There is no weight loss program that is as simple to follow and obvious about its benefits as the Raw Food Diet. Normally, people don’t realize the amount of calories they innocently add to their food based on the method of cooking they utilize. Adding oils, butter, too much salt and spices are all probably the reason you cannot lose weight, even though you eat only healthy foods. Frying that healthy fish or baking that healthy eggplant with additional cheese and breadcrumbs can increase the caloric content of your food by up to 25%, if not more.

Raw Food Diet works in many ways. Firstly, it removes all these additional calories that come as a result of cooking the food. Secondly, it is a lot tougher to digest raw food, which means your body burns off more calories just during digestion. Thirdly, because raw food contains more nutrients (many nutrients get lost while cooking the food) it is overall healthier for you. Unlike other fad diets like the Baby food diet or the Low carb diet that leave you feeling unsatisfied when you don’t see results immediately, the Raw Food Diet will never let you down. Not only will it help you lose weight in no time, it will also improve your overall health by improving blood circulation, bring blood pressure to normal, improving digestion and reducing cholesterol levels in your body.

How to get started on the Raw Food diet?

The Raw Food diet is based on a single mantra – foods found the way they are in nature are the healthiest to consume. Though not just a weight loss plan, this program aids in weight loss naturally. Mainly the Raw Food diet is a lifestyle change that improves your overall health, and in the process also gives you a svelte figure. The idea is to eat foods raw, or if any cooking is required, the heating shouldn’t go above 118° F. Cooking can remove many beneficial enzymes from the food you eat, which is why the Raw Food Diet aims to eat the foods when the enzymes are present for better health.

The next obvious question is – what to eat on a Raw Food Diet?

Obviously, the best foods are raw fruits and vegetables. But that doesn’t mean you cannot eat meats. A few dishes are naturally raw food meat dishes, like the sashimi and sushi or the ceviche and carpaccio. You can even include dairy products like milk, cheese (not processed though) and yogurt. Nuts form a major part of the Raw Food Diet. However, don’t think that Raw Food Diet means not eating anything cooked at all! That way, the diet will never be successful. The Raw Food Diet says that you need to eat 70% of your food daily in the raw form. The rest 30% can be breads, legumes and meats that you need to cook in order to eat.

Is the Raw Food Diet ideal for weight loss?

Though the Raw Food Diet came in to being as a healthier lifestyle choice, it goes without saying that this diet results in weight loss. And why wouldn’t it? You are eliminating most processed foods, fats and carbohydrates from your diet, which means that weight loss is guaranteed. You can ask your dietician for a well balanced Raw Food Diet menu that ensures you don’t lose out on any healthy food source. For fat, enjoy seeds and nuts and for carbohydrates enjoy fruits and boiled potatoes. Sprouts are the ideal way to get proteins in your diet, while fruits and vegetables also give you the much needed vitamins and minerals.

Preparing your meals when on the Raw Food Diet:

Since you are considering the Raw Food Diet to achieve weight loss, it is essential you understand how to prepare balanced meals when on this diet. It is very easy to go overboard with a few food groups (like fruits or vegetables) when on this diet, which is why it is important to understand how to attain the perfect balance to ensure you get all the nutrients your body needs for healthy functioning.

To get proteins – try nuts and even raw beans. To soften the beans, you need to soak them overnight. Brussels sprouts are a great way to get proteins. To get carbohydrate – try fruits and vegetables that give you ready carbs. Bananas, apples, carrots, cabbage and pineapple are all great options.

A popular way to prepare meals on the Raw Food Diet is juicing everything. You can add sugar or salt to flavor the drink and then enjoy the juice for nutritional benefits. Make sure you don’t just live off juice – the pulp and skin of fruits and vegetables are very important to add dietary fiber to your diet.

A lot of people prefer smoothies when on the Raw Food Diet. Some people also make soups as long as they stick to the temperature restriction given to them, which is why buying a food thermometer is important when you want to go on the Raw Food Diet. Foods like pesto and hummus are great variations for your diet, eaten with healthy multigrain breads and brown rice.

However, keep in mind that there are a few nutrients you need from animal products – like omega 3 fatty acids (though you can get this in nuts) Vitamin B12 and Iron. You can try and take additional supplements when on the Raw Food Diet to ensure you get the whole plethora of nutrients you need for balanced weight loss.

Raw Food Diet can help reduce water weight too:

Sometimes, people who are on the raw food diet notice that they suddenly lose 20 to 30 pounds in just a few weeks. This means you are losing water weight, as the body naturally doesn’t lose more than 2 pounds of fat per week.

Eating a high sodium diet or a diet that is comprised of just processed foods is the biggest reason you put on water weight. High sodium content in your food can result in water retention in the body. These could be just table salt, soya sauce, fish sauce, teriyaki sauce, seaweed and sea salt. Your body naturally dilutes the salt content in these foods by adding more water, which is probably why you weight so much in the first place. Eating a diet mainly comprised of raw foods eliminates the water trapped in the cells of the body. For such people who are prone to putting on water weight, there is no better diet than the Raw Food Diet as it eliminates salt and extra toxins from your daily meals.

