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Yoga Poses for Anxiety, Pain, and More

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XHome >> Diet & Fitness >> Yoga & Pilates >> Best Life Now >> Yoga Poses for Anxiety, Pain, and MoreBest Life NowNutritionWell-BeingBeautyYour Shape Yoga Poses for Anxiety, Pain, and More A quick-and-easy yoga routine that will leave your mind and body refreshed. Twitter Credit: Jay Sullivan

1 of 5Soothe your mind and body

From Health magazine

Try this quick routine created by Health's yoga guru, Kristin McGee. It's designed to fight anxiety, ease backaches, cool hot flashes, and power up your libido.

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The Truth About Low-Carb Diets

Does a plate of pasta strike terror in your heart? A burger in a bun make you break out in a cold sweat? You're not alone. These days, we're skipping the bread basket in record numbers (the volume of bread, buns and rolls sold in U.S. stores fell by 9.1 percent between 2006 and 2011) and shunning starchy vegetables. It seems like a new low-carb eating plan bursts on the scene every few months. And nearly one in three adults report that they're cutting down on or completely avoiding gluten, according to market-research firm NPD Group. "Carb-phobia has really taken over people's minds," says Kim Larson, RDN, a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

But here's the thing: Eliminating carbs is risky business. "It's preposterous," says David Katz, MD, director of the Yale University Prevention Research Center and author of Disease-Proof. "All plants are carbohydrate sources, so eating no carbs means eating no plant foods, period." Carbs are important for your brain and body; the right ones even reduce your risk of disease.

Yet the misconception that the fewer carbs you eat, the better persists among health- and diet-minded Americans. "Everyone is jumping on this bandwagon," Larson says. "But the science just does not bear it out." In fact, studies now suggest that going low-carb for a long period of time may be harmful to our health.

Related: The Truth About 10 Bogus Health Trends

You can't live without carbs
While many of us think of carbs as bread and pasta, they're in any food that comes from a plant, including fruits, vegetables, nuts, grains, seeds and legumes. "It's a huge, diverse class of foods," Dr. Katz explains.

To make carbohydrates, plants trap the sun's energy inside molecules of glucose—a simple sugar—then connect the glucose molecules together (sometimes along with the other two basic sugar building blocks, fructose and galactose) to create longer carb molecules such as sucrose and starch. When you eat that plant, your digestive system breaks the longer carbohydrate back down into glucose, which travels through your bloodstream into your cells. The cells process the glucose, releasing the captured energy and using it for fuel.

Far from being poison, then, glucose sparks life. "If you're in a hospital and they need to get some energy into you, they'll use a glucose drip," says Joanne Slavin, PhD, professor of food science and nutrition at the University of Minnesota and chair of the 2010 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee on Carbohydrates. Dr. Katz adds, "If you don't have enough glucose in your blood, you're dead. It's that simple."

While you don't have to eat carbs to get glucose into your blood (your body can manufacture it if needed), "carbohydrates are the most efficient fuel source that we have," says Heidi Schauster, RD, a nutrition therapist in Boston. Low-carb advocates (most famously Robert Atkins, MD) point out that your body can also use other fuel sources, such as protein or fatty acids, to power itself. But many experts say that this method of converting fats into so-called ketone bodies, known as ketogenesis, is much less efficient than using glucose for energy. And when too many ketone bodies are produced, the body is in a state of ketosis. "Ketosis can be tolerated for a short time, but in severe cases it could have very serious effects in the long term for the brain, as well as the kidneys, liver and skeletal system," Dr. Katz says.

Related: 11 Women Who Lost Weight Eating Healthy Carbs

Besides providing much-needed glucose, plants are our only source of dietary fiber. Like other carbohydrates, fiber is composed of many bonded sugar units, but human enzymes can't chop it up, so it passes relatively unscathed through much of the digestive tract. And it benefits you in many ways. "People who eat more fiber have less cardiovascular disease," Slavin says. "They also weigh less and gain less weight over time."

You probably know that fiber helps move food through your body, keeping you regular. In addition, some forms of fiber (including resistant starch, found in bananas, lentils and many other foods) are prebiotics, a type of carbohydrate that feeds the growth of "good" bacteria in your gut.

Not to mention, skipping carbs could mean falling short on essential nutrients. "Cutting out whole grains eliminates a good source of great nutrition, such as zinc, magnesium and B vitamins," Larson says. Steer clear of fruits and vegetables and you miss out on many vitamins and powerful antioxidants. These nutrients play a critical role in keeping us healthy long-term. "When we look at population-level studies of people who live well across the span of a lifetime," Dr. Katz notes, "they almost universally eat diets high in good carbohydrates."

