Weight Loss Pills - Do They Work?

By Deen Dragonovich

In the United States obesity is reaching epidemic levels. More and more people are turning to weight loss pills in hopes of shedding those unsightly pounds. With the New Year right around the corner, stores will have their shelves well stocked with weight loss pills in anticipation of the after holiday rush. But do weight loss pills really work?

Good weight loss pills work to some degree, but not as significantly as some may think. When ephedra was introduced back in the early 90's, many considered it a miracle pill. I was one of them. The combination of ephedra along with aspirin and caffeine, burned fat like no other compound since.

Unfortunately along with its fat burning power, there was a long list of side effects as well. Many could not handle the powerful stimulant affects of this compound and it was blamed for many deaths. Whether or not this was true, the writing was on the wall and ephedra was banned in the United States and is no longer available.

Are there any compounds that work as well as ephedra?

Ephedra was a one of a kind product and may never (save for possibly one) be duplicated for its fat burning power.

Currently Hoodia and Green tea are probably two of the more well known weight loss products on the market. Hoodia works as an appetite suppressant, while Green tea works through a process called thermogenisis (fat burning). Neither is as effective as ephedra for weight loss.

There is however one promising compound that seems to block fructose from converting to adipose tissue.

What's the big deal about fructose?

The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition believes that fructose may well be the cause of obesity in America today. Here's what they had to say:

"evidence that a marked increase in the use of HFCS, and therefore in total fructose consumption, preceded the obesity epidemic and may be an important contributor to this epidemic in the United States."

Over the last thirty years, there has been a 40% drop in the use of cane sugar and a 300% increase in the use of high fructose corn syrups! If you look at the label of most products on supermarket shelves today, you will likely find high fructose corn syrup as an ingredient.

What is this promising natural compound?

This all natural compound is commonly referred to as Chinese skullcap and "Black catechu", which are derived from the roots of Scutellaria baicalensis and Heartwood of Acacia.

How does it work?

This natural compound works by substantially decreasing two key obesity markers in the blood stream. These two obesity markers are expressed in high levels in the chronically obese. These compounds have been shown to significantly decrease both of these obesity markers by inhibiting fat conversion from fructose pathways and down-regulating fat accumulation and up-regulating fat breakdown.

An independent double blind clinical study was conducted by scientist at JSS Medical Research, Inc., in Montreal, Canada. Subjects ranged in age from 40-75, typically the age group that has the most difficult time losing weight. Participants were not given any advice on diet or physical activity.

The results of the study were eye opening. Those that were not given the compound averaged zero pounds of weight loss, while those given the natural compound lost on average 7% of their body weight.

Combined with a proper diet and exercise program, one can only imagine what the results might have been.

If weight loss is your goal, these natural compounds show a lot of promise. However, do not expect miracles. A sensible diet and exercise program is always the best way to keep the weight off. - 17268

About the Author:

Author Deen Dragonovich has over 30 years in health and fitness and has researched fructose blockers along with weight loss pills for many years. He also delivers valuable weight loss help regarding diet and exercise.

Lead Contamination is Preventable with Epoxy Pipe Lining

By Dr. Dave Dunn

The primary material for water pipes in major U.S. cities, between the late 19th and early 20th centuries, was lead. Its durability and malleability made it a very popular choice for pipe material. Eventually galvanized steel and copper would replace lead, and copper pipe would eventually become the most popular material used in home water service and distribution in mid to late 20th century construction.

Lead contamination was the top source of lead-related health issues before the hazards of ingesting it were known. The cause was pipe corrosion and erosion, and it raised stillbirth and infant mortality rates. Other plumbing or pipe problems are much easier to spot, but if you?re not testing for lead in your water, you?ll never know it?s there. You can find general information about lead contamination and how to test for it on the EPA?s website.

If your water is lead contaminated, it's most likely because of one or more of the following: lead service line pipe(s) connecting your house to the municipal water main, lead-based solder (used to join copper pipes), and brass or chrome-plated brass faucets. In 1986, Congress banned the use of lead solder containing greater than 0.2% lead, and restricted the lead content of faucets, pipes and other plumbing materials to 8.0%.? This so-called ?lead-free? brass can still legally contain up to 8% lead and plumbing systems installed prior to 1986 can contain high levels of lead from both plumbing components and lead solder.

