The Universe of Chinese Medicine

China has a rich and venerable medical culture; in fact, it was one of the first countries to seriously take up medicine. While Chinese medicine runs a diagonally opposite course from that adopted by Western medicine, their 5,000 plus years of experience has given them immense knowledge in medical science, diagnostic methods, cures and prescriptions.

Chinese medicine operates on one basic principle ? that of Yin and Yang. Chinese medicine believes that the human body is a small universe in itself, with a set of complicated interconnected systems.Yang is the positive force, while Yin is the negative principle that acts on the body. The two forces have to be in harmony with each other and failing will cause diseases to strikes. Yang functions to protect the body from outer harm, while Yin provides the inner base to store energy for bodily functions.

Practitioners of Chinese medicine believe that there is a vital energy that flows through various channels in the body. Any blockages in the flow of energy immediately trigger a physical reaction that manifests as disease.

In the ancient days, practitioners had limited understanding of infection because traditional Chinese medicine predated the discovery of bacteria, virus and other microorganisms. It is amazing that they were able to successfully treat countless patients without the help of any assistant apparatus. As such, doctors of Chinese medicine needed a training period of years or even decades before they were experienced enough to observe subtle differences and catch vital symptoms. Practitioners based their diagnosis solely on observation, olfaction, interrogation, pulse taking and palpation.

Observation means that the doctor would observe the external organs closely. When the internal organs malfunction, corresponding symptoms appear externally as body pain, skin pallor, changes in excrement etc.

Palpitation and pulse-taking enables the doctor to juxtapose the pulse of the patient with an inner change. Doctors believe! that wh en all bodily functions are normal, the frequency and beat of the pulse is relative calm, stable and predictable.

Traditional Chinese medicine relies heavily on herbs and prescribes potions that utilize the medicinal virtues of thousands of herbs. The potions are prepared in a methodical way and when it is taken according to the prescribed method, it heals - almost magically.

While Western medicine is just beginning to wake up to the importance of exercise and healthy diet, the holistic approach of Chinese medicine focuses on healthy living through consistent exercise and wholesome diet.

The main difference between Western and traditional Chinese medicine is that while Western medicine aims to divide the physical body into parts, the Chinese model is more concerned with the function of the ENTIRE system. Thus, while mainstream medicine strives to cure the ailments of a single body part, Chinese medicine looks at the entire model as a single entity. Therefore even a swollen toe may lead doctors to a problem in the intestine or kidney.

In the West, traditional Chinese medicine is looked upon as alternative medicine. But in mainland China, this treatment is still considered to be an integral part of the health care system. Surprisingly, there is even an effort to integrate Chinese medicine with Western medical practices.

Modern treatments that rely on Chinese medicine include acupuncture, acutouch, herbal medicine and food therapy. Chinese medicine has become so popular because it has successfully evolved through the centuries to embrace the winning techniques of the West and integrate that with the holistic and gentle treatment methods of the East.

Alternative Medicine

The First 5 Steps of a Healthy Diet

There are many people out there telling you want to eat, when to eat, how to exercise, how often to exercise but the main thing that these people seem to be missing is that everyone is different so everyone has a different reaction to what works and what doesn't.

Here are 5 easy steps that you can take to help you lose weight and stay healthy;

1. Make sure you commit to your eating and exercise habits.
2. Eat regularly.
3. Don?t over eat.
4. Don?t eat after 8:00PM
5. Do take your vitamins

Staying healthy is common sense. If you eat 4 hamburgers, a slice of pizza, 2 liters of pop, etc. for supper every night YOU ARE NOT GOING TO LOSE WEIGHT.

Some people say to eat 5-6 small meals a day, but in all honesty who has the time to plan out that many meals and find the time to eat them? Unless you?re on some sort of training program this is unrealistic for the average person. You are best to stick with the old 3 meals a day plan, hey if it worked for our parents and their parents, etc. then I?m sure you can do it too.

