The acai berry diet plan is really not a diet plan at all. Acai berries are grown naturally in the Brazilian rain forest, actually harvested from the tops of Acai palms. These amazing berries are only found in this area of the world. Local farmers freeze dry the berries, and ship them around the world to be added to acai berry supplements. Because acai berries are freeze dried, they keep all of their amazing nutritional value. Brazilians have consumed the this magnificent fruit in various forms for centuries, and it can be attributed to their constant energy, beautiful skin, and healthy lifestyles.

Acai berries are known as an incredible antioxidant, and are packed with essential nutrients, and vitamins. Acai berry products can be found online, in health food stores, and in most major grocery stores. They are also excellent for weight loss. In addition to weight loss, the acai can help you with digestion, sleep better, get more energy, and more.

I discovered acai berry juice several months ago in my local grocery store. I am always up for a new all-natural fruit juice for my homemade breakfast smoothies, so I thought that I would give it a try. I also have trouble with digestion, so I generally have a berry smoothie for breakfast instead of coffee. I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised about how good the acai juice tasted, and how easy it was for me to mix it into my morning smoothie. I also found that unlike coffee which makes me hungry, the acai smoothie gave me extra energy without the hunger pangs.

For me, the acai berry diet plan is not a diet but a definite fruit that I will add to my daily regimen. I have lost weight by adding acai berry supplements to my diet, and I have more energy too. Acai berries are highly nutritious, and it just makes sense to add them to a healthy diet.

The other day, I received an email from someone who wrote, in part: “I’m getting ready to order Medifast shakes, but I’m not sure which ones would be best or which ones I want. Can you give me any advice as to what or how to order ” I’ll tell you how I responded to this question in the following article.

Basic Information About Medifast Shakes: When most people think of the Medifast diet, the shakes are what comes to mind. I’m not exactly sure why this is. The company doesn’t exclusively stress these. There are many other options, after all. But, I think that word has gotten out that these little products are quite tasty and filling. And, if you do any research on them, you’ll see that they are among the most nutritionally sound and diet friendly shakes out there. Most of them contain less than 100 calories per serving and also have high amounts of protein and low amounts of carbs. This is not just a lucky coincidence. It’s been designed this way so that your body can easily get into ketosis and steadily burn fat.

Many people assume that there is just one basic variety or choice. This assumption is a long way from true. There are tons of choices to make and, within those choices, there are several flavors available, which leads me to my next point.

Choosing Which Medifast Shakes Are Best For You: Sometimes when I ask people which of these shakes they have in mind, they will respond with something like: “just the basic or regular ones.” It is generally the 55 variety that falls under this description. These are the ones that are included in most of the variety packages. Now, the 55 requires that you mix it in a shaker or blender, but in exchange, these are so tasty and versatile. They are quite good and they are actually pretty delicious if you add sugar free syrups to them (think caramel chocolate.)

The 70 are just like the 55 except for they contain more protein. These are generally intended for men and athletes. There are also shakes that address specific health concerns like diabetes, menopause, joint or inflammatory issues, or a slow metabolism. There are also shakes that are part of the “momentum” line that contain ingredients that will boost your metabolism. Finally, there are some shakes in the line up that you don’t have to mix up or blend. These are called the “ready to drink.”

No matter which you order, they will all have roughly the same amount of calories, carbs, and proteins (with the exception of the 70, as I discussed before.) You should also know that you can use the dry version of this product as part of recipes for baked goods that are “diet friendly.”

How Do You Order The Medifast Shakes : Most people assume that you go on the company website and order them individually. And, you most certainly can do that. You’ll see this menu on the left side of the screen. But, did you know that the shakes are only one Medifast food out of many If you are on this diet full time, you eat five of these “mini meals” and then one larger regular meal. In order to have a little variety, you might want to expand outside of the shakes.

If you order a package, you’ll get plenty of shakes, but you’ll also get some eggs, soups, chili, stews, oatmeal, puddings, fruit drinks, etc. I did start out with just the liquids but I very shortly expanded to more foods so that I could give myself a little more variety. Plus, if you get the shakes as part of a package, you will pay much less for them. A package with a decent coupon will bring the cost per meal down to just a little over $2 each.

