A calorie shifting diet works differently than a low carb diet, or even a plain reduced calorie diet.  This diet shifts calories so that the body will continue to burn fat.

A low carb diet obviously reduces the carbohydrates that we take in. A calorie shifting diet is less clear. How do calories get shifted? To get the answer to that question, we need to understand how body metabolism responds to the food we eat.

First, it is important to see that the human body tries to keep a store of fat. This can be a good thing if we truly were starving and didn’t have enough to eat. Unfortunately most people in the industrialised world have a sedentary life style and we eat more than our body really needs. So, even when we diet, we are working at cross purposes with our natural body tendency. We may lose initially, but eventually our metabolism will catch on and slow down the amount of calories burned, making it very difficult for us the continue losing weight.

With that as background, we begin to understand calorie shifting. It is called shifting because it shifts different types of food around to different meals and different days. Whereas a calorie cutting diet is basically concerned with reducing the number of calories consumed, the focus of this diet is to mix up days of low carbohydrates and other days of more carbs and less proteins. All of it is calculated to keep body metabolism off balance so that you can keep losing.

A good calorie shifting diet will give you all of the carbohydrates your body needs as well as all the proteins necessary for healthy living. You need the carbs to give you energy, and the protein is needed to produce glucagon. This hormone brings out the collected fat in your body and burns it for energy.

So, you don’t have to count calories with this diet, but you do have to develop a healthy rotation (shift) of the appropriate foods. If you do this, this diet can help you to lose fat quickly, and, since it gives you such a balanced diet, it is something you can maintain for as long as you like.

This diet is so simple that anyone can do it. You only need a planner that will help you rotate the foods. You can get that plan today and start to create your own calorie shifting diet. This could be the first time you find a diet that really lets you lose weight the way you want to.

Go here for more info: http://calorieshift.info

The most common type of heart attack is caused by a coronary thrombosis, which occurs when a clot (thrombus) blocks one or more of the blood vessels that nourish the heart muscle. As a result of the lack of blood, part of the muscle may be damaged, and its ability to contract may be lost. This is known as a myocardial infarction. If the infarct is small and the electrical impulses that control the heart’s contractions (beats) are not disturbed, chances for recovery are excellent.

Coronary Artery Disease

Coronary thrombosis is one of the manifestations of coronary artery disease. As we grow older, our blood vessels tend to lose their elasticity, a process known as arteriosclerosis. The arteries may also become narrowed or clogged with deposits of fatty material called atheromas, a condition called atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is progressive and usually does not produce symptoms until there is significant blockage in the blood flow. Sometimes, in fact, the first symptom of this heart disease is a heart attack.

Although the specific cause of atherosclerosis is not known, it has been found that certain risk factors help in identifying population groups that are more likely to develop it. Three major risk factors are high levels of cholesterol and other blood fats, high blood pressure (hypertension) and cigarette smoking. Others include diabetes, obesity, a sedentary life style, aging, being male and heredity.

Atherosclerosis begins forming as a fatty streak on the inner wall of an artery, usually at its branching-out point, and disturbs the smooth flow of blood. As patches of fatty tissue build up, the inner wall becomes narrower, which inhibits blood flow in a more significant way. An artery continues to narrow as the tissue buildup progresses, and in time, the fatty deposit becomes a hard mass of fatty tissue with a tough outer lining of cells – a plaque. As plaques spread and thicken, they erode the wall of the artery, which interferes with blood flow and makes it increasingly turbulent. This turbulence may trigger the blood to form a clot (thrombus), partially or completely blocking the artery. Further, a fragment of the clot (embolus) may be carried by the bloodstream and block an artery at some distant, narrower point.

Heart attacks sometimes occur in people with little or no coronary artery disease. Some experts believe that a spasm or sudden constriction of the coronary artery may be the cause of these heart attacks. It appears that a spasm may occur in a coronary artery that is totally free of atherosclerosis (as well as in one that is heavily affected by that condition), and this would explain why many people suffer angina and other cardiac problems without any evidence of underlying blockage in the arteries.

