Thursday, April 29, 2010

Top Natural Weight Loss Supplements

As children and adults continue to wage a losing battle against excessive weight and obesity, the impact to health and longevity is beginning to take it's toll.  Dietary excess, lack of exercise and stress are contributing to skyrocketing levels of the major killers.  

Heart disease, diabetes, cancer, stroke and Alzheimer's account for over 60% of deaths annually.  Children and teens are the largest growing segment of this epidemic, as they are increasingly raised on a processed diet of sugar, refined carbohydrates and trans fats which have been stripped of essential nutrients and are directly linked to disease when consumed for extended periods.  Targeted supplementation has been shown to be effective as a compliment to a healthy diet and can fuel weight loss through unique metabolic mechanisms.

Green Tea Steps Up Metabolism
Green tea is packed with natural antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds known as polyphenol catechins.  EGCG is a catechin which combines with caffeine in the minimally processed green tea and is effective in increasing the Base Metabolic Rate in the body.  This means that calories are continually being burned at a higher rate resulting in reduced fat storage and weight loss.  

Green Tea has the added advantage of modulating the effect of insulin which determines whether carbohydrate calories are stored as fat or burned for fuel.  This is especially important for diabetics as the disorder is characterized by insulin resistance and improper uptake of glucose by the cells. 

Green Tea has been shown to assist in weight loss when combined with a regular fitness program and a diet which drastically restricts refined carbohydrates and highly processed manufactured foods in favor of plenty of raw vegetables, nuts, seeds, lean protein and healthy fats.

Resveratrol Mimics Calorie Restriction
Calorie Restriction has long been known as an effective means to extend lifespan in animals and can also lead to healthy weight loss as a result.  By reducing calories consumed by 25%, certain genetic survival mechanisms are triggered in the body.  Specifically, a group of genes called SIRT1 are sensitive to how much food we are eating, and can slow down or speed up our longevity genetics to ensure reproduction during times of famine.  

Most people today eat enough calories to prevent SIRT1 from activating, but studies are demonstrating that we can mimic Calorie Restriction by taking a powerful grape skin extract called Resveratrol.  Resveratrol works best as an adjunct to continued weight loss after calorie intake has been reduced, as it activates the SIRT1 genes to fuel fat metabolism.
 
DHA From Fish Oil Supports Weight Loss
Omega-3 fats from fish and fish oil have been credited with supporting heart and brain health, and now natural weight loss can be added to the impressive list of benefits.  The DHA component of fish oil is used by the body to construct the outer membrane of each cell, and when this fat is available from diet or supplementation, it creates a healthy cell wall which allows the proper influx of oxygen and nutrients.  

This permits the cell to operate efficiently, and in addition to helping prevent potentially serious diseases such as cancer and Alzheimer's, DHA increases the metabolic rate of the cell which burns additional calories.  DHA directly influences how fat stores are released for use as energy and the regulation of blood sugar by the body.  Proper diet and exercise are essential to maximize the effectiveness of DHA.

A solid weight loss strategy is essential for every health conscious child and adult.  Hundreds of thousands of unnecessary deaths are recorded each year from the major killers, and lives can be spared by a sensible approach to diet and exercise.  Additionally, targeted powerhouse dietary supplements help to fuel fat burn and weight loss naturally, while providing major health benefits.  As with any health regime, supplements are only a part of the overall program, but they can provide key support toward an extended, disease-free life.

Sunday, April 25, 2010

Weight Reduction Principles

Excess weight is rapidly becoming one of the most pressing medical issues in America today.  Statistics indicate that close to 70% of adults are either overweight or obese, and even more disconcerting is the rise seen among children and teens.  As obesity increases, so do the diseases which are associated with excess weight, such as heart disease, cancer, stroke and diabetes.  Sensible weight loss allows for dramatically reduced risk from these diseases, and can provide a natural treatment without the need for a lifetime of dangerous prescription medications.

Cut Calories By 25%
People routinely set out to lose weight by following a poorly organized diet.  They fail to understand that weight loss requires proper planning and organization, with calories and nutrients being calculated with every meal.  Many overweight people have tried countless diets and are unable to maintain their initial weight loss. 

Initially the diet works well as the first pounds come off, but eventually metabolism slows and our innate survival mode causes weight loss to plateau.  Once this happens, most dieters become disappointed and put the pounds back, plus a few just in case they should try again.  Less than 5% of people following a traditional diet are able to maintain a normal weight range for more than 5 years, as our body defends our desire to attain a healthy weight.

