Loss of Libido Sex Drive in Women during Menopause

“At this age, it’s unusual for somebody to do a love scene, to be making love... (But) we still are alive... it’s authentic. The whole idea that you have to look a certain way and be a certain way to earn love is ridiculous.” (Actress Meryl Streep, about her on-screen sex scene at age 60, as quoted in The Times (London) (12/21/2009)).

Loss of libido can be one of the most difficult symptoms of menopause to manage, often because a woman might not understand how and why she has lost the desire to be physically intimate with her partner. It is important to recognize that loss of libido during menopause is common, affecting as many as 20 to 40 percent of women.

Learning more about loss of libido, its myriad causes, and how it can be managed, can not only bring a woman peace of mind but is the best step towards resolving this complex symptom of menopause.

About Loss of Libido

Loss of libido is a complex phenomenon with psychological, relational, physical, and hormonal dimensions as unique as the women who experience them.

The term libido has long been used to describe a persons sexual drive and their desire for sex. Loss of libido, medically termed "hypoactive sexual desire disorder," is a reduction or lack of interest and desire in sexual activity.

Loss of libido is chiefly characterized by a lack of interest or desire for sexual activity. Many women with loss of libido find that they are less in touch with their sexuality. Sexual feelings come less frequently and energy for sex drastically dwindles or disappears from a womans life.

Loss of Libido Overview

While loss of libido differs from the inability to become aroused or achieve orgasm, menopausal women may also experience these symptoms of sexual dysfunction.

While male sex drive is easy to define -- and relatively easy to restore -- thats often not the case for women. Because the female sex drive is multi-factorial, the desire to make love is not only influenced by physical issues, but emotional ones as well.

"Part of the desire to make love is clearly physical, but part is also emotional – depression can make a difference, so can any emotional issue in a womans life; female sex drive is very multidimensional," says Glenn D. Braunstein, MD, an endocrinologist and chair of the department of medicine at Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. While emotions are frequently behind a loss of sex drive in younger women, doctors say it is frequently the aging process itself thats causes changes in desire in women over age 45. "The very fact that a woman is no longer ovulating regularly, or not ovulating at all, automatically takes her sex drive down a few notches," says Steven Goldstein, MD, professor of ob-gyn and NYU Medical Center in New York City. He also continues that trying to avoid sex because of associated difficulties only leads to more pain. The old "use or lose it" theory really does apply. "From a strictly physical standpoint, the less sex you have the more painful it is when you try to have it," he says.

Causes of Loss of Libido

Like many menopausal symptoms, the primary cause of loss of libido has its roots in hormonal imbalance. However, physical, psychological and relationship issues can affect the libido during menopause as well.

Hormonal Causes of Loss of Libido

During menopause, one of the most common identifiable causes of loss of libido is hormonal imbalance. Reductions in the levels of three major hormones can contribute to the reduction of sexual drive and energy.

Estrogen

Estrogen plays a vital role in female sexuality by increasing sensations, assisting in the production of vaginal lubrication, and maintaining the health of vaginal tissue.

As a woman approaches menopause, her body begins to produce less estrogen. This can cause a host of symptoms that can contribute to a womans loss of libido, such as hot flashes, night sweats, irregular periods, and vaginal dryness.

Progesterone

Progesterone hormones are also integral to maintaining sexual health. When levels are too low during menopause, the resulting irregular periods, fatigue and other menopause symptoms can cause loss of libido.

Androgens/ Testosterone

As with estrogen, the body begins to produce lower levels of androgens (e.g. testosterone) with age. Experts believe that this drop in androgens can also cause women to experience loss of libido around the time of menopause.

While hormonal change is often a major cause of loss of libido during menopause, other factors can also cause or contribute to a womans loss of libido. Read on to learn about these other causes of loss of libido

Other Causes of Loss of Libido

In addition to hormonal causes of loss of libido, several other factors can lead to this common menopausal symptom. The other causes can be separated into three categories: physical, psychological, and relational causes. These other causes are listed below.                                                                                                            

Physical Causes

• Sexual dysfunction
• Pain-related conditions
• Medication use
• Hysterectomy
• Diabetes
• Heart disease
• Anemia
• Chronic disease
• Vaginal dryness     

Psychological Causes

• Stress
• Fatigue
• Changes in self esteem and body image
• Concerns about aging
• Feelings about sex
• Psychological disease (e.g. mood swings, depression, and anxiety)   

Relational Causes

• Changes in partners   physical health
• Intimate relationship   changes
• Availability of partner
• Lack of communication   between partners
• Changing social role
• Family changes
• Low sex drive in partner
• Major life changes

Loss of libido is a complex symptom of menopause with many potential causes.

Chronic Stress and Sex Life

Most of us know that chronic stress isn’t healthy, but we may not realize the toll it takes on libido. The body interprets ongoing stress as life threatening, so naturally, survival is prioritized ahead of pleasure. Stress over-burdens the adrenal glands, “stealing” the substances normally used to make estrogens and testosterone, both vital to desire and sexual response.

Many women we talk to at the clinic and in our Personal Programs tell us they feel overwhelmed by stress. This puts them at significant risk for adrenal imbalance. If you are under constant stress, you’re not going to feel much like having sex. So in the interest of your health, and your sex life, it may be time to reassess the conditions that are creating stress in your life.

There’s also a connection between nutrition and libido, because nutrient deficiencies stress your internal systems and set the stage for hormonal imbalance. Many women diet continually to improve their appearance, unaware that ongoing nutrient deprivation can have a drastic impact on physical health, energy levels, and self-image. All of these effects make you feel awful and drain your sex drive. Note that low-fat diets are especially problematic, because your body needs lipids and cholesterol to make hormones, including the testosterone needed for sexual response.

Treatments for Loss of Libido

Fortunately, loss of libido can easily be treated through a variety of methods. Oftentimes lifestyle changes such as a few changes in diet and exercise patterns will not only help to treat loss of libido, but corresponding stress and anxiety as well.

You CAN improve your sex drive by...

• Restoring balance between the three major sex hormones.
• Practicing sound nutrition to support physical and emotional health, and taking steps to get regular, restorative sleep.
• Exercising, to build energy and stamina, both elements of libido. Exercise can also directly reduce menopausal symptoms.
• Healing old emotional wounds, and being aware that stress takes both an emotional and physical toll on your libido.
• Understanding that your self-image and sexual identity evolve throughout your life. It’s a gift to allow yourself to be (and look like) the woman you really are.

