Corti-Slim is an all-natural dietary supplement that works with your body’s metabolism to control Cortisol levels within a healthy range and help you lose weight. By modulating Cortisol levels, Corti-Slim removes one of the primary physiological signals for weight gain. In addition to a powerful effect on controlling Cortisol levels, Corti-Slim also provides all-natural ingredients to help balance blood-sugar to reduce cravings, and maximize metabolism to boost energy expenditure and fat-burning.
When explaining how Corti-Slim works, one must first explain the role of Cortisol, sometimes called the ‘Stress hormone’, and a key player in the body’s ‘fight or flight’ response. Basically, Cortisol is necessary for proper physical functioning, and healthy in small doses. Unfortunately, while small amounts of Cortisol is a “good” thing, too much Cortisol, for too long, is most certainly a “bad” thing because it leads us to develop a number of adverse health conditions. Elevated Cortisol levels have been associated with a wide range of health effects from increased appetite, to weight gain, to diabetes, to depression. when the body perceives that a physical or psychological threat is imminent, the fight or flight response is activated and Cortisol is released in higher amounts to allow for a burst of energy and other physical changes that allow the body to better fight or run. After a while body undergoes the relaxation response and all systems return to normal. However, in times of chronic stress, homeostasis is never reached and the body maintains increased levels of Cortisol, which can be damaging to the body in many ways. One side effect of increased Cortisol in the body can be weight gain, especially in the abdominal area, which can bring more negative health consequences than fat stored in other areas of the body. Corti-Slim has key ingredients that are said to calm the body’s response to stress by decreasing the level of Cortisol in the body, and in turn, decrease body fat.
Corti-Slim may indeed be able to reduce levels of the stress hormone Cortisol through the effects of Magnolia bark contained in its formulation. A small dose of Honokiol, or a magnolia bark extract standardized for Honokiol content, can help to “de-stress” you without making you sleepy, while a larger dose might have the effect of knocking you out. When compared to pharmaceutical agents such as Valium (diazepam), Honokiol appears to be as effective in its anti-anxiety activity, yet not nearly as powerful in its sedative ability.”
Now the question is “How does stress make us fat”?
Stress makes us fat in several ways. First, although the behavioral response to stress is often thought to be a primary reason for weight gain e.g. we reach for the Haagen-Dazs when we feel stressed out, there are two very powerful physiological reasons for the link between stress and weight gain Whenever we are under stress, our bodies release its primary stress hormone Cortisol, in the body Cortisol is a potent signal to do two things - increase appetite and store fat. This means that whenever we’re under stress, the increased Cortisol in our body tells our brain that we’re hungry, while at the same time telling our fat cells to store as much fat as they can and then hold on to it as tightly as possible.Corti-Slim balances out the amount of Cortisol in our bodies and therefore it helps people to lose weight and get rid of other negative health problems. Corti-Slim would not only help you lose weight but feel great ! Corti-Slim contains calcium, chromium, vanadium, and a cocktail of herbs including Banaba leaf extract, Green tea extract, Bitter orange peel, Magnolia bark extract, and beta Sitosterol.
Corti-Slim is formulated to promote weight loss, increase energy levels, and control appetite in the millions of Americans who experience stress on a daily basis. This makes Corti-Slim the perfect product for everyone from athletes, to executives, to soccer moms, and everyone in between.

USES OF CORTI-SLIM
When Corti-Slim used as directed, you will feel an increase in energy and mental focus, and a decrease in stress and cravings. Of course, a well balanced diet and moderate exercise are essential to healthy weight loss and this product should be used in conjunction with a healthy lifestyle. But because it reduces stress and tension, Corti-Slim will help you feel great, relaxed and focused. You will suddenly have time to work out and eat properly – and, since your body has been naturally working hard all day, at night you will feel relaxed and ready for a good nights sleep. Corti-Slim users will notice:
Less stress
More energy
Better mental focus
Appetite and craving control
Weight loss

CONSEQUENCES OF CORTI-SLIM
As with any natural product, there will be a range of effects experienced by users. Corti-Slim does not contain “Ephedrine”. Each of the ingredients in Corti-Slim is known to be extremely safe when used as directed. Corti-Slim has been formulated to provide safe and “clinically effective” levels of all ingredients, but users are cautioned to discontinue use if they experience any undesired side effects.

