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LOS ANGELES - Low-fat, low-carb or high-protein? The kind of diet doesn’t matter, scientists say. All that really counts is cutting calories and sticking with it, according to a federal study that followed people for two years. However, participants had trouble staying with a single approach that long and the weight loss was modest for most.

As the world grapples with rising obesity, millions have turned to popular diets like Atkins, Zone and Ornish that tout the benefits of one nutrient over another.

Some previous studies have found that low carbohydrate diets like Atkins work better than a traditional low-fat diet. But the new research found that the key to losing weight boiled down to a basic rule - calories in, calories out.

“The hidden secret is it doesn’t matter if you focus on low-fat or low-carb,” said Dr. Elizabeth Nabel, director of the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, which funded the research.

Limiting the calories you consume and burning off more calories with exercise is key, she said.

The study, which appears in Thursday’s New England Journal of Medicine, was led by Harvard School of Public Health and Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Louisiana.

Researchers randomly assigned 811 overweight adults to one of four diets, each of which contained different levels of fat, protein and carbohydrates.

Though the diets were twists on commercial plans, the study did not directly compare popular diets. The four diets contained healthy fats, were high in whole grains, fruits and vegetables and were low in cholesterol.

Nearly two-thirds of the participants were women. Each dieter was encouraged to slash 750 calories a day from their diet, exercise 90 minutes a week, keep an online food diary and meet regularly with diet counselors to chart their progress.

There was no winner among the different diets; reduction in weight and waist size were similar in all groups.

People lost 13 pounds on average at six months, but all groups saw their weight creep back up after a year. At two years, the average weight loss was about 9 pounds while waistlines shrank an average of 2 inches. Only 15 percent of dieters achieved a weight-loss reduction of 10 percent or more of their starting weight.

Dieters who got regular counseling saw better results. Those who attended most meetings shed more pounds than those who did not - 22 pounds compared with the average 9 pound loss.

Lead researcher Dr. Frank Sacks of Harvard said a restricted calorie diet gives people greater food choices, making the diet less monotonous.

“They just need to focus on how much they’re eating,” he said.

Sacks said the trick is finding a healthy diet that is tasty and that people will stick with over time.

Before Debbie Mayer, 52, enrolled in the study, she was a “stress eater” who would snack all day and had no sense of portion control. Mayer used to run marathons in her 30s, but health problems prevented her from doing much exercise in recent years.

Mayer tinkered with different diets - Weight Watchers, Atkins, South Beach - with little success.

“I’ve been battling my weight all my life. I just needed more structure,” said Mayer, of Brockton, Mass., who works with the elderly.

Mayer was assigned to a low-fat, high-protein diet with 1,400 calories a day. She started measuring her food and went back to the gym. The 5-foot Mayer started at 179 pounds and dropped 50 pounds to 129 pounds by the end of the study. She now weighs 132 and wants to shed a few more pounds.

Another study volunteer, Rudy Termini, a 69-year-old retiree from Cambridge, Mass., credits keeping a food diary for his 22-pound success. Termini said before participating in the study he would wolf down 2,500 calories a day. But sticking to an 1,800-calorie high-fat, average protein diet meant no longer eating an entire T-bone steak for dinner. Instead, he now eats only a 4-ounce steak.

“I was just oblivious to how many calories I was having,” said the 5-foot-11-inch Termini, who dropped from 195 to 173 pounds. “I really used to just eat everything and anything in sight.”

Dr. David Katz of the Yale Prevention Research Center and author of several weight control books, said the results should not be viewed as an endorsement of fad diets that promote one nutrient over another.

The study compared high quality, heart healthy diets and “not the gimmicky popular versions,” said Katz, who had no role in the study. Some popular low-carb diets tend to be low in fiber and have a relatively high intake of saturated fat, he said.

Other experts were bothered that the dieters couldn’t keep the weight off even with close monitoring and a support system.

