Junk Food Equals Junk Skin

Junk food is not the be all and end all when it comes to taste. It is food that has been processed to the extreme and is now an American way of life. It is a common term used for any food item that is perceived to be unhealthy and has low or poor nutritional value.
Generally, a junk food is given a very attractive appearance by adding food additives and colors to enhance flavor, texture, appearance, and increasing long self life. Of course, it is also readily available at restaurant chains across the country in the form of French fries, chicken nuggets, shakes, soda, etc.
However there is an organization called "Parents Against Junk Food" which is a nonprofit organization with a simple mission: Stop the Sale of Junk Food in America's Schools.
It is widely believed that junk food does not contain the essential fatty acids that the body requires to keep its largest organ, the skin, healthy. It is recommended that food supplements in the form of vitamins should be taken daily if the habit cannot be broken.
The body will also be lacking in proteins, fiber and other nutrients required for a healthy diet, and the consumption of products considered junk food has been associated with many health problems including obesity, heart disease, Type 2 diabetes and dental cavities.
Similarly, breakfast cereals are often regarded as healthy but may have high levels of sugar, salt and fat. The offspring of rats fed fatty, processed food had high levels of fat in their bloodstream and around major organs even after adolescence.
Nutritionists, doctors, and other health advocates often work to educate people about junk food, encouraging them to eat well balanced diets which contain a high proportion of healthy foods. These professionals almost unanimously hold the view that there are no good foods and bad foods, only good diets and bad diets.
The number of obese or overweight children in Britain aged between two and 15 has risen to about 30% in recent years. Changing your diet and taking exercise is a step in the right direction and as you replace fat with muscle, your clothes will become looser and your body firmer, but your weight may not change (muscle weighs more). In fact, the needle on the weight scale might not turn at all, but the heads of friends probably will. To lose weight, you've got to junk that junk food.
We all know that junk food is cheap and easy compared to quality raw materials (fresh veggies, organic meat, milk, fruit). For better or for worse (mostly worse), junk food is now available all over the world.
Apart for obesity, the other huge effect that bad eating habits bring on is skin rashes, eczema and psoriasis. It is reported that 25% of children under the age of five now suffer from eczema compared with less than 3% 50 years ago before junk food was so prevalent.
To combat these skin problems one of the latest discoveries is that the natural oil found in crocodile fat heals most forms of eczema in children within a few weeks. However is it not easy to get hold of and few pharmacies stock it.
The answer of course is to change your diet as junk food equals junk skin.

4 Diet Myths

There's nothing better we can do for ourselves than to become healthy through proper nutrition, but most people don't even come close to eating a healthy well-balanced diet.

As a matter of fact, many people who think they're eating healthy really are victims of our society's 4 diet myths. These myths are propagated by fad diets that advise cutting out essential nutrients that your body needs to function properly.

Myth 1:
Certain Food Groups Should Be Eliminated

Many fad diets emphasize the elimination of certain food groups or eating primarily only one or two food groups. Your body needs a balanced diet that supplies you with the diverse nutrients that will keep you healthy. Your body needs water, vitamins, protein, fat, minerals, energy (carbohydrates), fiber, and oxygen. Eating a diet rich in fruits, veggies, grains, nuts, and seeds will help you rebuild your immune system, which will in turn help you to stay healthy.

Myth 2:
You Have To Eat Meat To Get Enough Protein

Your body needs 30 grams of protein each meal. Meat and dairy products are very high in sodium and fat. Fruits and vegetables have at least one gram of protein in them.

Myth 3:
Eliminate Fat From Your Diet

Your body needs 50 grams of fat each day. You don't want to eliminate fat completely from your diet because it helps your joints and muscles work smoothly.

Myth 4:
You Have To Go Hungry To Lose Weight
The average woman should never eat less than 1,200 calories/day and the average man should never eat less than 1,800 calories per day.

If you feed your body natural foods, then you'll have no need to go hungry. You can pretty much eat all the fresh fruits and vegetables you want, and it will not adversely affect your weight. In order to maximize the nutritional value of your foods eat them in as natural a state as possible. Avoid chemicals, especially those found in water. Fluoride, for example, is a poison.

Although as a treatment for teeth it can prevent cavities, it does no good to ingest it, but rather acts as a poison in your body.

Conclusion
By getting back to nature and the foods your body was designed to run on, you can stay fit, maintain an optimal weight and build up your immune system so that you live a longer, more energetic life.

How Do Low Carb Diets Work?

Losing Weight Quickly

Low carbohydrate diets are very popular with people who want to lose weight quickly. For some, the weight will stay off, but for others, low carb diets are as much of a problem as any other diet. Low carb diets generally follow this rule: no starches, no sweets, limited fruits and vegetables and all the meat (including fish and poultry), eggs and cheese you can handle. The idea behind low carbohydrate diets is that by eating less starch and more protein, the body will fuel itself on fat and will burn the fat cells faster. Unfortunately, like many best laid plans, this type of diet frequently results in lost muscle rather than simply lost fat. Losing lean muscle is not a great idea because muscle is metabolically active and it burns calories all the time, even during a resting state. So, if the amount of muscle is reduced, the body needs fewer calories each day, which makes it difficult to maintain your weight when you go off the diet.

An Incomplete Diet

Too much protein puts an incredible load on the kidneys, sometimes resulting in kidney disease and failure. The low carb, high protein diet can be a problem, particularly if you already have kidney problems. Because these diets involve reducing the intake of fruits and vegetables, they actually reduce the nutritional value of the foods eaten, creating vitamin deficiencies that put incredible strain on the body and over time, can cause disease: namely heart, kidney, bone and liver diseases. To put it frankly, low carb diets are incomplete diets. It would be much wiser to simply reduce the portions of all of the foods we eat and move more, causing the lean muscle mass to consume more calories, thereby forcing the body to lose weight.

