Posts Tagged ‘nutrition’

HCG Diet Clinics or HCG Diet Direct?

Monday, November 30th, 2009

Are you considering the HCG diet? Are you looking into HCG diet clinics but not really feeling comfortable with the frequent visits, the expense of paying for the office visits or the sheer fact that you will have to make time in your day to go to a certain location (that probably isn’t all that convenient)? You’re not alone. I had the same dilemma when I decided to do the HCG diet and provide an online chronicle of my journey through daily articles.

I decided against HCG diet clinics. Instead I ended up looking for online options. I chose HCG Diet Direct. In previous articles I’ve discussed the research mode, the decision making mode, the buddy mode (getting a friend to do it with you is great motivation), etc. In the last article I discussed additional products offered by HCG Diet Direct.

I decided that should buy some of the additional products that help the diet to be a success! But not being made of money I told myself that I was only allowed to buy two in addition to the homeopathic HCG weight loss formula. I picked the B-Total Sublingual and the cookbook. They are solid choices. And I think I’ll be happy with them!

But there were so many good choices that I felt that I just had to make it clear that other options were available before moving on with the daily posts as I move forward with the HCG diet. So…if you’re in the market make sure to consider HCG Diet Metabolizer and Energy Supplement. This supplement is based on Green Tea and Potassium and is designed just for the HCG diet!

It’s an all natural supplement (which is perfect since HCG Diet Direct’s homeopathic HCG weight loss formula is also all natural). This particular supplement is designed to provide additional energy, speed up the dieter’s metabolism, provide necessary vitamins and minerals and decrease muscle cramps.

I haven’t used it myself. It sounds like a great choice. (Don’t question my choices…I couldn’t buy everything, you know). Other people have offered great testimonials. They mentioned that it was rare to find a vitamin supplement designed specifically for HCG dieting. They also mentioned it did give her additional energy and she felt less hungry on the HCG diet while using this supplement.

Another woman that offered a testimonial suggested that it was a vital aspect for her during maintenance after she completed the HCG diet. She said she wouldn’t have made it through maintenance without the added energy and the lowered cravings.

Now that I’ve featured it I’ve realized that discussing all the products I didn’t choose to use is going to be more difficult than I’d realized. Difficult on my budget, I mean. This one sounds really advantageous. Vitamins, minerals, energy, lowered cravings…all fantastic benefits. Hmmm. You can be assured that I’ll be thinking more about it; you should, too!

Amelia Handley studied exercise science in college with a minor in Nutrition. Yet she still found herself veering from diet to diet in order to control her weight. With HCG Diet Direct she’s found a program that allows her to combine her desire to control her own body weight with her education and not feel off balance.

Phellinus linteus - Medicinal Mushroom’s Popularity Exploding World-wide

Saturday, November 14th, 2009

Out of Korea comes a new and increasingly popular medicinal mushroom known as Phellinus linteus. It does have a rarely used English common name, Black Hoof Fungus. But you are more likely to hear it referred to by its Japanese name as Mesima.

Common to southern United States and Southeast Asia, Phellinus linteus is a polypore on hardwood trees such as poplar, oak and mulberry. [1]

Whereas we in America have gotten wind of most medicinal mushroom species by way of Japan or China, Phellinus linteus primarily gained its fame in Korea as an adjunct to traditional chemotherapy treatment for cancer.

The reputation of Phellinus linteus as a powerful medicinal mushroom has rapidly spread across the world and today it is increasingly popular with medical professionals from the U.S. and Japan to Turkey and Israel as an immune booster [2-11], especially for the prevention of cancer metastasis. [5,10,12-17]

It may have all began when a’96 Korean study reported that Phellinus linteus extract exhibited a broader range of immune enhancing and anti-cancer properties than the extracts from other species of medicinal mushrooms. [4]

Years later, American world-renown mycologist Paul Stamets helped deepen our understanding of Phellinus linteus when he published a comparative analysis with the most common medicinal mushroom species: Agaricus blazei, Lion’s Mane, Chaga, Reishi, Maitake and Cordyceps. [18]

Phellinus linteus had a stronger effect than any of them on the part of the immune system known as macrophages. The activity of this type of white blood cell increased by 5,700% when Phellinus linteus extract was administered in an amount equivalent to 3,750 mg for an average size adult (165 lbs). [18]

Although human macrophage cells have been known to both induce and inhibit cancer growth, the published research on Phellinus linteus shows that it promotes the anti-cancer properties of macrophages rather than their potential cancer-inducing properties. [8,14,19,20]

Three additional papers have been published with reports of patients using Phellinus linteus extract and experiencing “spontaneous” regression:

