Diet Programs And Meals - The Okinawa Diet

The Okinawa Diet was created by Makoto Suzuki. It is based on the nutritional habits of people who live in the Ryukyu Islands including the city of Okinawa in southern Japan. In the past these people had the longest life expectancy in the world. This is a long term or life long diet. You will eat 300 calories a day less than your caloric expenditure. Stop eating before you are full. 78% of your nourishment comes from vegetable sources. Privileged foods include rice, soy, and fish. Eat as little dairy products as possible. Here are some of the diet principles.

Eat about 80% of the food you feel you need. Eat low-calorie foods; these are foods that may contain the highest level of micronutrients. Eat seven or more servings of fruits and vegetables daily. Eat seven servings of legumes and grains daily. Eat two servings of soy daily. Eat algae; they include numerous minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants. Eat fish three times a day. Limit your consumption of animal products, replacing them with vegetable proteins. Drink very little alcohol but drink a small amount of red wine regularly. You should try to avoid sugar and salt such as in prepared foods. Drink a lot of water and tea.

The Okinawa Diet claims to reduce the risks of diabetes, excess cholesterol, cancer, and heart disease. It also claims to lower stress and fight against aging. This diet has the advantage of being easy to follow, unless you are a fan of salt or sugar. You may find yourself hungry.

Here are two sample menus:

Menu 1

Breakfast: A slice of carrot cake. A nectarine. Tea.

Lunch: A few sushi. Algae soup. Grated carrots. Tea.

Supper: Miso soup. A bowl of white rice. Cucumber salad. A banana. Tea.

Menu 2

Breakfast: A two-egg herb omelet. Two slices of bran bread. An apple. Tea.

Lunch: A lettuce, tomato, tofu, and endive sandwich on whole-grain bread. A bowl of rice. An orange. Tea.

Supper: Soy and carrot salad. A bowl of white rice. Curried lentils. A peach. Tea.

Some information in this article comes from a fascinating new book, La Bible des Regimes, written by Jenny de Jonquieres and published by Amerik Media. Her book describes over 80 diets and weight reduction programs. Each diet is presented with 5 menu plans, a detailed discussion of its advantages and disadvantages, and lots more. La Bible des Regimes is presently available only in French.
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Are Hoodia Gordonii Diet Pills The Best Diet Pills?

You've undoubtedly heard about Hoodia Gordonii, or seen it somewhere. Maybe on TV or the internet. Maybe you've even noticed it in other diet pills.


Have you ever wondered what Hoodia is all about?

Let's explore a few things about Hoodia.Hoodia Gordonii (or Hoodia Gordoni as it's sometimes referred to) comes from the Hoodia Gordonii plant. It's also sometimes referred to as the hoodia cactus plant. It grows in the South African Kalahari desert.

It's been used for, literally, for hundreds of years as an appetite suppressant by the San tribe of South Africa.It was eaten by the San tribe during famine to avoid excessive thirst and hunger. They would also eat it on journeys where there would be very little food available to avoid becoming too hungry or thirsty.

It has since been discovered that hoodia pills work by the presence of the P57 molecule. The P57 molecule 'tricks' the brain into thinking you're full. With a natural feeling of fullness, your desire to eat is lessened, and your daily caloric intake is reduced.

A few reasons why the hoodia pill should be considered in a weight loss program:

- For those who eat from an emotional need, Hoodia Gordonii is a great answerWhen taking Hoodia, because of the feeling of fullness it provides, most people say they do not have a desire for food. Some have even reported they don't think about food or eating.

For these people, weight gain can be more from eating because of boredom, or even emotional needs, instead of actually being hungry. If you feel full and satisfied, it's easier to both make healthier food choices, and eat less.This will certainly contribute to overall vitality and health.

- The higher quality hoodia pills contain natural ingredients. Actually, the highest qualify pills contain pure hoodia, without any binders, fillers, caffeine, or chemicals.Why take caffeine and chemical laden diet pills to lose weight? These are probably causing harmful effects to your body. A great benefit of Hoodia Gordonii is that it's natural and safe.

