10 Warning Signs You Need More Vitamin D

How Can Probiotics Help in Weightloss?

One of the leading health issues in society today is the growing number of obese people and obesity. I remember when I had my pre-employment medical examination, the doctor was so prejudiced and biased that simply because I weighed 115 kgs, he did not provide me any clearance and wanted me to seek and consult a second opinion from an endocrinologist as he said that I might be overweight due to a problem with my thyroid glands or something.

What he did not know, which I did not anymore tell him since I did not have a face-to-face with him when he released my medical results was, I already lost weight with my current weight during the medical examination. How? I had to simply took in Provita Probiotics.

Why Probiotics?

If we look into our digestive system, it is composed of several microorganisms which can be simply classified into good and bad bacteria.

To understand the affects of probiotics on weight loss you need to start with an understanding of the key players. There are two first families of bacteria in the gut: The good Bacteroidetes and the not-so-good Firmicutes. "Lean individuals have a higher proportion of bacteria from the Bacteriodetes family, while obese individuals have more from the Firmicutes family," Dr. Bulsiewicz explains. "This means that obese individuals carry gut microbes that are designed to efficiently extract the bad parts of our food, namely from fat and sugar, and the implication is that by modulating our gut flora to maximize Bacteroidetes and minimize Firmicutes, we can optimize healthy energy harvesting from our food and kick our obesity problem to the curb." Put another way: "If we choose the right blend of bacteria, the scale can tip in our favor," he says.

Provita, as a probiotic supplement is composed of several components that all aid in improving our digestive system and reduce fat in our body, especially belly fat. These components include:

1. Bifidobacterium Lactis - helps takes the nutrients we ingest in food into our body. It also helps in preventing the increase of bad bacteria. In a study conducted in 2015 showed that a fermented milk containing B. lactis may improve gastrointestinal symptoms and well-being, and it was suspected that this was true because of changes it created in gut motility, hypersensitivity, and even leaky gut. Another study demonstrated that when people took a particular strain of B. lactis, called BB-12, in conjunction with Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, they had decreased amounts of dental plaque and reduced inflammation in the mouth, which has led us to an increased understanding of how oral health is tied to gut health and why having a healthy oral microbiome is important. One recent article suggested that disruption of the gut microbiome in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) extends to the oral cavity and that looking at the oral microbiome could be helpful in evaluating ASD status. This is just one example of how oral health is tied to gut health and overall health, as well. Another fascinating study demonstrated that B. lactis reduced fat mass and glucose intolerance in mice with diabetes and obesity. It was felt that reduced levels of the pro-inflammatory substance called lipopolysaccharides (LPS) from bacteria that is associated with leaky gut was one of the mechanisms by which this occurred. We already know that an imbalance of bacteria in the gut can be associated with a variety of different conditions and diseases, so this is a great example of how a good guy can be added to the ecosystem and help tip the balance in favor of health, rather than disease. In this case, this probiotic helped improve blood sugar balance and weight. A particular strain of B. lactis, known as HN019, has been shown to have a significant impact on those with metabolic syndrome. This probiotic had beneficial effects on inflammation, nitric oxide metabolites, and antioxidant measurements, and the authors of the study stated that if their results are confirmed, supplementation with this probiotic should be considered further. It's fascinating how adding a particular probiotic strain to your lifestyle routine can create such improvement in one's health. It goes to show you how even a slight imbalance between the good bugs and bad bugs in your gut can cause and contribute to so many different medical conditions and symptoms.
2. Bifidobacterium Bifidum -lowers cholesterol levels of the body. Although there are not as much research done on such strain of probiotics, certain researches revealed that B. bifidum shows promise in treating the following conditions: infection by Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), restoration of intestinal bacteria after chemotherapy, constipation, lung infections, ulcerative colitis, certain kinds of diarrhea, necrotizing enterocolitis, a type of infection in the intestinal lining caused by harmful bacteria, and pouchitis, a complication of surgery for ulcerative colitis

These are just the first two components found in Provita Probiotics. We have not further gone into the other components as this may come up to be a very long note. We would just like to educate people on the powerful effects of Provita Probiotics, being a probiotic supplement that has 16 strains or types of probiotics in the market that all provide us with the needed benefit of improving our GUT or digestive system and promoting weightloss. Further studies by health and medical practitioners reveal that Probiotics have the following effects:

Increased Fat Elimination

For some dieters, removing consumed fat from the body before it has a chance to do damage would be a great help. Probiotics may increase the amount of dietary fat that is released by the body through feces, according to the results of a study published in Lipds in Health and Disease by Japanese researchers. Fat consumed by the subjects was not as easily digested for use or for storage by the body in those who were given certain probiotics, resulting in the excess consumed fat being eliminated by the body through the digestive tract. As the fat was being emulsified through normal bodily processes, fat droplets were found to be larger in those who were given the specific probiotics. While the mechanism of action is unknown at this time, perhaps the larger droplets of fat are not able to be used as easily by the body, allowing them to be released as waste.

Diminished Appetite

Those who have a hard time losing those extra pounds because they feel hungry all of the time might want to think about using probiotics for weight loss. It seems that certain probiotics may actually influence how satisfied you feel by regulating the way your body reacts to a hormone called leptin. Leptin is produced by fat cells to let the brain know that there is enough stored away for energy. The brain can then signal the body to reduce the appetite. However, those who are obese may develop what is known as leptin resistance, where the brain can no longer properly identify those signals when leptin levels get way too high. Research in the British Journal of Nutrition showed that probiotic supplementation helped leptin signals to reach the brain, allowing subjects to feel more satisfied after eating. In turn, this can help individuals to eat fewer calories to better help with weight loss.

