Diet Soda Doesn’t Help Weight Loss Efforts

(Article first published as Diet Soda Shown to Hinder Weight Loss Efforts on Technorati.)

With millions of Americans crossing from the overweight to obese classification each year, it’s no wonder that so many people are looking for an aid to ensure their weight loss success. In addition to diet pills, formulas and bariatric surgery, one of the most popular tools that people use are artificially sweetened beverages.

At first glance this makes sense. After all, a 12 ounce serving of the typical sugary soft drink tips the scales around 150 calories. And most people drink more than one each day. When doing the math, sweetened beverage calories can really have a significant impact on your ability to lose weight. But are diet drinks really the answer?

Diet Drinks Lead to Calorie Misconceptions

The mind is a powerful tool to harness in your quest for weight loss success. It can also lead to failure, especially when using weight loss substitutes such as diet drinks. The problem arises when you consciously make the effort to replace a day’s worth of sweetened beverage calories with a diet alternative. Many people underestimate the number of calories they cut and eat more food thinking they can make up some of the difference.

In reality, research has shown that people take in up to 20% more calories than they eliminate from sweetened drinks. In theory, cutting calories from sugared drinks makes sense, but in reality our brain is accustomed to the extra calories and will ultimately coax you into subconsciously making up the difference. People with rock solid will power may be able to make drink substitution work, but there may still be another problem related to our body’s metabolism of sweets.

Artificial Sweeteners Trick the Brain

Humans have evolved an affinity toward eating sweet foods. From a survival perspective, sweet foods were usually a good source of high energy and helped our early ancestors thrive in an environment void of quick food sources. Today we live in a much different world with easy access to high calorie foods. Our genes are still programmed toward sweet tasting foods and manufacturers are more than willing to infuse our food and drink with massive amounts of sugar.

Artificially sweetened items have been shown to trick our body into thinking other sweet foods don’t have many calories and we are much more inclined to overeat as a consequence. The results of a study published in the International Journal of Obesity and reported on WebMD shows that when subjects are given artificially sweetened drinks over a period of 10 days, they are much more likely to overeat to compensate. Participants allowed to drink sweetened drinks registered the calories and did not overeat as a result.

Make the Switch to Black and Green Tea

Diet drinks are a popular tool used by many people trying to lose weight. Research has shown that they may be ineffective and can actually lead to weight gain. The best plan would be to substitute sugared and artificially sweetened drinks with health promoting tea. Both black and green teas are naturally low in calories and have a direct impact on lowering disease risk. Sweeten with stevia extract for a beverage that increases resting metabolism and can deliver successful weight loss results.

Diet Drinks Don’t Boost Weight Loss Efforts

(Article first published as Diet Soda Shown to Hinder Weight Loss Efforts on Technorati.)

Diet Soft Drinks Don't Help with Weight Loss

With millions of Americans crossing from the overweight to obese classification each year, it’s no wonder that so many people are looking for an aid to ensure their weight loss success. In addition to diet pills, formulas and bariatric surgery, one of the most popular tools that people use are artificially sweetened beverages.

At first glance this makes sense. After all, a 12 ounce serving of the typical sugary soft drink tips the scales around 150 calories. And most people drink more than one each day. When doing the math, sweetened beverage calories can really have a significant impact on your ability to lose weight. But are diet drinks really the answer?

Diet Drinks Lead to Calorie Misconceptions

Many People Overcompensate When Drinking Diet Soda

The mind is a powerful tool to harness in your quest for weight loss success. It can also lead to failure, especially when using weight loss substitutes such as diet drinks. The problem arises when you consciously make the effort to replace a day’s worth of sweetened beverage calories with a diet alternative. Many people underestimate the number of calories they cut and eat more food thinking they can make up some of the difference.

In reality, research has shown that people take in up to 20% more calories than they eliminate from sweetened drinks. In theory, cutting calories from sugared drinks makes sense, but in reality our brain is accustomed to the extra calories and will ultimately coax you into subconsciously making up the difference. People with rock solid will power may be able to make drink substitution work, but there may still be another problem related to our body’s metabolism of sweets.