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Your Half-Marathon Training Guide

Running just might be the most convenient workout going. You don't need to be a skilled athlete, and there's no fancy equipment involved; just lace up your sneaks and go. It's also one of the most efficient ways to blast fat and burn calories—about 600 an hour.

Sure, walking has its benefits, but research shows that running kicks its butt when it comes to shedding pounds. One recent study of 47,000 runners and walkers, from the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in Berkeley, Calif., found that the runners burned more calories and had a far greater decrease in BMI over a six-year period. The joggers who started out heaviest (those with a BMI over 28) lost up to 90 percent more weight than the walkers did.

Dropping pounds and toning up are hardly the only benefits of this killer cardio workout: You'll also reduce your risk of heart disease and diabetes, boost your mood, temper stress and build muscle, especially in the lower body and core. You don't even need to dedicate a lot of time to reap these rewards; do 20 to 30 minutes, three to four days a week, and you'll see significant improvement.

Ready to hit the road? Here's a plan for experienced runners. And it's smart to add in one day of cross-training (think cycling or swimming) to rev up calorie burn and help prevent injury. Soon enough, you'll feel as if you were born to run.

Your stats: You run three to four times a week for at least five miles nonstop.

The goal: Boost your overall performance—speed, endurance and distance—over the course of 12 weeks, then challenge yourself with a half-marathon.

Your coach: Andrew Kastor is coaching director at Asics L.A. Marathon and head coach at Mammoth Track Club in Mammoth, California.

The plan: In Week 1, run three to four miles at an easy pace (think 5 on a scale of 1 to 10) on your first day; four to five miles on Days 2 and 3; and five to six on Day 4. In subsequent weeks, keep doing one easy-pace day, and vary half-mile-long to mile-long speed intervals. The detailed schedule also tells you how to add in race-pace workouts, so you can hold your speed for longer distances.

HERE'S YOUR GUIDE: Expert Half-Marathon Training Plan

Train smarter!

1. Buddy up
Face it, sometimes you just don't feel like going for a run, especially when you've been seriously challenging yourself. Having someone by your side is a great way to make the miles more tolerable and maintain your performance. "When you train with a group or pack, you almost always run a little harder or faster," says Kastor. Grab a friend or find a new jogging pal at buddyup.com or the Road Runners Club of America (rrca.org). Choose partners who are a bit better than you; you want a challenge but don't want to get burned out or injured.

2. Take the plunge
Kastor, who works with many elite runners (including Olympian Deena Kastor, his wife), recommends a cold bath right after a hard workout. "It helps reduce inflammation by constricting the blood vessels, so there's less blood pooling through the muscle tissue, and you're not as sore the next day," he explains. Massage can speed recovery, too: Give yourself a five-minute rubdown using a foam roller; roll slowly up and down your legs, butt, shoulders and back. You can also alleviate soreness by gently pressing into the area with your fingers.

3. Write down your goal
You're amping up your workouts—pump up your motivation, too! Jot your goal time for the half-marathon or just 13.1 on a sticky note, and post it onto your mirror. As Kastor puts it: "Seeing that number will remind you to make the best choices for your body."

MORE: 7 Tips for Running Your First Race

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Think Yoga

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Walk Right

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M A Beydoun et al, 2014, Caffeine and Alcohol Intakes and Overall Nutrient Adequacy Are Associated with Longitudinal Cognitive Performance among U.S. Adults, The Journal of Nutrition, published online ahead of print.

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The Truth About Low-Carb Diets

Does a plate of pasta strike terror in your heart? A burger in a bun make you break out in a cold sweat? You're not alone. These days, we're skipping the bread basket in record numbers (the volume of bread, buns and rolls sold in U.S. stores fell by 9.1 percent between 2006 and 2011) and shunning starchy vegetables. It seems like a new low-carb eating plan bursts on the scene every few months. And nearly one in three adults report that they're cutting down on or completely avoiding gluten, according to market-research firm NPD Group. "Carb-phobia has really taken over people's minds," says Kim Larson, RDN, a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

But here's the thing: Eliminating carbs is risky business. "It's preposterous," says David Katz, MD, director of the Yale University Prevention Research Center and author of Disease-Proof. "All plants are carbohydrate sources, so eating no carbs means eating no plant foods, period." Carbs are important for your brain and body; the right ones even reduce your risk of disease.

Yet the misconception that the fewer carbs you eat, the better persists among health- and diet-minded Americans. "Everyone is jumping on this bandwagon," Larson says. "But the science just does not bear it out." In fact, studies now suggest that going low-carb for a long period of time may be harmful to our health.