Here is an example of what you should be eating in order to ?start? to lose weight. I do say start mainly because once you do get down to the last 10-20 pounds that you want gone the only way to get rid of this extra flab and tone up is exercise, but I?ll talk about that in my next article. Here is a very general, basic daily meal plan;
Breakfast (7:00AM-8:00AM) ? Must be eaten within 1 hour of waking up in the morning. Items ? Cereal, Toast, a bagel, peanut butter sandwich, instant breakfast mix or an energy/protein bar
Lunch (12:00-2:00) ? Eaten no more than 5-6 hours after breakfast. Items ? Basically anything goes for lunch just try not to over do it and have the whole pizza or the supersize meal with an extra burger. You want to try and look for something that has a fair amount of protein in it but fewer carbohydrates than what you had for breakfast. Less than 40g of carbs or there abouts. So anything with chicken, ! steak, h amburger, spinach, broccoli. Pasta is ok too but try to switch it up, pasta one day, chicken the next.
Dinner (5:00-7:00) ? This is where you have to really watch what you eat. The top 4 things you want to stay away from are: Potatoes, Pasta, Bread and Rice. These are all high carb foods and you don?t want to eat anything with a lot of carbs in it before you go to bed. This is the hardest part of the day since this is where most of the meals contain those top 4 things. If you can refrain from eating carbs at night YOU WILL LOSE WEIGHT.

Explanation: Carbohydrates are are better consumed in the morning as the average person will burn them off by simply doing normal day to day activities, such as taking the stairs and walking. If you can limit the amount you eat before you go to bed then you will continue to burn them off naturally and they won?t turn to fat.

The hardest part of any life change is sticking with it. If you can create the habit by maintaining these healthy choices for two weeks you will see a change. It?s not a diet, it?s not a miracle weight loss program, this is a lifestyle change not a miracle diet cure. Of course any lifestyle needs flexibility, so if you find yourself in a situation where you may have to carbs for dinner, cut them out at lunch that day or the next to make up for it. The most important step for success is to treat yourself. Do not deprive yourself of that bowl of icecream you have been craving once a week set aside a day for a treat. You won't be sorry. With this basic plan you will feel and look better in no time!

Brad Lyon is the webmaster of http://www.healthyhelpcenter.com where you can find great breakfast and lunch low carb, energy and protein bars to help you get started with your meals and workouts.

The Cause of Snoring

The cause of snoring is firmly in the top 5 of the most searched for snoring phrases online.

It's hardly surprising. Estimates vary, but it's thought that between 30-50% of the population snores at some point. Combine that will all the non-snoring suffering spouses, and you have a lot of people wanting to know what the cause is!

To put it simply, the cause of smoking is blocked airways. The soft palate and the throat rub together, and it's the air struggling to get through the reduced airway that cause the vibration, and hence causes the snoring sound.

So we need to look at the various reasons for the airways being blocked. It can be down to simply the position you sleep in. If you sleep on your back, your tongue may slip backwards into your throat and you have your blockage.

A major cause of snoring is being overweight. The build up of fat around the neck makes it heavy, so it weighs down on your throat when you sleep, restricting the air flow.

Smoking doesn't help, the chemicals in cigarettes irritate the tissue in the throat which creates a reduction is space and a cause of snoring.

Alcohol can also contribute, since it is a relaxant, and relaxed muscles will lead to the tongue falling back again.

Eating too close to going to bed won't help, because this will increase pressure on the diaphragm due to undigested food sitting in the stomach.

Milk before bed can also restrict the airflow by causing a build up of mucus in the throat.

The cause of snoring may hereditary - if your parents snore, it is possible that you will because you have inherited a narrow throat, or a deformed nose.

A stressful lifestyle is another cause, with tension and tightness in the muscles paradoxically causing the same effect as too much relaxation, the reduced air passage.

A final cause to mention is simply a dry throat - if there isn't enough moisture in the atmosphere, this can cause the vibration to bring on snoring.

As we can see, al! though t he cause of snoring can be put down to blocked airways, there are many reasons for blocking those airways, and it's by addressing those that we can cut out the snoring!

See Gordon Bryan back up a snoring solution with his own money at http://www.gordonbryan.com/cause-of-snoring.

Headache Pain Remedies: Fact Vs. Fiction

Is Headache Pain Disrupting Your Life?

In today?s high-speed, high-stress world, headaches have become something of a constant companion for many people. As a matter of fact, the National Library of Medicine reports that the most likely causes of occasional to chronic severe headaches are stress and tension. With over 78% of adults experiencing tension-type headaches and 30% of the general population suffering chronic migraines, is it any wonder that the business of headache pain remedies is booming? Add to these startling numbers the 20% of children and adolescents who also battle chronic headaches and migraines, and you begin to understand the massive scope of this problem.