Also, raw food has a great thermic effect on food. The thermic effect of food is nothing but the fact that after you eat a sugary or carbs filled meal, your body uses the calories to convert it in to glycogen that your muscles need as fuel. The extra calories get stored as fat, which is the reason you are packing on more pounds. Since raw food doesn’t have a lot of calories to begin with, there are no extra calories that can be converted in to fat.

There is no better Detox Diet than the Raw Food Diet:

The Raw Food Diet removes all toxins from your body, offering you a daily detox that is beneficial fr your overall health. In fact, the raw food diet can remove gall bladder stones, kidney stones and fat that clogs your arteries within no time. These detox properties of the Raw Food Diet are due to:

Your intake of toxic food reduces drastically. This allows the body to perform an effective catabolic process or detoxification, along with anabolic processes. All the toxins that have accumulated in your body are readily removed.

Since the Raw Food Diet eliminates deficiencies in diet, it further performs better detoxification. Deficiencies in the body, whether vitamin or calcium deficiencies, can delay catabolic processes and keep toxins within as a result.

The benefits of Raw Food Diet:

• First of all, on the Raw Food Diet it is almost impossible to store excess fats since the diet doesn’t include many fat filled foods. Believe it or not, for fat reserves in your body, your diet is a more determining factor as compared to exercise. While you can try and burn off all fat by exercising for an hour 7 days a week, a diet rich in fat and simple carbs will always result in weight loss. So this diet almost always leads to weight loss.
• Since the foods are not cooked, and even if they are they are cooked to no more than 118° F, the healthy enzymes in foods stay intact. This further aids in overall health, along with balanced weight loss.
• Unlike other diets, the raw food diet eliminates no healthy nutrients from your food. This means you have all the energy to build muscles, which further burns off excess fat in the body.
• Finally, since the raw food diet compromises of only healthy foods, you can look and feel much younger and reduce signs of premature aging. This is usually the result of a hectic lifestyle with poor dietary choices. With the right diet rich in raw foods, you can stay in top shape well till your 60s.

No matter what way you see it, the Raw Food Diet is 100% safe and beneficial for not just weight loss, but also for overall better health. So try it today and reap the benefits of this wonderful diet program.

Losing weight is always a challenge. We try to be strong, workout, eat right, or suffer through a scary surgery. It is a challenging process and is easily discouraging. Many guides provide information on the medical information that is pertinent to weigh loss surgery and post-op care, but what about dealing with the emotional effects of this life changing event? With change comes stress and emotional distress.

With the book The Weight Loss Surgery Coping Companion you are able to see how other people have dealt with the emotional tolls of bariatric surgery. Many overweight people see surgery as an emergency option for obesity. Desperation is a very strong emotion. In this book, the author assists the reader with acknowledging and dealing with weight loss, nervousness, stress, and disappointment.

Product Features

• Provides personal experiences of post-op weight loss surgery patients and describes their emotional journey
• Helps the reader evaluate their feelings and deal with them
• By elaborating on other patients experiences, the author shows the reader that they are not alone
• Written by a psychologist that specializes in helping post-op weight loss patients acknowledge their emotions

Easy To Use

After weight loss surgery there are many challenges. Between changing your eating habits, healing, and adjusting to a new life style, it can be very difficult to find time to sort out your feelings. Having any type of surgery can be very stressful, but when undergoing bariatric surgery there are many more emotional hurtles to jump. Most patients think that surgery is a quick fix to their weight woes, but the truth is they still have to change their eating habits and their relationship to food.

Many patients become discouraged and depressed if they are not losing weight fast enough. For many overweight people food is their way of comforting themselves. When they become depressed they turn to food for solace and this in turn makes weight loss even slower. There are also many patients who initially lose a large amount of weight while on the post-op liquid diet, but when they are able to eat solid food, they begin to put the weight back on.

This fluctuating losing and gaining can be very detrimental to a person’s self esteem. This book helps you to better understand how your feelings are affecting your results and how to manage them. If you can control your emotional triggers then you can better succeed at losing weight.

Cost of Unit

The book The Weight Loss Surgery Coping Companion: A Practical Guide For Coping With Post-Surgery Emotions is priced around $16.95 if purchased through Amazon.com. This book is moderately priced compared to other similar books on weight loss. This book was written by one of the leading psychologists assisting post-op weight loss patients. It is a comprehensive guide to evaluating your feelings and learning to manage them to better control the effectiveness of your surgery.

Customer Reviews

The book The Weight Loss Surgery Coping Companion: A Practical Guide For Coping With Post-Surgery Emotions received 4.5 out of a possible five stars in the category of customer satisfaction. Customers were very happy with the approach this book took to dealing with post-op emotions. One customer stated that they had read several other similar books, but they all seemed to be generalized information and didn’t help. They felt that this book was much more comprehensive. The customer stated that they felt the book was written just for them.

