Garcinia Cambogia - There Is Much More Than Weight Loss

The Clusiaceae family is endemic to a region which embraces South India, Polynesia, Japan, Australia and tropical Africa. These are evergreen shrubs or trees which can reach a height of 20-82 ft. Many of the members of this family are cultivated for their fruit, which often differs from species to species.

Some of these fruits have a resemblance to tangerines with very thin skin, others look similar to wrinkled lemons, while others have very thick skin. What they all have in common is that they are endocarp and those which are cultivated, are generally delicious.

Another reason why they are cultivated is for their lumber, because it is termite resistant and not splintery, therefore it is utilized in the production of posts and tool handles.

The most popular of the Garcinia trees for its fruit is the purple mangosteen (garcinia mangostana). It is a tropical tree which does not tolerate temperatures below 32 °F. It is widely grown in Columbia, and was introduced from the Sunda Islands. The reddish color, rather thick hard rind of its fruit is not edible, but the flesh inside the rind is delicious. It can be compared to the tangerine, as it is about the same size and shape, but it is white in color.

Less known, nevertheless widely cultivated in its native environment is the Garcinia Prainiana. The fruit resembles the khaki when ripe and its skin is rather thin. Others are, the Garcinia Forbesii which produces fruits resembling huge cherries, the Garcinia Atroviridis with fruits which resemble a small pumpkin and is very pale green-white in color.

The fresh fruits are not readily available in the western hemisphere as the ripening process takes place over a period of only ten days. After that, the fruit inside the rind may begin to rot, while not showing any external indications. Canned mangosteens are no alternative, as much of the fruit's flavor is lost during the canning process.

The number of Garcinia species have not yet been exactly established, but they could easily exceed 300. The only species which is best known in the USA is the Garcinia Cambogia.

How remarkable that one TV Show sheds such light on just one species of Garcinia and of this species, on one single property - its appetite suppressant potential found in one ingredient in its rind - the Hydroxycitric Acid, short HCA. This shows the huge interest of the public in this single property, which is due to the ever rampant obesity problem in the United States.

In India the acidity of the rind has been added to spices like curry for centuries. Healers use it to heal edema, delayed menstruation, for strengthening the immune system, for more energy and more.

Recent studies have discovered that Garcinia Cambogia Extract is extremely antioxidant (means it acts as an anti aging substance), that it is an excellent antibiotic which it is antifungal and a carbohydrate blocker.

Therefore, it is much more than just an appetite suppressant for which it is mainly known in western countries. It is safe. It is an all-natural substance. It has been used for centuries by locals. It is a valuable health improvement product, which can be used even without the need to suppress hunger.

You should not consume more than 1500 mg HCA per day (an ideal dose is 500 mg 3 times per day) and after about two months discontinue use for a while. Take a break from using it for about one month before resuming consumption again.

Non-stop continued usage of high doses can result in severe lactic acidosis (increased acidity in the blood and other body tissue). One incident was reported by Wong & Klemmer in May 2008 associated with the juice of the mangosteen fruit Garcinia.

So beware of promotion which tries to impress with high doses of 750 mg or even 1000 mg of HCA per capsule. Stay at the safe dosage of 500 mg per capsule.

Need to Lose Weight Fast Starting Today?

Exercise when you need to lose weight fast

Let's look at the first part of your program when you need to lose weight fast and that is exercise. Obviously, joining a gym is one of the best places that you can go if you need to lose weight fast. Joining a gym has its advantages, but it also has some disadvantages too.

Everybody is at the gym for the same reason and that is to exercise. So, when you are around other people who share the same objective as you it can give you the motivation to get the best possible use from your workout. Also there are no distractions at the gym. If you exercise at home, there are lots of other jobs and tasks that can distract you from your exercise routine.

The gym will give you access to a wide choice of equipment and fitness classes so that you will not get bored. If you need to lose weight fast it is important to have a varied exercise program and the gym is the ideal place to do this.

So, what are the downsides of a gym? Most gyms will want you to sign-up to their membership program. This offers great value if you go regularly, but if you sign up for a 12 month contract and then stop going after the first few weeks, you'll still have to pay so you'll be wasting money if you don't go. Gyms can get busy and facilities can be pretty crowded during peak hours. If you don't like exercising around others, the gym may not be for you.

While it's not necessary to join a gym if you need to lose weight fast, some people thrive in this type of setting. If you're not sure if a gym is right for you, go to your local gym and ask for a trial membership. This will give you a chance to use the facility for a couple of weeks to see if joining is something you really want to do.

