Tuesday

Diet Secrets of the Stars

Celebrities always look fabulous. Whether appearing in television or films or strutting down the red carpet during movie premiers and awards, they never cease to fascinate us with their larger than life presence. The truth is, it takes a lot of effort to look the way they do, and being the public figures that they are, they cannot afford to slack off when it comes to taking care of their physical appearances. Their livelihood largely depends on how they look. Aside from the clothes, the hair and the makeup, celebrities have to take good care of their bodies.

So it is no surprise that these stars have their own secrets when it comes to staying fit and gorgeous. Their health agenda can range from extreme workouts to well-planned meals. Who doesn't want to know their secrets in staying absolutely sexy? Here are some of the diet secrets of seven women celebrities.

1. Jennifer Aniston
The star of the phenomenal television show Friends not only mesmerized audiences with her adorable comic sense and her famous hairstyle, she was also known for having one of the sexiest bodies in Hollywood, as she appeared in countless magazine covers. To stay trim, Jennifer follows the 40:30:30 diet method. The diet consists of:

40% Low glycemic carbohydrates
-Foods such as beans, fruits and vegetables, legumes

30% lean proteins
-Tofu, fish, chicken, turkey, beef and low fat dairy products

30% essential fats
-nuts and seeds, fish and olive oils

It is essential that every meal should contain macronutrients to attain the balance of hormones and maximum weight loss.

2. Kate Hudson
The gorgeous daughter of actress Goldie Hawn gained 60 pounds during her pregnancy, which she needed to shed quickly before commencing on her next film. From her previous eating plan, she switched to a higher protein diet. She consumed high protein meals in smaller portions, and she combined this diet with an exercise program that includes weight training and cardiovascular workouts. After getting a lot of flak because of her post-pregnancy figure, Kate removed all that baby weight in only four months and has gained abdominal muscles that gained the envy of many in Hollywood.

3. Oprah Winfrey
As one of the most successful talk-show hosts in the world, there is no question that Oprah needs to maintain her physical appearance for her millions of audiences. Known as one of those celebrities who are constantly battling weight gain, she has recently toned up her figure and has never looked figure in age 50 by combining a regular exercise regime and diet plan. Oprah works out five days a week, spending 30 minutes on the threadmill and doing free weights. Her eating plan consists of legumes, fish, nuts, fruits and vegetables, chicken and dairy products that are lowfat. She limits her consumption of white sugar and flour. Oprah also credits her trim figure to her habit of not eating anything after seven in the evening.

4. Gwyneth Paltrow
A lot of people may find it hard to believe that the perpetually slim Academy award-winning actress actually needs to diet. Gwyneth actually follows a healthy eating plan that resembles Oprah's, avoiding sugar and white flour. She usually follows a macrobiotic diet, eating foods like vegetables, brown rice, and lean meat. She also eliminated dairy from her diet, and does yoga everyday.

5. Madonna
The pop star known as the Material Girl has always flaunted a body that is to die for, and has become a true fitness paragon over the years. She keeps herself in tip-top shape by having Ashtanga Yoga, and follows a strict diet that mostly shuns junk foods. She adopted a macrobiotic eating plan that includes organic foods rich in lean protein.

6. Claudia Schiffer
The bodacious German supermodel eats salad and steamed vegetables for dinner and eats only fruits before the afternoon. While on locations, she prefers to eat black grapes and drinks tomato juice and herbal tea.

7. Christie Brinkley
Long-time supermodel maintains her all-American good looks by being a vegetarian. She does not keep junk foods of any kind inside her home to make sure that she does not eat them when cravings occur. She snacks on sweet potatoes in place of candy bars, and she adopts a liquid juice diet when she needs to slim down fast.

Celebrities are just like ordinary people. They need to maintain their figures just like anyone else, and there is more pressure on their part since they are constantly in the public eye. Ordinary folks can have celebrity-like bodies, too, and by following these diet and fitness plans, they can also look like red-carpet worthy.

Sunday

Grapefruit found to aid weight loss

A flavanoid found in grapefruit could aid weight loss and reduce the risk of heart disease and Type 2 diabetes, new research has found.

Scientists from the Robarts Research Institute at the University of Western Ontario have discovered that naringenin, which is found in citrus and grapefruit in particular, is able to “re-programme” the liver to burn up excess fat, rather than store it.

