Lose 10 Pounds In 2 Days With Fast Diets is a post from: Overweight

Animal products contain fat and cholesterol, which is what many of today’s health conscious people try to avoid. Chickens, pigs and cows are often fed growth hormones and injected with antibiotics, which ends up in meat bought at the supermarket, or served in restaurants.
A healthy, sensible vegetarian diet consists primarily of plant-based foods, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes like soya beans, lentils, nuts and seeds. Because the emphasis is on nonmeat food sources, a vegetarian diet typically contains less saturated fat and cholesterol, and will usually incorporate more fiber. Medical studies have shown that individuals following a vegetarian regimen seem to have a lower risk of obesity, coronary heart disease (which causes heart attack), high blood pressure, diabetes mellitus and some forms of cancer.

A well-planned vegetarian diet is loaded with nutritional values. Plant proteins can provide enough essential and non-essential amino acids a body needs, as long as the sources of the dietary protein are varied and a caloric intake is high enough to meet the individual’s energy needs. Soy protein, for example, has been proven to be equal to proteins of animal origin, and can, in some cases, be a sole protein source.

When following  vegetarian diets, the risk of iron deficiency may be greater than for meat-eaters, and iron levels in the body may have to be monitored closely. The richest sources of iron are found in red meat, liver and egg yolk, all foods which are also high in cholesterol. That does not mean that iron cannot be retrieved from other foods. Dried beans, spinach, enriched products, brewer’s yeast and dried fruits are all excellent iron suppliers.

The human body cannot survive without an ample provision of vitamins and minerals. Most of what the human body requires can be found in a vegetarian diet, but when it comes to vitamin D and B-12, vegetarians and vegans (they do not eat animals or animal by-products such as eggs, dairy, etc.), may need supplements. Vitamin B-12 can be found in some fortified breakfast cereals, fortified soy beverages, some brands of nutritional yeast and other foods (check the product labels), as well as vitamin supplements.

Choosing a vegetarian lifestyle will improve your health and lower the risks of getting diabetes, heart disease, or cancer. Many wonderful dishes can be created with different kinds of beans – from Lima, kidney, pinto, garbanzo, soy beans, to black-eyed peas. These can be served with rice, added to delicious soups, stews, and mouth-watering salads, or made into a variety of casseroles, and ethnic dishes. Tofu, or soy bean curd, can be added to dips and spreads, or served with stir-fried vegetables, and pasta. For the grand finale, meals can be topped off with wonderful desserts made from juicy fresh fruits and a variety of exotic nuts.

In conclusion, if you are concerned about your health, it may be worth while checking into vegetarian diets. It is a healthy lifestyle with many benefits, which can also work for you!

Vegetarian Diets Can Improve Your Health is a post from: Overweight

Diets that are high in protein, especially animal protein, tend to cause the body to excrete more calcium, oxalate, and uric acid. These three substances are the main components of urinary tract stones. British researchers have advised that persons with a tendency to form kidney stones should follow a vegetarian diet. The American Academy of Family Physicians notes that high animal protein intake is largely responsible for the high prevalence of kidney stones in the United States and other developed countries and recommends protein restriction for the prevention of recurrent kidney stones.

For many of the same reasons, vegetarians are at a lower risk for osteoporosis. Since animal products force calcium out of the body, eating meat can promote bone loss. In nations with mainly vegetable diets (and without dairy product consumption), osteoporosis is less common than in the U.S., even when calcium intake is also less than in the U.S. Calcium is important, but there is no need to get calcium from dairy products.

Some studies have suggested that vegetarians may be at lower risk of osteoporosis than non-vegetarians.Bone loss is considerably less in postmenopausal women who were vegetarian than those who were non-vegetarian. The non-vegetarian diet contained higher amounts of sulphur, which derived from animal protein.

Dietary sulphur increases the acidity of urine, which results in increased urinary calcium loss. Increased urinary calcium loss is related to increased calcium loss from bone tissue.Hip fractures associated with osteoporosis has been shown to be higher in countries consuming a diet high in animal protein.

We continue to consume meat, while at the same time downing calcium supplements and prescription drugs to prevent osteoporosis, that often have drastic side effects. And most experts agree that calcium supplements are inferior to calcium derived from natural food sources. Doesn’t it make more sense (and cents) to get your calcium from eating a healthier diet?

What are some good vegetarian sources of calcium? Orange juice, for one. Dry beans, such as black-eyed peas, kidney beans and black beans are another good source, as are dark leafy vegetables such as broccoli and kale. Tofu is also a good source of calcium.