Simple and Complex Carbohydrates

Low carbohydrate diets are generally known for reducing the amount of insulin needed by the body, but the problem is that most people trying these diets are not aware that there are two kinds of carbohydrates, simple and complex. The simple carbs (sugars) are the ones that need to be reduced in order to reduce the amount of insulin needed. Complex carbs (starches) such as bread, root vegetables like potatoes, brown rice, corn, peas and beans are beneficial to maintaining good health and nutrition as they cause the body to use its insulin more wisely. Low carb diets frequently cause the dieter to reduce both types of carbs rather than just the simple ones. Some of these diets do not prohibit the eating of carbs but they do reduce them to unhealthy levels. Technically, the main benefits of low carb diets is that they cause the dieter to reduce the consumption of high caloric foods such as cake, cookies, candy and other sweets, the reduction of which will cause weight loss anyway. The best suggestion would be to continue to eat starchy carbs and simply reduce the high sugar foods in the diet.

Two Recipes for Chicken and Beef (Protein Source)

Two Recipes for (Chicken and Beef)

Not all of us are on a super hardcore intense fitness trainers, but we still watch what goes in our mouths, and care about what we eat. And of the same token, it can be said that we're all equally concerned about getting enough protein in our diets; especially if we're weight training.

The benefits of protein include metabolism boosting, lean muscle, possible fat loss (that comes from boosting metabolism), increased energy... I could go on. However, the same old plain chicken breast, bland egg-whites, and boring fish gets tiresome. This is where I come in. I have 2 recipes for 5 different kinds of protein sources. Use this as a way to spice up your diet, and the healthy foods you've come to know and love.

Chicken:

Five-Spice Chicken
2 tbsp (25 ml) lemon juice
2 tsp (10 ml) liquid honey
1 tsp (5 ml) five-spice powder
8 chicken pieces

In large bowl, whisk together lemon juice, 1 tbsp (15 ml) vegetable oil, honey, five-spice powder and 1/4 tsp (1 ml) each salt and pepper. Remove skin from chicken if desired. Add chicken to marinade, turning to coat; let stand for 5 minutes.

In ovenproof skillet, heat 1 tbsp (15 ml) vegetable oil over medium-high heat; brown chicken, in batches and adding more oil if necessary. Drain fat from skillet.

Return all chicken to skillet. Roast in 425ºF (220ºC) oven until juices run clear when chicken is pierced.

Calories: 850
Protein: 182
Fat: 31
Carbs: 14

Beef:

Steak Diane
1 pound sirloin steak
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 onion, thinly sliced
1 (8-ounce) package sliced button mushrooms
2 (5-ounce) packages prepared fresh green beans
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1/2 teaspoon dry mustard powder
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 cup beef broth
2 tablespoons cornstarch
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

Trim excess fat from steak, cut in half, and cut across the grain (or perpendicular to the lines in the meat), into 1/2-inch strips. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. In heavy skillet add olive oil; add the steak strips and stir-fry until brown, about 3 to 4 minutes. Remove meat from skillet with slotted spoon to a plate.

To drippings remaining in skillet, add onion and garlic; stir-fry until crisp-tender, about 3 to 4 minutes. Add mushrooms and green beans; stir-fry for 3 to 5 minutes longer. In small bowl combine Worcestershire sauce, mustard powder, lemon juice, beef broth, and cornstarch. Add to skillet and bring to a simmer.

Return meat to skillet; bring back to a simmer and cook for 4 minutes longer, until meat and vegetables are tender. Sprinkle with parsley and serve.

Calories: 1380
Protein: 133
Fat: 74
Carbs: 40

Dieting for Dummies

Winter sucks, but luckily it doesn't last forever. Soon, the glaciers will recede, the wooly mammoths and yaks will migrate north to frostier climes, and we can all emerge from our caves, blinking into the spring sunlight. But wait, what's that underneath our fur pelts? Uh oh... looks like we've put on a few extra pounds of flab this winter. Did I say a few? I know some people who put away enough pie, cookies, cake, and pastry over the holidays to see them through any African famine with ease. Then when the spring thaw arrives, the panic sets in. Eek! I've got to lose this weight fast! After all, none of us wants one of those paparazzi types to catch us looking flabby in a swimsuit and plaster it all over the cover of the National Enquirer.

Confusion quickly follows panic. What type of diet should I use? Which infomercial gadget should I buy, maybe the electro-stim pads that stick to my tummy and work the same as doing ten million sit-ups a day? The fact is that the average American, as smart as they may be about their career or how many questions they can answer right on Who Wants to be a Millionaire, is clueless as to how to go about losing fat. For their edification, I have compiled a brief list of basic facts to put them on the right path and melt the fat away. I call it Dieting for Dummies.

Starving is not the answer.

This is a particularly difficult concept for women to comprehend, because their main role models for "weight management" are anorexic/bulemic models and actresses with sunken eyes and ribs you could play the xylophone on. As I've attempted to hammer home many times in the past, going too long without eating only slows down the metabolism further. On top of that, most people can only starve so long before they break down and eat everything in the house. It's usually at night, too, so that means they'll be going straight to bed to let all that food turn into more fat. Athletes and bodybuilders have been doing it the right way for years, eating moderate meals every two to three hours. They also eat an amount of calories that the average person would think excessive, yet amazingly they are lean and muscular. If you want to rev up a sluggish metabolism, eating is the answer, not starving.

Find your fine line of caloric intake
The most simple mathematical equation possible for understanding fat loss is: you must burn more calories than you take in. But you must be careful not to have the balance too lopsided. Without enough calories, you will lose muscle tissue, and your metabolism will slow down in an attempt to keep you ticking just a little longer. Parrillo's Diet Trac sheets and software can help you find out how many calories you take in, and by using the Bodystat calipers, you can easily monitor how much fat and muscle you are losing or gaining. Remember, scale weight is not a reliable indication of what is really happening. You need to know how much lean mass versus fat you have as your fat loss journey progresses to adjust your calories accordingly.

Don't skimp on cardio.

