Rapid Fat Loss Diets

Monday, March 9, 2009

Boosting Your Immune System, with Tea

By Christoph O Conner

Throughout history many cultures have used tea as way to stay healthy and disease free. Drinking tea is a great way to boos your immmune system and fight off disease. Tea is not just a drink anymore.

Green tea is known to have some of the best health benefits. Green tea is has strong disease fighting antioxidants such as EGCG. It can restore a poor immune system and even deter diseases such as cancer.

The way tea is processed really impacts how strong its health benefits are. For example Green tea is has the least amount of processing, therefore it contains the most health benefits of any tea. The lack of processing contributes to why green tea is so good for immune system.

Human trials have been conducted showing that tea contains an amino acid called L-thanine. This particular ammino acid is known for its disease fighting abilities and also boosts the immune system. This evidence has helped tun the opinion of many skeptics around.

Tea is great for the immune system but also plays a strong role in helping with many other ailments. Tea helps keep our digestive tract in order and kills of bad cells that cause cancer. Not only is tea rich in antioxidants but it also helps keep our teeth strong.

Unlike most beverages, other than water, tea is very low in calories and has an array of health benefits. Driking about two to four cups of tea daily is recommended in order to gain the most health benefits. Tea also has high level of anti bacterial proteins.

People who drink tea regulary can count on a healthy immune system as well as strong defense against many diseases. Tea is a great way to stay healthy and prevent future diseases and health problems. Since it cant really hurt, its a good idea to try and incorporate tea into your life in some way. - 17273

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Everything You Need to Know About a Pomegranate

By Edgar Williamson

In the some of the southern states such as Florida, California and Arizona, you will find pomegranate bushes cultivated. They originated in areas such as Iran and the Himalayas. They were common to areas in Malaysia, East Indies, Pakistan, Turkey and Africa. This bush with its sweet, tasty fruit grows to between 16 and 26 feet high. This fruit bush is very popular in the Mediterranean area.

This fruit grows in climates that have cooler winters and very hot summers like Florida, California and Arizona. In fact the fruit of the Pomegranate seems to thrive if the winter has been a cold one in the native area it is acclimated to.

The original pomegranate bushes had glossy, green long leaves and bright red fruit and flowers. The octagonal shaped fruit comes in a variety of sizes, depending on where it is grown and how well the crop did. The inside of the fruit is usually white with red seeds although they can at times be purple.

Just like and garden fruit or vegetable, this plant can be plagued by insects and pests. Termites can actually infest the trunk and kill the tree from below. Then you have the pomegranate butterfly, given its name because it mainly thrives on pomegranate trees, whose cater pillars hatch and infest the fruit before you know what has happened. There are many other pests that are attracted to the pomegranate. Thrips, whitflies, and scale insects are included in this group. If you cover your plants, especially the fruit part, you can avoid large infestations of these insects.

Pomegranate are a very healthy fruit. They contain an abundance of vitamins, probably more than any other fruit or vegetable. You will find acceptable amounts of zinc, phosphorus, niacin, potassium , and Vitamin C, just to name a few in this fruit.

When you open a pomegranate, what you will see inside is a bunch of seeds covered with what looks like a dark red or purple membrane. This membrane is the fruit. You can eat the seeds, but it is the fruit around them that contains all the flavor. The seeds are also ground and used for spicing dishes in some countries. Some countries such as Iraq make soups containing the whole seed, fruit and juice of the Pomegranate.

Since the pomegranate became a cultivated crop, many variations, colors and types have been established. Some of them even have green fruit inside, like the Green Globe. Others are just named for the flavor they have like the Early Wonderful, Granada, Sweet and Wonderful. - 17273

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A Guide To Banana Calories

By Rachel Greene

Bananas are one of the most popular foods all over the world. They are also one of the easiest to eat, especially if you are watching your diet, as you can carry them around with you until you want to eat them quite easily.

As with all fruits, bananas are good for you on a general health basis. The actual calories in a banana can vary widely as this fruit can range from the tiny to the outsized. But, in very general terms you can expect anything between 70 calories for a small banana through to +/-140 for a particularly large specimen.

Calorie counting your banana can be an important thing to do if you are watching your overall health or if you are on a diet. As a particularly popular fruit many people want to know the impact that eating bananas will have on their diet. So, what can a banana give you apart from 70-140 calories?

