Uprooting the Leading Causes of Death

Waist Circumference Less Than Half Your Height

Pros And Cons Of The Atkins Diet

The Atkins diet is one of the most popular low carbohydrate diets on the market today. Its popularity has sparked dozens of look-a-like diets who centre on the same principles of high-protein, low-carbohydrate eating. There are a lot of fish in the sea when it comes to choosing a low-carbohydrate plan.

Studies have shown that low-carbohydrate eating has many benefits. There have been scientific results that low-carbohydrate diets like Atkins do create significant weight loss without having to restrict calories. People who use the Atkins diet have also reported this. There are studies that show that low-carb eating improves triglycerides, reduces blood glucose for diabetics and pre-diabetics and increases good cholesterol (HDL). Low-carbohydrate dieting has been scientifically proven to improve insulin sensitivity, decrease blood pressure and lower blood insulin levels. When compared with low-fat diets, low-carb dieters lose less muscle mass.

Although not scientifically proven, there are many common benefits reported by Atkins dieters and other low-carb dieters. These include an increase in energy, a reduced craving for sweets, better concentration, improved mood and an lessening of depression type symptoms.

However, there are also some benefits that are specific to the Atkins diet. If you have been a low fat dieter in previous years, you’ll enjoy eating all of those “forbidden foods” that you once had to go without. Steak, butter and cream are a regular part of Atkins dieters’ meals. There is a certain pleasure that goes along with eating foods that were once off limits. Atkins dieters are encouraged to eat their full of rich meats, cheeses and fats and oils.

Atkins is also simple to use, compared with some other low-carb diets on the market. There are some basic food carbohydrate counts that you’ll need to learn, but after that, you are free to eat from the acceptable food lists.

Dr. Atkins also emphasized finding your own personal carbohydrate level. Different people have different levels of carbohydrate tolerance. While some gain weight on just 90 carbohydrate grams a day, others can live comfortably at 120 carbohydrate grams. During the ongoing weight loss phase and pre-maintenance phase of the diet, you will learn your personal carbohydrate count that will help determine your carbohydrate goal for life.

The popularity of Atkins is a double-edged sword for dieters. There is a lot of information available on the diet, which makes it easy to find resources and support. There have been many, many Atkins books written and there are endless amounts of websites that offer tips and group support. However, everyone has heard of Atkins and probably has an opinion on it. There are some big misconceptions out there about the nature of the diet, and you’ll no doubt have to defend your new way of eating from time to time.

There are some other minimal downsides to using the Atkins program. You do need to count carbohydrates in everything you eat to make sure that you are staying within your personal carbohydrate range. There is also the issue of Induction, the most hotly debate aspect of the plan. Induction can be difficult to get through if you’ve had a diet that centres on carbs and sugar. Also, many people try Induction and mistakenly believe that this is the way that the whole diet is going to be. They end up quitting before they get into the actual Atkins plan.

Sometimes, although it is not common, people will experience a carb crash on the 3rd to 5th day of the diet. This reaction is a result of their body finally experiencing ketosis, or running on fat instead of carbohydrates. The effects are transient, but many people have sworn off low-carb diets entirely because of this happenstance.

Overall, with the minor drawbacks considered, Atkins is one of the most popular low-carb diets for a reason. It works. Thousands of people have had success with the Atkins approach to the low-carb way of living.

How Do You Fight Fatigue?

By Christina Sullivan

When most people need an energy boost, they reach for a hit of caffeine from a cup of coffee, an energy drink or a chocolate bar. But there is a healthier alternative and more effective solution to sparking your energy. Exercise.

You might think this is odd, given that exercise burns energy. But, studies show that physical exercise is the secret to beating tiredness, and is the perfect lift when you're feeling fatigued. How? By improving your blood flow and carrying more oxygen and nutrients to your muscles.

A little bit of exercise can go a long way to helping you feel livelier and boosting your energy levels, especially if you're tired and living an inactive lifestyle. Doing a low-intensity exercise three times a week has been shown to increase energy levels by 20% and lower fatigue levels by 65%.

Try breaking your exercise down into 10 minute chunks. Add up those 10 minutes bursts to get 150 minutes of exercise a week, which is the recommended amount of exercise each week. That's really only half an hour a day, five days a week. You could fit in a brisk walk for 10 minutes before work, 10 minutes at lunch, and 10 minutes after work. Alternatively, work in the garden, go on a short bike ride, take the kids to the park and kick a ball, play with the dog, or put on some music and dance like no-one is watching.

If you haven't been active for some time, start slowly. Increase your activity level a bit each week, with either a little more intensity or increasing the amount of time you exercise. Increase only to moderate-intensity exercise. High-intensity exercise can leave you feeling drained, especially if you're not used to it. Check with your doctor if you have health concerns. Stop if you experience pain, and seek advice.