Vegetarian Diets for Preventing Osteoporosis is a post from: Overweight

Let’s start with your health. By eating a vegetarian diet you will consume considerably less saturated fat than by eating a conventional meat based diet. This will be good for the health of your heart.

Studies have shown that people who eat nuts on a regular basis are less likely to suffer heart attacks. Vegetarians depend on nuts as one of their sources of protein. Heart disease has become a major killer in all modern industrialized societies.

That alone would be a major reason to consider becoming a vegetarian. But the health benefits are even greater than that. Vegetarians are seldom obese. Obesity and the health problems associated with it have become a major public health issue.

Most vegetarians consume a lot of complex carbohydrates. These are the “good carbs” you will have heard of that do not cause rapid fluctuations in blood sugar levels. When we experience a rush of blood sugar we must produce more insulin. If this process is repeated our bodies can become insensitive to our own insulin and type 2 diabetes may result in extreme cases. Type 2 diabetes is becoming incresaingly common even in comparatively young people because of the modern diet.

Cancer is another killer disease that is on the increase. A vegetarian diet can play a part in reducing the risk of some cancers because it is high in fibre and high anti-oxidants that combat free radicals.

By eliminating meat from your diet as a vegetarian you are reducing your exposure to antibiotics that are used in animal husbandry and to the hormones that are used as growth promoters and to increase milk production. Antibiotics in food can result in antibiotic resistance. Hormones fed to animals can disrupt the activity of the hormones that our own bodies produce.

The intensive production of animals in factory farming systems raises major issues of animal welfare. There are also environmental concerns because factory farming is so resource hungry. Vast amounts of land are used to produce animal feed that could be used more efficiently to produce food for people. If more of us were vegetarians fewer children would go to bed hungry.

By becoming a vegetarian you are contributing to your own health, to the welfare of other people, to the welfare of animals and to the health of the planet. As an individual your contribution may be small, but your decision to become a

Turning Vegetarian – 3 Top Reasons You Must Adopt Vegetarian Diets is a post from: Overweight

And what happens when you resume your old eating habits? Generally the weight will come right back on. Even the greatest will-power can’t overcome the unhealthy effects of eating high-fat meat.

When you eat a diet that’s higher in dietary fiber, that’s primarily if not totally vegetarian, you’re naturally healthier. You’re feeding your body and getting it the nutrition it needs to run efficiently. You have more energy and stamina; you wake up more easily and more refreshed. It’s easier to exercise, because you’re not so weighed down by digesting the high fat and excessive protein that comes from eating a carnivorous diet.

Vegetarians are leaner than non-vegetarians and their weights are generally closer to desirable levels. The British Medical Association (1986) has stated that vegetarians have lower rates of obesity. Appleby et al (1998) as part of the Oxford Vegetarian Study concluded that non meat eaters are thinner than meat eaters. This may be partly due to a higher intake of dietary fibre, a lower intake of animal fat, and only in men a lower intake of alcohol.

Many diets fail because we think of them as depriving ourselves of food we love. The trick is to change that thinking. There are so many compelling reasons to eliminate meat from our diet, so why not forget about losing weight? Focus instead on eating healthier, or eating in a way that’s in balance with the earth, and that doesn’t need to subsist on the suffering of animals. You’ll probably find you’ll start to lose weight without even thinking about it!

Vegetarian diets tend to be lower in total fat.Vegetarians are found to consume an average of 35% of energy as fat, compared to meat eaters that consumes over 40% of energy as fat. A study of the diets of a group of French vegetarians found they had a daily intake of 25% less fat than non-vegetarians.Vegetarians also tend to eat proportionally more polyunsaturated fat to saturated fat compared with non-vegetarians. Animal products are the major sources of dietary saturated fat.

And when you do lose weight, so many other health risks can fall by the wayside as well. You’ll find your blood pressure falls into a healthier range and your risk for Type II diabetes can decrease. You’ll look better and feel better and probably never go back to your old ways of eating!

Natural Weight Loss With Vegetarian Diets is a post from: Overweight

Minimizing, much less, avoiding such risk can be done by going organic. Many food retailers are now selling organic produce because it is considered as the cleanest and purest type of food sans chemical aid. Organic produce is grown from the healthiest soil and is considered to be tastier and more nutritious. Moreover, organically grown produce promotes the restoration and protection of the environment.

Go organic with the following vegetarian diets that you may want to choose from.

Fruitarianism. This type of vegetarian diet is where you only eat fruits without killing the plant from which the fruit is removed. Apart from dietary reasons, those who choose this kind of diet believe that one can get food without necessarily taking the life of plants and animals.

