ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of commercial weight loss programmes on macronutrient composition and micronutrient adequacy over a 2 month period. DesignAdults were randomly allocated to follow the Slim Fast Plan, Weight Watchers Pure Points Programme, Dr Atkins’ New reducing your calorie intake Revolution, or Rosemary Conley’s "Eat Yourself Slim" reducing your calorie intake & Fitness Plan.
Setting: A multi-centre randomised controlled trial.
Subjects: 293 adults, mean age 40.3 years and a mean BMI 31.7 (range 27-38) were allocated to follow one of the four reducing your calorie intakes or control group. Subjects completed a 7-day nourishment and activity diary at baseline (prior to randomisation) and after 2 months. reducing your calorie intake records were analysed for nutrient composition using Winreducing your calorie intakes (research version).
Results:
A significant shift in the macronutrient composition of the reducing your calorie intake with concurrent alteration of the micronutrient profile was apparent with all reducing your calorie intakes. There was no evidence to suggest micronutrient deficiency in subjects on any of the reducing your calorie intakeary regimens. However, those sub-groups with higher needs for specific micronutrients, such as folate, iron or calcium may benefit from tailored reducing your calorie intakeary advice.
Conclusions:
The reducing your calorie intakes tested all resulted in considerable macronutrient change and resulted in an energy deficit indicating reducing your calorie intakeary compliance. Health professionals and those working in community and public health should be reassured of the nutritional adequacy of the reducing your calorie intakes tested.

Eating nutritional meals while dieting and leading a busy life can be hard. I have recently gotten into the habit of buying a bunch of “diet” frozen dinners and taking them to work. A quick microwave and I am back at my desk with something that is good for me and filling. So I thought I would review a couple of the ones that I have been munching on in case you have been thinking about doing the same. So let’s start with the Weight Watchers intelligent Ones. Honestly I tried these because they were the cheapest brand on average I could find. They have a good selection under at my location and then some around .50. So I could spend about for a full week when at a restaurant I would be lucky to get a single meal and a fast food restaurant I could stretch that to two days if I worked at it a little. So I have tried all of the cheaper ones and some of the next level.

On the cheap I would have to say I am addicted to the intelligent Ones Creamy Rigatoni with Broccoli & Chicken. Something about the sauce has me licking the bowl when I am done. It has 290 calories, only 8 grams of fat, and a Points value of 6. I don’t know about the Weight Watcher’s Point system, so not sure if 6 is good or bad. Something just doesn’t seem right when pasta is part of my diet, but I would eat this even if not worried about the calories and fat.

They offer three meals with turkey, but my favorite is Turkey Medallions with Mushroom Gravy. It has only 200 calories, 10 grams of fat, and a Points value of 4. Mostly because I like the green beans as a side, the turkey is the same in all three meals. If you like mashed potatoes with a little kick, the Slow-Roasted Turkey Breast has garlic-herb potatoes.

Finally I would recommend any of the meals with macaroni and cheese, my favorite being the Salisbury Steak. It has 250 calories, only 4.5 grams of fat, and a Points value of 5. Something about Salisbury steak that says frozen dinner. It has really great gravy and I repeat the macaroni and cheese alone is worth the purchase. I think I have pasta issues.

If I had to recommend against any of the meals I would suggest you steer away from the Tuna Noodle Gratin. It has 260 calories, only 7 grams of fat, and a Points value of 5. This is actually a great tasting and filling meal. The problem is that when it is microwaved the whole office will smell like tuna fish. In a way that it will not go unnoticed by your colleagues. I say keep this one at home.

In summary, I would not let the low prices fool you. Weight Watchers intelligent Ones food is delicious, filling, and economical. I have tried some other more expensive diet meals, but to me none are so much better that they demand a higher price. Let me know what you think and check the ingredients before trying any of these meals if you have any food allergies.

Simon Volk has been a contributing author for websites and is an acknowledged expert in the field of health and fitness. He can be found on the internet at the website:
http://www.healthfitnessarticle.com

Frozen Diet Meals – A Simple Review
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Simon_Volk

Understanding ocular nutrition and eye health can be one of the ways to support your vision. As early as in our 30′s, our eyes and vision can begin to deteriorate. Wind, dust, chlorine fumes, automobile fumes, smoking, freezing temperatures and physical injury are examples of threats to healthy eyes and good vision. Long hours spent at a computer screen and the vibration from driving have a cumulative negative impact on eye health over time.

