Thursday, December 12, 2013

The 3 Ways Acai Berries Can Help You Lose Weight


The Acai berry as many will attest, has countless health benefits from fighting free radicals in the body to reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases. However, a lot controversy is currently surrounding its supposedly weight loss benefits. Here I will list down the effects in the body resulting from ingestion of acai berry supplements and what they mean in terms of weight loss.

1.       Boost metabolism – Free radicals can result from too much physical activity. These are highly damaging to cells in the body and can causes a lot of physical disorders. By taking acai berries, antioxidants will be released that will fight against free radicals and promote healthy cellular mechanisms in the body, including metabolism and the breakdown of food nutrients. Acai berries are also easily burned off and converted into energy by the body. More energy means higher metabolic rate. These berries also pack a lot of protein in them. High level of protein in the body is proven to give the body a metabolism boost. Boosting the body’s metabolic rate can highly influence a person’s weight dramatically.

2.       Improve digestion – Because Acai berries are rich in fiber and antioxidants, it can promote a healthy digestive system. Dietary fiber help the digestive tract effectively process more food nutrients and prevents bloating, constipation and diarrhea. Its anti-inflammatory attributes can also improve the lining of the digestive tract resulting in better absorption of nutrients. Some people also see these berries as a way to cleanse their bowels. Colon cleansing removes all the wastes products accumulated in the intestines and in the colon promoting steady weight loss. Digestion and metabolism also go hand in hand so improved digestion will also result in improved metabolism. And everyone knows that a better metabolism promotes a healthy body weight.

3.       Reduce food cravings – The monounsaturated fat content found in Acai berries will keep you feeling satisfied for longer letting the body burn fat efficiently. This fatty acid has been proven to decrease cravings for sugar and hunger. If you’re in a calorie-controlled diet, dieting with acai berries is a good thing to try. With reduced food consumptions, weight decline is to be expected.

Although you cannot lose weight with Amazonia Acai alone, it will help you reach your goals faster by incorporating it in other weight loss treatments you are already doing. Hard work is the key to maintaining an ideal body weight and improving overall health. After all, the acai berry is a fruit. Losing weight by only eating fruits is not realistically plausible. Find the best Amazonia Acai in Nutrition Warehouse.
Related articles:

Pre-Workout Tips for better Fitness and Health




I've been through days when I felt like spending another hour at the gym is pure torture, either in boredom or fatigue. That being said, skipping a session sets you back by at least a couple of days in your workout program. You can compensate by rescheduling a session, but I'm the obsessive-compulsive type and can't bear the thought of throwing off schedules. Routines are created for a reason, and you have to stick to the program if you want to achieve results. They say things are clearer in hindsight, which is why many push through with a workout routine, even if the results are hardly evident in front of a mirror.

Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle, throughout the Week

How do you boost your drive so you can hit the ground running every time? It turns out your activities throughout the week affect the energy and focus you invest on workout routines. If you spent the previous night partying till the dawn, then it's likely you won't have the energy to spend on this afternoon's workout session. You can compensate by taking pre-workout supplements, but energy boosters are double-edged swords. You'll have the drive and focus you need for the workout session, but it's likely you'll still be hyped and wide-awake hours afterwards. It's important you schedule workout sessions earlier in the day so you can rest easy when needed.

Rest Periods, Invested and Moderated

Rest is a crucial part of exercise, also of a healthy lifestyle. If your workout program isn't prescribed by a personal trainer, it's likely you're not pacing properly on the exercises. Brief rest periods should be sandwiched by sets to help your body bear with the fatigue, also to prevent too much strain on intense routines. Unless you're doing supersets (for advance programs), make sure the rest periods between short sets are calibrated and maximized. A few seconds' pause should prep you for an upswing; any pause longer than this defeats the purpose of an intense set.

Pre-Workout Supplements, in Proper Perspective

I'm not against pre-workout supplements like Mesomorph Version 2.0. In fact, I'm all for it, but only if taken in moderation. The formulations are packed with enough stimulants to keep you awake for hours on end, so it should be taken prior to a session for best results. The formulations vary, depending on your needs, but the purpose remains the same: to give you energy and focus to exhaust on your workout routines. You can check out Mesomorph Version 2.0 in nutritionwarehouse.com.au as sample, consider other brands available as well. Alternate your intake between formulations for to prevent tolerance and dependence, and take the appropriate servings, dosages, ensure benefits without the adverse effects.

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Making the Most out of Workout Diets




Exercise is the first solution to weight concerns, but meals are also crucial to a healthy lifestyle. If you're too focused on your workout program that you fail to invest in the quality of your meals, then you're missing the point. Even if you're taking supplements to tide you over sessions with a boost of nutrients, strength, and mental focus, wholesome foods ensure you're healthy in between sessions just the same. Nutritionists agree it's better to spread your diet plan to six small meals a day, to keep you nourished and satisfied, and to keep the hunger pangs and cravings at bay. Your diet will involve a variety of wholesome foods, some with heavier portions than others, depending on your workout goals.

