Diet Discovery

I am interested in starting the New Direction weight loss program which uses ketosis in order to maximize weight loss. By doing so and maintaining healthy eating habits, what is the likelihood of regaining weight?
The program is carefully monitored by nurse practitioners and my family doctor through blood tests and ekgs.

Quick weight loss does not work on any diet. The weight always comes back plus more. If you reduce your caloric intake by 500 calories per day you will lose one pound per week and most of the weight will not come back.

Whatever your blood cholesterol level, you can make changes to help lower it or keep it low and reduce your risk for heart disease. These are guidelines for heart-healthy living that the whole family (including children ages 2 and above) can follow:
1) Choose foods low in saturated fat. All foods that contain fat are made up of a mixture of saturated and unsaturated fats. Saturated fat raises your blood cholesterol level more than anything else you eat. The best way to reduce blood cholesterol is to choose foods lower in saturated fat. One way to help your family do this is by choosing foods such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains–foods naturally low in total fat and high in starch and fiber.

2) Choose foods low in total fat. Since many foods high in total fat are also high in saturated fat, eating foods low in total fat will help your family eat less saturated fat. When you do eat fat, substitute unsaturated fat–either polyunsaturated or monounsaturated–for saturated fat. Fat is a rich source of calories, so eating foods low in fat will also help you eat fewer calories. Eating fewer calories can help you lose weight–and, if you are overweight, losing weight is an important part of lowering your blood cholesterol. (Consult your family doctor if you have a concern about your child’s weight.)

3) Choose foods high in starch and fiber. Foods high in starch and fiber are excellent substitutes for foods high in saturated fat. These foods–breads, cereals, pasta, grains, fruits, and vegetables–are low in saturated fat and cholesterol. They are also lower in calories than foods that are high in fat. But limit fatty toppings and spreads like butter and sauces made with cream and whole milk dairy products. Foods high in starch and fiber are also good sources of vitamins and minerals.
When eaten as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol, foods with soluble fiber–like oat and barley bran and dry peas and beans–may help to lower blood cholesterol.

4) Choose foods low in cholesterol. Remember, dietary cholesterol can raise blood cholesterol, although usually not as much as saturated fat. So it’s important for your family to choose foods low in dietary cholesterol. Dietary cholesterol is found only in foods that come from animals. And even if an animal food is low in saturated fat, it may be high in cholesterol; for instance, organ meats like liver and egg yolks are low in saturated fat but high in cholesterol. Egg whites and foods from plant sources do not have cholesterol.

5) Be more physically active. Being physically active helps improve blood cholesterol levels: it can raise HDL and lower LDL. Being more active also can help you lose weight, lower your blood pressure, improve the fitness of your heart and blood vessels, and reduce stress. And being active together is great for the entire family.

6) Maintain a healthy weight, and lose weight if you are overweight. People who are overweight tend to have higher blood cholesterol levels than people of a healthy weight. Overweight adults with an “apple” shape–bigger (pot) belly–tend to have a higher risk for heart disease than those with a “pear” shape–bigger hips and thighs.

Whatever your body shape, when you cut the fat in your diet, you cut down on the richest source of calories. A family eating pattern high in starch and fiber instead of fat is a good way to help control weight. Do not go on crash diets that are very low in calories since they can be harmful to your health. If you are overweight, losing even a little weight can help to lower LDL-cholesterol and raise HDL-cholesterol.

Frank Schliff
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/healthy-living-means-healthy-eating-but-it-is-not-that-obvious-119323.html

If everyone had the identical body type and body chemistry, it would be very simple to have a one size fits all approach to dieting and losing weight. Unfortunately weight loss is more complex than that and not every diet is healthful or effective for every person. Existing health problems, food allergies, and other conditions all help predetermine what diets will be effective and what diets should be avoided. This is true for the low carb diet as well. There are many variations of low carb dieting but they all have one common component: reducing carbohydrates intake.

How do you determine if a low carb approach is safe for you? Consulting your doctor would be the first step, preferably a family doctor that is familiar with your medical history. With a thorough health assessment and examination fo your family health history, your doctor should be able to give you better direction about your low carb dieting goals.

There are several important factors to take into consideration when assessing whether a low carb diet is safe for you. You will want to take note of your LDL and HDL cholesterol, as well as your total cholesterol level, your triglycerides and your blood pressure. These are all very important considerations when assessing your suitability for a low carb plan. Primarily because individuals metabolize carbohydrates differently and some carbs are beneficial while others can be harmful.

To amass the necessary information to make an informed decision, collect your family medical history. Concentrate on your immediate family such as your brothers, your sisters, parents and children. Every surgery and disease, both chronic and otherwise should be noted. Pay particular attention to incidence of diabetes in your family. If you are one of 15 million Americans affected by diabetes, it could be very dangerous for you to partake in a low carb diet. Once you have collected this information from your immediate family, you can move on to include your extended family such as aunts, uncles, and grandparents. The more information that you share with your family doctor the better he or she can predict if low carb dieting will be safe for you.

Mary Davis
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/is-low-carb-dieting-right-for-you-93414.html