Natural Psyllium

Natural Psyllium husk is an amazing shrub-like herb that is most commonly found in India. It possesses a plethora of health benefits and has proven effective in treating irritable bowel syndrome, colon caner, constipation, diabetes, high cholesterol, obesity, ulcerative colitis and atherosclerosis among various other health conditions. Akin to flax seed and oat bran, the fiber in psyllium husk is soluble. Soluble fiber is useful in lowering bad cholesterol (LDL) which reduces the risk of heart disease and promotes overall health.

Psyllium husk is a bulking fiber, which means once ingested it expands and forms a gelatin-like mass in the colon by drawing water in. Once this occurs the husks are able to "scrub" the intestines clean and transport waste through the intestinal tract.

Better than pricey weight loss supplements

Although typically psyllium husk is thought of as colon cleansing or regularity supplement it can be very useful as a weight loss tool. Psyllium husk is highly effective when taken about 30 minutes before meals. This way, the husks will have time to expand in your stomach and give you a "full" feeling. This will help you eat smaller meals and thus lose unwanted pounds.

Unfortunately, when the majority of the population buys a weight loss supplement, they don't question what's in it or how it works. Many of these so called "weight loss supplements" that will cost you an arm and a leg are simply cheap fiber supplements. Most of them are in the pill form which means you're getting a miniscule dose and none of them are more effective than whole psyllium husks.

Tips for using psyllium husk

There are many psyllium husk supplements available; however, they are not all created equal. Many manufacturers grind the husk into a fine powder and then add artificial flavors and colors to make it easier and more pleasant to consume. This not only makes the psyllium husk far less effective, it introduces unwanted toxins to your system. This variety is typically the only type you will find in traditional grocery stores.

You will likely need to go to a health food store to purchase whole psyllium husks with no additives. Whole psyllium husks can be difficult for some people to swallow, so be sure to drink your husks with a full glass of water to avoid choking. It is also important to drink lots of water while taking psyllium husk because without sufficient water the husks can begin to create blockages in the intestines.

Anastasia Weight Loss : Weight loss methods

Anastasia Weight Loss : Weight loss methods: Time-tested weight loss methods The best way to lose weight is not necessarily the fastest one. With all the diet trends, accessories a...

Weight loss methods

Time-tested weight loss methods

The best way to lose weight is not necessarily the fastest one. With all the diet trends, accessories and supplements on the market, we are bombarded by testimonials of people sporting flat abs and six packs endorsing the latest fad diet. They swear by how effective it has been for them and how they are having the time of their lives.

Truth be told, who wouldn't want flat abs or a six pack? Unfortunately, short-term gains are difficult to sustain unless the individual actually decides to make the personal decision to want to live a healthy life.

The best approach to losing weight is to choose a system that, once initiated, can be sustained in the long run. Below are some tips that you can slowly incorporate into your everyday activities. If you have been practicing them already, congratulations! If not, it's not yet too late to give it a try:

1. Practice Mindful Eating- Recently, the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior revealed that individuals can still lose weight even if they eat out.

Researchers from the University of Texas observed 35 healthy pre-menopausal women who ate out frequently. Test subjects took part in a six-week program called "Mindful Restaurant Eating." The focus of this program was on preventing weight gain and not weight loss. Test findings revealed that participants in the intervention group lost more weight, had a lower percentage of fat and a lower average daily caloric intake, and experienced increased self-efficacy in managing diet when eating out.

The message here may simply be to eat in moderation, or, not eating in excess. Depriving yourself of your favorite food may no longer be necessary if you reduce your normal serving to a smaller portion so your body can burn it faster and avoid weight gain.

2. Learn to handle stress - Stress, especially stress related to work, is found to increase the chances of obesity. Researchers from the University of Rochester studied the causes of and solutions to obesity in employees from a manufacturing facility in New York. The study looked at 2800 professional male employees and discovered that those in more stressful positions had a BMI unit of weight more than those in less demanding jobs.

The same finding also holds true for women. In 2000, a study conducted by Yale University showed that non-overweight women vulnerable to the effects of stress were more likely to have excess abdominal fat with higher levels of cortisol, a hormone related to stress. Studies have shown that cortisol can affect fat distribution by causing it to be stored in the abdomen around the organs.

3. Drink plenty of water - Recent studies have now shown that drinking water is an effective weight loss strategy. In a study, it was discovered that dieters who drank water before eating three times a day over the course of roughly three months lost five pounds more than those who did not have increased water consumption. Water has no calories and consuming it before meals makes less space for food in the stomach.

Researchers also noted that consuming water was better than soda and other sweetened drinks, which are packed with sugar or artificial sweeteners, additives that have found to contribute heavily to weight gain.

Moreover, it is suggested that six to eight glasses of water be taken daily to maintain the water content of the bile, according to Michael Murray, N.D., and Joseph Pizzorno, N.D., in their book "The Encyclopedia of Healing Foods." Fresh fruit, pure water and vegetable juices are the preferred methods of meeting the body's water requirements.

4. Get a sufficient amount of sleep - Not getting enough sleep may increase your chances of becoming overweight in the long run. A recent study from Uppsala University revealed that the brain's response to food is more active after one night of sleep loss.