Your Diet Is a Balancing Act

It's all about balance, the kind that sustains your body's needs. Note that your needs will differ from the next guy at the gym, and the diet plan that complements your weight-loss program will differ from someone taking on a strength training program. Protein, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, and fiber are staple components of a healthy diet, and yours should be consistent throughout the workout week. It's possible to have a packed diet and still suffer from nutrient deficiencies like creatine, though. Supplementation ensures your workout program is holistic and efficient.

Meals, in Proper Portioning

Take your meals at the right times and with proper portioning. You shouldn't take heavy meals an hour before a workout session; you'll be sluggish and drowsy coming into the routines. You'll also lack the strength needed to take on intense exercises. This forces you to compensate, which leads to injuries that set your program back by at least a couple of weeks. Six small meals apply throughout the week, but keep it light when you're prepping for a routine. You can compensate afterwards, when your body is tapped out and in need of immediate replenishment.

Fighting the Temptation to Indulge

Keeping the cravings at bay is such a challenge, when all you've had for the week are steamed meat and rinsed vegetables. Occasionally, a juicy, greasy steak will tempt you to just dive in. Your sweet tooth becomes so irresistible you'll be willing to bite into a frozen candy bar. You can't face your cravings head on, not if you want to accomplish your workout goals. Give into the pangs every once in a while, just make sure you don't overdo it and gorge on guilty pleasures. You can find creatine in nutritionwarehouse.com.au; some nutrients are only available synthesized. Wholesome foods are your primary source of nutrients, but a holistic program involves proper supplementation just the same.

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Building Muscles Right at Home

There are people whose aim is to get bulky or build their muscles. They’re willing to spend long hours in the gym and perform backbreaking exercises just to achieve a muscular physique. Now what if you have the same goal but just don’t have time to go to the gym because of your hectic daily schedule? Does that mean your dream of getting beefy will never become a reality?
Well, who says you can only beef up in the gym? If the only time you can squeeze in each day for working out is the time the gyms are closed, then you can do your muscle-building routines at home. The next question then would be, what if you don’t have all the fancy equipment you can find in most gyms? You can actually still work out without getting all those muscle-building apparatuses.   
Muscle-Building Principles
To build muscles, there are 2 fundamental principles that are required. The first is applying progressive overload in an environment that can stimulate growth. This means that for one to get stronger, you should come up with an intelligently designed workout routine. The second principle is to have a nutritious diet that’s capable of supporting muscle growth, which means consuming big amounts of calories and protein.
The Tools You Need
You’re probably beginning to ask now how in the world you’ll be able to build muscles without the necessary tools. Well, all that equipment doesn’t necessarily build muscles; it’s just the better equipment to get the job done. Truth be told, the tools and toys in the gym are still the best and most efficient equipment to bulk up. However, you can substitute these tools with things you can find in your house (e.g. those you can find in your toolbox).
Use Your Own Body as a Tool
You may not realize it, but if there’s one piece of equipment you can use to build muscles, it’s actually your own body, specifically your body weight. If you’re creative and imaginative enough, you can perform all sorts of exercises to get a muscular figure. Among the many exercises you can do are things as basic as pushups and pull-ups (and their many variations), lunges and squats to something as challenging as pistol squats and even body weight bicep curls and triceps extensions.


Finally, make sure you eat foods that help in facilitating muscle-building. Things like eggs, nuts, cottage cheese (with live cultures), chickpeas, and lean beef should be in your diet. Of course, don’t forget protein shakes, which is the cornerstone for any muscle-building program (you can find protein powders like 100 Whey Gold Standard at NutritionWarehouse).

So, don’t have time to work out in the gym? Get those big and strong muscles right at home!

How Antioxidants Benefit Us

One of the terms in relation to health that’s being thrown around a lot in these modern times is ‘antioxidant.’ Despite its popularity, however, not a lot of people actually know its real benefits, let alone what it is. What some people know is we can get it from readily available sources like tea, red wine, and even dark chocolate. But that’s about how limited their knowledge is as far as antioxidants are concerned.
What Are Antioxidants?
Before we start talking about their benefits, let us first get to know what they are. Antioxidants are substances that can protect your cells against the effects of free radicals. Yet another term to be defined, free radicals are molecules produced when our body breaks down the food we eat. These molecules can also be produced by environmental exposures, including tobacco smoke and even radiation. These free radicals can damage our cells, which can result to certain diseases.

