Do Juice Fasts Work For Weight Loss?

Can a Juice Fast work for losing weight?

You have probably heard from a friend how you can lose several pounds in a week, just by limiting your food consumption to juice. Sure that sounds pretty simple but can you actually lose weight and is it the type of diet that you could possibly stay on for a while?

Does juice diets and juice fasts cause weight loss?
Yes in the short term but you would not want to rely on juices for the rest of your life and not even more than a few days unless you were under a doctors care.

If you need to lose a few pounds in a hurry going on a juice fast may be the answer. You can lose as much as 3-5  pounds in the first couple of days. You should know though that  most of the weight weight you are losing is excess water and therefore it’s not fat.
Weight loss gradually drops off to about one pound a day, once you stay on this type of diet more than 3 days.

Going on a juice diet is very similar to going on a detox plan. Instead of eating lots of raw fruit and vegetables, you are going to be drinking their juices. The idea is that you still get lots of vitamins and minerals whilst losing weight. But recent studies have shown that as sugar is concentrated in fruit and to a lesser extent vegetable juices, you would actually be better eating the whole fruit or vegetable.

Different juice recipes for weight loss include cucumber juice, tomato juice, carrot juice, and apple and celery juice. Some people add protein powder to the juice in order to make it more filling and to avoid losing muscle while they are dieting.

Over the long term you do not want to rely solely on juices. Your teeth will suffer due to the acid and sugar in the juices not to mention your intake of the vitamins and nutrients you need for good health will be compromised.

I know that it may sound like a healthy diet but unless you read up on which fruits and vegetables contain which nutrients you may be lacking important nutrients.
It’s not to sat that a frutarian diet isn’t healthy, it’s just that you need to know all about nutrition before adopting this type of a diet and you will also want to eat the fruit and not just have the juice.

Just as a vegetarian should read up on how to supplement their diet properly a fruitarian should do the same.

You should aim to improve your overall eating habits and you can by starting off with a juice fast.
By all means try a juice diet for a couple of days to kick-start your weight loss (be sure to check with your doctor,just as you would when you start any restrictive diet) .

Developing a healthy lifestyle involves more than buying a juicer. You need to become more active to get those pounds shifted. Start with an exercise you enjoy and then vary the routine to prevent boredom settling in.

Some exercises are better at fat burning than others so it makes sense to try different activities.

Instead of juices, you could choose to have soup several times a week. You should not have packet or canned soup( unless the label specifically mentions low sodium, low fat or heart healthy)  as these can contain hidden fats and sugars not to mention salt.

The best soups are the homemade variety.  Soups are made with vegetables and natural broth, both key ingredients in a healthy lifestyle. Don’t be tempted to add salt to your soup. Use herbs to flavour it instead. If the recipe calls for milk or cream, use skimmed milk or low fat yogurt instead. If you want to have a slice of bread be sure it is 100% whole wheat (not just wheat, cracked wheat or white) and remember that having the bread will slow your weight loss down, but it can help you avoid getting the headaches that some will get during their fast.

Drink plenty of water to keep your system hydrated. This is especially important when you suddenly increase the amount of fiber in your diet as otherwise you can end up constipated. You should be aiming for at least 8 glasses a day. Drinking lots of water will also help you to eat less thus reducing calorie intake.

So yes, juice fasts can help with weight loss. Just remember to keep your diet healthy and your fitness level up so that once you start losing weight you can continue in a healthy manner. It’s so much easier to lose the weight once, then to have to try and lose it over and over again.

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Green Tea and Weight Loss: Should You Drink it or Take a Pill?

Green Tea and Weight Loss

Green tea keeps on being mentioned in the news and on forums as a way to help with weight loss.
However, since you can get your green tea by drinking it and you can also find it in pill form do they both work with the same effectiveness for weight loss?

Many people are discovering that green tea does indeed seem to help with their weight loss, not to mention all of the other great health benefits green tea has.

