Inflammation and Health

June 5th, 2011 § 0

The body has a complicated cascade of events that can lead to inflammation that is primarily designed to attack invading organisms like bacteria and viruses, increase circulation and restorative processes in injured body parts, and serves us well when it is needed. If you get a sliver in your finger and cannot get it out, the body reacts with inflammation, localized the sliver, a small abscess develops and the body extrudes the sliver.

Unfortunately the inflammatory response is also a big part of many disease disorders. These include most of the auto-immume disorders, like arthritis, thyroiditis, pericarditis, pleurisy, and innumerable other conditions.

We have many techniques used to control inflammation through medical interventions. These include use of anti-inflammatory drugs like prednisone, aspirin, ibuprofen and all of the other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications, and many of the immunosuppressant drugs use in chemotherapy as well as management of diseases like psoriasis and inflammatory arthritis conditions.

Much focus recently has been on the role of various foods in modulation of the inflammatory process. There has been a great deal of research done recently on the role of anti-inflammatory foods and inflammatory foods that can be important factors in our bodies.

Most of the foods that cause inflammation seem to be fried foods, processed foods, refined sugars and trans-fats. Great foods to eat to avoid inflammation include fresh oily fish, and especially colorful fresh fruits and vegetables. The good news is that this type of diet can be tasty, healthy and attractive. Give it a try, you may be surprised. Many people feel better when they eat well. Maybe a reduction in inflammation is a big part of why this happens.

Think about how you feel after a large fatty meal; sluggish and tired. After eating well, losing a few pounds and more exercise you feel great. It’s not accidental. Exercise can also lead to reduced inflammation. Obesity in itself leads to increased insulin resistance, and higher insulin levels. This is also an inflammation inducing factor.

So rather than always rely on drugs like ibuprofen and naproxen, or even COX 2 meds like Celebrex to combat inflammation, consider simply doing some of the natural things in your control to manage the inflammatory process. Eat better, lose weight, avoid inflammatory foods and eat more anti-inflammatory foods. Focus on making healthy choices at mealtime, in the gym or walking in the neighborhood. You can take control of many of the inflammatory problems by changing your behaviors.

Foods supplements like psyllium may also be helpful in bowel regulation.

Dr Pullen

Cardio To Lose Belly Fat – 3 Cardio Exercises That Burn The Fat

June 5th, 2011 § 0

Are you looking for most effective types of cardio to lose belly fat?

The first thing you have to understand is that not all cardiovascular exercises are made equal. What do I mean by that? I mean that if you really want to get outstanding results then you need to do the right type of exercises.

Not only do you have to do the right type you also have to do them in the right way.

Sound a bit complicated? Don’t worry all will be revealed below as you learn about 3 cardio exercises that burn the fat.

This article will be crucial in your goal of losing belly fat, since doing the wrong exercises will not only waste your time it might also mean you are going backwards instead of forwards.

Have you ever seen those people that seem to be constantly exercising yet they still have a flabby stomach? Well, this is why it is important that you not only do the right exercises but that you also do them in the right way.

Firstly I will list some exercises that can work wonders in helping you to burn off the fat. Then I will give you the secret ingredient that will help you to really get results. Make sure you read to the end of the article because that is where you are going to really find the hidden gems that make all the difference.

Here are three forms of exercise that are proven to help you lose belly fat:

Running – yes, I know it can be boring. But if you really want to have a great cardiovascular workout that burns those calories then running is one of the best things you can do. If you run correctly, you aren’t just working out your legs, heart and lungs, you are giving your whole body a workout.

Swimming – This is less strenuous on the joints than running and still gives you a fantastic all over body workout. If you don’t know how to swim then book yourself into a beginners class now because this simple form of exercise will leave you feeling invigorated, plus you will actually be learning a skill that might save your life one day.

Cycling – If you are serious about cardio to lose belly fat then cycling can be one of the most enjoyable things you can do. I am not just talking about being on an exercise bike in a gym, I am talking about buying a bicycle and making the most of the great outdoors.

