Too much Omega 6, not enough Omega 3 and what to do about it!

 Hi there,

Here is our latest look at another dietary trend that may be contributing to you hitting a 'fat loss plateau'.

Is too much of a good thing preventing you from shedding fat? Omega 6 essential fatty acids are an interesting group of fats because on one hand they are good for you, but on the other hand, too much can be bad for you. Unlike Omega 3 essential fatty acids, you can go overboard on Omega 6. An important point to remember, however, is that you always want to maintain the right balance of Omega 3 and Omega 6 essential fatty acids.

Interestingly, nutritionists are now finding that imbalances of these essential fatty acids negate their healthful benefits! Most people obtain an excess of Omega 6 in their diets at the expense of Omega 3 fatty acids. For most people, getting more Omega 6 in their diet is not an issue. In fact, most people need to cut back on Omega 6 and increase their Omega 3 intake. The average western diet provides more than 10 times the proper amount of Omega-6. Most of us are getting too much of a good thing!

There seems to be some debate on what is the perfect balance of these essential fatty acids. Some researchers and nutritionists suggest that the perfect ratio of Omega 3 to Omega 6 is 1:4 (one Omega 3 to four Omega 6). Udo Erasmus, Ph.D., the world expert on oils in nutrition, says that in his practice working with people, the ratio that gives the best results consistently comes from oils blended to be richer in Omega 3 (but not too rich) than Omega 6. Some experts even suggest a ratio of between 1:1 and 4:1 as being optimal. What are we getting?

Most Western diets range between 10 and 20 to 1 in favor of Omega 6! This excess amount of Omega 6 is not good for your health and can cause a variety of health problems such as increased water retention, raised blood pressure and raised blood clotting and may also contribute to obesity. This dietary imbalance may explain the rise of such diseases as asthma, coronary heart disease, many forms of cancer, autoimmunity and neurodegenerative diseases, all of which are believed to stem from inflammation in the body. The imbalance between Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids may also contribute to depression, dyslexia, hyperactivity and even a tendency toward violence.

Food sources of omega 6:

Flax seed oil, Flax seed meal Flax seeds, Hemp seed oil, Hemp seeds, Grape seed Oil, Pumpkin seeds, Pumpkin oil, Sesame oil, Walnut oil, Pine nuts, Pistachio nuts, Sunflower seeds (raw), Olive oil, Olives, Borage oil, Evening primrose oil, Black currant seed oil, Chestnut oil, Wheatgerm oil, Corn, safflower, sunflower, soybean and cottonseed oils are also sources of linoleic acid, but are refined and may be nutrient-deficient as sold in stores.

Many margarines, salad dressings and mayonnaise are made from these Omega-6 rich oils. Also, many processed foods contain these and similar oils. Check the labels.

Chicken contains because of what they mostly fed. Beef will loaded with Omega 6 if they are fed on corn as opposed to grass (ask your butcher).

In general you can cut down on Omega-6 levels by reducing consumption of processed and fast foods and polyunsaturated vegetable oils (corn, sunflower, safflower, soy, and cottonseed, for example). At home, use extra virgin olive oil for cooking and in salad dressings. Eat more oily fish or take fish oil supplements, walnuts, flax seeds, and omega-3 fortified eggs. Your body and mind will thank you.

In summary there are two ways to go, especially if you are working through your latest ‘fat loss plateau’….

Firstly do a little audit on what you are eating that may be adding to your Omega 6 intake and secondly significantly increase your Omega 3 intake.

Given the potential toxic state of most fish we eat it is not wise to eat too much fish so you are left with finding a good, clean Omega 3 fish oil supplement. Take care with the cheapies in the supermarket and health food stores as these may have come from fish farms or SE Asian waters and can be mercury toxic. You will see that the clean ‘distilled and purified’ fish oils out there can be very expensive but we now have some good news… along with your OsoLean you will VERY SOON be able to order Essential Source™ Omega 3 at an Associate price that will pleasantly surprise you.

Click here to learn about the best source of Omega 3 essential fatty acids as explained by Dr Rob Sinnott and Dr Stephen Boyd – you will be amazed especially as you learn about the importance of a correct balance of Omega 3 and 6.

This is outstanding value at an Associate Price of only A$38.70 on auto order!

 Cheers for now,

 Lenny and Lorraine Eagles

10 Simple things to help you release more unwanted fat!

We though it timely to put together a summary of all the 'fat loss' tips we have covered as well as couple on new things still be elaborated in coming newsletters. As you will see this is an unfolding journey for all of us. The best thing about many of these 'tips' is that they cost little or nothing to apply to your life. Any feedback is much appreciated....


Eat more low GI foods and moderate the high GI foods some of which are very nutritious but need to be small portions. Eating more raw, unprocessed and fresh foods helps as well.

Have protein for breakfast, eggs are great. The Vanilla and Chocolate Glycoslim a good quality meal replacement shake. This will also help you cut some calories from your daily intake without having your body go into starvation or famine mode where you stop burning fat!

Do some moderate exercise each day, not aerobics or cardio workouts! Walking 30 minutes a day is a great start. If you want to workout focus on resistance training and muscle strengthening exercises. There are many things you can do at home.

