Supplement Your Health - What To Take And When

For many of us, it's a no-brainer to take take care of our vehicles. After all, without transportation, how else would we manage to arrive at work, or obtain our basic needs? I might be a little oddball, I happen to prefer walking,and cycling, to driving. So when it comes to maintaining my personal vehicle it comes in the form of diet and exercise rather than ethanol-free gasoline and regular oil changes.

Supplements are Not a Substitute

I wasn't always so serious about my health. A major health scare was the wake-up call I needed to take a hard look at the sort of fuel I was putting into my body. For years I had been telling myself that I simply didn't have time to exercise or prepare healthy meals, relying on the fad diet and “miracle” pill of the moment to help me keep my weight in check.

Not all supplements are created equal, I've learned. Some are truly beneficial, and have become part of my daily routine, while others have simply been a waste of money. I wouldn't recommend anyone rely solely on supplements as a substitute for a healthy lifestyle. Combined with a sensible diet and moderate exercise, supplements may be something to consider as you work towards your own weight loss goals.

The When, What, and Why of Supplements 

• Wake Up – Sufficient hydration is important. To aid the body in expelling toxins, start the day with a tall glass of clean, pure water with a multivitamin. I like to drink a cup of hot lemon water in the morning before I have any coffee or breakfast, it's a great way to clear out all the excess goo that collects in my sinuses at night. Try it for a week, you'll see what I mean.

• Breakfast – It used to take me a couple of hours to really wake up in the morning, then I started eating a light meal consisting of high protein and low carbohydrates to really supercharge my day. There's nothing quite like a big plate of fruit to get me going. When I'm on the go, I simply toss everything into a Vitamix blender and whip into a delicious smoothie. If I'm feeling adventurous I might toss in a scoop of protein powder for an extra punch of nutrition.

• Mid-Morning Snack – When it comes to the mid-morning snack, it's wise to Include nuts and fruits, sources of protein to avoid the mid-afternoon carbohydrate crash. Fruits and vegetables include plenty of natural carbohydrates that the body can burn efficiently. Compared to refined products such as white bread and pretty much anything that comes in a box with a label.

• Lunch – Rather than loading up on large, heavy meals throughout the day that take a lot of excess energy to digest, eating smaller size portions throughout the day will keep energy levels on a more even keel. At lunch time, enjoy a colorful garden salad with some flax seed, and hemp seed to aid digestion.

• Afternoon Snack – Short breaks in the afternoon call for a quick snack that's easy to prepare. I happen to love banana smoothies. Simply toss a blend of fresh and frozen bananas into a blender with a splash of coconut water and some raw cocoa nibs, adding in a scoop of whey protein is optional, the final result tastes just like a Mounds candy bar without any of the guilt.

• Dinner – Keep this meal small to ensure your sleep is actually focused on restoration rather than digestion. Some great dinner options include lean protein, simple carbohydrates, fish, and quinoa. This is a good time to take some magnesium and zinc as well because most dieters simply don't consume enough nuts and seeds.

• Evening Snack – Cravings are bound to strike, we are a nation of nibblers after all. A cup of tea is a great way to keep your body hydrated. If you really need something to chew on, keep it simple, light, and healthy. Popcorn, or a small handful of trail mix are fantastic options. That microwave popcorn or store-bought trail mix packed with candies, sugar, and salt, doesn't count – not by a long shot.

Supplements – What to Look For

Because your health is important, take a little bit of time to comparison shop and read the labels of various products. Look for certified pure and organic products, if you're looking for high quality supplements and vitamins make sure the product is manufactured in the United States since not all products are made of the same quality. Not all stores may stock what you're looking for, when it comes to finding the best organic vitamins it's easy to find them online.

Freelance writer, Mark Harris, loves to be outdoors. He loves his stay-at-home job because it allows him to work from any place his laptop can pick up a signal. Loving the feeling of being a tourist in his hometown of White Rock BC where he lives with his wife. Wanting to enjoy as many outdoors adventures as possible with his spouse, Mark often browses sites like www.biogirlhealth.com for the best information that will keep her by his side for years to come.

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Is HGH the Answer to a Better Physique?

As you might have noticed, Human Growth Hormone (or HGH) supplements have taken the fitness and diet market by storm in recent years, but is it safe? 

It's a contentious issue - many argue that the benefits far outweigh the negatives and that you'd be a fool not to give it a go. 

Opponents have argued that such supplements are playing with fire and risking your long term health. But what's the truth?

Human Growth Hormone Naturally Occurs in Your Body

Firstly, although the name might suggest otherwise - HGH is a naturally occurring hormone in your body. Everybody has it. Specifically, natural HGH is produced in the pituitary gland in the human brain. Although supplements might raise your HGH levels, it isn't a foreign substance. It's something your body is used to having. That doesn't mean that artificially higher levels can't be dangerous, but many people suffer from a deficiency that they believe needs boosting.

