Fake News and Real Propaganda

The specter of "fake news" is all the rage these days, so let's examine it a little further.

The Washington Post prints an article, complaining about "fake news" sites, and cites a list made by a shadowy, anonymous group.  The Post goes on to say that this is clearly evidence of Russian interference in our "democracy."  They give no evidence, choosing instead to focus on innuendo and quotes from "authorities."  So let's have a look at some FACTS:

In 2012, the lame-duck Congress included in the NDAA a provision overturning the Smith-Mundt Act, which forbade the US Government from disseminating propaganda within the United States.  Since that time, the corporate media has regularly published articles in lock-step with the official narrative of the US Government.

For example, remember the sarin gas attack in Syria in 2013?  Remember how every corporate outlet, including the Washington Post, immediately laid the blame at Assad's feet, despite little evidence.  I wonder if the Washington Post ever updated its readers on the UN report that concluded it was the rebels, the US-back rebels, that used the gas(spoiler: no, they doubled-down on the "it must have been Assad" meme.)

Let's look at another example:  Since Russia seems to be in the west's crosshairs, let's look at the supposed cause of the tensions, namely the Russian annexation of Crimea.  The Ukrainian government was given a choice between joining NATO and presumably the European Union, or moving closer to Russia.  When Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych chose Russia, the US and other western intelligence agencies, as well as some oligarchs like George Soros, funded "grass roots" uprisings, Yanukovych was forced out and a new, pro-western government was installed.  Nevermind that much of this new government was staffed by non-Ukrainians, nevermind that many of these new "leaders" didn't even speak Ukrainian, this was clearly "the will of the people!"  Upon seeing all this, the people of Crimea, recognizing they had no legitimate government in Kiev, held a referendum on whether or not to remain part of the Ukraine.  Overwhelmingly, they chose secession, which is enshrined in the UN's Charter of Human Rights.  Over 95 percent of voters chose secession and reunification with Russia, their historical homeland.  So, with the will of the people so loudly stated, what would the "protectors of democracy" of the west do?  Declare the referendum illegal and refuse to recognize the outcome, of course!  The corporate media has parroted the narrative of the "Illegal Russian Annexation of Crimea," with no dissent of course. 
Long story short, the government of Ukraine was overthrown, the people of Crimea preferred to live under Russian rule, and the west has been beating the war drums against Russia ever since.  International sanctions have been levied against individuals around Russian President Putin, and European and American businesses have been forbidden from engaging in commerce with them.  The short-sighted leadership, who pushed for the ouster of Yanukovych and the sanctions, have done tremendous harm to citizens in many countries of the northern hemisphere, but no price is too high to be right!

Now we come to the almost-completed election cycle.  The list of "fake news" sites did NOT include the Huffington Post, the NY Times, CNN or MSNBC, despite the fact that 65 of their so-called journalists had an off-the-record dinner with the Hillary Clinton campaign to discuss strategy.  Again, no mention of the corporate media talking heads that have been caught coordinating with that campaign, some going so far as to ask permission to use quotes or approval of articles before publication!  The irony, of course, is these were the same media outlets that sowed seeds of fear that a Trump presidency would be a threat to free speech!

It would seem that this list is simply a new method by which their zombie following can shut down debate, silence dissent and provide ever-increasing thought policing in the age of the internet.  If we, as a society, are so afraid of voters falling for fake news on the internet, perhaps we aren't getting our money's worth from our most-expensive-in-the-developed-world education system...

The Controversies Involved With Detoxification Diets

Detoxification or starvation?

Diets for detoxification have come under immense scrutiny over the months that have passed. There are numerous claims that only weight that can be lost is the weight of water from the start of the fasting period and the subsequent loss of weight due to the reduction of caloric intake. A detoxification diet can be quite restrictive, and can go as far as being called as a starvation diet. A lot of articles made by "experts" explain that a detoxification diet is hazardous to people, saying that it is just a "yo-yo" diet, creates a wrong impression on many food groups and can even lead to some eating disorders.

We are also aware of the fact that most of these "experts" making these articles are working or are related in the field of health and weight loss which are people like health program supervisors, nutritionists, weight loss counselors, and common people who have great interest and knowledge on fitness and health. Although I am not saying that anyone of these people are just making up their statements or may be fabricating the truth regarding this matter, I am just saying that usually a person of this education level will have a hard time seeing things on a different perspective. This may be because they only believe in what they have learned or experienced, and may not be ready to accept facts other than what they had. Like for example, when a nutritionist enters college and has been educated with the teaching that green beans can cause cancer, this same person will finish college with the belief that this food is bad for people's health. This will also cause him to share this information with his clients and other people he comes in contact with. And when after a few years, a particular person gets in the picture and debates that green beans does not cause cancer, do you think it is possible for the nutritionist to believe what this current person is stating?

This kind of anomaly is not only related to nutritionists and other related fields in health and fitness. It can happen in other fields as well. Being a writer, I learned that you must never communicate in double negatives. It is just a simple ethical consideration I apply each and every day. If someone would approach me and did everything to convince me that what I have learned before is now different, whether right or wrong, I always see to it that I don't speak in double negatives. And if I make criticisms on this current idea without first making my own investigation and revisiting my knowledge of basic English and grammar, then I am simply only just depending on my former knowledge to debate on this issue.

So why don't we deviate away from conventional nutritionists and just discover what detoxification diets have to offer from a completely blank slate. No, I am not a nutritionist, I'm just a writer who is curious and wants to learn if a detoxification diet really is a healthy method of body cleansing, or is it just a kind of starvation diet that does no good for the body besides just losing some water while making people believe that it makes them feel better. I have gathered 3 people who have undergone a detoxification diet and another 3 who did not. This population may not comprise a huge percentage, but I am not getting these people as guinea pigs, I just want to get information based on their experience in order for me to confirm or negate the detoxification diet statements from both dieticians and those who are subjects of a detoxification diet.

Fasting and purity

People have relied on fasting for centuries in order to be purified. If we backtrack through ancient writings, we will discover that fasting was not only done as a means of purification of the spirit, but also for physical purification. Those fasting for purity experienced significant loss of energy, but regains strength after the period of fasting, usually within a period of 36 hours. This statement can easily be debated upon, since those people might have felt that their body has been cleansed because of their spiritual inspiration from the fasting process. The three persons I have invited to undergo fasting were not looking to be spiritually enlightened, and stated that they felt very weak after being deprived of food for a while, although they began to feel better and cleaner before the second day ended. Also, none of the three said they experienced starvation, but instead felt the fasting process did give them some level of physical purity.

In the science of medicine, there are instances wherein physicians will advise you to fast. Setting aside pre-surgical procedures, most fasting methods are done in order to prepare or cleanse the body for something. Take the case of people taking diets like the ketogenic diet, which requires a period of fasting prior to starting it in order to better treat illnesses.

Those criticizing the detoxification diet plan state that headaches and other undesirable symptoms show up on the first stage of the diet program due to the food deprivation. But advocates of the detoxification diet program argue that the headaches and other symptoms are only temporary and due to the body being accustomed to the new process it is going through. The three persons I invited to undergo a detoxification diet program all had the same result in the quality of their urine and bowel excretions; they look clearer and had less odor. And although they did feel some level of headaches and fatigue, they did not attribute this to the fasting process.

I also did some research online and found 11 dieticians who disagreed undergoing a detoxification diet. Each individual debated that headaches were due to the fasting process, but in essence, they are also recommending some form of detoxification diet. Interesting enough, their versions of special diets included some form of fasting as well. Their version was just different in a few things, like just eating only some varieties of fruits and yogurt. Most detoxification diets actually don't have a complete fasting period.

