Low Carb Diets and Weight Loss

In the last few decades, many of the longest lasting diet crazes have been low carb diets. Some of the more popular low carb diet plans include the Atkins and South Beach diets. Many people have successfully used these diets to maintain a healthy weight.

For those that are constantly researching diet plans, you will notice the fact that the low carb diets are still popular even though they have been in the news for some time now. These plans are not a fad that will fade any time soon.

Low-Fat Diet Plans

After decades of education that points to the benefits of low-fat diet plans, Americans are now the fattest people on earth and getting fatter each year. More worryingly, the occurrences of diabetes is also increasing. As a result, it is believed that over 30 million Americans have taken up some sort of low carb diet.

Low carb diets, a common term which means low carbohydrate diets, are diet plans that are designed to promote weight loss while at the same time attempting to reduce the amount of carbohydrates in a diet. The reason many people begin a low carb diet is because the consumption of carbohydrates is linked to obesity and increased insulin levels, which can lead to diabetes. There is not a consensus among nutritionists regarding the effectiveness and safety of a low carb diet, yet many rely on the seemingly strong evidence that lends truth to the claim that a low carb diet can actually promote weight loss.

Are Low-Carb Diet Plans Boring?

A common complaint about these diets, however, is that they are so boring. Many dieters complain that "there's not enough variety," or "it gets so monotonous," or "there's nothing to eat." Fortunately for people who are motivated to keep with their low carbohydrate diet plan in order to meet their goal of achieving and maintaining a healthy weight, there are ways to add flavor and diversity to one's weekly menu.

There is no reason that low carb dieting has to be boring. In fact, low carb dieting is not about eating a bland diet of raw vegetables and red meat, but instead it is about enjoying really delicious, really diverse foods.

Add Variety

The low carb diet is now considered as one of the most commonly used plans among dieters. It is therefore no doubt that as many people were drawn to it, many companies have developed services by providing recipes and quick-food choices in super markets designed especially for people committed to these plans. There are a number of ways to make these diet plans more exciting.

In addition, there are many cookbooks that cater to these diet-conscious menu seekers. For example, Cajun Clark, Internet presence and cookbook guru, has released his Sweet & Sassy! cookbook. This is not for the faint of heart, but it is for novice to advanced dessert makers, or anyone who wants to get to someone's heart through their stomach.

The low carbohydrate diet is not just a fad. History has shown it is a way of life, and a smart roadmap toward a healthy lifestyle.

Researchers Review Pros and Cons of Plastic Surgery

Most of us who are in the process of trying to lose weight are looking to improve our appearance and boost our self-confidence. Of course, eating right and working out are the best way to shed excess pounds and shape up, but sometimes, you need a bit of extra help to help the process along.

Many men and women who are dieting or who have already reached the end of their weight loss journey seek out the services of cosmetic surgeons. Skillful plastic surgery can virtually turn back time, helping you return your face and body to the way they looked before age -- and weight -- intervened.

However, despite the popularity of plastic and cosmetic surgery, some recent studies have called into question the safety and effectiveness of some of these procedures. Considering the skyrocketing demand for plastic surgery, researchers around the world are focusing on the issue, attempting to identify problem areas and devise safer surgical techniques. This week, we?ll review the results of several recent studies that have weighed the positive and negative outcomes of plastic surgery.

Plastic Surgery May Help Ease Depression in Some Patients

Many patients who have undergone plastic or cosmetic surgery have attested to these procedures? ability to boost mood, attitude, and self-confidence, but the results of one recent study indicate that these widespread beliefs might actually have scientific credibility. According to the findings of a research project that were presented at the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) Plastic Surgery conference in San Francisco, some types of plastic surgery may actually help to alleviate mild to moderate depression.

The study analyzed the pre- and post-surgery depression of a sample of 362 patients. Before plastic surgery, 61% of the sample reported taking prescription anti-depressants. However, follow-up data reported that only 32% continued taking the drugs after their plastic surgery. This indicates that the surgery may have decreased the incidence of treatable by depression by as much as half. 98% of the respondent indicated that the procedure had dramatically boosted their self-esteem.

