Weight Loss Pills and Diets? Put Them All Under Santa's Tree

It's almost unbelievable that the most weight-obsessed society would look up to a really fat man as a cultural icon.  No matter how you dress him up, Santa is a fat pig.  Yes, that's my position.

Santa is problematic.  Not only does he like to publicly showcase his obesity, he laughs about it all the time (in public).  He perpetrates the stereotype that fat people are jolly.  He has been seen with his belly jiggling like a bowl full of jelly.  Hey, it only jiggles like that when he laughs.  The jolly thing again.  I guarantee you it jiggles at other times too.

Don't even start with me about coming down the chimney.  This guy would feel lucky if if could get through a sliding glass door!

Not only is Santa a fat person, but he is in all probability a fat felon.  Somebody who tiptoes around my house in the middle of the night would give me the creeps.  When he comes into houses and drops off a few toys, you can't tell me he's not hiding some family silver in that criminal costume (more about that in a minute) when he leaves.  Did you know Santa is known by many different names?

In the US, he's called Santa.  Other common, well know aliases includes Saint Nicholas, Saint Nick, Father Christmas, Santa, Santy and Kris Kringle.   Germans know him by Weihnachtsmann ("Christmas Man" or "Nikolaus").  Russians call him Ded Moroz ("Grandfather Frost").  He's got to be a felon on the lam.

Just look at the way he dresses!  From head to toe in (what?) red velvet with white fur?  Is his suit made from curtains out of a bordello?  Is that fur real?  Where is PETA when you really need them?   

It's disturbing to think about his relationship with children.  Little boys and girls are supposed to sit on his lap and ask for gifts....really?  First of all, because of all that weight, they'd have to sit on his knee.   Probably way down on it so his kneecap would get dislocated all day long.  It's clear that Santa - or whatever his real name is - has a great deal of influence over all the children of the world.  What is the purpose of that?  Is there an evil plan we don't know about?  Does he want to lead them down the wrong path of life?  Will some children be scarred for life by being labeled "naughty?"

For these reasons and many more too sordid to publish, I award Santa the "2009 Public Poster Person for Obesity."

For this next year, Santa or Kris, or Santy needs to do something!  Anything!  Stop drinking only brand name flavored sugar water.  Change his diet.  Join a program.  Join a support group (Elves just don't do it).  For goodness sake, exercise.  I know it's cold at the location of his hideout, so build an indoor gym.

I'm proposing a complete makeover for Kris Kringle.  Let's get a group together for an intervention.  I suggest he goes from fat cultural icon to the globe's biggest loser.  A symbol known worldwide for his philanthropic works and his incredibly buff figure.  Check it out below.  Wouldn't you invite him to hang around your tree and fireplace?  Forget the milk and cookies and go for some brandy?

What do you think?  C'mon.  Join the movement!  Make some noise.  Speak up.

---Advertisement---

If you decide to try hoodia, I endorse and recommend UniqueHoodia. (Particularly for Santa)  It's pure, has all the proper documentation, and has an exclusive 6 month guarantee.  I believe UniqueHoodia is an excellent product and I will be compensated for its purchase from this link (as well as for any other products on this site). The product in the ad below may also finally help ol' Kris Kringle get a good night's sleep. Click HERE to go to the international corporate site.

Natural Weight Loss - Study Proves We Get Fatter by Eating Low-Fat Foods

Ahhh...the mysteries and tricks of the trade advertising low-fat foods.  Most consumers don't realize that very often the fat in a low-fat food is replaced by sugar.  Recent studies show that - when taking the low-fat food snack choice during movies out or at holiday receptions - people will eat an average of 28% more calories.

If you're already overweight, look out.  The studies also show that obese people (under the same circumstance) consume up to 45% more calories!

Lead researcher Brian Wansink (Ph.D.), in the book, "Mindless Eating: Why We Eat More Than We Think" says, "People don't realize that low-fat foods are not always low-calorie foods," says Wansink. Fat is often replaced with sugar. Low-fat snacks are an average of 11% lower in calories, but people wrongly believe they are around 40% lower.

Another study demonstrated that holiday open-house guests served themselves about a third more of the low-fat chocolates than guests choosing "regular" calorie chocolates.  This is because "people believe they will feel less guilty eating the low-fat foods, so they tend to overindulge, says Pierre Chandon, co-author and marketing professor at INSEAD in France.

The complete set of research studies, published in the November issue of the Journal of Marketing Research, was cited by the Economist as one of two significant noteworthy studies published that month. It is titled, "Can 'Low-Fat' Foods Lead to Obesity?"

For dieters, there's also clear message. As Wansink advises in the book Mindless Eating, "Stick with the regular version, but eat a little bit less.  It's better for both your diet and your taste buds."

My experience with "low-fat" foods has lead me to come to a couple of conclusions.  The first is that the low-fat food generally tastes like it.  Yuk!  The second is, basically, five pounds of salad and dressing is still five pounds of food and calories.