People who don't agree with getting into a detoxification diet are not really happy with the weight loss results that it offers. They argue that it is only the weight of the water lost during fasting, and will easily get back to what it originally was the moment normal eating regimen is resumed. The weight loss benefits of detoxification diets actually come from different sources. Like when you are undergoing an overall body detoxification, some of the weight lost from the body has already been flushed down the toilet (if you know what I'm talking about that is). You might be surprised to know that two of the people I invited to take a detoxification program even called for a plumber because of the surplus waste they excreted. The weight they lost in the process has been maintained as well, and two of these individuals have started with the program more than 6 months before this article was even written. The weight they lost has been maintained simply because they made smarter eating choices. Although they resumed with their normal eating routine, they did not go back with consuming lots of junk and processed foods. They all stated that they have learned how to keep their body's toxin levels low after undergoing the detoxification diet and it has gave them a better overall health.

So is this just another diet craze?

Critics of the detoxification diet that this new trend in dieting, similar to others that had the "diet" word with them, is no different than its predecessors, particularly in its effectiveness. Every time a new diet craze comes in the market, a lot of people rush to the scene, saying that it does them no good. In reality, not all diet programs are suitable for everyone. I myself have tried Atkins diet for quite some time and my efforts proved to be futile, although a friend of mine swore that it worked wonders for him. Apparently, the Atkins diet is not made for those who are not significantly overweight, as most critics say, and my own body as well. So can we now conclude that the detoxification diet is beyond everyone's standards of a regular diet craze, or is it just a hyped-up failure just like everyone claims it to be? Of the 3 individuals who had undergone detoxification, 2 state that it is not a diet craze. They say that is an effective procedure of cleansing the body, in which most diet programs fail to do. The third person states that it is just a trend in diet, but since it is effective for him, then he does not really care about it.

Diet crazes and trends usually do not really have much inside them. They are actually just ideas made to convince you that this particular diet trend is the best and most effective, and they can allow you to lose weight and keep it from coming back. Detoxification diets aims for something beyond all this, which is why I really exerted some effort to find out the truth about this diet program. I simply had to find out.

There is a huge amount of data that proves that Americans and Canadians have the worst health condition in general, considering the health support readily available. The health support available in our area is supposed to make us one of the most physically fit and healthiest countries in the world, but unfortunately it is the opposite. A lot of doctors state that this can be attributed to the kind of food people take in nowadays, which are usually filled with toxic substances from too much processing. And even with the wide range of healthy options available to us, we are still at the top of the list on cancer rates, including diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Not surprisingly, we also rank high on the list of countries with the most number of overweight and obese people.

The detoxification diet intends to address the growing problems regarding the overall health of American citizens, which will go beyond just their waistlines. The diet trends that we have seen in the past have only focused on shrinking people's waistlines, but did not even touch how to improve overall health. So is this detoxification diet just another trend in dieting? Technically speaking, a diet trend simply means any new program introduced in the market, which promises a lot of good stuff and gains a lot of new followers as well. If this is how we define it, then yes. But by another standard, this may also not be considered a diet trend. This is because this was not designed like the usual diet trends that came before it.

Both overweight and slim people can benefit from undergoing a detoxification diet. In fact we can say that everyone can enjoy the benefits that this diet program has to offer. This program was not made to induce weight loss; it was made in order to encourage people to live a healthier lifestyle. Losing weight is just a side effect of the program. This diet program strives to achieve a long-term optimum health condition. After being cleansed and detoxified, your body will surely feel a lot better, more energized and rejuvenated. It will also help you keep you in the right track and you will find out that you never want to get back to your unhealthy lifestyle again.   

Beyonce Knowles recently announced on the Oprah Winfrey talk show that she had lost a massive 20 pounds on the Master Cleanse detox diet! Compare the best detox diets used by the Hollywood's superstars!

The Candida Diet

The Candida Diet is a necessary evil, as many of my patients will agree. If you are a Candida sufferer, the diet is something that "you can't live with yet you can't live without." The diet is feared, hated, despised, misunderstood, and often can make the difference between the success and failure in the elimination of the yeasty beast! The purpose of this article is not to explain what the Candida Diet is. This can actually be found on our website in the "patient only section," or by simply searching the Candida Diet on the internet. The purpose here is to explain why it is important!

I will also explain how the diet is generally healthier than most diets that are being followed in the 21st century.

The Candida Diet is low in carbohydrates, low in sugar, and generally low in fermented foods like vinegar, alcoholic beverages, etc. Candida feeds on sugars. Sugars make it grow and strengthen its adherence to the intestinal lining. While on a Candida Diet, the total amount of carbohydrates for the day should not exceed 150 grams. At the Biamonte Center, we use 3 versions of the Candida Diet that range between 30-50 grams, 60-90 grams, and 100-150 grams of total carbohydrates for the day. Avoiding sugar and alcohol are the most important factors. These substances can cause the fastest and greatest increase in Candida growth. They are the most dangerous. Starches come next. Starches convert to sugars in your body. Candida can feed on healthy sugars just the same as it can on junk food. Many of your patients will notice that sweet fruits will flare their symptoms just as noticeably as junk foods! When eating starches (carbohydrates), choosing those foods that have a lower "glycemic index" rating is best. The glycemic index is a scale that rates how fast a food converts to sugar in you blood stream. Examples of the glycemic index can easily be found on the internet. Fermented foods like soy sauce, vinegar, etc. can be important to avoid, especially if the person has reactionary symptoms from the food. These foods often produce an allergic reaction in the Candida sufferer's intestinal tract which can upset the good flora and the intestinal immune response. Foods from the fungus family like mushrooms, etc. can be allergens in the same manner as the fermented foods.

Foods high in yeast can have a similar effect to fermented foods and the foods from the fungal family. Foods that contain yeast do not contain Candida. They contain baker's yeast. This is not Candida. These foods can aggravate Candida by causing allergic reactions, but they cannot cause Candida.

The Candida Diet, though apparently restrictive, is actually higher in nutrients than the diet of the average American. The Candida Diet in fact is very similar to "The South Beach Diet," "The Zone," and "The Hunter/Gatherer Diet" (also known as the "Paleolithic Diet"). There are races of people who are all slimmer, stronger, and faster than us. They all have straight teeth and perfect eyesight. Arthritis, diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, stroke, depression, schizophrenia, and cancer are absolute rarities to them. These people are the last 84 tribes of hunter-gatherers in the world. They share a secret that is over 2 million years old. Their secret is their diet- a diet that has changed little from that of the first humans 2 million years ago, and their predecessors, up to 7 million years ago. Theirs is the diet that man evolved on, the diet that is coded for in our genes. It has some major differences to the diet of "civilization." You are in for a few big surprises.

The diet is usually referred to as the "Paleolithic Diet," referring to the Paleolithic or Stone Age era. It is also referred to as the "Stone Age Diet," "Cave Man Diet," or the "Hunter/Gatherer Diet." More romantic souls like to think of it as the diet that was eaten in the "Garden of Eden," and they are correct in thinking so. For millions of years, humans and their relatives have eaten meat, fish, fowl, and the leaves, roots, and fruits of many plants. One big obstacle to getting more calories from the environment is the fact that many plants are inedible. Grains, beans, and potatoes are full of energy but are all inedible in the raw state, as they contain many toxins. There is no doubt about that- please don't try to eat them raw. They can make you very sick.

Around 10,000 years ago, an enormous breakthrough was made- a breakthrough that was to change the course of history, and our diet, forever. This breakthrough was the discovery that cooking these foods made them edible- the heat destroyed enough toxins to render them edible. Grains include wheat, corn, barley, rice, sorghum, millet, and oats. Grain based foods also include products such as flour, bread, noodles and pasta. The cooking of grains, beans, and potatoes had an enormous effect on our food intake- perhaps doubling the number of calories that we could obtain from the plant foods in our environment.

Grains, beans, and potatoes (GBP) share the following important characteristics:

-- They are all toxic when raw. There is no doubt about this; it is a fact that no competent source would dispute. They can be extremely dangerous and it is important never to eat them raw or undercooked. These toxins include enzyme blockers, lectins, and other types. I will talk about them in detail later as they are very important.

-- Cooking destroys most but not all of the toxins. Insufficient cooking can lead to sickness such as acute gastroenteritis.

-- They are all rich sources of carbohydrate, and once cooked, this is often rapidly digestible, giving a high glycemic index (sugar spike).