Decreased Fat Storage

While certain probiotics have been shown to move some of the extra fat that is consumed out of the body before it can cause problems, it appears that probiotics may help to reduce the amount of additional fat that is stored in the body. The reduction of increased fat stored occurred even with excess food intake. Research by Osterberg, et al, published in the journal Obesity showed that those who were given a certain probiotic gained less weight while eating too many calories compared to those who were given a placebo. Another study shows how the good bacteria of the gut may affect this. Aronsson, et al, in a study published in PloS One, found that a certain protein can help to prevent the accumulation of fat within adipose tissue. This protein is increased with a proper balance of the microbiome in the gut, effectively reducing how much consumed fat gets stored for later use. While these studies did not necessarily show the benefits of probiotics for weight loss, it showed that the use of probiotics can help with weight management by reducing the amount of extra calories that are stored as fat.

Reduced Body Fat

Another way that probiotics have been shown as useful in regards to body weight is in their ability to reduce the amount of fat that is currently being stored by the body. This process actually begins in the gut, according to research by Omar, et al, that is published in the Journal of Functional Foods. By increasing the number of specific good bacteria in the intestines through the use of supplementation of probiotics, researchers were able to induce a change in body composition in the subjects. The probiotics changed the way the body utilized food for energy, allowing for an increase in the use of existing fat stores for fuel. Individuals noted a decrease in body fat, specifically around the organs. The probiotics given in the study helped subjects to enjoy more weight loss, a healthier BMI, and loss of belly fat.

Enhanced Metabolism

By equalizing the levels of beneficial bacteria that are found in the digestive tract, probiotics can help the body to function more effectively. The same study that showed probiotics may reduce the amount of fat that is already stored in the body draws interest in the ability of these same probiotics to increase metabolism. A health metabolism continues to use calories, even when you are not exercising. Fat is a little more difficult for the body to digest, so many dieters find that they lose muscle over fat stores when eating a calorie-restricted diet. Because probiotics may change how the body utilizes macronutrients for fuel, these beneficial bacteria can help the body to burn fat for fuel rather than the protein stored in muscle. Those who take probiotics with their healthy diet and exercise program may enjoy a higher calorie burn even during inactive periods.

So how does probiotics help? Well, personally, my first month of use has allowed me to lose 15 kgs coming from a weight of 125 kgs to now 110 kgs and it does not stop there. I noticed that I don't get constipated, my bowel movement became regular and I get the feeling of being content with my food intake faster compared to before.

So how does probiotics help? Well, personally, my first month of use has allowed me to lose 15 kgs. coming from a weight of 125 kgs and now just 110 kgs and it does not stop there.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/10130820

Why It's Always Too Early To Quit

Don't Approach Your Ambitions Half-Heartedly

The late American minister Norman Vincent Peale summed it up best in his book You Can If You Think You Can, writing a chapter titled: It's Always Too Early To Quit. He was making the case for persisting instead of quitting ahead of time. Although the advice is relevant, it will depend on the circumstances we face. For example, if you are in a business losing money, it might be wise to quit and channel your energy into another venture. There are other options which may require pivoting the business in a different direction but with the same principles. Think about this in your own life. Are there areas where you want to give up? It might be related to: a relationship, career, family situation, education or something else?

Consider what you aim to achieve by quitting? Do you relieve yourself of the stress and burden associated with it? A business mentor I worked with some time ago used the following metaphor to explain our relationship to goals. He would say goals are like swimming in the open water from one land area to another. During the swim we will find ourselves at the midway point and far from the finish line. We cannot see our destination but know it is there. He said there are two options available to us: continue to swim toward our destination knowing we will eventually arrive or give up and swim back to our starting point. It is what many of us experience regularly with our goals. Even if we have not achieved success, it does not mean we are not making progress.

I've had a personal ambition to be an internationally acclaimed author and one day write a best-selling book. Whilst I'm yet to achieve it, I have accomplished other successes that represent milestones towards my goals. I wrote three books which were published independently, each of them with forewords written by internationally acclaimed authors. The point I wish to make is that progress is progress, no matter how slow we are working towards our goals. Success and achievement can sometimes fall into our lap when we least expect it. However, we must be in the arena working consistently and not rest on our laurels. We cannot approach our ambitions half-heartedly because the universe will deliver less than desirable outcomes. Consider this in your own life. Are their goals or projects you've been working on without signs of success? How does this affect your enthusiasm? Are you still passionate and committed to them?

Light The Fire Of Passion And Enthusiasm

I don't intend to explain why quitting is the easy way out because sometimes quitting is the only way out. It will depend on the circumstances and what we set out to achieve. Personally, I have a burning desire to promote self-empowerment and help others awaken their highest potential, through writing and speaking. I am committed to my dream, irrespective of the obstacles and challenges I face. And yes, there have been many setbacks over the years. I've come close to quitting and the only thing that stopped me was a good night's sleep. I've read countless books on those who endured similar challenges and succeeded. I've also read biographies of those who persisted and failed. The one true constant I can draw from my experience is that if you have an itch, you must scratch it until you are satisfied you have done your best. Until then, keep pursuing your goals until you realise them or can no longer take the pain.

How are you feeling about this? Are you getting a sense that your dreams and goals are not something to be taken lightly but pursued with passion and persistence? I don't know the answer to whether or not you should quit. In fact, in my coaching sessions, I often tell clients I can help them push the needle as close to success as possible, but I cannot guarantee it, since there are many factors outside of our control. Besides, I wouldn't want to make that promise and I would caution you to beware of those that do. For example, we cannot control the economy, nor life's forces acting upon us. We cannot control whether we succumb to illness or other circumstances that derail our progress. What we can do, is to light the fire of passion and enthusiasm and make sure we show up to the task at hand. We can honour our best intentions, irrespective of the outcome. We show up diligently, knowing what we put our mind and heart to will transpire in the best way, or at the very least teach us valuable insights.

