What’s the Big Conflict about Detox Diets?

In the past few years detox diets have become increasingly popular.  WebMD, which is an internet site where many people search for medical information, calls these types of diets basically fad diets.  They may also be dangerous. 

A detox diet might be okay for someone who is using it temporarily and is healthy, but wouldn’t be a good idea for teenagers, seniors, or pregnant women.  These diets are very restrictive and could cause more harm than good especially if used over a long period of time.  A diet which is mainly liquids, laxatives, and raw vegetables will allow you to lose a lot of weight quickly, but is not a good way to sustain weight loss. 

Proponents of using a temporary method of detoxifying the body from impurities, say that you should occasionally use a detox diet or regimen to cleanse the body from these impurities.  This type of body cleansing has not been scientifically proven to be effective.   It’s not advised to continue with this type of diet for long periods of time.  If you decide that you want to try a detox diet, check with your physician, and do so under supervision.  Be aware that using a detox diet for long periods of time is dangerous to your health.  When you don’t provide your body with the proper amount of protein, you will lose muscle not fat.  

So what’s the conflict about detox diets?  Most are fad diets, they can be dangerous for your health, and extremely low calorie diets will cause you to lose muscle which slows metabolism. There is no magic that will cause you to lose weight without effort.  You can’t drink a magic potion and expect it to make your body healthy.  Making your body healthy is a result of living a healthy lifestyle that includes; proper diet and exercise.  Eat sensibly and don’t go below 1200 calories in a day.  You may want to lose weight, not starve. 

Check out this three day diet that can be used to help you begin to lose weight or give your body a break from sugar, fast foods, and overeating.  This information can be found at, A detox diet that isn’t crazy

Remember that whenever it comes to your health, be careful with fad diets.  The only way to effectively lose weight is exercise and a sensible diet.  This will, more than likely, involve some lifestyle changes.  Go slowly, but be consistent. 

Source:

http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/detox-diets-purging-myths?page=2

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/detox-diets/AN01334

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/36716807/

Finding Ways to Manage Diabetes by Using Online Resources

In the United States more and more people are being diagnosed with Diabetes each year at an alarming rate. During our lifetime we are exposed to more unhealthy eating habits than past generations. That unhealthy lifestyle has put a burden on Americans that can be reversed or managed effectively.

The most recent year that diabetes statistics are available is from 2007. That study shows that there are over 23.6 million men, women, and children that have diabetes. One statistic that I found particularly terrifying is that approximately 1.6 million new cases of diabetes for people over the ag... From: Finding Ways to Manage Diabetes by Using Online Resources

A Comparison of Three Fitness Gyms in the Irmo, South Carolina Area

I've been wondering about a gym that my husband and I could go to get some exercise. I've highlighted three possible choices. It's amazing how many choices there are close to home. This is big business.

Golds Gym - Columbiana Point, 800 Columbiana Drive, Irmo, South Carolina - Hours of operation are Monday through Thursday 5:00 am until 11:00 pm, Friday 5:00 am until 9:00 pm, Saturday 6:00 am until 6:00 pm, and Sunday 8:00 am until 5:00 pm. This is one of four locations that Golds has in the area and is also the largest and busiest. Most times of the day when ...Read more at: A Comparison of Three Fitness Gyms in the Irmo, South Carolina Area

A Comparison of SparkPeople and Weight Watchers Online Diet Programs

SparkPeople and Weight Watchers are two online diet programs that I have tried. I like both of these sites, but there are some differences that are worth discussing.

Everyone knows about Weight Watchers. They advertise and have been around for a lot of years. Their program is basically a points tracking program in which all the calories are calculated for you. They also have, what they call, a Core Program Plan in which you don’t count points. The Core Program has a list of foods from which you choose to eat. Weight Watchers Plans are flexible and you will lose weight following th... From: A Comparison of SparkPeople and Weight Watchers Online Diet Programs

Grandma's Natural Remedies for Calming an Upset Stomach

We've all had an upset stomach. If your Grandmother was like mine, she always had a remedy for what ailed you. She was usually able to make you feel better, and didn't resort to a bottle of pills to do it.

I've always felt that it was the natural remedies that were the best for you. With the scare these days about the FDA issuing recalls on children's Tylenol, Motrin, Zyrtec, and Benadryl, it makes you think that maybe the old remedies are the best. When we were children, Grandma always had the cure for an upset stomach.

This always worked. Grandma would add ground ginger to boilin... From: Grandma's Natural Remedies for Calming an Upset Stomach

Using the SparkPeople Diet Menu Planner

SparkPeople is an excellent online health and fitness site. As part of its site, there is a free diet menu planner. The SparkPeople site is so much more than a diet menu planner. For now, I want to focus on just the menu planner. Once you register, you will have access to the menu planner.

