Weight Loss Research

This might be something that most think they would like to hear. Some experts are saying that chocolate may actually help you to maintain better health and lose weight. They even say it contains essential nutrients. But unfortunately for most, this chocolate is not what you are thinking of at all. It is the basic element of chocolate without the sugar, without the milk, without all the things that actually make it taste good. It is the element that may make you happy, but has become an acquired taste for most.

Raw cocoa powder, the element of this craze, literally grows on trees. Again, it has nothing added to the mix, and it is high in antioxidants as well. One Cornell study claims that its antioxidant level is twice that of red wine. And what is the ingredient that gives you that “happy feeling”, tryptophan, which raises your levels of serotonin.

With all the antioxidants, raw chocolate can help your body to get rid of toxins and even improve cardiovascular health, reduce blood clots, and reduce strokes. It is also high in magnesium, which again may help to improve cardiovascular health.

All in all, one study showed that those eating 3.5oz of dark chocolate(the purest kind) on a daily basis for 2 weeks experienced a drop in bad cholesterol. In addition, blood pressure dropped and they became more sensitive to insulin, feeling full more quickly among other things. Additionally, with higher sensitivity to insulin, most may be less likely to develop diabetes. All in all, dark chocolate or the raw chocolate seems to provide various health benefits to the general obesity sufferer. If you do not like the taste of raw chocolate, you can sweeten it with healthy sugars such as raw honey or xylitol. But otherwise, you would just be negating the possible health benefits. And if you love white chocolate, you should switch, because white chocolate has none of the possible health benefits at all.

Journal of Hypertension 2005, August. 23(8): 1453-1459.
Cornell University Department of Food and Nutrition, 2003.
news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/6266256.stm

For some of us, this would be a miracle, but for others it has turned into a nightmare: unexplained weight loss. A number of years ago it happened with a sensational diet pill that actually had dried up tape worms in the capsules. So you found a number of people who couldn’t stabilize or gain weight no matter what they ate. However, more commonly people suffer from medical conditions. Many are finding that sudden and unexplained weight loss is only a symptom of a far more serious disease they suffer. The causes are varied and can go from dental problems to depression to use of certain dugs to heart failure or cancer.
In most cases, if you have lost 8 lbs in the past 10 weeks without other circumstances such as extra exercise, dieting, or being sick with a severe cold or flu, then you should probably be checked. If you have a cold or flu for more than a certain period of time, that is something to worry about too.
Some situations may not require a visit to the doctor. If you’ve suffered extra stress in your recent life, that could explain a lot of symptoms. You may be naturally eating less, exerting more energy, and not even realize it if under serious stress. You could also try supplementing your body with fat soluble vitamins like vitamins A, D, and K. And some may want to seek counseling for psychological disorders such as depression.
However, if none of these apply to you, but you are unintentionally losing 5% body weight in one month or 10% body weight in 6 months, you should probably see a doctor. In addition if you weigh less than 80% of your ideal body weight, have a BMI less than 18, or have a mid arm muscle circumference below the 15th percentile, you are underweight and should again consider increasing your weight.

The average dieter is looking to lose about 2Ibs a week or more. Statistically speaking, this means a diet plan ranging from about 1000-1200 healthy calories per day. Most wouldn’t think this would be that hard until they start tracking their average caloric intake. Then it becomes distinctly harder, especially trying to fit 3 meals or more into every day.
So I thought I would give the average user an idea of substantial meals that won’t leave you starving, but fit into the caloric range. For one meal, 1 whole wheat English muffin, 2 parts low fat butter, 1 hard boiled egg, ½ cup fruit, an 8oz cup of juice, and an 8oz water will effectively provide you 290 calories. Water will also work as a natural appetite suppressant. 1 cup of cereal, 8oz 2% milk, 1 banana, and 1 cup coffee or tea will fulfill 300 calories.
For lunch or dinner, a medium baked potato with 2 tablespoons sour cream, 2 tablespoons salsa, 1 cup melon, and 12 oz of water will fulfill 305 calories. 1 bowl of soup with a small tossed salad, 2 tablespoons reduced fat vinegarette dressing, 12 oz of water, and 4 saltine crackers will cost you 350 calories. 6oz chicken with 1 cup green beans, 2 slices low fat butter, 1 small tossed salad, 2 tablespoons reduced fat oil, vinegar dressing, and 12 oz water will fulfill 345 calories.
Essentially depending on your diet, you should keep each meal between 300 and 400 calories if you are eating 3 meals per day. But your options are not as limited as some might think. The key is sticking to nutrient dense foods like fruits and vegetables, healthy proteins like salmon and grilled chicken, and keeping your portions in individual portion sizes rather than super sizing it. If you follow these types of meal plans, you can find significant weight loss. However, combining these with the right diet pill can give you more leeway room for the occasional error.