Weight Loss – Myth Part 7 and final

16) Natural or herbal weight loss products are safe and effective

Fact:

A product that claims to be “natural” or “herbal” is not necessarily safe, unless they are proven to be safe under strict quality control and extensive toxicology research. However, some herbal or other natural products may be unsafe to use with other drugs or may hurt people with certain medical conditions. Check with your doctor or other qualified health professional before using any herbal or natural weight loss product.

Thank you for your attention. Please refer to this website http://our.easypha-max.com if you are interested in slimming products that provides a nutritionally-balanced, safe, natural and healthy way to lose weight.

Mathematics Made Simple Part 3

Please go to Mathematics Made Simple and Mathematics Made Simple part 2 before you read this blog because this is one step further.

Another brain training session again, I do hope that everybody who have read the first and second session find it interesting and helpful.

Let’s go straight to the point without further ado.

Add 1-10. Please give me the answer immediately without having to use calculator or computer. The answer is 55. This time we have to use a simple formula to get the answer immediately.

Formula:

N = number of digit, in this case 10 digits

N/2 (N+1)
= 10/2 (10+1)
= 5(11)
= 55

Add 1-40. Again no calculator or computer is allowed. Please give me the answer immediately. The answer is 820. You may use the computer to test it later.

N = number of digit, in this case 40 digits.

N/2 (N+1)
= 40/2 (40+1)
= 20(41)
= 820

I learned this technique from my ex boss aged 70 when I was working for his company.

Stay tuned to this blog, if you want to challenge yourself to more difficult level of mathematics made simple in my next session.

Happy learning!

Weight Loss – Myth Part 6

15) Going vegetarian means you are sure to lose weight and be healthier

Fact:

Vegetarian diets can be healthy because they are often low in saturated fat and cholesterol and high in fiber. Choosing a vegetarian diet with a low fat content can be helpful for weight loss. But vegetarian like non-vegetarian can also make poor food choices, like eating large amount junk (nutritionally empty) foods. Candy, chips and other high-fat vegetarian foods should be eaten in small amounts.

Vegetarian diets need to be as carefully planned as non-vegetarian diets to make sure they are nutritious. Vegetarian diets can provide the recommended daily amount of all the key nutrients if you choose food carefully.

Plants especially fruits and vegetables are main sources of nutrients in vegetarian diets. Some type of vegetarian diets (like those that include eggs and dairy foods) contain animal sources, while another type (the vegan diet) has no animal foods. Nutrient normally found in animal products that are not always found in a vegetarian diet are iron, calcium, vitamin B, Vitamin B12 and zinc.

Here are some foods that have these nutrients:

Iron: cashews, tomato juice, rice, tofu and garbanzo bean (chick peas)

Calcium: dairy products, fortified soymilk, fortified orange juice, tofu, kale and broccoli

Vitamin D: fortified milk & soy milk, and fortified cereals (or a small amount of sunlight)

Vitamin B12: eggs, dairy products, and fortified soy milk, cereals, tempeh and miso are foods made from soybeans. They are low in calories and fat and high in protein)

Zinc: whole grain (especially the germ and bran of the grain), eggs, dairy products, nuts, tofu, leafs vegetable (lettuce, spinach, cabbage) and root vegetables (onions, potatoes, carrots, celery and radishes)

Vegetarian must eat a variety of plant foods over the cause of the day to get enough protein. Those plant foods that have the most protein are lentils, tofu, nuts, seeds, tempeh, miso & peas.

To be continued……………

Weight Loss – Myth Part 5

13) Dairy products are fattening & unhealthy

Fact:

Dairy products have many nutrients that your body needs. They have calcium to help children to grow strong bones and to keep adult bones strong and healthy. They also have vitamin D to help your body use calcium and protein to build muscles and to keep organ work properly.

Low-fat and non fat dairy products are as nutritious as whole milk dairy products, but they are lower in fat and calories. Choose low fat or non-fat milk, cheese, yogurt (frozen or regular), and reduced-fat ice cream.

