The Incredible Shrinking Fat Cell - What Really Happens When Body Fat is Burned?

The Incredible Shrinking Fat Cell - What Really Happens When Body Fat is Burned?Earlier this week someone in our discussion forum wrote, "Ihaven't "LOST" any fat... I know EXACTLY where it went! Igot a chuckle out of that because I "got" the joke, buttruth is, most people really don't know how fat cells work,how the fat burning process takes place or where the fatgoes when it's burned . It's actually quite a complexbiochemical sequence of events, but I'll explain it assimply as possible, so by the end of this article, you'llbe a "fat burning" expert!When you "lose" body fat, the fat cell (also called anadipocyte) does not go anywhere or move into the musclecell to be burned. The fat cell itself, (unfortunately)stays right where it was - under the skin in your thighs,stomach, hips, arms, etc., and on top of the muscles -which is why you can't see muscle "definition" when yourbody fat is high.Fat is stored inside the fat cell in the form oftriaglycerol. The fat is not burned right there in the fatcell, it must be liberated from the fat cell throughsomewhat complex hormonal/enzymatic pathways. Whenstimulated to do so, the fat cell simply releases itscontents (triaglycerol) into the bloodstream as free fattyacids (FFA's), and they are transported through the bloodto the tissues where the energy is needed.A typical young male adult stores about 60,000 to 100,000calories of energy in body fat cells. What triggers therelease of all these stored fatty acids from the fat cell?Simple: When your body needs energy because you'reconsuming fewer calories than you are burning (an energydeficit), then your body releases hormones and enzymes thatsignal your fat cells to release your fat reserves insteadof keeping them in storage.For stored fat to be liberated from the fat cell,hydrolysis (lipolysis or fat breakdown), splits themolecule of triaglycerol into glycerol and three fattyacids. An important enzyme called hormone sensitive lipase(HSL) is the catalyst for this reaction. The stored fat(energy) gets released into the bloodstream as FFA's andthey are shuttled off to the muscles where the energy isneeded. As blood flow increases to the active muscles, moreFFA's are delivered to the muscles that need them.An important enzyme called lipoprotein lipase (LPL), thenhelps the FFA's get inside the mitochondria of the musclecell, where the FFA's can be burned for energy. If you'veever taken a biology class, then you've probably heard ofthe mitochondria. This is the "cellular powerhouse" whereenergy production takes place and this is where the FFA'sgo to be burned for energy.When the FFA's are released from the fat cell, the fat cellshrinks and that's why you look leaner when you lose bodyfat - because the fat cell is now smaller. A small or"empty" fat cell is what you're after if you want the lean,defined look.It was once believed that the number of fat cells could notincrease after adulthood, only the size of the fat cellscould increase (or decrease). We now know that fat cellscan indeed increase both in size (hypertrophy) and innumber (hyperplasia) and that they are more likely toincrease in number at certain times and under certaincircumstances, such as 1) during late childhood and earlypuberty, 2) During pregnancy, and 3) During adulthood whenextreme amounts of weight are gainedSome people are genetically predisposed to have more fatcells than others and women have more fat cells than men.An infant usually has about 5 - 6 billion fat cells. Thisnumber increases during early childhood and puberty, and ahealthy adult with normal body composition has about 25 to30 billion fat cells. A typical overweight adult has around75 billion fat cells. But in the case of severe obesity,this number can be as high as 250 to 300 billion!The average size (weight) of an adult fat cell is about 0.6micrograms, but they can vary in size from 0.2 micograms to0.9 micrograms. An overweight person's fat cells can be upto three times larger than a person with ideal bodycomposition.Remember, body fat is basically just a reserve source ofenergy and fat cells are the like the storage tanks. Unlikea gas tank in your car which is fixed in size, however, fatcells can expand or shrink in size depending on how"filled" they are.Picture a balloon that is not inflated: It's tiny when notfilled with air - maybe the size of your thumb. When youblow it up with air, it can expand 10 or 12 times it'snormal size, because it simply fills up. That's whathappens to fat cells: They start as nearly empty fatstorage "tanks" (when you are lean), and when energy intakeexceeds your needs, your fat cells "fill up" like balloons(not a pretty picture, is it?)So you don't actually "lose" fat cells, you "shrink" or"empty out" fat cells. Since fat cells can not only getbigger, but also multiply, you have be diligent andconsistent in your fat-burning lifestyle because even afteryou shrink your fat cells, the cells are still there (inyour thighs, lower abs, etc), waiting to be filled up withmore fat again, if you're not careful...So stay active to keep burning fat and avoid consuming morecalories than you burn, and your fat cells will get shrunkand stay shrunk!About the Author:Tom Venuto, CSCS, CPT, is a natural bodybuilder, certifiedpersonal trainer and author of "Burn the Fat, Feed TheMuscle," which teaches you how to get lean without drugs orsupplements using secrets of the world's best bodybuildersand fitness models. Learn how to get rid of stubborn fatand increase your metabolism by visiting:http://www.burnthefat.com andhttp://www.burnthefatinnercircle.com

