Showing posts with label Diet. Show all posts
Carbohydrate Cravings and the Atkins diet
There
are many signs of physical carbohydrate cravings. You will experience a
compelling hunger for carbohydrate rich foods. Overtime, you will develop a
growing need for starches, snack foods and sweets. Additionally, you may
experience cravings and weight gain after using some of the carbohydrate
act-a-likes such as sugar substitutes and alcohol.
High
carbohydrate foods are everywhere, which makes the cravings even harder to
overcome. Eating the high-sugar, refined starch foods will feed your cravings and
create more, much like a drug habit. In fact, high levels of carbohydrates
produce high levels of the brain chemical seratonin, which is the chemical
found in Prozac and other anti-depressants. So eating high levels of
carbohydrates is self-medicating. People with low levels of seratonin are prone
to using carbohydrates like a drug.
Tension
and stress can also lead to overeating carbohydrate-laden foods. When we are
tense, the adrenal gland creates more cortisol. Cortisol is a hormone that
stimulates production of a brain chemical that causes carbohydrate cravings. It
also stimulates insulin, which leads to blood sugar dips and more fat storage.
Considering
all of these factors, it may seem impossible to live on a low-carbohydrate
diet. However, following the Atkins plan is one of the best ways to break the
cycle of carbohydrate addiction and take back your life and your health. The
Atkins plan helps you take control of your cravings and rid yourself of years
of damage caused by eating too many carbohydrates.
While
on the Atkins diet, you may experience some carbohydrate cravings from time to
time, especially during the initial phases of the diet. However, these will
lessen as your body becomes more used to eating a protein-centered diet. In
order to keep your cravings in check, eat small meals or snacks that contain
protein every few hours. This will keep your blood sugars stable and avoid the
“crash” you feel when you go hungry. Skipping meals will cause drops in blood
sugar and leave you craving sweets.
Protein
and fat, which are the focus of the Atkins plan, will give your body extended
energy. Make sure you are getting enough levels of the essential fats.
Sometimes an Omega 3 fish oil supplement will help stave off carbohydrate
cravings.
Cravings
for foods can sometimes be caused by dehydration. It’s a good rule of thumb to
drink a glass of water before reaching for any type of snack. Sometimes thirst
can mask itself as hunger. When your body is properly hydrated, it will run
more efficiently and you will see a decrease in cravings.
Recognize
that there is a physical addiction to carbohydrates that will need to be
broken. Don’t worry if you feel overwhelmed with cravings for carbs after the
first few days on the plan. This is normal. Your body is used to running on a
diet full of sugar and carbohydrates. It will take some time to adjust to this
new way of eating. Normally, these feelings don’t last more than the two-week
induction period. Stay committed to this new way of eating and you will see the
benefits quickly.
The pH miracle diet as a cleansing diet
One
of the most important principles in the pH miracle diet is the concept of
cleansing your body of the acidic materials that are built up within. The ph
miracle diet is a cleansing diet. It performs a cleansing of the body and its
tissues and organs. This cleansing is almost like setting the “restart” button
on your body. Any conditions you have developed from improper diet and
lifestyle will start to dissipate. Cleansing diets like the pH miracle diet
will help give your body the nutritional support it needs to function at an
optimum level.
To
understand what a cleansing diet is you need to understand how the body
cleanses itself. The body rids itself of harmful elements through the colon,
skin, lungs and bladder. The liver, kidneys and lymphatic system all assist
with this cleansing.
The liver is the organ in the body that is primarily
responsible for body detoxification. When the liver is not functioning properly
it cannot change toxins like alcohol, nicotine, caffeine, pesticides, drugs,
antibiotics and additives into waste matter. If your liver doesn’t work, you
are poisoning yourself. The liver can become stressed through improper
digestion (eating processed foods), yeast overgrowth, parasites, dehydration and
inadequate water intake.
Cleansing
your liver is the best thing you can do for your health and for the restoration
of proper pH to your body. When you undergo a program, like the pH miracle diet
that cleanses the liver it normally requires the liver to work harder than it
has before. You must add live enzymes to the diet rather than drawing them from
the liver. The live enzymes will alkalize the body and restore your proper pH.
You can accomplish this by incorporating organic vegetables into your diet. The
proper alkalizing vegetables in the pH miracle diet will support the liver and
help restore it to its natural functioning.
If
the liver is helped by a cleansing diet, then the whole body will be helped.
Once the liver is functioning at proper performance it can begin to do its job
of eliminating waste. It will support the other detoxifying organs and perform
more effectively in doing its own job.
The
pH miracle diet qualifies as a cleansing diet because it performs a cleansing
function of the liver and the rest of your body. The diet is made of mostly raw
foods, simple proteins (beans and legumes), alternative whole grains and plenty
of fresh and pure water. Cleansing diets include, at minimum, five servings of
vegetables per day. In most cases, people eat twice that when they are on the
pH miracle diet. This is accomplished with the use of fresh vegetable juices.
There are four to five servings of vegetables in just two cups of juiced
vegetables.
Eating
small and frequent meals is also an important part of the cleansing function of
the pH miracle diet. The small meals will keep calorie intake up and give you
the opportunity to add more vegetables to your day. Although raw vegetables
should be favored, lightly steamed veggies are also beneficial. Plant based
proteins like beans, soy and nuts should also be included at each small meal
for energy and balance.
The
effects of the pH miracle cleansing diet depend entirely on your previous level
of health. If you’ve had a diet that consisted of meats, processed foods and
other acid forming choices then the cleansing effects may be very difficult at
first. Your body will have to adjust to living off of natural elements instead
of chemical ones. However your efforts are well worth it.
You will be learning
the most natural way to eat and teaching your body to live to eat instead of
eat to live. Remember that learning to eat in this manner and adopting a
cleansing diet will be a process of healing, and not an overnight occurrence.
As you take on the principles of the pH miracle diet, you will begin to change
your health for the better.
Raw Foods Diet is Beneficial to Your Health
The benefits advocated from eating such a
diet seem endless: lowering cholesterol and triglyceride levels, eliminating
cravings, preventing overeating, purging the body of accumulated toxins,
balancing hormones, maintaining blood glucose levels and reversing degenerative
diseases.
There can be some side effects when you are first starting a raw foods diet. Some detoxification effects may be experienced as your body attempts to shed some toxicity. This may include occasional headaches, nausea sensations and mild depression. If these symptoms persist, you should seek the help of somebody who is experienced with detoxification symptoms.
Following a raw food diet means
that you have to carefully plan your meals to make sure you don't fall short of
essential nutrients, vitamins and minerals. In some instances it might be
appropriate to consider taking dietary supplements, especially when just
starting out. You'll need to invest in some appliances so
that you are able to prepare the food, if you don’t already have them
available.
A durable juicer, a blender
and a large food processor make raw food preparation a breeze. You may also
want to look into purchasing large containers to soak sprouts, grains and
beans, as well as for storage. A durable juice extractor for your fruits and vegetables.
The smoothest way to begin a raw
foods lifestyle is to slowly transition into it. Try starting off by eating
approximately 70 to 80 percent raw foods in your diet. Have fruit and salads
throughout the day and a cooked vegetable meal with a salad in the evening. This
should help make the transition easier on your body and hopefully lessen side
effects associated with detoxification.
This is an emotional time as well, so
you should allow yourself plenty of time to make the switch. Journaling during the process can help.
Before you know it, you’ll be feeling the positive effects of a healthy,
detoxifying raw foods diet.
Subscribe to:
Posts
(
Atom
)