For too many of us, the only cardio we get these days is lifting up the sofa cushions looking for the remote to the DVD player. We are also bombarded with commercials for Jenny Craig and Slim Fast that delude us into thinking dieting is all we need to do to lose fat. Sorry, but it just ain't that easy. You have to do cardio, and do it faithfully. John Parrillo pioneered the concept of doing cardio on an empty stomach for best fat-loss results, which is now universally accepted. You need to get your heart rate elevated to the point where holding a conversation would be very difficult, and keep it there for at least thirty minutes. Do this 3-6 times a week along with a clean diet, and the lipolysis really kicks in.

Lifting weights isn't just for getting big muscles.

Try telling the average soccer mom with too much junk in her trunk that weight training is going to help her lose bodyfat, and she'll chuckle until her butt cheeks and roll of belly fat shake like Jello. How preposterous! The fact is, weight training and adding a little muscle mass not only improves any woman's overall shape and curves, but muscle is very metabolically demanding. It burns calories just sitting there. This is partly why bodybuilders with extreme amounts of muscle mass can get away with eating more than their share of junk (follow the Mr. Olympia competitors to the post-contest banquet sometime and you'll see what I mean) and still not gain much bodyfat. As for the silly fear that they might wake up one morning accidentally looking like Dorian Yates, get real girls - not in your wildest dreams.

Don't go nuts on "fat-free" and "sugar-free" items.

Wow! Those Wow! Chips only have a third of the fat as regular potato chips! I guess it's okay to eat ten times as many, then. Sure, it's okay if you want to get even fatter. Another common mistake is that people don't read the food labels very closely. If they did, they'd be horrified to discover that often fat-free foods are loaded with sugar, and sugar-free foods are full of fat. Think about it. A bucket full of fat trimmings from pork chops is sugar free. A bucket full of table sugar is fat free. Do you think you'll get lean chowing down on those, sparky?

Forget about "cheat meals".

"I deserve this, I ate good all week." Famous last words. It's what someone usually says before putting away a pizza or parking at the dessert section of the local Hometown Buffet. If you're going to indulge in something that tastes like junk, at least make it something like Parrillo's new Hi-Protein pudding that is sugar-free and nearly devoid of carbs. Having your weekly (or in some folk's cases, daily) cheat meal will make your fat loss goals not much more than a faraway dream. This isn't to say, you can never enjoy another treat again, but keep them rare and in moderation.

Use supplements wisely, not as a crutch.

Ever since fat-burning themrogenic products hit the supplement market ten years ago, dieters began relying on them to burn the fat while they slacked off on cardio and didn't eat the way they knew they should. Never think for a minute that any pill is going to take the place of dedication and willpower. Use them if you must, because they can also be a very effective way to boost your concentration and energy levels while training. But the hard work is up to you. No Genie is popping out of those bottles any time soon to grant you three physique wishes. If there were, don't you think I would have asked for arms like Lee Priest's by now?

Patience is a virtue.

You didn't put all that lard on in one day, and you won't take it off in one day either. Don't get discouraged. Burning just a little bit of fat every day will add up over the weeks and months. In today's world we want everything right this second, but you can't rush dieting unless you want to end up losing all your muscle and looking and feeling sickly and weak. You'll get there if you keep doing the right things. Any dummy can lose fat if they understand these few principles. Now get moving! I think I just saw what looked like the sun starting to burn through those gray winter clouds.

How to Curb Late Night Snack Cravings

I don't know about you but sticking to a diet is always hardest at night! Things are done for the day and I'd love to do nothing more than reward myself for another day done with treats from the kitchen. Resist the urge! Try these suggestions on for size!

1. Healthier Alternatives Celery, small handful of almonds, small glass of skim milk, cup of non buttered popcorn, herbal tea (wegmans has a whole selection of flavored herbal teas - even chocolate strawberry), vitamin shoppe's protein pudding (see my other articles for more suggestions)

2. Take your mind off of it If you can't sleep yet than do something else that you enjoy. Read a good book, write a blog, seduce your lover ;), take a warm bath, paint your toenails, put on the radio and dance!

3. Groom Brush your teeth and wash your face. Feeling fresh will make you less likely to eat again

4. Anticipate Breakfast Try to relax and go to the sleep and know the sooner you go to bed the sooner you will be able to eat breakfast

Knowledge is Power

As you constantly try to improve yourself and make progress towards the goals you have set, you try to educate your mind and are bombarded with endless and endless amounts of "raw" data on how to reach those goals. What you want to find is a source where it's all tied together and it makes sense. There is so much to learn and sometimes knowing the basics or fundamentals makes it so much easier to digest. The knowledge you acquire empowers you in so many ways. You learn to avoid the pitfalls that have stifled you and prevented you from realizing the things you want to achieve. In this article, I hope to ease some of the painful learning process and pull together some of the meaningful details you have probably seen yet not fully understood how to use. To begin, we all must first decide what goal we are pursuing. For the moment, I will generalize and say that I want to lose weight. The weight I wish to lose is body fat and not lean muscle. Sounds tough? It should and even more so if you don't understand the basics. What are the basics?
The basics to losing fat/gaining muscle:
We all know that in order to lose weight, you must place yourself in a caloric deficit. That means, the number of calories taken in must be less than the calories burned. The calories burned are what is referred to as "basal metabolic rate" (BMR). To determine your basal metabolic rate is extremely difficult. One way to find this is to weigh yourself at the start of a week. Monitor the number of calories taken in for the week. If your weight does not change, the total calories for the week is probably your basal metabolic rate. Of course you may want to repeat this process to nail down an average. Divide this weekly total by 7 and you will know your basal metabolic rate per day! Simple? Knowing your daily basal metabolic rate opens a wealth of knowledge. How you ask? Well say you find that your BMR is 2500 calories per day.
Now, you have decided that you want to lose weight. However, you want to maintain lean muscle in the process. To accomplish this you next need to determine your body type. The three scientific body types are: ectomorph, mesomorph, endomorph. An ectomorph has very long limbs, very low body fat, and has a hard time packing on mass. A mesomorph is muscular, has a thick and lean build and has a moderate amount of body fat. An endomorph is heavy set and carries a high amount of body fat that is difficult to reduce. Some of us actually may fall in between these types. Myself, I am an ecto-mesomorph. This is because I have some areas that are muscular and others that have been and are difficult to build. Knowing your body type and your BMR provides several significant things. In the following table, based on your body type and perceived metabolism, a value can be derived:

