The Most Under Rated Aspect of Weight Loss

If I were asked, "what is the most difficult thing many people find to do when they start a weight-loss program?", I would have to say right near the top of the list is this - they don't drink enough water!

Few people realize at first just how essential water is to the success of their weight-loss program. In fact, the essential place of water in our diet extends to everyone - whether they want to lose weight, gain weight or stay the same weight! We all know we can't live without water, but just why is it so important? Well there are many reasons. Read on and discover why water can help your loss weight and why it is your essential life-force.

Apart from 60-70% of your body being composed of water, water has an extensive range of functions essential to life.

. Assists digestion, absorption and assimilation of food. If you don't drink enough water you can't get the full benefit of nutrients in the food you eat.

. Assists excretion of waste from bowel and kidneys. If you don't drink enough water you get constipated and put your kidneys under stress.

. Regulates body temperature. If you don't drink enough water you compromise the evaporation process you skin uses to keep you cool.

. Your blood is 92% water. This is your body's transport system distributing nutrients around the body.

. Body secretions and digestive juices are almost entirely water.

Why should you drink water when you want to lose weight?

Water is a natural appetite suppressant. Do NOT underestimate the power of this statement. Lack of water can lead to over eating. You brain does not differentiate between hunger and thirst. So, when you think you are feeling hungry, your body may in fact be signaling to you that you are thirsty! If you are not consuming enough water each day and you feel hunger pains, chances are, your body really is crying out for water. In many instances people will find what they thought were hunger pangs were in fact, satisfied by water. Try it! You have nothing to lose, except some weight.

How do you know whether you are drinking enough water each day? Well the answer is not difficult. The average person needs around 6-8 large glasses every day.

Well then, how should you drink the 6-8 glasses per day? The aim is to drink water consistently. If you drink too much all at once or too fast, it will simply pass through you, with little or no benefit to your body.

If you are someone who enjoys the 'taste' of water, then perhaps you could fill a 1 litre empty soft drink container with water the drink through it twice during the day. Room temperature or cold water, even warm as some people like - whatever you prefer. Place it on the desk at work in front of you as a constant reminder to sip continuously throughout the day.

Other people find they need a water 'diet' to help them keep on track. So for you, here is a program easily followed to ensure you are well hydrated every single day.

1. When you wake up you will often be thirsty because your body loses water while you are sleeping through breathing and perspiration. Drink a large glass of water with a slice of lemon for zing.

2. Drink another glass of water with breakfast or a cup of herbal tea before setting off the day.

3. Mid morning - snack on a piece of juicy fruit such as orange, watermelon, cantaloupe, honey dew. Have a glass of water and perhaps try a dash of herbal aloe juice which is wonderfully soothing to the digestive system.

4. Lunch - think of soup or have a glass of water before your meal, or perhaps a herbal tea.

5. Mid afternoon - While you are preparing your evening meal, drink a glass of water and snack on some crunchy fresh vegetables.

6. Evening - Sip a glass of water before your meal with a dash of your favourite fruit juice for flavour.

7. After dinner - before bedtime drink your final glass of water and sleep well!

A few changes will happen when you start out with your water program. Obviously you may find that you need to 'spend a penny' more often. Why? Because you body isn't used to being well hydrated.

There is absolutely is no doubt about it. When you start drinking enough water regularly, there are great benefits. You may notice your skin significantly improve and even tired muscles will thank you. Many people find their energy is increased and constipation and headaches are reduced, as well as hunger pains.

Now here's the really exciting part…many people notice a reduction in weight and centimetres, as their body's water store become redundant and so decrease. If your diet has been one that did not provide you with adequate water, your body will have developed a pattern of storing water. It's part of the body's in-built survival mechanism - to store up the essential nutrients in short supply…just in case they aren't available in the future. So if you don't drink enough water, you are 'conditioning' your body to store water. And water is bulk and unwanted centimetres.

It's so simple...drink water! 6-8 large glasses a day.

How do you know if you are not getting enough water each day? This is a really important question because so many of us have deprived ourselves of water for years that we have become accustomed to doing without the full amount of water our body requires and we don't recognise the symptoms of thirst.