- With the Hoodia pill, you lose weight without being hungry, and without any feeling of being deprived.A study of obese patients in Great Britain, where half the volunteers were given hoodia pills, and the other half were given a placebo.

The only activities the volunteers were allowed were to eat, watch television, and read.After two weeks, those taking the hoodia pills had a reduced caloric intake of 1,000 calories daily. These individuals lost weight, even though there was ample food available, without being hungry, or feeling deprived.

It has been reported that people have lost up to four pounds in a week, eighty four pounds in five months, even 100 pounds in six months, taking pure Hoodia Gordonii.

If you'd like to lose weight, without dieting, Hoodia pills can help you. Because Hoodia is not a manufactured chemical, but rather a natural cactus plant, there's little likelihood of side effects.

Interestingly, Hoodia is classified as a food, not a drug, by the government of South Africa!

Studies of Hoodia by scientists for about the last decade have not discovered any negative side effects. Considering that the San Bushmen have been eating Hoodia for hundreds of years, without ill effects, then it's easy to see why Hoodia is a preferred alternative to chemical and caffeine laden diet pills.

These benefits certainly point out why Hoodia is superior to manufactured diet pills, but there are a few things that should be kept in mind.

Be aware that there are inferior brands of Hoodia being sold. Why? It requires two to five years for the hoodia plant to mature. It is also a protected species. Because of this, the demand for hoodia is outstripping the supply. This has led some manufacturers to sell inferior forms of hoodia pills - with insufficient amounts of hoodia gordonii and/or with fillers and binders. These forms don't provide the appetite suppressing properties of pure Hoodia.

If you're looking to buy Hoodia, always look for a Certificate of Analysis. Check the seller's website. This is the real proof that the Hoodia you're buying is 100% pure Hoodia.

Also, you want to look for the C.I.T.E.S. certificate. This is one of the most important documents, because a A genuine C.I.T.E.S. certificate is proof that you are purchasing authentic Hoodia Gordonii.

And - avoid products with binders and fillers in them. Buy Hoodia that's 100% pure.

Last, but certainly not least: Consult your physiciam before beginning a Hoodia regimen. If by any chance a medical situation is present, then Hoodia will not provide the benefits you're looking for. Don't waste your time and money. See your physician first.

Even though Hoodia Gordonii provides excellent results, eventually, you will most likely want to stop taking it. Consider changing your diet to one including fruits and vegetables, lean meats, and whole grains. Doing this before you stop taking the hoodia pills will help greatly to maintain the weight loss you'veachieved.
by: Zane Quincy Johnson
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What is Your Body Type?

Your body and its features are greatly determined by your genetics. This is why certain people can have a real hard time loosing weight and others have a real hard time gaining weight. To understand why your body acts in certain ways you needed to learn more about your body type. Doing so will help you determine the best manner to achieve your goals of a healthier body.

Most people can be placed into three categories of body types. Each body type has its own unique characteristics and genes have a lot to do with that.

THE ECTOMORPH: "Ecto" refers to the slim/thin body type. People with this body type are usually the ones that have the hardest time putting on weight. They can eat anything they want and as much as they want without gaining a single pound. People with this body type are naturally skinny and have been skinny throughout their entire lives.

Ectomorphs are the most fragile of all three body types. They have long, slender limbs with small, thin bones and joints along with the very little fat and muscle mass.

Ectomorphs are also known as "hard-gainers" as they have the hardest time of all three body types to gain weight. This is due to the incredibly high metabolic rate of their bodies. This is why they can eat whatever they want without gaining a single pound. This is good if you are not trying to gain weight, but for most ectomorphs that is not their goal.

Ectomorphs have the hardest time of all to put on muscle and this can become very frustrating. I know this because I am an ectomorph. All throughout my childhood I had been very skinny. In face when I started college I was about 5'11'' and 127 pounds. So when I decided to start working out and put on muscle, it was an extremely difficult and frustrating task. I had to eat a constantly (and still do) and a lot in order to put on weight. Eventually, however with patience and hard work I have been able to put on quite a bit of muscle.

As an ectomorph, you just have to remember to stay eat constantly, maintain a good workout routines, and most importantly remain patient to achieve your goal of your ideal body type.

