Showing posts with label diet. Show all posts
Showing posts with label diet. Show all posts

Friday, July 29, 2011

How Biotin Hair Growth Products Can Help You Grow Thicker Hair Faster

How Biotin Hair Growth Products Can Help You Grow Thicker Hair Faster
By: Alexandra Willmot

While a growing number of African-American women use Biotin hair growth products, girls and ladies of all races are turning to them also. The reason they are so popular among the first group is that black hair growth is slow. I am sharing this advice for the benefit of all women, and why not, also men.

To care for your hair from the inside and make sure your vitamin B7 level is at an optimum level, you can take a daily dosage of biotin hair growth tablets or caps. The best way to do this is to take half at breakfast and half at supper. Always drink good quantities of water during the day. While many women take 5000 mcg daily, what is right for you depends on many factors. Get professional help if in doubt.

If you haven't heard about co-washing your hair, you should start using this technique. Simply replace your shampoo two or three times a week with a good Biotin hair growth conditioner like Mill Creek Biotin conditioner. Apply a generous amount for good moisturization.

When you do co-wash or apply oil to your hair in addition to other biotin hair growth products, use a silk cap overnight or for a few hours to retain a maximum amount of moisture. Make sure it is made of silk.

If you haven't replaced your ordinary shampoo yet, get one with Biotin. Although its effect on your hair will be less than your Biotin hair growth supplements, the B7 vitamins will help you provide good moisture to your hair, making it look healthier, shinier and thicker.

Once a week you should make it a habit to apply a moisturizing oil like coconut oil to your hair. By wearing the cap described above for a few hours, your hair will saturate itself with the oil's moisture and get an additional boost for its growth.

As an extra bonus tip, an overall healthy diet and lifestyle work wonders in addition to the 5 tips above. Why? Well, a healthy body that gets a good level of activity will process supplements and the vitamins contained in the Biotin hair growth products more completely and faster.

Finally, if your don't get your desired results straight away, do not despair. You should keep up using these Biotin hair growth products for at least 3 to 4 months consistently before seeing results. You can also try varying the amount of supplement you take or increase the level of exercise.


Author Resource: My name is Alexa "Honeybee" Willmot and I am the proud owner of the Biotin Hair Growth organization and website. I advise people on what Biotin hair growth products can help them grow longer, healthier and thicker hair.


Article From Article Directory Online: Free Online Article Submission

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Anti Aging Supplements: Do They Work?

Anti Aging Supplements: Do They Work?
By: Jim Terroirier

Gone are the days when one would sit back and watch helplessly as his or her face wrinkles up. It is a terrible feeling to wake up one morning only to find your face full of wrinkles. Such can actually prove to be very disastrous. Everyone desires to have a younger, beautiful and natural look. This makes one feel very vibrant and energetic with very high self esteem. The anti aging products have gained in demand over the recent times for many striving to either retain or maintain that vibrant and youthful look.

Using Anti Aging Supplements To Fight Wrinkles

In the market today, there are a myriad of products that promise excellent anti aging results. One may be faced with a rather daunting task as he or she tries to pick out the best product. It is worth noting that the anti aging supplements are made available in two forms that include the natural and synthetic types. Poor eating habits have got adverse effects on ones health. The bad effects are both internal and external and thus it is necessary and sufficient to eat the right kind of foods. In the situation that one has got very hectic schedules of work, travel may become eminent and thus one may not eat right. The anti aging supplements can be utilized to provide support to ones diet in a bid to keep the wrinkles away and thus maintain a vibrant and young look. The use of supplements should not be considered as a way out but in reality they offer great support to a person's general health and skin beauty or youthfulness.

Fight Aging With Antioxidants Food Supplements

Pollution has become common order today with the poisonous and harmful chemicals affecting people's health, especially the skin. These chemicals have got serious effects on our skins and thus hasten the ageing process. Smoking is yet another element that has got adverse effects on ones health. It has serious effects on ones aging process and thus should be avoided at all costs. However, for those who are exposed to the above factors, they should consider utilizing the anti aging supplements that will be suitable for their health. It is important to point out that the antioxidants have got very positive effects when it comes to anti aging and thus one should consume foods that are rich in these elements. Anti oxidants play a very important role when it comes to decreasing the radicals that are free and are located in the interior of the body. A good example for powerful anti oxidants are green leafy vegetables and fruits.

Sufficient Sleep Can Care For Aging

For those who don't sleep enough, they tend to appear older. Lack of adequate sleep is very harmful to ones health and makes one feel much older and exhausted. For those who intend to look younger then getting just enough sleep is highly recommended. Sleep provides one with an avenue to relax and recollect him or herself. The energy levels are also taken to very high levels and the skin cells are known to regenerate while a person is asleep and calm in a comfortable environment.


Author Resource:-> Using Anti aging supplements like HGH advanced and Genf20 Plus can be a great way to maintain that youthful appearance but should be utilized with proper eating habits.


