Posts Tagged ‘Diet’
Sonoma Diet
Sunday, November 25th, 2007The Sonoma Diet has received consistent approval from doctors and experts. The Sonoma Diet was developed by Connie Guttersen a registered dietitian with years of experience for an obesity clinic located in Washington State and additionally is dietary consultant for the Culinary Institute at Greystone.
Sonoma Diet was designed to be two things above all else — simple and flavorful.
It is a diet in which meals are about celebration, not deprivation.
The Sonoma Diet was inspired by the Mediterranean diet and emphasizes eating a generous variety of foods that boost your vitality, protect your heart, and improve your overall health.
When you’re on The Sonoma Diet, you dont lose weight by avoiding foods. The Sonoma Diet promotes results through food, wine and weight loss, with evident results in only ten days. The secret, of course, is enjoying the right foods in the right amounts. That’s the only healthy way to lose weight.
Some of the foods supported by the Sonoma Diet are almonds, olive oil, fruits like blueberries, grapes and strawberries and vegetables like broccoli, tomatoes and bell peppers. Your meals on the Sonoma Diet will focus on large amounts of vegetables and grains and trimmed with lean meats.
The Sonoma diet is structured into 3 phases or stages known as waves.
Like the South Beach diet and Atkins diets, the Sonoma diet begins with an induction phase.
- The first phase start by removing sugars, processed flour products and other unhealthy foods, allowed foods list is fairly long and includes lean beef, eggs, asparagus, eggplant, low-fat cottage cheese, soba noodles, olive oil, almonds, walnuts, and unlimited herbs and spices, this 10-day span is meant to wean you from sugar and highly processed foods, while teaching you about nutritionally balanced meals and portion control. Because of their natural sugars, wine, fruit, and several kinds of vegetables are also banned the diet’s first 10 days. The first wave is the most extreme, the most low-calorie.
- The second phase is the main weight loss phase , you stay with until reaching your target weight, and allows the same foods as first phase.
- And phase 3 is the lifelong maintenance phase, which begins when you have met your target weight or other health goals. The sonoma diet author recommends you use this phase to seek out exotic fruits and vegetables, enjoy sweets as rare, special treats (“and nothing more”), have fun with physical activity, while still keeping refined foods and hydrogenated fats out of the pantry and out of your life.
However, the Sonoma diet would be ideal for those with a love of fruits, veggies, wine, and healthy foods.
Popularity: 10%
Apple Cider Vinegar Diet
Thursday, November 22nd, 2007 Most people think that the apple cider vinegar diet is a new diet, but it is old, just now returning to popularity.
Vinegar has been used for medicinal purposes for centuries. Apple Cider Vinegar has been used for many years as a health tonic.
Even Hippocrates had praised Apple Cider Vinegar diet for its unique medicinal values. For ages, it is being used as remedy for many diseases.
Apple Cider Vinegar( ACV ) is a tonic made by fermenting the juice of an apple. The apple is crushed, and the apple juice is squeezed out. The fermentation process occurs when yeast and sugar are added to the apple juice. A second process involves adding certain bacteria’s to the juice which will then form an acetic acid. This acetic acid along with apple pectin forms the core of the finished product- Apple Cider Vinegar.
The Apple Cider Vinegar diet does not prescribe a menu or meal plan. It is recommended that you should take three teaspoons of apple vinegar before each meal. You may face some difficulty to swallow three teaspoons down initially, but a practice of few days can make you habitual of it.
Vinegar helps to create a feeling of satiation. After ingestion of 2 tablespoons of vinegar followed by a carbohydrate-rich meal, the sense of fullness more than double.
It is a very safe supplement, with no known side effects.
The reason that Apple Cider Vinegar diet would work is that you are eat moderate portions, watch the nutritional composition of the food you eat, and get exercise. Just doing those alone is often enough to stimulate your body to maintain a healthy weight.
Because of it high potassium content, it is best to consult with a health care professional before taking Apple Cider Vinegar.
It is believed that inclusion of Apple Cider Vinegar in your diet can prevent numerous diseases and ill effects.
Apple Cider Vinegar is believed to help in conditions like, nasal congestion, chest congestion, sore throat, stiff joints, headaches, cataract, depression and more other
Health Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar Diet:
- Cholesterol Control – Increased levels of cholesterol is considered as the main reason behind heart attacks. Apple Pectin present in the Apple Cider Vinegar is basically a water soluble dietary fiber which absorbs the fats and cholesterol and then excretes it outside thus helps reducing its level.
- Diabetes – Apple Pectin present in the Apple Cider Vinegar, the dietary fiber also helps in absorption of glucose, thus reducing extra amount of glucose.
- Diarrhea – Apple Cider Vinegar diet can offer a way for the body to get rid of harmful ingested compounds. The pectin in apple cider vinegar plays very important role to calm down the pain. As, the intestinal enzyme secretion transforms pectin into a kind of protective coating which pacifies the irritated inner lining of the colon.
- Metabolism – Apple Cider Vinegar is used in assisting liver to detoxify the toxins and in helping in the digestion of rich, fatty foods, and for proper metabolizing of proteins, fats and minerals into the required byproducts.
- Fatigue – Amino acids present in the apple cider vinegar interact with lactic acid and break them down. Moreover, potassium present in ACV helps to regain more energy and vitality.
Persons under the care of a physicians, pregnant and breast-feeding mothers, those suffering from high or low blood pressure, cardiac problems, diabetes, thyroid problems, children and the elderly, should contact their physician before starting this or any other weight-loss program.
Today apple cider vinegar tablets available on the market. There have been no clinical studies that have backed up that apple cider vinegar tablets or supplements will help to promote weight loss or the burning of fat.