Related: The Truth About 10 Bogus Health Trends

You can't live without carbs
While many of us think of carbs as bread and pasta, they're in any food that comes from a plant, including fruits, vegetables, nuts, grains, seeds and legumes. "It's a huge, diverse class of foods," Dr. Katz explains.

To make carbohydrates, plants trap the sun's energy inside molecules of glucose—a simple sugar—then connect the glucose molecules together (sometimes along with the other two basic sugar building blocks, fructose and galactose) to create longer carb molecules such as sucrose and starch. When you eat that plant, your digestive system breaks the longer carbohydrate back down into glucose, which travels through your bloodstream into your cells. The cells process the glucose, releasing the captured energy and using it for fuel.

Far from being poison, then, glucose sparks life. "If you're in a hospital and they need to get some energy into you, they'll use a glucose drip," says Joanne Slavin, PhD, professor of food science and nutrition at the University of Minnesota and chair of the 2010 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee on Carbohydrates. Dr. Katz adds, "If you don't have enough glucose in your blood, you're dead. It's that simple."

While you don't have to eat carbs to get glucose into your blood (your body can manufacture it if needed), "carbohydrates are the most efficient fuel source that we have," says Heidi Schauster, RD, a nutrition therapist in Boston. Low-carb advocates (most famously Robert Atkins, MD) point out that your body can also use other fuel sources, such as protein or fatty acids, to power itself. But many experts say that this method of converting fats into so-called ketone bodies, known as ketogenesis, is much less efficient than using glucose for energy. And when too many ketone bodies are produced, the body is in a state of ketosis. "Ketosis can be tolerated for a short time, but in severe cases it could have very serious effects in the long term for the brain, as well as the kidneys, liver and skeletal system," Dr. Katz says.

Related: 11 Women Who Lost Weight Eating Healthy Carbs

Besides providing much-needed glucose, plants are our only source of dietary fiber. Like other carbohydrates, fiber is composed of many bonded sugar units, but human enzymes can't chop it up, so it passes relatively unscathed through much of the digestive tract. And it benefits you in many ways. "People who eat more fiber have less cardiovascular disease," Slavin says. "They also weigh less and gain less weight over time."

You probably know that fiber helps move food through your body, keeping you regular. In addition, some forms of fiber (including resistant starch, found in bananas, lentils and many other foods) are prebiotics, a type of carbohydrate that feeds the growth of "good" bacteria in your gut.

Not to mention, skipping carbs could mean falling short on essential nutrients. "Cutting out whole grains eliminates a good source of great nutrition, such as zinc, magnesium and B vitamins," Larson says. Steer clear of fruits and vegetables and you miss out on many vitamins and powerful antioxidants. These nutrients play a critical role in keeping us healthy long-term. "When we look at population-level studies of people who live well across the span of a lifetime," Dr. Katz notes, "they almost universally eat diets high in good carbohydrates."

Get the latest health, fitness, anti-aging, and nutrition news, plus special offers, insights and updates from Health.com!

View the original article here

Read more »

M van der Mark et al, 2014, A Case-Control Study of the Protective Effect of Alcohol, Coffee, and Cigarette Consumption on Parkinson Disease Risk: Time-Since-Cessation Modifies the Effect of Tobacco Smoking, PLoS One, published online ahead of print.

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S N Bhupathiraju et al, 2014. Changes in coffee intake and subsequent risk of type 2 diabetes: three large cohorts of US men and women. Diabetologia, published online ahead of print.

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T Otake et al, 2014, Linking lifestyle factors and insulin resistance, based on fasting plasma insulin and HOMA-IR in middle-aged Japanese men: A cross-sectional study. Scandinavian Journal of Clinical & Laboratory Investigation, published online ahead of print.

Read more »

Y H Lee et al, 2014. Coffee and tea consumption and the risk of rheumatoid arthritis: a meta-analysis. Clinical Rheumatology, published online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT
The aim of this study was to analyze published results for an association between coffee or tea intake and the development of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We investigated the evidence for a relationship between coffee or tea consumption and the development of RA by performing a meta-analysis of the published results. Five studies (three cohort and two case-control studies) including 134,901 participants (1,279 cases of RA and 133,622 noncases) were considered in the meta-analysis. Meta-analysis of the cohort studies revealed a trend of an association between total coffee intake and RA incidence (relative risk [RR] of the highest versus the lowest group?=?4.148, 95 % confidence interval [CI]?=?0.792-21.73, p?=?0.092). Meta-analysis of case-control studies showed a significant association between total coffee intake and RA incidence (RR?=?1.201, 95 % CI?=?1.058-1.361, p?=?0.005). Combining the data of the cohort and case-control studies showed a significant association between total coffee intake and RA incidence (RR?=?2.426, 95 % CI?=?1.060-5.554, p?=?0.036). Meta-analysis stratified by seropositivity indicated a significant association between coffee consumption and seropositive RA risk (RR?=?1.329, 95 % CI?=?1.162-1.522, p?=?3.5???10-5), but not seronegative RA risk (RR?=?1.093, 95 % CI?=?0.884-1.350, p?=?0.411). No association was found between tea intake and RA incidence (RR?=?0.880, 95 % CI?=?0.624-1.239, p?=?0.463). This meta-analysis of 134,901 participants (most of the participants were controls) suggests that high coffee consumption is associated with an elevated risk of RA development. The association between coffee and RA was found in seropositive RA, but not in seronegative RA. coffee for weightlossView the original article here

