Fat Loss 4 Idiots Opinion

Saturday, May 23, 2009

Resveratrol Supplements - Do They Work?

By Louis Smith

Are you looking to lose weight and burn fat? You may be interested in taking a supplement to help you achieve that.

There are a variety of supplements out there but one supplement that has been getting a fair amount of attention is Vinotol.

One serving of Vinotol contains the equivalent resveratrol content of 200 glasses of wine. Let's look at why this is significant.

It has long been known that the skins of certain fruits like grapes, blueberries and cranberries along with wine contain a compound called resveratrol which has very beneficial antioxidant properties.

However, the great antioxidant properties are not the only thing that resveratrol does for you. Resveratrol has been shown to help you maintain normal-range cholesterol levels, support insulin health and optimize metabolic as well as immune pathways. It also goes ahead and protects cells while improving function of mitochondria.

If you are interested in improving your cardiovascular funcion, support healthier glucose levels and burn fat, then you will want to check out Vinotol today.

Additionally, Vinotol comes with a host of other ingredients including green tea extract. Green tea has been shown for many years to provide numerous health benefits including reducing carbohydrate utilization, increasing exercise endurance, burning fat and increasing metabolism.

This great combination of ingredients in Vinotol can help you greatly in your weight loss goals. At this time, Vinotol is even offering free trials of its product so you can give it a go without even spending any money on it first. Try a trial out today. - 17269

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Is It Possible to Lose Weight Quickly with Acai Berry?

By Caitlin Ryan

Possibly! If you want to lose weight and look hot on the beach this summer, acai berry might be your answer, if you follow this expert advice on fast weight loss!

You cannot just swallow an acai berry pill or slurp down an acai berry smoothie to lose weight.

Weight loss can be an arduous journey. Whether you are trying to lose those last five pesky pounds or just beginning your weight loss efforts, it is easy to fall back into old habits. I have been there too!

Acai berry supplements or acai powder are one of those tricks, but you need to know more in order to overcome the barriers to weight loss.

I cannot stress enough how important it is to have the right mindset. Yes, weight loss can be difficult, but when you face it with a positive attitude and have positive people around you, you can resist temptation easier. Drop the guilt when you backslide and just keep going. Avoid emotional eating by learning how to deal with your emotions with positive coping mechanisms such as meditation or music therapy.

You need to prepare your kitchen for your weight loss efforts by getting rid of the fattening junk foods. Even if you have children (perfect time to set them on the health path), you should still limit the amount of junk. Switch to nuts rather than salty, fatty snacks. Fruit is a great sweet tooth soother. Light ice cream is an option if you really feel the need to give your children dessert. Keep the portions at " cup and for you, try cup on a cake cone (around 10 calories).

Fruits and veggies are a must on any weight loss plan. You need the fiber and antioxidants to boost your health and energy. Acai berry is loaded with antioxidants, which is precisely why it can help you lose weight more quickly by optimizing your health and energy levels.

Five servings of veggies and fruits is a good start, but adding an acai berry supplement to your weight loss plan or acai berry powder in a healthy breakfast smoothie can up your antioxidant intake that much more! You should never skip breakfast. Eating a healthy breakfast will jump start your metabolism and help you burn energy more quickly throughout the day.

Exercise is also imperative for weight loss. Whatever it takes, get up and get moving! With the energy you will receive from acai berry, you will feel more like exercising. You do not have to kill yourself at the gym, just make a point to move and get your heart rate up every day!

Does acai berry juice work, too? That depends on whether it has a lot of corn syrup and little fruit. Check the label! - 17269

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Here are some healthy kitchen tools that any health minded household should have.

By Jackie Tungsteiner

The Jack Lalane Juicer is the cream of the crop when it comes to juicers. Using a juicer is the perfect way to get more raw veggies into your diet. When vegetables are raw, they contain more of the natural plant nutrients that have been proven to be so beneficial to you. Trying to eat enough of them every day can be a problem. Juicing is the answer. You just drink a small glass and you're good for the day.

