Ayurvedic Beauty Care

Ayurvedic beauty care mostly is Ayurvedic lifestyle itself. However there are some additional usages of ointments and including healthy food items in your diet.

Ayurvedic beauty care includes employing techniques for skin care, hair care, eye care, foot care and to keep optimum body mass. There is no place for ama (bodily toxic wastes) in the body. Complete nutrition to body is necessary for good beauty care.

Healthy Ayurvedic lifestyle is natural Ayurvedic beauty care. Balance lifestyle in such a manner that there is little scope for stress or accumulation or bodily or mental toxins. Ayurvedic beauty care deals not only with external beauty. It also deals with inner feelings like happiness, calmness and mental stability. No one can hide sadness with makeup.

Daily exercise, especially yoga is an important aspect of Ayurvedic beauty care. Women who want to keep their youthful beauty needs to practice yoga on a daily basis. Practicing yoga can also relieve women off menstrual problems and can help them with easy delivery at the end of their pregnancy.

Ayurvedic beauty care do include the use of natural cosmetics derived from such plants like sandalwood, turmeric, henna (mehndi), aloe vera and many naturally available beauty care products. The application of which is determined by the body and skin type of the person. A knowledgeable Ayurveda beauty care expert can tell the exact body and skin nature of a person and give advice on exact type of cosmetics to use.

Once started, Ayurvedic beauty care continues to give a glowing face and confident look wherever you go.

by: Dev Sri

High Blood Pressure: Causes,Symptoms,Treatment

Blood pressure is the force of the blood pushing against the walls of the arteries. Blood pressure is the result of two forces: from the heart as it pumps blood into the arteries and throughout the circulatory system, and the force of the arteries as they resist blood flow. Blood pressure is measured by putting a blood pressure cuff around your arm, inflating the cuff and listening for the flow of blood. Blood pressure is always given as these two numbers, the systolic and diastolic pressures. Blood pressure is traditionally measured with a device called a sphygmomanometer. Blood pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg). Blood pressure is generally felt to be abnormally high at a level of 140/90, and some sort of definitive therapy and follow-up should be started at this level. High blood pressure is called the silent killer because it usually has no symptoms.




Blood is carried from the heart to all parts of your body in vessels called arteries. Blood does not flow regularly like water from a tap:-When the heart contracts (systole), the blood is propelled into the main arteries that act as a pressurised reservoir.

Pressure in a hose can be regulated either by controlling the rate at which fluid passes through it or by widening it. Pressure inside your arteries can cause the muscles that line the walls of the arteries to thicken. Your blood pressure is at its highest when the heart beats, pumping the blood. When the heart is at rest, between beats, your blood pressure falls. Still, for most of your waking hours, your blood pressure stays pretty much the same when you are sitting or standing still.

Heart disease is the UK’s biggest killer, claiming thousands of lives each year. Heart failure is when your heart cannot pump blood around the body as well as it should, and this can cause you to become short of breath and can cause your ankles to swell. Heart attack High blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart attacks.

Various disorders and drugs can cause the compensatory mechanisms to malfunction, and high blood pressure may result. Causes In most instances of high blood pressure, no known cause can be identified. Doctors do not know what causes high blood pressure in 90 to 95 percent of people who have it. For some people, just being in a medical setting causes their blood pressure to rise.

Symptoms When blood pressure is too low, the first organ to malfunction is usually the brain. Symptoms that may occur include: Confusion Chest pain Ear noise or buzzing Irregular heartbeat Nosebleed Tiredness Vision changes. What is treatment, medication, medicines, remedy, drugs, cure of lowering high Blood pressure or Hypertension? . Although high blood pressure, also known as hypertension, can cause headaches, dizziness and problems with vision, the majority of people with the condition do not display any noticeable symptoms.

Treatment

Treatment is focused on reducing water retention and lowering blood pressure to normal limits. Treatment for high blood pressure depends on the severity of the disease and whether you have other health problems, such as heart failure or diabetes, or you are pregnant. Treatment of primary high blood pressure, especially moderate or severe high blood pressure, decreases the risk of heart failure, coronary artery disease, heart attack, abnormal heartbeats, stroke, and kidney disease, and reduces the risk of death from these conditions. Treatment for high blood pressure must be highly individualized and based on your risk factors, such as diabetes, smoking, and heart disease. Treatment when blood pressure increases slightly and the woman is not near the end of her pregnancy, bed rest may help reduce the pressure. Treatment begins with changes you can make in your lifestyle to help lower your blood pressure and reduce your risk of heart disease .

