Health

1. Boost Your Metabolism to Lose Weight
   

There are a lot of people who would give a lot to increase their metabolism. Having a high level of metabolism enables one to burn fat and lose weight fast with the least amount of exertion. Metabolism is the rate by which the body produces and consumes energy and calories to support life.

There are several factors that affect the metabolism of a person, such as the amount of muscle tissue, the frequency of the meals one consumes, genetics, the digestive system, stress levels, personal diet, and activity levels. Metabolism slows down due to the following: loss of muscle because of not enough physical activity, the tendency of the body to cannibalize its own tissue because there is not enough food energy to sustain it, and the decrease of physical activity that comes naturally with old age.

Here are several ways to fire up one's metabolism:

1. Build up on lean, mean body mass. It is only natural that metabolism decreases along with age, but it is possible to counter the effects. The amount of muscle a person has is a very strong determinant in the ability to burn calories and shed fat. So it goes without saying that exercise is essential. Build strength and resistance by working out at least twice a week, preferably with weights. Do easy exercises in between workouts. Simple tasks such as walking the dog and using the stairs in place of the elevator can already take off calories. The key is to match the amount of eating to the amount of activity one has. Here are some guidelines in getting the right exercise:

For strength training

-Increase the amount of repetitions of a particular exercise.
-Add the level of resistance
-Utilize advance exercise techniques if possible

For cardiovascular training

-Insert intervals between exercises
-Perform cross-training and combine the exercises
-Add up on resistance and speed


2. Eat breakfast. A lot of people are ignoring the fact that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Surprisingly, the ones who eat breakfast are thinner than the ones who do not. Metabolism can slow down considerably if breakfast is taken during mid-morning or if one waits until the afternoon to eat.

3. Avoid sugar. Sugar enables the body to store fat. It is recommended that a person consumes food that helps sustain an even level of blood-sugar. Additionally, progressive exercise 2-3 times a week should be in order to stabilize blood sugar.

4. Eat spicy foods. Hot cuisine with peppers can increase metabolism.

5. Sleep more. According to research, it is riskier for people who do not get enough sleep to gain weight. Also, muscles are regenerated during the last couple of hours of slumber.

6. Increase water intake. Water flushes out toxins that are produced whenever the body burns fat. Majority of bodily functions involves water, and lack of water causes the body system's operations to decrease its speed, and produces unneeded stress as a result.

7. Detoxify the digestive system. A clean and healthy digestive system not only helps the body to run more efficiently, it also gives you energy and helps you to crave healthier foods. This makes a cleansing program, such as Isagenix 9-Day Cleansing and Fat Burning System, a great way to jump-start a weight loss regimen.

8. Eat smaller meals. It is advisable to consume 4 to 6 small meals that are timed 2 to 3 hours apart.

9. Never skip meals. People tend to skip meals in order to lose weight, which is a big mistake since it slows down metabolism.

10. Plan meals in detail. Always prepare the right amount of food to be consumed at the designated intervals. Do not commit the mistake of eating meals in sporadic patterns.

11. Ditch the stress! Stress, be it physical or emotional, triggers the release of a steroid called cortisol, which decreases metabolism. Also, people tend to eat excessively when stressed.

12. Guzzle up on green tea. It can be used as a substitute for coffee. Tea has the ability to stimulate metabolism, and unlike coffee, it has no undesirable side effects when too much is consumed.

13. Include more energy foods in the diet, such as fruits and vegetables, beans and whole grains.

Achieving the desired body weight is never impossible if one has the determination and patience needed to stabilize the metabolism level, which plays an important role in weight loss. A person needs to realize that eating right and working out is not just a passing fancy, but a way of life. Fighting cravings is hard for most of us. A great help in the quest to eat healthier --and fight those unhealthy cravings-- is a body cleansing program. Visit www.loseweightandcleanse.com for details on Isagenix's 9-Day System.

Sleep Apnea Symptoms

How do you know if you have sleep apnea? Thanks to the wonderful technology of online resources, millions of sleep apnea patients are now aware of their current health condition and sleep apnea symptoms. Sleep apnea is a very common sleeping disorder affecting more than twelve million people. Studies show that the male-to-female ratio of sleep apnea patient is 2:1 or higher. Men snore at least twice as much as women do that it actually becomes a diagnosable condition! To be more specific, sleep apnea also affects people over forty and the young African American population the most. It is also promoted by being overweight, high blood pressure, having problems in the nose and throat, and smoking. These are all significant factors that can contribute to experiencing sleep apnea. But what about the symptoms? How do we know if we have sleep apnea or just a bad case of snoring?

