Posts filed under 'Diet & Exercise'
Discussion threads, articles, gossip and talk all over the Internet are all a twitter about how to lose weight using cinnamon powder and honey. While some insist that they’ve seen no difference after trying this combination, others enthusiastically recommend it as a surefire way to reduce weight.
The recipe for this alleged miraculous weight loss aid is very simple. Combine one teaspoon honey with one-half teaspoon cinnamon powder and boil in one cup of water. After the mixture has boiled, filter it into another cup. Divide the mixture into two half-cup quantities to be consumed one-half hour before breakfast and one-half hour before going to sleep at night. Some proponents recommend adding raw honey after the water has boiled to retain nutrients and thus the benefits.
By following this regimen, it is suggested that a dieter may easily lose three to five pounds within one week without changing anything else within his or her diet. Differences in results may be due to the cinnamon used. There are three types of cinnamon:
* Ceylon cinnamon
* Indonesian cinnamon
* Cassia cinnamon
The Effect It Has on the Body
According to materials and articles recommending this diet aid, this mixture of cinnamon powder and honey stops the body from accumulating fat.
Other explanations include the fact that honey is an antioxidant and does all kinds of good things for the body.
Cinnamon is said to influence blood sugar and the way it’s processed, giving your body a better chance to break it down in such a way that it doesn’t turn to fat. It is said that abdominal weight is more sensitive to cinnamon’s effects than other body weight.
Other Uses of Honey and Cinnamon
Experts across the world have researched the effects of honey and cinnamon on the human body. They have discovered several uses and applications that help cure common discomforts and diseases.
Heart Disease
A paste of honey and cinnamon powder eaten on bread regularly for breakfast can help cure or reduce the impact of heart disease. The mixture lessens the cholesterol produced and found in the arteries, helping stave off a heart attack. Additionally, residential care facilities across the United States and Canada have found that a diet including honey and cinnamon helps strengthen patient’s arteries and veins.
Arthritis
It’s reported that a paste made of one part honey to two parts of lukewarm water with a teaspoon of cinnamon will help reduce pain when rubbed into the affected area. Also, experts suggest taking one tablespoon honey and a half teaspoon cinnamon powder before breakfast. This is said to reduce pain and help with flexibility.
Hair Loss
To help stimulate hair growth, apply a paste of one tablespoon of honey, hot olive oil and one teaspoon of cinnamon powder before taking a bath or shower. Effects are said to be experienced with even five minutes worth of application, although 15 minutes are recommended.
Bladder Infections
Germs are destroyed in the bladder when two tablespoons of cinnamon powder and one teaspoon of honey are mixed and consumed.
Toothache
An ailing tooth can be benefited by applying a paste of one teaspoon cinnamon powder and five teaspoons of honey. This should be applied three times per day until pain is gone.
Additional Uses
There are several other potential uses for this combination of ingredients. Experts indicate that the common cold, infertility, upset stomach, gas, immune system complications, indigestion, influenza, longevity, pimples, skin infections, cancer, fatigue, bad breath and hearing loss are all positively impacted by the use of mixtures with honey and cinnamon powder as primary ingredients.
While this may sound like a terrific solution to your weight loss problem, it’s not the only cure. Nor is it the long-term cure. Nobody can attain permanent weight loss without a proper balance between healthy diet and exercise. One should eat a variety of food groups, limit junk food and consume appropriate portions. Additionally, exercise that includes both cardio and strength-training should be a regular part of your exercise plan. By combining exercise, healthy diet and the cinnamon and honey trick, your weight loss success should be guaranteed. When someone asks you how to lose weight using cinnamon powder and honey, let them know there are other elements necessary to succeed, as well.
July 24th, 2010
There are a handful of grapefruit diets to consider, and the fruit itself is the driving force behind each weight loss plan. While grapefruits are valuable for their healthful components and alkaline properties, there is no scientific evidence to back that the fruit burns fat.
How Grapefruit Diets Work
The diets typically work much like the Atkins Diet, in that they restrict carbohydrates while encouraging a higher intake of protein. The Atkins Grapefruit Diet, in particular, focuses on the high protein, low-carb eating plan. When people do not eat enough carbohydrates, the body needs to use fat and muscle storage for energy.