Whether your headache pain is chronic or occasional, or is the result of a migraine, allergy, stress or a wide variety of other maladies, slick marketing campaigns assure you that a pill has been developed to cure all your ills. But is ongoing medication use (and overuse) really the best way to address headaches? Have we really weighed its long-term affects on our health?

The National Headache Foundation recently published compelling information warning those with frequent tension headaches of the dangers in overusing headache pain relief products such as aspirin, acetaminophen, Motrin or ibuprofen. Such overuse has been directly linked with irreversible, and sometimes fatal, kidney and liver damage. Going one step further, scientists have found that even taking the maximum recommended dose for a long period of time can be risky, causing liver disease and even liver failure in many users.

Headache Pain Treatment- Listen To Your Body?s Warning Signs

In the vast majority of cases, headache pain is benign, meaning that although the pain may be severe, it is not life-threatening. While some conditions that manifest as or are accompanied by headache pain may require the attention of a medical doctor, a much greater number of painful and potentially serious maladies can be successfully treated with! a much more natural approach.

It is important to note that there are a few specific ?red flags? your body may give you which deserve your immediate attention, as they may indicate a more serious medical condition. Here are some warning signs that should be addressed by an MD:

?Headache accompanied by an episode of fainting
?Headache after any type of head trauma
?Sudden onset of severe headaches after the age of 50

However, if these particular circumstances do not apply to you, rather than risk permanent liver or kidney damage through overuse of pain-killing medication, become proactive and make an appointment with a chiropractic doctor. Explain your symptoms and learn about late-breaking natural headache pain relief information. You just may be surprised at how quickly you can break free from the chains of headache pain - without mind-numbing drugs.

Migraines And Headaches With Neck And Shoulder Pain Are Symptoms Of An Underlying Disorder

These symptoms indicate that there is another underlying problem, something lurking beneath the surface that is triggering your pain. Ignoring these symptoms by simply masking them with pain relief products is exactly like removing the batteries from a sounding smoke alarm. You might stop the noise for the moment, but if you do not take action your house will burn down. Don?t you agree that it makes much more sense to discover and address the reason for the sounding alarm? Similarly, it just makes sense to find out what is actually causing your pain and address it.

According to the World Headache Alliance, between 70-80% of all Americans experience chronic headache pain at least once per week and a large body of research indicates that poor posture and spinal misalignment may be responsible. And yet, a surprising number of traditional medical practitioners fail to recognize the connection between healthy cervical spine alignment and headaches.

The fact is that bad posture and poor workplace habits have been proven to ! be extre mely relevant factors in many types of chronic headaches. Do you sit in front of a computer all day, every day? Do you cradle the telephone on your shoulder during phone conversations? Does your work require you to remain standing at an assembly-type line? If this sounds like you, chances are, you suffer from migraines or headaches with neck and shoulder pain.

Don?t Endure Chronic Headache Pain!

Today?s workplace environments and our hectic lifestyles may be causing an epidemic of chronic headache pain, but you do not have to simply endure it. Chiropractic care has a strong track record of incredible success in treating most forms of benign headaches. It has even proven to be very successful in treating and eliminating debilitating migraine pain ? without the danger of potentially harmful drugs.

Clinical studies have repeatedly shown that chiropractic treatment of headache pain enjoys consistently spectacular success rates ranging between 72-98%. Unlike prescription medications, there are no adverse or allergic reactions, no potential drug interaction, and you never have to worry about drug-induced drowsiness.

Seek Out Natural A Chronic Headache Pain Relief Remedy

Before the next massive headache slams its way into your day, do some research to determine what foods or environments you should avoid. Learn to handle everyday stress in a positive, healthful manner. Carefully assess the pain medication you take to manage your headaches. And consider making an appointment to see your chiropractic doctor. You just may be surprised to discover the wonderful world of a life filled with newfound health and energy, free from the shackles of chronic headache pain.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS:

Drs. Brenda and Erik Slovin are board certified Chiropractic physicians at http://www.SlovinChiropractic.com in Norwalk, Connecticut. Drs. Slovin specialize in teaching people how to get rid of their headache, migraine and neck and shoulder pain, quickly and easily, without the use o! f pills or surgery.