Key Features: Skinny, lean, fragile, fast metabolism, hard-gainers.

Famous Ectomorphs: Kiera Knightly, Johhny Depp, Paris Hilton, Bruce Lee.

THE ENDOMORPH: "Endo" refers to the large/heavy body type. People of this body type have the easiest time gaining weight and hardest time losing weight. Their bodies are naturally inclined to store more fat which makes losing fat incredibly difficult for them.

Most endomorphs have a majority of their weight focused at the centers of their body giving their bodies a round look. Also due to their weight, they gain the appearance of being stocky and can be described as having pear-shaped-bodies.

Endomorphs can literally eat a minute fraction of what Ectomorphs eat and still gain weight. This can become extremely frustrating when trying to loose weight. Endomorphs have a hard time losing weight due to their extremely slow metabolism rate and are essentially the complete opposites of ectomorphs.

If you are an endomorph, you will have to be patient just like ectomorphs to achieve your goals of weight loss. A steady, healthy diet of small meals along with regular exercise should help you achieve your ideal body type. But like with all goals, discipline and routine are the keys to success.

Key Features: Large, big-boned, slow metabolism, easy gainers.

Famous Endomorphs: Jack Black, Queen Latifah, Cedric the Entertainer, Kirstie Alley.

THE MESOMORPH: "Meso" refers to the strong/muscular body type. People with this body type can consider themselves to be lucky. Basically they are a combination of all the good traits of ectomorphs and endomorphs without any of the bad traits. Unlike ectomorphs, they can easily gain muscle mass and unlike endomorphs they have no trouble loosing weight. They essentially have the ideal muscular and athletic body type that ectomorphs and endomorphs envy.

Mesomorphs have well built bodies with well-defined muscles and strong bones. They are broad in their pectoral regions and narrow in the abdominal regions.

Mesomorphs do not need any special routines to gain or loose weight. As long as they maintain a healthy lifestyle with a combination of weight training and cardio, they can achieve the body they want.

Key Features: Hard-bodied, well-defined, muscular, strong features.

Famous Mesomorphs: Lebron James, Halle Berry, Anna Kournikova, Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Most people do not strictly have one of these three body types, but rather a combination of two or all three. Your body type is determined by your genes and your goal when trying to determine your body type is to use that information to figure out the best workout routines. You can not change your genes, but you can change your body. All it takes is hard work, determination and discipline and then anything is possible. So go out there and make it happen!!!

My name is Ronek Bhatt. I am 22 years old and a fitness enthusiast. I started working out 5 years ago and since then have dedicated numerous hours learning and researching about fitness, bodybuilding, diets, and other sources of healthy living.
by: Ronek Bhatt
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Pregnancy Exercise And Diet Tips - Sensible Advice For Expectant Mothers

Mothers-to-be have many questions about pregnancy nutrition and exercise. The tips and advice below will help you get started on a healthy pregnancy.




A diet containing the essential nutrients and vitamins are vital to the development of both mother and child. Vitamins are imperative to the health of a developing baby and the well being of the mother. Choosing foods that are rich in vitamins and other nutrients are a critical part of a healthy pregnancy nutrition plan and supplemental vitamins are necessary as well.

Follow a well-planned pregnancy diet to help avoid complications such as morning sickness, fatigue, anemia, and constipation. Your healthy diet must continue after pregnancy if you plan to breastfeed your baby.

Pregnancy food recommendations

* Your pregnancy diet should include plenty of complex and unrefined carbohydrates as they contain important B vitamins, trace minerals, and fiber that are essential to a fit, healthy pregnancy.

* Appropriate quantities of yellow and green leafy vegetables are vital for the growth of the baby and the health of the mother.

* Dairy products contain calcium that will assist in the developing baby's teeth and bones. If your diet is lacking calcium your body will draw calcium from your bones to meet it's increased need.

* Avoid excessive amounts of fat must be avoided during pregnancy, as it will only serve to add excess pounds, which will be hard to lose after the birth of your baby.

* Vitamin C in generous amounts is crucial to a healthy pregnancy, bone growth, and various metabolic processes. Including berries, citrus fruits, raw broccoli and cabbage can help provide you with the Vitamin C that you need.