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How Does Drinking Black Coffee Help You Lose Weight?

Caffeine is often called most widely consumed drug in the world. According to an article in New Scientist, 90 percent of Americans report using caffeine everyday. It is found in a variety of everyday products including coffee, soda, tea, energy drinks and chocolate. People often consume caffeine to increase their energy and alertness levels. The benefits of caffeine on weight loss have also been studied. There is evidence that caffeine can stimulate the metabolism and suppress appetite.

Definition of Caffeine

Caffeine is a psychoactive stimulant drug. It is found in the beans, leaves and fruit of certain plants that use it as a defense system because it paralyzes insects that feed on the plant. Humans often consume caffeine from coffee beans, ground and with water infused through them. Caffeine in tea comes from the leaves of a tea bush.

Caffeine's Effect on Weight Loss

Caffeine can suppress your appetite, increasing your metabolism and enhancing the benefits of exercise. The theory that caffeine suppresses your appetite is based on caffeine's effect on the neurotransmitters dopamine, serotonin and acetylcholine. These neurotransmitters tell you when you are hungry. Low serotonin levels can cause you to crave carbohydrate-rich foods. By increasing these levels from caffeine intake, you may reduce or eliminate these cravings. Studies also indicate caffeine can slightly increase your basal metabolic rate, states researcher Robert Conlee, Ph.D. Caffeine, when consumed before a workout, can give you more energy to work out longer or with more intensity.

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THE TRUTH ABOUT CAFFEINE!

Caffeine is good for you. Wait, no, it's bad for you. Scratch that... it's good for you.

Do you ever feel like you're on a merry-go-round when it comes to scientific and other expert views and opinions on caffeine? Seems like every other day there's a headline in the news about how coffee and other forms of caffeine can help you ward off diabetes, treat headaches, control asthma, decrease the risk of getting Parkinson's disease and even help you lose weight.

And just when you get excited about caffeine, you hear reports that coffee can clog your arteries, get your heart racing dangerously, contribute to problems with those prone to osteoporosis, and get you craving carbs (which is never good for weight loss).1

SO WHAT'S THE TRUTH?

If you browse the recent literature, you'll find over 19,000 studies examining the various benefits and downsides of ingesting caffeine. According to the Institute for Coffee Studies at Vanderbilt University, coffee is mostly beneficial. Generally, only certain groups of people (like pregnant women or people with heart disease) are warned to avoid caffeine.

In other words, you don't need to give up your morning coffee. This is especially true if you're trying to lose weight fast. Read on...

CAN CAFFEINE HELP YOU LOSE WEIGHT?

You've probably noticed that caffeine is a staple ingredient in many popular diet pills as well as homemade fat-burning stacks. And you've probably also heard experts suggest that you drink coffee or other caffeinated beverages to help you lose weight. All of this begs the question, can caffeine really help you lose weight?

The answer is yes. And it primarily helps you lose weight in two ways:

1

 BY BOOSTING YOUR METABOLISM

Ingesting caffeine jumpstarts the process of lipolysis, which is when your body releases free fatty acids into the bloodstream. This occurs when your body is breaking down your fat stores to convert it into energy. In other words, caffeine boosts your metabolism slightly and helps you burn fat.2

2

 BY GIVING YOU AN ENERGY BOOST

If there's one thing that everyone knows about coffee and similar beverages and pills, it's that caffeine is a stimulant. It increases alertness and wards off drowsiness temporarily, which means that you can perform certain tasks for longer.

However, this isn't just limited to mental tasks. This includes physical tasks as well, such as running or lifting weights. This means a little shot of caffeine can give you the energy you need to give 100% during your workout. And giving 100% in the gym means you'll get the results you want more quickly.

So now that we've established that caffeine can indeed help you with your weight loss efforts, that brings us to the next question.

HOW MUCH CAFFEINE DO YOU NEED?

This is a bit tricky to answer, since different people react to caffeine in different ways. I'm sure you know what I'm talking about - some people drink one cup of coffee and they get all hopped up for hours. Others can drink cup after cup all day long with seemingly very little effect.

