Showing posts with label choosing diets. Show all posts
Showing posts with label choosing diets. Show all posts

Wednesday, July 25, 2007

The Alli Diet Orlistat Pill – The Facts Behind The Hype


The alli diet Orlistat pill is the only over-the-counter, FDA approved weight-loss aid for overweight adults. Unlike other weight-loss aids and diet pills, alli Orlistat won't make you jittery, restless or irritable.

The alli diet Orlistat pill works directly in the digestive tract by adhering to some of the natural enzymes. This prevents those enzymes from breaking down about twenty-five percent of the fat you consume. Any undigested fat that you eat is then passed out of the body instead of being turned into fat.

The alli diet Orlistat pill, in combination with a low-fat and calorie diet plan can help you lose fifty percent more weight than by dieting alone. This means that instead of losing ten pounds by just dieting alone, you could lose fifteen pounds by taking alli Orlistat.

Alli Orlistat does have some potential side effects. If you take the alli Orlistat weight-loss aid and eat more than 30 percent fat calories, you might experience side effects such as more frequent bowl movements and gas with an oily discharge.

This is why anyone taking alli Orlistat should consider following a low-fat and calorie diet plan. Following a low-fat diet doesn’t mean you’ll feel deprived. When you limit the amount of fat in your diet, you have more room for protein and carb calories. Why? Because fat contains more than twice the number of calories as the same amount of protein and carbs. One gram of fat contains 9 calories compared with just 4 calories per gram of protein and carbs.

In real life, there are no miracle pills. Taking the alli diet Orlistat pill alone won't give you positive results unless you stick to a balanced, low-fat diet and regular exercise program.

But by committing yourself to a healthy lifestyle change, you can finally lose that weight and keep it off for good!


By: Caroline Kent

Article Source: www.iSnare.com

Thursday, June 21, 2007

A Weight Loss Plan For Success

The formula for losing weight is simple: eat less and exercise more. But, it's not really all that simple, is it?

Long-term weight loss isn't impossible, but you do have to be committed. Having a weight loss plan for your success is a good start. Here are ten items that should go into your weight loss plan.

1. Eat breakfast. This keeps you from getting too hungry later and then losing control over what you choose to eat later in the day.

2. Stock your refrigerator and pantry with healthy foods and snacks and limit high-fat, high-salt snacks such as potato chips and cookies.

3. Fill up on Fiber. Eat foods like fruits, vegetables and whole grains. The fibers in these foods will fill you up leaving less room for unhealthy choices.

4. Don't fall into bad habits on weekends. Many people will follow a strict diet on weekends only to fall back into eating more (unhealthy) on the weekends as a reward for "being good" all week. Unfortunately, this can cause you to regain tahe weight you may have lost during the week.

5. Watch portion sizes. Your perception of what a serving size should be and a "true" serving size can differ dramatically. Measuare your portions accurately, especially when you first start your healthy eating regime.

6. Set lifestyle goals - not weight loss goals. Commitment to eating healthy foods does lead to healthy weight loss -- gradually. Looking at your weight daily can cause discouragement and will make many people give up and go back to unhealthy food choices.

7. Take healthy snacks with you when you take road trips. Grab healthy granola bars, bananas, apples and other fruit to prevent the tempation of stopping for a cancy bar or milk shake.

8. Don't deny yourself the foods you love. If you absolutely love chocolate, go ahead and have a small pice - half of a candy bar insteaad of a whole one! And avoid eating your "splurges" every day. Save them for when you really need them!

9. Start moving. Exercise is the key to long term weight loss. You've heard the saying, "Move it or lose it." Too true!

10. Keep a journal. Writing down what you eat, when and how much you exercise and your moods will keep you on track and motivated to continue the course.

Weight loss is achieved by both diet and exercise. It is also achieved by persistence. If you "fall off the wagon" one day, pick yourself up and continue your healthy lifestyle the next. Don't give up!

By: Jude Wright

Article Source: http://www.articles411.com/

Monday, June 18, 2007

Dietary Therapy: High Fiber Diets

Can high-fiber diets really do all they claim to do? Studies have looked at the relationship between high-fiber diets and many diseases, including colon cancer, coronary heart disease and diabetes.

Proven benefits of a high-fiber diet include prevention and treatment of constipation, hemorrhoids and diverticulosis. In addition, certain types of fiber help decrease blood cholesterol levels.

Dietary fiber comes from the portion of plants that is not digested by enzymes in the intestinal tract. Part of it, however, may be metabolized by bacteria in the lower gut. Different types of plants have varying amounts and kinds of fiber, including pectin, gum, mucilage, cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin.

Pectin and gum are water-soluble fibers found inside plant cells. They slow the passage of food through the intestines but do nothing to increase fecal bulk. Beans, oat bran, fruit and vegetables contain soluble fiber.

In contrast, fibers in cell walls are water insoluble. These include cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin. Such fibers increase fecal bulk and speed up the passage of food through the digestive tract.