Smart people use stainless steel products. Stainless steel products are healthier because of their lack of plastics. Plastics are made from refined petroleum products. Over time, these plastics slowly break down. They can seep unwanted materials into your food. Who would want that to happen?

When choosing between glass and plastic choose glass. Glass doesn't have the petroleum based components that may allow some seepage of unwanted materials into your food. Glass containers are usually very smooth and easier to clean. SO, food particles have a harder time sticking inside of glass containers as most of the plastic ones. Cleaner containers means less bacteria growing on the particles left behind after you wash them. Less germs means better health.

Look inside the kitchen of a health conscious couple and you might see a food dehydrator. Dehydrating allows you to store the nutrient rich foods that you love to snack on without cooking away all of the really beneficial enzymes of the food. If you have healthy things to snack on, it will be much easier to watch what you eat when hunger strikes. Why not make it easier to stick to a healthy lifestyle?

Some healthy homes keep filtered or purified water on hand. You could install a central water filtration system for the whole house or just install one under your kitchen sink. If you're not into projects, you can just get yourself a pitcher with the filter in it. Water filtration is one of the easiest ways to upgrade the health of a kitchen. It is an easy way to reduce you family's exposure to toxins.

Look inside a healthy cook's kitchen and you'll normally see a variety of cookbooks. In order to keep things interesting, you need to try new meals. Otherwise, you will get tired of eating the same old things. Spend a few bucks and get your family a few great healthy cookbooks.

Some kitchen appliances aren't great investments. Food processors are a worthwhile investment though. A food processor can drastically reduce the time required to prepare certain types of food. If you are making lots of casseroles and soups, having an electric gadget to do some of the chopping will make meals much less of a burden to prepare. - 17269

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Sneakiest Trick That Will Beat the Fat Loss Plateau

By geanor fremooor

My old training partner showed me a trick in beating the plateau effect. When we would workout he always added like 10 lbs extra without me knowing. I would do 215 lbs for 8 reps and without me knowing hed put 10 more pounds on which went to 225lbs. Funny thing is I wouldnt even notice, I thought I was still doing 215 lbs for 8 reps. The point is my partner knew I had more strength to offer then I thought. If you have any plans on doing this make sure there is a spotter present.

How exactly do you receive any benefit from this little trick? You can get a benefit from this trick in 2 different ways.

1. You have to change you mindset and self image.

If you have the problem where you are stuck on a plateau within your workout and arent getting the results youre looking for and is brainwashed that youre supposed to be fat and wont ever lose weight or build the muscle your craving, youre not going to get anywhere.

You need to tell yourself that you will burn that fat off and gain the muscles you want. Believe in yourself so that you will develop a great mindset. Just picture yourself relaxing at the beach not embarrassed of your body or going shopping for some new clothes.

Heres a good mindset for fat loss!

This whole week has been great I havent touched fries or a burger like I would usually go and do. It was tempting but I did the mindset change. Overall Im now a healthy person. Healthy people dont bother with greasy burgers or fries.

They grab a turkey sandwich with veggies which is low in fat and has a lot of protein. Thats the kind of sandwich I love. Develop a strong mindset and resisting fatty foods wont be a problem.

2. Go and break a new record every time in the gym for each workout.

Your body will not change if you arent improving and arent putting more weight on each time. My friends dirty trick made sure I was doing more every time in each work out, and doing that made sure I was always making a gain.

So about your fat loss workout, pick an area that you can/want to improve on in each workout. Whether its just one more repetition, quicker intervals or 5-10 pounds added in your workout. Break a new record every time and youll easily beat the plateau effect. Train hard for performance, the fat burning and muscle building will follow. - 17269

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Lose Fat With The Wave - The Firm Wave Workout

By Carol J Bartram

What regular exercisers regularly ask me is if the Firm Wave is any use to them as they are not novice exercisers, nor beginners, nor overweight, in fact most of them are an awful lot fitter than I am! They are interested as to whether the Firm Wave can give them a workout that is intense enough for their fitness goals; some are in training for distance running, and some are just regular exercisers who enjoy keeping fit and seek new challenges.