Metabolism	Slow	Moderate	Fast
	(Endomorph)	(mesomorph)	(Ectomorph)
Lost Fat/ Maintain Muscle	10	11	12
Lose Fat/ Gain Muscle	13	14	15
Gain Muscle	16	17	18

To interpret the table, assume you weigh 180 lbs., and have a fast metabolism. Using the table above, to lose body fat, you would simply multiply your body weight by 12. The result, 2160, is the number of total calories per day that you would consume to reduce body fat. This number has very little meaning without knowing that each gram of carbohydrate or protein equals 4 calories and each gram of fat equals 9. A 180 lbs. bodybuilder in a pre-contest 2160 calories diet who has been instructed to achieve a dietary 10-30-60 fat/carbs/protein ratio, would need to consume 24 grams of fat (2160 * .10 / 9), 162 grams of carbs (2160 * .30 / 4), and 324 grams of protein (2160 * .60 / 4).
Each nutritional component multiplied by the recommended daily percentage and divided by the number of calories per gram, provides its total grams per day. Once you have mastered these formulations, you can easily adjust your daily consumption percentages with ease! Now, having realized that your BMR was 2500 calories per day and to achieve you goal, you must adhere to a 2160 calorie diet, means you will incur a 340 calorie per day, 2380 per week deficit.
This allows you to know how much cardio to incorporate when you exceed your daily goals due to unexpected binges! To find success in any dietary scheme, you need to know "what" your consuming and how much to consume. The calculations above give you all the information you need. However, it can be confusing when deciding what foods to include and what to avoid. Personally, I feel it is important to eat healthy foods for the most part. Quality or nutritionally fulfilling food groups provide larger portioning. Eating things like, pizza, pie, cake, etc. can quickly result in exceeding your daily totals. Next time you get the opportunity, check out: http://www.fatcalories.com. This site provides the nutritional values of several fast food menus. You will surely be surprised when you see the high numbers of saturated fat in most fast food! Also, the USDA provides an interface to a database containing detailed nutritional values of just about any food you can think of. The address is: http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/cgi-bin/nut_search.pl.

HAPPY NEW YEAR! How to Avoid Fad Diets Like The Cabbage Soup Diet

The American Heart Association recommends adopting healthy eating habits permanently, rather than impatiently pursuing quick diets in hopes of losing unwanted pounds in a few days through fad quick weight loss plans. Many of these fad diets, such as the notorious and outright silly Cabbage Soup Diet, will undermine your health, cause physical discomfort, abdominal discomfort and flatulence (gas), and lead to the ping-pong effect of gaining weight soon after losing it. In other words the risks aren't worth the rewards.

1. First, one food or one type of food is generally overemphasized with fad quick weight loss diets. They violate the first principle of good nutrition which is to eat a balanced diet including a variety of foods.

2. Also, because no one food has all the nutrients needed for good health, these diets can result in a lot of health problems. One such diet is the Cabbage Soup Diet. This so-called fat-burning soup is eaten mostly with fruits and vegetables. The diet supposedly helps heart patients lose 10-17 pounds in seven days before surgery. Even if the weight loss claim were true, all the damage due to a lack of many essential nutrients would far outweigh (pun intended) the benefits of losing the weight. Pixies, elves and fairies, or even cabbages, can't create magical weight loss. That's why you should eat moderate amounts from each of the food groups rather than cutting out everything but a cabbage and water.

3. These crazy diets also ignore another important principle of good nutrition which is that eating should be enjoyable.. These diets are so monotonous and boring that it's almost impossible to stay on them for long periods. Consider a week on the Cabbage Soup Diet. By mid week crawling bugs would look good. If you make it to Sunday you might die of a heart attack before you ever again tasted real food.

4. Boredom isn't the only reason fad diets aren't good ones. Most don't talk about exercise, such as aerobics for 30 minutes a day every day. While doing nothing can lead to heart problems, exercise is a major element of maintaining proper weight. When a diet includes no need for a workout, run the other way. Quick weight loss is possible. But if a program sounds too good to be true, it is.

How to Follow Michael Phelps 12,000 calorie diet

Shortly after the Olympics , news of swimming star Michael Phelps Diet was released . It had been reported that the swimmer maintains a 12,000 calorie / per day diet. It is perfectly healthy to eat this many calories per day as long you spend the time to work them off. Phelps spends hours a day conditioning his body. It is estimated that he burns 1000 - 2000 calories per hour in the pool. To put it short Michael Phelps is a calorie burning machine.

1. BREAKFAST Breakfast fuels your day and is definitely the most important meal . You will need to consume 4,000 calories to be like Mike during breakfast time .Reportedly Michael's breakfast consists of two cups of coffee , three fried egg sandwiches , 1 5-egg omelet , 3 slices of french toast , 1 bowl of grits and 3 chocolate chip pancakes. You will need to follow this up with at least 1 hour of swimming or running.

2. LUNCH Lunch consists of another 4,000 calories . For lunch Phelps drinks 1,000 calories in energy drinks , 1 pound of pasta , and two ham/cheese sandwiches. As you can see so far Phelps consumers huge quantities of food per meal . It is very important that he follows up his meals with exercise. Following this meal you will need to swim , run or lift weights for about 1.5 - 2 hours.

3. DINNER For the final 4,000 calories of the day . Phelps will consume 8 slices of pizza , another pound of pasta and 1,000 calories worth of energy drinks. This meal should be followed up by another 1.5 - 2 hours of physical exercise.