Healthy vision is related to the health of the individual parts of the eye – the cornea, iris, macula, lens, optic nerve, pupil, retina and the vitreous humor. And making good ocular nutrition and eye health food choices are one of the ways that good vision can be supported. Information provided by the U.S. National Eye Institute and the results of other ocular nutrition and eye health studies have shown that using nutrition to improve and support eye health definitely happens.

Here are foods that are known to support and improve eye health:

Collard greens, kale and spinach – studies on ocular nutrition and eye health show that eating foods rich in carotenoids is associated with reduced risk of developing age-related macular degeneration. Foods rich in carotenoids are leafy green vegetables such as spinach, collard greens and kale. Macular eye nutrition becomes increasingly important as we get older.

Green vegetables and corn – another study on ocular nutrition and eye health has shown a reduced risk of developing cataracts for persons having diets higher in lutein and zeaxanthin. Foods high in these two carotenoids include broccoli, collard greens, corn, green peas, kale, romaine lettuce, spinach, turnip greens and zucchini. Lutein is also found in egg yolks. Persons with diets high in lutein and zeaxanthin were also less likely to need cataract surgery. In another study done on persons ages 40-59, those with diets high in lutein and zeaxanthin experienced a reduced risk of developing adult macular degeneration.

Apricots, bilberries and blueberries – apricots are rich in beta carotene and lycopene that help promote good vision. Beta carotene is converted by the body to vitamin A as needed, an important antioxidant that resists oxidative stress damage to cells and tissues including the eye lenses. Continued oxidative stress may result in the development of cataracts or damage the blood supply to the eyes and lead to macular degeneration. Eating blueberries has been associated with the reduction of eye fatigue.

Blueberries are related to cranberries, and both also help the body resist urinary tract infections. Bilberries are a form of wild blueberry that grow on small bushes. Bilberries were used by British pilots to improve their night vision during World War 2. Fresh bilberries and bilberry jams would be sources of this ocular nutrition and eye health food. Bilberry seems to improve eye health by increasing the blood supply to the eyes.

Our eyes are considered to be the most important of the senses. By knowing which ocular nutrition and eye health food choices support the eyes, you can include more of these foods in daily meal planning.

Olinda Rola is President of Infosearch Publishing and webmaster of http://www.safemenopausesolutions.com a website of natural solutions for a variety of health problems. Visit Ocular Nutrition to read more on additional ways to obtain essential nutrients for eye health and vision support.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Olinda_Rola

Could it be possible that our beloved chocolate may actually be good for us? This is the nutrition news we have all been waiting for. So here is the scoop on chocolate and its health benefits. Yes, you read right, health benefits!

Recent studies show that cocoa and dark chocolate with a high cocoa content contain many heart-healthy antioxidants. They contain a compound called flavonoids which may help prevent the oxidation of LDL (bad) cholesterol and raise HDL (good) cholesterol levels in the blood. There is also some evidence that these flavonoids may prevent certain cancers.

It is important that we are all on the same page here, not all chocolate have these health benefits. The healthy flavonoids found in chocolate are found in the cocoa butter and cocoa solids. Milk chocolate is diluted with milk and sugar and contains little amounts of these substances, therefore providing fewer health benefits. So, for those of you who love dark chocolate this is your lucky day! The darker the chocolate, the higher the cocoa content and the more antioxidants it contains. The quality of the chocolate you consume is also important. The cocoa butter is quite pricey so less expensive brands will replace the cocoa butter with milk fats and hydrogenated oils which are bad for our health. Look for high quality chocolates with their main ingredients being cocoa butter and cocoa solids. Unsweetened cocoa powder is one of the purest forms of chocolate you can eat and is lower in fat and calories than other chocolates.

Although this is great news for all chocolate lovers, don’t forget that most chocolate (unless you use unsweetened cocoa powder) does still contain sugar and saturated fat.

And please remember calories. An ounce of chocolate contains around 135 calories. So enjoy a cup of hot cocoa or an ounce of chocolate once in awhile to contribute to your health and not to your waistline!

