Help with Stomach Fat - Hormone In, Cortisol Out

Regional fat storage issues effect all of us in some form or another. While we store fat over all the body, there are certain areas that are more obvious than others, and are usually known as, "Problem areas." For some people it's the buttocks or hips, for others it's the back, and for many it is the stomach. There is a lot of information out these days to help with stomach fat, but none of them address the issue for each individual person. According the health professionals "problem areas" are influenced heavily by hormones.  Hormones are different in each of us which is why we all put on weight in different areas and over different periods of time.

By the end of this article you will find this help with stomach fat will take you a long way in reaching your goals toward a less fatty stomach because you are going to learn about Cortisol and how to successfully fight one hormone with another.

The media and health and fitness professionals have been talking a lot lately about a hormone called Cortisol in relation to stomach fat.  We know that the higher the Cortisol levels the more stomach fat a person is likely to have, making it their "Problem Area."

So an obvious solution was to lower Cortisol levels to help with stomach fat issues.  However, Isabel De Los Rios, founder of The Diet Solution tells us that lowering Cortisol levels is a lot more tricky than one might think.  Heavily advertised ads streaming through the television offer a pill that will change a persons fat belly into a flat belly by lowering levels of Cortisol.  Surprisingly they don't work, hence the reason why so much of the population is STILL seeking a solution to decrease stomach fat - I mean aside from weight loss in general, losing stomach fat is the most popular weight loss need there is.

So how do you get growth hormone in and cortisol out? Utilize a specific type of physical training called Lactic Acid Training.  Let me explain.  Growth Hormone is produced and released in response to the production of lactic acid, which is a waste byproduct of chemical and metabolic processes that happens during a specific type of exercise.  To product high amounts of lactic acid produced, creating large amounts of Growth Hormone use Lactic Acid Training techniques.

Here is how it works

Lactic Acid training calls for "quick lowering" speeds and "slow lifting" speeds.  Lifting speed should be within a four second count. So you would lift over the count of four seconds and then lower quickly, but safely.  For squats you would lower quickly and rise over the count of 4 seconds. Exercising with this method will cause the body to produce lactic acid - then producing large amounts of Growth Hormone - giving you needed help with stomach fat loss. And, an added bonus is that Lactic Acid Training will assist you in weight loss over your entire body not just your stomach.

Avoid these 2 foods after Training

Avoid all sugar and fruit juice for two hours after your workout, otherwise you will obliterate the growth hormone response and ruin the major benefit of the workout. Remember that after age 35, growth hormone levels radically decrease.

Hormone in - Cortisol out utilizing Lactic Acid Training for help with weight loss and giving you the added edge you need for help with stomach fat loss.

Taking the Weight Off - Top 2 Ingredients

There are so many tips and tricks that are essential to taking the weight off and keeping it off. However with such an abundance of tips lets narrow it down to the top 2 necessary ingredients for taking the weight off.

Essential Secret #1

Do not attempt to go cold turkey all at once.  The old saying, "Take it one day at a time" is old but priceless in it's teaching and necessary when it comes difficult but necessary life changes. Just like a person does not gain all the unwanted weight in one day or night, it is not necessary to make so many changes overnight.  Gradually get rid of sugary items and unhealthy foods and habits.  

Use a system if you need to where you remove two items every week, until you have reached your goal of a healthy diet and weight loss.  You can use the same idea when learning to eat foods you may not care for.  

Taking the weight off does not happen over night so pace the changes required so as not to fall of the wagon from exhaustion, frustration and edginess that often comes with dieting or getting rid of bad habits from your life.

Essential Secret #2

There is no need to feel deprived.  Dieting for weight loss or any other reason is hard enough, and chances are if you are feeling deprived of food you enjoy, you are not going to adhere to your eating plan for long - hence taking the weight off becomes  further and further away.  

It is important to chose an eating plan that houses foods you enjoy, as well as a good selection of tasty meals and snacks.  Lets face it, often times the person trying to take the weight off has to get accustomed to eating foods they might not particularly enjoy, but on the other side of the coin there must be foods one does enjoy, as part of their weight loss plan.  The Diet Solution Program, in my opinion has the best meal plans that offer tasty recipes that are fast, easy, and a person will look forward to eating again. 