To get instant access to all their most successful health strategies and secrets, as well as a free Chronic Pain Report that lets you know why, what most people don't know about chronic pain can actually hurt you!, visit them at: http://www.headache-neck-pain-relief.com and sign-up to receive their monthly newsletter Live Well.

How Slimming Down Can Add More Cash in Your Wallets

Are you unhappy with your current weight but aren't motivated enough to do something about it?

Well then... have I got an incentive for you!

Did you know that your wealth can increase dramatically as your weight goes down?

This seemingly incredible link between your weight and your wealth was revealed in a study published in the Economics and Human Biology journal by Jay Zagorsky, author of the study and a research scientist at Ohio State University's Center for Human Resource Research.

But before you get too excited, it's important to know that losing a little weight here and there won't make a significant difference to your wealth.

If you really want to impact your wealth, you have to move from overweight or obese into the normal range. A drop of 5 or 10 pounds is simply not enough.

?The typical person who loses or gains a few pounds had almost no change in wealth, but those who lost or gained large amounts of weight had a more dramatic change,? Zagorsky said.

For example, white women who dropped their body mass index score (BMI) by 10 points saw a wealth increase of $11,880.

It's also interesting to note that a person's net worth tends to reach a peak when the weight is in the normal range. Coincidence?

Of course, nobody can say for sure from the study whether a person's wealth affects obesity, or whether obesity affects wealth.

However, the researchers also reviewed the people in the study who had a sudden increase in their wealth after receiving inheritances, and found no significant differences in their BMI scores in the following years.

This seems to suggest that wealth doesn't affect weight.

And from a gut feel perspective, it seems intuitive that it's probably weight that affects wealth.

Unfortunate as it is, obese women do tend to get discriminated against at work, and bring home a lower salary than their non-obese colleagues.

Plus, there are a number of health problems associated with obesity, and these ob! ese wome n will have to fork out more money to tend to these problems.

In short, obese people make less, and spend more unnecessarily. With a double whammy like this, it's no wonder obese people will have more problems when it comes to increasing their wealth!

So, now that you've got a good incentive in front of you, please go and take immediate action to shed those unwanted weight... NOW.

Remember, as you make yourself slimmer, your wallet will grow fatter!

Copyright 2005 Tracy Lee

About The Author

Tracy Lee is the owner of the Weight Loss for Women Over 40 site. Get the latest news, tips & tricks that can help women over 40 to lose weight safely and permanently, and your complimentary copy of our Special Report 9 Little-Known Insider Weight Loss Secrets To Help Women Over 40 Make Those Extra Pounds Disappear instantly here:

http://www.weight-loss-for-women-over-40.com/insidersecrets/

This article is available for reprint in your ezine, website or e-book. You MUST agree not to make any changes to the article and the RESOURCE BOX MUST be included WITH A LIVE LINK back to our website. Otherwise reprint is prohibited.

The Silent Villain

After a restful sleeps night, do you wake up feeling completely drained before you even put a foot on the floor? Even though you are a very focused individual, are your thoughts often foggy? You actively exercise and eat right, but are you still at least 15 pounds or more overweight? Despite your dietary limitations, is your stomach swollen? Even though you are relatively young, do you feel 20 years older than you are?

If these are very familiar symptoms that seem completely out of your control, relax. There could be an underlying condition in your system taking over and leaving you helplessly behind. That condition could be Candidia albican.

What is Candida?

Candida albican is a yeast that is normally found in the body, usually the digestive system (mouth, throat, and intestines). It is necessary because it destroys harmful bacteria and protects our bodies. There are millions of Candida albicans in a healthy system, and the immune system keeps it regulated with the ?friendly? bacteria such as Lactobacillus acidophilus and B. bifidum.

Low stomach acid and/or poor digestion can cause food matter to be left in the digestive system. Candida's job is to pick up this left over food matter to keep the digestive system working properly. If it fails to do this, harmful bacteria can grab the food deposits and reproduce. An overgrowth of candida (Candidiasis) can cause an array of problems. When the amount of ?friendly? bacteria (Lactobacillus acidophilus and B. bifidum) is reduced due to antibiotics, refined sugar, and toxins, the candida out number the ?friendly? bacteria and it will change the candida from a yeast to a fungal and actually become a threat to the body. When this happens you can experience many effects, including weight gain, food cravings, headaches, depression, fatigue, etc. Due to Candidiasis many symptoms, it's often either undetected or misdiagnosed for many years, causing more and more problems down the line.

