Multiple Vitamin, Omega-3, Coq10, And A Probiotic Are FourEssential Supplements Everyone Should Take For Better Health

By Darrell MillerVitamins are substances that are found in foods and arenecessary for life. They also allow the body to get througheach day. Although some have specific tasks, most work togetherto provide the body with many health benefits. Vitamins areeither fat or water-soluble. Those that are water soluble leavethe body quickly while those that are fat-soluble are stored inthe liver and fat cells for quite awhile. Some of thesefat-soluble vitamins include vitamins A, D, E, and K. Mostpeople take vitamins to fill nutritional gaps that occur whenour diets aren�t as good as we�d like to admit. Vitamins shouldnot be taken as a substitute for a healthy diet, as good eatinghabits should always be the first priority. The RecommendedDaily Allowance (RDA) is the amount of essential nutrients thatis considered to be adequate to meet nutritional needs of almostall healthy people, or the amount to prevent a nutrientdeficiency. However, the optimal levels are really a lot higherthan 100% of the RDA. Depending on your age and gender, men and women requiredifferent vitamins at different times in their lives, but thereare vitamins that men and women of all ages need. Vitamin Alowers cholesterol, improves vision, boosts the immune system,and helps skin and hair. Similarly, vitamin C boosts the immunesystem, while it heals wounds and makes collagen. Vitamin Dhelps to build bones and teeth and also prevents colds. VitaminE protects the skin, lowers blood pressure, heals burns, andalso boosts energy. Vitamin K prevents bone loss, and helpswith normal blood clotting. The B vitamins, which includesthiamin, riboflavin, niacin, B6, B12, Biotin, and PantothenicAcid, supports nerve cells, provides energy, lowerscholesterol, reduces homocysteine, burns fat, reduces skininflammation, and converts sugar and fat into energy. Lastly,Folic acid can help to prevent spinal bifida, increases milkproduction in nursing mothers, and makes the skin healthier ingeneral. Minerals help form the structure of our bodies. Without them,our bones could not continue to grow, strengthen, and repairthemselves. They help our nerves send and receive signals andallow our muscles to respond properly. They are also veryimportant in normal blood clotting and tissue repair. Anymultivitamin that you get needs to have a full range ofminerals including calcium, magnesium, zinc, selenium, copper,manganese, chromium, molybdenum, sodium, potassium, boron, andvanadium. Iron should be in a supplement for women who arestill menstruating, but not for those who aren�t. Therefore,minding age and gender-appropriate multiples is something thatneeds to be considered. When purchasing a multiple vitamin, it is also important tolook for antioxidants from fruit and herbal sources. Lutein andZeaxanthin support healthy vision. Grape seed extractstrengthens veins and arteries, boosts the immune system, andreduces allergic symptoms. Bilberry prevents hardening ofarteries and cataracts, and supports retina. Black tea lowerscancer risk and chances of stroke. Cherry fruit strengthenscollagen, reduces inflammation, supports tendons and muscles,and also reduces the risk of heart attacks. Although most people are trying to cut fats from their diets,fats aren�t necessarily a bad thing. Rather, it�s a matter ofproportion. Both omega-3 and omega-6 fats need to be consumedto stay healthy. Omega-6 fats can be found in many everydaysources, including doughnuts, vegetable oils, and margarine. Wetend to have an abundance of omega-6 fatty acids because foodsmade or prepared with these ingredients are very popular.Omega-3 fatty acids, on the other hand, are not found in mostdiets, but show the most benefits. Some of these benefitsinclude: reducing high blood pressure, lowering bad cholesteroland raising good cholesterol, reducing heart attack risk,reducing risk of stroke, reducing osteoarthritis symptoms,increasing mental focus, helping improve eczema, reducingasthma symptoms, and reducing rheumatoid arthritis symptoms.Cancer survival, bipolar disorder, and depression all showpromise with treatment from omega-3. Adding more fish to yourdiet is a good idea for everyone, but not every fish has thehigh levels of EPA and DHA that are beneficial in omega-3. Afish oil supplement that is mercury-free and naturally-stablecan help provide the EPA and DHA that is necessary for people.Make sure that the supplement you choose isn�t artificiallymodified to boost DHA and EPA concentration. Be certain thatnatural antioxidants such as vitamin E are added to preventrancidity and make the supplement taste better. Probiotics, also called �beneficial bacteria�, are becomingmore and more popular. Acidophilus is one of the best and mostresearched probiotic bacteria out there right now. It may seemstrange, but not all bacteria are bad. Actually, probioticbacteria are essential for the body so that it can digest foodproperly and absorb minerals. An imbalance of intestinalbacteria (microflora) is often associated with many diseasesfrom yeast infections to colon cancer. By taking a nutritionalsupplement or eating foods containing probiotic bacteria, youcan help support and modify the composition of the microflorain your large intestine. These microflora assist digestion,protect against disease-causing bacteria, and stimulate theimmune system. Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterialongum have a central role in the intestinal flora and providemany health benefits. Even though it is associated with dairy,Bifidobacteria longum assists in the breakdown of lactose andrelieves some of the symptoms of lactose intolerance such asflatulence and bloating. When choosing a probiotic supplement,look for one that contains Lactobacillus acidophilus andBifidobacteria longum. The supplement should be in a�super-capsule,� as regular capsules won�t protect the bacteriaall the way through the stomach. Similar to foods, look for afreshness date that guarantees the amount of probiotic bacteriaat the time of purchase, rather than just at the time ofmanufacture. CoQ10, also known as ubiquinone, is a nutrient that can befound in all living cells of the body. Supplementing CoQ10 can:reduce the risk of heart attack, slow effects of parkinson�sdisease, replenish CoQ10 depletion from statin drug use,decrease high blood pressure, reduce the frequency of migraineheadaches, and reduce tumors. CoQ10 also has great antioxidantabilities, as it scoops up free-radicals in the body. There aresome major distinctions among CoQ10 products. One being that theproduct must be scientifically shown to absorb through thedigestive tract and move into the mitochondria. Usuallychewable and softgel forms are best because they cross theblood/brain barrier. The second major distinction is that theCoQ10 should be in a natural form, rather than a syntheticform. The third distinction is that the supplement should beproven to work. A commercially-available product should be thesame formula studied by respected organizations, withdocumented research. By building up a healthy foundation with adaily multiple, stable fish oil, daily probiotic, and absorbableCoQ10, we can ensure ourselves the basic nutrients needed eachday to live a healthier life. All the above listed supplementscan be found at your local or internet health food store.About the Author: Please visit VitaNet Health Foods athttp://vitanetonline.com/ VitaNet sells high quality multiples,coq10, probiotics, and omega-3 fish oil to boost health andwellness. Please link to this site when using this article.Source: http://www.isnare.com