Taking the weight off is a task that people have been battling for years and until we learn to become healthy eaters the battle will continue.  Take your battle one day at a time, eliminating the bad gradually and introducing the good gradually. Ensure that you have a variety of delicious meals and snacks and that most of them contain foods you like and can eat comfortably.  Keep an open mind, try new recipes and look for ways to add health value to your meals even after you are successful at taking the weight off.

Where can you apply these top 2 ingredients for weight loss today?

Some Diet Solution Recipes you can try - Courtesy of Isabel De Los Rios, Founder

Salad Dressing

Health REAL Desserts

Turkey Loaf

Salmon Steak

Carob Chip Cookies

Shedding Pounds - The Reality of Whole Egg Consumption

Here we have a perfect example of how certain food products get labeled unhealthy, when all the while they are extremely healthy.  Many people mistakenly think that the egg yolk is bad for you and usually discard them.  Wrong.  The egg yolk is the healthiest part of the egg with huge nutritional value and properties that help with shedding pounds.

The Egg Yolk Nutritional qualities include:

1.  Antioxidant-rich

2.  Vitamin and mineral loaded

3.  B-Vitamins

4.  Trace minerals

5. Vitamin A

6. Folate

7.  Choline

8.  Lutein

9.  Yolks from free range chickens are loaded with Omega 3 fatty acids.

10.  Yolks contain more than 90% of the calcium, iron, phosphorus, zinc, thiamin, B6, folate, and B12, and panthothenic acid of the egg.

11. Yolks contain all of the fat soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K, as well as all the essential fatty acids

Aside from the above mentioned, the egg yolk houses many more powerful nutrients the body thrives on, with one of them being the ability to assist in shedding pounds, which we will get to shortly.

So at this point most of you must be thinking, "But I thought eggs were not healthy because they send cholesterol levels sky high."  Once again, a common misconception.  

Let's clear this misconception up right now once and for all.  When high amounts of dietary cholesterol are taken in the body will naturally down regulate in order to balance things out.  If a person does not take in enough cholesterol the body will produce more because cholesterol has many important functions within the body.

First of all, when you eat a food that contains a high amount of dietary cholesterol such as eggs, your body down-regulates it's internal production of cholesterol to balance things out.

On the other hand, if you don't eat enough cholesterol, your body simply produces more since cholesterol has dozens of crucial functions in the body.

Facts of Interest

1.  Lately there have been studies released that show the consumption of whole eggs raises the good HDL cholesterol to a higher status than LDL cholesterol thus improving the overall cholesterol proportion and blood chemistry. 

2.  High cholesterol is not a disease.  Heart disease is but high cholesterol is not.  Once again the wrong information is partially due to drug companies propaganda to promote their drugs.  According to health  and fitness professionals, trying to lower ones cholesterol levels is not the right thing to do because cholesterol holds serious and vitally important functions in the body.  

3.  The real culprit in heart disease is  inflammation within the body, not dietary cholesterol.  The antioxidant lutein is most helpful for this problem as it helps protect the body from inflammation.  Lutein and other antioxidants are plentiful in egg yolks.

4.  For more proof that whole eggs are better for you than just egg whites, a study at the University of Connecticut demonstrated a group of men that consumed three eggs per day for twelve weeks while on a reduced carb, higher fat diet, showed HDL good cholesterol levels increased by twenty percent.  The LDL bad cholesterol remained the same.  Another group, eating egg supplements, or egg whites, showed no change and did not see an improvement in good cholesterol levels.

How about the calories in egg yolks?

Egg yolks do have more calories than egg whites however, they also have a high micro-nutrient density in those calories and this helps to regulate your appetite for the day, so you end up consuming less calories.  Plus, the healthy fats in the yolk help sustain levels of fat burning hormones in the body.  Yes we like those don't we!  In a nutshell, egg yolks assist in the fat burning process helping you in shedding pounds.