All of the grapefruit related diets, in most cases, significantly restrict calories as well. While some allow for as much meat as the dieter would like during lunch and dinner, the caloric intake in most of the grapefruit weight loss plans are slashed. People can expect to lose weight whether they drink the juice or not.
Grapefruit Weight Loss
The fruit has naturally healthy properties that make it an ideal food for dieters. It is low in calories, is rich in antioxidants, and high in fiber. The generous nutrients combined with a small number of calories make the fruit a wonderful choice for dieters. The fruit may aid weight loss by:
* Reducing insulin levels
* Controlling appetite
* Provide nutrition
Some proclaim that grapefruit burns fat, but no studies appear to back this claim. Many other fruits and vegetables are equally as healthy and equally as effective in helping people to lose weight.
Sample Weight Loss Plans
The rapid weight loss plans can help dieters lose a significant number of pounds in very little time. Dieters can expect to lose between 10 and 30 pounds in just under two weeks, according to some Grapefruit Diet websites. The plans typically have very restrictive requirements to follow in order for dieters to succeed. Rules include:
* Cannot substitute any foods on the menu
* Must have juice at each meal
* Cannot deviate from the amount of juice you drink, neither more nor less
* No eating between meals
* Eat until you are very full
* Follow a 12-day on, 2-day off cycle
* One cup of coffee a day
The diet allows for one bedtime snack that consists of eight ounces of skim milk or tomato juice.
Forbidden and Permitted Foods
The plan forbids many foods including breads and desserts. Surprising restrictions include:
* White onions
* Potatoes
* Celery
* Starchy vegetables
* Fruit
* Low-fat / fat free or diet salad dressings
Equally as surprising are some of the foods that the diet allows:
* Mayonnaise (hence the term Mayo diet)
* Any cheese
* Hot dogs
* Regular salad dressing
* Red meat
Grapefruit Weight Loss Plan
A similar grapefruit diet plan promises dieters a loss of 10 pounds in 12 short days. Dieters can expect to eat no more than three meals each day, followed by a small bedtime snack, as appears to be the nom with these plans. This menu allows dieters to substitute juice for ½ of a grapefruit.
The meals are mundane, and though the weight loss is rapid, the plan can become tiresome very quickly.
* Breakfast
o Eggs
o Two slices of bacon
o Grapefruit
* Lunch
o Salad
o Unlimited meat
o Grapefruit
* Dinner
o Salad or cooked vegetables
o Meat or fish
o Coffee or tea
o Grapefruit
* Bedtime snack
o One cup skim milk
Fast Weight Loss
Many people find the guarantee of fast weight loss to be very appealing, and diets based on drinking grapefruit juice make substantial promises when it comes to rapid weight reduction. However, it is important to keep in mind that the weight lost during the duration of the plan is not likely to be fat. People who lose pounds very quickly typically lose fluids and possibly muscle.
Restrictive Menus
Be wary of any weight loss plan that severely restricts the types of foods you can eat. When a menu does not allow foods like celery and fruit but allows mayonnaise, hot dogs and cheese, it does not have your best interests in mind. While the Grapefruit Juice Diet can yield rapid results, it is likely that dieters will gain the weight back equally as fast once they return to their old eating habits.
June 8th, 2009
What is an apple diet? One diet is a de-toxing diet that involves eating only apples for several days. That wasn’t what I had in mind. But, the “three a day apple diet” bases its premise on the recommendation that we eat 5 servings of fruit and vegetables per day. Since a medium to large apple is more than one serving, a person eating three apples a day would have their 5 servings of recommended fruit per day.
What benefit does this apple diet have? Eating fresh apples is good for you. The old saying “an apple a day keeps the doctor away” did have some truth in it. A diet that contains a steady supply of fresh fruit that includes fiber and vitamin C can’t help but be good for you.