Watch what you eat when you need to lose weight fast

The first step on your diet plan when you need to lose weight fast is to totally avoid processed foods Processed foods are the things that you eat that are packaged in boxes, cans or bags.

Your new diet plan should include a wide range of fresh fruit and vegetables each day as these foods help you get the nutritional supplements you need to support your body system. Bean, poultry and lean meats will provide you with the protein and iron that your body needs.

Remember to drink plenty of water as it helps to clear your body of toxins and curb your appetite. Do not leave any tempting foods in your home. If you need to lose weight fast, having high-fat processed foods around will not help your will power. Do not skip meals and only eat from a plate, while seated at a table - don't pick bit and pieces from the fridge.

Why You Should Juice: The Health Benefits of Juicing

You've probably heard about the juicing trend. It seems like everyone is doing it, from Oprah to Dr. Oz. Many of your friends might also be juicing enthusiasts. So what is all the hype about?

Juicing is not merely another trend. It's something that's here to stay. Why? Simply because it really does benefit your body in a very unique way. It is also wonderfully suited to the modern lifestyle. Most people these days know exactly what foods are good for their bodies and which foods aren't. The problem is that most of us don't have the time to spend on washing tons of produce, learning how to prepare it, and then consuming mounds and mounds of healthy vegetables.

We're all busy and on the move most of the time and we just don't have tons of time to dedicate to our diets!

This is where juicing comes in.

Juicing is truly fantastic because it allows you to consume a large variety of healthy produce in just a few minutes. You can instantly juice a whole salad bowl full of healthy ingredients and swallow it down in a fraction of the time it'd take to eat the actual salad.

In this manner, juicing allows you to consume the optimal amount of vegetables in a very efficient manner. Did you know that the average person should be consuming around 1 pound of vegetables for every 50 pounds of their body weight? That means for someone like myself - who weighs around 150lbs - I should be eating 3 pounds of veggies every day! I just don't have the time to do that! However, with my handy juicer in tow, I can. Juicing is a wonderful option for people on the go.

Not to mention the many health benefits that juicing provides.

Juicing is sometimes even better than eating vegetables simply because it helps you absorb ALL the nutrients from the veggies. This is crucial for many of us because a lot of us are struggling with impaired digestion. The modern diet is not good for us and as a result of eating less than healthy foods for a long time, we might already have stomach problems and digestion problems that prevent us from fully digesting the fibrous vegetables we eat. A great juicer does the digesting for you - it breaks down all the fiber in the vegetables that your body might struggle with.

All you have to do to get the nutritional benefits is drink the juice!

Another fantastic benefit of juicing is that you get the opportunity to try a whole range of vegetables. If we had to go through the trouble of not only discovering new veggies to try but figuring out how to prep and cook them, we probably wouldn't bother. The good thing about juicing is that you can simply run them through the juicer! In an instant, you can try a bunch of new flavors and gain access to nutrients that are really good for you!

If you are new to juicing, I highly recommend that you take some time to research the best juicer to buy based on your needs. Think for a moment about what you hope to get out of juicing and what you'll be using your new juicer for. Make sure to choose a juicer that fits your needs instead of a fancy juicer that has a bunch of bells and whistles!

The Tiny Creatures That Sew Your Clothes Tighter Each Night: Who Are They?

Are you one of those people who obsess over the number on the scale? Do you weigh yourself daily or even several times a day waiting for that number to change? While it is good to weigh yourself from time to time, it can be quite a dangerous habit to get into. The scale doesn't reflect your fitness activity nor does it take into consideration of many other factors in the number reading. Here are three things to keep in mind when jumping on the scale.

1.) Schedule your weigh-ins. Come up with a day to have your weigh-ins and mark it on a calendar. It can be once a week or less frequently. Once you come up with a schedule, only weigh yourself on that given day. Weighing yourself first thing in the morning is usually best before any variations of food or fluid consumption since your weight can fluctuate all day long.

2.) Know that your weight can and will fluctuate 2-4 pounds from day to day. Just because you step on the scale and you are heavier than your last weigh-in doesn't mean that your fitness plan is not working. The scale does not just focus on the weight of fat. Think of what your body is made of on the inside. All of that is added into the number on the scale as well as the water weight that fluctuates constantly. As you are exercising, you are building muscle that aids in fat loss which will give you a larger number since muscle weighs more than fat. Yes a pound is a pound, but the difference is, there could be a pound of fat sitting on a table next to a pound of muscle, and the pound of muscle would look much smaller than the pound of fat. It takes more fat to equal a pound than muscle.

