Medifast diet program (located at http://www.miofit.com) controls portions and calories so you don’t have to. Avoid calorie counting, diet pills, and confusing point systems with this simple, convenient 5 & 1 Plan. The plan is clinically proven to burn fat and help your body lose weight quickly, up to twenty pounds in a single month. The plan keeps you eating every two to three hours to help ensure that you don’t get hungry between meals.

The 5 & 1 plan allows you to eat six meals a day. For five of your meals, choose from over 50 delicious Medifast options, including scrumptious shakes, satisfying soups, oatmeal, bars, pudding, drinks, snacks (crackers, soy chips, etc.), and scrambled eggs. These great-tasting, nutritious meals are low in calories and allow you to create a healthy gap between the calories you take in and the calories you burn so that you’ll lose weight quickly and safely. The meals can be used interchangeably for your convenience. In addition to the five Medifast meals, you’ll prepare a Lean & Green meal, which balances 5-7 ounces of lean protein (fish, poultry, pork, lamb, etc.) with a salad or vegetables. This weight loss program also provides a list of foods that can be used to replace the meat portion of the meal if you are a vegetarian.

This weight loss program is not a fad diet that abandons you after the initial stage. Once you reach your goal weight, you’ll begin a Transition phase in which you can reintroduce foods you eliminated in the early stage of the diet, such as fruits, low-fat dairy products, whole grains, and higher-carbohydrate vegetables. Then, you’ll move onto a Maintenance phase, in which you’ll discover how to sustain your weight loss for life through activity and healthy diet. Medifast.com also provides an Exercise Guide to equip you for a healthy lifestyle essential for the maintenance of weight loss.

This company offers program packages for women, men, and diabetics. Studies have shown that people with Type II diabetes lose twice as much weight on this diet plan than they do following the ADA’s recommended food guidelines. Medifast’s program for diabetics may also make it possible for you to reduce your diabetes medication. In addition to providing a meal plan and healthful foods, Medifast1.com offers members weight loss tools and a supportive, online community. You can share your recopies and success stories on the message boards, find a physician, calculate your body mass index, or monitor your daily activities using downloadable PDF files. If you are interested in a meal plan to assist with your weight loss and health, Medifast provides a diet that makes it easy to plan the foods and meals you will eat. Click here – Medifast – to try the Medifast diet meal plan to help you get started losing weight. Medifast is physician-developed.

A girl of 12 brought up by her parents on a strict vegan diet has been admitted to hospital with a degenerative bone condition said to have left her with the spine of an 80-year-old.

Doctors are under pressure to report the couple, from Glasgow, to police and social workers amid concerns her health and welfare may have been neglected in pursuit of their beliefs.

The youngster, fed on a strict meat- and dairy-free diet from birth, is being treated at the city’s Royal Hospital for Sick Children. She is said to have a severe form of rickets and to have suffered a number of fractured bones. The condition is caused by a lack of vitamin D, which is needed to absorb calcium and is found in liver, oily fish and dairy produce.

Dr Faisal Ahmed, the consultant treating the child, said he believed the dangers of forcing children to follow a strict vegan diet needed to be highlighted. “Something like this needs publicity,” he said. However, he refused to blame the parents, who are understood to be well-known figures in Glasgow’s vegan community: “We shouldn’t name and shame \. Mum feels guilty about the whole thing and feels bad about it.” Read on…

Bottom line: Don’t deprive your body or that of your child’s of the basic nutritional needs for proper function, maintenance of good health, and growth and developement. Fruits and vegetables are the primary source of the most important micronutrients needed for good health, while macronutrients – healthy fats, compound carbohydrates, and lean protein sources – are necessary for bone, organ, and brain development. Good health is a choice. Choose a healthy diet.

What is Oprah doing? What does Oprah recommend? There are too many people Oprah-obsessed, instead of being concerned with their own health.  While ‘we’ seem to like our celebrities and watching everything they do and what they eat, our obsessions go a bit too far (hence, obsessions).

Apparently, Oprah’s Vegan chef has left her – probably in pursuit of some bigger purpose like saving the world – and she is now in search of a replacement….or, something to fill the void. You’ve heard about her 21-day vegan cleanse, well that has been interrupted now. (Reference on this article…)

So the point is this – is a cleanse good for you, health? Absolutely it is. But it can be quite overwhelming for most people who don’t have either the money for a chef or a motivation coach to stay on track, nor the discipline to maintain the duration of such extreme measures. Afterall, with most diets consisting of so many unhealthy foods and drinks, it’s not realistic to think the other end of the spectrum can be followed for any length of time.