Recently I came upon a study of a group of people that ate egg breakfasts vs a group of people that ate cereal or bagel-based breakfasts.  The results of the study: egg eaters lost or maintained a healthier body weight, while the cereal or bagel eaters gained weight. 

I personally love eggs and have never really paid much attention to the high cholesterol talk.  I didn't pay attention because with my eating 4-5 eggs a day, for the passed I don't how many years, I have never had high cholesterol, and I maintain my weight as well as a low body fat content.  I have also noticed that when I have eggs for breakfast I am still not feeling so hungry at lunch time, meaning I am completely satisfied with a lovely, light and healthy lunch that is substantial enough to hold me til dinner time. When I have started my day with eggs I also don't feel the need to snack,  and as some may know snacking is one of the biggest culprits in preventing one from shedding pounds.  It is also one of the hardest areas of dieting to control.  Keep whole eggs in your diet along with a healthy but tasty eating plan and you will be shedding pounds by the mounds.  

Pet Wellness - Top Ten Pet Illnesses

Are you Pet Wellness Savvy?

Dogs and cats tend to get pet illnesses here and there, much of those illnesses depend on what runs in the breed, physical build, living conditions, and care and treatment by owner.  However even under the most perfect conditions, just like people there are some illnesses that dogs and cats are prone to have, some more often than others.

One of the most important aspects of being a responsible and aware pet owner is keeping pet wellness practices in gear.  Here is a list of the top ten pet illnesses for dogs and cats that will help you identify pet wellness areas to keep an eye out for and an approach to dealing with them. 

Top 10 pet illnesses for Dogs

1. ear infection

2. skin allergy

3. skin infection/hot spots

4. vomiting

5. diarrhea

6. bladder infection

7. arthritis

8. soft-tissue trauma

9. noncancerous tumor

10. eye infection 

Top 10 Pet Illnesses for Cats

1. lower urinary tract problems

2. vomiting

3. chronic renal failure

4. hyperthyroidism

5. diabetes mellitus

6. diarrhea

7. skin allergy

8. dental disease

9. ear infection

10. eye infection

So...what does this mean for you as a dog or cat owner? 

• It means you need to have some idea of what symptoms occur with each of the above illnesses.  For example, being aware of dental disease symptoms, causes, preventions and treatments. Symptoms of ear of eye infections, preventions, causes and treatments.
• It means knowing which of the above pet illnesses are most common in your breed of pet.
• It means you should expect that you will have to take your dog or cat to the vet for some for some of the above illnesses and understanding it comes with the territory of owning a pet, and in order to have the illness diagnosed.  

When it comes to treatments of the above pet illnesses there are other equally good choices to over the counter expensive medicines, and conventional ways, which is why it is a good pet wellness practice to consider pet natural health care before seeking out expensive unsafe drugs for your pet.

As a pet owner you can make quite a savings on pet care by considering natural remedies prior to over the counter.  This is not to say that you need never visit the vet, but finding out the problem from a professional and then healing your pet at home before resulting to harsh over the counter expensive medicines.  It is no secret nowadays that going natural whenever possible is an added welcome to the human body.  It is no different for animals and pets alike. Pet natural health care is a healthy, vibrant, life sustaining way to treat your pet and yourself.

Dog Wellness - Pet Hair Helps with Oil Spill

How we love our pets, but usually pet hair is something most of us could do without, or at least could do without the hassle. Dog wellness this time around affects us all world wide not just dogs and their owners, as pet hair is priceless these days, and is making it's debut in assisting with an environmental disaster. Pet hair is assisting in the clean up of the oil spill.

Natural Medicine for Muscle Pain- Go To Your Kitchen!

There are many over the counter gels, tablets, lotions, etc that claim to help with muscle relief.  Some of them are pretty good for a short while, others have side effects such as burning the skin or carry a heavy odor which means most people don't want to walk around or go to work smelling like menthol.  If your like me and millions of other people around the world and you are looking for a natural medicine for muscle pain relief then you have landed in the right place. This natural medicine is more than likely right in your kitchen, is a heck of a lot cheaper than any over the counter medicine, won't burn or leave red markings on your skin, and does not carry any odor - and it is highly effective for several types of other ailments as well.

