The Acai berry is a wonder fruit native to the rainforests of Central and South America. People all over the world are claiming that the Acai berry is a super food capable of delivering amazing health results to anyone who regularly consumes them.
Acai berries are said to be able to help with weight loss, can promote deeper and sounder sleep, contribute to cleansing and detoxifying the body, aid improved alertness, provide energy and can even slow down the aging process. The list of claimed benefits is extensive to say the least.
One astonishing claim is that the Acai berry fruit has anti-cancer properties. At first glance it is easy to dismiss such a claim as hype until you realize that there has never been a recorded case of cancer amongst the Amazonian natives who consume Acai berries. Given this, what properties does the Acai berry have that could possibly help prevent cancer?
Acai is considered a super food because it is high in a range of nutrients. Although only as large as a grape, the Acai berry is rich with vitamins, minerals and essential amino acids. It is possible that one or a combination of all of these nutrients, when consumed regularly, will help maintain the body in good health.
That said, it is known that Acai is a source of Glutathione, an antioxidant known to help detoxify the body of carcinogens. Carcinogens are believed to have a direct impact on the formation and spread of cancer cells. It seems reasonable that if the composition of the Acai can help reduce the spread of cancer causing agents such as carcinogens, then the claim that Acai has anti-cancer properties is valid.
At the time of writing this article there have been no scientific clinical trials of Acai based products upon cancer patients, however there have been a few laboratory commissioned studies. In one such study (conducted by The Journal of Food and Agricultural Food Chemistry) Acai berry extracts were applied to test tubes containing leukemia cells and according to the study 85% of the leukemia cells self destructed as a result.
Until such time as formal clinical trials can deliver unquestionable findings it would be wrong to claim that Acai berries can cure any form of cancer. However, given the information that is already available it would seem there is no doubt that the Acai berry fruit has anti-cancer properties. In the western world 1 in 3 people will suffer from cancer – an absurd statistic by comparison to the reported zero instances in the Amazon. There may be a lack of scientific findings in the western world on the full extent to which Acai can impact cancer, but there is not doubt that the Acai berry contains a degree of anti-cancer potential and so it is well worth considering including Acai as a supplement to any healthy diet.
Friday, 7 August 2009
Sunday, 7 June 2009
10 Tips on Losing Weight Fast
Before jumping into a diet, you must determine your ideal weight. This will be your guide on your weight loss journey. “Fast” weight loss doesn’t imply that you drop 50 pounds overnight; a few pounds can take months to shed and for obese individuals, it can take years to lose the desired amount of weight. How fast you lose weight will depend on how focused you are on your diet.
Here are some simple steps to help you lose weight:
1. Before dieting, you must know how many calories you normally need in a day. If you are sedentary, multiply your weight (in pounds) by fifteen. If you are moderately active, multiply your weight by seventeen; if you are active; multiply your weight by twenty. This will give you the average calorie intake you need per day.
2. Remember to eat your fruits and veggies! You need at least five servings of them per day – doing this will put you on the right track to a healthy body, because fruits and vegetables have beneficial fibers, vitamins and antioxidants. They also fill up your stomach fast so that you don’t overeat and take into many calories.
3. Monitor the quantity of food you eat. Avoid high-calorie foods and eat in small portions. A helpful tip is to chew your food slowly because this makes digestion easy on your body and you will also be less likely to overeat.
4. Don’t skip meals. When you want to lose weight it may be tempting to starve yourself – but eating small amounts of food frequently can help you maintain a healthy, balanced calorie intake throughout the day. Also, your blood sugar level will be adversely affected if you don’t eat often. You can even divide the standard allotment of three meals into five or six smaller meals.
5. Fresh fruits and vegetables are ideal – packaged and processed foods have high sodium and fat content. You are more likely to lose weight if you eat naturally fresh foods.
6. Don’t limit your food intake too much. Go ahead and indulge yourself; eat your favorite treat. It’s okay to have that slice of birthday cake at the occasional party. Just make sure to eat in moderation and use those special desserts as rewards, instead of enemies, to your weight loss experience.
7. Don’t always believe everything you read on a food label. “Fat free” does not necessarily mean low calories. The same wisdom goes for foods that boast “low sugar” or “low carbs.” Glance over the nutrition label – there you’ll find the calorie count.
8. Try to limit the number of juices and sugary beverages you drink. Instead, drink eight glasses water a day – this flushes out your body’s toxins and waste.
9. If possible, keep a food journal. This will help you keep track of your calorie intake and will be a daily reminder of the types of foods you need.
10. Don’t forget to exercise! Thirty to sixty minutes of physical activity a day will ensure your health and help you lose weight (and not to mention, firm up those muscles). Weight-bearing exercises are especially great ways to burn those annoying calories.
Here are some simple steps to help you lose weight:
1. Before dieting, you must know how many calories you normally need in a day. If you are sedentary, multiply your weight (in pounds) by fifteen. If you are moderately active, multiply your weight by seventeen; if you are active; multiply your weight by twenty. This will give you the average calorie intake you need per day.
2. Remember to eat your fruits and veggies! You need at least five servings of them per day – doing this will put you on the right track to a healthy body, because fruits and vegetables have beneficial fibers, vitamins and antioxidants. They also fill up your stomach fast so that you don’t overeat and take into many calories.