Here’s a suggestion (actually 2) on how to approach this. First, you can start by going through a 6-week preparation period whereby you start with eliminating all drinks other than water.  Then after 2 weeks of maintaining this action, eliminate the unhealthiest food that you’re consuming on a regular basis – usually that will be at least once per day, sometimes once every 2 days – and replace it with a healthy food, namely a fruit or vegetable. You can use a different fruit or vegetable each day, but you need to be sure you aren’t consuming the item that’s putting on the extra weight. Then after 2 more weeks, all this time you’ve been drinking only water, and having eliminated your first ‘diet vice’ replaced with a fruit or vegetable, then find the next most unhealthy food that you’re consuming – and it may be a broader ID like breads – and replace it again the same way as you’re first one.  Do this for the remaining 2 weeks.

If you can stick with this 6 week plan, then maybe you’re ready to do a cleanse.

However, and this is suggestion #2: I would approach your cleanse with a shorter duration – say 3-4 days, rather than 21 days. Again, work up to a longer cleanse so you know what you’re going to be in for, and 3-4 days would certainly give you a peek at what’s to come. Not to mention that it will still provide benefit, especially if you do a cleanse made for a 3-4 day stretch.

The real benefit long-term is the elimination of 2 most unhealthy foods that are contributing negatively to your weight and health, and the elimination of unhealthy liquids that are probably doing the same. These actions alone have resulted in a major improvement in weight loss and health. But a cleanse will take it a step further.

Bottom line: any changes in your diet, even ones that will last temporarily, should be approached with some caution.  Research it, be sure you know what you’re getting into, and be prepared for some difficult physical changes that may result.  And for the long-term, make your diet and weight loss efforts be about making one small change at a time until you build a healthy and permanently fit lifestyle.

A diet is usually a prescription for what to eat until the weight is off. A healthy eating plan is not usually something that most people will subscribe to because the big picture of getting to a healthy weight and living a healthy lifestyle is not the true goal, when it should be. So when does the diet end and a healthy lifestyle begin? It doesn’t.

The real focus for a dieter who wants lasting success – that means health in every sense of the word – should be to begin down the road toward a healthier lifestyle, one that includes a healthy diet. The best way for this to happen is not to start an eating plan that you can’t adhere to for the long term. The best way that is also the most effective for lasting fitness and health is to start with one action and master it. That means making it a part of your daily life. The first step in The Vice Busting Diet Plan is eliminating most all beverages other than water, and to be sure that a minimum amount of water is consumed each day. The results from this one step are many times great enough to give the dieter a sense of empowerment, hope, and clarity that healthy living really only involves a few simple steps done one at a time and made into habits.

Then it builds from there. Changing one aspect of your diet or meal plan by eliminating a food that is consumed regularly that is contributing the most calories and therefore weight to your body. Replacing it with a healthy food. Mastering this action so it becomes ingrained into your daily life. And so on. This is the way to build a healthy lifestyle so that there is no beginning to your diet and no end to your healthy lifestyle. That is, in a nutshell, the way to true success when it comes to lasting health – fitness, weight, or otherwise.

If you are interested in a meal plan to assist with your weight loss and health, Medifast provides a diet that makes it easy to plan the foods and meals you will eat. Click here – Medifast – to try the Medifast diet meal plan to help you get started losing weight. Medifast is physician-developed.

“It doesn’t take away the risk entirely. Weight still matters,” said Dr. Martha Gulati, a heart specialist at Northwestern Memorial Hospital.

Previous research has gone back and forth on whether exercise or weight has a greater influence on heart disease risks.

About two in five U.S. women at age 50 will eventually develop heart attacks or other cardiovascular problems. Excess weight can raise those odds in many ways, including by increasing blood pressure and risks for diabetes, and by worsening cholesterol. Exercise counteracts all three.

Medifast

Get medifast for weight loss, health, a healthy diet, and a diet plan. Medifast is a product that helps you lose weight. There are benefits to using Medifast in your diet, and can be used for weight loss. Phase 1 – 5 & 1 Program for Weight Loss 5 Medifast Meals per Day Over 50 meals to choose from – shakes, bars, drinks, oatmeals, chili, soups, pudding and more. 1 “Lean and Green” Meal per Day Lean Meat: 7 ounces of chicken, turkey of fish, or 5 ounces of lean beef, pork or lamb. Grill, bake or poach meats using non-stick spray. Salt, pepper, herbs and spices may be added if desired. You may also use 1 – 2 teaspoons of condiments such as ketchup, mustard or barbecue sauce. Salad or Vegetables: Either 2 cups of salad greens (any kind) and up to ½ cups raw vegetables, or up to 1 ½ cups cooked vegetables.