Owner of Real Living Nutrition Services, Meri Raffetto is a recognized professional in the area of nutrition and wellness. She has received a bachelor’s degree in both nutrition and psychology and has extensive experience in nutrition counseling and medical nutrition therapy. She offers individual nutrition counseling and has developed one of the only non-diet online weight management programs available on the internet. Meri specializes in weight management, cardiovascular health, and sports nutrition and consults with professional athletes at Titan Sports Performance Center. Her practice includes teaching people how to eat for endurance, improve vitality, and lose weight healthfully. For more information visit http://www.reallivingnutrition.com

About the Author: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Meri_Raffetto

In today’s fast paced society we often grab whatever is quick and easy for lunch or dinner as we rush to get onto the next “big” thing. Many of us simply do not stop and take the time to think about what we are putting into our bodies and the fact is that if you are not eating a nutritional diet, you may find yourself feeling ill or developing a serious medical condition.

One of the most common and serious side effects of an imbalanced diet is obesity. More than 58 million Americans are overweight and more than 40 million are considered obese. However, by incorporating a proper nutritional program into your daily schedule, you will find that maintaining a proper weight will make it easier.

Obesity can lead to many health conditions, including heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, and strokes. By maintaining a well balanced diet, you will be able to keep yourself at your ideal weight, as well as preventing further medical conditions.

Following a healthy dietary program will also reduce your risk of certain diseases and illnesses, related to poor nutrition. For example, research has concluded that choosing fast food even just twice a week can increase your risk of developing diabetes.

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the United States and there has been some controversy on whether saturated fats that are commonly used at fast food restuarants, plays a role. However, if you want to make sure that you are not at risk for cardiovascular disease, decrease the amount of carbohydrates you take in, as excessive amounts can increase blood glucose and insulin. Eaten in excess, these will increase your risk of heart disease, as well as high blood pressure.

When you begin a healthy diet, you will find that you will not only feel younger, you will end up looking younger. Nutrition plays an important part in the health of the dermis, the innermost layer of the skin. Skin is made up of elastin and collagen and when it does not receive proper doses of vitamin C, you may find that you are more prone to wrinkles and sagging.

Vitamin C, as well as vitamins A and E are antioxidants and will help to reduce the damage caused by free radicals. As vitamin C assists in the manufacturing of collagen, you will find that it will help reduce skin damage, therefore, leaving your skin healthier, as well as, looking more vibrant and fresh.

Another benefit to engaging in a lifestyle of proper nutrition is the increased energy and lack of fatigue you will feel. Food is fuel for your body. If you are not currently following a nutritious diet, you may notice that you will go through spells of fatigue throughout the day. Perhaps, one moment you are feeling very energetic and the next moment tired.

Feelings of fatigue could be due to an overabundance of sugar in your diet. Sugar is known to harm the body in many ways: including raising your cholesterol level and increasing digestive difficulties, such as indigestion, acid reflux, and problems with bowel movements. If you follow a nutritious diet, you will be limiting your intake of sugar and therefore, limiting your risk of health issues associated with sugar.

The fact is, following a proper nutritional program can lead to a healthier lifestyle. When you have more energy, you are much more likely to exercise, making it easier to maintain a healthy weight. You will also reduce the risks of illness and disease that are caused by either a lack of vitamins and minerals or due to an over-abundance of foods that will increase the risk of certain health conditions.

When you enlist in a proper nutritional program, you will find yourself not only feeling healthier, but looking healthier, as well.

Also Check Out: Dealing with obesity

If you are reading this because you are frustrated about not being able to keep your weight off, rest assured you are not alone. You are only one of millions in the United States who feel just as frustrated as you are, and wonder what to do.

First of all, when you consider weight loss programs, you have to remember that they can work for you. However, there is no substitute for exercise and balanced dieting no matter which diet plan you follow.

If you are looking for a healthy diet plan to follow in order to help you keep your weight off for good, you have to first examine the purpose of a few well-known diets. If the purpose of the diet you have interest in trying promotes gradual weight loss and offers balanced meal plans then you know that it is most likely a good diet to follow.

If the diet that you are considering makes claims of drastic changes of weight in an extremely short period of time such as lose 50 pounds in less than a month or similar, then you know the diet is most possibly either a hoax or one that could cause harm to your body, mind, and emotions.