Foods that Help you Stay Healthy

If is important to keep your system built up during the flu season. It may be only a matter of making sure you are eating nutrient-packed meals. It has been proven that certain foods protect they body against illness. Best of all these foods taste great.

Fresh fruits and vegetable are filled with life giving nutrients and healing vitamins. The less cooking that is done to fresh vegetables, the better the nutrients are preserves. Eat fresh fruit instead of sugar filled junk foods.

Butternut squash, pumpkin, sweet potatoes, spinach and broccoli are filled with beta-carotene.

Spinach legumes, peanuts, whole grains, leafy green vegetables, eggs and milk are filled with vitamins, folate and b12.

Oranges, grapefruit, strawberries, green peppers and cabbage are filled with vitamin C.

Peanuts, sunflower seeds, eggs, spinach, whole grains, vegetable oils, and poultry are filled with vitamin E.

Fish, poultry, beef, pork, eggs, cheese, milk, peanut butter and whole grains are filled with zinc.

Protein and Endurance Sports

Endurance Sports are like music concerts. They start at a low key, setting a steady rhythm and culminate into a crescendo that enthralls the spectator and the athlete. And not unlike an orchestra, endurance demands a flawless performance from every organ, testing the limits of their resilience. As each system, conducted by the human will, endures a pace bordering on fatigue, the athlete begins to hear music from the heart. What’s often neglected, and considered unnecessary, in endurance sports is a high-protein diet that can expand the aerobic capacity and power the performance.
To sustain effort and delay fatigue, the body needs an adequate supply of oxygen and fuel without accumulating waste products, acids or heat. Greater the intensity of the workout, greater is the efficiency required. The capacity of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems, the fuel stores in the muscle, the hepatic and renal support systems must all expand exponentially to perform in endurance sports. If any of these prerequisites are not met, the internal milieu becomes uncomfortable. Metabolism slows down, to allow excretion of wastes, acids and heat, as fatigue sets in. The aerobic stress of endurance sports provides the necessary stimulus for growth and development. The body is ready to build. All that is needed are the building blocks-the Proteins.
Given an adequate and appropriate supply of proteins, the body remains in a state of positive nitrogen balance. Sufficient protein consumption, along with a high-energy diet also influences the carbohydrate and fat metabolism. In the well-fed state, with sufficient physical activity, dietary proteins stimulate the simultaneous release of the growth hormone and insulin. The combined hormonal influence redirects dietary carbohydrate and fat to the aerobic muscle fibers where they are stored as fuels for exhausting workouts. The consequent increase in muscle stores of glycogen and lipid allows sustained activity for a longer time. With enough proteins, the lean body mass, stamina and performance increase throughout the training program.
Proteins and amino acids also directly supply between 1 to 6 % of the energy needs during a workout. The proportion of energy derived from proteins increases with the intensity of the exercise. Given their role in bodybuilding, proteins are too important to be used as fuel and attempts should be made to minimize this percentage. Studies by Bowtell and Tarnopolsky, report that a high-energy (carbohydrate) diet, when combined with an ample protein intake and hydration, has a protein sparing effect under aerobic conditions. However, when the protein intake is inadequate, the high-energy diet fails to protect proteins from being used up as fuel. Therefore, endurance athletes need to ensure high levels of protein intake not only to supply amino acids for growth, but also to make sure that the amino acids don’t get burnt up as fuel.
Endurance athletes need proteins but do they need protein supplements? The answer, till recently, was negative for recreational and modest athletes. Protein supplements were advised only for professional athletes and for sportspersons with a diet deficient in proteins. However, these recommendations, based on a parameter called ‘nitrogen balance’, have often been questioned. Young and Bier propose that there exists a subtle state of protein deficiency, called the ‘accommodative’ state, where an inadequate protein intake is masked by the breakdown of body proteins. Measurements based on nitrogen balance do not take the accommodating state into account and are therefore are not accurate enough to calculate protein requirements. Mark Tarnopolsky, in a recent review on Protein Requirements in Endurance Athletes, also raises similar questions.
Epidemiological studies, by McKenzie and others, also suggest that the dietary protein intake of up to 20% of athletes may be below levels recommended for sedentary individuals. Then there is always the ambiguous quality and absorb ability of a dietary protein. Just eating proteins in diet does not ensure that they will provide all the essential amino acids in adequate quantities. Given the vital role that proteins play in the metabolic and physiological response to aerobic stresses of endurance sports, and the uncertainties regarding dietary protein intake, a protein supplement like Profect®, can go a long way in improving performance.
Adequate training and a Profect diet will take endurance to its limits, to levels where aerobic metabolism stimulates the release of enkephalins, the human equivalent of opium. These enkephalins produce the natural high that is often referred to as the ‘flow’. As long as metabolism remains aerobic, the mind is flooded with enkephalins and the systems function in harmony. In ‘flow’ capacity seems endless and fatigue non-existent. Profect, the perfect protein supplement can do that for you.

Achieve Lasting Success with Diet and Exercise

As I hammer out these words, it's year end and so everyone is once again mulling over their New Year's resolutions. For many, those resolutions will include a renewed focus on health. Many will want to lose weight. And given the obesity trends throughout the world, there is a lot of weight to be lost. For others, the goal may include becoming more fit, perhaps stronger or leaner. And others may just want to reshape their eating habits, or perhaps eliminate one or more negative aspects of their diet (caffeine, sugar, carbs, etc.). Unfortunately, if history repeats itself (and it will), nearly all of these enthusiastic resolutions will be lost to memory by March or April of the New Year. The new treadmills and the latest fad Ab-busters will be collecting dust or sitting idle in the corners of bonus rooms and spare bedrooms. And those new aerobics and yoga DVDs will be pushed to the back of the shelf. So what becomes of what was once very sincere enthusiasm about health and fitness? Why do we see these same trends every year? And why is it so very difficult to adopt a healthy lifestyle that is lasting? In this article, I’ll offer the benefit of my own experience with health and fitness, and I’ll include ideas to help you bring about lasting change in your own life. You don’t have to settle for less, and you don’t have to join the ranks of the majority that will once again make resolutions that inevitably fail. And perhaps best of all, you don’t have to be miserable along the journey. Read on and learn just how simple it can be to take a healthier path. You CAN do this. You CAN change.