Remember, the health benefits of exercise reach beyond getting an energy boost. Being fit has been shown to cut your risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, depression and some types of cancer. It can also help keep your weight down, ease your stress, and help you to sleep better.

You might be feeling tired now. So go for a walk. Don't put it off. NOW is the time to start feeling good.

Post your comments about what you did today to fight fatigue.

 

How Fibre Can Help You Lose Weight

NDTV Cooks, Modified: November 21, 2014 12:58 IST                   

                                 


















Fibre forms an essential part of our daily diet. Not only is fibre good for our digestive system, it has also been linked to reduced risk of he risk of colon cancer and type 2 diabetes. Health experts will tell you that foods with high fibre make one feel full and satiated for long which is why they easily fit in your weight-loss strategies. A latest scientific study agrees with this notion.

According to a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, a fibre-rich diet can help in shedding those extra kilos. Polydextrose and soluble corn fibre may cause a shift towards beneficial bacteria in the gut and assist in weight loss when made part of a long-term, daily diet. "These two fibres look like they could be beneficial when included in a balanced diet along with whole grains, fruits, vegetables and legumes," Hannah Holscher from the University of Illinois, US.

Researchers used whole-genome sequencing to explore the full range of bacterial genomic information in the gut after fibre supplementation. It was found that using fibre supplements resulted in significant shifts in the gut bacterial population. Interestingly, when the supplements were stopped the bacterial population went back to where they were before.

The team was surprised to see a shift in the Bacteroidetes:Firmicutes ratio. It was found that fibre supplements had caused a shift towards Bacteroidetes which are considered as good gut bacteria. Both Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes belong to the bacteria domain. Firmicutes are often associated with obesity in mice modules as well as in humans, hence this shift was seen as a positive one.

"This was of particular interest to us because other research works have shown that having more Bacteroidetes may be beneficial because the higher that proportion is, the individual tends to be leaner. With higher Firmicutes, an individual tends to be more obese," Holscher said.

Another study conducted earlier this year at Imperial College in London states that dietary fibre contains a chemical called acetate which is released when plants and vegetables are digested by the colon bacteria. This chemcial sends signals to the brain to stop eating. Foods loaded with fibre include whole-grains, cereals, leafy vegetables, beans, mushrooms and more.
 http://cooks.ndtv.com/article/show/how-fibre-can-help-you-lose-weight-623522

A Diabetes Diet For People Who Have Tried Everything Else: This Diet Will Change Your Life

Hearing your doctor say that you have diabetes is a life-altering moment. You know instinctively that everything about your life has changed. What you eat, how and when you exercise, whether you can travel and even the type of work you do will now be seen through the filter of this diagnosis. Nothing will ever be the same.

Traditionally, medical treatments for diabetes have focused on lowering the blood levels of sugar in diabetic patients. Originally, injectable insulin was the drug of choice. In recent years, more medications have been added to the diabetes-fighting arsenal. These new drugs include, according to the American Diabetes Association website (1), thiazolidinediones, DPP-4 inhibitors, sulfonylureas, bile acid sequestrants, alpha-glucosidase inhibitors, biguanides, meglitinides and SGLT2 inhibitors. While all of these drugs work differently in the body, and come with a myriad of side effects, their main purpose is to chemically lower blood glucose levels.

A diabetes diet for people who have tried everything else
Purely medical treatments are one way to address high blood sugar. But, even though insulin treatments have been the standard for more than 90 years, and even as more and more drugs are being introduced, some doctors are now beginning to stress the importance of diet and exercise in addressing diabetes. Some studies even suggest that the disease can be stopped in its tracks with changes in diet and lifestyle. Here are a few dietary changes you can make that may lessen your need for medical intervention, and may reverse your diabetes entirely.

• Take a good look at sugar -- It's a known fact that refined sugar in your diet can lead to obesity, and obesity is a risk factor for developing diabetes. Refined sugars cause blood sugar levels to spike and then drop. This not only leads to weight gain but also can cause you to feel hungry, which leads to eating unnecessary calories. Refined sugar is everywhere in our modern diets. It's in sodas; it's in cereals; it's even in ketchup and mayonnaise. To bring diabetes under control, it's important to avoid refined sugar in all its forms. Natural, alternative sweeteners include applesauce, dried fruits and stevia.