Vitamin and Mineral Supplements: What You Need To Know Before You Buy

Important! Read this before you buy another vitamin-mineral or nutritional supplement product. This information is vitally important to your health. All vitamin supplements are not the same. AND there is no one supplement that is good for everyone. If anyone ever tells you that theirs is the one supplement that everyone needs, run, don't walk and don't look back.How do you choose the vitamin-mineral and nutritional supplements that you take? Or maybe you don't take any because you're so overwhelmed by the choices and you don't know which to choose.One product claims it's "the most comprehensive answer to the body's need for life-giving nutrients." It has "100's of healthy nutrients from all natural whole-food sources."Another company says they produce the "highest quality nutritional ... products available" that "make you feel and look wonderful."Still another company boasts "an exclusive line of cutting-edge nutritional products" that are "quality, wellness and life-enhancing."Then there's the product that states it "has a total of 165 nutrients, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and whole food extracts" which gives you "a more complete and broad spectrum of ingredients [and] faster absorption..."These are only a few of the claims made for nutritional supplement products available today. There are hundreds of different vitamin-mineral and nutritional supplement products competing for your dollar.So, how do you choose? Maybe you've heard someone say what fantastic results they got from taking a specific product. You tried it and you didn't feel any different. Perhaps you did this a few times, with several different products, and still you got no results. You might even have gotten discouraged and decided that vitamin supplements just don't work. Or quite possibly you continued to take them simply because you felt you needed to, to be healthy, even though it didn't make you feel any different.Why do some people get such fantastic results that they rave about it to everyone who will listen and some people don't get any results at all ... with the same product? It all boils down to biochemical individuality. In other words individual differences. Those who get the most dramatic results are generally the most deficient in the nutrients that product provides. They had deficiencies the product corrected. And why didn't you feel any different? Because the nutrients in that product were not the right nutrients for your body or they weren't in the right proportions.Not everybody needs the same vitamin and mineral combinations in the same proportions. But everyone needs certain amounts of vitamins and minerals to be healthy. Vitamins and minerals are essential to life. And with the nutrient deficient soils our foods are grown on, most people don't get enough nutrients from their food alone to be truly healthy. Even the American Medical Association (AMA) recommends that every adult take a vitamin/mineral supplement daily.So how do you choose a good quality supplement that will give you all the nutrients that you need?First, let's take a look at some facts that you need to know about how vitamins and minerals work in your body.1. Vitamins and minerals work together. They need to be taken in the right proportions to be effective. For example, calcium, magnesium and phosphorus, in the right proportions, work together to keep your bones strong.2. If you take too much of one nutrient, it can cause deficiencies in other nutrients. For instance, if you take too much calcium, it can cause your body to absorb less magnesium, phosphorus, iron and zinc. Too much vitamin C can cause a copper deficiency.3. Taking too much of some nutrients can cause the same symptoms as a deficiency of that same nutrient. This happens with calcium, zinc and vitamin C.Your personal needs are also dependent upon your metabolism. Is your metabolism fast or slow? Certain nutrients speed up your metabolism and others slow it down. If you have a fast metabolism, you don't want to be taking nutrients that speed it up even more. If your metabolism is slow, you shouldn't be taking nutrients that slow it down. You want a nutritional product that will balance your unique body chemistry.Choosing the right nutritional supplement sounds complicated, but it's not. It can really be quite easy. You see, your hair holds the key. It contains the blueprint of the mineral balance in the tissues of your body, past and present. And because minerals interact not only with each other but also with vitamins, proteins, carbohydrates and fats, the mineral status also gives you information on your vitamin needs as well.Your hair gives you a good picture of your body's nutrient needs. When you have a hair mineral analysis test, there's no guessing, no trial and error. With proper interpretation of the results, you know what's in balance in your body, what's out of balance and what your body needs. And with the proper selection of nutritional products based upon the results of your hair analysis, you will get the nutrients your body needs.(c) 2006 Christine H. Farlow, D.C. Find out more about how hair analysis can help you improve your health and choose the right supplements for your unique nutritional needs at http://www.healthyeatingadvisor.com/customnutrition.html