The apple diet is simple. Simply eat three apples a day, one before each meal. A medium size apple contains approximately 5 grams of fiber, or 20% of the recommended daily intake of fiber. In fact, an apple contains both kinds of fiber said to be most beneficial: soluble and insoluble. The pectin, or soluble part of an apple, also has the added benefit of preventing cholesterol buildup in the arteries. The insoluble fiber is what creates bulk in the colon, and helps to move food through the digestive tract quickly and easily.
One of the main reason people go on a diet, including the apple diet, is to lose weight safely. Eating three apples a day help you to lose weight because they help you feel fuller. That same medium size apple only contains approximately 80 calories and absolutely no
fat and no cholesterol. The fiber in those apples helps you to feel fuller, and eat less at your meals. The sweetness in the apples helps to curb sugar cravings, so you don’t succumb to the brownie that is full of fat, non-fiber carbohydrates, and sugar. And apples don’t get smashed in your purse, backpack or pocket; they don’t spoil out of a refrigerator easily. They are a perfect portable snack.
Benefits of the apple diet, in addition to the benefits from losing weight, may include preventing some types of cancer; preventing heart disease and stroke; and even healthier lungs according to some recent studies. Apples contain flavonoids that help prevent heart disease, stroke, and some cancers; and the phytochemicals available in apple skin is said to reduce colon cancer cells.
Here are some types of apples and their characteristics to get you started on an “apple diet” or at least including an apple in your snack or lunch. The health benefits can be enormous, and an apple just tastes good.
Red Delicious apples are sweet and juicy and available all year round.
Golden Delicious apples are available September to June and are good for snacking or baking.
Red Rome apples are slightly tart, wonderful for baking, and available October through August.
The Winesap apple is good for eating and baking, has a wine-like flavor and is available November to July.
The Granny Smith is a slightly tart apple best for snacking, is green in color, and also available all year round.
The Macintosh apple is two-toned red and green, has a sweet, mild flavor and is in season September through June.
The Jonathon apple has a mildly tart, rich flavor, is deep red in color, and is available all year as well.
I’ve had my own version of the apple diet for years. I just didn’t know it came with so many health benefits!
March 11th, 2009
Hoping to lose a few pounds before Christmas but gloomy about your chances of success with conventional diets? Then lemons could be the answer.
In a new book, The Lemon Juice Diet, leading health writer Theresa Cheung suggests that the reason so many of us battle with our weight is because our digestive systems are not working properly - and that the conventional dieting process tends to exacerbate that.
However, including lemons in your diet - both juice and peel - will boost your digestion and, if you also eat healthily and exercise, can help you lose weight.
“Research seems to show that if your digestive system is not working correctly, healthy weight-loss is almost impossible,” says Cheung. “The problem is that poor digestion can stop your body getting the nutrients it needs to burn fat. It can also cause a build-up of toxins in your body, leaving you feeling sluggish and depressed. “This, in turn, slows down your metabolism, making any weight-loss goals unattainable.”
Furthermore, she says, if your body isn’t absorbing the right nutrients, then no matter how overweight you are, it thinks it is malnourished and constantly craves nutrients, telling you you’re hungry when you’re not.
The solution is lemons. “When it comes to boosting the body’s digestive and detox systems, lemon is a natural powerhouse,” says Cheung.
Lemons are rich in citric acid (at seven to eight per cent, they have the highest concentration of all fruits), which, she explains, “combines in a complex interaction with other acids and enzymes to ensure healthy and problem-free digestion by stimulating stomach juices”.
“Thanks to its acidity, even a little lemon juice can improve your digestion and lower the impact of any meal on your blood sugar,” she adds.
The pectin in lemon - found in the peel - is a great source of fibre that helps weight loss by turning into a sticky gel when you digest it, preventing your stomach from absorbing sugar too quickly.
A study published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition found pectin can eliminate the urge to eat for up to four hours, because after eating it you tend to feel satisfied for longer.
Lemon juice is also one of the most concentrated food sources of vitamin C. Not only is this great for warding off colds, but recent research at Arizona State University suggests that people who eat fruit and vegetables high in vitamin C have more efficient digestive systems and are more likely to lose weight than those who don’t.