Drink enough clean water. Do not think that being thirsty is the best indicator of dehydration. A minimum of 8 glasses a day, say 2 litres is a good start. Yes you will ‘leak’ a bit to begin but the body adjusts! It is worth looking around for a good water filtration system that enhances the water quality while it filters. Nikken has a good filtration system. You also help the environment by using less plastic water bottles.

Think about some ‘intelligent supplementation’. We tend to be over-weight and under-nourished consuming calories without nutrients. The depletion of nutrients in our foods over the last 50 years has been huge. Intelligent supplementation provides the essential missing nutrients in a ‘real food technology’. At the very least you need glyconutrients for cell to cell communication, a synergistic blend of anti-oxidants that have been tested for serum ORAC, bio-available (food form) vitamins and minerals and enough clean Omega 3 Essential Fatty Acids (fish oil). Fortunately Mannatech provides the best of the best with some exciting new products soon to be launched in Australia.

The fish oil will also help correct the massive imbalance most people have because we consume way to much Omega 6 EFA (oil from nuts and grains). Some experts recommend a ratio of 1:4 of Omega 3 to Omega 6. Most western diets reach 1:10 up to 1:20 and this has serious consequences for fat loss.

Test and balance your body pH. Your saliva pH needs to be close to 7.4. Get some body pH testing strips to see where your body is now (most people are acidic). Then start drinking a juiced lemon or lime in water twice a day. Remember acid bodies hold on to fat.

Avoid all artificial sweeteners, especially aspartame often disguised as phenylalanine or labeled as ‘951’ in Australia. Best to avoid all products labeled as ‘no sugar’ or ‘diet’. If you want a safe sweetener get some Xylitol or Stevia.

Aim to release fat rather than lose weight. Beware of the ‘quick fix’ diet &/or exercise regime where the weight loss is 50% fat and 50% muscle! OsoLean is a natural food technology solution that supports the metabolism of fat and inhibits the body making more fat while retaining lean mass – muscles.

Most people do not get enough magnesium as it has been stripped out of most our foods. One or two magnesium tablets a day will help lots of things in your body. Some people need even more to help their bodies take up calcium and burn fat.

Does this common substance make you fat?

After our last couple of posts on the importance of body pH we though it timely to have another look at the artifical sweetners that are so widely used today and promoted as being 'healthy'.

In just this last I received two separate pieces of information concerning the problems with artifical sweetners.

While both sources are US based our 'food products' in Australia are almost identical....I hope this helps...

I wanted to talk about artificial sweeteners today because I've noticed that there's a lot of confusion and misconceptions revolving around these non-caloric sweeteners. Artificial sweeteners and the huge list of products sweetened with them are marketed to you relentlessly as "healthy foods" or "healthier" than sugar or corn syrup sweetened products. But are they really?

Just to clarify, some of the most popular artificial sweeteners on the market today are:
Splenda (sucralose)
Aspartame (phenylalanine, labeled as ‘951’ in Australia)
Saccharine
Acesulfame Potassium (aka - acesulfame K)

These artificial sweeteners are used in abundance in almost every "diet" drink, "lite" yogurts, puddings, and ice creams, most "low-carb" products, and almost all "reduced-sugar" products. Heck, even most protein powders are loaded with artificial sweeteners too (just look on the ingredients and you'll usually see one or more of them... except for Mannatech's GlycoSlim).

Splenda is probably one of the worst offenders of claiming to be "healthy" as they say that it's made from real sugar. Don't be fooled! It's still an artificial substance. What they don't tell you is that Splenda is actually a chemically modified substance where chlorine is added to the chemical structure, making it more similar to a chlorinated pesticide than something we should be eating or drinking.

The truth is that artificial sweeteners are not even close to being healthy, and as you'll discover in a minute, can easily be just as bad for you, if not worse, than sugar or corn syrup. Most people think that they are doing something good for themselves by choosing the "diet" drinks or "lite" yogurts compared to the sugar-laden versions, but the problem is that you're exposing yourself to a whole new set of problems with the artificially sweetened drinks and foods.

I know you're probably frustrated by all of the contradicting messages you hear each day about which foods are good for you and which are bad. I'm sure just today you probably saw some clever ad or commercial somewhere screaming health benefits for a food product that is loaded with artificial sweeteners. Don't worry.

Just stick with me and I'll get past the marketing hype for you and decipher the truth. I'll also give you some ideas for great alternatives to artificial sweeteners as well as alternatives to sugar or corn syrup sweeteners.

The fact is, artificial sweeteners vs. sugar or corn syrup is really just a battle between two evils. Which evil is worse?

I'm sure you already know the problems with sugar or high fructose corn syrup sweetened products. The excess empty calories, blood sugar spike, and resulting insulin surge this creates in your body not only promotes fat gain, but also stimulates your appetite further, making things even worse.

On the other hand, artificial sweeteners save you calories, but there's growing evidence that they can increase your appetite for sweets and other carbohydrates causing you to eat more later in the day anyway. Therefore, you don't really save any calories at all. Also, studies have shown that artificial sweeteners can stimulate high insulin levels in your body too, which again can promote fat storage.