Bananas are actually a very rich source of vitamins and minerals. They are, for example, great at boosting your potassium levels and are a good source of calcium, magnesium, fiber, protein and healthy carbohydrates. One of the great things about eating a banana as a snack is that it can take a while for the body to absorb its nutrients which simply means, if you are on a diet, that it can leave you feeling fuller for longer.

In vitamin terms the average banana also gives you plenty of vitamins A, B and C in various forms. They are also low in sodium which is, once again, great news in healthy eating terms. You could almost say that eating one banana gives you access to as many good things as a meal!

The fact that bananas are absorbed relatively slowly also means that they can give you a steady and consistent release of energy after you have eaten them. For this reason they are often the favored fruit of athletes looking for a quick energy surge followed by a long lasting energy boost.

You may also find that bananas also have other health benefits as well as healthy eating ones. Their high potassium content, for example, can be beneficial to your blood pressure and to your overall cardio vascular health. Their fiber content is also thought to work against heart diseases. And, many sufferers from ulcers and related stomach disorders find that they can tolerate bananas over most any other fruits.

So, this fruit could be the ideal health solution for people of all ages. Bananas are also great for children (and adults) as their calcium content helps promote the growth of healthy bones.

And, in the general scheme of things we should all be looking to eat at least five portions of fruit and vegetables a day to stay healthy. Bananas are often the easiest option for us here and they also go great with breakfast cereals and other meals so can be relatively versatile. So, next time you need to reach for an energy snack reach for a banana! - 17273

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Will Probiotics Solve my Digestive Problem?

By Jasmine Reich-Olulu

The foods we eat are changing our stomachs more than ever. We do not help our bodies when we consume fast food, deep-fried food, and processed food. With all this food easily available to us we need to start improving and protecting our digestive system. Thankfully doctors and scientist have found a amazing thing called probiotics. These probiotics do amazing things for the digestive tract and can help people with digestive problems.

Probiotics are pretty new to the scene but have hit the stores like a wild-fire. People dont know exactly what probiotics do. They are healthy bacteria that support normal acticity of the intestinal microflora that secretes enzymes to digest food. They can also maintain the normal health of the intestinal lining in the small intestine which supports health absorption of nutrients. This is good news because optimal digestion starts in the digestive tract. There are a couple ways to tell if the probiotic you are buying is good. The first and most important thing is how many colony forming units or CFUs are in the formula. The second would be the amount of active species.

This surge is mostly due to peoples increased knowledge on the benefits that probiotics deliver. They have been known to reduce antibiotic-associated diarrhea, and also help maintain intestinal microflora balance and produce anti-carcinogenic effects. A recent study done by UAS labs indicates that probiotics may also lower cholesterol levels, which is amazing news.

So with all the different probiotics on the market which one do you choose? I have personally tried many products from many companies and finally found the product that is right for me. It is made in America and comes from a company called Extreme Health USA. I did some research and this company has been around for 10 years and sells its products to consumers and doctors. Their formula has 12 active species and has 120 billion colony forming units or better known as CFUs. This product has worked wonders for me and is of very high quality.

Now you have a little more knowledge on what probiotics do and how they can help you, I want to refresh your memory on the key check points about buying a probiotic. Before you buy a probiotic check the label and make sure that the formula you are looking at has a high amount of colony forming units. Then look at how many active species the formula has. If you follow these steps you will be picking a quality product and cant go wrong. - 17273

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Wrong Ways to Lose Weight Before Your Wedding

By Ricardo d Argence

Many women rush into a diet and exercise routine just prior to their wedding. To achieve desired results to improve your looks you should opt healthy methods to fulfill this desire.

Before that big day comes, everybody from bride to guests appears to wish to shed at least a few extra pounds. The bride is the person who agonizes most about the way she will look on her wedding day. Many people appear to look forward to giving the impression of being their best on the wedding day.

Perhaps it's because all eyes are going to be on her, or perhaps due to the pressures from society to be thin and to wear the tightest-fitting wedding dress. Keep in mind your goal is to lose weight in a healthy and safe manner, stay away from the pitfalls that so many brides fall into, like going to extremes.

A lot of brides use starvation has a method. A lot of women could actually find themselves hospitalized for dehydration or even organ failure when their goal was to lose some pounds.

