Low-Carb Diets: Are You Losing More than Weight?Written by Monique N. Gilbert, B.Sc.
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Another reason weight loss is achieved on these low-carb diets, at least temporarily, is due to water loss. The increase in amount of protein consumed, especially from meat and dairy products, raises levels of uric acid and urea in blood. These are toxic by-products of protein breakdown and metabolism. The body eliminates this uric acid and urea by pumping lots of water into kidneys and urinary tract to help flush it out. However, a detrimental side effect of this diuretic response is loss of essential minerals from body, including calcium. The high intake of protein leaches calcium from bones, which leads to osteoporosis. Medical evidence shows that for every 1 gram increase in animal protein ingested body loses an average of 1.75 milligrams of calcium in urine. Additionally, as calcium and other minerals are leached from our bones, they are deposited in kidneys, which can form into painful kidney stones. If a kidney stone becomes large enough to cause a blockage, it stops flow of urine from kidney and must be removed by surgery or other methods. Plant-based proteins, like beans, legumes and soyfoods, also provide fiber, which helps lowers LDL cholesterol and raises HDL (the good) cholesterol. This prevents build up of arterial plaque, which leads to atherosclerosis (hardening of arteries) and heart disease, thus reducing risk of heart attack and stroke. The amount and type of protein in your diet also has an important impact on calcium absorption and excretion. Vegetable-protein diets enhance calcium retention in body, and causes less calcium excretion in urine. This reduces risk of osteoporosis and kidney problems. Interestingly, kidney disease is far less common in people who eat a vegetable-based diet than it is in people who eat an animal-based diet. By replacing animal protein with vegetable protein, and replacing saturated fat with unsaturated fat (like olive and canola oils), you can avoid pitfalls of typical high-protein low-carb diet. You will improve your health and regulate your weight while enjoying a vast array of delicious, nutritionally dense, high fiber foods. Remember, eat everything in moderation and nothing in excess. Also, healthy way to lose weight and keep it off is to eat nutritiously and make permanent lifestyle changes that allow you burn more calories than you take in. Copyright © 2005 Monique N. Gilbert. All rights reserved. Monique N. Gilbert, B.Sc. is a Health, Nutrition, Weight-Loss and Lifestyle Coach; Certified Personal Trainer/Fitness Counselor; Recipe Developer; Freelance Writer and Author of Virtues of Soy: A Practical Health Guide and Cookbook. Monique has offered guidance in natural health, nutrition, fitness, weight-loss and stress management since 1989. She can be reached at http://www.MoniqueNGilbert.com ****************************************
Monique N. Gilbert helps people get healthy and manage stress. Through her coaching program and writings, Monique motivates and teaches how to improve your well-being and vitality with balanced nutrition, physical activity and healthy living. For more information, visit - http://www.MoniqueNGilbert.com
| | Obesity & it's relationship to Anoraxia, Bulimia and other eating disorders.Written by Mahesh Bhat
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More women than men have binge eating disorder, and most of people who have it are overweight or obese. Binge eaters eat mostly sugar and fat, and as a result, they may be lacking certain vitamins and nutrients. Many of them are also depressed. Treatments for this disorder include therapy and medications such as antidepressants. Bulimia Nervosa - Binge eating is also present in another eating disorder, bulimia nervosa. It is estimated that 1.1 to 4.2 percent of females will have bulimia nervosa in their lifetime. Bulimics are caught in a binge/purge cycle. They binge eat, usually in secret, then purge to get rid of calories just eaten. Purging may involve either self-induced vomiting after eating or using laxatives, diuretics, or enemas. People with bulimia may also exercise intensely for long periods of time in attempt to burn off extra calories taken in during binge eating, or they may go for long periods of time without eating. Many bulimics do a combination or all of these things. Bulimia affects more women than men and more young women in their teens and twenties than older women. These women are usually obsessed with their weight and truly believe that they are overweight even though most have a normal body weight. It can cause a number of serious health effects, including anemia, dehydration, heart problems, ruptured esophagus, stomach ulcers, and even death. Like binge eating disorder, bulimia is treated with therapy and medications. Anorexia Nervosa - on opposite side of binge eating is anorexia nervosa. It affects around 1 to 2 percent of female population. Anorexia is characterized by self-starvation and obsession with food, weight, and appearance, weight loss of 15% or more below normal body weight, and an intense fear of being fat. Many of them look emaciated, but they’re convinced they are fat. Because anorexics literally starve themselves, their bodies are severely depleted of nutrients. As a result, they develop muscular atrophy, dehydration, low blood pressure, and brain and organ damage to name a few. As many as 10 percent of anorexics die. Most anorexics deny they have a problem until problem gets so bad that they have to be hospitalized. Because anorexia is so life-threatening, first stage of treatment is getting body weight back to normal. once this is on track, therapy and medications are used. Eating disorders are serious disorders and should not be taken lightly. If you suspect you have one or think someone you love does, please seek help. It could be a matter of life and death.
Mahesh Bhat is Web Master of http://info-diet.com a Wellness Community site that provides information on Diet Pills Visit the site to learn all about obesity & free weight loss tips! This article may be freely distrinuted electronically or in print as long as the Author bio is unchanged.
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