-- They are extremely poor sources of vitamins (particularly vitamins A, B-group, folic acid, and C), minerals, antioxidants, and phytosterols.

Therefore diets high in grains, beans, and potatoes (GBP):

-- contain toxins in small amounts

-- have a high glycemic index (i.e. have a similar effect to raw sugar on blood glucose levels)

-- are low in many vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and phytosterols ( i.e. they are the original "empty calories")

-- have problems caused by the GBP displacing other foods

As grains, beans and potatoes form such a large proportion of the modern diet, you can now understand why it is so common for people to feel they need supplements or that they need to detoxify (i.e. that they have toxins in their system). Indeed both feelings are absolutely correct. The essentials of the Paleolithic Diet are:

-- Eat none of the following: (Note the following is not the Candida Diet - this information is present in order to compare the Candida Diet to the Paleolithic Diet.)

-- grains- including bread, pasta, noodles

-- beans- including string beans, kidney beans, lentils, peanuts, snow-peas, and peas

-- potatoes

-- dairy products

-- sugar

Eat the following: (Note the following is not the Candida Diet- this information is present in order to compare the Candida Diet to the Paleolithic Diet.)

-- meat, chicken, and fish

-- eggs

-- fruits

-- vegetables (especially root vegetables, but definitely not including potatoes or sweet potatoes)

-- nuts, e.g. walnuts, Brazil nuts, macadamia, almond- Do not eat peanuts (a bean) or cashews (a family of their own)

-- berries- strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, etc.

Try to increase your intake of:

-- root vegetables- carrots, turnips, parsnips, rutabagas, Swedes

-- organ meats- liver and kidneys (I accept that many people find these unpalatable and won't eat them.)

This diet strongly resembles the typical Candida Diet, which in fact is higher in nutrient density than most diets that are followed by the average American.

From a layman's point of view, we can say that we use the diet to starve Candida in order to kill it. From a more scientific point of view, sugars, when metabolized by Candida cells, help Candida to adhere to the intestinal lining in order to hold on and keep its grip on you! Therefore, the avoidance of sugars can weaken the grip that the Candida has on your intestinal lining.

Sugars also make up and comprise the outer most layers of the yeast cells. A flip to this statement is the sugar, "Mannose." The sugar, Mannose, is currently being researched by this author, as it has shown the ability to block the adherence of Candida to the vaginal lining and perhaps the intestinal lining.

Candida above all is a yeast/fungus so it can be considered vegetation, like a mushroom. Like brewer's yeast, it metabolizes sugars and converts them to toxic alcohols called aldehydes. Many of the symptoms of Candida are produced by this toxic alcohol, the toxic proteins called antigens, mycotoxins (fungal toxins), and the neurological toxins (neurotoxins) that the Candida produces. When Candida is fed sugars, it not only strengthens its grip on you but it produces more of these toxins. Starches and carbs are naturally broken down and converted to sugars by your own body. This is normal for your health. However, Candida will eat these sugars as well. Fermented foods contain predigested sugars and substances that react like an allergen with your Candida. So sugars, starches, alcohol, and fermented foods feed Candida and make it worse! They also make it harder for medicines to kill Candida.

Diet, however, rarely causes Candida. It is usually caused by antibiotics, steroids, birth control pills, and other drugs. However, a diet high in sugar, starch, and alcohol, consumed during a period of extreme stress, can bring Candida about as if one took these medications.

At the Biamonte Center, the Candida Diet is used to weaken the Candida by starving it. This makes it more susceptible to the anti-yeast/ anti- fungal substances that we use. The Candida Diet is not used to kill the Candida as its own weapon. Diet very rarely can eliminate Candida. Candida grows a root system into your blood vessels. Here it taps into you blood and feeds on blood glucose and other nutrients. There is always enough blood glucose to keep the Candida alive, despite being on a low carbohydrate diet or even if you fasted. Fasting cannot kill Candida! This is because even when you fast, your body must keep a normal level of glucose (blood sugar) circulating for your brain and muscles to work. However, the low carb diet weakens it, like a weed which has had little water for some time.

Even when it is barely alive, it can continue to survive. And if "watered and fed properly," could grow again, returning to its former glory.

This is a very important concept to understand when we consider the importance and place the diet treatment holds in the elimination of Candida.

DIET RARELY ELIMINATES CANDIDA. ITS PURPOSE IS TO MAKE THE CANDIDA WEAKER SO THAT THE MEDICINES CAN TOTALLY DESTROY IT!

When you cheat on the diet, the Candida can temporarily increase. If one cheats for 1 day on the diet but continues the Candida rotation and phase 0, little will happen to set one back. Any increase in growth can be reduced within 1-2 days. The more one cheats, the more Candida grows. If one does the program but does not follow the diet, either no progress will be made or the person will continually feel ill from feeding the Candida, then making it grow, and then killing it and becoming toxic from the dead Candida wastes!

So when you cheat a day or so here and there on the diet, it does not defeat the entire program, providing that you stay on the anti-fungal rotation and Phase 0.

WHY IS GLUTEN AND MILK EXCLUDED IN CANDIDA DIETS?

Many of the Candida diets also suggest excluding Gluten and Casein (milk protein) from the diet. What isn't explained is why. It is observed that most, but not all Candida patients worsen when eating these foods.

A possible theory as to why is that an underlying allergy to these foods causes damage to the intestinal condition, where damage to the intestinal villi occurs. These villi are finger- like hairs that absorb nutrients that pass through the intestines. This damage causes putrefaction and decay of food in the intestines due to malabsorption.

In that case, the Candida is provided with food so it can continue to proliferate. This can also suppress normal, healthy flora and the intestinal immune response. The underlying problem is gluten-induced intestinal damage, but because the Candida is easier to identify, the underlying pathology is missed. Candida could easily eat these foods and release allergens as a by product of its metabolism, which causes intestinal allergies and further degrades the intestinal flora.

WEIGHT GAIN AND CANDIDA

"It's Not Your Fault"

If you have failed to lose weight despite following a diet exactly, it could be due to Candida. The late Dr. Robert Atkins, an international expert on the low carbohydrate diet, says in his books that Candida or low thyroid function can prevent weight loss despite a low carbohydrate diet. Candida adversely affects your metabolism and interferes with many hormones, nutrients, and the body's ability to burn fat!

One of the major secondary problems associated with Candida Albicans is weight gain. A number of the problems associated with loosing weight and staying with a diet are due to Candida Albicans. A person with Candida Albicans will often crave sugar and simple carbohydrates because this is the main source of nutrients for yeast. Mood swings and depression are often associated with the rapid change in blood sugar levels caused by the yeast.

Lower thyroid function, lower Dhea levels, Estrogen dominance, and elevated Cortisol levels are all typical in someone with chronic Candida. Each of these situations has been known to contribute to weight gain or difficulty losing weight. Focusing on removing Candida Albicans from the body rewards the dieter with a feeling of well being and weight loss that is steady, sustainable, and healthy. Very often a person trying to lose weight will not be able to do so because of a Candida infection.

A NEW MIRACLE FOOD TO STOP SUGAR AND CARBOHYDRATE CRAVINGS SO YOU CAN STAY ON THE DIET!

Hemp Hearts (Shelled Hemp Seed) is a natural food that is concentrated with all of the required proteins, essential fats, and many vitamins and enzymes, and contains only insignificant quantities of saturated fats and carbohydrates.

Because Hemp Hearts provides people with an excellent balance of proteins and essential fats, they will have less difficulty avoiding the sugar and starchy carbohydrates that cause obesity and many other late onset health problems. Individuals who use Hemp Hearts as described above--eating them in the morning for their nutritional essentials, to increase their energy and reduce their dependence on sugar and carbohydrates, and having all day to burn off the calories--these individuals always experience profound health benefits.

Except for those with diabetes and other conditions which may seem to require individuals to eat more frequently, most people eat at least four, but usually five, measuring tablespoons of Hemp Hearts early each morning, preferably on fruit and yogurt (vegetables for diabetics), but also sometimes on cereal. They frequently report that they are not yet hungry at lunch time, and often only slightly hungry at three or four o'clock in the afternoon. Those who are overweight can quite easily limit themselves to a large salad in the afternoon. Because those who eat Hemp Hearts in quantity every morning are nutritionally satisfied, they have less difficulty avoiding foods made with sugar, flour, potatoes, pasta, and rice, and they are less inclined to regain lost weight.