People all over the United States are addicted to exotic fruits that supposedly offer health benefits in every bottle. The Goji berry, Noni berry, and even the Pomegranate (POM Wonderful anyone?) have all had their run. The latest craze is the Acai (prounounced Ah-sight-EE) berry, harvested from the jungles of the Amazon in Brazil. Sales of this so-called “superfruit” exceeded $104 million in the United States in 2008. Thousands of Americans stand in long lines at their local juice bars and pay upwards of $6 for an Acai smoothie or bowl of chilled Acai berries. But is it a miracle berry, or just masterful and sensational marketing? The truth is, the Acai berry is no better for you than the regular blueberry.

There’s no question that the Acai berry offers nutritional benefits. But is it the king of all fruits? Let’s take a look at some of the claims made by this magical potion and the real scientific facts:

The claim: Acai has omega-3’s.
Fact: Omega-3’s can help reduce your risk of heart disease. The amount of omega-3’s in Acai berry juice is laughable. You would have to drink over 2 gallons to equal the same amount of omega-3’s in one 3-ounce serving of salmon.

The claim: Acai has Fiber.
Fact: Fiber aids in the digestion process. There is only 1 gram of fiber in most 8 ounce servings of Acai juice, which contains nearly 600 calories. In comparison, once slice of 100 percent whole-wheat bread has the same fiber and is only 100 calories. Which would you choose?

The claim: Acai has more antioxidants than blueberries.
Fact: Antioxidants can help prevent disease by killing free radicals in the body. Read the fine print on the bottle. The antioxidant comparisons are made using fresh Acai fruit, not the juice you’re drinking.

Let’s face it, all these “facts” don’t tell you the whole truth. The color, the packaging, the buzz words, the health benefits, and the origin of the fruit are all used to appeal to our senses, turn off our logic, and open up our wallets. If the Acai was from New Orleans, would it have the same appeal?

It’s time we stopped falling for the magical fruit crazes. Maintain a healthy lifestyle by exercising and eating right. As for me, I’ll stick to my “apple a day”.

The fastest way to lose weight is by going on a crash or fad diet. It is worth remembering that fast weight loss is not the same as healthy weight loss and it is far better to lose weight over a period of months rather than days or weeks. Healthy weight loss is generally no more than 2-3 pounds per week and incorporates a healthy diet and exercise program.

Achieving quick weight loss by using a fad diet is fine for very short periods of time but should not be used as a long term weight management strategy. Fad diets can lead to yo-yo dieting where weight is constantly going up and down and can also lead to other health problems such as weak bones and eating disorders. Using fad diets can also play havoc with your metabolism as the body feels it is being deprived of food and will attempt to store more of the food it takes in as fat. A final warning about using fad diets is that any weight lost is likely to be quickly regained as it is mostly water weight you will be losing and not fat tissue which is essential for permanent weight loss. Fad diets also do nothing to educate people about the long term changes that need to be made to diet and lifestyle to make weight loss permanent.

These diets will show you how to lose weight in a week. The Grape Diet is a tough one to stick to but does get great results. On the Grape Diet you only eat grapes and drink water so it is very monotonous. It is recommended that you follow this diet for only 3 days-if you can last that long.

The Grapefruit Diet is another diet that can help you to lose weight fast-if you have lots of willpower. It is a very low calorie diet and the large amounts of grapefruit juice that you drink while on it acts as a catalyst for fat burning.

The Cabbage Soup Diet has been around for quite a few years and is still popular now. Because you can eat as much cabbage soup as you like while on it, it is not as hard to stick to as some of the other diets (as long as you like cabbage soup).

The Three Day Diet has helped many people to lose pounds. Over the course of three days you can expect to lose up to 8 pounds. This is another very low calorie diet and it is important not to do it for longer than the three days.

When you are using a fad diet it is important not to over exert yourself while you are on it and to think about your health at all times. If you feel that you are becoming excessively tired or are experiencing headaches, nausea or dizziness then it is definitely time to stop. Although these diets will show you how to lose weight quickly they are not the recommended way to lose weight.