How To Turn Dry Skin Into Beautiful Skin Naturally

Xeroderma, the medical name for dry skin, occurs most commonly on the lowerlegs, arms, the sides of the abdomen and thighs and is a very common condition.It's easy to treat dry skin cheaply, simply, naturally, and effectively at home.Our skin also receives less blood flow and lower gland activity than the otherorgans in our body. The dermis is the layer of skin beneath the epidermis thatconsists of connective tissue and cushions the body from stress and strain. Skinis one of the most important parts of the body; it's our largest organ.Environmental factors, such as exposure to sun, wind, cold, chemicals, orcosmetics, or excessive bathing with harsh soaps, can cause dry skin. Dry skincan be caused by a deficiency of vitamin A, systemic illness, overexposure tosunlight or some medications. Bathing or showering too frequently, especially ifone is using harsh soaps, may contribute to dry skin.Dermatitis, contact dermatitis, eczema, seborrhea or psoriasis may cause theskin to become very dry too. Skin gets exposed to the elements, especially inwinter, causing it to become drier. Dry skin can also be a sign of anunderactive thyroid.Drink freshly extracted carrot juice, if you can, every day; carrot juice is anexcellent cleanser for the liver, great for the skin and contains a great dealof nutrients, all beneficial for dry skin, eczema, acne, zits, pimples,blackheads, whiteheads, and other breakouts. Eating foods high in the omega-3sare particularly important for people with dry skin or acne. The next time youwant to have a snack, instead of junk food, help your skin - have an apple,orange, peach, pear, banana, plum, grapes, cherries, berries, cantaloupe or anyother fresh fruit.Only use mild cleansers or mild soaps if you must use a soap or cleanser. Tryusing a humidifier if the air is dry and you have a severe skin condition. Avoidall products that have an alcohol base.After a soothing bath or shower at night just before bedtime, apply a thin layerof coconut oil over your entire body; it'll even last on your skin through yourshower in the morning. Apply coconut oil to irritated or chapped lips as well;it's edible, so it's safe and so healing to the lips. Coconut oil is the besthealing, soothing, and moisturizing treatment I've found for dry skin; in factall types of skin conditions, skin eruptions, pimples, acne, milia, irritations,cuts, burns, fungus, etc.If you have acne, eczema or any type of dermatitis coconut oil will treat andquickly heal these skin conditions too. Dry skin contributes to fine lines andwrinkles; coconut oil helps prevent the onset by keeping the skin soft andsupple.The skin is subject to constant attack from without; it can be affected by manyconditions, diseases and ailments. The skin supports its own ecosystem ofmicroorganisms, including yeasts and bacteria, which cannot be removed by anyamount of cleaning.If you're still worried about your skin, or the problems persist, see your skindoctor. And did I mention to drink lots and lots of water every day? See yourdoctor or naturopathic doctor if your skin doesn't improve in spite of your bestefforts.For more information on coconut oil treatment for dry skin & dry skin caretreatments, see Helen Hecker R.N.'s http://www.Best-Skin-Care-Tips.comspecializing in care for skin conditions with tips, advice and resources forwomen, men, teens, babies, including information on best natural products

Are You Trying To Lose Weight? Don't!

