Many people want to lose weight and so there is a huge market for books, articles and broadcasts about anything to do with diet and fat. It can be difficult to discern when something comes along that is actually new and important information. Despite the abundance of information on healthy eating and exercise, people are still looking for the easy, quick fix diet that will enable them to eat anything they want. Consider the following three diet myths:
Cortisol Blame
The manufacturers of certain diet pills claim that research shows that the stress hormone cortisol may be a factor in the struggle to control weight. Stress to the human body can include trauma, anxiety, infections, surgery and even resistance training or aerobics.
Excess cortisol may affect where the body stores extra fat, but cortisol is a natural hormone that is produced by the adrenal glands in response to stress – but does cortisol add weight? Not necessarily. When animals are under stress, increased cortisol will suppress their appetite. Over time they become thin and start to waste away. The same is true of humans. Think back to times of intense stress, such as a time of trauma or panic - having lunch was probably the last thing on your mind.
Fat Burners and Metabolism Boosters
The products in this category claim to help weight loss by raising metabolic rate. However, the increase is slight in contrast to what is promised. Even the best pills on the market are only modestly successful at raising metabolism by a percent or two. Some popular far burners claim you can eat anything you like and still lose weight.
Most of the ingredients in these diet pills are the same as those found in energy drinks. These products are stimulants rather than fat burners. For a similar jolt of energy and suppressed appetite, a cup of coffee will do the same thing. Not to be overlooked is the huge amount of money made by selling these products to gullible and hopeful consumers.
Carb Blockers
This magic sounding formula can ease feelings of guilt after splurging on pasta or pudding. The human body absorbs essential vitamins and nutrients from carbohydrates and so the idea of taking something to interfere with the body's ability to digest food can be a dangerous one.
Many carb blocker pills claim that one pill before a meal can block over 1000 calories, yet there are no reliable clinical studies to support this.
Teach the Body to Burn Fat the Healthy Way
A healthy, vegetable and protein rich diet coupled with an exercise strategy is the healthy route to weight loss. Exercising in short bursts will burn fat for up to 24 hours. A low-impact choice such as swimming is the best choice for the seriously overweight. Commence with a twenty minute work-out every second day, increasing the intensity gradually. After a few weeks break each session into two short bursts of activity, that is, two six-minute sets of intense activity separated by six minutes of recovery.
References:
Tom Venuto - The Truth about Fat Burner Pills - Iron Magazine
Dr. Al Sears - Total Health Breakthroughs
Fleur Hupston - Fleur Hupston is a professional freelance writer based in Botswana, Southern Africa. From this unique perspective, she writes travel ...
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