The researchers found that naringenin also helped rebalance insulin and glucose levels, suggesting the compound could fight diabetes too.

The study, published in journal Diabetes, saw scientists give naringenin to a group of mice fed on a high-fat diet. A control group, on the same diet, were left untreated.

The team found that the untreated mice became obese and developed symptoms of metabolic syndrome, including high cholesterol and insulin resistance, which can lead to complications such as heart disease and diabetes. The treated mice did not suffer from these symptoms and did not get obese.

Lead researcher Professor Murray Huff said: “The marked obesity that develops in these mice was completely prevented by naringenin.

"What was unique about the study was that the effects were independent of caloric intake, meaning the mice ate exactly the same amount of food and the same amount of fat. There was no suppression of appetite or decreased food intake, which are often the basis of strategies to reduce weight gain and its metabolic consequences."

However, the levels of naringenin used in the study were much higher than those found naturally occurring in grapefruit.

The researchers intend to carry out further research to discover whether naringenin can be safely and effectively used in humans to combat obesity and diabetes.

Additional Essential Keys of Healthy Weight Loss

Successful Weight Loss Program.

Usually we think of eating a healthy diet, exercising regular and nutritional vitamin supplements as the key components of a healthy weight loss program. They are pivotal. But your weight loss program will not be successful if you ignore these other 4 steps.

#1 Drink Plenty of Water.

Our bodies have more water in them than anything else. As a mater of fact we are majority water, even down to the cellular level. Not only are we made of water, we must have water to function properly. This is especially true for our digestive system. Our digestive system separates the nutrients from the toxic waste. If we do not eliminate waste it builds up in our bodies.

Your body knows how important water is. If you do not get enough it will store it like a camel does. Hence water weight is built up. Conversely, the more water you drink, the more your body uses. This is not just an issue of weight gain or loss. It is more an issue of health and your body functioning properly and avoiding disease.

Another reason to drink plenty of water is that water increases your metabolism and helps you burn fat. Lack of water slows down your metabolism, just like lack of food does. Your body conserves water when you are near dehydration a slows you down.

Finally, when you exercise you burn and sweat water. The water needs to be replenished for your body to recover and your muscles to grow back as they are torn down by your workout. For this reason you must drink more water when you exercise.

Drink eight 8 ounce glasses of water a day or more. More when you exercise.

#2 Get Plenty of Fresh Air and Sunshine.

Put together as one point because they can be accomplished simultaneously. Fresh air equates to oxygen. Again on a cellular level. Our bodies operate properly with adequate oxygen. Not enough oxygen we die. Without adequate oxygen our cells do not work properly. Not enough oxygen our immune system ceases to function properly. Not enough oxygen we can not burn fat and fat is the retained in our bodies. Not enough oxygen, our metabolism slows down. Just like a lack of water and a lack of food. Slow metabolism equal less energy. Less energy equal weight gain.

We need sunshine for additional purposes. Sunshine helps our body naturally produce Vitamin D. Vitamin D is essential for the proper functioning of all of our cells. Vitamin D might be the most important factor in our immune system. Therefore a lack of sunshine hinders our bodies from working at its optimum level which effects our digestive system, our metabolism, our energy and our weight. Really this is the same story, just a different element.

Have you ever wondered why the majority of our best athletes are from the sunshine states. Think about it.

#3 Avoid Stress.

Stress unites our mind with our bodies. When we think something is wrong it is. This isn't only about having a positive mental attitude. That helps. Due to being stressed or worrying, our bodies releases hormones. These hormones cause a number of problems including weight gain. The hormones actually cause an increase of free radicals which cause an increase of abnormal cells which our immune system begins to fight. The stress and worry effectively makes us sick. Let alone causing us to eat wrong, further damaging our bodies.

#4 Sleep.

Rest and sleep is our bodies opportunity to renew, refresh, repair and rejuvenate. The most important aspect or factor to healing is sleep. We need to heal everyday. Without enough sleep your body will not function properly. That takes us back to our metabolism and our immune system. Sleep is really the fountain of youth, along with water, oxygen, sunshine, a healthy diet, regular physical exercise and nutritional vitamin supplements. All these elements make up a healthy weight loss program. When we get adequate sleep, sunshine, fresh air, water, exercise, healthy food and vitamins while avoiding stress; our bodies will then naturally lose weight and maintain weight. Your healthy weight loss program will be successful.