The question that remains is, which form of green tea is best?  Drinking it by the cup, or taking supplements?  Are they equally effective?
In this post we will talk about both ways of consuming green tea and also the effectiveness of both.

For centuries green tea has been consumed in tea form, but in recent years supplement manufacturers have made it available in pill form too.  These pills contain concentrated amounts of green tea extract.

Green tea extract can be purchased from many different suppliers online, and can also be found in most health and vitamin stores.  Most of the pills contain anywhere from 200mg to 500mg of green tea extract, and directions on for many of the products say to take 1 to 3 tablets daily (though each company is a bit different in their directions).

There are obvious benefits in using green tea for weight loss in pill form.  First, if you don’t care for the taste of the tea, the pills allow you to bypass that.  Secondly, some people believe that green tea extract taken in pill form may intensify the health benefits and fat burning effect, simply because you get a more concentrated dosage of EGCG (that’s epigallocatechin gallate – the antioxidant found in green tea).

Still, some people do prefer drinking tea rather than taking a supplement, and green tea does have a mild, pleasant flavor.
Those who prefer to drink their green tea also believe that by drinking the tea the liquid also help to fill you up a bit which can help you from snacking when you shouldn’t.

Those who prefer to drink their green tea also take advantage of other antioxidant properties that green has and feel as though this more natural way will give you additional health benefits and that in pill form you may often have added ingredients that may not be good for you.

The final decision may come down to volume.  Most experts agree that you need to consume a minimum of 3 cups of green tea a day to gain optimal health benefits, but some say that as many as 10 cups per day is better.  When you consider that each cup of green tea has 50 – 150mg of antioxidants, it may make more sense to take a supplement or two.

Or, you could even do both – take a supplement that contains the minimum amount of antioxidants you want to have each day, and then any green tea you drink that day will just be a bonus.

Keep in mind that green tea does contain caffeine, so you may have to limit your consumption if you are sensitive to it.  Many of the green tea supplements also contain caffeine so be sure to read the labels carefully to be sure.

You should also know that the weight loss properties of green tea is extremely small. Sure it can help to boost your metabolism but only by a very, very tiny amount (less than 5%), so no matter whether you drink your green tea, take it as a supplement or both, don’t expect to see the fat roll off.  As a matter of fact, you probably won’t even notice any difference.

If you decide to take green tea, do it for it’s health properties not for weight loss.  If you take it just for weight loss, you may be disappointed.

And if you decide on drinking green tea, why not also have some white, black and red tea as they all have different antioxidants and research is not finding that these tea may also boost metabolism. Just remember to drink your tea without sweeteners as they just may add on extra calories that you don’t need.

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3 Compelling Health Benefits To Drink Green Tea

For much more than a thousand years, Asian cultures have enjoyed the pleasant taste of green tea as well as the numerous positive effects on body and health. At this point, most people have heard of green tea and are aware of the healthy benefits.

Scientific research has revealed a number of disease conditions that can benefit from the regular drinking of green tea. This food can be ingested as a tea or as simply a capsule form of supplement. So, today, we’re going to move right into a talk about how green tea can help you maintain a healthy body. However, green tea supplements do lose much of their health properties compared to drinking the tea & also whenyou drink the tea it fills you up helping you eat less -this can help with weight loss.

First of all and interesting to many, regular ingestion of green tea will assist you with weight loss. Diet pills and the like all have some kind of artificially added stimulant property in them. Well, one aspect of green tea is that it has natural stimulants in it which serve to boost your metabolism.

You’ll be able to metabolize fat better, plus the extra energy you will have can help you find the motivation to do more exercise – or at least be more active. But it is not a silver bullet because you will need to adjust your diet, if necessary, and some kind of exercise is better than nothing. If you want to live a long and healthy life, green tea may be a wise supplement to include in your diet. It has many properties that support longevity and anti-aging.