The first part of a perfect diet for everyone is eat less.  Less volume.  Less fat.  Most importantly, less calories.  There's just no way around it.  Forget all the food labels.  Just read and understand the caloric value of the foods you eat.  Consume fewer calories than you did yesterday.  Repeat (within reason).

Guard against the "low-fat" label and the holidays.

Fast Easy Holiday Weight Maintenance Tips

The holidays offer a chance to really gain some weight, don't they.  Here's a few fast easy holiday weight maintenance tips to help you out.

Check out the yummy looking pure fat that has risen to the top of this measuring cup of gravy pictured.  (Pass the gravy...I mean really pass it - on to another person!)

You cannot even imagine how much those extra helpings of gravy and dessert at the holiday table will add to your waistline.  According to a new research report recently appearing online in The FASEB Journal, a diet that is high in fat and in sugar actually switches on genes that ultimately cause our bodies to store too much fat

It's a double-whammy!  It's hard enough to convert  high-fat and high-sugar foods to energy.  It's almost impossible when the job is made much harder because these foods also turn our bodies into "supersized fat-storing" machines.  As a refresher course, you can watch the movie "Super-Size Me."

Scientists recently have shown that foods high in fat and sugar stimulate a known opioid receptor, called the kappa opioid receptor, which plays a huge role in fat metabolism. When this receptor is stimulated (look out!), it causes our bodies to hold on to far more fat than our bodies would do otherwise.

One of the researchers in this latest study (Traci Ann Czyzyk-Morgan) reported, "the data presented here support the hypothesis that overactivation of kappa opioid receptors contribute to the development of obesity specifically during prolonged consumption of high-fat, calorically dense diets."  As usual, this was a study conducted on mice.

Can't mice catch a break?

One group of poor little mice had their kappa opioid receptors genetically deactivated (ouch - that must have hurt) and the other group was normal...for mice, that is.  Both groups were given a high fat, high sucrose, energy dense diet.  Shockingly (LOL), the control group of mice gained significant weight and fat mass on this diet. The mice with the deactivated receptor remained lean, mean, nose-twitching machines.

A standard disclaimer would remind us that the effects of eating more fat and suger may have to be studed more in humans.  Maybe the mice study is irrelevant.

In a grossly understated conclusion, the researchers proclaimed, "this research provides more proof that high-fat and high-sugar diets should be avoided."  Did we really need to fund another study to come to this conclusion?

"In times when food was scarce and starvation an ever-present threat, an adaptation that allows our bodies to store as much energy as possible during plentiful times was probably a lifesaver," said Gerald Weissmann, M.D., Editor-in-Chief of The FASEB Journal. "By taking that opioid receptor off the table (so to speak -my edit), researchers may have found a way to keep us from eating ourselves to death."

The study was reported in the December 1, 2009 edition of ScienceDaily.

So, let's recap some fast easy holiday weight maintenance tips:

• Pass on the gravy
• Pass on the cookies
• Pass of the cakes and pies
• Pass on seconds and thirds
• Pass on late leftovers (pre-sleep fuel, I know)
• Don't overcompensate with 5 pounds of salad

Hey, let's just do our best.  How are you going to get through the holidays?  What are your best tips?  Is this a good reminder?

Weight Loss Diet - The Perfect Plan for Almost Everyone (in Four Magic Words)

Except for someone with an underlying medical challenge (for example, a thyroid problem), there is a diet plan that is almost guaranteed to help anybody - just like you - to shed excess pounds. You just have to pay attention and strictly follow it.

Here's the best way to preface what I'm going to reveal to you. There's an old story about a king who wanted his court to amass all the wisdom in the known world at that time and condense it into a format that anyone could understand. Although his court was able to reduce all the wisdom in the world to a series of 100 books, and then down to one book, the king was not satisfied. He insisted the all the wisdom in the world be reduced to a single sentence that anyone could remember.

After 10 more years of hard work, his court announced the "Wisdom of The Ages" sentence had been prepared. The king, his court and his most trusted followers and advisers gathered to hear this miracle sentence. After a few minutes of absolute silence, the head of the court cleared his throat and delivered the "Wisdom of The Ages" in a sentence anyone could remember:  

"There ain't no free lunch."

The sentence above would have made for a very short article - no matter how true it may be.

The same process has already been followed by thousands of weight loss experts over the last 100 years. These experts have distilled all of the information about weight loss, diets, weight loss pills, ancient and modern diet plans and programs into four magic words.

Many dieters, upon hearing these words, instantly recognize the truth and wisdom in them. These four words create hope, belief and action where many other complicated descriptions have failed. Once you know these four magic words, you will be instantly discern whether or not your behavior is leading to weight loss or weight gain.

Wouldn't it be wonderful to be able to know, at any given moment, if your actions would result in inevitable weight loss? Would it help to know immediately if your behavior would move you towards your goals or away from your goals?