1. A 2004 paper out of Japan reported “a hormone refractory prostate cancer patient with rapidly progressive bone metastasis who showed dramatic response to intake of an extract from the mushroom, Phellinus linteus.” [15]

2. In 2005, a Korean paper related the case of a 65-year-old patient with liver cancer and skull metastasis who experienced “spontaneous regression” after one and a half years of using Phellinus linteus. [17]

3. Finally, an article published 2006 in the Japanese journal Radiation Medicine told of a “patient with hepatocellular carcinoma with multiple lung metastases in whom malignancy spontaneously regressed after taking Phellinus linteus Mycelium.” The 79-year old patient reportedly “took extract from Phellinus linteus Mycelium for one month, and 6 months later the tumors appeared to be in complete regression.” [16]

Note: The information in this article is not intended to cure, treat, or diagnose any illness. The article is for entertainment and informational purposes only. The fungus Phellinus linteus has not been approved in the United States for use as a pharmaceutical. Always ask a licensed medical practitioner before using any substance as medicine.

Dr. Rafael currently focuses on medicinal mushrooms research, having worked with natural health since the mid-90’s. He partners with Cordyceps Reishi Extract, LLC, a business offering premium grade medicinal mushroom products including Phellinus linteus mushroom extract. For article references, go the Phellinus linteus reference page.

The Secret To Why You Don’t Like Exercise - Exposed by Washington, DC Personal Trainer

Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009

Have you ever tried to analyze why you try to avoid exercise when compared to that lean person sitting next to you? Washington DC personal trainer Josef Brandenburg is also a researcher who evaluates the mentality and reasons why people have an aversion to exercising. As a well known Washington, DC personal trainer, this is not his only worry. However, there are a few hypotheses which he and others have put forward that can actually change your outlook about your own fitness programs and the reasons for which you dislike them.

Is Laziness the prime cause?

One thought process that runs through many people’s minds when they come upon someone who may exercise less regularly and eat more in the process is that they are lazy. In fact, in his writings Washington, DC personal trainer Josef Brandenburg has admitted that in the beginning he thought this as well.

However, research from this important Washington, DC personal trainer has indicated that it may not be laziness that is driving the problem. In other words, people who exercise less regularly than their healthy counterparts may not be lazy at all - they may lack durability!

What does Durability mean?

First let us try to understand what durability is. The idea behind durability is that it can hint at how well a person moves if measured with the right tool. Functional Movement Screen is one such tool. The durability of all clients of Washington DC personal trainer Josef Brandenburg are measured using this tool. The score used to measure how well a person can move his body ranges from 0 to 21, the higher the number, the better the score. This score basically measures whether an individual can move well or not.

With the help of durability measuring tool and a bit of research Josef Brandenburg, Washington DC personal trainer has come up with the fact that durability has an effect on a persons exercising mentality. Simply put, people who are more active physically and like to exercise regularly have high durability scores while the durability score is found to be lower for people who dislike exercising.

Washington DC personal trainer also established that there is some relationship between body fat and durability score. Higher the individual’s composition of body fat, lower the durability score and lesser the individuals body fat composition, higher the score on Functional Movement Screen.

What To Do

According to Washington, DC personal trainer Brandenburg, the worst thing an individual can do to combat their body’s durability is to push themselves through the pain they may be feeling when they exercise. Since the body is essentially protecting itself from harm, doing so will only make things worse. Taking a visit to a Functional Movement Screen specialist should be one of the first things on your list if you think you may have this problem with your body.

To conclude, your negative mentality towards exercise is not because of being lazy but has something to do with your durability. Your Washington DC weight loss expert along with others have come up with the idea that durability is just your body’s self protecting function with a view to avoid pain which may otherwise lead to a mentality to avoid exercising. Working with a Washington DC personal trainer or any other expert who is knowledgeable about body durability and other specific techniques required will be your best option, if you face a similar situation.

Josef Brandenburg is a prize winning DC based personal fitness trainer. His clients depend on him to help them get the bodies they have always wanted in the time that they actually have and without starving themselves or eating nasty food. Click here to find out more about his 7-Day Free Trial.

Find First-Class Health And Dietary Supplements Immediately

Monday, November 2nd, 2009

You can find shelves full of dietary supplements like multivitamins, single vitamins, minerals and even herbs at every grocery store, national shopping chain and even thousands of online stores. People take supplements because they suppose that they are not getting the adequate sustenance from their every day diet and nutritional supplements can fill in the gaps.

There is great argument about which nutritional supplements if any are useful for human health because of worry over the body’s ability to absorb necessary nutrients from a pill or capsule form. However, there have been some considerable findings that ordinary and recurrent use of multivitamins and other supplements can boost good health and inhibit sickness and disease.

