Acupuncture and More…

Weight gain is one the many detrimental effects of Chronic Stress. This weight gain is mostly due to the release of cortisol, a stress hormone.

Here is how it works:

When faced with a threat or danger, a fight or flight response is triggered, your body releases a number of hormones to help your body deal with the perceived threat.

Two of the hormones that are released are adrenaline, and cortisol; both have very specific effects on the body:

✔   Elevating Heart Rate
✔   Slowing down digestion
✔ Increasing blood circulation to large muscle
✔ Changes on autonomic nervous functions in order to provide the body a burst of energy and strength.

This series of responses were meant to keep you alive in a dangerous situation. They are now activated by situations that are not appropriate, like in traffic or during a stressful day at work. Which in turn has lead many of us into a state of Chronic Stress.

A State of Chronic Stress is due to higher, and prolonged levels of cortisol in the blood. These are some of the effects of Chronic Stress:

• Impaired mental acuity
• Poor thyroid function
• Blood sugar imbalances
• Decrease bone density
• Decrease muscle tissue
• High blood pressure (Hypertension)
• Low immunity, and inflammatory responses in the body
• Slow wound healing, and other health consequences
• Increased abdominal fat, which is associated with many health issues such as: heart attack, stroke, high-levels cholesterol, and many more…

For the person trying to lose weight, chronic stress and cortisol present a more demoralizing challenge:

Cravings. When you are stressed would you rather eat a nutritious salad or your favorite cookie? You don’t have to answer that. When you are chronically stressed you are going to crave foods that are higher in fat, salt and sugar. Which in turn leads to all kinds of sweets, processed foods that are not good for your health and that in turn will cause you to gain weight

Metabolism. This is one of the reasons that many people fail in their diets. Too much cortisol slows down your metabolism, making dieting difficult, and when you stop dieting you end up with more weight than what you started with.

Blood Sugar. Chronic stress disrupts your blood glucose levels causing:
✔ Mood swings
✔ Fatigue
✔ Hyperglycemia
Chronic stress has been linked to metabolic disorders that can lead to other more serious health problems like heart attack and diabetes.

Fat Storage. Chronic stress affects your body in many ways including where you store body-fat. When you are chronically stressed, you are going to accumulate more fat around your abdomen. Abdominal fat storage has been linked to higher health risks, than fat that is stored in any other part of the body.

Emotional Eating. Not only Chronic Stress and higher amounts of cortisol in your blood can make you crave junk food, but also anxiety will cause you to eat more. Everyone is familiar with the need to munch on something when you are anxious, even though not really hungry.

Fast Food. A fast paced and stress filled life makes people less likely to, want to take the time to create healthy dinners at home, choosing instead the convenience of fast food.

No Time For Exercise. Despite the fact that we run around all day long while meeting all of our responsibilities, we are by far the most sedentary when compared with past generations. After a full day of fighting traffic, and clocking hours at work; we arrive home only to sit in front of the TV exhausted, and exercise is the furthest thing from our mind.

Fortunately, there are things you can do to reverse the pattern of weight gain and actually reduce your stress level and waistline at the same time.

If you pay attention to the marketing trends, with out a doubt you have noticed that it is largely targeted to the baby boomers. A common denominator for the boomers is their unwillingness to age the way our grandparents did. In the mind of the boomer the 60’s are the new 40’s, and the stereotypical “senior citizen” does not exist any longer. The majority of the boomers expect to live longer, and look as young as they feel.

It is not surprise then, that a botanical (herbal remedy) that is supposed to increased sexual stamina and fight the ravages of aging would come to the forefront in the health and wellness industry.

Such is the case of Eurycoma Longifolia, also know by its more common names Tongkat Ali (Malaysia), Pasak bumi (Indonesia), Cay Ba Binh (tree that cures hundred of diseases), Malaysian ginseng, Longjack.

Tongkat Ali (Eurycoma Longifolia) it’s a herb that has been used in Traditional Medicine in South East Asia for centuries, and its well known for its aphrodisiac and testosterone producing properties.