To register, you will need to provide an email address, create a username and password, provide your birth date, and indicate whether your are diabetic or pregnant. You will then create your account. If you checked that you were diabetic or pregnant, on the next page you will need to indicate if you ha... From: Using the SparkPeople Diet Menu Planner

How to Treat a Broken Toe at Home - a Humorous Look

I recently broke my little toe. I stupidly walked into a mini refrigerator. You'd have thought I was blind or something. The reason I want to give a humorous slant to this kind of injury was because of some of the self help information I found on the internet.

Now I've broken toes before. You get broken toes by running into things, things running into you, or objects falling on your toes. One piece of advice I h

ave is, WATCH WERE YOU'RE GOING. I have failed to follow my own advice....From:How to Treat a Broken Toe at Home - a Humorous Look

How Will the Health Care Reform Act Help Women?

This is a question that many women are asking. Will health care for women be more affordable in the future? Many private insurance plans charge a young woman extra on premiums if she wants maternity coverage. There are a lot of unanswered questions and doubt surrounding health care these days.




According to Tina Tchen, White House Director for Public Engagement, we will see more affordable and better coverage for women. I read an article that...From: How Will the Health Care Reform Act Help Woment?

Is Bacteria on Your Toothbrush? Is It Safe To Use?

For good dental health, one of the most useful tools we have for cleaning out teeth and mouth is the toothbrush. We use it every day, but probably don’t think too much about it.

Did you know that your toothbrush is probably holding at least millions of bacteria if not more? Oh yes, scary thought isn’t it? Research has shown that there are a lot of germs lurking on the everyday toothbrush. It has also been suggested that bacteria on your toothbrush could lead to serious conditions, such as heart disease for one. That’s some pretty troubling information.
Bathrooms can be... From: Is Bacteria on Your Toothbrush? Is It Safe To Use?

John Goodman Has Had a Huge Weight Loss and is Looking Fantastic

John Goodman is an Inspiration

I was just doing my usual internet surfing when I came across an article in the LA Times website. It was on a celebrity blog posting about John Goodman's weight loss. 

Mr. Goodman has lost an incredible 100 pounds. I think that deserves a little applause. Of course he can afford to hire health coaches, and he certainly doesn't have to do his own cooking. I wish I could afford....From John Goodman Has Had a Huge Weight Loss and is Looking Fantastic

Improving Your Mood and Attitude Without Drugs

 Are you feeling stressed or depressed? Many people feel this way. Jobs are stressful and we certainly live in stressful times. It’s a proven fact that stress plays a major role in the cause of many diseases. There are natural ways to make yourself feel better. A few simple life style changes may be all that’s necessary.

Believe it or not, but exercise is one of the best ways to improve your mood and relieve stress. I wasn’t completely sold until I started a regular exercise program. Since starting I feel more energetic and have a better outlook on life. Actuall... From: Improving Your Mood and Attitude Without Drugs

Exercise Really Does Lower Blood Sugar Levels for Diabetics

I've been a diabetic for about nine years. I never liked to exercise. My blood sugar A1C was at eight and that was while taking medication and it has been continually rising. Doctors have always told me that exercise was one of the best things I could do to help with my diabetes. Since I have an aversion to exercise, I didn’t listen to them. I didn’t want to think that something as easy as exercise was going to have such good results.

Earlier this year I felt the need to begin an exercise program. Partly the decision came about as I was researching and comparing gyms... From: Exercise Really Does Lower Blood Sugar Levels for Diabetics

Kevin Brady's Health Care System ChArt, Suitable for Framing

Have you seen the chart of the health care system that Kevin Brady helped to prepare as part of the Joint Economic Committee? If not, you are missing a truly impressive work of chArt.

When this chart is printed out, you need a magnifying glass to catch all the very small print. The chart was created by going through, the over two thousand page health care bill, and pulling out the different organizations and relationships that are created by the new health care plan.

Out of the whole plan, the only thing that I could find that was left untouched within the health care system, was self insu... From: Kevin Brady's Health Care System ChArt, Suitable for Framing

Exercise is a Goal for Every Adult

We hear over and over again how important exercise is in our lives. On a personal level, I take this very seriously. I’m interested in increasing my exercise goals, but I want to do it in a safe way so that I don’t injure myself.
Did you know that there are many things that could be considered exercise? Things that you do in your everyday life. Some examples would be:



• Washing the car
• Mowing the lawn
• Walking the dog
• Washing windows
• Ironing
• Running the vacuum

Exercise is defined as physical activity that requires physical exertion... continuing reading From: Increased Physical Activity and Exercise is a Goal for Every Adult

Why Set Health and Fitness Goals?

 As with anything in life, goals help us work towards outcomes that we want to achieve. Health and fitness are no different.

Many times we neglect to set Health and Fitness Goals. If we don’t set these types of goals, we tend to put our health on the back burner. This is a mistake. I remember my Grandmother telling me that if you have health you have everything. My Grandmother used to give a lot of good advice, and she lived into her 90s.
What type of goals should we set? Look at this list and tell me what you think:

Weight loss
Manage stress
Live a longer and health... From: Why Set Health and Fitness Goals?