These days, more and more Americans are feeling overworked and overtired, lacking the energy needed to meet the responsibilities required for everyday life. This constant feeling of fatigue has become a part of the American way of life. Research has proven that the same processes that cause lack of energy in Americans can also keep us from getting an adequate amount of sleep, cause weight gain, disrupt hormonal balance, and add a significant amount of stress to ourdaily lives. However, people do not have to accept the pain, insomnia, or fatigue associated with chronic fatigue syndrome andfibromyalgia thanks to the following three step process called “Vitality 101.”

The first of the three steps is nutrition. Good overall nutrition is important for everyone. To obtain this, a foundation product that supports energy levels, such as a powdered drink mix, can ensure that you are getting all of the necessary vitamins, minerals, and amino acids that you need. This drink should include the following ingredients: vitamin A, C, D, and E; magnesium; malic acid; betaine; selenium; zinc; amino acids; and frutooligosaccharides. Vitamin A is essential for healthy skin, mucous membrane, immune system responses, bone growth, and reproductive processes. In the form of beta-carotene, vitamin A is an antioxidant and a free radical fighter. Vitamin C, which is necessary for the proper functioning of the immune system, is an antioxidant free radical fighter as well as an assistant in hormone synthesis and a supporter of healthy skin integrity and iron absorption. Vitamin D is essential for healthy calcium and phosphorus metabolism. It is also responsible for the absorption of vitamin A and supports bone mineralization. Vitamin E, which helps oxygen circulation, supports healthy nerve transmissions, leg nerves and muscles, and helps boost energy levels. Magnesium supports enzyme activity involved in energy productions and healthy nerve and muscle function, as well as supports the immune system functions, while malic acid acts as a catalyst to stimulate the complete burning of fuel for energy. It also supports healthy connective tissue and muscle functioning. Betaine, which works with B vitamins, may have an effect on overall mood elevation. Where as selenium works with vitamin E to maintain healthy cell membranes and support healthy thyroid functioning. Zinc supports a healthy immune system, enzyme processes, and immune response. Amino acids are essential for the production of energy in the body, which is essential for brain function. Finally, fructooligosacchardies provide nutrition for good bacteria in the intestinal tract which improves digestion and healthy microflora. In addition to the powdered energy drink mix, it is important to take a high potency vitamin B-complex supplement that includes riboflavin, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, pantothenic acid, and choline, which are each important in restoring the energy production needed in your body. It is also very important to get enough water.

The second step of the process is to rest your body. Because having trouble sleeping is one of the most troubling symptoms of stress and can cause pain and hormonal and immune dysfunction, it is important to break the stress/insomnia cycle early. It may be helpful to use herbal products in order to get the good quality sleep that will repair and re-energize the body. Although there are many formulas that are marketed for sleep, it is very important that the right ingredients are in the sleep formula that you buy. This formula should include herbs that promote deep sleep including: valerian, L-theanine, hops, passionflower, Jamaica dogwood and wild lettuce. Wild lettuce has been found to have sedative effects and similarly hops acts as a mild sedative and has a sleep inducing effect. Similar to hops and wild lettuce, Jamaica dogwood has been found to be mildly sedative and it is often used for anxiousness. L-theanine causes a significant increase of neurotransmitter concentrations in the brain which promotes muscle relaxation and improves sleep. Valerian has been clinically proven to improve sleep quality. Lastly, passionflower eases nervousness and insomnia. Each of these herbs addresses a different aspect of sleeplessness, making the combination very important.

The third step in this process is to manage excess stress levels. In the world we live in today, it is important to manage the stressors in our lives. Adrenal extract, as well as other glandular extracts, can offer natural support to help our bodies deal with the effects of stress. In turn, they can also boost your energy levels. Exercise is also a good way to reduce stress and is important for good health. Not only can stress cause you sleepless nights, it can also lead to adrenal burnout or adrenal fatigue, which occurs when the adrenal glands are constantly producing cortisol in response to chronic stress. However, when stress is decreased, changes in our hormone levels can return to normal. The key is learning how to deal with daily stress so that the body is able to return to its normal state.