Researchers from Uppsala University together with researchers from other European universities studied the brain of 12 males with normal weights while the subjects viewed images of food. They examined regions in the brain involved with appetite sensation using magnetic imaging and compared results after a night with normal sleep and one obtained after one night without sleep. According to Christian Benedict, the lead researcher in the study, "After a night of total sleep loss, these males showed a high level of activation in an area of the brain that is involved in a desire to eat."

Insufficient sleep appears to be a problem that plagues modern society. Being able to get at least eight hours a night may be crucial in maintaining health and avoiding cardiovascular and weight-related conditions.

5. Exercise your way to health - In a study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, maintaining weight and fitness levels as we grow older may be enough to see significant benefits.

According to Duck-chul Lee, a lead researcher in the study, if you're overweight, losing weight and improving your fitness may be the best combination for health maintenance. The study discovered that people who kept up or improved their fitness levels lowered their risk of high cholesterol, high blood pressure and their risk to metabolic syndrome (a term used to refer to a group of risk factors for heart disease such as unhealthy cholesterol level, abdominal obesity and high blood sugar.)

At the onset, people who are overweight often fail to notice their weight loss because they get hungrier and start eating more. This shouldn't discourage them, according to Dr. Lee. What is essential is to use exercise to get fit, and one way to decipher progress is to see how you feel when going through your exercise routine. If it's getting easier, you are getting fitter.

Chorégraphie Zumba: Gangnam Style de Ludmilla Marzano

Burn calories

 Burn Calories in Traffic

If you're driving or taking transit you can easily work your muscles - here's how.

While sitting, contract your muscles isometrically (meaning that there's no movement, just a contraction) and hold for 10-15 seconds. Relax a few seconds and repeat several times.

You'll notice that your body temperature starts to rise and subsequently you'll raise your metabolism. Anything you can to increase the temperature of your body will help you burn more calories. And although throwing on a snow suit in the middle of the summer may not seem logical, static contraction is definitely doable and effective!

 

2. Squat it Out!

When you get to the office, before sitting down at your desk take a moment and perform 20 squats just off your chair. Repeat this movement several times throughout the day. You can make it more challenging for your body by wearing a weighted knapsack or doing them very slowly to increase the burn.

3. Be a smarter snacker

Instead of choosing last minute unhealthy snack options such as cookies, muffins, bagels, opt for fresh vegetables and nuts and seeds. Remember, a healthy weight loss diet is critical to your success. This is where most people totally lose any progress they've made.

An easy way to do this is to take a couple of minutes the night before and cut up some fresh veggies such as bell peppers, celery, cucumbers. These are great sources of fiber, water, and tons of nutrients. Keep them in a ziploc bag or tupperware and you're ready to go.

Also, prepare half a handful of sunflower/pumpkin seeds, almonds, and walnuts (if no allergies are present) and snack on these throughout the day. These are great sources of omega-3 and 6 essential fatty acids and help stabilize your blood sugar. As a result, you won't feel as hungry and will be less likely to search out unhealthy snacks.

Anastasia Weight Loss : Risks of being overweight

Anastasia Weight Loss : Risks of being overweight: Why do so many people fail at losing weight? Is it because they are lazy? No. Is it because they are addicted to food? No. Is it because t...

Risks of being overweight

Why do so many people fail at losing weight? Is it because they are lazy? No. Is it because they are addicted to food? No. Is it because they are not good at exercising? No. Failure at weight loss stems from a few main factors:

• People don't truly understand the risks of being overweight. Why do most want to lose weight? Most would say to look better. Looking better certainly is a benefit of losing weight, but this should be the sole reason to lose weight. There is a 1000 pound gorilla in the room and it’s often ignored. Being overweight for a long period of time kills thousands of people each year. Thousands of studies have shown and proven without any doubt that losing body fat will improve and lengthen your life. Knowing the dangers of being overweight is a tremendous motivator to not only lose fat, but to keep it off.
• People don't commit to permanent lifestyle changes. So many people think of a "diet" as something temporary. When they are on a "diet" they restrict themselves so much that they are miserable. Sooner or later failure is inevitable because of the unreasonable demands of most "diets." Some of these diets force you to only eat certain foods (e.g., no carbs, special soups etc…) You, like myself, have probably tried them before. The key to losing weight long term is to make gradual lifestyle changes you can stick to forever.
• Most individuals are not provided the truthful facts of losing weight and becoming healthier. With the conflicting information in the media, and all of the different lose weight quick fad diets, it’s understandable why so many people really don’t know the truth about losing fat and keeping it off long term.
• Most people don't understand they are constantly either gaining fat, or losing fat. There is no in-between. Some people justify to begin or giving up because they hit a small road-block. This isn't an all or nothing game. For example, when I was overweight, if I ate an unhealthy lunch, I’d go ahead and eat an unhealthy dinner since I already "messed up" the day. Or I’d say, I’ll start eating healthy on Monday since i have already eaten poorly this weekend. Every person at times eats too much. The successful people will not let a road bump completely derail their entire lifestyle change. If you are not implementing positive lifestyle changes and losing weight, you are gaining weight. Again, there is no "in-between."
• Most people don't realize what they consume each day. So many overweight people eat thousands of extra calories and fat without realizing it. It’s tough to know if you are gaining weight or losing weight each day unless you are keeping an eye on what you’re consuming.