Candidiasis can inhibit fat loss and cause your s! tomach t o distend out. It is a new condition, created by side effects of antibiotics and refined foods. In addition, birth control pills, chemotherapy, radiation, stress, and overeating all can be contributors to Candidiasis. It may be one of the primary cause of weight issues and obesity.

Why it's not recognized

Doctors routinely treat women for localized yeast infections in the vaginal tract, but rarely consider that the same yeast can cause problems in other areas of the body, such as the digestive tract. This is primarily due to the fact that doctors aren't taught this in medical school. The primary focus in medical school is drugs and procedures. Little is taught on actually preventing and curing ailments and diseases.

In addition, Candidiasis symptoms are lengthy and are very similar to other illnesses and diseases such as sinusitis. In efforts to treat the sinusitis, the doctors prescribed antibiotics, which make the Candidiasis worse!

Candidiasis is also many times misdiagnosed as cancer. Yes, an overgrowth of Candidia albican can show up a cancer on medical testing. I personally had two e-clients who had cancerous cells on their ovaries. I encourage them to do a detoxify cleansing and within six weeks, both ladies were cancer cell free. Needless to say, their doctors could careless how they did it.

Since Candidiasis is often not diagnosed, the problems spread and many times, more and more antibiotics are administered. This puts a strain on the immune system making the body more susceptible to other illnesses, infections, diseases, and the ability to lose fat difficult. Sadly, Candidiasis is a disease brought on by our medical community and convenient lifestyle of antibiotics, birth control pills, refined carbohydrates, etc.

How Candidiasis Affects Your Weight

Candidiasis and can be one of the contributing factors that many people are overweight or have difficulty losing weight. Candidiasis is basically your digestion process is all messed and causes you to stor! e more f at. This is largely due to the fact that the toxins in the digestive system cause the body to become more acidic. When the body is in an acidic condition, it can not burn fat, build muscle, and the body is more prone to illnesses and diseases. The weight gain from Candidiasis can be any where from 15 to 50 pounds and this weight is stored in the gut.

As the Candidiasis becomes more widespread throughout the body, your cravings for sugar and refined carbs intensify. This overwhelming sensation can cause you to succumb to your cravings, allowing the Candidiasis to thrive longer and stronger and keeping you at its whim.

Candidiasis Signs and Symptoms can include:
?Sluggish metabolism
?Increases in carb and sugar cravings
?Improper digestion
?Food allergies
?Weight gain
?Gas and/or cramping or bloating after eating
?Hypoglycemia
?Feeling light headed after eating certain foods
?Fatigue after eating
?Feeling drunk after a high carb meal since Candidiasis waste is alcohol

Other Signs and Symptoms can include:
?Intense PMS
?Chest pain
?Joint pain
?Night sweats
?Mood swings
?Depression
?Memory loss
?Blurred visions
?Headaches
?Insomnia
?Fungal infections (yeast infections, athletes foot, etc.)
?Sexual dysfunction
?Rashes, hives, or other skin conditions
?Anxiety
?Hyperactivity
?Excessive mucus in throat, nose and lungs
?Sinus pressure

Other Contributing Factors

Antibiotics are usually the primary cause of Candidiasis. Healthy bacteria that line the digestive tract are destroyed by antibiotics. This can allow for an overgrowth of Candidia too. Personally, I think doctors are too quick to prescribe drugs to treat ailments rather than getting to the root of the problem. Most of the time, the prescribed drugs cause more side effects than treating the problem.

Pregnancy predisposes a woman to Candidiasis because it alters the body's pH balance and b! ecomes m ore acidic. An acidic environment is the perfect breeding ground for a Candidia yeast overgrowth.

Reduced bowel movements keep fecal matter in the colon too long. You should be having at least three bowel movements a day, if not more. Animals have a bowel movement after each meal. This is normal. If you are having less than three bowel movements a day, you could possibly have Candidiasis. Candidiasis is at its all time high to do mainly antibiotics, but also the standard American diet. Today's ?nutrition? contains a great deal of refined foods, including fast food, sodas, pastas, breads, etc. Refined carbs and sugar just give Candidia a breeding ground to multiply and take over.