Artificial Sweeteners Trick the Brain

Artificial Sweteners Have Dangerous Side Effects

Humans have evolved an affinity toward eating sweet foods. From a survival perspective, sweet foods were usually a good source of high energy and helped our early ancestors thrive in an environment void of quick food sources. Today we live in a much different world with easy access to high calorie foods. Our genes are still programmed toward sweet tasting foods and manufacturers are more than willing to infuse our food and drink with massive amounts of sugar.

Artificially sweetened items have been shown to trick our body into thinking other sweet foods don’t have many calories and we are much more inclined to overeat as a consequence. The results of a study published in the International Journal of Obesity and reported on WebMD shows that when subjects are given artificially sweetened drinks over a period of 10 days, they are much more likely to overeat to compensate. Participants allowed to drink sweetened drinks registered the calories and did not overeat as a result.

Make the Switch to Black and Green Tea

Diet drinks are a popular tool used by many people trying to lose weight. Research has shown that they may be ineffective and can actually lead to weight gain. The best plan would be to substitute sugared and artificially sweetened drinks with health promoting tea. Both black and green teas are naturally low in calories and have a direct impact on lowering disease risk. Sweeten with stevia extract for a beverage that increases resting metabolism and can deliver successful weight loss results.

Eliminate Sugar to Drop Weight, Prevent Heart Disease

(Article first published as Cut Sugar, Lose Weight and Prevent Heart Disease Through Diet on Technorati.)

Heart Disease is Preventable With Low Sugar Diet

Heart disease ranks as the leading cause of death among Americans, yet this killer disease remains a mystery to most people who may someday suffer from its devastating grasp. The etiology of heart disease is no longer a shrouded mystery, as researchers now have a solid understanding of the factors which cause the most common form of heart disease known as coronary artery disease.

Diet plays a major role in the cascade of events which leads to the formation of arterial plaque and clots which can break away and plug the delicate arteries of the heart. Information published in the Archives of Internal Medicine found that women who consumed diets high in sugar and refined carbohydrates were twice as likely to suffer from heart disease compared with their lower carb counterparts.

Eliminate Processed Carbs, Reduce Heart Disease Risk

Eating your favorite breakfast cereal or multi grain bread may not be a healthy choice, despite the barrage of advertisements to the contrary. Sugar transforms into triglycerides in the blood, regardless of whether it’s added as table sugar, consumed in ice cream, converted through high glycemic load carbs or swallowed in sugary soft drinks in the form of high fructose corn syrup.

Avoid Blood Sugar Spikes and Drop Weight

Sugar Causes Metabolic Disorder and Weight Gain

Cut back, or even eliminate sugar in its many forms to drop risk of heart disease and a potentially fatal heart attack. Excess sugar and carbohydrates are the primary reason so many people are unable to lose weight, as it wreaks havoc on your metabolism causing sharp spikes in blood sugar. This results in excess residual blood sugar which is eventually converted to triglycerides for storage as fat. Break the sugar rush cycle, and your body will begin to function properly by releasing excess fat, with weight loss as a natural result.

Use Sugar Substitutes

The first step to removing sugar from your diet is to replace sugars added to food and drink with low-calorie substitutes. While there’s some controversy about using artificial sweeteners, the benefits far outweigh the poorly documented risks, especially when considering the significant health hazard posed by sugar. The two best options are sucralose (Splenda brand) and the all natural sweetener, stevia. Avoid using any product containing aspartame, as it has been linked to brain cell excitation and neurologic disorders.

Swap Fruit for Sweets

Use Fruit as a Substitute for Sugar

Your ultimate goal is to eliminate sugar in all its different disguises entirely from your diet. This is best done slowly through a carefully planned series of substitutions. Fruit works well as it has the same sweet taste as sugar, yet for most people doesn’t promote the rapid blood sugar surge due to its fiber content. Grab an apple instead of cake for dessert, or have a healthy bowl of mixed fruit and berries instead of your favorite breakfast cereal. Include a protein source to further level the blood sugar response.

Research is shining a bright light on how sugar leads to heart disease, and causes metabolic alterations which promote the storage of fat. In order to drop our risk from this number one killer, and naturally lose weight, we must slowly cut back and remove sugar in all forms from our diet. We consume sugar from many sources, including table sugar, baked goods, breads, and drinks. A plan which methodically eliminates sugar entirely will have a positive impact on our overall health and assist in natural weight loss.