There are many better weight loss programs available that can help you to lose weight in a way that won’t damage your health and will also increase the chances of making weight loss permanent.

If you are looking for weight loss tips and for information on how to loose weight the internet is a good place to start. There are thousands of great websites all dedicated to helping people lose weight and get back in shape. Newspapers and magazines also contain many good articles on dieting and how to loose weight fast and there are hundreds of books currently in print on the subject of weight loss. If you need to lose weight it is advisable to first consult with your doctor before starting any weight loss program.

Fat Loss 4 Idiots is an E Book, if you don’t know what an ebook is, read on…With the advent of the Internet, our lives have changed in many ways. In the past when we wanted to lose weight and lose fat, we would either go to a book store and search through expensive diet books, or we would find a weight loss group in our area and join. These days the Internet is such a convenient and handy tool, and many authors have realized that they can reach a wider audience online. Having the e book (which means the book is online - similar to ‘e mail’), also reduces the overhead costs of physically printing a book, having it published, and transported to book stores across the country so e books are inexpensive and convenient.

Fat Loss 4 Idiots e book comes with a journal for you to map your progress, which is highly motivational when you can actually review your progress weekly. It also comes with a ‘diet generator’ which lets you type in your favorite foods, and it gives you back an eleven day meal plan specifically made just for you!

So as you can see above, the Fat Loss 4 Idiots e book, is interactive, so you do not have to feel isolated, and you feel that the diet is tailor made for you.

The Fat Loss 4 Idiots e book is scientifically based and has a unique concept of shifting calories to increase one’s metabolism. Shifting calories means eating different amounts and different types of calories at every meal throughout the day. This pattern of eating ‘tricks’ your metabolism into never slowing down, and so it works overtime, burning fat all the time, even while you are sleeping.

It is a unique concept, and judging by all of the online testimonials and successful dieters, it is definitely worth checking out the Fat Loss 4 Idiots E Book.

I discovered low carb (ketogenic) dieting the hard way. It started about ten years ago, when I decided to get in the best shape of my life (in terms of body composition). I joined a well known amateur fitness competition, which involved sending “before and after” pictures. I trained hard and ate a low-fat diet–I never cheated. I thought this would turn me into a super-lean machine.

Well, I did lose fat, but there were problems:

• I did not get as lean as I thought I would–especially considering the discipline I had with my diet/exercise.
• I lost too much muscle mass.
• I was constantly fighting hunger.

Years before I had heard about a “high fat” diet, but I never paid much attention to it (sounded crazy to me). I was ready to give it a second look. I did some research and ran across some good articles. I read about the Body Opus diet, the Anabolic Diet, and a few others. These diets/books were more for bodybuilders (I roughly fit into this category, though I don’t compete). I also read a few websites written by those using the Adkins diet. I remember one guy who used to weigh 300 lb until he tried low carb approaches.

Now I’m a low-carb fan. I drop carbs whenever I want to get lean. Here are some of the benefits I’ve seen:

• I retain almost all of my muscle and strength, even on a calorie restricted diet.
• Hunger is not nearly as much of a problem.
• I’m not as tempted to cheat. This sounds crazy, but knowing that I can’t eat any carbs keeps me from eating junk–I know that eating too many carbs will break ketosis.*
• I get leaner, faster than with any other approach.

If you haven’t had results with other approaches, consider giving low carb a try (assuming you are healthy or have checked with your doctor). I’ll try to write a few more articles as I have time, but there’s no shortage of information out there.

*Ketosis is a state in which your body is primarily using fat (body fat and dietary fat) as fuel.

Celiac disease is an auto-immune disease that is triggered by the consumption of gluten. Gluten is protein found in grains like wheat, rye, barley and other related grains. Patients with celiac disease the lining of the small intestines is injured by gluten. Injured intestines results in weight loss, bloating, diarrhea, gas, abdominal cramps and nutritional deficiencies. If gluten is removed from the diet the intestinal lining has a chance to heal.