According to NutraIngredients:

"The rhizome of the ginger plant (Zingiber officinale) is a rich source of antioxidants, including gingerols, shogaols, zingerones and other ketone derivatives ... ginger's pain reducing effects are biologically plausible with both in vitro and in vivo animal studies showing an effect of gingerols, shogaols, and zingerones on inflammatory compounds."

For many many years ginger has been known for it's medicinal use in easing nausea, stomach aches, and dizziness.  It also houses immune system boosters with anti-inflammatory and pain relieving properties, and in latest studies has been found to promote cardiovascular health.

The Case Study

In a randomized study, participants were given either two grams of raw or heat-treated ginger supplements, or a placebo, for 11 consecutive days. They then performed a strenuous exercise to induce "moderate muscle injury" to the arm. Pain and inflammation levels were assessed for three days afterward.

The outcome of the study showed that while both types of ginger produced good results compared to the placebo, the raw ginger reduced pain by 25 percent within 24 hours. The heat-treated form reduced pain by 23 percent in 24 hours. With this evidence, is it possible that a natural medicine for muscle pain can be found right in a person's own kitchen?

It is believed that the potent antioxidant content of gingerols, shogaols, zingerones in ginger have anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties which are similar to that of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
Ginger – The BEST Therapy for Nausea, Morning Sickness, Motion Sickness, Cold and Flu!

Morning sickness is experienced in 80 percent of pregnant women.  Ginger is proven to be more effective toward morning sickness or any other nausea related situation than vitamin B6 or a placebo.  This natural medicine is also highly effective for motion sickness in both people and dogs, as well as cold and flu symptoms such as congested sinus cavities and sore mucus membranes.

I have to say that from a personal perspective this is very true.  Ginger was a life saver for me during both of my pregnancies, it was also a life saver for my pup who suffered from motion sickness, and for my 5 year old would also get car sick if she was in the car for anymore than an hour. In all three of these situations ginger was the real winner.

However, for pregnant women there is a caution area when it comes to ginger.  Do not over due it!  Ginger food supplements, teas and drinking powders should not be consumed in high quantities by pregnant women, as fetal development could be harmed.  The key words here is, "Large quantities."  Ginger consumption in moderate quantities is safe for pregnant women.  It is best to use fresh ginger as opposed to powders and supplements.

Now we can add to the list above ginger as a natural medicine for muscle pain.


Ways to Consume Fresh Ginger

1.  Fresh and natural - Chopping up a teaspoon of ginger into tiny pieces and swallowing it with water.  This is the most effective, potent and inexpensive way. For muscle pain relief this is probably the best way to take ginger as a pain relief.

• To help decongest sinus cavities use 1/2 tsp of juiced ginger in a spoon with Manuka raw honey, twice a day.  I give this to my family when they have cold and flu and it works better than any over the counter medicine I have ever used.
• To soothe mucus membranes use 2 tbls of fresh lemon juice in a cup of boiling water with 1 tsp ginger juice.  Use as needed.

2.  Culinary -  Ginger offers a lovely taste when sauteed with vegetables, meat or fish.  Use a little sesame oil, you favorite vegetables and a pinch of salt.  Stir fry lightly - do not over cook.

3.  Beverage - As a hot tea or ice tea.  Use 2-3 slices of ginger in hot water.  Allow to sit for a couple of minutes.  Add honey to sweeten if you wish.  For ice tea use a stronger hot tea and add ice and cold water. A touch of mint in both hot and ice tea adds an extra refreshing flavor.

So for common ailments such as muscle pain from injuries, cold and flu, nausea, and motion sickness consider ginger as a substitute to an over the counter medicine.  If you are pregnant be sure to use ginger in moderation and do not over due it. Take it straight with water, cook it lightly or consume it as a tea for a natural medicine for muscle pain.

Consider pet natural health care options before going over the counter.

Recipe for Ginger Syrup