STOP – remember it’s not just about the exercise, but how you do it…

So what is the secret to be able to unleash cardio as the fastest way to lose belly fat?

Four simple letters – HIIT

That stands for High Intensity Interval Cardio.

This is basically interval training where you change the pace and intensity of your workouts at various intervals throughout your workout.

This means that one moment you might be virtually sprinting while the next you are jogging. Since it forces your body to work at a variety of different levels, this is the best way to use cardio to lose belly fat and it is also fantastic for helping you to improve your all round fitness.

Are you serious about using cardio to lose belly fat?

You can find out more about the most effective fat burning exercises as well as the foods that you should be eating right now that will make all the difference, by visiting: http://sixpackworkouts.com/.

Detoxification – A Good Start Towards Alternative Healing For Cancer

June 5th, 2011 § 0

If you have just been diagnosed with cancer I am sure the first thing you think of is ‘what should or shouldn’t I eat, how can I get myself better, and what is a good cancer diet? In other words what can I do to help cure myself? Detoxification of the body is one of the first and most important steps after a cancer diagnosis.

Unfortunately today’s lifestyles set us up to fail as far as our health is concerned. Pollution of our waterways, air and food, a poor diet, stress, pharmaceutical drugs, smoking and too much alcohol all contributes to a build up of toxins in our bodies, leading to a sluggish metabolism, no energy, dull hair and skin, then, if unaddressed, onto the onset of more serious conditions. You only have to look at your tongue and it will tell if all is not well inside you. If your tongue is coated then you need a body cleansing detoxification to prevent a possible lurking illness.

All these symptoms have built up over time but it is amazingly simple and quick to rid the body of toxins and cleanse and rejuvenate the whole system. All it takes is a few days if you abstain from starchy foods (bread, cakes, pasta, rice), sugars and protein (meat, dairy and eggs) and take nothing but raw fruit and vegetable juices.

Juices are extremely effective in cleansing the digestive system, colon, liver and kidneys. The intestinal flora will be changed and the colon membranes cleansed and revitalised leading to greater absorption of nutrients. By eliminating harmful bacteria and increasing beneficial ones, the toxic condition disappears, gas and bloating is diminished and regular bowel action is established. The body will be brought to an alkaline state where cancer cannot start or grow.

The wonderful side effects of this short treatment are more energy, weight loss, sparkling skin and eyes and a positive mental attitude.

Do not eat meat, starchy or sugary foods for a day or so before you start the detoxification to better prepare your body.

Fruit juices are the cleansers and vegetable juices are the builders and regenerators of the body. As soon as you supply these foods the body goes straight to work and starts to heal itself as it is programmed to do.

Because the body has become clogged with toxic poisons, certain reactions may take place when you first start the detox. As your body would not be used to such a dramatic change in diet which starts to take effect almost immediately, you may feel headaches and other aches and pains, mood swings and perhaps a tendency to vomit. Any reaction like this, although not pleasant, is a sure sign that your body has started to cleanse itself. You will also feel hunger pains but your body will adjust and they will diminish. If you need to eat, have a salad or some steamed vegetables.

After the detox, ease back to normal food gradually. Your stomach would have shrunk and shouldn’t be overburdened. A detox from time to time is very beneficial but you need a balanced diet to stay healthy. Be aware of what you put into your body for a long and disease free life.

You can do a detox over one day or five days but unless it is supported by a health professional, no longer than 21 days. If you are considering doing a detox then it is wise to consult your doctor or natural health practitioner for advice first so that you can be safely guided through.

A detox is a kick start to building and strengthening the immune system to enable it to fight cancer more effectively. As mentioned earlier, when the body has been cleansed, nutrients are absorbed more effectively. This is why a detoxification is essential after a cancer diagnosis.

Detoxification of the body at least once a year is essential whether you have cancer or not. It is a great way to stay healthy and prevent disease.

