With the trend of low-carbohydrate diets, it is important to understand the differences between “good” and “bad” carbohydrates. This distinction has to do with how carbohydrates are metabolized by the body. Carbohydrates are a primary source of energy that are broken down to glucose, a simple sugar. Glucose circulates in the blood, fueling the processes in the body and the brain. Insulin, a protein secreted by cells in the pancreas, activates cells so that they can metabolize this glucose and use it as energy. Recently, the quality of carbohydrate has been linked to blood glucose levels and how they are maintained. The glycemic index (GI) provides a quantified measure of “good” carbs. “Good” carbs have a higher GI since blood glucose levels are sustained for longer periods of time. This means that the cells have a constant amount of fuel while giving a feeling of fullness. Lower GI foods cause blood glucose levels to drop soon after they are eaten, causing one to feel hungry even though they just ate. Therefore, GI could be used to determine good food choices that allow you to eat the right type of carbohydrates. High GI foods include grains and other complex carbohydrates such as whole-wheat breads, spelt, and barley. Lower GI foods tend to be simple carbohydrates such as sugars. GI can be used as a good marker for a distinct biochemical effect food has on the body.
For more information, please visit http://www.glycemicindex.com/. This database can be used to find the GI of your favorite foods.

What you don’t know about CLA and Guarana

While fat cells never go away, with the help of CLA and Guarana, fat cells can shrink and even disappear completely. Well, what is it? CLA is Conjugated Linoleic Acid, a omega-6 fatty acid found naturally as trace amounts in cow’s milk. CLA is found to reduce the size of fat cells, especially in the abdominal region. CLA supplementation is consistently shown to reduce the amount of fat and increase the amount of lean muscle. CLA works by decreasing the amount of ingested food that turns into body fat. Studies also show that CLA reduces the risk for cancer and atherosclerosis. However, CLA only decreases the size of fat cells, not the number. Guarana is a form of caffeine native to Brazil that works as an appetite suppressor and stimulates the migration of fat to be metabolized. While 2.5 times more potent than coffee, guarana enhances the effects of CLA and reduces the number of fat cells. With this combination, reducing the size and number of fat cells and cancer risk, is it any wonder that it is a miracle supplement?

For more information on studies or for a manufacturer, please see the Life Extension Organization at www.lef.org

-Sunina Nathoo

Fat does not turn into muscle. I repeat. Fat does not turn into muscle. I don't know how many times I've heard people say that muscle turns into fat. That's like saying that my dog just turned into a cat one day; it's physiologically impossible. Fat cells grow, shrink, and multiply. Muscle cells grow (hypertrophy) and shrink (atrophy). They never turn into one another. As you embark on a clean-eating regimen and intense exercise program, your fat cells shrink and your muscularity increases. At then end of the day when you see someone who has "lost a lot of fat" and put on a lot muscle; the fat cells are still there; they've just gotten smaller.

The troubling thing about fat is that you end up with a set number of fat cells by the time you finish puberty, which is your bodies biological way of saying; these are all the fat cells that you need for the rest of your life, but as you age; you can actually increase the number of fat cells in your body. That's the dangerous thing about liposuction because with lipo (I'm no doctor; I just study and read a lot) you are actually having fat cells removed from your body, and what happens if too many get removed and you end up with less than your body biologically intended for you to have...needless to say; you could die. Not that I'm an advocate for liposuction but if you are going to have it done please have it done by a reputable and experienced doctor because it is such a dangerous procedure.

Back before the heavy regulation of ephedra, Xenadrine was one of the hottest weight-loss supplements on the market. Personally, I preferred Hydroxycut back in the day...now I just rely on my nutrition and exercise to get the results I want. Well, Xenadrine and some other "fat-burners" are in the spotlight again. Now the FTC has decided to crack down on the false advertising and marketing claims made by the manufacturers of these products. Some of the interesting points of this article outlining the investigation is the fact that the FTC did a study where it discovered that people on a placebo had a greater weight-loss than those on Xenadrine. Furthermore, it discovered that the customer testimonials, the before and after pictures, were really the results of strict dieting and strenuous exercise regimens...go figure. The products will continue to be sold, but who's going to buy something that has been proven to be ineffective at its primary claims?

I think that this article is amazing...I don't know how this person found the time to do this, but notheless; it's really cool. I always explain to people that calories are like currency. You want to get the most bang for your buck, and this is a great illustration of this. For 200 calories I can get a plate full of broccoli, or I can get an small pat of peanut butter. Your calories go a lot further with certain foods. The pictures are organized by caloric density, which basically draws an indirect correlation between grams and calories. It makes you think twice about using butter, canola oil, or bacon. Those foods at the top of the list have a great impact on satisfying hunger, but have a minimal impact on your waistline.

Here's a great article about Fat . The article identifies 7 very interesting facts about fat. This article explains why fat gets stored on your stomach...primarily men. It also goes into the fact that fat is necessary for a normal functioning body. People need to understand that fat is not the enemy...excess fat is.

1. Fat cells can swell to as much as six times their minimum size
2. Fat cells secrete extra estrogen
3. If you lose a lot of weight, your fat cells shrink, but they do not disappear
4. Fat tissue attracts cells that promote inflammation
5. Fat cells behave differently in different parts of the body
6. If you consume no fat at all, you will short-circuit your body
7. Fat calories should only be 30% of your total daily calories

Is it just me or does the notion of eating cloned meat make you never want to eat meat again, and I love meat...I may be the most carniverous person that I know. On the other hand, I buy my food from the meat section of the grocery store, and as long as my steak looks like a steak and tastes like a steak...what do I care where it came from...well I do.

Here's the thing. What good does cloned meat serve? It's got to be cheaper to get two cows to just get it on than to clone the cow. This feels like science for the sake of science. I don't know how I feel about my food being raised in a test tube.

In the past I wasn't all too concerned about this sort of thing, but considering how much meat, chicken, and fish; I think that I want my food raised "old-school". All of this genetic modification could wreak havoc on anyone who adopts the "Clean Eating" lifestyle where animal protein is a huge component.

29 Healthiest Foods On Earth

Here’s a list of what some are calling the 29 Healthiest Foods on Earth. How many of these do you incoprorate in your diet on a daily basis? I’ve tried or regularly eat a number of these foods except for Quinoa, which has been getting a lot of press lately. Quinoa is gluten–free, high in fiber, has a good amino acid profile (It’s a decent source of protein), and it’s a complex carbohydrate, which are great for preventing insulin levels from spiking which leads to storage of fat. With the New Year coming around the corner, a good goal would be to start incorporating these into your dietary habits. I'm going to have to come up with my own list, since I think there are a few things missing...like boneless, skinless chicken breast.