In older buildings and homes, the service line from the municipal water main to the house may be a lead pipe -- something you should definitely confirm. Unless your piping has been upgraded in the past 40 years, it is probably galvanized pipe (iron with a zinc coating) which does not require lead solder to join the pipe. You may already know if your faucets are brass or chrome-plated, but if not, you might want to consult with a licensed plumber or take them with you to a local hardware store. CuraFlo??s website offers a brief history of lead materials in water pipes.

Once installed, epoxy pipe lining is a barrier to prevent lead leaching from your pipes into your drinking water. The epoxy lining prevents the water going through the pipe from coming into contact with the metal of the pipe, the chemical reaction that creates pipe corrosion is prevented. Epoxy pipe lining will prevent lead and other metals (from your pipes) from getting into your water. The lining also prevents other poor water quality issues, for example: red, brown, blue or yellow water, zinc or iron leeching from galvanized pipes into your water, causing a metallic taste, and bacteria can cause terrible tasting or smelling water.

Epoxy lining of pipes is not a new technology, just a relatively unkown one. But it?s not unproven ?both the U.S. Navy and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have tested and approved the use of epoxy pipe lining to prevent lead and other contaminants from leaching into drinking water. Links to their reports are available at http://curaflo.com/CuraFlo/ResourceCenter.

government?s highest stadard for safe drinking water: ANSI/NSF Standard 61. ANSI/NSF Standard 61 certification means CuraPoxy is certified for safe use in drinking water pipes carrying water up to 180? Fahrenheit or 82.2? Celsius. The proprietary epoxy and epoxy pipe lining process CuraFlo uses will protect you from lead and other metals in your pipes that may be leaching into your water now or might in the future, by creating a safe barrier between them and your water. - 17268

About the Author:

Dr. Dave Dunn is Vice President of Research and Development for CuraFlo which provides epoxy lining solutions for homes & commercial buildings. Dr. Dave holds a PhD in Polymer Chemistry from the University of Keele in England. You can contact dr dave about Low Water Pressure. Internet Advertising

Vegetarian Diet Plans and My Story

By James Richardson

The purpose of a vegetarian resource is to have a educational materials ready to help inspire you with the new lifestyle as a vegetarian. To show you the benefits in your nutrition, environment and ethics. Most of these resource centers are non-profit and dedicated to your education. The idea one would be A to Z reference guide with all the facts.

A how to group for Vegans will be a great help with all the challenges of your meat eating friends. Use the resource center as a place for new ideas for them and new foods for self. It's like a fact center just for you, use it.

Standards for vegetarian are not the same, this society of vegetarians has many groups and sub groups with-in them. The strictest vegetarian is the vegan hands down with out even wearing a silk shirt because silk worms may have been caused harm in the process. Even the food labels do not know the different types.

Some people choose what they eat simple by if it is going to cause harm and/or death to anything living. If you choose that your choice is going to be somewhat limited. You will have just mostly nuts and pasta with some tomato sauce. Very little in fine cuisine will be eaten.

Being a vegetarian is easy; it will not be a pain to do at all. Most of my adult life I was not a vegetarian, I listened to the claim that you need to eat meat for more muscle to grow. Then I hear the statement of cows just eat grass and look at all the meat they supply. Farms growing what we need has kept us hear for thousands of years.

Health care cost are costly everybody to much money from disease. If we eat less meat there is a good change there wound be less heart problems, lower cancer rates and overall less obesity in the world. I am sorry if this sounded like a rant or something.

If you are new to the vegetarian lifestyle, a gradual change would be best for most. Make the move with using many more mushrooms, keep it familiar at first. If you do not do this you will cram youself full of facts you don not need at first. You will be able to live without animal protein.

Your food will not be boring; your diet will be many of the same fruits and vegetables you eat today. Meat industry would have you belief you will just fall over, what a joke. It is advisable to live without meat, it's healthier. The reason it is heather is you will have a permanent reduction in your weight, cholesterol and blood pressure. - 17268

About the Author:

Author James Richardson has taken on the vegetarian lifestyle and for anyone who wants to learn more, I have compiled all I have learned on vegetarian weight loss diet So visit my site at www.vegetariandiet.us to learn a lot more than what is in this article.