Ideally, your pregnancy diet should include 3-4 servings of protein and meat, 2-4 servings of fruit, 6-11 servings of grains, 4-6 servings of dairy products, and 6-8 glasses of water, milk, and juice. A pregnant mother must follow a healthy diet that will benefit the developing baby but that will also maintain her general health as well.

Exercise recommendations during pregnancy

Exercise during pregnancy will promote strength, muscle tone, and endurance. Regular activity during your pregnancy will help alleviate swelling, fatigue, and backache. If you expect to remain fit during your pregnancy you will need to work your heart and major muscle groups. The type of exercise you do during your pregnancy will depend on your fitness level prior to pregnancy. Walking, pregnancy yoga videos, and swimming are excellent pregnancy exercises combined with stretching and other low-impact activities.

Exercises that involve a risk of falling or injury should be avoided such as bicycling, racket sports, horseback riding, and skiing. You will need to alter your exercise routine from trimester to trimester to accommodate your growing body. Avoiding over-exertion is necessary to avoid complications such as faintness, dizziness, vaginal bleeding, and premature contractions. Also, make sure you drink plenty of water before, during, and after exercising to reduce the risk of dehydration, which can raise your body temperature and cause harm to yourself and/or your baby.

A regular exercise program is beneficial to both mother and child, but check with your health care provider to make sure you have no conditions or risks that will prevent you from participating in a regular exercise routine or could cause potential harm to yourself or your child.
by: Tina Titas
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6 Tip Mengendalikan Nafsu Makan

SIAPA yang tidak ingin tubuhnya terlihat langsing dan proporsional? Sepertinya tak akan ada orang yang menolak seandainya proporsional tubuh adalah sebuah benda yang bisa dibagikan secara cuma-cuma. Bagi sebagian orang yang ingin memiliki berat badan ideal, sering kali mendapat benturan ketika perkembangan dunia kuliner semakin menarik. Makin banyak makanan yang menggugah selera. Menu-menu baru yang disuguhkan mengandang rasa penasaran ingin mencoba. Di situlah permasalahan berawal. Ketika nafsu makan yang semakin tinggi berbanding korelatif dengan pertambahan berat badan.




Oke, memanjakan selera boleh-boleh saja. Namun perlu diwaspadai dampak terburuk dari konsumsi makanan dalam jumlah banyak. Perhatikan pula kandungan dari makanan tersebut. Alih-alih obesitas yang akan muncul. Apalagi jika kondisi pencernaan dalam keadaan bagus. Sedikit makan, penyerapan sari makanan menjadi sangat optimal. Buntutnya akan semakin banyak timbunan lemak dalam tubuh.

Pola makan sangat erat hubungannya dengan nafsu makan. Nafsu makan biasanya diawali oleh rasa lapar. Namun tidak semua rasa lapar berbuntut pada nafsu makan yang tinggi. Banyak orang mengartikan lapar merupakan keinginan untuk makan. Lapar merupakan rangsangan biologis yang berasal dari perut. Beberapa peneliti mengatakan bahwa nafsu makan lebih ke arah pilihan yang kita buat berdasarkan keinginan. Pada pengertiannya, nafsu makan adalah suatu kumpulan yang kompleks dari reaksi kimia tubuh, kebiasaan, perilaku sosial, dan kondisi psikis yang susah dikendalikan. Nah, seseorang yang memiliki nafsu makan akan mengalami kesulitan untuk mengendalikannya apabila orang tersebut menyukai makanan yang ada di hadapannya.

Bukan berarti tidak ada jalan keluar bagi penyuka makanan. Untuk yang ingin diet atau hanya mengurangi aktivitas makan, ada beberapa cara yang bisa ditempuh. Menghilangkan nafsu makan sangat tidak mungkin. Jalan yang paling logis adalah mengurangi nafsu makan. Berikut adalah tip mengurangi nafsu makan.

