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Tag-Archive for ◊ obesity ◊

Saturday, July 17th, 2010

In the past, weight loss surgery was always regarded as an extreme course of action for the morbidly obese. Weight loss surgery was mostly a risky proposition often involving slicing into the intestines and re-routing or stapling. Even nowadays, it is true that several types of weight loss surgery are invasive, difficult to reverse and can cause serious complications. But, as more technology becomes available to surgeons, weight loss surgery is now easier and less risky than ever and thus, more common. Attempting to lose weight for, many people, can be exceedingly frustrating. No matter how much dieting or exercise they do, nothing seems to help. Whether it is due to a genetic component, a malfunction of the metabolism, or some subtle imbalance in the body, willpower and dedication are not enough. Weight loss surgery has become a more mainstream option as new procedures and technology make it less invasive and safer. A number of types of weight loss surgery are commonly performed on obese patients. One of the more recent surgery procedures is the Lap-Band. The Lap-Band apparatus, an adjustable rubber ring, is positioned around a patient’s stomach in order to restrict the amount of food and liquids that can enter the stomach. This Restrictive type of weigh loss surgery does not affect the normal digestion of food or nutrients, unlike Malabsorptive surgery types. Malabsorptive weight loss surgery is more invasive, in other words, it requires more internal surgical work, than other types. Malabsortive surgery shortens the digestive tract and limits the amount of calories that can be absorbed into the body. Amalgamations of restrictive and malabsorptive weigh loss surgery procedures are also typically used. These surgeries restrict the amount of food in the stomach as well as reduce amount of calories that can be absorbed in the body. Carrying around too much weight can cause myriad health and emotional difficulties. The overweight are more liable to experience heart problems, high blood pressure, diabetes and other health problems. People who are morbidly obese often have a shorter lifespan, as well. You may want to consider weight loss surgery, if traditional weight loss methods have failed. Each one of the three above types of weigh loss surgery has its own benefits and drawbacks, so it’s important to speak to a weight loss surgery specialist to find out if one of these surgeries is a good solution for you.

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Saturday, June 26th, 2010

Obesity is a life threatening condition and is spreading at an alarming rate throughout Western society. It is particularly prevalent in the USA. However there are some steps you can take to reduce your weight and improve your health and lifestyle. Reducing calorie intake: What are calories? A calorie is a unit used to measure energy. It is required by most governments to print the calorie value of foods on the nutrition label of all foods that are sold to consumers. Because if this it is easier to calculate your calorie intake. Reducing calories means not just cutting food intake but being careful of the actual caloric value of the foods you are eating. Reduction but not eliminating fats and oils: fat and oil is necessary for the body but we often eat foods which are too high in fats thus taking in more fat and oil than we need to. When you cut down fat and oil you will reduce calories and definitely manage to lose those pounds. Decrease but do not eliminate carbohydrates: Carbohydrates are necessary to the body but we often eat too much of this class of food resulting in the body storing these foods as fat. When you cut down carbohydrates you will reduce your weight. Increase your protein levels: It is often good to eat foods that are high in proteins as they are not as fattening as other foods. High protein foods are good to eat when you are reducing weight to prevent any muscle loss occurring as you shed those pounds. Eat more fruits and vegetables: These are good for providing nutrients to the body and are low in calories. They are a good alternative to “junk food” snacks. They will also increase fiber in your diet. Reduction in sugar and sodium. Sugar is readily broken dawn by the body into energy and excess stored as fat making it a fattening food. Sodium eaten in excess can contribute to water retention by the body and prevent weight loss. Increasing fiber in your diet: this will help you to curb hunger pangs as fiber rich foods will help you feel full as they take longer to digest. Your digestive system will work better with an increase in fiber.Whole grain foods, unrefined foods, fruits and vegetables will give you more fiber. Increase your fluid intake: Drink more pure water especially. This will help to improve your health and fill you up. Increase exercise: Regular exercise will help you reduce weight and build muscle instead of storing fat. You can either work out for about 20 minutes 3 times a week or take a brisk daily walk. When you use these steps you will reduce your weight. You will not achieve a super figure in one day but when you keep up a healthy diet you will lose weight steadily. Maintaining a healthy diet with regular exercise will ensure that you not only reduce but will keep the weight off. You will feel healthier and have more energy to do the things you really want to do in life.