The Importance Of Back Exercises In Your Bodybuilding Program

By Ricardo d Argence

There are two primary reasons for getting into a bodybuilding program, trying to increase muscle mass and trying to increase functional strength. The key to both of these is building core strength, which lies in the abdominal muscles, and, just as importantly the muscles of the upper, middle and lower back.

The muscles in your back are primary stabilizing, but can easily be injured when lifting weights. From a biomechanical perspective, your back consists of the spine, the ribs, the scapula and the ligaments that string them all together, like parts of a mobile or kinetic motion structure.

Compression or rotation injuries are the ones that happens to the back most of the time when the soft tissues that provides flexibility to to the back get damaged. You should always be careful when lifting weights and you should always focus on isolating the muscle so you wont get injured, as a lot of injuries wont show up for years.

Traps, Lats, and Deltoids are some back muscle groups to work on, but take your time. Doing it slowly will prevent injuries. Sure, you are going to get a ripped back by overworking, but you should concentrate more on everyday strength over getting to big when working your back.

The trapezius muscles are the ones that form the bulk of your back. In Traps, the fundemental exercise is the shrug where you lift the dumbbells in both hands, shrug and hold then release.

A related motion, which helps the traps a bit, but mostly works on your deltoids, is a straight-arm lift. Hold a dumbbell in your hand with your elbow at your side, and your forearm out level with the map. Extend your arm until it's at shoulder height, in one fluid motion, and look down your arm at the dumbbell, like you're sitting on a pistol range. Then bring it down slowly.

To build up the lower trapezius muscle, you're going to want a sitting down 'V-bar pull down', where you're pulling down against resistance. This is better than a straight pull up because it isolates the muscle thoroughly.

To work on your lower back, the best exercise you can perform is arches. By doing shoulder arches you will not only gain strength (this is the most important thing), but you will also work on definition of your back as well. Hold a light dumb-bell over the back of your neck and lay down on your front. Clasp your hands, arch your back, lift and hold for three counts then slowly lower. And be aware, because it's very easy to overdo them.

It is very important to remember to stretch before exercising. By stretching you will help your body and your muscles maintain flexibility, along with stretching it is very beneficial to also do some cardio exercises as well. - 17268

About the Author:

Get the #1 natural bodybuilding program, the Muscle Gain Truth No-Fail System and achieve the best results in some weeks. factura electronica

A Healthy Energy Drink: Can Everybody Take It?

By Julieanne van Zyl

So, do you think it's advisable for just anyone to take a healthy energy drink? Wait - just before you go get another can of Red Bull, you ought to think about the health consequences of drinking too many energy drinks in one day. While energy drinks are outstanding energy boosters and can give you instant energy, they are supposed to be taken only as long as you need them.

This attitude is not good. Energy drinks contain certain ingredients which when used in the accurate quantities can give you the preferred burst of energy. But it will not last long and in some cases goes away rapidly and leaves you with less energy than before.

So when is it better to consume energy drinks?

Report and research have both shown that many individuals are in the habit of having energy drinks first thing in the morning -even before their breakfast. Unfortunately, because the side effects are not always immediately apparent, many think they can easily get away with this or just simply believe that there are no side effects.

It is far better to have an energy drink after you have had breakfast and require some form of energy boost to get you by. Therefore, drinking an energy drink first thing in the morning is certain to get you in the hospital in a very short while as you will more likely experience repeated bouts of dizziness, increased pulse rate -also known as tachycardia- continual headaches, insomnia and restlessness.

Why Are Energy Drinks Capable of Causing Such Side Effects?

The motive for the near instant boost that you get from taking energy drinks is as a product of the high content of both sugar and caffeine. While these are sure components for an improved energy level, they are not exactly the simplest way to increase your energy levels on a consistent basis.

If you have a heart condition or a slight problem with nerves, then caffeine is not meant for you. The same pertains to those who are suffering from diabetes; the sugar content existing in these drinks is a definite no-no. So if you have any of these ailments or related ailments not considering how minute or mild they might be, then energy drinks are not meant for you. Instead , you can build up your water intake and use some other health remedies.

Energy drinks are common for body builders and physical fitness buffs that use them to increase their stamina and enhance their performance while they are training. However, a lot of teenagers take these drinks on a daily basis thus making it responsible for their hyperactivity and restlessness.