Quitting early relieves us of the ability to give ourselves wholeheartedly to our goals and dreams. It robs us of our fighting spirit because we learn to take the path of least resistance, instead of the one lined with courage, hope and persistence. Life is replete with setbacks, challenges and sometimes, suffering and denials. But this mustn't stop us from pursuing what we are passionate about. Because if you truly want something, as the Brazilian author Paulo Coelho wrote in The Alchemist, the entire universe will conspire in helping you to achieve it. With that in mind, I invite you to consider areas of your life where you want to quit. How could you reframe your relationship with quitting? How can you develop greater resiliency and grit? It was Winston Churchill who once said: "Success is the ability to go from failure to failure without losing your enthusiasm." Therefore, how can you stay inspired and intentional about your goals and ambitions? The key to your success lies in your intrinsic motivation and it is only when you answer that question, will you discover whether or not it is too early to quit.

Do you want to lead a remarkable life? Are you committed to taking action despite your fears and doubts? If so, download your FREE copy of my eBook NAVIGATE LIFE right now, and start your amazing journey of greatness today!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/10156836

"Are You Hungry?"

Oprah Winfrey's Life Advice Will Change Your Future | One of the Best Motivational Video Ever

Your Challenges Don't Expose Your Weaknesses, They Reveal Your Strengths

Negative Emotions Often Leave Clues

I want you to close your eyes and think of a difficult experience affecting you right now. Before you read any further, do this simple step to get a sense of how the problem is upsetting you. You may experience a range of emotions and I invite you to welcome them. Don't push them away because they are uncomfortable. Allow them to be present since unpleasant emotions can teach us something valuable if we are present to them. Good, now open your eyes and let's talk more about your problems. Thankfully, you are one of billions of people on this earth lucky enough to experience challenges. Lucky you say? Are you insane Tony? How am I lucky to have problems? You are lucky because your challenges contain the seeds of opportunities you have yet to discover.

Challenges contain enormous growth and when we overcome them, we can never go back to our old way of life. They help us recognise the endless possibilities and expand our consciousness. When I asked you to contemplate a current problem earlier, you no doubt experienced the negative emotions associated with it? And you would be right to feel this way because from where you stand the problem seems insurmountable. However, when you bridge the gap, it is diminished and you are able to see your challenges from a new perspective. You're unable to perceive your problem with that mindset now because you haven't gained the necessary growth.

It's easy to see how our challenges expose our weaknesses, but we ought to think of it differently: they also reveal our strengths. If we accept the emotions that arise, we can work through our challenges more effectively. For example, I remember working with a young woman named Jennifer within a coaching capacity. Each time she experienced difficulties in her life, she would call me in a frenzy and explain how the situation was consuming her. One day during a coaching session, I invited her to tackle her challenges without allowing her anxiety, fear and frustration to get the better of her. I asked her to welcome these feelings since they were trying to teach her something valuable. Previously, she wanted to get rid of them because they didn't feel good. And I understand she would feel that way, however negative emotions can show us where we need to direct our attention.

The Distance Between The Problem And The Solution

Does this make sense? Are you comfortable with the idea that negative emotions serve a purpose and we needn't feel helpless because of them? I counselled Jennifer to be aware of her response and not push the emotions away, since they were trying to teach her something important. Given she felt anxious and irritated each time, meant the problem was important to her. It requires changing our response so we remain calm instead of reacting to what is taking place. We ought to interact with our core emotions and work through the issues instead of responding negatively. For example, if you asked someone close to you whether the situation you're experiencing is a major problem, they might think otherwise. The reason you react to it, is that you are heavily invested in the outcome. I'm not suggesting this is detrimental, I am implying you accept your feelings by changing your response to what it means.

People believe problems expose their weaknesses because of the negative emotions that accompany it. If we experience fear, frustration and anger we might believe we are incapable of overcoming the experience because of the negativity involved. But they are signposts informing us the problem is important to us, otherwise we wouldn't be experiencing them. So, welcome the negative emotions and process them as best you can and then deal with the problem before you. Can you do this? Can you give yourself the gift of looking at your problems from a new perspective instead of staying mired in negativity? I assure you, you can overcome any obstacle life throws at you. It's a matter of biting through it one piece at a time, chewing it thoroughly and digesting what you need to.

You are not meant to bridge the gap from problem to solution in one go, otherwise you would be a genius. Problems and challenges arise because of the lessons and growth required for our life's journey. They occur because the distance between the problem and the solution is where progress takes place. We can't rush the growth any more than wishing a rose would grow quicker when planting the seed. We must nurture it daily with: water, proper soil and sunlight. And so it is with our challenges. Knowing this, I'd like you to return to your earlier problem. Write all the emotions you are experiencing on the left-hand side of a piece of paper or journal. Next to each emotion, write what you consider is the opposite of that emotion. For example if you feel fear, what is the opposite of fear for you? Is it: courage, faith, hope or patience? Once you've gone through the list, reflect on what these negative states are inviting you to know. Contemplate them first thing in the morning and the last thing at night. Trust that your current situation is calling you to overcome your weaknesses to reveal your true strength of character.

Do you want to lead a remarkable life? Are you committed to taking action despite your fears and doubts? If so, download your FREE copy of my eBook NAVIGATE LIFE right now, and start your amazing journey of greatness today!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/10183195

How To Combat Common Fears In Joining A Group Fitness Class

Group fitness classes are the ideal way to stay fit and healthy. They offer a wide variety of classes to fit the needs of the group and to meet a vast amount of fitness goals. So much can be said for the benefits of joining a fitness class. Group fitness classes are by far the most popular form of exercise, but for many people a group fitness class can also be intimidating.