All of the 4 artificial sweeteners listed above are nasty chemicals that the human body is simply not meant to ingest. However, most of us are ingesting a whole lot of these chemicals on a daily basis. Aside from the problems I touched on so far, other health issues that have been related to artificial sweeteners in scientific studies as well as observations are:

• some have been linked to potential cancer risks
• negative effects on the liver, kidneys, and other organs
• stimulating cravings
• gastrointestinal problems
• developmental problems in children and fetuses
• headaches and too many more issues to list

ow some of the above potential health problems are definitely not proven as fact in studies. However, some of them have been shown in animal studies given high doses. Regardless of the fact that any real health problems for actual human use are not proven yet, I don't know about you, but I'd rather protect myself and steer clear of these possibly dangerous artificial chemicals.

Of course, despite all of the health issues potentially associated with artificial sweeteners, the companies that sell the products will continue to claim that they are fully safe and they have studies that prove that they are safe. The bottom line is that the body was not designed to deal with foreign substances like artificial sweeteners. Take my word on that one.

So what are your options for alternatives? Well, your best alternatives for sugar or corn syrup are either raw honey, organic maple syrup, or even a little-known high antioxidant syrup called sorghum syrup (common in the southern US). Even though these alternatives still have the same amount of calories as sugar or corn syrup... honey, organic maple syrup, and sorghum syrup actually provide some nutrients and antioxidants, so it's not just empty calories. Empty calories stimulate your appetite more because your body is lacking nutrients.

(Source - Mike Geary Fitness/Lifestyle Coach, Certified Personal Trainer (CPT), Certified Nutrition Specialist http://truthaboutabs.com)



Now you're probably thinking that you'd like to still save on calories but avoid the nasty artificial sweeteners. Good news... You can with Xylitol!

Although xylitol looks and tastes exactly like sugar that is where the similarity ends. Xylitol is really sugar's mirror image. While sugar wreaks havoc on the body, xylitol heals and repairs. It has also been shown to build immunity, protect against chronic degenerative diseases and exhibits anti-aging benefits.

Xylitol is considered a five carbon sugar, which means it is an antimicrobial, preventing the growth of bacteria. This unique structure appears to be unfavorable in the metabolism of several pathogenic bacteria, weakening their ability to proliferate and adhere, resulting in reduced acid fermentation.

While sugar is acid-forming, xylitol is alkaline enhancing. All other forms of sugar, including sorbitol, another popular alternative sweetener, are six carbon sugars, which feed dangerous bacteria and fungi.

Xylitol is completely natural and absolutely safe for human consumption. In fact the average person consumes 2 to 4 grams of xylitol a day in fruits and vegetables. The World Health Organization has given xylitol their highest rating for a food additive, deemed safe for all individuals from infancy to old age. It is currently approved by government bodies in over 50 countries worldwide.

Xylitol is as sweet as table sugar, yet its initial utilization on the human body requires virtually no insulin. Its glycemic index is 7% that of common table sugar (glycemic index: xylitol = 7, glucose - 100). Compared with sugar, xylitol causes a much smaller increase in serum insulin and blood glucose levels with no hypoglycemic "rebound". This is why it is suitable for use by diabetics.

Xylitol also has 40% fewer calories and 75% fewer carbohydrates than sugar and is slowly absorbed and metabolized, resulting in very negligible changes in insulin. About one third of xylitol that is consumed is absorbed by the liver. The other two-thirds travel to the intestinal tract, where it is broken down by the gut bacteria in to short-chain fatty acids. As xylitol is utilized slowly and incompletely in the human body, this also accounts for its reduced caloric value. (2.3kcal/g: FDA value).

The reduced calorie and antibacterial qualities of xylitol make it suitable for several applications in diet, medicine and dentistry. All such uses are easily administered, completely natural and present only minimal negative side effects when overindulged (laxative effects).

Xylitol looks, feels and tastes like sugar and unlike other natural sweetener alternatives, leaves no unpleasant aftertaste. It is available in many forms. In its crystalline form, it can replace sugar in cooking, baking or as a sweetener for beverages. It is also used in gums and mints.

XYLITOL AND HEALTH
Xylitol is proven to have both superior nutritional benefits, as well as several anti-bacterial properties. These qualities offer exceptional health benefits for diabetics, children with chronic ear infections, sinusitis patients, and even individuals suffering from asthma and allergies.

Studies show that when administered to children in chewing gum or syrup, xylitol produces a reduced rate of otitis media (middle ear infection) and a lower nasopharyngeal carriage rate and pneumococci. When administered as a nasal lavage, xylitol has been shown to interfere with the capability of bacteria to adhere to tissues of the middle ear, throat and sinuses.




 

How you body pH (acidity) affects releasing fat!

The missing weight loss management key for many people is the pH factor. Since blood pH is so critical to life, the body protects the blood at all costs. The typical diet consists of foods that when digested create acid that is put into the blood. The body has to neutralize this acid or risk major problems. Fat is one of the primary buffers used by the body to help deal with acid. When the body cannot neutralize acid, it stores it in fat cells.