High blood pressure is called the silent killer because it usually has no symptoms. When high blood pressure is not found and treated, it can cause: The heart to get larger, which may lead to heart failure. If your blood pressure is in the prehypertension range, it is more likely that you will end up with high blood pressure unless you take action to prevent it. High blood pressure is dangerous because it makes the heart work too hard and contributes to atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries). If your blood pressure is between 120/80 mmHg and 139/89 mmHg, then you have prehypertension. The good news is that if your blood pressure is high, it can be lowered by making changes to your lifestyle, for example changing your diet, exercising and losing weight, and when needed, with tablets. The medical community?s knowledge of high blood pressure is great, but far from perfect. High blood pressure is more common: In patients whose families have high blood pressure In those over 35 years old In males In Afro-Americans In women on oral contraceptives. The only way to know whether you have high blood pressure is to have it taken by a person who knows how (those automatic machines you sit at in the supermarket are not necessarily kept accurate condition.

by: Alexis-Blaise Kenne

Dental Health Care

Dental Health Care is one of the best prevention programs to ensure fresh breath, healthy mouth and teeth for life. Dental diseases are not considered to be fatal .Hence very often people neglect the importance of oral hygiene. Nevertheless, the cost of dental disease in pain, suffering, treatment and loss of work is huge. Teeth are meant to last a lifetime. By taking good care of your teeth and gums, you can protect them for many years to come.

Tooth decay is not restricted to children's disease. It can occur to anyone as long as natural teeth are in the mouth. It is caused by bacteria that usually exist in the mouth. The bacteria stick to teeth and form a colorless and sticky film called dental plaque.

An important part of dental health care is to know how to brush and floss perfectly. Careful brushing each day removes plaque. In addition to brushing, using dental floss is required to keep the gums healthy. Proper flossing is imperative because it removes plaque and leftover food that a toothbrush cannot reach.

The following are the brushing Tips.Worn out toothbrushes cannot properly clean your teeth and may injure your gums. So it is recommended to replace them every three or four months. Teeth should be brushed gently with very short strokes and enough pressure so that you feel the bristles against the gums. The tips of the bristles do the cleaning, so it should not be compressed. Never use a toothbrush with very hard bristles .It can damage the gums. Teeth should be thoroughly brushed at least once a day, preferably twice in a day. Children should clean their teeth after every meal and at bedtime.

The following are the flossing tips.Flossing removes plaque and food particles from between the teeth and below the gum lines where the toothbrush can't reach. As tooth decay and periodontal disease often start in these areas, it's important to clean them thoroughly and daily. A commercial floss holder may seem helpful to use. Most children cannot floss their own teeth until age 10.

Gums may be sore and bleed for the first five or six days after you floss .It is a sign that plaque and bacteria are being removed. If bleeding does persist even after a few days it is better to consult your dentist. Exercise care while flossing as improper flossing injures your gums. Consult your dentist about how to floss properly, to avoid injuring your gums.

A healthy smile is a winner at any age. Eat a balanced diet and restrict munching snacks between meals. If you need a snack, choose nutritious foods such as raw vegetables, plain yogurt, cheese or a piece of fruit. Fluoride is important for both adults as well as children. Fluoride compounds are present in drinking water and some foods. Brush your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste. Replace your toothbrush every three or four months or sooner if the bristles are worn as it won't do a perfect job of cleaning your teeth.

Apart from following a good dental health care, it is essential to have regular check-ups by the dentist whether you possess natural teeth or depend on false dentures. It is also vital to abide by with any special treatments that are required to make sure of good oral health. For example, if you have sensitive teeth caused by receding gums, your dentist may advise using special toothpaste for sometime. If you have on false dentures, keep them clean and free from food that causes bad breath and gum irritation. Make sure that you brush all the surface of the dentures with a denture care product once a day. A common cause of tooth loss after one crosses 35years of age is gum disease which is also known as periodontal disease. This occurs due to infections of the gum and bone that hold the teeth in its place. Gum diseases are also caused by dental plaque.