Weight loss can be achieved by strict adherence to a well laid out regimen which reduces total calorie intake by 25%.  This may seem drastic at first, but after two weeks the body will adjust to the reduced caloric load and overall metabolism will become more efficient, making the new dietary lifestyle a pleasant experience.  It is important to ensure that the minimum requirements are met for all vitamins and minerals.  This is accomplished by using dietary software which is available on the internet at no cost.

It is essential to record every food item eaten in the program, and initially all food must be counted or weighed.  There will be no room for unhealthy processed foods which are laden with sugar, salt, trans-fats and excessive carbohydrates.  The calorie restricted diet will focus on raw and steamed vegetables, nuts, seeds, lean protein and limited fruits and monounsaturated fats.  The health benefits of this new lifestyle can be seen almost immediately in reduced weight, lowered blood pressure and normalization of blood sugar.

Interval Training Exercises Fuel Weight Loss
Exercise is the catalyst which fuels weight loss.  Any type of diet is destined to fail without the right type of exercise program which is designed to increase fat burning and metabolism.  Aerobic exercise has been popular for increasing the heart rate and does help in weight management.  This type of progressive exercise does little to build up muscle which is key to the sustained burning of fat for energy.

Our genes have been programmed based on many thousands of years of evolution.  Our early ancestors did not evolve in a world of aerobic exercise, but instead used short bursts of intense physical motion which was required in the hunt for food or to evade an enemy.  It turns out that we gain the most benefit from exercise which is short in duration, intense and repeated to work many different body parts. 

Develop a fitness program which highlights all major muscle groups alternatively and lasts 30 to 60 seconds each.  The total workout session should last 10 to 20 minutes.  Research has shown that this type of short burst, intense pattern has the same fat burning effect as an hour of aerobic training, and most importantly provides muscle conditioning and sustained fat burn to compliment calorie restricted weight loss.

Fish Oil Fats Help Burn Fat
Fish Oil contains Omega-3 fatty acids which have shown an amazing capacity to fuel fat metabolism in the body.  Studies show that supplementing with fish oil activates lipase, the enzyme responsible for breaking down fat when digested.  Since the fat is converted for use as energy at a 25% higher rate, it is not stored, assisting in weight loss and maintenance. 

Omega-3 fats from fish oil also have the capacity to reduce insulin resistance, allowing our cells to better utilize glucose as needed.  This not only has the benefit of correcting metabolism problems which can lead to diseases such as diabetes, but also keeps sugar from being converted to fat where it can be stored.  Fish oil has been known to benefit brain health for a number of years, but we now understand that it can also be an aid in attaining our weight loss goals.

Obesity is a problem that will plague our culture for the foreseeable future.  The skyrocketing trend among children will guarantee the problem will persist for generations.  We have the tools to correct the problem, starting with caloric control through dietary modification.  Reduce calories by 25% by adopting a healthy eating regime and monitor all food eaten.  Develop a fitness routine which uses short burst, high intensity intervals, and utilize targeted supplementation with fish oils as a compliment to achieve your weight loss goal.

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Cancer Prevention Stratagies

Cancer is the second leading cause of death among Americans.  Many people do not realize that cancer is largely a disease which can be prevented through lifestyle and dietary modifications as well as through targeted supplementation.  Prevention is the key to reducing the number of cancer deaths, as once this disease has spread to multiple organs, survival rates plummet.  100 years ago, it is estimated that cancer affected 1 in 80 people, yet today nearly 1 in 3 Americans will deal with some form of the disease.

A Century of Lifestyle Alterations Lead to Cancer Proliferation
Our lifestyle in the US has changed dramatically over the last century.  We have evolved from a predominately natural, unprocessed type of diet to the Standard American Diet (SAD) which is based on quick and easy manufactured refined carbohydrates, trans fats, high fructose corm syrup and overcooked fat-laden proteins. 

Less than 10% of the modern diet consists of foods in their natural form, as most of the vitamins, minerals, fiber and nutrients have been removed and then infused with sugar, salt and chemicals to make the end product more to our liking.  Today's food manufacturing procedures lead to the type of high calorie foods which change our body's cellular metabolism resulting in the explosion of overweight and obese individuals, and has been directly linked to 100,000 cancer cases annually in the US.

The alteration of our foods is one of the leading causes in the proliferation of cancer.  Over a period of years and decades, our body is deprived of essential nutrients which are required to keep our immune system healthy in the fight against rogue cells which periodically turn cancerous.  The body is able to compensate for poor nutrition initially, but eventually can no longer keep pace with newly generated cells which have not developed correctly.  Over time, enough of these pre-cancerous cells develop and a tumor encases the growth, eventually leading to metastatic movement to different organs in the body.  At this point, modern medicine will attempt to slice, burn or poison the cancer , usually with very dismal results.

