Fat Loss 4 Idiots Opinion

Saturday, April 11, 2009

Which Foods Have High Levels of Resveratrol?

By Jeremy Lucas

Many plants contain a component to help protect themselves from outside attacks called Resveratrol. There are also signs that this substance can be quite beneficial to humans. The most well known source is red wine, which is where the studies of resveratrol began. It is an interesting substance, because no one plant is known to contain huge amounts of this powerful substance.

What other plants have a high resveratrol content?

If you are looking for the food with the highest concentration of resveratrol, check out the purple and red varieties of grapes. Other dark berries, such as cranberries and mulberries, also contain high levels. One that you might not expect to have high levels are peanuts. It makes sense, however, because peanuts need the protection that resveratrol offers.

The resveratrol content in plants can also be affected by where it is grown and how it is grown. For instance, studies show that grapes grown in cool climates typically have more resveratrol in them than grapes found in warmer weather. Following that line of reasoning, resveratrol content in plants is also affected by the soil, the season within which it was harvested, and if it is organically grown. Organically grown plants can have more resveratrol in them than those that have been sprayed with man-made pesticides and fertilizers. There is news that grapes grown in North and South Carolina has the highest volume of resveratrol among plants.

Do not make the mistake of destroying the resveratrol content by heating up the fruit. Applying heat can drastically reduce the amount found in the raw food. Also, to get the most bang for your buck do not remove the skin of the food, as this is where most of the resveratrol is found. The best way to eat your grapes, berries, or peanuts is to eat them with their skins on and raw.

Since the list for "what foods have the most resveratrol in them" is very short, it might be helpful to just take resveratrol supplements out in the market. However, natural is always best so if you can find a rich supply of grapes, get enough recipes that contain this fruit.

Moreover, you should drink grape juice instead of wine. Although there are some researches that say alcohol may have benefits, excessive consumption will still be disadvantageous for our health. Fresh grape fruit should be your foremost choice. You should refrain from drinking store bought grape juice that contains too much sugar or even aspartame. Aspartame is actually listed as chemical poison, did you know?

If you make sure to keep your kitchen stocked with grapes, strawberries, and blueberries then you will be able to get all the benefits they provide, as well as a decent dose of resveratrol. Using these as snacks will provide you with a healthy, tasty, snack that doesn't kill your body like fake sugar and high fructose corn syrup will. This will help prevent obesity and keep you feeling and looking young much longer. - 17269

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How Being Overweight Can Increase your Risk of Getting Gout

By Yvonne Horner

Obesity if a major contributing factor in most gout attack. A major reason for this is because of poor diet. Foods that are high in purines are often a big part of an overweight person's dietary regimen. These unhealthy purine foods not only lead to gout, but also to an increased and unhealthy weight, especially when the patient is prone to overeating.

Lowering your intake of high purine foods goes to the heart of the problem. Many high purine foods are high in fat and deter your ability to lose weight effectively. Common high purine foods are hamburgers, hot dogs, and bacon. We all know these foods would never make a list of foods to help you improve your health. Decrease your amount of these foods or better yet, eliminate them altogether.

Drinking multiple sodas a day increases your risk of gout by 50%. The empty calories also add to your weight problem, further increasing your risk of gout by putting more stress on your kidneys. Not to mention, high sugar content has been linked with increased risk of cancer.

Diet sodas hinder weight loss. They have been found to increase your hunger and some health experts believe that diet sodas are even worse than drinking regular sodas, especially due to increased risk of cancer from the chemicals used in most diet soft drinks. Bottom line: get rid of soda. Drink water instead.

Canadian studies have shown that coffee actually can help treat gout. The old theory was coffee dehydrates so don't drink it, but the latest studies show that drinking 4 cups of coffee a day can lower uric acid by up to fifty percent. Decaffeinated coffee also lowered uric acid if you are concerned with avoiding caffeine. Organic coffee would be a great option. It is more expensive, but you avoid all the potentially harmful chemical additives.

Big changes in one step is usually not beneficial. Moderation is the key. By taking smaller steps you will be less likely to quit and will be more likely to have healthy longevity results.

By doing just a few things a little at a time, you will help improve kidney function, reduce the stress load on your renal system, which will have the added benefit of reducing your risk of cancer, heart disease, high blood pressure, and stroke. The benefits far outweigh the risks.

