Are you a bit of a risk taker when you want to lose weight? If you are then you may have done or considered the 500 calorie diet. The truth about this diet is it is considered an extreme form of dieting; and despite being potentially dangerous it is highly popular. Low calorie diets are common and 500 calories is at the lower end of the scale.

A diet is considered low calorie if it involves ingesting no more than 1200 calories per day. The idea of a low calorie diet is to lose weight quickly. If not administered correctly they can be dangerous and as such it is important to plan your 500 calorie diet with a professional dietician or nutritionist before starting. This article will help you to decide if the 500 calorie diet is right for you.

It is well known that the way to lose weight is to burn more calories than you take in. However a very low calorie diet can actually do more harm than good. When your body is craving more calories (energy) it can affect your metabolic rate. This means your body actually starts to eat away at your muscle mass.

It is doing this for the purpose of converting the muscle mass to energy, since there are no food reserves to take from. Because gaining muscle is the path to losing fat, this can have a highly detrimental effect on your body.

500 calories per day may be sufficient for some people depending on their:
- Gender
- Activity level
- Height
- Body type
- Overall health and well being

For other people though, particularly overweight people, consuming only 500 calories a day is almost like starving yourself and is actually counter-productive in the long run. Your body is more than likely used to taking in over 2000 calories per day and up to 5000 or more. If you all of a sudden drop to 500 calories or less your body moves into starvation mode. Your metabolism then slows down to conserve energy.

While you are on the 500 calorie diet your body will learn to live with fewer calories. That means if you go back to your old high calorie habits (as all too many people do) you will have a sudden gain in weight, which is more than what would have occurred, had you not gone on your low cal diet.

The only real way to determine your ideal daily calorie intake is by using a bmr/amr calculator. You will then know how many calories you need to be healthy and to support your lifestyle. If you take 500 calories away from this, then you have the ideal number of calories, to take in per day to help you get your weight down.

As men and women are obviously different their ideal calorie intake is also different. This of course means while the average woman may need only 1200 to 1300 calories a day to survive, her male counterpart may need from 1500 to 1600. Again this is why it is so important for you to consult with your physician before starting any diet.

In conclusion a 500 calorie diet can counter-productive at best and outright dangerous at its worst. There are certainly more effective and long term weight loss methods to consider. Namely eating a healthy and balanced diet, eating little and often. Try and eat 6 times per day to keep your metabolism ticking over. If you want to boost your efforts you can try regular exercise while also utilising quality weight loss supplements.

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Home remedies have been around for hundreds of years and just like most things their popularity comes and goes.  At the moment the popularity of  natural products and remedies is on the increase and many folk are on the look out for the effective home remedies.  So just how do you start finding home remedies that are suitable for you?

The first thing to finding home remedies that work is to start off with the most basic and straightforward remedies that you can find.  If you have never intensively researched and investigated natural home remedies, then leaping in and trying to self-treat a major disease or medical condition without the advice and support of your GP is not advised and should be avoided.

Most commonly people will use natural remedies for more everyday injuries and conditions and that’s where you should start. Something like toothache for instance, an oral care complaint that because of the way it can quickly develop – sometimes in the middle of the night when seeing a dentist is not possible – is an ideal condition to try to treat via natural remedies. 

Start by lifting the head if the toothache developed in the night when you were sound asleep.  By simply sitting yourself up with some pillows you will relieve the pressure in the head and sinus regions and this could be all that you need to reduce the pain.  If that isn’t enough, then you can place an ice cube on the affected tooth and this will numb the nerves and reduce inflammation.  All great to help you through before you can get to the dentist.

Another of the home remedies that you may be interested in is an allergy treatment such as a remedy for Hay Fever.  Hay Fever, that periodic burden on so many lives as the pollen rises, can be managed and kept at bay by following some simple steps.  Have you tried lining the insides of your nostrils with petroleum jelly?  You should try it if you suffer with Hay Fever!  What this does is to trap and stop the pollen from entering through your nose and setting off your allergies.  For Hay Fever you can also add a tea spoon of local honey, along with a tea spoon of apple cider vinegar to some hot water and drink as an early morning tea.