Recommended Foods

• Oysters, Red Meat, Liver, Kidney Beans (zinc)   
• Leafy Greens, Almonds, Buckwheat (magnesium)
• Lean Meats, Fish, Nuts, Dairy (protein)
• Edamame, Tofu, Miso, Soymilk (soy products)

Recommended Exercises

• Yoga (increased flexibility, relaxation)                                                                                            
• Kegel Exercises (strengthens vaginal muscles)
• Aerobics (heart health, circulation)
• Stretching (relaxation, stress relief, improved muscle tone)                                                        

However, because the root of the problem for women going through menopause is a drop in hormone levels, the best way to treat this problem is to go directly to the hormonal source. Natural supplements are an excellent and safe way to achieve this.

In more extreme cases, there are medical solutions such as surgery or pharmaceutical options, though due to risk of side effects or other complications this should be the last resort.

Sources and Additional Information:

http://www.34-menopause-symptoms.com/loss-libido.htm

http://www.womentowomen.com/sexualityandfertility/menopause-sexdrive-libido.aspx

http://www.femhealth.net/menopause-symptoms/treatment-loss-of-libido.htm

http://www.webmd.com/menopause/guide/sex-drive-and-menopause

Best Diet Tips Ever

Experts share their top tips for weight loss success.
By Kathleen M. Zelman, MPH, RD, LD


Everyone knows the keys to losing weight: Eat less and exercise more. Sounds simple enough, but in the context of real life and its demands, it can be anything but simple. So how do successful losers do it? To find out, WebMD asked experts across the country for their best diet tips.

Heres what they said:
Best Diet Tip No. 1: Drink plenty of water or other calorie-free beverages.

People sometimes confuse thirst with hunger. So you can end up eating extra calories when an ice-cold glass of water is really what you need.

"If you don’t like plain water, try adding citrus or a splash of juice, or brew infused teas like mango or peach, which have lots of flavor but no calories," says Cynthia Sass, RD, a spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association.
Best Diet Tip No. 2: Think about what you can add to your diet, not what you should take away.

Start by focusing on getting the recommended 5-9 servings of fruits and vegetables each day.

"It sounds like a lot, but it is well worth it, because at the same time you are meeting your fiber goals and feeling more satisfied from the volume of food," says chef Laura Pansiero, RD.

Youre also less likely to overeat because fruits and vegetables displace fat in the diet. And thats not to mention the health benefits of fruits and vegetables. More than 200 studies have documented the disease-preventing qualities of phytochemicals found in produce, says Pansiero.

Her suggestion for getting more: Work vegetables into meals instead of just serving them as sides on a plate.

"I love to take seasonal vegetables and make stir-fries, frittatas, risotto, pilafs, soups, or layer on sandwiches," Pansiero says. "It is so easy to buy a variety of vegetables and incorporate them into dishes."
Best Diet Tip No. 3: Consider whether youre really hungry.

Whenever you feel like eating, look for physical signs of hunger, suggests Michelle May, MD, author of Am I Hungry?

"Hunger is your body’s way of telling you that you need fuel, so when a craving doesn’t come from hunger, eating will never satisfy it," she says.

When youre done eating, you should feel better -- not stuffed, bloated, or tired.

"Your stomach is only the size of your fist, so it takes just a handful of food to fill it comfortably," says May.

Keeping your portions reasonable will help you get more in touch with your feelings of hunger and fullness.

WebMD Weight Loss Clinic-Feature
Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD

Scientists Probe the Interaction Between Saturated and Unsaturated High Fat Diets and Their Corresponding Carbohydrate Sources Cornstarch vs Fructose

This add is a perfect example of how saturated fat, in this case lard has always been blamed for the "lard" on ones hips.

Any hypothesis that tries to blame for our "fat misery" on a single nutrient is short-sighted. After years of fat-bashing, carbophobia and fructose hating in the course of which the situation progressively, we are now seeing the first studies which investigate what the Polish researchers, Adam Jurgoński, Jerzy Juśkiewicz and Zenon Zduńczyk from the Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research at the Polish Academy of  Sciences call the "biological interactions among these dietary factors" in their latest paper in the peer-reviewed open-source journal Nutrients (Jurgoński. 2014).

With the publication of the data of a their latest rodent study, the scientists have already taken the first step to a new, an "interactionist" perspective on the obesogenic effects of saturated vs.unsaturated and simple vs.complex carbohydrates and their interaction with another previously overlooked factor that has gotten quite some attention in the past months: The gut and its inhabitants.

Goodbye! Nutritional scapegoatism 

It goes without saying that this model study is nothing but a first step on a long road we still have to travel, but the differential effects the four diets (see Table 1)...

• 

  Table 1: Composition of the diets.

  the soybean powered high cornstarch diet (OS),
• the lard-laden high cornstarch diet (LS), 
• the soybean-powered high fructose diet (OF), and
• the lard-laden high fructose diet (LF)

...had on the health, caecal short-chain fatty acid concentrations, cholesterol and triglyceride levels are revealing, to say the least.

World premiere! I know it sounds hilarious, but this is actually the first study I have seen that focused on nutrient interactions, instead of individual (macro-)nutrients in diets that are not even suitable to isolate the effects of the nutrient of interest - most prominent example the "high fat diet"  which is high in fat (45% of the energy is the standard; there are yet also "high fat" diets with only 32% of the total energy from fat; Gajda. 2008) but leaves enough room for carbohydrates to complement, some would say "trigger" the obesogenic effects by providing a pro-insulinogenic stimulus that will blunt the oxidation of the dietary fat and help drive it into the cells.

If you take a closer look at the actual study outcomes, you will see that the answer(s) the study provides are about as complex as its design.

In contrast to the dietary fat which had no independent effect on any of the measured markers of gut function, the carbohydrate source, i.e. cornstarch vs. fructose lead to significant differences in total small intestinal mass, mean pH of the ileal digesta and the mucosal activity of sucrase, all of which were increase on the high fructose diet.

Figure 1: Serum lipid levels of the rodents after 4 weeks on obesogenic diets containing different forms of dietary fat and carbohydrate (Jurgoński. 2014)

Interactive effects were observed for the mass of the cecum itself (the tissue) and the digesta with opposing effects of fructose on when it was administered in conjunction with lard (reductions) vs. soybean oil (increases in cecum mass). Slightly different effects were observed for the short-chain fatty acid composition (SCFA):

"Both the dietary fats and carbohydrates contributed to changes in the total SCFA concentration in the caecal digesta of rats (p < 0.05 and < 0 0.001, respectively). The highest total SCFA concentration was in group LS, while group OS had a significantly lower concentration (p ≤0.05). Similarly, the acetate concentration in the caecal digesta was influenced both by dietary fats and carbohydrates (p < 0.05 and p < 0.001, respectively) with a similar span of differences among particular groups (p ≤0.05). The type of dietary carbohydrate had significant influence on the propionate and isobutyrate concentrations in the caecal digesta (p < 0.001 and p < 0.05, respectively); however, both dietary factors had an interactive effect on their concentrations (p < 0.05). The highest propionate concentration was observed in the LS and OS group, whereas significantly lower concentration was found in the OF group. The lowest isobutyrate concentration was in group OF and it was significantly higher in group OS (p ≤0.05)." (Jurgoński. 2014)

The serum lipid profiles were influenced by both, the types of fats and carbohydrates as shown in Figure 1. Whats particularly striking, here, is the nasty effects of a combined lard + fructose feeding on the triglyceride levels.