Diet Tips - Five Easy Ways to Lose Weight Fast!

By: Stephen Todd Many people hate the idea of rigid diets - the good news is that if follow the five proven weight loss tips below, you will lose weight easily.The diet tips require no real willpower and can improve anyone's diet and chances of healthy weight control.1. Drink WaterOne of the most effective diet tips is to drink plenty of water. In fact, water is possibly the single most important catalyst in losing weight and keeping it off.Water acts as a natural appetite suppressant by keeping your stomach full and fending off dehydration that leads to hunger cravings. Water also provides the additional benefit of flushing out toxins from the body and keeping it hydrated.Water also helps your body metabolize stored fat by helping the kidneys flush out waste. When you don't drink enough water the liver that works to provide stored fat for energy also takes on the role of helping the kidneys eliminate waste and thus becomes less effective at metabolizing fat.2. Eat BreakfastMany people believe one of the best diet tips is skipping breakfast, as it will help them lose weight, this is totally incorrect. Skipping breakfast can make you hungrier later in the day leading to distorted satiety signals (i.e. it's hard to determine when you're full). This can actually result in eating more as a result.If you don't have time to eat breakfast or don't like to, at least have a liquid meal to fuel your body after sleeping and having no nutrition for several hours.3. Increase Fibre IntakeEating lots of foods rich in fibre helps keep food moving through your bowels. Just like water, fiber rich foods bulk you up and make you feel full. In fact, the average person could lose around 10 pounds a year just from doubling their fiber intake.High fiber foods are generally low in calories and fill you up, so eating more of them means you're eating fewer calories and leaving less room for calories from other foods. Fiber also cuts calories by attaching itself to some of the other proteins and fats that you eat and eliminates them as well.The average person consumes about 8g of fiber per day, but many experts recommend 25g. Start your day with a high fiber cereal and keep eating fibre throughout the day.4. Eat Healthy FatsMany experts claim that fat causes obesity, raises your cholesterol and causes heart disease, but this is not strictly true. If fat is all that bad, why is it part of our natural diet chain? The reason is fat can be very good for you.Fat provides the body with essential fatty acids (linoleic and linolenic acids) needed for normal reproduction and growth, as well as for production of prostaglandin, a hormone like compound that regulates blood pressure, blood clotting, and inflammation.When eating fats you should eat healthy fats. Eating "healthy" fats includes the cold-water fish, mackerel and salmon, nuts, and olive oil. By eating healthy fats over unhealthy ones you will lose weight.5. Lean ProteinProtein is a great weight control tool because of the immediate satiety factor and because it keeps you full for longer periods. It also balances out carbs by preventing insulin spikes that can lead to a drain in energy and sugar cravings.Protein also helps maintain muscle mass, which is very important in the fat burning process. At least 20% of calories should be in the form of protein.Article Source: http://www.nulife-weightloss.com/articlesMore dieting and general health information and FREE exclusive diet and health magazines, are available on our web site: www.net-planet.org