Remember you can have just one set of natural permanent teeth in your lifetime. Take good care of it and the reward will smile back at you every time you look at your reflection. Keep away from activities that are harmful to the teeth such as smoking, addiction to caffeine etc. A healthy mouth is indeed an indication of a healthy body. By taking care of your teeth, eating a balanced diet and visiting your dentist regularly, you can have healthy teeth and an attractive smile your entire life.

by: Mary Rose

Diabetes and Food Style: Turn Your Food into Your Medicine

Fast paced life of modern world has necessitated us to give only lower priority to nutrition. This is at a time when nutrition awareness of everyone is high. Instead of taking well cooked food items, fruits and juices, people go after carbonated drinks, fast 'junk' food, frozen and preserved food, microwave food. People also don’t take the time to enjoy and appreciate the food they eat. Today most of us just need any food that fills the belly for sometime.

This food habits have given rise to a variety of health problems. Significantly important one among them is diabetes.

Ayurvedic principles tell us food is one important element that keeps a person in a balanced state of body, mind and soul. Taking healthy food translates into healthy body.

Ayurvedic view on diabetes is no different. There are times when diabetes can attack without any warning sign. Ayurvedic food style combined with certain herbal applications helps one effectively manage his or her condition of diabetes.

High sugar level is the most dreaded thing about diabetes. Ayurveda recommends food items that don't release excess sugar into the blood. Food items that are too sweet, ice cream, chocolate, friend food items, white flour, preserved food, fast food, junk food etc are to be avoided. Bad habits like smoking and drinking should be given up.

Ayurveda recommends Ayurvedic herbal tea for diabetic patients. Replace sugar with honey or jaggery (thickened molasses - sarkkara) or better still palm jaggery (thickened palm molasses - karippatti).

The advantages or drinking more than eight glass of water everyday is not easily told in an essay. Drink a minimum of 8-15 glass of water in the day time. After sunset take only minimal quantities of water. Another thing is to drink plenty of water an hour before a meal and an hour after the meals. Drinking water close to meals dilute the digestive fire (in Ayurveda it is called pitta) and makes the process of digestion difficult.

Take fruits like grapes, fig, pomegranate, citrus fruits etc. Bitter melon (bitter gourd, karela) is used as medicine for diabetes.

The point about Ayurvedic management of diabetes is never a hard task. All you will have to do is to incorporate Ayurvedic principles as your daily routine. Having healthy food and exercise regime itself can help one control his or her diabetes to a great extent.

Include turmeric and garlic as spices, bitter gourd as vegetable, triphala as a laxative and drinking lot of water as daily habit. These are not very difficult to follow. You can't eat or drink all the food items you have. But living a sweeter life sometimes means giving up some sweet for tongue food items.

by: Dev Sri

Top Ten Tips To Prevent Hair Loss

Though people with an overdose of philosophy say it not what is outside, but inside the skull that counts, people suffering from hair loss wish it is the other way round. People of 'almost' all cultures are obsessed with thickly growing hair.

Ayurveda has identified this obsession a few centuries ago and has given the directions to minimize hair loss and better hair growth in its scheme of beauty care, which is commonly called lavanya sutra or the sutra for lavanyam or beauty.

Though lavanyam is referred to feminine beauty, hair loss tips are beneficial for the tougher sex too.

Here are top ten tips to prevent hair loss and ensure healthy hair growth.

1. Gently massage your scalpel with fingertips after applying a hair oil like coconut oil or sesame oil.

2. Eat Indian gooseberry in any form early in the day. Don't take gooseberry based products later in the night as it can affect your beautiful dental line.

3. Boil fresh or dried and powdered Indian gooseberry (also called amla) in coconut oil. Apply this for nourishing hair growth.

4. Eat all types of vegetables and fruits. This will ensure supply of vitamins and minerals essential for the healthy growth of hair. Vitamins and minerals are good for your health too.

5. Also eat protein rich food items – tuna, lean meat, whole milk are beneficial.

6. While bathing, wash your head with cold water only. It is winter and water is ice-cold, you can make it luke-warm. It is ok to wash your body with cold water.

7. Apply brahmi oil on your scalpel before going to bed. Good for hair growth and brain.

8. Dandruff is a cause of hair loss. Squeeze half a lemon to half a liter of water and rinse your hair and scalpel with this water as a cure to dandruff. Do this no more than three times a week and for up to a month.