It has been revealed that the prolonged use of dietary supplements like folic acid contributes to the considerable decline of neural tube birth defects in newborn babies. Other supplements such as calcium have shown positive effects such as improved immunity and the reduction of breakable bones in aged adults.

After reviewing over 10 years of studies that took into deliberation the health benefits of multivitamins and other nutritional supplements including Calcium, Omega-3 fatty acids, Vitamin D, antioxidants, Vitamin B-12, Vitamin B-6 and folic acid, the Council for Responsible Nutrition released a report called The Benefits of Nutritional Supplements. This report indicated that the comprehensive use of dietary supplements and multivitamins provides a convincing health advantage for humans.

Other exciting findings from this report showed that if all females of childbearing age took a multivitamin or even just a folic acid supplement, it might be possible to cut the incidence of neural tube birth defects by as much as 70%. And older patients who took supplements enhanced their immune systems and reduced the danger of hip fractures. Enhanced health from taking nutritional supplements could produce noteworthy health savings by preventing or postponing illnesses and diseases by a matter of years.

The reports on supplements is not all good however. Beta-carotene is an antioxidant that converts to vitamin A within the body. It has been found that beta carotene from the nutritional regime can decrease the risks of cancer and heart disease. It also boosts immunity and supports good vision. Due to these impressive conclusions, some dietary experts started recommending beta-carotene supplements.

Then came two excellent studies that showed that these supplements could cause critical impairment, specially in smokers. The studies tested beta-carotene and vitamin A supplements in individuals at high risk for lung cancer-smokers, past smokers and asbestos industry employees. The study was halted when it became obvious that those taking the beta-carotene supplements actually had a higher degree of lung cancer and a higher mortality rate than those taking the placebo.

Here is something else you might not know, Beta-carotene and other antioxidants and nutrients are harmless and valuable when found in foods but not always when found in supplemental forms. On the other hand, many of today’s diets do not supply adequate nutrition to keep up excellent physical condition so supplementation can still be a good remedy.

Is acai berry a fat loss sensation or just a superfood sensation? Discover why the acai berry diet will help you lose weight plus it is really good for your health.

A Love for Coffee: How One Beverage Socializes Us Worldwide

Sunday, November 1st, 2009

Coffee wasn’t always such a big deal, you know. At one point, it was just something that truckers drank and diners served endless pots of in many places. But beverages grow, they change, and somehow there’s been a boom where you need to know a little more about coffee than whether or not you want a small, medium, or large cup at McDonalds.

Even in other countries, where the coffee might taste a lot better, it’s not that everyone knows the whole history of their perfect shot of espresso. It’s just that it’s there and it’s tasty and everyone is used to it. Ask around and be surprised at how many people who really enjoy fancy coffee actually don’t know that much about how it’s cultivated or made.

A bit of history on coffee: it’s not something that every country can make, which is why a lot of countries were a little late to the game, or had some seriously sub-par beans for quite some time. And a love for coffee doesn’t mean that you even have tried that many varieties. From Columbia to Jamaica, Kenya to Java, a number of locations all develop their own special types of beans, which can only grow in those climates.

Many coffee drinkers think that getting serious means switching to espresso, which definitely enjoyed a surge in popularity thanks to the whole Starbucks movement. The thing with espresso, though, is that it’s just a stronger version of regular coffee, which is something that a lot of people don’t quite realize. In fact, espresso machines didn’t even exist until 1901. But those with a love for coffee who are looking for a stronger drink, remember this when you’re ordering your espresso: the really, really good kind should be able to have some serious hang-time when you toss in that spoon of sugar. Otherwise, you might as well just drink regular coffee.

In fact, ordering coffee is one of the biggest parts of learning to drink it, and if you’re going to be using coffee to socialize in new and exciting places, you should probably know what you’re getting yourself into. Except early in the morning on the way to work, when you stand at the bar and do a shot of espresso, drinking coffee in Italy is going to set you back at least an afternoon. The same is true in France. Those are a couple of the only countries where you can order a shot of espresso and make it last for a couple of hours, so order accordingly.

If you’re not a fan of strong coffee, or don’t want to be running around like a speed freak, then get something that’s mostly milk and foam. Look for things involving “leche” in the title, as it will mean that you’re enjoying some mild coffee with a whole lot of cream or milk. And when in doubt, just order what looks like a larger coffee drink. That way, you’ll be able to sip slowly. A love for coffee will not be made by forcing yourself to drink too much of it in a bitter form.

