Wednesday, March 23, 2011

WHATS ALL THIS TALK OF hCG DIET?

The hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (better known as hCG) is produced during pregnancy.  The hCG diet, was developed by a doctor who believed that a hormone found in a pregnant woman's body could help overweight men and women lose weight -- and keep that weight off after returning to a normal routine.

Positive side effects of hCG:
1. In recent years, hCG has actually proven to reduce the risks of breast cancer:

2. hCG has proven to have far lower risks than the obesity it is used to treat.

3. Increased self confidence after hCG assisted weight loss.

4. Many people have experienced the following improvements to their health while on the hCG diet: migraines subside, blood sugars stabilize, increased energy, and of course increased metabolism.
Common side effects of hCG injections for weight loss.


Side Effects of hCG :
•Headaches


•Dizziness

•Mood swings and feelings of confusion

•Depression

•Blood clots

•Water retention

•Breast tenderness

Because the diet also emphasizes an extreme, low-calorie diet plan of only about 500 calories daily, individuals may also experience symptoms associated with near-starvation fad diets. Many medical professionals believe 500 calories daily is not even enough to promote proper brain function. This can result in the following symptoms.


•Extreme fatigue

•Loss of mental clarity

•Insomnia

•Lethargy

•Head and body aches

IS IT SAFE?
The jury is still out on this due to its new found success.  Most health experts will tell you that 500 calories a day lowers brain function and energy levels. 
Not that this means much but the hormone was recently added as a banned substance by Major League Baseball.

Nothing beats eating healthy, exercise and a proper diet.

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Why is Vitamin D Deficiency on The Rise?

Why is vitamin D deficiency on the rise?


Research is pointing to more and more people suffering the consequences of vitamin D deficiency including susceptibility to serious illnesses like MS (Multiple Sclerosis).


Many people are avoiding sun exposure due to fear of ozone layer problems, or because of skin cancer or concern of skin wrinkling. Twenty minutes of sun exposure daily to 6% exposed skin is necessary for maintaining our body’s own production of vitamin D. Some drugs bind fats, including fat soluble Vitamin D and contribute to low vitamin D levels. These drugs include Cholestyramine, a bile acid sequestering medication, and laxatives.

Intake of Olestra and soluble fiber can also potentially reduce vitamin D absorption from food. Statin drugs can cause cholesterol levels to fall lower than ideal which may contribute to vitamin D deficiency. Patients with fat malabsorption, problems with bile production or production of lipase for digesting fats are also susceptible to low vitamin D levels.

Patients with dark skin pigmentation or a dark tan may require up to four times longer sun exposure to absorb the same amount of UVB as light or untanned skin, because melanin blocks UVB. African descent individuals have a much higher incidence of vitamin D deficiency, especially in northern states. Obese individuals can have 50% lower plasma levels of vit D than normal weight people, for the same supplementation levels or sun exposure.

Women with low hormone levels are more susceptible to vitamin D deficiency. Estrogen or progesterone deficiency (amenorrhea, surgical or age-onset menopause) impairs the formation of the active form of vit D. Aging skin has a reduced capacity of vitamin D synthesis. By age 75, vitamin D levels can be 25% lower than levels in younger individuals.