Blueberries – The Pound-Zapping Super Food

Blueberries are one of my favorite foods. I love to eat them raw and unadorned, straight from the supermarket. They taste sweet and delicious, just as they are.

But you know what’s the best thing of all about blueberries? They are a superb diet and weight loss food. Seriously!

The general health benefits of the blueberry are undeniable. Doctors and nutrition experts consider blue berries to be one of the top “super foods,” possibly the most super of them all. They are not just jam-packed full of vitamins. Blueberries also contain enzymes and antioxidants that combat many health problems, including urinary tract infections. and even cancer.

But from my point of view, here’s the biggest plus of all: blueberries will also help you shed extra pounds, keep unwanted weight off, and even give a psychological boost to your whole weight loss effort! Let me explain.

Fresh blueberries are delicious and sweet even without added sugar. And yet, these tasty berries are actually quite low in fruit sugar (fructose) and total calories. In fact, those who struggle with high blood sugar levels will benefit a great deal from eating blueberries. These fruits actually help regulate blood sugar levels. This is why even in low-carb diet programs like Atkins, blueberries are the only fruit allowed.

Blueberries are also full of fiber. The high fiber content helps speed up elimination and promotes internal cleansing. So if you keep regular bathroom habits, and also eat blueberries regularly, the routine will keep bloating at bay and prevent unwanted fat from accumulating around your midsection.

Numerous studies have shown that there is a link between plentiful consumption of blueberries and lower abdominal fat. Abdominal fat is the kind linked to diabetes and heart disease.

Researchers believe these results show that antioxidant-rich blueberries may change how the body stores and processes sugar for energy, and this effectively reduces the risk of both heart disease and diabetes.

And speaking of energy: blueberries are also a great energy booster for anyone who is following an exercise program for weight loss. And you are following a running or aerobic exercise regimen as I recommend, aren’t you? Eat fresh blueberries, or enjoy a blue berry smoothie after your workout, and your recovery will be much faster and easier. The nutrient-packed berries are the perfect thing to get your body charged up again after training.

Now here’s another huge benefit for weigh loss dieting: blueberries have been proven to bring speedy satiation. Even a handful of fresh blueberries can stave off your hunger pangs. What that means is – blueberries tend to make you full right away, and this will help to prevent you from gorging on too much food.

Do you need more reasons to add blueberries to your daily diet?

• compared to nearly 40 other other fruits and vegetables, blueberries rank highest in disease-fighting antioxidants
• 1 serving (about 100 grams) of fresh blueberries delivers the equivalent antioxidant capacity of five serving of some fruits and vegetables.
• phytochemicals and flavanoids that combat cancer are found in large doses in even a small quantity of blueberries.
• blueberries are as effective as cranberries in preventing urinary tract infections.

So go ahead and indulge on these super blueberries. They taste good and they are so good for you! Definitely, blueberries help promote weight loss as well. All you need is about a half cup of fresh blueberries everyday to enjoy all this super food’s benefits.

Weight Loss Without The Cost

I am sure you have seen the countless advertisements out there for one weight loss program or another and they are all promising weight loss in a matter of weeks.

These ads range from the simple every day diet programs to surgical procedures. I am sure you are also well aware of the one thing these diet plans and schemes have in common: the sky high cost.

Helping people lose weight and achieve an ideal body shape is a money making business today due to the massive demand. The gyms you may join, dieticians with hefty bills, and also the food that many of the programs suggest come with a hefty price tag.

But achieving effective, healthy weight loss is not that complicated, so there is no reason why you cannot achieve the same results from these diet programs on your own and save money while doing it. You just have to do some research and become well-informed.

Follow these simple pieces of advice and you should achieve weight loss without the cost:

Know the basics

If you want to make your own diet charts, as well as your very own exercise program, it is important that you know the science to healthy weight loss. While healthy weight loss is mainly about calorie intake it also entails the distribution of those various calories throughout the day. There are also certain conditions that you may have that may be a deterrent to your weight loss goals. In this case you will need to contact your doctor before you begin. There are several resources on the internet today such as calorie counters which can be downloaded for free and used for easy reference.

No gain without some pain

Starving should not be part of your weight loss program. Instead, you should practice restrictive eating. The amount of the restriction will depend on the extent of the foods that are in your diet and it will be something you need to maintain the rest of your life. You will have to give up certain foods however to reach your ideal weight goals. You know what to skip: high fat, high-processed, high sugar food.

Use it or lose it

If you are one of the many that looks at exercise as one of those unpleasant chores that you must do, you need to be able to develop a better attitude. There are certain exercises that you do every day without even knowing about them such as playing with your kids, beach workouts, and yes even sex are good forms and fun ways of burning off those excess calories. These are the activities that are not only good for toning your body but also gives you a high like no other illicit substance can do. As a result, you are not putting any harmful toxins into your body… but you are burning calories while getting an energy boost.

These are all great ways for you to shed those excess pounds and they are a lot cheaper than some of those paid programs that are available today. If you are trying to lose weight, but are on a tight budget, give these ideas a try.

Lose Weight Pills – Effects Of Various Supplements

There are many lose weight pills on the market. They claim numerous benefits and list a variety of ingredients that supposedly trigger weight loss. But are all these claims medically sound? We turned to the respected Mayo Medical Clinic to get the low-down behind all the hype.

One hot product right now among lose weight pills is Bitter Orange. It is marketed as a very effective weight loss supplement, but critics say it can cause some serious side effects similar to ephedra.

If you recall, ephedra-containing weight loss pills were pulled off the market for causing heart attacks and strokes. In the case of Bitter Orange – which is now being used as an ephedra substitute – the verdict is still out on its long term effects. Research is still lacking, so the experts say: be wary.

Chitosan is described as a relatively safe ingredient in supplements. The manufacturers often tout this as having the ability to block the absorption of fat into the body. Mayo says this is highly unlikely. Also, they caution that it may cause constipation and bloating. Again, the long term effects are unknown.

Chromium sellers claim this ingredient reduces body fat and builds muscle. Chromium is relatively safe, yes. But according to the experts at The Mayo Clinic, there is still no pill that exists to build muscle so it is unlikely to work.

Another ingredient, CLA can cause diarrhea and indigestion. Mayo says this one is also unlikely to reduce overall body weight.

Country Mallow is supposed to decrease appetite and increase the number of calories burned. But Country Mallow contains ephedra and has all of the associated risks.

Ephedra has been banned for medical or supplement use, but is still allowed to be sold as a tea. Despite this, many other supplements still contain ephedra. It can cause high blood pressure, heart rate irregularities, sleeplessness, seizures, heart attacks, strokes and even death. Obviously, products containing ephedra must be avoided at all costs.

Green tea extract is included in many lose weight pills sold in health stores. It is supposed to increase metabolism while decreasing appetite. There is limited evidence to support this claim, according to the Mayo Clinic. It can cause vomiting, bloating, indigestion and diarrhea. Also, it contains a high amount of caffeine, so if you are watching that, you may want to restrict supplements containing Green tea.

Guar Gum is another supplement that is harmless but unlikely to cause any real weight loss. Makers claim that it blocks the absorption of dietary fat and increases the feeling of fullness, which leads to decreased calorie intake. However, it is more likely to cause diarrhea, flatulence and other gastrointestinal problems

Finally, Hoodia is another ingredient found in many lose weight pills. It is supposed to decrease appetite. However, the Mayo Clinic says there is no conclusive evidence to support this claim.

Still some people have found success using these type of supplements. But they are expensive and there are no legitimate scientific studies that back up their claims. Your safer, surer and more cost-effective bet is the good-old healthy diet combined with exercise.