How Fasting Can Slow Down Aging

Dietary trends such as ketogenesis and intermittent fasting are currently extremely popular due to their rapid weight loss effects. However, scientists are now beginning to find out how they can actually help the body in other ways. In fact, a molecule produced during fasting has recently been found to provide the vascular system with a longevity boost, which will, in turn, slow down the aging process of the entire body.

While fasting, the human body enters a metabolic state called ketosis, which means that the body begins to rely on fat instead of glucose as a source of energy. One of these energy sources, collectively known as ketones, is a molecule called β-Hydroxybutyrate.

According to senior study author Dr. Ming-Hui Zou, "previously, studies on ketone bodies focused on energy metabolism, but this study showed that there are other physiological effects which regulate cell cycle to retardate aging progression."

A previous study, carried out at Harvard University in 2017, found that the activity of mitochondrial networks inside our cells can become altered due to fasting, in turn leading to better health, slower aging, and an increased lifespan.

Zou's study, though, aims to explore how high levels of β-Hydroxybutyrate might display similar effects by interfering with senescent cells, which are cells that are unable to divide or multiply.

The team discovered that β-Hydroxybutyrate actually slows down these senescent vascular cells at the perfect moment, which prompts them to divide, thereby preventing them from aging. When tested on mice, the team discovered that it was also able to keep blood vessels young by promoting stem cell factors that protect against DNA-related senescence.

"We think this is a very important discovery, and we are working on finding a new chemical that can mimic the effect of this ketone body's function," said Zou.

"We're trying to take the global approach to reducing cardiovascular disease and Alzheimer's disease. It's difficult to convince people not to eat for the next 24 hours to increase the concentration of this compound, and not everybody can do that, but if we can find something that can mimic this effect and people can still eat, it would make life more enjoyable and help fight disease."

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.     

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Health Myths: The 5 Weight-Loss Supplements You Can't Trust

“Weight Loss” is a term you simply cannot avoid these days. Everyone, it seems, is in the race to lose that extra bit of flab. Being health-conscious is a wonderful thing, of course, but the awareness of what is right for you is key. Today, the internet is filled with health gurus providing countless choices in attractive health supplements we should use for losing weight. With their quick-fix solution to our weight issues, their recommendations can often be hard to resist.

There are plenty of myths surrounding these weight loss supplements which we can easily fall prey to. The reality, though, can be hard to accept. Here, we debunk 5 of the most famous health supplements and explain why they shouldn’t be trusted.
 

1. Raspberry ketones

Raspberry ketones are natural substances that are found in red raspberries. They are also found in other fruits like blackberries, cranberries, fresh berries, peaches, grapes, apples, and kiwis. These natural chemicals give raspberries their natural aroma and have been used as a flavoring agent in soft drinks, ice cream, and different processed foods.
Of late, raspberry ketones have also become popular for their supposed weight-loss abilities and have been sold as a weight loss supplement. 

Do they actually work, though?

Before you actively begin consuming the raspberry ketone weight loss tablets in the hopes of losing weight, bear in mind that not a single study to date has been done purely based on raspberry ketones in humans. The only study that included raspberry ketones included a blend of substances - caffeine, garlic, capsaicin, ginger, and synephrine, along with raspberry ketones.

In that study, which lasted eight weeks, the people who had used the supplements lost 7.8% of their fat mass. However, there was no conclusive evidence to prove that the weight loss was because of raspberry ketones. Only after extensive studies have been conducted on humans with regards to raspberry ketones, can we fully analyze if they can actually aid in weight loss.

For now, it would be better if you opt for the natural fruits that contain raspberry ketones.

2. Matcha green tea powder

Matcha green tea powder is one variant of green tea that has become really popular in recent years as a potent natural weight-loss drink. Celebrities are raving about it. Models are swearing by it. Even famous cafes and restaurants are serving it in lattes, soups, and desserts.

This traditional Japanese tea is basically a stone-ground powdered green tea. Made from leaves of a tea plant, also known as the Camellia sinensis, the Matcha green tea powder can be easily mixed into liquids. It includes various vitamins and minerals but is mostly sought after because it contains abundant amounts of catechins – a type of antioxidant. Since a person is essentially consuming whole tea leaves while drinking matcha, it is considered the more effective source of catechins than normal green tea where the leaves are disposed of after infusion.

Various studies have been done to analyze the effects of standard green tea on weight loss with vague results. However, there have been no studies done to confirm the benefits of matcha on weight loss.

Hence, you can consume matcha tea if it makes you feel better. Moreover, it certainly has beneficial vitamins and minerals in it which will benefit you. As of now, however, you cannot rely on it to lose your extra flab. 