So much can be said for the benefits of joining a fitness class. Group fitness classes are by far the most popular form of exercise, but for many people a group fitness class can also be intimidating.

Group Fitness Class

Group fitness is a craze that is sweeping across the country. These classes are for anyone and everyone, even you! With hundreds of different types of fitness classes to choose from you are sure to find one that is right for you.

Feeling the group's energy will help you to stay focused and energized as you workout, it really is an amazing feeling to participate in a group exercise setting.

Here are some types of classes that you might be interested in:

Yoga and Pilates - Yoga and Pilates are great for increasing your balance, flexibility and strengthening your core. A group class is a great way to learn the proper techniques and correct form that is required for each pose.

Zumba - Zumba is an aerobic type class that is ideal for burning calories, strengthening the heart and getting your blood flowing. Zumba is a dance style aerobics class where you will dance to music and have fun. Group classes, like Zumba are very popular and lots of fun, especially because they are in a group setting where the all-around energy is highly contagious. The more the merrier!

CrossFit - CrossFit is an all-around workout class that will push your fitness level to new heights. This class uses a variety of different functional movements, lots of strength training and offers wide variety in classes that change daily with the infamous CrossFit WOD (workout of the day).

It is also one of the most popular group classes out there that can help you lose weight, get strong, improve your functionality in everyday life and build lean muscle tone.

Other Classes

There are many other types of classes available at gyms, studios, community centers and universities across the country. Decide what your fitness goals are and let that guide you to a class. Don't be afraid to try a few of them out and see which one works best for you.

Dealing With Fear

The most common type of fear is the fear of the unknown. When we allow our fears to control us it can prevent us from experiencing new things and from growing in unique ways. Fear can also keep people from being proactive in their fitness goals and staying away from exercises classes.

Fear not! Keep reading to learn some of the most effective ways to chase your fears away.

Tips To Combat Your Fears

You're not the only one that feels intimidated, many people feel the same way. Everyone in that fitness class was a first time student. Most likely there will be other first timers in the class with you.

Consider This:

• The first time is always the hardest. Once you walk through the door into the class, the hardest part will be over.


• Take a friend with you to class. Having someone to keep you company can do wonders to help alleviate that feeling of fear.


• Don't worry about what others think. Everyone is there to workout and is more focused on themselves than anyone else. You might be surprised at how many are worried about what you think of them.


• Have fun! Make your experience fun and enjoyable. After the class begins you will be too involved in having fun to remember being scared. Remember that if the classes were not fun people would not go to them. That means that you are very likely to enjoy yourself too!


• Focus on your goals. To reach your fitness goals a group fitness class is the way to go. Stay focused on what your fitness goals are and let everything else go.


• Get to know the people in your class. The more people you know in the class the more fun the class can be and the less intimidating it will become.


• Talk to the instructor before the class starts. They can put your mind at ease and give you some tips so that you will not feel so out of place. Your teacher is a trained professional that is there to help you.

Don't let fear keep you from participating in improving your health and fitness, and remember that not only will you get the chance to be healthier, you will also conquer your fear, which is one of the most gratifying feelings in the world.

Russell (Rusty) Hart is the founder of the Health, Fitness & Sport Club, a website devoted to the promotion of health, fitness and wellness. The site encompasses a wide variety of health and fitness activities including general health matters, pilates, yoga, CrossFit, treadmill training, running, kettlebell, swimming, baseball, camping, hunting, HIIT, triathlons, extreme sports, equestrian and more. Should this subject matter be of interest you can visit the HF & S Club home site where you'll find over 1,300 quality posts with new posts being published daily. To quickly access those that are of interest you can select any of 20 Categories broken down by over 260 Sub-Categories for easy access.

You can also visit visit any of the HF & S Club's four Stores all of which feature 1,000s of sports and health products at the very best prices.

Access this website by going to [http://www.healthfitnessandsport.com]

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Tony Robbins: THE SECRET TO SELF CONTROL

Why Fitness Is The Essence Of Overall Wellness

f you are looking forward to overall wellness, then you have got to know that fitness is the essence of it. Unlike the popular perception, achieving fitness is not that difficult. You can't judge the fitness of a person by just looking at that person. Experiences have taught me that the fittest looking person might not be the one who impresses you with his or her fitness levels. So, it's pointless to have unrealistic views about fitness. As far as fitness is concerned, the health of your heart is extremely important. Probably, you lack a typically "fit" looking body. But that doesn't mean that you are not fit. You can be fit irrespective of the way your body looks. Cardio fitness is the real measure for fitness. If you are really serious about fitness, then you have to channel your energies to improve the health of your heart. When your heart is healthy, other aspects like increased lung capacity, strong bones, strong muscles, weight loss etc. will follow.

Understanding the concept of fitness

In today's world obsessed with fitness, we have complicated the concept of fitness. According to the basic definition, fitness is all about your ability carry out your daily chores without fatigue. A fit person will be able to carry out his chores with alertness and vigour. Back in the day, people used to have that ability. They were all physically active. They were all fit. So, there was no need to talk about fitness. However, things have changed a lot. Lifestyle diseases have become common these days. We do very less physical activities as our jobs force us to stay glued to our seats all day long with zero physical activity. And that has contributed to lot of lifestyle diseases. No wonder why we talk about fitness more these days because we are all worried about our fitness levels. Lack of physical activities made us susceptible to all sorts of health problems.