A similar fat-dependence as for the fructose induced triglyceride boost can be observed for the levels of total and HDL cholesterol, which were increased only by the combination of fructose + saturated fat. In the rodents that received soybean oil with their coke, ... ah, I mean with their fructose, the researchers observed the exact opposite trend and a 5x lower yet similarly increased artherosclerosis risk (as evidenced by the 5x higher atherogenic index).

Suppversity Suggested Read: "EGGS - A Four-Letter Food Improves Both Cholesterol Particle & Phospholipid Profile + HDL-Driven Lipid Reverse-Transport" | read more

The results are still difficult to place. The complementary increases in total and HDL cholesterol in the lard + fructose group for example could be interpreted as unproblematic in view of the contemporary social media trend to depict high cholesterol as absolutely irrelevant. In view of the concomitant 2.3x increase in the ratio of triglycerides to HDL-cholesterol, of which we do know for sure that it predicts extensive coronary disease (Luz. 2008), it is still warranted to conclude that the combination of fructose and saturated fats is even worse than the combination of a high fructose intake with unsaturated fats, which had almost no effect on the triglycerides to HDL ratio and left the rodents in the corresponding group with a trig:HDL ratio what was >2.5x lower than that of the lard + fructose rodents.

Yes, I know - thats only rodent data, there is no information on body weight, or the gut microbiome and even the impact on glucose metabolism wasnt measured (you can predict from the triglyceride levels, though, that the animals lard + fructose diet had the lowest insulin sensitivity), the reason I still spent a whole article on this paper is that this is the kind of study, wed need if we actually want to understand "why we are fat" from the inexplicably popular (macro-)nutrient perspective... I mean, lets be honest: On the level of food items, the complexity is not a problem and we all know the food items that propel the obesity epidemic, dont we?

References:

• Gajda, Angela M. "High fat diets for diet-induced obesity models." A Report for Open Source Diets (2008).

Melato Cola™ or What Fructose for Improved Glucose Metabolism and Melatonin to Counter Fructose Overload

There was a time, when Coke still contained "coke"... so why not add some melatonin for health benefits? I am obviously just kidding here, but a combination of fructose + melatonin may actually make sense.

The title of todays SuppVersity article is confusing, I know. Firstly, it contains the almost heretical notion that fructose could actually improve instead of impair your glucose metabolism and secondly it does not appear to make sense that you would have to use melatonin to counter the pro-diabetic effects of fructose, if the latter is in fact so good for you.

Before you are getting totally confused, let me clarify how the improvements in glucose metabolism and the melatonin-powered diabesity protection go together: Both have been observed in a recent study from the Pontificia Universidad Católica Argentina in Buenos Aires, Argentina (Cardinali. 2013), in the course of which the improved glucose metabolism was nothing but a side-finding of a study Cardinali et al. conducted to  examine the effect of melatonin when it is administered to rodents simultaneously with fructose in the drinking water.

This is the Coke + sufficient sleep study ;-)

Obviously this is not as the subheading would suggest the "coke + sufficient sleep study", but in light of the fact melatonin is after all the "sleep" hormone and in view of the results of a recent study by Senador et al. who observed that fructose had a negative effect on glucose management only, when it was available during the light phase (which is the inactive phase for a rodent; cf. Senador. 2012), it comes close; and that despite the fact that fructose timing was yet not an issue in the study at hand. Instead of modifying the timing, Cardinali et al. used different amounts of fructose with half of the rodents in the experimental arm of the study having a 5% and the other half having a 10% fructose solution as their main water supply.

Figure 1: Glycemia (mg/dL) 0-140min after 2g/kg body weight  glucose tolerance test (Cardinali. 2013)

If we trust the nutritiondata.com information about the average fructose content of a "carbonated beverage, cola, with higher caffeine" ...

• the rodents in the 10% fructose group were consuming the total carbohydrate equivalent of coke, but with a 100% instead of ~50% fructose content, while
• the rodents in the 5% fructose group were consuming less total carbohydrates, but roughly the same amount of fructose someone would ingest if he drank nothing but coke.

A direct comparison of either of the groups to the "coke only"-drinking human being is thus not warranted.

It is nevertheless intriguing that the 5% fructose group showed a significantly higher glucose tolerance - not just compared to the 10% fructose group, but also compared to the control group that was fed with water, only (see figure 1).

"Meta-Analysis: Lower Glucose, Insulin and HbA1c Levels From Catalytic Dose of 36g Fructose" | read more

"But isnt fructose the reason you develop diabetes?" Before we get on to the effects of melatonin, I want to emphasize that this is by no means an outlier, in fact, I have written about the catalytic effects of 36g of fructose in a previous post "6x Bananas a Day!? Meta-Analysis: Lower Glucose, Insulin and HbA1c Levels From Catalytic Dose of 36g Fructose" (learn more).

Previous studies have also shown that a 2:1 mixture of glucose + fructose is at least up to the regular glucose only drinks in terms of post-workout glycogen repletion (learn more) - partly because the fructose will keep the liver occupied, while the muscles suck up the glucose.

As previously mentioned the main research interest of the Argentinian scientists was not the effect of fructose on the glucose sensitivity of their rodents, but rather if the administration of 25 μg/mL of melatonin in the tapwater the rodents received would lead to significant changes in the study outcomes.

Figure 2: Effects of melatonin in drinking water with or without 5% [left] and 10% [right] fructose on body weight, systolic blood pressure and glucose response to glucose tolerance test (Cardinali. 2013)

As you can see in figure 1 it did: Melatonin did ameliorate the weight gain, and the increase in blood pressure that was observed even with only 5% fructose in the drinking water. It did not improve the glycemic response of the rats in the 5% fructose group even more, though, but it bulnted the negative effects of the 10% fructose solution had on the glycemic response in the glucose tolerance (figure 2, right).

