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Weight Loss Exercise

Importance of Healthy and Natural Foods




Until quite recently, ‘healthy’ shopping meant shopping in a health food store, sometimes called a natural foods store. Now, however, most major supermarkets have extensive health foods and organics sections. This shows that the demand for these products is way up; healthy eating is finally going mainstream! While this is a good thing, it also means more choices, which can be confusing, especially if you are new to the field.

While it’s not my job to tell you where to shop, you may want to familiarize yourself with a well-stocked health food store and do most of your shopping there for a while. You may be tempted to stick with your supermarket, thinking it’s more convenient (such as for nonfood purchases) and cheaper. This can be true, but a store that specializes in natural foods can be an easier way to get yourself comfortable with the many choices in this realm. Furthermore, you will not be tempted by the vast amounts of unhealthy foods sold by the truckload at regular supermarkets! Once you are more familiar with natural foods and know what you are looking for, you can always price shop and return to the regular markets.

Healthy, Natural and Organic: what’s in a name?

First of all, if you want to eat healthy, and help you in losing weight you’re going to have to start reading ingredient labels, as dull and time-consuming as this can be. You don’t really have to spend a lot of time going over every line of an ingredient list; you can quickly learn to ‘speed read’ and learn what to watch for.

When you start shopping for natural foods, you will quickly learn that many foods are labeled ‘natural,’ ‘all natural’ and ‘organic.’ These can be tricky to even the most savvy shopper. ‘All natural’ simply means that the product does not contain ingredients deemed ‘artificial’ by the FDA. Such products can still contain lots of ingredients you may want to avoid or limit such as excessive sugar or salt, the two biggies. If a product has the world ‘natural’ on the package but doesn’t say ‘all natural,’ be careful. It might very well have a combination of natural and artificial ingredients, which means it’s not all natural.

‘Organic’ is even trickier, as there are various standards used to allow this description. In general, however, organic means that no harmful pesticides were used in the creation of the product. In the case of vegetables or fruits, it means that they weren’t sprayed with such chemicals. In the case of dairy or meat, it means the animals were fed on an organic diet. ‘Organic,’ like ‘all natural’ doesn’t mean it’s necessarily good for you. Organic products can and often do contain large quantities of sugars and sodium. More on this later.

In general, it’s a good idea to buy as much all natural, preferably organic diet, though an all organic diet can be difficult and expensive to adhere to; there is no need to be a purist. This is not as hard as it might sound, especially now, when so many companies are clamoring to meet the demand for healthier products. As we will see in the next chapter, the challenge is not so much in finding healthy products as in avoiding unhealthy ones!

As a rule, ‘all natural’ and organic are the minimum standards to look for when shopping for natural foods and for losing weight. That is, if products do not meet one or both of these standards, they probably are not very healthy. On the other hand, just because they do meet these standards doesn’t mean they are great for you. There are other things to look for, which I’ll go into later.

I’ll conclude with some thoughts about the whole natural foods concept for losing weight. To some, it’s a gimmick. People might point out that many ‘artificial’ ingredients are not necessarily unhealthy. After all, we are supposedly protected by law against anything that is toxic or seriously bad for us right? This is debatable, and a whole book could be written (and many have been!) on this topic. However, I’ll give you my brief take on it.

True, the hard evidence is sketchy that eating foods that contain artificial colors or flavors or preservatives by the way, those are broad terms which encompass hundreds of possible additiveswill make you sick, make you gain weight, lower your energy or  cause any other specific negative result. How many writers of natural foods manuals will admit something like that?  But seriously, my attitude is, why take chances? In many cases, the evidence is controversial that is, there are arguments both for and against many additives. Furthermore, many of these additives are relatively new, especially when measured against the many millenia of human history.

Mainstream scientists might argue that since lifespans are longer today than, say, a hundred or thousand years ago, that proves that our present ‘junk food’ diet can’t be so bad. I wouldn’t be so sure. There is also evidence that many degenerative diseases (cancer, heart disease, diabetes) are actually becoming more prevalent now. Also, what about the rise in maladies such as obesity, autism, ADD and many so-called mental illnesses such as depression and bi-polar disorder? Think of all the foods and drugs that you hear about years after many people have already been made sick by themthat are pulled from the shelves, followed by lawsuits against the company that made them.

My guess is that, since you reading this, you are already inclined towards eating a natural foods diet, so I will not spend any more time preaching to the choir.


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Categories
Weight Loss Exercise

Jump Start Your Weight Loss Plan With a Colon Cleanse



Colon cleanse has been used for centuries to detoxify the system, bringing health back to the digestive and immune systems. Now, there’s a new reason for using colon cleansing ? obesity. The statistics are overwhelming about how we’re mainly a nation of overweight and unhealthy adults, not just because of overeating, but because of what we eat our body systems have become sluggish and toxic.