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PCOS is a condition that has a strong impact on a woman’s fertility, and affects between 5% to 10% of women of child bearing age. Because a woman’s body doesn’t produce enough eggs when she suffers from PCOS, it can cause infertility and contribute to difficulties in falling pregnant.

Most cases of PCOS are not genetic, but they are all related to hormonal abnormalities. The reason not enough eggs are produced is because of an excess of the androgen, or ‘male’ hormones. Both men and women have androgen hormones, but men have them in much greater quantities. This hormonal imbalance means that the cysts that are a normal part of producing eggs, do not grow. So a woman with PCOS has a lot of small cysts on her ovaries that do not mature to release their eggs. Normally, once this process happened, the cysts would go.

Another consequence of the higher levels of androgen hormones is the increased risk of obesity, heart disease, diabetes, as well as a likelihood of having more facial hair.

Interestingly, low carb diets such as the zone diet may help overweight women with PCOS. A recent study of 11 non diabetic, overweight women with PCOS who had an average age of 33 was conducted. The study compared a ’standard’ diet with 56% carbohydrates and 16% protein, with a lower carb diet of 43% carbohydrate and 15% protein. The fat component of the lower carb diet was a lot higher than the standard diet, by 14%. This is higher than it would be in the Zone diet. The fat content of the low carb diet was almost evenly split between polyunsaturated fatty acids and monounsaturated fatty acids. The fat content of the standard diet was almost evenly split between the two types of fatty acids, but was slightly higher (by 3%) in the monounsaturated variety.

A third diet, one high in both carbohydrates and monounsaturated fatty acids, was also compared. The study participants only followed each diet for 16 days. They had a 3 week break between each diet, and tried all 3.

Because production of the androgen hormones are influenced by the presence of insulin, the researchers were interested in finding out whether a low carb diet could reduce the amount of insulin circulating in the body. They believed this would have an indirectly positive effect on PCOS.

The results of this study found that whilst hormones that were circulating weren’t significantly affected by the lower carb diet, the women’s cholesterol, fasting insulin levels, free fatty acids, and their response to insulin were positively affected. The fact that their response to insulin improved is an indicator of the possible benefit of a low carb diet to PCOS sufferers. And because the women only followed the diet for 16 days, this may be why their levels of circulating insulin were not more prominently affected.

The authors of the study state that: “Because elevated insulin is thought to contribute to the endocrine abnormalities in PCOS, a reduction in insulin would be expected to ultimately result in an improved endocrine profile.”

They go on to say that these improvements indicate that using a low carb type diet, with a lower calorie intake, would probably benefit overweight women who suffer from PCOS.

Not all low carb diets are created equal however. The Atkins diet has been associated with an increased risk of heart problems for some, as well as being implicated in the hospitalization of others.

A 40 year old woman was hospitalized with very high levels of acids in her blood as a result of following the Atkins diet strictly for about a month. The release of acids in the blood, called ketosis, is an indicator of the ’success’ of the Atkins diet, and is actually a result of the process of starving the body of certain nutrients beyond a threshold level. The nutrient being, of course, carbohydrates.

Carbohydrates are a source of energy for the body, the only source used by the brain. But when the body is deprived of carbohydrates after the threshold level, it will use alternate methods of metabolizing energy. It uses stored fats and protein, but this is not a very biologically efficient way of producing energy for the body. So, there are a lot of acidic metabolic by products, called ketones. These are released into the bloodstream, to be excreted by the body.

In the case of this woman, these metabolic by products weren’t excreted fast enough and built up in her bloodstream. She was vomiting 4 to 6 times a day. This build up of blood acids represented a dangerous situation and she was admitted to intensive care.

The Atkins Foundation responded that this woman must have had abnormal metabolic or clinical issues. But given that this woman, who was obese, is in a category at which the Atkins diet is marketed, there is a real cause for concern here. With obesity, there is a greater likelihood for both general medical problems, and metabolic problems. If an obese person did not have metabolic problems of one form or another, they would not be obese. Perhaps there were circumstances that were particular to this woman here, but until those potential dangers are understood more fully, this is a significant issue. It’s ironic that a diet should be implied as not being suitable for anyone with metabolic issues, particularly if this diet is marketed as a ‘way of life’ - that is, recommended for long term use.

References:
1. nutraingredients-usa.com/news/ng.asp?n=67217&m=1NIU421&c=qgtqmovbyiaxdub
2. nutraingredients-usa.com/news/ng.asp?n=66493-atkins-low-carb-weight-loss

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How do you fit a miracle in a cup?