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Thursday, June 03rd, 2010

If you need to drop and few kilos and don’t know where to get started, stop counting calories and start counting colours. When it comes to losing weight, make sure your plate is piled high with a range of colourful fruit and vegetables. You’ll naturally create more balance and health-filled menus. Why? Colour not only brightens your mood – but also your diet. Load your plate with fruit and veges like a box of crayons in colours such as red, yellow, orange, blue, purple, white and green and you’ll also be filling up on power packed phytonutrients. Phytonutrients are naturally occurring chemicals which combat disease, including cancer. Go easy on the beige and brown foods such as pasta and startchy carbs. When there are too many of these drab colours on your plate, weight gain is almost certain. That’s because these beige foods often are high in calories and can leave you feeling hungry later. A cup of beige or brown beans can be over 200 calories….but a cup of red or green vegetables is under a hundred! Add fresh greens, deep purple-reds and bright yellow-orange to a meal, and water the nutrient content go up, while calories go down! Plus, you’ll get more enjoyment from eating when there’s a variety of colours and flavours on your plate. According to Dr David Heber, M.D., Ph.D. and author of “What Color Is Your Diet” the key to designing your colourful diet is to choose from a range of different colour groups: Blue/purple fruits and vegetables contain varying amounts of health-promoting phytochemicals such as anthocyanins and phenolics. Choose from a range including blueberries, blackberries, eggplant, plums, raisins. These assist in memory function. Green group includes broccoli; Brussels sprouts, cabbage, and bok choi. These foods stimulate the genes in your liver to turn on the production of enzymes that break down the cancer-causing chemicals in the body. The yellow/green group includes green peas, avocado and honeydew melon. These promote eye health. The yellow/orange group includes carrots, mangoes, apricots, rock melon and pumpkin. These contain carotenoids (beta carotene is one), fierce antioxidants that help prevent cancer and assist to lower heart-attack risk. The white group includes bananas, white peaches, cauliflower, garlic, ginger, mushrooms and are helpful to maintain heart health. The red group includes tomatoes, pink grapefruit and watermelon all of which contain lycopene. Lycopene is associated with a lower risk of prostate cancer and cardiovascular disease. The red/purple group includes grapes, grape juice, prunes, cranberries, strawberries and red apples. These foods contain anthocyanins which have a beneficial effect on heart disease by inhibiting blood clot formation.

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Wednesday, May 05th, 2010

Obesity is a real life problem that is spreading fast throughout the Western world but most particularly in the USA. It has given rise to literally 100s of diets and a huge money making industry that has grown up around peoples’ desperate need to shed those pounds. However there is far more to losing weight than a mere diet. Diets are good for emergency weight loss but they are in effect just a quick fix. Many people go thorough with a weight loss diet and do indeed lose weight and are ecstatic! Then when they return to a normal diet they see those pounds returning and pretty soon they are the same, or worse still, heavier than they were in the beginning. Depressed they give up and resign themselves to being fat. You can avoid this happening to you with a few simple steps: Avoid fad diets (ones in fashion) and “lose weight quick diets” Do not just rely on diet alone combine with other weight loss techniques Exercise Mindset Diets in fashion are just that. They are not usually long lasting and if you lose weight it is often only temporary. When you lose weight quickly your body will be stressed and you have a very good chance of regaining your weight and even adding more pounds. A better way is to adjust your eating habits permanently. This can be done by: · Cutting out so-called junk foods like chips candy and sweets. · Eating smaller portions · Drinking more water · Eating more fiber rich foods-these fill you up and stop you from getting so hungry Combine with other weight loss techniques: do not just do dieting, for success use other techniques to help you lose weight, like exercise. Exercise: is one of the best ways to lose weight. You need only do about 20 minutes 3 times a week and you will be losing weight. A brisk walk everyday will help you lose and maintain weight control. Mindset: Be determined to succeed and you will. Once you decide that you have a problem, (you are fat and need help) and are determined to lose weight you will be able to do it. You just need the willpower and attitude to make the changes in your lifestyle to lose those pounds. Try to reduce stress (both mentally and physically): mental and physical stress causes your body to react by retaining weight and not allowing you to shed those unwanted pounds. Lack of sleep is a big factor in stressing out your body and one that many of us do. When you deprive yourself of sleep your body reacts to this stress by retaining fat and not enabling you to lose weight. Mental stress is a big factor in weight loss. When you are stressed or even depressed there is a tendency to eat more to relieve emotions. Plus your body views this frame of mind as a stress factor and again inhibits weight loss. Next time you decide to get rid of those unwanted pounds do not just rely on diet. Change your habits and try to put all these simple techniques to work and you will lose more weight than you expected. When you lose weight you will look better feel better and be able to live a healthier more satisfying life.