I've spent thousands of dollars and countless hours, days and sleepless nights trying to understand the vast number of secrets available in the weight loss process. I've marveled at others who seem to already know the secrets of slimness. I've read many books, watched videos, and searched the internet for clues.

Finally, the words were revealed to me on a popular web article there for all to see. The words were hiding in plain sight! I just couldn't understand how I could have missed them all this time. I had believed that - like the Holy Grail - they might never be found. For perhaps the first time, you will read here the four magic words of weight loss clearly and in perfect order. You may use them for the ultimate good of your health, for the health of our nation and mankind. You may pass these magic words on to others with no penalty.

If you could hear me now, I'm figuratively clearing my throat to deliver this ancient (and heretofore unrevealed) magical four word formula of weight loss to you.

"Eat less; Exercise more."

Everything else we discuss here will, ultimately, support your ability to implement this simple formula. Of course, you may need a little help. You may need a support group of like-minded people to support your journey. You may need a written eating or exercise plan. You may need the support of a doctor/medical professional. You may need a way to suppress your raging appetite (I've been there...yesterday!).

We'll make sure everything we talk about and review lifts you up to a level at which you will be able and empowered to do these two things in the four magical words: "Eat less; Exercise more."

Hoodia Clinical Studies - What an Outrage!

Hoodia products seem to work for many overweight people. As a part-time researcher, my outrage is with the use of the term “clinical trial” or “clinically proven” in the marketing of what could be a great product for you.

Generally, in my opinion, the so-called “clinical trials” are pure hogwash.

Here's the foundation of the problem: Most people (and companies) use research just like a drunk uses a lamppost – for support and not illumination! The research quoted in the hoodia ads may shed a little light on the efficacy of hoodia. But it's more often used to prop up outrageous claims.

Instead of illuminating the potential benefits of hoodia, advertisers obscure the real value of this product by promoting useless scientific claims.

While I might not agree with or endorse all of the information on any web site I mention, I am grateful for one that led me to identify the earliest hoodia study which resulted in a U.S. Patent application.

'The first hoodia clinical trials, started with the CSIR research team at South Africa back in the 90s. Such research is the base for the claims made under the patent 6376657 filed at the United States Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO) in 1999, and granted to a group of CSIR researchers headed by Van heerden and others." (Source: www.hoodiacalifornia.com)

The successful patent application also provides guidelines concerning appropriate daily does of this plant extract.  This leads the writer/s at that web site to conclude: "Above comments confirm our suggestion to take a hoodia dosage of 1200 mg a day, specially when you are obese or overweight."

I read the patent application and couldn't really identity a proper dosage for this product, or extract or whatever. Further, why would you take any amount of this weight loss aid if you weren't overweight?

Here's another quote from a different site:

“To their amazement research conducted by scientists at the South African Centre for Scientific and Industrial Research showed the Hoodia gordonii cactus contains a miracle molecule that kills the appetite and attacks obesity, is organic, with no chemicals added and no known side effects. The previously unknown magic molecule was named P.57.”

Wouldn't you also be amazed by a “miracle molecule?”

The clinical study most referenced by advertisers is one conducted by Phytopharm plc. As stated in Phytopharm's own literature, it's business “is to take both simple and complex mixtures derived from plant sources into full pharmaceutical development." The Phytopharm study on humans was so convincing that a major pharmaceutical company bought the worldwide development and distribution rights.

Phytopharm announced they were starting a human clinical trial on a “miracle molecule” called P57 in a press release dated March 7, 2001. They announced in another press release dated December 5, 2001 that the study was completed successfully. The company stated, “Preliminary data also indicate a statistically significant reduction in body fat content in the P57 group compared with the placebo group at the conclusion of dosing.”

Here's how another advertiser reports this clinical study.

"Later, a human clinical trial was conducted by scientists in Leicester England. A group of morbidly obese men and women participated. Half the group were given hoodia and half were given a placebo. At the end of (the trial), the group on hoodia had reduced their food intake by 1000 calories a day. Given the average daily diet is around 2200 calories, this was a stunning success."

It was a "stunning success." Are you ready for the punch line?

All of the Phytopharm clinical trial hoopla about hoodia involved a grand total of 9 volunteers who took hoodia for...(drum roll here)...15 days. (Another 9 volunteers received a placebo.) So all the hoodia hype has been based on a “statistically significant reduction in body fat content in the P57 group” of 9 people over 15 days.

I wouldn't base any buying decision on what happpened to 9 people in England over a 15 day period.  Am I off base here?

So, forget all the clinical trial hype. Here's what I think: Do your own clinical trial.

Hoodia products seem to really help an awful lot of men and women fighting the daily battle of the bulge.  There seems to be a preponderance of anecdotal (testimonial) evidence that a hoodia product will help suppress the appetite of many people. Talk to a medical professional before adding anything to your regimen. Then try one of the products and see if it helps you.  That's all that matters.