For more information Click Here

Cancer Survivor info

A Fitness Program Can Be Found In A Weight Loss Retreat

June 5th, 2011 § 0

It is important for you to think about the ways how you can lose weight. A weight loss retreat can help you out with losing weight through a series of programs. Some of the most popular programs can include fitness services. There are many different types of fitness routines that you can partake in when at a retreat.

The activities that you can get into can vary. There are many different types of activities that can be enjoyable and fun for all people. They can also be very effective in helping you to lose weight and to give you a more active lifestyle.

Activities come in many forms

You can find all kind so activities for your fitness needs. Some of the most common fitness activities include aerobic exercises. These can help you to get your heart and body active while supporting your body’s ability to burn off fats and calories.

Water fitness activities are also common. Many retreats will feature their own private pools. Water fitness activities can include swimming and lifting exercises. The pressure from the water can encourage the body to work harder. This will help it to have an easier time with losing weight.

Some fitness centers may also have strength training facilities. These include weights and exercise machines of all sorts. These machines can help you to keep your body active and to work on different types of muscles. This can help you to burn off fats and to develop healthy muscle mass.

Special sporting activities can occur

You might find a number of sports activities at some weight loss retreat locations. These are activities that can vary by each type of retreat. Some of the most popular spots include tennis, cycling and basketball among other activities. You might even find some kayaking and rowing activities in retreats that are near the retreat.

You should know that these activities might involve some additional fees if you want to partake in them. These are all optional activities but you might want to consider taking part in them if you want to find new ways to lose weight.

You should think about these places when it comes to different weight loss retreat activities. These activities can be exciting because they will help you to not only lose weight but to also be a little more active and energetic. The variety of activities for you to take part in can vary and will be some of the most exciting things for anyone to get into.

If you want to lose weight but having a hard time doing so then why don’t you look into a weight loss retreat or commonly known as fitness camps. These are a great way to lose the extra weight.

The Perfect Post-Workout Food For Fat Loss

June 5th, 2011 § 0

I am writing this post in response to a reader question. Follow the article and check out how can your questions become my next topic.

“I am a regular visitor of your site and find your posts incredible. It would be really great if you could give me some guidance on post work out meals. I am 25 yrs old. My height is 5 ft 5 inches and I weigh 67 kg. I wish to lose fat and have a lean body. I generally do weight training and some cardio, and I work out in the evenings. Will be glad to hear it from you. Thanks.”

Toto
 
Hi Toto. I am honored to have your comment on the blog. Thank you so much for that. Frankly, I meet this question everyday as my clients in the gym and my readers frequently ask me about the post-workout food. Okay, here are the most important matters to consider about post-workout food and fat loss-

It is utterly crucial that you eat something within a maximum of an hour after training. 30 minutes would be better. Number of reasons is there for that, the most important one is that leaving post-workout fuel too long will result in very poor muscle repair and increased fat storage. I think you definitely don’t want that!

That being said, it’s not a matter of just grabbing whatever takes your fancy or is most convenient on the way home/back to the office. The way in which you re-fuel yourself post-exercise can play a huge part in your overall ability to detoxify cortisol (the fat-storing stress hormone, which is released through exercise) and manage insulin and therefore existing body fat. Take my suggestion-

1. Protein

What I think is every meal should have some animal protein. Regardless of whether or not you’re looking to burn fat. But let’s say that you’re only eating protein for 2 or 3 of your meals. Whatever you do, make sure your post-workout meal includes some! This is the best time to have some organic grass-fed whey protein. I don’t recommend drinking whey protein except after training, as it is a high-insulin protein. The good news is that a serve of even the best whey still saves you some $$$ as compared to buying your typical take-out ‘healthy’ lunch, and a shake leaves the stomach quite quickly which is why it is of great benefit after exercise. Toto, you weigh 67 kg, which is roughly 147 pounds. Coach Poliquin (creator of the Bio-Signature method, and my ultimate nutritional guru) recommends 1 gram of protein for every 5 pounds body weight, so you’d need 30 grams of whey. If you were to eat solid food instead, this would equate to about 150 grams of meat.