Some brides will go overboard with training and diets in order to lose weight. While doing workout is a great thing to do, you have to be sure that it is done within moderation. Anything you do should be done in moderation; this is especially true of diet and exercise.

The methods of over training and starvation will appear as though they were working at first but will ultimately fail. The future bride will probably gain several pounds when she eats a meal. The reason for this is that the body is determined to store the greatest amount of nourishment if the individual consumes something at last.

Before the big day the bride could very well find herself in the hospital, if she decides to never eat that full meal. Whether it be for a short time or a long time, it will certainly dampen the whole program.

If you want to lose a bit of weight, the best approach is to follow a healthy diet and maintain an exercise regime. If you are a bride who thinks you can not do it by yourself then consult with a personal trainer or dietician.

Losing the first few pounds can be as easy as cutting out excess starches and sugars from your diet. Having more water in your daily diet along with strong and steady exercise is what can give you excellent results in the end.

The key is to not wait until the very last minute to drop the weight you feel needs to go. Plan ahead and give yourself as much time as possible as this will ensure that you have plenty of time to lose the weight the healthy way. - 17273

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Warp Speed Fat Loss - Abs Workout Diet Tips

By Jim Stevens

People are often misguidedly assured with their rigid workout schedules and training routines that they pay no attention to their diet. Some would claim that "It is OK to eat what you want as long as you burn them in activities in the gym", Sorry to tell you that this is a great misstep in achieving that dream abs.

Yes, you burn fat during workout but the process of totally eliminating them in your system is through the help of balanced nutrition and with the right diet and food consumption, the workout overall will effect its magic on you. So, how to choose the best diet for your Ab Workout?

Eat more fiber

To ditch the fat and show off firm, beautiful abs, eat at least 25 grams of fiber daily. Fiber, which is the indigestible part of fruits, vegetables and whole-grain foods, helps you achieve flat abs. For best results, increase your fiber intake slowly over the course of one month and drink plenty of water to keep food moving through your system as quickly as possible.

Go for high-quality carbs

When you eat carbs, they break down into glucose, which is stored as glycogen in the muscles and liver. When glycogen is stored, it carries with it three times its own weight as water, compared to no water at all for protein and fat. If you eat an extremely high-carb diet, you may store excess water, experience bloating and gain temporary water weight. Remember to focus on balanced eating.

Water up!

Drink at least eight 8-ounce glasses of water per day. Beverages with little or no calories, caffeine or sodium, including herbal tea, are best. Avoid regular soft drinks and soups with lots of sodium. If you are eating plenty of water-rich foods such as fruits, vegetables and low-sodium soups, you can get half of your water requirements from foods.

Avoid carbonated drinks. Fizzy drinks, including soda pop and spritzers, increase bloating because the carbon dioxide trapped in the bubbles creates gas, which slows down stomach emptying.

Sodium Alert

Choose fresh, natural foods over fast, commercial or packaged foods. Instead of ordering french fries, have a baked potato. Instead of a pickle why not enjoy a fresh cucumber. Beware of cured meats and remember that soups are high in sodium; some canned varieties contain more than 1,100 milligrams per cup. Read labels carefully.

Sleep light

People who skipped breakfast or lunch and ate their largest meal later in the day has lower metabolisms. Eating light at night will reap double benefit: You'll wake up with a light stomach, and you'll also have a better appetite for a fiber-rich breakfast, which sets you up for a day of healthful eating. Eat five times a day. Your body needs food every three to four hours, so instead of eating three large meals, try to schedule five smaller, more frequent meals throughout the day.

Stress-Away!

Stress triggers the hormone cortisol to turn up your appetite and deposit fat around the organs in your abdomen. And that's not all, it can trigger diabetes and cancer too so the best and commonly known anti-stress action for you to do is exercise. - 17273

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Why Steroids in Sports are prohibited?

By John Burks

The sporting industry is a million dollar industry, and many athletes go to great lengths to enhance their performance in order to give their best in the field. This is one reason why the intake of steroid has risen in recent times, and why the testing prior to an event includes testing for drug and steroid abuse. This protects athletes from using unfair means to increase their performance.

One performance boosting drug that is very popularly used is known as "Anabolic Steroids," and some familiar brand names for this incorporate Dianabol, Deca Durabolin, and Sustanon.