3. Garcinia cambogia supplements

In recent times, you would have, perhaps, heard or read the name 'Garcinia Cambogia' on several platforms. A tropical fruit native to India and Southeast Asia, Garcinia Cambogia has been actively marketed as a weight-loss wonder. Claims have been made that it can help you lose weight without even doing any physical work. 

Garcinia Cambogia contains a substance called hydroxycitric acid (HCA), which is said to assist weight loss. A number of studies have been taken to analyze this with mixed results. A few studies have claimed to have had great weight-loss results using HCA. Many others have stated that it has no bearing on the person's weight.

Researchers have noted that a majority of the studies done on Garcinia Cambogia have used animals as test subjects. The results of the tests done on humans using garcinia are too general to be proved effective. 

A detailed review has been posted in the Journal of Obesity gathering nine different studies that have used Garcinia Cambogia for weight loss. The review observes the mixed results of the supplement on weight loss with a few studies yielding substantial results while the others stated there was no difference. 

Since HCA is being made available in the forms of pills and powder, as well as the fact that it comes from a fruit makes it an instantly appealing product. However, there are too many uncertainties at present with Garcinia Cambogia's effect on weight loss, and hence, it cannot be relied upon.

4. Caffeine supplements

In recent years, a number of diet supplements containing caffeine have claimed that it can help reduce weight. The theory that caffeine can increase metabolism has been oft-repeated.
How much of that is true, though?

The pace at which you burn your calories at rest is called your resting metabolic rate (RMR).
It is common knowledge that the higher your metabolic rate, the easier it would be for you to lose weight. This is where caffeine becomes an attractive option for those wanting to lose weight quickly.
Research studies that have been conducted on volunteers have stated that caffeine can increase RMR by 3-11% and those who consumed larger doses had a higher effect, with an increase of 11-12%.

However, further comprehensive studies have also indicated that caffeine intake made no notable changes in the participants' appetite or the amount of food they consume throughout the day. The findings concluded that caffeine might have a minor effect on food consumption briefly after consuming caffeine. However, the effect doesn’t last long and wears off pretty quickly.

Thus, caffeine does accelerate the body’s metabolism, but only briefly. Moreover, the body builds up a tolerance to the effects of caffeine with regular consumption. You can therefore not depend on caffeine for your weight loss. 

5. Alkaline water

Drinking water is good for you. Of course, you know that. Can drinking a particular form of water actually help you lose weight, though? Can there be such a thing as healthier water? Well, if the hype is to be believed, alkaline water seems to be the answer to that question. 

Alkaline water supposedly has multifarious health benefits: clear skin, weight loss and even fighting skin cancer being some of them. It is its purported ability to aid weight loss which has really made it famous lately.

What exactly is alkaline water?
Simply put, alkaline water is water that has a higher level of pH than tap water. PH is the measure of the hydrogen ion concentration in a solution. Tap water has a pH of around 7, and alkaline water’s pH is about 8 or 9. Alkaline compounds are salts and metals that, when added to water, make it more alkaline.

Is alkaline water good for weight loss?
Unfortunately, there isn’t any substantial evidence out there to back the claims of alkaline water’s benefits for weight loss. The research and tests that have been done for alkaline water have been animal-based, and its effects on humans are not yet backed by science. In fact, noted dieticians have said that when we consume highly acidic or highly alkaline food or beverage, it gets neutralized in the digestive system before it enters the bloodstream.

Alkaline water is being touted as the next big miracle cure. It is even being promoted by known celebrities. However, these claims are not being backed by any proper scientific evidence. It appears to be more of another popular nutrition fad.

It would be prudent if we concentrate on consuming plain water on a regular basis. It does a great job of keeping us hydrated and healthy.

this is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.     
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https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com. feel free to view for easy, simple and healthy recipes    
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8 Reasons Why You’re Not Losing Weight On The Keto Diet

Sure, a lady makes the keto diet look like a damn breeze (girl has lost 80 pounds since starting the keto in April).

So why the heck are you not losing weight on keto? You've cut down on carbs and loaded up on bacon, cheese, and avocados, but the scale still isn't moving—what gives?

Turns out, there are tons of reasons why you might not be seeing the scale move on keto. Here's why you might not be losing as much weight as you'd like on the keto diet—and how to get those numbers moving in the right direction again.

1. You're eating too many calories...

Yes, the keto diet lets you have meat, cheese, and butter—but that doesn't mean you can eat as much of it as you want to. "Getting in more calories than your body requires from food can hinder weight-loss efforts no matter the type of food eaten or ratio of foods," says a spokesperson of the program.

