Health and Beauty

Brazilian Diet

admin — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 21:38:33 +0000

The Brazilian Diet is a widely-touted combination of two non-prescription diet pills that is purported to cleanse and detoxify the body while suppressing appetite and promoting weight loss.

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"Yellow" is the part of the Brazilian Diet (or Emagrece Diet) that cleanses and detoxifies the system. Included in the pill are carqueja, cat’s claw, erva tostao, artichoke extract, chanca piedra, sarsaparilla, magnesium, and selenium. Each ingredient has a specific function, and, in combination, just about every possible physical disease or ailment is covered. Several of the herbs specifically target the liver, gallbladder, and/or kidneys. Erva tostao (or punarnava in ayurvedic practise) is one such liver and gallbladder cleanser. It is also a diuretic. It should be avoided by people with high or low blood pressure and by heart disease patients. Chanca piedra targets kidney and gallstones and should be used with great caution. It has been shown to have abortifacient properties as well as diuretic properties. It also seems to act on blood sugar and should be avoided by hypoglycemics and diabetics. It is also not recommended for those who have heart conditions or hypertension. Carqueja is another liver-affecting herb. As it can be abortifacient and may interfere with glucose metabolism and with blood pressure, carqueja should be avoided by pregnant women, diabetics and hypoglycemics, hypertensives, and those with heart problems.

"Orange" is the part of the Brazilian Diet that is designed to enhance weight loss. The components in this pill are cha de bugre, yerba mate, and guarana. Cha de bugre is high in caffeine. It acts as an appetite suppressant and diuretic. Guarana is chemically identical to caffeine, which accounts for its reputation as an aid to thermogenesis. Guarana is also a diuretic; it should be avoided by those with heart trouble or hypertension. Yerba Mate is a stimulant, very high in caffeine. It has been shown to interfere with MAO inhibitors, and should not be used by anyone taking MAOI drugs. It has also been implicated in an increased risk of upper digestive-tract cancers

Also recommended while following this plan are Yerba Mate tea for replacing snacks and for dealing with cravings, and protein shakes. The dieter is also required to drink a minimum of 64 ounces of water daily. While taking the pills, the dieter is expected to eat three balanced, nutritious meals per day, but snacking is discouraged.

Because many of the herbs used in the pills are known to be dangerous to people with chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypoglycemia, heart disease, and hypertension, and because some of the herbs have an adverse effect on pregnancy and fertility, extreme caution should be used in considering these pills as a weight loss aid.

Furthermore, the FDA has issued a number of warnings about the capsules that form the backbone of the Brazilian Diet system, as testing has shown the capsules to be contaminated with both prescription drugs and unapproved drugs that mimic illegal drugs. The most frequently reported contaminants are:

* Librium is a controlled substance in the benzodiazepine family — the same group of drugs as Xanax.
* Prozac is an antidepressant that has been linked to serious side effects and should be used only under a doctor’s care.
* Valium (diazepam) is a tranquilizer that has serious side effects and should be used only under a doctor’s care.
* Fenproporex is a stimulant that is converted in the body to amphetamine. At least one person has failed a drug screen (and lost employment) after taking these pills and testing positive for amphetamines.

1200 Calorie Diet

admin — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 21:34:34 +0000

A dietary intake of 1200 calories per day is nutritionally adequate for most individuals. It is also the recommended amount of calories for safe and healthy weight loss. The important element is striking the correct balance of macronutrients to achieve the this amount.

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The Lemonade Diet

admin — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 21:25:54 +0000

The Lemonade Diet is a short-term, cleansing diet that is similar to a juice fast in many ways. While you are following the diet (10 to 40 days), your sole source of energy and nutrients is a lemonade made with fresh-squeezed lemon juice, purified (non-fluoridated) water, grade-B maple syrup, and cayenne pepper. In addition, each morning, you drink a salt-water flush, and each evening you drink a laxative tea. The only other beverages allowed on the Lemonade Diet are pure (non-fluoridated) water and peppermint tea.

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Basics of the Mediterranean Diet

admin — Sun, 02 Sep 2007 21:21:55 +0000

The Mediterranean Diet is not a typical sort of diet. Rather than being the result of the latest scientific or nutritional theory, it is simply the diet that people who live in the Mediterranean have eaten for years. Of course, this region is made up of many different countries, and as the years go by, some of these countries are beginning to succumb to unhealthy ways of eating, much of which is made popular by growing restaurant chains. Nevertheless, we can learn a lot by studying the dietary habits of individuals who eat traditional Mediterranean fare.

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Diabetic Diet Plan

admin — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 21:08:54 +0000

The goal of a diabetic diet plan is to take a proactive approach to controlling blood sugar levels via nutrition. For most people who are managing diabetes, eating choices and style are vital components to success.

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Cigarette Smoking Responsible for 1 of 5 Deaths

admin — Sat, 02 Jun 2007 20:16:50 +0000

American Lung Association Report Shows 2007 Shaping Up to be a Banner Year for Tobacco Control Policies.

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The role of physical activity and exercise in obecity

admin — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 13:01:51 +0000

The National Health and Examination Survey (NHANES I) showed that people who engage in limited recreational activity were more likely to gain weight than more active people. Other studies have shown that people who engage in regular strenuous activity gain less weight than sedentary people. Studies on twins (twins have identical genes) showed that physical activity might actually protect the more active twin from developing obesity.

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What can be done about Obesity

admin — Wed, 18 Apr 2007 12:58:53 +0000

All too often, obesity prompts a strenuous diet in the hopes of reaching the “ideal body weight.” Some amount of weight loss may be accomplished, but the lost weight usually quickly returns. More than 95% of the people who lose weight regain the weight within five years. It is clear that a more effective, long-lasting treatment for obesity must be found, lest obesity lead to oblivion.

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Where body fat is located?

admin — Mon, 16 Apr 2007 12:56:34 +0000

Concern is directed not only at how much fat a person has but also where that fat is located on the body. The pattern of body fat distribution tends to differ in men and women.

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Widely used methods to diagnose obesity

admin — Sat, 14 Apr 2007 12:49:22 +0000

Measuring a person’s body fat percentage can be difficult, therefore, other methods are relied on to diagnose obesity. Two widely used methods are weight-for-height tables and body mass index (BMI). While both measurements have their limitations, they are reasonable indicators that someone may have a weight problem. The calculations are easy, and no special equipment is required.

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