Sleep apnea comes in three forms and all of them have different symptoms. The first is Obstructive sleep apnea. It is the most common form and is caused by an airway blockage that results in the collapsing and closing of the tissue at the back of the throat during sleep. To put it simpler, a person who suffers from this form of sleep apnea unconsciously experiences a sudden cessation on snoring followed by a silence because of the stoppage in breathing. This alternating pattern of snoring and silence can repeat over a hundred times a night causing poor sleep quality. This is one of the first symptoms to be detected for sleep apnea sufferers. Central sleep apnea is the second form of this disorder and it is brain related. What happens is the nerve signals are not sent to the muscles intended for breathing which causes the breathing problems to get irregular even when there is no blockage in the airways. This irregular breathing is a second symptom to look for. Finally, Mixed sleep apnea is a mixture of the central and obstructive sleep apneas. Despite the different names, you may now conclude that those three forms have the same effect, that the patient stops breathing while sleeping. Think about the life-threatening possibilities and the danger of this experience while you are in an unconscious state of mind! Sleep apnea is a very serious disorder that should be treated with extreme caution.

It is very difficult for anyone to determine if they are suffering from any type of sleep apnea simply because the condition is a sleep disorder and it is impossible to monitor yourself while sleeping. Seek out assistance! A member of your family, for example, can be the most credible in helping you evaluate these matters.

The main symptoms of sleep apnea happen while sleeping. The individual suffering may be unaware of the symptoms such as loud snoring due to breath recovery. They might also be unaware of the silence that comes immediately after, which is due to the inability to breathe caused by the blockage of the airway. Another symptom is the lack of rapid eye movement or REM sleep. Most normal people experience REM whenever they enter a deeper stage of sleeping. This is characterized by the fluttering of the eyelids while sleeping. You may have observed this natural movement of the eye from a normal person who is sleeping. This is easy to observe in children who are healthier and more capable of having a deep sound sleep. REM is impossible for sleep apnea patients because of the blockage in the airways and the lack of breath. The brain of the patient sends signals to the muscles for their breathing to continue again but they never enter a deep state of sleep. This causes constant tossing and turning in bed and a very poor sleep quality.

Aside from the symptoms experienced while sleeping, there are also obvious changes in behavior which can be considered as symptoms related to sleep apnea. They include irritability and excessive sleepiness that can even cause sleeping while driving. They also include less interest in sexual activities and memory problems. If one of your family members is complaining about your loud snoring and, at the same time, you are experiencing some changes that are affecting your daily normal activities, seek medical advice immediately! Untreated sleep apnea can be life-threatening and can develop into high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, weight gain, impotence, and headaches.

Becoming aware of and treating your sleep apnea symptoms will help you and others in your family to continue with a normal lifestyle. Sleep apnea can be life-threatening so don’t let this hinder you in experiencing a happier life with your loved ones.


Burn Fat, Lift Heavy (part 1)

How does a pill that burns fat faster than any supplement out there sound?

How about that very same pill increasing muscle tone and density?

You've gotta admit, it sounds pretty exciting doesn't it

Now, what if I said...'IT AIN'T GONNA HAPPEN!'

Unless...wait for it!

You begin to lift heavy weights in the gym and avoid your favourite step and fit ball class. Then and only then are you on your way to that dream physique

Now from that last statement I've probably already lost half the female audience, no matter... it's just makes the rest of you look even better.

This is unfortunately, a very common mistake that women far too often mistake as being a way to become a muscular bound female bodybuilder.

NOT TRUE!

In fact, if you're looking to get the kind of body like your favourite superstar, then I suggest you continue to read on.

For what you are about to receive... The following article is split into 4 parts. Part 1 will explain why we should be avoiding long durations on cardio machines known as 'long slow distance' (LSD). Part 2 will look at the reasons why lifting weights works better than LSD training and finally part 3 will explain why we should be lifting heavier with those weights. Part 4 will put it all together in a evenly balance program for you to follow.

The reason for doing it this way is there's a lot of new understanding to take on board. Some of this is going to go completely against your usual way of thinking, meaning you may or may wish to read any further parts.

All I can say is from the experience of coaching many clients in my time, this works better than anything and the results WILL amaze you!

So why should we avoid lengthy sessions on the cardio machines?

There are a number of reasons why we should avoid long cardio sessions, the first is simple.

Our body was designed to survive from the days when we were hunter/gatherers and our vocabulary consisted of um, ugg and errr. Kind of like a teenager...

When we ran (chasing food or being chased as food) our body would produce the hormone Cortisol (a stress hormone) as chasing food or becoming food can become a pretty stressful thing for us.

When Cortisol is produced, the body begins to store body fat by slowing down its natural metabolism. The reason being, if you are chasing something and don't catch it, you have no idea when you are going to be eating next. Your body knows that it will have to survive on its own stored fats.

Although our bodies have indeed evolved over the many years there are lots of things about the human body that remain the same. The stress hormone cortisol being released through LSD (long slow distance) being one.

Don't be fooled that it won't happen to you just because you go on the cross trainer, stepper, rower or any other form of equipment. It will, the body can't identify what exercise it is doing or whether you're looking to burn fat or being chased.

If its LSD training you're doing and you're looking to tone and lose fat, you will soon find yourself at a sticking point very soon as your Cortisol levels begin to rise.

The Zone

Let's take another look at those long cardio sessions that "help burn fat".

The fat burning zone draws fat from the fat stores to be used as energy instead od using carbohydrates; this is known as 'SUB RQ1' where the body doesn't have to use carbohydrates for energy. Now although this is true, if it was so effective, we would be losing pounds as we watch TV or read a book, but as we all know by now, that's just not the case!