---Advertisement---

If you decide to try hoodia, I endorse and recommend UniqueHoodia.  It's pure, has all the proper documentation, and has an exclusive 6 month guarantee.  I believe UniqueHoodia is an excellent product and I will be compensated for its purchase from this link (as well as for any other products on this site. Click HERE to go to the international corporate site.

Hoodia Clinical Trials - The Real Scoop

Almost every web site I've seen featuring hoodia products touts the fact that it is the only supplement proven in clinical trials to suppress your appetite. While trying to figure out the basis for the "clinical trial" claims made by hoodia manufacturers, I came across this excellent article that will give you some background. Patsy Hamilton was a health care professional for over twenty years before becoming a health writer. Although this is a great background article, unfortunately, I cannot find any current contact data for Ms. Hamilton or I'd send her a personal note thanking her for this great material.

Note: Her article starts here.
Latest News about Phytopharm's Hoodia Gordonii Product

It wasn’t just media news that caused supplement companies to begin looking for hoodia gordonii supplies.  Press releases by Phytopharm, a British pharmaceutical company, about researching hoodia and side effects that might be associated with hoodia caused the initial stir in the health supplement industry.

Phytopharm has two operating divisions; a plant extract division and a pharmaceutical division.  In June of 1997, Phytopharm announced that “a naturally occurring appetite suppressant is to be developed into a prescription medicine by Phytopharm”.  This was to be Phytopharm’s hoodia gordonii product.  News of a naturally occurring appetite suppressant sent, not only supplement companies, but those who needed to lose weight searching for this “naturally occurring appetite suppressant”.  At that time, everyone expected Phytopharm’s hoodia gordonii product to be a prescription drug even though it was consistently referred to by the company as a “natural anti-obesity treatment”.  Their collaboration with Pfizer, another pharmaceutical company, to research hoodia and side effects that could be caused by hoodia use only supported the idea that Phytopharm’s hoodia gordonii would be a prescription drug.  Now, since they have partnered with Unilever, not a pharmaceutical company, it is somewhat unclear what Phytopharm’s hoodia gordonii product will be.  They do seem committed to the idea that Phytopharm’s hoodia gordonii will be superior to products that are currently on the market.

Phytopharm's product development strategy begins with what they call “proof of principle” clinical testing.  These tests are designed to determine if a product has the potential to be safe and effective.  Proof of principle testing of Phytopharm’s hoodia gordonii product began in March of 2001.   News about hoodia and side effects were released after this first phase was completed in December of 2001.  This was a naturally occurring substance and there appeared to be no side effects associated with its use.  After completing the initial clinical testing, Phytopharm’s strategy advances to the search for a partner company for “late stage development, sales and marketing”.  The partner company for Phytopharm’s hoodia gordonii product is Unilever, manufacturers of food products, dietary supplements and over the counter medications.  One of their more famous products is “Slim Fast”.  Phytopharm is still researching and investigating the possibility or a drug to treat metabolic disorder and hoodia gordonii is the basis for this drug.

Phytopharm attempts to obtain patents for naturally occurring substances.  “Phytopica” is a Phytopharm product for the treatment of dermatitis in dogs and was just released in April of 2006.  Phytopharm’s hoodia gordonii product is patented, but they have had more than a little trouble keeping other manufacturers of natural products from selling their own hoodia products.  In May of 2006, they announced that they were aware that other companies were selling hoodia gordonii as an appetite suppressant and that they believed that this could be patent infringement.  They said that they had contacted the appropriate authorities.  The problem is that a naturally occurring product can not be patented.  If Phytopharm’s hoodia gordonii product is unique and therefore stronger, safer and better than the hoodia products that are currently on the market, then how could there be patent infringement and why would they be concerned about companies that are selling what they imply are inferior products?

There is no comparison between the known side effects of hoodia and side effects associated with appetite suppressants that contain stimulants.  Products which contain both hoodia and stimulants could create a problem.  It is believed that problems with Ephedra arose as a result of being mixed with caffeine or other stimulants.  The problem was that this could not be proven without endangering human health.  Hopefully, Phytopharm’s hoodia gordonii product will be stimulant free as are many of the hoodia products that are currently on the market.

For more information about Phytopharm’s hoodia gordonii product or for more information about hoodia and side effects, visit the Hoodia Info Blog at http://hoodiainfo.blogspot.com.

Patsy Hamilton is an editor of the Hoodia Info Blog.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Patsy_Hamilton
http://EzineArticles.com/?Latest-News-about-Phytopharms-Hoodia-Gordonii-Product&id=199793
This is the end of Ms. Hamilton's article.

I wanted you to have the background on the company which is credited for the "clinical trials" of hoodia. In my next post, I'll take you inside the details of the so-called trials and let you know what I think this product might be able to do for you.