Popularity: 9%
Medifast Diet
Tuesday, November 20th, 2007Medifast is a portion-controlled, low-calorie weight loss program that helps you lose weight faster using meal replacements and real food – in the region of 2-5 pounds per week. That diet is more effectively than traditional diets. Medifast 5 & 1 Plan helps your body burn fat and lose weight quickly.
Medifast 5 and 1 is for both men and women. The difference is that for men, the meals have a higher level of protein than for women. Medifast is one of the more successful and balanced low-calorie diets.
Medifast 5 and 1 Plan
This Diet plan is made up of 5 meal replacements per day, generally shakes, but there are also bars, soups, oatmeal, and puddings. You can customize your meal plan to include any combination but you should limit yourself to one bar per day. One meal per day is a “lean and green” meal – a small portion of lean meat, and 2 cups of salad or vegetables and can be eaten at any time throughout the day. You won’t get hungry because with this diet you eat every 2-3 hours, and must drink a minimum of 64oz of fluid (water) per day. This is an excellent addition to the daily routine.
Caloric intake is between 800-1000 calories per day.
The most popular items are the shakes – made up of differing proportions of protein. Medifast has optimized vitamins and minerals.
Medifast is a drastic diet that will put you into state of ketosis. Exercising while on the diet should be kept at a low intensity level, this is a necessary part of losing weight and it can also help prevent many chronic diseases. One of the easiest ways to incorporate exercise into your daily schedule is walking. Weight loss is rapid – from 2-5 pounds per week.
After you have reached your goal weight you begin transition back to ‘normal’ meals (foods such as fruits, low-fat dairy products, whole grains and higher-carbohydrate vegetables) over a period of about 16 days. Transition gradually adds calories back into your diet. Beyond this, Medifast recommend 1-3 packaged meals daily and a moderately intense exercise routine . This is essential to keep the weight off. This diet helped you develop healthful eating habits(portion-control and eating 6 times per day). You sustain your weight loss results by making healthy food choices and living an active lifestyle.
Sample Meal Plan and Foods
What Sort Of Foods Do They Have?
- Food Supplements: Homestyle Chili, Oatmeals: (Apple Cinnamon, French Vanilla Berry, Maple Brown Sugar), Hot Cocoa; Chicken Noodle Soup, Minestrone Soup, Peach Pro Tea, Chocolate Pudding.
- Creamy Soups: Cream of Broccoli, Cream of Chicken, Cream of Tomato
- Fast Soups and Snacks: Delicate Chicken, Robust Tomato, Savory Beef, Multi-Grain Crackers.
- Supplement Bars: Chocolate Divine, Crunchy Lemon, Oatmeal Raisin, Peanut Butter, Chocolate Mint, Double Berry.
What about the “Lean and Green” Meal?
- Lean Meat: Skinless chicken or turkey breast, Fish, including shellfish, tinned tuna or salmon. Lean cuts of beef, pork, or lamb. Grill, bake, or poach. Condiments allowed. For men there should be 6-7oz of lean meat, for women 4-5oz.
- Green Salad: 1-2 cups of salad greens, up to 1/4 cup raw vegetables.
- Cooked Vegetables: 1-1 1/2 cups of fibrous vegetables instead of salad.
Popularity: 6%
South Beach Diet
Sunday, November 18th, 2007The South Beach diet was invented by cardiologist Arthur Agatston. He developed this diet for his cardiac patients and he discovered that as a side effect of the diet they also lost significant amounts of weight.
South Beach Diet is not a traditional low-carb or low-fat diet plan.
The diet distinguishes between good and bad carbohydrates, and good and bad fats, and purports that by cutting the bad carbs out of your diet, you will lower your body’s levels of cholesterol and insulin, which will ultimately lead to weight loss.
“Good carbs” are high in fiber or high in good fats, and have a low glycemic carbs, such as whole grains and vegetables, which take longer to break down, expend more energy as they break down.
Other preferred carbohydrates are those with more nutritional value than the alternatives. For instance, brown rice is allowed in moderation, but white rice is discouraged. When eating any carbohydrates, Dr. Agatston recommends also eating fiber or fat to slow digestion of the carbohydrates.
“Good fats” are polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats, especially those with omega-3 fatty acids. Saturated and trans fats are bad fats.
The South Beach diet has three phases.
In all phases it is recommended minimizing consumption of bad fats, such as saturated fat and trans fat.
- Phase I, which lasts two weeks, are meant to help your body a complete rest from fluctuating blood sugar and insulin levels. Dieters attempt to eliminate insulin resistance by avoiding high or moderately high-glycemic carbohydrates such as sugar and alcohol, candy, bread, potatoes, fruit, cereals, sweets, cake, biscuits. But the focus is on eating lean meat, chicken, fish, eggs, low-fat cheese, some nuts and olive oil.
During this phase the body will lose its insulin resistance, and begin to use excess body fat. - Later 2 weeks begin Phase II.
Whole grain foods and fruits, Granary bread, wholegrain cereals and pasta and low-fat milk and chocolate and wine, in moderation, are gradually returned to the diet. You stay with this phase until you will reach target weight. - After, once you’ve reached your goal weight, the diet passes in Phase III, a maintenance phase. In Phase III the diet expands to include three servings of whole grains and three servings of fruit a day. This phase is aimed at keeping your weight steady and the diet recommends you stay on this for life.
This is a diet anyone can love – whether you’re into fast food, home-cooking, or eating at the trendiest new restaurants. The South Beach diet does not require counting calories or limiting servings. The South Beach diet developed so that there are no limits on portion sizes – you simply eat enough to satisfy your appetite.
Popularity: 5%