9. Rosemary oil is an aromatherapy oil, which can be applied to your hair once in a week to reduce hair fall.

10. Crush a few leaves and flowers of hibiscus (shoe flower) with two or three glasses of water. The water becomes thick with the juice and use this water to wash your hair. Thoroughly cleanses your hair and gives dark bright color to your hair.

Never apply soap or high power shampoo on your head, as it can affect healthy growth of hair.

by: Dev Sri

Breaking Out of Sugar Hell

Here are a few tips that may help either prevent "sugar hell" in you or your children, or help pull you out of them if you happen to find yourself there:

1) TUNE IN to your body. Figure out what works for you (and your children) and what keeps your blood sugar levels and brain chemistry stable. Notice what foods trigger cravings, difficult behavior,fatigue or irritability, and minimize them.

2) Notice what emotional states might trigger sugar cravings - loneliness? Stress? Boredom? Fatigue? Begin to address them with non-food solutions and get help if you need to.

3) Most people benefit from some combination of protein, fats and high-quality carbohydrates at each meal and snack to stabilize blood sugar levels.

4) If you are going to eat sugar or processed carbohydrates, arm yourself by eating protein and/or fat (a piece of cheese, some nuts, some sliced turkey, for example), beforehand.

5) Do NOT skip meals - ever.

6) Avoid fake sweeteners (like NutraSweet, saccharine, Splenda, etc), which just "whet" your appetite for more sweets.

7) Avoid packaged foods that are labeled low fat. In fact, don't be afraid of fat at all - most unprocessed fats are GOOD for your body and your brain (more on this another time!).

8) If you find yourself in the middle of a sugar binge or "sugar hell," stop and ask yourself: "what is the next thing I can do to shift this cycle?" Then DO IT.

9) Don't beat yourself up - for anything. Especially for not having "enough willpower." Remember, your cravings are not about willpower, but about your body's way of trying to tell you that you are out of balance somehow.

10) Stop thinking of sweets as a reward. Find non-food treats for yourself and your children.

by: Karen Schachter

Eczema

What’s the difference between eczema and atopic dermatitis?
Eczema is a general term encompassing various inflamed skin conditions. One of the most common forms of eczema is atopic dermatitis (or "atopic eczema"). Approximately 10 percent to 20 percent of the world population is affected by this chronic, relapsing, and very itchy rash at some point during childhood. Fortunately, many children with eczema find that the disease clears and often disappears with age.

In general, atopic dermatitis will come and go, often based on external factors. Although its cause is unknown, the condition appears to be an abnormal response of the body’s immune system. In people with eczema, the inflammatory response to irritating substances overacts, causing itching and scratching. Eczema is not contagious and, like many diseases, currently cannot be cured. However, for most patients the condition may be managed well with treatment and avoidance of triggers.

What does eczema look and feel like?
Although eczema may look different from person to person, it is most often characterized by dry, red, extremely itchy patches on the skin. Eczema is sometimes referred to as "the itch that rashes," since the itch, when scratched, results in the appearance of the rash.

Eczema can occur on just about any part of the body; however, in infants, eczema typically occurs on the forehead, cheeks, forearms, legs, scalp, and neck. In children and adults, eczema typically occurs on the face, neck, and the insides of the elbows, knees, and ankles. In some people, eczema may "bubble up" and ooze. In others, the condition may appear more scaly, dry, and red. Chronic scratching causes the skin to take on a leathery texture because the skin thickens (lichenification).

Psoriasis And Its Possible Treatments

Psoriasis is a long lasting, chronic skin ailment characterized by inflammation and scaling of outer layer of skin. The symptoms of psoriasis are chronic skin rash condition with a red or silver color and the skin has blisters. The symptoms of having the disease are recurring attacks of skin rashes, small red patches that expands and becomes scaly, red plaques and silvery scales etc.

When psoriasis occurs, patches on the skin thicken, reddens, and become covered with silvery scales referred to as plaques. These patches are itchy or have a burning sensation with crack in the skin at the joints. Psoriasis occurs in a wide variety of areas in the body including the elbows, knees, scalp, lower back, face, palms, fingernails, and soles of the feet, toenails and even on the soft tissues inside the mouth. Psoriasis often leads to psoriatic arthritis.