Experienced exercisers and gym bunnies get the same answer that I would give first-time exercisers; namely that the Firm Wave will give them as easy or as stiff a workout as they want, and their fitness gains will be directly related to the amount of effort that they put into a workout. What makes the Wave so special is the incredible range of exercises that you can do with it that can help you achieve any fitness goal that you care to set for yourself.

I'm always telling my regular personal training clients that their workouts must change in order for them to progress. Our bodies are very clever and over millions of years of evolution have learned to adapt to whatever stresses and strains we place upon them; once used to a particular form of exercise, the body wastes as little energy as possible in carrying it out. This is the true meaning of efficiency, and our bodies are extremely efficient machines if kept properly and looked after carefully.

When a person first starts an exercise programme they often find that results are rapid; they lose weight quite quickly and the toning effect of this early stage is often spectacular, but as the weeks pass and their muscles and cardiovascular system adapts to their workout and become more efficient, calorie loss and muscle gain slow. If the workout is not then changed, they will then actually begin to lose the benefits they have gained; this is called the Principle of Reversibility.

In my opinion, the best feature of the Firm Wave is the number of ways it can assist in any fitness programme and the number of exercises that can be done with it, as it can be used either side up. One side is stable for use in aerobic exercises such as the many forms of Step, or stationary exercises using an elastic exercise band or dumbbells. The unstable side of the Wave presents a whole new challenge to balance and proprioception, making aerobic exercise more challenging and thus burning increased amounts of calories and engaging all core and postural muscles that we don't usually use. - 17269

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Diabetes Prevention

By Jake Ryan

One of the first things you can do if you think you are at risk of diabetes is take an online diabetes screening. It is also important that you talk to your physician about your diabetes risks. However, there are methods you can take to help to prevent diabetes.

One of the first signs of diabetes is having high blood sugar levels. When you have high blood sugar you should change your diet, exercise more, try to relax, and take medication if necessary. If you catch this condition in a pre-diabetes state it is possible to not get full on diabetes.

Obesity has started to overcome americas youth because of poor eating habits. Many of Americans diets are filled with carbohydrates and starches which turn into sugar. Sugar makes the pancreas work a lot harder to create insulin to deal with the extra sugar. Obesity is a leading factor in getting diabetes.

Some research at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine has even linked type two diabetes and obesity. There were tests done under controlled environments on mice and they were unable to transport glucose efficiently when obese.

Exercise causes the body to use more glucose which causes your blood sugar levels to drop. Studies have found that walking just 30 minutes a day will cause you to lose weight. These are great diabetes preventions.

If you are whats considered a boarder line diabetic a doctor will give you medication to help reduce insulin levels. Conditions vary so make sure you talk to your physician for these treatments and preventions. - 17269

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What Are The Basics Of The Zone Diet

By Ron George

The Zone diet was originally created by a scientist named Barry Sears. It's planned as a permanent diet to be eaten throughout a person's life. It is considered a low carbohydrate diet, however is more based on balancing hormones and therefore does not restrict carbohydrates as much as other low carbohydrate diets such as the Atkins diet.

The basis of the zone diet is a ratio of calories from carbohydrates, proteins, and fats all of 40 to 30 to 30. Some nonscientific studies done by various television shows have shown that the diet can indeed produce reasonable weight-loss. In fact, many of these nonscientific studies show that people gain muscle mass while losing weight on the zone diet. People included in the studies said it was very easy to stick to the zone diet as compared to other low carbohydrate diets.

The zone in zone diet refers to a hormone balance in which insulin levels are perfect, glycogen levels are perfect, and thus the body releases various anti-inflammatory chemicals similar to aspirin but without side effects. In addition, claims Sears, the natural anti-inflammatory help with heart health. The zone diet also creates a state in which the body stops storing fat. If the body isn't storing fat, it's losing weight. Fatty acids such as omega 3 were later added in the form of supplements such as fish oil.