In addition to stress control, it is important to provide yourself with an adrenal supplement to improve the health of your adrenal glands and repair them when they are malfunctioning. If your adrenal glands are stressed-out, great results can be seen from taking a raw adrenal supplement. Be sure to buy a supplement that contains whole adrenal and cortex adrenal as well as vitamin C, vitamin B6, pantothenic acid, and licorice. The adrenal glands use these nutrients to manufacture cortisone and other compounds. Liver extract also improves energy levels by providing an excellent source of nutrients such as iron, B vitamins, and other minerals. It has been shown to support healthy function of the liver and increase the energy levels inside our body. A high-quality liver extract supplement should be cold-processed and encapsulated to enhance speed and absorption of nutrients from the liver because heat will destroy the key components in the liver. Along with the above listed nutrients, there are many other natural alternatives that promote relaxation and increase energy levels during the day. Rhodiola rosea relieves stress and increases energy as well as lifts our moods, improves sexual satisfaction, and helps in certain nervous system disorders. Remember to consult your health care practitioner before changing any medications. The above mentioned vitamin supplements are available at your friendly internet health food store.

Darrell Miller
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/boost-energy-and-reduce-stress-naturally-126475.html

[Adapted from http://www.cityslim.com]

By now, weâ??ve all seen the â??Diets donâ??t work,â? campaign by Weight Watchers or have heard this mantra uttered at some point during this year. So what does work? Is Weight Watchers really the answer? Why do these types of programs work for some people, but not others? The answer is that they encourage active planning and strategizing! Want to know the secret? CitySlim will show you how to lose weight and keep it off!

Hereâ??s the good news: the science of weight loss is simple! â??To maintain body weight in a healthy range, balance calories from foods and beverages with calories expended,â? states the USDA Dietary Guidelines for Americans in their 2005 Weight Management Recommendation. Basically, what goes in (in terms of food and calories) must come out (in terms of physical activity and energy expenditure). In order to lose weight and prevent gradual weight gain over time, â??make small decreases in food and beverage calories and increase physical activity.â? You can look at weight management as different equations.

To maintain weight: calories in = calories expended (or calories burned during physical activity)

To lose weight: calories burned > calories consumed

You will gain weight if: calories consumed > calories burned

The key component of â??dietary therapy for weight loss in overweight patients is a low calorie diet (LCD) with 800-1500 kilocalories/day.â?[i] LCDs can reduce body weight by 8% over six months accompanied by significant reductions in waist circumference.[ii] To achieve a weight loss of 1-2 lbs per week, the National Institute of Health (NIH) recommends a 500-1000 calorie deficit. Hereâ??s how to start planning your way to weight loss.

15% of your calories should be from protein (0.8-1.5 g/day of protein of high biological value, such as from animal foods, which also promote satiety).

30% of your calories may come from fat.

55% or more of your calories should be from carbohydrate.

Remember though: weight is only lost when either caloric intake is decreased, when energy output is increased, or both are simultaneously altered to produce a net energy deficit (Dwyer).[iii] â??If the energy deficit lasts long enough, body fat and weight are lost in a linear manner. The slope of the decline is determined by the size of the calorie deficit.â?[iv]

CitySlim also recommends: consuming lots of fiber from plant foods, as they are low in calories but will make you feel fuller. Also, avoid high sodium intake because you will retain fluid and temporarily increase body weight.

To achieve reasonable weight loss, it is helpful to modify the LCD to your own personal calorie needs using a calculation invented by Dwyer. First, calculate your resting metabolic rate (RMR) using the following equation (adapted from Dwyer, 1994).

Male RMR = 900 + [10 x Weight in kg]

Female RMR = 700 + [7 x Weight in kg]

Now, take your RMR (an approximation of fasting energy needs at rest) and then multiply by the appropriate activity factor to estimate your Total Energy Expenditure (TEE). Activity factors are: 1.2 for very sedentary, 1.4 for moderately active, and 1.8 for very active. Finally, subtract 500 calories a day from your TEE, aiming for 1 pound of weight loss per week. For larger individuals, the deficit could be greater than 500 calories, but do not rush into making yourself too uncomfortable because maintaining this calorie deficit is more important that rapid initial weight loss. Also, when weight loss is too large, your metabolism will slow down and so will rate of weight loss.

