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Viewing: Weight Loss - View all posts

Could a Scientifically Designed Fasting Diet Cure Diabetes? 

On February 15, researchers from the University of Southern California published the results from a randomized clinical trial with regard to diet. The researchers discovered that periodic, five-day fasting diet of their design safely reduced the risk factors for major health issues people face such as: heart disease, cancer, diabetes and other age-related diseases. 

The research conducted placed 71 adults on three cycles of a low-calorie, "fasting-mimicking" diet. The phase II trial, conducted by researchers at the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, demonstrated a host of benefits from the regimen. 

The diet reduced cardiovascular risk factors including blood pressure, signs of inflammation (measured by C-reactive protein levels), as well as fasting glucose and reduced levels of IGF-1, a hormone that affects metabolism. It also shrank waistlines and resulted in weight loss, both in total body fat and trunk fat, but not in muscle mass. 

In effect, the diet reduced the study participants' risks for cancer, diabetes, heart disease and other age-related diseases, according to the findings published Feb. 15 in Science Translational Medicine. 

In a separate study, published on February 23 in the journal Cell, states that the diet reboots the body, which could lead to some potentially very exciting new treatments for diabetes. Scientists caution people to not suddenly go on their own fasting diets, as the diet used in the experiment is specifically and scientifically designed.

The fasting diet used in the experiment is similar to a diet where people spend five days on a low calorie, low protein, low carbohydrate but high unsaturated-fat diet. It resembles a vegan diet with nuts and soups, but with around 800 to 1,100 calories a day. The diet mimics periods of feast and famine, where there are 25 days of eating normally and 5 days of a fasting or fasting-mimicking diet. 

In previous experiments, it has been shown that such a diet can also slow down the aging process. 

So far with regard to how a fasting diet could help cure diabetes - the research has only been carried out on animals. That said, in the experiments, the mice on the fasting diet regenerated a special type of cell in the pancreas called a beta cell, which are the cells that detect sugar in the blood and release the hormone insulin if it gets too high. 

When speaking about the results of the experiment, Dr Valter Longo, from the University of Southern California, said: "Our conclusion is that by pushing the mice into an extreme state and then bringing them back - by starving them and then feeding them again - the cells in the pancreas are triggered to use some kind of developmental reprogramming that rebuilds the part of the organ that's no longer functioning."

Furthermore, what's promising about this experiment is that the fasting diet shows promising results for both Type I and Type II diabetes.  Dr. Longo further commented that the findings are so significant because they show that diet can be used to reverse the effects of diabetes, and that it can be used to re-program cells without the need of any genetic modifications. 

Dr Emily Burns, research communications manager at Diabetes UK, said: "This is potentially very exciting news, but we need to see if the results hold true in humans before we'll know more about what it means for people with diabetes. People with type-1 and type-2 diabetes would benefit immensely from treatments that can repair or regenerate insulin-producing cells in the pancreas." 

 Thus, while this is very exciting and promising news, a lot more work still needs to be done in this area.

03/09/2017

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in Health, Science, Weight Loss, Food, Nutrition

Happy October! Celebrate With Our 20 Favorite Yoga Quotes 

Yoga is so much more than looking great. Don't get us wrong, the body you can get from yoga is amazing, but what the practice does for the mind and soul can completely transform your life. Celebrate October by firing your practice with these inspirational quotes from Inner Splendor Media. 

1.

“Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself."

-Rumi

 

2.

 

3.

“You only lose what you cling to.”

-Siddhārtha Gautama Buddha

 

4.

5.

“The attitude of gratitude is the highest yoga.”

- Yogi Bhajan

 

6.

7.

“Don’t move the way fear makes you move. Move the way love makes you move. Move the way joy makes you move.”

- Osho

 

8.

9.

"Learn how to get in touch with the silence within yourself and know that everything in this life has a purpose.”

- Elizabeth Kübler-Ross

 

10.

11.

“We all wish for world peace, but world peace will never be achieved unless we first establish peace within our own minds.“

-Geshe Kelsang Gyatso

 

12.

 

13.

“This yoga should be practiced with firm determination and perseverance, without any mental reservation or doubts.”

-Bhagavad Gita

 

14.

15.

“When you inhale, you are taking the strength from God. When you exhale, it represents the service you are giving to the world.”

- B.K.S. Iyengar

 

16.

 

17.