“Even these highly motivated, intelligent participants who were coached by expert professionals could not achieve the weight losses needed to reverse the obesity epidemic,” Martijn Katan of Amsterdam’s Free University wrote in an accompanying editorial.

By ALICIA CHANG     AP Science Writer

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One of the new diet programs that are being introduced in the market right now is the detox diet. The name ‘detox’ is a shortened form of the word ‘detoxification’, which lies at the heart of the program.

The diet makes use of the body’s natural system of neutralizing and eliminating the various toxins that the body takes in. As an internal protective system, the body converts any material that may seem harmful to the body into a chemical form that is less dangerous.

Toxins can take several forms depending on what is taken into the body. Examples of harmful toxins are external chemicals like pesticides and household cleaners that are accidentally ingested; food additives, drugs and other food materials that may affect the body in a bad way; and of course cigarettes. Some toxins come from the body such as ammonia, a chemical produced when proteins are broken down during digestion. Because of the ingrained system, all these toxins no longer stay in the body and are excreted and flushed out in the form of stools or urine.

Basically, the term detox diet is used in the treatment of people who have become dependent on drugs and alcohol; but now with the birth of various kinds of diets, the term is used to any diet that helps in detoxifying the body.

The diet itself focuses on taking in foods that provide vitamins, nutrients and other chemicals such as anti-oxidants that help the body purify itself. There is also much emphasis on lessening or reducing the chemicals that are being taken inside the body. This is why many people under detox diet prefer to eat organic food.

Another technique with the detox diet is the emphasis on high fibers and water to help the body get rid of the toxins. People undergoing detox diet will experience headache during the first few days. Some may also suffer from excessive diarrhea so it is important to watch out for dehydration. There is also a risk if constipation if not enough water is taken in.

Detox diet however is not for people who have anemia, diabetes and heart disease. It is also not recommended for women who are pregnant or those people who are suffering from kidney problems, liver disease, underweight issues and ulcer. People with low blood pressure, low immunity, hypothyroidism and epilepsy are also discouraged to go under a detox diet.

From the name itself, the cabbage soup diet is a program that involves the cabbage soup as the central figure. It may seem absurd at first and quite different from other diet programs such as the Atkins diet and the South Beach diet but it actually has a rationale.

The cabbage soup diet is based on the assumption that diets that contain high fiber but low in fat can help the body lose weight. The cabbage soup is usually made of cabbage, onions and tomatoes. The soup is supposed to fat-burning as it has a high fiber content. In fact, the more soup that you take in each day, the more calories you will burn and the more pounds you will lose. The taste will be bland so it has to be taken in with other foods.

Unlike other diet programs, there are no restrictions in the food that you take in as long as you drink the cabbage soup with every meal. From low calorie vegetables to potatoes and beef, you can eat anything you want. Of course, dieters under the program are encouraged to take in fruits and vegetables as well as unsweetened fruit juices.

One guideline, however, that must be strictly met is the fact that all meals should be broiled, baked or boiled. No fried meals for the duration of the diet. Another guideline is to avoid alcohol, bread and other carbonated drinks that hastens weight gain.

One downside to the cabbage soup diet is the fact that it not for the long term. It can only be done for a period of seven days. By the end of the week, the person can lose as much as 15 pounds depending of course on the meal that he or she has eaten during the program and how much you have adhered to the guidelines. Beyond the prescribed week, continuing the program can be dangerous to one’s health as too much weight will already be lost.

Because of this, dieters often use the cabbage soup diet if they need to lose weight fast. In fact, most people use the program to get into shape before they enroll in a long term diet program. Some get into the cabbage soup diet program when they need to lose extra pounds for a special occasion.

So you may be wondering what to do about the fibromyalgia pain and other devastating symptoms you have. You may be wondering if there is a fibromyalgia diet out there that works. See if this scenario sounds familiar to you.

You have gone from doctor to doctor looking for a diagnosis. You have terrible pain in the trigger points, you are severely fatigued, anxious, experiencing brain fog, but donâ??t know what to do.