Tanya pada diri

Bagi kebanyakan orang, makanan bukanlah menjadi alasan mengapa berat badan naik. Banyak pula yang menganggap makan hanya sekadar mengunyah agar mulut bekerja. Berdasarkan penelitian dari para ahli, aktivitas makan seperti ini tidak ada hubungannya dengan rasa lapar. Karena kegiatan makan seperti ini biasanya berlaku pada saat kita merasa bosan, stres atau jenuh dengan rutinitas sehari-hari. Nah, hal semacam ini ada satu penangkal yang sederhana. Coba tanyakan pada diri sendiri, untuk apa Anda memasukkan makanan ke dalam mulut. Jika rasa lapar bukan alasan utamanya, segera hentikan aktivitas makan.

Cari alternatif

Kalau alasan Anda makan hanya karena rasa bosan, stres, atau jenuh terhadap rutinitas sepertinya Anda harus melakukan sesuatu. Apa yang harus dilakukan? Jawabannya mudah, carilah alternatif kegiatan lain selain kegiatan makan. Berbagai kegiatan yang bisa menghibur bisa Anda jadikan pilihan seperti jalan-jalan, mendengarkan musik, menelpon teman, membaca majalah favorit, dan masih banyak yang lainnya. Yang pasti, alternatif tersebut bisa memberi Anda kesenangan dan relaksasi. Akan lebih baik lagi jika Anda bisa menciptakan satu rutinitas baru untuk menghadapi hari demi hari tetapi tanpa melibatkan makanan. Ini dapat menjadi langkah tepat untuk mengurangi berat badan.

Nyalakan lampu

Ketika Anda memasuki ruangan dapur di malam hari, coba nyalakan semua lampu yang ada. Kalau bisa nyalakan lampu yang paling terang. Berdasarkan hasil penelitian dari Irvine, seorang peneliti dari University of California, mengatakan bahwa Anda akan merasa berada dalam sorotan kalau diterangi banyak lampu. Perasaan berada dalam sorotan ini membuat Anda punya kesadaran untuk tidak akan sembarangan melakukan perbuatan yang tidak perlu, terutama makan makanan yang mengandung kolesterol tinggi.

Nyalakan lilin beraroma

Kalau nafsu ingin mencoba makanan sudah mulai muncul dalam diri Anda, cobalah nyalakan lilin beraroma. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan aroma tertentu dapat menahan nafsu makan. Aroma yang berguna dengan baik untuk ini yaitu apel, peppermint dan pisang. Selain dapat menahan nafsu makan, aroma yang ada juga bisa Anda jadikan terapi.

Tekan nafsu makan

Mungkin terdengar sedikit aneh, tapi hal ini cukup efektif ketika Anda merasa tidak berdaya melawan nafsu makan. Cubit area kecil dari tulang rawan, atau tepatnya pada bagian rahang yang menempel tepat di bawah telinga. Bagian tersebut sering dilakukan oleh para ahli akupunktur pada pasiennya. Lakukan hal ini selama setengah menit saja.

Jenis makanan

Ketika kita memiliki waktu makan yang tidak banyak, pilihlah makanan yang memiliki tingkat kekenyangan tinggi. Dalam artian makanan tersebut lebih mengenyangkan dibanding makanan lain. Usahakan tidak memilih makanan yang banyak mengandung lemak. Meski rasanya enak dan membuat Anda kenyang, makanan berlemak tidak memiliki potensi mengenyangkan. Justru kita akan cenderung ingin terus makan. Beberapa contoh makanan yang tidak mengenyangkan adalah popcorn, selai kacang, kentang, pasta cokelat, kacang hijau matang, anggur dan jeruk.
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Is Dieting Right for You?

Dieting is the practice of ingesting food in a regulated fashion to achieve or maintain a controlled weight. In many cases, the ultimate goal of women who wants to go on a diet is to lose weight. Diets can generally promote weight loss and they are divided in many categories like low fat, low carbohydrate, low calorie, and very low calorie.




Women normally watch their food intake and healthy habits, but more than a third of the women’s population is already overweight, and the importance of getting fit and healthy is getting critical. One way to get fit is to adopt a healthy lifestyle and diet. But with all the diets, exercise crazes, and other activities out there, it is very difficult to find the perfect diet to utilize. No exact diet will work for everyone. You need to find the diet that fits your personality and needs. What you need to do is just choose a diet that you know can be a big part of your lifestyle. Do not trust diets that promise fast weight loss without any effort and do not trust diets that promise results without exercise and changes in your eating behavior.

