To their credit, Atkins group have refined their diet guidelines from their original ‘eat all fat you want’ stance to ‘eat moderate amounts of good fats’. This is not only a heart healthy step forward but is also likely to help your weight loss efforts as essential fatty acids (the good fats) can help you actually burn more fat. However, when you consider that carbs are already limited on this diet, I’m not sure what you eat except grilled chicken breast, fat free cottage cheese and egg-white omelets. This effectively transforms diet into a high-protein, low-calorie diet which, if it becomes low calorie, will induce body to lower its metabolism.

But one thing you need to know about why Atkins diet brings about significant weight loss in first week is that it sends body into ketosis. Without getting technical, this is a body imbalance that causes your body to flush out toxins (ketones) through your urine like crazy! What you are losing then is primarily water – not fat. Over long term, restricting carbohydrate consumption to levels recommended in Atkins and other similar diets is that they overlook fact that your body needs carbohydrates to utilize protein you consume. Thus, just like low calorie diet, this diet cannot help you increase or even maintain muscle mass if carbohydrates are not consumed at a higher level than they recommend.

Finally, if you go off of low carb diet, your body will immediately stop burning fat as it’s primary fuel source. Adding carbs back into diet will usually cause weight gain as water weight loss comes back within days.

If you are committed to fat loss success, then you cannot overlook body’s need for sufficient calorie levels to prevent body from lowering its metabolism. You also need sufficient protein that body can utilize to have a shapely figure (this goes for guys and gals), youthful skin and great hair. Keep fruits and vegetables, permit yourself a serving or two of a whole grain bread or pasta, focus on high quality proteins and good fats, get calcium from low fat dairy products such as yogurt and your body will respond with a slow, steady and healthy weight loss.

Here’s to your health as well as your weight loss success!

Remember old wives' tale that 'fish is good for brain'? (When I hear this saying, my mind always goes back to a lecturer jokingly saying that his mother was determined that he would do well and always made him eat fish before an examination, and, of course, to her delight he did do well). Well, now it has been proved that Omega 3 (pure fish oils) not only benefits brain but whole body. It is high in essential fatty acids, which help to maintain a healthy heart and circulation.

Another very good supplement is Selenium. This was naturally present in earth and in our vegetables years ago, but sadly has become depleted over years with intensive farming and chemicals. So we can put back this missing ingredient. I certainly felt a difference on taking this as a supplement.

Now, if you are prone to numerous infections, coughs, colds, etc., then your immune system needs a boost. In addition to usual Vitamin C, a couple of good supplements for this are Zinc and Echinacea. It's a good idea to take Echinacea well before 'flu time' is upon us in order to get it into system.

We have always known importance of making sure that we have enough calcium in order to maintain bone strength, but it is only in past few years that Glucosamine has come to fore as an aid to joints. Glucosamine is believed to stimulate cartilage growth and prevent it wearing down and hopefully reducing subsequent pain. I have a friend who swears this has helped her painful joints. Chondroitin is often added to Glucosamine as this helps to attract fluid into cartilage. Healthy Direct (www.healthydirect.co.uk) has a special offer on this powerful combination of Glucosamine, Chondroitin and Vitamin C. They also operate a free postage and packing with prompt delivery service, which is great if you have difficulty in getting to shops.

Notice that throughout I have been using word 'supplement' as no tablets are going to replace a healthy diet. I remember being told by a doctor when I was in my twenties that way towards a healthy life was to eat a small amount of a wide variety of foods and that way body would obtain necessary vitamins and nourishment. Whilst I agree with 'variety' advice, I am not sure with present day treatment and overlong storage of foodstuffs (particularly fruit and vegetables) whether there are many vitamins left by time they reach table. It came as a shock to hear at one lecture that when they tested an orange for its Vitamin C content, results came back as a surprising 'nil'. Still to end on a happy note, fibre content was there, and we must eat plenty of FRESH fruit and vegetables not only for vitamins but also for fibre and enzymes necessary for digestive process to function properly. But more on that - together with a breakdown of all essential vitamins and my favourite subject - FOOD - (I'll try not to think about or mention chocolate cake) IT'S ... 'HOLD-BACK-THE-YEARS' FOOD ...... next time

Looking forward to chatting to you again and also looking forward to hearing from you ...

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