Several alternative therapies can help you lose weight and stay healthy. Adding fruits to your diet is one of them. Not only will they help you lose excess pounds, they contain elements that treat painful gout symptoms and the root causes of this painful disease. - 17269

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The Amazing Amazon Acai Berry

By Jordan Jervishus

The Acai berry comes from the Acai Palm tree, native to Central and South America. The fruit that grows on these palms is a small, round, blackish-purple berry about 1 inch in diameter. It looks similar to a grape, but has less pulp and is slightly smaller and darker. There is one large seed in the center of each berry, making up about 80% of the fruit.

Because the seed is so large compared to the size of the berry you have to use a lot of berries to make a large portion of pulp. It is fortunate that the Acai berry grows in groups of 700 " 900 berries. Each year to crops of the berries are harvested. The seeds are used too. They are used for livestock food, soil for plants, and for planting more Acai palm trees.

South American countries have used Acai berries for many years as antioxidants, essential fatty acids, and amino acids. The Acai berry is litterly a superfood that is very high in antioxidants as well. It is also a good source of protein, fiber, and is a good source of iron. It is one of the best sources of nutrients in the world.

By eating the Acai fruit is you could also be preventing yourself from cancer because of the high quantity of antioxidants it contains. In pure Acai berries there is also many very beneficial minerals. They contain high levels of anthocyanins and glucosamine. Anthocyanins protect the nervous system, help repair collagen, improve eyesight, and protect blood vessels.

The high protein levels in the Acai berry could be very beneficial in lowering cholesterol. The amount of fiber in the berry is great for aiding the digestive system. The essential fatty acids found in the Acai berry are omega-9 and omega-6. These acids help absorb vitamins A, D, E, and K. This can help prevent cancer and hypertension.

We are just now learning about how great Acai berry is. The Brazilians have known about it for years now. The Acai berry is only grown in the Amazons, therefore make sure you get Acai berry from a legitimate source in the states. With only little research about the Acai berry scientists are discovering the awesome benefits of this great little fruit. - 17269

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Rock Hard Abs - Increase Muscle, Lose Fat

By Jose Loni

Work your muscles, lose fat and get rock hard abs. Everyday, we always see a new machine or ab exercise promising rock hard abs. Well, by increasing your muscle mass through weight training, you will lose fat and get rock hard abs!

Ab machines, ab exercises or fad diets promise you rock hard abs. These ads give you the illusion that spot reducing works and that by targeting the abs directly, you will get rock hard abs. Many commercials make it look like, if you use their product, you will look the overly muscled bodybuilder or the super fit and trim fitness model that they have demonstrating the product.

Here's the reality check! You will not look like those fitness models in a few weeks of using their products.

Let's keep it simple. Increase muscles to increase your overall metabolism, which will in turn burn body fat.

Resistance training has a way of making the muscles rapidly adapt to the increased demand of the exercise. As the intensity of the activity increases, the muscles must also work harder, which requires more energy to do the increased muscle activity. The body needs to supply the muscles with the energy to carry out its activity.

The body will go and look for sources of energy to supply the muscles. The body will consume the food we eat and use that first. Then when more energy is required, the body will take the stored body fat and convert that into fuel for the muscles to use.

When we exercise, the body's muscles are worked at a great intensity, which decreases the oxygen in the muscles. The moment the body has a chance to bring oxygen to the muscles, it will work hard to try to repair, replenish and remove waste products from the muscles.

This repair and nourishment of the muscles can occur throughout the day and causes the body to burn more calories even after the exercise session is over. As a result, the body becomes a fat burning machine, even when it is not exercising.

Training causes the muscles to increase in size, which will proportionally increase the overall muscle activity and burn more fat.

Increase muscle, lose fat- when you look at it this way, it seems so simple and it is. It is a simple efficient way to train. By training one, you automatically train the other. It is the fast way to get rock hard abs. - 17269

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Fat Loss Exercise Plan

By Jose Loni

Get organized! Exercise for fat loss is easy if you follow a plan. Exercising for fat loss is achieved by increasing your metabolism, by healthy eating, regular physical activity and stress management. Organizing a plan is the best way to keep a consistent schedule and exercise for fat loss.

Increasing your metabolism through diet is a great way to control the calories you eat. The fatty foods, sodas, hamburgers and donuts are high calorie foods that get stored, as fat if the body doesn't use it all up.

Another way to help your body get started burning fat is to eat several small meals throughout the day. Smaller meals keep your blood sugar stable and help maintain your energy level throughout the day. It allows you to limit your calories and optimize your physical activities by allowing your body to easily burn the consumed calories and use the excess body fat as fuel.

Regular exercise is also a key to fat loss. Exercising regularly will make our body adapt to the regular activity, which will increase our muscles and make our body burn more fat.

