The results, after two years were that people in both groups lost the same amount of weight.

(But now read the really interesting part.)

The group on the low-carb diet enjoyed a significant decrease in blood pressure, cholesterol and triglycerides and had an increased in HDL (good cholesterol) of more than 20%.  And this is not the first study of this type.  In 2003, an almost identical study was performed and the results then were equally impressive and very much the same.

In the Temple study, participants on the diet low in carbohydrates were limited only as to their consumption of carbohydrates. There were no restrictions on the type of protein they ate or the amount of animal fat they consumed. They could eat all the animal fats they wanted.

So the real question is, would you rather lose weight and improve your health or simply lose weight?

For a diet low in carbohydrates that will fit your lifestyle take a look at these plans:  the G.I. Diet (Glycemic Index Diet), The Diet Solution, the Idiot Proof Diet, South Beach Diet, The Mediterranean Diet and the Zone Diet.

A diet to lose belly fat is one that aims at achieving overall body fitness, and its success depends on several factors.

The diversity of foods matters!

It is well known that restrictive diets create a negative response from the body; the best solution is to find a balanced approach to weight loss. There are many negative consequences to food restrictions. Little food that you don't like is a crime against your body! No wonder you can't lose fat!

Eat five or six meals per day, with small portions and a diversity of foods. There is an abundance of food recipes available and your choices are virtually countless. You take nutrients and therefore energy from food, and the absence of these nutrients from the diet will alter your physical condition and your health for the worse.

Diet and training support each other!

No diet to lose belly fat will work unless it combines training with diet. A healthy life depends on the quality of the lifestyle, and most people neglect this very important part of their existence.

Abdominal fat usually affects people with a sedentary lifestyle who also make poor food choices. There are lots of physical activities that can help you lose weight evenly and get in good shape. You can start a gym routine, join a dance class or do anything else that makes your muscles work harder.

Bad habits that favor overweight!

Alcohol is the main enemy of any diet to lose belly fat. Beer is a major trigger for abdominal obesity, which is why we call it 'beer belly'. Beer interferes with the functions of the liver and the pancreas, not to mention that it is very rich in calories. There is a close relationship between abdominal fat and diabetes. Watch out!

Quit drinking!
Quit smoking!
Sleep at least eight hours per night!
Do physical activities!
Think positive!
Eat healthy food!

...And you'll enjoy great fitness, a slender body and an incredible waist line!

(I.) Herbs have been used for more then 2,000 years to help remedy hair loss many years before traditional medicines have been established,. Below I have made a listing of traditional herbal remedies as a treatment for loss hair.

a) Shikakai

Acacia Concinna is actually a small shrub-like tree that grows in India. Its pod-like fruit is collected, dried after which grounded right into a fine powder. It's used to cleanse hair, and is recognized to promote hair regrowth and eliminate dandruff. As a result of these benefits, this powder was named shikakai meaning "fruit for the hair".

b) Grape seed extract

Grape seed extract is a very strong antioxidant that some use as a supplement or remedy to various conditions. It has high levels of vitamin E and essential fatty acids that are needed for maintaining hair regrowth and preventing hair loss.

c) Kirin Brewery new discovery

Japanese cosmetics company Shiseido working together with the Kirin Brewery has discovered a distinctive property of an extract of hops which will help to activate the melanocyte cells that generate hair pigment.

d) Saw palmetto

Saw palmetto helps to block the formation of 5-alpha reductase, an enzyme that causes the conversion of testosterone to DHT that creates hair loss.

e) Basil extracts

Basil Extract in the natural flowers from the basil plant activly works to quickly soothe and calm skin of the scalp.

f) Pumpkin Seed

Pumpkin seeds easily block DHT, which is responsible for genetic baldness. This common seed is loaded with zinc and magnesium that have the ability to block enzymes that yield DHT causing damage to follicles and leading to hair loss.

g) Buddleja Davidii Extract

Buddleja Davidii extract contain ingredients safeguarding your skin against toxic free radicals. It can also reduce skin aging and protect your skin against the damage caused from stresses and toxins.

h) Green Tea

Green tea contains the chemical globulin that helps to reduce levels of free testosterone, so that it can't be transformed into dihydrotestosterone (DHT) within the hair follicle.

Be sure to speak to your physician or dermatologist before taking any herb supplement.