So, as you can see finding yourself some home remedies for you does not have to be a huge undertaking of mixing complex potions and concoctions. all it takes is a little common sense and a little research and before you know it, you’ll be using these remedies without giving them a second thought.

Merry Christmas everyone!

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As more and more women are putting off starting their family until after their career has been established more and more women are also finding they are experiencing difficulty with fertility.  There are several natural methods of fertility treatment in order to improve your chances of conceiving.  Here are a few things that you can do in order to achieve pregnancy.

One of the most important factors in your fertility is smoking.  Most people are aware of the fact that smoking and pregnancy don’t mix and that smoking will impact fertility as well.  Smoking, nicotine and the chemicals involved will dramatically reduce both male and female fertility and conception rates.  In one study published in the journal Fertility and Sterility sperm counts were 17% lower individuals who smoked than those who didn’t.  Unfortunately, it may not be just a matter of quitting smoking as it is not only from smoking your own cigarettes.  In a study published in Human Reproduction researchers found that second hand smoke also reduces pregnancy rates.  The good news is that by reducing your exposure you’ll actually get pregnant faster and easier.

Researchers have also identified another link between stress and fertility.  Although the link is less clear physicians are convinced that it does exist.  There is no direct data showing an obvious link but more and more smaller studies will indicate stress relief will have an effect on fertility.  There are numerous case studies of women who have given up the stress of attempting to conceive and gone on to adopt a child only to become pregnant during the adoption proceedings, or within six months after the adoption was completed.

Nutrition is another factor in fertility that affects rates of conception.  In a study published a group of Harvard researchers found that 79% of the infertile couples in the study had a lower than average intake of foods which were high in anti-oxidants.  In another study published in the New York Academy of Medicine researchers found that one week after a daily dose of vitamin C sperm counts rose by almost 140%.

Women who suffers from polycystic ovary disease will also find that losing a little as 5% of body weight he can encourage accurate ovulation and therefore pregnancy.  Many women who suffer from polycystic ovary disease are obese or overweight and researchers know that by cutting down on calories and engaging in weight loss they can improve their fertility.

Foods that should be avoided if you’re having trouble becoming pregnant are alcohol, caffeine and xenoestrogens.  Alcohol can reduce fertility by as much as 50% and decrease sperm counts.  Caffeine, found in coffee, tea and in chocolate, will reduce both male and female fertility levels.  Xenoestrogens found in chemicals and pesticides can disturb the balance of hormones and are often the cause of fertility issues.

Another factor that contributes to fertility is sleep.  Experts believe that the hormone leptin which is required for appetite and weight regulation, also plays an important role in fertility.  When a woman does not get enough sleep these levels will decrease and cause irregular ovulation.  Chronic sleep deprivation will make the entire system irregular.

Men have specific fertility issues also.  Some things they can do to increase their chance of contributing enough energetic sperm are to take a multivitamin, eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, reduce their stress, get regular exercise and watch their weight.  Some of the same factors which contribute to infertility in women will also contribute to a lower sperm count or a poor health of sperm in men.

Whatever the causes of infertility it can only help to take better care of overall health; nutrition, sleep, stress and decrease exposure to toxins such as alcohol and smoking to improve the rate of fertility and the success of conception.

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The human body, when plugged up, leads to symptoms of constipation and bloating, abdominal discomfort, loss of appetite and a general lack of well being. Let us see the factors which cause this common and nagging problem of constipation in most individuals:

Dietary factors: Diet high in proteins and lean on fibres, over indulgence in junk food, fried oily and spicy food decrease intestinal transit.

Inadequate intake of water: Our body is over 60% water. The amount of water or fluid we require can vary greatly, depending on our lifestyle.  The urine should be clear with only a faint colour of yellow.  Unless we drink adequate water, the stool will not be soft enough for easy bowel movements.

