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It wasn’t very long ago that nuts were feared. – They were considered a dieting disaster, with far too high a fat and calorie content to be anything but bad for you! Recently though, extensive studies have shown that the opposite is actually the case. – Nuts are incredible for the human body. Recently there have been many health discoveries showing that nuts are a wonderful protein source that are great for everyone, and should be added to our diets.

Yes – nuts contain a lot of fat, and they are relatively loaded with calories considering that they are a plant food. Our understanding of fat has changed, however, and we now know that most of the fat in nuts is polyunsaturated or monounsaturated. These fats aren’t nearly as bad for you as others, aren’t as prone to causing weight gain, and most important of all, actually have the ability to lower your LDL cholesterol levels. In fact, nuts have actually been shown to be extremely good for your heart – modern studies have concluded that a proper daily amount of nuts can lower your chance for developing heart disease by as much as 35%. - Astounding news for a food that was once feared for it’s possible weight gain and destructive cardiovascular effects.

Nuts are an incredible source of protein. – Protein is very important for our bodies, but unfortunately in a lot of places that it’s commonly found (Such as red meats), getting our recommended protein amounts can have negative side effects on our hearts. This makes nuts wonderful, because you can get a lot of protein from them without worrying about hurting your precious heart. They are especially great for vegetarian diets, as vegetarians can have a hard time meeting the recommended amount of protein their bodies need.

Nuts are terrific sources of energy. Protein is an important ingredient for energy, and when combined with the other minerals in nuts make them perfect for providing longer, more constant energy levels. In addition to proteins, nuts also happen to rich in the powerful antioxidants selenium and vitamin E. Anti-oxidants have recently been identified as having powerful anti-aging effects on the body due to their ability to block the damage caused by free-radicals, substances that contribute to early aging.

On studies involving nuts in daily diet, results showed that nearly all forms of nuts had similar effects, though the most beneficial nuts today are generally considered to be peanuts, almonds, and cashews. These studies also suggest that a good daily dosage of nuts be between 1 to 2 ounces to see receive the best benefit. While they are very healthy, nuts can be a rather addicting snack, and combined with their elevated levels of calories can cause weight gain if you don’t exercise a little discipline with your snacking. Fortunately, nuts also satisfy hunger very well.

Overall, nuts are a powerful food that is packed with surprising and astounding benefits. Their ability to reduce the risk of heart disease while protecting against aging and providing solid energy levels makes them a highly desired health food, as long as a person keeps their intake levels low. They are still loaded with calories, and can contribute to weight gain if high levels are consumed on a regular basis. If you keep your intake down, however, you’ll notice remarkable improvements in your health, and you can rest easier at night knowing that you are helping your heart and bettering your chances at escaping cardiovascular disease.

About the Author: Cole Carson is a successful entrepreneur interested in the fields of natural health and wellness! Spiffy, the Himalayan Goji Juice dog is the newest up and coming star! Learn why he loves Goji Health Juice so much!
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Almost a century ago, medical and nutrition experts began searching for substances that can duplicate the sweetness of sugar but without the consequential amounts of calories. And so today, amid the cheers from lovers of soft drinks, candies, and pastries, substitutes for sugar have been in steady use. Everyone who has a sweet tooth can now indulge his or her craving for anything that can tickle the taste buds without worrying about the waistline.

The arrival of artificial sweeteners like aspartame, saccharin and acesulfame took away everybody’s guilt about satisfying the sweet appetite. True enough, in a few years after the introduction of these synthetic sweeteners, these substances have become the popular choice for coffee and juice drinkers; snack manufacturers even make it a point to highlight the fact that their products only use artificial sweeteners instead of real sugar, as if the latter were a sinful ingredient.

Indeed, the good thing about artificial sweeteners is that they can provide the same taste that sugar can bring, but due to a unique molecular composition in them, they do not bring in additional calories into one’s diet. And to top it all, since artificial sweeteners do not have the same chemical structure as sugar, they do not cause the same problems that are commonly linked to sugar.

Take the case of tooth decay. When you eat stuff that is rich in sugar, a certain bacteria inside your mouth builds up. These bacteria eventually release acids that can erode the enamel that protects your teeth, resulting to tooth decay. In the case of artificial sweeteners, the growth of these bacteria is not stimulated; so even if you indulge in food made with artificial sweeteners, you will have a significantly lower risk of tooth decay.

In another story, aspartame, saccharin and acesulfame can also be considered as a blessing for people who are suffering from diabetes. You see, sugar has been found to drastically induce blood sugar fluctuation in people with diabetes; while synthetic sweeteners hardly affect blood sugar levels. In short, these new sweeteners can allow even people with diabetes to continue enjoying beverages and desserts without aggravating their condition.

However, all these hype about artificial sweeteners have come under fire when it comes to weight gain. Despite the considerable lack in or absence of calories, these sweeteners have been pinpointed as one of the contributing factors in obesity here in America. Studies have shown that since the introduction of substances like aspartame, saccharin, and acesulfame, people have been getting fatter and heavier. In fact, nutrition experts have revealed that people who use these sweeteners outweigh people who use plain sugar by around two pounds on the average.