Basically, the keto diet is still a diet, and losing weight typically happens when there's a calorie deficit (1,200 to 1,500 calories a day is the sweet spot for weight loss)—so go ahead and cut carbs to under 50 grams a day and up your fat—but if you want to lose weight, make sure you're keeping an eye on calories, too. 

2. ...or you’re not eating enough calories.

While you can eat some of those atypical diet foods, you might not even want to—the keto diet might take away your appetite for a while when you first start it. "Ketones can help take away hunger initially, but this effect an wear off with time," says the spokesperson.

That could translate into not eating enough calories—and when that happens, your body can go into starvation mode, slowing down your metabolism and hindering your weight-loss efforts. This lack of appetite should go away within a few weeks, but if you've been on the keto diet for a while and you're still not feeling hungry, it might be time to switch diets or talk to an R.D. about modifying your keto attempt.

3. You stopped going to the gym.

The keto flu is real, guys—and it might make you skip the gym...over and over again. "When you start the keto diet, you will likely feel irritable, moody, and fatigued since the brain doesn’t have its main source of fuel from glucose—a.k.a carbohydrates," says a nutritionist.

"Fiber is essential to help regulate hunger and fullness cues, and to provide long-lasting energy and a steady blood-glucose level," says the nutritionist. "A low-fiber diet is less satisfying, which can lead to overeating later."

Another thing about a low-fiber diet: You might be messing with your gut bacteria. "Diets lower in fiber will have a lower diversity of good bacteria, which can also contribute to weight gain," says another nutritionist.

5. You're still eating too many carbs.

The ratios of the keto diet are super important: "Generally, 70 to 80 percent of calories come from fat, 10 to 20 percent come from protein, and 5 to 10 percent come from carbohydrates," says a nutritionist—that typically means you should be eating 20 to 50 grams of carbs per day.

But here's the thing: "Many people might not realize how much carbs are in common foods," says Al Bochi—which is why it's very important to track your daily intake. If you end up eating too many carbs on the keto diet, you may never get into ketosis (that state when your body burns fat for fuel instead of carbs), which can hinder your weight loss, adds the nutritionist.

6. You're eating too much protein.

Those keto ratios come into play again here, too. "When our body digests protein, a small percentage is converted to glucose," says the nutritionist, which can then hinder your body's ability to go into ketosis, he adds (glucose is a sugar, which is a carb).

Instead of using the keto diet as a free pass to eat as much steak and bacon as you'd like, keep in mind that your primary focus on keto is eating healthy fats (avocado, olive oil, nut butters). So cut back on the protein a bit and make sure to have some form of healthy fat with every meal.

7. You're yo-yo keto dieting.

Let's be real: The keto diet is really hard to stick to—but if you're constantly doing keto for a few days and then quitting it for a few days, you're probably not getting the results you want, says the nutritionist. 

That's because your body might be going in and out of ketosis—so it's never in it long enough to show you any results. If you're struggling on keto, ease up on yourself a little—and ease into the diet. Starting slow (gradually restricting carbs until you get to that 20 to 50 grams a day range) can help you stick with the diet for a longer term.

8. You're not getting enough B vitamins

"B vitamins are found in whole grains, lentils and rice and help with red blood cell development," says the nutritionist—and lacking them can make you feel tired, which can then limit your activity, and your weight loss.

Luckily, you can still get plenty of B vitamins from keto-friendly foods like meats, eggs and dairy products, and dark, leafy vegetables like broccoli and spinach. If you're still feeling lethargic, talk to your doctor about taking a B vitamin supplement to boost your levels.

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Five signs your carbohydrate intake is too low

There’s a scientific reason why many of us naturally gravitate towards delicious foods that are high in carbohydrates.
However, some actively avoid the food group, falsely believing that doing so will benefit their well-being.
On the contrary, having too low an intake of carbohydrates can lead to a number of side effects, as outlined by an expert.
A dietitian recently shared the signs that you should look out for if consuming a lower level of carbohydrates than recommended on her website Shape Me.
While including too many carbohydrates in your diet can lead to weight gain, consuming too few can also have its drawbacks.
Here are the signs that you should look out for that your carbohydrate intake is not substantial enough:

You’re not losing weight

A common misconception about carbohydrates is that the less you eat, the more likely you are to lose weight.
However, carbohydrates are necessary in order to sustain your metabolism efficiently.
“If you are consuming less than 80g of total carbs each day but doing a lot of exercise, your carbs will be too low to actually metabolise body fat and your metabolic rate will slow down over time,” he explained.
She suggests adding a piece of fruit, bread or half a cup of whole grains to a meal eaten straight after exercise in order to increase your intake and support your metabolic system.