Medifast Diet

You may also use 1 – 2 tablespoons of Media low-fat or non-fat dressing.Phase 2 – BeSlim™ Philosophy of Lifelong Weight Control Once you have reached your healthy weight, your Health Advisor will help transition you to the BeSlim™ philosophy of lifelong weight control. The BeSlim™ philosophy is a part of the Take Shape for Life program that incorporates key behaviors mastered by those who lost significant amounts of weight and kept their weight off for years. These key behaviors include: Breakfast (eating Breakfast every day) – High quality fuel, such as our delicious Medifast oatmeal, cappuccino, or chai latte, is essential to start your day the right way. Exercise – Continued exercise increases metabolism, provides strength, flexibility, and mental clarity.

Medifast Nutrition

Support – Your Health Advisor is here to help you reach and maintain your goals, providing the coaching, tools, education, and caring support you will need along the way. Low-fat meals 5-6 times a day – Eating frequently, controlling portion and total calories, especially those from fat, are critical for success. Individual Plan – Create an individual plan to help you achieve an optimal healthy lifestyle and build the skills and strategies you need to cope with modern life. Monitor your weight – Weigh yourself on a regular basis to maintain optimal weight. Catch it before it becomes a challenge! Join the BeSlim™ Club today and set your life in motion! Introducing the New BeSlim Club & Rewards Program! Optimal Health is its own reward, but how about earning a bonus or two along the way? You’re on a journey to Optimal Health. You’ve made a commitment to lose weight and keep it off! You’ve earned the right to celebrate your success! The new Take Shape For Life BeSlim Club & Rewards Program is your ticket there. The BeSlim Club & Rewards Program is Take Shape For Life’s progressive savings program, offering clients and Health Coaches an easy way to obtain their Medifast Meals at a savings, with exciting rewards you can earn along the way! The longer you are member of the BeSlim™ Club, the more significant your savings are and the more rewards points you’ll earn. When you join the Take Shape For Life BeSlim Club & Rewards Program, you: Enjoy your favorite Medifast Meals all month long, with orders conveniently shipped right to your door Save on your meal purchases and enjoy increased savings the longer you’re on the program Earn points towards exclusive rewards that promote healthy living Receive coupons for special savings. Enrich your life as you achieve Optimal Health Available to all, the BeSlim™ Club is a great way for individuals learning and practicing the BeSlim™ philosophy. Every time you order, you earn points towards healthful rewards. Here’s how: There’s no minimum purchase required. Redeem your reward points* for exclusive Take Shape For Life merchandise, including: Apparel, Exercise Equipment, Spa Trips, And more! Join the BeSlim Club today! Simplify Your Life — — Receive automatic monthly shipments of your favorite Medifast Meals; Save Your Money — Enjoy savings that increase the longer you are a club member; Earn Just Rewards— Select from an array of rewards that promote healthy living and a healthy lifestyle.

Other links: Medifast Blog
Meal Plan from Medifast
Medifast Ordering and Info
Medifast Blog
Medifast Success Stories
Official Medifast Site
Medifast Diet “It is reassuring to see that physical activity really does make an impact,” said lead author Dr. Amy Weinstein of Boston’s Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. However, she added, “If you’re overweight or obese, you can’t really get back to that lower risk entirely with just physical activity alone.”

In Canada, for instance, a new law has been introduced that may outlaw about 60% of natural health products and even make it a crime for parents to give their children supplements. For those of us who seek to support our diet and our health through supplementation, this could be the start of a major negative effect on the health of a nation. While not all supplements or supplement companies are on the “up and up”, the ones that do provide a valuable resource for nutritional support, for example, may be compromised in their ability to provide their useful and beneficial products. This would translate into a further decline in the health of that country’s citizens, and further perpetuate the use of doctors and medications. Here’s more on what’s going on in Canada –

Among the changes proposed by the bill are radical alterations to key terminology, including replacing the word “drug” with “therapeutic product” throughout the Act, thereby giving the Canadian government broad-reaching powers to regulate the sale of all herbs, vitamins, supplements and other items. With this single language change, anything that is “therapeutic” automatically falls under the Food and Drug Act. This would include bottled water, blueberries, dandelion greens and essentially all plant-derived substances.

The question of how the food we eat influences the behaviour of our cells – including our genes – is the focus of a major international conference that starts today in Melbourne.