If you want to adopt a more healthy lifestyle that is lasting, why wait until January 1? …or until the 1st of next month? …or until next Monday? Why not begin today? The idea of putting it off implies that you perceive it to be a negative or difficult experience. And the stronger that perception, the greater the chances you will either not begin at all, or quit soon after. And if your plan is so very harsh or punishing that you dread it that much, then perhaps you need to revisit the plan. It’s much better to adopt a less strict plan that you can live with, than to be over-the-top aggressive and give up after a month or two (or worse yet, never even begin).

Step2

Visualize the positive outcome that you desire for your body and your life. This is never easy when you first take on a change because you have yet to actually see or feel the results. But if you find ways to visualize those results, and if you are positive about your journey, then you will see and feel the results so much sooner, and your success will be sooner achieved and lasting. Be positive not only in your mental outlook, but in how you speak and carry yourself. Do not berate yourself or speak in negative ways about your body or your fitness. Instead, focus on the positive steps you are taking today. Write down your values, ideals, and objectives in a short list, and re-read it each morning. Make a vision board and fill with pictures that help you visualize the body and the life you want, then post it where you will see it every day.

Step3

Live in the present moment. Do not be miserable today, waiting on the weight loss or exercise results you anticipate for tomorrow. Your life is happening right now, and you will never have another today. Don’t set aside your moments in this day, waiting for the promise of tomorrow. It’s fine to look forward to a healthier you; that’s part of positive visualization discussed in step 2. But don’t miss all the joys and opportunities for happiness now, thinking that somehow the real joy awaits in the future when you are thinner or healthier. Embrace your own journey and know that you can be happy right now, and on every step of the journey to a thinner, healthier, and stronger you.

Step4

Diets. We’ve all been there, done that. How many diets must you experience before it occurs to you that perhaps diets just don’t work? There are many good reasons why they don’t work. Yet millions of people every year will enthusiastically embrace yet another diet, and nearly all will be unsuccessful (will not lose weight or become healthier, or will soon re-gain what was lost). This is not to suggest that all diets are bad. The idea of monitoring your food intake and making more healthy choices is most certainly very good. But adopting a punishing dietary restriction that by design is only a temporary detour from the very lifestyle that created the problem is almost certain to fail. Sooner or later, the diet will end. You’ll resume eating sugar, or carbs, or whatever it is that you were so bitterly deprived for the duration of your diet. And so what happens then? (you already know)

Step5

Exercise. Must we? Well… yes. But whether it’s a chore or a rewarding experience to which you look forward is really a matter of your perspective and your expectations. There are many benefits of exercise (stronger and leaner body, agility, stamina, and more). Exercise even prompts the release of chemicals in the brain that alleviate pain, improve memory, and even help prevent depression. Best of all, once you establish a pattern of exercise in your life, you actually look forward to the experience. Be creative and seek out new ways to exercise. Challenge yourself, but make it fun. Make sure your expectations are reasonable. Most of all, be consistent. Even during times you just don’t feel up to it, spend just a small amount of time doing something you enjoy, and you’ll be surprised at how much better you’ll feel. Your body is the most amazing machine you’ll ever own, so don’t let another year pass by without reaching for all the wonderful potential inside of you.

Step6

Moderation. Whether it’s diet or exercise, moderation is essential. Do not try to adopt a plan that is so very strict or aggressive that it’s impossible to sustain. If you are miserable with your diet or exercise routine, then you’ll sooner than later return to the old habits. Be gentle with yourself, and remember that your objective is a new path, a new lifestyle, and so there is no time constraint. You may have set reasonable goals for weight loss or fitness levels, but in the end it’s just participation in the journey that is a measure of your success. The tortoise outran the hare because he just slowly proceeded on his path, without quitting. You will achieve your own optimal health, just as assuredly. And even better, you can smile and enjoy every step of the way.

Step7

Lean about foods and exercise. Knowledge is such a wonderful thing. And the more you know about foods, healthy eating, exercise, and healthy lifestyles, then the more you can apply that knowledge to further your own progress towards being the best you can be. The Internet is a wonderful resource. But of course, always be a bit of a skeptic with what you read. Check it against other sources. And keep asking “why” and “how”. Above all, just keep learning. You’ll find wonderful new foods to eat more healthy, great ideas and programs to enhance exercise or make it more fun, and countless other ways to enrich your life.

Step8

Scales are the enemy! Our bathroom scales are really not the enemy. But our attitude (or response) towards the scales are so very often self-destructive. How many times have you cautiously eased onto the scales, only to read a number that left you feeling horrible about yourself for the remainder of the day? Rather than toss the scales out the window, hang on to them and try a slightly different approach to how you use them. First, do not weigh every day. Weigh yourself no more often than once each week. And even so, remember that the long term trend is so much more important than whatever number you see today. Weight can fluctuate for a number of reasons on a day by day (or week by week) basis. Stay positive, remembering all the steps above, and just keep steadfast on your journey. The numbers will follow, sooner or later. In the mean time, don’t let those scales pull you from your path.

Step9

Are you a Compulsive Eater? Compulsive eating is a disorder, in much the same as many obsessive personality disorders. But when it comes to food, it’s a cruel and self-defeating disorder. Do you binge? Do you sometimes purge or induce vomiting? Are you preoccupied with body weight, to the point of being depressed? Do you eat even when you are not hungry? Do you hide what/when you eat? If you have tendencies that suggest you may suffer with compulsive eating, take the time to get informed and address the problem today. See the Resources section below for a wonderful resource that may change your life.