2. Carbs

No. Not if you want to lose weight. Green vegetables, berries, raw nuts and seeds are all excellent sources of carbohydrate for fat loss, but not post-workout. You can have it in your next solid meal.

3. Glycine

Glycine is an extremely vital post-workout supplement. It’s recommended that you start with just 2 grams in your shake, 3 the next time, and so on, up to a maximum of 20 grams. According to the coach, this helps your body lower cortisol faster, which will in turn ensure that you don’t store extra body fat. The build-up is in order to assist your liver with detoxification rather than overload it.

4. Glutamine

Of all the amino acids, glutamine is for sure one of the most important to weight loss. After training, glutamine helps balance your hormonal profile without elevating insulin, and that’s definitely a good thing. Glutamine is particularly useful for curbing sweet cravings, and is known for its advantages to the digestive and immune systems as well as muscle repair. Typically a 200-pound person should take 10 grams as a least amount in their post-workout shake (keep in mind that if you do choose not to use a shake, you can still take glutamine and glycine in water), and may choose to take further doses throughout the day if boosting lean muscle mass is a priority. What I do? I use 5-10 grams with a meal, 3 times each day.

Another thing I would like to say here. Training at night is not ideal. This is because exercise elevates cortisol, and can therefore disrupt your sleep patterns. It’s far more advantageous to your health, your energy, and your weight, to train when your body is naturally releasing cortisol in preparation for the day. If you have no choice other than an evening workouts then try to use the right nutrients to drop cortisol right away after training.

Toto, I think you got your answers and I wish this post comes useful to you. Thanks again for your question and I am happy to use that in a post.

Kat Eden is a Professional Personal Trainer and Health/Performance Coach from Australia. Get in touch with her and learn amazing health related facts, like about Healthy Morning Appetite. You can also send her Email or RSS by just clicking here.

Getting Skinny The Natural Way – The Benefits Of An Organic Diet

June 5th, 2011 § 0

So you want to learn how to get skinny. Well getting skinny isn’t really that hard to do. All that’s required of you is to follow a few healthy guidelines and incorporate them into your daily habit until they become a part of your lifestyle. There are generally three things that will help you attain your ideal body weight: First, a healthy lifestyle; second, resistance training; and third, a natural organic diet like the traditional Asian diet.

Healthy Lifestyle Change

In order to succeed in getting skinny, you need to be willing to make a change in your life. You need to change the way you think about food and even throw away all your preconceived ideas about dieting and fat loss.

Jot down your current exercise and eating habits. Note the type of food that you usually eat, your favorite drink and the kind of exercise you’re getting. The reason you’re doing this is you’re going to compare your current lifestyle and habits and compare them with the one that’s prescribed in this article.

Don’t think that if you could fix a few aspects of your lifestyle, all will be well. No, band-aid fixes will never do. You have to ensure that every aspect of your lifestyle change work together (not against each other) in bringing about a healthier and leaner body.

Resistance Training

Weight training is one of the best fat burning exercises of all time. While cardio exercise allows you to burn calories while exercising, with resistance training, your body continues to burn calories for up to 48 hours after your workout is over. While you may hear varying opinions about just how much a pound of muscle burns in a day, the fact remains that the more muscle mass you have the higher your metabolism rate.

Start with lighter weights to get your body used to resistance training. As a rule of thumb, you should generally perform between 8 and 12 repetitions. If you can easily perform 20 reps, then the weight is too light and needs to be increased. If on the other hand you aren’t able to do 8 reps with good form, then the weight is too heavy.

As long as you keep your training between 20 and 45 minutes, weight training elevates the good hormones that cause muscle growth and fat loss and lowers stress hormones. On the other hand, cardio elevates the bad hormones and suppresses the good ones. Avoid working out for more than one hour. Keep it within the suggested time otherwise it will result in elevated stress hormones — bad for your fat burning goal.

Rest is important. Make sure to leave a few days gap between your weight training workouts. This allows your body to grow and adapt to the stress of lifting heavy weights which in turn burns a tremendous amount of fat. Yes, you burn fat while you are resting. This is the beauty of resistance training.

