Want to know how omega 3 fatty acids help you to lose fat? Then find out here in this article.

If you knew of a study which showed that fish oil could not only caused mice to lose weight, but also prevent mice from gaining weight even though they were given free access to food, you would be interested in learning more?

There is a study which does exactly that. It was performed by researchers at Charles University, The Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic in Prague, and Pronova BioPharma of Norway. The study indicated that a 60% Omega-3 concentrate promoted weight loss in mice on a cellular level, by "switching on" genes that break down fat in the cells’ mitochondriae.

THE STOP EAT DIET 

Even more impressive, however, the Omega-3 concentrate reduced the mice’ total number of fat cells, with the greatest reduction coming in their abdominal areas. When the mice were put on a diet their calorie intake by 10%, the effects of the Omega-3 were even more dramatic!

But, you are probably asking, will Omega-3 help you lose weight? You’re not a mouse!

The good news is that the same omega-three concentrate was also given to a group of 20 women categorized as obese, with body mass indexes higher than 40. These women were already on very restricted calorie diets. Within three weeks group of women who are receiving the omega-three concentrate lost 20% more weight than the group who were not. They also reduced their body mass index is by, in some cases, as much as 15%.

The Pronova researchers believe that, in addition to overeating and lack of exercise, weight gain can be caused by the body’s sending messages to its genes, triggering them to start storing fat. As the body creates more fat cells, it also begins converting carbohydrates into fat. Pronova believes that the Omega-3 fatty acid, when combined with a sensible weight control plan, reprogram the genes to bring the carbohydrate instead of storing it. But there is even more.

THE STOP EAT DIET

Clinical research done in Australia indicate that taking fish oil supplements rich in Omega-3 fatty acids will increase blood flow to the muscles during exercise, helping overweight people lose weight more rapidly. Even more significantly, the people involved in this trial did not change their diets in any way.

Four groups were involved in the study; one of them took a small amount of fish oil each day; another took a small amount of sunflower oil; and each group did a 45 minute walk or run three times each week. Two other groups were given either the fish oil or the sunflower oil, but did not exercise. The only one of the four groups to experience weight loss was the one which both took the fish oil and did the exercise.

While the reasons linking consumption of Omega-3 fatty acids to weight loss are not yet fully understood, the other health benefits of Omega-3 fatty acids have been known for while. Omega-3 fatty acids play a significant role in brain development, and can improve memory and learning skills. The Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, Illinois, has also done research showing that Omega-3 fatty acids reduce the risk of stroke in elderly people. A study in Thailand show that school children receiving Omega-3 recovered more quickly from common sicknesses.

Even if you are not convinced that Omega-3 can help you lose weight, you certainly have nothing to lose by adding it to your diet, and you have plenty of health benefits to gain. So why not start adding three servings of cold water fish to your diet each week, or take a minimum of 400 mg of Omega-3 as a supplement every day?

  acai berry  as a supplement for fast weight loss? See this review here of the acai berry supplement for weight loss and rejuvenation and find out why this superfood is rated so highly, at Kurt Ryan’s review site. Which is the best weight loss supplement? See this review and find out.

By Kurt Ryan Published: 1/21/2009 THE STOP EAT DIET

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Carbs And Weight Loss

Carbohydrates are said to the chief energy source for several vital organs, including your brain, kidneys and central nervous system. Carbohydrates get converted into glucose in the digestive system and your pancreas secretes insulin (a hormone) for helping the transfer of glucose from the bloodstream to the cells.

The popularity of diet plans based on low carbohydrate content is increasing day by day. Most medical practitioners are not in favor of these diet plans as they contain fat in excessive amounts (especially saturated fat) and doesn’t contain adequate amount of vegetables, fruit, cereals and high fiber breads.

Individuals who are in favor of this diet plan opine that consuming kilojoules chiefly from fat and protein sources is absolutely fine. This implies that you need to limit the intake of some fruits and vegetables, cereals and consume fat, diary products and meat in sufficient quantity.

Some common foods included in the diet plan based on low carbohydrate are as follows: chicken, beef, eggs, bacon, non-starchy vegetables, mayonnaise, butter and fish. However, diet plans based on extremely low carbohydrate content fails to meet your regular nutritional needs. Hence, in order to remain healthy you need to intake fruit (2 serves), vegetables (5 serves), milk (2 cups), cereals or bread (4 serves) regularly.

The fact that consuming foods, which contain carbohydrate may result in weight gain is often misleading. In reality, weight gain results from the consumption of excessive calories or kilojoules-it does not matter whether they come from fats, proteins or carbohydrates.

Diet plans based on low carbohydrate content may help you in losing weight as they limit energy or calories. This approach deprives your body of the essential nutrients and may lead to severe metabolic disturbances.

Opting for a diet plan containing rich source of whole grains, legumes, vegetables, fruits and low-fat dairy products helps you to lower your weight to a sustainable extent. It has been observed that vegetarians are usually slimmer and are at a lower risk of getting cancer, heart disease or obesity compared to non-vegetarians.

This approach suggests that diet plan based on high content of unrefined carbohydrates help in preventing obesity and overweight. Bad breath, dehydration, constipation, appetite loss, dizziness and lethargy are some of the short-term side effects of  low carbohydrate diets.

The long term side-effects of low carbohydrate diets are still not known clearly. However, a low carbohydrate diet may not be nutritionally adequate as they contain very few vegetables and fruits. They also contain inadequate amount of vitamin A, B6 and E, folate, fiber, magnesium, potassium, antioxidant phytochemicals and thiamin.

Going in for such a diet that is deprived of all the essential nutrients (particularly fiber and antioxidants) may increase the chances of getting cancer. Extremely low carbohydrate diets contain saturated fat in high contents which may lead to cardiovascular attack.

Diets containing high source of fats and protein often lead to abdominal obesity and disorders associated with obesity such as cancer, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.

Diets based on high proteins usually contain cholesterol and saturated fats in high content. Opting for these diets may increase your cholesterol levels; lead to gall bladder colic, liver problems etc.

If you are determined to go in for a  low carbohydrate diets. , see to it that you don’t avoid carbohydrate all together. It is because you need them in your diet for metabolizing fat. Go in for foods containing rich source of carbohydrates (unprocessed or unrefined) such as fruits and grains instead of going in for energy dense and refined forms like sweets, soft drinks and cakes.

Include substantial amount of fresh vegetables in your diet. Finally in order to avoid further gain in weight, make sure that energy consumption doesn’t exceed energy expenditure. Next opt for some simple exercises in order to keep your weight in check. So friends, what are you waiting for?

Put the suggestions into practical use and see how they work wonders for you.

By: Alex Fyfe

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Alex Fyfe is an expert in the area of health & Fitness and has published numerous documents which can be seen various article sites and on www.alexfyfe.com . 

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