• Highly processed carbohydrates have to go -- When picking carbohydrates for your diet, choose whole grains, not highly processed carbs. Whole grains are packed with vitamins and micronutrients which are essential for your overall health, but they have also been found to protect against diabetes. The fiber and bran found in whole grains make them slower to digest. This action stabilizes the rise of blood sugar. The Nutrition Source (2) lists the benefits of whole grains as lowering total cholesterol levels, lowering blood insulin levels and stabilizing blood sugar levels after meals and throughout the day. In an analysis of the Nurses' Health Studies (3), researchers looked at the whole-grain consumption habits of over 160,000 women followed for 18 years. Those women who consistently ate whole grains and whole-grain products were a whopping 30 percent less likely to develop type 2 diabetes than the women who didn't eat whole grains.

• Natural plant-based fats vs. animal and trans fats -- A study by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (4), has found that increasing polyunsaturated fats -- such as those found in sunflower and olive oil -- and avoiding trans fats, greatly reduces the chances of developing type 2 diabetes. In fact, according to the article, simply replacing 2 percent of dietary trans fats with plant-based fats instead lowers the risk of diabetes by 40 percent.

• Don't forget supplements -- There are many vitamins and minerals with a proven track record for lowering blood sugar. Consider supplementing your new, healthy diet with chromium, magnesium and vanadium. Add antioxidant vitamins, as well, such as beta-carotene, vitamin C, vitamin E, zinc and selenium.

• Spice it up -- Herbs and spices are nature's fun way of improving our diets. They not only make us healthier but add flavor and interest to our food. Blood sugar-lowering spices and herbs include cinnamon, fenugreek and the nopal cactus.

The take away here is that the more natural your diet, the better your health. Replace processed sugars, flours and fats with their natural alternatives, and you're well on your way to a healthy life.

http://www.naturalnews.com/047146_diabetes_healthy_diet_nutrition.html?utm_content=bufferb0669&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer

Five amazing health benefits of ginger

Ginger is an herb that is often used to season foods. It is popularly used in Asian cooking, as well as in stir fries. The root of the ginger plant is firm, pungent and spicy. The color of ginger root can vary from yellow or white to red. The time it is harvested determines whether it has a thick or thin skin.

In addition to being prized for the unique and desirable flavor it adds to foods, ginger has been used for thousands of years as a health remedy for various aliments. For more than 2,000 years, the Chinese have been using this popular root plant as a cure for upset stomach and nausea as well as to aid in digestion and diarrhea. Here are five amazing ways that ginger can help improve a person's health.

1. Combat complications from diabetes

Ginger might help protect the nerves of a person who suffers from diabetes as well as lower their fat levels. Another important way ginger could help diabetics is by significantly reducing the levels of serum glucose, as well as proteinuria, thirst and enuresis. This was the result according to researchers who tested rats that were chemically induced with diabetes. The rats that showed these improvements were given 500 mg of raw ginger. In addition, Laurie Steelsmith, a licensed doctor of naturopathy, notes that ginger can help thin the blood, lower blood pressure, increase circulation and lower cholesterol.

2. Ease pain and inflammation

Ginger has been shown to ease muscle pain, as well as back pain. In addition, it has been shown to reduce inflammation. Women have been able to find relief from menstrual pain. Relief from the pain of migraines has also been experienced.

3. Helps relieve nausea and motion sickness

Using ginger to help relieve the symptoms of nausea has been popular for thousands of years. These properties in ginger are the reason why modern-day people drink ginger ale when they are feeling nauseous. Ginger also helps relieve both sea sickness and motion sickness. A study in which pregnant women were given either a ginger drink or a placebo found that many of those women who were given the ginger drink experienced relief from their symptoms.

4. Relieves cold and flu symptoms

Many people who practice Chinese medicine prescribe ginger to their patients who suffer from colds or the flu. It acts as a antihistamine as well as a decongestant.

5. Helps relieve arthritis symptoms

The results of a study published in Osteoarthritis and Cartilage showed that patients who suffer with painful arthritis in their knees had much less pain and loss of movement when they took ginger than those patients who were given a placebo.

In addition to being added to foods, ginger tea or ginger capsules can be consumed to take advantage of the benefits of this plant.



http://www.naturalnews.com/046525_ginger_home_remedy_anti-inflammatory.html?utm_content=bufferd5192&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer

How Do You Ensure Your Children Are Getting The Proper Nutrition They Need?

Generally speaking, most kids get too much of the wrong stuff and not enough of the right stuff. Chances are, your kids and many of their peers are eating too many fats, added sugars, sodium, empty carbs, and preservatives...

The childhood obesity rate has more than tripled in the past four decades...

There may be many issues over which you battle with your kids, like safety and homework. But food? Food sustains your family and brings everyone together. If your family meals have become family feuds, then perhaps it is time to switch things up.

Take a look how:

http://www.isagenixhealth.net/kid-approved-isagenix-products/

8 Foods Even The Experts Won’t Eat

 

Find out more at:

http://eatlocalgrown.com/article/12214-8-foods-even-the-experts-won-t-eat.html