Natural Weight Loss? ("C'mon man, I look good!")

A new study presented at the American Heart Associations Scientific Sessions 2009 showed an interesting fact:  Many people who are overweight think they aren't.

It all starts in the mind.  What is your mental picture of yourself?  Is it accurate?  Do you really look good?

"Almost one in 10 obese individuals are satisfied with their body size and didn't perceive that they need to lose weight," said Tiffany Powell, M.D., lead author of the study and a cardiology fellow at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. "That is a sizeable percentage who don't understand they are overweight and believe they are healthy."  You can read the article reporting on this study here.

Although about half of the study participants were men, I think the men in the study skewed the results.  Isn't it true that a guy can be way overweight and still think to himself, "Man, I look good!"

But if a lady is 3 ounces overweight, she is likely to think, "I am soooo fat."

Beauty and a slim look may be in the eye of the beholder.  If you're the one looking, about 1 in 10 of us who are way overweight think we look just fine!

Those with a misperception of body size believed they were healthy. But 35 percent of them had high blood pressure, 15 percent had high cholesterol, 14 percent had diabetes and 27 percent were current smokers.  They were less likely to see a doctor.  44% of these participants had not seen a doctor in the last year!

---Advertisement---

PureAcaiBerry.com is unlike any other Acai Berry product on the market, offering 1500mg of high grade Acai Berry per serving, making it the highest yield Acai Berry product on the market today.  With a 6 month guarantee & containing all natural ingredients, PureAcaiBerry.com is an excellent product.  I recommend this specific product and will be compensated for its purchase from this link. Click HERE to go to the international corporate site.

 So, how do we tell if our perception of our size is actually accurate?  Here's a few tips:

• Look around - how do others look to you and how do they talk about their weight?
• Check with your very best friend.  Urge him or her to be honest.
• Look in the mirror.  If you can see hangover blubber, you're overweight.
• See a physician...soon.

One of my co-workers (about 30 years old) went to his doc to get the word  about his weight.  He came back to work and reported his physician said he should lose a couple of inches around his waist.  My reaction was he could have paid me for that opinion!

I know I need to still lose more weight.  I know my daughter does not need to lose weight (you can see her entire ribcage and she still complains about being overweight at every opportunity).

So, on your journey to a healthier weight, maybe the first step is to get real about it.  Getting real also means knowing how much weight you need to lose and whether you really do (or do not) need to lose weight.  If you have any doubt, get a professional opinion.

Acai Antioxidant and ORAC Values

The most notable (and fantastic) claims for the Acai berry is its ability to promote wight loss.  This fruit may well have the power to aid in dramatic weight loss.  However, the real value in this amazing Amazon fruit may lie in its powerful antioxidant properties.

The antioxidant properties in Acai berries may make a significant contribution to your overall health.

Americans just like you and me spend several billion dollars a year on antioxidants in an effort to increase overall health. There's a simple explanation for this.  Science has been examining antioxidants and their role in everything from preventing cancer and heart disease to boosting the immune system and slowing the aging process.

Like a protective shell, antioxidants provide a layer of protection for the cells and tissues of the body.  For example, antioxidants protect against free radical damage. What's the big fuss about free radicals?  Free radicals (generating oxidative stress) seem to play a very important role in the development of progressive diseases and aging.

The oxygen we breathe is continuously moving through the blood stream and transported to our cells.  Some oxygen gets loose in the bloodstream and produces unstable by-products called free radicals.  Your normal body processes, such as metabolism, can produce free radicals.

Free radical production can also be compounded and accelerated by environmental factors, such as pollution and cigarette smoke.  Imagine the abnormal, negative effects of smoke, car exhaust fumes, and massive soil and air pollution on our bodies.

 An overload of free radicals in the body causes damage to the cells, ultimately resulting in disease and accelerated aging.  Antioxidant-rich food may help prevent various cancers, heart disease, and diseases of aging.

A Diet rich in fruits, nuts, and vegetables has long been considered to be an excellent source of antioxidants.  In fact, nothing else can compare with a varied and complex diet derived from foods grown in nutrient-rich organic soil and conditions.  Unfortunately, that's pretty hard to come by in our fast paced, fast food world.

----The Importance of ORAC Values----

The antioxidant values of foods listed are expressed in ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) units, a unit of measurement for antioxidants developed by the National Institute on Aging in the National Institutes of Health (NIH).  The ORAC value is expressed in micromoles of Trolox Equivalents per 100 grams of sample (this is the laboratory measure of ORAC).  ORAC measures the ability of foods, blood plasma, and just about any substance to subdue oxygen free radicals in the test tube.

Studies at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University in Boston suggest that consuming fruits and vegetables with a high-ORAC value may help slow the aging process in both body and brain.