Article From Article Directory Online: Free Online Article Submission

Copyright (c) 2011 Jim Terroirier






Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Weight Loss Plan for Women Over 40 - Two Tips to Melt Stubborn Belly Fat

Weight Loss Plan for Women Over 40 - Two Tips to Melt Stubborn Belly Fat

Weight Loss Plan for Women Over 40 - Two Tips to Melt Stubborn Belly Fat

By Monique Hawkins

Many women over 40 know that it can be more challenging to lose belly fat now that they are older. So, some women are searching for a excellent weight loss plan for women over 40 to start to help them loss that unsightly and unhealthy belly fat. Who wouldn't love to see that fat just melt effortlessly away? However, everybody knows very little happens without some effort. Now, a new tool has been found that can help in the battle against abdominal fat.

An accumulation of deep belly fat, known as visceral adipose tissue, has been linked to increased inflammation throughout the body. This, in turn, is a risk factor for developing cardiovascular problems such as high blood pressure and excessive cholesterol levels in the bloodstream. Science is learning that the deep belly fat secretes damaging hormones that can alter the body's metabolism. This can play a role in the development of type 2 diabetes and other chronic diseases including cancer.

Visceral adipose tissue lies beneath the abdominal muscles, close to the organs which makes it even more dangerous. It differs from subcutaneous fat which is the fat beneath the skin that helps insulate the body and serves as an energy storage tissue.

So, just looking slimmer is not the main reason for tackling the belly fat problem. Did you know that dangerous visceral adipose tissue can accumulate even in people with an acceptable Body Mass Index? You don't have to be overweight to have excess belly fat.

What to do to get rid of that stubborn belly fat? Well, routine exercise has been shown to greatly reduce belly fat and slow the accumulation of more. If you don't participate in regular activities that get the body moving, try starting a daily walking routine. While you are upping your calorie burning exercise, take a look at how much soluble fiber you get in your diet every day. It has been proven to slow the accumulation of deep belly fat.

Soluble fiber is found in fruits, vegetables, beans and whole grains. Food sources are always a better choice than supplements, since you are getting all kinds of valuable nutrients while eating the fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Insoluble fiber passes through the body pretty much intact. Its role is to add bulk to the fecal matter passing through the intestines, helping you stay regular.

Soluble fiber, on the other hand, forms a kind of gel in water and can bind to and usher substances, including fats, out of the digestive tract. It helps lower cholesterol levels, normalizes blood sugar, and slows the accumulation of belly fat. One of the easiest you can do is to grab an apple, make some oatmeal, or have a tasty bowl of herb-filled brown rice and beans. These are excellent sources of soluble fiber.

If you are a woman and currently, seeking a weight loss plan for women over 40 that you can begin to follow, try doing these two simple things: exercising and eating more soluble fiber. If you do, you will be starting off on the right track!

Most people who want to lose weight look for get thin quick tips, want to learn how to lose weight effectively, and gotta know how to lose fat quick. If this sounds like you, click here to visit my "Lose Weight Really Fast Tips" blog at Lose Weight Fast and Easy

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Monique_Hawkins

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Tomato Juice Can Reduce Osteoporosis, Claims New Research

Tomato Juice Can Reduce Osteoporosis, Claims New Research

Naturally- Rich In Antioxidants, Carotenoids, Phytochemicals, The New Study Demonstrates Benefits For Supporting Bone And Joint Health...

Tomato juice can significantly increase the presence of cell-protecting antioxidants that help to fight against osteoporosis, according to new research. Reporting in Osteoporosis International, calcium researchers at the University of Toronto (UT) claim that 30mg of lycopene found in tomatoes, the equivalent to two glasses of tomato juice, is enough to help prevent the brittle-bone disease.

Osteoporosis is characterized by low bone mass, which leads to an increase risk of fractures, especially the hips, spine and wrists. An estimated 75 million people suffer from it in Europe, the US and Japan. Women are four times more likely to develop osteoporosis than men and previous research indicates that diabetes decreases bone turnover that is associated with impaired osteoblastic maturation and function. Boosting bone density in high-risk and post-menopausal women could ease
the burden of osteoporosis.

Lycopenes - High Potency Antioxidant Power!
Lycopene is the red pigment in tomatoes and several fruits. According to the University of Toronto scientists, it is a potent carotenoid, a group of naturally occurring pigments essential for plant growth with a high ability to quench singlet oxygen.

Due to this ability to decrease oxidative stress, lycopene has been associated with a decreased risk of chronic diseases.

According to the researchers, no intervention studies have been published demonstrating the effect of the antioxidant lycopene on bone, and that the objective of the study thus was to determine whether lycopene would act as an antioxidant to decrease oxidative stress parameters that result in decreased bone turnover markers.

Methodology and Evaluating Results
Post-menopausal women aged 50 to 60 were restricted from consuming anything containing lycopene for a month. The participants were split into four groups over four months. Each group of participants either consumed a 15mg lycopene supplement, a glass of tomato juice naturally containing 15mg
of lycopene, a gourmet Japanese tomato juice with 35mg of lycopene or a placebo.

Serum collected after the washout, 2 and 4 months of supplementation, was assayed for cross-linked aminoterminal N-telopeptide, carotenoid content, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), lipid, and protein oxidation. By the end of the initial lycopene-free month, in every participant, "There was an
increased reobsorption of bone. In other words, within a month, the participants were more prone to the risk of osteoporosis," explained the researchers from Calcium Research Laboratory who conducted the study.