In addition, lemon juice increases the acidity of the digestive system. This helps the body absorb calcium, which is then stored in fat cells. Research has shown that the more calcium there is in a fat cell, the more fat the cells burn.
It seems the humble lemon could be a powerful aid to digestion, and a useful diet booster.
But it’s not a case of eating only lemons: the good news is that you can eat perfectly normal foods on this diet, including cheese and other proteins. You can even have chocolate ice-cream.
You can also eat as much as you like of the right sort of foods: there is no calorie-counting involved. All you have to do is make sure that at least one meal a day includes lemon - either a squirt of juice or some peel.
The Lemon Juice Diet advocates a simple healthy-eating plan based on seven principles. These are the principles on which the meal plan is based, but you can use them to adapt the meals to suit your tastes.
If you combine these seven principles with an exercise regime involving 30 minutes of aerobic activity five or six days a week, within just a week you should start feeling healthier and your clothes will be looser. By week two, you will be dropping pounds.
The following rules will help you achieve the weight loss and fat burning you want.
1. Drink lemon juice with warm water every morning. Starting the day with the juice of a lemon in a glass of warm water will stimulate your digestive system.
Water is also crucial to weight loss. Water aids healthy digestion and the elimination of waste, so make sure you drink six to eight glasses a day. Alcohol should be limited to one small glass of wine a day, and keep coffee and tea to a minimum. Avoid fizzy drinks and sweetened fruit juices.
2. Eat at least five portions of fruit and vegetables a day. All vegetables and most fruits are low-calorie nutritional powerhouses, rich in vitamins, minerals, fibre and nutrients that can boost immunity, balance hormones, calm the nervous system, aid digestion and help weight loss.
3. Balance your blood sugar levels. Irritability, poor concentration, fatigue and headaches are all symptoms of fluctuating blood sugar levels, which can make you crave sweet and fattening foods. When blood sugar levels swing too high, so does insulin. This hormone helps shuttle blood sugar (glucose) into your cells to be used as energy. In other words, it promotes fat storage.Sprinkling lemon juice over your meal can be enough to lower the blood sugar impact by as much as 30 per cent - use it in all your cooking. Using peel in cooking helps ensure the sugar is released steadily into your bloodstream. Add peel to soups and salads, and sprinkle on fish and chicken. Lemons are also a fantastic source of fibre.Eat protein with each meal, as it steadies your blood sugar by delaying the absorption of carbohydrates and fats. Eating five or six times a day will combat food cravings.
4. Cut down on sugar-rich foods. This give you a brief high followed by a big slump, and leave you feeling edgy and tired. Refined foods - such as white bread , white rice, instant potatoes and cornflakes - can act like sugar in your system, and end up being stored as fat. Instead, stick to whole grain, fruit, vegetables and protein. Natural sugars in fruit can hit your bloodstream fast, so don’t eat a piece of fruit without a handful of nuts or seeds to slow the impact. Beware of artificial sweeteners as they can increase sugar cravings.
5. Forgot low fat - your body needs some fat to lose weight. Unsaturated fats can help with weight loss by delaying the passage of carbohydrates into your bloodstream, keeping blood sugar levels stable and insulin down. Avoid saturated fats - found in red meat, cakes and pastries - and trans-fatty acids in processed foods. These are low in nutrients and can increase your risk of heart disease and obesity.
Increase your consumption of omega 3 and omega 6 essential fatty acids found in nuts, seeds and oily fish, and unsaturated fat found in extra virgin olive oil.
6. Eat lots of fresh whole foods. Switch from processed to whole foods to boost your intake of the nutrients your body needs for weight loss. Whole foods such as beans, pulses and lentils also contain fibre, which stimulates the digestive system and can slow down the conversion of carbohydrates into glucose.
Best of all, whole foods are free of hidden sugar and chemicals that overload your liver, making it hard for your body to digest food and burn fat. Choose brown pasta, wholegrain bread and cereals, vegetables, fruit, fresh soups, smoothies and juices (not from concentrate), and eat a salad with every meal.