When attempting to lose fat, we typically cut calories. But, if our system remains acidic, then instead of burning fat, which would release more acid into the system, the body burns muscle instead. Identify those foods that are creating excess acid in the system and also provide foods that are alkaline. This combination can help you to raise your body pH, thereby creating an environment for health.

A lifestyle of health is paramount to weight-management and health. This includes: sensible eating, moderate and consistent exercise, sufficient water consumption, and a good nutritional program.

The pH Factor

"pH" or "potential for hydrogen" is the measure used to determine whether something is an acid or alkaline. It is measured on a scale from 0 - 14, with 6.8 - 7.0 being considered neutral. Anything below 6.8 is considered acid, and anything above 7.4 is considered alkaline. The pH of the blood is just over 7.3. If blood pH is altered, major problems, including death, are imminent. Therefore, the body has multiple buffers in place to make sure the blood pH remains constant.

The primary buffers the body uses are: sodium, calcium, and body fat. When acid is present in the blood, the body looks to neutralize it with an alkaline substance. The primary neutralizing agent is sodium, then calcium. The body actually takes calcium from the bones in order to neutralize blood acid. If it cannot be easily neutralized, then the body stores the acid in the fat cells. That creates a major weight loss management problem.

Let's look at how this all works. Like any machine, our body needs fuel in order operate. Unfortunately, the fuel or food that most people use is not what the body needs or desires. In order to operate at peak efficiency, the body needs the proper food. The typical diet is high in food with little to no food value.

The problem goes much deeper than just lower efficiency. Like any machine, the fuel that we burn creates exhaust or by-products, sometimes called ash. In the body, our food is burned as fuel on the cellular level. The blood is the vehicle used to carry the food to the cell, and is also used to carry the waste or exhaust away from the cell to be eliminated.

When raw fruits and vegetables are consumed, the body breaks it down and sends it to the cells for fuel. The cell burns the fuel and the exhaust is an alkaline ash. When food from the typical diet is burned as fuel, the exhaust created is an acid ash. That acid is then carried in the blood. Since blood pH is so critical to life, the body protects the blood at all costs. The body has to neutralize this acid or risk major problems.

Our goal then is to reduce the amount of food that creates an acidic ash and increase the foods that create an alkaline ash.

Acid in the body acts very much like acid outside the body. It creates waste. It ages the skin, degenerates tissues, and causes major problems. Additionally, most health concerns are created by an over abundance of acid in the system. Reducing acid in the system is critical to long-term health.

Many people love to drink a can of softdrink. If you look on the label, you will discover that a can of softdrink primarily contains acid. The pH of a soda is around 2.3. That is highly toxic. The body has to scramble to neutralize that acid in the system. It uses sodium, calcium from the bones or teeth, or anything else it has to in order to neutralize the acid.

Can we suggest slight change in some of the foods that you normally would eat? We understand that most people will not eliminate all the bad food from their diet, so instead of eliminating it, we are going to suggest a strategy of reduction.

Water

Most people are dehydrated and it may not show up as being thirsty! Drinking sufficient amounts of good water is critical to your success.  Pure water is the only thing that counts toward your daily intake..

Exercise

Building lean muscle, burning additional calories, and improving overall health are just some of the benefits of consistent exercise. That may include: walking, jogging, riding a bike, playing with your kids or grandkids, or other activities like, chasing your spouse around the house, that will raise your heart rate. Make it something you enjoy. Just commit to it.

Extremes

In life, balance is to be desired. When anything is done to excess, we are in danger of getting out of balance. Usually it is not one piece of cake, or one softdrink that does us in. It is when softdrinks, cakes, and other acid-producing foods are consumed in excess that we create problems. You need to identify the things we are doing in excess in our food consumption, and make some extreme choices on how to bring those into balance.

Remember a very simple and inexpensive change is twice a day to juice a lemon or lime in water.... and measure your body pH.

Which pH Zone Is YOUR Body In?

Here is a very simple way to help get your body from being acidic into alkaline…simply juice a fresh lemon or lime into glass of water twice a day.

The Importance of Acid and Alkaline Balance for Health

When we were born and in our younger years our body was naturally in an alkaline state. In its natural, healthy state, our body is slightly alkaline - the opposite of acidic. In fact, our blood and cells depend on remaining in this slightly alkaline state for our very survival. For example, to produce energy from the food we eat, a healthy cell requires abundant oxygen-an alkalinizing element. A healthy cell also contains alkaline minerals like potassium.

Virtually all degenerative diseases including cancer, heart disease, arthritis, osteoporosis, kidney and gall stones, and tooth decay are associated with excess acidity in the body. While the body has a homeostatic mechanism that maintains a constant pH 7.4 in the blood, this mechanism works by depositing and withdrawing acid and alkaline minerals from other locations including the bones, soft tissues, body fluids and saliva. Therefore, the pH of these other tissues can fluctuate greatly. The pH of saliva offers a window through which you can see the overall pH balance in your body.