Doctorâ??s are having a hard time diagnosing you and treating your symptoms. You may feel crazy, like no one understands how you are feeling and what you are going through. Doctorâ??s may not know how to treat you, but there is help. You are not crazy!

Thereâ??s a secret out there in the medical community that can help your Fibromyalgia symptoms get better. Many studies have been done to show that changing your diet can help you alleviate the severity of your symptoms. A magic diet? No, there is no such thing. But there are some things that research is validating when it comes to your diet and fibromyalgia.

Listen to your body. Everyoneâ??s metabolism is unique and so is everyoneâ??s diet. There are however, some general tips for everyoneâ??s body to help them feel better. Get rid of the white processed foods that are packed with refined sugars. Also, cut down on fatty foods. Eat more fruits and veggies. Does this sound familiar? Isnâ??t what our parents have been telling us for years? Well, the hard part is following through on these suggestions.

Fruits and veggies can have amazing benefits for Fibromyalgia sufferers. Fruits and veggies are good sources of vitamins, minerals, fiber, antioxidants and other good nutrients. Eating these has many advantages.

Take the carrot, for instance. It is packed with Beta-carotene which is an antioxidant full of nutritional benefit. Beta Carotene can also be found in apricots, broccoli, kale, spinach, and squash. Another great antioxidant is Vitamin C. We know where some of the major sources of Vitamin C are found: grapefruit, oranges, tangerines, tangelos, etc. But did you know that there is a whole bunch of Vitamin C hanging out in green stuff as well? Sources such as broccoli, kiwi, green peppers, green leafy veggies and more. These antioxidants are essential to your good health and fight against fibromyalgia.

Most people eat less than half of the amount of fruits and veggies they should in a day. The Food Guide Pyramid recommends 5-9 servings each day. I think we should tend to lean on the 9 a day. I know this sounds like a lot but the benefits are so worth it. Try and eat fresh fruit and vegetables and only go to canned or frozen in off-seasons or when there isn’t fresh available.

Other diet tips for fibromyalgia sufferers include; drink more water. Help your body flush the toxins out and to eliminate waste. This will also help with your intestinal problems that are common to fibromyalgia sufferers. More protein and less carbs help just about every body type whether you have fibromyalgia or not. It helps fight the fatigue as well. Stay away from caffeine. Caffeine can make your bad gut worse and make your symptoms of IBS and fibromyalgia worse.

Like I said earlier, there isnâ??t a magic diet that is going to cure you overnight but with some discipline and attention to your diet you can succeed in ridding yourself of the pain and fatigue associated with this terrible condition. There is hope and you can get better. These tips can make a difference in your life and help you on your way to an energetic joyful life.

For more information on the right diet for Fibromyalgia or on any Fibromyalgia topic, please visit us at www.ridfibromyalgia.com.

With so many diets on the market today, sometimes it is difficult to know which one to choose. But, truly, diet is the key word that should convince you that the Atkins Diet is a plan that will result in weight loss and maintenance for life.

The problem with many diets and the reason why so many of them fail is that they fail to address the problem of what to do once the ideal weight has been achieved. This is not so with Atkins.

In this plan, the dieter is not only given the keys and advice that they need to lose weight, they’re also given the tools they need to keep that weight off. The Atkins Diet not only looks at this as a journey to a desired weight, it sees the need for the dieter to entirely change the way that they look at food and eating.

The Atkins Diet incorporates an education about foods and their effects on the body. In learning these effects, the choices for food consumption will be drastically different when the plan reaches the stage of ideal weight than it was at the beginning. In this way, the dieter has a much better chance of keeping the weight off.

In the beginning, there is a time period of dramatic limitations on food choices. That’s not to say that there are none, but the choices are limited. For some of that time period, you may be hungry some of the time, and the diet will not allow you to satisfy that hunger. That alone will tend to turn people from the diet.

But, the weeks following this are filled with gradually putting back some of the foods that were cut in the beginning. These foods will be put back gradually and in smaller amounts, but they won’t be denied forever.

