This article reveals some unique aspects of weight loss where you may be unknowingly sabotaging your efforts to lose weight by simple mistakes made at the grocery store.

Here’s something I noticed recently. I was at the grocery store a couple days ago picking up some food for a Mexican avocado rice-bean dish I was planning to cook up. While I was there, an interesting thing happened.

I went straight to the grocery store after finishing with a couple of my clients at the gym. As I was grabbing some frozen fruit and vegetables, a friendly lady (who must have seen that I was a fitness trainer from my shirt), asked for my advice on a couple of frozen box meals she was picking out (by the way, those frozen box meals are usually highly processed crap loaded with sodium and a slew of other chemicals).

Also, let’s make this clear that this woman was extremely overweight, and she mentioned that she has “tried everything” to lose weight and has always failed.

Keep in mind I hear about 50 people a day tell me they’ve “tried everything” to lose weight. The problem that they don’t realize is that they are trying all of the WRONG things… they are trying all of the gimmicks and fads that are out there instead of just adopting a TRUE active and healthy lifestyle.

Anyway, back to the lady in the store…

We started to chat about her struggles with weight loss, and I began looking over her grocery cart contents. If I can remember, these were some of the items she was buying that she thought were good for weight loss:

1. Fat Free Rice Cakes – Despite so many people believing these “pieces of cardboard tasting crap” are healthy… they really are nothing but pure refined starch with zero fiber, which basically breaks down almost immediately into sugar in your body, spiking insulin and promoting fat storage… does not sound so good anymore, huh.

2. Canned “weight loss” shakes – I can not mention the brand names, but I think you know what I’m talking about… These canned shakes are far from healthy…they are actually loaded with high fructose corn syrup, partially hydrogenated oils, and a bunch of other chemicals.

3. Reduced Sugar Dessert Cakes – Nothing healthy here either… these are loaded with artificial sweeteners, sugar alcohols, preservatives, and a chemical ingredient list about 15 lines long.

4. Canned fruit in syrup – I guess she could do worse here… but still, why not just eat fresh whole fruit which still contains the skins, fiber, active enzymes, etc, instead of resorting to processed, canned fruit that has been cooked and loaded with syrup.

5. Protein bars “Scientifically Slim Body Engineered” or some BS statement like that – I took a look at the ingredient list of these so called “healthy” protein bars and sure enough… partially hydrogenated oils, high fructose corn syrup, and enough sugar alcohols to give you diarrhea for a week!

Are you starting to see what is going on here? I see this same scenario all of the time.

The majority of people are fooled by what the FRONT OF THE BOX says, leading them to believe what they are buying is healthy and good for losing weight. On all of these items, the FRONT of the packages showed amazing sounding claims, such as “fat free”, “reduced sugar”, “high protein”, “low cholesterol”, “low carb”, etc.

However, the TRUTH is on the BACK OF THE BOX! Ah yes, the ingredient list and nutrition info is where the real truth is. I have realized that most of the general public does not know how to fully understand the ingredient list and nutrition info, so they rely on the advertising claims on the front of the box to guide them.

This is a BIG MISTAKE!

If you noticed, this woman thought she was doing great with her grocery shopping and buying all kinds of healthy stuff for her and her family that would be beneficial for losing weight.

In reality, almost EVERYTHING she was buying was highly processed and full of chemicals and industrially refined ingredients. No wonder “nothing has worked” for her to lose the weight… she actually hasn’t been doing anything right. She has been mislead by all of the confusing marketing and food labeling and conflicting nutrition info in the mass media.

If you want to discover the TRUTH about what it really takes to eat a truly healthy diet that maximizes your metabolism for lasting weight loss, brings your hormonal balance back to normal, reduces cravings, and strips off body fat faster than you would believe is possible… it is all found in my internationally acclaimed Truth about Six Pack Abs program.

Have fun and choose wisely on your next grocery store trip! Your weight loss and health of you and your family is at stake.

Feel free to copy/paste this link and email it to any of your friends, family, or coworkers you think might enjoy this article.

When most people think of fiber they think of grandma chugging back glasses of Metamucil, but fiber is not just for geriatrics. The fact is that young adults and middle-aged adults need dietary fiber, too. Fiber can be a great addition to a healthy diet. Dietary fiber can control diabetes and help you lose weight if you are currently not getting enough of the substance daily.

The Benefits of Dietary Fiber

Fiber is important for keeping your digestive system healthy, controlling blood sugar, and for controlling weight. Fiber is instrumental in preventing diabetes. A recent study showed that when thirteen people with diabetes ate a moderate fiber diet, which is around 16 grams of insoluble and 8 grams of soluble fiber, it was as if they were taking diabetes medication. That’s right, doubling your dietary fiber intake can be as good as taking diabetes medication to lower insulin levels. What a great way to naturally prevent diabetes.