SuppVersity Suggested Read: "Circadian Rhythmicity - Sunlight, Bluelight, Backlight & Co Mess Learn How THey W/ Your Internal Clock. Plus: Tips & Tricks to Prevent Negative Side-Effects" | read more

Is a melatonin solution the solution? If we also consider the negative effects of 10% fructose feeding on LDL (the rodents on 10% + Mel had even lower LDL than the control), the normalization of triglycerides and the potential therapeutic reduction in uric acid (-30% even vs. control), of which Cardinali et al. point out that it could have therapeutic effects in people with gout and other uric acid related metabolic disorders, it would appear smart that do dissolve the human equivalent dose of 21-35mg melatonin in your drinking water in the morning and keep guzzling it all day long.

Well, as I said, it "would appear to be" smart, but is it really smart? I wouldnt be too sure about that. Despite the fact that that you probably wont die, the chronically increased systemic melatonin levels could have long-term negative consequences on your circadian rhythm that could undo all potential benefits.

Restricting your fructose intake to fructose from fruit, only, getting enough sleep and using melatonin timely, i.e. 20min before bed would thus appear to be a more prudent approach to improve / maintain optimal blood glucose levels and insulin sensitivity. And if you are more into hard facts than "erring on the side of caution", you may consider the acute decrease in glucose tolerance, Cagnacci et al. observed in postmenopausal women, when they participated in a blood glucose test after the administration of 1 mg melatonin more convincing (Cagnacci. 2001).

References:

• Cagnacci A, Arangino S, Renzi A, Paoletti AM, Melis GB, Cagnacci P, Volpe A. Influence of melatonin administration on glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity of postmenopausal women. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 2001 Mar;54(3):339-46. 
• Cardinali DP, Bernasconi PA, Reynoso R, Toso CF, Scacchi P. Melatonin may curtail the metabolic syndrome: studies on initial and fully established fructose-induced metabolic syndrome in rats. Int J Mol Sci. 2013 Jan 25;14(2):2502-14.
• Senador D, Shewale S, Irigoyen MC, Elased KM, Morris M. Effects of restricted fructose access on body weight and blood pressure circadian rhythms. Exp Diabetes Res. 2012;2012:459087.

Hidden Benefits of Coconut Oil For Health And Beauty

Coconut oil is often used only for cooking, actually there are so many benefits of coconut oil for health and beauty. In fact, also mentioned that coconut oil can also be used to treat acne. Because 50 percent of coconut oil content is lauric acid that supports healthy metabolism and has studied the content has anti-fungal, anti-viral and anti-bacterial. In addition, coconut oil also rich in vitamins, such as vitamin D, E and K.

Coconut oil generally get a bad assumption because it contains high saturated fat. However, in fact there are also many benefits of coconut oil, especially virgin coconut oil (VCO). Unlike the vegetable oil, VCO containing 92% medium-chain fatty acids can continue to be absorbed through the intestinal wall when it is in the gastrointestinal tract, the process is faster because without due process and enzymatic hydrolysis. Furthermore supplied directly into the blood stream and was immediately taken into the liver to metabolized. VCO is processed in the liver into energy, not cholesterol and fat deposits, the energy is used to improve the function of all endoktrin glands, organs and tissues.

Coconut oil nutrition

Like what we have mentioned above, quoting from wikipedia, Coconut oil contains a large proportion of lauric acid, a saturated fat that raises blood cholesterol levels by increasing the amount of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol.This may create a more favourable blood cholesterol profile, although it is unclear whether coconut oil may promote atherosclerosis through other pathways. Because much of the saturated fat of coconut oil is in the form of lauric acid, coconut oil may be a better alternative to partially hydrogenated vegetable oil when solid fats are required. In addition, virgin coconut oil (VCO) is composed mainly of medium-chain triglycerides, which may not carry the same risks as other saturated fats.

Nutritional value per 100g
Energy	3,607 kJ
Fat	100
- saturated	86.5
- monounsaturated	5.8
- polyunsaturated	1.8
Vitamin E	0.09 mg
Vitamin K	0.5 μg
Iron	0.04 mg

Benefits of coconut oil for health

Protect the heart
Because it is rich in lauric acid, coconut oil consumption can protect the heart by lowering bad cholesterol and increase good cholesterol.

Lowers the risk of cardiovasculardisease
A study has proven that potent virgin coconut oil consumption lowers the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Controlling blood sugar levels
Virgin coconut oil will not trigger an increase in the hormone insulin in the blood vessels. Conversely, consuming coconut oil can help you control your blood sugar by increasing insulin performance.

Boost immunity
Lauric acid content in coconut oil is enhancing good immune system.

Maintain brain health
Several studies also have shown that consuming coconut oil is able to maintain brain health in old age.

Speed ​​up the healing process
Panamanian people like to drink pure coconut oil to treat diseases and accelerate the healing process.

Helps the absorption of nutrients
Consuming virgin coconut oil and vitamin E together is the solution for treating failure nutrient absorption in the digestive tract.

Speed ​​up your metabolism
As mentioned earlier, coconut oil contains medium chain fatty acids can stimulate a faster metabolism and give you energy.

Eradicate bacteria
Virgin coconut oil also contains caprylic acid which is known to kill harmful bacteria.

Benefits of coconut oil for beauty

Lip balm
Rub on chapped lips. You can also use it to keep moisture lip anywhere, but not during the summer, as the heat will melt the oil.

Anti aging moisturizer
Coconut oil is anti-microbial agents, anti-fungal, and anti-bacterial. So apply coconut oil on the face as a moisturizer for anti-aging properties and prevent acne.

Get rid of stretch marks
If you frequently disturbed by the presence of stretch marks, apply coconut oil for a few weeks until able to eliminate them completely.

Stimulate hair growth
If you want long hair quickly, just apply coconut oil to hair roots. The process is almost the same as how to cope with split ends.

Make your nails grow longer
In addition to hair, beautiful and long nails can also be obtained by applying coconut oil. Focus on the cuticle area so that your nails look more beautiful.

Deep conditioner
Warm massage on the scalp and hair. Wait 15 minutes, then rinse. You do not need to use a conditioner after shampooing

Hair chapped and dry
Although cutting the broken part is the best solution, you can use coconut oil to reduce and make it sparkle again

Chiropody
If you have calluses or rough heels, use a pumice stone before going to bed. Apply coconut oil on your feet and wear a pair of socks to lock in moisture overnight

Face Cream
Lauric acid is said to cure acne, a good choice for oily and combination skin.

Make up cleanser
Coconut oil can be an effective cleanser and makeup has a natural moisturizer

Pineapple Health Benefits Nutrition Fact And Side Effect

Pineapple save many health benefits for the body. The fruit is rich in vitamins A and C as antioxidants. It also contains calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, iron, sodium, potassium, dextrose, sucrose, and the enzyme bromelain.