“Every time you are tempted to react in the same old way, ask if you want to be a prisoner of the past, or a pioneer of the future.”

-Deepak Chopra

 

18.

19.

“Meditation brings wisdom; lack of meditation leaves ignorance. Know well what leads you forward and what holds you back, and choose the path that leads to wisdom.“

-Buddha

 

20.

*Namaste*- The divine light in me bows to the divine light in you.

With love from us to you :)

Compiled by: Gal Shyli Dayan

10/13/2015

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in Meditation, Holistic, Spirituality, Exercise, Weight Loss, Mantra, Yoga, Nature, Therapeutic, Uplifting, Inspirational, Human Body

What's Actually Happening When You Exercise? Our Workout Timeline Has Everything You Need To Know 

Guess what?! From the moment you start your workout- regardless of what it may be- the benefits of exercise begin. Within seconds your mood improves, your heart rate increases, blood is delivered to your muscles and you start burning calories for fuel.

All you need is at least 30 minutes of cardio 3-5 days per week with some resistance training and you'll add years to your life and improve its quality! Exercising is an amazing way to look younger, be happier, feel more energized and maintain a healthy weight. 

All this is great but what is really happening…

While you are working out:

1)    Smile! All those feel good endorphins are being released so you feel motivated and energized.

2)    Just breathe! During cardio, you strengthen your lungs as they breathe faster and deeper to deliver extra oxygen to your muscles.

3)    Bye, bye bulge! During cardio, your body burns primarily fat for fuel. Up your aerobic intensity and duration to further boost your body’s fat-blasting power.

An hour after completing your workout:

1)    Immune System- proteins called immunoglobulins are elevated every time you exercise. These proteins strengthen your immune system and fight off infection.

2)    Mood- serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine are released in your brain to help you mellow out and feel stress-free. For optimal mood-enhancing results, do high intensity interval training!

3)    Weight- you are burning off calories even while you rest. You can increase this after-workout effect by strength-training at least twice a week.

4)    Hunger- Exercise burns through your energy stores so your blood sugar levels drop. Make sure to listen to your hunger. Refuel and rehydrate properly!

A day after your workout:

1)    Muscle- a day after strength training your muscles start to rebuild themselves and repair the microscopic tears caused by weight lifting.

2)    Heart- who doesn’t want to make sure to maintain a healthy heart? Just one workout will lower blood pressure for hours afterwards. Go for high intensity cardio for the most heart-tastic effects!

3)    Brain- as blood and oxygen flow increase to your brain, you are extra alert and focused. Capitalize on this momentum to clock in some study time. Your ability to memorize is at a high post-exercise!

The week after your work out:

1)    Reduced risk of diabetes-The more you exercise, the more sensitive you are to insulin which lowers your blood sugar levels and reduces the risk of developing type II diabetes.

2)    You can go harder and longer- your VO2 max, a measure of your endurance and aerobic fitness, has increased so you can keep stepping up your fitness routine!

3)    Think thin- you get slimmer. Did you know that reducing your diet by 500 calories a day and exercising will help you lose at least a pound a week?

In the long term after working out:

1)    You’re so strong! You can lift more/ do more reps as your muscle endurance increases.

Quick tip: when you can do 15 reps a set, switch to a weight that's two pounds heavier and go back to 10 reps. Work back up to 15 reps and then repeat this. By increasing the number of pounds you lift, you'll sculpt and strengthen better and faster.

2)    You’re so fit! As you keep at it, you are exchanging fat for muscle and looking super good.

3)    You’re so smart! As you work out, growth-stimulating proteins in the brain are activated and you get more brainpower as new cells are formed.

4)    You’re so refreshed! Cardio workouts, like running, for 30 minutes a day for three weeks improve your sleep quality. 

5)    You’re so beautiful! Besides increasing longevity, working out reverses skin aging. Exercise keeps your skin youthful and even helps it regenerate thanks to the protein IL-15 that is released while you get your sweat on. This protein stimulates skin cell’s power centers, or mitochondria, to be fitter and healthier, making skin appear and act younger. 

 

After a year, working out gets easier as your endurance and aerobic fitness increase, your heart rate lowers, your cells blast more fat on an ongoing basis, and more!

Make sure to maintain an efficient metabolism through upping your workout intensity. Keep your body guessing with different methods of fitting in a great sweat session!