Activities such as resistance training, interval training and training with exercises that target multiple joints, have been shown to burn fat and increase the body's metabolism. With an increased metabolism, the body is forced to replenish and nourish the muscles. This increased muscular activity causes the muscles to continuing burning fat well after the body has finished exercising and the body becomes very proficient at fat burning.

Decreasing stress levels is a key factor at preventing further fat storage on the body. During times of stress, the body increases its production of Cortisol, which is a hormone that is secreted and causes storage of fat in the abdomen. This fat is stored in the abdomen to be used as a source of energy at a future time.

Relaxation activities like mediation, tai chi, yoga and deep breathing are effective at decreasing and relaxing the body. They are great ways to reduce further fat from being stored on the body.

Being organized is a great way to get started in fat loss. A daily guide allows you to stay on course and keep motivated. Having a plan increases the chances for success and you can see what works and what doesn't work. If the plan is not working, you can always change the plan, to one that works better and get you great results.

Planning an exercise program for fat loss are three easy steps of increasing your metabolism. Through monitoring your diet, having a regular exercise schedule and decreasing your stress levels, you can see your progress and lose that fat once and for all! - 17269

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6 Pack Abs - What It Takes

By Dan Solaris

Everyone that has ever tried to get lean and maintain sexy 6 pack abs knows it's no joke. A washboard stomach is a result of dedication, hard work and a tremendous amount of self-discipline. It is a product of a constant battle against laziness, self-indulgence and body fat.

To get 6 pack abs, a person not only has to watch what he eats- avoiding food with empty calories and sticking to healthier alternatives, he has to exercise consistently as well. Only by maintaining a healthy diet and doing the right combination of exercises that focus on calorie burn can one hope to get a flat and lean midsection that will turn heads on the beach.

Having a healthy low-fat diet doesn't require turning into a health nut however. Strict low-calorie diets are in fact deficient in protein or carbohydrates needed by the human body for muscle growth and daily energy. Experts say it's ultimately beneficial for out fat-loss goals to eat ample amounts of nutrient-rich foods like fruits and nuts together with well-balanced meals.

A healthy diet is one that has the right amounts of muscle-building protein, carbs for energy, dairy products for calcium, and fiber as well as folic acid from lots of vegetables and fruits. Aside from maximizing the nutrient sources where your daily calorie intake comes from, eating smartly will also lower blood pressure and risk of heart disease and cancer.

Cutting back on calories and skipping meals is a big no-no because this causes metabolism to drop. A slow metabolism inhibits our body's ability to burn calories throughout the day. For this reason, breakfast is a must. Munching on healthy snacks like granola bars, nuts and fruit will also keep you from getting famished and eating too much during lunch or dinner.

When we let ourselves go hungry and try to make-up for it on the next meal, we stuff our tummies beyond its normal capacity. This, when done enough times will result in an ugly outsized belly- the very thing we're trying to avoid.

Dietary enlightenment would be nothing without calorie-burning physical activity, of course. Burning a larger amount of calories than our bodies take in each day is the only way to ensure fat-loss and a lean stomach. Doing the proper exercises that have been proven to be the most efficient in burning and keeping body fat in check will let you shorten your workout time- loosening your schedule.

Studies reveal that any kind of cardiovascular exercise combined with core and weight-training will facilitate rapid calorie burn and muscle development. These kinds of exercises also raise metabolism giving way to improved ability of the body to ward-off the onset of body fat. - 17269

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Fat Loss And Core Strength - Build A Base

By Dan Solaris

In these financially lean times, more and more people are getting so caught-up in the daily grind. It's becoming increasingly difficult to maintain a regular exercise regimen and having a healthy diet is becoming a luxury only a few can afford because of lack of time. This explains why a majority of the North American population is overweight.

The rich, delicious food we have at our disposal 24/7 is also adding to the health crisis facing millions of urban dwellers having trouble with their waistlines. It's very easy for us to grab a few jelly donuts or a heaping plate of chili fries with nary a second thought because ours has become a culture of high-calorie fast food.

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.

People with hectic schedules don't bother to maintain a regular workout schedule because they have the impression that less than an hour of exercise is useless. There are actual ways of modifying conventional cardio and resistance workouts to increase their calorie-burning potential and shorten exercise sessions.

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.

Aside from the proven fat-busting benefits of cardio exercises, increasing the body's BMR or Basal Metabolic Rate by increasing muscle mass is another way of improving our body's ability to burn calories effectively. We can actually modify traditional cardio and weight training to maximize the usage of caloric energy and shorten our workout sessions significantly.