After four months, results showed that lycopene-supplementation had significantly increased serum
lycopene compared to the placebo group. The lycopene groups had significantly increased antioxidant capacity, decreased oxidative stress parameters and decreased bone reobsorption markers.

The results of the study showed a significant increase in serum lycopene after supplementation with juice or lycopene capsules, which resulted in a decrease in the bone resorption marker NTx in postmenopausal women:

"This reduction in NTx may be due to the ability of the absorbed lycopene to reduce the oxidative stress parameters in these women. Our findings are the first to show that lycopene intervention, given in capsule or juice form, supplying at least 30 mg/day, may decrease the risk of osteoporosis by decreasing oxidative stress and bone resorption." concluded the researchers.

Source: Osteoporosis International (published online)
"Supplementation with the antioxidant lycopene significantly
decreases oxidative stress parameters and the bone resorption
marker N-telopeptide of type I collagen in postmenopausal women"

Editor's Note: This article is not intended to provide medical advice,

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Live Longer and Loose Weight...at the Same Time!

Live Longer and Loose Weight...at the Same Time!

The Anti-aging diet was created by nutritionist to help you achieve these goals and it lets you eat 1,450 calories a day.

Health Benefits of Eating Fish

Nutrition Studies Explore Health Benefits of Eating Fish

Ongoing studies by U.S. agricultural scientists are helping to uncover new details about how omega-3 fatty acids, common in fish like salmon, may help protect people from chronic diseases such as diabetes.

Salmon and albacore tuna, for example are rich in healthful natural compounds known as omega-3 fatty acids.

Ongoing studies by U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) scientists are helping uncover new details about how these fish-oil components help protect us from chronic diseases.

In an early study, the researchers investigated the interplay of two omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil-DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and a third fatty acid, CLA (as trans-10, cis-12 CLA) available as dietary supplements.

The 8-week test indicated that DHA protected against two harmful side effects of CLA: CLA-induced insulin resistance and CLA-induced non-alcoholic fatty-liver disease. In contrast, EPA offered only partial protection against CLA-induced non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and provided no protection against insulin resistance. If untreated, insulin resistance can lead to diabetes. An estimated 36 million to 57 million Americans are insulin-resistant. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease can result in cirrhosis of the liver or liver cancer. The study appeared in a 2007 issue of Metabolic Syndrome and Related Disorders.

In related work, published in a 2009 article in Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care, researchers reviewed results from several dozen EPA and DHA studies. In their review, the scientists indicate that findings reported in the past decade have been inconsistent in regard to the effects of EPA and DHA on insulin resistance in human volunteers.

Their review underscores the need for new investigations, with larger numbers of volunteers. Nutrition scientists will conducts further studies to determine if dietary intake of DHA has the potential improve the ability of adult, pre-diabetic volunteers to use insulin efficiently, and thus help delay onset of diabetes. Such research might reveal more about the specific mechanisms of action that DHA and EPA use, the sites upon which they act in the human body, and the genes that control these mechanisms.

Source: October 2010 issue of Agricultural Research magazine, available online at: http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/archive/oct10/nutrition1010.htm.

Monday, May 9, 2011

Drinking Milk after Working Out is Beneficial

Drinking Milk after Working Out is Beneficial

Milk Helps Women Lose Fat

MILK POWER! Just 2 Glasses A Day Tones Muscles and Helps Keep The Fat Away In Women

Women who drink two large glasses of milk a day after their weight-lifting routine gained more muscle and lost more fat compared to women who drank sugar-based energy drinks, a McMaster study has found.

The study appears in the June issue of Medicine and Science in Sport and Exercise. "Resistance training is not a typical choice of exercise for women," say researchers in the Department of Kinesiology at McMaster University. "But the health benefits of resistance training are enormous: It boosts strength, bone, muscular and metabolic health in a way that other types of exercise cannot."

A previous study showed that milk increased muscle mass and fat loss in men. This new study was more challenging because women not only steer clear of resistance training they also tend to steer away from dairy products based on the incorrect belief that dairy foods are fattening.

"We expected the gains in muscle mass to be greater, but the size of the fat loss surprised us," said the researchers. "We're still not sure what causes this but we're investigating that now. It could be the combination of calcium, high-quality protein, and vitamin D may be the key, and. conveniently, all of these nutrients are in milk.

Over a 12-week period, the study monitored young women who did not use resistance-training exercise. Every day, two hours before exercising, the women were required not to eat or drink anything except water. Immediately after their exercise routine, one group consumed 500ml of fat free white milk; the other group consumed a similar-looking but sugar-based energy drink. The same drinks were consumed by each group one hour after exercising.

The training consisted of three types of exercise: pushing (e.g. bench press, chest fly), pulling (e.g. seated lateral pull down, abdominal exercises without weights), and leg exercises (including leg press, seated two-leg hamstring curl). Training was monitored daily one on one by personal trainers to ensure proper technique.