Effective Reduction Of Cellulite

Cellulite is a nightmare for many women and even some of themen have to deal with it. The cosmetic industry is aware of thefact that 80% of the women suffer from cellulite and as a resultthey developed numerous solutions to help those women get rid ofcellulite. But those solutions have a price tag that makes themnot affordable for everyone. High priced products are not always as effective as the pricetag would make us think. Nothing is further from the truth. Infact, we may consider those solutions as too easy too believe.One has to put some physical effort in the daily routine inorder to achieve results. Physical effort to reduce cellulite means massage and it can bedone in an easy and much less expensive way. The only thing youneed is a cheap body lotion. You have to keep in mind though that this massage will not meltthe fat away, but it will assist in the reduction of celluliteeffectively in combination with proper diet and a littleexercise. Follow the steps described below and you will see results: . The lotion will be needed to enable your hands to slide withease over the cellulite areas. . The massage starts at the lowest point and goes up towardsyour heart. . Always apply moderate pressure, to high pressure might damageyour skin. . There are 3 moves you have to alternate : . Long sweeping strokes using your knuckles, fingers or palm ofyour hand . And circular motion, again using your hand as describedabove. . Kneading motion by grasping your skin with your thumb andfingers and massage it in circular motion like it was a dough. If you do this every day for at least 5 minutes you will seeresults.There are many alternative ways to take care of ourbody. So, before deciding to buy expensive, easy to dosolutions we might be better of putting some effort in lessexpensive more effective solutions. A better way to start a better and healthier life is toconsider our body as a whole and do proper research either inbooks or the internet looking for ways to eat healthier and doexercise within our possibilities, even if there are physicallimitations.About The Author: Rudy Dhondt is the webmaster ofInfocellulite. For more useful information to reduce celluliteeffectively visit: http://www.infocellulite.com

Workout Like A Professional With A Weider Home Gym

One can exercise very conveniently from home with the WeiderHome Gyms. You can buy them directly from the manufacturer atvery reasonable prices, most are below $1000. The Weider Home Gyms are designed specifically with economy ofspace and ease of use in mind. Most of these machines arecollapsible and can be stored somewhere out of the way untilyou want to use them. The compact design allows it to be usedin the home or apartment without taking up a lot of livingspace. Depending on which muscles that you want to exercise, differentpieces of Weider home gym equipment can be used. If your purposeis a full body workout then owning a home gym would be theappropriate choice. With the Weider home gym equipment that comes with two completestations for the arms, back, legs, and chest, there is not amuscle in your body that you cannot exercise. The Weider home gym equipment gives you a machine withresistance up to around 400 pounds that you can use to do morethan 65 different workout exercises. Only a few years ago youwould have that to go to the gym for that versatility in yourworkouts. These home gym machines have power rod technology that givesyou a power workout in the convenience of your own home. They have different models of machines including the Weider MaxWeight System, Weider 1120, and the Weider Home Gym Advantage. The Weider Advantage can work nearly every muscle in the bodyand thereby gives you the option for varying your routine andgaining the most benefit from a well-rounded workout. You can,just like the serious bodybuilders, target your biceps one day,chest muscles the next, your legs the next day, etc. People of different body types and different fitness levels canbenefit from Weider Home Gyms. There are even seriousbodybuilders who make use of them. Apart from the versatility of these machines they also carry abrand-name, which through many years of excellent service hasdeveloped a respected reputation for quality and value formoney. It does not matter if you want to include toning into yourweight loss program or if you want to build muscles for astronger physique, the Weider home gym equipment has what ittakes to help you attain your goal.About The Author: For more home fitness and diet informationvisit http://www.bestdietfitness.com/