Another part of this diet that may be considered a problem is that it requires a large amount of self-control.

Unlike programs like Weight Watchers, there are no meetings, there is no community of people that you can turn to for support. You are ultimately in control of how closely you follow this diet, which can be trying at times. When you are hungry, but are only allowed to eat certain foods, it may be difficult to resist temptation.

Self-control for some may also be a positive. If there are no groups and no meetings, there are no weigh-ins that can be embarrassing for some. Also, with the Atkins Diet, you are ultimately in control of what you eat. There are no meals created for you. You are not restricted to frozen pre-packaged foods that come along with the diet. You are free to eat whatever you like as long as it follows the correct carbohydrate count.

The biggest benefit to it is that it will provide the dieter with a new outlook on food. The successful dieter with this plan will achieve their ideal weight and be educated as to how to keep the new healthy lifestyle they’ve attained.

Have you ever heard of Hoodia Diet before? Hoodia Diet pills can be a big help to you if you want to lose weight by reducing your appetite.

Anyone who watches news, must have heard of the Hoodia diet, either on BBC, the Today Show, Oprah, CBS or through the Internet. Every year, many types of diet programs or new weight loss supplements get introduced and hit the market promising sensational results. However, what is the specialty of this Hoodia Gordoonii if compared to other weight loss supplements that you have heard or tried in the last few years?

Well, to reveal the truth on Hoodia Gordonii, let us go for some short history of the astonishing Hoodia Gordonii plant which has been a long, solid secret of the South Africa tribe, San Bushmen for thousands of years.

The Discovery of the Modern Hoodia Diet

The Hoodia Gordonii plantâ??s secret recipes were known specially to the Sans Bushmen tribe for thousands of years. The effectiveness of Hoodia diet was revealed when the South African Council of Scientific and Industrial Research has conducted a research on Hoodia Gordonii in late 1990â??s. Hoodia Gordonii reduced the quantities of food taken and decreases your appetite as well reducing your weights. What is more, Hoodia diet was also known as the San Bushmen Tribe diet since they are the first who discovered the benefits of Hoodia Gordonii. In few years after the discovery, the South African Council of Scientific and Industrial Research managed to separate the main ingredient in Hoodia Gordonii plants which is responsible for its special effects of appetite suppressing. This main ingredient was known as P57.

The Overflow of Hoodia Media

As we know, the media will always look for any interesting story that they can find. Hoodia Gordonii plantâ??s special properties have caught their attention. Major media sources started to do more stories and articles on the Hoodia diet since obesity is such a big crisis in Western countries especially United States. Not only that, there are few media sources traveled to South Africa by themselves to get more review on the Hoodia Gordonii plant.

As a result, after these reports and review of the effects of Hoodia plantâ??s hit newspapers, magazines and televisions, Hoodia diet pills as weight loss supplements has been introduced and started to rise up rapidly among the dieters.

One good thing about Hoodia Gordonii is that is not kept as a secret anymore and at the same time it has high possibility in assisting millions of overweight people in reducing their weight.

However, there are numerous of fake Hoodia diet products too and have conquered the market to exploit on these Hoodia diet craze. This is because Hoodia Gordonii is unique and it is hard to export from South Africa.

As a conclusion, for consumers who are really interested in trying these Hoodia diet pills must prepare themselves with proper knowledge on Hoodia Gordonii so that they can avoid these fake Hoodia diet supplements.

With the sudden boom of dieting in the country, different diet programs have been introduced in the country. Although many experts believe that proper exercise and not only diet can lose those pounds in a healthy way, many people still believe in the power of diet programs and diet plans. One of the most controversial kinds of diet plans is the low-carbohydrate diet program, which focuses on the reduction of carbohydrate consumption in the body.

According to the theory, when carbohydrates are no longer being taken in, the body will be forced to use fats and water as alternative sources of energy; thereby helping to shed off those unwanted pounds.