"The women who drank milk gained barely any weight because what they gained in lean muscle they balanced out with a loss in fat" they explained. "Our data show that simple things like regular weightlifting exercise and milk consumption work to substantially improve women's body composition and health.

Funding for the study was provided by McMaster University, CIHR, and the Dairy Farmers of Canada. Story Source: McMaster University, Journal Reference:Body Composition and Strength Changes in Women with Milk and Resistance Exercise. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 2010;

Sunday, May 8, 2011

Anti Aging Diet – Five Super Foods That Will Keep You Feeling and Looking Younger

Absolutely FABULOUS Article on Anti-aging Nutrition:

Anti Aging Diet – Five Super Foods That Will Keep You Feeling and Looking Younger

An anti aging diet that consists of some readily available super foods can make you age very gracefully! Here are the top five some super foods that can slow down your aging process considerably:

Berries
Garlic
Avocado
Nuts
Red Wine

Read more and get the hows and whys HERE

What is the healthiest cooking oil?: Oils And Butter

What is the healthiest cooking oil?: Oils And Butter

What is the healthiest cooking oil?: Susan Silberstein & Marilyn Joyce (Health and Nutrition Educator and Executive Director, Center for Advancement in Cancer Education)

Saturday, May 7, 2011

How To Use Olive Oil As A Home Remedy (EVO)

How To Use Olive Oil As A Home Remedy

In ancient Greece, Homer called olive oil liquid gold. Thousands of years later, we're still using nature's liquid elixir to cook, clean and self medicate. Here are some of the top olive oil remedies to help you live like a mythical hero.

New Omega-3 Research Shows The Benefits

New Omega-3 Research Shows The Benefits Of These Nutritional Fish Oils For Cardiovascular Health

Daily supplements of the omega-3s EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) may improve blood pressure levels in slightly overweight teenage boys. Blood pressure reductions in order of 3 mmHg were observed following 16 weeks of consumption of omega-3 fortified bread by overweight boys going through their adolescent growth spurt, according to new findings from Copenhagen University and the Technical University of Denmark.

"A blood pressure decrease of about 3 mmHg corresponds to a [greater than] 15 percent reduction in the risk of stroke at a whole population level in adults," wrote the researchers in The Journal of Pediatrics.

"Blood pressure has been shown to track into adulthood, with children and adolescents with high blood pressure more likely to suffer from hypertension later in life. Thus, adolescents with blood pressure in the higher range can
be viewed as 'prehypertensive,' but whether the tracking of high blood pressure is a result of unhealthy diet and
exercise habits carried from childhood to adulthood or whether some programming of blood pressure occurs
during adolescence is not known," they added.

The heart health benefits of consuming oily fish, and the omega-3 fatty acids they contain, are well-documented,
being first reported in the early 1970s. To date, the polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) have been linked to improvements in blood lipid levels, a reduced tendency of thrombosis, blood pressure and heart rate mprovements, and improved vascular function.

Beyond heart health, omega-3 fatty acids, most notably EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic
acid), have been linked to a wide-range of health benefits, including reduced risk of certain cancers, good
development of a baby during pregnancy, joint health, and improved behaviour and mood.

Study Details
The new study extends our understanding of the cardiovascular benefits of the fatty acids, and involved 78 mildly overweight adolescent boys aged between 13 and 15. "We chose to recruit slightly overweight boys, because we wanted clear potential for improvement in the risk factors evaluated," explained the researchers.

At the end of the study the researchers recorded a significant increase in EPA and DHA levels in the red
blood cells of the omega-3 group of 1.2 and 6.7 percent, respectively, compared with increases of 0.6 and 4.1
percent in the control group.

In addition, systolic blood pressure was 3.8 mmHg lower following 16 weeks of omega-3-rich bread consumption,
compared with control, while diastolic blood pressure was 2.6 mmHg lower in the omega-3 group.

No changes in blood levels of triacylglycerol or insulin sensitivity.
Increases in HDL and non-HDL cholesterol levels were also recorded in omega-3 group of 5 and 7 percent,
respectively, compared with 2 and 0 percent in the control group.

"In this study, the non- HDL/HDL ratio, which is believed to be a better indicator of risk, was unaffected by the
treatment, and thus the net effect appears to be neutral," added the researchers.

Commenting on the potential mechanism to explain the apparent benefits, the researchers point to the competition between EPA/DHA and arachidonic acid (AA) in the synthesis of inflammation-related eicosanoids: AA derivatives may stimulate the constriction of blood vessels which would increase blood pressure, while EPA/DHA derivatives may inhibit this pathway.

Source: The Journal of Pediatrics September 2010, Volume 157, Issue 3,
Pages 395-400. "Effects of Fish Oil Supplementation on Markers of the Metabolic Syndrome"

Friday, May 6, 2011

All About Olive Oil (EVO)

Olive oil is an essential ingredient in any chef's kitchen. Learn more about how it should taste, where it's produced and how you should use it.



Olive Oil May Protect Against Liver Damage

Olive Oil May Protect Against Liver Damage


Olive oil compounds may protect against oxidative stress in the liver, according to a new study.