It is not wise to have teenagers who are not into high energy sport activities take a high energy drink, because of the dangers involved. Kids can become violent and experience what is known as "toxic jock" syndromes as research has shown. There are some healthy energy drinks which are safe for anyone, and one of them is the Verve energy drink. - 17268

About the Author:

Julieanne van Zyl runs a website about healthy energy drinks which has informative and up to date information about energy drinks. If you want to purchase a healthy energy drink, which is a Mangosteen Juice product with an energy blend, go here: Verve Energy Drink

The Influence of Infant Brain Development in Smart Babies

By Michael Byrd

The development of the brain plays a vital role in the quality of life of a person.

And the human brain starts to develop while a person is still in the womb. Mothers are then responsible for the nutrition that she gets during pregnancy.

Why you ask? It's because the optimum brain development of a baby is largely dependent on the important essential oils ? DHA found in omega 3 fatty acids, that the brain gets while still a fetus.

As The Brain Starts to Develop

Did you know that a baby's brain begins to develop as early as a month after fertilization? Thus it is recommended for women who are in their childbearing years to get as much omega 3 fatty acids that contains DHA in their diets.

Several scientists now agree that DHA consumption is vital in brain development and it is what sets us apart from our prehistoric ancestors. It is then right to assume that back on those days, the brain of our ancestors were developed with the aid of the DHA that they added to their diets.

This helps you understand why omega 3 oils with DHA are essential for brain development.

The brain capacity of our ancestors was believed to have declined as they did not get sufficient amount of DHA in their diets. But soon, as they moved to the coastal areas, they were able to eat plenty of fish that contained DHA, there's a remarkable increase in their brain capacity was observed.

Scientists doubt if Homo Sapiens (yes that's us) would have evolved without adding DHA from fish oils to their diets. [Lipids, Vol. 34:s39-s47]

What can a Bigger Brain Do For Us

If we have bigger brains, we would be able to learn, communicate and rationalize better and be able to do the things that we want to do.

Brain development starts during the 25th to 28th week of pregnancy. During this stage, the baby's brain and nervous system takes control on some of its body functions. But there should be more growth left 12 weeks before full term pregnancy.

However, omega 3 fatty acids will continue to work in developing the brain and nervous system and is vital for a baby to reach full term.

Hilarious it may seem, but we have the fishes from the ocean to thank that we did not grow up like the apes swinging in vines hanged in trees. Maybe we should thank our ancestors for discovering what a great food fish can be.

Deficiency of Omega 3 Fish Oil

A research from the Institute of Brain Chemistry and Human Nutrition in London, blames DHA deficiency during pregnancy as the reason for underweight babies.

A good diet during pregnancy, which should include sufficient amounts of omega 3 oils with DHA, helps prevent disorders in brain development. This would mean the need of eating more fatty fish and taking supplements of pure fish oil. [AJCN, Vol. 57, 703s-709s]

Moms should see that it is necessary to have a daily dose of omega 3 fish oil to ensure optimum brain development of her baby. This is her assurance of having a smart and healthy baby.

Take a look at great picture of healthy pregnancy stages, got to human pregnancy week by week.

Copyright by Michael Byrd. All Rights Reserved. - 17268

About the Author:

When it comes to fish oil, getting the right information can be a daunting task. That's why we put together this

Free Healthy Eating Plan

By Michael Byrd

Everyone needs a healthy eating plan, and you've come to the right place. Here, we give it to you for free.

My family started to follow a simple healthy eating plan and it was in continuous success. It has been keeping us healthy for years now.

This diet plan is simple, it makes you stay healthy and enjoy your food at the same time. Let's enumerate first the things that we shouldn't eat.

We shouldn't eat the following: sweets, processed foods, white flours, white rice, fried foods, processed oils, snacks, fast foods, and any kind of junk foods are a no. As for the beverages, we don't drink soft drinks, fruit juices, coffee and alcohol.

In this free healthy eating plan, we will tell you the things you have to know and the food that you can eat.

Always remember, that the focus is on natural whole foods.

As you eat lots of vegetables and fruits, you are to take nine optimal servings a day. The trick to achieve this, you are to eat it in every meal.

The best food that you can get is ones which are fresh and organic. If in case these are not available, you can opt for frozen foods.