Lack of exercise or prolonged bed rest: Exercise is important to strengthen the abdominal muscles. The waist and leg movements specifically help to mix the food in the intestines and aid digestion.

Disruption of the normal intestinal flora:  Some friendly bacteria colonize the intestinal lining and help in digestion in various ways. They also prevent the growth of harmful bacteria that might come along with contaminated food. After any antibiotic treatment even these friendly bacteria perish, which impair normal digestion and bowel movement. During constipation, the food stays in the bowel for a longer time which can cause a build up of harmful bacteria. This results in bad breath and abnormally repulsive flatulence.

Irregular habits of eating and drinking, overeating, insufficient chewing, excessive consumption of strong tea and coffee are all known to cause constipation.

Individuals always on the move or those under stress ignore or sometimes suppress their urge to pass stools. In due course, even a full rectum stops sending calls. This leads to development of chronic constipation. Reasonable time should be given for passing stool, giving inadequate time for proper defecation in a hurry leads to motility dysfunctions.

Drugs taken for hyper acidity, high blood pressure and commonly used pain killers and anti-inflammatory drugs.

Many people mistakenly think constipation is a health problem, like a disease, but it is actually a symptom. Identifying the causes can help a long way to get rid of this preventable symptom.

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Recent studies have shown that the skin of mangosteen has high antioxidant and antibacterial properties.  Initial results also reveal that they have antihistamine and anti-inflammatory properties, raising the popularity of mangosteen capsules as a skin care product.  This may be a result of a compound found called xanthones which may provide many more times  the anti-oxidant punch than vitamin C and vitamin E.  The capsule form includes the exterior skin of the mangosteen fruit containing the highest concentration of xanthones. It benefits every organ in the body and helps to fight free radicals which strengthens the immune system and promotes joints and cartilage function.

At this point there are no human studies which have conclusively define the benefits to the skin in using either juice, powder or spa soap.  However, there also have been no studies which disproves the case studies and the beliefs of individuals who continue to use mangosteen in order to improve the condition of their overall health as well as benefit from the anti-acne, antibacterial and anti-free radical properties.

At this time case studies seem to indicate that the mangosteen fruit helps treat acne in teenagers who are most commonly affected with this skin disorder.  The mangosteen fruit has been found to have antibacterial properties against the acne causing bacteria, P. acnes and S. epidermides.  The strong anti-oxidants also help to reduce the effect of environmental stressors and toxins which build up in the body and also aggravate acne.

Another of the skin conditions which are reported to respond positively from the use of mangosteen fruit and juice are eczema and psoriasis.  The fruit reportedly helps to decrease the number of flare-ups and complications from eczema while the antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties can help to decrease the inflammatory process of psoriasis while keeping the body at optimal health.

While there has been no conclusive studies which show that mangosteen fruit has a significant positive benefit on the overall health of the skin, researchers do you know that the anti-oxidant and vitamins contained in the mangosteen juice do have an overall positive benefit to the treatment of eczema, psoriasis and acne. 

Because there are no side effects to mangosteen juice it is well worth the effort of giving it a trial to determine whether or not you will individually respond to the improved health benefits of the supplement.  As with any supplement, if you are currently taking any medications or have any underlying health issues it is important to discuss the relationship of taking mangosteen with your pharmacist or primary care physician

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As with other super fruits or superfoods, proponents of mangosteen juice and mangosteen capsules believe that it may cure everything from cancer to bacterial infections.  Users also say that it can decrease the pain and inflammation caused from arthritis.  There are over 100 different types of arthritic conditions but the majority of individuals refer to rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis as the two major groups.

Mangosteen is rich in vitamins and minerals including vitamin B-1, B-2, B6, calcium, potassium and iron.  It is also packed with antioxidants that assist in fighting free radicals in the body linked to heart disease and cancer, as well as being a good source of xanthones.  Researchers have found that xanthones have a potent anti-inflammatory effect in the body which may be linked to the positive effects found arthritis pain relief.