Dating back 4,000 years, Chinese diet green tea has been long revered as a tasty drink that can ward off diseases and improve one’s well-being. Since its first recorded use during the period of Emperor Shen Nung, the bond between Chinese diet green tea and good health has not been severed. It’s been used as treatment for everything from headaches to depression. At present, various health benefits of green tea are constantly being reported and many scientists are now focusing their attention on the simple, yet elegantly profound beverage that is green tea.

Where It Comes From

Like all three of the major Asian teas in the market, green tea comes from the tree called Carmellia sinensis. Much of the health benefits of green tea diets owe to the steaming method of making it. As opposed to black and oolong tea which undergoes full oxidization, green tea diet is only gently steamed, preserving the natural antioxidants in its original form.

The antioxidants in green tea helps fight away free radicals. These free radicals are the major contributing factors to aging as well as the ensuing degeneration of cells as a result of it. Scientists have reason to believe that free radicals also play a role in various degenerative diseases such as arthritis, rheumatism, Alzheimer’s disease, and even cancer.

CLICK HERE FOR THE TOP 110 BOOKS ON GREEN TEA

A Drink Steeped With Tradition

According to tradition, Chinese diet green tea could cure anything from headaches, body aches, and pains to constipation and depression. Over the centuries, more health claims are made on account of Chinese diet green tea.
Chinese diet green tea is said to increase the blood flow throughout the body. Because Chinese diet green tea contains a little caffeine, ingesting this drink stimulates the heart and allows the blood to flow more freely through the blood vessels. For the same reason that Chinese diet green tea stimulates blood flow, it also stimulates mental clarity.

Chinese diet green tea detoxifies the body.

The presence of polyphenols, a naturally occurring antioxidant in Chinese diet green tea, the beverage is said to combat harmful free radicals and help keep the body free from diseases. In this regard, Chinese diet green tea helps maintain the overall well-being of the body. Antioxidants in Chinese diet green tea can boost immunity, preserve young-looking skin, and brighten the eyes.

Chinese diet green tea aids in digestion and banishes fatigue. Chinese diet green tea is also said to prolong the lifespan.

For many years, men of science remained skeptical about the health claims made by Chinese diet green tea enthusiasts. Their doubt was changed to a more positive reception when subsequent researchers proved the disease-preventing attributes of Chinese diet green tea and confirmed most of the health claims.

The Secret to Longevity’

That just might be. The role of Chinese green tea in promoting longevity has been investigated upon by many researchers. They found the premise of their study on observing that Japanese women who are greater-than-average Chinese diet green tea drinkers; have lower mortality rates compared to others. This led the researchers to believe that Chinese diet green tea has a protective factor against premature death.

The polyphenols found in Chinese diet green tea may be held accountable. With its high amount of polyphenols, Chinese green tea seems to have a stimulating effect on the immune system. Stronger immune system as a result of drinking Chinese diet green tea helps reduce risks of acquiring any illnesses.

HEALTH BENEFITS:

Fighting Cancer
There are many health benefits associated with having a green tea diet. One of these green tea diet benefits is preventing cancer. Certain substances present in green tea diets are said to help in destroying cancer cells without harming any neighboring tissues. This substance in green tea diets is called epigallocatechin gallate or EGCG.

In the 1994 edition of the Journal of National Cancer Institute, the results of an epidemiological study stated that one of the health benefits of drinking green tea is that it can reduce the risk of esophageal cancer in Chinese men and women by up to 60%.
The University of Purdue has also recently concluded a research on how a certain compound present in green tea can stop cancer cells from growing.

A Healthy Drink to a Healthy Heart

Study after study has shown that drinking Chinese diet green tea and eating polyphenol-rich foods reduces the risk of any heart complications. Drinking Chinese diet green tea also helps strengthen the blood vessels that provide oxygen and valuable nutrients to the heart and brain. It has been shown that men who drink Chinese diet green tea have 75 percent less possibility of having a stroke than those who don’t drink Chinese diet green tea.

Chinese diet green tea helps lower total cholesterol levels and improve the ratio between LDL cholesterol and HDL cholesterol. Study shows that men who drink nine or more cups of Chinese diet green tea daily have lower cholesterol levels than those who drink fewer than two cups.

Lowering Down Cholesterol

Obesity has become one of the major health issues in our society today. In fact, more than half of the American population is overweight or obese. As a result, diet and weight loss plans have become increasingly popular. But not all diet plans work. And not all of them are necessarily risk-free. A safer alternative for people wanting to lose weight are green tea diets.