For people who can’t digest lactose (a type of sugar found in milk or other dairy products), lactose-free dairy products can be used. These are also good sources of protein and calcium. If you are sensitive to some dairy food, you may still able to eat others like yogurt, hard cheese, and evaporated skim milk and butter milk. Other good sources of calcium are dark leafy vegetables (like spinach), calcium fortified juice, bread, and soy products (like tofu) and canned fish with soft bones (like salmon).

Many people are worried about eating butter and margarine. Eating a lot of food high in saturated fat (like butter) has been linked to high blood cholesterol levels and greater risk of heart disease. Some research suggests that high amounts of “trans fat” can also cause high blood cholesterol level. Trans fat is found in margarine, crackers, cookies and other snack foods made with hydrogenated vegetable shortening or oil. Trans fat is formed when vegetables oils are harden to become margarine or shortening, a process called hydrogenation. More research is needed to find out the effect of trans fat in the food. Carbohydrate and protein have about four calories per gram and fat has more than twice that amount (9 calories per gram).

14) Low fat or no fat means no calories

Fact:

Remember that most fruits and vegetables are naturally low in fat and calories. Other low fat or non fat foods may still have a lot of calories, often these foods will have extra sugars, flour or starch thickeners to make them taste better. These ingredients can add calories, which can lead to weight gain.

A low fat or non fat food is usually lower in calories than the same size portion of the full fat product. The number of calories depends on the amount of carbohydrate, protein, and fat in the food. Carbohydrate and protein have about four calories per gram and fat has more than twice that amount (9 calories per gram).

To be continued……………

Weight Loss – Myth Part 4

10) Starches are fattening and should be limited when trying to lose weight

Fact:

Potatoes, rice, pasta, bread, beans and some vegetables (like squash, yam, sweet potatoes, turnips, beets and carrots) are rich in complex carbohydrates (also called starch). Starch is an important source of energy for body. Foods high in starch can be low in fat and calories unless you eat them with large amounts or they are made with rich sauces, oils or other high fat toppings like butter, sour cream, or mayonnaise.

Try to avoid high-fat topping and choose starchy foods that are high in fiber, like whole grains, beans and peas.

11) Fast foods are always an unhealthy choice and you should not eat them when dieting

Fact:

Fast food can be part of a healthy weight-loss program with a little bit of know-how. Choose salads and grilled foods instead of fried foods, which are high in fat and calories. Small amounts of high-fat, high calories toppings, like full fat mayonnaise and salad dressing are allowed.

Eating fried fast food like French fries or other high-fat foods like chocolate once in a while as a special treat is fine but try to split an order with a friend or order a small portion. In small amounts, these foods can still be part of a healthy eating plan.

12) High protein or low carbohydrate diets are healthy way to lose weight

Fact:

A high protein or low carbohydrate diet provides most of your calories each day from protein foods (like meat, eggs and cheese) and few calories from carbohydrate foods (like breads, pasta, potatoes, fruits and vegetables). People often get bored with these diets because they crave the plant based foods they are not allowed to have or can have only in very small amounts. These diets often lack key nutrients found in carbohydrate foods.

Many of these diets allow a lot of food high in fat, like bacon and cheese. High fat diets can raise blood cholesterol levels, which increase a person’s risk of heart disease and certain cancers.

High protein or low carbohydrate diet may cause rapid weight loss but most of it is water weight and lean muscle mass not fat. You lose water because your kidneys try to get rid of the excess waste products of protein and fat, called ketones that your body makes. This is not a healthy way to lose weight! It overworks your kidneys and can cause dehydration, headache and bad breath. It can also make you feel nervous, tired, weak and dizzy. A buildup of ketones in your blood (called ketosis) can cause your blood to produce high level of uric acid, which is a risk factor for gout ( a painful swelling of the joints) an kidney stones; Ketosis can be very risky for pregnant women and people with diabetes.

By following a reduced calories diet that is well-balanced between carbohydrate, protein and fats, you will still lose weight without hurting your body. You will also be more likely to keep the weight off.

To be continued……………