Some traditional uses are:

• Aphrodisiac,
• Anti-pyretic (anti-fever)
• Mouth ulcers
• Intestinal worms.
• As a paste of the plant to relieve headache, stomachache, and many other general pains
• Dysentery
• A decoction of the Tongkat Ali (Eurycoma Longifolia) bark is drunk to relieve pain in the bones or applied for washing itches.
• Malaria

In-vitro studies have pointed to the positive effects of Tongkat Ali on the treatment of :

• Malaria
• Anxiety
• Hyperglycemic (high blood sugar)
• Ulcers
• Tumors
• Low Libido (aphrodisiac)

Wellness and anti-aging properties.

Many men and women with decreased sex drive or other sexual dysfunction issues seek help from their physician. One common treatment, to increase sexual stamina, is to use testosterone replacement therapy. This involves injecting testosterone into the body to replace that which the body no longer produces. The problem with this approach is that the body reads the new level of testosterone and no longer strives to make its own. This approach does not correct the underlying problem of reduced production. Herbal supplementation that supports the body’s own production of testosterone.

Stimulating the production of testosterone by the body’s endocrine system is one of the properties of Tongkat Ali. Besides testosterone being responsible for reproductive health, testosterone also plays a role in cardiovascular health, cognitive function, insulin sensitivity, maintaining lean body mass and bone density. It is not surprising that the onset of type 2 diabetes happens after age 30, around the same age that the production of SHGB (sex hormone binding globulin) increases and the testosterone levels decline.

Many men and women would benefit from supplementation with Tongkat Ali.

Visible benefits would be:

• Improved sexual function
• Decrease body fat percentages
• Improved muscle strength
• Lower blood glucose levels
• Improved memory
• Improved bone density

As you can see this botanical has many positive benefits for anyone seeking to improve their health, and slow the aging process. I have information from a good source that Tongkat Ali is one of the main ingredients of a new product is part of a new formula that is going to revolutionize the health and wellness industry.

Lose weight safely and easily

If you are looking for a way to lose fifteen pounds in two weeks, a high protein diet, a low carb diet, a fruit diet, a no fat diet, a blood type diet, a juice fast, a diet named after a place in Miami, a grapefruit diet, a cactus diet, a coffee and cigarette diet, a diet that includes sweets, a diet based on your body type, a diet based on an ancient religion or a diet based on your hair color, then this article is NOT for you.

Fad and crash diets, such as the ones described above are not only unhealthy but they also cause rebound weight gain. Also most diets, even though diet gurus write them, cause an initial weight loss but the ultimate result is that you gain all of the weight back the minute you go off the plan. If you don’t gain it back within a couple of diets, you are likely to gain it all back plus a bit more within a year.

Crash diets dehydrate you, low calorie diets put your body into starvation mode so you plateau so you can’t lose one more pound and high protein diets stress your kidneys and clog your arteries.

So how does one lose weight?

There is only one answer to this question.

You need to expend more calories than you are taking in. Restricting certain foods, eating so-called fat burning foods, or dehydrating yourself with special pills or teas does not do it. It is simple math. The only way is to eat a little less and exercise a little more. Here is the equation below:

Eating Less + Exercising More = Weight Loss.

This is not a magical formula, it is just logic. It is also not a fast way to lose weight. As I have mentioned before, this is not an article about how to lose ten pounds in three days or 30 pounds in a month. It is about safe, healthy weight loss.

In order to lose weight safely and without putting yourself at risk for such health hazards as dehydration, kidney failure, malnutrition, exhaustion, nervous dysfunction, tooth loss, dull hair, wrinkles, cellulite, sudden heart failure or stroke and lose the weight so that it stays off, you should lose no more than approximately two pounds a week!

Although that might not sound like a large amount of weight to lose it actually is! If you lose 2 pounds a week that means you can achieve a weight loss of ten pounds a month! If you only have twenty pounds to lose then your weight loss is not only quite rapid, but you have the extra guarantee that it will stay off because you have followed a sensible exercise plan that did not involve starving, exhausting or depriving yourself. If you are willing to drop your impatience and desire for immediate gratification and stick to an exercise plan and healthy eating habits, then a Mediterranean Diet is for you. Remember being slim is only good if you are able to enjoy it!