The scientists point out that it would be wrong to infer that the surgery actually ?cured? the patients? depression. However, a combination of factors ? including the sense of proactive control involved in taking steps to address a perceived flaw ? indicates that some sort of causal relationship may exist for some patients.

Women with Breast Implants at Higher Risk for Suicide

Based on the conventional wisdom surrounding breast augmentation, one would think that the boost in self-confidence that comes with the procedure would decrease the risk of suicide among women who had undergone the operation. However, according to the results of a study conducted by scientists at the Canadian Public Health Agency and Cancer Care Ontario, women with breast implants actually stand a greater chance of committing suicide than their counterparts without breast implants.

The scientists studied health data from nearly 25,000 women who had undergone breast implant surgery over a 25-year period. They found that the overall mortality rate of women with breast implants was virtually indistinguishable from the larger group of women as a whole. However, women with breast implants were 73% more likely to commit suicide than women in the general population.

Although the reasons behind this phenomenon are not yet clear, the researchers hypothesized that it may have something to do with the self-esteem and self-confidence issues that prompted the women to seek out breast implants in the first place. They called on the scientific community to research this issue further.

Obese Patients Undergoing Breast Reconstruction Face Unique Risks

When women with breast cancer undergo a mastectomy, some opt for the procedure known as ?breast reconstruction,? which rebuilds the breast mass lost in mastectomy and offers a more natural look. However, the results of a recent study conducted by scientists at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center indicate that this procedure may not be safe for women who are obese or significantly overweight.

Women with a Body Mass Index (BMI) over 35 experienced significantly more complications than their counterparts at normal body weights. For women with BMIs that approached or exceeded 40, nearly 100% of patients experienced some type of post-surgery complication. The authors suggested that some patients may want to lose weight before undergoing breast reconstruction.

If you?re considering plastic surgery, talk to a licensed practitioner to determine the right kind of procedure. Please be sure to check back each week for more of the diet and weight loss news you need.

Men and Botox: Scientists Find New Ways to Help Male Patients Look and Feel Better

These days, people are more conscious of their appearance than ever before. With the plethora of safe and effective beauty treatments available on the market, it just makes sense to invest a bit of time and money in order to look your very best.

Age can leave its mark on both the body and the face, and physical changes like weight loss or weight gain can wreak havoc on the skin. Today, a new generation of men are challenging longstanding stereotypes and seeking out the latest beauty treatments that salons and spas have to offer.

The anti-aging miracle drug Botox has returned a youthful look to millions of women ? and now their husbands, boyfriends, brothers, and fathers are looking for the some of the same cosmetic magic. This trend has sparked a wave of research into the implications of Botox use among men.

The studies show that Botox is helping men boost their health ? and their self-confidence, as well. This week, we?ll take a look at what scientists have to say about the growing trend of men turning to Botox.

More Botox Needed to Achieve Satisfactory Cosmetic Results for Male Patients

When men show up for a facial Botox injection, practitioners need to lay out a few extra syringes. The findings of a recent study published in the journal Dermatologic Therapy suggest that male patients may require up to twice as much Botox as their female counterparts. If practitioners use the female dose on male patients, the study reported, the degree of muscle manipulation achieved may not be sufficient to be noticeable.

The authors speculate that the need for more Botox may be due to the fact that men have more muscle mass than women ? not only in their bodies, but in their faces as well. The additional Botox may be necessary to penetrate the denser musculature of male patients.

However, the authors cautioned that the correct dosage should be calculated based on an assessment of each individual patient. For example, a small-framed man may be able to achieve satisfactory results with a lower dose of the treatment.

Botox May Help Men Recover From Enlarged Prostrate

Men with non-cancerous enlargement of the prostrate gland often suffer from a wide array of troubling symptoms, including frequent urination, sexual dysfunction, and in some cases, even urinary incontinence. However, traditional treatments for enlarged prostrate symptoms are undesirable, as they often have many unpleasant side effects that equal or exceed the symptoms of the disorder itself.

In a recent study conducted jointly by researchers at the Chang Gung University Medical College and the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, it was found that an injection of botulinum toxin A, otherwise known as Botox, can significantly reduce the symptoms associated with an enlarged prostate.