In most countries where you’re going to be out drinking coffee, there will also be snacks that come along. So in case you’re worried that a love for coffee means only drinking cup after cup, don’t worry! In Holland, a bunch of cookies come with a regular cup of coffee, and mint tea is an equally popular beverage, so there’s no need to jump right into the world of caffeine. It’s still possible to just try coffee out and still have back-up beverages that won’t get you banished from the cool kid’s table.

And if it all seems like too much, just remember: a love for coffee is made, not born. You’ve got time to figure out which version is best for you.

When Damian Papworth hosts a major party he dusts off the 12 cup coffee maker. For typical mornings though one cup coffee makers are fine

Glutamine Benefits

Monday, October 19th, 2009

Glutamine is one of the body’s vital helpers in its efforts to maintain your health and well-being. It is an important part of protein which is used in building the body’s muscles and organs. Brain function, digestion and eradication of free-radicals are just some of the benefits it can provide.

Glutamine actually occurs naturally in the body. However, because we sometimes have to deal with a great amount of stress or we sometimes do some strenuous exercise routines in an effort to lose weight. During normal levels of activity, we have sufficient amounts to keep us healthy. However, during times of stress and arduous physical activity, the demand for this amino far exceeds the body’s ability to produce it. So it is recommended that we take supplements.

This is very popular among athletes and body builders. These are the people who are known for their intense physical activities. These exertions cause the depletion in vital nutrients as well as a compromised immune system. Thus, if left unchecked, these people are more susceptible to sickness and infection. Recovery time is also lengthened because the immune system is less able to fight against disease.

You see, our immune system needs this amino-acid. When we are injured or sick, the body produces cortisol, which facilitates the healing process. This amino is cortisol’s fuel during this time. So, the more you have, the more fuel your body has to fight off sickness and recover from trauma. However, sometimes the available stock is not enough. So the body then turns to the muscle and sorts of “robs” it of its glutamine. Consequentially, the body will experience muscle loss since it needs protein to maintain its health and structure. Supplementing with will not only boost the immune system but prevent the occurrence of muscle loss.

This wonder amino-acid also works wonders for those who have long been struggling with food cravings. It curbs the appetite so that you eat only the amount you should eat. At the same time, it also ensures that only fat is lost and not muscle when you lose weight.

It also regulates the presence of acids and alkalines in our body and make sure that there is a healthy balance between the two. Blood sugar is also kept at healthy levels.

Read more on L Glutamine Supplement and explore L Glutamine Benefits

The Best Body Building Supplements, Glutamine

Saturday, September 19th, 2009

Maybe you have heard about Glutamine if you are into any type of work out program or you belong to a gym.

You think just because you heard the name of this product before that you now know and what it does and all about it, but you don’t. Look below to find out what Glutamine is all about and how it can be beneficial to you.

If you were to look up the actual definition of Glutamine, you would see that is it an amino acid that is found in many animal and plant tissue as well as proteins. Manufactures produce this commercially for both biochemical research and medicinal purposes.

It is also used for nutrition therapy, as it is an amino acid. What people like the best of Glutamine is that is it an effective brain fuel. Some doctors have used it to treat alcoholism and depression.

Glutamine is well liked by people who are trying to drop a few pounds because it suppresses cravings for sweets. It also plays a very important part in building muscles and have effects on your metabolism.

Maintaining muscle mass by taking 8 to 17 milligrams of Glutamine per day is popular in most bodybuilders. This should be divided up in approximately 3 doses. One of the best aspects of this supplement is, unlike most others on the market, there’s no side effects. Some people have reported getting an upset stomach if they take too much but other than that, there really are no side effects.

There are a lot of people who use Glutamine, but bodybuilders are on the top of the list because it helps to reduce the amount of muscle deterioration, of all the people who use Glutamine.

When body builders work out the put their muscles under a great deal of stress and by taking Glutamine, they can help to replace the amount of Glutamine that they use that is stored up in their muscles. This will help to keep their muscles from breaking down. It really helps a great deal to supplement the Glutamine so that they do not use too much of the Glutamine that is stored in their muscles.

If you are into bodybuilding then supplementing with Glutamine may be something that you will want to look into. As with any type of supplement, you will want to check with your doctor before starting use of it. You want to be sure that you are doing what is right for your body. You want to be sure that this supplement will not affect any current medications that you are taking or any conditions that you may have.

Glutamine is the body building nutrient supplement you should use, if you decide to use one. The benefits to your body are great while the side effects are little to none.

Stop wasting your time, effort and money on B.S. “Miracle Programs” that don’t deliver results! Learn the honest truth revealed by a real Body Building expert and at last start noticing the gains you deserve. Visit us to read more Muscle Building Articles

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