Working several muscles simultaneously while exercising uses-up more energy. The more caloric energy we use, the faster we eliminate body fat. Involving the muscles of our core (lower back, hips, buttocks and mid-section) in regular weight-lifting exercises will effectively intensify our anaerobic workouts and result in a more rapid loss of fat while improving our balance and endurance.

The variety of core exercises we can choose from allows flexibility and fun in our workout regimen and this keeps us from getting bored and burning-out. We can actually strengthen our core by incorporating exercise balls, planks and Dyna discs into our weight-lifting sessions- making them less dull and monotonous. - 17269

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Avoiding Hot Flashes During Menopause with a Healthy Diet

By Ricardo d Argence

Menopause can be an extremely irritating problem for a lot of women, but it is unavoidable. It isn't necessary for women to have has much discomfort as they do, however.

Expect to have hot flashes when going through menopause, but there are ways to avoid them. By altering your diet a little you would be amazed at how rapidly the hot flashes go away.

Soybeans contain several compounds, including daidzein and genistein that are estrogenic. This helps to control hot flashes. Because the Japanese have a diet rich in soy, only 7% of Japanese women experience hot flashes during menopause. The soy product, tofu is especially great for mimicking the activity of female hormones.

During excessive perspiration your body loses electrolytes. Adding sea vegetables to your diet can help replenish them. To help with your overall health you should also eat foods that are rich with vegetable proteins (instead of animal proteins) like tofu, fiber-rich foods like whole grains, fresh vegetables, calcium-rich foods, mineral-rich foods, and foods with high vitamin E content, such as green leafy vegetables, almonds, and nuts. Drinking a lot of water is vital for this same purpose also.

As well as eating specific foods, there are also specific food that you should stay away from to manage hot flashes. Mood swings and hot flashes can get worse with spicy foods, excess sugar, alcohol, caffeine, dairy products, and meat products.

The reason hot flashes get worse when you consume alcohol or caffeine is that this makes acid in the blood and this affects the liver. Smoking will also make worse the effect of hot flashes.

Having a regular exercise routine is key to controlling your hot flashes. Menopause often causes women to feel depressed. It reminds them that they are getting older. If you exercise frequently, you will feel better. It doesn't matter how old you are.

Exercise can raise your estrogen levels, which in turn helps alleviate hot flashes, or at least the severity of them. Exercise also helps reduce the frequency of many of the other negative side effects of menopause like depression, insomnia, headaches, fatigue, anxiety, and irritability.

Don't let menopause take control of your life. You can't control its occurrence, but you can take control of how it affects your life. By making some adjustments to your diet and lifestyle, you can get through this time and come out on the other side more fit and healthier than ever! - 17269

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Ab Workouts - Muscle Power vs. Duration

By Jose Loni

Which are better for ab workouts - muscle mass training or endurance training? Both are equally good at helping the body become fit and both are great ways to start a healthy lifestyle. But to really get rock hard abs, training for muscle mass will get you the results you want faster.

The often debated question, go for a run or hit the weights? It all depends on what you want to achieve and what appearance you want to have. If you want to be very muscular, with big muscles and ripped abs, then going for a long run will not give you those results.

Long duration activities will strengthen your body for that activity. Running long distances will make your body light and lean, so that it can last for long distances and be efficient at moving for such a long period of time. Big bulky muscles will be trimmed down to be more efficient at running.

Muscular strength training is very effective at increasing the body's metabolism. The increased size of the muscles causes the body to work harder to supply energy to the bigger muscles, which results in more calories burned and greater fat burning.

The food that we eat and the excess fat on our body are used by the muscles providing energy for muscle function. When this occurs, the fat that is stored in the stomach area is used and the abs underneath the fat is more visible.

Resistance training with heavy weights and low repetitions forces the muscles to hypertrophy and increase its overall muscle activity. The increased intensity of the activity will cause a buildup of lactic acid and carbon dioxide. Once the muscles slow down its intensity, the body will then deliver more oxygen to the muscles, to help replenish and remove waste products.

The moment the body is able to bring a fresh supply of oxygen to the muscles, it will continue to replenish and repair the muscles to get it ready for the next bout of exercise. This process can take several hours and can occur for the majority of the day. The increased overall metabolic activity turns the body into a fat burning machine.