We are also exposed to antibiotics and other drugs in animal meats and other animal products we eat. Steroids and antibiotics are given to livestock in mass amounts to prevent infection and induce growth. This is why it's so important to eat organic.

Dairy products carry trace amounts of antibiotics. Not only that, the processing milk goes through destroys the milks natural enzymes. The sugar in milk also creates a breeding ground for Candidiasis to multiply. Another not so recognized factor in Candidiasis is environmental factors. This includes pesticides, additives, and preservatives in your food, car exhaust, chemical plants, heavy metals, and most commercial personal hygiene products. These elements are foreign to the body, and therefore the body cannot digest it. These chemicals sit in the digestive tract and become toxic and make the body acidic.

Are you a Candidiasis Candidate?
1.Have you ever or do you use birth control pills?
2.Have you ever or do you take antibiotics?
3.Have you ever or do you take steroids?
4.Have you ever or do you have fungal infections? (yeast infections or athletes foot)
5.Do you commonly experience any of the above Signs or Symptoms? You can get rid of Candidiasis. In doing so you will have more energy, think clearer, clear up your skin, reduce y! our stom ach pouch, lose weight, etc.

Conquering Candidiasis

There are alternative therapies for eliminating yeast. You must address the problem at the source and not merely ?treat? it with drugs. You must rid the overgrowth of Candidia by adopting a natural and organic diet. Fiber is a major issue in fighting off Candidiasis. Fiber helps the body to flush toxins and bowel. Friendly bacteria need a diet rich in fiber to survive to fight off the fungus.

Sweating is an excellent way to detoxify your body and all your major organs. It is imperative that you sweat six times a week for 20-30 minutes to pull out impurities. You need to be sweating through system, not energy sweat, and therefore exercise sweating does not count. Dry saunas would be best. This is a very important step, and if you neglect it, you will be neglecting the detoxifying purpose.

Also, include nutritional supplements, herbs, and probiotics. Taking this natural approach can clear out Candidiasis in about six months to a year. It can take a long time because it thrives on impurities we consume and absorb.

Natural Steps You Can Take To Eliminate Candidiasis:
?Do a Candidia cleanse to purge the impurities
?Drink up to a gallon of filtered water a day to flush out dead yeast cells
?Eat more veggies for fiber
?Eat more whole grains such as rye or millet
?Avoid yeast and mold containing foods (cheeses, grapes, mushrooms)
?Avoid refined foods, sugar, and alcohol
?Avoid artificial sweeteners, additives, preservatives, etc.
?Eat organic foods
?Cabbage is a wonderful source of friendly bacteria.
?Virgin Olive Oil
?Even though yogurt has concentrated Lactobacilli that will suppress unhealthy bacteria, the sugar in it feeds the unhealthy bacteria. Freeze-dried L. acidophilus supplement would be superior.

Supplements You Can Take to Eliminate Candidiasis:
?Potent Multivitamin daily
?Vitamin C ? 10-15 grams a day
?Vitamin E - 400 iu a day
?Zinc Chela! te 25-50 mg a day
?Pantothenic Acid - 250 mg a day
?Taurine - 500-1000 mg a day
?Essential Fatty Acids (evening primrose oil, black current oil or borage oil) ? 6-8 grams a day
?Goldenseal Root - 250 mg twice a day
?Pau D'Arco ? 2,000 mg twice a day
?Garlic ? 2,000 mg twice a day
?Caprylic acid ? 1,000 ? 2,000 mg daily with food
?Chlorophyll ? 100 mg daily
?Lactobacillus acidophilus ? 1 tsp three times a day (Take after 8 weeks of detoxing)
?Digestive enzyme with hydrochloric acid (HCL) before and after each meal. If you have ulcers, choose a digestive enzyme without HCL.
?German chamomile tea before and after meals will help to stimulate HCL

Keep in mind it could take several months to a year to rid your body of Candidiasis, if you don't stop feeding the fungus when truing to detoxify it. It thrives on impurities and an acidic environment. Therefore, as you cleanse with supplements, it's just as important to stop destructive behaviors such as eating the foods that can cause the Candidiasis to grow. Once you clean the yeast out of your system you will feel and look like a new person. You will find that weight control is not such a struggle and you will feel completely rejuvenated.

