By Amelia Handley
When it comes to the homeopathic HCG diet there are several vital aspects that combine to provide the amazing average weight loss results (1 to 2 pounds per day) that continues to draw more and more dieters to the strict program.
1. Cutting the calories back drastically. The homeopathic HCG diet requires dieters to stick to a 500 calorie per day diet.
2. Daily use of the homeopathic HCG weight loss formula (3 times per day)
3. Only approved foods. The approved food list for the homeopathic HCG diet is very short. And sticking to it is vital.
Some see the diet as simple and therefore easy to stick to. This is a mistake. Don’t oversimplify it. Dieters should be aware that tools and tips are available because they’re needed. The diet is efficient, but it’s tough. One very handy tool that makes sticking to the strict protocol is the shopping list.
This is the shopping list as recommended by HCG Diet Direct for the dieter’s local grocery store:
Spinach, cherry/Roma tomatoes, Melba Toast (try garlic or wheat), salsa (no sugar variety), sea salt, Tony Chachere’s Creole seasoning, fresh chicken (try breasts or tenders), lemons, oranges, strawberries, iceberg or romaine lettuce, red grapefruit, apples, cucumbers, celery, asparagus, sweet onions and green onions, Jennie O Turkey burgers, shrimp, lobster, crab, lean steak, tilapia, lean roast, 93% lean turkey, beef and chicken.
If dieters start off the diet by sticking to the approved shopping list provided by their HCG distributor they’ll have a much easier time sticking to the diet protocol. Having the correct foods on hand makes putting healthy, HCG approved meals together on the fly not only possible, but probable. The shopping list in combination with the recipes provided in the HCG Diet Direct cookbook are an must!
Faithfully sticking to the shopping list will ensure that the ingredients are available when HCG approved recipes are picked up. And successfully attempting to follow the HCG approved recipes is one of the most helpful aspects of the diet. It creates long term knowledge in the dieter regarding how to prepare healthy meals. And this enables dieters to maintain their weight for the long run because they have an entire new lifestyle when it comes to eating.
Amelia Handley studied exercise science in college with a minor in Nutrition. Yet she still found herself veering from diet to diet in order to control her weight. With HCG Diet Direct she’s found a program that allows her to combine her desire to control her own body weight with her education and not feel off balance.
By Dr. Markho Rafael
5,300 years ago, an injured and starving man from Val Venosta, Italy, fled across an Alpine glacier to escape pursuers. But his enemies caught up with him and with a practiced arrow-shot penetrated his shoulder blade and subclavian artery. Before long, he was dead from blood loss. “Oetzi the Iceman” was found mummified in 1991. On his person were pouches containing mushroom remedies, the oldest known proof in existence of medicinal mushrooms usage.
One of the mushrooms was Birch polypore – Piptoporus betulinus – which it is believed he used as a remedy against intestinal parasites. Eggs of the whipworm parasite (Trichuris trichiura) were found in his intestines. The other mushroom in the possession of Oetzi was Tinder fungus – Fomes fomentarius – which has been traditionally used in Europe to cauterize wounds and stop bleeding.
Both of these are polypores, so named because they have pores instead of gills underneath. No species of polypore is known to be poisonous. They usually grow on trees, dead or alive.
With a couple of notable exceptions, most polypores are inedible because they are woody and fibrous. But as natural remedies in the form of tea, extracts and poultices, they have been invaluable to people all across the globe for many millennia.
Native American traditions tell of using different kinds of polypore extracts to combat smallpox and other diseases introduced with the arrival of Europeans. This includes Reishi (Ganoderma resinaceum), Chaga (Inonotus obliquus), Birch polypore, and Turkey tail (Trametes versicolor), as well as the now rare and endangered species Agarikon (Fomitopsis officinalis).
As it so happens, Agarikon is also the oldest mushroom referenced in European medical literature. It was listed by Dioscorides in the Materia Medica of 65 B.C. as a treatment for tuberculosis. In confirmation of this, Polish researcher K. Grzywnowics published an article in 2001 titled Medicinal mushrooms in Polish Folk Medicine where he states that Agarikon tea was historically used in his country as a remedy for lung conditions, as well as rheumatoid arthritis, open bleeding and infected wounds.
While mushrooms have been utilized medicinally in the West, it pales in comparison to the adulation they have received in the Orient. Next follows three species of medicinal mushrooms from Asia, which simply have to be included in any article on medicinal mushrooms.
First out is Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum), sometimes nicknamed the “Mushroom of Immortality” due to its wide range of healing properties. Reishi was mentioned in Shen Nong’s Herbal Classic from around 2,000 years ago. Many ancient Oriental temples and wood-carvings include images of this highly revered “cure-all” fungus.