How does it work? Foods high in fiber take longer to digest which means that insulin is created slowly, preventing blood sugar spikes. Eating more fiber can also help you lose weight. Your body blocks seven calories with every gram of fiber you eat. Fiber also makes you feel full since fiber takes up more space in the stomach than processed foods.

How Much Fiber and How to Get It

The average American eats 10 to 15 grams of dietary fiber per day, but the recommended amount is 20 to 35 grams per day. This amount is easier to get than you may think.

First, eat bread that is high in fiber. Check the package’s label and only buy bread that has at least 3 grams of fiber per serving. Today, you can buy bagels, hamburger buns, and rolls that have over five grams of fiber and still taste a lot like white bread. So, if you eat two pieces of toast for breakfast and a sandwich for lunch you could easily rack up 20 grams of fiber without even trying! There are many great tasting cereals available with about 7 grams of fiber per serving too.

There are other easy ways to add fiber to your diet. Buy whole-wheat flour for your cooking instead of white flour, too. Also, don’t forget to use whole-wheat pasta. You can also try adding more vegetables, fruits, and nuts to your diet. All three are a great source of fiber. The skin of fruits and vegetable is where the fiber is so don’t peel them.

Here are some more ideas:

1. When making tacos, add a can of Mexican style chopped tomatoes to the meat.

2. Add grated vegetables like zucchini, squash, and carrots to spaghetti, goulash, and breads.

3. Sprinkle All-Bran Buds on desserts like ice cream to add a major boost in fiber.

4. Try substituting a serving of meat with a vegetable burger. These are surprisingly good and have three grams of fiber in each patty, as opposed to none in a regular meat patty.

5. Serve corn-on-the-cob instead of potato salad at your next barbeque, and instead of serving chips serve whole grain crackers, peanuts, or sunflower seeds.

Increasing your daily intake of dietary fiber is such an easy thing you can do to better your health, control diabetes and to lose a little weight. The foods you choose with increased fiber will tend to be healthier in general thus boosting your health even more. Begin increasing the fiber in your diet today and start reaping the benefits.

MINUS DIET SUPER SOUP

1lb. bag of baby carrots rinsed

2 cups fresh spinach

1/2 bunch of celery

1-4 cloves of garlic

1 red or green bell pepper

1 stalk of broccoli

1 cup of brown rice(uncooked)

1 large can of diced or stewed tomatoes

2 packages of onion soup mix

Mrs. Dash’s herb seasoning to cover top of soup ( your choice of mix)

Large 2 gallon stock pot (stainless steel)

Cut up all the above ingredients. Add water to cover. Bring to a boil. Simmer for 1 hour.

This makes enough soup for one for about 1`week.

Many people prefer to start the diet on a Monday, or on the weekend on a Saturday, when working people have time to cook, and do their other chores.

This soup will be your main meal for both lunch and dinner. However, if you want to follow my modified version, or use this as your week off meal, then you can add chicken breast to the soup, or eat a lean meal of chicken, steak, or other lean meat with a side salad with a light vinagrette dressing that is apple cider based.

I recommend that you eat at least 6 times per day. Three main meals and 3 snacks. Or 3 main all negative calorie foods and 1 main low fat dinner with your family or by yourself, if you are single. Always make enough soup so that you don’t run out and have none to eat. That is a sure way to sabotage your success.

You absolutely cannot afford to drink less than one gallon of water or so per day. You can squeeze some lemon or orange juice into the water (they must be fresh). Drink before and after your meals if you can.

If you work outside the home, make sure you have containers or thermos to carry your soup with you for lunch or dinner. I disagree with the negative calorie diet here again. I think you can have diet beverages like flavored water, that are sweetened with Splenda ™ and drink green tea(decaffeinated) or Oolong, or some herbal tea. I think you can have 2 glasses of skimmed milk a day, too. A diet you don’t stay on is no diet at all. You can make it a raw food diet with soup or also do some juice fasting. For one of the best compendiums on fasting and juicing see both my book YOur New You, 30 days to Transform Your Body and Dr. How and When to Be Your onw Doctor which is a great public domain book that has detailed instructions on both plain water and juice fasting by a natural medicine Doctor and Registered nurse. I include both books for 34.95 and inclusion into membership into my diet and fitness clubs. You can purchase membership in either one for only 19.95 separately. I include many bonus e-books and active forums where you can interact with other men and women trying to lose weight and get into shape just like you. The Minus Diet membership site is located at www.minusdiet.com and Your New You – Transform your body in 30 days is located at www.yournewyou.com. I promise you that with a little will power and determination, you can lose at least 3-5 pounds per week or more and keep it off for good, if and only if you follow the plan. How much you lose depends on many factors, including body type, age, metabolism, and if you have any underlying chronic conditions like diabetes or thyroid problems. You can reduce your need for insulin by taking natural substances like cinnamon, but you absolutely must follow your health practitioners instructions to the letter if you have a chronic condition like these. IN NO CASE CAN YOU REDUCE INSULIN SAFELY without being carefully monitored by a physician. You must have him or her look at the plan and give you any modifications necessary to ensure your health and safety. Don’t get discouraged. You can still lose weight safely, naturally, and effectively even with these conditions. It will just take more care, and maybe a little bit more time. The main thing to remember is that you CAN do it! If I can, you can! You absolutely, however, even with all these fake promises, never really lose weight quickly and effectively without a combination of diet and exercise. There really is no such thing as a “magic pill” solution or permanent weight loss without exercise.