By: Mark Idzik Are you trying to lose weight?If you are, STOP!Funny thing to say coming from someone that wants to help you lose all the weight you want, right?Actually, there's a good reason.You see, you can't try to lose weight. Don't believe me?OK, let's use an example. Look around where you are sitting right now and find a small object. Perhaps a pen, envelope or book. Got it?Now, try to pick it up. Go ahead.Is it in your hand? If it is, well, then you didn't try, you actually picked it up. If it's not in your hand, you didn't.Simple, right?There's no middle ground in doing. You can't "try" to do anything, it's a fallacy. You either do it, or don't do it.The same applies to losing weight (or anything else for that matter). Saying that you'll try gives your mind fuzzy instructions, and it will return fuzzy results, results that aren't what you really want. It also gives you a "way out" if you don't achieve the goals you set out to reach.You see, your subconscious mind doesn't interpret your directions, it just goes to work following them as complete truth. When you say you'll "try to lose weight", it will "try" to follow your instructions, which we now know is impossible.What in fact you want, (if you really do) is to lose weight. To feel better. To have more energy. To overcome health challenges. To look great.Now, if you say you want to lose weight and are not successful, or continue to use language that includes words like "try" or "we'll see" or "maybe", perhaps you're wired backwards.What does that mean? Well, maybe you say that you want to lose weight, but your mind says it doesn't. Somewhere along the way you gave your mind instructions that it's too hard, or impossible, to lose the weight you want. Perhaps you're more comfortable where you are now, but know that it's the right thing to say that you want to lose weight.If this is the case, ask yourself what beliefs you hold that are at odds with what you want. For example, "it's too hard to lose weight", "it's impossible to lose weight", "I can't lose weight because I'd have to exercise all the time", "I'll lose my friends if I lose weight", "I can't lose weight because I've always failed".Ask yourself if in fact they are true. Are they making your life easier, or more difficult? Do these beliefs serve you or harm you?Then, replace the old beliefs with new ones. Positive, confident statements about how you want to look and feel.The best way to lose weight is to avoid saying you'll "try" to lose weight, and say you "will" lose weight. See yourself at your ideal weight. Imagine how great you look and feel. Use positive language and give your mind specific instructions like "I'm now happily at my ideal weight of (number of pounds) weight" or "I now happily choose to wear a size (your ideal size)".Watch your language and self talk closely and avoid using "try". It may take constant attention at the beginning, but after a short time, you'll get used to keeping your language positive, upbeat and confident.Your weight loss results will follow immediately, depending on how confident, committed and persistent you are in applying these exercises. The more confident, committed and persistent, the faster your results will appear.You CAN do it!Article Source: http://www.nulife-weightloss.com/articlesMark Idzik reports on natural and alternative health and is an author and health coach helping his clients lose weight and make better health choices. Receive 37 free weight loss tips by visiting his site: www.Everyday-Weight-Loss.com