Fresh pineapple is the main source of bromelain, a combination of digestive enzymes and proteins that will fight inflammation in the body. Bromelain is also associated with the prevention of infection and injury. Research shows, bromelain helps accelerate the healing of wounds, sinus inflammation, digestive disorders, arthritis, and asthma. But of course required bromelain should be in large numbers, therefore today widely available supplement containing bromelain.

Pineapple Nutrition Fact

Pineapple chunks about one cup contains 78.9 mg of vitamin C, a little below the citrus fruit about 87.7 mg. In equal portions, pineapple also contains 180 mg of potassium which is helpful to keep regularity of heart rate and blood pressure. Furthermore this fruit also contains manganese. Fresh pineapple contains bromelain, a combination of digestive enzymes and proteins that will fight inflammation in the body.

Nutritional value per 100 g
Energy	209 kJ
Carbohydrates	13.12 g
Sugars	9.85 g
Dietary fiber	1.4 g
Fat	0.12 g
Protein	0.54 g
Thiamine	0.079 mg
Riboflavin	0.032 mg
Niacin	0.5 mg
Pantothenic acid	0.213 mg
Vitamin B6	0.112 mg
Folate	18 μg
Choline	5.5 mg
Vitamin C	47.8 mg
Calcium	13 mg
Iron	0.29 mg
Magnesium	12 mg
Manganese	0.927 mg
Phosphorus	8 mg
Potassium	109 mg
Sodium	1 mg
Zinc	0.12 mg

Pineapple Health Benefits

Here are some benefits of pineapple for our bodies:

1. Weight loss

Pineapple fruit proved to be very good in ones diet program petrified. Content in it to reduce weight naturally.

2. Maintaining healthy teeth

Efficacy of pineapple fruit can maintain the health of your teeth, its because pineapple contains vitamin C which can help prevent dental plaque also gum disease.

3. Helps soften the food in the stomach

Pineapple contains the enzyme bromelain which can be useful to help soften the food in the stomach. This enzyme also functions as an anti-inflammatory and inhibiting the growth of cancer cells.

4. Overcoming skin inflammation

Pineapple fruit can be used to overcome the problem of skin inflammation. Way, take half of the pineapple is ripe. Peel the skin and scar. Use proceeds to rub the grated pineapple peeling and scaly skin. Perform this activity at night before bed. The next day, freshly laundered.

5. Increase blood sugar

Pineapple has a fairly high sugar content. For patients with low blood sugar, pineapple can be taken to help improve blood sugar levels.

6. Overcoming constipation

Constipation can be caused by a lack of fiber. Fiber-containing foods can be fruits, one of which is the pineapple. The trick, drink pineapple juice. Choose a pineapple that is not too ripe. Choose a pineapple that are still acidic.

7. Overcoming bloating

Other benefits of pineapple fruit is overcome interference bloating in the stomach. Drinking pure pineapple juice at least 30 minutes before you eating. Do this 3 times a day with a dose of 150 cc at a time.

8. Strengthens the immune system.

The benefits of pineapple which is sourced from the essential amino acids and non-essential which is in pineapple fruit. Both of these compounds has long been known to strengthen the immune system and help the body overcome fatigue.

Pineapple Side Effect

Although the pineapple fruit has many benefits, there are also side effects if consumed in excess, such as:

• Some research says young pineapple potentially abort the womb. Therefore, it is recommended to pregnant women not to consume young pineapple.
• Increase blood sugar levels. Ripe pineapple fruit in fact contain high levels of sugar. The diabetics should not consume excessive pineapple.
• Cause rheumatism. According to some studies, in the process of digestion, pineapple fruit fermented into alcohol that can lead to arthritis. For rheumatism and arthritis sufferers should limit consumption of pineapple.
• For some people, eating too much pineapple can cause headaches. Pineapple fruit can cause allergic reactions in some people. Some people may experience allergic symptoms such as skin becomes red and itchy after eating pineapple. To avoid this, dip pineapple in salt water before consumption. In case of serious allergies, lips and mouth can become swollen after eating pineapple.

How To Get Rid Of Varicose Veins

Many women are looking for ways to get rid of varicose veins. Experience varicose veins disease, it is very embarrassing and make less confident. Varicose veins are not just a matter of aesthetics, but also can lead to other serious problems such as leg swelling, skin color changes, bleeding, blood clots, and pus.

Varicose Vein Causes

Varicose veins occur in the veins which carry blood metabolic waste of all body tissues and back to the heart. Varicose veins are caused by reduced elasticity of vein walls. Cause the veins weakened and unable to drain blood to the heart. Varicose veins cause blood circulation is not smooth, due to obstructed around the calves and legs while holding your body weight. In addition to the legs, later known that varicose veins can occur in the arms.

Varicose itself appears caused by several things ranging from genetics or heredity, even it can arise because of your daily habits that are unhealthy such as having excess weight, standing too long, rarely exercise and smoking, suffer from high cholesterol, diabetes, and often wear high heels. Besides that, also most pregnant women have varicose veins.

Varicose Veins Symptoms

• At first the feet and legs feel heavy, followed by muscle easy to soreness, stiffness, heat and pain around the feet and legs. Usually pain is felt in the evening, due to the interrupted blood flow.
• Easy cramps, although the foot in a relaxed condition.
• Popped blood vessel dilation hair that like cobwebs (spider navy).
• Changes in skin color (pigmentation) around the ankles, due to the interrupted blood flow. Sometimes followed by wound around the ankle are difficult to heal.
• Leg swelling (edema) due to the damming of blood.
• Changes in the external veins, such as in the back of the calf veins appear bluish and winding. This situation is a symptom of chronic varicose veins.

Tips To Get Rid Of Varicose Veins

Losing weight and doing low-fat high-fiber diet

For those of you who are overweight. Should reduce weight. It is not without reason, many studies say varicose veins often easier to attack someone who is overweight. This is because the foot in patients with obesity will sustain heavy loads, resulting in a time can lead to varicose veins.

Avoid standing for too long

Standing too long to be one of the causes of varicose veins. Therefore, avoid standing for too long. But if you have to force your work stand for a long time, make sure that you do not stand up to the same state for a long time. Move slightly to the blood vessels are not rigid.

Lie down with your feet and legs higher than the heart

After the move every day, lie down with your feet and legs higher than the heart for 20 minutes. For those who are suffering from varicose veins, try sleeping with a position like this all night. for blood circulation to the heart.

Use socks

To avoid or eliminate varicose veins in the lower legs you can use elastic socks, elastic socks usage is expected to suppress the section that has slowly and prevent varicose veins veins protruding.