Symptoms of a Heart Attack

A heart attack can come on gradually, preceded by several attacks of angina over days, weeks, months or even years. (Angina is the name given to the chest pain that arises when the muscular wall of the heart is temporarily deprived of sufficient oxygen.) But a heart attack may also occur without any apparent warning, and in people who have never previously experienced any chest pain.

Typically, the pain of a heart attack is a sensation of constriction in the central chest area; it may vary in intensity from a feeling of tightness to one of agonizing crushing or bursting. The pain may be continuous, or it may last a few minutes, fade and then recur. It commonly spreads to the back, jaw and left arm. Although a heart attack may be precipitated by physical or emotional stress, the pain, unlike that of angina, does not subside when the stress ceases.

Pain is commonly accompanied by shortness of breath, sweating, nausea, dizziness and pallor. (Some people experience a heart attack without any of these symptoms. This is known as a “silent” infarct, which may be confirmed by changes in an electrocardiogram or certain other hospital tests.)

A Medical Emergency

Most deaths from heart attack occur within minutes to hours after the onset of symptoms. Therefore, when sudden and severe chest pain occurs, an ambulance should be called immediately and the individual taken to a hospital. Denying that these symptoms represent a life-threatening illness may cause a delay that could be fatal.

One of the major cause of death from coronary thrombosis is the development of abnormal heart rhythms in the hours immediately following the attack. Emergency treatment, therefore, concentrates on stabilizing the heart rhythm, as well as on relieving pain and preventing shock.

In the hospital’s intensive-care or cardiac-care unit, the rate and rhythm of the heart will be continuously monitored by an electrocardiograph machine. Blood tests to detect enzymes released from the heart aid in assessing the infarct further and various medications may be given. Mood changes and feelings of apprehension are very common following a heart attack, and a mild tranquilizer is often given to the patient.

Depending on the severity of the attack, the patient may be allowed out of bed within three or four days and be discharged after two weeks. Bed rest for more than a short time should be avoided, where possible, because it results in a rapid loss of the body’s muscle tone and in increased heart rate on exertion. Physical activity is gradually increased and most patients are able to return to their full range of normal activity within a few months.

Long-Term Treatment

Depending on such factors as the patient’s age and general physical condition, and the extent of the heart damage, a variety of different approaches may be taken to deal with the underlying coronary artery disease and to reduce the possibility of another heart attack.

Changes in life style. A number of steps can be taken to prevent or slow down the progression of heart disease. These include stopping smoking, exercising regularly and adopting a low-cholesterol diet.

Drug treatment. The use of drugs depends upon the nature of the heart attack and underlying coronary disease. Antihypertensive drugs may be prescribed to lower the blood pressure. Other drugs may be given to improve heart function, prevent chest pain or lower the level of blood cholesterol.

Other treatments A number of other treatments, including coronary bypass surgery, are available. Obviously, their use depends upon individual needs.

There has been a dramatic decline in the number of deaths from heart attacks in the last decade. In 1970, nearly a million Americans died of cardiovascular disease; now the annual toll is below 600,000. The cause for this improved mortality rate are unknown, but most experts believe that the increased awareness of cardiovascular risk factors and their correction have played an important role in cutting the death toll.

What are the risks? Eventually, about half of all Americans develop some form of heart disease. The most common is a hardening of the arteries caused by a buildup of fatty deposits along the vessel lining. This is a slow process that usually takes many years to develop into serious disease. If the coronary arteries, which supply blood to the heart muscle, become severely blocked by the fatty deposits, warning symptoms of heart disease may appear. These include shortness of breath, chest pains (angina pectoris) that are relieved by rest, or a combination of the two. In many people, however, there are no warning signs — the first symptom of heart disease may be a heart attack. This is why it is important to identify and correct possible risk factors before they reach this stage.