Fats, unbeknownst to many, can actually be converted to energy. The body just doesn’t use it as the first priority because it is more complex in structure and therefore, harder to break down and convert into energy. Among the popular low carbohydrate diets in the country is the Atkins diet.

Despite arguments from its critics, low carbohydrate diet has proven its effectiveness in terms of losing that extra weight. To date, it counts millions of followers not only in the country but also outside America.

Actually, cutting down on carbohydrates in the diet is a practice that people have been doing for years. When people cut down on their rice or bread or do not eat rice at all, they are reducing their carbohydrate intake. Of course, because it is not an official diet plan they are not really restricting themselves completely. When you are under a diet plan, you are not allowed to eat any kind of carbohydrates.

One of the advantages of low carbohydrate diet is the fact that it can actually increase the levels of good cholesterol in the body. This is really good news to people who have a heart problem. This is perhaps the reason why Atkins diet was used for cardio patients. This diet plan can also reduce the amount of triglycerides in the body. Triglycerides can be dangerous when combined with a high level of LDL or bad cholesterol. Both can increase the risk for heart attack and heart disease.

Low carb diet plans are also found to be good in balancing mood swings. They will not be prone to extreme lows such as depression or extreme high. People who are under the program are found to have fairly stable energy levels unlike those with high carbo levels.

It is common knowledge that people who live around the Mediterranean region tend to live longer and have less overweight related diseases than people in the developed countries except perhaps, Japan.

Not very long ago, the Mediterranean climate was thought to be the reason why people live longer and are healthier in the region. Now it has become rather clear that while the weather of the Mediterranean area may be pleasant and refreshing, it is the diet of the people in the Mediterranean that account for their longer lives.

The Mediterranean diet is not a designed easy weight loss diet plan like the Atkins Diet, South Beach Diet or The Zone Diet. It is the healthy dietary habits and food source of the Mediterranean people which they are eating everyday.

Many food sources that are part of a Mediterranean diet are high in anti-oxidants. Anti-oxidants are important compounds found in certain types of food that mopped up dangerous free radicals. Free radicals are produced when the body burns oxygen to produce energy.

The accumulation of these free radicals in the body accelerates the ageing process. Cellular tissues such as skin and muscles wear out and lose their elasticity. Human organs function with less efficiency. Studies have also shown that free radicals clog up arteries which may result in a stroke, high blood pressure and even heart attack. Free radicals are also blamed for other dangerous medical conditions such as cancer, heart disease and diabetes.

The types of fruits and vegetables that form the Mediterranean diet include richly colored leafy green vegetables which are high in anti-oxidants which are excellent free radical destroyers. Scientists have also found that the Mediterranean diet reduces the risks of certain types of cancers.

The Mediterranean diet includes very little animal fat or saturated fat. Since there is a direct link between the consumption of saturated fat and colorectal cancers, heart diseases and strokes, the risks of getting these diseases are reduced. The main fat source in the food of the Mediterranean people is the olive oil. Not only that the olive oil is a healthy fat source, it had been shown to reduce the risk of breast cancer.

It is concluded on a firm basis that the Mediterranean diet has played a very important role in reducing the risk of coronary heart disease amongst the people of the countries around the Mediterranean region.

There is strong evidence to suggest that eliminating certain items from a diet, like processed salts can lower the risk of hypertension and high blood pressure. There are also evidence that a diet which is rich in fiber and low in animal can help to reduce the risk of hypertension and high blood pressure.

A person who eats like the Mediterranean people will get tremendous health benefits. Not only will the person live longer, because of the moderate carbohydrate, low fat high fiber Mediterranean diet, weight loss and weight control comes naturally with this healthy diet.

If you want to go on a healthy weight loss diet, then the Mediterranean diet will be indeed a good option.

If you have diabetes or you need to lose weight the Glycemic Index Diet Plan might be just the solution you’re looking for. This diet is based on a diet plan that was developed in the 1980’s as a way for diabetics to better control their blood glucose levels and subsequently manager their diabetes.