The research, published in Nutrition and Metabolism reports that subjects fed on a diet containing olive oil were partially protected from liver damage after being exposed to a moderately toxic herbicide known to deplete antioxidants and cause oxidative stress.

"Olive oil is an integral ingredient in the Mediterranean diet. There is growing evidence that it may have great health benefits including the reduction in coronary heart disease risk, the prevention of some cancers and the modification of immune and inflammatory responses," said a team of research scientists. "Here, we've shown that extra virgin olive oil and its extracts protect against oxidative damage of hepatic tissue," they added.

Oxidative Stress
In healthy people, the generation of reactive oxygen species generation (ROS) is counterbalanced by the action of antioxidant. However, oxidative damage caused by an imbalance in ROS and antioxidants is a major contributor to the development of many diseases including CVD, cancer and neurodegenerative disorders.

In experimental studies, olive oil and its phenolic compounds have shown strong antioxidant properties, with the authors noting growing evidence that it may have health benefits including the reduction in coronary heart disease risk, the prevention of some cancers and the modification of immune and inflammatory responses.

The new study explored the idea that, owing to its high content of natural antioxidants, olive oil could reduce oxidative damage in laboratory-controlled subjects.

Because the liver is not only the main target for phenolic antioxidants once absorbed from the gut but is also the major place for phenolic metabolism, the researchers stated that studies investigating the effect of antioxidant dietary phenolics on the liver should be given priority.

They tested the effect of dietary supplementation of olive oil and its phenolic fractions (hydrophilic or lipophilic) on oxidative stress and liver fatty acid composition of rats treated with the oxidative stress inducing herbicide 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D).

Decreased Damage
All subjects given 2,4-D were reported to show signs of significant liver damage. However, extra virgin olive oil and intake of its hydrophilic fractions were observed to induce a significant increase in antioxidant enzyme activity and decreased markers of liver damage.

The lipophilic fraction supplemented to 2,4-D- treated subjects was observed to not show any improvement in the liver oxidative status. The authors detected a marked improvement in the hepatic fatty acid composition of subjects supplemented with olive oil and both the hydrophilic and lipophilic fractions.

Protective Effect
The researchers concluded the protective effects of olive oil against oxidative damage are mainly related to the antioxidant potential of its hydrophilic fraction.

"The hydrophilic fraction of olive oil seems to be the effective one in reducing toxin-induced oxidative stress, indicating that hydrophilic extract may exert a direct antioxidant effect on hepatic cells," said the researchers.

"However, more detailed studies about the effect of antioxidant compounds separately and/or their interactions are necessary to substantiate these observations," they added,

Article Courtesy of Vitamin Power
Source: Nutrition & Metabolism Published online

Monday, May 2, 2011

High Protein/Low Starch - The Ultimate Diet from The New England Journal of Medicine

Eating More Protein and Less Refined Starch Is Critical for Effective Dieting, Major New Study Shows


A large-scale study called "Diogenes" has investigated the optimum dietary composition for preventing and treating obesity.

The results were recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine by researchers at the Faculty of Life Sciences (LIFE), University of Copenhagen.

If you want to lose weight, you should maintain a diet that is high in proteins with more lean meat, low-fat dairy products and beans and fewer refined starch calories such as white bread and white rice. With this type of diet, most people can also eat until they are full without counting calories and without gaining weight. Interestingly, this study also concludes that the official dietary recommendations are not sufficient for preventing obesity.

The objective of the Diogenes Study has been to compare the official dietary recommendations in Europe, including the Danish recommendations, with a diet based on the latest knowledge specifically about the importance of proteins and carbohydrates for appetite regulation.

A total of 772 European families participated, comprising 938 adult family members and 827 children. The overweight adults initially followed an 800 kcal/day diet for eight weeks, losing an average of 11 kg (approx. 24 lbs.) They were then randomly assigned to one of five different low-fat diet types which they followed for six months in order to test which diet was most effective at preventing weight regain. Throughout the project, the families received expert guidance from dietitians and were asked to provide blood and urine samples.

The design of the study comprised the following five diet types:
1) A low-protein diet (13% of energy consumed) with a high glycemic index (GI)*
2) A low-protein, low-GI diet
3) A high-protein (25% of energy consumed), low-GI diet
4) A high-protein, high-GI diet
5) A control group which followed the current dietary recommendations without special instructions regarding glycemic index levels

A high-protein, low-GI diet works best...

A total of 938 overweight adults with a mean body mass index (BMI) of 34 kg/sq m were initially placed on an 800-kcal-per-day diet for eight weeks before the actual diet intervention was initiated. A total of 773 adult participants completed this initial weight-loss phase and were then randomly assigned to one of five different diet types, where 548 participants completed the six-month diet intervention (completion rate of 71%).

Fewer participants in the high-protein, low-GI groups dropped out of the project than in the low-protein, high-GI group (26.4% and 25.6%, respectively, vs. 37.4%; P = 0.02 and P = 0.01 for the two comparisons, respectively). The initial weight loss on the 800-kcal diet was an average of 11.0 kg (approx. 24 lbs.)

