Summit Total Health

Extract from Chili Peppers Can Boost Energy & Help with Weight Loss

Chili peppers contain something called capsaicin which is known to give them their heat. New data presented at the Experimental Biology 2010 meeting in Anaheim, Ca indicated that a non-burning version of capsaicin called dihydrocapsiate (DCT) can also aid weight loss.

In the study, UCLA researchers recruited 34 men and women who were willing to consume a very low-calorie liquid meal replacement product for 28 days. The participants were randomized to receive placebo pills or supplements containing DCT at one of two dosage levels. The study found thatenergy almost doubled in the high-dose DCT group compared to the placebo group. Increases in fat oxidation was also observed, which is evidence that the body was using more fat as fuel.

Metabolic Syndrome - What it is and How to Prevent it

What is metabolic syndrome?

Basically, metabolic syndrome is a combination of medical disorders that increase the risk of getting heart disease or diabetes. Some studies estimate the prevalence in the US to be up to 25% of the population.
The American Heart Association defines metabolic syndrome as someone with the following symptoms:

 Elevated waist circumference:
 Men — Equal to or greater than 40 inches (102 cm)
 Women — Equal to or greater than 35 inches (88 cm)
 Elevated triglycerides: Equal to or greater than 150 mg/dL
 Reduced HDL (“good”) cholesterol:
 Men — Less than 40 mg/dL
 Women — Less than 50 mg/dL
 Elevated blood pressure: Equal to or greater than 130/85 mm Hg or use of medication for hypertension
 Elevated fasting glucose: Equal to or greater than 100 mg/dL (5.6 mmol/L) or use of medication for hyperglycemia

The only real proven cure to metabolic syndrome is lifestyle change. Here are some goals you should have if you metabolic syndrome:
Lose Weight. The initial goal is to lose between 7-10% of your current weight. This usually means that you need to eat 500-1,000 fewer calories per day.
Exercise. Get 30 minutes of moderate intensity exercise, at least 5 days a week. Studies have also shown that interval exercise is very effective in helping people lose weight. Read more about interval training here.
Lower your cholesterol. Eat foods that will help your cholesterol, cut down on the foods that don’t.

Here’s a list of 10 foods that will ignite your metabolism and help you lose weight.

The Spice That Rejuvenates Your Body

Did you know that the average American consumes between 4,000 and 5,000 mg of sodium (salt) a day? That is close to double the recommended amount we should be consuming. But how can we eat less salt without sacrificing flavor? Use spices. One tasty way to cut down on salt in your cooking is to use more spices and herbs.

In India they have been using healthy spices for thousands of years with therapeutic results. Scientists are realizing that these spices can even boost your immune system. Let’s look at the “granddaddy” of them all and see why it’s so good for you.

Turmeric

Turmeric has been used by the Indians and Chinese for thousands of years. The ancient Polynesians were said to carry turmeric with them on their incredible journeys across the Pacific Ocean, that’s why Hawaiians still use the spice.
One of the main healthful ingredients in turmeric is curcumin, which gives turmeric its rich yellow color. Here are some proven benefits of curcumin:

Processed Meat vs. Unprocessed Meat

Did you know, if you eat hot dogs, sausages, or deli meat, your risk of heart attack jumps by 42%?
But here’s what most people don’t know: If you eat unprocessed meat, your risk doesn’t go up at all.

In a recent report published by Circulation, Harvard scientists looked at 1,600 studies involving over 1.2 million people around the world. Here’s what they concluded:
“The consumption of processed meats, rather than red meats, was associated with increased incidence of coronary heart disease.”

For you vegetarians, this means you can start eating any meat from beef, lamb, or pork (the study didn’t include poultry).

The real culprit is processed meat – things like bacon, sausage, hot dogs and lunch meat – that you’ve got to watch out for. Processed meats contain chemicals, preservatives, and additives in addition to being smoked, cured, or salted.

Curing Migraines - Naturally

Many people suffer from chronic migraine head aches, which can cause some brutal side effects like nausea, ulcers, seizures, dizziness, and extreme sensitivity to light. Most people respond to this by popping a pill to sleep the pain away. The most common ones they reach for are aspirin, naproxen, and ibuprofen. The problem with this is that a lot of these don’t actually treat the problem and might even make things worse.

These pain killers can also cause something called “analgesic rebound effect.” This means that immediately after your pain killer wears off the headache returns. Your body can even create more pain, almost like a withdrawal symptom, when the pain killer wears off. In response, your body creates more pain so it can receive a larger dose of the pain killer. Basically, it’s like creating a painkiller addiction in your body.

If that’s not scary enough, pain killers have also been linked to internal bleeding and liver damage. In fact, the FDA requires that all these pain killers come with a clear warning to make consumers aware of these risks. But don’t worry there’s good news. You don’t need to risk your life or your health in order to have a painless life, naturally.
There are a handful of nutrients that can get rid of migraines for good.

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