Cancer cannot exist in a strong alkaline environment, at pH 8 the cancer cells die. All forms of arthritis are associated with excess acidity. Acid in the body dissolves both teeth and bones. Whatever health situation you are faced with, you can monitor your progress toward a proper acid/alkaline balance by testing your saliva pH. (see http://www.budwigcenter.com/acid-ph-dangers.php )

If you have access to saliva / urine pH testing then here is a guide to where you need to get your pH to. You can ask at your chemist or health food shop for saliva / urine testing strips or go on ebay.

Which pH Zone Is YOUR Body In?

Your body is ALKALINE by design. The fluids that make up 70% of your body MUST remain alkaline for you to experience optimal health.

Your body is ACIDIC by function. Every metabolic process that your body undergoes produces acid. Your body is always seeking to maintain proper pH Balance - the balance between acid and alkaline.

The VERY ACIDIC pH Zone™: 4.5 - 5.75
This "danger zone" is NOT where you want your pH to be. If you're in this pH Zone™, you MUST take serious steps to correct this acidity. If your pH is in this range, your body is 50 to 100 times too acidic! An internal terrain like this is poison to your cells.

The ACIDIC pH Zone™: 6.0 - 6.5
In this "caution" zone, your body is 5 to 10 times too acidic. Making alterations to your diet and supplementing these diet changes with alkalizing elements will help to bring your pH back up to The OPTIMAL pH Zone.

The OPTIMAL pH Zone™ : 6.75 - 7.25
If your pH Composite Reading™ is in this zone, congratulations! Keep up the good work by maintaining an alkalizing lifestyle.

Remember - simply juice a fresh lemon or lime into glass of water twice a day.

A more alkaline diet may also assist in shedding excess fat but that is another post.

How to enjoy your OsoLean™ every day

Here are a few delicious ways to enjoy your OsoLean™ every day...

We usually start the day with a fresh cup of coffee from the cappuccino maker with two scoops of OsoLean™ powder mixed in with the milk... Lorraine also likes the occassional Soy Latte.

To finish the day Lorraine usually has a Chai Latte or hot chocolate with OsoLean™ powder.

Breakfast most mornings (unless we do a bacon and eggs special) is a fruit smoothie that is both low kilojoule and low glycemic. This easily gets us through to lunchtime without needing to be 'snacking'.

Here are some ideas you might like to try that include the GlycoSlim (R) Meal Replacement Drinks that come in a delicious Vanilla or Chocolate flavor. They are great way to start the day loaded with essential nutrients including lots of protein.

You can experiment for yourself if you are already making smoothies for breakfast....

Beginning with two scoops of OsoLean™ powder, mix the following ingredients with your desired portion of frozen or chilled fruit in a blender. Add some ice, sorbet, low fat milk, yoghurt or soy milk for a special treat!

Vanilla and Mango Shake
Frozen Mango, 1Scoop of Vanilla GlycoSlim(R) powder and 250 ml of cold water.

Cherry Ripe
Frozen Cherries, 1 Scoop of Chocolate GlycoSlim(R) powder, Coconut milk to taste (1/2 can) and top up with water to 250ml.

Chocolate and Blueberries
Frozen Blueberries, 1 Scoop of Chocolate GlycoSlim(R) powder, 1 scoop of Organic Raw Cocoa Powder and 250ml of water.

Pina Colada
Frozen Pineapple, 1 Scoop of Vanilla GlycoSlim(R) powder, Coconut milk to taste (1/2 can) and top up with water to 250ml.

For Fruit Lovers you can do a very quick drink on the run with two scoops of OsoLean™ powder mixed into 250ml of your favourite fruit juice...comes up tasting like a milk smoothie.

Most importantly enjoy the journey....

ps. be sure sure to checkout the new Mannatech Osolean™ Website for great tips and encouragement

7 Ways to Break a Weight Loss / Fat Loss Plateau

If you've ever tried to lose fat for any sustained period of time - you may have hit a plateau! Almost everyone reaches a weight loss plateau at some point. You have changed nothing, but suddenly the fat no longer disappears!!!

The human body is incredibly adaptive, and will do its level best to maintain equilibrium (homeostasis). The reason is that the human body works hard to keep energy intake and output in balance. In other words, your body does not like to lose weight (not a revelation, huh?).

The plateau effect has to be the biggest motivation-killer there is. Unfortunately many popular diet books are strangely quiet on the issue -- I guess the concept doesn't sell well.

After your initial weight loss, your progress will slow down and eventually stop even though your exercise and food intake is consistent. The bottom line is that the very efforts you make to burn more calories may eventually slow it down.

The best single word of advice is to make a change. Don't make the mistake of doing the same thing over and over expecting a different result (Ben Franklin's definition of insanity).

What changes can you make?

Problem 1. Lowering your calories too much
Fact: It takes calories to burn calories. When you decrease your food intake, your body simply lowers its metabolic rate in response. This still allows the body to function properly, but ultimately your body requires fewer calories which creates hunger and prevents you from losing fat.

Solution: Keep your calories slightly below your maintenance calories so that your energy and metabolism remain high. A deficit greater than 500-700 calories makes it much more difficult to maintain your lean body mass.