What does Human Growth Hormone Do?

It's well known that HGH plays an crucial role in determining someone's height. That's why doctors across the world prescribe it to patients who are "challenged" in that area. But the benefits of higher HGH levels do not stop there. It's been clinically proven to reduce muscle wasting in those suffering from AIDS.

These factors alone don't explain the massive growth of HGH sales in recent years. The real boom in HGH popularity is down to this - many believe that it plays an important role in slowing the ageing process and keeping you "young". This hasn't been clinically proven. That's not to say the claims are false, but the evidence so far has been inconclusive. Even so, it's enough of an upside that many people are clamouring to give it a go.

The list of benefits doesn't stop there. Some are hailing HGH supplements as a wonder-drug, responsible for dramatically improving health, fitness and appearance on a number of levels. Some of these benefits are far from proven, but they are attractive to potential users nonetheless.

Here are some other reported benefits from increased HGH levels:

Tissue repair and muscle growth - HGH levels are said to be vital when providing efficient repair and growth in the body. This is why HGH has become so popular in the weight-lifting fraternity.

Healing - There are claims that higher HGH levels will help your body heal better. This compliments muscle growth by making it a very attractive proposition for weight-lifters and bodybuilders.

Weight loss - Some even claim that HGH supplements can help you lose weight - without any dietary requirements!

There are numerous other attributed positive benefits from taking HGH supplements. These include improving energy levels and brain function, along with increasing muscle strength and metabolism. The benefits almost read like those of a wonder-drug.

Is it Safe?

Obviously, as it's a naturally occurring hormone, HGH is considered safe. But that's at natural levels. The real question is this: Is taking HGH safe? And that's the most contentious issue in all of this. Many believe it is, whilst others argue the opposite.

As doctors prescribe supplements to certain individuals, the benefits in such situations must be seen to outweigh negatives. However, that's in carefully selected patients who are given a controlled amount under very strict circumstances. The boom in online sales of HGH has meant that unqualified people across the planet have been dosing themselves - with mixed results. The risks are obviously greater when taken at higher levels or when used without medical supervision. Since HGH boosts are normally prescribed to those who have a natural deficiency in the hormone, someone with naturally normal levels is taking a big risk when trying to increase them further.

Side Effects

Some of the side effects attributed to taking HGH hormones can be quite off-putting. You might still think that the benefits outweigh the potential risks, but you should be aware what some of them are.

Acromegaly - This is the most common side effect of increased HGH. And it's not a nice one. Acromegaly is a medical condition that causes growth in facial bone and tissue, along with feet and hands. This can make your facial features look out of proportion. It also makes you really hairy (all over your body). Lastly, it can actually lead to premature death in some instances.

Irreversible heart enlargement - This might be seen as a benefit to some, especially those wanting to improve their endurance sport capacities.

Low blood-sugar levels.

Excessive water retention.

Muscle and joint pain.

And there are loads more. The list isn't a good read.

Is it Legal?

The legal status of HGH supplements vary from country to country. It is legally prescribed by doctors in many places, but what does this mean for those looking to increase their levels personally? In America, the USFDA has established a maximum "safe" level of HGH that can be sold legally without the need for a prescription.

Should I Take it?

You might have noticed that some of the negative points directly counteract some of the positives, why is this? Well, put simply, there are two quite vocal camps on both sides of the argument. Those arguing for the use of HGH supplements, and those arguing against. So who do you believe? That's a hard question to answer. There have been numerous positive examples of successful HGH users, with great results. But there have also been deaths attributed to excessive HGH use, and other adverse consequences.

You should really check with a doctor first. After all, they have years of experience in safely prescribing HGH. For those wanting to give it a try without consulting medical advice - It's not recommended. The best advice is to be careful. You should research each potential supplement thoroughly before giving it a go - and find the one that you feel comfortable with. You might think that the potential benefits outweigh the risks. So, in conclusion the truth is still disputed and unclear. The growth in HGH sales looks set to continue.

HGH supplements have taken the diet and fitness industry by storm, but they remain a contentious issue. With many vocal opinions on both sides of the argument, what is the truth about Human Growth Hormone?

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The emotional benefits of weight loss

There are many people out there who know that they need to lose weight. However, the majority of the time this is because they know of the physical implications often associated with overweight, for example, being more susceptible to some diseases e.g. cancer or heart diseases, and in general, living for a much shorter period of time. What many people don’t realise however is that there are a number of emotional benefits to weight loss. Let’s take a little look at a couple of them. 

Perhaps the biggest emotional benefits is that weight loss (and the exercise associated with it) can help relieve stress. This is because endorphins are released into the blood stream, and these endorphins are known to ‘perk’ you up. Therefore, losing weight, and keeping to a regular exercise regime should help boost your ‘happiness’ levels. Studies have also shown that those who exercise regularly are much better equipped to deal with stress in the future. 

