Theres A Brain In Your Belly

The belly is much more intelligent than we've been taught to believe. Im sure youve heard the phrase, Follow your gut. In fact, we have lots of terms like that in our language:
*a gutsy person
*gut-level feeling
*gut it out
*have the guts
*trust your gut

It turns out that these slang phrases actually have a solid, scientific basis. Medical research has proven that there is a second brain in the body and it's located in the belly.

This brain is made up of nerve cells lining the digestive tract. Scientists call it the enteric nervous system. It's an extensive and highly complicated structure that actually consists of more neurons than are contained in the entire spine.

Dr. Michael Gershon, Professor at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York City, has done extensive research demonstrating that the enteric nervous system operates as an independent, second brain within the body.

This belly brain is just as complex as the one in our heads. The enteric nervous system and the frontal lobe of the skull brain are actually formed from the same group of cells in the developing fetus. This brain in the digestive system knows exactly what nutrients are coming in, what it needs, and how best to use the fuel.

The nerves in the belly are wise. If asked they will tell you exactly what foods are needed, and in what amounts, to create optimum health. Just as we trust our bodies to breathe perfectly, we can also trust them to guide our eating.

Follow your belly's wisdom when you eat.
1) Every few bitestake a pause. Put your hand on your belly and breathe.
2) Ask if it has had enough. Is it full? Would it like more?
3) Would it prefer some other food right now?
5) Practice following what your belly tells you. It will easily and happily guide you to your perfect weight.

What an ideawe can trust our bodies. We can let our bellies guide us in what is best for our individual bodies to achieve the peak of health.

Moment-by-moment we have our own personal guide to help us make the very best decisions. We don't need diet gurus. We don't need menus. We don't need rules and regulations. We already have all the guidance we could possible wish for.

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Slimming Down For Summer

Hectic summer schedules can distract even the most dedicated exerciser, while backyard barbeques tempt Americans with high-calorie foods and snacks. Since it's the time of year to start trading winter wraps for warm-weather clothes, many are trying to slim down for summer and find healthy ways to improve their lifestyles.

According to a recent survey by Wrigley, nearly 85 percent of Americans believe a key to losing weight is to consume fewer calories. Most experts agree that combining physical activity while watching calorie intake is important in the quest for weight management and a healthier lifestyle.

There is no need for a total diet makeover; taking small steps to enjoy a variety of foods and being more active can go a long way for Americans trying to lose some weight for the summer, says Molly Gee, registered dietitian at Baylor College of Medicine.

One easy way to control calories is to reduce high-calorie snacks or choose low-calorie alternatives. Chewing gum works well as a low-calorie snack substitute at an average of five to 10 calories a piece, and may be able to help Americans cut some excess calories during the days before summer. In fact, a recent study out of the University of Liverpool, conducted by Dr. Marion Hetherington, shows that chewing gum before snacking can help reduce hunger, diminish cravings for sweets and decrease snack intake by 36 calories.

Gee offers these additional tips to help people manage their weight for the summer months:

• Steer clear of temptation-have conversations far from the picnic table where the food rests;

• Party hearty, not hungry-don't skip meals-saving yourself for parties or barbeques can lead to binging;

• Move more-take advantage of the warm weather by taking walks around the neighborhood or through the park;

• Stay active-fill your days with warm-weather activities that don't emphasize food, including a trip to the zoo, gardening or window shopping;

• Chews wisely-replace high-calorie snacks with a piece of chewing gum (average of five to 10 calories). Chew gum when preparing meals to avoid nibbling and pack it when you travel to divert attention from high-calorie snacking.

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Bariatric surgery & early death

Weight loss surgeries have witnessed huge popularity in recent times. The number of stomach-shrinking operations, a type of bariatric surgery meant for severely obese people has skyrocketed in recent years. Few celebrities of Hollywood have also opted for this form of surgery to curtail obesity.

But there are various risks associated with these surgeries especially for elderly people and those suffering from heart disease. At times, it can result in early death. Patients aged 65 or older face a nearly threefold increase in the risk of early mortality according to latest findings. It has been found that men are nearly twice as likely to die following such procedures as opposed to women. According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, more than 5% of men and nearly 3% of women aged 35 to 44 years were dead within a year of having the surgery and a slightly higher rate were found in patients aged between 45 to 54.

Bariatric surgery is a complicated procedure therefore a surgeon requires prior experience to perform it properly. Patients whose surgeons had performed fewer than 20 procedures were nearly five times as likely to die within 30 days after the operation as compared to others. Despite the greater risk associated with it, bariatric surgery can be a safe and effective tool for morbidly obese people, who face serious health problems if they don't lose weight.

Things you need to know about bariatric surgery
1.Bariatric surgery is not an easy option for obesity sufferers as it carries the usual pain and risks of any major gastrointestinal surgical operation.
2.Bariatric surgery requires changes in eating habits therefore after having bariatric surgery; patients remain at a lifelong risk of nutritional deficiencies.
3.Bariatric Surgery is best suited for morbidly obese people.
4.High amount of motivation is required to make the surgery a success.
5.This procedure is costly as compared to other weight loss techniques.
Therefore, be well informed about the surgery you want to opt for as it can make weight loss an easy and safe affair for you.