It was discovered that the diet plan had a wonderful side effect; efficient weight loss. Since that time the Low GI Diet, as it is often referred to, has become quite popular with non-diabetics as well. Individuals who use the diet claim they are able to lose weight as well as retain more muscle. Many people report the diet helps them to shave off weight in critical areas as well, including the stomach.

Under the Glycemic Index Diet Plan, foods are divided into three categories based on how they rank on the glycemic index. The glycemic index ranks foods according to how quickly the body is able to digest them. Foods that are processed more quickly by the body rank higher on the Index. Foods that take longer to be digested by the body rank lower on the scale. The idea is to base your diet on foods that rank in the low to medium range by eating foods that rank high on the Index sparingly. Some of the low foods which are allowable on the Glycemic Index Diet Plan include broccoli, tomatoes, cauliflower and other fruits as well as whole grains. Legumes are also allowable. Some foods rank in the middle range, including bananas and apricots.

When dieters first start the eating plan they are in what is known as Phase One. Under this phase, dieters are encouraged to eat only foods which are low on the glycemic index in order to lose weight. These foods are low in calories and high in fiber which makes it easier to lose weight. Dieters should plan to be on the first phase of the diet for about three to six months depending on how much weight they want to lose. After that time period, the individual may then advance to the second phase, which is the weight loss maintenance phase.

In this phase, you may eat low as well as medium foods according to the glycemic index. It is important to understand that exercise is an important component in both phases of the diet plan in order for it to work effectively. The Glycemic Index Diet plan by itself is not a complete solution for weight loss. You must be dedicated to participating in an active and healthy lifestyle. It should also be understood that this is not a diet in the true sense of the word but rather a change in lifestyle.

If you abort the diet plan after losing weight and return to eating large amounts of highly processed and refined foods it is quite likely that you will regain weight, particularly if you are not exercising on a regular basis.

One of the major advantages of this diet plan is that it is not as restrictive as many other diet plans. For example, you can have some carbs on this diet as long as they are good carbs and they rank low on the glycemic index. In addition, it is perfectly okay for you to eat out. Once you have become familiar with which foods rank low on the index you can then usually find something on any menu which is acceptable according to the Low Glycemic Index Diet plan.

Vegetarians frequently find that many low carb diets do not work well for them because they place a strong emphasis on meat. With the Low Glycemic Index Diet plan there is no such problem because proteins from vegetables can replace meat.

With time and dedication the Low Glycemic Index Diet plan has proven to be quite effective at managing diabetes, promoting weight loss and encouraging a healthy lifestyle.

The low glycemic index diet is based on a theory that eating foods which score lower on the glycemic index will help you to not only lose weight but also manage diabetes if you suffer from that disease and possibly stave off other related health conditions such as heart disease.

The glycemic index came out in the 1980’s originally as a way to help diabetics better manage their diets. The index was designed to rank foods according to how fast they cause the blood sugar levels in the body to rise within a few hours of eating them. Because the pancreas must release insulin in order to help return excess levels of blood glucose, or blood sugar, to normal it was conceived that the ranking of foods could help diabetics better gauge the effects specific foods would have on their bodies.

If they were able to know which foods would raise their blood sugar levels they would then be able to avoid or eat little of those foods and therefore keep their blood sugar levels in check. After awhile it was discovered that the low glycemic index diet could also help individuals to lose weight as well. Today, it has become one of the most popular diets around and many famous diets, including the South Beach diet are based on the idea of a low glycemic index diet.

According to the low glycemic index diet foods are ranked on a scale of 0 to 110. Foods that rank with a score of 55 or lower on the scale are considered to be low on the glycemic index. Those foods which rank from 56 to 69 fall in the moderate category while those foods that are scored at 70 or above are considered to be ‘high’ glycemic index foods. High GI foods are believed to raise blood sugar levels the highest after consuming them and should therefore be avoided are eaten in small amounts.