Anabolic steroids actually work in a similar way as androgenic hormones like testosterone do. as our hormones give us energy and strength, these thus assist weight gain, muscle building, swiftness, and endurance in the sports ground. These types of drugs are very frequently used in sports including weight lifting and field events. Despite their popularity, these are very contentious drugs and scientists are not sure of whether or not they really help boost performance.

Apart from that, athletes that consume these swear by them and insist that their increased performance is due to the steroid use.

One of the reasons behind the dissimilarity in these opinions is the "placebo effect". As athletes think that the drug will assist them in recuperating their performance, they put in more effort into their game and consequently do better. One more reason is that the testing is carried out by using much lower amounts of drugs as compared to what is normally consumed by athletes.

These drugs work by means of testosterone which is the hormone that helps male human beings develop during their puberty and adolescence stages. Testosterone brings about changes in sexual features caused due to the androgenic properties which includes but is not limited to hair growth, penile growth, amplified aggressiveness, and minor characteristics such as growth in muscle density, bone building, etc which is the result of the anabolic properties of testosterone.

Anabolic steroids imitate these changes while trying to bring down the androgenic effects and having just the anabolic properties play a role (thus the name), but this is not entirely possible and this causes harmful side-effects in the athletes who use these steroids.

With the increase in the amount of testosterone, the most prevalent side effect in males is unproductiveness where the body stops generating testosterone on its own to recompense for the amount being taken in through the drugs. These steroids will also cause liver damage, cholesterol build up, and growth of breast tissue in males.

An additional side effect of this is increase in fierceness. In women, the testosterone causes increase in facial hair, changes in the menstrual cycle, and deepening of the voice.

These drugs may be taken orally, via injections, or via creams and gels. Dosages taken by athletes are extremely high, and generally well over one hundred times greater than the suggested dosages.

Generally athletes take two different types of the drug at the same time to generate enhanced results, starting from lesser dosages and increasing these for twelve weeks after which they taper them back to a lower level. This is believed to assist the body adjust to the drugs.

Disclaimer: The constructive-metabolic steroids information provided above is just for educational and entertainment purposes. This article does not, in any way, condone the unlawful situation and/or use of anabolic steroids intended for purposes other than those approved by the FDA or other legally renowned dogmatic bodies. - 17273

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Who Else Wants a Healthy 4pm Pick Me Up - Secret Fruit Revealed

By Marcus C. Evans

It's close to quitting time and you've been feeling sluggish, lethargic and grumpy for a while. You know you won't have any energy to do the things you need to do when you get home. You've had more coffee than you should (at least half a pot) and any more really won't help.

There must be a truly natural product out there. One that tastes good and is also good for you. Yes, acai berry products are a natural source of energy and are good for you. And the taste, well, do you like chocolate covered fruit?

Sure there are a lot of products being sold now that promise a quick pick me up. They claim their product or drinks are all natural, but do you really know what you are getting? Most of these products simply don't work or can even be harmful to you! That's certainly not what you are looking for. What has taken over US and European markets is now making its mark on Australia.

The acai is delicious, like a chocolate covered piece of fruit. Acai products, that can be used to make drinks and more, are available outside of South America. The acai berry is produced by the acai palm and looks much like our purple grape, same size and shape and delicious.

Grown in South America, the acai fruit makes up over 40% of the diet of the population. Acai is used in drinks, added to cereal, as a topping for ice cream and eaten fresh by the native population of South America.

The acai berry and acai berry products have been considered a source of quick energy by the people of South America. The berry is a bit high in fat content, so it tends to ripen very quickly. That is why it is sold as a processed powder or in a freeze-dried condition outside of the South American region. You will be able to find acai berry products in many Australian health food markets.

Why is the acai berry so good for you? The acai berry can give you energy because of its natural properties. It has more antioxidants than red wine, and its chocked full of the natural kind of sugar that everyone needs. Aside from that, it is also loaded with amino acids, omega 3 fatty acids and protein. Acai berries are also fortified with fiber, so you know you will be feeling good on the inside and outside. The acai berry is pretty much the perfect fruit for any energy craving Australian!

When faced with exhaustion, lethargy and a general feeling of tiredness. Do not drink any more coffee or questionable quick energy drinks. Keep the acai products in the office refrigerator for a quick pick me up anytime you feel like dragging your feet. It's a healthy, safe source of energy infusion suitable for any time of day.

Feel good, be healthy and full of energy and use the acai berry daily. - 17273

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