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7 Tips to Health and Weight Loss 4 Kids

1 Role Model Your heath and weight directly effect your childs health and weight. Children with just one overweight parent have a 25% risk of becoming an overweight or obese adult. If both parents are overweight the risk of becoming an overweight adult jumps to 50%.

2 Be Positive- No one enjoys receiving negative feedback. Talk to your child with compassion and encouragement. Instead of saying, 'Lose weight', say, 'Let's be healthy and start taking care of our bodies'. Focus on the foods you can eat, not the ones that you cannot. Say, 'Let's go pick out fruits and make a fruit salad,' not 'Don't eat that.'

3 Make healthy eating a family affair - A family that eats together, eats better, according to a recent study in the journal Archives of Family Medicine. Children who report frequent family dinners have healthier diets than their peers who don't, the study showed. Also fill your refrigerator and cabinets with fresh fruits, nuts, low-fat cheese, and things for everyone to snack on.

4 Eat Breakfast A breakfast that consists of protein, starch and fat will keep your children more alert during school. Studies have shown that weight loss is much more difficult in people who skip breakfast.

5 Make time for physical activity - Make physical activity a family activity. Every night after dinner in the summer, go for a half-hour walk and make it an activity that kids look forward to. If you can afford it, enroll your kids in dancing or a sporting activity that they enjoy because they need to enjoy it to keep doing it. Or just turn on some dance music and have a dance party around the house.

6 Don't say diet - Put your child on any diet and you are setting them up for an eating disorder - whether binge eating or closet eating or another type of disorder. Lifestyle changes have proven to be the most effective to lose weight and keep it off.

7 Avoid portion distortion - When serving the food try to portion out meal on dishes and avoid buffet-type or family-style eating. When exposed to so much food it is easy for your eyes to be bigger than your stomach. Resist the first temptation to have seconds then check in with yourself to see if you are really hungry.

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Free Diet Plans - How Can You Find The Best

Free Diet Plans - How Can You Find The Best One?

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Choosing a free diet program is a very difficult task. You do not know what to look for in a free diet plan or what questions to ask about the free diet program. The article might help you choosing a free diet plan and joining the correct free diet program.

A Responsible and Safe free diet plan

Researches show that the best approach to reach a steady, healthy weight is to follow a strict eating plan and engage in regular physical activity. Free diet plan should encourage healthy behaviors that help you reduce weight and maintain the new weight for long time. Safe and effective free diet plan should include:

1. Healthy eating plans reduce calories but do not rule out specific foods or food groups.

2. Regular physical exercise instructions.

3. Slow and continue weight loss of about 1 to 2 pounds per week and not more than 3 pounds per week. Weight loss may be faster at the start of a free diet plan.

4. You should be in a medical supervision if you are planning to lose weight by following a specific formula diet. For example with a very low calorie diet.

5. Free diet plan should include instructions for maintaining the reduced weight.

6. If your free diet plan includes cookies, be sure that they are fat free diet cookies.

7. While choosing free diet meal plan be fully confirmed that you free diet meal plan should be free of fat. Your free diet meal plan must consist of healthier food like fruits, vegetables, whole grains and beans.

8. If you wish to include poultry in your free diet program then it should be without skin, because skin poultry have lot of fats.

Questions about free diet plan

Gather as much information as you can before deciding to join a free diet program. Providers of free diet plan should be able to answer following questions:

1. What does the free diet program consist of?

2. Does the product free diet plan carry any risks?

3. How much does the free diet plan costs?

4. What results do participants of free diet plan typically have?

If your free diet plan provider can satisfy you with the answers of these questions then only join their program.

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The Influenza Diet

Youve heard of The South Beach Diet and The Mayo Clinic Diet but have you ever heard of The Influenza Diet? If not, you are missing out on a real treat and a terrific opportunity to help you lose and keep off those excess holiday pounds. By the way, it isnt a diet that you can readily plan on starting, but it is one that forces itself upon you quietly and suddenly.

Tis the season to put on weight! Yes, there is something about the month of December that convinces people that what they eat during that month will soon be forgotten by January. Youve heard the joke: December calories do not get counted! Okay then, when your scale shows your weight has shot up by 13 lbs., who [or what] are you going to say counted the excessive baggage now resting around your gut? Hmmm?

Here a diet, there a diet So, which diet are you going to try? One that omits carbs? Another that restricts sweets? A third one that requires you to sip, not eat your daily nutritional intake? Sounds like fun for someonemaybe the author of the book [or her publisher], the diet club, or the gym pushing the diet.

Did you get your flu shot yet? If you got a flu shot this year, likely you wont get the flu. Unfortunately, that doesnt protect you from the dozens of flu-like illnesses roaming our planet at any given time. Now for a real treat: if you contract an illness that attacks your intestine, plan on being laid up for several days. Also plan on losing a bunch of pounds as even the thought of food will make you sick! Yes, like it or not you are on The Influenza Diet or one of its many cousins. Ride the diet for what it is worthdrink plenty of water, munch on a few saltine crackers, because other than that you wont be able to stomach anything else at least for several days.

When your appetite returns, gradually resume eating and return to your pre-holiday good eating habits. If the urge to splurge comes upon you, think back to those days when your very bones ached, your stomach churned, and the porcelain throne was your frequent companion. If that doesnt set off a quiver in your liver, than nothing else will. Enjoy the lost pounds and your successful completion of The Influenza Diet.

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