While studies have been conducted around the world, some seem to have originated in Japan where the lifespan is one of the longest anywhere. Also, in the area of detoxification, green tea is full of excellent free radical fighter antioxidants. The consistent and regular consumption of green tea will only help you as you go along in life. Green tea can also support conditions such as those related to memory loss and arthritis problems.

Green tea is a powerful vehicle to deliver health giving properties to your body, and you can drink it – of course, but there are also green tea capsules, too. In Japan and China, the tea is served and drunk as a hot beverage – hot tea.
Yes, here in the West we like to drink our iced tea, as well, and you can do that without compromising any of the healthy properties. And if you don’t like tea for some reason, or find it too much trouble to make, you can find many supplements that supply you with a healthy dosage. But you don’t like caffeine, ok that’s fine because you can find decaffeinated green tea.

No problem about not being able to get to sleep because you can simply make the decaffeinated tea after 5 or 6 PM, etc. Those are just ideas, and you are the only one who knows the best thing to do for you.

Green tea is a completely natural and beneficial food, and one that is fairly inexpensive and easy to find. As we said, it’s available for consuming as a tea, and there are also capsules available. It’s a healthy alternative to soft drinks or coffee, and green tea has about half the amount of caffeine as coffee. Keep in mind that we’ve only talked about a handful of benefits; so there really are a number of solid reasons to start drinking it every day. The wide-ranging benefits make it a whole-body tonic for general health and good life.

We’ve really only had time to mention but a few of the many benefits of green tea. How you decide to take-in this plant food is up to you, so maybe it’s best to talk to your knowledgeable health store consultant. It’s quite easy to make several cups of green tea a day and enjoy it while knowing you’re doing something great for your health.

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Natural Colon Cleansing Tips For Cleanisng Your Colon Naturally

Natural Colon Cleansing

Natural colon cleansing can give you a head start in  getting your body and digestive system in shape in addition to making you feel more energetic. The thought of cleansing your colon to achieve better health may be new to you, and they may fear the thought of an enema or colon irrigation. But you can cleanse your colon naturally and safely by using some detoxification methods that are good alternatives to the harsher techniques.

Food is one of the best methods to cleanse the colon naturally and effortlessly. Fasting for 24 hours can also help to detoxify the system and improve the immune system. This fasting method can be as strict as one would like to make it. Remember however, that although you are fasting from food, you should drink plenty of water to help flush out toxins

A dieter can choose to drink only juice for a week – or increase it to two or three weeks if they prefer (this method you only be used while you are under a doctors care and monitored carefully).

You will also lose body weight in the process of natural colon cleansing. You can choose from fruit and vegetables juices – but if you’re diabetic, be sure that you monitor the amounts of sugar in the fruit juices ingested. Also if you are going to purchase your vegetable juice try to purchase one as natural as possible without additives. Be on the look out for high sodium products as salt is considered natural your juice may have added salt which you do not need or want.

Eating certain foods for natural colon cleansing is also a great technique to purify the system. If you think that drinking only liquids for a week is “not your cup of tea”, then the following may be more suited for you.
You can eat foods that will gently cleanse your colon naturally and that will keep you from feeling hungry also. These types of foods include:

1. High Fiber Foods – Whole grain and some cereals will put fiber into your body and also help cleanse the colon. Adding flax seed to foods also provides an extra boost.

2. Fruit - Most fruits are perfect for cleansing the colon. Past experiences tell us that prunes are excellent to include in a colon cleansing diet – as are blackberries.

3. Leafy, green vegetables – eat as many salads as desired, and be sure to include spinach, Brussels sprouts and any veggies that help to flush out the system.  Just don’t use salad dressing. If you like you may use a bit of lemon on your salad. In addition to giving you salad flavor, lemon is also a natural cleanser for your body.

If you are thinking about detoxifying your system by natural colon cleansing, you  should know that the whole process involves increasing your body’s elimination so that the toxins and bacteria are flushed from the body( you are going to poop more than normal so your day of cleansing should, if possible be done where you have access to a bathroom near by). While most don’t find that have an urgent need to use the bathroom, you can have to take 5, 6 or even 7 craps your first time cleansing so be prepared  This method of renewing the body’s digestive system has been used for years by those advocating natural health care.