1. The most common symptom is headaches. A major function of water is to flush toxins from the body. Your brain is 75% water, so even being slightly dehydrated can cause headaches.

2. Poor concentration/fatigue. If you body can't get rid of the toxins it will struggle and you will feel less energetic as your body diverts energy to deal with the toxins.

3. Constipation. Your body will divert water to more essential functions and as a result your stools will be harder and more difficult to expel.

4. Reduced urine output or dark urine. Did you know that up to 200 litres of water is passed through your kidneys daily? Without a fresh supply of water for the kidneys to filter waste products out of the blood, your urine will become darker.

5. Furry tongue or bad breath. If you don't have enough water passing through the mouth to wash away food particles, bacteria can proliferate and result in that 'furry' feeling or bad breath.

6. Skin. Your skin should feel elastic. When you pinch the skin on the back of your hand it should snap back instantly.

Final thoughts. Caffeinated drinks cause the body to lose water. They are what's known as diuretics as they cause your body to dehydrate. You will do your body an enormous favour by cutting back. For every cup of coffee you drink you will need to drink another TWO glasses of water to counter the diuretic effect. Explore the world of herbal teas instead, you may be pleasantly surprised!

Kim Beardsmore M.B.A., B.Sc. is a writer for the weight loss, health & fitness website Weight Loss Health. For reliable information and resources free from hype, visit today. Free Weight Loss & Health Information

Detox Your Body With Wasabi Rhizome

The Wasabi rhizome, the underground fleshy stem of the wasabia japonica plant, is prized not only for its fiery flavour but also its effect in detoxifying the liver. However, make sure that you are getting the real McCoy since many restaurants in the USA do not use the genuine paste.

The wasabi is a plant of the cruciferous family, the same family as cabbage, broccoli, turnip, radish, horseradish and mustard, and is native to Japan and Korea and now grown on the Pacific coast of Canada. It grows best in temperate to cold climates, especially in mountainous areas where there are plenty of cold streams.

Anybody who regularly enjoys sashimi and sushi should be familiar with the wasabi rhizome, that green lump of paste lying on the side of the plate. It is hot and fiery, although not in the same way as the chilli pepper that is fiery on the tongue and in the mouth. This tends to affect the sinuses more, and leaves a sweetish taste once the initial heat has dissipated. However, it is not always what it should be.

The last comment there refers to the practise, especially in the USA, of using dyed common horseradish as wasabi paste, so be careful of that since the two are not equivalent in the health benefits they impart to your body. Although of the same family as the horseradish, and sometimes termed the Japanese horseradish, ordinary horseradish does not have the same health benefits as genuine wasabi, and does not contain the same active ingredients so do not confuse the two.

Real wasabi is normally used grated, and there are specific techniques that should be used to grate wasabi rhizomes to bring out the fullness of the flavour. True grated wasabi should be of a natural pale greenish color rather than the brighter green normally associated with sushi restaurant wasabi.

Traditionally, wasabi rhizome is used as a condiment with sushi, although their leaves can also be used in salad dressings and or as a delicacy pickled in soy sauce or sake brine. The genuine vegetable is difficult to cultivate which explains why ordinary horseradish is dyed and used in its stead, and the vast majority of non-Japanese do not know the difference because it is likely to be all they have consumed under the name of wasabi. The health benefits of the genuine article, however, are considerable greater.

So that’s what it is, but what does it do? What are the health benefits of wasabi rhizomes and why are they considered to be so good for your liver? Wasabi rhizomes contain substances that are very effective in detoxifying you liver, and that are also very strong antioxidants that provide you with good overall health benefits in their capacity to destroy the free radicals created by the pollution of modern living.

The active antioxidants in the rhizome are precursors of isothiocyanates, which are known as phytochemicals. These are chemicals that can protect or prevent diseases through its antioxidant properties. The term ‘precursor’ means that the isothiocyanates are synthesized by your body from the nutrients contained in the wasabi rhizome. Other examples of phytochemicals that you may have heard of are carotenoids, flavonoids and polyphenols that also possess antioxidant properties.

