Alien asked:


No food alone could ever cause us to lose weight, there is no such thing as the best single weight loss food. We all understand that weight loss is the result of the energy consumed from all various foods within the diet, and that a diet’s total energy must be lower than the energy used by the body. Some foods make it really difficult to lose weight. They create their own self-sustaining cravings (“Betcha can’t eat just one!”) and play havoc with your blood sugar and, ultimately, your waistline. But other foods do just the opposite.

Statistical data from 2003 to 2006 indicate that obesity rates had risen in 31 of the 50 American states. The data came from surveys conducted by different local health departments on the height and weight of people from different states. Another result of the survey pointed out a close relationship between obesity and heart disease among the respondents. Due to the serious health implications of the study, state funding had been allocated to educate people about the dangers of being obese and overweight. The government-sponsored weight loss programs also focused on simple information campaigns about good eating habits.

People were provided flyers and other reading materials that contained information on how to make proper food choices. This strategy made sense since there are types of food that can actually curb one’s appetite and stop your sugar cravings. These food groups also boost metabolism which helps consume stored fat in the body which, in the process, leads to weight loss. Shown below are some of the “good food” that should be part of a weight watchers eating plan:

1. Beans – Beans contain cholecystokinin, a digestive harmone that acts as a natural appetite suppressant. Beans also keep blood sugar on an even keel and helps stave off hunger longer. High-fiber bean varieties can even lower cholesterol levels.

2. Salad – Eating salad is highly recommended by the American Dietetic Association because the vegetable-based meal is rich in vitamins c and e, lycopene, folic acid, and carontenoids. However, it is best to cut down on the dressing when eating salad. Some salad dressings can actually be high in calories.

3. Eggs – Eaten in moderate amounts, eggs are good for the health since these contain protein that helps prevent spikes in blood sugar. Weight watchers are often advised to eat only egg whites.

4. Green Tea – This type of tea is an antioxidant and helps stimulate metabolism which, in turn, burns fat. Green tea is rich in antioxidants called catechins.

5. Soup – Having a little chicken soup is good for the body because it helps decrease hunger. Chicken soup is considered a folk remedy for colds and flu.

6. High-fiber Cereals – Cereals which are high in fiber help improve digestion and are good for reducing hunger pangs.

7. Tofu – If you eat tofu, you tend to eat less food. Tofu is considered as an appetite-quashing protein.

8. Desserts: You have to try and keep your sweet tooth under absolute control and avoid desserts.

9. Olive Oil – Cooking food in olive oil is healthy because it contains mono-unsaturated fat which is widely accepted as a product that helps prevent cardiovascular disease.

10. Pears – This fruit is a good source of fiber and fructose which does not cause spikes in blood-sugar levels.

11. Nuts – Research released by Purdue University showed that adding about 500 calories of peanuts to their regular diet helped them eat less food that could cause weight gain.

12. Watermelon – Who doesn’t love diving into a crisp, juicy slice of watermelon when it’s hot outside?

“Half of the watermelon comes from water. …It’s a wonderful way to satisfy thirst and a yen for something sweet,” says Moores.

To keep your cool and cut your time in the kitchen, start with prepared produce, such as cut-up fruit and washed greens. Add rotisserie chicken, prepared soups, and pre-threaded kabobs when you need something a bit heartier. Pre-prepped foods may cost a little extra, but they save time in the kitchen.

Alien asked:


Fish oil is recommended for a healthy diet because it contains the omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), precursors to eicosanoids that reduce inflammation throughout the body

Here are some great benefits of fish oil:

Some experts believe that taking fish oil (in any form) can help regulate cholesterol in the body,[attribution needed] because fish oil has high levels of omega-3 fatty acids. The regulation occurs through effects of the EPA and DHA constituents on Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPAR?). Besides cholesterol regulation, benefits include anti-inflammatory properties and positive effects on body composition. However, the preferred source of Omega 3 should be from the fish’s body, not the liver.

Fish oils are fascinating nutrients. Almost every aspect of our health, physical and mental, is related to the types of fatty acids that make up our cells and tissue, including vision. And it appears that most of us are not ingesting the right kind of fatty acids, the ones found in fish and fish oils. I have discovered that fish oils supplements help eyesight. I have also discovered a combination of herbs and nutrients that improve eyesight within hours. See below. Fish oils are also beneficial for mental health and sexuality.

1. Fish oil prevents heart attack – Dr Alexander Leaf and colleagues at Harvard Medical School found that eating oily fish like salmon or tuna at least twice a week could prevent a heart attack.