While there have been no major studies on humans to prove that drinking the mangosteen juice on a daily basis would offer significant improvement, researchers have found that it’s daily dosages of antioxidants and vitamins will improve the ability of the body’s immune system to fight the disease. Such properties also improve the body’s ability to absorb other vitamins and minerals essential to to overall health.

Mangosteen offers the user an incredibly powerful antioxidant fruit cocktail which helps the body to remain healthy.  And, while there have been no major studies on humans to prove the effects of mangosteen juice in the treatment of arthritis, there have been significant case studies that point researchers to the possibility of improved overall health and decreased pain and inflammation.

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We’re at that time of year when we are all a little more relaxed with what we consume. A few extra drinks and being that little more generous with the portions is normal – and why not! The only problem is by January your pants are generally feeling tighter and the scales creaking louder.

Holiday weight loss is not much different from the usual efforts to shed the excess, but lets re-cap on good practice. This is what the health experts have to advise on this:

1. Take in fewer calories than you require for your present weight, and you would drop kilos. Cutting butter, oil, sugar, red meat is a good way to cut empty calories.
2. Go nuts for the ‘F’: Fibres and Fruits taken as a large part of every meal fill your stomach with low calorie stuff, and decrease your appetite for things that might be fattening. They also delay the absorption of the fatty components of your diet. High fibre is one of the reasons why acai berry supplements can help you to lose weight.
3. Rev your routine. Burn the excess with regular exercise. Some aerobics, swimming, stretching, brisk walking at least for 20 minutes should figure in your daily scheme of things. Short bursts of intense activity burn more calories and almost 35% more fat-as per a recent research finding. Heavy exercises are not recommended, unless you are used to them. The idea is to burn fat regularly, not to burn out.
4. Even small steps make a big difference. Carry your shopping up the stairs instead of using the elevator and you burn 130 more calories. Wash your car yourself instead of taking it to the service station, or just take your dog for a walk around your locality and you could zap 300 calories. Park a little further from the office . well you get the idea.
5. Eat little and often – it helps to keep your blood sugar balanced and keeps the metabolism churning over. Try eating  times per day (healthily of course) instead of 3.

The bottom line is: ‘be aware of what you put on your plate’. Be mindful about how much you consume and how much you burn to get back into shape fast.

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Individuals who choose a vegetarian lifestyle have several different challenges depending upon the level of vegetarianism that they practice. For example; vegetarians who consume milk, eggs and cheese are better at getting calcium, magnesium and vitamin B12 than those who are vegan and do not eat any animal products. One of the biggest mineral requirements that an individual has, which may be deficient in a vegetarian diet, is calcium.

Calcium, along with magnesium, phosphorus and vitamin K  is required to build strong bones. Vegetarians who choose to eat the majority of their calories in pasta and whole grains will miss out on the large amount of calcium found in dark green leafy vegetables, orange juice and calcium fortified soy milk.

There are many benefits to eating a vegetarian diet and individuals should seek to eat a well-balanced healthy diet in order to fulfil all of the nutrient requirements that their bodies have. The rules to eating a vegetarian diet are the same as any other diet-there should be a variety, balance and moderation.

The recommended level of calcium for adults ages 19 through age 50 is 1000 mg per day. For those older than 50 the recommended dose is 1200 mg per day. Some studies, although not all, have shown that older adults with high calcium intake have stronger bones and a lower fracture risk. However, these studies did not control other outside sources which have an impact on the strength of bones. There are a small number of studies using individuals who practice a vegan diet. However, in one study where vegans were used as study subjects their calcium intakes were close to recommended levels and the researchers found that calcium was well absorbed.

Calcium rich foods include spinach, soy milk, fortified orange juice, sesame seeds, broccoli, almonds, carrots and rice milk.

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Vegetarian athletes have special needs to be able to perform at a higher level of energy than those who don’t exert themselves athletically each and every day.  Vegetarian sports nutrition and calorie intake are very important to consistently help your body to perform at it’s best.