A typical zone diet meal was described by its creator in the following manner. In every meal eat enough protein to fit in the palm of your hand, as many non-starchy raw vegetables as you can take, just enough carbohydrates to maintain mental clarity, and just enough oils to stop hunger.

This zone diet has a famous weight loss case in its files, that of the man who weighed over 1200 pounds. After two years on the zone diet he lost nearly 1/3 of that weight, all that after trying everything he could think of including liposuction that had nearly been fatal. He now eats about 2000 calories a day, filled with foods recommended by the zone diet.

Exercise care when taking up the zone diet. After all it is only considered a Fad Diet and as we know many fad diets can actually do more harm than good towards your weight loss efforts - 17269

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7 Key Rules to Slim Down Easily

By Thong M. Dao

If you're hoping to lose fat, there's a pretty good chance you've tried a lot of methods. Unfortunately, the vast majority of people who are unhappy with their bodies don't succeed in their fat loss goals. That's because they're often using gimmicky weight loss plans that can actually damage their bodies! If you're in this boat, and you don't know how to get rid of the fat while staying healthy, here are a few tips that might get you on the right track.

1. Drink plenty of water. It is recommended that you drink 8 glasses per day, but that may take you some time to work up to. Your body needs a whole lot of water. Water doesn't just flush all the toxins out of your body, but it makes you feel better and healthier. The best thing about water is you can drink as much as you want because it has no calories at all. When you're drinking a lot of water, you eat less as well because you won't feel as though you are starving to death.

2. Have a glass of water whilst you eat too. Take a drink after every bite and you'll feel full more rapidly so you will be able to leave the table feeling satisfied without feeling swollen. Consuming water when you eat will also help your food to settle faster, which also helps you to feel full faster.

3. Eat fresh fruit instead of drinking fruit juice. Juice is often sweetened but fresh fruits have natural sugars. When you eat fruit, you are taking in a lot of fiber, which is needed by the body, and fruits of course are an excellent source of vitamins.

4. Increase your fiber intake. Like I mentioned, the body needs a lot of fiber. So try to include in your diet as many fruits and vegetables as you can.

5. Check everything you eat from the food itself to what you top it with. Condiments and garnishments may destroy a healthy meal since they're generally high in fat.

6. Eat only when you are hungry. Be sure to drink a glass of water first to determine if you really are hungry or if you are really thirsty. Many people have the tendency to eat when they see food. It doesn't mean they are hungry; they just want to eat it. Don't eat anything you're offered unless you really are hungry. If you feel you must eat it out of being polite, just nibble, don't have a meal.

7. Go easy on tea and coffee. Tea and coffee are harmless by themselves. It's when you add the cream and sugar that they become fattening. Did you know that having a cup of tea or coffee that has cream and at least two cubes of sugar is as bad as having a big piece of rich chocolate cake? - 17269

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35 Reasons to add Acai berries to your diet today

By M Taylor

1. Acai has a protein content which is higher, ounce for ounce than that of eggs. Protein is an essential part of our bodies, comprising a large part of our organs and tissues, as well as skin, hair and nails. Acai proves to be a great source of protein for the body.

2. Acai helps the body to detoxify - something for which it has been used for centuries.

3. Acai enhances muscle function and recovery following workouts thanks to its mineral and amino acid content. Which makes it a great supplement for those that exercise.

4. Acai's lipid content boosts your energy level - whether you play sports or just have a busy life, acai has the extra energy you need.

5. The acai berry can help to regulate stress levels.

6. The acai berry contains antioxidants and has anti-inflammatory properties which make it very beneficial in supporting fertility and sexual health. Who needs viagra when we can take acai...

7. Acai's compliment of vitamins and minerals strengthen the immune system, leading to overall better health.

8.Acai's antioxidant content can reduce the effects of aging by protecting your cells from free radicals.

9.The antioxidants in acai can also help to prevent prostate enlargement.

10. The high calcium content of the acai berry helps improve bone health, preventing fractures and osteoporosis. Acai does a body good!

