The danger of DIET PILLS

Diet pills have a great potential to help you lose weight and this can be very appealing, especially if you are someone who has struggled to lose weight in the past and who is obese, with a BMI of over 27.

But these advantages should be weighed against the possible dangers of diet pills including some dangerous side effects.

Before take any diet pill, you should understand what some of the dangers of diet pills can be.

Potential for dependence

Some diet pills, especially the stimulant-based diet pills, are habit-forming and as such can be abused. Abuse of these drugs may lead to dependence. Check with your doctor before taking any prescription diet pill to find out if they are habit-forming and what signs you should look out for to alert you to this problem.

Metabolism disruption

Most prescription diet pills suppress the appetite, which causes you to consume fewer calories. On the surface, this seems like the ultimate solution for losing weight. However, as you reduce your caloric intake, your metabolism also slows down. As your metabolism slows, the amount of weight you lose also slows down. This is why it is common for people to lose only a certain amount of weight while taking diet pills alone. The solution, of course, is to combine lifestyle changes to your diet regimen. Lifestyle changes such as regular exercise, dietary changes, and regular health checkups can greatly increase your weight loss success.

Read more inside…

(more…)

Vegetables Are Good For Weight Loss

Vegetable foods are perfect for weight control. They are low in calories, rich in dietary fiber to boost satiety levels, make great snacks and are full of dietary nutrients to help maintain an efficient metabolism. An ideal food option for anyone interested in weight loss or weight maintenance.

Nutritional Benefits of Vegetables

Fresh vegetables (raw, cooked or frozen) are one of the richest sources of vitamins and some important minerals. To help prevent vitamin deficiency, the World Health organisation (WHO) recommends a minimum daily intake of five portions of vegetables and fruits. For optimum nutritional intake, weekly consumption of specific amounts from each of five vegetable subgroups (dark green, orange, dry beans, starchy, and other vegetables) is recommended, as each subgroup provides a different array of nutrients.
Vegetables (eg. carrots, sweet-potatoes, and pumpkin, tomatoes, red sweet pepper, spinach, collards, turnip greens, kale, beet and mustard greens, green leaf lettuce, and romaine) contain vitamin A (beta-carotene). They also contain B-complex micronutrients, vitamins C, E and K. Vegetables such as cooked dry beans and peas, deep green leaves like spinach and mustard greens are useful sources of folate. Vegetables are also excellent sources of phytochemicals - the protective plant micronutrients like the carotenoids lycopene and lutein.

Vegetable-Rich Diets

Several studies show that populations with diets that are rich in vegetables have a significantly lower risk of heart disease, cancers and high blood pressure. Such diets also help reduce the risk of diverticulitis, and protect against cataract and macular degeneration, the major cause of loss of vision among people over age 65.

1. Sufficient calories to maintain a person’s metabolic and activity needs, but not so excessive as to result in fat storage greater than roughly 30% of body mass. For most people the recommended daily allowance of energy is 2,000 calories, but it depends on age, sex, height, weight, and physical activity.
2. Sufficient quantities of fat, including monounsaturated fat, polyunsaturated fat and saturated fat, with a balance of omega-6 and long-chain omega-3 lipids. The recommended daily allowance of fat is 65-80 grams.
3. Maintenance of a good ratio between carbohydrates and lipids (4:1): four grams of the first for one gram of the second.
4. Avoidance of excessive saturated fat (20grams recommended limit, although the “evidence” for this claim is forever in debate after the testimony of results provided by the Framingham Heart Study of 1948-1998)
5. Avoidance of trans fat.
6. Sufficient essential amino acids (”complete protein”) to provide cellular replenishment and transport proteins. All essential amino acids are present in animals. A select few plants (such as soy and hemp) give all the essential acids. A combination of other plants may also provide all essential amino acids (except rice and beans which have limitations).
7. Essential micronutrients such as vitamins and certain minerals.
8. Avoiding directly poisonous (e.g. heavy metals) and carcinogenic (e.g. benzene) substances;
9. Avoiding foods contaminated by human pathogens (e.g. E. coli, tapeworm eggs);
10. Avoiding chronic high doses of certain foods that are benign or beneficial in small or occasional doses, such as
    • foods that may burden or exhaust normal functions (e.g. refined carbohydrates without adequate dietary fiber);
    • foods that may interfere at high doses with other body processes (e.g. refined table salt);
    • foods or substances with directly toxic properties at high chronic doses (e.g. ethyl alcohol).
11. Combination of foods eaten and timing of meals so that hunger is kept in check; for example, to meet calorie goal of 2000 calories to avoid gaining weight.

Source: Wikipedia