The early evidence from these studies indicates that this antioxidant activity translates to animals, protecting cells and their components from oxidative damage. Getting plenty of the foods with a high-ORAC activity, such as spinach, strawberries, and blueberries, has so far:

• raised the antioxidant power of human blood,
• prevented some loss of long-term memory and learning ability in middle-aged rats,
• maintained the ability of brain cells in middle-aged rats to respond to a chemical stimulus, and
• protected rats' tiny blood vessels—capillaries—against oxygen damage.

These results have prompted Ronald L. Prior to suggest that "the ORAC measure may help define the dietary conditions needed to prevent tissue damage."  Prior is coordinating this research with Guohua (Howard) Cao, James Joseph, and Barbara Shukitt-Hale at the Boston center.  
For more information on this study, click here. 

The Acai (açaí) berry is the fruit of the açaí palm, is native to tropical Central and South America. The purple variety of Acai berry most often used commercially was found to have excellent levels of antioxidant activity:  against peroxyl radicals and good activity against peroxynitrite.  The assay for superoxide gave a value for Acai berries (freeze-dried) of 161,400 units per 100 g - the highest yet found for any plant evaluated to date.*

It seems antioxidants are critical to our long-term well being and that Acai berries are a powerful an accessible source of them. 

The real bottom line is eating a diet that includes a variety of fresh, deeply colored fruits and vegetables, such as broccoli, spinach, tomatoes, sweet peppers, carrots, mangoes, kiwi, berries and cantaloupe and other plant foods, such as grains, legumes (beans, lentils, and split peas) and nuts, is the safest and most effective way to boost your antioxidant supply and reap the health benefits these substances may convey.

If you're not able to consume a large and varied amount of high ORAC-value fruits and vegetables, you might want to consider supplementing your diet with Acai berry.  Based on independent research, there is no higher value antioxident than this amazing fruit. 

(*Sources: Schauss AG, Wu X, Prior RL, Ou B, Huang D, Owens J, Agarwal A, Jensen GS, Hart AN, Shanbrom E. Antioxidant capacity and other bioactivities of the freeze-dried amazonian palm berry, Euterpe oleraceae mart. (acai). J Agric Food Chem. 2006 Nov 1;54(22):8604-10;Nutrient Data Laboratory, Agriculture Research Service, US Department of Agriculture, Oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) of Selected Foods - 2007.

---Advertisement---

PureAcaiBerry.com is unlike any other Acai Berry product on the market, offering 1500mg of high grade Acai Berry per serving, making it the highest yield Acai Berry product on the market today.  With a 6 month guarantee and containing all natural ingredients, PureAcaiBerry.com is an excellent product.  I recommend this specific product and will be compensated for its purchase from this link. Click HERE to go to the international corporate site.

 

Acai Berry Research - The Basic Facts

The acai berry (pronounced “ah-sigh-ee”) is a small grape-sized berry that grows only in the Amazon Rainforest of Brazil.  The acai berry is an inch-long reddish, purple fruit. It comes from the acai palm tree (Euterpe oleracea), which is native to Central and South America. It is a relative of the blueberry, cranberry, and other dark purple fruits. The much desired acai fruit is only 10% of the actual berry. The other 90% is made up of the seed or pit.  It's important to consume a product that is made from the actual berry...not the seeds or pits.

The health claims made for the acai berry sounds too good to be true, don't they?   Most claims are too good to be true!   However, my research has uncovered actual scientific evidence that this particular kind of berry can offer significant benefits.  I'll cover some of those benefits in my other posts.  Today I just wanted to give you a very clear idea of what this product is, how it must be handled to insure you're getting what you bought and clearly say to you there are absolutely proven benefits for you - although maybe not as big and certain as some promise.

One of the toughest aspects of acai is actually getting it from where it grows to you.  You see, unless you live in the middle of the Amazon Rainforest, you can’t just go down to the grocery store and buy a bucket of them. They are extremely perishable and spoil within a day of being picked from the tree.

Some of the methods that are used on the berry are those that preserve the berry so that it can be consumed later and 100% of its nutrients preserved.  However, there are other methods that actually strip the Acai Berry of its powerful antioxidants and the benefits are not quite as extensive as what the berry can actually provide.

In order to maintain the benefits of the berry, it must be preserved immediately upon harvesting.   The most effective means of doing this is a freeze-dried process.  Timing - doing it within 24 hours of the harvest - is critical to maintain the potency of the actual berry.   The manufacturing process is also a very critical component of delivering high quality.

Of the products you can purchase, you can buy Acai Berry dried, into juices, powders, and into capsule form.  Acai Berry Juice is great for making drinks, the dried form can make for cereal toppings, and the powders can also be used for a number of purposes, including making capsules.

When it comes to capsules, you want one that has 100% acai that is untouched, not mixed with other ingredients or diluted in some way. You certainly don't want a product that has been mixed with sawdust or some other useless, and potentially harmful, material.  That way you will have the maximum benefit from this amazing miracle of nature.  If you decide to use an acai product, you might as well get all the benefits for which you paid.