Another customer said that they were given a great deal of clinical information on post-op care and a guide to their dietary needs, but no one addressed the feelings that lead them to be overweight in the first place. The customer felt that this book definitely helped them to address their emotions and deal with them so that they could succeed with their weight loss goals. Another customer stated that they were one of the many people that binge eat when they are depressed.

After their surgery they still had the urge to over eat, but it made them sick to try. Their depression was overwhelming. They even wished they hadn’t had the surgery, so they didn’t feel so bad about themselves. They felt this book made a huge difference in the way they felt. Overall, customers were very pleased with the help they received from this book.

There was very little negative feedback in regard to this book. Only one reviewer gave the book less than three stars. The customer felt that this book was broader than they had hoped. They felt that the book was not very helpful for them. However, they did admit that the book was informative.

Recommendation

This book is a comprehensive guide to acknowledging your feelings and dealing with them to make the most of your weight loss surgery. This book is moderately priced and was highly recommended by current owners. Overall, this book is a safe purchase for anyone struggling with their emotional state after weight loss surgery.

Losing weight can be a very difficult process. Many people try diet and exercise, but just aren’t able to get the results that they desperately need. If you are one of those people and are considering weight loss surgery then this book could help you. Choosing the best facility for your surgery can be scary. This guide will not only help you decide if you qualify for the surgery, but also help you find the best hospital to have perform it for you.

After weight loss surgery, if is very important to your recovery to adhere to a specific low fat, low carb, and low sugar dietary plan. To most of us that seems like the death of our love affair with food. It’s difficult to find great tasting recipes that are also healthy and fit in to your plan.

With the book Weight Loss Surgery for Dummies you will find everything you need to make appetizing and healthy meals. Not only will this book make cooking post-op easier, but also help you devise the safest plan for easing back in to your day-to-day routine. This book is one of the most complete guides to weight loss surgery you can find.

Product Features

• Helps you to determine if you qualify for weigh loss surgery
• Helpful information on the risks of weight loss surgery
• Guide to determining the best place to have your surgery performed
• Complete recipe guide for making great tasting healthy food that fits in with post-op dietary needs
• Section included on how to work your way back in to your day-to-day life
• Book is written by a doctor

Easy to Use

When it comes to weight loss surgery, there is a great deal of information to sort through. It can be very difficult to find the pertinent information and apply it to your own life. When deciding on something as important as surgery it is very important to have all the facts and be able to understand them. In Weight Loss Surgery for Dummies, all the information you need to make an informed decision is laid out for you in a way that you can read it and digest it step by step along this process. More importantly, this book was written by a doctor, so you know that you are getting the complete picture.

This book also comes complete with a recipe guide for post-op eating. One of the hardest parts of having the weight loss surgery is being forced to adjust your eating habits to allow for healing. These dietary plans can be very restricting and this book provided easy to follow tasty recipes to aid you in your recovery. That manual will help you enjoy easy to make great tasting foods that will make losing weight and staying healthy a cinch.

Cost of Unit

The average cost of Weight Loss Surgery for Dummies is $14.95 if purchased through Amazon.com. This book is priced slightly higher than other similar books. However, this book is one of the most complete guides to weight loss surgery on the market. You could easily pay $12 for just a recipe guide for post-op eating. This book provides significantly more information on the surgery than other similarly priced products. This book is not only a recipe guide, but a guide to determining your surgery eligibility, choosing a facility to perform the surgery, and returning to your regular routine. This book is far more comprehensive than most.

Customer Review

Weight Loss Surgery for Dummies received five out of a possible five stars in the category of customer satisfaction. Owners of this book found it extremely informative. Customers were very happy with how the author guides the reader step-by-step through every aspect of having Weight Loss Surgery without encouraging or discouraging the process.

The book also elaborates on insurance hurdles, what to expect from your hospital stay, and hospital reputations. One customer stated that the author of this book was the doctor that performed Al Roker’s surgery. The customer was impressed that her credentials were such that celebrities with unlimited means would choose her to operate on them.

The customer also stated that it was easy to see why. The doctor was very thorough in explaining every aspect that you should consider. They were also very pleased with the recipes. They felt they were a useful addition to the book.

No customer gave this book a rating of fewer than four stars. All customers who commented on this product would recommend it to others. Overall, customers were extremely pleased with their purchase.

Recommendation

Weight Loss For Dummies is reasonably priced. This book is very informative and well written. The author is a surgeon who performs these procedures regularly. Customers who currently own this book gave it rave reviews and would recommend it to their friends and family. Overall, this book is a safe purchase and a great reference for anyone considering Weight Loss Surgery.

Weight loss is a very hard thing to do, especially for women. The word ‘diet’ can spring fear into most women’s mind. So, what if you could lose weight without dieting? Here are a few weight loss tips and tricks that could help tip the scales in the direction you were hoping without dieting.