Next is Cordyceps, a minute fungus from the Tibetan plateau, parasitising on silk caterpillars. Cordyceps sinensis was first mentioned as a medicinal mushroom in The Classic Herbal of the Divine Plowman from 200 A.D. It is popular with athletes to improve physical stamina. Historically, it’s been used as an aphrodiciac.
Finally there is the Shiitake mushroom, which today is a common household name even in the West. In Asia, however, it is known to have been cultivated as a gourmet mushroom for at least a thousand years. What may surprise is that Shiitake is also one of the most researched medicinal mushrooms in the world. Its potential uses range from energizing tonic to immune-booster and antibiotic with anti-tumor properties.
Modern research into medicinal use of mushrooms began in earnest in the late 1960’s Japan. One pioneer, Dr. Ikekawa, discovered that families of mushroom growers had significantly lower cancer rates than their surrounding communities. Scientific research into medicinal mushrooms has expanded exponentially since that time and continues to increase and intensify until this day. Medicinal mushrooms are still in the process of making history.
Note: This article is for informational purpose only. None of the mushrooms mentioned herein have been approved for medicinal use by the FDA. Never use any mushroom medicinally without consulting a licensed medical practitioner.
Dr. Markho Rafael has worked in the natural health field since the mid-90’s as a researcher and author, now specializing in mycomedicinals. Click medicinal mushroom for more articles and mushroom products. The material for this article comes from several different sources. However, a significant portion comes from the literature of medicinal fungi expert Paul Stamets, who deserves special credit and thanks.
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Completely free diet tips for anyone considering losing weight. Dieting needn’t be difficult and our tips are guaranteed to work provided you follow them. Don’t pay money for fad diets when I can help you lose weight naturally for free. Free Diet Tips and Tricks number 11…
By Ethan O. Tanner
You likely know that it is important to drink sufficient amount of water. A minimum of 8 glasses of water a day is advised. This is a number to strive for to improve your health and well being. You should aim for more if it is genuinely hot, or you’re sweating a lot and having too much physical exertion. Getting enough water in your body will keep you from getting dehydrated.
According to WEBMD the early signs of dehydration are increased thirst, sticky saliva and dry mouth, and reduced urine output with dark yellow urine. You may also experience headache and a lack of energy. None of these sound very amusing. I know it is hard sometimes to drink that much water; particularly when sodas and coffee tempt us. However, to stay healthy and feel eager, we should strive to drink those eight glasses of water a day.
Keep an eye on your water intake to meet your minimal water intake goals. This can be as simple as a small piece of paper on the fridge, or a page in your day planner. Simply make a little check mark, or dash on the piece of paper every time you drink a glass of water. The log will help you keep track of how much water you have had in any given day. You’ll also be surprised how motivating it is to try to get those eight little check marks on there every day. Another idea would be to use little stickers instead.
Bring some lemon juice to your water will add a soft zip to the taste. I tend to get bored with drinking just water after a few days. Change things up and add a little flavor by adding a teaspoon or less of lemon to your water. You can also try some other fruit juices. Just make sure enough you are still drinking mainly water. Just a splash of juice should be enough to make things interesting and give the water some flavor without adding too much sugar and calories.
Try to also drink some carbonated water if you are looking for some frothiness. If you are craving the fizz of a soda, try some Club Soda. Most brands have a bit too much sparkle for me. I finish up watering them down with – guess what – water. Whenever you want to get really fancy, check your local grocery for flavored club sodas. As an alternative, you can also add a splash of fruit crush to your watered down club soda.
Try on drinking water when you feel hungry. This trick will not only help with fluid levels, it will also help with weight control. Unluckily, many of us have gotten so out of tune with our bodies that we feel hungry when we are actually thirsty. If you feel hungry, try drinking a glass of water first. You may just be thirsty.
Carry a water bottle is an excellent habit to practice and promote. It is much easier to drink water when you induce it and readily available. Pack a bottle of water around with you in the car, at work, while running errands, in the yard, and even while you are working around the house. You’ll be sipping away the water without even noticing it.
Produce a point you drink a few extra glasses of water if you exercise, or if you spend some time outside while it’s hot. Your body uses and needs more water when it sweats a lot. So do not forget to fill back up on water during and after your exercise. Just devote attention to how much you drink and implement some of these ideas if you don’t get the recommended eight glasses of water a day. Your body will appreciate you for it in the long run.
Fitness Enthusiast and Sportsman Ethan O. Tanner explicates the method of how much water to drinkand the safety tips and guidelines for a health and fitness.