The average weight regain among all participants was 0.5 kg (approx. 1.1 lbs), but among the participants who completed the study, those in the low-protein/high-GI group showed the poorest results with a significant weight gain of 1.67 kg (approx. 3.5 lbs)The weight regain was 0.93 kg (approx. 2 lbs) less for participants on a high-protein diet than for those on a low-protein diet and 0.95 kg less in the groups on a low-GI diet compared to those on a high-GI diet.

The children's study...

The results of the children's study have been published in a separate article in the American medical journal Pediatrics. In the families, there were 827 children who only participated in the diet intervention. Thus, they were never required to go on a diet or count calories, they simply followed the same diet as their parents. Approx. 45% of the children in these families were overweight. The results of the children's study were remarkable: In the group of children who maintained a high-protein, low-GI diet the prevalence of overweight dropped spontaneously from approx. 46% to 39% -- a decrease of approx. 15%.

Proteins and low-GI foods...

The Diogenes Study shows that the current dietary recommendations are not optimal for preventing weight gain among overweight people. A diet consisting of a slightly higher protein content and low-GI foods ad libitum appears to be easier to observe and has been documented to ensure that overweight people who have lost weight maintain their weight loss. Furthermore, the diet results in a spontaneous drop in the prevalence of overweight among their children.

About Glycemic Index...

The glycemic index is a measure of the ability of carbohydrates to increase blood glucose levels when absorbed in the body. Food with a low-glycemic index (LGI) causes blood glucose levels to increase more slowly and to lower levels compared to high-carbohydrate foods with a high glycemic index.

Drastic increases in blood glucose levels give rise to several potentially undesirable effects that can influence the body's metabolism as well as our ability to perform mentally. It is therefore most appropriate to maintain a diet that results in slow digestion and thus more stable blood glucose levels and greater satisfaction.

A diet with a high protein content contains many protein-rich foods such as lean meat, poultry, fish, eggs and low-fat dairy products. Legumes also contain high levels of protein, as do nuts and almonds. Proteins are significantly more filling than both carbohydrates and fat.

Recommendations and Special Requirements for a Low-Glycemic Diet...

The glycemic index applies to carbohydrate-containing foods. The recommendations are that some types of fruit may be consumed such as apples, pears, oranges, raspberries and strawberries. Other types should be eaten in only very limited amounts, including bananas (especially overripe bananas), grapes, kiwi, pineapple and melon. Nearly all vegetables are permitted, with the exception of corn, which should be limited. Carrots, beets and parsnip should preferably be eaten raw.

With regard to cereal-based foods (bread, grain, corn, hulled grains and breakfast products), the goal is to eat as many coarse and wholegrain foods as possible, such as wholegrain breads with many kernels, wholegrain pasta, whole oats and the special varieties of wholegrain cornflakes.

Potatoes should be cooked as little as possible. Try to stick to new potatoes, and it is a good idea to eat them cold. Avoid mashed potatoes and baked potatoes.

Pasta should be cooked "al dente" and is best eaten cold. Choose rice varieties such as brown rice, parboiled rice or basmati.

White bread without kernels, white rice and sugary breakfast products should be avoided. In general, sugar intake should be limited, not so much because of its GI but to avoid all those 'empty calories'.

Recommended GI values:

Over 70 -- high GI 55-70 -- medium GI Under 55 -- low GI High-GI foods can still be healthy and vice versa. Carrots, for instance, have a high GI (72), while chocolate has a low GI (49). Fats help decrease the absorption of sugar in the blood, which means that carbohydrate-containing foods and fat can have a low GI.

Example of a day's menu for a high-protein, low-GI diet:

If you want to maintain a high-protein, low-GI diet, here's a sampling of daily meals, comprised as follows:

Breakfast: Low-fat yogurt with muesli (without added sugar), wholegrain crispbread with low-fat cheese, and an orange.

Mid-Morning: Vegetable sticks and low-fat cheese sticks or low-fat cottage cheese.

Lunch: Wholegrain rye bread with lean meat, turkey or chicken cold cuts, mackerel, herring or sardines in tomato sauce and misc. vegetables.

Afternoon: Wholegrain rye bread with low-fat liver paté and cucumber.

Dinner: Stir-fried turkey with vegetables and wholegrain pasta; avocado salad with feta cheese and peas. It is best to drink water or low-fat milk with meals.

To summarize...

There is nothing particular about this diet with the exception of the above-mentioned limitations, special cooking instructions and the fact that certain vegetables should be eaten raw. This diet generally complies with the official dietary recommendations of eating plenty of fruit and vegetables, low-fat foods, plenty of fiber and limiting total sugar intake.

The study was conducted by eight European research centers including The Faculty of Life Sciences (LIFE)


Editor's Note: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

Saturday, April 30, 2011

Getting Fit Like a Celebrity

Getting Fit Like a Celebrity

Valerie Waters has been a personal trainer for nearly 20 years, and spent much of that time training some of the most popular celebrities in Hollywood. Hear her important advice for getting fit and in shape - it's exactly what she tells her clients.