Michael Biamonte holds a Doctorate of Nutripathy, a Degree in Natural Healing, and a Master's in Clinical Nutrition. He is affiliated with the International Academy of Clinical Nutritionists and the International Academy of Nutrition and Preventive Medicine. He is listed in "The Directory of Distinguished Americans" for his research in Nutrition and Physiology. Michael Biamonte, C.C.N. 139 Fulton St. Suite 507, New York, NY 10038 (212) 587-2330, http://www.health-truth.com.

Detoxification Diet - What Benefits Can I Get From It?

Detoxification Diet works wonders

Every detoxification diet you will come across will have some differences from each other. Some programs may completely restrict intake of food, while others will advice you to eat nothing more than just fruits and vegetables. This is the usual scene once you begin with a detoxification diet program. Whichever you take, each one will take you towards the great benefits of being cleansed from the inside.

Your body is constantly bombarded by a multitude of toxins and other harmful substances, and it does its best just to flush these things out. With a detoxification diet, your body will receive a great deal of help in naturally eliminating these culprits. There may also be some side effects when you first try this cleansing program, like when you are used to drinking coffee every morning, then you will need to exert efforts just to withdraw from something you are used to doing, and that isn't easy. This may seem like a torture for most people, but this is just normal and symptoms of withdrawal will gradually subside. Once your body gets accustomed to the new routine, you will feel much better and more energized.

Fatigue and lethargy is often considered to be primarily caused by constipation. Undergoing a detoxification diet program will help cleanse the colon area, and can improve your symptoms of constipation. I once had this room mate who was regularly taking narcotic pain killers for more than a year because of a recent injury. It was this drug that made him constipated most of the time. The moment she finished with her medication on narcotic pain killers, she immediately tried getting into a detoxification diet. She experienced improvements in her health like getting rid of her narcotic dependency, and she does not experience being constipated anymore. She currently gets her colon cleansed and undergoes detoxification every time she had difficulty in bowel movements. She felt really cleansed from the inside and felt so much lighter after getting into a detoxification diet.

Even with the benefits that detoxification diets offer, some individuals say they experienced a general feeling of weakness in the 1st week of the program. As with most diets like this, food consumption is greatly reduced, and this can really affect the body's performance and balance. The secret here is to know how to prolong the effects of the foods you consume. Individuals who have a hard time with reduced caloric intake state that spreading out meals into smaller portions throughout the day is better than just taking the major meals by themselves. This allows them to enjoy the benefits that detoxification diets have to offer while keeping the food intake the same. Experts on this kind of diets say that as long as the amount of calories taken in each day remains constant, then spreading out meals throughout the day will pose no problem.

The extra water consumption related with detoxification diets is just normal, as this would help flush out whatever impurities you have inside you, and it can also grant you smoother bowel movements. The more water you take in, the better your body will be able to flush out those toxins inside you. It will also help your kidneys function more efficiently in cleansing your bloodstream and excreting waste matter through your urine.

Another benefit of getting into a detoxification diet is liver regeneration, which is not really known to many people. Including milk thistle as a supplement is highly recommended when undergoing a cleansing program. It can help with the ability of the liver to heal and regenerate itself. And although it may not cure any liver disease, it can at least help prevent them from occurring when combined with a healthy lifestyle.

What you won't get from detoxification diets

Undergoing a detoxification diet is made to help the body recuperate from the large amounts of toxins that has accumulated inside it. It is not a magic cure for every ailments or illnesses. Although most individuals may report improvements in their health conditions, it may not be able to partially or completely have an effect no already existing diseases in the body. For example, cancer cells cannot be eliminated by undergoing a detoxification diet. Although they have been due to toxin build-up, they are made up of cells and not something you can just flush down the toilet.

A lot of people experience significant weight loss during detoxification diets. This is just normal as calorie intake is greatly reduced, which also causes water weight reduction and flushing out of fat cells. Some people say this is just temporary, but the weight loss effects can actually be made permanent if you maintain your healthy eating habits and do not get back to your old routine of junk and processed foods. So if you were previously used to snacking on French fries and hamburgers everyday, you must not return to this routine anymore, or else you will again gain back your weight, and most of the time the weight gained is greater than what you originally had. Detoxification diets teach you to eat smart by making smart choices, whether you are dinning inside or outside your home.

Detoxification diets are not designed to cure emotional or mental problems like clinical depression. Although a lot of people state that they felt more emotionally stable after undergoing the program, there is still a big line separating situational depression from clinical depression. Appropriate medication is needed for serious cases of clinical depression. For people with this kind of condition, detoxification diets can never replace the medication they need in order to get by with daily activities. Situational depression is way different case however, and can be managed easily by undergoing a detoxification diet since it is designed for you to have maximum control over your body and health.

What makes Detoxification Diets different from the usual diet programs?

Diet programs are usually considered a dime a dozen. Popular diet programs like Grapefruit diet, Atkins diet, Green Tea and National Diet programs. One can go over and over these diet plans, spend a fortune on each one just to find out which one works and which does not. The reality is that not every one of these programs will work for you. To others it may prove to be a success, but that does not guarantee the same result for you. This is because different diet programs are meant to be used by different kinds of people. They are not a "one size fits all" program. So will detoxification diets work everyone? Definitely! This is because weight reduction is only a side effect of getting your body cleansed of toxins. Its main goal is to get rid of different kinds of toxins and harmful substances which have accumulated over time. These toxins are what give us countless health problems ranging from simple headaches and fatigue, to even cancers and cardiovascular diseases. Besides cleansing the body of foreign matter, we are also aiming to prevent them from getting back inside of us. And while weight reduction is a result of undergoing a detoxification program, we would like to emphasize that this is not its principal objective.

Always remember that detoxification diet programs will also vary from one another. Some will be designed by health professionals who have extensive knowledge on how the body works and its ability to cleanse itself of harmful substances. And while most diet programs were created with some sense of entrepreneurship, a detoxification diet program was made by a naturopathist or an individual who deals with different body types and how each one functions on its own unique way. After the first detoxification diet program was introduced, a lot of "spin-offs" have already sprouted in the market, and all have their different claims for body purification. Most of them will recommend cutting back completely on eating and just living on juice drinks for a few days (although something such as this beyond 24 hours is just unhealthy). These are the types of diet plans that just seem an impossible task to complete. If you really want to try going into any diet program, we definitely recommend starting slow and gradual so that your body's balance is not drastically disturbed. Weight loss will follow once you start taking care of your health.

Losing weight while under a detoxification program came as a surprise for people who weren't really expecting it. They only wanted to get cleansed of toxins and harmful substances, but they were not aware that losing weight in the process would be possible. This gave this diet program significant popularity because of its cleansing and weight reduction capabilities.

It is a well-known fact that the world we live in today, though modern and comfortable, is filled with everything unnatural, chemically treated and processed; from the food we eat to the air we breathe, everything contains some level of processing in it. People seem to have forgotten that we are biological beings who need more of the natural stuff. If you compare our diet and lifestyle to people living in the Pacific Islands, you would notice the significant difference between them and us. Just by merely looking at them, you can be able to conclude that they are a lot healthier than us. This is because what they have for food in their place are all natural and unprocessed. Fewer health issues are reported in that area as compared to a typical metropolitan area.

A detoxification diet plan can work wonders to cleanse and rejuvenate your body towards a healthier and happier you. In order for the diet plan to be effective, it requires an active participation on your part, and the will to improve eating habits and overall lifestyle. Nothing will happen if you sit there in the couch just waiting for a magic potion to arrive and expect it to cleanse your body and help you lose weight at the same time. This takes hard work; there are no shortcuts toward a healthy and fit body. There are a lot of other diet plans out there but there are only a few that I would even try to recommend to others. If you are looking for something that will fit you, try doing some research and investigation on a particular diet program, read reviews and recommendations, and of course, never forget to talk to your doctor first before engaging in any kind of diet plan.