Between meals, try to drink water or another beverage mentioned above, before you eat your snack of fruit or celery or carrots. You can also have a fruit smoothie made with fresh fruit and ice. Strawberries, blueberries, or a mix with grape or carrot apple juice is good, too. I recommend that you get a juicer. You can get a juicer at Canadian Tire for less than 150.00. There is nothing like fresh juice to detoxify and cleanse your body. Nothing tastes better, either. Consider this diet a modified raw food diet with just a little bit of soup added. A sensible dinner, too, if you want to follow that modified plan. It is more effective if you stay on the straight, Minus Calorie diet for one week at a time, going back to a modified form on the off weeks, eating at least 70 to 80% minus or negative calorie foods.

In any event, no more junk food. Eat fruit instead or drink a smoothie or some juice. You can add two protein drinks a day or substitute one for one meal, but that will make the diet less effective, but make the hunger pangs less. Remember, those with more than 10 pounds to lose, need to do it gradually to keep it off, anyways. 3 to 5 pounds a week is plenty fast enough. You may lose more with exercise, but in any event, no diet will help you lose it faster, and help you keep it off, if you follow it properly.

Remember to reward yourself with a night out, or something small, but nice for yourself. Don’t go crazy, and mess up your diet, though. You can drink up to 6 glasses of juice per day, plus lots of water. The juice must be negative or minus calorie, though. Apple/Carrot or Grape watermelon, or orange juice or strawberry cranberry or mixed will work. Cherry can be added in season.

Breakfast is the pillar meal of the day on this diet. Eat the fruits recommended, but you can substitute oranges or tangerines for the other fruits if you wish, but you will need to eat more. Eat until you are full, but not stuffed.

BREAKFAST FRUITS

Cantaloupe

Grapefruit

Watermelon

Honeydew Melon

Oranges or tangerines

Papaya

Pineapple

Strawberries

You can mix these fruits or eat fruit salad, if you want, as long as these fruits are used. These fruits contain enzymes that help you digest your meals all day long.

SNACKS

This list is short. You can eat any of the above fruits or Apples, Celery, or carrots. You can also take a smoothie made of the above fruits or one of the minus calorie fruits listed previously or in combination. Six glasses of fresh fruit a day is recommended. It must be freshly juiced in a juicer, though. No, canned or frozen juice. No diet soda, either. Stay with the above recommendations. I think you could get away with one frozen fruit bar a day. Nothing else, though. Anything else, and you have failed. Salad makes a good snack, too. Stick to vineagrette dressing or olive oil and cider vinegar, though.

1ST DAY

Breakfast: Eat the fruits mentioned above until comfortably full. Eat slowly and deliberately, savoring each mouthful .

Snack: I don’t recommend you skip your snacks. You will be tempted to eat outside the diet if you do. Drink water or juice or a smoothie before the fruit and vegetables, though. You will feel full, sooner.

Lunch: Eat some soup. The more you eat the better. Just remember, full, not gorged. You can eat some salad with a light vinaigrette or olive oil and vinegar dressing, if you want.

Snack: Same as the first snack, just eat something different, for variety’s sake.

Dinner: Eat one or two bowls of soup. If you can eat more if you want to. Eat as many vegetables as you want from the list. Eat a piece of fruit, too. No meat or fish for the first day. Drink 6 glasses (8 oz) if juice today. Use your juicer. Carrot/apple is a favorite. Strawberry/grape or Cranberry/apple or grape would be great, too. Drink plenty of bottled water. Squeeze fresh lemon juice or orange juice in the water if you wish, for flavor.

Snack: One more or smoothie

That is all for today. You can do it! You only have 6 more just like it. With a few surprises, as well. You can almost feel the fat melting off your body. Don’t weigh yourself on the scale until the first week is up. Then you will have something to celebrate!

DAY 2

Breakfast: Eat one of the minus calorie fruits or mix them up. Eat slowly and thoroughly. Enjoy your breakfast

Drink water with lemon or orange and some juice. Apple/Carrot if you like.