3. Monitor the quantity of food you eat. Avoid high-calorie foods and eat in small portions. A helpful tip is to chew your food slowly because this makes digestion easy on your body and you will also be less likely to overeat.
4. Don’t skip meals. When you want to lose weight it may be tempting to starve yourself – but eating small amounts of food frequently can help you maintain a healthy, balanced calorie intake throughout the day. Also, your blood sugar level will be adversely affected if you don’t eat often. You can even divide the standard allotment of three meals into five or six smaller meals.
5. Fresh fruits and vegetables are ideal – packaged and processed foods have high sodium and fat content. You are more likely to lose weight if you eat naturally fresh foods.
6. Don’t limit your food intake too much. Go ahead and indulge yourself; eat your favorite treat. It’s okay to have that slice of birthday cake at the occasional party. Just make sure to eat in moderation and use those special desserts as rewards, instead of enemies, to your weight loss experience.
7. Don’t always believe everything you read on a food label. “Fat free” does not necessarily mean low calories. The same wisdom goes for foods that boast “low sugar” or “low carbs.” Glance over the nutrition label – there you’ll find the calorie count.
8. Try to limit the number of juices and sugary beverages you drink. Instead, drink eight glasses water a day – this flushes out your body’s toxins and waste.
9. If possible, keep a food journal. This will help you keep track of your calorie intake and will be a daily reminder of the types of foods you need.
10. Don’t forget to exercise! Thirty to sixty minutes of physical activity a day will ensure your health and help you lose weight (and not to mention, firm up those muscles). Weight-bearing exercises are especially great ways to burn those annoying calories.
Tuesday, 19 May 2009
THE ACAI BERRY PHENOMENON
After all the hype in the media and on TV shows such as Oprah recently, I thought I would do a little research myself into the latest phenomenon the Acai berry, and try and find out what all the fuss is about..........Well here goes.
What is Acai Berry?
Well, the Acai berry is a small round berry similar in size and appearance to a black grape and is the fruit of the very tall Acai palm tree (Euterpe oleracea), which is native to the rain forests and swamps of Central and South America, but more commonly found in the Amazonian region of Brazil. But all of the above are not what the Acai berry has become most famous for.
Recently it has been accredited as the world’s newest "super food" for weight loss, and many companies have jumped on this bandwagon........So are these claims valid or not……let’s see.
Firstly, the Acai berry is by no means a new found "super food"….in fact it has been around for centuries and has been a major part of the diet of certain Caboclo populations in the Amazon regions of Brazil.
The Berry is harvested mainly as a food and is eaten fresh, but it has many other uses, the pulp is used for colouring and in food flavourings as well as in liquors, wines, juices and smoothies, Acai is also a flavour of ice cream in Brazil.
The Acai berry is also known as having many natural nutritional and medicinal properties, and has been used by the Amazonian natives for its healing properties as well as being an energy booster for hundreds of years. It is reported to speed up metabolism and cleanses the many toxins found in the body.
What about Weight Loss?
Well, by increasing the speed of the bodies digestive system, Consumed food moves through the body at an increased rate thus causing it to be eliminated from the body quicker……A sort of Fat buster if you like.
And because there is less time for food to build up in the body there is less time for the body to store it as fat, so in this respect it could very well help in the fight to lose weight.... I will come back to this later.
But wait for it………..YES…there’s more.
The Acai berry is also being hailed for other benefits, including mental awareness and sharpness, increasing the immune system with its host of anti-oxidants; it also is a great source of protein, carbohydrates, and calories......Is there anything this Fruit cannot do?
Hang on….Did we forget Labido?
The Acai Berry is also proclaimed to give a healthy and vibrant energy to both men and woman, and can be a powerful aphrodisiac.
According to the some native villages in the Amazon The Acai berry has been proven to increase virility, stamina and the desire for sex, This could possibly be substantiated by the amount of children fathered in the villages, it is reported as many as 13 children in some families.
Now, Back to Weight Loss
There have been numerous clinical trials and claims that this new so called "super food" is safe and can help people lose weight, some sources say that between 8-25 pounds in one month can be achieved.
Below are are some figures that have been quoted in various testimonials to the product:
I lost 35 pounds in 11 weeks.
In less than 15 weeks I lost 42 pounds.
I have already lost 10 pounds in two weeks
I have shed 16 pounds in a month
I lost 27pounds in 8 weeks
I lost 8 pounds in 2 weeks and my energy has gone through the roof.
There are many more testimonials supporting claims that the Acai Berry can help you lose weight.But…you guessed it… that’s not all.
There are plenty more testimonials stating other benefits such as:
• Lower cholesterol levels
• Improve digestion
• Increase energy & stamina
• Increase libido
• Promote healthy sleep
• Lower blood pressure
• Detoxification
• Clearer skin
• Reduce pain and soreness
• Fight aging & inflammation
• Protect against heart disease
• support the immune system
• Aid in weight loss
So how readily available is the Acai Berry?
I am afraid you will not be able to get fresh Acai Berries unless you live in or around the Brazilian rain forest, as the Acai Berry has a very short life span, it will spoil within a day once it has been picked.
So the companies who are getting the fruit processed and shipped out are making a fortune at the moment....... I suppose it is a small price for those of us who want to look and feel good.
To your Good Health
Steve Hunt
If you want to give the product a try click on the link below.
http://www.Health-and-weight-loss.com
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