B 12 and Digestion

Several studies have shown that people who supplemented their diets with vitamin b12 shots reported higher energy levels and increased rates of weight loss vs. a control group that took no supplements. Some doctors may say there is no connection between weight loss and B12 but what they overlook is how many people are deficient in B12.

Studies indicate that B12 deficiencies do not correlate with diet (participants with diets high in foods rich in B12 had just as low levels of B12 as those without). It’s not because people aren’t eating enough B12 rich foods but the vitamin isn’t getting absorbed.

Studies conducted by the US Framingham trial reveal that a Vitamin B12 deficiency has been detected in 1 out of 4 Americans.

One possible cause of vitamin B12 deficiency – age. Many people don’t realize it but as they age their risk for a deficiency increases. Two factors that lead to B12 deficiency are an insufficient diet and declining rates of absorption.

The natural process of aging disrupts the digestive tract. This is caused by the cumulative effect of the typical American diet. The stomach lining gradually gets weaker so it can’t produce hydrochloric acid – the agent that “extracts” Vitamin B12 from what you eat.

Also consuming antacids and various remedies for an upset or acid stomach can also be blamed for the body’s inability to integrate Vitamin B12. Bacteria are another leading cause of Vitamin B12 deficiency. One such bacterium is the Helicobactor pylori, which puts the stomach at risk for moderate to serious ulcers, thereby aggravating a person’s deficiency.

Research in the field of nutrition reports that when the stomach lining fails to produce a protein called the intrinsic factor, the vitamin B12 will not bind, which prevents the body from absorbing B 12 via the small intestine.

It is important to make sure you get enough B 12 and that is absorbed properly as it is an effective digestion aid. It allows food to be properly and efficiently absorbed, and it promotes the metabolism of fats and carbohydrates.

Additionally B 12 is thought to responsible for more stable moods maintaining excellent memory functions, increased concentration and mental alertness.

For more help with digestive problems see our post Eating for Better Digestion

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Dr Oz Weight Loss Tips

I came across this offer in Parade magazine and thought it would be good to post on the site.

Dr. Oz, Weight Watchers and Sharecare have partnered to create Dr. Oz’s Transformation Nation: Million Dollar You, a life-changing contest to get America healthy. You are invited to join Dr. Oz and his team to tackle the seven key steps to weight loss and healthy living.

Participants who complete all 7 steps of the plan and meet all eligibility requirements will compete to become a finalist. Specific requirements for the contest are specified in the Official Rules. The public will vote for the most transformed and inspirational finalist. The winner will receive $1 million and a trip for two to attend a live taping of The Dr. Oz Show featuring the winner.

Sounds like good healthy fun that could be profitable. Here is the first step though I do not think you have to go to a Weight Watchers facility to get your BMI.

The first step in calculating your BMI is to go to a local Weight Watchers Center. There, you’ll find out your starting weight. A leader will give you a complimentary weigh-in, and, you can stay for a meeting where you’ll learn what getting started on (and sticking to) Weight Watchers is all about.

Dr. Oz says that measuring your BMI is the first step in any weight-loss plan. Your body mass index (BMI), the ratio of your height to your weight.

If you don’t want to visit a Weight Watchers calculate your BMI and consider signing up for Transformation Nation at doctoroz.com.

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Food Combinations to Lose Weight

Here is really great article I found in Family Circle Magazine about different food combinations that burn fat.

Bread and Vinegar – If you like bread, pasta and potatoes, but tend to eat too much of it because it tastes so good just sprinkle it with a little vinegar. According to dietitians, when we eat high-carb foods like bread, the amount of glucose in our blood rises rapidly. But very quickly it plummets, triggering feeling of hunger that cause us to eat even more.

Vinegar moderates that spike in glucose, so you feel full longer. In a recent study people who consumed 4 teaspoons of apple-cider vinegar along with some bagels and juice ate 200 fewer calories throughout the day than those who ate the same meal minus the vinegar.

Brown rice and peas - Most women assume gaining weight as they age is just a fact of life, but it isn’t. As we age we lose lean muscle which is a natural metabolism booster that helps us burn calories. So lift weights and make sure that between 25% to 35% of your calories come from protein. Plant foods like rice have protein but eaten alone they lack some of the essential amino acids needed for a complete protein. Pair lysine poor rice with lysine rich peas and your body will get a healthy protein boost. If you adds beans to this combo you will get a good dose of potassium, a mineral that counteracts age-related muscle loss by making the blood less acidic.