The first trick is to pace yourself when you are eating. Rather than wolfing down a meal as fast as you can, slow it down. Set a timer to 20 minutes and make the meal last until the time is up. Eating quickly can block the hormone that makes you feel full which then causes overeating, overeating causes unwanted weight gain. Therefore, eating slowly can make you get more pleasure from smaller meals which results in feeling full quicker. To help you feel fuller for longer you could include Maxitone snack bars in your diet as well.

Everyone knows that we are recommended to eat 5 portions of fruit and veg a day, but here’s why. Fruit and veg are high in fibre and water content so they fill you up with fewer calories, which is what you want when you’re trying to lose weight. A handy tip is that if you add them into the meal (rather than just on the side) you are more likely to enjoy it because you don’t realise that you’re eating your fruit or veg. This way you can have up to 3 portions in your meal without knowing it! Once you’ve started eating the recommended portions you’ll notice that you don’t need to snack as often, which is a bad thing to do when you’re trying to lose weight. Another way to help with snacking is to have a Maxitone weight loss shake. This could be a replacement for a snack whilst helping you lose those extra pounds.

The next trick might be slightly unusual but it is proven to work. Instead of drinking from a small wide glass try drinking from a tall thin one. This tricks the eyes into thinking you’re drinking more than you actually are. The result being that you’ll drink less fizzy drinks or wine.

A flat, toned tummy is something a lot of women want but don’t know how to get. If you’re trying to shed a few extra pounds and are worried that means spending all of your free time in the gym, I have fantastic news for you. You can lose weight without hitting the gym and you can even do it while you work, watch television or play on the computer. Take charge of your body, feel more confident and get your body bikini ready by summer with these six simple tips.

source: Wikipedia

06: Give up your fast food habit.

What you eat plays a huge role in how successful you’ll be when trying to lose weight. It just makes logical sense. A lot of people choose to dine on fast food because it’s quick, easy and tasty but there are other options out there for the weight conscious woman trying to get bikini ready by summer. There are a lot of excellent frozen meals out there that are diet ready and are every bit as quick, easy and tasty as a burger and fries. You’ll also be able to avoid feeling terrible after you eat. Cut fast food out of your life. You’ll be amazed by how much more quickly you lose weight but also by how much better you feel overall. Trust me on this one. I speak from experience.

Snacking should not be off limits if you’re trying to lose weight but snacking on potato chips and candy bars definitely should be. You can choose healthier snacks that you’ll still enjoy. One of the biggest benefits potato chips and candy bars offer is the fact that they’re easy. All you have to do is open the bag of chips or unwrap your chocolate bar and your snacking can begin. Healthy snacking doesn’t have to be more difficult than that. Check out the produce section at your local supermarket. I’m sure you’ll find a whole variety of healthy snack options. Don’t feel like slicing and dicing your snack before you eat? Look for the ready cut and washed snack trays. My personal favorite television snack? A nice tray of broccoli, cauliflower, carrots and cherry tomatoes. If I’m in the mood for something a little tangier, I’ll mix it up with a fruit tray with a selection of melons and berries. Delicious and diet appropriate.

source: newhomedecorations.blogspot.com

05: Leave the car in the garage.

With gas prices as they are today, this one is just a good idea anyway. Leave your car in the garage as often as you can. Invest in a bike or a good pair of running shoes and get where you need to go by way of your own two feet. While many of us aren’t able to walk to work, if you’re going to the store or going to visit a friend that lives nearby, walk or ride your bike. Many, many people rely on their cars to get them where they could go on foot. If you want to lose weight, just cutting back on those car trips could make a huge difference. You’ll be getting exercise, helping out the environment and saving money. Pretty good deal, I’d say.

source: laurabielecki.com

04: Take the stairs.

Sure the escalator or elevator is easier and faster but simply taking the stairs can make a pretty significant difference in your waistline if you do it often enough. Stairs are a great workout. Why join a gym to workout on a Stair Master when you can just as easily walk up and down the stairs at work or at school once or twice a day and get basically the same benefit. You don’t even have to take the stairs each and every time the option presents itself. Start out your day by skipping the elevator. Take the stairs on your way to and from lunch. Save the elevator trip for the end of the day after your hard day’s work has come to a close.

source: healblog.net

03: Suck in your stomach.

We’ve all sucked in our stomach from time to time when we want to look thinner but sucking in your stomach can actually help you get thinner as well. When you suck in your stomach, you’re giving your abdominal muscles a great work out. Just make sure you’re doing something else as well to work out the rest of your body. If you only focus on your stomach, you’re going to wind up with a bulge instead of the flat stomach you want. Use the stairs, leave the car in the garage and suck in your stomach and you’ll get a decent total body workout.

source: handyhealthcare.co.uk

02: Stand on one foot.