So what could be the problem? Later findings show that a sweet lover’s habits, and not the artificial sweeteners, are the main cause in making him or her fat. It appears that people tend to use both regular sugar and synthetic sweeteners in their diet. Users of synthetic sweeteners think that they save a lot on calories, and so they reward themselves by using real sugar every now and then. The bottom line is that the consumption of both regular and synthetic sweeteners has been on the rise, which means caloric intake has also increased.

Apart from this, consumers should also consider other ingredients in their food that can make them gain unnecessary weight. For instance, even if you use aspartame for your cake, the chocolate, the eggs, and the flour you used for the cake can still give you the bulge. Always remember that being sugar-free is not always the same as calorie-free.

Artificial sweeteners can help you attain a more ideal weight only if you know how to use these substances properly. Meanwhile, to fight off all the extra weight caused by indulging in sweets, you can use products that can increase your metabolic rate. To lose unwanted pounds, you can complement regular exercise with products like Zyroxin. Visit www.Zyroxin.com for more details.

About the Author: Sharon Bell is an avid health and fitness enthusiast and published author. Many of her insightful articles can be found at the premiere online news magazine http://www.healthnfitnesszone.com.
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Weight loss programs traditionally focus on calorie reduction. But we now know that effective and healthy weight loss is about more than that. A smart and sustainable weight loss diet needs to include the right amounts of ALL nutrient categories: water, carbs, proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals.

This nutrient guide will introduce you to all of these nutrient types and illustrate how to incorporate them into a workable weight loss plan.

Water

This is the most basic and important nutrient in any diet, whether your goal is weight loss or weight maintenance. Almost every physiological process of your body relies on hydration to work properly. On average, adults need 2 liters of water a day. So whether you are thirsty or not, make it a habit to drink at least 8 glasses a day. And if your weight loss regime includes exercise, which it should, you may need more water than that to replace fluids lost to perspiration.

Carbs

Oh, those controversial carbs. With so much focus on weight loss, carbs have gotten a bad name. But there are good carbs (the complex carbohydrates) and bad ones (simple or refined carbs). Knowing how to tell them apart can make a big difference in your general health and in reaching your weight loss goals.

Unrefined grains, cereals, beans and peas, and vegetables are good sources of complex carbs. Maximize them in your diet and minimize the refined carbs, which tend to create weight problems for most of us. Things like: white flour products, white rice, sugar and sugar products like sucrose, dextrose, maltose, glucose and syrup. The only good form of sugar is fructose, or fruit sugar. That’s why a sensible weight loss diet includes fruits instead of sweetened desserts.

Warning: Eliminating carbs completely while dieting will only make it harder to return to a “normal” pattern of eating once the diet is over. Eating the right kind of carbs in moderation is the key to success.

Protein

High protein weight loss diets have received a lot of attention because they help the body burn off fat. If your body is deprived of carbs, it has to burn something. But there are negative health effects associated with this kind of rapid weight loss that can be very serious. And for that reason, many dietitians no longer recommend it.

Instead, they say opt for a balanced diet that meets these simple standards:

* Low fat, with only small amounts of polyunsaturated fats
* High fiber
* Lean meats/fish
* High complex carbohydrates
* Low fat dairy products
* More aerobic exercise

Fat

Fat has been demonized in modern culture as we tend to lump all fats together. But in fact, your skin, hair and nails require essential fatty acids (EFA) to be healthy and strong. So do all your cells. So eliminating all fats from the diet is counterproductive to your healthy weight loss goals.

EFAs are found in foods like fatty fish, wheat germ, nuts, seeds, soybeans, corn oil, sunflower oil and safflower oil (the last 3 should be taken sparingly). Mono unsaturated fats like canola, olive and peanut oil are considered “good fats” as they can protect against heart disease.

Fats to avoid: Saturated fats like butter, shortening, palm oil, coconut oil, cream and full fat dairy products, fatty meats, hydrogenated fats usually found in margarines and packaged snack foods.

How to Read Food Labels

Your weight loss plan can only succeed if you become religious about reading food labels. That way, you can truly control what you eat and how much of it. Here are the markers to look for:

Total Fat: the less the better. Four grams or less is good, two grams or less is best.

Types of Fat: Avoid saturated. Seek out products with mono or poly unsaturated fats.

Calories from Fat: 20% is the ideal amount for weight loss purposes.

Sodium: Choose foods with less than 300 mg of sodium per serving.

Fiber: 30 grams per day is a good goal.

Sugar: Also labeled as sucrose, dextrose, maltose, corn syrup, brown sugar, etc. Keep intake as low as possible.

Daily Values: These are based on a diet of 2,000 to 2,500 per day, too high for most people on a weight loss diet. So the DV listing may not be useful to you.

Nutrients in Weight Loss: Summary

As you can see, being very familiar with the nutrients you consume is vital to achieving your weight loss goals. And the best part is that sensible eating is the only sort of diet that is sustainable and can easily be continued for life. So your weight loss accomplishments can be achieved and then maintained for years to come.

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