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Monday, March 29th, 2010

Overweight – A challenging body condition which includes symptoms, like a bulky body, a distorted body structure, heavy weight, low energy and low resistance power, is a major concern today. It has been estimated that around 30-40 % of the population in the US has been suffering from the dangerous effects of overweight or obesity. And this is not all; the similar scenario can be viewed in the other parts of the world as well. Obesity is defined as a BMI (Body Mass Index) of 30 or more than 30 and welcomes the arrival of other hazardous diseases as diabetes, arthritis, hypertension etc. Obesity actually decreases the immunizing power of one’s body due to which a lot of other diseases find their way in ones body. Obesity considerably affects one’s body internally and externally. For a treatment of obesity Phentermine is considered as the wonder pill in order to loose weight. Phentermine acts as an appetite suppressant and hence helps by properly defining healthy eating. Phentermine works by stimulating the central nerves which again helps suppress the frequent hunger strokes that helps in reducing the calorie intake .As soon as the calorie intake on one’s daily schedule is maintained the metabolic rate automatically improves and hence weight loss occurs. Phentermine works on a systematic way to weight loss and that is why it guarantees a weight loss of 5-15% of your body weight. Apart from that it works for a short term management of obesity due to which it starts performing in a very short duration and hence helps people losing weight and maintaining a proper weight loss.Phentermine is termed as the world’s number one weight loss pill not only because of its performance but also because of its quality, cheap prices and user friendliness.Phentermine is available on unbelievable prices which actually caters to the demand of all those who look forward to weight loss within their budjet.Phentermine acts as an unbeatable weight loss pill and stands as the first and foremost medication for weight loss. Phentermine is a prescription diet pill and is available on the doctor’s prescription suiting to the capacity and requirements of one’s body.Phentermine is available online so as to be in the reach of all “anywhere anytime”.

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Thursday, March 25th, 2010

The Glycemic Index offers an interesting, and scientifically valid, way of assessing the types of carbohydrates we eat. It measures and rates the way these carbohydrates enter the bloodstream. And in doing so offers a way of approaching a meal so that it may be both nutritionally valid, and keep hunger pangs at bay. This of course is one way of preventing overeating. And its a great way for parents to try and curb their children’s desire to eat unhealthy food between meals. The Glycemic Index rates carbohydrates as having either a high, low or medium glycemic index. And the idea is to eat more foods that have either a low or medium glycemic index, and less with a high one. Low glycemic index foods enter the bloodstream more slowly, and so don’t raise blood sugar levels like high glycemic index foods. So, what is a carbohydrate? All sugars, or foods that are broken down into sugar, are carbohydrates. This includes regular sugar, glucose (often used in sports drinks), fructose, (in fruit), lactose, (found in milk and similar products like yoghurt), maltose, (found in malt which is often used to flavor cereals), all types of starches, from potatoes to noodles and pasta, and legumes, such as lentils and peas (though these also contain some protein). Fruit is considered to have a low GI (not fruit juice though). Interestingly though, recent research has found what they believe is a link between fructose and obesity. However, the type of fructose studied was in corn syrup, which is a refined and concentrated form of fructose. It also doesn’t have the beneficial fiber, antioxidants and other phytochemicals that fruit does. This was also preliminary research done in an animal model, so it may not be valid for humans. Researchers from the University of Florida found that fructose may make people believe they are hungrier than they should be. And when these researchers interrupted the way fructose was metabolized, the rats they were working with did not put on weight, even though they still ate fructose. This is not the first research that has suggested fructose may be linked to a propensity to put on weight, more so than other types of food. A study at the University of Cincinnati found that eating fructose (high fructose corn syrup), led to greater fat storage. They say that the body processes fructose differently to other types of sugars, though again, it is not clear if this is mitigated by perhaps the lower concentration of fructose in fruit as compared to the corn syrup used in the study. The research from the University of Florida found that there were higher levels of uric acid in the bloodstream after eating or drinking fructose. This spike in uric acid affects insulin, by blocking it. Insulin regulates the way our cells store and use fat. If uric acid levels are elevated a lot, then symptoms of metabolic syndrome can develop. These symptoms include high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, as well as gaining a lot of weight. What is of possible concern to people is that fructose is used in a lot of soda drinks, so if you drink a lot of soda it is going to be quite easy to frequently spike uric acid levels in the blood. Metabolic syndrome is also a precursor of type 2 diabetes. Signs of metabolic syndrome include fat on the abdomen, such that the waist appears as big as the hips or larger. There tend to be lower amounts of the good type of cholesterol in the blood, and high levels of triglycerides which make the blood ’sticky’. Metabolic syndrome is associated with the way the body responds to insulin, so that there are higher levels of glucose in the blood. All of these things can be tested by doctors. References: 1. http://www.nutraingredients.com/news/ng.asp?n=64395&m=1NIED08&c=qgtqmovbyiaxdub 2. Australian Healthy Food, November 2005 3. Nature and Health, Oct/Nov 2005

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