Starving and Diet Pills are Not the Way

Diet pills and stringent diet plans only make matters worse. Most dieters gain back the weight they lost soon after the plan ? and put on a few more pounds besides. When dieters begin a weight loss plan, they usually want quick results without starving themselves, but most diets work by “deprivation,” which means that we quickly tire of it.

When your digestive system is working properly, there’s no need to deprive yourself of the foods you want. Of course, you don’t want to overdo it by eating lots of sugar and carbohydrates that will only clog your system more. When you use colon cleanse on a regular basis to adjust your immune and digestive system, you’ll eventually restore it to a normal state of being ? and eating foods that are healthy for you will keep it that way.

The Problem of Constipation

Jump Start Your Weight Loss Plan With a Colon Cleanse

Colon in Digestive System

Constipation is a way of life for some people, and when it occurs we usually reach for a quick fix like a laxative pill that makes our systems even more toxic. A complete cleansing of the colon, however, reaches the core problem of the constipation – cleansing our system of the bacteria that caused the problem in the first place and letting the colon start over with a “clean slate.”

As we binge on unhealthy foods such as pizza, lots of salt and fried foods, our colon becomes a haven for dangerous substances such as mucoid plaque. If the colon isn’t cleansed on a regular basis (most proponents of colon cleanse recommend at least twice a year) the colon becomes clogged and bloating and unwanted pounds appear as a result.

Advantages of Colon Cleansing

Colon cleansing on a regular basis doesn’t only help you lose weight – your immune system will also improve, helping you fight off diseases more easily. Your sleep patterns will improve, getting rid of insomnia and late night trips to the refrigerator. As a result of the colon cleanse, you’ll also enjoy a renewed energy level and be able to exercise without feeling that you’re on your last lap.

There are many colon cleansing products on the market today. If you’re considering the colon cleansing method for losing weight and restoring your digestive and immune systems, lots of online research is readily available.

Keep in mind that colon cleanse isn’t a one-time, quick fix for losing weight. How often you cleanse mainly depends on your eating habits (healthy or not) and how long it takes to restore your system to normal.

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Weight Loss Exercise

Best Diet to Lose Belly Fat




When you look in the mirror, do you find yourself avoiding the sight of your flabby midsection? Belly fat is unsightly and unhealthy, and anyone with a fat belly would want to get rid of it as quickly as possible. There are exercises that will firm up your abs, but to lose belly fat you will need the best fat-burning diet.

Keep in mind that there is no such thing as a miracle diet. The best diet to lose belly fat will incorporate the same principles found in all healthy and sensible diets.

The following pointers will show you how to diet to lose belly diet:

1. Eat fewer calories than you expend. The only way to lose belly fat is to create a calorie deficit. You can do this by becoming more active and eating less. Use a calorie calculator to determine how many calories you need daily to maintain your weight. The number of calories will depend on your age, gender, and activity level. Cut back on the number of calories required for maintenance. Aim for at least 500 calories below maintenance, but no more than 1200 for women or 1800 for men. Cutting back too much will not only make it more difficult to lose belly fat, but you are likely to gain back the weight lost once you stop your diet.

2. Avoid unhealthy foods. The best diet to lose belly fat should avoid saturated fats, trans fats, refined carbohydrates, and junk food. Stay away from sugary drinks, white bread, and refined-grain pasta. Margarine, vegetable shortenings, cookies, etc. contain unhealthy fats that will increase belly fat.

3. Follow a Mediterranean diet to lose belly fat. Studies show that the best diet to lose belly fat is a Mediterranean diet. The diet involves a high intake of monounsaturated fats (MUFA’s) found in olive oil, olives, walnuts, grape seed oil, avocados, dark chocolate, flaxseed, and soybeans. Foods that play a prominent role in a Mediterranean diet include legumes, fruits, vegetables, unrefined cereals, and fish. It also includes a moderate intake of cheese, yogurt, and wine, and only small amounts of meat and meat products. A Mediterranean diet is low in calories but high in nutrition.



Best Diet to Lose Belly Fat

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Best Foods to Lose Belly Fat

Foods that are high in monounsaturated fats or MUFA may help you lose belly fat. While diets that are high in carbohydrates appear to increase belly fat, a MUFA-rich diet helps burn belly fat. Not only does it help you feel full longer, but it also reduces the risk of diabetes and heart disease.

Other foods that you should include in the best diet to lose belly fat include oats, green tea, and natural yogurt. These foods enhance the body’s ability to burn fat, particularly belly fat.



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