Avoid tight clothes

To get rid of varicose veins, or prevent varicose veins you should avoid tight clothes, tight clothes can cause blood flow to be blocked so it becomes less smooth flow of blood to be pumped to the heart.

Avoid Wearing high heels

For you lovers of high heels, you should start reducing the habit of wearing high heels.

Avoid eating too much sugar, salt and fried foods.

This is what makes people with high cholesterol and diabetes risk have varicose veins.

Eat vegetables and fruits

Healthy foods can prevent varicose veins. Vegetables and fruits that contain lots of fiber and foods that can stimulate blood circulation such as onions and garlic-ginger. Do not forget to take vitamin B complex, C, E, B6, folic acid, magnesium, calcium and zinc. Avoid spicy foods such as black pepper, especially when your veins to swell.

Exercise

Exercise is good for health. Because of their heart racing and blood flow, so it can avoid going varicose veins. Exercise such as jogging, brisk walking, cycling and swimming is very good for smooth

blood flow.

Medically treating varicose veins:

Consult your physician or vascular surgeon about your varicose veins, many options that may be done include:

• Maybe the doctor will perform sclerotherapi, a popular treatment in treating varicose veins.
• Vein stripping. A surgical operation under general anesthesia, the affected varicose veins veins may be removed by tying the ends of the blood vessels,
• Or by using a laser. A procedure without injections or surgery. The blood vessels may require four to six laser therapy, and it takes about 15 to 20 minutes for each laser therapy.

Foods that help get rid of varicose veins

You can reduce the symptoms and prevent varicose veins by diet food. Here are foods that can help get rid of varicose veins:

1. Fiber

Dietary fiber foods can lower blood pressure in arteries in the legs, promote regular bowel movements and prevent constipation which is a factor causing varicose veins. Fiber-containing foods include green vegetables, asparagus, beans, and pomegranates.

2. Flavonoid intake

Research shows that flavonoids work with vitamin C to strengthen the membranes of blood vessels and reduce vein damage caused by free radicals. Flavonoid-containing foods such as apples, oranges, grapes, and berries.

3. Tannins

Tannins are antioxidant compounds that can help reduce blood vessel leakage and protect the vein from damage. Tannin contained in all kinds of berries.

4. vitamin C

Vitamin C can strengthen blood vessels and maintain membrane damage to the vein. Lack of vitamin C is also known to cause fragile blood vessels, so you need to increase your intake of vitamin C by eating foods such as broccoli, oranges, peppers, or vitamin C supplements

How To Get Rid Of Thigh Fat

Having a slim and toned thighs is the desire of everyone, especially the women. There is assumption that the fat in the thighs will be very difficult to remove. But in fact, exercise and proper lifestyle can help you to get your dream shape thighs.

Here are activities that help you eliminate thigh fat:

1. Exercise Routinely

To get a slim shape thighs, you need cardiovascular exercise, fat-burning and high intensity exercise to turn on the system cuts the fat in the body. If you have a yard big enough, do sports like running, cycling, or swimming. But if not, dance and movement exercises from the DVD can be an option. For maximum results, do this exercise at least an hour a day, three times a week.

2. Heart Rate Monitor

Make sure that you are on a cardiovascular workout intensity level of 75 to 80 percent. Use heart rate gauges to provide an accurate count. Usually these gauges are sold in sports stores or supermarkets.

3. Squats and lunges exercise

Tighten your thighs with lunges and squats exercises. Put these exercises into your regular exercise schedule. Besides toning your thighs, squats exercises using dumbbells in hand will make the sleeve come tight and formed. Squat itself is, exercise the right to form the front of the thigh muscles and your buttocks muscles.

4. Avoid junk food

If you want a slim and toned thighs, should avoid eating junk food or foods that contain lots of fat. Choose healthy foods such as fish steam cooked with various vegetables or fruits. Do not forget to cut carbs and replace them with white chocolate carbohydrates, such as brown rice or whole wheat bread.

5. Drink Lots of Water

Drinking mineral water at least eight glasses per day. This habit will help the body remove toxins and improve the process of weight loss. Drinking water also make the body functions work better.

Coconut Miracle Anti Arthritis Effects of Virgin Coconut Oil Confirmed Plus 10 Additional Benefits of White Gold From A in Alzheimers to W as Waist Circumference

Coconut Wonder, Coconut science or Both?

As a seasoned SuppVersity veteran, you will remember that I have been mocking the incredible hype around (virgin) coconut oil for years; not because there wasnt something "magic" to coconut oil, but rather because of the bazillions of incredible web-reports and recommendations and dozens of e-"books" on which the hype was / is built.

If you turn your head away from hype and hearsay and take a look at the coconut-science thats out there, the wonder begins to appear "wondrous", but does not disappear.

A recent study from the St. Thomas College in Kualalumpur, for example, does confirm the part where coconut oil made a lame person walk again (any similarities to biblical wonders are obviously mere coincidence ;-)

The said study was published in the International Immunopharmacology and its abstract says that the results of the corresponding rodent experiment confirm the "potential beneficiary effect of PV [virgin coconut oil] on adjuvant induced arthritis in rats" (Vysakh. 2014) - an effect, of which you as a SuppVersity reader already suspected that it was a direct results of the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of virgin coconut oil.

The beneficial effects on blood lipids are more or less absent with refined coconut oil (Nevin. 2004)

Refined or not refined, this is not a question: There is a reason the virgin in the last sentence of the previous paragraph is printed in italics. Chances that the (meanwhile similarly glorified) medium chain fatty acids in coconut oil are - in one way or another - involved in the anti-arthritic effects are slim to zero. Its thus unlikely to expect similar benefits from the consumption of industrially "cleaned" zero-polyphenol refined coconut oil and - at least for rodents, a study by Nevin from 2004 did already confirm that (see figure to the left).

Now the obvious question is: What exactly have the scientists done? And how representative are their results for a human being suffering from one of the 100 different forms of this debilitating and painful joint disorder?

Basically, the researchers immunized the right hind paw of animals was immunized by injecting 0.1 mL of complete Freunds adjuvant containing heat killed mycobacteria in paraffin oil. This is a treatment that has been used quite successful for decades (Bendele. 2001) and results from previous trials would suggest that there is a satisfactory match between the effects scientists observe in the rodent model and those that occur in follow up human studies. There were three groups of rodents: The "non-arthritic" (=no injection of Freunds adjuvant) control (NC), the "arthritic" rats (AA), and two groups with arthritic rats who received

• 80mg/kg virgin coconut oil orally (HED: 1-1.25g/day for a human being)
• 3mg/kg indomethacin, a std. NSAID (HED: 35-40mg/day for a human)

over the course of a 30-day experiment, at the end of which the (poor) critters were were sacrificed by euthanasia.

