7 Reasons Low Calorie Diets Simply Don't Work

In a book I recently read and am very enthusiastic about (as I told you in my burn the fat, feed the muscle- what an amazing book post) there was an interesting chapter explaining why 95% of all conventional diets fail. Do yourself and your body a big favor and read the entire post- at the end you will be relieved to find out that starving will not get you anywhere near the body of your dreams.

There are quite a few very interesting reasons for that, according to the author Tom Venuto, however, I am just going to synthesize the top 7 reasons why you need to stay away from low calorie diets.

1. A low calorie diet will slow down your metabolism

This happens because your body has the incredible ability to adapt to almost anything. So when you start feeding it with less calories than your daily needs require, it just says "Hey, I better find a way to keep my fats, cause it seems like we are going through some rough times! I better slow that metabolic rate a little!" Your body doesn't know that you are deliberately dieting. What it knows is that it is getting insufficient fuel and in order to survive it will have to start using less fuel.

This explains why most low calorie diets work in the start, but in the long term tend to be useless, and also it explains the so called Yo-Yo effect- while you are dieting you lose some weight, but your metabolism slows down, so when you go back to your old eating habits, you do it with a weaker ability to burn fat- thus you gain again.

2. A low calorie diet will make you lose muscle

This is partially because the more muscle you have, the faster your metabolic rate is, and as I pointed out, your body is trying to decrease this rate. However, there is another reason for the loss of muscle tissue and it is called Gluconeogenesis- the process of converting lean muscle tissue into glucose. This is a way for your body to produce the energy that you have deprived it from, with your low calorie diet. An interesting fact is that it affects all of your muscles including internal organs. And as you probably know- your heart is also a muscle. This means that a low calorie diet will make your heart weaker as well.

3. A low calorie diet will decrease the activity of your fat burning enzymes and increase activity of your fat-storing enzymes 

Once again, your body's incredible ways of adapting. Besides slowing down your metabolism and feeding on your muscle tissue, the body also increases the levels of a fat storing enzyme known as Lipoprotein Lipase (LPL). It also decreases the levels of your fat burning enzymes.

4. A low calorie diet will decrease the output of your thyroid hormone

A low calorie diet and starving lead to a lesser production of thyroid hormone, which additionally slows down your metabolism.

Also, studies show that low levels of thyroid hormone can be associated with atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease, which doesn't have much to do with weight loss, but it still shows how harmful a low calorie diet can be.

5. A low calorie diet will increase the chances of rebound weight gain

This is basically what I mentioned in the first point. Once your metabolic rate gets too slow for you to keep losing weight, you will hit a plateau. Now that is really frustrating! After a period of frustration and starvation, people will normally either go back to their previous eating habits or binge. After doing this, it will take a very short period for all of the lost weight to come back, leaving you with the same amounts of fat as when you started (or even more), less muscle tissue, slower metabolic rate, weaker general health and potentially depressed.

6. A low calorie diet will increase your appetite and cravings

Your mind also has a way of responding to low calorie diets. It makes you crave all of those high energy foods you are trying to avoid. And when the mind of a person is really set on something, it is hard to resist, actually most of us can't!

7. A low calorie diet will decrease your energy levels

Energy levels largely depend on your metabolic rate and calorie intake. If both of them are dramatically decreased, the same will happen with your energy. Furthermore, starving will also lead to a lower output of hormones that are critical for your mood and energy. This will not only make you feel lethargic and lousy, but it will hinder your ability to burn fat, which is the proper way to lose weight.


These are the 7 reasons why low calorie diets simply don't work. In fact, a low calorie diet will have you sacrifice your health, energy, metabolism, muscle tissue and much more in order to lose some weight in the short run and get even worse in the long run. Do you really feel that this is a fair deal? I don't!

As I mentioned, I learned this in an amazing book Burn The Fat, Feed The Muscle. In the same chapter,  you can read more about this and you can also find 8 great tips to help you stay away from starvation and low calorie diets, and how to lose fat the right way.

If you would like to check out this great system Click Here!, and if you would rather read what I had to say about the book on the day I finished reading it Click Here!