Another example of a diet that could possibly either not be effective long term or do not provide all of the nutrients your body needs are various three-day to seven-day diets. These are the type of diets in which you only eat a certain type of one or a few types of foods. Some foods that are used for these shot term diets are the grapefruit, hot dogs, read meats, and so forth. Usually this one food and a variety of other foods along with it are supposed to make up a diet that will help you lose weight.

Those who try the above mentioned temporary diets sometimes referred to as crash diets may lose at least a little bit of weight. However, if they have no long term diet plan after the first few days they are likely to gain all that weight they lost back. In order for a diet to be effective there needs to be a long-term diet plan.

One aspect not mentioned in this article yet about healthy dieting is that of exercise. Most healthy dieting plans also include provision for exercise, and encourage participants to plan an effective exercise programs. The purpose of exercise is to keep work your heart and muscles and to help burn fat. Exercise helps keep your body in ideal shape, or it helps it reach the ideal healthy state.

If you have heard of a diet plan that offers a remedy in which you can lose weight without exercise, you are usually advised by health professionals and personal fitness trainers to beware of these types of diets. Many people will recognize these diets as an easy solution to your problems; however the long-term effect is usually unknown or very unpredictable. Many people who use diet plans in which exercise is said to not be needed have a tendency to gain weight back of they are not careful.

Some examples of healthy weight loss diets are the food pyramid diet, which offers meal and nutrition plans from all the food groups. The food groups of this pyramid are generally fruits, vegetables, meats, dairy, grains, and fats. The USDA offers guidelines for daily food allowances and even promotes personalized food pyramid dieting.

Both the USDA website and Mayo Clinic have ways that you can calculate how much of eat type of food you should eat daily. Not only that but they have a calorie guide as well. It is easy to plan this type of diet, especially if you already are in good health overall and just need to lose a few pounds, or even 15 to 20 pounds.

For those who are chronically obese, greater measures may be sought than just simply following a food pyramid. Chronically obese usually refers to an individual who is usually about 50 pounds or more overweight and has not had very much success with dieting leading to permanent weight loss.

Those who are chronically obese will often try a low carb diet in which they temporary reduce to almost nothing the amount of carbs that they consume. Then, they gradually add more carbs to their diet the further along they are in it. During this time they will find out how many carbs they can eat without gaining weight, and how they can continue to lose weight at a slow, steady rate.

If the above diets are still not enough for a person who really wants to keep the weight off, that person may qualify for one of various medical treatments. For example, some people will undergo stomach reduction surgery or liposuction. Others have even taken part in a clinical study on the gastric pacemaker for appetite reduction.

There are quite a few options out there for those who want to lose weight and keep it off. If you want to find out for yourself which one would be most effective for you remember you can call your doctor or a dietician to help you find the right plan for you. That doctor will suggest both a diet and fitness program to help improve the quality of your life.

Author: Jason Cox – online product reviewer

Also Check Out: Dealing with obesity

With the percentage of persons who may be classified as obese increasing in our society, there is no wonder that people would begin to turn to natural ways of getting their weight under control. Diet tea is one of those natural substances that people are finding help with the battle of the bulge. But do diet teas really help? Here are some things to consider about weight loss teas.

Just about all teas that contain some form of pekoe have antioxidant qualities. There is a school of thought that by removing toxins from the body, we are able to process what we eat more efficiently. With that thought in mind, teas for weight loss could in fact help us to get the most from our foods and allow what we do not need to pass on through. Over time, this may help us bring our weight under control and begin to manage it more effectively.

One nice feature of dieting teas is that the majority of them have a desirable taste. This means there is no need to add any type of sweetener, natural or otherwise. In this manner, you avoid unwanted calories and carbohydrates from the natural sweetening agents, as well as any of the emerging health issues that some see with artificial sweeteners. The decreased reliance on sweeteners of any kind can translate into a more balanced approach to eating, as one will not binge because there are no calories in the diet tea served with the meal.

Teas for weight watching are also great for in between meals. A nice hot cup of diet inspired tea will help to give one the sense of feeling full without ingesting snacks that have no nutritional value, but pack a wallop when it comes to calories and carbohydrates. The ability to feel full and not be adding elements to your body that you do not need can lead to a healthier approach to eating, and thus decrease your excess poundage.