Green tea diets can be a potential cure to obesity. The catechin polyphenols present in green tea diets can delay the reaction of gastric and pancreatic lipases in the body. These enzymes are actually the ones responsible for converting calories in the body into fats. By delaying these enzymes, green tea diets can therefore stop fat from being stored and prevent obesity in people.

Green tea also has the ability to minimize cholesterol levels and improve the ratio between good (HDL) cholesterol and bad (LDL) cholesterol. The EGCG in green tea can stop blood from forming abnormal clots (thrombosis), a leading cause of heart attacks and strokes.

CLICK HERE FOR THE TOP 124 PRODUCTS ON GREEN TEA

Other Health Benefits

Green tea has always been known to have several health benefits, but who knew that it could contribute to weight loss as well’.
A recent study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition show that green tea extract can increase metabolism and fat oxidation of the body. In theory, scientists believe that the weight loss benefits of green tea extracts are due to their caffeine content but the results of the study show otherwise as they discovered that green tea extracts have weight loss benefits beyond that of caffeine.

In their study, the researchers administered alone the same amount of caffeine as that in green tea extracts but found that it did not make any significant changes in the body’s overall energy expenditure. This led them to conclude that green tea extracts have ingredients in them that actively interact with each other, promoting increased metabolism and fat oxidation that lead to weight loss.

Further findings indicated that a certain compound found in green tea extracts might be the ingredient that causes weight loss. These green tea extract compounds, called Flavonoids, may alter the way the body uses norepinephrine, a hormone that monitors how calories are burned. When flavonoids interact with other green tea extract ingredients, more calories are burned thus contributing to weight loss.

Another element that actively contributes to the weight loss benefits of green tea extracts is the compound catechin polyphenols. These compounds also interact with other green tea extract ingredients in order to promote weight loss by fat burning and thermogenesis (a process of losing energy by daytime heat).

The great thing about the weight loss benefit of green tea extracts is that it does not have any adverse side-effects. Unlike other herbal products like ephedra and prescription drugs for obesity, green tea extract does not increase the speed of heart rates or raise blood pressure. Not only that, but it also appears that green tea diets may act as a mild appetite-suppressant because of the presence of caffeine.

Caffeine may be damaging for the body since an excess of it can cause heart palpitations, hypertension, and insomnia. However, because green tea diets contain only very low levels of caffeine, there is no danger of experiencing these side-effects.

In this regard, green tea extract is an effective and safer alternative to other weight loss products which may cause harm to the user.

CLICK HERE FOR THE TOP 38 WEIGHT LOSS PRODUCTS WITH CHINESE GREEN TEA

The study conducted by the University of Geneva on the weight loss benefit of green tea extract implicated that green tea extract can also help thyroid patients. According to dietitian Lynn Moss, M.S., R.D., green tea extract is a healthier choice for people with thyroid who may be too sensitive to stimulants. Green tea extract can promote weight loss by increasing metabolism without over stimulating the adrenal glands.

Green Tea and Weight Loss

Green tea is a great substitute for people who are on weight loss programs because it can help them lead a healthier lifestyle. For instance, instead of drinking coffee and cream which area high in calories, green tea weight loss programs can not only save you from taking in too much calories but also let you take in several energizing substances like polyphenols and flavonoids. Green tea also contains a small amount of caffeine, a key substance used in most weight loss programs because of its appetite-suppressant properties.

Other studies indicate that green tea in weight loss programs can help reduce fat by inhibiting the effects of insulin. Insulin is responsible for changing glucose into energy for the body to be stored into fat. By delaying insulin, green tea weight loss programs enable sugar to be sent directly to the muscles for instant use, thus preventing fats from being stored by the body.

The author, J FARRINGTON, has been writing articles for a number of years.

If you would like to see more articles on GREEN TEA CLICK HERE www.whatyouneedtoknowpage.com

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Antioxidate Your Supplement List
Zach Bashore
April 22, 2006

Antioxidants is a word that you will hear flowing around the bodybuilding and fitness world and very few people know what they are and where they come from. Antioxidants can be found in many of the multivitamins you purchase as well as some of the natural foods you consume. This article is going to clarify the common methods of consuming antioxidants, what antioxidants are, and best supplements to get your antioxidant needs.

