Dieting can be difficult, and with so many different new products, exercise equipment machines, and trends out there, it can be even more confusing than ever before. Fortunately, there are some weight loss truths that everyone looking to lose the pounds needs to know about. Here are four truths that you might not be aware of, but should definitely know if you’re trying to lose weight:

1. There is no easy solution or an immediate fix for weight loss.

While it might seem that those ads boast some too good to be true solutions to losing weight, the truth of the matter is that there is no easy or simple fix. Losing weight takes time, patience, and dedication. It also takes a lot of self-discipline when it comes to eating and lifestyle habits. A diet in a pill is not a real solution to losing weight. Neither are prepackaged foods or surgery (unless it is an extreme case).

The reality is that weight loss takes work. It also takes time, so don’t expect to lose ten pounds in a week. Be realistic with your goals and understand that losing weight is a life long change in your habits and the way you eat and function.

2. You must stop eating “low fat,” “low calorie”, and “low carb” foods.

People often think that food labels are the ultimate resource for healthy foods. If something says it’s sugar-free, low-carb, or low in fat, many dieters think they can eat as much of it as they want. The reality is that most food labels are misleading or incorrect, and can actually lead to binge eating.

Recent studies have also shown that too much consumption of sugar-free foods can cause an irritable bowel syndrome and can also trick the body into thinking that it’s eating sugar, which in turn causes more cravings for real sugar. By eating natural foods like whole wheat breads, fruits, and vegetables, you can lose the weight without all of the filler.

3. Losing weight takes a change in your lifestyle.

Going on a diet is not enough to lose the weight and actually keep it off. Instead, it takes an entire change in the way you live your life. While diets might help you lose water weight or even a few pounds, they must actually be followed for the rest of your life in order to keep those pounds off. Being healthy and fit is all in how you live on a day-to-day basis. It is not a fast solution to look good in a swimsuit or to fit into that dress you’ve had your eye on.

Remember that being healthy is better than being thin. Not everyone is meant to be a size 2, so you must simply dedicate yourself to changing your lifestyle, and then accepting yourself for who you are.

4. Spot reduction does not work.

You might think a few sit-ups a week will help to make your stomach look flat, or that by lifting some free weights, your arms will be less flabby. The truth is that most human bodies distribute fat somewhat evenly, so it’s very difficult to spot reduce fat from certain “problem areas”.

You can definitely tone them up with exercise, but for the muscles to show up, you must lose the fat first. This is why healthy eating coupled with an equally healthy and effective exercise plan is the best way to ensure that you look slim and trim all over.

Looking to make a change and lose some weight? I have reviewed the top diet on the internet and you can go and read over 200 comments people have made about why this diet has worked well for them, as well as some of the problems.

Tags: food labels, irritable bowel syndrome, surgery

Any decision you make about your health care is important–including deciding whether to use acupuncture. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) has developed this fact sheet to provide you with information on acupuncture. It includes frequently asked questions, issues to consider, and a list of sources for further information. Terms that are underlined are defined at the end of this fact sheet.

Key Points
Acupuncture originated in China more than 2,000 years ago, making it one of the oldest and most commonly used medical procedures in the world.

It is important to inform all of your health care providers about any treatment that you are using or considering, including acupuncture. Ask about the treatment procedures that will be used and their likelihood of success for your condition or disease.

Be an informed consumer and find out what scientific studies have been done on the effectiveness of acupuncture for your health condition.

If you decide to use acupuncture, choose the practitioner with care. Also check with your insurer to see if the services will be covered.
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Tags: acupuncture, acupuncture points, Alternative Medicine, Asthma, back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, chemotherapy, China, Complementary Medicine, complex chronic, cramps, energy, fatigue, fibromyalgia, headache, health care systems, insurance plans, irritable bowel syndrome, James Reston, Japan, Korea, Massage, meditation, meridians, muscle pain, National Center for Complementary, National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, National Institute of Health, nausea, negative energy, New York Times, Office of Alternative Medicine, osteoarthritis, pain, physician, placebos, positive energy, reporter, stroke, surgery, tennis elbow, traditional Chinese medicine, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, United States, vomiting, Web search engines

No way, is it really true? Next time you are about to unwrap a chcolate bar or pop open that pop think about this list by Nancy Appleton, a PHD that wrote the book Lick the sugar habit. .I thought I knew why sugar was bad but here are well over 100 reasons why you should avoid it.