2. Fish oil protects against heart disease and stroke – Researchers at Southampton University found that omega-3 fish oil stops the build up of fatty deposits in the arteries, protecting against heart disease and stroke.

3. Reduction of Breast, Colon and Prostate Cancer. And finally, omega 3 fish oil has been shown to help prevent three of the most common forms of cancer – breast, colon and prostate. Science tells us that omega 3s accomplish this in three ways. They stop the alteration from a normal healthy cell to a cancerous mass, inhibiting unwanted cellular growth and causing apoptosis, or cellular death, of cancer cells.

4. Fish oil prevents mothers from giving birth to very small babies – The University of Bristol research team found that a mother-to-be who eats fish during the later stages of pregnancy is less likely to have a very small baby.

5. Stopping the buildup of fatty deposits (triglycerides) in the arteries.

6. Fish oil helps with prostate cancer – The Paterson Institute researchers found that a diet rich in a fat found in oily fish and some seeds may protect men with prostate cancer from developing a more aggressive form.

7. Fish oil reduces the growth of breast cancer – Researchers from Indiana University found that when mixing compounds from omega-3 fatty acids with the anaesthetic propofol, together they appeared to reduce the growth of breast cancer cells.

8. Fish oil reduces inflammation – The researchers from Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital found that a diet high in oily fish like salmon and mackerel may help improve inflammatory conditions such as arthritis; the oily fish diet worked best when combined with low aspirin doses.

9. Protection from Stroke and Heart Attack. When plaque builds up on arterial walls and then breaks loose, it causes what’s known as a thrombosis, which is a fancy way of saying clot. If a clot gets stuck in the brain, it causes a stroke and when it plugs an artery, it causes a heart attack. Research shows omega 3 fatty acids break up clots before they can cause any damage.

10. Fish oils may be helpful to people with lupus since fish oils have anti-inflammatory properties.

11. Fish oil betters brain and visual development in children – Bristol University researchers found that a mother-to-be who eats oily fish is more likely to have children with better brain and vision developments.

12. Fish oil has also been used to treat conditions such as depression, eczema, IBD, macular degeneration and arthritis. Fish oil benefits the heart significantly, as well as the rest of the body.

How much fish oil should adults take?

A good dose for adults is roughly ~6 grams of salmon oil per day with food.

Should everyone take fish oil?

Generally yes. In a minority of cases some individuals feel strange on fish oil and do better on other oil types.

Although you can get the benefits of fish oil from eating cold water fish such as salmon or cod, there is always the danger of mercury contamination as well as other toxins. This is why pregnant women and young children are advised against eating fish.

The other issue is that you cannot be sure that the fish you are eating contains enough EPA and/or DHA to ensure the maximum fish oil benefits. It is always possible that the concentration of these important nutrients is reduced during the manufacturing/handling processes.

Terry Edwards asked:


There are several keys to experiencing weight loss success with any diet program, but one of the biggest is avoiding those nasty food cravings. Here are some tips to help you in this all important area.

There is certainly no shortage of diet and weight loss programs that will help you lose weight, but 99% of them make it difficult, if not impossible to stay on for any length of time. This is mainly due to the fact that they leave you feeling even hungrier after eating and even worse, leave you with food cravings throughout the day.

One of the main problems with food cravings is that when you succumb to them you will always eat far too much of whatever you were craving. For example, I can remember one time I was craving Pringles potato chips. What happened? You guessed it, I ate the entire can! And you know how destructive that can be on any weight loss plan.

Why do we get cravings? Believe it or not, most always it’s because we need water. Our body requires 6 ingredients to run right; protein, fat, minerals, carbs and water. So, when your body isn’t getting enough of one of these ingredients, it causes a craving for it. Think of when you were really thirsty the last time. You wanted a drink of water in the worst way. It’s the same way for all 6 of these food ingredients.

How does this apply to weight loss plans and diets? Well, when a particular diet program completely eliminates a food group, it leads to you getting cravings. Your body rebels so to speak and you begin feeling miserable. Shortly after that, most everyone ends their diet.

How can you prevent food cravings? As you can probably tell by now, the only way to get rid of cravings is by eating foods from all six groups. With that said though, the key to weight loss success is eating the “good” foods from these six groups and not the junk foods.

A good diet plan will include these “good” foods in all food categories. When you find this type of weight loss program, you’ll most likely begin to see success, and more importantly, eliminate the cravings.