Antioxidants are a classification of several organic substances, such as Vitamins A, C, and E, selenium, and carotenoids. These substances are formed together to create the name “antioxidant,” and are effective in helping to prevent cancer, stroke, and heart disease. At the molecular and cellular levels, antioxidants serve to deactivate certain particles known as free radicals. In humans, free radicals usually come in the form of oxygen. The oxygen wants to be oxidized and this process can be carcinogenic. Free radicals are the natural by-products of many processes within your cells. They are also created by radiation, cigarette smoke, and other harmful environmental factors.

One of the biggest uses of antioxidants for bodybuilders is its role on the metabolism. In the body, energy is produced safely in the presence of antioxidant intake, which are able to be neutralize any excess of free radicals. Free radicals destroy muscle tissue in search of electrons. The antioxidants then sacrifice themselves for body tissue by donating an electron to a free radical. If your body is depleted of antioxidants, then your body will be suffering tremendously. The production of excess free radicals causes damage to the immune system, blood vessel linkage, the nuclei of cells, and cell membrane stability. This damage from free radicals can be seen as being directly related to the increased risk of cancer, auto-immunue syndromes, and cardiovascular disease.

Now you can get an adequate supply of antioxidants by just drinking tea, but if you`re like me and cannot stand the taste of tea, then you should get your antioxidant needs from supplementation. Having heard various opinions and my own personal opinion of the best antioxidant supplements, I conducted the following list as the best antioxidant products.

* Nature Made Antioxidants
* NOW Super Antioxidants
* Optimum Super Antioxidants
* ProHealth Ultra Antioxidant
* Syntrax Radox
* Nature Made 50+ Multivitamin with Calcium & Antioxidants Dietary supplement.

You simply cannot rely on a standard multivitamin to get all of your antioxidant needs because most multivitamins do not carry enough of them. Too much of a good thing can trun out bad so make sure that you find a happy medium and not go overboard with ingestion of them. You may also believe that you are getting enough antioxidants by eating enough fruits and vegetables, but nothing could be further from the truth! Fruits and vegetables do contain a small amount of antioxidants, but they do not contain enough of them. Antioxidants should be in the front of everybody`s supplement droor if you are looking for improved health, fat loss, and bigger muscles.

*http://www.quackwatch.org/03HealthPromotion/antioxidants.html
*http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/antioxidants.html
*http://www.healthguidance.org/articles/1323/1/Why-Do-Liquid-Vitamins-Contain-Antioxidants%3F
*http://www.goaskalice.columbia.edu/0830.html
*http://www.google.com/search? hl=en&lr=&defl=en&q=define:antioxidants&sa=X&oi=glossary_definition&ct=title

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Eat less fat. Eat more fat. Carbs are bad. Carbs are good.

Nutrition advice changes so often, no wonder so many people are confused.

But when it comes it calories, the advice to consume fewer of them seems set in stone. After all, “a calorie is a calorie”-Right?

Wrong.

For years, we’ve been told that if we “eat less and exercise more,” we’ll lose weight. That recommendation is based on the belief that we need burn more calories than we take in. But this doesn’t tell the whole story.

As it turns out, it isn’t the amount of calories you consume that really affects your weight and your health. It’s the type of calorie.

It’s true-the calories you eat are actually absorbed at different rates. And the different amounts of fiber, carbohydrates, protein, fat, and nutrients in these calories can have very different effects on your metabolism. There’s no difference between a thousand calories of kidney beans and a thousand calories of a low-fat muffin-until they’re metabolized.

As you can see, food isn’t just a source of energy-it’s a source of operating instructions for your body.

Calories 101

So what is a calorie anyway? Simply put, a calorie is just a unit of energy. When we eat food, chemical processes that make up our metabolism break this food down and turn it into energy. Burning this energy lets us do what we need and want to do-from breathing to running a marathon.

It’s like your car: You have to put fuel in it to make it run. For people, food is our fuel. Calories are what help us “run.”

The Dieting Myth

Just like high quality fuel is better for your car than the cheap stuff, some calories are better for our metabolism than others. That idea flies in the face of conventional diet wisdom, but it’s true-and science backs it up.

For example, recent studies show that high-carb diets can boost insulin and blood sugar levels. The result? Weight gain (not to mention high cholesterol and triglycerides). On the other hand, people who eat a healthy low-carb diet that’s rich in vegetables, whole grains, beans, and lean animal protein-but consume more calories than low-fat dieters-actually lose more weight!