Thursday, April 28, 2011

Multivitamin Use Linked to Fewer Heart Attacks for Women

Multivitamin Use Linked to Fewer Heart Attacks for Women


Daily Supplementation of Multiple Vitamins Minerals are Now Recognized as Being Beneficial For Supporting Cardiovascular Health.

Women who take a daily multivitamin may be at a reduced risk of heart attacks, according to new research.

The study, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, observed multivitamin use to be inversely associated with myocardial infarction in women with no history of cardiovascular disease. The researchers noted that the association grew stronger with long-term use, and was not affected by how often supplements were taken.

"From a public health point of view, it is important to evaluate whether multivitamins should be recommended to prevent myocardial infarction," stated the researchers from the Divisions of Nutritional Epidemiology at the Karolinska Institutet, Sweden.

The new research shows correlation and not causation, however, and the researchers noted that further research must be completed in order to confirm or refute their findings. If such findings supported this study's observation then it would be important to "clarify what composition of multivitamins (doses and ingredients included) and duration of use is needed to observe beneficial effects on myocardial infarction," wrote the researchers.

Multivitamin and mineral supplements are the most frequently used supplements in industrialized countries, where there is a common belief is that they ensure an adequate nutrient intake, which can help to prevent coronary heart disease.

Most multivitamins contain a wide spectrum of nutrients, including antioxidant vitamins, B vitamins, and minerals such as magnesium and selenium, all of which have been inversely related to heart disease by previous research.

Despite the widespread use of multivitamins, the authors noted the limited data available on the relationship between multivitamin use and coronary heart disease incidence, with only one previously published randomized controlled trial on low-dose multivitamin supplements and heart disease incidence, which showed no significant effects.

Some observational studies have associated multivitamin use with statistically significant effects on the risk of myocardial infarction, with a Dutch study finding a 51 percent lower risk of incidence in a prospective cohort study (American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 69, No. 2). Additionally, an American study observed combined use of multivitamins and supplements of vitamin A, C, or E to be associated with a 25 percent lower risk of coronary heart disease mortality.

The new study prospectively investigated the association between multivitamin use and myocardial infarction in a population of over 30,000 Swedish women between 49 and 83 years old.

Lower Risk

In women with no history of cardiovascular disease, the researchers observed that use of multivitamins alone, compared with no use of supplements: was associated with a 27 percent lower risk of myocardial infarction.

They found women using multivitamins together with other supplements had a 30 percent lower risk of myocardial infarction; however the use of supplements other than multivitamins was not significantly associated with such effects.

Researchers noted that the observed associations were similar among regular and occasional users of multivitamin supplements.

On the other hand, multivitamin use, alone or in combination with other supplements, was not statistically significantly associated with myocardial infarction in women with a history of cardiovascular disease.

The association between multivitamin use and myocardial infarction was seen to be stronger among women using multivitamins for more than five years.

Protective Effect?

Researchers suggested the potentially protective effects of multivitamins on myocardial infarctions may the due to antioxidant vitamins, such as vitamin C and vitamin E, and B vitamins and minerals included.

"Even if multivitamins contain low amounts of antioxidant vitamins they may be involved in mitigating the atherosclerosis process by scavenging free radicals," suggested the authors.

Source: American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (Published online) "Multivitamin use and the risk of myocardial infarction: a population-based cohort of Swedish women"
Article Courtesy of Vitamin Power

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

New Study Shows Cinnamon Effective In Regulating Blood Glucose and Blood Pressure

New Study Shows Cinnamon Effective In Regulating Blood Glucose and Blood Pressure...


Beneficial For Helping Control Diabetes and Hypertension

Blood pressure is defined as the amount of force required for the heart to circulate blood through the body.

Systolic blood pressure represents the maximal blood pressure during systole, and diastolic blood pressure the minimum pressure at the end of ventricular diastole.

Arterial blood pressure can be defined hemo-dynamically as the product of cardiac output and total peripheral resistance. Cardiac output is the main determinant of systolic pressure while peripheral resistance largely determines the level of diastolic pressure.

Hypertension is a cardiovascular disease characterized by elevation of blood pressure above arbitrary values considered normal for people of similar racial and environmental background. Hypertension affects the vasculature of all major organs (heart, brain, kidneys), and myocardial infarction and congestive heart failure account for the majority of deaths secondary to hypertension.

Today, cinnamon is commonly used for culinary and medicinal purposes. Native to Sri Lanka and India and is cultivated in parts of Africa, as well as southeastern India, Indonesia, the Seychelles, South America, Sri Lanka, and the West Indies.

In Chinese herbal medicine, cinnamon is one of the oldest remedies. It has been used in traditional treatment for diarrhea, alleviating pain and discomfort of arthritis, menstrual problems, yeast infections, colds, flu, toothache and digestive problems.

In more recent times, cinnamon is being researched for its effectiveness in treating diabetes, osteoporosis and cancer.

A study was performed to determine the effect of cinnamon on blood glucose and blood pressure. The researchers recruited 58 patients with type 2 diabetes average age 54 and were randomly assigned to receive either 2 g of cinnamon or placebo daily for 12 weeks. The results were mean systolic and diastolic pressures were significantly reduced in the cinnamon group.