As an example: I am a female weighing 115 lbs. To convert pounds to kilograms, multiply pounds by 0.45 kilograms. 115 (0.45) = 51.75 kg. My RMR is 700 + [7 x 51.75 kg] = 700 + 362.25 = 1062.25 calories I need at rest. I am moderately active, so multiplying 1062.25 x 1.4, I get my TEE: approximately 1487. To lose weight, I subtract 500 calories from 1487, and my daily caloric intake should be: approximately 987 calories.

Once your desired weight loss is attained, it is important to balance your caloric intake with physical activity. Use the TEE equation to determine your approximate energy expenditure and design a balanced diet that does not exceed that number in calories.

When comparing the various popular diets of today, no single diet stands out with weight loss as the major consideration. The National Weight Control Registry finds low fat, calorie restricted diets to be the most common among successful weight loss maintainers. With healthy intake as the standard, Weight Watchers, the Ornish Diet, and the Glucose Revolution are all acceptable. Weight Watchers social support and group weigh-ins are powerful tools for weight loss and maintenance, but instead of calories, the â??pointsâ? system is used. Be careful though; Weight Watchers assigns 0 points to most vegetables so they may be consumed in unlimited quantities, but in reality, they DO have calories and, in excess consumption, can impair weight loss. The Ornish Diet and Glucose Revolution are helpful to follow because they provide sample menus that may be followed that incorporate balanced macronutrients, such as protein, carbohydrate, and fat.

Stick to a plan that works for you. Take sample meals from one or more diets and make sure you burn more calories than you consume!*

*Before altering your dietary habits or embarking on a specific weight loss regimen, it is always best to consult with your physician.

READ MORE ON http://www.cityslim.com!

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[i] Wolper C, â??Nutritional Aspects of Weight Loss;â? Lecture at Institute of Human Nutrition: January 29, 2008.

[ii] Wolper C, â??Nutritional Aspects of Weight Loss;â? Lecture at Institute of Human Nutrition: January 29, 2008.

[iii] Dwyer JT. Dietary and nutritional assessment of the individual. Shils M.E. Olson J.A. Shike M. eds. Modern Nutrition in Health and Disease (8th Ed):842-860 Lea & Febiger Philadelphia, Penn, 1994.

[iv] Wolper C, â??Nutritional Aspects of Weight Loss;â? Lecture at Institute of Human Nutrition: January 29, 2008.

Cityslim.com
http://www.articlesbase.com/nutrition-articles/the-real-way-to-lose-weight-377783.html

Starting a diet and need to cut the sugar.

WATER

I have abottle of mamajuana i hyave been drinking it in small shots for a week. I loved this stuff best energy drink a have ever used. I was wondering if it has any side effects? Basically it should not because it contains only natural substances?

idk know what they told you, but mamajuana is not an energy drink, its an alcohol drink and its very strong. im dominican and im telling u, dont trust dominicans! lol their crazy

the only drink like that i know is powerade. energy drinks give you energy and sports drinks hydrate and ''refuel'' you.

There is XS Power Nutrition Sports drinks. Not to be confused with XS energy drink. XS power nutrition sports drinks come in three flavors orange, fruit punch, lemon lime.
Orange is sugar free. Here is the instruction for proper use:
Use Instructions
How:

Before exercise: Drink two cups of fluid (one XS™ Power Nutrition Sports Drink) approximately two hours before exercise to promote adequate hydration and allow time for excretion of excess ingested water/fluid.

During exercise: Drink fluids at regular intervals at a rate sufficient to replace all the water lost through sweating. (One Sports Drink every 30 minutes.)

During intense exercise: Ingest carbohydrates at a rate of 30-60 g/hour (2-4 servings of XS Power Nutrition Sports Drink).