Another variation is Zig-zagging, or calorie cycling is the process of varying daily calorie intake, while maintaining the same weekly intake. Instead of consuming (for example) precisely 1800 calories each day - you can mix it up. Eat 1500 calories one day, and 2100 calories the next. This can be as simple as halving then doubling a portion size, or adding a post-workout shake into the plan. Just keep your body guessing.

Problem 2. Loss of lean body mass
Fact: Muscle burns fat and losing muscle means burning fewer calories. Lean body mass uses five times the calories as fat mass so, if you lose it, your metabolism drops and your weight loss stops.

Solution: Make sure your exercise program is combined with a fully nourished body. You can accomplish this with a diet that creates a safe calorie deficit along with some type of multivitamin to help with any nutrient deficiencies. This is where Mannatech’s Optimal Health Products work so well at providing the essential, missing nutrients your body needs.

Problem 3. Weight loss
What? But you thought that's what you wanted! However, what you may have forgotten is that when you weigh less, it takes less calories to move your body. A loss of any amount of weight will lead to a reduced energy requirement.

Solution: Make sure you start (or continue) a weight training program to help increase lean body mass, which can help compensate for the loss of calories. Working your muscles will help to strengthen bone tissue, increase lean mass, and ultimately boost metabolic rate. Remember it is not about weight loss but rather improving your fat to lean mass ratio.

Problem 4. The 'Adaptation' Phase Ends
Fact: When you start a new exercise program, your body responds because it is required to make numerous changes to adjust to different workloads. So, your muscles are rebuilding themselves and this consumes all kinds of calories. But, at some point your body will stop adapting to the new workload and, as a result, you burn less calories for the same activities.

Solution:
Don't let your body get used to the exercise. Maintain your body's adaptation period by changing the intensity, duration, frequency and/or the mode of exercise and include interval training if necessary. So you go walking a lot? Then try jogging, or swimming, or cycling -- anything that will change the way your body is working.

Problem 5: Exercise Efficiency
Fact: The more you do something, the better you get at it. As your body becomes better at performing your exercises, it can actually use fewer calories during the exercise. Think of it this way: trained athletes often use fewer calories than untrained athletes with similar body types and workouts. So, if this describes where you are, consider yourself a trained athlete and read on!

Solution:
The solution to this is the same as for Problem 4; don't get used to the exercise. Concentrate on more dramatic changes such as trying brand new activities. For example, if you use the treadmill for two weeks, switch to something different like the rowing machine or the bike. Don't forget to make changes in your weight training routine as well!

Problem 6: Over-training
Fact: Just like not eating enough can lower the amount calories you burn, so can over-training. When you exercise too much, there is a point of diminishing returns when an increase in exercise energy expenditure is negated by an equal decrease in non-exercise energy expenditure. In other words, when you increase your exercise intensity, your body responds by decreasing the amount of calories you burn during the rest of your day.

Solution:
Take time to recover. If you reach exercise burnout, this is a great time to take a break for a few days, or try something gentle like yoga or a stretching routine. After you've rested, get back to exercise but lighten up your original routine and increase your intensity only as necessary.

7. Enhanced Physical Condition
Fact: As you get into better shape, your body is more efficient and it costs fewer calories to operate. Improved health means a lower resting metabolic rate and fewer calories are burned during normal daily activities. Part of this is because your cardio-pulmonary system is more efficient now and you have a lower resting heart rate.

Solution:
Congratulations! You're officially in shape and healthy. Focus on that and feel good about yourself. Concentrate on changing your routine as described in Solution 5.

If after however many weeks the fat simply stops coming off, do not let yourself get frustrated or disappointed even if you feel like you were doing everything ‘right’. Some of us seem to have more adaptive bodies than others. Every person is unique, and we must learn how our individual body responds - and how to work with that. I trust some of these points may be helpful.

Looking for SAFER sweetener, try XYLITOL

XYLITOL - THE SAFER SWEETENER

As you read this short aricle you may be encouraged to restock your 'sugar' supply.... check out the Australian Xylitol Website linked below.

WHAT IS XYLITOL?

Xylitol is a sweet, crystalline carbohydrate discovered in the late 1800's by German and Finnish chemists. It occurs in wood, woody plants and in virtually all fruit products. Xylitol is also produced in the human body as a normal metabolic intermediary.

By the 1960's Xylitol was being used in Germany, Switzerland, the Soviet Union and Japan as a preferred sweetener in diabetic’s diets and as an energy source for infusion therapy in patients with impaired glucose tolerance and insulin resistance. Since then, many other countries have been producing xylitol for uses in their domestic markets - and with remarkable health benefits. It has been relatively unknown in USA and Australia until recently, primarily because cheaper supplies if cane sugar made the more expensive xylitol less economically viable.

Although xylitol looks and tastes exactly like sugar that is where the similarity ends. Xylitol is really sugar's mirror image. While sugar wreaks havoc on the body, xylitol heals and repairs. It has also been shown to build immunity, protect against chronic degenerative diseases and exhibits anti-aging benefits.

Xylitol is considered a five carbon sugar, which means it is an antimicrobial, preventing the growth of bacteria. This unique structure appears to be unfavorable in the metabolism of several pathogenic bacteria, weakening their ability to proliferate and adhere, resulting in reduced acid fermentation.