The three-day ‘3rd Asia Pacific Nutrigenomics Conference 2008: Diet-Gene Interaction in Human Health and Disease’, has attracted food scientists, nutritionists, dieticians, doctors, nurses, food industry representatives and food regulators from around Australia and the world.

Conference Chair, the Director of the CSIRO Preventative Health National Research Flagship Dr Richard Head, says that better understanding human genes and cellular function will provide us with better ways of understanding chronic diseases and retarding or contributing to their prevention. This is of interest to the broader biomedical community including those involved in nutrition and food sciences.

The conference will feature a thorough review of current science in the area, presented by leading international experts in the field, as well as exploring industry perspectives and regulatory issues. The areas covered in the Conference include the interaction of diet and genes in obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and inflammation. In addition, there will be discussions on the most recent technologies available for understanding these interactions. More on this here….

Bottom line: Diet must be one of the most important influential factors on the future health of mankind. And certainly the quality of the foods we do have and the ground on which it is grown, needs to be taken care of in the utmost degree.  Where will we be without nutrient-rich soil and plenty of fruits and vegetables from which to choose? We don’t want to find out.

Three studies published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association have found that people with lower income do not consume enough fruits and vegetables, largely due to cost factors.

“Cost is one of the factors often cited as contributing to less fruit and vegetable consumption among low-income populations,” wrote Alanna Moshfegh in an introductory article. “Cost, as well as convenience, has been shown to be a leading influence on food choice for low-income individuals.”

The three articles appear in the November issue of the journal, which is devoted to issues of poverty and nutrition as part of the Council of Science Editors’ Global Theme Issue on Poverty and Human Development. More than 230 scientific journals have participated on the council. Read more…

Bottom line: a healthy diet is the beginning of a healthy and balanced lifestyle that can lead to increased productivity and a healthier way of life (you know, the American Dream!)

Note: If you are interested in a meal plan to assist with your weight loss and health, Medifast provides a diet that makes it easy to plan the foods and meals you will eat. Click here – Medifast – to try the Medifast diet meal plan to help you get started losing weight. Medifast is physician-developed. See if Medifast is an affordable diet for you!… and get a personal diet consultant when you order!

We as a society, and more from doctors, researchers, and drug companies’ perspectives and approaches, are so focused on the top causes of death, that we forget to inform, educate and promote the top causes of a healthy life! What great information and conditioning of beliefs that could be instilled into the public is the focus was not and is not on the negative. We’re alive! What can we do to make it better!?

We’re so busy avoiding the inevitable instead of making the quality and joy of living much more fulfilling that we’ve forgotten about the opportunities that exist to pursue of life of health, happiness and prosperity.  We need to be so busy ignoring the obvious – those things that are obviously compromising our health – and start relying on healthy choices to provide and support most everything we need to be healthy (save those few instances when antibiotics are needed).

Diet can mean everything when it comes to matters of the mind or body. Eat how you want to feel. That is, if you want to feel sluggish, tired, run-down, lackadaisical, ‘foggy’, unsure, unclear, uncertain, and/or unhealthy, then you want to eat plenty of fast food, french fries, milk shakes, candy bars, pizza, burritos, soft drinks, potato chips, and oh yeah hot dogs. But if you want to feel energized, clear-headed, productive, creative, and start to discover your full potential, then your diet will consist of lots of fruits and vegetables, lots of nutrient-dense foods (fruits and vegetables again), water-rich foods (fruits and vegetables), and plenty of lean protein sources (fish, beans), and of course water as your #1 beverage. Even supplementing your diet with whole food based nutrients to be sure you’re getting enough antioxidant support is good.

Overall, focusing on the quality of life is more important, and a positive approach to health, than trying to avoid, fix, heal, or cure what ails you after the fact. And leaving your cure in the hands of doctors or drugs is just as much a negative approach than trying to correct your diet and lifestyle. So start making healthy choices and living your life to its fullest!

(Foodconsumer.org) — Anti-obesity drugs that work by blocking brain molecules similar to those in marijuana should not be used in children, a new animal study reported in the May 8 issue of Neuron suggests.

Scientists from MIT’s Picower Institute for Learning and Memory found drugs of this sort could block cannabinoid receptors and also suppress the adaptive rewiring of the brain necessary for neural development in children.

Rimonabant (trade name Acomplia) developed by Sanofi-Aventis and awaiting approval for use in the United States is one such drug that works by blocking brain receptors that bind to marijuana and other cannabinoids. read on….

Bottom line: a healthy diet and regular exercise will be the best “treatment” and prevention for obesity, along with a large percentage of health problems.