Snack: Water first. Then orange, apple, strawberries or melon. Tangerine too.

Lunch: Eat a bowl of soup or two. You can eat fresh fruit afterwards.

Snack: More juice. Drink some water, too. or a smoothie. Have some fruit and or vegetables like carrots and celery.

Maybe some salad with dressing. Make sure it is vinaigrette or olive oil and vinegar.

Dinner: Soup and all vegetables but peas and corn (too starchy). You can eat a baked potato. You can have some mustard on it, or if you want, one pat of margarine that is heart healthy, like BECEL. Add some seasoning like Mrs. Dash. No Chicken or Fish today.

Snack: Some fruit again or a smoothie or some vegetables. Maybe a frozen fruit bar. Make sure you have your six glasses of juice. One after Each meal. One at each snack time. That is the way to purify and detoxify your system and help your digestion. Make sure you have some more water and lemon.

Enjoy the feeling of losing and burning the fat. You’re really on your way, now. Only 5 more days to go! Onward!

DAY 3

Breakfast: Eat one or more of the listed fruits. Take your time. Enjoy!

Snack: Pick one of the fruits you have on hand. Drink a glass of fresh juice from the juicer. Make a smoothie. Drink some water.

Lunch: Your daily bowl of super soup. Eat any fruit or vegetable you want. Eat until you are full. After you eat, have a glass of water.

Snack: Drink some juice and water. Eat some fruit or have a smoothie.

Dinner: More soup. Eat plenty of soup. Make sure your servings are large enough. More water about 30 minutes after your meal.

Snack: More water. Some fruit or salad with vinaigrette or olive oil and vinegar. A smoothie or some fruit and or vegetables.

Remember, you’re melting fat off regularly now. Soon you’ll need to buy new clothes as a reward for all your hard work. Drink some more water.

DAY 4

Breakfast: Eat some fruits for breakfast. Mix and match, don’t be afraid. Eat at least 2 servings of fruit so you don’t hungry too soon.

Snack: Drink more water and add some lemon or orange juice that you squeeze from the fresh fruit. You can add some cinnamon if you want for flavor. Cinnamon is a natural antibiotic and helps your blood sugar normalize. Have some herbal tea or some green or oolong tea with your meal or snack. Use some stevia for sweetening. You can get it at the health food store or at.

Lunch: More soup. Have some more fruits and vegetables. Drink some water after lunch.

Snack: More fruit or a smoothie. Have some green tea or oolong. You can get some that promises you will lose a jean size per week here. Insert link.

Drink your fresh juice.

Dinner: Eat the soup. Eat the soup. You know it’s good for you. Eat some vegetables and fruit from the lists. Have some water after.

Snack: Some more fruit. A smoothie. A cup of tea. Maybe a frozen fruit bar.

Hey! Are you feeling a little skinnier today? Pretty soon you will notice your clothes are getting loose. Make sure if the weather is nice you go for a 30 minute or longer walk to burn those calories. Have some water when you get back.

Only 3 more days to go! Get down! You’re on your way!

DAY 5

Breakfast: Eat your fruit this morning! Mix and match. Eat slowly dreaming of your sexy new body. Soon you will have it for real. Drink some more water.

Snack: Drink some water, and have your juice. Did you remember your juice with breakfast? If not, drink 2 glasses of fresh juice. Remember to drink only freshly juiced juice. No canned or frozen. This is the real thing. Full of life giving enzymes and the full gamut of vitamins and minerals.

Have a smoothie or some fruit. Mix it up. Until you are full.

Lunch: Soup. Have a salad with light vinaigrette or olive oil and vinegar. Add some fruit if you like as an add on. Drink some water after lunch.

Snack: Water and juice. Remember to drink some fresh juice after each meal. and Drink one glass at each snack time. If you forgot, drink 2 8 oz. glasses of fresh squeezed juice, now. Remember the juices detoxify your body and help you to keep your blood sugar steady. That is good for keeping your appetite under control. If you are a diabetic make sure you keep your servings to what you are allowed under your diet. No more.

Dinner: Great deal! Tonight, you can have chicken or fish, after you eat at least one bowl of soup. Measure out no more than 10 oz. of fish or chicken. All that time without protein, means you need some now. If you prefer, or are a vegetarian, you can substitute black beans for the meat or fish. Just cook some or heat up a can for your self. Have some salad for a side dish. Even a few servings with a light vinaigrette or olive oil and vinegar salad dressing. You can have some water or some green tea or herbal tea too. If it’s warm out make some iced tea. Just don’t add any sugar. Use stevia instead for sweetening, or a little honey.

You will easily burn off the chicken or fish. You are almost through the week and have burned off some major fat by now. Start adding the 2x daily workouts I will show you after we get through with the menus. See yourself getting thinner and thinner. Wait until day 8 to weigh yourself, for the maximum results. Good going.