If you have any further questions, please don't hesitate to leave a comment or send me an E-Mail at stancho1234@gmail.com

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Related Posts:

Discover What Exactley The Paleo Diet Is

Green Tea And It's Weight Loss Benefits

10 Plant Extracts That Cure Cellulite

Discover The Two Best Ways To Get Rid Of Stretch Marks

If you’re unhappy with your stretch marks, you are certainly not alone. These days, many women suffer from these unsightly imperfections, which may be caused by pregnancy or weight fluctuations. Men may also find that stretch marks appear due to weight loss or gain, or due to the effects of bodybuilding.

No matter why you have stretch marks, you should know that these marks may be minimized or eliminated via the right treatments. While some trial and error may be required in order to make your skin look better, we’ve compiled a few strategies that are likely to give you the results that you want.

Home Remedies for Stretch Marks – Some men and women use natural oils that may be readily available in home kitchens, in order to smooth their skin and alleviate the unattractive appearance of stretch marks.

Examples of natural oils which may give good results include olive oil, which has a high vitamin E content (known to be good for the skin) and almond oil. In order to use either of these remedies, simply massage a small amount of oil onto effective areas twice a day.

While this cost-effective treatment may work for some, it does have a downside, as these types of oils are quite greasy and may stain clothes. Therefore, it’s important to let these natural oils absorb before you get dressed.

Commercial Products for Stretch Marks – Sometimes, it’s better to invest in a good, non-greasy serum, which gives superlative results, rather than dealing with the disadvantages of messy oils. If you’d like to find a product that was formulated solely to improve the look of stretch marks, consider ordering your own supply of Skinception Intensive Stretch Mark Formula online.

Developed by Dr. Dave David, this unique and innovative formula offers wonderful skin lightening advantages for an affordable price, and it works without causing any unwanted side effects or symptoms. Because it’s fortified with a potent cocktail of active ingredients, it’s one of the best ways to banish stretch marks over the short term. By boosting collagen production and fading red and purple discolorations, this product offers full-spectrum support that is designed to smooth skin and refine its texture.

Now that you know a couple of strategies for getting rid of ugly stretch marks, you’ll be ready to choose the treatment plan that is really right for you. You may order Skinception Intensive Stretch Mark Formula at the following website: http://www.stretchmarktherapycream.com


If you have any questions, please leave a comment or send me an e-mail at stancho1234@gmail.com

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Discover What Exactley The Paleo Diet Is

Many of you have probably heard of the Caveman or the Stone age diets, right? These are other names for the Paleo diet. It's called this way because it's based on our stone age ancestor's lifestyle and eating habits. Why would someone live like a caveman? Well according to the Paleo diet proponents, there has never been a fat caveman!

I don't know if that's actually true, but never the less, there is science behind this diet and it does seem to work. So let's have a look at the science behind it, shall we?

The cornerstone of the Paleo diet is the belief that the human race has not adopted to certain foods, which have recently found their way into our lives. This means that we should only eat what our ancestors had at their disposal, mainly- animals, eggs, fish, shellfish, vegetables, herbs, fruits, roots, seeds and tree nuts. And the foods that should be avoided are grains (even whole grains), legumes (I don't recommend avoiding legumes, in fact I believe them to be a superfood!), dairy, potatoes, processed oils, refined sugar and any other food which came into our diet after the development of agriculture.

Now the main argument is not that these foods have a very poor nutritional value, in fact most of them have an amazing value, however, because the human organism isn't fully adopted to digesting them, they cause a cellular inflammation, a flood of bad hormones and a bunch of diseases and conditions including type 2 diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular diseases and others. An interesting point is that after the introduction of these foods the rates of obesity have skyrocketed.

So if you are wondering how to incorporate the Paleo diet into your everyday life, I have found an example of a Paleo day so to say (fortunately it doesn't include running from a saber tooth!)