Although you can snag some extra benefits by exercising outdoors, such as getting more vitamin D from the sun, the most important thing is not where you work out or what exercise you do, the key is that you keep challenging yourself so that you remain motivated and consistent.

ENJOY :) 

Author: Gal Shyli Dayan

Sources:

Janes, Beth. "Can Exercise Make Your Skin Look Younger?" Shape July-Aug. 2015: 62-64. Print.

http://www.fitnessmagazine.com/workout/tips/power-surge-the-hidden-benefits-of-exercise/

http://www.prevention.com/fitness/best-way-lose-weight

http://fit-personality.com/page/8

http://positivemed.com/2012/04/04/lose-fat/

08/19/2015

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in Health, Holistic, Mental Health, Science, Exercise, Weight Loss, Beauty, Therapeutic, Uplifting, Human Body

You Won't Believe What a Little Coconut Oil Can Do!  

You may have already heard that coconut oil is a superfood, but first off, what exactly is a "superfood"? and secondly, what makes coconut oil such a popular one? The Oxford Dictionary's definition of a superfood is “a nutrient-rich food considered to be especially beneficial for health and well-being.” With its unique health benefits, thanks to an abundance of fatty acids and fat soluble vitamins, coconut oil certainly fits the bill. Not to mention its creamy, satisfying taste! Here are just a few reasons why we love coconut oil:

1. Coconut Oil Helps You Burn Calories

Coconut oil contains fatty acids known as Medium Chain Triglycerides (MCTs). Unlike the more common long-chain fatty acids, these triglycerides can be metabolized in the liver as quick sources of energy. In one study, researchers found that as little as 15 grams of MCTs per day can increased 24 hour energy expenditure by 5%, which, in fat-burning lingo, amounts to an extra 120 calories burned per day. This extra boost can lead to significant weight loss in the long term when paired with a consistent exercise routine. 

2.Coconut Oil Boasts Antibacterial, Antiviral, and Antifungal Properties

The above graphic shows the chemical structure of lauric acid, a miraculous, 12-carbon fatty acid which makes up 50% of coconut oil's fatty content. When digested, lauric acid forms a monoglyceride called monolaurin. Lucky for us, both lauric acid and monolaurin have been found to fight off viral, bacterial, and fungal pathogens on and in the human body. Specifically, they have been found to kill off staphylococcus bacteria, which are pathogens known to induce dangerous staph infections. And that's not all! Lauric acid and monolaurin are also deadly to the fungus known as Candida Albicans, which is a major cause of yeast infection in humans.

3. Ketones Are the Key!

Once digested, much of the fatty acids in coconut oil enter the blood as ketone bodies, which are now known to effectively treat neurological disorders such as epilepsy and Alzheimer's disease. Epileptic children who have endured unsuccessful treatments with pharmaceutical drugs are encouraged to eat foods rich with fatty acids. The resulting increase of ketone bodies in the child's blood inevitably reduces their rate of seizures on a day-to-day basis. In patients with mild to moderate forms of Alzheimer's disease, ketones bodies were found to reliably deliver energy to the brain and improve neurological functioning, greatly reducing Alzheimer's symptoms. 

Trying to slim up for summer? Ketones were found to have appetite-suppressing effects for adult men in a surprising 1998 study.

4. Moisturize and Protect

Some of coconut oil's most sought-after advantages have nothing to do with eating it! Ever wonder why your "granola-babe" friend puts coconut oil on her face everyday? Coconut oil moisturizes and balances the lipid content of your skin without clogging pores. It can even protect your skin from sun damage, as it blocks about 20% of the sun's ultraviolet rays. If you have a case of the frizzies or chronically dry hair, run some coconut oil through your locks to even out moisture levels and protect your hair from damage. 

5. Oral Hygiene

 With origins in ancient Ayurvedic medicine, oil pulling has been practiced for thousands of years. This technique is thought to improve your dental health by killing harmful bacteria and drawing toxins from the body. Others claim that daily oil pulling brightens smiles and even gets rid of bad breath. Want to give it a try? Simply swish a tablespoon of oil (preferably coconut or sesame) around your mouth, as you would a mouth wash, for 15 to 20 minutes. Do this every morning before breakfast and brushing for best results, and let us know what you think! 