Wheat bran and whole grains contain the most insoluble fiber, but vegetables and beans also are good sources.Sometimes there is confusion as to the difference between crude fiber and dietary fiber. Both are determined by a laboratory analysis, but crude fiber is only one-seventh to one-half of total dietary fiber.

Insoluble fiber binds water, making stools softer and bulkier. Therefore, fiber, especially that found in whole grain products, is helpful in the treatment and prevention of constipation, hemorrhoids and diverticulosis.

Diverticula are pouches of the intestinal wall that can become inflamed and painful.It is now known that a high-fiber diet gives better results once the inflammation has subsided.

Some types of fiber, however, appear to have a greater effect than others. The fiber found in rolled oats is more effective in lowering blood cholesterol levels than the fiber found in wheat. Pectin has a similar effect in that it, too, can lower the amount of cholesterol in the blood.

High-fiber diets may be useful for people who wish to lose weight. Fiber itself has no calories, yet provides a “full” feeling because of its water-absorbing ability. For example, an apple is more filling than a half cup of apple juice that contains about the same calories.

Foods high in fiber often require more chewing, so a person is unable to eat a large number of calories in a short amount of time. Dietary fiber is found only in plant foods: fruits, vegetables, nuts and grains. Meat, milk and eggs do not contain fiber.

The form of food may or may not affect its fiber content. Canned and frozen fruits and vegetables contain just as much fiber as raw ones. Other types of processing, though, may reduce fiber content. Drying and crushing, for example, destroy the water-holding qualities of fiber.

The removal of seeds, peels or hulls also reduces fiber content. Whole tomatoes have more fiber than peeled tomatoes, which have more than tomato juice. Likewise, whole wheat bread contains more fiber than white bread.

Fiber supplements are sold in a variety of forms from bran tablets to purified cellulose. Many laxatives sold as stool softeners actually are fiber supplements. Fiber’s role in the diet is still being investigated.

It appears that the various types of fiber have different roles in the body. For these reasons, avoid fiber supplements. Instead, eat a variety of fiber-rich foods.

This is the best way to receive the maximum benefits from each type of fiber present in foods, and obtain necessary nutrients.

By: Davin Michaels

Article Source: www.iSnare.com

Saturday, June 16, 2007

Which Diet Plan Is Best? Study's Surprising Results

The question that hangs in the air for those who are anticipating the start of a new diet lies in exactly which diet might happen to be right for them and which diet holds the key to helping them lose the most weight.

Certainly, there are numerous diets available and it seems like every few months a new diet or eating plan has emerged to become the new successful diet rage. Is it possible that all the popular diets can help you lose weight or are there certain diets that can help you lose more weight than others?

This is the question that a group of researchers set out to answer recently. Over a period of two months, 160 individuals were monitored closely as they followed a supervised program. The varying factor among all 160 program participants was that they were allowed to choose whichever diet suited their fancy. Researchers waited and watched in anticipation to learn which diet or diets would prove to be most successful.

What they learned at the conclusion of the study proved to be quite interesting. The data they collected not only helped them to learn more about which diet programs tend to be more successful in terms of total weight loss but also which diet programs more individuals were more likely to stick with for long term weight loss and maintenance.

While the study participants were allowed to choose their favorite diet plan, most participants opted for one of the following: Atkins, Weight Loss, Ornish and the Zone. Even though initial data was conducted after just two months, researchers continued to study the remaining participants. They discovered that after a period of time more than half of those participants who opted for diet plans that focused on low carbs and high fat, such as the Atkins plan, dropped out. Additionally, approximately the same percentage of individuals who chose the Ornish plan, which focuses on low fat and high carb vegetarian foods, also quit their diets. Weight Watchers participants fared moderately better, with about two-thirds of that groups' participants sticking with it. The Zone participants showed similar results.

So, which diet plans performed best overall in terms of total weight loss? Surprisingly, they all performed about the same. Those individuals participating in the Ornish plan who were able to stick with their diet for the entire year achieved a weight loss rate of about 6%; the highest of all groups. Atkins came in at about 4%, with Weight Watchers and the Zone performing at an average of 5% weight loss. Health risk factors related to obesity were an entirely different matter; however. In terms of heart disease risk, Weight Watchers participants decreased their risk by 15%, while other diet plans hovered in the 12% range. The Ornish diet plan participants, who showed a higher overall weight loss, showed a lower decrease in risk of heart disease, at just 7%.

Overall; however, researchers concluded that in the end, there is no one magic diet. If you're planning to resolve to lose weight in the New Year, your best strategy is still the same regardless of which diet plan you ultimately choose. Eat sensibly, cut back on portions, drink plenty of water, participate in a moderate exercise routine and find a diet buddy to support you in your weight loss goals.

The Author: Joey Dweck

Article Source: www.articles-hub.com

Tuesday, June 5, 2007

Do Fad Diets Work?

Fad diets are weight loss plans that promise amazingly fast results. They do not offer any sort of long-term plan for success and they are usually very unhealthy, sometimes actually dangerous, for your body.