• Breakfast- Scrambled (in olive oil) Omega 3 or free ranging eggs with a fresh fruit and a cup of green tea
• Snack- A serving of a lean meet (like beef or chicken) and fresh fruits
• Lunch- Caesar salad with grilled chicken breast and a healthy dressing like olive oil and lemon, and another green tea (green tea is recommended due it's weight loss properties, however, if you don't fancy that much caffeine you can go with a different herbal tea)
• Snack- Here you can get a serving of fruits and nuts/seeds like apples and raw almonds or chia seeds for example
• Dinner- In order to keep your sanity, you can include something that wasn't actually available to our ancestors, but you really like and is still at least kind of healthy (this is allowed up to 3 times a week). In our example this will be a glass of wine. So for dinner you will get all of it- veggies, nuts, lean meat and fruits- For the veggies part, you can go with steamed broccoli, tomatoes, carrots and artichoke. For the meats, you can choose from chicken or turkey breast, beef, fish and game. As for the nuts/ seeds, considering you had either almonds or chia seeds as your snack, you can go with raw walnuts now (variety is a must). And for our favorite part- dessert, you can have a bowl of blueberries, strawberries, grapes or raisins.

This is pretty much what I can give you on the Paleo diet at this point, in further posts I promise to go deeper into some of the details. For now I do recommend having a look at a system that could make this much easier, organized and efficient for you.

The system I recommend is Paleo Fat Burner. This program will give you amazing insights into how your body works, how to burn fat the Paleo way and many more amazing lifestyle benefits. What truly makes this program amazing is not only the great information and support it offers, but the person behind it- Ken Burge. The Paleo diet helped him turn from an obese person, suffering from diabetes to a role model. His story is truly touching and inspiring, that's why I recommend that you visit his website HERE and make sure you have enough time to watch the entire video about his life, the changes he made and how he can help you. It is truly worth your time!

If you have any questions, please leave a comment or send me an e-mail at stancho1234@gmail.com

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7 Herbs That Cure Erectile Dysfunction

A lot of men suffer from erectile dysfunction which is also known as impotence. It is a condition defined by the inability to achieve and sustain an erection. For more info on the condition itself you can read my Impotence a.k.a. Erectile Dysfunction post. It covers general information about it and also what causes it and how to prevent it.

As I mentioned above, a lot of men suffer from this unfortunate condition, however, in my opinion this is not the biggest problem. I believe that the biggest problem associated with treating impotence is the fact, that drug companies have people believing that they actually need their chemical drugs. For a long, long time now Viagra, Cialis and Levitra have been marketed as your only hope to overcome erectile dysfunction.

Don't get me wrong, they are effective. But are they the only true way? Absolutely no! The same effect can be achieved with a combination of herbs or even by a single herb on it's own. The only difference is that it will happen in a natural way, without the harmful side effects. And talking about side effects- Vigaria, Levitra and Cialis have been linked to a variety of devastating and even fatal side effects like strokes, heart attacks, blindness and sudden deaths.

So what are these amazing gifts from nature that can help you overcome erectile dysfunction? 

Without further ado I give you my list of 7 herbs that can easily cure impotence

image of Epimedium, source: flickr

Epimedium

This ancient chinese herb is known for curing erectile dysfunction by increasing the levels of corticosterone and testosterone. It also improves blood circulation to the penis by relaxing the smooth muscle of the corpus cavernosum and its associated arterioles thanks to an increased release of Nitric Oxide, which is a major factor for reaching and sustaining a solid erection.

Source:  J. Nat. Prod., 2008, 71 (9), pp 1513–15

image of Ginseng, source: flickr

Asian Red Ginseng

Another asian herb famous for its effectiveness in curing impotence. Asian Ginseng works by increasing the production of Nitric Oxide, which leads to an improved flow of blood to the penis. Studies also show that ginseng can boost your sexual desire by improving mood and treating anxiety.

Study of the efficacy of Asian Red Ginseng in the treatment of erectile dysfunction

image of Saw Palmetto

Saw Palmetto Berry

This herb treats erectile dysfunction in two ways. First, it improves prostate health, which is of key importance for the proper function of your sexual organs. Second, it balances hormonal levels by inhibiting androgen. Another benefit is that it prevents testosterone from turning in to DHT. This means that you will have higher levels of testosterone and lower levels of DHT, a hormone that leads to hair loss. This means that saw palmetto will also prevent hair loss!