Snack: Some water first and some juice. If you didn’t drink your juice at dinner make yourself 2 glasses. Make a smoothie or freeze to take the edge off and for some variety. You can have some negative calorie fruit, too.

Congratulations! Only 2 more days to go!

DAY 6

Breakfast: Eat your usual fruit, but try something different for variety. Keep yourself to negative calorie fruits, though. Try a smoothie for something different. I will give you some recipes in a separate e-book. Make sure to drink some green tea. Make it decaffeinated. Drink some water 30 minutes after you eat. Add some lemon, lime, or orange juice you squeeze from the fresh fruit into the bottle of water.

Snack: Drink some water. Drink some Juice. Make it apple carrot or some apple/carrot/ cucumber for some extra cooling power when it is hot. See my e book a New You for all the juice recipes.

Lunch: Eat your usual bowl of soup. Have two, even better! Have any fruits and vegetables from the list at the beginning of the book. Eat your fill. Drink some water with lemon, lime, or orange juice squeezed in.

Snack: Have your juice at each meal, and at each snack time. If you forgot your fresh juice at Lunch, then have 2 glasses at Snack time. Make sure it is fresh from your juicer. Try to get organic fruits and vegetables for the best results. Have some green tea! You can ice it if you want with some lemon and honey added for flavor. Add about 1/8 teaspoon of cinnamon for flavor. Remember what I told you about cinnamon? It’s great for you. Drink some water, too.

Dinner: Eat some fish tonight from the list. Bake everything or broil it. I use a George Foreman or Pannini Grill. You can cook it in 4 minutes. Tastes great, and no fat, either. You can get yours here: add link. For vegetarians: Use some black beans, they taste great and have plenty of protein, too! Use either the dried variety or heat up a can. You can make a great salad with light vinaigrette or olive oil and vinegar. Check out my salad ebook for some ideas!

Snack: Have some great tasting fruit from the list, or have yourself a great fruit smoothie! First, drink your juice. 2 glasses if you didn’t drink some after dinner. Grape/Cherry is a nice change of pace. Remember your green or oolong tea. Don’t forget the honey and cinnamon. You can add a squeeze of orange juice, too.

Drink some water, too.

Guess what? You only have one day more to go to finish your first week. Isn’t that great! You are really getting there. This isn’t that hard, is it? Pretty soon it’s reward time. Great going!

DAY 7

Breakfast: Eat some fruit as usual. Mix it up. Savor it today. Just be glad your alive and this is your last day on the restricted diet. Celebrate!

Drink some juice about 30 minutes after breakfast or have a smoothie? Great!

Snack: You know it by now. Have some fruit. Mix it up. First, drink your juice. 2 glasses if you forgot your after breakfast juice. Drink some water, too. Then, eat the fruit. Have some green or oolong or wulong. Does it work, let me know at the forum.

Lunch: Eat your soup, please. Any fruits and vegetables from the list that you want, too. You can substitute a salad with the usual vinaigrette or olive oil and vinegar. Drink some juice or water after the meal. You’re almost there!

Snack: Drink your juice and water, too. Then have some fruit. More water, too. Drink some green tea or wulong. Listen to some of your favorite music and dance! Soon you’ll want to show off your great new shape at the hottest clubs in your area!

Dinner: Eat your last bowl of soup for this week. Have another on me. Make yourself a nice salad. Use the proper salad dressing. Have two helpings if you want. Have some fruit for dessert. Have your after dinner glass of juice.

Snack: Water, please. Have your last glass of juice for the day. You can make yourself a nice glass of tea, too.

Slap yourself a five! You hit the finish line going 80. Walk again and don’t forget that you should have done your twice daily workout, too.

You should be feeling really firm, now. Tomorrow is weigh yourself day, and reward yourself, day. Just have a smoothie or something light. Keep up the good work. If you have more than 10 lbs. to lose than alternate your Minus Diet restricted weeks with your relaxed diet. Otherwise, what you can do is to add meat, lean beef or chicken or fish with dinner. That will slow down your weight loss initially, but you can make up for it over the long run. You will still lose 3 to 5 pounds a week if you are exercising. You CANNOT lose weight without some form of exercise and keep it off. Your just fooling yourself. But you can make it a form of exercise you enjoy. The exercises I will show you next , will be fun, effective, fast, and easy.

That is the best form of exercise. One you will do, on a regular basis.

DAY 8

It’s the big day you have been waiting for with bated breath. Weigh yourself first thing in the morning. If you followed the plan, you lost some weight! Celebrate by doing something you enjoy. If it’s exercise in disguise, even better. Continue having Fruit each morning for breakfast. Stay away from fast food. If you have to, eat their salads with oil and vinegar or italian or low calorie dressing.

