Healthy Energy Drinks and More…

Archive for September, 2009

Which energy drink or energy supplement actually works?

The blue rockstar energy drink, it’s the only one that works for me.

If you’re looking for an easy fast detox, the lemon detox diet is definitely one of the best. It’s a popular diet which revolves around a wholly natural drink which comes from the syrup of organic trees and is blended with the juice from fresh lemons, water and some pepper. The syrup is made up of a mixture of palm and maple syrups, and is though to offer a beneficial balance of minerals and vitamins to the concoction.

This diet is a great way to get rid of those nasty toxins from your body, and will even help you lose weight at the same time. The diet consists of little else other than this mixture to help detoxify and leave the body healed and healthy

This diet is a great way to get rid of those nasty toxins from your body, and will even help you lose weight at the same time. The diet consists of little else other than this mixture to help detoxify and leave the body healed and healthy.

The syrup element of the drink is high in natural sugars to provide the body with the energy it needs to curb hunger during the programme. The calorie content of one glass is around 70 calories, and it is rich in zinc and calcium in almost exact proportions for the needs of the human body.

The lemon detox diet itself works on the basis of seven days fasting in which only the lemon drink and water are consumed along with any medication which may also be prescribed for ingestion during the duration. Patients can expect to remain active, drawing energy from the calories contained within the drink, and should expect symptoms such as dizziness or light-headedness in the first few days as toxins begin their course through the bloodstream. It is also advisable to maintain a course of light exercise during the diet as well as some general breathing activities to increase the blood flow and speed up the release of toxins from the body.

After the fast it is crucial not to recommence normal eating habits as this can cause serious damage to the body. It is best to start with fruit juices and lighter foods to allow for a gradual build up back onto a healthy diet. The process of fasting for dieting and detox is dangerous, even with the lemon detox diet, so it’s important to consult your physician before deciding to embark on such an endeavour.

The lemon detox diet provides the body with balanced and nutritional support, although as of yet there is no evidence to suggest adverse longer term effects on the body, although research is beginning into the pros and cons of this type of regime. Although the diet can be carried out by anyone for short periods of time, it is advisable to speak to your medical practitioner before undergoing any fasting plan for a general analysis of your health. This will also provide an opportunity to consult your doctor about alternative plans to the lemon detox diet which may be more beneficial given your physical condition.

Fasting can be dangerous for the inexperienced or naive, so it’s important to do your research and only fast in accordance with your doctor’s guidelines for your own safety and wellbeing.

Clive Jenkins
http://www.articlesbase.com/fitness-articles/why-so-many-dieters-love-the-lemon-detox-diet-50915.html

It seems that we’re all fighting the battle of the bulge. Especially as we get older, it seems to get harder to keep the pounds at bay. We often think of women as being the dieters, but in fact, men are just as subject to weight problems as women.

As you’re looking for ways to make weight loss easier, consider the research that has been performed on the health benefits of tea. Tea has long been used in Asian cultures to prevent illness and protect health, and it seems that science is proving what Asians have believed all along: tea is good for you.

Lifelong tea drinkers have lower incidences of heart disease, high cholesterol and some forms of cancer. They are also less likely to suffer from diabetes or be overweight. Tea protects your teeth and may even have potential to prevent diseases like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.

We are beginning to learn a lot about the benefits of tea, but clearly there is much more to learn, so that we can pinpoint exactly how we can best use tea to help with medical needs.

One of the most promising areas of tea research centers on tea as a weight loss aid. Much research has shown that tea seems to speed up the metabolism and promote fat oxidation. Other studies have shown that lifelong tea drinkers are less likely to be overweight, have a lower percentage of body fat and have a lower waist to hip ratio.

In addition, studies have shown that when tea was part of a sensible diet and exercise plan, subjects lose more weight than those subjects who used a diet and exercise plan without tea as a supplement.

One study that is particularly interesting was conducted by the Beltsville Human Nutrition Center in Maryland in conjunction with the University of Tokushima in Japan. In this study, twelve men between the ages of 25 and 60 were evaluated. All participants were in good health, and the study was conducted over a period of one month. The target participants were those who consumed the caffeine equivalent of 2-4 cups of coffee each day.

Prior to the beginning of the study, each participant was evaluated with regard to their calorie expenditure per day without caffeine or tea. During the study, each participant was placed into one of four study groups. One group received a supplement of water, one group received water with caffeine, one group received half strength oolong tea and one group received full strength oolong tea.

For three days, the participants were fed the exact same diet. The diet was low calorie and free of caffeine, other than the caffeine in the beverage supplements. The beverage supplements were given to the participants five times per day.

This study found that the participants who drank full strength oolong tea and caffeinated water burned more calories in a day than the subjects who drank water or half strength tea. Drinking caffeinated water increased energy expenditure by 3.4% over those participants who drank water alone.