Most nutritional challenges of vegetarian sports nutrition can be met by planning ahead and having a variety of foods available at home.  Variety in your vegetables, fruits, nuts and seeds will assure the correct vitamins, minerals and essential amino acids in the diet.

Vegetarian sports nutrition must meet the energy needs of the athlete.  Good sources of energy can be as simple as your favourite fruits, root vegetables, whole grains and green leafy vegetables. 

Proteins, needed for repair of tissues, building and repairing muscles, red blood cell production and just running your body, can be received from fruits, green leaves, nuts and root vegetables.  Some excellent sources of protein include avocados, dates, bananas, and almonds.

Protein requirements are not different for vegetarian athletes than for athletes who don’t eat vegetarian sports nutrition.  Athletes should consume 1.2 to 2 grams of protein per kilograms of body weight. 

Our bodies also require minerals to repair and replace muscles and hormones.  There are several factors that are important to the absorption of minerals and vitamins.  How the foods are combined, use of microwaves and incorporating the occasional fast all impact how minerals and vitamins are absorbed into the body.

Individual sources of plant protein do not supply all nine essential amino acids that meats and animal proteins do.  However, eating a variety of vegetables during the day will supply all nine amino acids; what one vegetable is missing another will supply.

Calcium is also essential to nutrition.  Vegetarian sports nutrition should plan for sources from plants or add supplements since athletes who are low may have increased risk of bone and stress fractures.

Athletes also are at risk for iron deficiency, especially females.  Iron loss is increased during heavy training.  Vegetarian sports nutrition should include spinach, a good supply of iron, into the diet. Vitamin C also improves iron absorption.  The main symptoms of iron deficiency are weakness and rapid fatigue during exercise.

Low zinc levels can also be a problem for vegetarian athletes in heavy training.  Zinc sources are pumpkin seeds, pecans, split peas, Brazil nuts, rye, whole wheat, oats, peanuts, walnuts and almonds.

Vegetarian sports nutrition should include appropriate amounts of energy, carbohydrates, protein, vitamins and minerals which are all critical for optimal performance.  Athletes who practice a vegetarian lifestyle must do a little planning to ensure the correct balance of nutrition in their diets.

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Poor eating habits, low-fiber diets, environmental pollution, and stress causes the production and absorption of several toxins into the body. These toxins affect adversely the functioning of all the major organs of our body and especially the fine balance of our immune system. Detoxing one’s body is now more of a necessity than a choice.

Fortunately there are many techniques and health supplements which can help you detox so that your body becomes significantly healthier and revitalized.

1. Consumption of adequate amounts of water, herbal teas, fruits, vegetables and other fibre rich foods.
2. Rreducing consumption of fats, red meats, and milk products are natural ways of detoxifying. Fibres in the diet ease absorption and promote utilization of the dietary nutrients.
3. Sweating is a very effective way to detox. Sauna and simple aerobics increase our metabolisms, increase sweating and thereby help purify the body through enhanced skin elimination. Regular bathing is essential to cleanse the skin of the toxins it has released and to open the pores to eliminate more.
4. Though tea contains potentially harmful elements such as tannin and caffeine, it is also a diuretic (a compound that increases urine production). This helps the body to washout several toxins. Tea is also a powerful antioxidant, which means that it protects the body from the harmful action of free radicals.
5. Herbal medicines like a home brew made of cumin, coriander and fennel, strained and taken with or without honey, can be an excellent detoxification beverage.
6. Commercially available detox teas include lemongrass, red clover, calendula, rosehips, juniper and chamomile. Taken in various combinations and blends, these can be helpful in preventing oxygen free radical build-ups in our body.

There are ways to evaluate the efficacy of your detox regimen. A successfully incorporated detox will pump in fresh energy levels; renew appetite, and provide relief from chronic lethargy, aches and pains. Enjoy the holiday season but think about how to cleanse your body afterwards,

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