3.) Make sure that the number you are striving for is realistic. Too often people come up with a number in their head that they think they should be at. Maybe at one point in your life you weighed a certain number and are striving for that number now, ten years later. It's important to note that as you may have once weighed less than you currently do now, it may not be healthy or safe to go back to that number. As you grow older, your metabolism slows and many other factors come into play. If you have hit your "happy" weight, switch over to maintaining it and continue to strength train to build muscle as you will continue to lean out.

Don't let the scale get the best of you and throw you off track of your fitness game. Take each day and do your best with your nutrition and exercise. Check your progress with how your clothes are fitting and how you feel each day. It's also a good idea to check your progress with a tape measure to see how many inches you are losing. A tape measure won't lie to you!

If you need help and direction with your goals, remember I'm here for you. Contact me today to get started!

The Dangers Of Excess Belly Fat

During a recent television appearance, renowned cardiologist and author Dr. Mehmet Oz caused quite a stir by announcing that your waist measurement is the most important indicator of overall health. During the show, he explained that if your waist measurement is more than half your height (in inches), you are at serious risk for heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes. This announcement had many people looking at their measuring tapes not just as a way to measure their fitness, but as a way to measure their future.

Why is excess belly fat so important and what does it have to do with all of these health risks?

Excess Stomach Fat Damages Your Liver

Several recent studies on the connection between obesity (particularly excess abdomen fat) and high levels of liver fat have shown that there is a much higher rate of fatty liver in those with excess belly fat. Fatty liver is a leading indicator of several lipid and metabolic disorders and even liver cancer. In these studies, researchers investigated what makes some obese people develop lipid disorders. They found that liver fat is strongly associated with increased secretion of very low density lipoproteins (VLDL), which contain the highest amount of triglycerides. High levels of triglycerides carry an increased risk of metabolic abnormalities and increased risk of heart disease and premature death.

Decreasing excess paunch fat and blood cholesterol is the recommended treatment for reducing and even reversing fatty liver.

Excess abdomen Fat Increases Insulin Resistance and Type 2 diabetes

When we eat, our food, especially carbohydrates, is broken down into glucose so that it can be used to power every cell in our bodies. However, to be used as energy rather than stored as fat, glucose requires the help of insulin.

Insulin is a hormone secreted by the pancreas. Its job is to serve as a key that unlocks your body's cells so that glucose can enter and be used by the cells as energy. Fat cells, particularly abdominal fat cells, lessen the sensitivity to insulin, making it harder for glucose to pass through cell walls. Because the glucose can't enter the cells, it remains in the bloodstream (high blood sugar). The pancreas responds by producing and releasing more insulin. This cycle repeats itself and grows worse over time. This is what leads to metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes.

Excess Belly Fat Greatly Increases the Risk of Heart Disease and Stroke

Because belly fat is so close to the liver (and often accompanied by excess fat directly surrounding the liver), it boosts production of LDL cholesterol (the one we don't want boosted!). This cholesterol eventually becomes a waxy substance known as plaque, which sticks to artery walls and eventually causes swelling, narrowing the arteries. This narrowing increases blood pressure, which seriously taxes the heart. It also increases your chance of blood clots, which can cause stroke.

Excess Belly Fat Increases the Risk of Dementia

Excess belly fat has even been linked to an increased risk of dementia. In fact, excess belly fat increases your risk of developing dementia by as much as 145%! This is a result of the same inflammation in the artery walls, which decreases proper blood flow to the brain.

With all of the serious health risks linked to belly fat, it's easy to see that getting rid of excess belly fat should be a very high priority. Fortunately, while we have lots of "scary" research that shows the risks of stomach fat, we also have all of the new research that shows us how to get rid of belly fat quickly, easily and permanently.

Identifying The Two Kinds of Belly Fat

There are actually two kinds of paunch fat: subcutaneous fat and visceral fat. Subcutaneous means under the skin. This is the fat you can see and pinch, since it's just below the skin layer.

Visceral fat is the fat that surrounds your vital organs. In the case of abdominal fat, your liver is most commonly affected.

Excess subcutaneous fat around the abdomen is usually accompanied by excess visceral fat around the liver.

The good news: The stomach Fat Diet plan attacks BOTH types of belly fat.