Cancer Can Be Prevented By Dietary and Environmental Changes
Cancer is a disease involving cellular replication, DNA and genetics.  While some cancer incidence is due to genetic susceptibility, the vast majority of cases are due to the lifestyle influence we impose on our DNA through diet and our environment.  A single fast food meal consisting of a burger, fries and sugary soft drink has been shown to negatively impact our genes which control cancer proliferation.  

Additionally, our internal and external environment has changed considerably over the prior century.  Airborne pollutants are belched into the atmosphere and absorbed by our skin.  Virtually every home cleaning product, air freshener and laundry detergent contain a host of chemicals which over time prove to be carcinogenic.  Over many years, the lack of nutrients from our refined diet when combined with a toxic environment of chemical exposure lead to an excessive burden on our body, ultimately contributing to the exponential increase in cancer cases.

Prevent Cancer Through Natural Diet and Vitamin D Supplementation
It is possible to prevent cancer in many cases by adopting a natural dietary approach which highlights foods eaten raw or minimally cooked.  This ensures a high nutrient content while providing our cells with the necessary building blocks for daily cellular regeneration.  Eliminating poor food choices has the added benefit of attaining and maintaining a healthy weight which can have a positive impact on overall health.  One essential tool in the cancer prevention mix is Vitamin D

Vitamin D is intricately involved in the process of DNA formation within the cell, and acts as a blueprint to accurately guide the gene replication process.  Ensuring sufficient levels of Vitamin D through blood testing can reduce the incidence of many cancers by as much as 75%.  It is important to note that the vast majority of Americans are severely deficient in Vitamin D, as it is scarce in the food supply and conversion in the skin by exposure to sun is limited in most adults.

Developing a sound cancer prevention strategy is essential for every adult.  Although cancer incidence has skyrocketed over the past century, today we have a thorough understanding of the steps which must be followed to prevent this insidious disease.  Our diet has evolved to the point where most of the food we eat has been manipulated by a manufacturing processor, stripping most of the essential nutrients required to maintain good health.  Further, we are subjected to a never ending assault of pollutants and chemical exposure which tears apart our native immune response and opens the door for cancer development.  By adopting a natural approach to diet, eliminating unnecessary chemical exposure and supplementing with Vitamin D, we make a very important step forward toward a cancer free life.

Saturday, April 17, 2010

Alzheimer's Disease Prevention and Treatment

Alzheimer's Disease cases have been rapidly increasing over the last half century, and are currently the seventh leading cause of death in America.  Alzheimer's is the most common form of dementia and affects our ability to form memories, communicate and perform the most common daily tasks.  Fifty years ago, Alzheimer's Disease was virtually unknown to medical science, yet today we see a skyrocketing incidence of this devastating affliction.  While there is a genetic component to the disease, it is largely the result of lifestyle, poor diet and environmental factors which cause systemic inflammation in the body.

Alzheimer's Disease Caused by Brain Inflammation
The Standard American Diet is known to promote a low grade inflammation throughout the body, and is linked with heart disease, stroke and cancer.  We can add Alzheimer's Disease to the list, as the brain is susceptible to the ravages of inflammatory chemicals which are released into the blood as a result of poor diet and environmental assault.

The disease is characterized by the accumulation of a protein known as beta amyloid which blocks communications between the neuron's synapses.  Normally the brain is able to break down the amyloid plaques so they can be removed properly, but this function becomes limited as inflammation affects the normal plaque clearance process in the brain.  Alzheimer's was a very rare condition prior to 1950.  Our diet did not include all the refined, processed and fried foods.  Meals were made at home from natural ingredients including plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, and we were not continually exposed to a barrage of unhealthy chemicals and pollutants in our homes and the environment.

Anti-Aging Formula Increases Brain Synapse Formation
Scientists have been working feverishly on drugs and natural nutraceuticals which may have an impact on the development and progression of Alzheimer's Disease.  There are several drugs which have been approved for management of the disease, but they are at best palliative.  Recent studies have demonstrated that a specially formulated cocktail consisting of uridine, choline and the Omega-3 fatty acid DHA helped the brain to form new synapses for communication between neurons.  

DHA is especially important for brain health, as more than half of the brain cell membranes are composed of the fat.  When DHA is in short supply in the blood, other inferior fats must be used for the construction process resulting in a cell which cannot function optimally.  Also important to the formula for synapse development in the brain are the B Vitamins, especially the B-12 derivative Methylcobalamin which provides the electrical charge that cause the synapse to fire.  This is an important finding for those wishing to prevent and even treat Alzheimer's Disease since the more healthy synapses which exist in the brain, the better we can process, store and manipulate information and memories.