11. Acai's calcium content also helps reduce menstrual pain and associated menstrual bloating - welcome news to women.

12. Acai is very good for your heart. The anthocynanins (such as 3-glucoside) help your body to produce the nitric oxide that it needs to ensure good circulation and the polyphenols found in this nutritious little berry are powerful heart-healthy antioxidants.

13. The essential fatty acids in acai help to boost your levels of good (HDL) cholesterol, while lowering bad (LDL) cholesterol.

14. The sterols and anthocyanins in acai help to maintain circulatory health, strengthening arteries and veins and regulating blood pressure.

15. Acai's benefits to the circulatory system include strengthening the capillaries, which can help to prevent diabetes related retinopathy, which can lead to blindness. Acai is also beneficial for diabetics in that it is a low GI food which can improve the glucose and lipid levels in diabetics.

16. As a low GI food, acai also helps to control appetite, making acai a great food for people trying to lose weight.

17. Acai boosts immune function - the Journal of Sports Medicine recently published a study showing that the beta-sitoserol content in acai regulates lymphocyte function and counteracts immune suppression.

18. Acai's antioxidant properties also help support your immune system by preventing damage done to cells by free radicals.

19.The antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal properties of acai help to prevent disease.

20. Acai has anti-mutagenic properties; it can prevent DNA damage from mutagenic and carcinogenic compounds.

21. The high fiber content of acai supports healthy digestive function.

22. Acai can help treat acid reflux disease (GERD). The anti-inflammatory properties and antioxidants in acai can help to repair the damage done by GERD and can also reduce stomach acidity.

23. Acai can help fight the ulcer causing bacteria H. pylori, helping to treat ulcers.

24. The anti-inflammatory properties of acai can control the symptoms of Chron's disease.

25. Acai helps keep your skin looking smoother and more youthful - acai's anthocyanins and phytosterols protect skin and connective tissues like collagen from wrinkles and damage.

26. Acai is rich in antioxidants, which lowers risk of some types of cancers, including stomach, lung, skin and breast cancers.

27. Acai's anti-inflammatory properties can help reduce arthritis pain.

28. Acai's anti-inflammatory properties can also help to alleviate the symptoms of asthma.

29. A 2004 Archives of Neurology study found that a diet rich in vitamin C and in vitamin E (note: both vitamins are abundant in acai berries) can reduce your risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.

30. Acai contains the vitamin C and beta carotene your eyes need for proper function; vitamins which also help to prevent macular degeneration in diabetics.

31. Acai is beneficial to dental health as well - the calcium content helps strengthen and whiten teeth, as well as helping to prevent gingivitis and other diseases of the gums.

32. The omega-3 fatty acids in acai help maintain mental clarity and alertness.

33. Acai's B vitamins help you to get a better night's sleep, lower stress and produce the appropriate levels of neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin.

34. Acai Promotes overall good health and wellness.

35. While acai does not cure diseases per se, acai helps the body to heal itself by supplying it woith the nutrition it needs to support good health. - 17269

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6 Killer Tips to Get Trim Naturally and Stay that Way

By Thong M. Dao

If you're hoping to lose fat, there's a pretty good chance you've tried a lot of methods. Unfortunately, the vast majority of people who are unhappy with their bodies don't succeed in their fat loss goals. That's because they're often using gimmicky weight loss plans that can actually damage their bodies! If you're in this boat, and you don't know how to get rid of the fat while staying healthy, here are a few tips that might get you on the right track.

1. Eat only when you are hungry. Some of us have the tendency to eat whenever we see food. We use parties as an excuse to stuff our selves. Understand that the effect of a whole week of dieting can be wasted by just one day's party food. Whenever you are offered something to eat do not decline it completely bit just break of a nibble so that you appear to mind your manners and at the same time can watch your diet.

2. Vegetables make excellent snacks. These could get you over the hunger pangs when you're suffering them. Carrots are good since they satisfy cravings and they're packed with nutrients.