IV. Traditionally Chinese herbs have been established for over 4000 years and have offered much success to avoid or cure diseases well before the discovery of western medicine. Hair Loss is directly related to kidney deficiency syndrome in Chinese traditional medicine. Those with hair loss problems especially in their early life might have a weak Kidney. Here are a few Chinese herbs that have been proven in treating hair loss and promoting hair growth, with these great hair loss prevention products.

a) Dong Quai

Traditionally, Chinese woman used Dong Quai to bring back blood cells and increase the circulation of oxygen in the bloodstream to cells after a period. Dong Quai contains phytoestrogen which enables you to block the androgen receptor site in results of blocking the conversion of testosterone to DHT, therefore reducing the danger of hair loss due to aging.

b) Ginseng

Ginseng has been said to achieve the power of reviving and energizing the body. It assists to to stimulate circulation of oxygen in your bloodstream towards the cells in our body and also the cells in our scalp.

c) Shou wu (polygonum)

Shou Wu is a polygonum multiflorum plant. It's now being used in conjuncture with other herbals, as an active component in shampoos and orally administered to prevent hair loss and also aiding the restoration of roots and output of new hair.

d) Psoralea seeds

Study shows that psoralea extract and contact with uv light will restore hair loss and promote hair re-growth having a 33% success rate.

e) Mulberry

Chinese herbalists believe that mulberry is a superb tonic for the kidney, liver and blood that provides more oxygen within the bloodstream as well as small blood vessels in the scalp.

f) Chinese Yam

Numerous successful research has been performed in examining the benefits of the Chinese yam. Chinese yam can help nourish the liver, kidney and blood in result of preventing baldness and promoting hair growth.

g) Green tea

Green tea containing catechins inhibit the enzyme 5-alpha-reductase that converts testosterone into hair-unfriendly DHT. So drinking great tea everyday is a very effective solution for male pattern baldness.

h) Chinese foxblove root

Chinese foxblove root contains cornus, the chemical that helps to nurture the kidney, liver and blood in response to promoting hair regrowth.

i) Wolf berry

One of several natural super foods has been used in traditional Chinese cooking. Wolf berry helps to eliminate toxins in your body in result of better function from the kidney, liver and blood which help to promote hair growth.

Traditional chinese medicine believes that the benefit of nourishing the kidney and blood tonic helps for healthy hair regrowth and preventing hair loss.

For more serious kinds of hair loss, focused hair loss help will be required, and there are a variety of various hair loss prevention products on the market to help with this common problem. It's generally easier to treat a hair loss problem in the beginning than after it has progressed, so it is important to seek the assistance you need as soon as you suspect there is a problem.

References:

1. nutraingredients.com/news/ng.asp?id=49692

2. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hair_loss

Next:

For More Free Information And For The Best Hair Loss Prevention Product On The Net.

When out purchasing an electrical fitness treadmill machine, there are several points that need be dealt with. The most important is, exactly where to place such a large piece of exercising gear? Depending on square footage plus design of your house, there are lots of spots you can put your treadmill that should be best for your workout routine.

If you are the kind of person that enjoys exercising on your own, positioning your electrical treadmill machine in the bedroom or maybe the basement may be a recommendation. These areas often provide some peace and quiet together with privacy from the rest of the property. Additionally, it will probably mean that your treadmill will remain out of high traffic places in your house. There is certainly an additional location that individuals have a tendency to overlook while positioning their treadmill machine, a garage. Dependant upon your set-up, a garage is frequently much cooler which can add itself to a much more comfortable exercise session.

Lastly, an even better location for the electric treadmill is actually your very own workout room. When setting up a space designed for exercise sessions, try to make the area appealing, as to protect against the dullness which sometimes comes from running. Furthermore, whilst most electrical treadmills do fold away, fix your own up where there is space for the treadmill motor to "breathe" because these devices have a tendency to get hot quickly. This usually suggests keeping the treadmill clear from any edges as well as up against a wall.

Therefore, when buying an electrical treadmill for your exercises is mostly no-brainer, you should consider where you are likely to put it. By simply choosing the correct space in your own home, you can add some enjoyment to your workout and prevent the need to shift great piece of exercise apparatus anytime soon.

Excess Cortisol May Be the Underlying Cause

Cortisol is your body's stress hormone.  The more stress your body is under the higher your cortisol levels will go.  Often you can tell by looking at a person just how high their cortisol level is.  People with high cortisol levels will typically have significant belly fat, and often have a puffy face, hands and feet or thinning hair.

When your cortisol levels are high your body keeps sugar (energy) circulating in the blood so just in case you need a sudden burst of energy it will be there ready to be use.  (That's part of the fight or flight in a human's makeup.)  It does this by making your cells less able to absorb insulin.

The problem is, when the cells become less able to absorb insulin they often have trouble absorbing T3 thyroid, as well as a whole host of other things.  When your cortisol level goes up, you begin to suffer from insulin resistance (type 2 diabetes) and often have the symptoms of hypothyroidism – even though your thyroid levels are within the normal range.