Asian Diet – Focus on Natural Organic Foods

The importance of the right Getting Skinny Diet or Program in helping one lose weight cannot be overstated. This is particularly true if you’re trying to get ripped abs. You will never get your overall body fat percentage low enough to make your abs visible.

Stop starving your body and focus on natural foods. Only natural foods satisfy our body’s hunger. The role of food basically is to satisfy hunger. Nowadays, we are being bombarded with countless artificial and processed foods that they have become a main part of our diet.

The problem with processed foods is that they could never satisfy hunger simply because our body does not recognize them as food. No matter how much junk you eat your body will never tell you to stop because it thinks you’re starving.

Foods such as whole grains, beans, fresh fruits, raw vegetables, seeds and roots are really good for your body. They contain natural metabolism boosters to help you shed those unwanted fat further.

When you focus on natural foods, you don’t have to limit how much you’re eating. You can eat as much as you like and whenever you like. Don’t worry about overeating. Our body has a natural food craving moderation mechanism that works only with natural foods. With natural foods, it is impossible to overeat.

Let your new healthy lifestyle, sound exercise program and your natural organic diet work together to bring about a healthier, leaner and happier you.

Eat the way Asians have for centuries and keep yourself youthful, vigorous and slim. Discover how to exercise in ways your body will react favorably to and reap the highest benefit without wasting effort. Find out more at Asian Diet Revolution!

Lose Lower Stomach Fat – Easier Than You Think!

June 5th, 2011 § 0

Ready to lose lower stomach fat? Getting a flatter stomach is easier than you think. It can happen just by changing your daily routine. Here are few quick and easy steps that will help you to get there.

First, drink at least 8 glasses of water a day. This will help keep your metabolism going. Make sure that you are getting at least 8 hours of quality sleep at night. Your body burns fat at night and getting the right amount of rest will also make you more energized throughout the day. You will also have the energy to burn more calories during your workouts.

Instead of taking those expensive diet pills, take green tea tablets instead. Green tea is a natural antioxidant and it revs up your metabolism. It gives leg up when combating that stubborn belly fat. Green tea is a healthy substitute and it works just as well as, if not better than, diet pills.

If you don’t like taking pills, you can drink green tea as a substitute. Instead of having that cup of coffee every morning, swap it out for a cup of green tea. Green tea also contains a small amount of caffeine so it also good to use right before a workout to lose belly fat.

Don’t skip breakfast because it gets your metabolism started in the morning. That’s one of the reasons breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Eat six small meals throughout the day even if it’s just a snack. This helps keep your metabolism going.

Swap out two of those meals with a protein shake. Protein shakes feed your muscles and allows you to burn off more lower belly fat at a quicker rate. The best time to have a protein shake is right after a workout; that’s when your muscles are the most absorbent to protein.

Shock your body by constantly switching out your workout routines. This won’t allow your muscles to ever get used to it and, therefore, will keep the fat burning. It will also allow you to reach your ideal stomach sooner. The same goes with your daily meals.

Switching up what you’re eating each day while remembering to keep it healthy will help prevent your metabolism from getting used to your diet and slowing down. Try to include as many nutrients as possible in your diet to lose lower stomach fat efficiently. This will only make sure that your body is running on its best while keeping you healthy and regular.

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Which Diet Plan Should I Use to Lose Weight Fast?

June 5th, 2011 § 0

Over the course of my career as a health and fitness specialist, the one phrase I continually here over and over again is this: “I need to lose weight fast!” Whether its low carb, high protein, or just cabbage soup, the millions of diet plans on the market can make it nearly impossible to choose which the best is.

In reality, most diet plans being sold today that advertise “fast weight loss” are a bunch of nonsense that I would avoid like the plague. I’m sorry to burst anyone’s bubble, but there really are no shortcuts when it comes to losing weight. The most effective way to lose weight is by using a common sense method that focuses more on nutrition than dieting.