You might look a little silly while you’re doing it, but standing on one foot forces you to balance yourself which gives your core a fantastic workout. Try standing on one foot while you’re waiting for water to boil or while you’re making dinner. Just make sure you have at least one hand to catch yourself if you start to fall. You don’t want to injure yourself. If you have your own office, take a few minutes a day to stand on one foot. Alternate which foot you stand on as well to once again make sure you’re getting an even workout.

source: bodyw8fitness.blogspot

01: Invest in an exercise ball.

Exercise balls are fantastic. They’re a must have for anyone interested in losing weight quickly without spending their life in a gym. Get off the couch and sit on your exercise ball while you’re watching television. Put the computer chair away for a little while and sit on your exercise ball while you’re playing around on the internet. Exercise balls offer the same basic benefit as standing on one foot but a little bit better. Plus you won’t feel quite as embarrassed if someone walks in on you while you’re sitting on your exercise ball. If you have your own office, consider buying an extra ball for the office. You can put it aside when you’re not using it but pull it out every so often to get in that office workout.

Follow these tips and you should be on your way to getting in better shape. Make sure you watch that diet though. If you’re not losing weight as quickly as you’d like, consider adding a run or brisk walk to your exercise routine in the morning or at night. Take a friend along with you when you go. You’ll not only have someone to workout with but you’ll also be more inclined to stick to your routine that way. To get the most out of your run or walk, you should try to keep up a pace that makes it difficult to carry on a conversation.

source: People.com

People Magazine has confirmed singer Carnie Wilson has undergone lap-band weight loss surgery in an attempt to shed the weight she gained when she was pregnant. While this is a different procedure than the gastric bypass procedure she had twelve years ago, a number of people are still concerned that Carnie could be putting her health at risk. Before we talk about the differences between gastric bypass surgery and lap-band surgery and talk about the risks associated with each one, let’s talk a bit about why Carnie may have chosen to take this drastic weight loss measure.

Following Carnie’s gastric bypass surgery twelve years ago, she was a woman transformed. She was confident. She was comfortable. She was happy. She shed 150 pounds, posed for Playboy and became, for better or for worse, an inspiration to women all over the world struggling with their weight. As Carnie now prepares to reunite with girl group Wilson Phillips, her desire to be thin again definitely makes sense. She’s not only going to be making television appearances to promote Wilson Phillips’ new album (released on April 3^rd) but will also be promoting the band’s reunion themed reality television show, Wilson Phillips: Still Holding On (set to air on the TV Guide Network beginning on April 8^th). That means a lot of pressure on Carnie to look and feel her best. Shedding weight will definitely help with that, but many are concerned about the risk she may have put herself in.

source: momlogic.com

Carnie was, by all indications, maintaining a healthy weight following her first surgery but then she had children and as any woman knows, pregnancy can really take a toll on the body. After struggling with the weight she gained during her pregnancy, Carnie made the decision to have a second procedure. In a statement to People, Carnie said, “It was the right decision for me and I’m doing really well so far. It’s all about taking good care of my self.” So far, the singer has lost 30 pounds and appears to be healthy and in good spirits. As long as that continues and as long as she continues to take good care of herself, there may be absolutely nothing to worry about.

Carnie had this second procedure on January 18, allowing herself nearly three months to recuperate before her hectic promotional schedule begins. This clearly isn’t a decision Carnie has made lightly and I find that encouraging. She seems to be focusing on her health and I’m of the opinion that a woman should be entitled to do whatever she needs to do to be confident and feel good about herself – as long as she always keeps her health in mind above all else. Was it a risky choice? Yes. Very much so but I think Carnie went into this procedure with the risks in mind and made an informed decision. That is my hope, anyway. I’m rooting for Carnie. With all that said, let’s take a moment to talk about Carnie’s procedures and the risks associated with each one as well as some of the potential benefits.

source: sheknows.com

Carnie’s first procedure was gastric bypass surgery which is basically a series of small operations that reduces the size of the stomach allowing the patient to feel full after eating smaller portions of food. Gastric bypass surgery works by dividing the stomach into two pouches – one small upper pouch which, for all intents and purposes acts as the functioning stomach and a second larger pouch below the smaller pouch. The lower pouch is referred to as the ‘remnant pouch’. The patients intestines are then moved around and re-arranged to connect both the upper and lower pouches. There are a lot of different names for gastric bypass procedures. The different names are used for the different ways the surgeon may use to reconnect the intestines.

source: drsharma.ca

Regardless of the specific name, all gastric bypass surgeries work basically the same way. More than just allowing the patient to eat smaller portions of food but still feel full, a gastric bypass procedure will also cause the patient to react to food in different ways physically and physiologically. All of these things contribute to the often dramatic weight loss patients experience rather quickly after surgery. The important thing to remember about this surgery, however, is that diet and exercise will still be necessary. This isn’t just a magic sure for obesity. Patients who have this surgery will still need to make lifestyle and dietary changes if they want to keep the weight off.