Do You Need to Lose Weight?

Fascination with Fat

If you want to lose weight, you first need to assess whether you need to actually lose weight or are simply a fashion victim. Unfortunately this society is fascinated with fat - who has it and who doesn’t. As we are persuaded by so many images in the media that persuade us to believe that you can never be too thin, many of us are bad judges of our actual body weight.

If you are under the age of eighteen and reading this book, the first thing you need to do is consult with your parent about your plans to lose weight. Have her make an appointment with a physician so that he can indicate to you whether or not you are a candidate for weight loss.

If you are an adult, it is possible that you may not be overweight and are just trying to be, as Bridget Jones put it in Bridget Jones Diary “a stick insect with eyelashes.” It is also very possible that you know you need to lose weight but have no idea where to start.

If you are obese and you know it, then you have to check with a physician first to see how your health is before you embark on any exercise program or plan. The same is also true if you have any kind of medical condition but especially a thyroid condition or heart condition. Some physicians may not recommend a weight loss program for those who are over 40 as due to genetics and hormonal changes some people naturally just round out or gain weight in a way that simply cannot be changed. If your doctor tells you your spreading hips are due to menopause or genetics, believe him! It is not clever to fool with Mother Nature.

If you are interested in giving the Mediterranean Diet a try Risk Free <<CLICK HERE>>

How many times have you heard someone say that they want to lose five pounds? And how many times have you heard that the diet starts tomorrow?

Tomorrow? Why not right now?

The truth is, losing a mere five pounds is very realistic and it can be a great kick-start to your metabolism and energy levels. Plus, it can help you fit into that little black dress or suit for that upcoming wedding, reunion, or vacation. But you have to make the commitment to start now, not tomorrow, not Monday, but right now!

Below is a healthy plan to help you shed 5 pounds quickly, easily and most importantly, the healthy way. As with all diets, check with your doctor before starting any weight loss or exercise plan.

1.    Begin by drinking more water. Your body requires water to function properly and with the right amount of water, your digestive system will work more efficiently. Plus, by filling your stomach with water, you’ll eat less and feel full faster.

•    Water helps flush your body of toxins and water weight. Yes, more water actually helps your body get rid of excess water.

•    The daily minimum intake of water is 64 ounces (or almost 2 liters). If you’re like most people, your current intake of water is probably less than half of the recommended amount, so drink up!

2.    Get off the couch and get active. When you move your body you build muscle, which burns fat. There are so many activities that you can engage in that don’t cost money or require expensive gym equipment to help you get fit and lose weight. Here are some ideas:

•    Walking around your neighborhood or in a local park
•    Biking
•    Hiking
•    Swimming
•    Throwing a ball with your kids or spouse
•    Frisbee
•    Volleyball
•    Tennis
•    Inline skating (with the proper safety equipment of course)

3.    Make healthier food choices. To effectively boost your calorie and fat burning processes, eat healthier foods like leafy green vegetables, fruits and lean meats.

•    You’ll also want to limit your intake of red meat, high calorie and fat dressings, gravies and sauces and avoid sugary drinks, candy or other foods with lots of sugar.

•    Sugar causes you to put on weight, so when you eliminate sugar, you help eliminate weight gain. Also, try to choose natural or organic foods in order to avoid consuming chemicals that may actually cause you to retain weight.

4.    Use portion control to limit the amount of food you consume. Studies show that reducing the amount of food you eat actually produces the quickest weight loss. Obviously you want to do this in a healthy manner, not obsessively or out of control.

•    Eating 6 small meals a day, as opposed to the three larger meals you’re probably accustomed to, has been shown to be healthier, help reduce fat stores and to increase metabolism.

•    If you’re wondering what a healthy portion looks like, it’s all in the hands. In other words, a healthy portion or serving size is about the size of your fist, palm, or hand, depending on what food you’re eating.