As you can see, the kinds of calories you consume can have a big impact on weight gain, because different foods are metabolized in different ways. Food “talks” to your genes, giving your metabolism specific instructions-whether to lose weight or gain weight, speed up or slow down the aging process, increase or decrease your cholesterol level, and produce molecules that increase or decrease your appetite.

No wonder you can feel like you’re doing everything right and still not lose weight!

The Whole Truth

If you want to lose weight and be healthy, you have to send your body the right messages. That means living in harmony with your genes.

This means different things for different people. Depending on our genes, some of us may need more carbs, protein, or fat than others.

But there’s one basic principle that works of everyone: Base your diet on whole, unprocessed foods. Foods that are in their natural state talk to your genes the most effectively-and were designed by nature to keep you at a healthy weight.

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From 8 April thru 16 April 2006.

This is the final weight loss diary entry that I will be publishing because although I was still half pound (225 grams) short of my target weight on Friday April 14 I extended this session by another couple of days to make my target. Sunday’s weigh-in saw my weight at 180 pounds (89 kilo’s) the target I set on February 5 when my weight was 198 pounds (98 kilo’s).

At the start of the weight loss program the target was set to lose one pound (450 grams) each week making it an 18-week assignment; it has been achieved in just 10 weeks. During this period no food that I like has been given up for more than one-day at a time and exercise has been set at just 30-minutes each week. (However I must state that as I got into the exercise regime and started enjoying the added fitness it did increase to about an hour each week).

So what was the most successful thing about the program?

A tough question to answer because each part of the program is so important. However if pushed to pick one single thing it must be learning about serving sizes. Ignoring healthy serving sizes is the biggest cause of obesity in the western world.

What did I like most about the program?

That’s an easy question because I liked regaining aerobic fitness above everything else. Not just the formal exercise part of the program but just being more aware of including exercise in my daily life. Stopping delivery of my daily newspaper and walking to buy it each morning. Parking my car as far as possible from the supermarket entrance was great in two ways: First it made me walk a little further to and from the car. Second I rarely had a problem parking the car and it was totally hassle free – a beautiful way to live your life. Then there was refusing to use any escalator if stairs were available. Now I find myself looking for hills to walk up for no other reason than the challenge. This added mobility has another added benefit; I’ve met so many new and interesting people who take regular exercise.

The benefit of losing 18 pounds (9 kilo’s) is good for my health, but even better for my social life is the new people that I’ve met and my rediscovered aerobic fitness. Life is really great.

From emails that I receive I know that some people are following this program with me and some are beating my results while others are not quite on par. The great thing is that even the least successful is still losing one-pound each week and that is the program target. Congratulations. Even if you are 200 pounds overweight it will only take four years at most to achieve your target without giving up anything that you like. The only question you need answer is do I want to lose one-pound (450 grams) each week?

This article is copyright © David McCarthy 2006.

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Detox Diets are the last craze in dieting, that’s why the number of people searching for detox diets is growing everyday.

You may have heard about toxins, detoxification, cleansing, purifying – they are all related to detox diets.

Toxins are harmful chemicals affecting your body. They are all around you (in your food, water, air) and inside you (as waste products of metabolism). Your body eliminates most toxins and the rest are stored within body fat.

These stored toxins combined with stress can affect your health in very unpleasant ways:

- weight gain
- headaches
- feelings of fatigue and weakness
- heartburn
- sore muscles and skin
- joint pains

These symptoms will fade when you start detox. Well, you may feel some discomfort in the very first days, but that is a normal body reaction.

You may feel headache or sore muscles, but that is because the toxins are released faster then your body can eliminate them. These symptoms will not occur again if you detox regularly.

Detox and Weight Loss

Detoxification is the process of releasing and expelling the stored toxins through the elimination organs of your body - the intestines, liver, lungs, kidneys and skin.

Detox Diets are dietary nutritious plans that use detoxification, which helps you lose weight by cleansing out your body and improving your metabolism.

Detox and Disease Prevention

Detox Diets are recommended for improving resistance to disease, mental state, digestion, strengthens the organs involved in detox.

Detox Diets can help prevent serious diseases such as cancer, ADD, ADHD, chronic fatigue syndrome and multiple chemical sensitivities, as well as treat heart disease, fibromyalgia, autoimmune disease.

Detox Foods

Detox Diets recommend consumption of foods that are beneficial for your health and essential to weight loss - organic foods, fruits and vegetables.

You should drink purified water and cut back on processed foods, as well as give up alcohol and smoking.