7. Slow things down. Eat slowly and chew properly. Chewing relaxes the lower stomach muscle and triggers nerve messages that activate the digestive process. If food is not properly chewed, nutrients remain locked in and undigested. Keep portions moderate, and eat at regular times. If you find you’re still hungry, wait 20 minutes for your brain to catch up with your stomach and recognise that you are full.
Your stomach and intestines are sensitive to stress. When you feel anxious, digestion will shut down, leaving food partially digested. So finding ways to manage stress is not only important for your emotional health, but your digestive health, too.
Note: If you suffer from heartburn, kidney or gall-bladder problems, or have a citrus allergy, consult your GP before going on this diet.
December 10th, 2008
Processed foods are not real human food, you know, the products that come in boxes, cans and bags, at best they are treats and at worst, they clog your insides and rob you of energy, your health and leave you with symptoms like weight, fatigue, headaches and so much more. Of course this is good for the folks that produce pharmaceuticals.
If you shopped the perimeter of the market (and you should) in the fresh produce and wellness sections looking for natural grains (NOT Wheat), legumes, dairy (NOT Milk) and free range meats and avoided the isles containing processed and packaged foods which happens to be all the isles, you would eat food your body actually could process and utilize and you would look, feel much healthier.
But we are a fast food nation.
Look at what a health hazard North Americas favourite foods products present to their population?
1. Hamburgers
Considered a “high risk” food because of the poor health standards under which they are manufactured. The time consuming process for making processed meats creates high bacteria counts and putrefaction of the meat which need to be treated with chemicals. Putrefaction causes meat to turn green which is then dyed with red chemicals to appear fresh. Unless marked otherwise, hamburger will always contain red dyes.
Because burger parts all come from the animal, “pure beef” can be used on the label! Most hamburger contain the flavour enhancer, MSG (monosodium glutamate) which causes headaches, allergic reactions and more. MSG is a chemical used to fatten up laboratory animals and evidence suggests it will ultimately make you fat when consumed.
The beef industry is the largest user of antibiotics in the world to offset the dangerous bacteria housed in its meats. This has resulted in the growing resistance to antibiotics. Ground beef is more likely to harbour life-threatening E-coli than any other food. Hamburgers are the single biggest food item that inflicts the most damage on the American diet “Billions served” billions spent on doctor visits and hospital bills.
The hormones fed to cattle can make you fat through meat consumption.
A Cheeseburger contains more than 100% of your TOTAL daily recommended fat intake! Burger condiments like pickle, lettuce, tomato, etc. are all treated with cancer causing chemical sulfites that are used to maintain a false freshness in the vegetables. Most burgers contain 1090 mg of sodium! (45% of daily recommended Daily Value) and can promote water retention.
2. Hot Dogs
Like hamburgers, hot dogs are considered a “high risk” food because of the poor health standards under which they are manufactured. The time consuming process for making processed meats creates high bacteria counts and putrefaction in the meat which need to be treated with chemicals. Putrefaction makes meat turn green which is then dyed with red chemicals to appear fresh.
Because hot dog parts all come from the animal, “pure beef” or “100% turkey” can be used on the label! All hot dogs contain the flavour enhancer, MSG (monosodium glutamate) which causes headaches and allergic reactions. MSG is a chemical used to fatten up laboratory animals and will ultimately make you fat when consumed.
Hot dogs have nitrites which are thought to cause stomach cancer, leukemia, brain tumours, and bladder cancer. Fillers and non-meat binders used to hold hot dog meat together can be anything from cereal, non-fat dry milk, or soy which adds more carbohydrates and processed ingredients) Synthetic collagen casings are used to form the hot dogs. Highly carcinogenic. Contains up to 40% of its content in undisclosed saturated fats.
3. French Fries
French fries are very toxic. In order to make French fries, they must be cooked at high temperatures which cause the chemical, acrylimide to be released. Acrylimides are a known cancer causing agent that also causes nerve damage.
Potatoes are grown in the ground and have a higher pesticide absorption level than almost any other food product. Fries are cooked in oxidized oil that is re-used for weeks at a time!
Potatoes have a very high glycemic index meaning it turns to sugar very quickly in the body. Eating a baked potato (or equivalent quantity of French fries) is the sugar equivalent of a large piece of chocolate cake!