To learn more about the benefits of potassium for your body see our post High Potassium Foods – Why You Need Them

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How To Beat Sugar Cravings

Gastronic Dr. supports healthy levels of normal micro-organisms, yeast, and bacteria in the colon and entire digestive tract. Overgrowth of yeast in the gut is sometimes the cause of sugar cravings.

This was a very interesting article that appeared in Dr. Oz and Dr. Roizen’s column in the newspaper:

Knowing what causes sugar cravings can help you put a cap on them long before they force you into bigger clothes. Which of the three types of sweets cravings do you have?

1. You say: “Feed me now, or I’ll kill you”. This usually reflects low blood sugar. Eating sugar helps in the first few minutes, but it makes things worse in the long term.

Break it – sucking on a Tic Tac or two can be enough to stop the attack. After that, eat more protein and fewer sweets to keep your blood sugar stable.

2. You say:”I’d really like a Twinkie.” You generally feel okay, but find yourself searching for a snack.

Break it – Holistic docs say that this could reflect yeast overgrowth in the gut, and that taking a digestive aid that balances your system can help.

A digestive aid such as Gastronic Dr. supports healthy levels of normal micro-organisms, yeast, and bacteria in the colon and entire digestive tract. Gastronic DR.also keeps your system in balance and supports ongoing health in the entire digestive system and stomach lining.

Regular use of Gastronic Dr. safely supports digestive health and all organs and structures involved in digestion, as well as the mucus membranes of the digestive tract. Additionally, the herbs used in Gastronic Dr. have been specifically selected and are suitable to use in conjunction with prescription and over-the-counter medication, if required. Click on the banner below or at the top of post to get more information.

Gastronic Dr. promotes healthy digestion and encourages comfort after meals. Helps you avoid gas, upset stomachs and digestive irregularities.

Also see our post Foods That Have Probiotic Bacteria which will also help you learn how to work probiotic food into your diet.

3. You say:” It’s my period, and I’m depressed.” Low levels of serotonin around your period can cause you to crave carbs.

Break it – Eating dark chocolate just an ounce or so will supply a natural antidepressant, called PEA plus the carbs you crave.

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Multivitamin Twice a Day Dr Oz

Dr. Mehmet Oz suggested these as health resolutions for the new year. New Year resolutions always seem to get lost after the first month of the year so I say let’s call them Dr. Oz Health Tips.

I really like these tips and I thought an easy way to include them in my life would be to try to introduce a new one every month. Psychologists say it takes 21 days to form a habit. So if a month is 28 days that is just about the right amount of time to make each of these Dr. Oz health tips a habit.

1. (January) Get more sleep: Aim for at least seven hours of sleep each night to help your body heal, restore and protect its systems and vital organ functions.

2. (February) Lose 10 pounds: Losing weight is perhaps the most common New Year’s resolution. But losing just 10 pounds can cut your risk of heart attack, osteoarthritis, cancer and other ailments. A new study shows that for each pound of body weight lost, there is a 4-pound reduction in knee joint stress among overweight and obese people with osteoarthritis of the knee. Researchers say the results indicate that even modest weight loss may significantly lighten the load on your joints. So even five pounds would be helpful.

3. (March) Start the day with yoga: Dr Oz has a seven minute yoga routine. You can find it at Dr. Oza Beginners Yoga Lesson I checked it out and it is not too difficult. None of the horrible twisty pretzel stuff you see in other videos.

4. (April) Learn CPR: More than 300,000 people die each year of cardiac arrest outside of the hospital, CPR can increase their chance of survival.

5. (May) Make time for loved ones: Strong social connections can keep you mentally active, reduce stress and keep you emotionally fit. I have found that volunteering is a great way to make new social connections.

6. (June) Swap your beverages: Beverages are a major hidden source of calories. Decide to drink water, no sugar flavored sparkling water, or reduced sugar sports drink if you are really thirsty. In terms of the sweetness of your soda, there are approximately 40 grams of refined sugar in a 12 oz soft drink, which equals about 10 teaspoons of sugar. Colas generally have 9-10 teaspoons of sugar, while orange sodas are an even sweeter choice with closer to 13 teaspoons per 12 oz.