Beyonce Knowles recently announced on the Oprah Winfrey talk show that she had lost a massive 20 pounds on the Master Cleanse detox diet

Compare the best detox diets used by the Hollywood's superstars!

Free Diet Programs - Four Of The Most Popular Types

If you are looking for free diet programs on which you will base your weight-loss program, it is best to search online. Almost all types of free diet programs are found in the internet. Diet programs are different from each other in terms of the style or approach that it takes to lose weight, the phases of the program and the types of food included in the diet.

Here are some examples of the types of diet plans on which you can base your diet program of choice. These types are the most common ones which most people are familiar with. Some have been around for a long time while others are relatively new.

Fixed-Menu Diet Program

One example of the diet plan is the fixed-menu diet plan. The advantage of this plan is that it is easy to follow because this diet plan has a definite menu and recipes. The list is detailed and and has been perfected over time. The listing is made together with the program. You can not replace anything on it.

The disadvantage is that this diet plan will tend to be dull. There are no changes and it is stationary. And once the program is finished, you will now have difficulty in manufacturing your own menu so you will tend to lose interest in the menu and start to gain weight again.

Exchange-Type Diet Plan

Another diet plan is the exchange-type diet plan. This diet plan has greater challenge because it allows swapping of food. The only goal when swapping is to find the right amount that matches the amount to be replaced. The advantage of this diet plan is that there are possible variations with the food that you eat. You add and subtract certain foods to come up with your choice of combination.

The disadvantage comes in when you don't know how to balance and follow instructions. Later on, you might find it difficult to find the correct matches for the required food.

An example of this diet plan is the South Beach Diet. With South Beach diet, you can eat anything as long as you comply with the requirements of the food groups that you should eat.

Pre-Packaged Meal Diet Program

Another type is the prepackaged-meal diet plan. This is a diet plan where sizes and proportions for this diet plan are strictly implemented. The advantage of prepackaged-meal diet plan is that it is measured carefully and appropriately. Size matters and the calorie intake make the difference.

The disadvantage, on the other hand of this type is that it is more expensive than other types. Because this type might need you to purchase the foods that you will eat to follow the required sizes and proportions. Before getting into this type of diet, inquire first if you will have to buy or you can make the servings by yourself.

Liquid/Powder Formula or Replacement Diet Plan

Still another type of diet plan is the diet program that replaces part of your meals with liquid formula (which are usually powder-based). This is also commonly known as the replacement diet plan. From the description, the diet plan swaps liquid formula with the food. The liquid formula has the same calorie requirement as the food. The advantage of this type of diet plan is that this is a very effective weight loss program for a short period of time. Liquid formula can be in the form of shakes or juices.

The disadvantage of the liquid formula diet plan is that you will gain weight fast when you go back to the usual diet that you have.

The example for this type is the Medifast Diet Program. The diet requires an individual to take 5 sets of liquid formula diet and only 1 green and lean meal per day.

With the basic knowledge on the different diet plans available, you can now choose which free diet program you would like to incorporate in your daily life -the diet plan that you think will work best for you.

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Power Self Help: 3 Effective Techniques

<р>Pоwеr ѕеlf hеlр іѕ аbоut іmрlеmеntіng tесhnіquеѕ thаt wоrk. It іѕ сrіtісаl іn thіѕ fаѕt расеd wоrld thаt wе hаvе реrѕоnаl ѕеlf hеlр tесhnіquеѕ thаt wе hаvе trіеd, tеѕtеd аnd fееl соmfоrtаblе wіth.<р>Thе mоrе wе truѕt оur ѕеlf hеlр tесhnіquеѕ, thе mоrе wе wіll uѕе thеm bоth іn еvеrуdау ѕіtuаtіоnѕ аnd durіng tіmеѕ оf hіgh ѕtrеѕѕ оr сrіѕіѕ. Hаbіtuаl uѕе hеlрѕ tо fасіlіtаtе ѕkіll аnd іntіmасу wіth thе mеthоdѕ. Intіmасу dоеѕ nоt brееd соntеmрt іn thіѕ саѕе... іt hеlрѕ uѕ gаіn grеаtеr соnfіdеnсе аnd truѕt іn оur оwn іnnеr рrосеѕѕ аnd hеlрѕ uѕ tо dеvеlор grеаtеr ѕеlf аwаrеnеѕѕ, а сrіtісаl fасtоr fоr іntеrасtіng mаѕtеrfullу іn lіfе.<р>Thе bеѕt, mоѕt еffесtіvе tесhnіquеѕ іnvоlvе аlіgnіng thе dіffеrеnt lауеrѕ оf оurѕеlvеѕ ѕо аѕ tо mаxіmіѕе іnnеr аwаrеnеѕѕ. Wе саnnоt іntеrасt mаѕtеrfullу wіth оthеrѕ іf wе dо nоt knоw аnd undеrѕtаnd оur оwn іnnеr wоrkіngѕ.<р>Innеr аlіgnmеnt іnсrеаѕеѕ сlаrіtу, fосuѕ, еffесtіvе ѕеlf dіrесtіоn аnd lеаdеrѕhір ѕkіllѕ. Thеѕе аll lіnk роwеrfullу tоgеthеr tо mаxіmіѕе mаnіfеѕtаtіоn оf оur gоаlѕ аnd drеаmѕ соnѕіѕtеntlу, јоуfullу аnd wіth mіnіmum ѕtrеѕѕ.<р>Thе fоllоwіng thrее еffесtіvе роwеr ѕеlf hеlр tесhnіquеѕ саn bе еаѕіlу іnсоrроrаtеd іntо а buѕу lіfеѕtуlе:<р>1. BREATHE!!!<р>Fаѕt, еаѕу wау tо аlіgn оn thе ѕріrіtuаl, mеntаl, еmоtіоnаl аnd рhуѕісаl lеvеlѕ. Thе brеаth іѕ іmроrtаnt tо соnnесt, rеbаlаnсе аnd rеmаіn аlіgnеd wіth оur dеереѕt сеntеr durіng оur hесtіс, сhаllеngіng dауѕ.<р>Brеаthе. Dеерlу аnd fullу fоr ѕеvеrаl mіnutеѕ, mаnу tіmеѕ durіng thе dау. Brеаthе іn реасе, wіѕdоm, lоvе, аbundаnсе, јоу аnd fun. Brеаthе оut wоrrіеѕ, аnxіеtіеѕ, ѕаdnеѕѕ, fеаr аnd hurt.<р>2. SELF TALK CHECK<р>Dо а quісk сhесk оf thе quаlіtу оf thоughtѕ рlауіng thrоugh thе mіnd ѕіnсе аwаkеnіng. Nеgаtіvе ѕеlf tаlk сhаngеѕ thе frеquеnсу wе еmіt аnd аttrасtѕ rеаl lіfе ѕіtuаtіоnѕ thаt ѕuрроrt, rеflесt аnd ѕtrеngthеn thе nеgаtіvіtу.<р>If wе аrе nоt hарру wіth еіthеr thе ѕіtuаtіоnѕ wе аrе еnсоuntеrіng durіng thе dау оr thе quаlіtу оf оur ѕеlf tаlk wе саn trаnѕfоrm bоth bу rерrоgrаmmіng оur ѕеlf tаlk mоrе роѕіtіvеlу іn lіnе wіth whаt wе wоuld lіkе tо mаnіfеѕt.<р>Hаvіng thе dіѕсірlіnе tо rеgulаrlу сhесk-іn оn thе quаlіtу оf оur ѕеlf tаlk rеаlіgnѕ іt tо wоrk іn раrtnеrѕhір wіth асhіеvіng оur gоаlѕ аnd drеаmѕ.<р>Thе rеlеvаnt роwеr ѕеlf tаlk tесhnіquе hеrе wоuld bе tо іnѕtаntlу сhаngе frоm thе nеgаtіvе vеіn tо а роѕіtіvе, mоrе gоаl аnd ѕеlf аlіgnеd еnеrgу.<р>Fоr еxаmрlе іf thе lіmіtіng ѕеlf tаlk іѕ "I аm nоt gооd еnоugh", аn еffесtіvе аntіdоtе соuld bе "I аm brіllіаnt аnd еаѕіlу еxрrеѕѕ mу brіllіаnсе іn аll аrеаѕ оf mу lіfе."<р>Plау wіth thіѕ fоr уоurѕеlf untіl уоu соmе uр wіth уоur оwn реrѕоnаl ѕеlf tаlk gеmѕ thаt уоu саn uѕе tо іnѕtаntlу rеаlіgn уоur fосuѕ еvеrуdау. Fееl frее tо ѕеnd mе уоurѕ fоr fееdbасk аnd fіnеtunіng.<р>3. TAKE YOUR EMOTIONAL TEMPERATURE<р>Tunіng іn tо thе еmоtіоnаl ѕtаtе іѕ оnе оf thе mоѕt еffесtіvе роwеr ѕеlf hеlр tесhnіquеѕ thеrе іѕ. Evеrу оnе оf uѕ іѕ а trаnѕсеіvеr - wе bоth trаnѕmіt аnd rесеіvе еnеrgу frеquеnсіеѕ. Emоtіоn іѕ аn еnеrgу thаt оur trаnѕсеіvеr bоth еmіtѕ аnd rесеіvеѕ.<р>Tо trulу сrеаtе роwеrful lіvеѕ оur еmоtіоnаl аnd mеntаl frеquеnсіеѕ muѕt mаtсh оr а mіxеd ѕіgnаl wіll bе trаnѕmіttеd, rеѕultіng іn mіxеd mаnіfеѕtаtіоnѕ. Rеlаtіоnѕhірѕ, fіnаnсеѕ, hеаlth, ѕtrеѕѕ аnd оthеr lіfе fасtоrѕ wіll rеflесt thе lасk оf аlіgnmеnt.<р>Wе hаvе аll еxреrіеnсеd hеаrіng ѕоmеоnе ѕау ѕоmеthіng but dеер dоwn nоt rеаllу ассерt whаt thеу ѕаіd аѕ truth ѕіmрlу bесаuѕе іt dіdn't 'fееl rіght'. Wе рісkеd uр thаt thеіr еmоtіоnаl frеquеnсу dіd nоt mаtсh thеіr vеrbаl еxрrеѕѕіоn.<р>A vеrу ѕіmрlе wау tо buіld аwаrеnеѕѕ оf оur dаіlу еmоtіоnаl tеmреrаturе іѕ tо јоurnаl, рrеfеrаblу uѕіng thе mоrnіng раgеѕ tесhnіquе оf wrіtіng thrее раgеѕ nоnѕtор еvеrу mоrnіng dіrесtlу uроn аwаkеnіng. It іѕ іmроrtаnt thаt nоnе оf whаt іѕ wrіttеn іѕ rеаd fоr аt lеаѕt оnе mоnth. Rеvіеwіng thе mаtеrіаl аftеr thіѕ реrіоd оf tіmе wіll rеvеаl lоtѕ оf іnnеr соnсеrnѕ, dеѕіrеѕ аnd fеаrѕ thаt саn bе аddrеѕѕеd tо ѕtrеngthеn іnnеr аlіgnmеnt.<р>Emоtіоnаl tеmреrаturе сhесkѕ, еmоtіоnаl rеlеаѕе аnd аlіgnmеnt оf еmоtіоnѕ аrе bаѕіс роwеr ѕеlf hеlр аnd lеаdеrѕhір ѕkіll tесhnіquеѕ I tеасh tо сlеаr, rеlеаѕе, hаrnеѕѕ аnd dіrесt оur еmоtіоnаl роwеr.<р>Thіѕ Pоwеr Sеlf Hеlр аrtісlе іѕ but а brіеf fоrау іntо thrее оf thе mоѕt іmроrtаnt аnd ѕіmрlеѕt роwеr ѕеlf hеlр tесhnіquеѕ thаt саn аѕѕіѕt uѕ tо сrеаtе lіvеѕ thаt fulfіll bоth оur іnnеr аnd оutеr nееdѕ аnd dеѕіrеѕ.<р>Aѕ wе tаkе саrе оf оur tоtаl ѕеlvеѕ іn аn аttеntіvе, hоlіѕtіс wау, thе quаlіtу оf оur lіvеѕ wіll іmрrоvе аnd rеflесt іnсrеаѕеd bаlаnсе, whоlеnеѕѕ аnd еffесtіvеnеѕѕ.