Drinking full strength tea increased energy expenditure by 2.9% over drinking water alone. Drinking half strength tea did not significantly increase energy expenditure over drinking water alone.

So, why not just drink water with caffeine?

You might ask why we wouldn’t just drink water with caffeine to help increase our metabolic rate. Well, according to this study, you could do just that. However, when you consider the many other studies that have touted the many other benefits of tea consumption, it’s clear that getting your metabolic boost from tea is far healthier than adding caffeine to your water.

Tea is full of anti-oxidants, which is believed to be why it prevents illnesses and protects health. Anti-oxidants are powerful fighters of free radicals in the body. Free radicals are oxygen containing molecules that are created as a by-product of our digestion process.

These free radicals damage our cells and DNA if left unchecked. However, consuming anti-oxidants combats these free radicals before they can harm our bodies. Scientists have shown that consuming a diet high in anti-oxidants helps us to avoid serious illnesses and slows down the aging process.

In addition, there have been other studies that have suggested that tea promotes more weight loss through fat oxidation than other caffeinated beverages. It is believed that this too is the result of anti-oxidants. It appears that the combination of caffeine with the anti-oxidants in tea is a more powerful weight loss supplement than caffeine in other beverages.

Finally, research has shown that the caffeine in tea seems to be better tolerated than other forms of caffeine. Many people who are caffeine sensitive find that they can drink tea without the usual side effects of caffeine. The caffeine in tea often does not produce the irregular heart rate and nervous jitters that caffeine sensitive people experience from other caffeinated beverages.

So, adding tea to your diet plan may be a great way to speed up your weight loss. Tea is healthy, refreshing, inexpensive and readily available. So, why not add tea to your diet routine?

Marcus Stout
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/can-oolong-tea-help-men-lose-weight-114601.html

I drink at least one monster low carb energy drink a day and Im extremely active (triathlete) and was wondering if there are any known long term negative side effects to drinking energy drinks.

I’m 46 and have been drinking caffeine since I was old enough to keep both ends off the ground. I used to drink 7-9 cans of Mountain Dew a day. Never bothered me UNTIL I hit 40. Then developed arrythmia, while I can’t prove it’s the caffeine. I’m one of nine kids and I’m the only one that has it, so it’s not hereditary, and other than caffeine, I can’t think of what would cause it.

One or so a day I wouldn’t think would hurt, just try not to go over board, you might regret it later.

I have a problem of being tired constantly. I get enough sleep sometimes more than required.

Most people have that point in the day when they crash. They become tired, cranky and hungry. When this happens, one may reach for a number of things to help them make it though the rest of their day. Coffee, candy, snack foods, or energy boosters are some of the things someone may try. For most people, these things don’t work, though. High sugar or caffeinated consumables will give you a quick boost of energy but it is short lived. Soon, you will be back to square one. Tired, cranky and wanting to lay down with your favorite pillow.

Why does this happen? Well, it’s simple. It is all about what we eat. Our bodies use food as energy. Both carbohydrates and proteins give our bodies energy. Carbohydrates are sugars, starches and fiber. There are two groups of carbohydrates, simple and complex. Simple carbohydrates are found in many cereals, snack foods, soft drinks, crackers, breads and even pasta. These food items are processed by the body quickly which means you will have a boost of energy soon after eating, however the spike in energy will only last for a short time.

Proteins and complex carbohydrates take longer for the body to break down. Complex carbs are things such as bran, whole grain wheat, lentils, peas, and beans. These food items take longer to break down so the body doesn’t experience spikes in energy instead it has a gradual release of energy.

Proteins are found in meats, eggs and nuts. Like complex carbohydrates, proteins take longer for the body to break down. Because of this, you will have energy for a longer period of time and not become hungry as quickly.

Physical energy is not the only thing that will benefit from eating complex carbs and proteins. Brain function will also increase.
So, now that we understand “why” we need to figure out how to avoid the midday burnout. First, read labels! Avoid foods that list sugar or high fructose corn syrup both are simple sugars (carbs). Eat more “whole foods” such as fruits, vegetables and grains. Look for products that are made with whole grains. You will be surprised at how many things that look healthy, are not.

Also, eat six smaller meals a day verses three large meals. Remember that your body is constantly burning the food you eat so we need to be feeding it. The trick with six meals a day is the word “small“. You can eat breakfast, lunch and dinner but down size them and throw in three snacks. This will keep your energy level balanced. Avoid prepackaged snacks like crackers, chips or candy. A snack of nuts will give you energy and a piece of fruit will help with your sweet tooth.

There is no one “food” that will give you the energy you need. Changing your overall outlook on food and how your body uses it will. Remember, everyone is powered by the food they eat.

These are excellent energy supplements:

1. Peak ATP
2. D-Ribose
3. Complex B vitamins
4. Figo Juice

http://gotfigojuice.com/

I hope this helps !!!