While sugar is acid-forming, xylitol is alkaline enhancing. All other forms of sugar, including sorbitol, another popular alternative sweetener, are six carbon sugars, which feed dangerous bacteria and fungi.

Xylitol is completely natural and absolutely safe for human consumption. In fact the average person consumes 2 to 4 grams of xylitol a day in fruits and vegetables. The World Health Organization has given xylitol their highest rating for a food additive, deemed safe for all individuals from infancy to old age. It is currently approved by government bodies in over 50 countries worldwide.

Xylitol is as sweet as table sugar, yet its initial utilization on the human body requires virtually no insulin. Its glycemic index is 7% that of common table sugar (glycemic index: xylitol = 7, glucose - 100). Compared with sugar, xylitol causes a much smaller increase in serum insulin and blood glucose levels with no hypoglycemic "rebound". This is why it is suitable for use by diabetics.

Xylitol also has 40% fewer calories and 75% fewer carbohydrates than sugar and is slowly absorbed and metabolized, resulting in very negligible changes in insulin. About one third of xylitol that is consumed is absorbed by the liver. The other two-thirds travel to the intestinal tract, where it is broken down by the gut bacteria in to short-chain fatty acids. As xylitol is utilized slowly and incompletely in the human body, this also accounts for its reduced caloric value. (2.3kcal/g: FDA value).

The reduced calorie and antibacterial qualities of xylitol make it suitable for several applications in diet, medicine and dentistry. All such uses are easily administered, completely natural and present only minimal negative side effects when overindulged (laxative effects).

Xylitol looks, feels and tastes like sugar and unlike other natural sweetener alternatives, leaves no unpleasant aftertaste. It is available in many forms. In its crystalline form, it can replace sugar in cooking, baking or as a sweetener for beverages. It is also used in gums and mints. .

XYLITOL AND HEALTH

Xylitol is proven to have both superior nutritional benefits, as well as several anti-bacterial properties. These qualities offer exceptional health benefits for diabetics, children with chronic ear infections, sinusitis patients, and even individuals suffering from asthma and allergies. .

Studies show that when administered to children in chewing gum or syrup, xylitol produces a reduced rate of otitis media (middle ear infection) and a lower nasopharyngeal carriage rate and pneumococci. When administered as a nasal lavage, xylitol has been shown to interfere with the capability of bacteria to adhere to tissues of the middle ear, throat and sinuses.

THE SAFER SWEETENER

Increased sugar consumption has bedeviled Western cultures with more and more health problems, many of which are putting enormous strain on health care systems. Finally, there is an answer to our collective prayers for something truly healthy that can satisfy our sweet tooth. Over 1,500 scientific studies have found that the more you use xylitol, the more you can eliminate sugar cravings, reduce insulin levels and alkalize your body. It is a great aid on the way to good health and long life.







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4 Ways to Eat For a Healthy Metabolism

Some foods are better than others for helping you stay in shape? But are there foods and eating habits that are must-haves for a healthy metabolism?

Many people think of metabolism as the rate at which our bodies burn calories. If you've got a slow metabolism you tend to gain weight easily whereas a fast metabolism keeps you lean. But metabolism encompasses much more. It represents all the chemical reactions in your body.

To make sense of how they work together to keep in or out of shape think of eating for your metabolism as having four components; energy burning, appetite regulation, hormonal balance and nutritional optimisation. Looking after each component is vital for achieving your best shape and physical performance.

1. Eat to maximise energy burningThis first component relates to calorie burning, so the key questions here are whether certain foods and eating patterns can burn more calories.Of the macronutrients, protein has the highest Thermic Effect of Feeding (TEF) when compared to fat, carbohydrate and alcohol. TEF describes the energy cost of digesting and absorbing food. It takes more energy to break down protein. Aim for a minimum of 1 gram of protein per kilogram of body weight and a maximum of 2 grams per kilogram. Remember Osolean, two scoops twice day, provides 40% of your Daily protein requirement.

What about specific foods? Research on chilli reveals the active ingredient capsciasin can stimulate metabolic rate but is only likely to do so at levels that are unpalatable to all but the hardiest chilli lovers.

Green tea contains antioxidants called catechins which are thought to kick metabolic rate up by about 70 calories a day when consumed is sufficient quantities. Around four to five strong cups of green tea each day is a minimum.

When it comes to eating habits and meal timing, it's the total amount of food that you consume in 24 hours that matters. Around 15 percent of our resting energy expenditure is accounted for by TEF. If you eat more, this figure increases. If you eat less, as is the case with dieting then the TEF percentage will drop a little. Crash dieting will cause a further drop in your total metabolic rate as your body attempts to conserve energy.

As long as you keep your total daily calorie and macronutrient balance the same, diets of three or six meals will have the same affect on daily TEF. Remember Osolean, two scoops twice day will accelerate the rate at which body metabolises fat cells.

2. Eat to re-wire your appetiteAppetite is the next component of your metabolism. In recent years, scientists have started to untangle the complex ball of biological reactions that make up appetite chemistry.The theory part of appetite regulation says you should eat when you are hungry and not eat when you aren't.