How to Naturally Lower Your Cortisol and Raise Your Thyroid Levels

There are a number of things you can do to lower your cortisol levels, optimize and balance your thyroid production, and increase your cells' ability to absorb:

If you care about how you look – at all – you don’t want a fat belly. Though often no matter how much you diet there it is. You may lose weight in your arms and legs, but your belly is right out there in front, begging to be seen. What are you doing wrong? Why can’t you seem to lose that belly?

Well, insulin resistance and cortisol may be giving you a fat belly you don't really want. The reason for this visceral or belly fat, may be cortisol. The more elevate the cortisol levels, the bigger the belly. That’s because high levels of cortisol stimulate the storage of fat around the belly and abdomen.

And while there are a number of reasons your cortisol levels may be high, one of the biggest is insulin. It seems cortisol and insulin are fast friends. The more insulin you have in your bloodstream, the more cortisol you have. As your insulin goes up, so does your cortisol.

OK, So What is Insulin Resistance Anyway?

Insulin resistance is where your body has produced adequate amounts of insulin to handle the foods you eat, but is unable to absorb the insulin into cells in order to use sugar (carbohydrates) as fuel.

It's a rather dastardly problem.  You have all this muscle fuel available, but rather than using that fuel, it continues circulating around your body in your bloodstream - doing damage to your arteries - while your muscles must now cannibalize themselves to keep going.

You see, the cortisol, has prevented your body from absorbing the insulin, and instead is breaking down the muscle protein into amino acids which can be converted into glucose (fuel) by the liver.  You are now left with less fat burning muscle, and more cortisol that gives you a fat belly.

So, What Can You Do To Reduce That Fat Belly?

• Make sure you avoid and include all the items listed in the article Insulin Resistance And The Cortisol Connection.
• Begin supplementing your diet with at least an extra 1000 mg ascorbic acid vitamin C and 1 Tablespoon of a Omega 3 Fatty Acid like Carlson's Cod Liver Oil.  The ascorbic acid should be taken 500 mg at a time, 2 to 3 times daily.
• Overall dietary carbohydrate reduction.

For the best deal and $5 off your 1st order of vitamin C and Carlson's Cod Liver Oil, follow the link to iHerb.com.

Related Posts Insulin Resistance And The Cortisol Connection Thyroid and Weight Gain Get Rid Of Belly Fat And Get Rid Of Love Handles Which Is The Healthiest Diet To Follow

]]> http://www.top10-diets.com/cortisol-belly-fat/feed/ 0 http://www.top10-diets.com/caffeine-free-drinks-which-one-tastes-best/ http://www.top10-diets.com/caffeine-free-drinks-which-one-tastes-best/#comments Tue, 21 Jul 2009 17:41:10 +0000 BJ http://www.top10-diets.com/?p=241

OK, first I'm going to admit this is a rather subjective issue. The Caffeine Free Drinks I think tastes best may not be the one you think tastes best but . . . We're gonna give it a go anyway. I actually like the taste of water myself.

But first lets look at some reason why you'd want to give up caffeine in the first place. There are a lot of reasons to give up caffeine. The original question that had me thinking about giving up caffeine was from a young woman who had recently found out she was pregnant.

Most doctors recommend you do away with caffeine while you're pregnant for the safety of your unborn child. One of the reasons is because caffeine crosses the placenta to your baby. So when you have caffeine, your baby has caffeine.

But that caffeine we love so much is a stimulant - it increases blood pressure and heart rate. It also works as a diuretic, increasing the frequency of urination and dehydrating the body. So for starters, if you're drinking soda because you're thirsty, you're going to get even more thirsty - rather than less.

Notice how all the diets you find tell you to give up caffeine? Your body needs fluid to burn that fat and to remove the toxins you build up when you burn the fat. If you are dehydrated, you can't lose weight very well.

But sometimes you just want a soda. Sometimes you just need something that makes you feel like you're not completely deprived of all the things you once loved. So which one tastes best?

My first choice would be a soda that never had caffeine in it in the first place. Like a Sprite or 7-Up. I like Fresca, which is a diet drink so it would be unsuitable for anyone who is pregnant, but these drinks all taste good for the very occasional soda. Sparkling (carbonated) flavored water is also a great choice. The brand La Croix is a favorite of many - and there are a ton of flavors.

Both Coke and Pepsi have caffeine free choices, though I'll have to admit without the caffeine these two giants lose their punch. To me, I'd rather have water than either of these. But that's just my opinion. There may be others out there who love these two as caffeine free.

There are also caffeine free Root Beers. Many have said these are quite good and if you like Root Beer, this might be an option as well. And of course decaffeinated coffee is a good choice too. Naturally decaffeinated coffee would be best but remember, decaffeinated coffees still have a little residual caffeine in them.

Ok, sometimes no matter how well you plan or how dedicated you are to your diet, you've just got to have a little something sweet. Now I'm not advocating eating these type things all the time, but sometimes it's a case of "I'm GONNA have a treat or SOMEBODY is gonna pay!"

