Archive for the ‘Pills and Gears’ Category

by Alfa - Losing Weight Zone
05-13-2010

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Vitamin D Deficiency

Vitamin D, known as the Sunshine Vitamin, is a vitamin that is produced naturally in the body in response to sunlight. Besides sunlight, Vitamin D is also found in foods like fish, fish liver oils, egg yolks, fortified dairy and grain products. Essentially, it helps the body absorb calcium from your food which in turn helps strengthen bones.

What you don’t know is that most people do not get enough Vitamin D, especially those who avoid the sun, are vegetarians or have milk allergies. Other little known factors affecting vitamin D absorption include darker skin pigment, obesity, if the kidneys are unable to convert vitamin D to its active form, if the digestive tract cannot adequately absorb vitamin D. Some of the symptoms of Vitamin D deficiency include bone pain and muscle weakness. Furthermore Vitamin D deficiency has been associated with increased risk of death from cardiovascular disease, cognitive impairment in older adults, severe asthma in children and cancer. Alternatively, research suggests that Vitamin D can help prevent conditions including type 1 and type 2 diabetes, hypertension, glucose intolerance, and multiple sclerosis.

The 25-hydroxy vitamin D test is one of the best ways to test for deficiency. If your are interested, ask your doctor for more information. As for the recommended amount of Vitamin D, the Food and Nutrition Board at the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies established the following: for children and men and women up to age 50 is 5 micrograms (mcg) or 200 international units (IU); 10 mcg (400 IU) between ages 51 and 70; and 15 mcg (600 IU) after age 70.

To get more Vitamin D, simply get a little bit of sunlight every day. If you can’t tolerate sun (SPF actually blocks Vitamin D), then supplements are the best way to ensure you get the proper amounts of Vitamin D.

by Alfa - Losing Weight Zone
03-18-2010

Pills and Gears

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Runners: When to Buy new Sneakers

If you are a runner, whether it be a beginner or expert runner, the question of when to buy new sneakers is very important. That is because worn out sneakers is one of the major contributors to running injuries. Your running shoes absorb the shock of the ground and cushion your feet, giving them the stability they need to run safely. If your sneakers have lost their shock absorption, you are more prone to stress injuries in your legs and joints.

Looking for wear on your shoes is not the best way to determine whether they need to be replaced. That is because the mid sole (the part that actually provides the cushioning and stability for your feet) breakdown before the bottom soles show any signs of wear. The best way to determine if you need to replace your running sneakers is if you’ve been feeling more muscle fatigue, shin splints or joint pain in your legs or knees, especially if your running regimen has not changed drastically. This is a sure sign that your sneaker is no longer providing the appropriate cushioning for your feet.

A good rule of thumb is to replace your running sneakers every 300 – 400 miles. The factors in determining whether or not you change them at 300 or 400 is mainly your body weight and the surface on which you run. If you are a smaller runner, you can go toward the 400 mile mark but if you are a heavier runner, stick to the 300 mile mark. Same goes for the surface in which you run. If you run on pavement, replace your shoes toward the 300 mile mark. If you run on a treadmill, you can go toward the 400 mile mark.

Be sure to buy your new running shoes before you get to the 300 or 400 mile mark as you want to have a good two weeks to wear them in before you start running in them.

by Alfa - Losing Weight Zone
03-03-2010

Pills and Gears

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Resveratrol – Health Benefits and Weight Loss

What is Resveratrol:
Resveratrol is an antioxidant mainly found in the skin of red grapes, grape seed extract, red wine, peanuts, some berries (blueberries, for example) and Japanese Knotweed (which helps produce the supplement we can buy in stores). Also, newer research seems to mention significant levels of resveratrol in cocoa powder and dark chocolate.

Research studies and Health Benefits:
Animal and human studies have revealed some exciting results, thus the excitement that has ensued since these reports have been published.

Here are some of the reported benefits:

Increased levels of energy and better muscle health
Better heart health
Improved brain and kidney health
Improved prostate health and a more regular urine flow
Improved breast health in women
Improved cell protection
Antioxidant supplement
Anti aging supplement
Resveratrol may be protective against lung cancer
Resveratrol may reduce liver disease
Resveratrol could reduce colon cancer risk

Potential Side Effects:

Long term effects are unknown. One study theorized that it may stimulate the growth of human breast cancer cells. However, other studies have found that it actually acts to slow the progression of breast cancer. Another study suggested that resveratrol can slow the healing process and may interfere with oral contraceptives. Finally it is advised that resveratrol should not be taken by children or young adults under eighteen, as no studies have shown how it affects their natural development.

by Alfa - Losing Weight Zone
02-27-2010

Pills and Gears

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Weight Loss with Acai Berry

For the last several years, the West has been craving the small Acai Berry that’s imported from Brazil. The little black berry has been given credit for curing just about everything under the sun – while this is not true, the Acai Berry has been shown to help people lose weight.

The Acai Berry helps people lose weight by increasing that persons metabolism. It’s also supposed to be a really good supplement.

You can purchase the Acai Berry in a variety of forms, stores and restaurants across the country are making shakes, juice, and smoothies out of the little fruit. You can also order the berry in the form of a tablet, which is extremely popular right now.

As a precaution, be sure you know or can check the background of the company you’re ordering from. This particular industry, since the demand is so high, has recently been plagued with scammers, rebilling people for product they didn’t order or didn’t want. Just cover yourself.

The Acai Berry does provide a lot of what the advertisers claim, that’s why it’s so popular, but beware of the ones out to take your money.

Common Uses for the Acai Berry:

Supplement
Anti-Aging
Beauty Products
Food & Drinks
Weigh Loss
Antioxidant
Increases Energy Levels
Fights Fatigue

Things it can not do:

Cure Cancer
Cure Diabetes
Enlarge the Penis
Cure Chronic Illnesses

When ordering, check for:

The concentrate level, the higher the better
Should come from South America
The rebilling contract – beware of scams
Should not be extremely cheap (it’s hand picked, intense manual labor)

Known Side Effects:

Pollen, Sinus Issues

If you’re someone sensitive to berry’s or similar type fruit, you may find the same with the Acai Berry