In a preliminary study, a sample of 37 men with enlarged prostate glands was injected with Botox. A significant proportion of the group reported improved urinary function and gains in overall quality of life. It was found that the treatment may be effective for up to a year after the injection.

Although the results achieved in the study were described as preliminary, the researchers asserted that this breakthrough may be a significant help to the millions of men who suffer from enlarged prostate glands.

Study in Progress to Assess the Effectiveness of Botox for Male Pelvic Pain

Researchers at the University of Washington are currently conducting a large-scale study designed to test Botox as a possible treatment for cases of severe pelvic pain in men. Specifically, the research is focusing on male sufferers of Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome, a hard-to-treat and sometimes debilitating condition that is estimated to impact nearly ten percent of men over the age of 18.

Because the syndrome is caused by muscle spasms and contractions, the unique relaxation action associated with Botox may be helpful. In a preliminary study, four male patients who were treated with Botox experienced significant improvements with no adverse side effects.

If you or a loved one is considering Botox injections for health or cosmetic purposes, talk to a qualified practitioner to ensure that this treatment is right for you. Check back each week for more diet, weight loss, and beauty.

Scientists Take a Closer Look at the Risks of Weight Loss Surgery

For men and women who are fed up with what can seem like a never-ending struggle to lose weight, bariatric surgery has become an increasingly popular option. Over the last decade, the number of people electing surgical options for weight loss has skyrocketed. In 2007, an estimated 170,000 people underwent weight loss surgery in the United States alone.

There is a strong consensus among the medical establishment that obesity is a very clear risk to the public?s overall health. Furthermore, traditional methods of weight loss, such as diet changes and exercise regimens, appear to be unable to turn the tide of obesity for millions of overweight men and women.

However, despite the growing popularity of weight loss surgery, there are also a number of significant risks associated with these procedures. Taking the health risks of obesity into consideration, many doctors advise that the dangers inherent in any major surgery still outweigh the long-term health risks of being significantly overweight.

Still, scientists around the world are engaged in ongoing studies that are seeking to highlight and eliminate the risks associated with weight loss surgery. This week, we?ll review the results of several recent studies that have focused on possible dangers associated with these procedures.

Many Doctors Do Not Fully Understand the Risks of Weight Loss Surgery

The media has been diligent in reporting the potential dangers of gastric bypass surgery and other weight loss procedures, and the scientific and scholarly presses have also released a substantial amount of information on the subject. However, according to the results of a recent study conducted by the Duke University Weight Loss Surgery Center, a sizable number of physicians do not have a clear grasp of the magnitude of the risks that are associated with these procedures.

The impact of this lack of understanding has several consequences, according to the researchers who conducted the study. Some physicians who don?t fully understand the process of weight loss surgery may be reluctant to recommend it as an option to their overweight patients. This could deprive many obese men and women with their best opportunity to lose weight.

On the other hand, other doctors who don?t fully understand the risks of weight loss surgery may recommend it to patients for whom the procedure is overly dangerous. The authors of the study asserted that this problem may account for some of the complications that patients suffer after undergoing weight loss surgery.

Based on these findings, the authors of the study recommended that candidates for weight loss surgery visit an accredited, full-service center for comprehensive screening before electing to undergo a procedure. This approach has the best chance of eliminating risk factors and screening out high-risk patients.

Suicide and Heart Disease are Major Risk Factors for Weight Loss Surgery Patients

A team of researchers at the University of Pittsburgh recently undertook a study designed to assess the post-surgery death rates of patients who had undergone weight loss surgery. According to their analysis, weight loss surgery patients have a risk of death that is much higher than that of the general population.

In addition, it was found that weight loss surgery patients stood particularly high risk of dying as a result of suicide and coronary heart disease. Although the factors that cause suicide are complex, the researchers asserted that this statistic underscores the importance of psychological screening for weight loss surgery candidates.

Heart disease was the leading cause of death for weight loss surgery patients, with 20% of the sample studied succumbing to coronary heart disease. The authors underscored the importance of adhering to a heart-healthy diet in the post-surgery period, even after desired levels of weight loss have been achieved.

New Study Stresses Importance of Psychological Assessment of Candidates for Weight Loss Surgery

A team of researchers at Rhode Island Hospital and Brown University recently assessed the psychological implications of weight loss surgery. According to the researchers, the stress of major surgery and recovery, paired with the confusion and conflicting feelings that can be incited through rapid weight loss, can pose the threat of severe emotional damage to patients who undergo the procedures.