Researchers have commented that, psoriasis is a disorder of the immune system. In psoriasis the abnormal immune system leads to the over-production of T-cells; a type of white blood cell that protects against infections; that in turn triggers the excessive skin cell production and inflammation. There are certain conditions that flare up the problem of psoriasis, like infections, stress, change of climate and excessive dry skin. There are certain medications that worsen the problem of psoriasis such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and medicines for treating high blood pressure or depression. Psoriasis may also be hereditary. Genetic connections with a psoriasis patient may also trigger the diseases.

Diagnosis of psoriasis requires a through examination and required diagnosis. There are various types of psoriasis. The most common type is the plaque psoriasis or psoriasis vulgaris as known scientifically. In this type of psoriasis, the lesions have a reddened base covered by silvery base. Guttate psoriasis are caused by viral respiratory infections or streptococcal infections. In this type, drop like lesions occur on the limbs, and scalp. The non-infectious pus characterizes pustular psoriasis. Sunlight allergies, medications, infections, perspirations, emotional stress, chemicals and even pregnancy cause it. Large, dry, smooth red plaques occurring in the folds of the skin near the genitals, in the armpits and under the breast, characterizes inverse psoriasis. It is related to over-sensitivity to sweating and friction. Reddening and scaling of the skin, accompanied by itching sensation and pain in the area happens in the case of erythrodermic psoriasis.

The disease, psoriasis requires a systematic treatment according to the severity of the problem and responsiveness to certain medication. The effectiveness of the treatments varies from one individual to another. The type of treatment suitable for a particular patient depends on the location of the lesion, their size, amount of skin affected, response to the undergoing treatment and most importantly the perceptions of the patient and preferences about the treatment undergoing. The treatment is according to the specific forms of disorder.

There are mainly three types of treatment provided to the patients affected by psoriasis. In the topical treatment, the patient is suggested loads of fresh air and sunlight, steroid ointments, and medicines prepared from coal tar or anthralin and vitamin D3. Other topical solutions include, bath solutions and moisturizers. Phototherapy and systematic treatment for severe cases are other forms of psoriasis treatment.

by: Jefferson Steelflex

Five Key Elements for a Healthy Body

With so many different obstacles in our way today it’s essential to do the things that are necessary to keep our bodies in top condition. Between diseases and pollution in our air and water, we must stay tuned into the needs of our bodies in order to assure a long and healthy life. Making the right choices in these areas will allow us to remain happy and productive many years past retirement.

1. Get plenty of sleep

Being well-rested is one of the most important elements in maintaining a healthy body. Sleep deprivation whether purposely or the result of insomnia can cause your body to become tired, fatigued, and run down. This lends its way to an invasion of many infections because of a compromised immune system. Sleep is the body’s best defence, so you need to make sure you obtain what your body needs. Each person requires on average between six and eight hours of sleep nightly, although some may function on as little as five hours while others need up to ten hours.

2. Exercise regularly

Besides having the ability to boost the metabolism, exercise also helps the body sleep most restfully. Whether you do a complete workout or just take a walk several times during the day, you will feel much better by participating in some kind of exercise. That doesn’t mean you have to do something boring—you can swim, bicycle, play tennis, ski, water ski, or do any other type of activity that you enjoy. The important thing is to make sure you do it regularly.

3. Eat healthy foods

In order to maintain a body that is healthy and active all of your life, you need to learn how to eat foods that are good for you. Certainly that high fat, high calorie burger from the local fast food place tastes good, but it is not good for you. You need to develop the habit of eating lean protein, steamed or raw vegetables, fresh fruits, and carbohydrates containing a low glycemic index such as whole grain cereals, brown rice, and wheat bread and pasta. That doesn’t mean you have to give up sweet desserts and snacks for good, but you need to learn to eat them in moderation.

4. Maintain a normal weight

Having excess weight puts a strain on both the heart and the back. In order to assure that you can stay active and do the things you enjoy, you need to make sure your weight is within normal range. If you are overweight but think you are still healthy, you need to review the things you are able to do compared to some of the things you used to be able to do. Certainly you are older which causes some difference, but your weight definitely has a detrimental effect on the level of activities in which you are able to participate.

5. Make sure you have an adequate supply of essential nutrients

No matter how many healthy foods we eat, it is likely we are not getting all of the nutrients we need. This is especially true of the Omega-3 Fatty Acids that help us maintain the health of our hearts. Although this nutrient is found in fish, few of us can eat enough fish to compensate, so we need to supplement this deficiency with fish oil supplements. The same holds true of many other nutrients such as Calcium, Iron, Folic Acid, and the B vitamins just to name a few.