•    Close your fist. That’s a healthy portion size for a serving of rice, pasta or other side dish.

•    Open your hand and look at the size of your palm. This is the perfect amount of chicken breast, pork or other types of meat. It should be about the size and thickness of a deck of cards.

•    The size of your entire open hand is the perfect size for veggies.

5.    Replace unhealthy snacks with nuts, raw veggies or fruit. Here are a few examples to help you choose healthier snack options:

•    When you’re craving chips or other salty, crunchy snacks, grab a handful of nuts instead. They are healthier for you and satisfy the craving for salt or crunchiness. Also, try to buy nuts with less salt. Natural or raw varieties will help to reduce your salt intake too.

•    When you want something sweet, grab a piece of fruit like an apple, banana, orange, or melon. The natural sugar is way better for you than eating a bowl of ice cream or a handful (or two) of cookies.

•    Have the munchies in general? Nibble on some raw carrots, celery or broccoli.

Losing 5 pounds can be fun and make you feel so much better about yourself. Probably the best part is that it can be done quickly, in as little time as a week or two, depending on your specific circumstances.

Whether it’s to kick-start your weight loss plan or to fit into that little black party dress, taking off 5 pounds is a step in the right direction to a healthier, more fit you. It begins now!

Everyone has heard the expression, “You are what you eat.” This very simple saying means more and more each day as we gain a greater understanding about how foods affect us.

•    The food you put into your body has an effect on your physical appearance, energy levels, bodily processes and how well your brain functions.

Your brain is a system of chemical connections firing off at each other so fast that it’s almost impossible to fathom. Well, the food you eat affects the chemical make up of your brain, altering how it acts and works.

Feelings and emotions also affect your brain. Obviously feelings are born in the brain, and, depending on the emotion, they can alter the brain chemistry. For example, some people with mental health issues do not produce certain chemicals in their brain, which radically changes their behavior patterns.

There are things you can do to regulate this chemical reaction on a daily basis, and it’s simpler than you may think! Eating certain foods can specifically affect different functions of the body, the chemicals in your brain, and your emotions.

Here are some healthy foods you can eat to help optimize both your body and mind:

1.    Omega-3 Fatty Acids. Eating foods high in Omega-3s has a great deal of health benefits, including improving your brain’s development and functions. The Omega-3 fatty acid, DHA, is an important polyunsaturated fat found in the brain.

•    Fish is a great source of Omega-3 Fatty acids, including DHA.

2.    Choline. Choline is a chemical building block of every cell in your body. Choline has also been shown to help with retaining information in your memory. The more choline your lifetime diet includes, the less likely you’ll be to face extreme memory loss as you grow older.

•    Eggs yolks have a high concentration of choline in them.

3.    Antioxidants. We all recognize the health benefits of antioxidants in fighting diseases, but did you know a cup of hot cocoa has a higher concentration of antioxidants in it than either red wine or green tea? It’s true – as long as you use a dark chocolate.

•    Serve a cup of rich dark hot cocoa after dinner, and know you’re actually taking good care of your health!

4.    Green Tea. Have a glass of green tea every day to help keep the cognitive functions of your brain in tiptop shape. Studies have shown 70% of people who drank green tea showed an improvement in the functions of the brain.

5.    Cranberry Juice. This beverage is not only good for your body, specifically, kidney and urinary functions, but it can also help prevent a stroke. Cranberry juice has also been shown to help reduce brain cell damage after a stroke.

6.    Mangosteen Juice. This botanical was shown to reduce certain parameters of inflammation and to improve weight and body fat in an overweight population, this has positive implications in the future prevention of cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

Eating a well balanced diet that includes fruits, vegetables, protein, and some fat is the best way to nourish both the body and mind. Our bodies are highly complicated machines requiring many different things to function properly, and what we eat determines how it functions.

By taking simple steps to optimize your nutrition, you’ll also optimize your mind and body. Start making healthy, nutritious food choices today and enjoy looking, feeling, and thinking better.