Targeted Supplements Inhibit Plaque Formation
The most exciting research involves two critical nutrients, which when combined have been shown to reduce the amount of beta amyloid plaque formation in the brain.  Resveratrol and Circumin when taken together can reduce plaque deposits.  While there is controversy as to whether beta amyloid protein is the cause or effect of Alzheimer's Disease, there is little argument that clearing this sticky substance from the brain is the key to prevention and even treatment.  Resveratrol is an extract from the skins of red grapes which has the ability to break apart amyloid deposits.  Circumin is a natural component of the spice curry, and is a powerful antioxidant.  Working synergistically with Resveratrol, the two provide a powerful punch to plaque formation, and given their excellent safety record, should be a part of every dietary program to prevent Alzheimer's Disease.

Lifestyle has been shown to be a key component in the development of Alzheimer's Disease.  Diet and our environment have changed dramatically over the past decades, and are the primary cause of the rampant increase in the disease.  Drug manufacturers are working hard to find the 'magic bullet' which will cure this disease, yet the best tools we have for prevention are realized by following a healthy diet, careful monitoring of the chemical environment to which we are subjected each day and supplementing with a targeted group of nutraceuticals which are essential to healthy brain function.

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Coronary Artery Disease Prevention Tips

Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) results in nearly 1 million deaths each year and millions more are living with this disease and the limitations which lead to an early demise.  Coronary Artery Disease is avoidable and reversible by following a healthy diet and supplementing with targeted nutraceuticals.  Amazingly, this information has been understood and implemented with demonstrated results for decades and yet CAD remains the leading cause of death in the US today.

Coronary Artery Disease is Caused by Poor Lifestyle Decisions
Coronary Artery PlaqueCoronary Artery Disease, or atherosclerosis is a progressive narrowing and hardening of the arteries which provide blood to the heart.  Over the course of years and decades of poor dietary choices, external stress, lack of exercise and environmental pollutants, the normally flexible arteries begin to develop small cracks within the artery lining.  In an attempt to prevent blood from leaking through the cracks, the body uses its own patching mixture of minerals and oxidized fats to prevent blood loss.  Cholesterol is essential for good health, and limiting production in the body by taking statins only leads to further health issues.  Vibrant health is attained through healthy diet, exercise and stress reduction principles.

Eat a Healthy Diet to Prevent and Reverse Coronary Plaque
Eliminate Refined CarbohydratesFollowing the Standard American Diet (SAD) which is packed with highly refined wheat, corn and sugar based carbohydrates leads directly to systemic inflammation throughout the body and micro-cracks in the lining of the arteries.  High triglycerides and the plaque promoting small, dense LDL cholesterol particles in the blood are the end result.  The key to plaque prevention is to eat plenty of raw green leafy vegetables, seeds, nuts, healthy fats and lean proteins.  Eliminate all processed, refined carbohydrates, sugars, wheat and corn products.  This dietary plan will reduce the inflammation and high triglyceride levels which are the main cause of CAD, while halting further plaque progression in the arteries.

Nobel Prize Winning Chemist Discovers Plaque Reversal Cocktail
Dr. Linus Pauling was a chemist and winner of multiple Nobel Prize awards, and is best known for his work with Vitamin C.  Pauling furthered his work to include two amino acids which work alongside Vitamin C, and are essential in the fight to prevent and treat CAD.  Pauling found that Lysine and Proline, combined with Vitamin C creates a sticky substance which attaches to the foamy plaque deposits, ushering the deadly substance out of the coronary arteries.  This combination is known as the Pauling Therapy, and is currently used successfully by many people to eradicate plaque and reduce the incidence of coronary artery disease.  Additionally, supplements such as niacin, Vitamin D and green tea extracts have therapeutic effects which cause regression of the plaque that leads to hardened arteries.

Coronary Artery Disease is devastating in terms of disability, loss of productive years and the burden placed on an already failing health system.  We understand the root cause of this disease and also the proven natural therapy to prevent, halt and treat this affliction which many consider a death sentence.  A proper diet which favors raw vegetables, nuts, seeds and lean proteins instead of the typical highly processed carbohydrate fare consumed my most people will produce life altering results.  Further evidence shows that a regimen of specially targeted supplements can compliment a healthy lifestyle, leading to Coronary Artery Disease reversal and a lengthened lifespan.  CPDAKFVDVXH8