Figure 1: Comparison of histopatho-logies of the paws (Vysakh. 2014)

"For histological analysis, paw tissues were dissected,fixed in 10% buffered formalin and then decalcified for 7 days in 20% EDTA.

The tissues were then processed and embedded in paraffin. Synovialfluid was obtained by injecting 100μL of normal saline into the knee joints followed by gentle aspiration.

Paw tissue and blood were also collected for various biochemical estimations." (Vysakh. 2014)

If you take a look at the results of this process, even you as laymen (and -women ;-) should be able to see the difference between the paw of the AA-rats (B - top right) and the relatively "mild" changes you can see in the histopathologies from the coconut oil treated group (D - bottom right, Figure 1).
If you take a look at the inflammatory markers in Figure 2, as well, its actually not surprising to see that this relatively low amount of virgin coconut oil ameliorated the tissue damage. And even the fact that it did just that better than the standard NSAID idometacine, which commonly used as a prescription medication to reduce fever, pain, stiffness, and swelling and works by inhibiting the production of prostaglandins, cannot come as a total surprise - the "coconut miracle" did after all do a much better job as a IL-6, TNF-alpha and even COX-2 inhibitor (see Figure 2).

Fat alternatives: Its quite telling that fats, not holy... ah, I mean "hole grains" are the #1 nutritional anti-arthritic agents: Fish and Krill oil (Ierna. 2010; Lopez. 2012)!

Of the former, a group of UK researchers has reported only recently that their proven (albeit nor earthshatteringly potent) anti-arthritis effects are mediated not by DHA and EPA directly, but by so-called resolvins, molecules that enzymatically produced from the LC-N3-PUFAs which are log-orders more potent than their precursors (see figure above; cf. Norling. 2013).

And while the use of resolvins is still being explored by various researchers, we do already know that adding another virgin, in this case virgin olive oil (~10g/day) to the fish oil equation will yield more "precocious and accen-tuated improvement[s]" (Berbert. 2005) than fish oil alone.

And if even this does not work, there is still albeit anecdotal evidence of the usefulness of low-dose naltrexone treatments (Brown. 2009).

So what more can you ask for? Well, aside fro the fact that even the "coconut rodents" suffered significant tissue damage, you could ask for (a) a study to confirm these results in human arthritis sufferers, you could (b) ask for alternatives (see box on the right) and you could (c) ask me about the scientific evidence in favor / against other effects that are said to be brought about by the regular consumption of virgin coconut oil.

I cant offer you (a), i.e. the randomized controlled human study that would confirm these results. In view of the fact that most of you are hopefully still arthritis-free, it may yet be more interesting to hear that Ian Prior reports in his 1981 paper that the higher coconut oil intake of the Pukapuka, inhabitants of one of the atolls near the equator had significantly lower prevalence of arthritis, as well as heart disease, cancer, diabetes than their cousins, the Tokelau from the atoll next door, whose diet contained only 34%, instead of 63% coconut oil (Prior. 1983).

Looking back at our list, the observations Prior made, when he analyzed the diets and health of the inhabitants of Polynesian atoll dwellers, we have actually already breached issue (c) and the question for other non-anti-arthritic miracles - and yes, a reduced heart disease risk, as well as lower cancer and diabetes rates are on the list of scientifically supported (yet not necessarily verified) benefits of virgin coconut oil (Amarasiri. 2006). There are also case reports to support the anti-Alzheimers (Newport. 2010) and rodent studies to support bone, liver and testes protection, lipid lowering effects (Nevin. 2009, Zakaria. 2011; Abujazia. 2012; Dosumu. 2012), and beneficial effects on blood pressure and wound healing (topical application; Nevin. 2010; Nurul-Iman. 2013) and, last but not least, there are even (methodologically questionable) human trials which support the often-touted fat loss effects (-1% waist circumference in obese men - Assunção. 2009; Liau. 2011).

Miracle or not, the notion that virgin coconut oil is among the healthiest sources of dietary fats you can chose from appears to be more or less undeniable. The same is yet also true for the fact that this does not mean that you have to chose between virgin olive and coconut oil. On the contrary! If you read my recent article on the pro-/anti-diabetic effects of dietary fat, you will be aware that only a balanced mix will provide you with all the good fats and their unique "extras".

Reference:

• Abujazia, Mouna Abdelrahman, et al. "The effects of virgin coconut oil on bone oxidative status in ovariectomised rat." Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2012 (2012).
• Amarasiri, W. A. D. L. "Coconut fats." Ceylon Medical Journal 51.2 (2006): 47-51.
• Assunção, Monica L., et al. "Effects of dietary coconut oil on the biochemical and anthropometric profiles of women presenting abdominal obesity." Lipids 44.7 (2009): 593-601.
• Bendele, Alison M. "Animal models of rheumatoid arthritis." J Musculoskelet Neuronal Interact 1.4 (2001): 377-385.
• Berbert, Alair Alfredo, et al. "Supplementation of fish oil and olive oil in patients with rheumatoid arthritis." Nutrition 21.2 (2005): 131-136. 
• Brown, Norman, and Jaak Panksepp. "Low-dose naltrexone for disease prevention and quality of life." Medical hypotheses 72.3 (2009): 333-337.
• Ierna, Michelle, et al. "Supplementation of diet with krill oil protects against experimental rheumatoid arthritis." BMC musculoskeletal disorders 11.1 (2010): 136. 
• Liau, Kai Ming, et al. "An open-label pilot study to assess the efficacy and safety of virgin coconut oil in reducing visceral adiposity." ISRN pharmacology 2011 (2011).
• Lopez, Hector L. "Nutritional interventions to prevent and treat osteoarthritis. Part I: focus on fatty acids and macronutrients." PM&R 4.5 (2012): S145-S154. 
• Nevin, K. G., and T. Rajamohan. "Beneficial effects of virgin coconut oil on lipid parameters and in vitro LDL oxidation." Clinical biochemistry 37.9 (2004): 830-835.
• Nevin, K. Govindan, and Thankappan Rajamohan. "Wet and dry extraction of coconut oil: impact on lipid metabolic and antioxidant status in cholesterol coadministered rats." Canadian journal of physiology and pharmacology 87.8 (2009): 610-616.
• Nevin, K. G., and T. Rajamohan. "Effect of topical application of virgin coconut oil on skin components and antioxidant status during dermal wound healing in young rats." Skin pharmacology and physiology 23.6 (2010): 290-297.
• Newport, M. "Case study: dietary intervention using coconut oil to produce mild ketosis in a 58 year old APOE4+ male with early onset Alzheimer’s disease." 25th International Conference of Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI). 2010.
• Norling, Lucy V., and Mauro Perretti. "The role of omega-3 derived resolvins in arthritis." Current opinion in pharmacology 13.3 (2013): 476-481. 
• Nurul-Iman, Badlishah Sham, et al. "Virgin coconut oil prevents blood pressure elevation and improves endothelial functions in rats fed with repeatedly heated palm oil." Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2013 (2013).
• Prior, Ian A., et al. "Cholesterol, coconuts, and diet on Polynesian atolls: a natural experiment: the Pukapuka and Tokelau island studies." The American journal of clinical nutrition 34.8 (1981): 1552-1561.
• Zakaria, Z. A., et al. "Hepatoprotective activity of dried-and fermented-processed virgin coconut oil." Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2011 (2011).