Diet tea can help you lose weight, not only because of what it contains. It also works because of what it does not contain. Because it does not add to the problem and helps you to feel full when you want to snack, you may find this wonderful tasty drink just what you need to get back to your ideal weight.

Author: Mayoor Patel

Also Check Out: Dealing with obesity

Obesity is defined “clinically” as being 30 pounds or more over your ideal weight and is recognized, in North America – especially the U.S., to be a major killer taking 300,000 lives each year from heart attack, stroke, cancer and diabetes which have ALL been strongly linked to obesity. 300,000 people die each year because they are fat.

Think about that a minute and put that in proper perspective.

52,000+ American soldiers died in Viet Nam during that 10 year war…
35,000+ Americans die each year from car collisions
100,000+ Americans die each year from prescription drugs

But…
300,000+ Americans die each year from obesity-linked diseases. And that isn’t my uneducated guess, that’s the number given in the 2001 Surgeon General’s Report. The report also said that 31% of Americans are obese. With a population of around 300 million people that means 93 million Americans are walking time bombs. People who may die prematurely from a disease directly linked to being obese. And unfortunately the problem has continued to become worse, not better, with obesity now taking a foothold in children. An estimated 14% of children under 18 are obese.

Instead of eating to live people, more than ever, are living to eat and that fact, along with poor nutrition, is causing a major problem.

What can you do right now, today, to wage war on obesity and lose weight?
Here are 3 strategies that you probably won’t take seriously until you are told you have an obesity-linked disease and even then, you may not do anything to help yourself. But, if you are ready to take control of your life and health these 3 things could save your life.

1)Change your eating habits. Eat to live instead of living to eat. Which means:
a)Eating smaller meals 3 – 5 times daily
b)Exercising portion control
c)Cutting useless, empty calorie foods from your menu
d)Consuming less calories than you burn daily

2)Get Moving!
a)Walk at least 30 minutes per day to burn calories
b)Take the stairs not the elevator
c)Participate in a physical sport at least 3 times per week

3)Use safe diet products to help you:
a)Burn fat
b)Suppress appetite and curb cravings
c)Block excess carbs and fat and
d)Cut calorie consumption…
Also Check Out: Diet Reviews

It’s a fact that our body requires certain vitamins in order to function properly. Starting a program of taking vitamins is a personal matter and is up to you to decide. To have a healthy diet you need to realize that small changes can lead to great results and Advanced Nutrition. Most dieters regain the weight they lose. Learn how to make lifestyle changes to maintain long-term, healthy weight loss.

Choose whole fresh foods, avoid processed food products. Don’t just avoid processed and refined white bread, but also limit enriched whole wheat bread, which is loaded with processed nutrients and preservatives. Fresh whole grain bread from a bakery would be better, and a bowl of cooked wheat berries would be filled with advanced nutrients.

Now, whether or not you begin a program with those vitamins is completely up to you. Much of this pertains to your regular dieting plan. And just to be clear, everyone who eats is on some kind of diet. It’s not always about dropping pounds. Some people are even trying to gain weight. In addition to your day-to-day meals, you might want to incorporate multivitamins and supplements. You may not know it, but just about everybody needs these extra vitamin benefits. If you get your body into good physical condition early, just think how much better you will feel at age sixty. Don’t think because you’re young you don’t need to worry about supplements, and taking care of your body. It’s a good idea to start to use nutritional supplements as your body is growing.

Athletes require the benefits of vitamin and supplements to a higher degree than the rest of us. Let’s say you are a basketball player. Your muscles are put through intense endurance in an extreme way. It you’re a weight lifter, muscles are torn and slightly wiped out. Then it’s time to rest and recuperate. Vitamins and supplements are needed to get your biceps and other muscles back in functional condition and eliminate that post-workout soreness, and to replenish your system.

Take your vitamins and supplements with meals and water, these supplements help to restore nutritional balance. I have been taking advanced nutrients for a number of years; get into the habit of taking these vital nutrients daily, a healthy body is worth it! Your skin and hair will look and feel better. The earlier you begin a nutritious diet and exercising program, the faster you can enjoy the benefits.

Also Check Out: Diet Reviews