You can read a clinical study about treating erectile dysfunction with saw palmetto here

image of Ginkgo Biloba Leaf

Ginkgo Biloba

Another herb that is able to relax the smooth muscle of the corpus cavernosum and increase the blood flow to the penis. It also has the added benefit of mental alertness.

image of Muira Puama and Muira Puama Bark

Muira Puama Bark Extract

Studies show that this plant extract can be used to treat both impotence and lack of sexual desire. The main way it cures impotence is by improving the blood flow to both the penis and the genitals. The increase of blood in the letter may lead to an increase  in testosterone production. From the results of different studies, it is evident that these are not the only ways it helps men with impotence, however, researchers are not able to find exactly what else contributes to this.

image of Catuaba

Catuaba Bark Extract

This herb is believed to be able to increase the capacity of your penis to hold blood. This will not only promote erections, but they will be much firmer than normally and the actual size of the penis will increase notably. Another way this herb works is by increasing the levels of a specific sexual hormone responsible not only for arousal, but also for orgasm length. This means that Catauba bark extrac can treat erectile dysfunction, increase your penis size and help you reach a longer and better orgasm.

image of Damiana

Damiana

Thanks to some of the flavanoids (essential oils) found in Damiana, it is able to increase to blood flow to the penis, which as we mentioned a few time, is what makes a firm erection.

These 7 herbs are all you need to cure your erectile dysfunction and even add to your penis size, orgasms and general health. Forget about the harmful synthetic drugs like viagra and their deadly side effects. The answer is once again in nature!

Out of all the ways to get these herbs, perhaps the safest and most convenient way is through supplements. You can find each of those herbs in separate supplements or you can find them in a combination in the same supplement. And the second option is exactly what I recommend. Combinations of herbs have been proved time and time again to be more efficient, than taking the same amount of a single herb.

I know that looking for supplements can be a long and confusing process, thats why in most of my posts I  try to recommend a product I have researched and really trust. This time it is no exception, if you have read any of my other posts on erectile dysfunction, you would know that I strongly recommend VigRX Plus as a natural way to treat your proble. It is supirior to other herbal supplements, because it has a patented ingredient named Bioperine, which has shown to safely improve the absorptions of nutrients by up to 30%. This means that the herbs you just read about will be with up to 30% more efficient in this supplement.

The benefits that VigRX has proven to supply, besides treating erectile dysfunction, include:

• Overall Improvement in Sexual Health
• Increased Erection Size in Both Width & Length
• Strengthening & Toning Effect on the Sexual Glands
• Increase in Blood Circulation to the Genitals
• Support of the Health Production of Sex Hormones
• Treatment of Stressor & Anxiety (adaptogens) with Restorative Nutrients for the Nervous System
• Increased Stamina & Sex Drive Through Increased Cardiovascular Power & Improved Circulation

And the fact that it has a 67 days 100% money back guarantee doesn't hurt, right? Hopefully you are not going to need it, but its still good to know its there.

For more information like doctor reviews, client testimonials and clinical studies on VigRX visit vigrxplus.com

If you have any questions, please leave a comment or send me an e-mail at stancho1234@gmail.com

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Natural Acid Reflux Treatment

If you are reading this I assume you are one of the millions of people worldwide, who are suffering from acid reflux, but want to stay away from harmful treatments like antacids, prokinetics and others.

If my assumption is correct, please keep reading, and if not- don't waste your time, because, in this post we will only discuss natural acid reflux remedies.

Acid reflux is a condition that is characterized with stomach acids rising up to the esophagus. This is due to improper functioning of the lower esophagus sphincter, which normally shouldn't let acids reach your esophagus. When this happens you feel a burning chest pain.

As I mentioned in the beginning, there are many treatments for acid reflux, but most of them have negative side effects. Instead, we are going to discuss a three way natural approach for curing this condition and improving your digestive health. This three way approach consists of natural ways for controlling acids, renewal of your digestive enzymes and creating a long term digestive health. Let's look at how nature can aid us in our approach, shall we?