Study Overview

A double-blind placebo-controlled human clinical to evaluate the ability of XanGo Juice to reduce inflammation levels in overweight persons with inflammation.

Researchers

Jay Udani, MD, CPI is the founder, CEO and Medical Director of Medicus Research. He is a board-certified Internist who served as Chief Resident at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center before completing two fellowships in Health-Services Research and Integrative Medicine at Cedars-Sinai/UCLA. He was one of the first physicians to become a Certified Principal Investigator (CPI) through the APPI/ACRP and as a Key Opinion Leader in the field of Integrative Medicine he has designed and performed over 60 clinical trials, and published over 40 articles and textbook chapters. He is the recipient of many prestigious awards including the 2008 Natural Products Association Clinician of the Year, the AMA National Achievement Award, the Harvard Medical School Pinkney Fellowship in Orthopaedic Research, and was voted Best Physician Specialist and Best Medical Speaker in Los Angeles by the Daily News.

Methods

The study was an 8-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study with a 2-week washout period for subjects who were currently taking anti-inflammatory or antioxidant products.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of multiple dosages of XanGo Juice compared with placebo in the improvement of inflammation and antioxidant levels in obese patients with a confirmed history of inflammation.

Results

XanGo Juice was shown to reduce certain parameters of inflammation and to improve weight and body fat in an overweight population. These results may have implications in the future prevention of cardiovascular disease and diabetes, but longer studies will be needed to explore the role of inflammation in the reduction of these diseases.

XanGo Juice demonstrated an ability to reduce inflammation (as measured by HS-CRP), at all 3 dosages while the placebo group actually experienced a small increase in the amount of inflammation. HS-CRP decreased in all 3 dosages vs. placebo over the 8 week study with the 9 oz. XanGo Juice group being statistically significant when compared to placebo.

The XanGo Juice product was shown to be safe at all dosages tested. There were no adverse events (clinical, laboratory, or vital sign) attributed to the product during the course of the study.

Charles (Bubba) Jakeman III talks about his experience with Mangosteen juice. He has lost 45 lbs. since march 25, 2008. His wife has been taken off of 3 out of 5 medications for her heart condition. Is mangosteen right for you? Read More about Mangosteen and its Benefits

Weight loss and weight control is a multi-faceted problem.

A good program includes diet, exercise and stress reduction techniques.

So here’s the million-dollar question:

“What’s the number one reason people do not work out?”

Is it lack of money? Lack of motivation? Perhaps they lack the ideal workout plan?

Nope. It’s TIME. Or rather the lack thereof.

“We know that 50 per cent of the population doesn’t [exercise] and the most commonly cited barrier to exercise is lack of time.” This quote comes from exercise researcher Martin Gibala, a kinesiology professor at McMaster University in Hamilton.

Gibala put his theory to the test in a study that was published in the Journal of Physiology. In it Gibala compared a group who exercised “traditionally” — 90 to 120 minutes per day — with another group exercising far less: Only 20 minutes per day and only three days per week.

That’s a whopping one hour per week folks.

Did you know that Jon Benson’s “7 Minute Muscle” plan calls for only five 7-minute workouts with resistance training (weights or bodyweight) plus only 9 minutes cardio a few days per week?

And that actually works? Yeah… you bet it does.

If you do the math, that’s about an hour per week as well.

This is the “Level 1″ workout. There are three levels depending on your goals and exercise tolerance.

Find out more here — brief is best!

Back to Gibala’s study:

In just two weeks both groups showed improvement in both exercise performance and oxygen uptake. (Remember, fat burns in the presence of oxygen.)

The kicker is that both groups were almost identical in their improvement. Why? Because the brief exercise group trained with greater focus and more intensity — exactly how Jon suggests you train.

This is just one of dozens of studies that confirm the benefits of shorter but more intense workouts.

However, there is a catch: Train too hard and you will shut down your fat-burning furnace.

Your body perceives over-exertion done over an extended period of time as a sign of pursuit. It can trigger an ancient hormonal sequence that says, “I’m being chased by a tiger! Horde the fat!”