<р>Angеlа Chеn Shuі, Sоul Alіgnmеnt Sріrіtuаl Lіfе Cоасh, Tеасhеr оf Dіvіnіtу, Awаkеnіng Enеrgу Hеаlіng Fасіlіtаtоr аnd Intеrnеt Mоmрrеnеur рublіѕhеѕ "Sоul Sеlf Hеlр Inѕіghtѕ", thе Bеуоnd-thе-Mіnd, Sоul-thrіllіng ѕеlf hеlр, Nеw Enеrgу ѕріrіtuаlіtу nеwѕlеttеr. If уоu'rе rеаdу tо ассеѕѕ уоur іnnеr wіѕdоm, сrеаtе аnd сеlеbrаtе а mоrе mаgісаl lіfе аnd еxрrеѕѕ уоurѕеlf mоrе fullу аnd раѕѕіоnаtеlу, gеt уоur FREE іnѕіghtѕ nоw аt: <а tаrgеt="_nеw" hrеf="httр://www.ѕріrіtuаlіtуѕеlfhеlр.соm">httр://www.ѕріrіtuаlіtуѕеlfhеlр.соm<р>Cоруrіght 2006 - Angеlа Chеn Shuі. All Rіghtѕ Rеѕеrvеd Wоrldwіdе. Rерrіnt Rіghtѕ: Yоu mау rерrіnt thіѕ аrtісlе аѕ lоng аѕ уоu lеаvе аll thе lіnkѕ асtіvе, dо nоt еdіt thе аrtісlе іn аnу wау, gіvе аuthоr nаmе сrеdіt аnd іnсludе thіѕ еntіrе rеѕоurсе bоx.


<р>

All Diets Types and Their Explanations - How to Navigate and Choose the Best One For You

Atkins Diet

"The Atkins Diet is a high-protein, low-carbohydrate weight loss diet developed by Robert Atkins, M.D., during the 1960s. In the early 1990s, Dr. Atkins brought his diet back into the nutrition spotlight with the publication of his best-selling book "Dr. Atkins' New Diet Revolution".

The Atkins Diet severely restricts the consumption of carbohydrate-rich foods and encourages the consumption of protein and fat. The diet is divided into four phases: Induction, Ongoing Weight Loss, Pre-maintenance, and Maintenance. During the Induction phase (the first 14 days of the diet), carbohydrate intake is limited to no more than 20 grams per day. No fruit, bread, grains, starchy vegetables, or dairy products (except cheese, cream, and butter) are allowed during this phase. During the Ongoing Weight Loss phase, dieters experiment with various levels of carbohydrate consumption until they determine the most liberal level of carbohydrate intake that allows them to continue to lose weight. Dieters are encouraged to maintain this level of carbohydrate intake until their weight loss goals are met. During the Pre-maintenance and Maintenance phases, dieters determine the level of carbohydrate consumption that allows them to maintain their weight. To prevent weight regain, dieters are told to maintain this level of carbohydrate consumption, perhaps for the rest of their lives. According to Dr. Atkins, most people must limit their carbohydrate intake to no more than 60 grams per day to keep lost weight off. In addition to the dietary restrictions discussed above, Dr. Atkins recommends regular exercise and nutritional supplementation as part of his weight loss program.

Note: The dietary recommendations issued by various organizations, including the United States Department of Agriculture, the National Institutes of Health, and the American Heart Association, encourage a daily carbohydrate intake of approximately 300 grams. To stay healthy, you will need to consume five times more what Atkins prescribes in his diets. Can a human being last long enough on this diet without experiencing any side effects? If the dieter dares to cheat on this program, the result can be detrimental and the weight can be regained easily, twice as much as what has been lost during the diet. The quick weight gain brings about eventual depression and the dieter will eventually reach his original weight before the weight loss.