Step10

Why try again? What’s the point, even? Another diet? Another New Year's resolution? Another swing of the pendulum, a few steps forward, only to fall back again later. Why, you ask? Because your life doesn’t have to be this way. You can change. You don’t have to be yet another failure statistic. No matter how many times you’ve failed in years past, and no matter how many pounds you’ve lost and regained. By beginning today, and by starting with just the simple steps above, you can transform the journey of your own life. You can have the thin body in your mind’s eye. You can have the strength, the agility, and the grace for which you have longed. And perhaps best of all, you can enjoy a happy, hopeful, and purposeful existence along the journey to this wonderful new you.

Acai Berry - Where to Buy Acai Berries

The hip new taste in Rio health stores, juice bars and hot spots is Acai (ah-sigh-EE) berry juice and smoothies. But where can you buy Acai berry? Unfortunately this health giving berry perishes very quickly after it has been harvested. It is a small, deep purple colored berry that is mostly seed, that grows on a special palm tree found only in the Amazon rainforests.
Acai powder is quite difficult to find because it is so perishable but there are a few Network marketing companies do manufacture this. It is also possible to find Acai Berry powder or frozen Acai at up-market health food stores, but you should try to find a naturally extracted product. Acai berry products are also found at online stores and many of these products are from reputable sources, but also make sure that the product you order is from a natural source.
Acai has been researched and found to be one of the top ten foodstuffs available in the world today. It is a complete solution to nutrition, digestive and cardio vascular health. Athletes make regular use of Acai berry as it provides a complete solution for energy and is well know to be beneficial for muscle contraction and regeneration.
As this Acai is considered to be one of the Super-foods of the year, where to buy Acai berry should not be a problem in the near future. It is good for virtually everything that Kale is, and tastes a whole lot better. It contains naturally occurring Omega three, six and nine and I packed full of minerals vitamins and nutrients. It is also rich in protein and contains everything to make it a "complete" meal. This makes it perfect as a meal replacement and a fantastic supplement for weight loss and dieting.

Compare NutriSystem With the South Beach Diet

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Nutrisystem is a diet plan that uses a healthy balance of good carbohydrates, proteins and fats so you can eat a variety of foods and lose weight. The South Beach diet, a plan created by cardiologist Arthur Agatston, restricts carbohydrates, bans unhealthy fats and suggests healthy ones. Comparing the two plans can help you to make an informed decision on the best particular plan for your lifestyle.

The NutriSystem Plan

Choose the NutriSystem plan for ease. Meals are prepared for you and shipped to your door, and the plan includes free online or phone counseling to help you reach your goals. There are programs designed for men and women of all ages and for vegetarians and Type II diabetics.

Look at the rules of the plan. With NutriSystem, all prepared meals offer the correct calories and nutrients. You add fresh fruits and vegetables and don't have to think about the rest of the preparation.

Compare the work involved. Everything is already done for you with NutriSystem so there is almost no work involved except making sure you stick with the plan.

Check the cost of the plan. NutriSystem charges for meals and snacks and shipping, but it often offers discounts and free meals for signing up. You can also save by signing up for the Auto Ship plan.

See the results. NutriSystem allows you to follow plans losing less than or more than 10 lb. You can lose a lot initially, but you can expect to lose 1 to 2 lb. per week if you follow the program exactly.

Weigh the risks. Participants may gain weight back after going off this program since they don't learn how to prepare healthy food themselves.

South Beach Diet Plan

Choose the South Beach Diet Plan if you don't want to completely cut out food groups and want a lifestyle change, not just a quick fix.

Look at the rules of the plan. The South Beach Diet plan doesn't count carbs, but looks at how much sugar is in each carb, choosing those with a low glycemic index. The plan works in 3 phases with the first phase being the most restrictive, taking away all carbs. The second phase reintroduces the carbs in moderation and lasts until you hit your target weight. The third phase allows you to continue to eat normal foods in normal portions following the guidelines for life.

Compare the work involved. Instead of counting calories or maintaining strict portion sizes, you eat normal portions and snack strategically throughout the day, using suggested recipes and food combinations for the various phases.

Check the cost of the plan. There is no sign-up fee or meal cost. You buy the book and companion guide and visit the website for information. Then you buy and prepare the food yourself.

See the results. Weight loss may be dramatic in phase I of the South Beach Diet plan, and then continues at 1 to 2 lb. per week until you hit your weight loss goals. Staying on the plan for life means you keep your target weight and adjust as necessary with the tools provided.

Weigh the risks. Much of the weight lost in the induction phase is water weight, which can throw off your balance of electrolytes.

How to Avoid Emotional Eating

Emotional eating can be on many levels, from eating out of boredom to eating during periods of severe stress, but all situations involve going for food when you're not physically hungry. The following are some tips in helping you address this issue:

With eating out of boredom, you can try replacing food with another habit.

A good hobby can not only keep you busy but could eventually generate you a second income. Do some research of things you might enjoy that have low starting costs that you can build upon if your interest in it grows.

Step2

Keep a pitcher of ice water in your refrigerator.

When you feel the urge to eat but don't feel hungry, try a glass of water instead. Studies have shown many Americans are dehydrated on a regular basis, and sometimes drinking water will satisfy what initially feels like a kind of hunger but is actually thirst.

Step3

If your job is highly stressful, it can be very easy to internally justify bad eating behaviors such as depending on vending machines and fast food.

This often results in a cycle, and can be very hard on your body if you're sitting a lot as well. Two ways to address this issue are gradually introducing healthy foods into your daily routine (substituting a little at a time until you've completely replaced the habit) and making time for exercise (most likely during short breaks during the day). This will at least help you maintain your current weight, though you'll probably have to do more intense workouts outside of work to lose weight.

Step4

Realize that changing this issue is going to be a process and won't happen overnight.

What can be discouraging is taking steps in the right direction only to have a setback. The important thing is to keep moving forward on a daily basis and small choices-over time they do add up to a big impact. Being aware of the issue instead of acting on it on a subconscious level will help a lot.

There are going to be genuinely hard situations you're going to come up against in life. That's inevitable, but if you make the effort to change during a relatively normal point in your life, it will make choices during those times easier.