The Difference In Bodybuilding For Women

When we think of bodybuilders, we often automatically think ofmen with large, sculpted muscles competing for titles. But whenit comes to the sport of bodybuilding, women have taken a largerrole than ever working to build their own muscles and competeon the same level as the men. Subsequently, bodybuilding forwomen has become increasingly popular for participants and fansalike. Bodybuilding is significantly easier for men than it is forwomen based on one simple fact; the hormone testosterone isresponsible for the building of muscle in our bodies. And whileboth men and women have levels of testosterone in their bodies,men have significantly higher levels. Therefore, the ability tobuild muscle comes much easier to men. Bodybuilding for womencan be more difficult but the results are just as spectacular. Whether taking on the sport as a hobby or in order toparticipate in competition, bodybuilding for women can be aterrific way for women to achieve optimum fitness andnutrition. And for a gender that is often held to higherstandards for physical appearance, bodybuilding allows women torevel in their physical power as well as their femininity. Bodybuilding for women just like bodybuilding for men requires a strong commitment to diet and exercise. For mostwomen this means a weekly workout routine that combinescardiovascular exercise, core work, and weight training. But,unfortunately, when it comes to this sport some women, in aneffort to increase the levels of testosterone in their body andthus increase their ability to build muscle, will turn toanabolic steroids to enhance their performance. The effects ofsteroid use can be disastrous on many levels and result in abevy of physical repercussions including hair loss, acne,muscle weakness, high blood pressure, and, in some cases, thetaking on of male physical characteristics. Another thing to keep in mind when it comes to bodybuilding forwomen is that intense workouts and dieting will significantlyreduce the body fat percentage in a woman's body. While thiscan be beneficial to a certain extent, body fat shouldordinarily be kept at balanced levels in order to maintain ahealthy lifestyle. Dangerously low body fat can result in aloss of the menstrual cycle and a number of physicalmanifestations. Bodybuilding for women done safely - can result inbeautifully sculpted muscles and overall physical health afantastic reward for hard work and sacrifice.About The Author: For easy to understand, in depth informationabout bodybuilding for women visit our ezGuide 2 http://bodybuilding.ezguide2.com

Following A Nutrition Guide

As we have all no doubt discovered, diet plays an integral rolein our weight, overall health, and even in our longevity. Asmore and more illness and disease are linked to poor dietaryhabits, we have had to take a good, long look at the way thatwe are eating and make crucial lifestyle changes in order toimprove our health. And as we have found, an essential part ofeating healthy is following a fundamental nutrition guide. Defined as eating in a way that delivers all the essentialvitamins and minerals that our bodies need to be at their mostefficient, healthy eating requires a committed focus on basicfood groups. A good nutrition guide to follow is that whichmakes use of the freshest, most seasonal ingredients on themarket. Focus your meals and snacks around whole, natural foodssuch as fresh fruits, green, leafy vegetables, whole grains, andlean proteins. Additionally, low-fat dairy products will providethe calcium crucial to a body's health. Further, in following an effective nutrition guide, drink atleast eight glasses of water every day to help flush yoursystem and hydrate your body. Water acts as a natural appetitesuppressant, speeds the metabolism, and aids digestion. Any nutrition guide will recommend minimizing if noteliminating altogether your consumption of fried or processedfoods or foods high in salt, sugar, or saturated fats. When itcomes to eating healthy, the simpler the better. Food in itsmost stripped down form whole and unprocessed is thehealthiest choice you can make for your body. In some cases, you may have a particular vitamin deficiency orother nutritional needs that require additional support. If youare unsure about your diet or how to go about making thenecessary lifestyle changes to support good health, see anutritionist. An effective, reputable nutritionist will helpyou develop a nutrition guide that works for your lifestyle andmeets your body's individual needs.About The Author: For easy to understand, in depth informationabout nutrition guide visit our ezGuide 2http://nutrition.ezguide2.com

Keeping The Bulge Off On Holidays

Food is a basic need- we know that. In the recent times, foodis one of the immortals in the market and it does not cease tohave customers. With the loads of fast food restaurants intown, people are now into unhealthy dieting with all thecalories that make them gain more weight and get unhealthy. As a response, the rose of fitness and dieting came, breakingnew ground and setting options to the portion of the populationwho are on their way for healthier lives. As beauty magazinesscan its pages to show the best bodies around the planet, thebigger number of people is influenced to trim down on fats andadd on working out. Every form of diet has its promise- somemake, some break. For those broken diets, a lot were leftfrustrated, for those who succeeded a life of confidence istheirs. Consistency is a word that best sticks with dieting.Doing an inconsistent diet would just entail more negativeeffects instead of the positive ones. How could you be consistent on holidays? Holidays when food areall over and people are all enjoying on eating a lot?!? It takesa whole lot of defiance and a great dose of discipline. Howcould you stand against a table of temptation or two? There arethings you must inject in you that would remind you that youhave to keep the diet despite the tests. On holidays, like before going to a party, eat anutritious-well-balanced meal. This would keep you up away fromjunk food around. A balanced meal should include healthful food.Keeping a fit body does not mean skipping any meal- it is just amatter of balance. Have in your mind the fact that you are on the process ofeating wisely and not on a total dieting. This will just giveyou negative thoughts of depriving your very self. During the party, do something that would divert your attentionfrom thinking about the food, the liquor- that would fold yourtummy into layers. Discipline is a great tool in achieving bothshort-term and long-term targets. It is true with dieting. Always go for the lesser evil. This means that you have tochoose among the following: a rich main course, a creamydessert or an alcoholic drink. You have to choose one and losetwo. Indulging in all three is a no. no. Instead of alcohol, you could always sip on a glass ofvegetable juice or fruit juice. You may not enjoy that muchwithout the feeling of being tipsy- but the happiness ofkeeping yourself despite the temptation on your diet will staylonger.About The Author: Julia Martinez is a freelance writer for theDiet Times. She writes a regular column which is publishedevery Thursday. Her latest 'favorite pick' ishttp://www.dirtydiet.com/.

