The trend of size zero has become immensely popular, with people wanting to lose weight in the blink of an eye. However, it is extremely important to realize that weight loss is not just about looking thin, but also about being healthy. In addition to hitting the gym and following rigorous workouts, the inclusion of certain ingredients with weight loss benefits is very essential to lead a fit and healthy life. Apple cider vinegar (ACV) is one such ingredient. Several scientific studies have proven the benefits of ACV for weight loss. Listed below are a few of them. Reduces appetite: ACV, if consumed before a meal, will generate weight loss. This is because, apples are rich in pectin, a naturally occurring substance that tends to make one feel full and satiated with their food. ACV contains as much pectin as an apple, thus suppressing your appetite and preventing excessive calorie intake. Helps in the formation of growth hormones: Protein digestion is something that acids promote. This allows formation of growth hormones that tend to keep the metabolism of the body at a good speed, even while at rest. Hence raw apples don’t prove as effective as apple cider vinegar when it comes to weight loss.

What is the leptin diet? The leptin diet is a diet plan that focuses on portion control, timely consumption of meals without and snacking between meals, the complete avoidance of all additives and most importantly, finishing dinner a good three hours before one hits the bed. For whom is the leptin diet advice? Leptin is a substance that indicates to the brain a sense of satiation when the stomach is full. In people who are obese, there may be a malfunction of leptin secretion. The leptin diet essentially allows the person to keep a close control of what he or she eats and also how much. What kinds of foods are permitted in the leptin diet plan? Typically, 40% of your intake must be proteins with the rest of your meals having an equal distribution of carbohydrates and fats. Carbohydrate consumption is limited with more emphasis given to high fiber foods and also the consumptions of adequate vegetables and fruits. Any kind of additives such as flavor enhancers, artificial sweeteners etc., are to be strictly avoided. Soy and derived products are also to be completely eliminated. What are the other rules for the leptin diet? Under the leptin diet plan, it is important to limit the size of one’s portions and to stop eating when half full.

The weight watchers points system is a calculator, a practical necessity, for all those keen on losing weight. In this system, various food items are assigned points and people who are having a watch over their weight count the total points based on their food intake every day. The values of carbohydrates, fats, proteins and total calories of the food they consume, including fruits and vegetables that are combined with other ingredients, are calculated based on the Weight Watchers Points Plus system. This is done to ensure they stay within their intended goals on their weight. Smoothies are great for breakfast or as a snack after your exercises because they can be made instantly. But make sure you find the time to drink it up slowly, so you can relish its taste and let your body absorb the nutrition from it completely. Weight loss smoothies are a blessing to weight watchers because computing the calories in them is now made easy with the online weight watchers calculators. Here are two recipes for weight loss smoothies. Recipe 1: Blueberry yogurt smoothie This easy to whip up a smoothie is sweet and nutrition filled. Protein and vitamin B12 from the yogurt, natural carbohydrate and sweetness from the honey, vitamin B6, potassium and fiber from the banana, and vitamin C and fiber from the blueberries make this smoothie a delicious part of the weight watchers diet.

Crohn’s disease is an increasingly common inflammatory bowel disease that causes symptoms like persistent diarrhea, rectal bleeding, stomach pain, bloating, and gastritis and so on. It is a chronic lifestyle disease that is idiopathic in origin. While modern medications do contribute towards the alleviation of some of the symptoms associated with Crohn’s disease, the fact remains that this is a lifestyle-related condition that is best managed by adopting appropriate diet and lifestyle routines. Most people who suffer from Crohn’s disease have specific trigger foods that can be directly correlated to an aggravation of symptoms. While these trigger foods may vary from individual to individual, it has generally been seen that the following foods are likely to trigger or aggravate the condition: Fiber-rich foods fruits with seeds caffeine acidic foods nuts and whole grain cereals dairy products, in those who are lactose intolerant wheat based products in those who are already sensitive to gluten insoluble fiber-rich foods whole wheat and whole grain cereals fatty and cured meats like bacon carbonated beverages and alcohol rye, barley Most nutritionists recommend a low residue diet plan for those with Crohn’s disease. Such meal plans ensure that the person gets adequate calories and nutrients with the least amount of roughage so that the undigested solid waste to be eliminated is kept to the minimum.

Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune condition as a result of which there occurs demyelination of the nerve cells especially in the regions on the brain and the spinal cord. It can be a debilitating condition which can also lead to progressive degeneration if left untreated. There is as yet no known cause for multiple sclerosis but it seems to be affecting a larger number of people annually across the world. While signs and symptoms vary among people the most commonly reported symptoms of multiple sclerosis include problems with the autonomic nervous responses and impaired visual and sensory functioning. Muscle weakness, difficulties in movement coordination, balance and stability and an electric sensation that runs also the spinal column known as Lhermitte’s sign are also common indicators. While MS is an auto-immune condition that is medically treated by administering specific immunosuppressants, long-term research indicates that specific foods are to be avoided while other foods are beneficial in an alleviation of symptoms. However, since in the case multiple sclerosis symptoms may appear and disappear with no specific periodicity or pattern, it is often hard to identify if a specific food or diet alone is effective. Generally, a high consumption of saturated fats has been linked to the appearance of an aggravation of symptoms of multiple sclerosis.