1. Sugar can suppress the immune system.
2. Sugar upsets the mineral relationships in the body.
3. Sugar can cause hyperactivity, anxiety, difficulty concentrating, and crankiness in children.
4. Sugar can produce a significant rise in triglycerides.
5. Sugar contributes to the reduction in defense against bacterial infection (infectious diseases).
6. Sugar causes a loss of tissue elasticity and function, the more sugar you eat the more elasticity and function you loose.
7. Sugar reduces high density lipoproteins.
8. Sugar leads to chromium deficiency.
9. Sugar leads to cancer of the ovaries.
10. Sugar can increase fasting levels of glucose.
11. Sugar causes copper deficiency.
12. Sugar interferes with absorption of calcium and magnesium.
13. Sugar can weaken eyesight.
14. Sugar raises the level of a neurotransmitters: dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine.
15. Sugar can cause hypoglycemia.
16. Sugar can produce an acidic digestive tract.
17. Sugar can cause a rapid rise of adrenaline levels in children.
18. Sugar malabsorption is frequent in patients with functional bowel disease.
19. Sugar can cause premature aging.
20. Sugar can lead to alcoholism.
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Tags: adhd, alcoholism, Alzheimer�s disease, appendicitis, arthritis, Asthma, atherosclerosis, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, bacterial infection, biliary tract cancer, bowel disease, breast cancer, cancer, cancer of the rectum, Candida Albicans, carcinoma, cardiovascular disease, cataracts, central reward systems, chromium deficiency, colon cancer, constipation, copper deficiency, Crohn's disease, depression, diabetes, dizziness, drowsiness, duodenal ulcers, eczema, endometrial cancer, epileptic seizures, excessive food intake, food, food allergies, gallbladder cancer, gallstones, gastric cancer, gout, headaches, heart disease, hemorrhoids, high blood pressure, hypoglycemia, infectious diseases, intravenous feedings, irritable bowel syndrome, kidney stones, laryngeal cancer, learning disorders, liver tumors, lung cancer, memory loss, metabolic syndrome, migraine, multiple sclerosis, myopia, Nancy Appleton, nearsightedness, neural tube defects, obesity, osteoporosis, pancreatic cancer, Parkinson�s disease, periodontal disease, peripheral vascular disease, polio, prostate cancer, schizophrenia, stomach cancer, sugar, sugar habit, Sweet food items, toxemia, travel time, ulcerative colitis, varicose veins, yeast infections

I decided that I should write a bit about coffee as I drink a lot of coffee and wanted to know a little bit more about it’s health benefits and drawbacks. What I found was a little scary but also interesting on the good side.

Why coffee is good

First of all the good side of that morning cup of coffee. There are studies that have shown that coffee can protect against Parkinsons disease as well as Alzheimers, although I am not sure that hospitals are going to start hopping up old people on caffeine to test whether they will be able to remember any better. There is also a bit of research that shows that coffee and caffeine can help prevent Cirrhosis of the liver but also I am not sure if it is also a good idea to down a cup of coffee after a night of drinking just hoping that the coffee will help your already ailing liver. One of the big advantages as you can imagine is the boost to the central nervous system, some bodybuilders will drink strong coffee before a workout to improve their strength and endurance during the workout and I have tried this as well, It Works.

Why coffee is bad

Now for the bad news. There is some research as well on the bad side. Coffee can cause irritable Bowel Syndrome as well as heartburn and in the long term has been linked to Osteoporosis. We know the short term downside of course, shakiness, concentration problems and and an elevated chance of a heart attack. One of the things that drives me really crazy about coffee is the caffeine crash. I can feel a little bit like a junkie in the morning drinking a couple cups of coffee and after the energy drop an hour or so later I am looking for sugar or more coffee to try to get me going again.

One of the big problems with many people is that they replace a good breakfast with a couple of cups of coffee and this means that in addition to having the elevated heart rate they are also living with a far less healthy diet than the non caffeinated people around them.

How much coffee can you drink

The Canadian government advises that people should not have more than 450 milligrams of caffeine a day which is roughly three 8 ounce cups a day also the equivalent of about 10 cans of pop. Energy drinks are no better but a Red Bull is going to have the caffeine equivalent of about two cups of coffee and if they were any cheaper I know I could personally put away three or four a day, good thing I’m cheap and won’t pay the money for them.

There are good reasons as we see to getting unhooked from the coffee habit but it can be very difficult. The first morning or two after you stop drinking coffee you will have headaches and be very dragged out energy-wise. The best way to combat these problems is to drink lots of water throughout the day to try to hydrate yourself and also to keep moving around if possible. If you can increase you exercise you will have less of these bad withdrawal symptoms and before long you will find that you have more energy than you had before when you were over caffeinated.

Now maybe it is time to take my own advice.

Tags: Canadian government, Cirrhosis, energy, Energy drinks, heart attack, irritable bowel syndrome, osteoporosis, Parkinsons disease, withdrawal symptoms