A healthy lifestyle will help us keep our bodies healthy into our golden years, and following these tips will certainly help you in that process. You don’t need to give up your favourite foods to be healthy, but you do need to make sure you eat unhealthy foods in moderation. You also want to make sure to get enough sleep, exercise regularly, and supplement your diet with important vitamins and minerals.

by: Marie Watson

How To Lose Weight The Easy And Safe Way

WHAT IS THE BEST DIET

Many people ask me which is the best diet for me to follow, with practically a new diet coming out every year I find myself getting frustrated with the mis- information being put out there. Let me shine some light on some of these fad diets.

Why fad diets don't work

There's no question if you follow these fad diets you will lose weight, but I can also guarantee you will not be able to sustain these so-called diets which is why millions of people follow these diets only to pack back on the pounds again.

The simple answer to this is fad diets do not work, the reason they do not work is because you can only follow such a ridiculous routine for only so long successful long-term weight loss is not necessarily about a diet but it's about long-term happiness.

I even hate that word diets, because it is linked to feelings of restriction and unhappiness but what I do believe in is a sensible nutrition plan which allows you to eat five to six enjoyable small meals a day. To be honest with you I wish all of these fad diets did work then we wouldn't be experiencing the problems we have today such as obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Before I explain to you the concept of a healthy eating plan I'll cover just a few of these fad diets.

THE ATKINS DIET.

I'm sure you've all heard of the Atkins diet and heard about the supposed success stories. The problem is that most of these fad diets work on the basis of calorie reduction. with the Atkins carbohydrates are severely limited, the atkins diet requires that you get your calories from just protein and fat.

The way this works is by consuming so much fat and protein it sends a signal to your brain saying that your full when in reality you are not, this can result in metabolic disorders. The Atkins diet will allow you to lose weight but at what cost? the side-effects of the Atkins diet is nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, and bad breath (urghh)

I would have to say the Atkins diet is a big no-no, a healthy diet is well rounded and borrows from all the food groups such as carbohydrates, protein and good fats. Tricking your body into believing it is full, when it's not, will only can catch up with you and make you feel ill through the lack of nutrients received in you diet.

The weight loss achieved in Atkins is mainly muscle mass, and muscle tissue is what helps speed up your metabolic rate, the more muscle tissue you have the more calories you burn. Which is why when people realise they cannot sustain the Atkins diet any more they put the weight on twice as fast because now they do not have the muscle to combat the fat.

Bear in mind when a new diet hits the market and seems too good to be true, your usually right!

THE ZONE DIET

The zone diet is used by many celebrities such as Jennifer aniston, Renee zellweger, Madonna, Cindy Crawford and Winona Ryder. The main concept of the zone diet is a balanced ratio of carbohydrates (40) and proteins (30%) so on this diet you do actually get to eat, which in my eyes is a good start.

The zone diet works by following recipes with a low-carbohydrate diet plan, it does insist on watching your calorie consumption while eating eg. A meal must not exceed 500 calories and a snack must not exceed 100 calories which they call staying in the zone.

I must say weight loss is not the only benefit of the zone diet you also experience improved energy, improved mental clarity and is also ideal for type 2 diabetes sufferers. This diet was implemented to reduce hunger and compulsion to eat. Zone diet recipes are customized to each individual, based on your sex, activity level and proportion of body fat.

The foods the zone diet encourages are fresh vegetables, fruits and nuts, leafy green vegetables, sufficient protein consumption, and eight glasses of water everyday. How weight loss is achieved with the zone diet is similar to the low gi diet.

By reducing your carbohydrates your body will not produce too much insulin (a hormone that tells your body to store up nutrients) consuming too much carbohydrates causes this to happen which is why carbs are seen as the bad guys. The overload of insulin tells the body to convert the carbohydrates you ate into fat stores around your belly, thighs, buttocks and other areas.

Carbohydrates are not totally the bad guys if you limit them and balance them with low-fat protein this will keep your insulin levels balanced. I like this diet because it's not so much a diet, it's more of a eating plan. The only problem I have with the zone diet is calculating meals and snacks every day is not totally convenient, with 5 hours of exercise a week and a variety of balanced meals consisting of low gi carbs, protein and veg is a simpler formula to lose weight.

