Want to Diet? Try Acupuncture!

If you gave any weight loss plan or a test mode results are not without hope. Acupuncture can help you achieve your weight loss goals. There are many reasons why people become obese - hormonal balance, a slower metabolism, overeating, poor diet and lack of exercise are among the most common.

Acupuncture is not a miracle worker, but it can help increase your metabolism and increase circulation in the body (better blood and oxygen maintains the health of the body).
Acupuncture effects every major system in our body and can even lower levels of insulin and lipids.
The use of acupuncture needles helps to mobilize body energy reserves, leading to weight loss and reduces cholesterol. Patients find that their cravings for sweets and carbohydrates is reduced, and even experience a decrease in appetite.

Electrical stimulation of the stomach can help to strengthen the abdominal muscles and shrink the stomach. For effective weight control, acupuncturists aim to take the four acupuncture points on the ear - the point of starvation, Shen Men point, the abdominal section, and point the endocrine system.

 Acupuncture can also be administered to patients with ear seeds, natural seeds, which can be placed on these specific points in the ear with adhesive tape. Replaced by seeds is stimulated by the patient and can help control hunger and stress. In addition, songs can be used to "detoxify" your body, eliminating toxins and improves circulation. After several treatments, patients can see the positive changes in the body, such as improved sleep and energy.
Although acupuncture is a wonderful option to help with weight loss, treatment alone does not lead to permanent weight loss. Patients should consult their physician about 5-6 weekly treatments to help balance the body and gradually their place in the coming months of maintenance (for a total of 10 treatments). In addition, patients still have a good diet rich in fruits and vegetables (limit processed foods and fight for organic) and exercise. When selecting an acupuncturist in your area, choose a qualified doctor. Most states require acupuncturists to be licensed, which means that all tests have passed the National Council and has completed the education and training.
If you find that your weight loss has stalled, it might be time for your body to achieve an objective. Acupuncture can help the body running smoothly and efficiently and help you lose those 10 pounds.

Toned Bodies

How much calcium should I take, and do I need to take Vitamin D to get the calcium benefits?

Calcium requirements vary, so check with your health-care provider before you begin taking any supplements. As a general rule, the recommended daily allowance of calcium for most American men and women, from adolescence through adulthood, is 1,000 to 1,200 milligrams per day. Pregnant women and women who are breast-feeding should take a bit more: 1,200 to 1,500 mg per day. Postmenopausal women who are not taking estrogen should take closer to 1,500 mg per day.



Vitamin D helps with the absorption of calcium, and most people should take between 400 and 800 international units per day—400 of this can come from a multivitamin, while the other 400 can come from milk or other sources.

What about constipation?

 
Calcium supplements can back things up a bit, so try getting your calcium from food sources. Low-fat dairy products are probably best. But if dairy doesn’t agree with you, try calcium-enriched juice, cereal, or bread. Calcium carbonate is often the bad actor in the constipation issue, so you might consider taking calcium citrate. This switch may involve a few more pills and a bit more cash, but let’s face it: There are few things in life more underrated than a good bowel movement.

Successful Dieting Secrets

As an endocrinologist, I spend a lot of time talking about carbohydrates with patients who are trying to manage their diet—it goes with the territory.
But let me tell you, fat seems to get equal talk time during my office hours.
And even when I’m not talking about fat with patients, I’m thinking about it myself.

I’m a guy who works out six times a week, has a family history of heart disease, eats veggies and fish, and yet I still build holidays and birthday celebrations around sour cream–based dips.
So when the Dietary Modification Trial—a recent study by the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI)—suggested that the link between dieting and fat intake may not be as strong as we think, I was prepared to run, not walk, to the closest Whole Foods for some full-fat onion dip.

Hey, a guy can dream... but simple science still stands to reason that if you consume more calories than you burn, you’re going to gain weight. I agree with the WHI study on several fat-related issues, and a big one is that it's tough reducing fat in your diet, and no fun at all to self-report fat intake accurately. 
The WHI women assigned to the low-fat group had a goal to reduce their fat intake from 38 percent to 20 percent, but the group only made it to 29 percent.

Fat Does Not Become The Enemy

Whenever my patients bring up diet, they ask about fat. It’s an important topic because trans fats, high cholesterol, obesity, diabetes, and atherosclerosis all seem to go hand in hand. Dr. Atkins devotees say fat is fine; Dr. Ornish aficionados say it should be avoided at almost all costs. But a recent study by the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) suggests that the link between dieting and fat intake may not be as strong as we think.

The WHI study was begun in 1993 with nearly 50,000 women between the ages of 50 and 79 years. In one part of the WHI, half the women were asked to eat as usual and given generic diet-related education material. The other half were assigned to follow a low-fat diet and participate in a variety of nutritional counseling sessions. The goal of the low-fat-diet group was to reduce their fat intake from 38% of calories to 20%.

In reality, though, they only got it down to 29%. After following these guidelines for eight years, researchers found that the women did not have any additional protection against cancer or heart disease, and their weight was about the same as those following their usual diet.

What’s most striking here is not the result, but the fact that even though these women agreed to participate in a study with a goal of 20% fat intake, and were given significant assistance, they were only able to bring it down to 29%. My patients' experiences, and I admit my own, support how difficult it is to control total fat intake. That’s why I encourage my patients to monitor what kinds of fats they eat, not just how much fat. I recommend a diet low in saturated fat, trans fat and cholesterol.