3. Try to stick to black tea and coffee. Black tea or coffee can actually be good for you. But personally I would like to recommend tea rather than coffee. The caffeine in the coffee is not really good for you because it can make you irritable.

4. Make certain to burn off those extra energy by the end of the week. When you feel that you've eaten more energy than you should have within the week, this occurs you know, then be sure that you work away these additional energy by the end of the week.

5. Don't skip meals. You should have, at the very least, three meals a day, but preferably five small meals. This will keep you from getting hungry during the day and overeating out of starvation.

6. Don't eat more than one egg yolk per day. It is best if you can reduce your egg yolk intake to three a week. - 17269

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Reishi Extract and Joint Health

By Dr. Markho Rafael

The use of Reishi as an herbal remedy dates back longer than any other medicinal mushroom in historic literature. The first written record can be found in Shen Nong's Herbal Classic, dating back two thousand years. Reishi (a.k.a. Ganoderma or Ling Zhi) is often considered a panacea " cure-all " in Traditional Chinese Medicine. While it may not be literally accurate to refer to Reishi as a cure-all, the fact that it appears to act as an inflammation modulator may be one of many reasons for its age-old veneration in the Orient.

Reishi frequently gets prescribed in Traditional Chinese Medicine for its analgesic, anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic effects. Much recent research appears to validate this traditional use, as the majority of studies have yielded positive results. While looking through published articles on Reishi and arthritis, I found only two studies that showed inconclusive results, both of which were conducted by the same team of researchers. (1,2)

A U.S. based study conducted in 1993 showed that a water extract of Ganoderma lucidum (Reishi) exhibited "significant anti-inflammatory activity." (4) Ten years later, an Indian research paper was published which stated that the use of Reishi extract helped decrease inflammation in acute edema by 56% and in chronic edema by 60%. (3) Using the "Article References" link on this page, you will find references to seven additional research articles that confirm Reishi extract as a powerful anti-inflammatory agent. (5,6,7,8,9,10,11)

Other research has been conducted on Reishi extract that relate specifically to arthritis. In 2006, Kenneth Blum et al. published findings in support of both the effectiveness and safety of using Reishi extract for "joint health," providing "clinical evidence" to back up their claim. (12)

The same year, another study summarized findings that Reishi in combination with a Chinese herbal remedy known as San-Miao-San demonstrated a positive "immunomodulatory effect" on rheumatoid arthritis. (13)

The answer as to how, precisely, Reishi extract accomplishes this "immunomodulatory effect" may have been given by another Chinese study the following year, which states that an isolated Reishi polysaccharide peptide "significantly inhibited" RASF, which is an indicator of rheumatoid arthritis. (RASF stands for "Rheumatoid Arthritis Synovial Fibroblasts.") (14)

Several additional papers have been published that summarize positive results in the use of Reishi against arthritis. (15,16,17) One even states that Reishi compares favorably to prednisone, albeit without side effects. (18) On the other hand, a separate study found that supplementing with Reishi helped balance the side effects of prednisolone* that were experienced by some patients, including protein in the urine and cell toxicity. (19) (Prednisolone is the active compound of prednisone, which gets broken down by the liver and converted to prednisolone.)

In conclusion, the body of research does seem to support the use of Reishi extract in cases of arthritis. Remember that it is important to always work with a licensed medical practitioner when using any herb for medicinal purposes.

Note: "Reishi" is the Japanese name on the mushroom known in English as "Varnished Conk." It actually encompasses several closely related species, the most common of which is Ganoderma lucidum (Common Reishi or Red Reishi). This species can be found in the U.S. but is much more common in South East Asia. It is also well known by its Chinese name, Ling Zhi.

Other species frequently referred to as Reishi include: Ganoderma tsugae (Hemlock Reishi, common on Hemlocks in Eastern U.S.), Ganoderma sinense ("Black Reishi), Ganoderma resinaceum (Red Reishi), Ganoderma japonicum (Purple Reishi) and Ganoderma neo-japonicum (no common name or simply Reishi). - 17269

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