TIP

If you're someone who drinks a lot of caffeine and thus you have a high tolerance for it, you may want to consider first breaking your addiction and letting your body get used to no caffeine for a while. That way, when you eventually do ingest a small amount of caffeine you'll actually benefit from the effects.

If you don't regularly ingest a lot of caffeine, then a couple hundred milligrams will likely produce noticeable effects. You may want to start with 100 milligrams to see how it goes, then up your intake to 200 milligrams. You can then increase the dose by 50 milligrams if you're still not feeling any effects.

You can get your caffeine in various forms, including:

• Pills
• Energy drinks
• Coffee
• Tea
• Various foods
• Shampoos and soaps (No kidding!)

BUT HERE'S THE PROBLEM

Unless you're taking your caffeine in pill form or in a standardized liquid, it's hard to tell how much caffeine you're actually getting. Coffee has considerably more caffeine than tea or chocolate. However, different coffee brands and even different roasts have varying levels of caffeine, so it's difficult to say for sure exactly how much caffeine is in each cup. A good rule of thumb, however, is to figure that each cup of coffee has about 80 to 125 milligrams of caffeine.

As such, if you want to ingest your caffeine through coffee, start with just one cup to see how you feel. If needed, you may drink a cup or two extra to boost your energy and alertness. Personally, I sometimes like to add coffee to my protein shake. It's tasty and gives me just the boost I need to have a great workout!

CAFFEINE IS AWESOME - BUT BE CAREFUL

We've established that caffeine can boost your weight-loss efforts. But it can also hinder them if you make these mistakes...

GETTING CAFFEINE VIA SUGARY OR HIGH-CALORIE DRINKS

If you're getting your caffeine through a sugary energy drink or a high-calorie fancy coffee (like a cappuccino), then you're doing more harm than good. It's better to stick with black coffee or even caffeine pills.

TAKING IN TOO MUCH CAFFEINE

Too much caffeine is harmful to your health. It can make your heart race, make you feel jittery and give you a whole host of other symptoms like nausea. If you don't normally ingest caffeine, then just start with small amounts to see how your body reacts. And even if you're used to it, be sure that you don't overdose.

USING CAFFEINE WHEN YOU'RE IN A "HIGH RISK" GROUP

If you're pregnant, have heart problems, or you have other vulnerabilities or illnesses, talk to your doctor first before taking caffeine.

GETTING ADDICTED TO CAFFEINE

Caffeine is a drug, specifically a stimulant. As such, it beats up on certain systems in your body. And if you stop taking it after using it consistently, you'll quickly feel the withdrawal effects (such as headaches). As such, you need to monitor how much you use to be sure you don't get addicted or develop a high tolerance.

CONCLUSION

If you're not currently drinking coffee or getting caffeine in other ways, you don't need to start ingesting it. You can enjoy good weight-loss and fitness results without it.

However, if you're already a coffee drinker or you otherwise ingest caffeine regularly, the good news is that you don't have to stop. Since it seems to be more beneficial than harmful - and because it does give you a slight edge in the gym - you can keep enjoying your caffeine. Just be sure to do it in moderation so as to avoid getting addicted.

REFERENCES

1. Kirchheimer, Sid. Reviewed by Michael W. Smith, MD. (2004) "Coffee, the New Health Food?" WebMD Feature Archive. Accessed September, 2010.
2. "Caffeine". The Pharmacogenetics and Pharmacogenomics Knowledge Base.http://www.pharmgkb.org

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How to Lose Weight with Coffee

Coffee's role in a weight loss plan has often been hotly debated. Coffee can have both negative and positive effects on your health and weight depending on how it is consumed. Of course, if you already rely on a daily coffee habit, you aren't likely to want to give it up in order to lose weight, so learning how to harness coffee's positive attributes will be essential. The guide below covers how to lose weight with coffee by keeping a few key considerations in mind.

1. Consume coffee in moderation. This is the most important aspect of fitting coffee into your weight loss plan. Excessive coffee consumption can lead to increased stress levels and insomnia, both of which can lead to overeating. Try to cut your coffee consumption to just 1 or 2 cups per day, or try switching some of your daily coffee intake to decaf.

2. Forget the cream and sugar. This is an obvious but extremely effective technique for losing weight with coffee. Adding large amounts of cream and sugar to your coffee can give it the caloric content of a candy bar or more. If you cannot wean yourself entirely onto black coffee, try using skim milk and sugar-free sweeteners instead.