Here's what I think is important to look for in an acai berry product offering:

• The purity of the product must be absolute - no fillers or sawdust - and proven by independent analysis.
• It must have Certificates of Analysis (COA), which is the only proof that it is freeze dried immediately.
• The dosage available in the capsule should be high enough to provide maximum benefit.
• A product that has a certified ORAC rating.  High OCRA rating is a must!*
• A manufacturing facility that is certified by a third party .
• Certificate proving the product is organic (no pesticides).
• The company must stand behind the product and offer an iron-clad money back guarantee - preferably longer than 30 days.

*The antioxidant values of foods listed are expressed in ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) units, a unit of measurement for antioxidants developed by the National Institute on Aging in the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Do those requirements make sense you?

I simply cannot stress enough the importance of purity.  The acai product must be of the highest possible quantity for you to receive the full benefit.

Next we'll look at some of the proven benefits of this amazing berry.  For now, plenty of research supports eating a diet rich in antioxidants. There’s no doubt that berries and other fruits are a key part of any healthy diet promoting weight loss and good health. The jury’s still out on whether there is something special about acai’s ability to shed excess pounds.

---Advertisement---

PureAcaiBerry.com is unlike any other Acai Berry product on the market, offering 1500mg of high grade Acai Berry per serving, making it the highest yield Acai Berry product on the market today.  With a 6 month guarantee and containing all natural ingredients, PureAcaiBerry.com is an excellent product.  I recommend this specific product and will be compensated for its purchase. .  

Watch What You Eat: Too Much Sugar Can Shorten Your Life

A recent study indicated a clear connections between more sugar in a diet and a shorter life span.  The study was reported in ScienceDaily (link below).

As you modify your lifestye to lose weight, remember that sugar does more than just add pounds.  It may also cheact you out of fun and productive years of life (Talk about a good reason to drop donuts!).

________________________________________________________

ScienceDaily (Nov. 5, 2009) — If worms are any indication, all the sugar in your diet could spell much more than obesity and type 2 diabetes. Researchers reporting in the November issue of Cell Metabolism, a Cell Press publication, say it might also be taking years off your life.

By adding just a small amount of glucose to C. elegans usual fare of straight bacteria, they found the worms lose about 20 percent of their usual life span. They trace the effect to insulin signals, which can block other life-extending molecular players.


Although the findings are in worms, Cynthia Kenyon of the University of California, San Francisco, says there are known to be many similarities between worms and people in the insulin signaling pathways.

To read the full article, please click this link:   http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/11/091103121605.htm

Jenny Craig Menu and Me

Many years ago my wife and I tried Jenny Craig and, of course, the Jenny Craig menu. As most people will attest (just check the web), the food is awful, the advise useless and the material with the "course" is elementary. I've come to the conclusion that weight loss is a holistic lifestyle experience. Sure, it might be fine to utilize tools available as needed from time to time (like appetite suppressors), but sustained progress comes from incremental lifestyle changes implemented daily. Weight was gained by slow unhealthy choices made over time. Now you may be on a course that is hard to change. It certainly can't be changed overnight. I call this phenomenon, "Turning the Titanic." As we all know, it was impossible to turn that big, heavy ship quickly enough to miss the iceberg. What if the Titanic had started a turn 5 miles earlier? That would have had a different outcome. So here's what I think. Start making small, incremental changes in all areas of your life - as I will in mine. Seek out help where and when it is needed. I believe ongoing, loving support is crucial to any quest. Just start today. Now. Let's take this journey to better health together. Just let me know what I can do to help.

8/13 Obesity / Weight Loss / Fitness News From Medical News Today

Check this out below --- who would have thought that money troubles and weight could be scientifically linked? So physical health and fiscal health are related? Obesity / Weight Loss / Fitness News From Medical News Today Healthy Lifestyle Habits May Be Associated With Reduced Risk Of Chronic Disease August 12, 2009 at 4:00 pm Four healthy lifestyle factors-never smoking, maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly and following a healthy diet-together appear to be associated with as much as an 80 percent reduction in the risk of developing the most common and deadly chronic diseases, according to a report in the August 10/24 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. Amazonian Tribe Sheds Light On Causes Of Heart Disease In Developed Countries August 12, 2009 at 4:00 am Heart attacks and strokes the leading causes of death in the United States and other developed countries may have been rare for the vast majority of human history, suggests a study to be published in PLoS ONE on Tuesday, August 11. Link Between Over-indebtedness And Obesity Identified August 12, 2009 at 4:00 am Scientists at the University of Mainz have discovered a close correlation between over-indebtedness and obesity. According to the report published in the journal BMC Public Health, over-indebted Germans are more likely to be overweight or obese than the population in general.

Interesting Science -- Check Out the 1st Item. (What about men?)