Vitamin and Mineral Supplements: What You Need To Know Before You Buy

Important! Read this before you buy another vitamin-mineral or nutritional supplement product. This information is vitally important to your health. All vitamin supplements are not the same. AND there is no one supplement that is good for everyone. If anyone ever tells you that theirs is the one supplement that everyone needs, run, don't walk and don't look back.How do you choose the vitamin-mineral and nutritional supplements that you take? Or maybe you don't take any because you're so overwhelmed by the choices and you don't know which to choose.One product claims it's "the most comprehensive answer to the body's need for life-giving nutrients." It has "100's of healthy nutrients from all natural whole-food sources."Another company says they produce the "highest quality nutritional ... products available" that "make you feel and look wonderful."Still another company boasts "an exclusive line of cutting-edge nutritional products" that are "quality, wellness and life-enhancing."Then there's the product that states it "has a total of 165 nutrients, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and whole food extracts" which gives you "a more complete and broad spectrum of ingredients [and] faster absorption..."These are only a few of the claims made for nutritional supplement products available today. There are hundreds of different vitamin-mineral and nutritional supplement products competing for your dollar.So, how do you choose? Maybe you've heard someone say what fantastic results they got from taking a specific product. You tried it and you didn't feel any different. Perhaps you did this a few times, with several different products, and still you got no results. You might even have gotten discouraged and decided that vitamin supplements just don't work. Or quite possibly you continued to take them simply because you felt you needed to, to be healthy, even though it didn't make you feel any different.Why do some people get such fantastic results that they rave about it to everyone who will listen and some people don't get any results at all ... with the same product? It all boils down to biochemical individuality. In other words individual differences. Those who get the most dramatic results are generally the most deficient in the nutrients that product provides. They had deficiencies the product corrected. And why didn't you feel any different? Because the nutrients in that product were not the right nutrients for your body or they weren't in the right proportions.Not everybody needs the same vitamin and mineral combinations in the same proportions. But everyone needs certain amounts of vitamins and minerals to be healthy. Vitamins and minerals are essential to life. And with the nutrient deficient soils our foods are grown on, most people don't get enough nutrients from their food alone to be truly healthy. Even the American Medical Association (AMA) recommends that every adult take a vitamin/mineral supplement daily.So how do you choose a good quality supplement that will give you all the nutrients that you need?First, let's take a look at some facts that you need to know about how vitamins and minerals work in your body.1. Vitamins and minerals work together. They need to be taken in the right proportions to be effective. For example, calcium, magnesium and phosphorus, in the right proportions, work together to keep your bones strong.2. If you take too much of one nutrient, it can cause deficiencies in other nutrients. For instance, if you take too much calcium, it can cause your body to absorb less magnesium, phosphorus, iron and zinc. Too much vitamin C can cause a copper deficiency.3. Taking too much of some nutrients can cause the same symptoms as a deficiency of that same nutrient. This happens with calcium, zinc and vitamin C.Your personal needs are also dependent upon your metabolism. Is your metabolism fast or slow? Certain nutrients speed up your metabolism and others slow it down. If you have a fast metabolism, you don't want to be taking nutrients that speed it up even more. If your metabolism is slow, you shouldn't be taking nutrients that slow it down. You want a nutritional product that will balance your unique body chemistry.Choosing the right nutritional supplement sounds complicated, but it's not. It can really be quite easy. You see, your hair holds the key. It contains the blueprint of the mineral balance in the tissues of your body, past and present. And because minerals interact not only with each other but also with vitamins, proteins, carbohydrates and fats, the mineral status also gives you information on your vitamin needs as well.Your hair gives you a good picture of your body's nutrient needs. When you have a hair mineral analysis test, there's no guessing, no trial and error. With proper interpretation of the results, you know what's in balance in your body, what's out of balance and what your body needs. And with the proper selection of nutritional products based upon the results of your hair analysis, you will get the nutrients your body needs.(c) 2006 Christine H. Farlow, D.C. Find out more about how hair analysis can help you improve your health and choose the right supplements for your unique nutritional needs at http://www.healthyeatingadvisor.com/customnutrition.html