Of course, there are a number of self-esteem issues related to losing weight. For example, the majority of people out there who consider themselves to be overweight are incredibly reluctant to go out in public, let alone ‘show off their bodies’. They often fear going to the beach, or swimming pools were they are exposed to the public. However, when people start to lose weight, they will find that they become much more confident in how they look. Every time they look in the mirror they get a small self-esteem boost, knowing what they have accomplished and what they are working towards. Ever notice people who have lost a lot of weight tend to be more outgoing? This of course will have benefits for people that find it difficult to enter relationships as they feel they aren’t worth anything. 

Many people love the success of losing weight. There is just so much pleasure you can get out of feeling as though you have ‘beaten’ something in your life, whether it is an eating disorder, or simply the feeling that you have beaten anything that was causing you to gain weight in the first place. Achieving your first success is a great motivator for the future. 

Many people that are overweight tend to place an ‘over reliance’ on food, and instead of expressing how they are feeling, they use food as a ‘crutch’. However, once they lose weight they will turn to food less and find other and much better ways of expressing themselves, much more positive and building ways. 

Finally, it will make you feel absolutely wonderful knowing that you can lead your life in the same way as much ‘slimmer’ people. For example, overweight people tend to feel persecuted, for example, having to buy multiple seats to enter a sporting arena or fly on a plane. They often have to shop in special places for their clothes and furniture. However, once they lose weight, they can start living a normal life, and this of course helps them feel much better as a result. 

So there you have it, when you are losing weight, look forward to the long term emotional benefits that you are going to be provided with as well as the physical benefits. It really will help add to your motivation! 

Happy Weight Loss !

Written by Jim Cowan 

For Weight Loss and Training see http://weightlossandtraining.com

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The Most Popular 5 New Diets to Try

Weight loss is an important issue for a lot of people. That is why experts are always coming up with new diet plans for people to try. Here’s a list of the latest and most popular diets:

            1. Science-Based Slim-Downs

• Dash Diet: Decrease your salt intake and consume mostly whole foods. This will lower your blood pressure and will reduce heart disease and kidney stones. You’ll be eating between 1,200 and 2,000 calories daily. You will eat veggies, fruits, protein, and whole grains with little sodium.
  
  
• Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes (TLC) Diet: Created by the National Institute of Health, this diet will lower your fat, cholesterol intake and increase your fibre consumption, allowing you not only to lose weight, but improve your health as well. You’ll be consuming between 1,200 and 2,500 calories daily and will be eating less fat, especially saturated fat. You’ll have lots of fruits, veggies, non-fat or low-fat dairy, fish and skinless chicken.
  
  
• Mayo Clinic Diet: This is a phase-based diet plan and lifestyle change that will help with your weight loss. You’ll be consuming between 1,200 to 1,8oo calories daily. Like all the other diets you’ll have a lot of fruit, veggies, moderate amount of carbs, fibre and protein. This diet is all about moderation than restriction.
  
  
  2. Commercial Weight-Loss Programs

• Weight Watchers: This diet teaches people to eat healthier and with smaller portions of food. Members can avail on-line benefits like recipes, workouts, tracking tools and optional meetings. The weight watchers have an $18.95 monthly fee, plus a $29.95 start-up fee. Each member is given a personal points-plus goal that will be based on your weight and activity level. There are a lot of foods values detailed online which will be easy for members to weigh the cost of your regular intake.
  
  
• Jenny: Used to be Jenny Craig. This diet plan is famous for helping Mariah Carey lose her baby weight and is base is based on low-fat, low-calories packaged foods. After registering, members will have a counseling session to talk about their progress. Dieters will be eating between 1,200 and 2,300 calories daily and only Jenny foods like chicken Marsala, pizza, fruits and veggies.
  
  
  3. Gluten-Free and Wheat-Free Diets

• In this diet plan gluten-free foods will replace traditional grains and grain products with starches like rice, potatoes and corn. You’ll need to watch your portion sizes and eat lots of fruits and vegetables together with fibre and lean protein to spur your weight loss.
  
  
  4. Back to the Land Diets

• Health experts believe that instead of looking forward, we should look backward in order to get back to the peak of our physical form. This belief is also called Paleo – meaning to consume only what was present to our ancestors. With this particular diet, eating food that comes in cellophane wrapper, grains or dairy is a big no-no. The good news is that there is no calorie limits – it’s all up to you. However, if you want to lose more weight you will have to watch your intake and make sure you eat smaller portions. You’ll be eating meats, veggies, fruits and nuts.
  
  
  5. Real Food Diets

• This diet focuses on whole foods, especially veggies, fruits, lean proteins and whole grains. Same as the Back to the Land Diets, eating food that comes in a cellophane wrapper is also frowned upon. Such diets as unprocessed diet or raw food/raw vegan diet are some variations of the real food diet and often used interchangeably to describe the same thing.
  

If you wish to learn more about the natural raw food diet visit BeautifulOnRaw. 

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