7. (July) Eat black rice: This new super food has more anthocyanin antioxidants and more fiber per serving than blueberries and it’s cheaper too.Many stores sell black rice, sometimes under the label of “Indonesian Black Rice” or “Forbidden Rice.”

8. (August) Engage in waist management: The visceral fat around your middle has big effect on your overall health. Your waist should measure half your height. If you are 62 inches tall, your waist should be 31 inches.

9. (September) Know your five: Evaluate your health by knowing five key barometers – blood pressure, waist size, weight, cholesterol and fasting blood sugar.

10. (October) Take a daily multivitamin: This can help you get what your diet may not give you. For best results, take half in the morning and half in the evening. Though there is no hard evidence that vitamins and weight loss are connected, taking vitamins will help your energy level increase. With an increased energy level you will find it easier to exercise and eat less.

In November and December you can celebrate the new healthier you and you will feel so good you did it.

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Dr Oz Weight Loss

What Does Dr. Oz Recommend for Weight Loss

Dr. Oz has designed a program with the help of a team of fitness and health professionals which will allow most participants to lose two to three pounds a week early on, tapering to about a pound a week. He debuted the program on the January 3 show and it is an 11-week challenge which he calls “Move It and Lose It.”

In addition to the daily show, he’ll have free online tools ( find them at doctoroz.com) that will help you gauge how much weight you need to lose and personalized instruction to get you there. Here are some of the topics he will cover:

Keeping track of your weight: Monitoring your weight and what you eat are very important for weight loss. Weigh yourself a few times a week and write down everything you eat. Writing it down helps you realize how much you are eating but also makes you think twice before you put it in your mouth.

Minimize sugar: Oz says sugar is worse than saturated fat because simple carbs stimulate an insulin spike that causes liver cells to engorge themselves and turn out more fats, which can hurt your liver and increase your belly fat. The Atkins Diet also talks about the role sugar plays in weight gain and lack of sustained energy.

The Right Carbs: Oz is okay with eating some fruit to satisfy your need for sugar whereas Atkins is not. Dr Oz recommends eating a banana or apple to feed your sweet tooth because although they contain sugar, they also have fiber and nutrients.

Whole Foods: These are foods that are not highly processed. Dr. Oz says to look for foods that “come out of the ground” and, with the exception of a dirt, still look mostly like they did in the ground.

Long Term Attitude: Oz feels people with highly structured diets fail because if they mess up at the beginning of the day, they can’t get back on track. That make sense especially if look at Weight Watcher. Probably the reason so many people are successful with Weight Watchers is because they do offer so much flexibility in their diet.

Be Assertive: Oz talks about standing up to people who push food on you (also something covered in Weight Watchers).

Find other dieting friends: Find others who will exercise and diet with you so you won’t feel you are all on your own. Again, that is a concept that has worked in Weight Watcher program.

Connections: Oz advises to create new friendships or strengthen the ones you have. Gives you a reason for your heart to keep beating.

Emotional Eating: Oz feels most diet gurus don’t address issue of people who “eat because they feel an emptiness, a loneliness inside them.” He plans to discuss the emotional side of eating.

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Resveratrol and Green Tea

Do you remember hearing about Mediterranean diet? The American Heart Association says there is no one Mediterranean diet but here is what it usually includes:
• high consumption of fruits, vegetables, bread and other cereals, potatoes, beans, nuts and seeds
• olive oil is an important monounsaturated fat source
• dairy products, fish and poultry are consumed in low to moderate amounts, and little red meat is eaten
• eggs are consumed zero to four times a week
• wine is consumed in low to moderate amounts
Mediterranean diet and lifestyle seem to be more conducive to healthier weight levels and longevity plus you get to eat stuff that actually tastes like something. So hopefully we are in agreement here that the Mediterranean diet is a good idea.