Prevent Heart Disease, Lose Weight by Eliminating Sugar

(Article first published as Cut Sugar, Lose Weight and Prevent Heart Disease Through Diet on Technorati.)

Heart disease ranks as the leading cause of death among Americans, yet this killer disease remains a mystery to most people who may someday suffer from its devastating grasp. The etiology of heart disease is no longer a shrouded mystery, as researchers now have a solid understanding of the factors which cause the most common form of heart disease known as coronary artery disease.

Diet plays a major role in the cascade of events which leads to the formation of arterial plaque and clots which can break away and plug the delicate arteries of the heart. Information published in the Archives of Internal Medicine found that women who consumed diets high in sugar and refined carbohydrates were twice as likely to suffer from heart disease compared with their lower carb counterparts.

Eliminate Processed Carbs, Reduce Heart Disease Risk
Eating your favorite breakfast cereal or multi grain bread may not be a healthy choice, despite the barrage of advertisements to the contrary. Sugar transforms into triglycerides in the blood, regardless of whether it’s added as table sugar, consumed in ice cream, converted through high glycemic load carbs or swallowed in sugary soft drinks in the form of high fructose corn syrup.

Avoid Blood Sugar Spikes and Drop Weight

Cut back, or even eliminate sugar in its many forms to drop risk of heart disease and a potentially fatal heart attack. Excess sugar and carbohydrates are the primary reason so many people are unable to lose weight, as it wreaks havoc on your metabolism causing sharp spikes in blood sugar.

This results in excess residual blood sugar which is eventually converted to triglycerides for storage as fat. Break the sugar rush cycle, and your body will begin to function properly by releasing excess fat, with weight loss as a natural result.

Use Sugar Substitutes
The first step to removing sugar from your diet is to replace sugars added to food and drink with low-calorie substitutes. While there’s some controversy about using artificial sweeteners, the benefits far outweigh the poorly documented risks, especially when considering the significant health hazard posed by sugar. The two best options are sucralose (Splenda brand) and the all natural sweetener, stevia. Avoid using any product containing aspartame, as it has been linked to brain cell excitation and neurologic disorders.

Swap Fruit for Sweets

Your ultimate goal is to eliminate sugar in all its different disguises entirely from your diet. This is best done slowly through a carefully planned series of substitutions. Fruit works well as it has the same sweet taste as sugar, yet for most people doesn’t promote the rapid blood sugar surge due to its fiber content. Grab an apple instead of cake for dessert, or have a healthy bowl of mixed fruit and berries instead of your favorite breakfast cereal. Include a protein source to further level the blood sugar response.

Research is shining a bright light on how sugar leads to heart disease, and causes metabolic alterations which promote the storage of fat. In order to drop our risk from this number one killer, and naturally lose weight, we must slowly cut back and remove sugar in all forms from our diet. We consume sugar from many sources, including table sugar, baked goods, breads, and drinks. A plan which methodically eliminates sugar entirely will have a positive impact on our overall health and assist in natural weight loss.

Low-Cal Sweeteners Assist Weight Loss Goal

(Article first published as Low-Calorie Sweeteners Key to Weight Loss, Reduced Calorie Diet on Technorati.)

Millions of Americans struggle to lose weight every day, as they desperately try to find the right key to open the door to improved health and fat reduction. This task is made even more difficult thanks to the never ending assault of glitzy junk food and fast food marketing efforts. People trying to lose weight want to make the right choices, but are persuaded otherwise by ridiculous weight reduction promises, pills and fad diets.

Low-Calorie Sweeteners Lower Total Daily Calories

The effectiveness of low-calorie sweeteners has been questioned frequently, but the results of a study published in the journal Appetite indicate that diet aids can significantly reduce a person’s caloric intake and the tendency to overeat, thus assisting in weight loss. While there is some controversy around recommending artificial sweeteners, the all natural sugar substitute stevia receives high marks as an alternative and was found to be highly effective toward promoting weight loss in this research.

Use low-calorie sweeteners as an important tool toward your healthy weight loss goal. Any weight reduction program must incorporate a variety of lifestyle changes and proper motivation to deliver the desired end result. Start making the changes today which will burn body fat and lead to vibrant health.