4. Oreo Cookies: THE NUMBER ONE COOKIE
(6 cookies = serving size)
Predominantly made up of 23 grams of straight-line sugar.
Chocolate is LAST ingredient listed which means chocolate is the least of the ingredients. 370 empty calories with almost no nutritional benefits, you could eat 2 whole chicken breasts for the same amount of calories! 6 cookies have 12 grams of fat, 2.5 grams of saturated fat and 40 carbs, more than 50% of your daily carbohydrate allowance in only 6 cookies.
Oreo cookies will set you up for craving more sugar within 3 hours or less. “Natural flavours” are manufactured chemicals to make Oreos taste like great chocolate cookies.
Highly processed foods have these flavour enhancers which are nothing more than carcinogenic chemicals with no natural flavours of their own. High sugar content. Sugar depletes our immune system, creates lots of inflammation and free radicals in the body.
5. Pizza
Commercial pizzas are made exclusively of 5 genetically modified foods: Cheese “food” (Contains only 10% cheese - it cannot even be called real cheese) Enriched white flour which has been bleached of natural vitamins and minerals but has been “enriched” by adding back a minuscule amount of synthetic vitamins. Tomato sauce made from tomato-like substances that produce their own pesticides, IN YOU
Wheat in the pizza crust is genetically modified. Contains cottonseed oil. Cotton is not a “food”, therefore it can be sprayed with anything farmers want. The seed carries most of the poison of the cotton plant.
Pizza is baked at such a high temperature; the crust will form acrylimides which is a known cancer causing agent that can also cause nerve damage. Pepperoni & sausage toppings are “high risk” processed meats which add lots of nitrites, chemicals, preservatives, and saturated fats.
6. Soda - Soft Drinks - Pop
The active ingredient in Coke is phosphoric acid. On the Ph scale, it is very acidic and can dissolve a nail in about 4 days. High acid content in the body makes it very difficult to lose weight. Soda will leach the calcium out of your bones and promote osteoporosis.
There are 10-12 teaspoons of empty calorie sugar in one can of soda. Diet sodas with artificial sweeteners will promote sugar cravings because sweeteners are “sweeter” than sugar. Colorings used in sodas are cancer-causing.
Soda is called “liquid candy” because of the high sugar content. Like drinking a candy bar! High fructose corn syrup, a major ingredient: Is stored in the body as fat.
7. Chicken Tenders
(Usual serving size is 6)
Made from unusable chicken parts, rarely made from whole white meat. A typical 340 calorie serving is typically 50% fat. Heavily breaded for substance. Very high carbohydrate content.
Carcinogenic acrylimides are released in the high temperature frying. Can cause nerve damage and cancer. Contains the flavor enhancer, MSG (monosodium glutamate) which causes headaches and allergic reactions.
MSG is a chemical used to fatten up laboratory animals and will ultimately make you fat when consumed. Contains phosphates which make the body acidic, making it impossible to burn fat properly. You will store fat and not lose weight. Some chicken nuggets contain aluminum which is toxic to the brain and poisons the metabolism.
Deep fried in oxidized oil that is re-used for weeks at a time!
8. Ice cream
High in fat content. 1 serving (usually 4 ounces!) can provide as much as 50% of your recommended fat for the day. High in carbohydrates. 1 serving is almost 40% of your total recommended carb intake for the day.
High in sugar which promotes sugar cravings and causes skin to wrinkle. Full of hydrogenated and trans-fats which are unnatural and elevate cholesterol clog arteries create free radicals (which may cause cancer)
Hormones put into cows to increase milk production will slow your metabolism, and can cause breast and ovarian tumours, cysts and cancer.
9. Donuts
The average donut contains approximately 300 calories.
One donut provides more than 50% of your recommended daily carbohydrate intake.
High in salt content which will promote water retention.
Donuts are deep fried in oxidized oil that is re-used for weeks at a time! Oils at high temperatures developed rancidity and free radicals which can poison and slow your metabolism, seriously threaten your health and has high sugar content which promotes sugar cravings and ages skin.