For times like these, there are the Atkins Endulge Bars. They're sweet but without spiking your blood sugar. (That means even though you've endulged, you won't have to pay over and over again over the next few days with monster food cravings.) Here are some great prices on Atkins Endulge Bars:

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GIFTShip Popular ATKINS ENDULGE Caramel Nut Chew Bars

$91.99

24d 4h 22m

GIFTShip Popular ATKINS ENDULGE Chocolate Coconut Bars

$91.99

24d 4h 21m

Atkins Chocolate Coconut Endulge Bars

$16.48

15d 4h 33m

Atkins Endulge Bars Chocolate Coconut 5 Bars 3Pk

$33.80

23d 17h 43m

Atkins Endulge Caramel Nut Chew Bars 34g 15 Pack

$34.47

19d 23h 51m

ATKINS ENDULGE Caramel Nut Chew Bar 12 12 oz Bars

$17.99

16d 14h 53m

Atkins Endulge Chocolate Coconut Bars 5 Bars

$6.09

15d 4h 37m

Atkins Peanut Caramel Cluster Endulge Bars 5 Bars

$6.09

15d 4h 33m

View Page:   1

For those on a low carb diet like such as The Atkins Diet or a reduced carb diet such as the G.I. Diet (Glycemic Index Diet),  Fat Loss 4 Idiots,  South Beach Diet, The Diet Solution, The Mediterranean Diet and the Zone Diet, a great low calorie meal replacement bar would be the Atkins Diet Bars.

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Nurtisystem Advanced lot of Lunches BONUS Atkins bars

$.99

1d 19h 27m

120 ATKINS DARK CHOCOLATE ALMOND COCONUT CRUNCH BARS

$89.95

18h 6m

44 Atkins Assorted BarsFREE

$40.76

1d 4h 10m

60 ATKINS DARK CHOCOLATE ALMOND COCONUT CRUNCH BARS

$45.95

18h 7m

NEW ATKINS DARK CHOCOLATE ALMOND COCONUT CRUNCH BARS

$4.35

18h 14m

Atkins Chocolate Peanut Butter Advantage Bars

$27.16

15d 14h 48m

79 ATKINS DAY BREAK CRANBERRY ALMOND BARS 12OZ EACH

$70.00

29d 4h 33m

54 ATKINS DAY BREAK BARS CHOCOLATE OATMEAL FIBER BAR

$60.00

29d 1h 12m

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And while I wouldn't recommend eating these bars on a regular basis, I call them my emergency bars and only have them when I have little or no other option, such as when I'm traveling or some last minute emergency won't allow me to have a proper meal.

This is a great source for these bars, and you will save quite a bit of money ordering here rather than going to your local Wal-mart or grocery store.

About one in three people are adversely affected by changes in altitude, and are in danger of suffering some form of mountain sickness. And though it is usually not dangerous, it can be and may even be fatal if you fail to recognize the signs and take appropriate action.

The first thing you should know is the symptoms. Mountain sickness usually includes headache, nausea and lethargy. It’s not unlike having a nasty hangover from alcohol. Because the air pressure is less, your body is having difficulty gaining the amount of oxygen it needs to function properly and must become accustom to the decreased amount available.

In addition, because the air is usually drier at the elevated heights, you become dehydrated much more easily and there are some heights at which your body will have a reduced amount of nutrient absorption.

There are more severe symptoms such as loss of coordination, breathlessness and mental confusion which are beyond the scope of this post, and should you find you are suffering from any of these you should get to a lower elevation and get immediate medical attention. But we are going to assume we’re all talking about simple Mountain Sickness.

If you are one of the ‘lucky third’ who finds acclimatizing less than a snap, here are a few things you should do to help decrease the time it takes for you to be your old lovable self:

• Load up on carbohydrate foods before you leave, and continue to priorities them when you're at higher altitude.
• Drier air means you're at more risk of dehydration at high altitude. Drink more water!
• Your body will need more calories than normal. Remember, it has to work harder to extract the oxygen you need. Add on extra carbohydrate foods and snacks.
• Eat smaller, more frequent meals which allows for more constant fuel for your body, while not increasing your digestive burdens on the body.
• Proteins are more difficult for your body to digest. Eat more starchy and sweet foods. While you are acclimating is not the time for low-carb dieting.
• Vitamin E (tocotrienol), branch-chain amino acid supplements and digestion enzymes at each meal may be helpful.
• Eat less salt. Salt will make you retain fluid and make your body work harder to stay oxygenated and hydrated.
• Don't drink alcohol. Alcohol dehydrates the body and being your body is having difficulty in this area to begin with, try to avoid making things worse.
• Until your body becomes acclimatized, try to avoid strenuous exercise or putting any undue stress on the heart or lungs.