4 Tips For Your First Colon Cleansing

Colon cleansing is the process of removing toxins from yourbody. More specifically it is the act of flushing out thetoxins with water. It may seem like a painful and uncomfortableexperience, but the health benefits far outweigh any temporarydiscomfort. I've put together this list of 4 tips to help youwith your first Colon Cleansing. 1) You want to research about colon cleansing online. Learn allyou can about it, because although you may think it's for you itjust might not be. There are licensed facilities that will dothe colon cleansing for you or you may opt to do it yourselfwith herbs. Either way you should be prepared by doing theproper research. 2) If doing a colon cleansing in a licensed facility pleasefollow their rules. They will probably not have you eat for12-24 hours before the procedure and will most likely ask youto drink lots of water instead. Water helps with the cleansingprocess and pure water will be used during the actualcleansing. Be prepared to immediately use the restroom whenyour cleansing is complete. It is just a part of thedetoxification process. There is no need to feel embarassed asthis is completely normal. 3) If doing a home colon cleansing follow the instructionscarefully. Usually a home herbal cleanse takes place over 30days by taking herbal pills. What will happen is the first fewdays will probably be pretty uncomfortable for you. You'll beusing the restroom up to 5 times per day. If this doesn't slowdown then you should take less of the herbal pills so as not todehydrate your body. To help with hydration drink, at minimum,your body weight in ounces of water. So if you weigh 120pounds, drink 120 ounces of water per day. That may bedifficult, but water is healthy and it will help with thecleansing process. 4) While going through the discomfort just remember that you'redoing something great for your body and will feel much betteronce the process is complete. No pain no gain certainly holdstrue for colon cleansing. Althoug there should be no actualpain, just some discomfort. If you follow these 4 tips your first colon cleansingexperience should be a much easier undertaking. Please lookout for my next article with even more colon cleansing tips.About The Author: Cindy Williams is a health writer forhttp://www.detoxandcoloncleansing.com - The Web's evergrowingresource for homemade colon cleansing recipes, detoxificationinformation, cleanse kit reviews, and more.

Gastric Bypass Surgery - What You Need to Know

By: Craig Thompson Gastric bypass surgery is considered a convenient and effective long-term weight loss solution for people diagnosed as morbidly obese. But because gastric bypass surgery is an elective procedure, it is imperative that you weigh both the risks and the benefits before signing on for this life-changing procedure. This article will explain gastric bypass surgery step-by-step to help you understand exactly what is involved and make an informed decision.Whether you have the open procedure, where they make a long incision through the outer wall of the abdomen, or the laparoscopic procedure, where they make several small incisions for the instruments and special cameras used by the surgeon to see what he is doing, the steps are still the same. First the surgeon will use a surgical stapler or hand stitches to divide the upper stomach into two parts, one large and one small. The small pouch is about the size of a golf ball and can hold approximately 20 cc of food (although it will later stretch some). This new pouch will still continue to produce the stomach acid needed to soften and break down your food; however, the small size dramatically limits the amount of food you can consume after weight loss surgery. In addition, creating a small pouch minimizes the risk of developing an ulcer from too much acid entering the small intestine. (The surgeon could just remove the lower part of the stomach during gastric bypass surgery, but they don't, for a very good reason. It still can produce the acid needed to digest food, so the operation can be revised, if necessary.)Next, the surgeon will divide the small intestine so it can be directly connected to the new stomach pouch. This part of the small intestine is called the "Roux Limb" after the Swiss surgeon who invented the technique. This piece of the small intestine is connected to the new stomach pouch either using a surgical stapler or by hand stitching. Even if the surgeon uses a stapler, he will reinforce the staples at strategic points with hand-sewn stitches.After gastric bypass surgery, the food you eat will travel down the esophagus into the new stomach pouch, where it will briefly begin to digest. Then, it quickly travels down the new connection to the small intestine, where it will be joined by other digestive juices from the lower stomach, liver and pancreas to complete the digestion process as they travel together down the length of the small intestine.In rare cases, the surgeon will insert a tube between the upper stomach and the intestine to allow stomach juices to flow into the small intestine. This is only done if the surgeon believes there is a high probability of a specific complication that prevents the digestive juices from draining properly. In most cases, this tube is removed a few weeks after surgery.Patients generally will stay in the hospital anywhere from two to six days and will have to eat a pureed diet for many weeks. Most patients begin losing excess weight immediately and will lose anywhere from 60% to 80% of their excess weight within a two year period. Most will keep at least half of their excess weight off permanently.Some of the benefits of this type of surgery are that other illnesses cause by excessive weight-such as sleep apnea, weight related heart problems, diabetes, and lower back and knee problems-will greatly improve and may completely disappear. But, like any surgery, there are risks, some of which can be fatal. Before considering any type of elective surgery, consult with your doctor and explore all of the available treatments.Article Source: http://www.nulife-weightloss.com/articlesCraig Thompson, better known as "Big T," a former sumo wrestler who used to tip the scales at 400 pounds has since reinvented himself as a singer and bandleader. As one of the earliest to have Gastric Bypass Surgery, in 1997.

