After the excess of holidays, many of us are tempted to ‘detox’ – and with the promise that detox slimming diets can do everything from helping us to lose weight, boost our immunity, beat headaches, get rid of cellulite and give us clear, glowing skin, is it any wonder.

However, most experts agree that our bodies are completely capable of getting rid of waste products without ‘detoxing’, providing we are healthy – that’s what our liver, lungs, kidneys and skin are designed to do, after all.

 Most detox diets do have a slimming effect, but this is generally because they severely limit the amount of calories you take in. While the exact foods that are allowed and banned can vary from diet to diet, most usually include low-calorie foods like fruit, vegetables, beans, nuts, seeds, herbal teas and massive amounts of water, and forbid higher-calorie foods such as wheat, dairy, meat, fish, eggs, caffeine, alcohol, salt, sugar and processed foods.

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 There are a few positives attached to detox slimming diets, namely that they encourage you to eat more fruit and veg, drink more water and cut down on junk food, processed foods, caffeine and alcohol. Added to this, they also help you to think about what you’re eating and can be motivating as you take charge of your health. But, because most cut out major groups of foods such as meat, dairy and wheat products, they may leave you short on certain nutrients, potentially putting you at risk of dietary deficiencies and lowered immunity if you stick with them for a long time.

 Following such a strict diet in the long term may also make you crave your favourite foods with the result that you give in to temptation and blow your slimming attempt. Furthermore, any health benefits seen after a period of ‘detoxing’ can usually be easily explained. For example, drinking plenty of water will prevent dehydration, a major cause of headaches, while eating more antioxidant-rich fruit and veg will help to give clearer skin. Meanwhile, less bloating is probably due to the fact that most people feel hungry much of the time!

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Weight Loss And Healthy Dieting Site

Study findings presented at the May 2008 Pediatric Academic Societies and Asian Society for Pediatric Research Joint Meeting indicate that childhood and adolescent obesity negatively impacts vascular endothelial function, which relates to cardiac health.

Obesity has been increasing rapidly in the U.S. during the past 20 years and obesity in adults has been associated with cardiovascular disease. The occurence rate of obesity in children is also increasing and a number of cardiovascular diseases that are manifested in adulthood may actually begin in childhood. It is known that healthy endothelium (a single cell layer that lines all blood vessels) is key to maintaining vascular health. Endothelial dysfunction is a primary contributor to atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (the buildup of fatty deposits on the inside walls of arteries) in adults and is linked to increased risk of heart attacks, stroke, and congestive heart failure. Endothelial function can be measured non-invasively in children using venous occlusion plethysmography (VOP), a technique that measures responses of arm blood vessel responses to an inflatable cuff that externally halts and restarts blood flow. This method has been shown to correlate with coronary artery function in adults with heart disease.

The study was designed to investigate the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and endothelial function measured via VOP in 76 children and adolescents ages nine through 18. BMI is a number calculated from a persons weight and height and it provides a reliable indicator of the amount of body fat.

Judith Groner, MD, the presenting author of the study, a pediatrician in Ambulatory Pediatrics at Nationwide Childrens Hospital and a faculty member of The Ohio State University College of Medicine, said, My colleagues in the Research Institute at Nationwide Childrens and I observed that regardless of age, race or sex, obesity in children and adolescents negatively impacts their endothelial function. Considering the correlation between endothelial function and heart disease, this information is alarming given the high prevalence of childhood and adolescent obesity in our country.

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From Laura Dolson,
Your Guide to Low Carb Diets.

Pureed or mashed cauliflower is a great substitute for mashed potatoes. Low in carbs and high in nutrients, the “cauli-taste” is very mild.

Try it even if you think you won’t like it - my husband asks for it! You can flavor it up in any way you like - adding garlic is a great addition, or Parmesan cheese, or both!

INGREDIENTS:

raw cauliflower - a medium head makes about a pound of florettes
any combination of butter, milk, cream, or whatever you use when you make mashed potatoes - about 1/4 cup
salt and pepper
If you have low carb “instant mashed potatoes”, add up to 1/4 cup for texture*
Options: minced garlic (a clove or two); garlic powder (1/2 to 1 teaspoon); cheese

PREPARATION:

*I like to use instant “potatoes” made for low carb diets, such as Dixie Carb Counters Instant Mashers. Other people use a small amount of real potato or instant potatoes to improve the texture.

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From Laura Dolson,
Your Guide to Low Carb Diets.

Many low-carb diets talk about the glycemic index. What does this mean? The glycemic index is a way of trying to figure out how much a food will raise your blood glucose. Since low-carb diets work by producing a smaller rise in blood sugar (all carbohydrates are broken down into sugar in your body), knowing the right foods to eat is important.

However, the glycemic index has real problems when it comes to predicting how any one person’s blood glucose will react to a food. Come learn about the glycemic index — its promises and problems, and the GI of some common foods.

Let’s Eat Local!

Yesterday when I picked my daughter up from school, she fairly bounced into the car. “The Farmer’s Market starts today!” Every Tuesday from May to November, our Farmer’s Market is the place to be, and I felt a thrill of pleasure as we rounded the corner to the sights, sounds, and smells of the farmers’ stalls, the music, and the friendly people. We chatted with friends, enjoyed the lovely day, and got the makings for a truly local dinner — fresh fish from local waters, vegetables, and strawberries for dessert (with whipped cream from a local dairy).
So often I have seen that people start out on a low-carb diet to lose weight, and then keep doing it for health…and then as time goes by they become more and more interested in the fresh ingredients which make up the bulk of our eating…where did they come from? How did they get to me? What’s in them? How can I get the highest-quality ingredients?

There are so many reasons to find local sources for our food. It’s better for our local economies, better for the environment…and we get the tastiest meals, to boot! To find local farmers near you, check out localharvest.org and http://www.fat-loss-foridiots.com today!

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The Way to Eat

Incorporate a serving of rich food every time you eat to reap the benefits of this amazingly healthful belly-flattening fat.

Have a clear calorie goal

Consume four 400-calorie meals a day. Significant weight loss requires calorie control. For the average woman, 1,600 calories per day is ideal because it’s low enough to create weight loss while maintaining energy and preserving calorie-burning muscle.

Eat often

Have a meal every 4 to 5 hours to help control your blood sugar and hunger and keep your metabolism in high gear.

The way to think

What you put in your mouth is only half the equation. The other half is your attitude toward food and eating. Put these tips into practice:

Manage stress

This emotion causes a spike in the hunger-stimulating hormone cortisol, sending you straight for the sweets. And when cortisol is high, extra calories are deposited directly as belly fat.

Ask for help

Among people who have lost weight and kept it off, 70% reported having strong social support, compared with only 38% of those who lost and regained weight. Recruit others to join you (or encourage you), or sign up for an online support group.

Beat emotional eating

Keep a food diary, but don’t just record what and how much you eat. Journaling about your feelings can help you identify what triggers you to eat and why, so you can break unhealthy habits for good.

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