Vegan diet. A vegan diet is one that completely shuns animal products, including eggs, gelatin, cheese, milk and other dairy products. Most vegans also support the cause of stopping animal cruelty, among other reasons.

Macrobiotic diet. A macrobiotic diet is almost the same with vegetarianism but focuses more on the consumption of beans and whole grains.

Moreover, while some people may consider pescetarianism and pollotariansim diets as other forms of vegetarian diets, it is not actually true since these two types of diets allow the consumption of fish and even poultry products. As a matter of fact, the Vegetarian Society of the United Kingdom has been very keen on educating the general public about the misconception that vegetarians eat fish, which is not at all true.

Whatever vegetarian diet you are in, it is important that you know which one fits your nutritional needs and lifestyle. Remember to go organic so you can be sure that you get the most out of your vegetarian diet. Not only will you be getting a lot of health benefits from an organic vegetarian diet, you are also doing something good for the environment too.

Organic Vegetarian Diets: Healthier and Better is a post from: Overweight

The Insulin Factor

It all boils down to the simple theory that high carbohydrate foods when taken in excess cause you to gain weight. The reason is simple. High-carb foods when taken will cause your blood sugar to rise quickly. The body secrets a hormone called insulin which carries the extra sugar to the liver and muscles to be stored and any excess sugar are converted to fat. If the amount of carbohydrates intake is immediately converted to sugar, there is no problem with our blood sugar level as it is in a balance mode. On the other hand, if there is an over consumption of carbohydrates food, insulin is required to work harder and more will be produced and in time to come, the insulin becomes less responsive. This leads to diabetes and other health issues.

The Fat and Protein Factor

If we consume a low carbohydrate diet, the available carbs are easily used up so the body will turn to fat and even protein for the energy it needs when the carbs sources run out. This is the basis behind the Atkins diet that promotes a low carb diet but high protein and fat component. We are aware that a diet that is rich in protein has been commonly linked to bad cholesterols and heart related complications. However, there were interesting studies to show that low carbohydrate diets are more effective than low- fat diets though the calories count are the same.

Choose Complex Carbs

Let us review the types of carbohydrates that are available. We have the simple carbs such as sweets, fizzy drinks and white bread that get digested quickly and converted to energy for use in the body. Unlike simple carbs, the digestion and conversion of complex carbs such as whole grains, fruits and vegetables are slower and you don’t get that sugar spike followed by a sugar crash. Therefore it makes sense that unrefined carbs are naturally the best choices due to its high fiber content, its low calorie along with the many antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. In fact, the very low calorie content of these fruits and vegetables is enough to result in negative calorie expenditure for the body. Thus you will lose weight no doubt about it.

Low Calorie or Low Carbs

For weight watchers, if you think that all low carb fad diet is good, you better rethink. Low carb diet is good enough if you take a conscious effort to include whole natural foods such as fruits and organic vegetables in your diet instead of following a particular low carb fad diet blindly. For example, some low carb diet recommends an extreme low percentage of carbs to calories, for example 20 per cent of the total calories consumed. Even then the carbohydrates recommended should come strictly from non-starchy vegetables. In addition, there are some low carb diets that tell you to continue eating pasta, ice-cream and cookies due to their low calorie content but these are processed foods. There are concerns that these fad diets, if followed long-term, may lead to kidney, and other health complications.

Consuming a balanced and healthy mix of food combined with regular exercise is still the most effective and safe method to lose weight permanently. The results may be slow but you can still lose weight with discipline and determination.

What You Should Know About Low Carb Diets is a post from: Overweight

Vegetarian diets have also been used in the treatment of various illnesses.Many of the health benefits derived from a vegetarian diet have to do with creating a healthy environment in the bowels and stomach. Our digestive systems, from prehistory on, were designed to metabolize vegetable matter, more than animal products. Fruits, vegetables, legumes and nuts provide the kind of dietary fiber our digestive systems need to function properly. The Western diet that’s high in processed and refined flour and sugar, and in animal products that are laden with hormones and antibiotics, are actually anathema to our insides.

When the digestive system doesn’t function and work as it’s intended to, that leads to opportunistic diseases or changes in the DNA of cells in the stomach and colon. And there are more practical considerations as well. When we don’t get enough of the fiber we need, we incur a host of digestion and elimination problems, such as constipation and hemorrhoids that are a result of straining. These diseases and syndromes are much less evident in a vegetarian population than in a meat-eating population.

Diverticular disease affects the colon and symptoms include lower abdominal pain and disturbed bowel habit. It occurs frequently in western countries where intake of dietary fibre is low. Diverticular disease is found to be less frequent in vegetarians, 12% of vegetarians studied having diverticular disease compared with 33% of non-vegetarians. This is thought to be due to the increased fibre of vegetarian diets.