Gastric bypass surgery is a drastic measure. This is not surgery for someone who is looking to shed a few pounds. It should always be considered a last resort. As with any surgery, there are complications that can occur. In fact, it has been estimated that roughly 0.5% of patients who have the surgery will have lethal complications from the surgery within six months of the procedure. While that is still a fairly low percentage, it should not be overlooked. It’s also important to remember that careful attention has to go into making sure your body is getting what it needs to be healthy after the surgery. For some people, this means taking nutritional supplements, vitamins or possibly even medications. If you’re considering this procedure remember it is only used to treat morbid obesity, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea and a handful of other serious medical conditions. Make sure you really understand the risks and benefits before you seriously consider this option and make sure you talk with your doctor to make sure it’s a good option for you.

source: Wikipedia

The lap-band option is very similar to gastric bypass surgery but very different in a lot of ways as well. A lap-band (or laparoscopic adjustable gastric band) is an inflatable silicone device that is placed inside a patient around the top of their stomach. It works much the same was as a gastric bypass procedure would in that it reduces the amount of food a patient is able to consume but the lap-band is generally considered to be a bit safer than the more invasive option. With this option, the entire stomach stays more or less intact and there is no need to re-arrange the intestines. It is important to remember though that while it is generally considered safer, there are still risks that accompany this option. Like the gastric bypass, a lap-band should only be considered a last resort measure.

Are you wondering how many calories are in an apple? Apples are one of the healthiest of fruits, with a unique taste that appeals to most people and a plethora of health benefit. It makes for a delicious snack by itself, or finds its way in to most homemade pies, candies and custards. A medium apple, which is about 3 inches in diameter, will have no more than 95 calories. Larger apples will have more calories, and the number of calories might also depend on the variety of apple you are choosing. Mainly, the calories in apple range from about 53 calories for a small apple to about 115 calories for a large apple. The good news here is that the calories in apple come from healthy carbohydrates that the fruit packs; its natural sugar adding extra flavour only.

The main carbs in apples that are contributing to the number of calories in apple come from high fibre and natural sugars. Both are very good for you, giving your body the much needed roughage for a good digestive system and the sugar burst that is needed by the body to create energy. Don’t worry; apples do not have bad sugars, or simply put, sugars that could do your body harm. The sugars come from sucrose, fructose and glucose – all very healthy sugars.

How many calories are in an apple will depend on the size, and also the preparation you are using. For example, if you eat the apple raw, as a snack, the calories will be lesser. But adding apple to your cereal, smoothies or even a salad will increase the number of calories because of the additives you add.

Nutritional chart for apples:

*Chart Source: USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference (See Detailed PDF)

The chart given above gives you the breakdown of the most important nutrients in an apple, along with the caloric content. However, keep in mind that many other variables could affect this breakdown. One of these would be the species of the apple and the other would be the origin of the apple. The number of calories in a Granny Smith Apple will vary from the calories in a Honey Smith Apple. The origin of the apple also comes in to play, depending on the soil where the apple is grown as it affects the mineral content of the apples.

Here is the caloric content in a few popular varieties of apples:

• Fresh Apple – 53 calories
• Red Delicious – 80 calories
• Golden Delicious – 80 calories
• Granny Smith – 80 calories
• Custard Apple – 101 calories

On the whole, apples are very nutritious. Don’t worry much about how many calories are in an apple, because apples are a great source of Calcium, Potassium, Phosphorus, Magnesium, vitamins A, C and Beta Carotene.

As women walk in to their middle age, belly fat becomes a fact of life they need to learn to live with. Recent studies conducted around the globe have revealed that as women cross 30, their slowed metabolism, increased stress in life and sedentary lifestyles all together result in belly fat. But if it was just their looks they had to worry about, women could have found alternatives. However, belly fat increases chances for heart diseases and Type 2 diabetes, apart from other obesity related health problems.

Many women think they can look slimmer and more fit if they resort to drastic measures like tummy tucking and liposuction. However, the ugly truth is that while these methods may make you “look” better, they will not make you “feel” better. A study that was published in the 2004 edition of The New England Journal of Medicine revealed just why this is so. Though liposuction can remove the subcutaneous fat cells, the procedure has no positive effects on blood sugar levels, cholesterol levels or blood pressure levels, which have all been tampered with by obesity. So what is the possible solution? Diet and exercise is the only way for women who have crossed 30 to not only get rid of belly fat, but also reduce risk of diseases that are a result of this fat deposit.

The ideal way to beat the belly fat:

Unlike popular belief, starving yourself will not make you lose that stubborn belly fat. In fact, it will only add to your woes. As we grow older, our metabolism slows down, which makes it tougher for the body to burn calories and remove all fat deposits. Eating lesser food further slows down the metabolism, which means, you will never be able to lose that paunch! Instead, the ideal way to get rid of belly fat after you have turned 30 is to depend on the 2 staples – Diet and Exercise. Fact is, neither can do the job alone.

Low calorie diets might work for a certain time period. But once hunger pangs start making your daily life miserable, sticking to the diet becomes very tough. So, the best way to get rid of belly fat is to customize your own diet. It will depend on your current weight, your exact age, your fitness levels and your lifestyle. Knowing what to eat takes care of half your job, the other half lies in getting the best exercise routine that suits your body type.