Some of the more popular fad diets are listed below:

LIQUID DIETS: You drink a nutrient-rich liquid twice a day in place of your regular meals and eat a well-balanced meal as the third meal of the day.

LOW FAT HIGH CARB DIET: This diet severely limits the fat in your diet and encourages the intake of carbohydrates.

DIET PILLS AND SUPPLEMENTS: Diet pills and/or supplements are supposed to decrease your appetite, resulting in weight loss.

FOOD RESTRICTIVE DIETS: There are many of these types of diets that require you to severely restrict your calorie intake.

Unfortunately, the claims of fad diets prey on people who are usually so desperate to lose weight, they will try anything. Most people would rather try a quick fix instead of making the effort to lose weight with healthy long-term changes to their diet and lifestyle.

The companies who promote fad diets know this and use it to their advantage. When they promise weight loss that is quick and easy, they know people will be anxious to try it out.

Some fad diets do work for a short time if you faithfully follow the directions. The reason they work is when you stop eating certain foods, you are getting less calories, which naturally results in weight loss.

The downside to this is you are probably losing water and lean muscle, not fat. Additionally, most people cannot stick to food deprivation or eating the same foods for a very long time.

Once you go off of the fad diet, the result is gaining your weight back. This puts you back to where you were before, feeling frustrated, angry, and discouraged.

FAD DIET CLAIMS

If a diet product makes any of the following claims, stay away from them:

*Lose weight very quickly. Common sense should tell you since it took time for you to gain the weight, it will take time to lose it. (You DO NOT want to lose muscle tissue or water!)

*Severely limits your food choices. Anything that discourages balanced nutrition is not healthy.

*Requires you to spend money on pre-packaged meals. The expense for this requires you to continue purchasing these so-called NUTRITIONALLY BALANCED MEALS. Beware!

*Offers testimonials from people who have lost weight or from doctors who are promoting the product. Remember, these people are probably being paid to advertise the product.

The bottom line is, if a diet plan or product sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Do not fall for it.

HEALTHY WEIGHT LOSS TIPS

If you want to lose weight, develop a healthy diet and exercise program for yourself. If you need help, talk to your doctor.

Use the following tips:

*Never skip meals and start everyday with a healthy breakfast.

* Eat foods from all of the food groups every day, emphasizing vegetables, fruit, and whole grains.

*Limit your daily intake of sugar and starches. High sugar foods and foods that are high in white starch have little or no nutritional value for your body.

*Drink water, lots and lots of water. Water flushes toxins out of your body and speeds up your metabolism.

*Participate in daily physical activity, at least 30 minutes a day. Aerobic exercises like walking, bicycling, jogging, and skating are the best. Try to incorporate movement into your daily schedule. Take the steps instead of the elevator, park your car at the farthest point in the parking lot, mow the yard, etc.

Fad diets are not the answer to weight loss. Only a balanced, nutritious diet and regular physical activity can put you on the road to a healthy weight and a healthy body. Make the changes and you will feel better, look better, and live longer.

By: Chris Chenoweth

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Friday, June 1, 2007

Healthy Diet Plans-Finding The Right Diet To Help You Achieve Your Health Goals

Many, many people today suffer from poor health. Often times, you hear that they must be the victims of either poor genetics or just bad luck. You might be surprised to learn that the vast majority of health problems and diseases in our world today are simply a result of a lack of healthy diet plans. They are not subject to chance as many would have you believe.

You can actually improve your health dramatically by simply making a few changes in the way you eat. Here are some tips to help you when first embarking on a diet plan.

First of all, healthy diet plans must consist of each of these essential elements:

Calories. A person needs a sufficient amount of calories to maintain their metabolic needs. However, if it results in greater than 12% body fat, you are most likely eating too many calories.


Sufficient quantities of fat: this can include monounsaturated fast, polyunsaturated fat and saturated fat. One of the big myths out there is that all fat is bad, and that is why there are so many low fat diets. Actually, your body needs a certain amount of fat in order to function properly; if you deprive yourself of this, you will experience worse health.


-Avoid trans-fat.
-Enough amino acids (complete protein).
-A sufficient amount of vitamins and minerals.


All healthy diet plans must be well balanced and provide you with all these essential elements. Without them, you cannot hope to maintain good health.


That is why low carb and low calorie or fat diets or so dangerous, because they often times only allow you to eat certain types of foods. You don’t get all the essential elements that your body needs, and you actually end up with worse health than before the diet.


Also, try to eat a lot of fruits and vegetables, and avoid meat and dairy products whenever possible. The reason that raw foods such as fruits and vegetables are so good for you is that they are very rich in enzymes, the life-blood of the body.


When your body doesn’t receive enzymes naturally through its’ food, it must manufacture them itself. This is why you often feel exhausted after consuming a cooked meal; the food contained no enzymes, and your body got worn down attempting to reproduce them itself.


These are a few tips to get you started on a lifetime of health and vitality. Of course, it’s not possible to change a lifetime of poor health and eating habits overnight; however, you need to start somewhere. Follow these healthy diet plans, and you will soon begin feeling much healthier and energetic throughout the day.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com