Other antioxidants are vitamins A and E, which is why these are used in anti-wrinkle creams, since their anti-oxidant effect helps to prevent the free radicals destroying the skin cells in the dermis and epidermis that leads to the wrinkles associated with aging. Wasabi is equally effective as an antioxidant, although it has other properties that are important to your liver.

The liver is your body’s chemical plant. That is where most of the chemical reactions take place that are essential for life. If your liver is unhealthy you can develop diseases such as hepatitis and cirrhosis, and a healthy liver is essential for life let alone a healthy life. Wasabi helps to detoxify and clean out your liver.

Apart from creating the wide variety of enzymes needed to process your food, and controlling the vast majority of the biochemistry of your body, your liver is also your detoxification plant that coverts toxins into biodegradable molecules that your waste disposal system can evacuate without harm. This occurs in two phases.

Phase I coverts the toxin to a form that your body can further process (the bioactive form), and Phase II breaks it down into a form that your kidneys can handle and eject it in your urine. Isothiocyanates are involved in the production of the enzymes that enable the chemical reactions of Phase II to proceed. They allow your body to cleanse itself of toxins, and without this process you would be less healthy and more prone to cancers and other undesirable conditions and diseases in your body.

It is becoming more important in this modern age with its increasing natural and synthetic pollution that your liver is working at peak efficiency. Your liver is equally as important to you as your heart and brain, and without it you cannot survive. Wasabi also contains glucosinolates that help the isothiocyanates to induce the production of Phase II enzymes, and it is general believed that eating this tuber cab help protect you against stomach, colon and breast cancers as well as help your cardiovascular system and blood clotting.

An interesting fact is how wasabi rhizome came to be traditionally served with raw fish. The isothiocyanates precursors, and the glucosinolates that wasabi also contains, apparently help to destroy the bacteria associated with raw fish, and help prevent disease and illness. It was likely found healthier to include a dollop of this green paste with your sushi than not, and so the use of common horseradish might be somewhat questionable if it has less of an effect.

Make sure, therefore, that your have the real thing, and apart from any specific health considerations associated with eating raw fish, you are best advised to take it as a supplement to help Detox your liver rather than visit sushi bars for your consumption. It will also help your wallet!

More information on Wasabi Rhizome Liver Cleanse and detox is available at VitaNet, LLC Health Food Store. http://vitanetonline.com/

What Will a Body Detox Program Do for Me?

You see them all over TV and the internet. "The only way to detox is the new blah blah blah." People talk about how a natural body detox changed their life. But do these detox programs really work, or are they just scams? What will they do for me?

Let's spend a minute talking about the environment we live in. Modern civilization puts us in constant contact with toxins everyday. From the air we breathe to the food we eat, toxins build up in our body faster than our livers and other organs involved in a whole body detox can carry the out. We begin to show symptoms of toxicity, such as allergies, depression, weight problems, and aches and pains, just to name a few. We don't know where they come from or how they got there, but we deal with this stuff everyday.

Sometimes even more severe health problems come from increased toxins in your body over a longer period of time. Some of these include infertility, arthritis, lupus and asthma. We're not talking about heredity here. Some problems are due to your genes and won't be changed by a natural body detox. So knowing the difference will be helpful in knowing what to expect of a body detox program.

So what are some of the benefits of a body detox program? Well, for one, you will have increased energy because your organs will not be so busy trying to remove all that junk from your body. But what else?

faster metabolism
less hunger pangs
more restful sleep
stronger immune system
glowing skin
positive thoughts and a clear head
fewer cravings for unhealthy food

These are the most common benefits of a total body detox. Your results may vary depending on what kind of toxicity you were suffering from to begin with. Like many medications, a body detox program has some side effects from all these toxins traveling through and out of your body. They are usually most prevalent in the first couple of days, which is why it is important you have some free time when you start your whole body detox. Be on the lookout for these side effects:

fatigue headache
itchy skin or pimples
indigestion and/or gas
mucus from your sinuses or bronchial passages constipation or diarrhea
anxious or irritable disposition
bad breath
dark urine
trouble concentrating or
confusion joint or muscle pain


Sounds serious, huh? Don't worry, most people don't suffer all those side effects and they are very short lived. When doing a whole body detox for the first time, you will experience a few of these as the toxins leave your body. Don't let them deter you from doing what's right for you! Besides, you probably experience these a lot of the time anyway due to the toxicity in your body right now. Before doing a total body detox, it would be advisable to talk to your doctor to make sure that you are not going to complicate any conditions such as diabetes. With the help of your physician, you can have a safer, healthier detoxification.