10. Potato Chips: The # 1 Snack Food
North Americans today consume more potato chips than any other people in the world. As a world food, potatoes are second in human consumption only to rice. It takes 4 pounds of potatoes to make 1 pound of potato chips. Very calorie dense where a small 2 oz. bag has over 300 calories.
Potato chips are deep fried in oxidized oil that is re-used for weeks at a time! Deep fried at high temperatures which cause the chemical, acrylimide to be released. Acrylimides are a known cancer causing agent that also causes nerve damage.
When you eat 1 single serving bag of potato chips you may be eating up to 500 times more acrylamide than the maximum level allowed in drinking water. High in hidden saturated fats. High sodium/salt content promotes water retention.
Healthy chips? Like those containing olestra can be more dangerous to your health than regular chips.
Reference:healthyyounaturally
July 28th, 2008
About the Shangri-La diet
The Shangri-La diet is the consequence of fifteen years of self-experimentation by the well known professor Seth Roberts. Losing weight by merely consuming little amounts of oil and drinking sugared water may perhaps sound too superior to be true, but this is precisely how Roberts lost a remarkable 35 pounds in just three months. The Shangri-La supposition was derived from a study of our ancestors that showed that eating lots of flavors signaled an abundance of food, sending a message to the body to store more calories in preparation for scarcity. This is what Roberts terms as ‘taste-association’, and he claims that there is a direct correlation between the abundance of flavors in modern foods and fat storage. His Shangri-La strategy of eating bland foods aims to reduce food compulsions such as snacking between meals and eating late at night. In the Shangri-La method, eating tasteless food will send a powerful signaling mechanism to the body to reduce calorie intake.
The Shangri-La Theory
The Shangri-La method of ‘taste-association’ works with the ’set point’ theory of weight control, which contends that your body is pre-disposed to a set weight (this is why it is often difficult to maintain weight loss). In the Shangri-La you are not only reducing calorie intake, you also influencing your ’set point’ and increasing your metabolic rate to aid your body’s ability to burn more calories. In the Shangri-La diet, you eat ‘bland’ food in order to lower your set point, and cut down on tastier foods as they increase your set point, making your body store fat. The Shangri-La diet works well with non-processed foods and foods which contain a low glycemic index (GI). These foods release carbohydrates slowly into the bloodstream giving you a more sustained feeling of fullness. Roberts also suggests drinking large amounts of a tasteless substance such as water to help contribute to manipulating your body’s set point.
The Shangri-La Method
Consuming calories that have an unfamiliar taste or eating foods that contain calories that are only detected by the body after a delay (in order to disassociate the initial taste from the later calorie hit) is the underlying assumption of the Shangri-La method. The Shangri-La strategy attempts to disassociate calories from taste. In his self-experimentation, Roberts found it worked to take small amounts of (tasteless) daily calories between meals, giving the body the illusion of being full. Eventually Roberts arrived at the most quirky feature of the Shangri-La study: drinking one or two tablespoons of tasteless oil (canola oil or light olive oil) an hour before meals and drinking six tablespoons diluted in one litre of water a day – helped him lose weight.
The Shangri-La diet
The Shangri-La sounds like the ideal alternative to those who are seeking an uncomplicated weight loss program and Roberts is living proof that the method has worked. However, it is far too early to tell whether it will work for the rest of us or whether it is even safe (at the time of this report, the Shangri-La diet book was scheduled for release in April). There is still no clear method and far too many variations exist. The Shangri-La’s unnatural calorie restriction means you eat only one full meal a day and like many other diets may ultimately affect your metabolism in a negative way. Furthermore, Shangri-La also fails to acknowledge those who eat food for other reasons such as boredom or comfort eating. For most of us, recognizing when our body is full is far too difficult and the Shangri-La will also be too challenging for those who simply enjoy the taste of food.
October 29th, 2007
This program is intended for an objective weight loss of 5-10 kgs. per week. It will in addition perk up your attitudes and emotions for the reason that of it cleanses and flourishes the system. The efficiency of this seven day plan is that the food consumed ends up burning extra calories than its original caloric value.