You feel fatigued

Feeling tired could be a key sign that you’re not including enough carbohydrates in your diet.
She explained that this could be due to an alteration in your blood glucose levels.
“Fluctuating blood glucose levels can result in headaches, and inability to concentrate and a general feeling of lethargy,” she said.
While many may associate eating carbohydrates with feeling sluggish, avoiding them can also reportedly have the same effect.

Sugar cravings

When your body is craving something in particular, this could indicate that you have a deficiency.
This is why after eating a large meal you may still crave sweet treats if your plate of food didn’t contain a beneficial balance of nutrients.
“Regular cravings after a meal may be a sign that your meal does not contain a balance of carbs and proteins that you need for fullness and satisfaction which can result in extreme feelings of hunger,” she said.
“Fluctuating blood glucose levels can also leave you feeling extremely hungry even when you have eaten only an hour or two previously as the body identifies that you have not taken adequate amounts of carbohydrate on board.”

Digestive issues
Foods that are high in carbohydrates are rich sources of dietary fibre, which helps the contents of your gut move along smoothly.
Therefore, eating less carbohydrates than usual can cause you to become constipated, which is never a comfortable state of being.
“When your gut has been used to you consuming these foods regularly, and suddenly finds that it is no longer receiving significant amounts of wheat-based fibres it can significantly impact the total amount of bulk moving through the gut and cause significant reductions in transit time, or the time waste moves through the digestive tract,” she said.

Bad breath
Many may not be aware that a low-carb diet can impact on the smell of your breath.
“When our carbohydrate intake drops below a certain level, the body will make ketones, which is an alternate fuel source for the liver and the brain made from fat stores,” she explained.
“Ketones have a very distinct smell, some of which will be secreted through saliva if you are in ketosis.”
Ketosis is a metabolic state that occurs when your body doesn’t have enough carbohydrates to burn energy.

THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        PS- THOSE INTERESTED IN RECIPES ARE FREE TO  VIEW MY BLOG-                                                                                           https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com/                                                                                                                                                                             FOR INFO ABOUT KNEE REPLACEMENT, YOU CAN VIEW MY BLOG-                                                                                                                             https:// kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com/                                                                                       FOR CROCHET DESIGNS                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com

For faster weight loss, include these 5 superfoods in your daily diet

Superfoods are excellent for weight loss. Besides helping you lose belly fat, they’re also great for overall health as they’re full of antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and other elements that run your body efficiently.

Now, we understand it’s not easy to include everything  in your diet and the temptations are many. However, if you are able to include these 5 top healthy foods in your everyday diet you will see faster results in your effort to lose weight. A daily diet that includes these food will also ensure that you stay healthy and fit, for longer.

Berries: “Berries are great foods for boosting metabolism and regulating blood sugar. They are also rich sources of antioxidants and fibre. For instance, raspberries contain ketones which prevent an overall increase in body and visceral fat,” says a nutritionist.

Eggs: Eggs have lower calories but are nutrient-dense and filling, which makes them an ideal choice for weight loss. They are high-protein foods that reduce appetite and increase fullness, compared to foods that contain less protein.

Apples: An apple a day keeps the doctor away. Living up to this old saying, apples are truly a powerful superfood. Loaded with antioxidants, healthy fibre and essential vitamins and minerals, not only are they delicious to munch on, but are versatile to cook with as well, be it a dessert or a wholesome meal.
Apples can aid in weight loss and fight obesity as they are naturally free of fat, cholesterol, sodium and are a low calorie, yet nutrient dense food,” says a nutritionist.

Spinach: Whether eaten raw or cooked, spinach is an excellent source of vitamins, minerals and beneficial phytochemicals. “This green superfood is important for athletes and fitness freaks. Even Popeye was not wrong about the energy-boosting properties and iron content of spinach,” explains the expert.

Green tea: Green tea and its variants are probably the healthiest beverage on the planet. Whether it is for improved brain function, fat loss or a lower risk of cancer, green tea offers many impressive benefits.
“Green tea increases fat burning and improves physical performance. It can lower your risk of Type 2 diabetes, risk of cardiovascular disease and help you lose weight and lessen your risk of obesity,” illustrates the expert.

THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES.                                                                                                                                                                                                        PS- THOSE INTERESTED IN RECIPES ARE FREE TO  VIEW MY BLOG-                                                                                           https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com/  

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