John Khu is a health enthusiast and author of a new eBook titled "Body Detox Tips". He is devoted to educate others on the benefit of body detoxification. He is also the owner of the website called http://www.bodydetoxtips.com which provides complete and up-to-date information.

The Importance Of Detoxing Your Body

It is one of those things that go along way towards improving overall health and fitness, detoxing the body. This process should be followed two times a year, most people begin their detoxification at the start of spring and the end of fall each year.

When the detoxing of the body is done is of less importance than making sure it is done in the correct manner. Getting the proper exercise, eating a balanced diet, and managing your current stress levels are all important aspects of maintaining good overall health, and will enhance your detoxing experience.

Maintaining overall good health and optimal fitness levels, a diet, exercise program, and stress reduction are all needed to produce the desired results, and a vital part to all detoxification plans.

Health Advantages From Detoxing Of The Body

Due to the abundance of environmental pollutants, toxins found in the air and water, reduction in the ozone layer, and modern processing of foods we are all at risk of becoming ill both with mental and physical consequences, detoxing is of the highest priority for those looking for a healthy lifestyle.

The diet needed for properly detoxing is easy to follow, and can be repeated as many times as desired to maintain the highest degree of health advantages.

Foods For Detoxing

While on the detoxification diet the foods listed below are utilized in any combination that is preferred as long as the mixture supports a healthy and balanced diet. Utilize this list of detoxification foods to put together the tastiest menu you can come up with.

Fruit-eating plenty of fresh fruit during detoxing is very important, just about any kind of fruit can be included from apples, oranges, bananas, to the more exotic fruits. 100% real fruit juices are fine as well, provided that they contain no artificial preservatives or added sugar.

Vegetables-the same rule will apply with vegetables as with fruits, eat plenty while detoxing. Popular vegetables utilized for detoxing are fresh onions, carrots, turnips, cabbage, bean sprouts, peppers, mushrooms, corn, leeks, cauliflower, broccoli and Brussels sprouts.

Beans and lentils-Dried beans and beans canned in water are perfect for detoxing the body, but beans packaged in oil should be avoided. Kidney beans, lima beans, pinto beans, black eyed peas and lentils are popular beans for detoxing the body.

Tofu and quorn-These popular meat substitutes are the perfect choice for detoxing.

Oats-sprinkle them over fresh fruit, or put them in your porridge. Oats can also be tastefully enhanced with fresh fruits or honey.

Fresh fish-Some of the healthiest varieties of fish include cod, salmon, mackerel, monkfish and trout, fish can play a major role in the diet during detoxification.

Live yogurt-The valuable nutrients and bacteria contained in live yogurt help to settle the digestive tract while detoxing the body.

What Foods To Avoid While Detoxing

Just as there are foods that should be included in the detox diet, The following list of foods must be left alone at all costs:

Red meat, chicken, turkey and other poultry

Processed meat products, such as sausages, hotdogs, processed luncheon meats, and pate

Milk, cream, cheese and other dairy products
Eggs, butter and margarine

High salt snacks like potato chips or other snack chips

Salted nuts of any kin

Chocolate, candy and other sweets

Refined sugar

Jams and jellies

Caffeinated drinks such as tea, coffee and soft drinks

Alcohol of any kind

Salt

Premixed retail salad dressings

Detoxing twice each year will result in improved overall health, and reduce the problems associated with the dangers of the pollution, toxins, and stress that is faced each day.

The plan is easy to understand and easy to follow, takes little time and can be repeated when needed.

For More Information About Detoxing Go To: Detox Information

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