This program can be programmed as frequently as you like devoid of any fear of complications. It is made up to wash out your system of dirtiness and give you a feeling of well being. After seven days you will start on to feel lighter because you will be lighter by at the minimum of 5 kilograms (10-15 lbs). You will have a large quantity of liveliness and an enhanced temperament.
During the first seven days you must give up all kind of alcohol and must consume at least 10-15 glasses of water every day.
Day One: All fruits except bananas. Your first day will consist of all the fruits you want. It is strongly suggested that you consume lots of melons the first day. In particular watermelons and a loupe. If you limit your fruit consumption to melons, your chances of losing three lbs. on first day are very good.
You are preparing your system for the upcoming program. Your only source of nutrition is fresh or canned fruits. Fruits are nature’s perfect food. They provide everything you could possibly want to sustain life except total balance and variety.
Day Two: All vegetables. You are encouraged to eat until you are stuffed with all the raw or cooked vegetables of your choice. There is no limit on the amount or type. For your complex carbohydrate, you will start day two with a large baked potato for breakfast. You may top the potato with one pat of butter.
Day Two starts with a fix of complex carbo-hydrates coupled with an oil dose. This is taken in the morning for energy and balance. The rest of day two consists of vegetables which are virtually calorie free and provide essential nutrients and fiber.
Day Three: A mixture of fruits and vegetables of your choice. Any amount, any quantity. No bananas yet. No potatoes today.
Day Three eliminates the potato because you get your carbohydrates from the fruits. You system is now prepared to start burning excess pounds. You will still have cravings which should start to diminish by day four.
Day Four: Bananas and milk. Today you will eat as many as eight bananas and drink three glasses of milk. This will be combined with the special soup which may be eaten in limited quantities.
Day Four, bananas, milk and soup sound the strangest and least desirable. You’re in for a surprise. You probably will not eat all the bananas allowed. But they are there for the potassium you have lost and the sodium you may have missed the past three days. You will notice a definite loss of desire for sweets. You will be surprised how easy this day will go.
Day Five: Today is feast day. You will eat beef and tomatoes. Eat two 10 oz. portions of lean beef. Hamburger is OK. Combine this with six whole tomatoes. On day five you must increase your water intake by one quart. This is to cleanse your system of the uric acid you will be producing.
Day Five, Beef and tomatoes. The beef is for iron and proteins, the tomatoes are for digestion and fibre. Lots and lots of water purify your system. You should notice colorless urine today. Your allowance calls for the equivalent of five “quarter ponders”. Do not feel you have to eat all this beef. You must eat the six tomatoes.
Day Six: Beef and vegetables. Today you may eat an unlimited amount of beef and vegetables. Eat to your hearts content.
Day Six is similar to day five, Iron and proteins from beef, Vitamins and fibre from vegetables. By now your system is in a total weight loss inclination. There should be a noticeable difference in the way you look today, compared to day one.
Day Seven: Today your food intake will consist of brown rice, fruit juices and all the vegetables you care to consume.
Day Seven finished off the program like a good cigar used to finish off Victorian meals, except much healthier. You have your system under control and it should thank you for the flushing and cleaning you just gave it.
The Soup for Optimum Weightloss in the General Motors Diet:
The following soup is intended as a supplement to your diet. It can be eaten any time of the day in virtually unlimited quantities. You are encouraged to consume large quantities of this soup.
28 oz, Water, 6 Large Onions, 2 Green Peppers, Whole Tomatoes (fresh or canned), 1 Head Cabbage, 1 Bunch Celery, 4 Envelopes Lipton Onion Soup Mix, Herbs and Flavouring as desired.
Above mentioned diet and health line up was developed for human resources and dependents of General Motors, Inc. and is wished-for their restricted use. This curriculum was developed in combination with an endowment from U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration. It was field tested at the Johns Hopkins Research Centre and was approved for distribution by the Board of Directors, General Motors Corp. at a general meeting on August 15, 1985. General Motors Corp. in every respect endorses this program and is making it accessible to all employees and families. This program will be available at all General Motors Food Service Facilities. It is management’s intention to facilitate a wellness and fitness program for everyone.
October 24th, 2007