Karen Sessions has been in the fitness industry since 1988. She embarked on weight training to overcome an eating disorder, Anorexia Nervosa in its early stages. She overcame the eating disorder, received her personal training certificate, competed in many local bodybuilding contests, and qualified for Nationals. Since then she?s went on to write six e-books (weight loss, female bodybuilding, contest preparation, leg training, figure/fitness secrets, and cellulite removal). She writes articles for several fitness websites, as well as her own, www.theelitephysique.com, and also distributes a monthly e-newsletter. She has a very active and lively forum, filled with positive and supportive people with informative content. Karen?s sole goal is to educate others and h! elp them apply that knowledge.

Celebrity Diet Secrets

It seems that when it comes to dieting, everyone boasts that they have a secret to tell on how they diet, exercise or shape the body they have today. Since celebrities are some of the most visible characters throughout the world, many individuals tend to listen to what they say and try to follow their every move. If a celebrity endorses a weight loss product or new diet, chances are that many will flock to purchase the product or begin the new ?fad? diet. Just take a look at what Anna Nicole Smith did for the weight-loss product, Trimspa.

Sometimes following celebrity diet advice is just like any other diet or exercise plan: some things work better for others, while other do not. Just because your favorite actress or singer claims to have lost weight by doing x,y,z; does not mean you will automatically do the same. Just keep in mind that when following the words of a celebrity; they are just like you, only they may have more money and recognition than you. They are not superheroes of weight loss.

If you are still curious as to what the celebrities are doing to lose weight, check out some of the information below:

Gwyneth Paltrow (Actress: A Perfect Murder and Shallow Hal) Before giving birth to her daughter, Paltrow followed a strict macrobiotic diet plan. This means she did not eat any meat, eggs, dairy and caffeine. Since the baby, she has discontinued her strict ways and tries to eat as organically as possible. She refrains from eating candy and stays away from any over-manufactured foods.

Alicia Silverstone (Actress: Clueless, Crush)
She follows a vegan diet.

Joan Lunden (News Personality)
Eats lots of fruit.

Jennifer Aniston (Actress: Friends, The Good Girl)
Follows the Zone diet.

Diane Sawyer (News Personality)
Sawyer follows the Cabbage Soup Diet.

Jennifer Lopez (Actress: Anaconda, Selena, The Wedding Planner)
She prefers to eat eight mini-meals per day.

Claudia Schiffer (Supermodel)
Schiffer follows a three-meals-a-! day plan . She doesn?t believe in dieting because she says it negatively affects a person?s metabolism. She prefers eating lots of fruit for breakfast, saying they cleanse the body. She tries not to snack in-between meals and prefers organic foods. She also likes to sip green tea.

Patricia Heaton (Actress: Everybody Loves Raymond)
Patricia prefers to eat a lot of dairy.

Melanie Griffith (Actress: Working Girl)
Melanie Griffith like to drink smoothies.

Demi Moore (Actress: G.I. Jane, Ghost, Stripetease)
Demi Moore tends to eat tons of protein.

Nia Peeples (Actress, Singer: Walker, Texas Ranger)
She likes to stay away from proteins.

Kelly Preston (Actress)
She likes to eat a lot of oatmeal and bagels.

Portia de Rossi (Actress: Ally McBeal, Arrested Development)
Portia prefers cardiovascular activities, especially horseback riding and swimming.

Ali Landry (Actress: Eve)
Suggests the usage of the workout tape, The Firm. She boasts that it lifted her butt, tightened the backs of her legs and helped sculpt a longer, leaner look to them.

Drew Barrymore (Actress: 50 First Dates, E.T., The Wedding Singer)
Drew used to be a strict vegetarian, but now prefers to eat three sensible meals per day. She usually sticks to organic fruit and vegetables. When she wants something sweet, she drinks Diet Coke or has low-fat jelly.

Melinda Clarke (Actress, The O.C.)
Melinda recommends Pilates.

Eva Pigford (Model, America?s Next top Model)
Does crunches every day.

Lori Loughlin (Actress, Full House, Summerland)
Has found success by using The Zone diet. It helps her to avoid certain cravings for sweets.

I lost 40lbs following fad diets - Discover some tips.

Free Fad Diets offers advice on fad diets, and popular diets such as the Cabbage Soup Diet.