Yes, you will burn more calories when exercising at the gym or walking round the park but to get in the true fat burning zone or 'optimal zone' you'll have to exercise for 90minutes (non stop) at least...

After about 90 minutes the body becomes extremely efficient at burning bodyfat!

This true, but come on....90 minutes!

England could have been defeated by Luxembourg B team by then. (I'm referring to soccer of course)

So if the body is burning pure bodyfat after 90 minutes, what's being burnt as energy before then?

MUSCLE!

Remember, at this steady lower state of intensity carbohydrates have no need to work meanining something has to help with the energy coming from fats. Unfortunately, we use muscle slowing down our metabolism in the process.

Solution

Now I know that the cardio, fat burning, step obsessed, 'the longer the better' exercise junkies out there aren't going to suddenly hang up their lycra shorts and ankle weights only to share the weights room with the usual vest wearing grunters.

As a result what you should do is something we call Tabata.

Pick your favourite piece of cardio equipment

Warm up for 2 minutes

Go as fat as you can for 30 seconds

Take it easy for just 10 seconds

Repeat 8 times

It's as simple as that and believe me you will really feel like you've had a very intense yet very short workout!



Anti Aging Digestion Enzymes Are Essential For Life

Digestive enzymes are the most essential nutritional requirements that our bodies need to stay alive. Enzymes break down the nutrients that we eat and reduces them to a size and condition that make them able to be carried, absorbed and used by our bodies. Enzymes are necessary for breathing, swallowing, muscles movement, cell and tissue production, and energy conversion. Enzymes are responsible for metabolism, which is our cells directing each nutrient to combine and interact with other nutrients to crate other chemicals and compounds to build and repair our cells, bones, tissues and organs. Enzymes are responsible for constructing, synthesizing, delivering, distributing and eliminating the substances and chemicals our body requires to live. Without enzymes, metabolism does not happen.

Our very lives depend on enzymes and digestion. Many, health issues begin with lack of proper enzymes and digestion. Without the proper amount of digestion enzymes in our bodies, we are vulnerable to ill health conditions such as respiratory infection, colds, flu, high blood pressure, liver disease, indigestion, heartburn, diabetes, fibromyalgia, candida, migraines, PMS, hyperactivity, anxiety, lack of concentration, depression, weakened immune system, acid reflux, constipation, gas and many other health concerns. It was once thought that illness and aging depleted the amount of enzymes found in our body. We now know that illness and aging are caused by a depletion of enzymes in our body. Many researchers now know that the aging process and even death is a result of our enzyme levels being decreased to the point where the very living environment of our bodies can no longer be maintained.

We now know that we lose digestive enzymes through sweat and body waste. As we go age, the organs that are responsible for producing digestive enzymes are not able to efficiently produce the amount we need in the time we need them. We know that cooking and microwaves destroy the enzymes that our food contain when they are raw. Factors such as environmental pollution, overly processed and fast foods, genetically modified foods and other factors deplete the amount of enzymes that we need to live. These factors deplete our enzyme levels stresses our digestive system and our immune system, leave us feeling tired, depressed, without energy or interest, and, very possibly, shorten our lives.

Given these factors of aging, processed foods, and cooking, our bodies are not able to produce the enzymes that we need. Therefore it would be wise for us to supplement our diets with enzymes from outside sources such as plants. If we add an enzyme supplement from external sources to our diet when we eat a meal we will greatly increase the quality and longevity of our lives. Enzyme supplements increase the amount of nutrients we absorb from our diet and improves our overall nutrition, decreases or eliminates indigestion and acid reflux, reduces fatigue and increases our energy, strengthens our immune system and enhances the regeneration of our cells and tissues.

We can take advantage of enzyme supplements that are blends of enzymes that each have a specific function. Amylase changes complex sugars and carbohydrates into usable glycogen and dextrin. Bromelain breaks down proteins making them available for our bodies energy supply. Cellulase is an enzyme complex that breaks down cellulose into usable beta-glucose. Lactase converts lactose into galactose and glucose. Lipase is an enzyme that is vital for the absorption and digestion of nutrients in the intestines and catalyzes triglycerides into fatty acids. Pancreatin hydolyses fats, converts protein into protesoses and changes starches into dextrins and usable sugars. Papain from the papaya fruit converts proteins to form oligopeptides and amino acids and can digest dead tissue without affecting live tissue. Pepsin breaks down protein into peptides. Chymotrypsin works in our small intestine to hydrolyze the peptide bond of amino acids. Trypsin breaks down the peptide bond of the amino acids arginine and lysine and is important in protein digestion.

With our current concerns about health care for issues such as those caused by obesity, excess weight, high blood pressure, heart health, etc, it would be well for us to remember the extreme importance of nutrition and good digestion and metabolism and that a very significant number of illnesses and diseases start in the intestine and colon. Our realizing the vital importance of digestion enzymes and the role they have in maintaining our very lives as well as preventing some of the serious, sometimes life threatening, health issues we face and will greatly improve the quality and longevity of our lives.