Antioxidants are found in foods like fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts, some meats, and whole grains. Certain vitamins, minerals, and compounds in food have antioxidant properties, some of which are vitamins A, C, and E and carotene and selenium.
Battling Oxidative Stress and Free Radicals
As we get older, our body tissues suffer from oxidative stress (a disturbance in the balance between the production of reactive oxygen species (free radicals) and antioxidant defenses. Oxidation takes place when molecules within our body lose electrons to electrically charged molecules of oxygen in our blood stream. These electrically charged oxygen molecules are called ‘free radicals,’ which have the potential to cause damage to cellular DNA. Over time, the damage can become irreversible and lead to disease. What antioxidants do is to keep the levels of free radicals in our body at low levels, thereby maintaining our good health.
Health Benefits
We now know that antioxidants get rid of free radicals from our bloodstream. Apart from that, according to certain studies, they also reduce the signs of aging by protecting our skin from sun damage, thereby minimizing wrinkles and preserving our skin’s texture. They’re also believed to help in preventing certain degenerative and age-related diseases such as cancer, cataracts, cardiovascular disease, macular degeneration, and Alzheimer’s.
Other Sources
Aside from the food sources mentioned earlier here, antioxidants can also be found in poultry, nuts, and acai berry. The latter is known as a ‘superfood’ and contains an exceptional concentration of antioxidants.

Whether or not you believe that there are proven benefits of antioxidants, there’s no harm in eating foods and fruits that are rich in these substances (you can get acai berry at NutritionWarehouse).

Manage Your Weight with These Surefire Tips


Contrary to popular belief, weight management is not merely about losing weight.

Put in proper perspective, this topic is about developing healthy and effective habits that will allow you to have greater amount of energy and be more productive in life. This is about being in control of your body and achieving its full potential.

Maintaining a well-balanced diet is a big challenge for many. Consuming too much calories can be a factor that leads to gaining greater weight. On the other hand, minimal calorie intake may cause you to lose a few pounds. You have to strike a good balance, depending on your body’s needs, to be at the peak of your health.

Here are some things you should keep in mind as you do your best to manage your weight.

1. Be conscious about what and when you eat.

If you are serious about following a diet, you have to be careful not only about what you eat but how frequently you do it.

Do you often eat whenever you sit on the couch to watch TV? Are you the type of person who usually eats whenever you feel bored or sad? If so, then you are prone to breaking your diet. Stay watchful with what and when you eat in order to stay within your prescribed limits.

2. Choose healthy foods.

Naturally, losing the junk food (or at least minimizing them significantly) can make a big difference. Go for foods that are naturally rich in fiber. Fruits such as apples, strawberries, and oranges are perfect for you. Green leafy vegetables are also good. Black beans, chickpeas, pinto beans and other beans are recommended too. Brown rice, cereal, and oatmeal are intelligent choices for those who want to feel full without having to eat too much.

Of course, this doesn’t mean that you should entirely cut off favorite treats from your life. There’s nothing wrong about having some ice cream, chocolate or pizza as long as you do not overindulge.

3. Exercise regularly and take essential supplements.

These two tips are almost inseparable because one will not be complete without the other. Regular exercise is very important and so is taking the needed supplements. Besides, you will do a better job maintaining your weight as you observe both of these tips the right way.

You should establish a habit for your exercise routine and you may also check out the best fat burner supplement at NutritionWarehouse. This is a good idea if you want to stay healthy and fit at the same time.



Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Getting Familiar with Probiotics

Mentioning the term ‘antibiotics’ can easily bring to mind medicines that help us become well when we get sick. True enough, an antibiotic is an agent that destroys disease-causing bacteria. Although the prefix ‘anti’ means against, antibiotics serve a good purpose in our body.
Probiotics
But what about ‘probiotics’? Well, not many people are familiar with the term. Probiotics are organisms and are actually bacteria themselves that are widely believed to improve health. They can be available in the foods we eat as well as in supplements. Can you imagine yourself taking live bacteria? The thought of it may seem strange to some, but our bodies actually abound with all sorts of them. Our digestive system alone is home to over 500 different types of bacteria. But they help keep our intestines healthy and even assist in digesting the food we eat.


How Do They Work?
For any system to work well, there has to be balance in it. It is believed that disorders in the digestive system take place when the balance of friendly bacteria in the intestines is disrupted. Believe it or not, this can actually be a result of taking antibiotics. This is where probiotics come in. They improve intestinal function and even in maintaining the integrity of the lining of the intestines.
Improving the Immune System
The benefits we can get from probiotics don’t stop simply in the digestive system. There’s actually evidence that they can also help in maintaining a strong immune system. Experts say that by introducing friendly bacteria in the form of these probiotics, they help challenge the immune system in healthy ways.
Treating Ailments
Although not absolutely conclusive, there are studies that have shown that probiotics may help in certain illnesses. There are experts who have actually concluded that probiotics can be most effective for treating diarrhea in kids, ulcerative colitis, symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, and Crohn’s disease (a form of inflammatory bowel disease), among many others. They can also help in preventing eczema associated with cow’s milk allergy, pouchitis (inflammation of the intestines), and antibiotic-associated diarrhea.
Choosing a Probiotic Supplement

In the U.S., the Food and Drug Administration or FDA does not regulate probiotics in the same manner it regulates prescription drugs. If you want to stay on the safe side, choose those that are made by well-known companies. Their labels should contain essential information like the scientific studies they use for their recommendations. Furthermore, you can talk to your doctor to help you choose which probiotics supplements are ideal for you (you can get supplements like Oxyelite Pro in Nutrition Warehouse).