Your Lifestyle and the Diet Options

The diet that suits you most is the one that suits your lifestyle. If you are sedentary, you should select the diet that put an emphasis on exercise. If you are constantly craving sweets, try the Carbohydrate Addict diet. If you are into body building, you can try the Targeted Ketogenic Diet or the Cycling Ketogenic Diet. If you have a blood sugar problem and any other cholesterol problem, try the Dr. Atkins diet. There are many types of diets out there and you should choose the one that will be most convenient to you.

Choosing the Diet

When it comes to choosing the right diet, there are some simple reminders and tips that you should follow.

* Try the Metabolic Typing Diet if you are unsure whether you should choose the diet that is lower or higher in carbohydrates.

* If you are looking for a low fat diet that is predominantly vegetarian, choose the Macrobiotic Diet. This diet can prevent hormonal related cancer like breast cancer.

* If you are having problems with your digestion, sinuses, and breathing, you should do the detox diet. You will feel a lot healthier, and you can experience the juice fasting method.

* Choose a low carbohydrate diet if you have blood sugar problems. The Zone diet is a low carb diet that includes essential fatty acids and plenty of antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables.

* Try the Alkaline Diet if you feel uncomfortable on high protein diet. This will help in counterbalancing the effects of diets will lots of protein, caffeine, sugar, processed and junk foods and grains.

* If you have a liking for Indian food, try the Ayurvedic diet.

* If you have any food allergies and sensitivities, a simple three-week elimination and challenge diet will help you identify all of them.

* If you have irritable bowel movement syndrome or any inflammatory bowel disease, diverticulitis, Crohn’s disease, or any small intestine bacterial overgrowth, you can try the Specific Carbohydrate Diet.
by: James Pendergraft


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Anxiety And Stress - Eliminate Environment Factor With Diet

Anxiety attacks are often you are leading a very stressful life. It is as if your body and mind say, "Enough! I cannot take it anymore." The tension you feel because you are worried whether you would be able to make your deadline, whether you would be able to attend your children's special days at school, whether your finances would be enough to cover the raising monthly expenses and so on, eventually would result in anxiety attacks. If these stressors are...

not checked in time and adequate measures are not taken to reverse the symptoms, depression would follow.

Anxiety is a combined result of external stressor and internal chemical hormonal imbalance. This is why we can understand when people who have gone through a traumatic period or women who are entering menopause experience anxiety attacks. However, you will observe that there are plenty of cases when anxiety strikes seemingly unexpectedly. What happens actually?

There are two other factors that cause anxiety that we have not yet discussed: (i) heredity and (ii) diet. We have seen that anxiety attacks, whether mild or serious need triggers, just like asthma or allergy. For it to happen there should be something that presses the 'start' button. Sometimes it is the stress that overwhelms your life; other times it is the biological clock of your body and sometimes it is a shock caused by a traumatic incident. Each trigger is a conduit to anxiety attacks, due to the alteration of the chemical balance inside the body.

Heredity And Anxiety

It is obvious from the above that anxiety is an external manifestation of chemical imbalances in the body. Like diabetes, heart problems and cancer among others, anxiety is also a hereditary condition. In other words, sometimes the trigger would be just some faulty genes that you have inherited from your parents. Therefore, if you feel those butterflies in the stomach and exhibit anxiety symptoms, and you see no real indicators of what could have caused it, it would be a good idea to check your family's medical history.

Find out whether either of your parents suffered from anxiety attacks. Do not stop here. Look a little deeper and check with your maternal and paternal aunts, uncles, and grandparents on both sides. If you find that any one of these people were victims of this affliction, then you could investigate heredity as the source of your problem.

Once you have identified the source of the problem you would be able to take adequate measures to address the chemical imbalance of the body without worrying about identifying any other stressor or trigger. With the right medication and adequate diet, you would be able to put the anxiety attack out of your system for good in a very short time.
by: Ian Spencer

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