8/11 ScienceDaily: Diet and Weight Loss News
ScienceDaily: Diet and Weight Loss News

What You Eat Depends On With Whom You Eat August 10, 2009 at 2:00 pm
Women tend to choose foods with a lower caloric value when dining with men, but not when they dine with other women.
Food Stamp Use Linked To Weight Gain, Study Finds August 10, 2009 at 12:00 am
The U.S. Food Stamp Program may help contribute to obesity among its users, according to a new nationwide study that followed participants for 14 years. Researchers found that the average user of food stamps had a body mass index 1.15 points higher than non-users.
Parents Can Help Stop The Obesity Epidemic, Says Psychologist; Healthy Body Image Is First Step August 8, 2009 at 12:00 am
Childhood obesity has quadrupled in the last 40 years, which may mean today's children become the first generation to have a shorter lifespan than their parents, a leading obesity expert says.

When you diet, it might be best to make sure you are getting an adequate amount of protein.

Protein Level May Serve As Predictor Of Severe Osteoarthritis August 7, 2009 at 5:00 am

Osteoarthritis, is the most common joint disorder throughout the world and a leading cause of disability. Unlike most other common diseases, little is known about its origins, and factors predicting a severe disease course have not been identified. A new study, the first to establish a laboratory marker for the risk of severe OA, found that vascular cell adhesion molecule 1, was a strong predictor of hip and knee joint replacement due to severe OA. - ScienceDaily: Diet and Weight Loss News

Free Sample Offer - Dr. Oz's Diet Pills

Free Sample Offer you might like: I recently read this article and thought it might shed a little light on the relatively new Dr. Oz weight loss pills and regimen. This probably will require a little more research before I try it.

Dr Oz's Diet Pills and Diet Secrets For Quick Weight Loss Revealed on Winfrey's Show
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Stephanie_Garrett]Stephanie Garrett

Dr. Oz diet pills and diet secrets are gaining popularity because of its effectiveness. Lately in we have seen the dramatic makeover of Oprah herself. The world is turning obese with excess indulgence into junk foods. It is spreading like wild fire. Most people are suffering from this deformity, which also bring along many deadly disorders. In order to lose weight naturally, Dr. Oz created a diet plan, which is 100 % natural. Most people try to lose weight by taking up wrong techniques such as surgeries and extreme low calorie diet for weight loss, which can be extremely dangerous for your body in the long run.

In order to lose weight healthily we should boosts metabolism in our body naturally rather than loosing water by following various diet plan and surgeries. Cardio workouts such as running, walking, swimming and hiking should be performed daily for at least 10 minutes for shedding those extra fats. A good combination of healthy food and workouts can make your weight loss dream a reality.

The secret behind Oprah's weight loss is Acai berry diet, which is touted to be one of the most effective fat burning nutrition. This plan is based on the properties of the Amazonian fruit called Acai berry, which can easily boosts metabolism in your body, which consequently leads to fat loss.

Acai berries have many health benefits too. It can also stimulate the process of aging with panache. Its unique mood enhancing properties can keep you motivated throughout the dieting session. It can act as appetite suppressant and stabilize calorie intake. Acai berries are rich in anti-oxidants. Oprah also performed colon cleansing for shedding those stubborn fats from her abdominal area. Dr. Oz's diet plan include Acai berry and Colon cleanse pills. It is always advisable to try out risk free trials before actually purchasing the product.

Inefficiency of metabolism is the prime cause for weight gain. The next step is to increase the metabolic rate to burn fat naturally.

Click here ---> [http://www.HealthyFatLoss.org]Fat Burning Diet

Everybody from Dr Oz to Oprah have been talking about the dynamic duo for weight loss. To know more or request free samples

Click Here --> [http://www.healthyfatloss.org]Acai Berry and Colon Cleanse

FREE offers are for a limited time only so get yours today

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Stephanie_Garrett http://EzineArticles.com/?Dr-Ozs-Diet-Pills-and-Diet-Secrets-For-Quick-Weight-Loss-Revealed-on-Winfreys-Show&id=2439259

Fen-Phen: My Personal Experience

The magical weight loss pill of the past turned out to be a killer. Yep, I was one of the patients who long ago (seems like) took Fen-Phen.

(Fen-phen was an anti-obesity medication which consisted of two drugs: fenfluramine and phentermine. Fenfluramine, and later, a related drug, dexfenfluramine, was marketed by American Home Products, now known as Wyeth, but were shown to cause potentially fatal pulmonary hypertension and heart valve problems, which eventually led to their withdrawal and legal damages of over $13 billion. - Note from Wikipedia)

This combination of drugs in one pill certainly had incredibly horrible effects on some of the patients. As for me, I can't imagine an easier way to lose weight and feel great about the process. It was a magical weight loss pill experience. Obviously, it was just too good to be true. It certainly worked too well to be all OK. So, my search for a weight loss pill that works and is safe continues.