In practice it's a challenge because many of us have had our appetites hotwired to overeat from a young age. Eating for your metabolism means recruiting your natural appetite chemicals to work for you automatically. For example, the gut hormone cholecystikinin (CCK) is released 10 to 20 minutes after you start eating and sends a message to your brain that you are being nourished.
Slowing you eating rate at meals gives CCK a chance to do its job.

Remember Osolean, two scoops twice day 29 minutes before eating will help trigger the release of CCK. providesGhrelin is another hunger-related hormone. It triggers a strong signal to eat 4 to 5 hours after your last meal.

Skipping meals plays havoc with ghrelin and can drive you to overeat at your next feeding session.While researchers continue to study dozens of gut and brain-based appetite chemicals, almost all the journal articles highlight the importance of re-wiring your appetite chemistry. This is done by eating regularly (at least three meals a day) and carefully listening to your appetite chemicals to know when you need to eat and stop eating.

Foods that contain protein, especially meat, fish, chicken and other animal protein sources tend to suppress appetite the most. Low-glycemic index (GI) carbohydrate foods like oats, pasta, legumes and some wholegrain breads are better at making you feel fuller for longer than more processed high-GI foods like white bread, rice and sugary treats.

3. Eat to balance your hormonesThe major metabolic hormone is insulin, which regulates the storage of blood glucose as muscle and liver glycogen. Eating the right amount of food, particularly low-GI carbohydrates spread over meals and snacks keeps insulin leveled and functioning properly. Overeating and subsequent body fat gain interferes with insulin function causing insulin resistance and additional weight gain. When weight gain results in obesity, growth hormone levels often fall and the spiral of metabolic dysfunction can spin out of control.

Eating for healthy hormone metabolism also means consuming enough of the mineral iodine. Iodine is necessary for your thyroid to secrete the thyroid hormones that maintain your metabolic rate. Including seafood two to three times a week, plus meat, eggs and a multivitamin in your diet plan will help you get the iodine you need. Seaweed products can also give your iodine levels a boost as can brazil and hazelnuts.

Other hormones may be more susceptible to non-dietary influences. Cortisol, which is known as the stress hormone can trigger food cravings by stimulating the hunger chemical neuropeptide-Y in the brain. Managing stress therefore has a direct benefit on metabolic fitness.

Remember Osolean, two scoops twice day, inhibits the enzymes that tell your body to store fat.4. Eat to optimise your nutritionThe fourth way to eat for your metabolism is to aim for nutritional optimisation. This is the nutritional equivalent of financial superannuation. Your investment now ensures a metabolic payoff in the future.Dairy foods are a good example. A growing body of research suggests an adequate intake of say at least two serves a day, is required to promote healthy body fat levels. It may be the calcium, something else in dairy or a combination that seems to enhance fat burning.

Remember Osolean, two scoops twice day, provides a massive 450gm of food form CalciumOmega-3 fish oils have a similar story. It's thought that a generous intake from fish or fish oil capsules helps positively regulate fat burning. One study found a 1.6 kg greater reduction in body fat in a group that took 6 fish oil capsules ( 6 x 1000mg capsules, each containing 300mg fish oils) each day over 16 weeks compared to the group who took the non-fish oil placebo. Experts are still sketchy on the mechanism, but it has something to do with the incorporation of the long-chain fatty acids into cellular membranes.

The metabolic and weight management cases for eating a nutrient-rich diet are growing and has lead to one academic coining the terms `malnutritive obesity' or `malnubesity'. This refers to the development of obesity triggered by nutrient deficiencies or imbalances. Even a higher protein intake will be sub-optimal if the level of protein pushes other nutrient-rich foods out of your diet.
If you would like to get a complete understanding of the role of ‘intelligent supplementation’ in filling the gap in our nutrient deficient fruit and vegetables, the presentation by Dr Stephen Boyd, the Medical Director for Mannatech is a must view.

Look after your metabolism four waysThis article has built a case to eat for your metabolism in four ways. Firstly, avoid crash dieting and use protein to boost metabolic rate. Then keep your appetite chemicals working with rather than against you. Eating to balance insulin, ensuring enough iodine and managing stress are next. Finally, hedge your metabolic bets by eating from all the food groups and demanding nutrient-rich food at every meal.

The Osolean Plan will help you to turn off the fat switch for life by improving your lean mass to fat ratio. Dr Steve Nugent’s Osolean Plan Training video gives a comprehensive explanation of the four mechanism of Osolean. We also talk about turning on the wellness switch with Mannatech Optimal Health supplements that provide the essential missing nutrients needed to return every system of your body to normal physiology ie. Wellness.

The diet that keeps you in shape should focus on more than calorie counting and metabolic rate. Eating for your metabolism four ways is the key to automatic lifetime results.
Based on an article by Matt O'Neill ( BSpSc, MSc(Nut&Diet), APD, AN, Nutritionist )

Why it is SO IMPORTANT to lose FAT and keep MUSCLE

This short, sharp video presentation by a personal trainer has to be the BEST explaination I have seen on why muscle mass is SO IMPORTANT... enjoy and pass on to your friends.