In this article, we will talk of 10 super foods that can help all women who have crossed 30 years of age, fight belly fat effectively.

10 foods that fight belly fat:

To eat a right diet that fights belly fat means to eat responsibility. Especially for women who have crossed 30 years of age, there are a few foods that not only help in cutting belly fat, but also offer other health benefits that can reduce the signs of aging.

1. Avocados –

This fruit will help you with its anti-aging properties, while its anti-fungal & anti-bacterial properties will keep you free of fungal and bacterial infections too. But that is not all; avocados are also rich in an important amino acid called Lecithin that balances weight, improves your memory and even prevents you from liver diseases. It prevents the chances of heart attacks, strokes and offers you overall health benefits. So, make sure you add avocados to your salad to help you shake off that stubborn belly fat!

2. Apples –

They don’t say ‘An apple a day keeps the doctor away’ without good reason. However for women over 30 who struggle with belly fat, apples is a wonder food. And that is exactly what a Brazilian study proved, where they saw that women who ate 3 or more apples a day lost more weight as compared to those who don’t. The main reason behind this is pectin – a natural compound that not only reduces risk of colon cancer but also aids weight loss. The antioxidants and vitamin C in apples also keeps your skin wrinkle free, making it an additional bonus. Apples are high in dietary fiber, flavanoids, phytosterol and beta-carotene so they are very healthy too.

3. Watermelons –

An interesting study done at University of Kentucky revealed that watermelons had a unique effect on the plaque deposits in the arteries, which is increased by belly fat in women who have crossed 30 years of age. Watermelons lower belly deposits by altering the blood lipids. The study saw that drinking 2 glasses of watermelon juice every day for 8 weeks reduced body weight without altering the muscle mass, and this weight was lost mostly around the belly. So add watermelon juice to your breakfast every morning, or enjoy a plateful of this succulent fruit for a mid-morning snack. Since watermelon is high in water content, it has very few calories and also makes you feel full very fast, reducing chances of binge snacking.

4. Bananas –

Banana is a fruit that comes with multiple health benefits. Not only is it high in dietary fiber, it also offer instant energy to your body, which is a must for carrying out a regular workout routine. It also contains pectin, like apples, and helps in weight loss by filling up the stomach with healthy fiber, improving digestion and offering very few calories. In fact, bananas are rich in calcium, magnesium, Vitamins A, C, E, B6 and also potassium. This makes bananas the perfect snack anytime.

5. Tomatoes –

A large tomato has just 33 calories, and contains a compound called as 9-oxo-ODA that reduces lipids in blood and helps to control belly fat. This compound fights all chronic diseases that are obesity related. Moreover, lycopene in tomatoes is a powerful antioxidant that offers a lot more additional health benefits; like reducing wrinkles, fighting cancer and reducing cholesterol levels. Add raw tomatoes to your salad for lunch, and cook a tomato based sauce for your pasta to enjoy the health benefits of this powerful compound.

6. Low fat dairy –

Unlike what many people believe, dairy products don’t make you gain weight. If you choose low fat dairy like reduced fat cheese, skimmed milk and cottage cheese then the calcium content in these can help you fight belly fat effectively. In fact, Purdue University at Indiana did a study that showed women who added 1000mg of good quality calcium to their daily diet lost 6lb. Though whole fat milk and fatty cheeses are not the best way to get that much calcium in your daily diet, you can enjoy the same benefits from drinking low fat milk or having a small cup of low fat yogurt every day.

7. Fish –

Eating oily fish on a regular basis can not only help reduce wrinkles and give you lustrous hair, it can also result in a slimmer waistline. All seafood contains monounsaturated fats, which are the good fats your body needs to carry out its functions normally. The MUFA in fish can reduce the belly fat deposit around your waist, while also giving many other health benefits. It is especially good for women who have crossed 30, as fish and its Omega 3 fatty acids along with powerful antioxidants are great for fighting signs of premature aging.

8 Tart cherries –

Researchers are the University of Michigan found that including tart cherries in daily diet not only reduces risk of heart diseases but also improves metabolism. This is especially good for women over 30 who are struggling to burn off belly fat. These cherries reduce cholesterol levels in the body and can reduce fat content in the body to 54%. The strong antioxidant properties of these tart cherries further give you anti-aging benefits, making you look better and feel better too.

9. Lean cuts of red meat –

Unlike popular belief, not all red meat is bad for your health. Yes, red meat has more fat content as compared to white meat, but then it also has many nutrients that your body needs to stay healthy. The best choice is to buy only lean cuts of red meat, as these are far healthier than processed or canned meats. Red meat has zinc, iron, protein, vitamin B ad tryptophan. Also, red meat has linoleic acid, which is good for you. Studies have revealed that low levels of linoleic acid in the body make it almost impossible for fat in cells to get burned up to create energy. This results in further fat storage, especially around the belly.