It makes good sense when one realizes that over 50 percent of the immune system has to do with the digestive system, so unless the colon is cleansed the nutrients that are ingested won’t be absorbed correctly. There’s a possibility that one could be left with gas, bloating and constipation which could also lead to fatigue, depression and so much more.  Colon cleansing can help with gas and bloating so if you have these issues, then natural colon cleansing may be something to think about.

There are also many kits on the market that are designed to flush out the colon naturally and effectively. When one begins a program to cleanse colon naturally, they should do their research and choose one that’s best for them and their lifestyle.  Some (not all) colon cleansing kits can be a bit harsh so be sure to read the instructions and possible side effects before you start.

Natural colon cleansing is much more gentle than colon cleansing kits and you can start off with a partial cleanse and work up from there.

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About Herbal Detoxification

In order to complete a full body detoxification, many people think that there are too many steps in order to complete.

However, this simply isn’t true and you will be shown that there can be a full body detoxification that takes with in the herbal way.

Indeed, there are so many ways in which a person is able to complete a body detox system, but oftentimes individuals seek out the quickest and most efficient way to do so.

Along with combining essential herbs in your diet during this detoxification, it is also recommended to digest healthy, green vegetables, along with fruits during the whole process.

The first thing that one must realize about an herbal detoxification is what it truly is. Like any other detoxification system, an herbal detoxification will help the body get rid of any toxins that are in the system.

It will not only focus on cleaning the colon and liver, but it will also flush out the kidneys as well. There are a whole host of benefits from performing an herbal detoxification every month, but many people do combine the herbal detox system with other types of detoxification systems that they know.

After one realizes what the herbal detoxification will do for them then it is time to make a list of everything that you will digest during the detox period. But in order to know that you will have to decide how long you want the detoxification process to last.

Many people choose to go two to three days on the detoxification diet; however, it is only necessary to complete 1 full day, a twenty-four hour period, on the detoxification.

This is mainly because your body will benefit from everything that you digest the first day and the second day is not necessary. Performing an herbal detoxification for one day is also the quickest way to have the process over.

There are several ways to perform an herbal detoxification plan, too. If you know of a popular health food store, like GNC, they may be able to sell you detoxification systems that include all of the necessary ingredients for the day.

On the other hand, one always has the option of buying the proper ingredients at a normal and local grocery store. Most of the ingredients that one will want to consume during an herbal detoxification are all sorts of herbs, like cayenne pepper, garlic, primrose oil, flax seed, parsley, and even cinnamon. All of these ingredients can be combined in the other foods that you eat during a total detoxification.

The other foods that need to combine these ingredients, though, include juices as well as pure and raw soups and vegetables.

By combining the herbs with everything else that is digested the herbal detoxification will have the greatest benefit. For example, vegetable soups and juices are the absolute best thing to eat during a detoxification, and combining herbs, such as garlic and cayenne pepper, will do your whole body justice and give you the most benefit.

After you spend one twenty-four hour period digesting the foods described above and drinking plenty of water, only then can you be finished with the herbal detoxification.

This process is recommended to be completed at least twice per month, however, once a month is sufficient if that is all you can do. Many people also decide to take a weekend to complete the detoxification so that they’re not away from work.

Nevertheless, an herbal detoxification will help the total body cleanse in the long run and should be used regularly!

Remember that before starting any detoxification diet you should always check with your health care provider. This is especially true if you are on any medications or have any know health issues.

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Detoxification Diets: Do They Really Work?

There are many that advocate the use of detoxification diets on a monthly (and some even weekly) basis.

Even though it is true that detoxification diets may contain a great deal of healthy ingredients, do they really work to cleanse the inside of the body?

Many people choose to debate that and the fact of the matter is that no one person totally knows for sure whether or not a detoxification is good for the body’s systems.