Foods which are allowed on the low glycemic index diet include nuts and seds, yogurt, milk, vegetables, fruits, etc. The types of foods which commonly rank highest on the glycemic index include caffeinated beverages such as coffee and sodas, desserts and candy.

Beyond managing weight loss and blood sugar levels for the purpose of diabetes the low glycemic index diet also has many other advantages as well such as an increased alertness and energy level. Individuals who find they are frequently tired and lethargic in the afternoon may notice they no longer feel that way when on the low glycemic index diet. This is because it has been shown that diets which are high in high carbohydrates frequently result in a lack of energy in the afternoon.

Individuals on the diet have also noticed thy tend to feel less stressed out on this diet and also have a general improvement in their mood. Unlike other diets the body is also frequently able to retain more muscle with the low glycemic index diet. This is especially important when you are dieting and trying to lose weight. Many people find that while on this diet their bodies begin to feel trimmer even before they have actually lost a significant amount of weight. This is due to the body storing fat more efficiently, resulting in a retention of muscle over fat. Since muscle weighs more than fat you may feel trimmer and notice your clothes fitting looser without losing as much weight as you might expect.

Finally, individuals who have found they have difficulty losing weight in the stomach area are often delighted with the results of the low glycemic diet because it enables them to tone of their tummy area more quickly than with other diets.

The Low Glycemic Index Diet has become quite popular because it provides numerous advantages. While the diet was first developed as a way for individuals who with diabetes to better manage their condition it quickly evolved into a weight to lose weight and even as a lifestyle change to effectively maintain weight loss.

One of the main reasons why people switch to a low GI diet is that they want to lose weight and this diet has proven to be effective in helping people to lose weight. There are also many other advantages; however. For example, research indicates that diets that are based on low GI foods can also help to reduce the risk of developing many health conditions such as diabetes and cancer as well as heart disease. Some research suggests that you can even cut the risk of developing these diseases in half by following the Low Glycemic Index Diet. Another major benefit is the ability to lower blood pressure as well as lower cholesterol levels.

Additionally, individuals who have followed the diet have been found to have their body’s ability to fight disease boosted. This is accomplished by strengthening the immune system, providing numerous other overall health benefits.

The Low Glycemic Index Diet is able to bring about these benefits because it is based on consuming foods that are relatively low on the glycemic index and restriction consumption or avoiding foods that are high on the index. The glycemic index itself ranks foods according to how fast the body is able to digest them. Those foods which are digest more slowly by the body and therefore do not raise the body’s blood sugar levels as high rank low on the scale and are acceptable. Other foods are digested slightly more quickly and dieters are therefore advised to proceed with caution regarding those foods; however, they are not restricted. These foods rank from 56 to 69 on the glycemic index. The final category consists of foods that are digested very quickly by the body, rapidly raising the body’s blood sugar levels. These foods score between 70 and 110 on the glycemic index. For the most part, these foods consist of highly processed and refined foods such as sugary foods.

Most vegetables, as long as they are not starchy vegetables, are quite allowable on the Low Glycemic Index Diet. Fruits are also encouraged, unlike may other diets which warn against the consumption of too much fruit because they are considered to be high in natural sugars.

While the advantages of this diet are quite obvious it should be understood that this is not a diet which can be followed for a short period of time and then abandoned with the expectation of keeping the weight off. One of the important considerations of this diet is that it is more of a lifestyle change rather than a short term diet. Individuals following the diet can expect to remain in the first phase of the diet for three to six months depending on how much weight they wish to lose. A

fter that, they can move on to the second phase of the diet for weight maintenance purposes. Moderate exercise is required of both phases of the Low Glycemic Index Diet in order to assure weight loss and continued weight loss maintenance. Failure to maintain a healthy and active lifestyle can result in failure to lose weight or gaining weight back.

If you’re ready to take advantage of a healthier lifestyle, reduce your chance of developing serious health conditions and lose weigh the Low Glycemic Index Diet may be just right for you.