Healthy Diets - Ten Steps to Easy Weight Control

By: Stephen Todd Healthy diets promoted by many companies and gurus are anything but healthy diets - in fact, they can be harmful to your long-term health.So if you are looking for healthy diets then you should consider if they take into account the 10 points below, which are universal in scope and are actually not that difficult to follow.1. Balance Fat and ProteinFat should supply around 30% of your total daily calories. Limit your intake of fat by having more vegetables in your diet.Eat lean meats, light-meat poultry without the skin, fish, and low-fat dairy products. In addition, make sure you limit vegetable oils and butter in your diet.Protein should be around 15% of your calorie intake. Don't fall for the myth of so-called healthy diets that recommend eating protein at the expense of fat, it's not natural and can cause health problems.2. Limit Your Intake of Saturated FatThis is the kind of fat, found mostly in animal products, that increases blood cholesterol levels and has other negative health effects. It should supply less than one-third of the calories derived from fat.Keep your cholesterol intake below 300 milligrams per day.3. Eat Foods Rich in Complex CarbohydratesCarbohydrates should contribute around 55% of your total daily calories. Don't fall for the hype that carbohydrates are bad for you they are not, just make sure you eat complex carbohydrates.To help get the right sources, eat plenty of fruits and vegetables and six or more servings of whole grains. This will help you obtain the 25 grams of fiber you need each day.4. Avoid too Much SugarMany foods that are high in sugar are also high in fat. Look at the labels to see how much sugar is in a product - many products say they are low in fat, but they are high in sugar, and this turns to fat.5. Eat Green, Orange, and Yellow Fruits and VegetablesExamples would be broccoli, carrots, cantaloupe, and citrus fruits. The antioxidants and other nutrients in these foods are increasingly important in helping protect against a variety of diseases.6. VarietyEat a variety of foods - this really is the key to a balanced diet. Don't try to fill your nutrient requirements by eating the same foods every day - it won't work.7. Limit Sodium IntakeYour sodium intake should be a maximum of 2,400 milligrams per day. This is equivalent to about a teaspoon of salt. Therefore, Avoid salty foods and be careful to check food labels carefully for sodium content.8. Vitamins and Minerals from FoodSupplements cannot substitute for a healthy diet, which supplies nutrients and other compounds besides vitamins and minerals. Foods also provide the "synergy" that many nutrients require so that they can be effective, and be broken down in the body and utilized correctly.9. Maintain a Desirable WeightDon't ignore exercise, it only needs to be moderate, you don't have to kill yourself in the gym! The two biggest causes of obesity are processed unnatural foods and our modern lazy life style.10. Enjoy your FoodIf you drink alcohol, eat chocolate, crisps etc you can - but don't overdo it. Why shouldn't you eat what you really enjoy? There is no reason why you can't.Healthy Diets are Balanced DietsThere are many healthy diets to choose from, and they're all different, but the basis of any healthy diet should take into account the 10 points outlined here.Article Source: http://www.nulife-weightloss.com/articlesMore dieting and general health information and FREE exclusive diet and health magazines, are available on our web site: www.net-planet.org