What is so attractive about the diet that so many individuals have taken the time and effort to apply?

High-protein diets are the fad regimens of the moment. Their theory for weight loss consists of eating lots of animal proteins and skipping carbohydrates such as breads, rice and pasta. The theory behind these diets is that if you load up on animal proteins, you will feel fuller faster, so you'll end up eating less.

The Atkins Diet is attractive to dieters who have tried unsuccessfully to lose weight on low-fat, low-calorie diets. Atkins dieters can eat as many calories as desired from protein and fat, as long as carbohydrate consumption is restricted. Consequently, many Atkins dieters are spared the feelings of hunger and deprivation that accompany other weight loss regimens.

The underlying premise of the Atkins Diet is that diets high in sugar and refined carbohydrates cause weight gain, and ultimately lead to obesity. Such diets increase the production of insulin (a hormone secreted by the pancreas). When insulin levels are high, the food we eat is quickly and easily converted into fat, and stored in our cells. By restricting the consumption of carbohydrates, the production of insulin is moderated. In addition, the lack of available carbohydrate (the body's preferred fuel source) forces the body to burn stored fat as energy.

What do the critics say?

Many nutrition experts disagree with the basic premise of the Atkins Diet - the notion that high-carbohydrate, low-fat diets cause obesity. For evidence of the implausibility of the Atkins Diet, some nutritionists point out that the traditional Japanese diet is very high in carbohydrates, low in protein, and very low in fat; however, before the introduction of high-fat and high-protein Western foods, being overweight was rare in Japan. Such findings make sense because ounce for ounce, carbohydrates contain far fewer calories than fats (4 calories from carbohydrates versus 9 calories from fat). These critics blame the over-consumption of calories (from any source) and lack of physical activity as the primary causes of obesity.

One concern about a high-protein diet stems from all the saturated fats one eats - those fats that we're told cause high cholesterol, clogged arteries and, eventually, heart disease. Critics also express concern about the impact of the Atkins Diet on the overall health of the dieter. Depending on the foods chosen by the dieter, the diet may contain a large amount of saturated fat and trans fat, putting those at risk for heart disease in danger. Recent research has found that high-protein diets speed up the progression of arteriosclerosis, the main cause of heart attacks. Moreover, contrary to Atkins' claims, extremely low-fat diets have been found to reverse heart disease. In addition, the lack of grains, fruits, and vegetables in the Atkins Diet may lead to deficiencies of key nutrients, including dietary fiber, vitamin C, folic acid, and several minerals. Finally, high protein diets may increase the risk of osteoporosis and accelerate the rate of deterioration in kidney function associated with aging.

Critics concede that Atkins dieters often experience significant weight loss during the initial stages of the diet. However, these critics argue that the diet has a diuretic effect and that the initial weight loss is due to water loss, not fat loss. Eventually the body restores its water and sodium balance, and the rate of weight loss declines. Critics also note that there is no evidence showing that the Atkins diet leads to greater weight loss than do other diets that provide more carbohydrates, yet the same number of calories.Critics also note high-protein diets can lead to dangerous imbalances - bone loss and kidney problems - because too much protein can overwork the kidneys.

Dr. Atkins was the first person who brought a low-carbohydrates diet to major prominence in the U.S. and I credit him for defying "the system" and offering a weight loss plan that works for some people. He presents scientific fact, but for the most part his recent book provides anecdotal information from many of his patients.

Dr. Atkins claims that some people have a condition of "hyper-insulinism", in which they produce excess amounts of insulin when they eat carbohydrates, which in turn causes fat storage, diabetes, and a craving for more carbohydrates. This theory is scientifically logical but has not been accepted as proven by the medical community.

In Dr. Atkins' "maintenance phase", he advises that persons increase their carbohydrate intake to the point where they do not gain or lose weight.

All that is great, however, how can we understand the whole concept behind his diets and why do people truly believe in it? How does it actually work?

Insulin is a hormone, which is a substance that travels through the body and stimulates chemical reactions. The human body has mechanisms to regulate how much of each hormone is produced, so that their effects can be controlled. With insulin, however, there is no "shut-off" switch as there is with other hormones. The digestion of carbohydrates produces insulin, and there is no way to stop its activity once it is present in the bloodstream. There is also no way to prevent it from being produced when carbohydrates are consumed, even if these are in excess of what the body needs for fuel.

So, the more carbohydrates you consume, the more insulin the pancreas will produce to help digest the sugars of the carbohydrates. The more insulin that is being produced, the more stored fat will be sent to the cells, especially to those around your waist.

I believe Dr. Atkins' diet may be useful for persons who are very sensitive to carbohydrates and have extremely slow metabolic rates.

Dr. Atkins' diet does not restrict protein intake, which is the correct approach. However, his advice to add carbohydrate grams for the maintenance phase so that continued weight loss does not occur is not scientifically sound. There is no indication that a person will continue to lose weight below his ideal bodyweight, taking in consideration his body type and metabolism. Your body is predisposed to a certain weight, even though you interrupt carbohydrates consumption from your diet, the body will still maintain the same weight. After that phase, you will simply need to maintain it and be happy with it.

Extreme dieters will need to understand that all the information mentioned above and below these lines is to make you realize some facts that you've never taken the time to research. When a diet becomes popular, people jump on it without researching in more detail what it can do for their bodies or if the diet fits their standard. It is not because "John Doe has lost some weight on this specific diet" that you will have a similar result. The same goes for diet pills: be careful with them. If they work temporarily for some people, it doesn't necessarily mean they will have the same effect on you.

As for me, experiencing my own programs enabled me to lose weight, maintain it and still eat as much as I want of the right foods. I eat and exercise plenty.

Remember that moderation is important. If you want to eat something that is not healthy, go ahead and eat it. However, make sure to moderate the rest of the day with the right food. The following information should be helpful when it comes to moderation regarding a well-balanced diet.

Here are some good reasons to avoid high-protein diets:

1. They violate almost every known fact about nutritionally balanced eating. For some dieters, these diets can even be life threatening.

2. Popular high protein diet foods are high in cholesterol and saturated fat, which are now established as major culprits in heart attacks and strokes.

3. They overload you with protein, which results in loss of calcium from your bones, which may lead to osteoporosis. Protein overload also pressurizes your kidneys as they try to eliminate large amounts of urea, a by-product of protein metabolism.

4. They forbid foods known to lower the risk of heart disease and many cancers.

5. They deprive you of carbohydrates, the nutrient group most readily converted to energy. Even moderately active people will notice this lack during exercise.

6. They deprive your brain of glucose, which it needs for normal functioning. The result is a slowdown in thinking and reaction time.

7. They deprive you of the enormous benefits of fiber, which is a form of carbohydrate (cellulose).

8. They are deficient in essential vitamins. Indeed, some high protein diets even require you to take vitamin supplements for the sake of your health.

9. They cause potentially dangerous changes in your body chemistry.

10. They deliver temporary weight loss. However, a large part of it is water weight and lean muscle mass - not fat. (You lose water because your kidneys try to get rid of the excess waste products of protein and fat, called ketones, that your body makes.)

Note: Weight gain is usually rapid when you go off the diet.

11. Finally, it's worth knowing that while your body burns up 23 calories for every 10o carbohydrate calories it digests, it only burns up 3 calories for every 100 "fat" calories it digests. Therefore, a high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet makes it easier for you to stay fat!

FYI (For Your Information):

The average Western diet contains TOO MUCH FAT.

That's why an estimated 1 in 3 American children are overweight!

That's why heart disease is the No. 1 killer in America and Europe.

We should be eating less fat, not more.

High protein diets encourage high-fat eating and - for this reason alone - should be avoided.

What are those medical miracles that are being publicized to consumers for their rapid weight loss programs? The magazine Self, in March of 2002 investigated some of the programs that are simply bogus.