The Lure of the Fad Diet

Naturally, most people who need to lose weight want to do it fast. Those in the fad diet industry take advantage of people’s desperation and promise rapid weight loss to suck you in.

Just as bigger is not always better, quick is not always better. In fact, if you are interested in losing weight permanently, slow and steady will always win the race. Here are two of the main reasons why fad diets don’t work:

1. Fad diets will never deliver long-term results. Fad diets require that you cut your calories so drastically that it causes your metabolism to slow down. Once you resume your regular eating habits, the weight will reappear as fast as it disappeared.

2. They are simply horrible for your health. With fad diets you don’t get the necessary nutrients that you need for good health. The net result of this is malnutrition, low energy, organ damage, hair loss, and loss of muscle tissue. This doesn’t sound like a fun way to lose weight.

4 Simple Rules of Eating to Lose Weight

Losing weight is definitely no easy task, but if you can stick with four rules, you will never again have to suffer through another fad diet. You can slowly lose the weight and keep it off forever. Remember, slow and steady wins the race.

1. Stay away from processes foods. Processed foods are loaded with high-fructose corn syrup, salt and chemicals that promote weight gain, diabetes, heart disease, high-blood pressure and cancer. This includes frozen diet foods that many weight loss programs encourage.

2. Get rid of the sugar. Sugar is loaded with calories. If you are using sugar to sweeten foods or are drinking soft drinks everyday, you are doing great damage to your weight loss efforts.

3. Eat. If you are always hungry, it’s because you are not getting enough food. If you try to starve yourself, you body will go into survival mode and hold on to the fat instead of burning it. This is definitely not good if you are trying to lose weight.

4. Drink lots of water. Water is one of the most important components to weight loss. Water metabolizes fat and eliminates toxins in the body. So drink up!

Where Does Exercise Fit In?

When you begin to eat healthy, you will definitely lose weight. However, unless you exercise your metabolism will eventually slow down and won’t see the result you want.

Your exercises plan should be a combination of weights and cardio. Don’t worry ladies. Weight training will not turn you into the Hulk; it will simply help you to build some muscle and sculpt a lean frame.

Exercising can be tough at the beginning, so it’s important to choose exercises that you enjoy, this way you are more likely to stick with it.

Wanting to lose weight fast is something I have struggled with in the past. Unfortunately, there are no short cuts (believe me, I’ve tried it all). The only way to long term weight loss without risking your health is with common sense nutrition and exercise.

To learn how to lose weight the right way, then check out this step by step plan that is 100% guaranteed. Thousands of people have been able to shed the pounds by doing the very same series of steps that you could be doing. If they can do it then you can too! Visit http://thecommonsensediet.info/ for more information.

How To Avoid Getting Fat

June 5th, 2011 § 0

Don’t shop when you’re hungry!

When you are hungry your blood sugar levels will be low, therefore you will naturally crave sugary foods. If you enter the supermarket while you are in this state, no matter how much willpower you think have, those sweet foods will be in your shopping basket, before you get to say ‘fat cow.’

We suggest eating before you go to the supermarket, and making a shopping list so you do not get distracted.

Do not skip breakfast!

Are you always running around in the morning, never finding time to sit down and eat a good healthy breakfast? Breakfast, meaning ‘break the fast’ really is the most important meal of the day. By missing breakfast, your body will go into starvation mode and hold onto all excess fat it can. By eating breakfast within 30 minutes of waking, you will start your metabolism for day, meaning more fat will be burnt.

Set your alarm 20 minutes earlier in the morning and make sure the night before you have all the food prepared for when you get up.

Don’t give in to cravings!

In today’s world, there are food temptations everywhere. Studies show that an average craving usually lasts only 10 minutes. So next time you get sucked into the sweet shop, stop, ask yourself ‘do I really need this’ and get out as quick as you can. Have a big glass of water and get some fresh air. Ten minutes later, your craving would have passed.

Do not ban everything you love!