Acid Control

In this step we will be looking for a way to protect your esophagus from your stomach's hydrochloric acids and also reduce the amounts of acids produced by your stomach. This can be done by using natural cures known for their ability to reduce inflammation, heal the tissue, decrease acidity levels and improve digestive function. There are four herbs that we can distinguish as the most potent ones in this department.

• Aloe Vera-This plant is best known for it's ability to heal burns, inflammations and skin problems. However, not many people know that it is also excellent for promoting digestive health by reducing the amount of  a harmful bacteria in the digestive tract, inhibits the secretion of stomach acids and many other benefits.
• Marshmallow Root- It reduces inflammation and when mixed with water, forms a gel that coats the throat and stomach. It has been used to heal acid reflux and ulcers for decades.
• Licorice Root- Another herb known to heal the tissue. It is also used to cure ulcers and canker sores
• Slippery Elm-Not only used to sooth the skin and protect form inflammation, but also known to reduce acidity.

Restoring The Balance Of Your Digestive Enzymes

In this step we will try to restore the crucial balance of digestive enzymes and hydrochloric acids. This balance is in fact the key to reducing the amount of acids in your stomach and also treating acid reflux from it's roots. The less digestive enzymes you have, the more acids will reach your esophagus. These enzymes are indeed very natural, however most of them occur in the human body. This means that we can't supply them through herbs and other plants (excluding Papin, Beta Glucanase and Alpha-Galactosidase ). Instead you need to look at a natural supplement that will provide a variety of these enzymes. I will just mention some of the key enzymes you need to look for- Glucoamylase (extracted from Aspergillus niger), Hemicellulase, Beta Glucanase (extracted from grains) , Maltase, Papain ( it is derived by papaya), Protease, Lipase, Cellulase, Invertase, Alpha-Galactosidase (also extracted from Aspergillus niger ) and Amylase. These enzymes have the function of breaking down different nutritional elements, detoxify, heal different digestive problems, supply energy, relieve allergies and infections. You can have a look at a great supplement that will provide all of the important enzymes in a natural way here.

Improving Long-Term Digestive Health 

The third step is associated with the fact that people who suffer from acid reflux normally have other digestive problems like gas, improper nutrient absorption, diarrhea and others. These digestive problems will partially be treated with the supplementation of enzymes, however, we will still have a look at certain foods that will help you provide the necessary nutrients. These nutrients include a high amount of fiber, healthy fats, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. This means that you should include super foods in your diet. Some of the superfoods are Chia seeds, Barley grass, Quinoa, Brocoli, Yogurt, Beans, Nuts, Avocado, Acai berries, African mango and others. 

These foods are generally very beneficial and healthy, however, you also need to provide foods that specifically treat digestive problems. These foods include:

• Papaya- this fruit contains the Papin enzyme which helps the stomach to break down and absorb nutrients. It also has anti-inflammatory properties.
• Fennel seed- it is known to help relieve digestion problems like gas, acid indigestion, cramps and more.
• Grapefruit- it contains pectin, popular for its abilities to relieve diarrhea and constipation. 
• Psyllium husk- used as a laxative and stool softener, it is also used to treat IBS, diarrhea and others.
• Peppermint leafs- they stop the growth of harmful bacteria, help the bile reach the gallbladder, relaxes intestinal muscles and improves digestion of nutrients.

Using this three way natural approach for treating acid reflux will cover all your bases. It will not only treat acid reflux, it will help you improve you digestive and general health. 

Unfortunately, I am not the person who invented this approach. I actually learned about it from Digestive Scienc's Acid Reflux Elimination System. It is a system that consists of an acid control supplement, enzyme renewal supplement and a digestive support supplement. These supplements contain all of the ingredients I mentioned above and are designed to help you treat acid reflux in one of the most natural ways possible, without any negative side effects. You can read more about it by clicking here.

For more questions please, don't hesitate to contact me at stancho1234@gmail.com or to leave a comment.

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