Step5

If possible, find a friend or mentor that will help you stay accountable.

Sharing this issue with someone you trust can give you an alternative to food for stress and emotional issues. This is very important during times you feel like you're not making progress on your own. Prayer about the issue can definitely help as well.

Good luck and best wishes to you!

Is Acai Berry Safe For Teenagers?

If you are a teenager, or a concerned parent, who is considering taking Acai berry, then you might be wondering; "Is Acai berry safe for teenagers?" It is good to ask this question before taking any new type of health supplement, especially when the person taking the supplement is still growing up.
Luckily, you have nothing to fear when it comes to Acai berries. Asking if Acai berries are safe for teenagers is just like asking if apples, bananas, or grapes are safe for teenagers. Acai is a natural fruit, just like those mentioned above, so it is completely safe for anyone to take. It could be possible that someone could have an allergy to Acai, but that is no more likely than someone being allergic to an apple.
Many teens are guzzling sodas, coffee, and energy drinks at an alarming rate. While these drinks can give teens a temporary boost of energy, they are known to stunt growth and promote obesity. Acai berry juice can be a great tasting and healthy replacement for these drinks. In fact, most people report that the energy they get from Acai blows both coffee and Redbull out of the water. There is no better way for a student to start off a day of school than with a glass of Acai juice.
One of the benefits that is most relevant for teens is its high Omega fatty acid content. Teenage years are full of mental ups and downs, and these essential fatty acids help improve mood and fight depression. They also help improve general brain function (they make you smarter) which will help a teen do better in school and get into a better college.
Acai is one of the most powerful antioxidant foods on earth, which will help with many teens' #1 problem: Acne. Antioxidants help repair damaged skin and hair, and are one of the keys to fight off acne.
Acai is an all natural health supplement that can help teens reach their full potential as adults. Since it's a fruit you do not need to worry if the Acai berry is safe for teenagers.

Atkins Vs. Pritikin: The Debate Rages On!

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The battle lines have been drawn and everyone has taken sides. This vicious battle has pitted brother against brother and husband against wife. It is by far the most heated subject in nutrition, and self-proclaimed gurus have crawled out of the woodwork to weigh in with their opinions on the high carb diet vs. low carb diet debate.

As a fitness enthusiast, you no doubt have been in a few discussions, some of them probably a little heated, about how much of your daily calories should consist of carbohydrates. Both sides have compelling arguments, so who's right? They both are, to a point.

Appetizers

First, you have to realize that no diet, no matter how compelling the evidence, is going to work for everyone all of the time. In other words, you have to take your individual differences into account when deciding which approach will work best for you. It is not high carb vs. low carb, it is which one will work best for you, based on your metabolism and training goals. This fact has been missed by most, and this has led to a lot of confusion and frustration among fitness enthusiasts.

The low carbs diet work, and work well, but only for some selected purposes. The proponents of the low carb diets claim that by eating less carbs and more fat you switch your body's metabolism from one that favors carbs to one that favors fat for fuel. This has obvious benefits for someone looking to lose fat. In addition, these diets tend to be very low in total calories and help to control hunger with the addition of protein and fat to each meal. That has probably been the number one positive impact of these diets on the fitness community - getting people to eat less calories, and adequate amounts of protein and good fats.

Some of these low carb diets tend to be a little extreme, namely the ketogenic carbs where carbs are virtually eliminated from the diet to force your body into a state of ketosis, where body fat is burned in the form of ketones for fuel. These diets can be very dangerous if not used properly. If you are a bodybuilder who already has low levels of bodyfat and you want to get extremely cut up, then the ketogenic diet - or better yet, its close cousin the cyclical-ketogenic diet - is perfect for you.

However, if you are overweight, and have several pounds of fat to lose to get to a healthy range, then a more moderate approach to the low carb diets, like The Zone Diet, will work best. Ketosis is not a natural state for your body to be in. It lowers the blood pH, leading to a more acidic internal environment, and long-term exposure to such an environment will cause damage to your internal organs.

Pass The Bread

The advantage of a higher carb diet - and disadvantage of the low carb approach - is that you will not get big and strong without eating an adequate amount of carbs and calories. This does not mean an extremely high carb intake, as total carb intake should still be no more than 50- 60% of your total calories. But this extra amount of carbs will go a long way in your strength and muscle-gaining goals.

Carbs fuel the anaerobic (literally meaning "without oxygen") pathways of muscular energetics. These two energetic pathways, named the ATP/ CP and glycolitic pathways, are the major suppliers of energy for activities that take less than 90-120 seconds to complete, depending on your fitness level. As I'm sure most of you have realized, the vast majority of activities in the weight room when pumping iron take less than 2 minutes to complete. In fact, most sets take less than 1 minute to complete, falling well within the anaerobic pathways of muscular energetics.

Main Course

What's my point? Well, if most of your weightlifting activities run off of stored glycogen - i.e. carbs - then why do you want your body to favor fat for energy? You don't. Several studies have shown that carbs increase performance. Cutting carbs from a mass and strength diet program is just as bad as not including protein or creatine. No one in their right mind would try to add strength and mass without those two nutrients. However, most of these same individuals will not hesitate to eat a Meal Replacement - which was designed for fat loss - in water three times a day, obtaining miniscule amounts of carbs in the process.

In addition, since intense weightlifting burns up blood sugar and stored glycogen, you will have to replace them. This can not be done optimally if you are following a carb-restricted diet. This means that you will have to allow longer recovery periods, or suffer a performance decrease, which does not help when trying to add pounds to your squat, or inches to your chest and biceps.

Most fitness enthusiasts get themselves in trouble when they become married to one concept. Frustration is brought on when they get stuck in a rut, afraid to try something radically different. Nutrition and dieting is no exception to this. Instead of debating which diet is the best, we need to look at which diet is the best for what circumstances. Eating for your specific goals, and not someone else's, is the key to figuring out which approach is best suited for you.