Fast Food Weight Loss - Is Eating At McDonald's The New Path To Weight Loss?

By: Tracie Johanson Is eating at McDonald's the new path to weight loss? Can fast food burgers, fries and sodas fit into your diet and weight loss program? For years, the answer has been a resounding NO. But lately, Wendy's, Burger King and many other fast food chains have made changes to help consumers stick to a healthy diet.Why have fast food companies finally started to pay attention to healthier food choices? Simply stated, because it's good for business. Americans are trying everything from the newest weight loss pill to Weight Watchers to lose their extra fat, spending ".....more than $40 billion in 2004 on weight control pills, gym memberships, diet plans and related foods, estimates Marketdata Enterprises, which studies the weight loss industry" (Source: cnn.com; 1-14-2005). Statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicate that 80 percent of overweight individuals and almost 87 percent of obese individuals are trying to lose or maintain their weight.Any fast foods company that's paying attention to public sentiment and trends has made changes to make their menu more palatable to the health and fitness enthusiast. McDonald's, long an industry leader, has made tremendous strides in this area culminating in their recent announcement that all fast food packaging will soon include nutritional information. But have they gone far enough?-> Fast Food = Fat Food:No matter how many healthy new products are introduced onto the fast food menu boards, the problem is that their core products are high in fat and calories. Consider these typical meals from McDonald's:Big Mac, Large Fries, Large Coca-Cola, Hot Fudge Sundae = 1,730 calories, 99% of daily fat, 108% of daily saturated fat, 86% of daily carbohydrates Chicken Selects Breast Strips (5 pc), Large Fries, Large Coke, McFlurry with M+M's Candies (12 oz.) = 2,290 calories, 151% of daily fat, 131% of daily saturated fat, 100% of daily carbohydrates Bacon Ranch Salad/Crispy Chicken, Newman's Ranch Dressing, Large Coke, McFlurry Oreo (12 oz.) = 1,390 calories, 73% of daily fat, 81% of daily saturated fat, 69% of daily carbohydrates(Source: mcdonalds.com)Some consumers, in an attempt to reduce the number of calories and fat they're eating, have opted for salads instead of traditional burgers and fries. Unfortunately, some fast food salads are almost as bad for us as a Big Mac. A California Cobb salad with Newman's Own Cobb Dressing from McDonald's, for example, boasts 490 calories and 42% of your daily fat. Compare that to a Big Mac, which has 560 calories and 47% of your recommended daily fat.Although chastised in the movie 'SuperSize Me', McDonald's isn't alone in offering high calories foods. The Original Whopper with Cheese from Burger King will cost you 800 calories and 49 grams of fat. Make that a Double Whopper with Cheese and you'll consume an incredible 1,060 calories and 69 grams of fat. The Big Bacon Classic from Wendy's is better with 580 calories and 29 grams of fat, while the Bacon Ultimate Cheeseburger from Jack In The Box is the highest on the list with 1,094 calories and a tremendous 78 grams of fat.Clearly, high calorie fast food has become a problem. With approximately 65% of Americans classified as overweight, people are pointing fingers of blame. "In a lawsuit filed in 2002, two Bronx teenagers accused McDonald's of making them fat by serving them highly processed food that affected their health. A judge tossed out the case a year later, but an appeals court reinstated part of the suit earlier this year, according to published reports." (Source: cnn.com; 10-20-2005).McDonald's isn't the only chain being accused of making people fat. "A New York City lawyer has filed suit against the four big fast-food corporations, saying their fatty foods are responsible for his client's obesity and related health problems. Samuel Hirsch filed his lawsuit Wednesday at a New York state court in the Bronx, alleging that McDonald's, Burger King, Wendy's and KFC Corporation are irresponsible and deceptive in the posting of their nutritional information, that they need to offer healthier options on their menus, and that they create a de facto addiction in their consumers" (Source: foxnews.com; 7-24-2002).The fast food industry initially responded by arguing that customers have a choice of what to order when going to a restaurant. "It's senseless, baseless and ridiculous," National Restaurant Association spokeswoman Katharine Kim said. "There are choices in restaurants and people can make these choices, and there's a little personal responsibility as well." (Source: foxnews.com; 7-24-2002).Our elected officials seem to agree with that assessment. "The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill Wednesday that would block lawsuits by people who blame fast-food chains for their obesity. The 'cheeseburger bill,' as it has been dubbed in Congress, stems from class-action litigation that accused McDonald's of causing obesity in children" (Source: cnn.com; 10-20-2005). This bill is not yet law, having passed the House but not yet the Senate. In the last Congress a similar bill passed the House, but the Senate never acted on it. About 20 states have laws similar to the 'cheeseburger bill'.