Now that we don't take processed foods or drinks, we don't drink milk, but still, we need to include dairy in our diet. We take organic plain yogurt, kefir, cheese, and some no-salt organic butter.

When it comes to cooking and salad, Olive Oil is the best choice.

As for the cheese, we only eat cheddar, Swiss, mozzarella, or feta and we do it in moderation. Adding fresh fruits and raw nuts are good to add as a sweetener for plain yogurt and kefir.

We only use whole grains, because of its great benefits. Whole grains include, breads that are mostly sprouted, cereals, rice and pastas. They have much greater flavor and give more nutrition as you get used to it.

Sprouting the whole grains before you use them, increases its protein and digestibility. Do double check that you are using products with no-added sugar.

There are always eggs in every home just like bread. We eat them in different kinds of way, whether that be, scrambled, hard-boiled, omelette, egg-sandwiches, poach or egg toast. You choose what you want and you'll never get tired of it, we go through as many dozens of eggs in a week, imagine that?

We don't eat meat everyday, but we always have fish and poultry. It gives us a great source of lean protein and the fish adds greater benefit by being rich in omega 3 fatty acids.

Even if we have a healthy diet, we still take food supplements to make sure we get all the essential vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, amino acids, fiber, and the phytonutrients that we need to stay healthy.

This is my family's free healthy eating plan. All that is left for you to know is to drinks lots of water. If you would want to lose weight, you have to burn more calories than what you eat.

Do all the suggestions and add regular exercise, and I assure you that you will feel like a whole new person, in no time!

Do you want to have a change and be like a new person? - 17268

About the Author:

Information about omega 3 has never been this easy to understand! Get more free information by going to this website on fish oil.

Manage Your Kids to Eat Fish Once and For All

By Michael Byrd

Have you ever considered yourself committing child abuse even once in your life? This does not mean beating your child or whatever way you may describe it. Because if not giving your children a regular dose of fish is a form of abuse, then you are guilty.

You are not excused just because you don't like fish. You are old enough to know the consequences of your choices. Your child is different. He does not know what he's missing if he does not eat fish. But you do, and it's so inconsiderate on your part to deprive them with this privilege.

Don't linger on the guilt. Just think about it - you want to do something about the situation. The only problem is that you don't know how.

Take it from me; I know that children will most likely follow instructions if you will teach them by example. Usually, they do what we do and they live with this until they are teenagers

Hence, it's best to start weaning them to fish eating at an early age and you can encourage them to do so by eating fish yourself. Okay, granted you don't want its fishy taste, but not because it is a fish but because of the way it was prepared or it is not fresh. But don't worry, here's some nippy fixes on these problems.

Non-fish eaters say that fish tastes fishy, or so they thought. Of course, fish is fish and will never be like chicken. But the reason behind its fishy taste, if ever there is, can be attributed to its preparation or its freshness. So to avoid fishy fish, always go for the freshest catch.

Find the right recipe. If you go for fried foods, have your fish fried. If you like the soups, then make a fish soup. It's just a matter of knowing what you want and using fish as your main ingredient. In this way, you and your family will get to like the taste of fish because you have prepared them the way you have always wanted your food to be.

People who were able to develop a liking for fish say that it's best to start with mild tasting fishes first. You can start with the grouper or sea bass and work your way to strong tasting fishes like salmon that has higher content of omega 3 fatty acids. Things will be easier if done this way.

Start it early. Start it right. You can start introducing fish to your children as young as 6 months old by giving them fish oil. You will soon be surprised that they are craving for more. And by the time that they get to eat out with you, they will order fish more.

And even if your kids are old enough to know what they like and to stick with what they have been used to, such as pot pies, pizzas, and TV dinners, you can still do something about it. Just follow the instructions I have given earlier and combine them with love. Keep in mind that you are doing this because you love them. And by the time that there are no other foods on the table but fish, they will soon give in.

To lengthen you children's lives and to put them in the pink of health, try these ideas. Studies show that aside from the many benefits that fish can give, it can also improve your child's mood and behavior. This is advantageous on your part too. Just be happy you have chosen to teach your kids to eat fish. Sooner or later, they will also appreciate what you have done. - 17268

About the Author:

Finally! The whole unbiased truth about omega 3 fish oil exposed. You owe it to yourself to visit the omega 3 information site and get the facts today.