If you have celiac disease you should remain on a gluten-free diet throughout life. A registered dietitian should be consulted. A gluten free diet is not easy. Grains are used in the preparation of many foods. Reading the ingredient’s name may not disclosure the inclusion of gluten. Examples would be oats. Oaks are suppose to be safe for gluten patients but can be cross-contaminated if processed in the same facilities as wheat.

Foods to avoid:

Wheat-Bread

Barley-Cereals

Rye-Crackers

Farina-Croutons

Graham Flour-Pasta

Semolina-Cookies

Durham-Cakes & Pies

Bulgur-Soups

Kamut-Gravies

Matzo Meal-Sauces

Spelt-Salad Dressing

Tritical-Beer

Oaks (maybe cross Contaminated)-Candy

Spelt-Amaranth

Many everyday products contain Gluten

Food additives, malt flavoring, modified food starch and etc.

Many vitamins and medications use gluten as a binding agent

Lipstick and lip balms

Toothpaste

Postage stamps (only used the self adhesive

Play dough

Gluten Free Safe Foods:

Fresh poultry, fish and meats (cannot be marinated, breaded or basted coated)

Most dairy products

Fresh fruit and vegetables

Rice

Potatoes

Gluten free flours (rice, soy, corn, potato)

Wine and distilled liquors, ciders and spirits

Note: “Wheat-Free” does not mean gluten free. These products may still contain gluten.

“Gluten-Free” produces are safe. There are an increasing number of Gluten-Free products on the market. Additionally, there are gluten free substitutes for gluten-containing foods. If you cannot find gluten-free products at your local market try specialty grocery stores. For more information check with a Celiac Support Group.

Gluten-Free Diet: GF Recipes: Southwestern Chicken Lasagna

Ingredients:

Serves 4

8-10 uncooked DeBoles Rice Lasagna

1 pound coarsely ground chicken

1 egg or egg substitute

2 cups low fat ricotta or cottage cheese

1 cup reduced fat cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese

2 cups cooked beans (kidney or pinto), mashed

1/2 cup water

1 teaspoon cumin

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1 cup prepared picante sauce, divided in half

1 small can chopped green chilis

2 cups crushed stewed tomatoes

Directions:

Mix egg and both cheeses in a bowl. Saute chicken in skillet until cooked. Add coarsely mashed beans, water, cumin, garlic powder, 1/2 cup picante sauce and the chilis. In separate bowl, mix tomatoes and remaining 1/2 cup picante sauce. In 9×13 inch pan, layer as follows: tomato sauce, noodles, chicken/bean mixture, cheese mixture. Then repeat. COVER and bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour or until done.

Provided by: Celiac Sprue Association

Gluten-Free Diet: GF Recipes: Rice Pudding

Ingredients:

1 cup cooked brown rice

1 Tablespoon margarine or butter

1 cup cooked white rice

2 eggs, well beaten

2 cups milk

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon GF vanilla

1/3 cup sugar

1/4 cup raisins (optional)

nutmeg

Directions:

Mix ingredients together. Put in buttered 1 1/2 quart baking dish. Bake at 350 degrees for a total of 60 minutes. Stir every 20 minutes and sprinkle lightly with nutmeg after the 2nd stirring. Serves 5.

Macrobiotics is an approach to food and to life that gained popularity in the 1800s when a Japanese doctor named Sagen Ishizuka changed his diet to treat his own chronic illness that wasn’t responding to conventional medicine. Building on the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine, what he called his “food cure” proved so effective that he established a private practice in order to share what he’d learned.

Ishizuka’s disciple, Yukikazu Sakurazawa, who later Americanized his name to George Oshawa, brought elements of Eastern and Western philosophy to the “food cure” and is credited with giving macrobiotics which translates to “big life” its name.

Principles of Macrobiotics

The guiding principles of macrobiotics are as follows:

• Food is the foundation of health and good living.
• All food has a yin or yang quality to it, determined by antagonistic and complementary components of the food.
• Whole grains are the main staple food.
• Food is best if it is whole, natural and unrefined.
• Food is best if it is locally grown and eaten in season.