Long duration or muscle power, the choice is really up to you. Both activities are great at helping you lead a healthy lifestyle. If ripped abs is what you want, then train for muscle power, it will be your fastest and most efficient way to get those abs that you've always dreamed of. - 17269

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Toned Abs Come From Whole Body Movement

By Dan Solaris

An increasing number of people around the world are becoming obese because of the proliferation of fast food. The availability of delicious, calorie-loaded western food has in fact caused roughly 65% of people in North America and Western Europe to become obese.

The most common mistake the figure-conscious make is relying on exercises that isolate the muscles of the midsection to lose excess fat. Though sit-ups, crunches and leg raises may be effective in strengthening the abdominal muscles, they don't do much in melting belly fat and toning the abs.

Exercises that isolate the muscles of the abdomen are not totally useless of course- they serve to strengthen and develop the muscle tissue under the stubborn layer of belly fat. The only way to lose belly fat and get really toned abs however is to do exercises designed for fast body fat burn.

Studies have proven cardiovascular exercise that involves the whole body is most effective in losing excess body fat. The more muscles involved in movement, the more calories burned from stored fat. Eliminate enough body fat and that flabby belly disappears resulting in nicely toned abs.

Whole body exercises that get all the major muscle groups to exert effort get the cardiovascular system to work at high intensities. This not only strengthen the heart and lungs, they also dilate the blood vessels- improving elasticity and blood flow. It also elevates the body's metabolism resulting in even more calories burned long after you've left the gym.

By maintaining a high metabolism, overweight people can facilitate fat-loss better because more calories are expended throughout the day. This means less calories left over to be stored as body fat. If a person burns more calories than he takes in each day, this will of course lead to loss of belly fat.

Muscle building resistance exercises can also help fight body fat by enabling us to burn more calories. Muscles burn calories even while were not using them. The more muscular a person is therefore, the less time he has to spend in the gym working out.

Doing cardio exercises that employ compound movements are not only more effective in burning body fat, they are more fun to do as well. Dull, repetitive exercises cause people to get bored with their workouts and stop exercising after a month or so. Keeping your workouts fun and exciting is the secret to staying consistent with exercising and reaching your goal of toned abs with good definition. - 17269

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Health Secrets of the Acai Berry

By Carter Sinclair

Acai berry supplement is something we've all heard of now. It was featured on Oprah as the #1 superfood and has been all over the internet and news. What is all the hype about this little amazing berry.

In the Amazon Rainforests the Acai berry grows and has been called by natives the fantastic fruit. It looks a lot like a blueberry in that is very small and round. The fruit is a dark purple color and grows in a bunch just like bananas.

The Acai berry has been produced and made into energy drinks, granola bars, and even ice creams for those looking to try out its healthy nutrients. Many chefs are even experimenting with its flavor in dishes and in the future you may find yourself ordering it in an exotic restaurant.

The Acai Berry health fanatics have fallen in love with this fruit for countless reasons. All of which are beneficial to your body and overall health. If you are looking for an all in one vitamin and nutrient, then you have found it with the Acai Berry health system.

Of all the fruits Acai berry has the hightest antioxidant count found in any fruit. Antioxidants work amazingly well for a body cleanser and early research shows Acai is a proven cancer fighter. Antioxidants help to improve your immune system to fight off viruses and colds such as the flu.

The Acai Berry has countless more goodness in them then imaginable. Not just Omega 3, but Omega 6 and 9 as well; amino acids, electrolytes, protein, and vitamins A, B1 and E. With so much good for you, what could be wrong? - 17269

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Acai Berry Reverses Brain Loss According to Scientific Studies

By Dr. Jerimiah Crossderd

In an ground-breaking study that is sure to kick off additional investigation, studies showed that matured laboratory rats that ate a diet overloaded with the acai berry compound pterostilbene and performed superior than those in the collection of animals that did not eat the enriched acai berry diet.

Pterostilbene changed specific harmful aliments that create aging on brain functions and behavioral patterns.

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

The initial element of the study tested seven stilbene compounds in cell cultures and established that pterostilbene was the most efficient at preventing oxidative stress.

For the subsequent measurement of the study, they fed elderly rats one of the following criteria: a control diet or a control adjusted diet to comprise of either small or high concentrations of pterostilbene.

The outcome indicates that in aging rats, pterostilbene was successful in turning back cognitive decline and that enhanced operational memory was linked to pterostilbene levels in the hippo campus area of the brain.

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

Studies also show that other berries possess this compound-further studies will show their effectiveness.

Like vitamin C, the body can only absorb so much at a time-At the current time, there are no standards set forth by any governmental agencies on what is the recommended amount for humans to take-It is recommended to start with small quantities first to see how your body reacts.

The study was published recently in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. - 17269

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