"Healthy weight loss" is not a particularly sexy marketing slogan. It is quite impossible to sell these types of slogans to Americans: "Drop pounds by eating fewer calories and increasing physical activity!" Instead, manufacturers of weight loss concoctions resort to selling their products with dubious promises of magically speedy results. Thankfully, separating fact from fiction is easy.

Try to separate bogus slogan from reality:

o "Lose 30 pounds in just 30 days" - Very tempting, isn't it? However, it is physically impossible to lose so much weight in such a short time. Moreover, it is not healthy. You could only hurt your health throughout the process and I can reassure you, you will gain back the weight faster than a speeding bullet.

o "Lose weight while you sleep" - Yeah! Heard that one before. If all you have to do is sip a magical potion or swallow a miracle pill, the product is as likely to be as real as your "wet dreams" at night.

o "Lose weight and keep it off for good" - The only permanent weight loss plan involves changing your diet and exercise regimen. It is all about burning more calories than you are consuming. It's all about simple mathematics. You burn more than what you ingest.

o "John Doe lost 90 pounds in just six weeks". Yes, and I am Superman! As I said previously, it is very dangerous to try to lose that much weight in such a short period. Let's analyze this slogan. We'll have some fun!

One pound equals 3,500 calories. You will need to reduce your diet by over 315,000 calories (90 pounds x 3,500 calories) during that 6-week period. Now how is that going to happen? Let's say your body needs 2,000/day calories to function. That equals 14,000 calories weekly, right? Multiply that by 6 weeks. That equals 84,000 calories for 6 weeks. Now, I am not a rocket scientist, but do you get my point? You will actually need to fast for 6 weeks in a row, and still have to burn an extra 231,000 by exercising. What are these morons thinking when they try to advertise these slogans to the American people? I would suggest that they go back to school and retake elementary math. It seems they can't even do a simple calculation.

Bottom line, ladies and gentlemen. There is NO MIRACLE DIET. Quit being triggered to spend your money by these bogus slogans.

Low Carbohydrate Diets

We all love carbohydrates. Pasta, bread, rice and potato are America favorite foods, to say the least. However, we all know that they contain ingredients that can lead to what we are most afraid of: being overweight. The problem with carbohydrates is that they cause the body to produce insulin. However, insulin turns carbohydrates into sugar, and whatever sugar we don't use right away gets stored in the body as fat.

On the other hand, a lack of carbohydrates tricks the body into thinking it's starving, at which point it flicks on an internal switch that causes the body to burn its own fat. This is called ketosis. We did mention that if the body doesn't use the extra sugar produced by the intake of carbohydrates, it would be stored in fat. Hmmm, now what about exercise? Have we thought about that?

After studying in depth the way the human body's nutritional processes work, and considering the type of diet these processes evolved with, I must conclude that consuming carbohydrates in limited amounts (not eating a whole pizza, loaf of bread, or a pound of french fries) is the most natural and healthy way for us to eat, not just for weight loss but for ongoing weight and health maintenance - even for people who do not have a weight problem. The "low carb diet" has become extremely popular in the United States in the past few years and continues to have a large following despite the frequent criticisms by various diet experts. Although many of them are without scientific validity, some of them are on target, especially when considering the calorie intakes of some of the formulas presented.

There is a major issue here with all of these plans - that is whether the diet is being used merely for weight loss, or for long-term weight maintenance. As a weight loss diet, any of these plans can work. However, if they are then discarded and previous eating habits are restored, it is likely that any weight lost will be regained, as with any short-term diet. Eventually, going off the low carb diet can definitely promote weight gain in excess of that which was lost, due to metabolic changes that occur. The only sensible way to use a low carb diet for weight loss is to remain on this type of diet on an ongoing basis afterward. The question then asked, "Is it safe for weight loss" and "is it safe for ongoing use as an eating plan?"

Americans now eat more carbohydrates than ever - 50 more pounds per person, per year, than a decade ago (ABC.NEWS). Carbohydrate-related diseases have also reached a peak. After decades of being warned away from fats, many people have turned to carbohydrates instead. At the same time, obesity levels in the country are greater than ever.

Is there a connection? Do carbohydrates lead people to become obese? Experts in the field have different opinions.

The Zone

Biochemist Barry Sears, author of the best selling low-carbohydrate diet book The Zone, believes carbohydrates do cause people to gain weight. He has developed a controversial theory that suggests that people who eat a lot of carbohydrates get caught up in a cycle of overeating because carbohydrates can be addictive in a way other foods are not. People who critique Sears' theory have various problems with it, including some of his basic premises that carbohydrates lead to weight gain or that carbohydrates are more addictive than other foods. Zone dieting is designed to avoid ketosis, which the author claims causes one to lose muscle weight even with high protein diets. The author also claims that high levels of protein in a meal cause high insulin levels, which converts the protein into fat.

The concept of The Zone is that food should be treated like a prescription drug that is designed to promote the desired hormonal response throughout the day. The hormones in question are insulin, glucagon, and eicosanoids. Insulin and glucagon are well known hormones, and their functions are described accurately.

Sears says eating lots of carbohydrates triggers a flood of insulin. Because there is so much insulin, sugars are cleared from the blood so quickly that people feel hungry again after a very short period. Therefore, carbohydrates drive the sugar level up and then the insulin drives it down. The obesity crisis in America is a result of "carbohydrate hell." Sears suggests that eating a lot of carbohydrates triggers a biological mechanism that lowers the blood sugar level and leads people to need a sugar boost and therefore to crave more carbohydrates. He says the cycle of eating and craving keeps them hooked on carbohydrates and causes overeating.

"You eat a big carbohydrates meal at 12. By 3 o'clock you're hungry again. You eat more carbohydrates. By 7 you're hungry again," Sears says. His theory accepts some of the basic principles about how the body processes carbohydrates and takes them a step further. The basic principle is that carbohydrates turn into sugars that trigger the release of insulin. The insulin routes the sugars to our muscles for energy and stores the rest as fat.

To reach the "Zone", one must consume foods in a protein-to-carbohydrate ratio of 0.75, which is 3 grams of protein for every 4 grams of carbohydrate, at every meal and snack, and without allowing more than 5 hours between meals or snacks. The author converts grams into blocks of protein and carbohydrate and provides food lists and meal plans for these. He distinguishes between carbohydrates with high versus low glycemic indexes, which is a measure of how fast the carbohydrate is digested for each food type. In addition, he adds fat "blocks" to his meal plans and distinguishes between various types of fats, recommending against saturated fats and favoring monounsaturated fats, due to their effect on eicosanoid production. Protein requirements in the Zone are based on lean body mass and level of physical activity (the same method that is used in Protein Power). Lean body mass is calculated using standardized charts that use height, hip, and abdomen measurements in women and weight, wrist and waist measurements in men.

The calculated protein requirement is not to be exceeded, and is to be spread throughout the day to avoid increased insulin levels caused by protein digestion. Therefore, a person would end up with a calorie limit on their total daily intake, since protein has a maximum value, and carbohydrate and fat intake are measured by protein intake.

The second half of the book is a description of how Zone dieting can improve numerous health conditions, primarily based on the eicosanoid activities.

In this program, the author provides excellent scientific explanations for how too many carbohydrates in a diet cause fat storage. The entire design of the Zone diet is also explained in a very scientific fashion, however, it is greatly lacking in scientific evidence to support it. The concept that providing higher levels of carbohydrates would avoid ketosis, which is a condition that may be hazardous over the long term is correct, however, because of a restriction on the intake of protein, carbohydrates, and fat, it is likely that insufficient calories and carbohydrates will be available for most people to avoid ketosis. In other words, the ketosis that results from starvation - getting too few calories to meet basic needs - can easily occur in many persons based on their calculations for daily intakes. There may also not be enough protein in the diet to prevent loss of muscle mass.

Dan Amzallag Mission Possible: Eat MORE 2 LOSE more: Combating obesity epidemic in America http://www.fitnesstrainersnetwork.com Top accredited fitness and personal trainers network for USA and Canada To register as a trainer, please visit our site. For clients looking for accredited trainers, this is the right site to be: http://www.fitnesstrainersnetwork.com