3. Ditch the specialty coffee beverages. Even worse than adding cream and sugar to a cup of brewed coffee is drinking the large, flavored, espresso-based beverages that are becoming more and more popular at coffee shops. These drinks often contain large amounts of milk and flavored sugar syrups and can contain as many calories as a whole meal.

4. Try coffee after dinner to reduce cravings. One of coffee's positive attributes is its role as an appetite suppressant. For this reason, try drinking coffee after your dinner each night. This may help you to reduce your cravings for dessert or other late-night snack foods before bed.

• You can also try brushing your teeth shortly after dinner or after your after-dinner coffee. Having a freshly cleaned mouth may help to reduce your temptation to eat anything else before bed.

5. Drink coffee an hour or so before a workout. Coffee consumed before a workout can increase your energy and alertness, which can help you to undertake a more rigorous, focused workout. Coffee can also help dull joint and muscle pain. However, you may want to avoid drinking coffee immediately before exercising, as the acid coupled with the agitation from exercise may lead to an upset stomach.

6. Augment your coffee with plenty of water. Coffee can act as a diuretic in many people, meaning that it will cause you to lose fluids. To stay hydrated and keep your stomach fuller, drink a cup of water for every cup of coffee you drink.

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Does caffeine help with weight loss?

Caffeine may slightly boost weight loss or prevent weight gain, but there's no sound evidence that increased caffeine consumption results in significant or permanent weight loss.

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To Lose Weight, Just Drink a Gallon of Coffee

There's no shortage of scientific research pointing to exercise being good for you, but if you're just trying to lose weight you probably want all the help you can get. Now, research suggeststhat caffeine activates the same fat-busting genes as an hour's exercise. Somebody, pass the espresso.

A team of researchers from the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden, were interested in the genetic activity in the body during exercise. By taking biopsies from the legs of participants, they were able to work out that several genes associated with metabolizing fat are activated by exercise—but only after an hour or so. That means that your body breaks down fat more effectively after an hour's exercise.

But what they also found was that the exact same genes are activated by large doses of caffeine, a finding they report in Cell Metabolism. In fact, the caffeine causes the body to release calcium, which tricks it into thinking that muscles are being contracted—hence the effect.

Sadly, the doses of caffeine required to achieve the same effect as an hour's exercise are... intimidating to say the least. "[You] would need to consume a caffeine equivalent of about 50 cups [of coffee] per day, almost close to a lethal dose", explains Juleen Zierath, one of the researchers, to Nature. Maybe exercise is easier after all. [Cell metabolism via New Scientist; Image: Phil Monger]

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5 Drinks to Help You Lose Weight

he secret to losing weight isn’t just watching what’s on your plate; it’s also about watching what’s in your glass. Popular soft drinks, fruit juices, and energy drinks can be loaded with added sugars and carbohydrates that can sabotage your weight-loss strategy. Here are five tasty ways to drink up without packing on the pounds.

1. Water

We all know this one, but it’s important to remember that water is the single best choice for effective weight loss. Whether it’s still or sparkling, aim to make water your go-to beverage choice. Think water is boring? Try adding fresh lemon slices, lime, cucumber, and even a slice of tomato to add flavor without adding many calories.

2. Vegetable juice

Whether in a can, bottled, or homemade, vegetable juice is an excellent way to get the fiber and nutrients your body needs to fuel your weight loss. If you can find a low-sodium variety, even better. The veggies will keep you fuller longer and the tangy flavor will keep your taste buds happy.

3. Unsweetened tea

Green tea has been proven to help boost metabolism and speed up weight loss. Try it hot or iced with a bit of honey for a low-sugar sweet drink. Don’t forget black and oolong teas, too! Both are filled with antioxidants, which can help rid your body of toxins.

4. Black coffee

A morning cup of joe or an afternoon iced coffee can help spur your weight loss by providing a boost of caffeine that suppresses hunger. Also, coffee has been shown to stimulate thermogenesis, which heats up the body and boosts metabolism. Just be careful about what you add to your coffee — stick to skim milk and very little sugar.

5. Skim milk

Milk is an excellent source of lean protein, vitamin D, and calcium that can help build your muscles and keep your bones strong. Opt for low-fat or skim milk for all of the vitamins without the added fat. If you are feeling indulgent, add a little chocolate — low-fat chocolate milk is a great option for post-workout muscle recovery.

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Busting Diet Myths

Myth : Coffee Can Help You Lose Weight

The theory: The caffeine in coffee acts as an appetite suppressant and a metabolism booster.

The reality: While coffee may temporarily squelch your appetite, drinking a couple of cups a day won't have enough of an effect to help you lose weight. Besides, pouring too much coffee into your system―drinking, say, four to seven cups a day―may lead to anxiety, sleeplessness, and an increase in heart rate and blood pressure.

