teeth your child has the more crevices can be found where plaque can hide. Getting your child acclimatized to the idea of flossing sooner than later will prevent those painful trips to the dental office for fillings. To make this laborious action fun consider the purchase of an eco-friendly dental flosser made especially for children.

 

After flossing is complete you can appeal to your child’s taste buds with a Listerine Smart Rinse mouthwash. Kid’s Listerine mouthwash comes in berry and bubblegum flavours, providing up to 12 hours of dental protection. Remember keeping a dental health routine fun will pay off in dividends for your child’s future dental health.

 

Conclusion

There you have it a few economical ways to maintain your health that have been practiced by people worldwide.

http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/8-unknown-health-tips-can-literally-save-life/

Avocado Seeds- Superfoods For Your Health

You may find this fact a bit interesting, but it is so true and fascinating. Avocado seeds are packed full of nutrients that can provide several health benefits to the body. In fact, the seeds contain more antioxidants than the avocado fruity fleshes and most fruits, vegetables and healing teas do. The seeds, even have the ability to provide the body with more soluble fiber than any other food available to you at a whole food market, but the benefits do not stop there.

Top benefits of eating avocado seeds

• Avocado seeds contain nourishing oil that is rich in antioxidants. In fact, 70% of the antioxidants are found in the seed alone and the other 30% are actually in the flesh and skin. These potent antioxidants have the ability to lower high cholesterol levels and prevent several kinds of heart conditions such as heart disease and strokes.

• The super fruit’s seeds are also a great alternative for reducing inflammatory disease within the body, but works particularly well with easing swelling in the gastrointestinal tract.

• You can even use it to help ease diarrhea away and to prevent and relieve constipation naturally.

• Some find it soothing to gastric ulcer because the seed contains antioxidants in it known as phenolic compounds. These compounds contain antibacterial and anti-viral properties, which makes the seeds effective at preventing ulcers within the lining of the digestive system.

If you need another reason to add avocado seeds to your diet, this one may surprise you too.

• The seeds contain flavonol, which is an antioxidant that helps prevent and reduce tumor growths. If you suspect, you have a tumor growth, it is best to seek a doctor for proper medical treatment, but it is also important to add more flavonol rich food to your diet such as the seeds of the avocados.

• When you need to strengthen your immune system and protect yourself from the cold and flu season avocado seeds can help.

• The seeds have the ability to fight away free radical cells too, that causes illness and aging. In fact, if you want to slow down the aging process and reduce the appearance of age spots and wrinkles avocados have the ability to rebuild collagen underneath the skin so it stays firm and youthful.

The health benefits of these seeds do not stop there.

• These seeds of youthfulness can help you feel younger too, since they can help reduce bone diseases, joint discomforts and body aches and pains naturally, which helps keep you energetic and living life.

• The healing seeds are also useful for lowering blood glucose levels and for helping a person maintain a healthy weight. Some find them useful for encouraging weight loss and for reducing exercise-induced asthma. The seeds even help curve food cravings and make you feel fuller so you are not munching on snack constantly.

How you can get the avocado seeds
All you have to do to get these seeds into your diet is slice open an avocado carefully, remove the seed, place it into a plastic bag and crush it with a meat mallet or hammer. After, place the crushed seed into a blender and grind it into a fine powder. Then, sprinkle the seed mixture onto meals and eat up to receive the health benefits from this amazing super food.


http://blogs.naturalnews.com/avocado-seeds-superfoods-health/