Posts Tagged ‘Heart Diseases’

Is Low Carbohydrate Diets Safe For Everyone?

Sunday, August 2nd, 2009

Unless you are a hermit and living without the news, you must have heard of low carb diets like Atkins diet or South Beach dieting plans. The underlying principle is that it is the excess carbohydrates and not the fats that cause weight gain.

Low carbohydrate diets advocates that we restrict the carbohydrate intake to as little as 20 grams a day or less if better depending on the program. However the Food and Nutrition Board of the Institute of Medicine of the academies of Science recommended that the daily allowance of carbohydrates for young adults should not fall below the minimum of 100 grams.

As early as 2004, both the Atkins Nutritionals and Dr. Barry Sears, creator of “The Zone”, stated that they do not recommended their products for these people and only market their dieting programs to older adults only. Dr. Arthur Agatston, the author of the South Beach Diet does recommend his plan for young adults, but they have to omit the first phase of his two weeks introductory program.

Drs. Michael and Mary Dan Eades, creator of Protein Power, says that their programs can be used on these young people so long as they start in phase two. SugarBusters, which is less restrictive in terms of carbohydrate allowances, has a separate plan for these young people.

The carbohydrates that you consume in food are the main source for cellular energy and central nervous systems functioning. Carbohydrates convert to glucose and the pranceas pumps out insulin that unlocks cells and allows the glucose energy inside. Low carb advocates says that consuming too much carbohydrate overload this finely balanced system and triggers the release of too much insulin which eventually will be stored as fats. Too much circulating insulin is also associated with insulin resistance and raises heart diseases risk.

Many low carbohydrate diets replace sugar and starches with protein rich food such as red meat and eggs. Critics of carbohydrate reduction say that the high levels of artery clogging fats and cholesterols from such foods are a one way ticket to heart diseases.

However some studies have found that after six to twelve months, many people on a reduced carbohydrate diet have actually improved their blood cholesterol level. But there are no studies longer than a year that measure the impact of these low carbohydrate and high protein diets on the cardiovascular system. Until now, we still do not have enough evidence and the jury is still out.

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Getting rid of lower stomach fat

Sunday, July 26th, 2009

Before you proceed to reading this editorial, recollect all the things that you know about burning fat and reducing weight. This is because whatever you are going to read in this chapter will be quite new to your knowledge. And these facts are supported by the periphery of research and scientific analysis of midsection fat.

Lower stomach fat may present you with a wide range of problems. It is associated with metabolic disorder, risk of diabetes and heart diseases. There is however a fine basis of predicting all three of these. Lower stomach fat is the first sign of damage in the metabolic system.

We have to sort out of what is actually going on when you have lower stomach fat and why it presents us with unique problems.

The hypothesis based on research and scientific analysis about lower stomach fat is that the more you know about it, the more you shed those fats in the belly. A condition of hypoxia starts to take place. Fundamentally, the fat cells are deprived of sufficient oxygen especially those at the external border of the midsection because of improper circulation of blood. So ultimately these cells are permanently damaged. What then happens is that the energy metabolism in these cells gets broken. In uncomplicated language, fat cells in those areas discontinue use of glucose or fat properly and are highly likely to store these fats. Your midsection happens to be like the hull of a boat with a crack. The boat will constantly bring water in the segment that is broken. This is in exactly similar to what is going on with fat in the stomach. We will now see ways to treat these damaged midsection fat cells.

Primarily, you could do with the necessary diet requirements and exercise essentials. We begin by assuming that you are vigorously involved in any type of good cardio exercises.

In the per cardio method take a dry brush and gently brush your belly for a duration of three or five minutes. Though it may sound silly if you look carefully your belly will be quite red with blood circulation.

Dedicate at least five minutes on a few exercises for your abs. You have to acquire a remarkable drive in the abdominal area. For the second time, we are training to get more circulation.

Ideally, brushing and exercises for the abs are done one after the other. If you are going to the gym, brushing should be performed just before you leave for the gym. At least forty-five minutes of cardio exercises is compulsory. When you have completed with cardio exercises, brush and exercise again. Then, wait for at least half an hour before you start eating. By following the above steps, we are simultaneously aiming at increasing the circulation of blood in the midsection as well as burning fat and the net result will be that of damaged cells getting activated. It is very helpful when you do brushing before going to bed since circulation is regulated while you are asleep.

Gary Grewal is a founder of site 101WeightLoss.com; a site featuring many articles on losing weight. Make sure you stop by his website to learn more about how to get rid of lower stomach fat.

Article Source: http://www.thecontentcorner.com