The best advice: Enjoy a cup or two of coffee (or tea) every day, if you please. Just be sure that if you add anything to the brew―like cream, sugar, or cocoa powder―you take those calories into account. For example, a 16-ounce Starbucks Café Mocha can contain a whopping 330 calories (60 more than some chocolate bars). What's more, those calories might not make you feel as full as the same number of calories eaten in solid form. Another coffee concern: sleep disruption, which new evidence reveals is linked to weight control. "Every time people feel tired, they think, I have to have a latte," says Liz Applegate, Ph.D., director of sports nutrition at the University of California, Davis. "They become addicted to caffeine on a higher level, and it takes four to six hours to clear out of the system. Sleep is not as good, and you're tired the next day." And probably hungrier, too. At least two studies have shown that when people are sleep-deprived, they produce more of the hormone ghrelin, an appetite stimulant, and less leptin, an appetite suppressant. Not to mention that your resistance to the doughnut's siren song is a whole lot lower when you're pooped.

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4 Ways To Burn Fat Faster With Every Cup

On a typical day you may find yourself pouring over a cup of coffee to get the day rolling, getting up in the morning. You and everyone else is doing it. But, what doesn't come to mind is the effect coffee drinking has in your diet. It turns out there is more to drinking coffee than meets the eye. Continue reading to find out how you can leverage coffee in your diet, unlocking the fat burning potential of your body.

How much coffee do you drink everyday?

If you are someone who has turned coffee drinking into a habit,then that’s a lot. If you fit this category, then you may find it hard not to have a cup after each meal.

What if you were told that it’s good for your diet? Then would that change the image of the coffee you're drinking right now. Yes, that’s right.

Drinking coffee can help you lose weight. However, drinking coffee alone isn't going to get you anywhere but out of bed.

The results you will see depend greatly on the amount and timing in which you drink.

Let's look at how you can make drinking coffee work for your diet.

The secret to making coffee work for your diet is in the caffeine

We all know that coffee contains caffeine. That why we drink it. Drinking coffee gives us the boost we need to get up in the morning. What you might not have heard yet is that coffee can be good for your diet.

In general,caffeine isn't something you should take in large amounts. Women during pregnancy or breast feeding are advised to refrain from drinking it. Moreover, there many of us that share a negative image toward coffee. However on the other hand, it has been found to promote enhance fat burning, giving you a boost in your metabolism. This is why coffee has come to be used in many diet programs.

Caffeine combined with chlorogenic acid produces an enhanced fat burning effect

Caffeine is effective in stimulating increased lipase, an enzyme that helps break down fat during digestion, activity in the body. In order for fat to be burned in the body, lipase needs to convert digestive fats into fatty acid and glycerin. Itis said it takes as much as 20 minutes before fat can be burned off. The reason for this is before being burnt off, fats need to be broken down first. This is why it takes so long. In addition to caffeine, coffee contains a substantial amount of chlorogenic acid. Chlorogenic acids works similar to caffeine, in that it stimulates your body to break down fats more efficiently. The secret behind the effectiveness in the coffee diet is that through the combination of caffeine and chlorogenic acid it is possible to produce a more synergetic effect. These two ingredients are what make coffee so effective.

Caffeine is a diuretic that can help you get rid of edema

Caffeine is a diuretic which can help you fight off edema, helping your body get rid of its waste products and excess fluids. Edema has a negative effect on your diet,impairing your metabolism. Caffeine supports your diet by helping you combat unwanted edema.

Caffeine gives you the boost in your metabolism you need

Caffeine helps promote better blood circulation. This in turn has a positive effect on your basal metabolism. It is also said to relieve women with poor circulate and stiff shoulders.

Coffee helps you relax

The coffee you drink while taking a break or on a diversion has a relaxing effect on your body. As the smell of coffee reaches your nose, you experience an increase in alpha wave activity in your brain, which relaxes your body and lowers your stress levels.

What is the optimal time to drink coffee that can help you lose weight?

Although coffee may help you to burn fat more efficiently, don’t expect to make any progress sitting on your butt all day. It’s only by combining coffee and exercise that you will be able to appreciate the effects. For enhanced effects, the best time to drinking coffee is 20-30 minutes before you start to exercise. As for the right amount to drink, it’s best to refrain from drinking too much. With that said, I hope we all can be happy sitting down relaxing and drinking 1 cup per sitting. The positive effects of coffee are best appreciated 20-30 minutes after drinking. It is only by increasing your activity, exercising, that coffee helps burn off fat.