6. Bust that Belly Fat 

If you read number 1 on this list, you already know that coconut oil helps burn calories. But did you know that it can actually target those pesky layers of extra belly fat? A study in which 40 women with abdominal obesity supplemented with 1 ounce of coconut oil per day showed a significant reduction in BMI and waist circumference over a 12 week period. A similar study with 20 males noted a reduction of waist circumference in just 4 weeks with daily oil supplementation. Needless to say, simply adding coconut oil to your diet should not replace a steady exercise routine. However, this versatile oil will aid you throughout your weight loss journey especially when it comes to burning belly fat, which is considered to be the most dangerous fat in obesity related diseases.

7. Get the Good Stuff
If you you haven't already, make sure you only purchase organic, virgin coconut oil. Buying refined or processed oil may not deliver the benefits that have made coconut oil so popular. Some brands that sell organic oil include Nutiva, Nature's Way, Carrington Farm's and Trader Joe's.

Enjoy!
Author: Nate Morgan
Sources:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15724344
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8654328
http://authoritynutrition.com/why-is-coconut-oil-good-for-you/
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22279374
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC444260/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Candida_albicans
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Staphylococcus_aureus
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17651080
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10762277
http://www.healthy-holistic-living.com/truth-coconut-oil-10-facts-need-know.html?t=NSM#sthash.FMUl3Oxu.dpbset

04/06/2015

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in Health, Holistic, Science, Exercise, Weight Loss, Supplements, Green Movement, GMO, Mother Earth, Nature, Food

Busted: The Industry Selling Us Fake Herbal Supplements 


In 2013, a Canadian Government study found that there are at least 65,000 dietary supplement being sold in America, and over 150 million Americans buying them consistently. Herbal supplement sales made an estimated $6 billion in 2013 alone. Needless to say, we're talking about a hugely profitable industry. 
 
However, recent DNA tests of big brand herbal supplements are discovering the truth about these outrageous earnings. Do herbal supplements sell like hot cakes? Yes. Are the big-brand supplement companies saving tons of cash by loading pills with cheap ingredients and lying on the labels? Absolutely.
 
New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman commissioned an involved DNA study of thousands of bottles of store-brand herbal supplements. The results were shocking enough to warrant cease-and-desist letters to Target, GNC, Walmart and Walgreens, demanding that mislabeled supplements be taken off the shelves.
 
Four of the five tested products (which claimed to benefit a variety of ailments ranging from depression to prostate issues), were found to contain none of the ingredients listed on the bottle. Instead, cheap fillers such as wheat, beans, rice, and even house plants were discovered in these pills.
 
As Schneiderman pointed out, this is a huge liability issue. Individuals with certain food and plant allergies are being put at risk whenever they ingest a mislabeled supplement. For this reason, it has been strongly advised that those with various dietary restrictions resist purchasing big-brand supplements for good.
 
In one of the tests, all of which took place at Clarkson University in Potsdam, New York, Walmart-brand pills said to contain echinacea, an immune-boosting herb, showed not a single trace of echinacea DNA. GNC-brand products marketed to contain St. John's Wort actually held garlic, rice, and a tropical house plant. Ginseng pills were found lacking any amount ginseng. This list goes on and on.
 
The company with the most shocking test results was Walmart, where only 4% of the products had DNA from the plants listed on the labels. Each product was tested at least five times, on three to four samples of each supplement.


GNC and Walgreen's have agreed to give the Attorney General detailed information on production and quality control, while suspending the sale of certain supplements. Walmart is flat out refuting the claims, stating that their own studies show no such disparity between labeling and product content. Still, Walmart will comply by removing some products from their shelves in the state of New York.
 
It is clear that the supplement industry is in major need of reform. In the meantime, consumers are becoming more conscious about their supplement intake and are switching to small-brand, organically certified pills.
 
Non-labeled fillers that the tests discovered ranged from citrus, pine, and primrose to wild carrot and even unidentified, non-plant material. 
 
Do you know what's in your pills?

Author: Nate Morgan
 
Learn more at:
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2015/02/05/herbal-supplements-fake-health-canada_n_6624762.html
http://www.forbes.com/sites/davidkroll/2015/02/03/cease-and-desist-orders-hit-walmart-walgreens-and-others-for-herbal-supplement-sales/
http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2015/02/buyer_beware_gnc_walmart_target_walmart_new_york_a.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/02/03/snake-oil-supplements_n_6602940.html
http://www.newyorker.com/tech/elements/dna-barcoding-new-york-dietary-supplement
 
                                                                                  

02/07/2015

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in Health, Holistic, Science, Research, Exercise, Genetics, Weight Loss, Supplements, Herbology, Corporate Greed

The Amazing Properties of Turmeric: The Spice of Life, plus recipe! 