-> Fast Food Makes A Change:To their credit, McDonald's and some others in the fast food industry have made changes to their menu making it easier for us to stick to our diet program or weight loss plan.McDonald's allows consumers to substitute Apple Dippers with Caramel Dip for the french fries in their meal, cutting calories from 350 to 100 and reducing fat from 16 grams all the way down to 1 gram (comparison vs. medium fries). McDonald's also allows a no-cost substitution of 1% milk instead of a Coke, further cutting caloric intake by 50 calories and boosting protein and calcium (comparison vs. small Coke Classic).Upon request, Burger King now provides Mott's Strawberry Flavored Applesauce in place of french fries which will save you 270 calories and 18 grams of fat (comparison vs. medium fries).Wendy's will honor customer requests to substitute mandarin oranges for french fries, sparing you a belt-busting 360 calories and 21 grams of fat (comparison vs. medium fries).Not only are the fast food giants allowing healthier substitutions, but they have also added a selection of fairly nutritious menu options. McDonald's new Fruit & Walnut Salad has only 310 calories and 13 grams of fat, while their Fruit & Yogurt Parfait boasts 160 calories and 2 grams of fat. In some markets Burger King is offering a Veggie Burger that has only 340 calories and 8 grams of fat when you order it without the mayonnaise.Now McDonald's has given consumers looking for fast weight loss another tool: easy to read and easy to find nutritional labels. In the past, customers wanting to find nutrition facts on their fast food choices either had to search in the restaurant for a hard-to-find poster or go online. Now, in what is being called a 'bold move', McDonald's is planning to put these nutritional facts right where they're easiest to find - on the product wrapper itself. "McDonald's Corp. customers will soon know that the Big Mac they bought contains almost half their recommended daily fat intake just by looking at the wrapper. In its latest measure to fend off critics that blame the world's largest restaurant company for contributing to rising incidents of obesity and other health problems, McDonald's said it will start printing nutritional information on the packaging of its food" (Source: cnn.com; 10-26-2005).McDonald's is to be commended for their efforts to educate their customers. This new informative label goes a long way towards answering nutritional concerns. Expected to be in most stores by the end of 2006, the new labels will include the amount of the nutrient (calories, fat, protein, etc.) and the percentage of the daily recommended intake, based on a 2,000 calorie diet.-> Is It Enough?The fast food industry has heard the public asking for healthier options and more nutritional information, and they have responded. But it is enough?McDonald's and others still sell high calorie and high fat products, and we shouldn't expect those to disappear anytime soon. In our free market, as long as there is a demand there will be someone with a supply. "Data from USDA's food intake surveys show that the food-away-from-home sector provided 32 percent of total food energy consumption in 1994-96, up from 18 percent in 1977-78. The data also suggest that, when eating out, people either eat more or eat higher calorie foods-or both-and that this tendency appears to be increasing" (Source: usda.gov).Even with more information at their fingertips, there is some doubt that consumers will actually use that information to make healthier choices. Consider the limited impact from warning labels on cigarettes and alcohol packaging; despite such dire warnings, people still use these products. There is evidence that Americans will continue to eat what they want, no matter how much information they have available to them. "According to a 2000 Roper Reports survey of a nationally representative sample of 2,000 Americans 18 or older, the percentage of Americans who say they are eating "pretty much whatever they want" was at an all-time high of 70 percent in 2000, up from 58 percent in 1997" (Source: usda.gov).The question of 'is it enough' seems to be misdirected. Instead of asking the fast food industry to do more to educate the public and offer healthy options, perhaps what we as a country should do is ask ourselves if the information we have right now is enough. If we look for it, is there enough health, fitness and nutritional information out there to help us make the right dietary choices? As uncomfortable as it may be for some, the answer to this question is probably yes.-> The Overlooked Answer:All too often, when participating in a discussion of diet and weight control, we fail to mention the most obvious answer: exercise! Consistent exercise can balance out and make up for the occasional high calorie fast food meal, while at the same time providing countless other health benefits.Exercise is the only path to quick weight loss that virtually every doctor in the world agrees upon. Exercise is safe, effective, and brings many more benefits to our lives than nutrition labels ever will alone. Exercise is fun, invigorating, motivating and the single most powerful way to improve our life and well-being.Reaching your ideal weight via a healthy and active lifestyle has been found to lower health risks and medical problems in 90 percent of overweight patients. In addition to the exercise benefits listed above, fit people are eight times less likely to die from cancer than the unfit, and 53 percent less likely to die from other diseases. Fit people are also eight times less likely to die from heart disease.Yes, nutrition labels are important insofar as we actually use them. But without a doubt, regular exercise is the most important piece of the puzzle and the best way to achieve rapid weight loss. Exercise is the safest way to achieve permanent fat loss, and when combined with a sound diet and nutrition program the body is turned into a virtual fat-burning furnace!Consumers would be wise to use the new tools from the fast food industry. Order the healthier items off the menu, pay attention to the nutritional labels, and above all else remember to participate in regular exercise.Article Source: http://www.nulife-weightloss.com/articlesTracie Johanson is the founder of Pick Up The Pace, a 30-minute exercise studio for women, focusing on fitness, health and nutrition for maximum weight loss. Please visit www.letspickupthepace.com/ for more information.