Significance of fitness

The sedentary lifestyle has made way for lot of diseases. And people have realized the significance of regular exercise to stay fit. However, not too many are able to follow it given the hectic lifestyle. If you want to stay away from many diseases, then it is important to do cardio exercise on a regular basis. As we all know, heart disease has been one of the notorious silent killers. Stroke, diabetes, colon cancer etc. are other diseases which are connected to lack of fitness. There are plenty of benefits for regular exercise. Besides the health benefits, you will be able to control your weight as well. In turn, you will be able to fight aging too.

Psychological benefits of exercise

Exercise has many psychological benefits as well. When you exercise, it releases the feel good hormone endorphins, which significantly reduces stress. And it will elevate your mood as well. It has the ability to fight depression as well. If you are one those fitness freaks who exercise on a daily basis, then you will have a positive attitude towards life. Also, you tend to have better self-esteem. Exercise gives you better sleep at night. You never complain about fatigue either. Last but not least, regular exercise can improve your memory as well.

The amount of exercise to stay fit

Well, this has been a hotly debated topic for years. Different people will give different advice. But one thing is definite - regular exercise is the best strategy. How long should you exercise? Well, 30 minutes a day would be more than enough. And if you are able to extend to an hour then it is better. Some people would suggest that doing exercise 5 times a week is a good strategy. Well, doing it every day is a far more effective strategy. Exercise is like drinking coffee. Your brain gets addicted to the feel good hormones and craves for it every day. For the same reason, your brain will remind you to do exercise every day. That's like following a natural clock. Your brain knows what is best for your body. Therefore, doing it every day will make it easier for you to get adjusted to the natural cycle.

Remember, fitness is the key to your overall well-being. So, it is time for you to embrace it!

If you wish to learn more about fitness and health, then you can visit https://wlpfreetrials.com/. This website has all the information you need to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9819816

How to do Intermittent Fasting: Complete Guide

Beating Obesity Into Submission

Why aren't we able to tackle the obesity problem in this country. We're not the only ones. America, Mexico, New Zealand, Hungary and Australia are equal or behind the UK in the obesity fight. Obesity and the illnesses it causes is well documented on TV and online. Why isn't the message coming through. The information is there.

Culture shifts toward fast foods has had a huge impact on our eating habits. 30 to 40 years ago, fast food was only accessible in fish and chip shops. McDonald's was only starting out in the UK then.

'Apps' like 'Hungary House' make it so easy to order food. One click of the button on your mobile, and your done. You only have to make the effort to get off the sofa and walk to the front door. Such hard work!

Eating habits are the key to healthy diets. It starts from the day you are born. What food your parents introduce to you sets up your eating habits for life. If you have a balanced diet of fruit, vegetables and meat early on, you become accustomed to that. Going the other way, if you're introduced to lots of sweet high sugar foods at a young age, this becomes your norm. Sugar, of course has that added attraction for kids. The sugar rush as well the sweet taste are too hard to resist. The food markets know this and go out of their way to tempt everyone, especially kids. The sweets are always near the checkout, at a height where it right under the noses of youngsters.

What can be done?

We are creatures of habit. It's in our nature. Changing addictive habits like sugar or smoking are not easy to do. Adverts focused on the harmful effects of smoking changed people's outlook. Stark pictures of blood clotting from the end of a cigarette brought the unhealthy effects home.

This kind of advert applied to high sugar and salt intake could be powerful... but it has to be a sustained campaign. The campaign against smoking has gone on for over 20 years. The 'truth' campaign aimed at eliminating teen smoking in the United States started in 1999. The teen smoking rate was 23% back then. In 2016 the number was down to 6%.

The Government needs to invest in the anti-sugar campaign. The NHS face even more pressure dealing with patients with food related illness.

With the population's steady increase, the next 50 years could be a nightmare for healthcare. It could be avoided, but only with the will to do something about it.

Obesity increases the risk of heart disease, diabetes, musculoskeletal disorders, cancers, depression and anxiety. Severely obese individuals are three times more likely to require social care than those with normal weight. This includes hospitalisation and the associated health and social care costs.

The NHS estimated the cost of obesity for 2006/7 to be £5.1 billion. The costs account for obesity medication, increasing use of bariatric surgery and new equipment to accommodate larger people.

Education Is Key

My son is a personal trainer. He runs what are known as 'Weight Change Classes'. It's interesting what he has to say from his experience delivering these classes.

He says "We like to keep a variety of exercises to keep the interest there. One week, it will be pull ups and press ups, shoulder press and leg press exercises. The next week more cardio based with some free weights like dumb bells and kettle bells. Another week could be kettle bells and TRX in a circuit training format. It's still weight based, but you keep the intensity up, and keep the heart-rate high.

He says about diet, "I really try to educate them about how bad sugar is, and too much 'carby' foods..to much pasta, rice, chocolate sweets, fizzy drinks. The number one reason for obesity is sugar. I don't monitor and measure what they eat, but give them an understanding of what they put into their body. Whether they change their diet or not is up to them. I just plant the seed in their mind, give them the knowledge they need, so they have a choice to either follow it or not".

Do you measure their weight loss?

Yeah, we do weigh-ins regularly. Typically, the clients that do see improvements are the ones that stick to the program. I've got clients that have listened to what I've advised and they've seen good results. At the same time I've given advice to other clients, and they've found it more challenging to stick to.

How long does it take to lose weight?

Some clients lose up to 2 pounds per week. Some can even lose 4-5 pounds per week.

A basic target of 2 pounds per week over a period of 3-4 months is a huge loss. About 1¾ stones.

Do you look at their fat percentage?