You should know…

Detox Diets are quite restrictive and once you start a detox diet, you should follow it strictly. Detox Diets are safe, but you should consult your doctor before starting.

Types of Detox Diets

+ Fasting - drinking only water, juices or broths, or eating one kind of food for a certain period of time. Your body starts burning fat for energy.

+ Nutritional supplements – intake of nutritious powders, vitamins and packaged protein snacks.

+ Hydrotherapy - detoxifying through your skin pores by taking special baths.

+ Specific detox diets - last between 7 and 30 days; there are quick detox diets for one and three days, and long detox diets for 8 weeks.

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Paying for a gym pass you don’t use? Running shoes gathering dust? Do you have a fear of fitness? Don’t worry- you are not alone!

Fear is one of the biggest reasons people give up on exercise, according to a growing number of sports-psychology and fitness authorities. Here are some simple strategies straight from the professionals aimed at helping you get over your fear and get on with your workout.

Rethink your definition of exercise. Think of it as movement - you don’t have to do it in a gym. Gardening, walking the dog, or playing tag with your kids is exercise.

Be environmentally conscious. Find a fitness experiences that makes you feel nurtured and accepted. Walk or jog in your neighborhood or on a trail – don’t try to keep up with fitness fanatics in the gym.

Test the waters. If you’re interested in trying a new workout, borrow a video from a friend or the library, and try it at home first (before entering into a group situation.)

Get one-on-one help. Almost all clubs now offer personal training to help you overcome your fear of incompetence, and often the first session is free.

Know your triggers. If you like the anonymity of a fitness class, stay toward the back. Start with an activity like yoga that you can do on your own to lesson anxiety.

Call out the cavalry. If you’re the social type, try activities in a supportive group to distract you from your fears and make the effort less intimidating.

Focus on the positive. Think of the many things exercise can do for you: the goal is to workout to be optimistic, more energetic, and less stressed.

Finding a comfort zone might be challenging in health club situations, so it is time to reevaluate the way you workout and conquer your fears. If your past attempts at fitness have left you running scared, focus on moving in these ways and your outlook may change.

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If you are overweight, you know it by how you feel, how your clothes fit or how you look. But, by how much are you really overweight? And how much weight do you need to lose? One measure of how much you should weight is by determining your Body Mass Index, BMI. This index gives you the relationship of your weight to your height. Here is the formula:

Your BMI = [(yourWeight)/(your Height x your Height)] x 705

If you weight 143 lbs and are 64 in tall, then

your BMI = [(143) / (64 x 64)] x 705 = 26.2. Based on the chart below a BMI of 26.2 is overweight.

·underweight, BMI = 18.5
·normal weight BMI = 18.5 - 24.9
·overweight BMI = 25 - 29.9
·slight obesity BMI = 30 - 34.9
·obese BMI = 35 - 39.9
·excess obese = BMI = greater than 40

If we consider the normal BMI number to be 21.5 then you can compute approximately how much weight you should lose using the same BMI formula but by changing things around in the formula,
(your ideal Weight) = [(normal BMI / 705) x (your Height x your Height)]

For the example above if you have a BMI = 26.2 and the normal BMI number = 21.5, then,

(your ideal Weight) = [(21.5/705) x (64 x 64)] = 124.91

you should weight 124.91 lbs. That means you need to lose (143 -124.9) lbs = 18.1 lbs.

Try to get your BMI below 25. Under this number, you can expect to have good heath if you are eating the right kinds of food and exercising regularly. If your BMI is greater than 28, you are more likely to have cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and many other diseases related to a toxic colon.

Keep track of your waistline. Your waistline, if you are a man, should be less than 35 “. For women it should be less than 30″. As your waistline get larger you become more susceptible to diseases. Of course, waistlines are going to vary because people have different shapes. But you know if your waistline to big for your shape.

Now you should know how much weight you need to lose. Beside your waistline, you should also measure bust/chest, hips, and thighs.. This gives you an indication how your body is changing. As you lose fat you may not lose weight for a while. Your body will become toned as you exercise. The weight scale does not always tell you that your body is changing and losing weight.

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Because all of us have been brought up eating junk food, well most of us, it is not easy to change our eating habits. Your eating habits have developed since childhood based on what your mothers or fathers cooked and what your psychological make-up was during that time.

The foods you eat and crave help keep pass trauma and present anxiety in check. Food helps make you feel good when you start to feel bad. Eating is a natural defense mechanism that the brain-body uses to keep you from going crazy.