When I first started out as a personal trainer and wellness practitioner, I preached to my clients about giving up sweets and alcohol (all the things they loved so dearly). What I quickly found, was that banning anyone from anything will only lead them to wanting more. Instead of banning (a negative goal), try and reinforce positive goals such as eat vegetables with every meal. I found that this was a fantastic strategy and my clients were full from the fibrous foods therefore did not crave the sweets and chocolate like they had in the past.

Do not avoid fat!

You need good fats to burn off bad fats. It is essential for the body to get adequate supply of healthy fats. Healthy fats are responsible for keeping hormones happy. The best sources of Vit A, D, E and K are found in good fats such as butter and animals (don’t feel guilty eating that chicken skin or pork crackling). Contrary to conventional belief, there are no conclusive studies showing that saturated fat will lead to heart disease.

Don’t eat too many carbs!

Did you know that all carbohydrates are a form of sugar? Eating a diet which is low in carbohydrates is a natural way of eating. From an evolutionary stand point, we have been eating meat, fish, nuts, eggs, leafy vegetables and the occasional bits of fruit for 2.5 million years. It has only been in the last 10 thousand years we have introduced processed grains into our diets and within this time, we have gotten fatter and diseases are at an all time high.

Limit your carbohydrates to vegetables and the occasional pieces of fruit and increase your protein and good fats. This will allow your body to burn fat as its most efficient fuel keeping you at a healthy weight.

Follow these tips to have the body of your dreams.

Results Personal Training based in North London, Hampstead, are specialist in Fat Loss, using a holistic approach to diet and exercise. Results have helped thousands of individuals gain health, confidence and a body of their dreams.

Personal Training in North London

Should You Use Diet Pills to Lose Weight?

June 5th, 2011 § 0

The diet pill industry makes over 33 billion dollars each year. Dieters are obviously flocking to these pills to help them lose unwanted weight. With the removal of pills containing ephedra from the market, dieters might wonder if taking pills are even effective anymore. Some also question the safety of taking a supplement to help with weight loss.

Are Diet Pills Effective?

Many people swore by the use of ephedra, a stimulant that increased metabolism and did appear to be effective in helping people lose extra pounds. When the FDA declared ephedra as unsafe, it was removed from all of the commercially available diet pills on the market. These pills are now usually made instead with caffeine, another stimulant that is used in colas and energy drinks and with guarana, an herb that is also supposed to increase the metabolism.

Many of these pills do not contain stimulants at all, but are simply fillers that expand in the stomach when taken to make the dieter feel full. These might have psyillium or guar gum in them, which require the dieter to drink vast amounts of water in addition to the pills to help them feel fuller longer.

Some of the newer pills contain an ingredient known as chitosan. Chitosan is supposed to block fat from being absorbed in the body. While this ingredient does appear to be effective, it can cause some nasty side effects such as diarrhea and abdominal pain.

Are Diet Pills Safe?

While the pills that are currently on the market do appear to be effective, at least if they are used as directed, many people question their safety. The stimulant pills that contain caffeine or guarana are probably the most dangerous of the pills currently on the market. People that have known sensitivities to caffeine or any stimulants should not use these. People that have a history of high blood pressure or a rapid heart rate also should not use these types of pills, and should talk to their doctor before using any kind of diet plan at all.

The pills containing fillers appear to be safe as long as they are taken as directed and with plenty of water. Dieters using these pills should drink at least a gallon of water each day to prevent dehydration and constipation.

The chitosan pills also appear to be safe for most people. Dieters should be sure they are taking a multivitamin before using these pills each day and be sure they are also consuming a diet that is low in fat to prevent any side effects that might occur.

All dieters should talk to their doctor or a nutritionist before starting any diet or diet pill for safety.

As people continue to look for a miracle that will help them lose weight without major changes to their diet or exercise routine, they will continue to turn to diet pills to help them. While most of the diet pills currently available appear to be safe, they should be used as directed and under the supervision of a health care professional.

Interested in the Sensa weight loss system? Find out how Sensa works and more at SprinkleDiet.net.

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