Based on a review of hospital records, the research team found that as many as 20% of all patients who underwent weight loss surgery were not adequately screened by licensed psychologists or psychiatrists prior to the procedure. The team suggested the implementation of more thorough screening protocols in the future, with particular emphasis on identifying eating disorders, mood disorders, personality disorders, substance abuse, emotional or binge eating, or a history of noncompliance with medical directives.

If you?re considering weight loss surgery, talk to a qualified expert in the field to determine if this is the right approach for you. Please check back each week for more of the diet and weight loss news you need!

Researchers Test Health Effects of the South Beach Diet

As the obesity epidemic continues to spiral out of control in the United States and around the world, millions of men, women, and young people are looking for safe and effective ways to shed excess pounds. Fueled by dieters? desperation, the weight loss industry has ballooned into a multi-billion dollar per year behemoth. It seems like a new fad diet or weight loss system is introduced every time you turn around

When it was first introduced, the South Beach Diet was unfairly lumped in with more extreme low-carb regimens, such as the Atkins diet. However, although the South Beach Diet shares some basic principles with the low-carb philosophy, it represents a much more balanced ? and medically sound ? approach to weight loss.

In fact, the underlying components of the South Beach Diet aren?t new at all. They bear a striking resemblance to the Mediterranean diet, a traditional way of eating that researchers say help accounts for the very low rates of disease and obesity in Greece and other Mediterranean countries.

The growing acceptance of this approach to weight loss has prompted many researchers to reassess the South Beach Diet in recent years. This week, we?ll take a look at a few recent studies that have scrutinized the health and safety of this approach. 

Researchers Single Out the South Beach Diet as a Good Choice for Weight Loss

A recent study conducted by scientists at the University of Connecticut sought to test the efficacy of the South Beach Diet as compared to standard low-fat diet approaches. In the study, the researchers assigned overweight men and women to two groups. Each group was directed to follow either a low-carb or a low-fat diet for a period of 50 days. After the initial period, all of the participants switched diets. This dual study design allowed the scientists the ability to carefully compare all aspects of both approaches.

Virtually all of the dieters lost more body fat on the low-carb regimen than the low-fat diet. The low-carb approach ? which approximated the guidelines of the South Beach Diet ? was found to be especially effective for men. However, both men and women on the low-carb regimen lost substantial body fat in the upper body area.

The preliminary results of the study also seemed to indicate that the low-carb diet approach was more effective in reducing and reversing several of the cardiac risk factors associated with obesity.

South Beach Diet Identified as Best for Heart Health

Although many dieters seek out new eating plans as a way to shed excess pounds, their doctors are often equally ? if not more -- concerned about a diet?s impact the health risks associated with obesity. While low-carb diets have long been proven to be effective as weight loss tools, concerns linger about their overall effect on health.

According to the results of a recent study conducted by researchers at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, the South Beach Diet succeeds on both of these measures. It is low-carb enough to help dieters achieve steady weight loss, but it also avoids the risks associated with more extreme regimens.

Based on extensive analysis of several popular plans, the South Beach Diet was found to be one of the most effective ways to not only lose weight, but reduce the risk of obesity-related heart problems. In fact, this diet was shown to be more effective than even the government?s low-fat Food Pyramid at promoting weight loss and heart health.

Study Finds Wide-Ranging Health Benefits with South Beach-Like Diet

In addition to its effectiveness as a weight loss tool and heart-health booster, researchers at the Columbia University Medical Center in New York found that the Mediterranean diet from which the South Beach approach draws its principal components had a number of other positive side effects, as well.

Among the most significant health benefits that were identified, it was found that this way of eating substantially reduced the risk of Alzheimer?s disease and also lengthened average life spans in the population that was studied. Preliminary results also indicated that the diet may also improve cognitive and neurological function throughout the lifespan, particularly for elderly men and women.

If you?re interested in the health and weight loss benefits of the South Beach Diet, talk to your doctor or a licensed nutritionist for a complete explanation. Please come back next week for more late-breaking weight loss news.