Yes, very important to look at fat percentage, not just losing body weight. If you weigh 60 kilograms, you've got to ask the question, 60 kilograms of what? You can break that down into body fat, muscle mass, bone density, and water retention. We can measure all that, so you actually see all the parts that make up the whole body weight. So we focus much more on the body fat, because you might lose muscle mass. That would be unhealthy. This is why we focus on the weight training to hold on to the muscle mass.. that and encourage high protein intake to keep muscle mass.

So after say 6 months, surely your clients should be able to go out on their own without your assistance?

Sure, 6 months down the line, you would have learnt so much, experimented with different exercises, recorded the exercises, so you have them to follow. Over 6 months you would have done these exercises so many times, it would be like second nature..So after this much time you don't need to be babied any more, you know what to do, you can go out on your own, so it's kind of like a lesson for life.

So you don't encourage people to starve themselves to lose weight?

"Oh no, starving yourself is like a quick fix but is quite damaging to the body. You have to look at food like it's fuel. It's like putting wood on a fire. It's going to keep your blood fuel burning. The fire burns out, your metabolism dies down. Keep the metabolism high and you'll be burning calories all day. Look at body builders, they're constantly burning calories, but they're never hungry, but they have hardly any body fat".

To keep weight down is something that takes dedication, self-determination and self-discipline.

With a little help from informed professionals, it is very doable. It takes self drive to achieve weight loss goals. Today there is so much help from places like YouTube and online articles. You never have to feel like your on your own with weight loss. To keep healthy into old age is worth it. We are much happier. We have never been so informed about health as we are today. There should be less obesity than was 30 years ago, not more!

If you want more useful information about health, fitness and diet, visit http://www.rhcopywriting.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9941293

Acceptable Liquids with Intermittent Fasting

5 Diet Myths Exposed: Start Losing Weight the Healthy Way!

This can be the year you finally drop those excess pounds, achieve a strong, streamlined body, and give your health a huge boost with a commitment to sensible eating.

But in order to reach your healthy weight and keep it there, you'll have to sidestep a lot of diet minefields. So many nutritional myths and faddish ideas are out there, you could easily wind up sabotaging your weight loss efforts and compromising your health, without even knowing it.

NEWSFLASH:

58% of consumers are actively trying to lose weight to improve either their appearance, health or both, according to the Natural Marketing Institute's Health & Wellness Trends Database.

MYTH #1: YOU HAVE TO GO ON A DIET TO LOSE WEIGHT.

REALITY: Most diets don't work. Instead of following the latest fashionable weight loss program, you should develop healthy, fat-burning habits and make them part of your daily life.

INSTANT ANALYSIS:

Atkins, Zone, Ornish... How do they stack up? A recent study tracked the weight loss results of obese people who followed popular diet plans for one year. In order to achieve a healthy Body Mass Index (BMI), most subjects needed to lose 41.8 lbs. At the end of 12 months, those on the Atkins low-carb plan lost 10.4 lbs; Zone moderate-carb dieters lost 3.5 lbs; and Ornish low-fat dieters lost 4.9 lbs. With all three diets, most of the participants started out as clinically obese... and ended up as clinically obese, with only a very modest weight loss to show for their year-long dieting efforts. On all three diets, the subjects experienced most of their weight loss in the first two to six months, and then began regaining most of their lost pounds.

GOOD HEALTH TIP:

It's easy to get discouraged about dieting when you keep trying the latest trends... and failing. The best way to achieve permanent weight loss is to incorporate reasonable, nutritious, and enjoyable changes into your life that you can stick with over time.

NEWSFLASH:

Consumers employed several lifestyle changes to help manage their weight in the past year.

• Smaller portions at mealtime

• Making slight lifestyle changes

• Regular and consistent exercise

• Eating smaller more frequent meals

• Making drastic lifestyle changes

• Working with dietitian/nutritionist

MYTH #2: DIET FOODS ARE A GREAT HELP FOR LOSING WEIGHT

REALITY: Many "low-fat" foods are surprisingly high in sugar content - and calories. That's because manufacturers often add sugar to compensate for the diminished flavor and texture that results from removing fat.

GOOD HEALTH TIP:

Secrets of Sneaky Sugar: A sugar by any other name is still sugar. Your "diet" food can contain added sugars in different guises you may not recognize. Here are some names to look for on the ingredient list: brown sugar, corn sweetener, corn syrup, dextrose, fructose, fruit juice concentrates, glucose, high-fructose corn syrup, lactose, maltose, malt syrup, molasses, sucrose, syrup.

So what's a conscientious dieter to do? As always, the battle of the bulge is ultimately won in the arena of calories. Carefully check food labels for total calorie content... even when they're branded "diet" or "low-fat."

INSTANT ANALYSIS:

The Great Cookie Caper: Let's compare calories of a regular chocolate chip cookie and a reduced-fat chocolate chip cookie. The regular cookie has 3 fat grams and 49 calories; the reduced-fat cookie has 2 fat grams and 45 calories. A 4-calorie difference is not going to get you into that bikini by summer!

On the other hand, some low-fat choices can significantly slash your calorie intake. Don't want to give up cheddar cheese? One ounce of regular cheddar cheese has 6 fat grams and 114 calories; the same-sized low-fat portion has 1.2 grams of fat and an impressively reduced 49 calories!

NEWSFLASH:

When the weight loss aim is to improve their health, consumers seem to eat a more balanced diet (e.g., less sugar, fewer carbs, etc.). In the past year, consumers limited their sugar, carbohydrate, and fat intake more often than they used diet food/products to help manage their weight.

MYTH #3: YOU HAVE TO STARVE YOURSELF TO LOSE WEIGHT.