For those less inclined to exercise after drinking a cup of coffee, like most of us are, there is hope for you just yet. For most of us, it is common that we will have a cup of coffee after a meal. On the other hand, you may prefer a cheese cake for that matter. The benefit of drinking coffee after a meal is that it helps you clear your head, giving a sense of completeness,fullness, after eating. This is way instead of desert, coffee might be right for you.

How to drink coffee on a diet

Just because you are on a diet, does that mean you won’t be able to drink the way you are use to? Coffee bags and instant coffee is easy to make; but lacks in fragrance compared with drip coffee. Although though coffee bags or instant coffee you will be able to get the caffeine you need, in order to get the most out of your coffee diet experience, drip coffee is a must.

Which beans is right for your diet?

One of the active ingredients boosting the dietary effects of your coffee, chlorogenic acid has a property of being weak against heat. For this reason, light roasts are preferred over dark roasts as they require less heat when brewing. In addition, instant coffee when compared to drip coffee contains less caffeine and chlorogenic acid content. This is why if you have time it is recommended that you go with drip coffee instead.

Coffee is best served hot

Between ice coffee and hot coffee better results can be realized through hot coffee. While hot, it is easier for your body to absorb the active ingredients in coffee. When it gets hot out, I know it isn't easy to turn down ice coffee; however because we are looking to maximize the dietary effects of coffee, drink it hot. In addition to drinking temperature, it’s recommended that you try to moderate pouring temperature as well. The reason for this is that we want to preserve as much chlorogenic acid as possible.

Drink your coffee black is light

Let try not to put too much sugar in our coffee. When you drink your coffee black, the amount of sugar-associated calories is zero. However, by adding sugar, every teaspoon increases the amount of calories you consume with each cup (roughly 20 calories per spoon). Also,when choosing which coffee bags to buy, special care must be taken to make sure that what you are purchasing doesn't contain additive sweeteners、which could drastically change amount of calories in your coffee.

Drinking in moderation is best

When you are on a diet, its best to moderate the coffee you drink. This may involve drinking from a smaller cup, or drinking the same amount each time. A good rule of thumb is leave 3-4 hours between each cup.

What how much you drink

When looking to maximize the dietary effect of coffee, it is important to make sure you don’t drink too much, staying below 5 cups a day. It’s not hard to overdo it and develop tolerance in your body making it harder and harder to feel the effects.

Excess caffeine makes it hard for you to sleep, potentially causing anemia, and is rough on your stomach. In the case that you feel as if you have drank too much its important to stop and take a break from drinking coffee.

By Mnartin Nicholso

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How Coffee Can Harm a Diet

Coffee is very controversial when it comes to weight loss. Some say that it can be of benefit to dieters, while others say that it can be detrimental to a weight loss plan. In fact, coffee most likely has both positive and negative effects on weight loss, depending on how it's consumed and other factors.

How Coffee Can Help a Diet

Coffee contains caffeine which is a stimulant. It can enable people to feel more alert and help them to be more active, leading to weight loss. It may also act as a mild appetite suppressant. Drinking coffee during the afternoon or after dinner can help to reduce cravings for snacks or sweets, by filling the stomach and suppressing the appetite, without the addition of calories.

Coffee might also stimulate your metabolism by increasing your rate of thermogenesis (how your body burns calories to create heat and energy). However, this is only a slight increase and studies have not shown it to have a very large effect on weight loss. Coffee is often claimed to be a diuretic, but studies have shown that drinking it in moderation does not lead to water loss. Indeed, drinking coffee increases your fluid intake by the same amount as drinking water, which might make it easier for those who love coffee but dislike water to keep their fluids up.

While coffee has been said to increase insulin resistance which can lead to overeating and eventually might turn into diabetes, recent studies have shown that coffee itself is not the cause of the insulin resistance. The sugar often used in coffee is more likely a factor, as well as other unhealthy lifestyle choices. In fact, some have suggested that coffee, which contains antioxidants, may 

When you drink too much coffee, the caffeine can increase stress levels which might lead to overeating. It can also promote insomnia, which might also lead to a higher consumption of calories. However, coffee contains other chemicals which stimulate the production of cortisone and adrenaline. These chemicals increase stress levels, and cortisone has been linked with an increase in abdomen fat, which causes morehealth concerns than fat in other areas.

Coffee itself has very few calories and no fat, but people rarely drink it without something added to modify the taste. Even a shot of flavored syrup can add calories to a coffee, and some of the more creamy and elaborate concoctions can have as many calories as an entire meal. Milk and cream are also very high in saturated fat, which not only contributes calories but is also dangerous for your health. Too much saturated fat can lead to heart disease.

The effects of coffee on weight loss don't seem to be enough to radically cause people to gain or lose weight. The best advice is to consume coffee in moderation if desired, and to be aware of the effects it has on you, in order to take advantage of them.

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