Living the macrobiotics lifestyle also advocates regular exercise, faith in the oneness of the universe and the positive effects that result from the guiding principles which emphasize respect for the world, the natural environment and all forms of life. As much as macrobiotics focuses on dietary guidelines, it also functions as a blueprint for positive, respectful living.

The Macrobiotic Diet

The macrobiotic diet promotes balance, moderation and eating local whole foods. Whole grains are emphasized above most other foods for their health benefits as well as their embodiment of the waste-nothing attitude (macrobiotics takes into account how food is prepared as well as its nutritional composition).

While it includes extensive lists of foods that are and are not permitted, the macrobiotic diet can be tailored to fit in an individual’s needs. Geography also plays a role. You’re encouraged to eat as many local products as possible and if certain items aren’t native to your area, for example, it’s recommended that you abstain from them. Macrobiotics also asks you to make food choices based on their yin and yang or energetic qualities to address any imbalances in the body that may contribute to illness.

A typical macrobiotic diet consists of the following foods:

• About 50 to 60% of the diet should be whole grains (brown rice is most popular.)
• About 25 to 30% of the diet should consist of vegetables.
• About 5 to 10% of the diet should be made up of legumes and bean products (tofu).
• About 5% of the diet should be miso soup.
• The remainder of the diet is to be made up of fish, seafood, nuts, seasonings, seeds and nut butters, sweeteners, fruits, beverages and naturally raised animal products.

General Macrobiotic Guidelines

Macrobiotics prescribes a few general rules suitable for most people, like balancing the yin and yang qualities of food consumed and avoiding foods that are considered to be extremely yin or yang. No foods are strictly forbidden and many modern macrobiotic followers consider their diet as a foundation that allows them the occasional foray outside of the diet’s guidelines without harmful effects.

Yin foods are those that stimulate the body and those that should be used sparingly include: sugar, alcohol, honey, coffee, chocolate, refined flour, excessively hot spices, chemicals and preservatives, and nightshade vegetables (such as tomatoes and potatoes) are examples of yin goods.

Yang foods are thought to be stagnating and those that should be consumed in limited quantities if at all are: meat, poultry, eggs and refined salt.

Macrobiotics discourages overeating and encourages active, thorough chewing of each bite of food before swallowing to aid proper digestion (30 is the recommended number of times to chew each bite). One theory is that too much food lowers energy levels. Some proponents of macrobiotics believe that the key to health is to always be slightly hungry while at the same time remaining active.

Other variables that influence how individuals tailor a macrobiotic diet to meet their needs may include cooking methods (microwaving is highly discouraged, as is cooking with an electric stove or oven), the time of year (eating lighter foods in warmer months and heavier foods in the colder months), age, gender, activity levels and general state of health.

Potential Risks of Macrobiotic Diet

Whenever we limit the kinds of food we eat, we risk not getting enough nutrients. People who follow a strict macrobiotics diet need to ensure they’re taking in adequate amounts of protein, iron, calcium, Vitamin D and Vitamin C. For this reason, macrobiotics may be especially risky for children and women who are lactating or pregnant.

Still, some advocates of the macrobiotic diet claim that this way of life has provided them with higher levels of energy, better memories, sharper minds, improved fitness levels, greater resistance to illness and longer life expectancies.

The Mediterranean Diet comes from countries of the Mediterranean basin. These countries are: Italy, Greece, Crete, southern France and Spain. There is a high consumption of fruits, vegetables, nuts, grains and olive oil. Red meat substituted with seafood or poultry. Red wine drunk in moderation.

The diet varies from one Mediterranean country to another. The principles are the same:

High consumption of fruits and vegetables. Preferably green leafy vegetables raw or minimally processed.

Olive oil versus butter. Olive oil low in saturated fat and increases the level of HDL good cholesterol.

Whole grain cereals and pasta.

High consumption of beans, nuts and seeds

Red Meat and dairy are substituted with poultry or sea food. Poultry and sea food are rich in Omega-3 fatty acids.

If red meat is eating it is in very limited qualities

A maximum of 4 eggs are eaten a week.

Red wine consumed in moderate amounts.