REALITY: Yes, you do have to limit your calories to shed pounds, but there's no need to starve. You can cleverly choose foods that fill you up, not out - and keep you satisfied and stoked with energy all day long. What's your best bet for filling foods? Fiber-rich fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains. Most Americans get only half of the recommended daily intake of 25 to 30 grams of dietary fiber, putting them at risk for obesity and a host of serious health problems.

NEWSFLASH:

• 46% of consumers are choosing to eat fiber-rich foods as part of their weight management plan.10

• Consumers who eat fewer carbohydrates to lose weight also eat fiber-rich foods (66%) and participate in regular and consistent exercise (61%) to achieve their optimum weight.

Fiber comes in two types, each with its own starring role to play in protecting our health and promoting weight management. Soluble fibers dissolve in water, and are associated with regulating blood sugar levels and lowering cholesterol. Insoluble fibers or roughage can't dissolve in water, but can absorb water. This causes them to swell, making them good bulking agents that improve gastrointestinal functions and speed up elimination. By eating sufficient amounts from both fiber types, you'll enjoy their full range of health benefits. Soluble fibers: apples, citrus fruits, pears, carrots, onions, sweet potatoes, squash, legumes, lentils, barley, oats, oat bran, oatmeal. Insoluble fibers: Cabbage, beets, Brussels sprouts, turnips, cauliflower, celery, cucumbers, zucchini, tomatoes, whole wheat bread, wheat cereal, wheat bran, rye.

GOOD HEALTH TIP:

Here are a few ideas to help you incorporate more whole grains into your daily diet:

• Create a whole grain pilaf with a mixture of barley, wild rice, brown rice, broth, and spices. For a special touch, stir in toasted nuts or chopped dried fruit.

• Try rolled oats or a crushed, unsweetened whole grain cereal as breading for baked chicken, fish, veal cutlets or eggplant parmesan.

• Freeze leftover cooked brown rice, bulgur, or barley. Heat and serve it later as a quick side dish.

INSTANT ANALYSIS:

Decode the Food Label to Find Whole Grains

• Choose foods that name one of the following whole-grain ingredients first on the label's ingredient list: brown rice, bulgur, graham flour, oatmeal, whole-grain corn, whole oats, whole rye, whole wheat, wild rice.

• Food labeled with the words "multi-grain," "stone-ground," "100% wheat," "cracked wheat," "seven-grain," or "bran" are usually not whole-grain products.

• Color is not an indication of whole grain. Bread can be brown because of molasses or other added ingredients. Read the ingredient list to see if it is a whole grain.

MYTH #4: FAT MAKES YOU FAT

REALITY: Your body needs fat to function. Fat provides you with energy, allows you to absorb key vitamins, and helps build cell walls and membranes throughout the body. Don't deprive yourself of health-giving, energy-producing fat.

NEWSFLASH:

41% of consumers employed a low-fat diet in the past year to manage their weight. And consumers were heavily invested in the use of reduced fat food/beverages.

The trick is to consume the right kind of fat - and in the right amounts. If you're like most Americans, you may be getting far too much of omega-6 fatty acids... and not nearly enough of omega-3 fatty acids.

It's easy to take in excess quantities of omega-6 fatty acids because the common vegetable oils in the American diet - such as corn, safflower and sunflowers oils - are packed with omega-6. So are meat, milk and eggs. Unfortunately, when you consume large quantities of omega-6, you not only gain weight, thanks to its high caloric content, you may also grow more susceptible to inflammation and thickening of the blood.

Omega-3 fatty acids, on the other hand, are hard to come by. The reason you're probably not getting enough of these health-giving powerhouses is that many manufacturers remove them to keep products fresh. You can ramp up your consumption of omega-3 fatty acids by nibbling on soybeans, walnuts, flaxseed, and alfalfa, and by adding cold water fish like salmon, mackerel and sardines to your menu.

INSTANT ANALYSIS:

Here's a handy guide for getting a healthy balance of fat in your daily diet: Keep total fat intake between 20 to 35 percent of calories, with most fats coming from sources of polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fatty acids, such as fish, nuts and vegetable oils.

GOOD HEALTH TIP:

Sip green tea, lose weight? The Chinese have long appreciated green tea for its remarkable ability to promote digestion, improve mental faculties, and regulate body temperature. Now an intriguing new study in Japan suggests that green tea may also have a helpful role to play in losing weight. Over a 12-week period, one group of men drank a bottle of tea containing 690 mg of catechins (from green tea) every day, while the other group consumed tea containing only 22 mg of catechins. The results showed that the men drinking the tea with higher catechins had lower Body Mass Index (BMI), body weight and waist circumference compared to the other group. So the next time you pour a soothing cup of green tea, consider that each sip may be helping your body break down fat, along with all its other benefits.

MYTH #5: SKIP BREAKFAST TO SLASH YOUR DAILY CALORIE INTAKE.

REALITY: While you may be tempted to miss your morning meal to save on calories, studies show that skipping breakfast can sabotage your diet efforts. A recent study examined the role that breakfast intake plays on body mass index and studied the effect of different types of breakfasts. After adjustments for sex, age and race, the results showed that people who ate different types of cereal had a lower body mass index than those who ate meat and eggs or those who skipped breakfast.

And, for girls, here's a fascinating look at the strong link between a healthy weight and breakfast: a recent analysis of government data on breakfast eating in teenagers (ages 12 to 16) showed that the thinnest girls are the most likely to eat breakfast. On the opposite end of the spectrum, the most overweight girls are the most likely to skip breakfast.

Of course, not all cereals are created equal. You won't lose weight by heaping your bowl with sugary cereal, then drowning it in whole milk. Choose a low-calorie, high fiber cereal and limit your portion size to about 150 calories. Oatmeal is an excellent option for a satisfying, high-fiber jumpstart to your day. And try skipping the fruit juice, and eating the fruit instead.