10. Celery –

Containing a mere 8 calories, celery falls in the group of negative calorie foods. Since it is high in calcium and vitamin C, it also aids in weight loss. Some people choose to drink celery juice before the meal to help cleanse the system, while others prefer to add celery to their salads. Additional benefit of celery for women over 30 is that it contains Apihenin, a natural compound that fights off ovarian cancer as well.

With these 10 super foods, you can fight that belly fat and show off a slimmer waistline. Food plays a major role in attaining better health, and when coupled with regular exercise, the combination can make you feel and look 5 years younger!

If you are looking for information on how many calories in a cucumber, you are in the right place. Not only will we tell you how many calories you will find in cucumbers, we will also discuss the nutritional benefits of cucumber. There are just 12 calories in 100 grams of cucumber, making it a very healthy choice.

Cucumber is one of the best veggies to eat raw. Since cucumbers contain mostly water content, they are very healthy for those who are trying to lose weight. The water content makes you feel full, without having any calories in it. But apart from water, cucumbers also pack the goodness of many essential nutrients. They are rich in Pantothenic Acid, Phosphorus, Magnesium, Potassium, Copper, Vitamins C & K, Folate, Vitamin B6 and Thiamin.

Below is a nutritional table telling you about the calories in a cucumber, along with where the calories are coming from.

Cucumber has integrated fibers, which makes it a great diet food. Also, the high water content flushes out all the water weight in the body, releasing toxins in the process. Cucumbers are mild diuretics, which makes them very useful. For people who suffer from water weight, cucumbers are a miracle food because these vegetables flush out all trapped water from your body. Also, doctors recommend that when you eat a meal that is heavy in salt content, eating cucumbers with it is the best way to ensure the extra salt flushes out with ease.

Because cucumbers are filled with the goodness of various nutrients, along with fiber, they are the ideal snack also. Simply peel the cucumber (though it is possible to eat it with peel too for more fiber) and cut it in to long sticks. You can enjoy these raw with a dash of lime, or have them with a low fat yogurt dip for a healthy snack.

Below is an exhaustive table for how many calories in cucumber:

When buying cucumber, look for ones which are firm to touch and are dark green in color. As the cucumber gets colored spots of yellow or light green, it becomes too ripe and is not that great when eaten raw.

Cucumbers have no saturated fats or cholesterol, and the peel is a great source of dietary fiber. In fact, doctors recommend that cucumbers are a great way to cure constipation and also protects against colon cancer and other stomach infections. The potassium found in cucumbers is heart friendly, making sure you don’t suffer from high blood pressure and increased heart rate. But that isn’t al! Cucumbers are also rich in ß-carotene and α-carotene that are powerful antioxidants, along with Vitamin A, K & C.

We all know that eggs are the best source for proteins and good fats. But many people wonder how many calories in an egg, especially when they are on a special low calorie diet. Eggs are very healthy and versatile, which means that the number of calories in an egg will not only depend in the size of the egg but also on the preparation. Eggs can be cooked in many ways – boiled, fried, poached, scrambled and made in to omelets. And the number of calories in each of these preparations varies.

Below is a table telling you about the number of calories you will find in an egg, based on its size:

But size is not the only factor that decides how many calories in an egg. The preparation matters too.

So, here is another table.

• Egg yolk – 59 calories
• Egg White – 16 calories
• Hardboiled egg – 75 calories
• Fried egg – 91 calories

Eggs are great because they are high on proteins, low in carbs and comprise of smart fats. They are the perfect low carbs food because a large egg has no more than 0.6 to about 1 gram of carbohydrate. On the other hand, a large egg has about 7 to 8 grams of protein and 5 grams of good fats, which are healthy for your body. People believe that egg yolk is unhealthy, because it has a high content of cholesterol. But on the contrary, eggs comprise only of HDL of ‘Good cholesterol’.

For the best results, eat the egg whole – that is the white as well as the yolk. Since the fats are mostly in the yolk, those who want to be a strict low calorie diet can also benefit by eating egg white omelets. However, for those who worry a lot about how many calories in an egg, it may be a good idea to learn about alternative methods for cooking your eggs. For example – when you fry eggs use a cooking spray instead of vegetable oil or butter. The egg tastes just as good, and has no added calories. Similarly, for those who like their eggs scrambled or made in to omelets, a good tip is to steer clear of whole milk and cook the egg with skimmed milk or even water for it to be fluffy! Also, add lots of vegetables which are low in calories to make your eggs more filling and more nutritious. The best way to eat your egg is poached or boiled – as both do not require additional oil.

Another thing to consider here is the benefits of eating raw eggs. Yes, that ways the calories are contained, but eggs can carry salmonella and many other bacteria, which makes it better for you to cook the eggs before you eat them.

So now that you know more about the calories in eggs and ways to reduce additional calories when eating eggs, we hope you will make smarter and healthier breakfast choices!