The body literally shuts down what it considers to be unnecessary activity in favor of self-preservation. And guess what? Burning off those hips and love handles is not a biological necessity.

You have to learn when to hit it hard AND when to rest and recover.

Finally, you have to put yourself into the proper mental state in order to see greater results in the shortest period of time.

Jon devotes an entire chapter to putting your mind into your muscle to make gains faster than ever before in “7 Minute Muscle.” You can read more here — brief is best!

Just remember these three key points:

1. Time is the greatest barrier to fitness.
2. Workouts can be short and very effective.
3. The body goes where the mind directs.

Until the next time, train smart.

I am no different than everyone else, and I struggle with my body-weight just the same, that is why when I read Jon Benson’s book the “Every Other Date Diet” I wanted to try his suggestion (eat your favorite foods and still shed body-fat like crazy). I have had great success, on the first 5 days I dropped 5lbs. even though I had ice cream, and Mexican food two out of the five days. I am really excited about my progress and I wanted to share my new found knowledge with you, but I thought who better to explain the “Every Other Date Diet” than the author himself. The following is an excerpt of an excellent article from Jon Benson’s Blog I hope you enjoy it…

Rapid Weight Loss Foolishness: The Yo-Yo Syndrome

We must clarify the difference between accepting and adopting a more rapid form of weight loss and going on a quick weight loss fad diet. These two ideas may sound similar, but they are night and day different.

Our plan is controlled, measured, and reasonable; designed from the ground up to be a lifestyle approach as well as a rapid fat loss system. Fad diets are predesigned to END. If you can think of one fad weight loss diet that does NOT have an end to it, be sure to let me know in the comments below!

Ending a diet is similar to ending a savings plan. Do you really think you stand a chance of accumulating wealth if you plan to STOP saving money, or plan to invest only for a few months out of the year?

The only real diet is a a lifestyle diet. This is a system of eating that, while regulated, allows you the mental and physical freedom to enjoy food and enjoy your life. Diets based on deprivation for long periods of time are destined to fail. The body cannot stand deprivation and will fight for its survival.

This brings us back to caloric staggering. This is the skill of “planned deprivation” — a short period of caloric restriction followed by a shorter period of structured re-feeding. This is your ticket to weight loss paradise, and I suggest you take it.

The alternative is a lifetime of “yo-yo dieting”, or going up and down in body weight, never really losing any weight over the long haul at all. In fact, the vast majority gain weight slowly over time when yo-yo dieting, making it fool-hearty at best and downright dangerous at worst.

Most diets fail because there is no end in sight to the deprivation. The result is emotional and physical frustration, followed by long periods of overeating. This is not a weakness on your part as much as it is a natural physical reaction, just as running might be after being caged up for a period of time. The body craves balance. When balance is removed it usually results in a pendulum swing to the other side. In this case, the swing is to high-calorie foods and emotional eating after being drained by low-calorie foods and emotional stress.

Stress is the key player in yo-yo dieting. Diets that cause emotional stress will fail on multiple levels. Stress causes cortisol, the “fat-friendly” hormone, to be secreted in greater amounts. Talk about going in opposite directions! A “stressful diet” is literally an oxymoron. The two cannot coexist, as one nullifies the other.

When I created the low-stress dietary principles in Evey Other Day Diet I did so with a purpose. I knew from my own experience with obesity and emotional overeating that stress, particularly emotional stress, was a key factor in my weight gain. Dieting too severely and with too much restriction for too long a period of time not only shut down the metabolic processes that burn fat, such as lowering thyroid output and increasing cortisol levels, it also led to emotional frustration and burn-out. And we all know what that leads to: Overeating.

It was only through learning how to manage my “bad foods” and actually use them to my weight loss advantage (yes, you can do this!) that I was able to adopt what I call a “real-world approach to dieting.” One that did not restrict myself from any food for too long a period of time, yet one that promoted long-term fat loss with periods of rapid fat loss.

EODD is just what the doctor ordered.

Click here to find out more about the “Every Other Day Diet”