Make sure you don’t fall off the wagon, now. Not after all your hard work.

A lot of people sabotage themself at this point. Just add a little meat or fish or beans to your diet. Keep the rest minus calorie foods. If you want, add some brown rice or a baked potato at dinner. If you want a burger eat it without mayonnaise and substitute mustard instead. Ask for extra vegetables on it. Get a side salad, too. With low calorie dressing.

Keep your six a day fix of fresh fruit juices. Mix them up. Add some vegetable juice twice a day. Make sure it is from your juicer. Juiced fruits and vegetables are more concentrated in their nutrients and tastier, too. Make a smoothie at least 2 times a day. Use some bottled water in it and add ice, too. They are great for weight loss. Try to eat at oriental restaurants and eat the steamed dishes. Try to stay away from any more than one serving of rice. Italian and mexican dishes are good if you stay away from the sour cream and too much pasta. Cut up your snack fruits and vegetables or rinse and bag them in ziploc bags and store them in the refrigerator. Keep some in the freezer for quick smoothies.

At home get some whole wheat tortillas and make some chicken and beef fajitas. Get a wok and make some stir fry every night you can. I can eat it any time. Get some flavorful sauces and add them to the pot.

When baking substitute applesauce instead of oil. Use stevia instead of sugar. You can substitute olive oil for margarine or use becel margarine with some fresh garlic and use light bread if you can for great garlic bread.

In pasta, use chicken instead of ground beef, or subtitute ground turkey or chicken. You can also use shitake mushrooms instead of meat and make a chunky vegetable vegetarian spaghetti sauce. Use your imagination. The sky is the limit.

Understand the power of this diet comes from raw foods and eating a lot of fruits and vegetables. That is the key to it’s effectiveness.

Just substitute healthy foods for unhealthy ones. If you must fry, use a little olive oil. It is the best for you. Use herbs instead of lots of salt. Add some hot sauce or cayenne pepper or paprika to foods. It helps rev up your metabolism.

I just read some interesting tips in Woman’s World Magazine. It’s my favorite diet magazine. It always has excellent tips.

Here they are:

1. French Fries are actually good for you – provided you prepare them properly. French fries contain potassium- a mineral 80% of women are deficient in. Kidney stones and brittle bones can result. Potatoes are low in calories and loaded with fiber and potassium. You can even cook them in oil, if you use olive oil. Fried foods don’t cause cancer according to a study done at the Harvard School of Public Health which found that no link existed between frying foods and cancer.

2. Cashews are another good food. The monosaturated fatty acids in cashews actually help to prevent blood pressure from rising. If you eat 1 oz. of cashews about 8 minutes before a meal, you will remain satisfied from the meal 10 times longer than normal, which helps dieters immensely.

3. Hummus are another food that is excellent for you. Chickpeas help women with improving blood cholesterol levels, and artery function, which helps prevent heart disease.

4. Garlic is another fantastic health ingredient. Besides being an excellent natural antibiotic, it also contains sulforaphane, which protects eye cells from damage caused by the sun’s ultraviolet rays.

5. Iced latte is another food that is surprisingly good for you. Coffee beans are actually berries and have more antioxidants than any other. Coffee is linked to lowering cancer risk, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes. Coffee also reduces the risk of headaches. Using skim milk reduces your risk of developing high blood pressure by up to 54%.

6. Apple pie is also beneficial. Eating apples reduces the risk of heart disease and helps keep your lungs working right. Apples have a high concentration of flavonoids, an antioxidant that destroys harmful free radical toxins around us.

7. Cinnamon, as I told you earlier, is an excellent, spice, both taste wise and health wise. Cinnamon both regulates insulin, and lowers blood choleterols levels by up to 26%. In addition, cinnamon is a potent natural antibiotic that kills viruses and harmful bacteria.

8. Chocolate covered strawberries, and dark chocolate in general, help you on two fronts. First, the strawberries contain fisetin, a natural substance that helps memory and prevents Alzheimer’s disease. Dark chocolate, like cinnamon, helps regulate insulin. I’ve also read it helps your libido, and is good for the heart, too.

9. Lastly, a great energy booster is the old favorite, cheese and crackers.

Cheese helps prevent tooth decay, and the protein and high fiber crackers mixed together gives you long lasting energy. In addition, the phytonutrients in flaxseed flour, if you can get it, lowers breast cancer by up to 55%.

If you have diabetes, two other findings may help you out. Cinnamon, again, lowers your need for insulin. You can add 1/2 teaspoon into your oatmeal coffee, tea, or orange juice, or a stick added to your tea 2 times per day.