In recent years, a number of these risk factors have been identified. Some of them, such as age, sex and family history of heart disease, are things over which we have no control. But there also are a number of factors that can be modified or eliminated, and such action appears to reduce the portability of a heart attack. The three most important controllable risk factors are high blood pressure, high levels of blood cholesterol and cigarette smoking. In fact, many experts attribute the recent decline in cardiovascular deaths to the fact that more people than ever before are now being treated for high blood pressure. Changes in the American diet that have reduced the consumption of butter, eggs and animal fats – and consequently lowered the average blood cholesterol — and a reduction in smoking by middle-aged men also are credited with lowering the toll. Since the likelihood of developing heart disease increases when two or more risk factors are present, modifying the controllable ones helps reduce the hazard of those over which we have no control.

Role of Diet

Studies have shown that population groups whose diets are rich in cholesterol and other animal and dairy fats have more heart attacks that those whose diets are low in these saturated fats. Americans, whose diets are high in meat and eggs, have a higher incidence of heart disease than the Japanese, who end to eat very little meat and other animal and dairy fats.

Studies have also shown that high blood cholesterol — more than 200 miligrams per mililiter of blood — can be lowered by modifying the diet. This means eating more fish and poultry while cutting consumption of red meat, eggs, butter and other dairy fats, and increasing consumption of fruits, vegetables and cereal grains. Substituting polyunsaturated cooking oils (corn, safflower or sunflower oil, for example) for lard or hardened shortening, and using margarines whose labels indicate a high ratio of polyunsaturated to saturated fats (for example, 4 to 2) instead of butter or margarines with less favorable ratios (e.g., equal or 2 to 3) also help to lower blood cholesterol.

Role of High Blood Pressure

People with high blood pressure have a marked increase in heart attacks and strokes. The cause of most high blood pressure is unkown, but it usually can be lowered by the use of antihypertensive drugs, reduced salt intake, and weight loss in people who are overweight. Controlling high blood pressure is an important preventive measure because it increases the work load of the heart and also directly contributes to hardening of the arteries (arteriosclerosis).

Role of Cigarette Smoking

Since 1964, when the Surgeon General reported that cigarette smokers on the average had a 70 percent greater chance of having a heart attack than nonsmokers, many other studies have confirmed that cigarette smoking is a major risk factor. This risk increases with the number of cigarettes smoked, and recent studies hae found that low-tar, low-nicotine cigarettes do not lower the risk of heart disease. Stopping smoking is now considered one of the best things you can do to help prevent a heart attack.

Other Risk Factors

Sedentary life style. Although evidence linking a sedentary life style to increased likelihood of heart disease is indirect, physically active people are known to have wider coronary arteries, which presumably would not be as prone to blockage as those sedentary people.

Type A personality. In recent years, much discussion has focused on the relationship between the type A personality, characterized by anxiety, impatience and perfectionism, and the risk of a heart attack. Although many assessments have confirmed this relationship, scientific proof definitely linking personality type and the development of heart disease is yet to come.

Diabetes. People with diabetes, a serious disease in which the body cannot regulate its blood sugar (glucose), have a higher incidence of coronary disease and heart attacks. The incidence is increased further if the diabetic has other risk factors.

Obesity. the Framingham Study recently concluded that obesity alone increases the risk of heart disease — a hypothesis that has been debated for years. Since obesity often coexists with hypertension, diabetes and a sedentary life style, weight control is an important factor in reducing a number of coronary risk factors.

Sex and age. Some risk factors, such as age and aging and a person´s sex, are unavoidable. Statistics show that men under the age of 45 years are 10 times as likely to develop coronary artery disease as women in the same age group. Between the ages of 45 and 60 years, however, the sex difference diminishes. After age 60 years, the incidence of coronary artery disease is about equally distributed between men and women.

Family history. An inherited susceptibility is also an important risk factor that cannot be avoided. Some manifestations, such as high blood pressure or an inherited tendency to have very high blood blood cholesterol levels (familial hyper-cholesterolemia) can be controlled by drugs and diet.

Osteoporosis is a disease that affects the bones. It is characterized when the amount of bone mass decreases substantially and developed hollow bones, thin and extremely sensitive, more prone to fractures. It is part of normal aging and is more common in women than in men. The disease progresses slowly and rarely shows symptoms before it happens something more serious like a fracture, which is usually spontaneous, i.e. not related to trauma. If they are not made diagnostic preventive osteoporosis can go unnoticed until it has greater severity. Osteoporosis can have their development delayed by preventive measures.