Many research studies have indicated that different properties of the Mediterranean diet have health preventative qualities:

Vegetables: Low risk of heart disease and lung cancer have been linked to leafy green vegetables, broccoli, and peppers are full of beta-carotene. These beta-carotene is associated with lowered risk of heart disease and lung cancer. Leafy greens are also rich in vitamin C a protector against a host of ills. Tomatoes are rich in lycopene a carotenoid that may protect against several types of cancer.

Fruits: Citrus fruits are rich is vitamin C a protector against a host of ills.

In Italy the daily open-air markets have produce picked that morning. Italian cooks rely on the fresh and local ingredients. We in America rely on produce-store-consume later system. Antioxidants have a shelf life so try to purchase at local markets and do not store produce for long periods of time.

Fats: There are good fats and bad fats. Bad fats are considered hard or saturated fats found in butter and meat. Saturated fats cause plaque build up in the arteries. Unsaturated fats are plant derived fats constitute seed and vegetable oils. Unsaturated fats inhibit plaque build up decreasing heart disease. Additionally, unsaturated fats lower blood cholesterol and provides an essential source of omega-3 fatty acids. Beneficial claims of using olive oil are reduction of plaque build-up, lowering of blood cholesterol and reducing the risk of blood clotting and strokes.

Red wine: It has been suggested that drinking a glass of red wine with dinner reduces artery plaque and lowers cholesterol. Red wine has the antioxidant compounds called polyphenois.

Recipe:

Sauteed Spinach with Pine Nuts & Golden Raisins

2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil

2 tablespoons golden raisins

1 tablespoon pine nuts

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 10-ounce bag fresh spinach (see Ingredient note), tough stems removed

2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar

1/8 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon shaved Parmesan cheese

Freshly ground pepper to taste

Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add raisins, pine nuts and garlic; cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add spinach and cook, stirring, until just wilted, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in vinegar and salt. Serve immediately, sprinkled with Parmesan and pepper.

Provided by:eatingwell/recipes

The Mediterranean diet a centuries old diet known as the heart and cancer diet. Reviewing the ingredients it is a diet for good health and well being.

The thing you might first doubt about the Fat Loss 4 Idiots diet is it states that you will lose 9 lbs. every 11 days. This rate of weight loss may seem impossible to you, especially if you’ve had unsatisfactory results from other diets before.

According to data gathering from many previous users of the Fat Loss 4 Idiots diet, it was found that their weight loss rate was about 6-7 lbs. on average every 11 days and some lost as much as 11 lbs. in the first 11 days and some only lost 3-4 lbs. in each 11 days. But what they felt the same about was that the Fat Loss 4 Idiots diet made their weight lower continuously in every dieting cycle. This resulted from the powerful food-circulating technique that the diet uses.

Food circulation, which is called Calorie Shifting, is the distinctive point of the Fat Loss 4 Idiots diet. Its diet generator will set appropriate time and date for each type of food you have chosen to create particular menu for you. Nobody knows clearly how the diet generator calculates the calorie amount that you are supposed to take each day. From my experiences, I only know that this kind of food circulating is highly efficient. I feel its power of fat burning which makes me lose a lot of weight constantly during the diet.

However, losing 9 lbs. every 11 days may seem difficult as each person has a different metabolism rate but it is not impossible. If you follow its dieting plan seriously and are able to select the type of food that is best suitable for fat burning, I believe that you can lose weight very close to what it claims or even more.

I was one who tried the Fat Loss 4 Idiots diet. It was the most impressive diet for me among all the diets I have tried. In the first 11 days, I lost 7 lbs. and the next 11 days, another 6 lbs. After that my weight kept going down, 4-5 lbs. on average every 11 days. Finally I lost as much weight as my target plan within less than 3 months. Although I couldn’t lose 9 lbs. every 11 days as it claimed, I was satisfied with the result I got as this was the best dieting in my life.

When you try the Fat Loss 4 Idiots diet, you might lose 10 lbs. or only 6-7 lbs. every 11 days, depending on how well your metabolism works. But that is not important. What is important is your weight keeps going down constantly and as you stay on a diet, you will get to your ideal weight eventually.