Other diseases of the bowel that occur less frequently in a vegetarian population include irritable bowel syndrome, and chronic ulcerative colitis, mostly likely due to the increased fiber content in a vegetarian diet. And of course a diet that’s higher in dietary fiber that comes from a vegetarian diet will decrease the likelihood or risk of colon cancer.

When you consider the risks that come with a diet that includes meat and animal products, and the benefits that come from a vegetarian diet, does the prospect of a steak or burger or bacon really sound that good to you? Doesn’t it at least make sense to reverse the portion sizes and proportions of meats to vegetables and side dishes? In other words, if you must continue to eat meat, then make meat your side dish, or just incidental to your meal, such as in a stir fry. Increasing the proportion of fruits and vegetables in your diet can only be good for you.

Vegetarian Diets for Preventing Bowel and Stomach Diseases is a post from: Overweight

Affecting more than 30 million people worldwide, this disease inhibits the body from properly processing foods. Usually, most of the food we eat is digested and converted to glucose, a sugar which is carried by the blood to all cells in the body and used for energy. The hormone insulin then helps glucose pass into cells. But diabetics are unable to control the amount of glucose in their blood because the mechanism which converts sugar to energy does not work correctly.

Insulin is either absent, present in insufficient quantities or ineffective. As a result glucose builds up in the bloodstream and leads to problems such as weakness, inability to concentrate, loss of co-ordination and blurred vision. If the correct balance of food intake and insulin isn’t maintained, a diabetic can also experience blood sugar levels that are too low. If this state continues for a prolonged period of time, it can lead to coma and even death.

Type 2 diabetes is found to be only half as common as a cause of death amongst the largely vegetarian Seventh Day Adventist population as in the general population. An average vegetarian diet closely matches the British Diabetic Association’s recommendations for diabetic patients. Vegetarian diets tend to be high in complex carbohydrates and dietary fibre, which has a beneficial effect on carbohydrate metabolism, lowering blood sugar levels. The leanness of vegetarians also contributes to reduced incidence of diabetes. Diabetes is often associated with raised blood cholesterol levels and a vegetarian diet confers protection against this.

Though incurable, diabetes can be successfully controlled through diet and exercise, oral medications, injections of insulin, or a combination. Instead of counting calories diabetics must calculate their total carbohydrate intake so that no less than half their food is made up of complex carbohydrates. Many diabetic vegetarians have discovered that as a result of their meatless diet, they’ve had to use insulin injections less, which gives them a feeling of power and control over their disease.

Vegetarian Diets for Preventing Diabetes is a post from: Overweight

You might have a general idea that eating a vegetarian diet is more healthy for you. But do you really know how much less the incidence is of certain types of cancers among vegetarians?

Vegetarian diets are naturally low in saturated fat, high in fiber, and replete with cancer-protective phytochemicals helps to prevent cancer. Large studies in England and Germany have shown that vegetarians are about 40 percent less likely to develop cancer compared to meat-eaters. In the U.S., studies of Seventh-Day Adventists, who are largely lacto-ovo vegetarians, have shown significant reductions in cancer risk among those who avoided meat.

Similarly, breast cancer rates are dramatically lower in nations, such as China, that follow plant-based diets. Interestingly, Japanese women who follow Western-style, meat-based diets are eight times more likely to develop breast cancer than women who follow a more traditional plant-based diet. Meat and dairy products contribute to many forms of cancer, including cancer of the colon, breast, ovaries, and prostate.

Harvard studies that included tens of thousands of women and men have shown that regular meat consumption increases colon cancer risk by roughly 300 percent. High-fat diets also encourage the body’s production of estrogens. Increased levels of this sex hormone have been linked to breast cancer. A recent report noted that the rate of breast cancer among premenopausal women who ate the most animal (but not vegetable) fat was one-third higher than that of women who ate the least animal fat.

A separate study from Cambridge University also linked diets high in saturated fat to breast cancer. One study linked dairy products to an increased risk of ovarian cancer. The process of breaking down the lactose (milk sugar) evidently damages the ovaries. Daily meat consumption triples the risk of prostate enlargement. Regular milk consumption doubles the risk and failure to consume vegetables regularly nearly quadruples the risk.

Vegetarians avoid the animal fat linked to cancer and get abundant fiber, vitamins, and phytochemicals that help to prevent cancer. In addition, blood analysis of vegetarians reveals a higher level of natural killer cells,specialized white blood cells that attack cancer cells.

Vegetarian Diets for Preventing Cancer is a post from: Overweight