Menopause Risk Factor:
Women over 40 who suffer any fracture in this age group are generally thin – which features a smaller bone formation – or had early menopause. Other risk factors include: being white, maintaining a sedentary lifestyle and have a diet low in calcium.

The greatest threat of disease is fracture, which interferes with the quality of life. In many cases, breaking a bone difficult movements, affect breathing and self-esteem of the patient. A hip fracture, for example, often disabling, requiring implant or screw. About 20% of women undergoing surgery required to correct the problem after a year die because of complications. Of those who survive, 50% are left with some kind of dependency, requiring special care.

Fractures:
The biggest challenge is to prevent the first fracture. As the disease weakens the bones, no need to suffer major impacts for it to happen. Any injury, however small, can cause fracture. The most common are the spine, femur and forearm. Many bring serious consequences for the quality of life. The stage of menopause is a critical period for the development of osteoporosis. At this stage, ovulation ceases and decreases the production of the hormone estrogen. The hormone is a protective factor, as it helps keep calcium “stuck” to the bone.

More than half of vertebral fractures do not receive medical care. Fractures are silent, often confused with muscle strains or arthritis. After the first fracture, women may have additional fractures, suggesting that osteoporosis may be a disease of rapid progression. The accumulation of vertebral fractures without treatment can cause pain and even loss of height.

The examination is essential from the age of 65, when the risks of fracture are much greater. Densitometry can prove that there was no loss in bone mass normal cases, losses that occurred within the bone pattern in relation to the young woman or bone loss that make up the established disease.

Osteoporosis symptoms in Men:
While he prefers the female population, osteoporosis can also reach men. Typically, the development of disease is influenced by factors such as alcoholism, age and chronic use of corticosteroids, used in the treatment of rheumatic diseases, asthma and allergies. However, a good bone formation, calcium-rich diet, physical activity and adequate exposure to sunlight are important factors to prevent osteoporosis.

Treatment and Prevention:
Osteoporosis can be prevented and treated. A diet rich in calcium is essential for both the developed and the problem for those who want to prevent it. The woman needs 1,200 milligrams of calcium daily. Dairy products and some other foods are the source of the substance. A glass of milk has 300 milligrams, a cup of yogurt has about 400 milligrams and a big slice of cheese has 200. Broccoli, spinach, cabbage and fish are other foods that should be consumed. The production of vitamin D obtained through sun exposure of 30 minutes, is another important point, in addition to regular physical activity that contributes to bone health. Exercises with weights, walking and swimming are good options. Prevention should start in childhood.

One of the simplest exercises is walking. The exercises should not increase the risk of falling or excessive burdens on any bone, and that exercise is a proposal to increase bone mass and muscle mass, ie, functional capacity, to prevent falls and reduce the number of fractures. The impact of physical activity is essential for the development of the skeleton during childhood and adolescence and maintain bone mass in young adults.

In addition to medical treatment, the patient with osteoporosis can take simple measures to prevent fractures, and wear shoes with rubber soles, avoid mats, paying attention to the steps and lean on handrails, use proper lighting in bathrooms and maintain anti-slip flooring in the bathroom and the box. Great care is required after taking medicines that can cause dizziness.

Summer comes every year, many of us start worrying about how we would fit and look in a swimsuit. We take out the old one from last summer, the one we swore we would be too small to fit this summer and, to our eternal pain dismay, we find it is even far more snug this summer. We know it was supposed to be our body, not the swimsuit, that got smaller this summer. Then we get into a panic and all kinds of crash diets and the promise of instant weight loss, which, as we all know well, is not a very good thing.

If there is a subject on which more ink and keyboard time has been spent than on diets, then I don’t know what that is. There are so many experts, so much advice it will leave your head spinning. But I believe it all comes down to this: Eat small, sensible portions and stay away from foods that are obviously fattening and not good for you. To that end, here are some for sensible healthy tips: Read the rest of this entry »