Even though it may seem clear from the evidence that is presented, a lot of that could possibly be circumstantial. Here are some reasons, though, to doubt whether or not a total body detoxification truly works the way that most people say they do:

#1: The Benefits of Detoxification

As mentioned, many people contend that there are many benefits to the process of detoxification for the body. Some of those benefits include a healthier immune system, longer life, as well as the risk of not getting sick as much as others who do not perform detoxification.

However, the same holds true about meeting goals of a healthy lifestyle and changing your eating habits. Indeed, many of the people that perform body detoxification systems already do have a healthy lifestyle that many people would not know if their healthy bodies come from the detoxification itself or the overall healthy lifestyle that they live.

However, the Food and Drug Administration has continued to advocate for healthier lifestyles of all people and they also contend that individuals can experience just as healthy a lifestyle if they were to eat right, get three square meals a day, and combine those things with exercise.

Hearts are stronger, less ailments are experienced, and a healthier immune system can be achieved. On the flip side, what is the difference between the facets of this type of a healthy lifestyle and the detoxification process? It is definitely some food for thought and something that those who are new to detox plans should check into and research.

#2: Vitamins and Minerals

Just as we have debated about whether the benefits of detoxification have really come from the detox process, so too should individuals ask themselves about some of the other benefits of these types of systems.

For example, studies have shown that taking a daily vitamin and mineral supplement will help better in the long run to improve your member, boost your immune system, and have an overall healthier body. On the other hand, the advocates of detoxification also contend that people can experience these things with their diets.

All in all, there is definitely something to be learned when it comes to the detoxification and making yourself a healthier lifestyle altogether. Chances are that if you continue to eat right, exercise, and take vitamin and mineral substances that you will be just the same, if not altogether better and healthier, than those who advocate the total body detoxification.

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Essential Detoxification Ingredients to Keep in your Home

Simple but Essential Detoxification Ingredients to Keep in your Home

When it comes to cleansing your body on the inside there are important steps that one should take in order to successfully rid themselves of bad toxins and bad feelings overall.

The most important thing to consider, though, when undergoing a detoxification process is whether or not you will continue the process month to month, weekend to weekend, or just how many times per year your body will undergo this terrific cleansing process.

If you are unsure about how many times you would like to complete a detoxification of the body, though, the best and perhaps most important thing that one could do is to keep certain detoxification ingredients in the house so that a process can be done anytime that is needed.

#1: Garlic, Cayenne Pepper, Cinnamon, and Ginger

Among the many herbal remedies that should be left in the house in case an individual needs to undergo a total body cleansing, these are the ones that should be kept in a kitchen cabinet at all times.

The garlic, cayenne pepper, ginger root, as well as cinnamon can all be added to an herbal tea in order to be consumed. These are actually among the top performing herbs on the market when it comes to a detoxification plan, and if one doesn’t have some hot tea to serve along with these herbs, then they can always be added to a glass of water to drink.

All things considered, though, herbs are especially important to the detoxification process and these are the most important to have around.

#2: Fresh Fruit and Vegetables

While performing a detoxification process of the body the most important things to be drinking while on a diet are raw and pureed vegetables and fruit.

Naturally you don’t want the vegetables and fruit that you have in your house to be old and outdated, but one crucial step you can take is to buy some fruit and fresh vegetables every week so that you’ll have them just in case you decide to do a total body detoxification.

Furthermore, a healthy diet should be practiced anyway, and fresh fruit and vegetables are usually a part of that healthy diet.

#3: Vegetable Broth and Soup

This may seem like it would be the last thing on the list to use in a detoxification diet, however, it has been supported that vegetable soup that is made with vegetable broth is one of the most essential ingredients during detoxification.

These ingredients are not so hard to keep around your kitchen if you don’t do a detoxification process every weekend. But they will definitely aid during the body cleansing process.

All of these ingredients definitely need to be kept in the house before, during, and after a detoxification weekend or time period. They all help cleanse the body in some way or another, and they are all beneficial to forming a healthy lifestyle filled with healthy ingredients and food!