What Is Body Mass And Does It Effect Us.

The BMI (Body Mass Index) has become a useful tool in managingweight and body fat percentage in the last 20 years.Calculating it requires only simple arithmetic and can beperformed by anyone. It's important because it provides anobjective measurement that, combined with the appropriate scalefor age and body type, helps someone manage their body weightmore scientifically.Judgments about body weight can easily become clouded byemotionalism. It's good to be passionate about managing yourbody, but you need to get a good grounding in facts, first. BMIis an important tool for achieving that goal.BMI factors in not only your weight, but also your height.Simply divide your weight in kilograms (1 lb = 0.454 kg) by thesquare of your height in meters. (1 inch = 2.54 cm)So, for a person 5 ft 7 in (67 inches) tall, who weighs 120 lbsthe calculation would look like this:Height: 67 inches x 2.54 cm/inch = 170.18 cm = 1.7018 mHeight squared: 1.7018 m x 1.7018 m = 2.896 m^2Weight: 120 lbs x 0.454 kg/lb = 54.48 kgSo, BMI = 54.48 kg / 2.896 m^2 = 18.81But what does this number mean? The following table lists onecommonly accepted classification, using BMI:Under 18.5 = UnderweightBetween 18.5 and 24.99 = NormalBetween 25 and 29.99 = OverweightBetween 30 and 34.99 = Obese (Class 1)Between 35 and 39.99 = Obese (Class 2)40 and above = Extreme ObesityOf course, anyone near the borderline of one classificationshouldn't panic, since these can't be anything but guidelines.Nevertheless, anyone nearer the higher range should considerthe health risks associated with a high BMI. Some of those are:hypertension, increased risk of cardiovascular disease (heartproblems) and increased chance of diabetes. Consult a physicianfor details.There are limitations on the usefulness of BMI. It doesn't takeinto account different body types, athletic conditioning, age,muscle-to-fat ratio and other characteristics.As a result, it can overestimate the risk for stocky athletesand underestimate it for older individuals who have reducedmuscle mass. And, gender isn't taken into account either. Yetwomen, just as one example, have a naturally larger percentageof body fat than men, on average.Another measure is useful to couple with BMI: waistcircumference. Since, for men and women both (thoughparticularly for men) body fat is stored preferentially aroundthe waist this can be a useful piece of information.For most men around, say, 5 ft 9 inches a waist measurementover 37 inches (94 cm) is substantial, while one over 40 inches(101.6 cm) indicates a health risk. For women approximately 5 ft7 inches tall, the numbers are 31 inches (78.7 cm) and 35 inches(89 cm), respectively.Keep in mind that these are averages, but those withsubstantial waistlines can see the amount of excess fat stored,confirming that the numbers constitute a useful piece ofinformation.What to do with, or about, those numbers is a different story,of course. No single measurement tells the whole story aboutweight, body fat and how to manage it. But these representuseful and objective measures when considering any weight lossprogram.About The Author: http://Ydiets.com is an excellent place tofind weight loss and diet resource, links and articles. Formore information visit:weight loss

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