The other thing you need to watch is starches and processed foods that make your blood sugar spiral upwards out of control, including the following foods:

sweet corn, potatoes, cereals, grapes, and bananas. On the minus diet, you would only need to cut out grapes. Bananas are too starchy to be a minus calorie food.

When Spring is here, use the following tips to reduce your allergy problems.

Enjoy nuts, fish, flaxseed and apples. The nuts, fish, and flaxseed are full of omega-3 fatty acids which keep your immune system strong and help it fight off viruses and bacteria while also protecting your system from reacting to pollen. The apples contain flavonoids as mentioned above, which destroy airway inflammation up to 32%. The other things you can do is find out what house plants are causing allergic reactions and eliminate them. You need to both take a shower and rinse off the pollen off your body and use saline nasal sprays to internally cleanse the nostrils, since researchers found that 84% of people who wash their nasal passages have fewer sinus problems.

Our Body comes in 4 types and shapes. We want to identify which body type our body is so we can understand how we develop our cravings for certain foods. By knowing which body type we are we will be able to know which enzymes our body will need to help breakdown the foods our body has a hard time breaking down.

So what Body type are you? Here are the four major body types:

Body Type 1:

1) Your shoulders and hips are the same width, and in proportion to each other.

2) You gain weight evenly throughout your body.

3) If you are obese, you carry excess fat in your stomach and waist area. For women, you hold fat in your buttocks as well.

4) You crave sugar in the form of desserts, fruit, pastas, bread, and vegetables.

5) You are drawn to chocolate and coffee.

6) You suffer from depression or you have mood swings.

7) You tend to get tired and fatigued by midday. You sometimes get up tired as well.
You have cold hands and feet.

9) Low blood pressure.

10) Allergies are common to you.

Body Type 2:

1) Your shoulders are narrower than your hips.

2) For women the greater part of your weight is in your upper thighs and your buttocks.

3) In men, your excess weight is in your abdominal area.

4) Your favorite foods are tasty or strong flavored. These include smoked, creamed, peppered, salty, or spiced foods.

5) You like Italian, Mexican, and Oriental cuisines.

6) You suffer from indigestion.

7) You enjoy fried foods such as French fries, fish, chicken, and onion rings.
You drink a beverage or wine with your meals.

9) Gallbladder problems are common in this area.

10) Your favorite desserts are rich, like ice cream or chocolate.

Body Type 3:

1) Your shoulders are wider than your hips.

2) You carry your weight in your gut and your upper torso area, including your back.

3) Your legs are strong and firm at any age.

4) Your buttocks are flat and do not have any shape, unless you work them out to death to build muscle in that area.

5) You crave protein, meat in all your meals.

6) You may put salt on your food without tasting it first.

7) You crave all types of protein such as lunch meats, nuts, sausage, fish, poultry, cheese, and eggs.
You suffer from stiff joints or pain in your left shoulder.

9) You must drink at least one beverage with each meal.

10) You feel stressed rather than fatigued.

11) Constipation is a big problem for you.

12) Having gas is a way of life for you.

Body Type 4:

1) You crave dairy with each meal.

2) You are drawn to starchy foods and sweets.

3) Your body shape is the same as when you were a teen. Your shape may be described as boyish, wiry, or having baby fat, but is has remained the same as you’ve aged.

4) You are the youngest looking member in your family, or matured later on in life.

5) You have bowel problems (constipation to diarrhea).

6) You have soft fat all over the body, not just in one area.

7) You crave dairy products but are intolerant to milk.

You may see yourself in more than one category (body type). However we are one body type more than the rest. We have a primary body type. For me I am a body type 1, but I crave proteins like a body type 3 and I crave strong flavored foods as a body type 2 does.

Now that you have figured out your body type, you can then see what best food choices you should make. Being able to identify your body type does not necessarily mean you need to cut down on the foods you enjoy. The intent is for you to take in digestive enzymes that will help your body break down these foods for you. The reason we have these cravings is we have a problem digesting these foods we crave.

Body Type 1′s pass gas quite a bit and when they do I suggest you leave the room immediately. You may have difficult time breathing. The smell can be awful. If you are a body type 1, you want to cut down on sugar. Body type 1s have a hard time breaking down carbohydrates. You don’t need to cut down on the carbohydrates unless you take in too much, but definitely you would need to cut down on the sugar. Everyone should cut down on sugar. To break down carbohydrates, especially for a body type one, you would need the enzyme Amylase. Amylase helps break down starch in the digestive tract. If you lack amylase enzymes in your daily regiment, the carbohydrates in your body will ferment.

Body Type 2′s love fatty foods. They lack the necessary enzymes to help break down the fat in the food a body type 2 would intake. Lipase would be the particular enzyme a body type 2 would need to break down the fat during digestion. If fat is not digested properly, it then turns rancid in our digestive tract. That’s why you should never pour oil in your kitchen sink. When oil is poured into the sink it turns into a hard substance. That’s what happens to lipids or fats when not digested in our body. Again this is why Lipase is so important for digestion of fats.