Diets Affect Weight Loss for Better or for Worse

Diets Affect Weight Loss

What do you think diets mean when it comes to weight loss? The reasons many people have a hard time losing weight is because they think diet means eating less.

They rush into crash diets, supplemented by pills and what not, only to see their campaign to shed pounds come crashing down. So before you take up a diet in the hopes of shedding those extra pounds you should understand some important, invaluable, undeniable facts:

There is no magic diet to dissolve your fats.

Diets alone are not the best weight loss strategy.

what you eat or drink can determine how you lose weight.

... for Better or for Worse

Diets effect losing weight, for better or for worse. It's up to you what kind of effect that this. You may even lose weight initially and think "Yay, it's working" but then you find it hard to stick to the diet. What happens then? You spiral back to your old eating habits and the weight comes back just as soon as it had disappeared.

This is not to say that there is no way to lose weight fast or meet challenging weight loss goals. With the right diet plan you can lose considerable weight, in an impressive time period.

So, yay or nay on a healthy balanced diet?

Healthy, Balanced Diet

A healthy, balanced diet is the key. Sometimes you may need to start your weight loss campaign with a strict diet and then work to improve your eating habits. Where people often go astray is that they think the strict diet is the solution itself.

So how do you know what diet to follow, how to follow a diet or switch between them as you improve your eating habits?

If you have access to reliable advice, diet plans and strategies that have delivered results, helped people shed pounds in a healthy and sustainable way, then you can go about losing weight the right way.

Effective Weight Loss Diets can actually be Enjoyable

Losing weight through diets has both easy and hard aspects. It's not all tough and insufferable.

For instance you don't have to eat funny looking meals or drink weird shakes to lose weight. While sometimes such items do serve a purpose, they are not where your dieting initiative should end. Starving obviously is not a solution anyway.

What you should focus on, in addition to a certain 'rigid' diet is a balanced diet that you can easily follow throughout your life. And once you follow a healthy, balanced diet, you will also find it easier to adopt other habits such as exercise that is crucial for effective weight loss.

Diet is one of the two wings you need your weight loss solution to take off. The other is exercise. You need the other, but need this one as well.

The Best Diet Plans on the Web

So start today by viewing the best, most effective and healthy diets available on the web. weightlossonlineinfo.com has the reliable information to quick weight loss.

What Does Green Tea Do?

Besides being a tasty beverage, there are plenty of other things that green tea can help with. People are getting more and more excited as the list of benefits for drinking Chinese tea keeps growing and expanding. In this article we are going to answer the question "What does green tea do?"

There has been over a decade of research on Chinese tea and the results are astounding. Professionals who are always interested in holistic approaches as well as individuals who are practicing in traditional medicine are seeing that tea is helpful in many different areas of health. Here are just a few of the benefits individuals are experiencing from consuming the Chinese tea:

• Weight Loss
• Looking Younger
• Healthier Heart
• Improvement in Diabetes
• Regulated Blood Pressure Levels
• Better Resistance to Sickness

Chinese tea comes from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant and has been an every day beverage in the cultures of the Chinese, Japanese and Indians. It wasn't until around the sixth century that the West was able to experience green tea, but now it is a common thing to see green tea in almost any household. Most of the people are not even thinking about the health benefits, they just know that green tea tastes great and they get the health benefits on accident.

Tea has active ingredients of which the main ones are called polyphenol. The most powerful polyphenol found in tea is called EGCG and most people believe that the most of the health benefits of tea come from EGCG. This makes EGCG a very powerful ingredient that you can find in many different weight loss supplements.

Polyphenols are antioxidants that destroy free radicals in the body. Free radicals are nasty and dangerous molecules that work to damage and destroy cells in your body. Whenever you consume one cup of this tea you will be taking in about eighty to one hundred polyphenols.

Since there are so many different benefits, this tea is being talked about all over; not only in homes around the world, but also on famous and popular talk shows and health programs. There is plenty of information and testimonials that back up the information people are getting on this tea and its health benefits. You can find reliable research anywhere on the internet and in books.

Women who are pregnant or nursing are recommended by many people to consume tea because of the many health benefits. It is important to consume green tea in moderation during pregnancy however since it does contain caffeine. Moderation is the key and the way to be able to get the health benefits without any adverse side effects.

Many personal fitness trainers have their clients drinking Chinese tea and seeing great results. There are many different brands of green tea and different ways to consume green tea. Find what works for you and start seeing the health benefits of green tea and what Chinese tea can do in your body.