Also, HbA1c was significantly reduced in the cinnamon group. There was also a significant reduction in fasting glucose, waist circumference and body mass in the cinnamon group and the changes were not as significant in the placebo group.

In conclusion, the intake of 2 g of cinnamon for 12 weeks showed reduction in HbA1c levels, mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure within patients with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes. These results indicate that cinnamon should be considered in addition to standard therapy to regulate blood glucose and blood pressure levels to treat patients with type 2 diabetes.

Source: Diabetic Medicine
Related Monographs: Diabetes Mellitus,
Type 2 Glycated haemoglobin and blood pressure-lowering effect of cinnamon in multi-ethnic Type 2 diabetic patients in the UK: a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trial. Diabet Med. Oct, 2010;
Article Courtesy of Vitamin Power

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Resveratrol Now Considered Beneficial For Helping Promote More Efficient Metabolic Function For Weight Loss.

Resveratrol Demonstrates Metabolic Benefits for Obese Reports New Study


Naturally-Derived Polyphenol (Antioxidant) Known To Help Support Cardiovascular Health, Prevent Diabetes and Now Considered Beneficial For Helping Promote More Efficient Metabolic Function For Weight Loss.

Daily intakes of Resveratrol the Phytonutrient compound from red wine may improve the metabolic profile of people with obesity, according to a new study from Denmark.

Writing in the International Journal of Obesity, researchers from Aarhus University report that Resveratrol changed the production of certain compounds called adipokines from human fat cells, and produced an anti-inflammatory effect.

The study is reported to be the first to in vitro suggest resveratrol has anti-inflammatory effects on adipokine expression and secretion in human fat tissue.

"Small interfering molecules such as resveratrol are in this matter hypothesized to possess beneficial effects and might improve the metabolic profile in human obesity," wrote the researchers, before adding that the results need to be replicated in vivo.

Resveratrol, a powerful polyphenol and anti-fungal phyto-chemical, is often touted as the bioactive compound in grapes and red wine, and has particularly been associated with the so-called 'French Paradox'. The phrase, coined in 1992 by Dr Serge Renaud from Bordeaux University, describes the low incidence of heart disease and obesity among the French, despite their relatively high-fat diet and levels of wine consumption.

Interest in the compound exploded in 2003 when a research team from Harvard reported that Resveratrol was able to increase the lifespan of yeast cells. The research, published in Nature, was greeted with international media attention. Other studies with Resveratrol have reported anti-cancer effects, anti-inflammatory effects, cardiovascular benefits, anti-diabetes potential, energy endurance enhancement and protection against Alzheimer's.

New Study Highlights Benefits For Resveratrol Metabolic Syndrome

The new study sought to investigate if the compound's anti-inflammatory benefits extended to the low-grade inflammatory state associated with obesity. This is "characterized by abnormal levels of circulating proinflammatory factors and an abnormal production of bioactive factors/adipcytokines from the adipose tissue", explained the researchers, and these adipocytokines are "suggested to have direct implications for the development of the metabolic syndrome".

Research scientists from the Department of Endocrinology at Aarhus University Hospital examined the effects of Resveratrol on levels of adipcytokines – particularly interleukin 1beta (IL-1B) - in human adipose tissue explants.

When human fat cells were exposed to IL-1B, the researchers noted increases in the secretion of pro-inflammatory compounds, including IL6, IL8, MCP-1. However, when the cells were simultaneously exposed to resveratrol, a 16 to 36 percent reduction in the expression of these cytokines was observed.

"Our results show that resveratrol ameliorates the proinflammatory response in human adipose tissue and increases adiponectin expression changes, which is hypothetically beneficial, as adipose tissue from obese individuals with metabolic syndrome, expresses lower adiponectin levels and higher levels of proinflammatory adipokines," wrote the researchers.

"We are aware that it is difficult to compare in vitro incubations and in vivo conditions, and especially it is difficult to know whether the concentrations used in our study are a meaningful in a clinical setting.

"However, the concentration used in our in vitro experiments (50 mM) is similar to most other reports on resveratrol effects in different cell types," they added.

Source: International Journal of Obesity Volume 34, Pages 1546-1553; "Anti-inflammatory effect of resveratrol on adipokine expression and secretion in human adipose tissue explants"
Article courtesy of Vitamin Power

Saturday, April 23, 2011

Kate Middleton, Jennifer Lopez Among High-Profile FollowersThe Dukan Diet: Latest Diet Craze

Dukan Diet - Sort of Like Atkins...
From ThirdAge.com

The Dukan Diet is the next international diet craze headed to the US.


Kate Middleton, who is Britain's Prince William's fiance, has been one of the most-speculated-about users of the diet, though the Palace is denying that Middleton is actually on it.

The diet is the brainchild of French doctor Pierre Dukan, whose book "the Ducan Diet" hit US bookstores today. Dukan denies that his plan is a fad diet-he says he hit upon the high-protein, quick weight loss plan 35 years ago and has been refining it ever since.

Much like the Atkins diet the Dukan plan allows dieters to eat meats but puts some limits on other kinds of food. The plan includes four phases. Read MORE