THE SOUTH BEACH DIET

The south beach to me is an improved version of the atkins diet because it does allow "good" carbohydrates like fruit and foods with a low glycemic (Gi) index. The south beach diet gives you the freedom to snack all day if you feel the need to and not to worry about counting calories.

This diet is a complete waste of time because if you give people in search of losing weight the go-ahead to eat a portion as big as they like, they probably will, I know I would if I didn't know any better. Even eating the healthiest foods if you consume too much you will still put on weight.

WEIGHT WATCHERS

Weight watchers have created their own brand of foods with low calories from full dinners to ice cream. I must say weight watchers have tried to make counting calories as simple as they can here by running a points system.

Their point system runs something like this: each food has a point value ranging from 0 for jelly to 8 for pizza. Depending on your bodyweight, you are allowed a certain amount of points daily, if you stay under your points you lose weight.

With weight watchers you are allowed to bank points and use them over days, exercise also earns you points. When you're feeling down in the dumps or lacking in the motivation department you can go to daily weight watchers meetings and get great tips and motivation from others who have overcome their obstacles and achieved there goals.

I believe weight watchers has stood the test of time because they focus more on long term healthy eating rather than restrictive dieting, we are all human and sometimes we desire some of our favorite dessert or pizza without having to feel like a failure. I feel this is totally acceptable and is a good approach to achieving your goals.

THE GI DIET

This diet definitely takes the No.1 spot for me, because it's more of a eating plan than a restrictive diet. The GI diet also teaches you that carbs are not the bad guys after all, it's the type of carbs you eat that is important.

Put simply the GI diet is a scale which charts how quickly a food is converted into sugar in the body. Foods that chart as a high G.I number are converted into sugar more quickly than foods that have a low G.I number, the scale is based on a rating of 1 to 100.

So why is the G.I number important?

If a food is rated high on the G.I scale your body is more likely to store fat, this is due to insulin which is the primary storage hormone in your body and is used to help get nutrients into the different cells of your body. High G.I foods raise our blood sugar so rapidly that insulin has to be released in our body to bring our blood sugar down to a normal baseline, in order for insulin to bring our blood sugar levels down it has to store the sugar

It's a simple stimulus - response system that works to keep blood sugar levels in balance in the body.

So how does this affect your fat loss?

I'll tell you how, just remember when insulin is present in your bloodstream, your body is in STORAGE mode and will NOT release fat from your fat cells to burn. So when your blood sugar levels are high, your body isn't burning fat.

Another thing is when your blood sugar is high, your body is using that blood sugar for energy instead of using fat. Sugar is the preferred fuel for your body because it's easier to use, but it confuses the body so the body takes a guess and always releases too much insulin to bring your blood sugar level down but too much insulin results in bringing your blood sugar levels too low leaving you feeling dizzy and lethargic craving for more sugary foods to perk yourself up again, this is where the vicious cycle starts.

How do you stop this cycle?

To stop this vicious cycle you need keep your blood sugar levels stable so your body stays in fat burning mode instead of STORAGE mode. You accomplish this by focusing on eating low G.I carbs (every G.I diet book gives you a list of low G.I foods)

When you eat low G.I foods, the carbs are converted into sugar at a slower, steadier rate into the body, this way your body doesn't have to panick and send out extra reserves of insulin in an emergency response, also your blood sugar levels will not drop so suddenly leaving you craving for more sugar an hour later.

The steady state you recieve from consuming low G.I foods will allow your body to access stored bodyfat and use this fat for energy instead of constantly relying on blood sugar. The bonus… you don't get as hungry and you feel more energised throughout the day with a leaner body to go with it.

G.I diet: A eating plan for life

Another advantage of the G.I diet is that it focuses on good amounts of protein, healthy fats and fiber, which is a well balanced diet.

The concept of the G.I diet is scientifically sound because it works and can be maintained for the rest of your life unlike many fad diets which cannot. Eating low G.I foods for fat loss can have a positive impact not only on your fat loss but on your mood and well being as well.

A diet that focuses on natural, unprocessed foods such as whole grains, quality lean proteins, healthy fats and lots of fiber is no doubt going to be a effective diet

by: Rasheed Aladel