In Vedic times, turmeric had many names. Each name denoted a specific beneficial property of the spice. 


A few examples of include: 

Ranjani- That which gives color 
Bhadra- Auspicious 
Krimighni- Antimicrobial
Haridra- Dear to Hari or Lord Krishna
Hemaragi- Having golden color

In medieval times, turmeric was given the Latin name terramerita (terremerite in French,) which means “meritorious earth”. 

It’s no surprise that ancient societies had so many affectionate names for this spice. Modern scientific studies are finding that turmeric has more healing properties than even the ancient texts could foresee, notably the properties of an anticarcinogen. 

But lets start with the practical origins of this colorful spice. Here are some of the ways turmeric was used throughout its 6000-year period of documented medicinal and religious use:

• As a spice 
• As an auspicious substance in Indian religious rituals 
• As a dye
• As a cosmetic 
• As a medicine

Ancient Ayurvedic texts, including the Charaka samhita, Sushruta samhita, and Ashtanga sangraha, record turmeric’s positive effects on afflictions such as diabetes, leprosy, extreme thirst, and elephantiasis. 

Ancient Ayurvedic scholar Bhavamisra defined turmeric as a cure for Kapha- phlegmatic disorders, and Pitta- digestive, metabolic, and related diseases. 

Furthermore, Ayurveda defines turmeric as Vranahara- ulcer healing, Varnya- complexion improving, and Tvakdoshahara- skin disease curing. 

Modern science is no stranger to the benefits of this versatile substance. Currently one of the most intensively researched plants, turmeric’s medicinal properties have been documented in over 5,600 published biomedical studies. These studies have concluded that the spice can be used:

• As an anti-carcinogen
• As an anti-inflammatory 
• To ward off heart attacks
• To delay diabetes
• To tame indigestion
• And even to repair stem cells in the brain!

Home remedies using turmeric are numerous and easy to concoct. As a rash, complexion, or acne remedy, one can simply mix turmeric in water to make a paste. Leave the paste on the affected area for some time, but remove if a burning sensation occurs. One could also mix it with honey (a natural antiseptic) or sandalwood paste.
                                                                                                                     

Here's a home recipe for a delicious, drinkable turmeric remedy:

1/2 tsp. ghee or coconut oil

1 – 2 tsp. turmeric
1/4 tsp. cardamom
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
pinch of nutmeg
a few strands of saffron (optional)
1 cup of almond, soy or hazelnut milk

Enjoy!
Author: Nate Morgan
 
                                                                                     

01/26/2015

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in Health, Holistic, Science, Research, Weight Loss, India

According to New Studies, Exercise Changes Your DNA 

We've known for years that exercise increases overall functionality and lowers the risk of disease in the body. However, certain details about how exercise leads to a healthier body have remained a mystery. A recent New York Times article shed some light on scientific findings concerning the crossroads of exercise and epigenetics. 

The human body has the remarkable ability to revise it's genetic behavior, and our genes are constantly responding to the body's biochemical signals. Depending largely on our habits, certain genes may become more active, while others take a back seat.

In an epigenetics study published this past December, scientists at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm engaged 23 men and women in physical activities that isolated just one leg. Participants bicycled on that leg for 45 minutes, 4 times per week for 3 months. Obviously, the active leg slowly began to show more power than the other. But what interested researchers were the changes within the DNA of the exercised leg.

New methylation patterns were found on over 5,000 sites on the muscle genomes of the active leg. What is methylation? Simply speaking, it's a process in which clusters of atoms attach to the outside of a gene, making that gene more or less receptive of the body's various biochemical signals. Most of the genes that were observed to undergo new methylation play important roles in the processes of insulin response, energy metabolism, and inflammation within muscles. 

In other words, the genes that play an important role in the body's overall fitness became more expressed through methylation. These changes were not observed in the unexercised leg.

These findings offer a fresh understanding of human versatility and the benefits of regular exercise. (We can't speak for you, but we definitely needed the reminder!) Still, other questions remain. How does gene expression change with different types of exercise, such as strength training? Only time will tell. 

Author: Nate Morgan

01/05/2015

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in Health, Holistic, Mental Health, Science, Research, Exercise, Genetics, Weight Loss

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