After exercise (within 30 to 60 minutes): Drink approximately one XS Power Nutrition Sports Drink to replace the water and electrolytes lost through sweating.

Why:

Fluids: To prevent dehydration.
Sodium: To promote fluid retention.
Carbohydrates during: To maintain the oxidation of carbohydrates for fuel and delay fatigue.
Carbohydrates after: To replenish glycogen stores and prevent muscle fatigue.

These can be found online at:

https://ts-worsham-express.mychoices.biz

look under sports nutrition

The kidney

The purpose of the two kidneys is to filter the water in your blood as the blood passes through the kidneys. About 4 gallons of water are filtered every day but only around 3 pints are pulled out as urine.

Alcohol and sugar are the most damaging to the kidney since they kill kidney cells and weaken the kidney function.

Water is the major way the body keeps toxins from accumulating in the body and skin. You need to drink plenty of clean water daily so the kidneys can remove toxins and excess nutrients, vitamins, and minerals from the blood.

When you drink plenty of water, the skin does not have to act as a filter to filter out excess waste from the blood since it is been filter and excreted, as urine, by your kidney.

Water also is needed to keep your skin moist. Water in the skin layers helps to protect the skin from bacteria and toxins that try to pass into your skin.

The more fresh juices you drink and the more fruit or vegetables you eat, the less water you need to drink. All juices contain plenty of distilled water, which contributes to your daily water requirement.

Drinking sodas and other drinks that have sugar cannot be counted as water.

The Lungs

You have two large sacs that are called your lungs. As you breathe in air, the lungs pull oxygen out of the air, which is captured by your blood, routed to your liver, moved into your heart and then moved into all parts of your body.

As you breathe out, waste and carbon dioxide are pushed out through your mouth.

Your cells use oxygen to create energy for you to live by. You need energy for every movement your body does. Oxygen is also used to neutralize toxins, waste and pathogen. The more toxins, acid waste and pathogens you have in your body, the more oxygen is used up to neutralize them. This means you will have less oxygen for cell, organ and other body functions.

If the other elimination channels are weak and overloaded, the lungs will also become overloaded trying to get rid of toxic waste the other channels cannot get rid of.

When your lungs become overloaded with toxins or become weak, more waste stays in the body, making your body more toxic, acidic and susceptible to disease and infections. If you have kidney weakness, liver weakness, lung weakness mostly likely you will have skin disorders like eczema, psoriasis, acne, and many other types of skin disorders.

Lymphatic System

The lymphatic system is part of your immune system. It consists of a series of tubes, large and small, that cover your entire body. Through these tubes flows whitish liquid called lymph. Since this system does not have a pump, the lymph is pushed through the tubes by your body’s movement or exercise.

Lymph liquid surrounds all of your body cells and is responsible for bringing nutrients to your cells from the blood and to move away toxins that come out of the cells.

Toxins and pathogens that are in your lymph liquid are moved into lymph nodes. In the lymph nodes, this toxic matter is neutralized into harmless chemicals and then moved into the blood and are eliminated through the other channels of elimination.

The lymph liquid is composed of electrolyte minerals such as sodium, potassium, calcium phosphorus, and chloride. So strong lymph liquid is built when you eat fruits and vegetables.

When the lymph nodes become overwhelmed with toxic waste from the cells and the blood, they become inflamed and cannot keep the body free of toxic matter.

Excess toxic waste accumulates in the lymph liquid when your body does not have enough electrolyte minerals to neutralize this toxic acid waste. Now, your body is a considered acid and will have a difficult time fighting infections wherever they occur, including your face.

When you lymph system becomes weaken, it is unable to detoxify toxins and routes them into the blood where the liver is expected to clean the blood.

Keeping you lymph system strong is important for keeping your skin free of blemishes, skin disorders, eczema and acne.

Rudy Silva
http://www.articlesbase.com/diseases-and-conditions-articles/how-the-kidney-lungs-and-lymphatic-system-keep-you-acne-free-123848.html