By eating a healthy, filling breakfast, you'll stay more in control of your appetite and be less prone to overeating later in the day.

GOOD HEALTH TIP:

Breakfast bonus: Eating small meals more frequently may help lower your cholesterol. British researchers recently found that people who ate more than six times a day had lower cholesterol (by about 5%) than those who ate once or twice daily. The key is to eat small, healthy meals every three or four hours.

Who Skips Breakfast? People who are losing weight to improve their appearance tend to skip meals more than those who are losing weight to improve their health.

NEWSFLASH:

Frequent Weight Loss May Affect Immune Function

You already know that going on fad diets can be frustrating, unhealthy and ineffective, because the weight you lose comes right back on, every time. Now there's another reason to end the "yo-yo diet" syndrome - it may compromise your immune system. Investigators studied a group of healthy, overweight, post-menopausal women and discovered that the more often the women had lost 10 pounds or more, the greater the suppression of their immune systems.

TO SUM IT UP: 5 DIET MYTHS EXPOSED

1. Avoid fad diets and concentrate on making healthy lifestyle changes.

2. Check the labels of low-fat "diet" foods for sneakily added sugars and high-calorie content.

3. Stave off diet-destroying hunger pangs with filling high-fiber foods like fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains.

4. Add salmon, mackerel, sardines, and other cold water fish to your menu to

increase your intake of health-giving omega-3 fatty acids.

5. Every morning, eat a delicious, low-calorie, high-fiber breakfast such as

oatmeal with fresh fruit

Written by Bruce Brightman. Founder of LifeSource Vitamin. Since 1992 our core beliefs have never changed. We believe in committing to charity, health and most importantly honoring God. By committing ourselves to a greater cause, we've been able to help fund major Christian outreach organizations worldwide, at the same time providing customers with superior, whole food based multivitamins and nutritional supplements to help people live longer and healthier lives. http://www.lifesourcevitamins.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/10086217

Unbroken - Motivational Video

Active Recovery for Exercise

Active recovery is the engagement of low-intensity exercise after completing a challenging and difficult high intensity athletic event. An example is going for a low-intensity bike ride after completely a full 26 mile marathon. This might seem like the opposite thing to do since the body needs rest but this is actually not the case. When our bodies continue to move after an event like a marathon; we can reduce the risk of cramping and we can help the blood to circulate properly for recovery. Another example of is having an easy day in our training routines. It might be something like running on most days but on the active recovery days, a person might spend 30 to 60 minutes stretching. A person could run four days per week but on the active recovery days, they could stretch, take a yoga class or use a foam roller.

The body needs a break and rest from our routines. When we change the routines, we are allowing our bodies to rest and recover properly. For example, a runner might need to rest from an injury. The water can be a great source of active recovery for people who exercise and athletes. Using a pool to do a light workout can be one way to change our routines. The key is allowing the muscles to recover by doing something completely different and less intense for our bodies. Stretching and using a foam roller are commonly used for active recovery techniques since it may help prevent injury. Stretching is often overlooked but is a great idea for active recovery since everyone needs flexibility.

Active recovery is not to be confused with cross-training. Both are different but the main difference is the activities for cross-training might still be intense. The activities for active recovery would most likely be less intense. This is only because the muscles need rest and recovery. Someone doing cross-training might run and swim with the same intensity on different days. A person should try to do less on off days and remember they are recovering from the main activity they are focusing on. This is why I strongly feel the exercise should be lighter and not as challenging.

In closing, I think it's important for all of us to choose an activity that requires less energy. The idea is to not be completely sedentary on our rest days. Choosing a less intense activity can really help our bodies with the recovery process.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/10157253

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Massages Help With Digestion

Pain in the stomach? Difficulty in digesting food? Have all the usual methods failed. Seeking for a safer and easier way to digest your food better? The answer might surprise you. Read on.

Well to surprise you with the facts, it's true. Massages can help with digestion. We all need to be briefed with the basic digestion paradigm. Peristalsis is the act of the muscles which help in digesting food. Now you would be surprised to know that there are umpteen of reasons why the digestion process can be slowed down. The causes can be as follows: irritable bowel syndrome, constipation, less water intake, mineral deficiencies and a lot more. Ultimately all of these causes can lead to diarrhea, colitis and piles.

These are all very good reasons for us to get a massage and massages definitely solve our issues. But, the question of the moment is that if massages can help with digestion. We must all be pondering, now surely massages cannot all be that effective.

A full body massage comes in handy when they help in soothing the intestine muscles. They stimulate the motions of the intestines and this helps the contents of the stomach move along quickly. This rapidly enables the body to digest the food. Massages are also known to remove the harmful toxins from the body and let go of any impurities if any. This helps in the release of enzymes in the body which proves very useful for the digestion of food in a healthy manner.

While farting was considered as an obscene habit now it is considered healthy. The blatancy of the body is basically the body getting rid of unwanted gas. The gas is created in the body by two ways, it is either by swallowing the food too fast or by the bacteria present in the large intestine of the body. This can be reduced a great deal by massages. As unwanted gas in the body does not help in digestion and can cause acute pain in the abdomen area. Massages can help the excessive gas to reduce in the body as well as alleviate the gas buildup. They can also strengthen the abdominal muscles to be strong enough to ward off the digestion. Massage is a very soothing experience and can help the body adapt to a holistic approach to get better benefits. After all, we seek massages as a way to get rid of sore muscles, rigid shoulders, excessive stress and tight joints. It is the guilty pleasure we all love to seek

Mithra Vinda working as a content writer at O2 Spa. For more information about Massages and their Benefits visit our website

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9876481