A good metabolism booster drink is to take 1/2 lemon and squeeze the juice into a glass of water and add a teaspoon of cayenne pepper (add nore or less to suit your taste) and drink daily.  It tastes good and the lemon will help cleanse your digestive system, take you body into a alkaline state and the cayenne pepper will boost your metabolism.

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Green Tea and Weight Loss

Green Tea and Weight Loss

For many years now, several benefits are attributed to drinking green tea and over the last few years many have pointed at weight loss as another perk of drinking green tea.

However, how effective is it for losing weight?  We’ll take a look at some of the facts and see how green tea stacks up as a weight loss helper.

For many years now, several benefits are attributed to drinking green tea. Today, researchers have come up with newer proofs to solidify the belief that green tea can be used as a treatment for obesity and for weight loss.

It is held that more than half of the American population have weight problems or are obese. Conditions like these are almost always linked to certain complications like heart disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus, sleep apnea, gall bladder disease, and hypertension.

Scientists have  investigated on the weight loss benefits of green tea. They have found that green tea can actually enhance the total amount of energy spent by the body. From their findings, they were able to deduce that green tea has great potential for a weight loss benefit.

Other researches were able to confirm the weight loss benefit of green tea.

A recent study at the University of Geneva had the conclusion that, “Green tea has thermogenic properties and promotes fat oxidation beyond that explained by its caffeine content per se.” Where before it was generally believed that the caffeine content in green tea is the reason for its weight loss benefit, this recent study deviated from that theory. Green tea has other substances in them that are helpful in weight loss.

The same team who conducted the study on green tea’s caffeine content and weight loss banded together in Switzerland to perform another experiment. They were still able to come up with the same results – that green tea has several thermogenic attributes that make it perfect to use in any weight loss program.

Sample Studies:  Green Tea and Weight Loss
Green tea reduces body fat accretion caused by high-fat diet in rats through beta-adrenoceptor activation of thermogenesis in brown adipose tissue. Conducted by chief scientist J.J. Choo of the Department of Food and Nutrition, Kunsan National University, this study aimed to find out if green tea can suppress body fat and to find out whether this suppression is connected with thermogenesis spurred by the body’s beta-adrenoceptor being activated.
To investigate the weight loss benefit of green tea on rats, the scientists placed their subjects on a high-fat diet and provided them with green tea extract. It was discovered that even though the rats were on a high-fat diet, the green tea extract counterbalanced fat gain without affecting the amount of energy they took in.

Green tea was said to have shown some weight loss benefits in the fact that it can prevent fat from being stored, can increase protein levels, and promote thermogenesis by triggering beta-adrenoceptor to action.
Recent findings of green tea extract AR25 (Exolise) and its activity for the treatment of obesity. This study is a collaborative work between Doctors P. Chantre and D. Lairon of the Laboratoires Arkopharma in Carros, France. Published in the 2002 issue of Phytomedicine, this study aimed to find out if green tea extract has weight loss benefits and can be a potential cure for obesity.
In their study, they used an 80% ethanolic concentrate in green tea extract with standardized 25% catechins. They tested the green tea extract and were able to find that it could directly inhibit gastric and pancreatic lipases.

It was also discovered in this study that green tea can stimulate thermogenesis.

Given to moderately obese patients, the green tea extract was said to have caused a decrease in weight by 4.6% and a reduction of waist circumference by 4.48% after only three months. The findings of the study clearly implicate the weight loss benefits of green tea.

You must remember that the weight loss effects of green tea are minimal for a person who drinks 2-3 cups a day and if this person puts sugar in their tea, it will actually cause them to gain weight.  And some studies have shown no weight loss properties at all.

So before you jump in and think that green tea will solve your weight loss problems, think again.  It may help, it won’t hurt and the antioxidant properties are very good so drink it if you like it but don’t drink it thinking that you are going to lose a significant amount of weight.

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