Also you are always hearing about how the French eat a high-fat diet, enjoy rich desserts, drink wine and still have better cardiovascular health than the rest of us.
One of the big differences in the French diet versus the American diet is red wine which is bursting with health benefits. Besides being good for your heart, it may also aid in the fighting against gum disease, a Canadian study reports. Danish researchers report, people who buy wine tend to buy healthier food than those who purchase beer. Research also indicates that light to moderate drinking may help you lose weight…

The important antioxidant in red wine that does so much good is resveratrol. In addition to wine, resveratrol is also found in grape skins, blueberries, cranberries and other plants, and recent animal and in vitro studies indicate that it can have a positive effect on helping to maintain healthy cholesterol levels, supporting insulin health and optimizing metabolic and immune pathways that protect cells and improve mitochondrial function.

There is a new product out which is different than other diet supplements in that it uses a combination of natural and herbal ingredients designed to help the body stay healthy while losing weight. How? By mimicking certain aspects of the Mediterranean diet.

The product is called
Resveratrol Select. And one capsule of Resveratrol Select includes as much resveratrol as 200 glasses of wine—without the added calories of alcohol. But consuming resveratrol alone isn’t enough to help with weight loss—so the manufacturers of Resveratrol Select also added a different type of antioxidant, Green Tea Extract (EGCG), over time, green tea consumption helps increase metabolism, burn fat and reduce fat storage due to its caffeine and L-theanin content, which can be helpful in maintaining energy for exercise. The supplement also contains Chromium. Chromium, a niacin-based mineral that plays an important role in how the body uses insulin to burn sugars, carbohydrates, fats, and proteins for energy

To learn more about Resveratrol click on this button =>>

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If you want to learn more about green tea and weight loss see our postGreen Tea and Weight Loss Curepure has the best natural health cures

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Weight Loss and Coffee

Eggs

The only person who used to talk about how great eggs were for weight loss was Dr. Atkins but now nutritionists have changed their tune. The American Dietetic Association says that healthy folks can have them every day without raising their cholesterol levels- and researchers in Canada believe that eating eggs might help reduce high blood pressure. Eggs have proteins called peptides which seem to work like blood-pressure drugs. Plus by eating eggs, you’ll boost your odds of losing weight. Eggs are have a lot of protein, which takes time to digest. Protein in the morning keeps your stomach full, so you eat less during the rest of the day.

Other so called “bad” foods that can help you lose weight are:

Steak

Again, Dr. Atkins used to be only one advocating eating red meat but now steak has been discovered to be good for weight loss. A lean cut of beef has barely more saturated fat than a similar size skinless chicken breast. Steak is high in protein and can keep you feeling full longer. To get plenty of protein with less fat, choose T-bone, sirloin tip, or other extra-lean cuts — and limit portions to the size of your fist.

Pork

Today’s cuts of pork tenderloin are 31% leaner than 20 years ago. That makes this white meat a lean source of protein with benefits similar to those of lean beef.

Pasta

Whole grain pasta can actually help you lose weight. Research suggests people who eat several servings of whole-grain foods per day are more likely to lose weight and maintain healthy weights. According to one study, eating whole grains rather than refined grains can also help burn belly fat. Taste is always the big issue with whole grain pasta – so try a couple of different brands and see which tastes best to you.

Nuts

Nuts may be high in fat, but it’s the kind of fat that is good for you. Nuts are also high in protein and fiber, which can help stabilize blood sugar. Studies show small amounts of peanut butter can control hunger without causing weight gain. I like peanut butter on celery.

Cheese

Cheese was always a food to be avoided by dieters but the theory is now that the body burns more fat when it gets enough calcium, so eating cheese, yogurt, and milk may actually help you lose weight. Yogurt also has those great probiotics which help your body fight bad bacteria. Calcium supplements don’t seem to have the same effect so don’t substitute them for dairy products.

Coffee

If you drink it black, you get a metabolism boost without added fat and calories. If black coffee is hard to tolerate you might try reducing the amount of cream and sugar you use gradually. Also I find adding cinnamon helps it taste better. One study indicates the caffeine in two cups of coffee may cause a 145-pound woman to burn 50 extra calories over four hours.

All food is good is small portions. Dietitians saysnot to deprive of foods you love but eat them in small portions. One piece of really good chocolate or an ounce of a full fat cheese is better than a pint of low-fat ice cream or several slices of low fat cheese. I can say from personal experience you will feel much more satisfied.

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