Prepare Your Mind to Lose Weight

Your Mind Must Be Ready For Weight Loss

Your brain must be coordinated with your body to drop the pounds permanently. So many people think of a diet as a temporary event which has a beginning and an end, leading to ultimate failure. Your new enhanced lifestyle does have a beginning, but if you view your journey with an endpoint, forward progress will end and any lost weight will return with a few extra pounds as a survival mode warning.

Learn to Eat Better

Solid nutritional education should be a part of our childhood schooling. There’s no better time to learn the importance of food, when knowledge will assist and promote your health for the rest of your life. Childhood obesity continues to skyrocket and sadly, children are illiterate when it comes to proper, healthy diet, believing fast food and processed fare are appropriate substitutes for fresh vegetables, fruits and lean protein. Teach your child about good nutrition by example and cook most meals at home, saving dining out for special occasions.

Work It or Lose It

Weight Loss Will Ultimately Fail Without Exercise

Aside from a well balanced diet, nothing is more important to your health and weight loss goal than physical activity. Exercise boosts the production of endorphins in the brain which combats depression and enhances mood and spirit. Further, exercise encourages healthy blood sugar and insulin control, lowering the risk from metabolic syndrome, diabetes, heart disease and stroke. Moderate exercise for 30 minutes, 5 days a week is all you need for optimal benefit.

Start Your New Lifestyle Today

There’s no time like the present when it comes to taking charge of your life. Motivate your mind through an understanding of the importance of reducing fat and dropping weight. Your overall health, and quite possibly your life depend on adopting a reduced calorie diet with plenty of physical activity. Use all available resources such as low-calorie sweeteners and reduced calorie foods to assist in reaching your healthy weight target, and never look back!

Low-Cal Sweeteners Lead to Weight Loss

(Article first published as Low-Calorie Sweeteners Key to Weight Loss, Reduced Calorie Diet on Technorati.)
Millions of Americans struggle to lose weight every day, as they desperately try to find the right key to open the door to improved health and fat reduction. This task is made even more difficult thanks to the never ending assault of glitzy junk food and fast food marketing efforts. People trying to lose weight want to make the right choices, but are persuaded otherwise by ridiculous weight reduction promises, pills and fad diets.

The effectiveness of low-calorie sweeteners has been questioned frequently, but the results of a study published in the journal Appetite indicate that diet aids can significantly reduce a person’s caloric intake and the tendency to overeat, thus assisting in weight loss.

While there is some controversy around recommending artificial sweeteners, the all natural sugar substitute stevia receives high marks as an alternative and was found to be highly effective toward promoting weight loss in this research.

Use low-calorie sweeteners as an important tool toward your healthy weight loss goal. Any weight reduction program must incorporate a variety of lifestyle changes and proper motivation to deliver the desired end result. Start making the changes today which will burn body fat and lead to vibrant health.

Prepare Your Mind to Lose Weight

Your brain must be coordinated with your body to drop the pounds permanently. So many people think of a diet as a temporary event which has a beginning and an end, leading to ultimate failure. Your new enhanced lifestyle does have a beginning, but if you view your journey with an endpoint, forward progress will end and any lost weight will return with a few extra pounds as a survival mode warning.

Learn to Eat Better
Solid nutritional education should be a part of our childhood schooling. There’s no better time to learn the importance of food, when knowledge will assist and promote your health for the rest of your life. Childhood obesity continues to skyrocket and sadly, children are illiterate when it comes to proper, healthy diet, believing fast food and processed fare are appropriate substitutes for fresh vegetables, fruits and lean protein. Teach your child about good nutrition by example and cook most meals at home, saving dining out for special occasions.

Work It or Lose It

Aside from a well balanced diet, nothing is more important to your health and weight loss goal than physical activity. Exercise boosts the production of endorphins in the brain which combats depression and enhances mood and spirit. Further, exercise encourages healthy blood sugar and insulin control, lowering the risk from metabolic syndrome, diabetes, heart disease and stroke. Moderate exercise for 30 minutes, 5 days a week is all you need for optimal benefit.

Start Your New Lifestyle Today
There’s no time like the present when it comes to taking charge of your life. Motivate your mind through an understanding of the importance of reducing fat and dropping weight. Your overall health, and quite possibly your life depend on adopting a reduced calorie diet with plenty of physical activity. Use all available resources such as low-calorie sweeteners and reduced calorie foods to assist in reaching your healthy weight target, and never look back!