So, you see, it is very difficult to change our eating habits. When we do, we start to feel bad. We start to feel uncomfortable, we feel pain, we have withdrawal symptoms, and we may feel sick. Is it any wonder that any of us ever succeed in changing our eating habits?

I consider every thing that has been packaged to be junk food. There are a few exception and you need to read ingredient labels carefully. Very few food manufacturers and even restaurants prepare food with your health in mind. Of course, they want to satisfy you, but they don’t use foods that are in your best interest.

Most people eat junk food 85% of the time and then eat good food the other 15%. It should be the reverse of this - eat good food 85% and junk food 15% of the time.
To have better health, here are some foods to stop eating. Eliminate these foods over the next two to three weeks.

·Milk (non-fat or no-fat also) - is a mucus and acid forming food. Milk creates mucus in the body and makes the lymph liquid (we will talk about lymph later) in your body acidic, which attracts parasites and other pathogens. (In the place of milk almond milk or goats milk)
Cancer thrives in a body that is acidic.

oBread - white bread is also acid and mucus forming. It is also more difficult to pass through the colon and gives rise to constipation.
Sugar the #1 food additive. Sugar is in most of all the products that you buy.

·Sodas (regular or diet)- are extremely high in sugar or artificial sugar - 7 teaspoons per can. Most people drink over 35 gallons per year. Sugar is a body poison and leads to many disease - diabetes, obesity, tooth decay and osteoarthritis and so on.
oSugar, also, depletes your B-vitamins and calcium and magnesium from your bones and teeth.

oIn addition, since sodas are in aluminum cans, aluminum can go into the soda because most sodas contain phosphoric acid. Aluminum has been associated with senility and Alzheimer disease.

oCalcium is also leached from your body to neutralize the phosphoric acid. (Its healthier to drink juices of all kinds)

There is just no way around it. Sodas suck health right out of your body.

·Regular salt (NaCl) - excessive salt intake is related to high blood pressure, edema, and imbalances in the minerals in your lymph liquid. Sodium, Na, in salt attracts water so the more sodium you eat that more water your body will hold. (Use sea salt, it has 25% less sodium, use low salt soy sauce, and herbs to flavor your food)

oMost people eat too much salt - over 10,000 milligrams per day. We only need around 200-300 mg per day.

oExcess salt is also in involved with kidney problems, cardiovascular disease, stomach cancer, and excess sensitive to stress.

oGet your Sodium from eating vegetables that are high in sodium. When you get your salt from vegetables it is organic salt, which does not have the same effect in your body as inorganic salt from a shaker. You need a lot of organic salt or Na in your body. Your stomach is a Na organ. It needs organic salt, Na, to keep its lining from being eaten by the hydrochloric acid in your stomach - an ulcer.

oFoods high in organic sodium are apples, apricots, asparagus, greens, red cabbage, carrots, celery, dulse, egg yolks, figs, fish, raisins, prunes, and lentils.

For the next two weeks try adding the following foods to your eating habits.

·lecithin - is 30-40% choline, which is used throughout your body. This is why you want to include it in your diet.
ocholine is one of the main chemicals in our cell membrane.
oIt is used in our brains to create the neurotransmitter acytlcholine, which is required for thinking and memory. Consider lecithin brain food.
oIt is used by the liver, which helps to prevent a fatty liver. A fatty liver prevents you from losing weight around your belly.
oit helps to break up fats into tiny goblets so that they are easily digestible and will reduce your cholesterol.
oit helps to keep cholesterol from clinging to your artery walls.

·flax seed oil - is an essential oil, omega 3. This means your body does not make it and it is necessary for you to eat it so that you can live without illness or pain.
oit helps to detoxify the liver
oit stimulates the production of bile. Remember that bile helps to breakdown fat so that the liver can better metabolize it.
ostimulates the body to burn fat.

oapple juice and apples - are high in vitamin A, in Potassium and have other minerals that strengthen the blood. They contain malic and tartaric acids, which keep the liver healthy and promote good digestion. Apples help you to lose weight by providing fiber and keeping you regular.

ofiber - you need 30-35 grams of fiber every day. Most people only get up to 10-15 grams. Fiber is one foods that reduce your transient time in the colon. Fiber helps to keep your colon clean, reduce cholesterol, remove toxins from your body and eliminate constipation.

There you have it. If you can accomplish these changes in one year, you will notice a big difference in the way you feel and the health that you have.

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