Resistant Starch RS4 Reduces Waist Circumference Body Fat Cholesterol Levels in Lean and Obese Individuals in Randomized Double Blind Cross Over Human Study

Effortlessly lean with RS4? Probably not, but if youre into flour-based products it may be for you.

Some things are resistant to being forgotten. D-aspartic acid, for example, is useless and still around. RS-4, on the other hand, has more or less disappeared from the market, when Scott Connelys and Vince Andrichs last project Myotropics shut its doors. What? Oh, you dont even know what I am talking about? Well, RS-4 stands for "resistant starch", type 4. Its usually made from waxy maize starch, but will - due to its unique structure pass through the gut, more or less undigested (learn more).

RS-4 will thus end up in the long intestine, where it is eaten up and being fermented by your bacterial subtenants to eventually be absorbed by your gut in the form of short-chain fatty acids - readily available energy with a metabolic twist - a twist due to which they will also function as signalling molecules in the complex concert that is your metabolism.

There are dozens of Myths & Truths you can learn about at the SuppVersity

Pasta "Al Dente" = Anti-Diabetic

Vinegar & Gums for Weight Loss

Teflon Pans Will Kill You!

You Can Drum Yourself Lean

You Can Wash Pesticides Away

Milk = Poisonous Hormone Cocktail

These short chain fatty acids have gained quite some attention in the science community as of late and are touted to be the potential anti-obesity + pro-metabolic agents of the future.

Accordingly, seasoned SuppVersity veterans, who obviously knew everything Ive just explained, already, will no be surprised to hear that Sailendra N. Nichenametla and colleagues claim in their latest paper in the peer-reviewed scientific journal Molecular Nutrition & Food Research that

"...[i]ncorporation of RS4 in routine diets could offer an effective strategy for public cardio-metabolic health promotion." (Nichenametla. 2014)

The researchers from the South Dakota State University base their assessment of the health benefits of RS-4 flour (Fibersym, MGP Ingredients, Atchison, KS - a sponsor of the study), which had been replaced at a 30% v/v ratio in the diets of 86 US adults with and without metabolic syndrome... and as you can see in Figure 1, the effects of this minimal change were quite enormous.

Figure 1: Changes in HDL and body comp. in all subjects, and subjects w/ and w/out metabolic syndrome (Nichenametla)

The addition of 30% RS-4, which is an artificial resistant starch that passes the small intestine undigested to end up in the large intestine, where it is converted to short-chain fatty acids by the gut bacteria (learn more), to the flour the subjects had to use for all their flour-based products, induced a 7.2% reduction in total cholesterol, a 5.5% reduction of non-HDL, and a 12.8% reduction in HDL of which I must say that I am obviously not happy with it.

Interestingly, similar changes were not observed in normal-weight (No-MetS) individuals. For them the resistant starch worked its previously reported fat loss wonders and lead to reductions in waist circumference (-2.6%; p=0.02) and percent body fat (-1.5%; p=0.03) over the course of the 12 weeks they spent in the active arm of the study (remember: Were dealing with a cross-over study with a two week washout in-between).

Read more about WM-HDP the RS-4 version of Waxy Maize at the SuppVersity | go ahead

Bottom line: In conjunction with the "small but significant 1% increase in fat-free mass was observed in all participants combined (p=0.02)." (Nichenametla. 2014) The study at hand clearly demonstrates that the previously reported metabolic benefits of synthetic resistant starches (RS4 vs. natural RS3) are real. Even if there were no significant changes in glycemic variables and blood pressures. The consumption of improved the dyslipidemia and body composition of the study participants and is thus potentially interesting for both, lean physical culturist and/or obese victim of the standard American diet.

Whether we are going to see corresponding products (e.g. an RS-4 enriched flour) on the supermarket-shelves, soon, is yet something I personally doubt - I mean, its possible it will be a bit more expensive than the regular flour and those people who would care dont buy the former, anyway.

References:

• Nichenametla, Sailendra N., et al. "Resistant starch type 4‐enriched diet lowered blood cholesterols and improved body composition in a double blind controlled cross‐over intervention." Molecular nutrition & food research (2014).

How Can Water Help with Your Weight Loss Plan

If you wonder in what way water can help with your weight loss goals, then you have come to the right place. This article will explain how you can get help through drinking water while losing those extra pounds. It is not a scientific explanation, but the lines from below are mostly narrated in a way that can be on everybodys level of perception.

I have seen many articles written with the intention of explaining a topic to the large audience, but with too much terminology included it is hard to get to the mind of ordinary people who have no training whatsoever on that particular topic. So this article will explain plain and in simple English how you can still achieve weight loss goals by drinking water.

Now when I say drinking water this doesnt mean that you should have one or two glasses of water per day, but eight glasses is the right amount. I have met people whom I havent seen them in a while and was surprised to find out how much weight they have put on.

In the meanwhile, I found out they do not have more than 2 glasses of water per day, while others dont drink at all. Instead they prefer drinking beer, sodas, and others alike. When I asked them why they didnt drink water, they said that there is no more room for it. "And besides, arent the other beverages made of water, too, so whats the use of adding plain water to all these?"

Well, the thing is that our body needs plain water to drink regardless how many other beverages you drink per day. Water helps with flushing out the waste from within the body. If you fail to do this, they can accumulate inside and you can not achieve the desired weight loss if these wastes are still in there. You have to understand that you need to reach the goal of weight loss from inside out allowing as such your body to clean itself prior to having it repaired.

Another good thing to do when you want to achieve weight loss is to drink one glass of water before your meal and one glass afterwards. It is also recommended to drink between the main meals to avoid snacking. In this way, your body will be full and wont have any urge for eating those snacks that you used to have before engaging in a weight loss program.