Body Type 3′s have a hard time breaking down protein. They need enzymes called protease. Protease helps break down protein in the digestive tract as well. If protein is not digested properly it will rot in your body. If you leave a piece of chicken or meat out in your kitchen for 2 or 3 days, it will start to rot and smell. Well that’s what happened when we do not digest protein. You can brush your teeth and gargle mouthwash all you want your breath will still have that odor. This stems from undigested protein. Again you will need protease to help digest protein.

Body Type 4s have trouble digesting fiber or dairy products. They need a formulation of all enzymes that was mentioned above. I believe all body types should take a formulation of all enzymes, especially this body type.

The bottom line is we lack enzymes in our food. The answer to our digestive issues and our issue with shedding excess weight is a combination of digestive enzyme supplements with our meals.

When people go on a diet, they often think that they’ll have to deprive themselves of anything tasty or good for the sake of losing some pounds. While it’s true that you’ll need to deny yourself those fatty food items that you’re used to eating all the time, it’s also true that you can still find plenty of foods for weight loss to keep your dieting experience full of flavor and variety.

The best diets are ones that don’t force you to eat bland food every single day, and, pretend that you’re actually going to like it. I’m sure you’ve been on some of these strict plans that made you feel cranky and ready to toss out every piece of lettuce onto the cold, hard floor. I mean, yes, you need to eat healthy, but there’s got to be some enjoyment too.

Many people give up on their diet after two or three weeks because they just can’t take the loss of enjoyment any longer. We eat to live, but we also eat to savor and enjoy our food. Take away the joy, and there’s not really much incentive to eat another plate of greens with light dressing.

Some of the most popular diet plans available today feature cheat days – days in which you can eat whatever you like. While you don’t want to go hog wild on cheat days, you can enjoy these days with abandon, if you stock up on healthy food items. When your cupboards are filled with fatty foods, then guess what? You’ll eat them without thinking. If you stock up on tasty, but low calorie foods, you’ll still be able to stick with your weight loss goals without feeling guilty.

Here’s a list of low fat food items that can make your low calorie meals more enjoyable:

Beverages – Water (plain or flavored), seltzer water (plain or flavored), black coffee, regular or herbal tea, ginger ale, juices made from fresh fruits and vegetables, smoothies.

Cereals – Cheerios (or similar), Bran Cereal, Plain Shredded Wheat, Fiber One, Wheaties, Whole Grain Total (or similar), Oatmeal.

Breads – Light breads that have no more than 45 calories per slice. Some varieties: multigrain, oatmeal, wheat, rye, Italian and sourdough.

Legumes – Any canned bean or dried bean is good. If you like Mexican food, go for the low fat refried beans. Some varieties: peas, kidney, lentils, chickpeas, black, green, lima, pinto and black eyed pea beans.

Condiments – Low fat or fat free mayonnaise, mustard (yellow, spicy or flavored), tomato puree, tomato paste, tomato sauce, tomato juice, low fat butter or margarine, cooking sprays (olive oil, canola oil or flavored), balsamic vinegar, apple cider vinegar, tarragon vinegar, wine vinegar, horseradish, onion powder, garlic powder, seasoning salt, dried herbs (oregano, thyme, rosemary, dill basil, etc.), dried spices (cinnamon, cocoa powder, cloves, cumin, ginger, nutmeg, curry, allspice, paprika, etc.), extracts (vanilla, almond, maple, peppermint, etc.), cocoa powder and low fat salad dressing.

Frozen Fruits and Vegetables – Buy a variety of frozen vegetable mixes. When you can’t have fresh, frozen is the next best thing.

Spreads – Peanut butter, honey, low sugar jams and jellies

Pasta and Rice – Brown rice, long grain rice, whole wheat pasta, whole grain pasta, spinach pasta, whole wheat couscous, barley, kasha, bulgur, quinoa and whole grain cornmeal.

Soups – Low calorie flavors (chicken, rice, bean, pea, beef, etc.)

Candy – Surprise! Stick to the regular kind to quell your sweet tooth. Flavored hard candy (candy cane, lollipops, sour balls, fruit flavored, caramel and chocolate hard candies), chewing gum.

Seafood – fresh, canned or smoked salmon, tuna, haddock, halibut, sardines, etc.

Soy – Tofu, Boca Burgers, Garden Burgers, etc.

Dessert – Frozen yogurt, low fat ice cream, low fat frozen treats (Creamsicles, Fudgesicles, Popsicles, fruit juice bars)

Snacks – Nuts (almonds, sunflower seeds, walnuts), popcorn (plain or with a sprinkle of powdered seasoning), crackers.